Pan African Medical Journal最新文献

{"title":"Exposure to cooking emissions in kitchens and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in women: a population-based case-control study in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.","authors":"Adama Sana, Benoit Kafando, Nicolas Meda, Catherine Bouland","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.88.43238","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2024.49.88.43238","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>women exposed to smoke are three times more likely to suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than women who cook with clean fuels. The present study aims to compare the level of exposure to particulate matter (PM_2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) inside kitchens, between women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy women, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>a pilot case-control study was conducted from January 7^th to 25^th, 2020, in 2 neighborhoods of Ouagadougou. Cases were women diagnosed with COPD and controls were women without COPD. The diagnosis of COPD was made on the basis of a standardized questionnaire administered and followed by a spirometry test. The sample comprised 9 cases and 9 controls. Exposure was assessed by using a multi-pollutant hand-held device, over a 24-hour period. Exposures of cases and controls were compared using the independent Student's t-test and in cases where the distribution was not normal, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the mean age was 59 ± 9.86 years in the cases group and 58.56 ± 7.45 years in the control group and there is no significant difference (p = 0.757). The mean concentrations of PM_2.5 measured in the 2 groups were above the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended threshold of 15 µg/m³ for 24 h exposure. The mean PM_2.5 concentration was 127.10 µg/m³ in the cases and 16.23 µg/m³ in the control group (p= 0.133). Concentrations of CO and VOCs were also higher in the kitchens of the cases than in those of the controls. However, no differences were statistically significant.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>although no statistically significant differences were observed, pollutant concentrations were higher in the kitchens of women with COPD. In addition, PM_2.5 levels measured in both groups exceeded WHO-recommended thresholds, underlining the need to reduce household exposure to pollutants. Further research is needed to better understand these impacts.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"88"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871887/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk factors for rifampicin resistance tuberculosis among patients attending Directly Observed Treatments Centres in Southwestern Nigeria.","authors":"Simeon Cadmus, Victor Oluwatoyin Akinseye, Temitayo Olagunju, Angela Makolo, Olutayo Falodun, Oluwole Lawal, John Babalola, Eniola Cadmus, Othman Yasir, Muse Fadeyi, Bolaji Ahmed, Alberto Piubello, Nimer Ortuno Guiterrez, Osman El-Tayeb","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.87.43958","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2024.49.87.43958","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>tuberculosis (TB) remains a disease of global health importance. GeneXpert has emerged as a useful tool for the diagnosis of drug resistant TB (DR-TB). We determined the risk factors associated with DR-TB among presumptive pulmonary TB patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>a cross-sectional study was conducted among presumptive TB patients attending Directly Observed Treatments (DOTs) centres in Southwestern Nigeria. Sputum samples were obtained from individuals with suspected pulmonary TB, subjected to GeneXpert as the first-line test and then culture. Data were analysed using STATA 12.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>sputum samples were collected from 2,169 consecutive patients and processed. A greater proportion of the participants (52.14%) were female, most within the age range of 20-39 (38.36%) and 40-59 (36.93%) years. About two-thirds, 66.34% (1439/2169) were GeneXpert positive and of this, 47 (3.27%) were DR-TB. Overall, 44.04% (855/2169) samples were culture positive. 7.56% of the patients were HIV positive, while 19.50%, 1.52% and 61.96% were new, relapse and previously treated cases, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified case definition (OR=2.38; 95%CI: 1.92-3.03) and (OR= 8.33; 95%CI: 5.26-12.50) and HIV (OR= 1.85; 95%CI: 1.29-2.65) and (OR= 3.61; 95%CI: 2.59-5.02) based on GeneXpert and culture as important risk factors for TB and DR-TB infection among participants.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>we found a moderate level prevalence of DR-TB with gender, previous TB treatments, and HIV status as major factors associated with DR-TB among study participants.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871884/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chronic complications of type 2 diabetes and associated factors: a cross-sectional study at the Moulay Hassan Hospital in Kenitra, Morocco.","authors":"Mohammed El Aameri, Imane Jaghror, Nadia Meskini, Hiba Benchehida, Ibtissam Eladha, Miloud Chakit, Aroui Norelhoda, Bouchra Taib, Youness Taboz","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.84.42930","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2024.49.84.42930","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>all around the world, type 2 diabetes is considered a metabolic disease that generates complications that can be very serious, even fatal, over time, especially if not properly managed. Clinical and biological parameters in blood glucose levels will be assessed in this study (N=300 patients). We assess the prevalence of complications caused by diabetes including diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular diseases. Type 2 diabetes is an incurred disease, but it can be managed. Self-therapeutic education is therefore imperative and highly recommended.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>this study was carried out at the Moulay Hassan Hospital in Kenitra (Morocco) using a self-administered questionnaire targeting chronic complications caused by diabetes. Descriptive statistical analysis was followed to determine frequencies and percentages for complications and we carried out univariable and multivariable regression analysis to determine factors associated with complications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the study highlights clinical and bioclinical features. Mean age of patients (58.51±13.11 year with standard deviation: 13,113), hypertension (45.7%), glycemia (1.85±0.64 g/l), HbA1c (8.09±1.7%), BMI (26.44±3.4 kg/m²) and chronic complications (41.7%) including retinopathy (16%), nephropathy (4%), neuropathy (3.3%), cardiovascular diseases (16.7%) and amnesia (2%). There was mainly a statistical difference between complications and HTA: (AOR=2.43 (1.52-3.89) (CI=95%) (p=0.000), chronic complications and smoking: (AOR=0.16) (0.04-0.61) (CI=95%) (p=0.007), complications and physical activity: (AOR=3,34) (1.34-7.24) (CI=95%) (p=0.014) and complications and lipid profile: (AOR=4.95) (2.79-8.77) (CI=95%) (p=0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>therapeutic education of type 2 patients with diabetes remains highly recommended, as it improves compliance with non-pharmacological treatment, especially hygienic-dietary measures, and physical activity, and limits the early onset of complications associated with diabetes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"84"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871885/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacteria profiles and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolates from beds and door handles of hospital wards in Tiko Health District, Cameroon.","authors":"Njeodo Njongang Vigny, Binwie Fanuella Shu","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.85.41817","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2024.49.85.41817","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>in low- and middle-income countries, hospital surfaces contaminated with bacteria, namely beds and door handles in hospital wards, are a major source of nosocomial infections. We sought to evaluate bacterial isolates from beds and door handles of hospital wards and ascertain their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Tiko Health District (THD), Cameroon.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>using a multistage sampling technique, this hospital-based cross-sectional study included 40 beds and 20 door handles in THD. Gram staining methods, biochemical reactions, and features of bacterial colonies were used to identify bacterial isolates. A frequency table and bar charts were used to display the data.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bacillus spp., Clostridium perfringens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Clostridium spp., and Staphylococcus aureus were identified. Patient beds were mainly contaminated with S. aureus (42.5%, 17/40). However, C. perfringens (35%, 7/20) was the most common isolate from door handles. S. aureus was resistant to bacitracin (100%, 21/21) but sensitive to gentamycin (95.2%, 20/21) and azithromycin (95.2%, 20/21). While C. perfringes was resistant to bacitracin (100%, 8/8), it was sensitive to gentamycin (75%, 6/8) and chloramphenicol (75%, 6/8).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>beds and door handle harbour largely S. aureus and C. perfringes, respectively. High sensitivity to gentamycin and resistance to bacitracin were observed in S. aureus and C. perfringes, respectively. Good and regular hand hygiene and the cleaning and disinfecting of door knobs and hospital beds should be practiced. Hospitals should fully adopt food safety protocols to prevent or control food poisoning effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"85"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871882/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlates of retinopathy in persons living with type 2 diabetes at a clinic in Zambia.","authors":"Joyce Kukeng'a Mwangu, Lukundo Siame, Memory Ngosa, Warren Chanda, Benson Malambo Hamooya, Bwalya Bupe Bwalya, Sepiso Kenias Masenga","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.83.43657","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2024.49.83.43657","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>diabetes mellitus presents a significant public health challenge globally, with its prevalence projected to rise, particularly in developing countries. Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes and a leading cause of blindness among adults. Despite its significance, research on diabetic retinopathy in sub-Saharan Africa, including Zambia, remains limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and identify associated factors among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) attending Mahatma Gandhi Clinic in the Livingstone District of the Southern Province of Zambia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>this was a cross-sectional study, involving 48 participants aged 18 years and above, living with T2DM, and enrolled at Mahatma Gandhi Clinic in Livingstone District of Southern Province, Zambia. The primary outcome was diabetic retinopathy, which was classified using the international classification of diabetic retinopathy. Both univariate and bivariate analysis were used to estimate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, whereas, logistic regression was used to determine the bio-demographic, social, and clinical variables associated with diabetic retinopathy.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the majority were females (n=37, 77.1%). The median age was 54 years (interquartile range (IQR) 48, 65). The mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 27.4 (standard deviation (SD), ±6.0). The median duration of living with T2DM was 60 months (IQR, 36,132), with a mean pulse pressure of 9.6 ± 2.8 mmHg and mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1C) of 9.58 ± 2.77%. Fifty percent of the participants had visual problems and hypertension (n=24 each, 50%,). Most participants reported not exercising for at least 30 minutes (n=37, 77.1 %,) and had uncontrolled sugar levels (n=32, 66.7%). Of the 48 participants, 12 (25%) had diabetic retinopathy. Longer duration of T2DM was the only factor significantly associated with diabetic retinopathy on multivariable analysis (AOR: 1.01; 95%Cl 1.00, 1.03, p<0.038).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>this study highlights a high prevalence (25%) of diabetic retinopathy among people living with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) being managed at Mahatma Gandhi Clinic in the Livingstone District of the Southern Province of Zambia. Longer duration of living with T2DM was positively associated with diabetic retinopathy. There is a need to provide routine eye examinations in this population and increase knowledge among clients living with T2DM to reduce the burden of diabetic retinopathy in our setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"83"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871881/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lessons learned during the establishment of a functional National Public Health Institute in the Democratic Republic of Congo: from 2018 to 2024.","authors":"Karl Angendu, Allan Komakech, José Nyamusore, Sylla Thiam, Ashleigh Howard, Virgile Kikaya, Diene Kaba, Richard Luce, Dieudonné Mwamba, Pierre Akilimali","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.80.45515","DOIUrl":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.80.45515","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) experiences several disease outbreaks every year. In 2023 alone, the DRC faced outbreaks of Mpox, measles, yellow fever, vaccine-derived polio, malaria, and cholera, alongside humanitarian crises in some regions. Despite the expertise and experience in responding to such epidemics, the timely detection and response to public health emergencies remained a significant challenge, primarily due to challenges in coordination. Following the country´s 10^th Ebola viral outbreak from 2018-2020 which led to more than 2,000 deaths, the DRC government committed to establishing a National Public Health Institute (NPHI) to centralize and provide leadership for the public health functions involved in the prevention, detection, and response to disease outbreaks. The NPHI was legally established in April 2022 and began its operations in September 2022 after the appointment of its leadership team. Since then, the country has achieved improved coordination of outbreak response through the establishment of an incident management system and an emergency operations centre, the launch of a coordinated approach to public health research, and enhanced mortality surveillance. Enabling factors for the establishment of the NPHI included political will and strong partnerships with stakeholders. However, challenges during the setup and early phases of its operations, such as resistance to change, delays in mobilising funding, and coordinating support, were also noted. In this paper, we document some of the key lessons learned during the establishment of the NPHI in the DRC, the early successes, how the challenges encountered were addressed, and insights for countries intending to establish their own NPHIs.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11845991/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143484545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ten-year review of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in Tanzania: a single center retrospective review.","authors":"Nadeem Kassam, Mohamed Varwani, Mzee Ngunga, Mohamed Jeilan, Mangaro Mabusi, James Orwa, Salim Surani, Robert Mvungi, Nasiruddin Jamal","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.82.45351","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2024.49.82.45351","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is an emerging epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although the true burden may be underreported in the African continent, it still remains one of the leading causes of death among adults aged above 60 years. ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is a clinically time-sensitive fatal sequela of IHD with timely reperfusion by primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) being the gold standard of care. There has been steady progress in coronary care services in Tanzania, alongside a rise in IHD-related risk factors. However, data on this is limited. This study aimed to examine trends in STEMI over the past decade and identify factors associated to in-hospital mortality.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>this single-center retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan Hospital Dar-es-Salaam (AKHD), Tanzania. The AKHD is one of the pioneers in establishing the first cardiac catheterization laboratory in the nation. The current study involved extracting relevant data of all patients who presented with STEMI from August 2014 to December 2023. Descriptive statistics were used to define the population. Patient´s outcomes were based on hospital survival. Binary logistic regression was run (at 95% CI and p-value<0.05) to identify the determinants for in-hospital mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>two hundred and thirty (n=230) patients were included in the final analysis. The cohort was predominantly male (83.5%, n=192), with a median age of 55.0 years (IQR 48.0-65.0). More than half of the cohort were patients with Diabetes (56.9%, n=131) and hypertension (51.6%, n=111), presenting in Killip class I symptoms (54.3%, n=125). Most patients presented with chest pain (n=162,72.6%), with a median duration of 12.2 hours (IQR 3.0-24.0 hours). The left anterior descending (LAD) artery was the culprit vessel in most cases (48.7%, n=112). A total of 163 (70.8%) patients underwent Primary-PCI. A mean BMI above 36.2 kg/m²(±5.7) (OR 1.46, CI 1.17-2.10), the presence of smoking (OR 41.68, CI 2.60-240.71), and the need for mechanical ventilation (OR 77.42, CI 1.95-128.89) were factors associated with in-hospital mortality.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>the in-hospital mortality among patients with STEMI at our hospital was 5.7%. Cigarette smoking, obesity and the need for mechanical ventilation were predictors of poor in-hospital outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871888/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The interest of ketamine as an adjuvant to fentanyl in post-tonsillectomy analgesia in children: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Imen Zouche, Salma Ketata, Ines Kharrat, Faiza Grati, Sirine Ayadi, Mariem Keskes, Rahma Derbel, Ilhem Charfeddine, Hichem Cheikhrouhou","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.81.42791","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2024.49.81.42791","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>tonsillectomy is the most commonly performed surgery in children. It is a painful surgery, which is often an ordeal for both children and their parents. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of ketamine used instead of or as an adjuvant to fentanyl on early postoperative pain scores in children undergoing tonsillectomy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>we conducted a double-blind prospective randomized study including 60 children, aged between 2 and 7 years, scheduled to undergo adenotonsillectomy. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups: group G1 received 2 μg/kg of fentanyl, group G2 received 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine and group G3 received an association of fentanyl 1μg/kg and 0.25 mg/kg of ketamine. We recorded postoperative analgesic requirements and side effects. The pain was assessed in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) by the face, legs, activity, cry, and controllability (FLACC) pain scale. We evaluated the requirement for additional analgesics, postoperative nausea, and vomiting.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>sixty children were included. Twenty patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups. Better control of pain was noted in group G3 ( Median FLACC scale G3=0 Inter quartile range (IQR)=-1 - 1), with a significant difference at 30 min compared to both groups G1 (median FLACC scale G1=3 [IQR=-1 - 7]; p=0,008) and G2 (median FLACC scale G2=1 [IQR=-2 - 4]; p=0.036). The need for additional analgesia and side effects in the PACU were comparable for the three groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ketamine associated with fentanyl provides satisfactory early analgesia and can even replace fentanyl during tonsillectomy.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"81"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11871886/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143544267","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of short-term chanting on electroencephalographic microstates.","authors":"Prashant Tayade, Manorma Saini, Gaurav Saini, Suriya Prakash Muthukrishnan, Simran Kaur, Ratna Sharma, Abhisek Sahoo","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.76.44648","DOIUrl":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.76.44648","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>chanting in meditation reduces stress and it is reported to have a relaxation effect during both verbal \"OM\" chanting (VOM) and listening to \"OM\" chanting (LOM). There is paucity of literature on EEG microstates information after VOM and LOM using qEEG compared to the resting condition.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>therefore, to examine the effect of these actions on the brain using qEEG, it is required to compare the EEG microstates among the baseline, VOM, and LOM. In the present work, 23 adult male subjects were examined and given a paradigm designed using E-prime for both VOM and LOM chanting each of 5 min duration. A 128-channel geodesic sensor net was used to obtain the experimental data, which was later pre-processed, segmented, and analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the present work is the first to report the three scalp maps topographies, i.e. microstates obtained utilizing k-means cluster analysis for the response of the VOM and LOM. Also, the number of time frames, Global Explained Variance (GEV), time coverage, and mean duration parameters for the three maps were analysed statistically.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>the study revealed three microstate topographies as markers and reported no significant effect/changes for the short-term chanting.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"76"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11845998/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143484542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing genomics and translational research to improve health in Africa: a report of the 13^th African Society of Human Genetics meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.","authors":"Siana Nkya, Aneth David, Mohamed Zahir Alimohamed, Kilaza Samson, Grantina Modern, Michèle Ramsay, Julie Makani, Scott Williams, Victoria Nembaware, Ambroise Wonkam","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.79.42550","DOIUrl":"10.11604/pamj.2024.49.79.42550","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The thirteenth conference of the African Society of Human Genetics with the theme \"harnessing genomics and translational research to improve health in Africa\" was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in August 2021, using a hybrid in-person and virtual model for participation in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. During the meeting, African research across various human genetics disciplines was presented, including talks on the genetics of infectious and non-communicable diseases, population genetics, and translational research. The meeting also featured presentations on pharmacogenomics, genetics of developmental disorders, cancer genetics and genetics of rare diseases. In-depth discussions on ethical legal and social issues in genomics research and community and patient engagement were also key sessions of this meeting. The primary focus of the conference and the discussions was how to translate the wealth of genomic research in the continent into improved health outcomes in the continent. In this report, we summarize the key scientific research relevant to Africa presented and discussed during the meeting providing an overview of the progress of human genetics in the continent. We also discuss opportunities and challenges of harnessing genomics for health improvement in Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"49 ","pages":"79"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11845995/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143484543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}