The effect of whole-body vibration training on selected breast cancer risk factors in obese postmenopausal women: A randomized controlled trial

Menopause is associated with various hormonal changes leading to many complications such as obesity, hot flashes and increased liability for breast cancer, that intractably alter female quality of life. This study was conducted to determine the effect of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) on body mass index and serum prolactin concentration, as risk factors for breast cancer and severity of hot flashes in obese postmenopausal women. A prospective, randomized, parallel group, active controlled study with a 1:1 allocation ratio was carried out. A total of 40 obese postmenopausal women (aged 50 to 60 years, postmenopausal for at least 3 years, with a body mass index BMI between 30-39.9 kg/m2) were randomly assigned into two equal groups (group A and B). Group A (WBVT, n = 20) received WBVT, 3 sessions per week for 3 months, while group B (control group, n = 20) was asked to retrain their usual lifestyle pattern. They were all instructed about healthy dieting. Statistical analysis was performed utilizing SPSS for windows, version 18 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL). The results of our study showed that there was a statistically significant reduction in all measured variables in group A in post-study (p 0.05). Comparison of the two groups after treatment showed a statistically significant decrease in the measured variables, in favor of the study group A (p < 0.05). From the obtained results, it was concluded that whole body vibration is effective in decreasing BMI and waist circumference, in addition to reducing serum prolactin concentration and the severity of hot flashes in obese postmenopausal women. Therefore, it could be used to decrease the risk of breast cancer in obese postmenopausal women

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century