scholarly journals Peptides derived of kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor as potential vaccine against experimental schistosomiasis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Hernández-Goenaga ◽  
Julio López-Abán ◽  
Anna V. Protasio ◽  
Belén Vicente Santiago ◽  
Esther del Olmo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protease Inhibitor ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Serine Protease ◽  
Protective Efficacy ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Peptide Epitopes ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Kunitz Type ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractSchistosomiasis is a significant public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, China, South-East Asia and regions of South and central America affecting about 189 million people. Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitors have been identified as important players in the interaction of other flatworm parasites with their mammalian hosts. Here, we evaluate the protective efficacy of chemically synthesized of T- and B-cell peptide epitopes derived from a kunitz protein from Schistosoma mansoni. Putative kunitz-type protease inhibitor proteins were identified in the S. mansoni genome and their expression analyzed by RNA-seq. Gene expression analyses showed that the kunitz protein Smp_147730 (Syn. Smp_311670) was dramatically and significantly up-regulated in schistosomula and adult worms when compared to the invading cercariae. T- and B-cell epitopes were predicted using bioinformatics tools, chemically synthesized and formulated in the Adjuvant Adaptation (ADAD) vaccination system. BALB/c mice were vaccinated and challenged with S. mansoni cercariae. Kunitz peptides were highly protective in vaccinated BALB/c mice showing significant reductions in recovery of adult females (89-91%), and in the numbers of eggs trapped in the livers (77-81%) and guts (57-77%) of mice. Moreover, liver lesions were significantly reduced in vaccinated mice (64-65%) compared to infected control mice. The vaccination regime was well tolerated with both peptides. We propose the use of these peptides, alone or in combination, as reliable candidates for vaccination against schistosomiasis.

scholarly journals Global Patterns of Prostate Cancer Incidence, Aggressiveness, and Mortality in Men of African Descent

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy R. Rebbeck ◽  
Susan S. Devesa ◽  
Bao-Li Chang ◽  
Clareann H. Bunker ◽  
Iona Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
African Descent ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Tumor Stage ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Incidence And Mortality ◽  
African Caribbean ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Sub Saharan

Prostate cancer (CaP) is the leading cancer among men of African descent in the USA, Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The estimated number of CaP deaths in SSA during 2008 was more than five times that among African Americans and is expected to double in Africa by 2030. We summarize publicly available CaP data and collected data from the men of African descent and Carcinoma of the Prostate (MADCaP) Consortium and the African Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3) to evaluate CaP incidence and mortality in men of African descent worldwide. CaP incidence and mortality are highest in men of African descent in the USA and the Caribbean. Tumor stage and grade were highest in SSA. We report a higher proportion of T1 stage prostate tumors in countries with greater percent gross domestic product spent on health care and physicians per 100,000 persons. We also observed that regions with a higher proportion of advanced tumors reported lower mortality rates. This finding suggests that CaP is underdiagnosed and/or underreported in SSA men. Nonetheless, CaP incidence and mortality represent a significant public health problem in men of African descent around the world.

scholarly journals Future Directions for Meningitis Surveillance and Vaccine Evaluation in the Meningitis Belt of Sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. S279-S285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan T Novak ◽  
Olivier Ronveaux ◽  
André F Bita ◽  
Honoré Flavien Aké ◽  
Fernanda C Lessa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conjugate Vaccine ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Laboratory Diagnostics ◽  
Meningitis Belt ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In sub-Saharan Africa, bacterial meningitis remains a significant public health problem, especially in the countries of the meningitis belt, where Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A historically caused large-scale epidemics. In 2014, MenAfriNet was established as a consortium of partners supporting strategic implementation of case-based meningitis surveillance to monitor meningitis epidemiology and impact of meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV). MenAfriNet improved data quality through use of standardized tools, procedures, and laboratory diagnostics. MenAfriNet surveillance and study data provided evidence of ongoing MACV impact, characterized the burden of non-serogroup A meningococcal disease (including the emergence of a new epidemic clone of serogroup C), and documented the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. New vaccines and schedules have been proposed for future implementation to address the remaining burden of meningitis. To support the goals of “Defeating Meningitis by 2030,” MenAfriNet will continue to strengthen surveillance and support research and modeling to monitor the impact of these programs on meningitis burden in sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Household Food Insecurity, Dietary Diversity, and Stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4401
Author(s):  
Goudja Gassara ◽  
Jihua Chen
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Bibliographic Databases ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Significant Public Health Problem ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Sub Saharan

Background: The significant public health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa of household food insecurity is an underlying cause of malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to systematically study the association between household food insecurity, dietary diversity, and stunting. Methods: This review was carried out based on the recommendations of PRISMA (2015). We searched the literature in six bibliographic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The research was based on studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa about household food insecurity, dietary diversity, and stunting and was published between 2009 and 2020. Results: Out of 2398 original articles identified, only 21 articles met the specific requirements of this review. Two-thirds of the articles selected showed that stunting was linked to household food insecurity and dietary diversity. Conclusions: This study found that household food insecurity and dietary diversity are significantly associated with stunting in Sub-Saharan Africa. This review recommends that in order to yield a sustainable fight against childhood malnutrition in Sub-Saharan Africa, reliable guidelines and strategies are needed to address these factors related to malnutrition.

RTS,S/AS01, a vaccine targeting pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (6) ◽  
pp. 533-537
Author(s):  
Lorenz von Seidlein ◽  
Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn ◽  
Podjanee Jittmala ◽  
Sasithon Pukrittayakamee
Keyword(s):  
Protective Efficacy ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
European Medicines Agency ◽  
Older Children ◽  
Pivotal Phase ◽  
Malaria Epidemiology ◽  
Maximum Benefit ◽  
Sub Saharan

RTS,S/AS01 is the most advanced vaccine to prevent malaria. It is safe and moderately effective. A large pivotal phase III trial in over 15 000 young children in sub-Saharan Africa completed in 2014 showed that the vaccine could protect around one-third of children (aged 5–17 months) and one-fourth of infants (aged 6–12 weeks) from uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The European Medicines Agency approved licensing and programmatic roll-out of the RTSS vaccine in malaria endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO is planning further studies in a large Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, in more than 400 000 young African children. With the changing malaria epidemiology in Africa resulting in older children at risk, alternative modes of employment are under evaluation, for example the use of RTS,S/AS01 in older children as part of seasonal malaria prophylaxis. Another strategy is combining mass drug administrations with mass vaccine campaigns for all age groups in regional malaria elimination campaigns. A phase II trial is ongoing to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the RTSS in combination with antimalarial drugs in Thailand. Such novel approaches aim to extract the maximum benefit from the well-documented, short-lasting protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01.

scholarly journals A brief review on features of falciparum malaria during pregnancy

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Manirakiza ◽  
Eugène Serdouma ◽  
Richard Norbert Ngbalé ◽  
Sandrine Moussa ◽  
Samuel Gondjé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Falciparum Malaria ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Malaria In Pregnancy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Malaria During Pregnancy ◽  
Concurrent Infections ◽  
Tropical Areas ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Protection Against Infection ◽  
In Pregnancy

Malaria in pregnancy is a serious public health problem in tropical areas. Frequently, the placenta is infected by accumulation of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in the intervillous space. Falciparum malaria acts during pregnancy by a range of mechanisms, and chronic or repeated infection and co-infections have insidious effects. The susceptibility of pregnant women to malaria is due to both immunological and humoral changes. Until a malaria vaccine becomes available, the deleterious effects of malaria in pregnancy can be avoided by protection against infection and prompt treatment with safe, effective antimalarial agents; however, concurrent infections such as with HIV and helminths during pregnancy are jeopardizing malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa.

scholarly journals Factors associated with oral cavity cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa: Summary of the literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
A Dieng ◽  
AD Faye ◽  
MM Ndiaye ◽  
G Diop ◽  
A Bouazé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Manual Search ◽  
African Populations ◽  
Localization Strategy ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Oral Cavity Cancers

INTRODUCTION: Oral cavity cancers are now a public health problem according to WHO epidemiological data. There are several risk factors or factors associated with cancers of the oral cavity but they vary according to geographic regions. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with cancers of the oral cavity in Sub-Saharan African populations through a systematic literature review. METHODOLOGY: Using the data available for the period from January 1980 to December 2019, a synthesis of the literature was carried out. The literature localization strategy included an electronic search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and GOOGLE SCHOLAR databases from 1980 to 2019 and a manual search of the list of references of articles identified by snowballing. The data were extracted independently by two researchers on an Excel© spreadsheet. Parameters collected from each study were author, country, type of study, period of study, size, age, gender, and factors studied. RESULTS: Out of 1,318 articles found, 24 were selected. The data contained 17,290 patients including 8,229 men, i.e. a male / female sex-ratio of 0.91. Factors studied were tobacco, alcohol, diet, infection, genetics and social factors. CONCLUSION: The results reported showed that several factors are associated with the occurrence of oral cavity cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is a need to conduct further studies with more structured methodologies for more convincing results.

scholarly journals Prise En Charge Des Péritonites Aiguës Dans Un Hôpital De District En Afrique Sub-saharienne : Cas Du Bénin

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (36) ◽  
pp. 388
Author(s):  
Bio Tamou Sambo ◽  
Salako Alexandre Allodé ◽  
Didier Sewadé Wekpon ◽  
Djifid Morel Séto ◽  
Montcho Adrien Hodonou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
District Hospital ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Prise En Charge ◽  
Prospective Data ◽  
Acute Peritonitis ◽  
Generalized Peritonitis ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Surgery Department

Introduction: Peritonitis remains a public health problem in Africa. We aim to describe the epidemiological, etiological and therapeutic aspects of acute peritonitis in a district hospital in Sub Saharan Africa. Methods: This was a descriptive study with prospective data collection over a period of 15 months from May 1 st 2015 to July 31st 2016 in Bembereke district hospital. It has taken into account all the patients managed in the general surgery department for acute generalized peritonitis that has been confirmed at laparotomy. Results: Fifty-three patients, 38 men (71.7 %) and 15 women (28.3 %) had been registered. The average age of the patients was 19.8 ± 16.9 years. The main etiologies were: non-traumatic ileal perforation from typhoid infection 52.8%; perforated gastric or duodenal ulcer 17%; complicated appendicitis and abdominal traumas 11.3% each one. Twenty nine patients (54.7%) have been operated by a surgeon and the 24 remaining (45.3%) by a general practitioner with surgical skills. Twenty one patients (39.6%) had postoperative complications of which 11 cases of parietal suppurations (52.4%). The mortality rate was 11.3%. The mean hospital stay was 22.5 ± 4 days. Conclusion: In northern-Benin, peritonitis remains dominated by the complications of typhoid fever. The mortality rate remains high. Prevention requires good hygiene and awareness of early consultations.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Anemia and Undernutrition of Adolescent Females in Selected Schools in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Marina Aferiba Tandoh ◽  
Abigail Owusuaa Appiah ◽  
Anthony Kwaku Edusei
Keyword(s):  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Adolescent Females ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Poor Nutrition ◽  
Prevalence Of Anemia

Anemia among adolescent females is a major worldwide public health problem which should be given appropriate attention. Half of all anemic cases are caused by iron deficiency. In addition to anemia, poor nutrition is also a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. This study determined the prevalence of anemia and undernutrition among adolescent females in school. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 151 adolescent females in four basic schools in the Ahafo region of Ghana. The hemoglobin level and anthropometry measures of participants were taken to determine their anemic and nutritional status. The prevalence of anemia among adolescent females in school was 50.3%. Out of the 151 participants, 6.6%, 19.9%, and 23.8% were severely anemic, moderately anemic, or mildly anemic, respectively. Only 2% of the participants were underweight, but the rate of stunting was 26.5%. The notable high prevalence of anemia that was found among adolescent females was correlated with other health and wellness concerns. Anemia and under nutrition negatively affect academic performance, productivity, and general wellbeing of adolescents; therefore, effective measures should be put in place to correct and eradicate these nutritional problems.

scholarly journals The prevalence of scabies in Monrovia, Liberia: a population-based survey

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelui Collinson ◽  
Joseph Timothy ◽  
Samuel K Zayay ◽  
Karsor K Kollie ◽  
Eglantine Lebas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackgroundScabies is known to be a public health problem in many settings but the majority of recent data is from rural settings in the Pacific. There is a need for high quality data from sub-Saharan Africa and peri-Urban settings to inform scale up of scabies control efforts. There have been anecdotal reports of scabies being a public health problem in Liberia but robust data are lacking.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional cluster-randomised prevalence survey for scabies in a peri-urban community in Monrovia, Liberia in February-March 2020. Participants underwent a standardised examination conducted by trained local health care workers. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using age-appropriate dermatology life quality indices (DLQIs). Prevalence estimates were calculated accounting for clustering at community and household levels and associations with key demographic variables assessed through multivariable random-effects logistic regression.Results1,318 participants from 477 households were surveyed. The prevalence of scabies prevalence was 9.3% (95% CI: 6.5-13.2%), across 75 (19.7%) households; impetigo or infected scabies prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4-1.9%). The majority (52%) of scabies cases were classified as severe. Scabies prevalence was lower in females and higher in the youngest age group; no associations were found with other collected demographic or socio-economic variables. DLQI scores indicated a very or extremely large effect on HRQoL in 29% of adults and 18% of children diagnosed with scabies.ConclusionsOur study indicates a substantial burden of scabies in this peri-Urban population in Liberia. This was associated with significant impact on quality of life, highlighting the need for action to control scabies in this population. Further work is needed to assess the impact of interventions in this context on both the prevalence of scabies and quality of life.Plain English summaryScabies is an infestation with a microscopic mite which affects many people living in low-resource tropical countries. It causes intense itching, which can lead to complications through bacterial infection and poor quality of life. To help develop global scabies control programmes, we need a better understanding of how common it is across different tropical settings. We conducted a survey to assess the burden of scabies and bacterial skin infection in a random sample of people living in a community in Monrovia, Liberia. Information about participants and their household were collected and their skin was examined; those with skin conditions were asked about its impact on quality of life.We examined 1,318 participants and found that almost 10% of people had scanies. Scabies was more common in young children, and was more common in male children than female children. We found that there was a large impact on quality of life due mostly to the itching that scabies causes and to people feeling embarrassed or sad because of their skin condition. This scabies survey is one of the first conducted across all age groups in recent years in sub-Saharan Africa and indicates a substantial burden and impact on quality of life. More work is needed to understand how common scabies is in different settings and the impact that different treatment strategies may have.

A multi-state spatio-temporal Markov model for categorized incidence of meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (8) ◽  
pp. 1764-1771 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. AGIER ◽  
M. STANTON ◽  
G. SOGA ◽  
P. J. DIGGLE
Keyword(s):  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Major Public Health Problem ◽  
Temporal Dependence ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Annual Scale

SUMMARYMeningococcal meningitis is a major public health problem in the African Belt. Despite the obvious seasonality of epidemics, the factors driving them are still poorly understood. Here, we provide a first attempt to predict epidemics at the spatio-temporal scale required for in-year response, using a purely empirical approach. District-level weekly incidence rates for Niger (1986–2007) were discretized into latent, alert and epidemic states according to pre-specified epidemiological thresholds. We modelled the probabilities of transition between states, accounting for seasonality and spatio-temporal dependence. One-week-ahead predictions for entering the epidemic state were generated with specificity and negative predictive value >99%, sensitivity and positive predictive value >72%. On the annual scale, we predict the first entry of a district into the epidemic state with sensitivity 65·0%, positive predictive value 49·0%, and an average time gained of 4·6 weeks. These results could inform decisions on preparatory actions.

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