Global, regional, and national burden of esophageal cancer: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.

Background And Objective: Esophageal cancer (EC) is the seventh most prevalent cancer globally and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related mortality. This study aimed to provide an updated stratified assessment of rates in EC incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021 by sex, age, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) at global, regional, and national levels, as well as to project the future trends of EC both globally and regionally.

Methods: Data about age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence (ASIR), mortality (ASDR), probability of death (ASPoD) and DALYs (ASDALYRs) of EC were obtained from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study.

Predictors of physical activity among pregnant women in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The extensive benefits of physical activity (PA) are well known. However, PA participation among pregnant women remains low. This study evaluated PA levels and associated factors, including barriers and facilitators in pregnant women in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Influence of inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer application on phenology, yield components and grain yield of bambara groundnut genotypes.

In sub-Saharan Africa, the parasitic is seriously threatening Bambara groundnuts, farmers to suffer yield losses of up to 100 %. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of phosphorus (P) application and inoculation on Bambara groundnut genotypes for growth and reproductive phrase. The experiment was conducted in 2020 at the Henderson Research Station in Mazowe, Zimbabwe in a 2 × 2 × 26 factorial design with 26 genotypes arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications, two P rates (0 and 20 kg ha-) and two levels of inoculation (with and without ).

Aflatoxin B and fumonisin B exposure and adverse birth outcomes in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women from Harare, Zimbabwe.

Aflatoxin B (AFB1) and fumonisin B (FB1) are toxic secondary products of fungi that frequently contaminate staple crops in resource-limited settings. Antenatal AFB1 and FB1 exposure may cause adverse birth outcomes. We conducted a retrospective substudy nested in a case-control cohort of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women ≥20 weeks gestation from Harare, Zimbabwe.

Association of female genital schistosomiasis and human papillomavirus and cervical pre-cancer: a systematic review.

Background: S. haematobium is a recognized carcinogen and is associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. Its association with high-risk(HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) persistence, cervical pre-cancer and cervical cancer incidence has not been fully explored.

The anthelmintic activity of the white wormwood (Artemisia herba Alba) against Haemonchus contortus in beef cattle.

The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of white wormwood on helminthes in beef cattle production. Water extracts of white wormwood of different levels of phytotoxicity were used to treat female adult H. contortus over 8 h under controlled laboratory conditions.

Genetic variability in snake venom and its implications for antivenom development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Snake venom, a complex mixture of proteins, has attracted human attention for centuries due to its associated mortality, morbidity and other therapeutic properties. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where snakebites pose a significant health risk, understanding the genetic variability of snake venoms is crucial for developing effective antivenoms. The wide geographic distribution of venomous snake species in SSA countries demonstrates the need to develop specific and broad antivenoms.

Evaluation of long-acting cabotegravir safety and pharmacokinetics in pregnant women in eastern and southern Africa: a secondary analysis of HPTN 084.

Introduction: Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) for pre-exposure prophylaxis significantly reduced HIV acquisition in HPTN 084. We report on the safety and CAB-LA pharmacokinetics in pregnant women during the blinded period of HPTN 084.

Methods: Participants were randomized 1:1 to either active cabotegravir (CAB) plus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) placebo or active TDF/FTC plus CAB placebo.

Subsequent pregnancies in the IMPAACT 2010/VESTED Trial: high rate of adverse outcomes in women living with HIV.

Introduction: Women with HIV (WHIV) have higher risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly in the absence of antiretroviral treatment(ART), and timing of ART may impact risk.

Methods: In IMPAACT 2010 (VESTED), 643 pregnant WHIV in 9 countries were randomized 1:1:1 to initiate ART: dolutegravir (DTG)+emtricitabine(FTC)/tenofovir alafenamide(TAF); DTG+FTC/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or efavirenz (EFV)/FTC/TDF. We describe adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with a subsequent pregnancy during 50 weeks of postpartum follow-up: spontaneous abortion (<20 weeks), stillbirth (≥20 weeks), preterm delivery (<37 weeks) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA).

Quality intrapartum care and associated factors in East Africa: multilevel analysis of recent demographic and health survey.

Background: The time during labor and delivery is crucial for the survival of both women and their infants, as complications that occur during this period can significantly increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. In developing nations, women of reproductive age and their infants are still at risk of morbidity and death from complications associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Morbidity and death from complications of pregnancy and childbirth can be prevented through the utilization of quality care during labor and delivery.

Ms44-SPT: unique genetic technology simplifies and improves hybrid maize seed production in sub-Saharan Africa.

Hybrid maize seed production in Africa is dependent upon manual detasseling of the female parental lines, often resulting in plant damage that can lead to reduced seed yields on those detasseled lines. Additionally, incomplete detasseling can result in hybrid purity issues that can lead to production fields being rejected. A unique nuclear genetic male sterility seed production technology, referred to as Ms44-SPT, was developed to avoid hybrid seed loss and to improve the purity and quality of hybrid maize production.

Extensive cervical lesion and treatment outcomes in women with HIV/HPV co-infection.

Background: Cervical cancer is a common cancer worldwide, with > 85% of deaths occurring in Lower- and Middle-Income Countries where resources for screening programs are limited. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) are at increased risk. HPV test-and-treat is a screening strategy where women with HPV are offered ablative treatment of the cervix to reduce the risk of invasive cancer.

Paternal Social Determinants of Childhood Mortality in Zimbabwe.

In Zimbabwe, studies have mainly focused on child and maternal factors contributing to under‑5‑year mortality, and little has been published concerning the paternal social determinants, which are also important. The goal of this paper is to investigate the paternal social determinants of infant and childhood mortality in Zimbabwe. The study analyzed cross‑sectional secondary data from the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) 2015 to investigate paternal determinants of infant and child mortality.

Technical and financial evaluation of an emerging thermochemical technology for sustainable management of municipal wastewater sludge.

The management of municipal wastewater sludge is a significant challenge for wastewater management, particularly the need to manage and dispose of the sludge in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. The emergence of stricter regulations regarding landfill disposal of wastewater sludge necessitates the need for alternative options for municipal wastewater sludge management, with thermochemical technologies potentially contributing towards achieving carbon neutrality goals and fostering sustainable development. This study sought to address these challenges through a technical and financial evaluation of a pilot-scale emerging thermochemical technology, the enhanced hydrothermal polymerization to provide adequate understanding of the technology's feasibility regarding its application for municipal wastewater sludge volarization into a multi-use hydrochar.

Similarity in the microbial community structure of tobacco from geographically similar regions.

To investigate the structural and functional similarities of microbial communities in burnt-sweetness alcoholized tobacco as a function of distance from the equator and their effects on tobacco quality, we sampled alcoholized tobacco from Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China and from Brazil and Zimbabwe, which are also burnt-sweetness-type tobacco producing regions, and performed high-throughput sequencing of tobacco bacterial and fungal communities along with an analysis of the main chemical constituents of the tobacco to analyze differences in the quality of the tobacco and similarities in the structure of the microbial communities. The total nitrogen, nicotine and starch contents of Chenzhou tobacco were greater than those of Brazilian and Zimbabwean tobacco, and the total sugar and reducing sugar contents of the Brazilian and Zimbabwean tobacco were greater than those of the Chenzhou tobacco (P < 0.05).

Evolving Landscape of Sickle Cell Anemia Management in Africa: A Critical Review.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a prevalent inherited blood disorder, particularly affecting populations in Africa. This review examined the disease's burden, its diverse clinical presentations, and the challenges associated with its management in African settings. Africa bears a significant burden of SCD, with prevalence varying across countries and age groups.

Prevalence of prostate cancer and its grade group stage at diagnosis in patients treated with prostatectomy in rural south western Uganda.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among men in the world. Uganda and Zimbabwe have been reported to have highest incidence rates of prostate cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. There are no urologists and no prostate cancer diagnostic facilities in rural communities in south western Uganda.

Impact of dementia and mild cognitive impairment on bone health in older people.

Mild cognitive impairment, dementia and osteoporosis are common diseases of ageing and, with the increasingly ageing global population, are increasing in prevalence. These conditions are closely associated, with shared risk factors, common underlying biological mechanisms and potential direct causal pathways. In this review, the epidemiological and mechanistic links between mild cognitive impairment, dementia and skeletal health are explored.

Molecular Diversity and Agronomic Performance of Sesame () Cultivars in Benin: Local Cultivars and Lines Introduced From China.

Sesame cultivation was until recently restricted to the northwestern part of Benin. The yield is relatively low, as there are no improved varieties introduced and widely adopted so far. This study aimed to assess the molecular diversity, genetic differentiation, and the agronomic performance of a collection of local cultivars and introduced lines of sesame from China.

Understanding the perceptions and reactions to a monthly oral contraceptive capsule with end users and healthcare providers in Bangladesh, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.

Introduction: Unintended pregnancy is a global public health challenge. Many contraceptive methods are available to end users, but non-use and discontinuation due to health concerns or side effects, particularly related to unpredictable or undesirable menstrual bleeding, are common. Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) often have regular bleeding patterns compared to other hormonal contraceptives but require daily adherence.

'Making abortion safe': abortion and post-abortion care providers' experiences of stigma in Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

Background: Social stigma and the marginalisation of abortion care within medical settings can negatively affect abortion providers. While some research has evaluated stigma interventions in legally restrictive settings, little work has explored the experiences of healthcare professionals (HCPs) providing abortion and post-abortion care (PAC) outside the USA. This study, part of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' 'Making Abortion Safe' programme, aimed to understand providers' experiences of abortion stigma in four African countries with restrictive legislation.

Emergence of Omicron FN.1 a descendent of BQ.1.1 in Botswana.

Botswana, like the rest of the world, has been significantly impacted by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In December 2022, we detected a monophyletic cluster of genomes comprising a sublineage of the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) designated as B.1.

Detectable use of ENSO information on crop production in Southern Africa.

People have known that El Niño events are associated with low rainfall in Southern Africa for a century, and seasonal rainfall forecasts are now available in agricultural advisories for farmers. While there is abundant theory as to how farmers might (or should) use seasonal rainfall information on their farms, little is known about whether this information has been widely used or has had widespread benefit. In this study, we use subnational data on cropping area and yield to see if we can detect any macro-level patterns in agricultural choices or outcomes that are related to knowledge of the El Niño Southern Oscillation or seasonal forecast information in Southern Africa.

Geocultural differences in pre-schooler sleep profiles and family practices: an analysis of pooled data from 37 countries.

Study Objectives: To examine 1) multidimensional sleep profiles in pre-schoolers (3-6 years) across geocultural regions and 2) differences in sleep characteristics and family practices between Majority World regions (Pacific Islands, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America) and the Minority World (the Western world).

Methods: Participants were 3507 pre-schoolers from 37 countries. Nighttime sleep characteristics and nap duration (accelerometer: n=1950) and family practices (parental questionnaire) were measured.