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Kacholi DS. A comprehensive review of antimalarial medicinal plants used by Tanzanians. Pharm Biol 2024; 62:133-152. [PMID: 38270178 PMCID: PMC10812860 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2024.2305453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Tanzania has rich medicinal plant (MP) resources, and most rural inhabitants rely on traditional healing practices for their primary healthcare needs. However, available research evidence on antimalarial MPs is highly fragmented in the country. OBJECTIVE This systematic review compiles ethnomedicinal research evidence on MPs used by Tanzanians as antimalarials. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic web search was conducted using various electronic databases and grey materials to gather relevant information on antimalarial MPs utilized by Tanzanians. The review was per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The data were collected from 25 articles, and MS Excel software was used to analyse relevant ethnobotanical information using descriptive statistics. RESULTS A total of 227 MPs belonging to 67 botanical families and 180 genera were identified. Fabaceae (15.9%) is the most frequently utilized family. The ethnobotanical recipes analysis indicated leaves (40%) and trees (44%) are the preferred MPs part and life form, respectively. Decoctions (67%) are the dominant preparation method of remedies. Of the recorded MPs, 25.9% have been scientifically investigated for antimalarial activities with positive results. However, 74.1% of MPs have no scientific records on antimalarial activities, but they could be potential sources of remedies. CONCLUSIONS The study discloses a wealth of antimalarial MPs possessed by Tanzanians and suggests a need for research to authenticate the healing potential of antimalarial compounds from the unstudied MPs. Additionally, it indicates that some of the presented MPs are potential sources for developing safe, effective and affordable antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Sylvester Kacholi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE), University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Onyono PN, Kavoi BM, Kiama SG, Makanya AN. Comparative ultrastructure of the olfactory system in the East African root rat (Tachyoryctes splendens) and the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber). Anat Histol Embryol 2024; 53:e13034. [PMID: 38563613 DOI: 10.1111/ahe.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The ultrastructure of the olfactory system of most fossorial rodents remains largely unexplored. This study sought to investigate the functional structure of the olfactory mucosa and olfactory bulb of two species of fossorial rodents that have distinct behaviour and ecology, the East African root rat (RR) and the naked mole rat (NMR). Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were employed. The basic ultrastructural design of the olfactory system of the two species was largely comparable. In both species, the olfactory mucosa comprised an olfactory epithelium and an underlying lamina propria. The olfactory epithelium revealed olfactory knobs, cilia and microvilli apically and sustentancular cells, olfactory receptor neurons and basal cells in the upper, middle and basal zones, respectively. The lamina propria was constituted by Bowman's glands, olfactory nerve bundles and vasculature supported by loose connective tissue. Within the olfactory bulb, intracellular and extracellular structures including cell organelles, axons and dendrites were elucidated. Notable species differences were observed in the basal zone of the olfactory epithelium and on the luminal surface of the olfactory mucosa. The basal zone of the olfactory epithelium of the RR consisted of a single layer of flattened electron-dense horizontal basal cells while the NMR had juxtaposed electron-dense and electron-lucent heterogenous cells, an occurrence seen as being indicative of quiescent and highly proliferative states of the olfactory epithelia in the two species, respectively. The olfactory epithelial surface of the NMR comprised an elaborate cilia network that intertwined extensively forming loop-like structures whereas in the RR, the surface was rugged and consisted of finger-like processes and irregular masses. With gross and histological studies showing significant differences in the olfactory structures of the two species, these findings are a further manifestation that the olfactory system of the RR and the NMR have evolved differently to reflect their varied olfactory functional needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- P N Onyono
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, Egerton University, Egerton, Kenya
| | - B M Kavoi
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - S G Kiama
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - A N Makanya
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
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Getie A, Gedfew M, Wondmieneh A, Bimerew M, Gedefaw G, Demis A. Treatment outcomes, types, risk factors, and common manifestations of stroke among admitted stroke patients in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analyses. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2024; 33:107606. [PMID: 38290687 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.107606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Stroke is the sudden onset of a reduced cerebral perfusion-related localized or widespread neurologic impairment. The two main causes of poor treatment outcomes are uncontrolled blood pressure and hospital arrival delays. Identifying the risk factors, types of stroke presentation, and treatment options might be used in the prevention, early detection, and management of stroke to provide the best care to patients. OBJECTIVE This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the treatment outcomes, types, and risk factors of stroke patients in Ethiopia. METHODS A variety of databases were searched, including African Journals Online (AJOL), Google Scholar, Scopus, EMBASE (Ovid), and HINARI, and published and unpublished articles from the Ethiopian Universities repository. To pool the outcome variables, a weighted inverse variance random-effects model at 95% Cl was employed. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed using Cochrane I2 statistics and Egger's test with funnel plot, respectively. A subgroup analysis was conducted based on sample size, case definition, and region to detect source of heterogeneity. RESULT This study contained data from 26 studies, involving 6291 study participants, from different regions of Ethiopia. Out of 19 articles with I2 = 96.1%, p<0.001, the pooled prevalence of improved stroke treatment outcome was 47.50% (95% CI: 40.20-54.80), while the prevalence of mortality was 18.95% (95% CI: 15.62-22.29) from 19 articles with I2 = 87.9%, p<0.001. In Ethiopia, ischemic stroke accounted for 59.34% of all stroke cases (95% CI: 53.73-64.95). Among risk factors, substance abuse ranked second at 36.58% (95% CI: 25.22-47.93), after hypertension at 50.90% (95% CI: 43.77-56.27). According to the findings, hemiparalysis or hemiplegia was mentioned as a frequent clinical sign associated with stroke (56.87%) (95% CI: 45.65-68.06). CONCLUSION The improved treatment outcome was not satisfactory, and the most common type of stroke was an ischemic stroke. Hypertension was the most common risk factor, followed by substance use. As a result, there should be a strengthening of post-stroke care and the creation of awareness about the risk factors and clinical manifestations for prevention and early detection of stroke in Ethiopian people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Addisu Getie
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
| | - Mihretie Gedfew
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Adam Wondmieneh
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Melaku Bimerew
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Getnet Gedefaw
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Asmamaw Demis
- Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia
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Tiruneh MG, Fenta ET, Endeshaw D, Eshetu HB, Adal O, Tareke AA, Kebede N, Delie AM, Bogale EK, Anagaw TF. Six in ten female youths in low-income East African countries had problems in accessing health care: a multilevel analysis of recent demographic and health surveys from 2016-2021. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:533. [PMID: 38671487 PMCID: PMC11046753 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10934-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Access to health care services is a basic human right, and an individual's health and overall quality of life may suffer as a result of barriers to accessing health services. Access to comprehensive and quality health care is fundamental for promoting and maintaining health, preventing and treating diseases, and reducing premature deaths. However, only half of the African population has access to modern health services. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the health care access and associated factors among female youths in low-income East African countries. METHODS This study used secondary data from 2016 to 2021 demographic and health surveys of 7 low-income East African countries. A total weighted sample of 51,064 youths was included. A multilevel binary logistic regression was employed to identify the associated factors of access to health care since the data has a hierarchical structure. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) at a p-value less than 0.05 was used to measure the association of variables whereas Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Median Odds Ratio (MOR), and proportional change in variance (PCV) were used to measure random effects. RESULT The overall magnitude of access to healthcare among female youths in low-income East African countries was 38.84% (95% CI: 38.41, 39.26). Youth's educational level, rich wealth status, media exposure, and community level education were the positive while higher youth's age and rural residence were the negative predictors of access to healthcare among female youths. Besides, living in different countries compared to Burundi was also an associated factor for accessing healthcare in low-income East African countries. CONCLUSION About six in ten female youths were not accessing health care in low-income East African countries. Therefore, to increase healthcare access, health managers and policymakers needed to develop strategies to improve the poor household wealth index, and redistribution of health services for rural residents. The decision-makers and program planners should also work on increasing access to education and media exposure for youths. Further research including health system and quality of service-related factors for accessing healthcare should also be considered by researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misganaw Guadie Tiruneh
- Department of Health Systems and Policy, Institute of Public Health, College Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, P.O. Box: 196, Ethiopia.
| | - Eneyew Talie Fenta
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Destaw Endeshaw
- Department of Adult Health Nursing, School of Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Habitu Birhan Eshetu
- Department of Health Promotion and Health Behaviour, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Ousman Adal
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Abiyu Abadi Tareke
- Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, SLL project COVID-19/EPI technical assistant at West Gondar Zonal Health Department, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Natnael Kebede
- Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
| | - Amare Mebrat Delie
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Eyob Ketema Bogale
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Tadele Fentabel Anagaw
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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Byrne A, Tebbs EJ, Njoroge P, Nkwabi A, Chadwick MA, Freeman R, Harper D, Norris K. Productivity declines threaten East African soda lakes and the iconic Lesser Flamingo. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1786-1793.e4. [PMID: 38614083 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Soda lakes are some of the most productive aquatic ecosystems.1 Their alkaline-saline waters sustain unique phytoplankton communities2,3 and provide vital habitats for highly specialized biodiversity including invertebrates, endemic fish species, and Lesser Flamingos (Phoeniconaias minor).1,4 More than three-quarters of Lesser Flamingos inhabit the soda lakes of East Africa5; however, populations are in decline.6 Declines could be attributed to their highly specialized diet of cyanobacteria7 and dependence on a network of soda lake feeding habitats that are highly sensitive to climate fluctuations and catchment degradation.8,9,10,11,12 However, changing habitat availability has not been assessed due to a lack of in situ water quality and hydrology data and the irregular monitoring of these waterbodies.13 Here, we combine satellite Earth observations and Lesser Flamingo abundance observations to quantify spatial and temporal trends in productivity and ecosystem health over multiple decades at 22 soda lakes across East Africa. We found that Lesser Flamingo distributions are best explained by phytoplankton biomass, an indicator of food availability. However, timeseries analyses revealed significant declines in phytoplankton biomass from 1999 to 2022, most likely driven by substantial rises in lake water levels. Declining productivity has reduced the availability of healthy soda lake ecosystems, most notably in equatorial Kenya and northern Tanzania. Our results highlight the increasing vulnerability of Lesser Flamingos and other soda lake biodiversity in East Africa, particularly with increased rainfall predicted under climate change.14,15,16 Without improved lake monitoring and catchment management practices, soda lake ecosystems could be pushed beyond their environmental tolerances. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan Byrne
- Department of Geography, King's College London, London WC2B 4BG, England; Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, England.
| | - Emma J Tebbs
- Department of Geography, King's College London, London WC2B 4BG, England
| | - Peter Njoroge
- National Museums of Kenya, Museum Hill Road, P.O Box 40658 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ally Nkwabi
- Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, P.O Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Michael A Chadwick
- Department of Geography, King's College London, London WC2B 4BG, England
| | - Robin Freeman
- Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, England
| | - David Harper
- School of Geography, Geology & Environment, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK; Freshwater Biological Association, Newby Bridge, Cumbria LA12 8BD, England
| | - Ken Norris
- Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, England
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Gebeyehu T, Abaynew Y. Prevalence and patterns of third molar impaction among Ethiopians in Addis Ababa: a retrospective pilot study. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8952. [PMID: 38637677 PMCID: PMC11026538 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59821-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Tooth impaction is a condition in which a tooth does not reach its normal position and is often observed in the third mandibular molar due to inadequate space. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and configuration of the impacted third molars with an emphasis on angular orientations in a sample of the Ethiopian population. This cross-sectional study included a retrospective analysis of 291 patient records and orthopantomography data from the archives of a private dental clinic in Addis Ababa, during the study period from December 2020 to November 2022. Demographic details and data on the position and level of the impacted third molars were evaluated using the Winter classification. Data were analyzed for frequency distribution. The prevalence of impacted third molars was 22% (n = 64), with a greater incidence on the right side (60.9%) and a higher frequency in the mandible (67.2%). Vertical angulation (32.8%), followed by mesioangular angulation (31.2%), was the most common impaction pattern. The results highlight the need for improved treatment protocols for third molar impaction, emphasizing the prevalence in the mandible and the importance of addressing vertical impaction. Regular dental check-ups are essential for assessing third molar impaction and planning appropriate management. These data can inform policymaking and treatment considerations for impacted third molars in the Ethiopian population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yeshewas Abaynew
- School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia.
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Ebissa DT, Getahun E. Development and Performance Evaluation of Biomass-Based Injera Baking Gasifier Stove: A Case Study of Clean Cooking Technologies in Ethiopia. ScientificWorldJournal 2024; 2024:1524398. [PMID: 38628597 PMCID: PMC11019570 DOI: 10.1155/2024/1524398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The primary energy source in Ethiopia is biomass. Over 80% of Ethiopians are rural dwellers who rely on biomass energy for lighting and cooking. In most parts of Ethiopia, injera is traditionally baked using an open fire, a three stone, or a device using woody biomass. These baking stoves have very low efficiency and consume a significant amount of fuel. Moreover, these traditional baking stoves have released large amounts of indoor air pollution, which has led to different types of health-related risks, especially for women and children in the country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate efficient and fuel-saving injera baking technologies. Rigorously, an injera baking gasifier stove was designed, developed, and characterized in detail through water boiling and control cooking test methods. The indoor air pollution level was evaluated using particulate matter measuring instruments. The result indicated that the developed gasifier stove had a thermal efficiency of 21.8%. Furthermore, an 86% fuel savings performance was demonstrated by the controlled cooking test for the injera baking gasifier stove. The average emission concentrations of particulate matter and carbon monoxide were 608 µg/m3 and 9 ppm, respectively, during indoor air pollution determination. The study showed that injera baking gasifier stoves are a promising cooking technology for societies where baking is mostly dependent on traditional biomass fuel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawit Tessema Ebissa
- Bahir Dar Energy Center, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- Ethiopian Textile and Fashion Design Institute, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Eshetu Getahun
- Bahir Dar Energy Center, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
- Chemical Engineering Department, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
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Weiss K, Valero D, Villiger E, Thuany M, Forte P, Gajda R, Scheer V, Sreckovic S, Cuk I, Nikolaidis PT, Andrade MS, Knechtle B. Analysis of over 1 million race records shows runners from East African countries as the fastest in 50-km ultra-marathons. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8006. [PMID: 38580778 PMCID: PMC10997622 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58571-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The 50-km ultra-marathon is a popular race distance, slightly longer than the classic marathon distance. However, little is known about the country of affiliation and age of the fastest 50-km ultra-marathon runners and where the fastest races are typically held. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate a large dataset of race records for the 50-km distance race to identify the country of affiliation and the age of the fastest runners as well as the locations of the fastest races. A total of 1,398,845 50-km race records (men, n = 1,026,546; women, n = 372,299) were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and advanced regression techniques. This study revealed significant trends in the performance of 50-km ultra-marathoners. The fastest 50-km runners came from African countries, while the fastest races were found to occur in Europe and the Middle East. Runners from Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, and Kenya were the fastest in this race distance. The fastest 50-km racecourses, providing ideal conditions for faster race times, are in Europe (Luxembourg, Belarus, and Lithuania) and the Middle East (Qatar and Jordan). Surprisingly, the fastest ultra-marathoners in the 50-km distance were found to fall into the age group of 20-24 years, challenging the conventional belief that peak ultra-marathon performance comes in older age groups. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the performance models in 50-km ultra-marathons and can serve as valuable insights for runners, coaches, and race organizers in optimizing training strategies and racecourse selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Weiss
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Valero
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, Pierre-Benite, France
| | - Elias Villiger
- Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - Pedro Forte
- CI-ISCE, Higher Institute of Educational Sciences of the Douro, Penafiel, Portugal
- LiveWell-Research Centre for Active Living and Wellbeing, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Robert Gajda
- Center for Sports Cardiology at the Gajda-Med Medical Center in Pułtusk, Pułtusk, Poland
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Prevention, Jan Dlugosz University, Czestochowa, Poland
| | - Volker Scheer
- Ultra Sports Science Foundation, Pierre-Benite, France
| | | | - Ivan Cuk
- Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | | | - Beat Knechtle
- Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, Vadianstrasse 26, 9001, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
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Baharane V, Shatalov AB. Assessment of the health impacts of air pollution exposure in East African countries. Environ Monit Assess 2024; 196:413. [PMID: 38565772 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12588-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The health effects of air pollution remain a public concern worldwide. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 report, we statistically analyzed total mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), and years of life lost (YLL) attributable to air pollution in eight East African countries between 1990 and 2019. We acquired ambient ozone (O3), PM2.5 concentrations and household air pollution (HAP) from the solid fuel from the State of Global Air report. The multilinear regression model was used to evaluate the predictability of YLLs by the air pollutants. We estimated the ratio rate for each health burden attributable to air pollution to compare the country's efforts in the reduction of air pollution health burden. This study found that the total number of deaths attributable to air pollution decreased by 14.26% for 30 years. The drop came from the reduction of 43.09% in mortality related to Lower Respiratory tract Infection (LRI). However, only five out of eight countries managed to decrease the total number of deaths attributable to air pollution with the highest decrease observed in Ethiopia (40.90%) and the highest increase in Somalia (67.49%). The linear regression model showed that HAP is the pollutant of the most concern in the region, with a 1% increase in HAP resulting in a 31.06% increase in regional YLL (R2 = 0.93; p < 0.05). With the increasing ground-level ozone, accompanied by the lack of adequate measures to reduce particulate pollutants, the health burdens attributable to air pollution are still a threat in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérien Baharane
- Institute of Ecology, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Named After Patrice Lumumba, 117198, Moscow, Russia.
- Department of Physics, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, KN7 Ave, Kigali, Rwanda.
| | - Andrey Borisovich Shatalov
- Department of Environmental Safety and Product Quality Management of the Institute of Ecology, Peoples' Friendship University of Russia Named After Patrice Lumumba, 117198, Moscow, Russia
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Bulut O, Temba GS, Koeken VACM, Moorlag SJCFM, de Bree LCJ, Mourits VP, Kullaya VI, Jaeger M, Qi C, Riksen NP, Domínguez-Andrés J, Xu CJ, Joosten LAB, Li Y, de Mast Q, Netea MG. Common and distinct metabolomic markers related to immune aging in Western European and East African populations. Mech Ageing Dev 2024; 218:111916. [PMID: 38364983 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2024.111916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
In old age, impaired immunity causes high susceptibility to infections and cancer, higher morbidity and mortality, and poorer vaccination efficiency. Many factors, such as genetics, diet, and lifestyle, impact aging. This study aimed to investigate how immune responses change with age in healthy Dutch and Tanzanian individuals and identify common metabolites associated with an aged immune profile. We performed untargeted metabolomics from plasma to identify age-associated metabolites, and we correlated their concentrations with ex-vivo cytokine production by immune cells, DNA methylation-based epigenetic aging, and telomere length. Innate immune responses were impacted differently by age in Dutch and Tanzanian cohorts. Age-related decline in steroid hormone precursors common in both populations was associated with higher systemic inflammation and lower cytokine responses. Hippurate and 2-phenylacetamide, commonly more abundant in older individuals, were negatively correlated with cytokine responses and telomere length and positively correlated with epigenetic aging. Lastly, we identified several metabolites that might contribute to the stronger decline in innate immunity with age in Tanzanians. The shared metabolomic signatures of the two cohorts suggest common mechanisms of immune aging, revealing metabolites with potential contributions. These findings also reflect genetic or environmental effects on circulating metabolites that modulate immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozlem Bulut
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands.
| | - Godfrey S Temba
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Valerie A C M Koeken
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands; Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Infection Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM) & TWINCORE, joint ventures between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Simone J C F M Moorlag
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands
| | - L Charlotte J de Bree
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands
| | - Vera P Mourits
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands
| | - Vesla I Kullaya
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo), Moshi, Tanzania; Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Martin Jaeger
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands
| | - Cancan Qi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands; Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Infection Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM) & TWINCORE, joint ventures between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Niels P Riksen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands
| | - Jorge Domínguez-Andrés
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands
| | - Cheng-Jian Xu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands; Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Infection Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM) & TWINCORE, joint ventures between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands; Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands; Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Infection Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM) & TWINCORE, joint ventures between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Quirijn de Mast
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen 6525GA the Netherlands; Department of Immunology and Metabolism, Life & Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn53115 Germany
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11
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Sinclair S, Granberg M, Nilsson T. Love thy (Ukrainian) neighbour: Willingness to help refugees depends on their origin and is mediated by perceptions of similarity and threat. Br J Soc Psychol 2024; 63:499-517. [PMID: 37874027 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Prejudice and discrimination against minorities can be a powerful tool for populistic and reactionary political movements, and it is therefore crucial to study its determinants. The aim of this research is to develop the understanding of a possible mechanism of such discrimination: cultural distance. In a pre-registered survey experiment with a between-subjects design, we draw on the large increase in intra-European refugee migration from Ukraine, to test whether refugees from another ongoing conflict in (culturally distant) Yemen are treated differently than (culturally similar) Ukrainian refugees by British participants (N = 1545). We measured stated willingness to help and to hire refugees. Moreover, the participants were offered the chance to donate their own earnings from survey participation to real charity drives aimed at the respective refugee groups. Thus, we are able to examine both stated and actual helping behaviours that captured both autonomy- and dependency-oriented forms of helping. As expected, participants were more willing to help, hire and donate money to Ukrainian refugees, and these effects were mediated by higher perceived similarity and lower perceived threat from Ukrainians compared with Yemenis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Towe Nilsson
- Department of Psychology, Linnæus University, Växjö, Sweden
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Ferreira RC, Reynolds SJ, Capoferri AA, Baker OR, Brown EE, Klock E, Miller J, Lai J, Saraf S, Kirby C, Lynch B, Hackman J, Gowanlock SN, Tomusange S, Jamiru S, Anok A, Kityamuweesi T, Buule P, Bruno D, Martens C, Rose R, Lamers SL, Galiwango RM, Poon AFY, Quinn TC, Prodger JL, Redd AD. Temporary increase in circulating replication-competent latent HIV-infected resting CD4+ T cells after switch to an integrase inhibitor based antiretroviral regimen. EBioMedicine 2024; 102:105040. [PMID: 38485563 PMCID: PMC11026949 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The principal barrier to an HIV cure is the presence of the latent viral reservoir (LVR), which has been understudied in African populations. From 2018 to 2019, Uganda instituted a nationwide rollout of ART consisting of Dolutegravir (DTG) with two NRTI, which replaced the previous regimen of one NNRTI and the same two NRTI. METHODS Changes in the inducible replication-competent LVR (RC-LVR) of ART-suppressed Ugandans with HIV (n = 88) from 2015 to 2020 were examined using the quantitative viral outgrowth assay. Outgrowth viruses were examined for viral evolution. Changes in the RC-LVR were analyzed using three versions of a Bayesian model that estimated the decay rate over time as a single, linear rate (model A), or allowing for a change at time of DTG initiation (model B&C). FINDINGS Model A estimated the slope of RC-LVR change as a non-significant positive increase, which was due to a temporary spike in the RC-LVR that occurred 0-12 months post-DTG initiation (p < 0.005). This was confirmed with models B and C; for instance, model B estimated a significant decay pre-DTG initiation with a half-life of 6.9 years, and an ∼1.7-fold increase in the size of the RC-LVR post-DTG initiation. There was no evidence of viral failure or consistent evolution in the cohort. INTERPRETATION These data suggest that the change from NNRTI- to DTG-based ART is associated with a significant temporary increase in the circulating RC-LVR. FUNDING Supported by the NIH (grant 1-UM1AI164565); Gilead HIV Cure Grants Program (90072171); Canadian Institutes of Health Research (PJT-155990); and Ontario Genomics-Canadian Statistical Sciences Institute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roux-Cil Ferreira
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Steven J Reynolds
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda
| | - Adam A Capoferri
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Owen R Baker
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Erin E Brown
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ethan Klock
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jernelle Miller
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jun Lai
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sharada Saraf
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Charles Kirby
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Briana Lynch
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jada Hackman
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sarah N Gowanlock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Aggrey Anok
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda
| | | | - Paul Buule
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Kalisizo, Uganda
| | - Daniel Bruno
- Genomics Research Section, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Craig Martens
- Genomics Research Section, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | | | | | | | - Art F Y Poon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Thomas C Quinn
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jessica L Prodger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew D Redd
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Sigounas VY. Technologies of care and the engineering imaginary: Two approaches to assistive device design for the Global South. Med Anthropol Q 2024; 38:40-53. [PMID: 37824820 DOI: 10.1111/maq.12818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Assistive devices serve as vectors for the ideals, judgments, and goals that their society of origin has towards people with disabilities. For some Ugandan inventors and prosthetists, familiarity with sociocultural norms and consistent feedback allow them to design prosthetic limbs as technologies of care that specifically meet the needs of Ugandans using these devices. In contrast, many biomedical engineers living in the United States rely on what I call the "engineering imaginary" to produce universalized forms of assistive technology intended for people living in an essentialized Global South. Drawing on research with engineers, prosthetists, and people living with limb loss in Uganda and the United States, I investigate the social and cultural aspects of prosthetic limb design and argue that there is a cross-cultural mismatch about what a prosthetic device does and what kinds of limbs it should fit. This mismatch becomes inscribed in the prosthetic device itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaia Y Sigounas
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Ybarra ML, Villalobos JP, Nyemara N, Bull SS. Sexual decision making of Ugandan young adults: findings from national online discussions. AIDS Care 2024; 36:296-301. [PMID: 37345710 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2023.2222577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Fifty-one 18-22-year-old Ugandans took part in asynchronous online discussions about sexual decision-making. To increase generalizability and variability of experience, youth were recruited across the country using social media advertising. Participants were stratified into 8 groups by sex and sexual experience (e.g., women who had not had sex). Participants were asked questions such as, "What role do you think [men/women] play in deciding when a couple is going to play sex?" Several themes emerged. Both young men and women articulated social pressures to be abstinent, particularly to avoid STIs and pregnancy moreso than saving oneself for marriage. That said, women noted pressures to be seen as "pure". There also were pressures to have sex: Men were expected to have sex to demonstrate their virility. Women were expected to have sex if they accepted gifts or other commodities from their partners. It seemed that the specter of HIV and other STIs, as well as unwanted pregnancy, served to mitigate these expectations however, resulting in self-efficacy to use condoms among both men and women. Nonetheless, both men and women acknowledged that it could be hard for women to negotiate condoms. Implications for HIV prevention are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele L Ybarra
- Center for Innovative Public Health Research, San Clemente, CA, USA
| | | | - Novatus Nyemara
- Internet Solutions for Kids, Uganda, Mbarara, Uganda
- Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Sheana S Bull
- mHealth Impact Lab, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
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Zemede J, Mekuria T, Ochieng CO, Onjalalaina GE, Hu GW. Ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants used by the local Gamo people in Boreda Abaya District, Gamo Zone, southern Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2024; 20:28. [PMID: 38419092 PMCID: PMC10900619 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00666-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicinal plants have been used for centuries and are still relied upon by over 80% of the Ethiopian population. The people of Gamo, southern Ethiopia, have a rich cultural and traditional lifestyle with a long history of using plant resources for various uses including traditional herbal medicine. However, their traditional knowledge of traditional medicinal plants in Boreda Abaya District has not been explored Ethnobotanically yet, despite preserving diverse indigenous traditional medicinal plants. Hence, the study aimed to document and analyze traditional medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge and practices used by local people. MATERIALS AND METHODS Quantitative ethnobotanical data were collected via semi-structured interviews, face-to-face conversations, group discussions, and guided field trips between September 2022 and February 2023. In total, 92 informants participated, of which 25 were key informants. Quantitative data indices (informant consensus factor-ICF-and use report-Ur) were computed by MS Excel spreadsheet software. Scientific names of medicinal plants were checked via World Flora Online. RESULTS In the present study, we recorded 188 traditional medicinal plant species belonging to 163 genera and 73 plant families. Lamiaceae (16 species), Asteraceae (16 species), Fabaceae (11 species), and Euphorbiaceae (8 species) contributed highest number of species and were found to be predominant family in the area. Leaves and seeds were most frequently used plant parts, and pounding (46%) was the main method to prepare remedies. The sudden sickness disease category scored the highest consensus (ICF: 0.35), followed by blood and circulatory-related disease categories (ICF: 0.33). The highest number of plant taxa (61 species) used to treat dermal disease has a 71-use report score, while fewer plant taxa (21 species) were utilized to treat genitourinary system-related disease category, having 25 use reports. Ocimum lamiifolium (Ur:56) and Moringa stenopetala (Ur:51) are widely used species and received highest use report value. CONCLUSION Gamo people possess extensive traditional knowledge of ethnomedicine. The region's vegetation hosts diverse medicinal species, but deforestation, agriculture, and droughts threaten them. Local conservation practices require scientific support, prioritizing species having higher use reports (Ur), and in-depth investigations of promising species for drug development are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juhar Zemede
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Tegenu Mekuria
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Clintone Onyango Ochieng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guy Eric Onjalalaina
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guang-Wan Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
- Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, 430200, China.
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Melese M, Simegn W, Esubalew D, Limenh LW, Ayenew W, Chanie GS, Seid AM, Beyna AT, Mitku ML, Mengesha AK, Gela YY. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and depression, along with their associated factors, among Eritrean refugees in Dabat town, northwest Ethiopia, 2023. BMC Psychol 2024; 12:62. [PMID: 38326883 PMCID: PMC10851462 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-01554-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Refugee populations are forcibly displaced from their homes as a consequence of natural disasters and armed conflicts. Eritreans, initially displaced to the Maiayni camp within the Tigray region, have faced further relocation to Dabat town due to the conflict between the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian government forces. Subsequently, another conflict has arisen between the Amhara Popular Force (Fano) and Ethiopian government forces in Dabat town, disrupting its stability. These collective challenges in the new environment may contribute to the development of symptoms such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Currently, there is a lack of available data on these symptoms and their associated variables in Dabat Town. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms, along with associated factors, among Eritrean refugees in Dabat town, northwest Ethiopia. This will provide significant evidence for developing and implementing mental health intervention strategies that specifically address the particular difficulties faced by refugees. METHOD A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out from July 25 to September 30, 2023, in the Eritrean refugee camp in Dabat town. A systematic random sampling method was employed to select a total of 399 Eritrean refugees with 100 response rate. Data were collected using the standard validated Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaire, which included socio-demographic characteristics. Summary statistics such as frequency and proportion were utilized to present the data in tables and figures. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify associated factors, and variables with a p-value (p ≤ 0.05) were considered statistically significant factors. RESULT The findings of this study indicated that 45% (95% CI: 35.6-48.23), 33.6% (95% CI: 31.66-37.45), and 37.3% (95% CI: 35.56-40.34) of the participants had symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD, respectively. Sex, age, employment status, lack of food or water, experience of torture or beating, and imprisonment emerged as statistically significant predictors of depression. Employment status, murder of family or friends, rape or sexual abuse, torture or beating, and lack of housing or shelter were statistically significantly associated with anxiety. PTSD was found to be significantly associated with sex, length of stay at the refugee camp, lack of housing, shelter, food, or water, experience of rape or sexual abuse, abduction, employment status, and murder of family or friends. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION The results of this study revealed that more than one-third of Eritreans living in the refugee camp in Dabat town had symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This prevalence is higher than the previously reported studies. Various factors, including age, gender, monthly income, unemployment, experiences of rape or sexual abuse, witnessing the murder of family or friends, being torched or beaten, imprisonment, and deprivation of basic needs such as food, shelter, and water, were identified as contributors to the development of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. This research underscores the need for both governmental and non-governmental organizations to secure the provision of essential necessities such as food, clean water, shelter, clothing, and education. This study also suggested that Eritrean refugees be legally protected from rape, sexual abuse, arson, detention without cause, and kidnapping. Moreover, the study calls for health service providers to develop a mental health intervention plan and implement strategies to deliver mental health services at healthcare facilities for Eritrean refugees in the Dabat town Eritrean refugee camp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihret Melese
- Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
| | - Wudneh Simegn
- Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Dereje Esubalew
- Department of Human Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia
| | - Liknaw Workie Limenh
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Wondim Ayenew
- Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Gashaw Sisay Chanie
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Abdulwase Mohammed Seid
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Alemante Tafese Beyna
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Melese Legesse Mitku
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Asefa Kebad Mengesha
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Yibeltal Yismaw Gela
- Department of Human Physiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Scharpf F, Masath FB, Mkinga G, Kyaruzi E, Nkuba M, Machumu M, Hecker T. Prevalence of suicidality and associated factors of suicide risk in a representative community sample of families in three East African refugee camps. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024; 59:245-259. [PMID: 37277656 PMCID: PMC10838827 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02506-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the prevalence of suicidality and associated factors of suicide risk in a sample of Burundian refugee families living in three refugee camps in Tanzania. METHODS Children (n = 230) and their parents (n = 460) were randomly selected and interviewed about suicidality (suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts) and a range of sociodemographic, psychological, and environmental factors. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with children and parents' lower and moderate or high current suicide risk. RESULTS Past-month prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts were 11.3%, 0.9% and 0.9%, respectively, among children; 37.4%, 7.4% and 5.2%, respectively, among mothers; and 29.6%, 4.8% and 1.7%, respectively, among fathers. Older age in years (aORlower = 2.20, 95% CI 1.38-3.51; aORmoderate/high = 3.03, 95% CI 1.15-7.99) and higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (aORlower = 1.64, 95% CI 1.05-2.57; aORmoderate/high = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.02-5.16), internalizing (aORmoderate/high = 2.88, 95% CI 1.33-6.26) and externalizing problems (aORlower = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.06-2.31; aORmoderate/high = 3.03, 95% CI 1.42-6.49) were significantly positively associated with children's current suicide risk. For mothers, higher perceived instrumental social support (aORmoderate/high = 0.05, 95% CI < 0.01-0.58) was significantly negatively related to suicide risk, whereas exposure to community violence (aORlower = 1.97, 95% CI 1.30-2.99; aORmoderate/high = 1.59, 95% CI 1.00-2.52), living in larger households (aORlower = 1.74, 95% CI 1.17-2.57), and higher psychological distress (aORmoderate/high = 1.67, 95% CI 1.05-2.67) were significantly positively associated with suicide risk. For fathers, higher perceived instrumental social support (aORmoderate/high = 0.04, 95% CI < 0.01-0.44) and having more years of formal education (aORmoderate/high = 0.58, 95% CI 0.34-0.98) were significantly negatively and exposure to war-related trauma (aORmoderate/high = 1.81, 95% CI 1.03-3.19) was significantly positively associated with suicide risk. CONCLUSION Prevention programs should target psychopathology, community violence and social support to mitigate children and parents' current suicide risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Scharpf
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, P. O. Box 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany.
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence, Bielefeld University, P. O. Box 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Faustine Bwire Masath
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, P. O. Box 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence, Bielefeld University, P. O. Box 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
- Department of Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, P. O. Box 2329, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Getrude Mkinga
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, P. O. Box 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Edna Kyaruzi
- Department of Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, P. O. Box 2329, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Mabula Nkuba
- Department of Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, P. O. Box 2329, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Maregesi Machumu
- Department of Educational Psychology and Curriculum Studies, Dar es Salaam University College of Education, P. O. Box 2329, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Tobias Hecker
- Department of Psychology, Bielefeld University, P. O. Box 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence, Bielefeld University, P. O. Box 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany
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Walker LE, Nakyeyune L, Ashaba A, Ahebwa S, Nakijoba R, Asiimwe SP, Kiragga A, Castelnuovo B, Waitt C. Public Attitudes Towards Access to Health Data for Research Purposes Through Citizens' Jury in Uganda. Stud Health Technol Inform 2024; 310:129-133. [PMID: 38269779 DOI: 10.3233/shti230941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Citizens juries (CJ) are a method of deliberative action research that have been utilized in countries with well-funded health care systems to address questions about access to health data. Uganda is classified as a low-income country and utilizes a predominantly paper-based health record system. The burgeoning electronic health record in the central area represents an opportunity to collect and analyze longitudinal data on patients living with long term HIV infection and multiple diseases, a hitherto unexplored disease mapping exercise We set out to understand the public perception towards the use of data for research purposes such as this among Ugandans utilizing an adapted strategy sensitive to the local culture. The jury were unanimous that electronic data should be used for research provided certain safeguards are adhered to and most importantly, that consent to do so is obtained on the basis of a clear rationale for the project.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Walker
- Wolfson Centre for Personalized Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Lydia Nakyeyune
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Andrew Ashaba
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Simple Ahebwa
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ritah Nakijoba
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Simon P Asiimwe
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Agnes Kiragga
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Catriona Waitt
- Wolfson Centre for Personalized Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
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Fuge TG, Tsourtos G, Miller ER. Imprisonment for South Ethiopian people living with HIV presents a double health burden: lived experiences of prisoners. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:122. [PMID: 38254096 PMCID: PMC10804648 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10587-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimal adherence is crucial for ensuring both therapeutic and preventative benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Sub-optimal adherence is common in prisoners and little information is available about its predisposing circumstances in resource-limited settings. We explored lived experiences of inmates living with HIV (ILWH) and experiential accounts of service providers in South Ethiopia to identify barriers to and facilitators of HIV care use in the prison context. METHODS We conducted qualitative in-depth interviewing with eleven ILWH and eleven service providers. Audio recorded interview data were transcribed verbatim in Amharic language, translated into English and coded based on emerging concepts. We employed a descriptive phenomenological approach to abstract meaning attributed to the prisoners' lived experiences in relation to HIV care use and service providers' experiential account regarding care provision as presented to our consciousness. FINDINGS Several concepts emerged as barriers to HIV care use amongst ILWH in South Ethiopia including: limited access to standard care, insufficient health staff support, uncooperative security system, loss of patient privacy, a lack of status disclosure due to social stigma, and food supply insufficiency. In addition to a unique opportunity offered by an imprisonment for some ILWH to refrain from health damaging behaviours, the presence of social support in the prison system facilitated care use. CONCLUSIONS This study identified important structural and social contexts that can both hinder and enhance HIV care use amongst ILWH in South Ethiopia. Given the disproportionate burden of HIV in prisoners and the potential of transmission to others during and after incarceration, development of contextually-responsive strategies is required to address the barriers and to also strengthen the enablers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emma R Miller
- The Stretton Institute, Stretton Health Equity, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
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20
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Jongo S, Church LP, Milando F, Qassim M, Schindler T, Rashid M, Tumbo A, Nyaulingo G, Bakari BM, Athuman Mbaga T, Mohamed L, Kassimu K, Simon BS, Mpina M, Zaidi I, Duffy PE, Swanson PA, Seder R, Herman JD, Mendu M, Zur Y, Alter G, KC N, Riyahi P, Abebe Y, Murshedkar T, James ER, Billingsley PF, Sim BKL, Richie TL, Daubenberger C, Abdulla S, Hoffman SL. Safety and protective efficacy of PfSPZ Vaccine administered to HIV-negative and -positive Tanzanian adults. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e169060. [PMID: 38194272 PMCID: PMC10940097 DOI: 10.1172/jci169060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDSanaria PfSPZ Vaccine, composed of attenuated Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) sporozoites (SPZ), protects against malaria. We conducted this clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of PfSPZ Vaccine in HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals, since the HIV-infection status of participants in mass vaccination programs may be unknown.METHODSThis randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 18- to 45-year-old HIV-negative (HIV-) and well-controlled HIV+ Tanzanians (HIV viral load <40 copies/mL, CD4 counts >500 cells/μL). Participants received 5 doses of PfSPZ Vaccine or normal saline (NS) over 28 days, followed by controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) 3 weeks later.RESULTSThere were no solicited adverse events in the 9 HIV- and 12 HIV+ participants. After CHMI, 6 of 6 NS controls, 1 of 5 HIV- vaccinees, and 4 of 4 HIV+ vaccinees were Pf positive by quantitative PCR (qPCR). After immunization, anti-Pf circumsporozoite protein (anti-PfCSP) (isotype and IgG subclass) and anti-PfSPZ antibodies, anti-PfSPZ CD4+ T cell responses, and Vδ2+ γδ CD3+ T cells were nonsignificantly higher in HIV- than in HIV+ vaccinees. Sera from HIV- vaccinees had significantly higher inhibition of PfSPZ invasion of hepatocytes in vitro and antibody-dependent complement deposition (ADCD) and Fcγ3B binding by anti-PfCSP and ADCD by anti-cell-traversal protein for ookinetes and SPZ (anti-PfCelTOS) antibodies.CONCLUSIONSPfSPZ Vaccine was safe and well tolerated in HIV+ vaccinees, but not protective. Vaccine efficacy was 80% in HIV- vaccinees (P = 0.012), whose sera had significantly higher inhibition of PfSPZ invasion of hepatocytes and enrichment of multifunctional PfCSP antibodies. A more potent PfSPZ vaccine or regimen is needed to protect those living with HIV against Pf infection in Africa.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov NCT03420053.FUNDINGEquatorial Guinea Malaria Vaccine Initiative (EGMVI), made up of the Government of Equatorial Guinea Ministries of Mines and Hydrocarbons, and Health and Social Welfare, Marathon Equatorial Guinea Production Limited, Noble Energy, Atlantic Methanol Production Company, and EG LNG; Swiss government, through ESKAS scholarship grant no. 2016.0056; Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH; NIH grant 1U01AI155354-01.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said Jongo
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Bagamoyo, Tanzania
| | | | | | | | - Tobias Schindler
- Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Anneth Tumbo
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Bagamoyo, Tanzania
- Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maxmillian Mpina
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Bagamoyo, Tanzania
- Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Irfan Zaidi
- Laboratory of Malaria Immunology and Vaccinology and
| | | | | | - Robert Seder
- Vaccine Research Center, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jonathan D. Herman
- Division of Infectious Disease, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maanasa Mendu
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yonatan Zur
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Galit Alter
- The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Natasha KC
- Sanaria Inc., Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Protein Potential LLC, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - B. Kim Lee Sim
- Sanaria Inc., Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Protein Potential LLC, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Claudia Daubenberger
- Swiss Tropical Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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21
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Nakajima M, Mohamud S, Haji A, Pratt R, al'Absi M. Barriers and facilitators of colorectal cancer screening among East African men in Minnesota: a qualitative investigation. Ethn Health 2024; 29:112-125. [PMID: 37968812 DOI: 10.1080/13557858.2023.2271189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators to colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among East African men in Minnesota.Design: Six focus groups were conducted in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN, USA. Participants were asked to describe individual and structural barriers to CRC screening, and discuss strategies that would address individual and structural barriers to screening. Audio-recorded conversations were transcribed verbatim and translated to English. The transcriptions were analyzed using a thematic analysis. Major themes that emerged on individual barriers were lack of knowledge, fear, and privacy.Results: Themes that emerged on structural barriers were distrust in the medical system, lack of health care coverage, and access to the health care system. Education, client reminders, mass media, increased clarity in communication with the provider and translator, and increased access to health care were frequently mentioned strategies to increase CRC screening in the East African community. Participants expressed favorable views toward the concept of patient navigation.Conclusion: Our findings indicate the need to develop culturally appropriate, multi-faced, intervention programs that are aimed at eliminating personal, cultural, and structural barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motohiro Nakajima
- Department of Social System Design, Eikei University of Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Sakhaudiin Mohamud
- Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Abdifatah Haji
- Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Rebekah Pratt
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mustafa al'Absi
- Department of Family Medicine and Biobehavioral Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth, MN, USA
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Temba GS, Vadaq N, Kullaya V, Pecht T, Lionetti P, Cavalieri D, Schultze JL, Kavishe R, Joosten LAB, van der Ven AJ, Mmbaga BT, Netea MG, de Mast Q. Differences in the inflammatory proteome of East African and Western European adults and associations with environmental and dietary factors. eLife 2023; 12:e82297. [PMID: 37555575 PMCID: PMC10473835 DOI: 10.7554/elife.82297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising rapidly in urbanizing populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Assessment of inflammatory and metabolic characteristics of a urbanizing African population and the comparison with populations outside Africa could provide insight in the pathophysiology of the rapidly increasing epidemic of NCDs, including the role of environmental and dietary changes. Using a proteomic plasma profiling approach comprising 92 inflammation-related molecules, we examined differences in the inflammatory proteome in healthy Tanzanian and healthy Dutch adults. We show that healthy Tanzanians display a pro-inflammatory phenotype compared to Dutch subjects, with enhanced activity of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway and higher concentrations of different metabolic regulators such as 4E-BP1 and fibroblast growth factor 21. Among the Tanzanian volunteers, food-derived metabolites were identified as an important driver of variation in inflammation-related molecules, emphasizing the potential importance of lifestyle changes. These findings endorse the importance of the current dietary transition and the inclusion of underrepresented populations in systems immunology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey S Temba
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc Research Institute for Medical innovation (RIMI), Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeMoshiUnited Republic of Tanzania
| | - Nadira Vadaq
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc Research Institute for Medical innovation (RIMI), Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Vesla Kullaya
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeMoshiUnited Republic of Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical CenterMoshiUnited Republic of Tanzania
| | - Tal Pecht
- Department for Genomics and Immunoregulation, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of BonnBonnGermany
- Systems Medicine, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)BonnGermany
| | - Paolo Lionetti
- Departement NEUROFARBA, University of Florence – Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, Meyer Children's HospitalFlorenceItaly
| | | | - Joachim L Schultze
- Department for Genomics and Immunoregulation, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of BonnBonnGermany
- Systems Medicine, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)BonnGermany
- PRECISE Platform for Single Cell Genomics and Epigenomics, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Reginald Kavishe
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeMoshiUnited Republic of Tanzania
| | - Leo AB Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc Research Institute for Medical innovation (RIMI), Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and PharmacyCluj-NapocaRomania
| | - Andre J van der Ven
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc Research Institute for Medical innovation (RIMI), Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
| | - Blandina T Mmbaga
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical CenterMoshiUnited Republic of Tanzania
- Department of Paediatrics, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University CollegeMoshiUnited Republic of Tanzania
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc Research Institute for Medical innovation (RIMI), Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
- Department of Immunology and Metabolism, Life & Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute, University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Quirijn de Mast
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc Research Institute for Medical innovation (RIMI), Radboud University Medical CenterNijmegenNetherlands
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Kelly DE, Ramdas S, Ma R, Rawlings-Goss RA, Grant GR, Ranciaro A, Hirbo JB, Beggs W, Yeager M, Chanock S, Nyambo TB, Omar SA, Woldemeskel D, Belay G, Li H, Brown CD, Tishkoff SA. The genetic and evolutionary basis of gene expression variation in East Africans. Genome Biol 2023; 24:35. [PMID: 36829244 PMCID: PMC9951478 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-02874-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with molecular phenotypes is a powerful approach for identifying the genes and molecular mechanisms underlying human traits and diseases, though most studies have focused on individuals of European descent. While important progress has been made to study a greater diversity of human populations, many groups remain unstudied, particularly among indigenous populations within Africa. To better understand the genetics of gene regulation in East Africans, we perform expression and splicing QTL mapping in whole blood from a cohort of 162 diverse Africans from Ethiopia and Tanzania. We assess replication of these QTLs in cohorts of predominantly European ancestry and identify candidate genes under selection in human populations. RESULTS We find the gene regulatory architecture of African and non-African populations is broadly shared, though there is a considerable amount of variation at individual loci across populations. Comparing our analyses to an equivalently sized cohort of European Americans, we find that QTL mapping in Africans improves the detection of expression QTLs and fine-mapping of causal variation. Integrating our QTL scans with signatures of natural selection, we find several genes related to immunity and metabolism that are highly differentiated between Africans and non-Africans, as well as a gene associated with pigmentation. CONCLUSION Extending QTL mapping studies beyond European ancestry, particularly to diverse indigenous populations, is vital for a complete understanding of the genetic architecture of human traits and can reveal novel functional variation underlying human traits and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek E Kelly
- Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shweta Ramdas
- Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rong Ma
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jibril B Hirbo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Genetic Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - William Beggs
- Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Meredith Yeager
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Stephen Chanock
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Thomas B Nyambo
- Department of Biochemistry, Kampala International University in Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Sabah A Omar
- Center for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Dawit Woldemeskel
- Microbial Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Gurja Belay
- Microbial Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Hongzhe Li
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher D Brown
- Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sarah A Tishkoff
- Genetics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA.
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Al-Ajlouni YA, Al Ta'ani O, Shamaileh G, Mushasha R, Makarem N, Duncan DT. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep health among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations: a systematic review of the literature. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e066964. [PMID: 36600378 PMCID: PMC9729847 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study sought to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep health among Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) populations, understudied geographic regions including with regards to sleep health. SETTING A systematic literature search of studies published from inception to 27 March 2022 was conducted on multiple databases using developed keywords. PARTICIPANTS Studies were included if they (1) investigated one or more aspects/dimensions of sleep health as an outcome (eg, sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep problems); (2) measured the impact of a COVID-19 pandemic-related domain (eg, impact of quarantine, work from home, lifestyle changes); (3) focused on at least one MENA region population; (4) were peer-reviewed; (5) included ≥100 participants; (6) were written in English and (7) had full-text article publicly available. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES MEASURED Primary outcomes were sleep duration, sleep quality and sleep problems. RESULTS In line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, 164 studies were included for data extraction. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cross-sectional studies was used to assess the quality of the studies. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted sleep duration, sleep quality and presence and severity of sleep disorders in MENA populations, including adults, children, students, healthcare workers and people with chronic illnesses. The directionality and strength of associations, as well as the determinants of sleep health, varied by subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sleep health of MENA populations. Sleep health interventions and policy measures should be tailored to the need of each subpopulation. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER CRD42022321128.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazan A Al-Ajlouni
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Omar Al Ta'ani
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ghaith Shamaileh
- Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | | | - Nour Makarem
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dustin T Duncan
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
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