8 research outputs found

    Identificació i anàlisi dels compostos orgànics del combretum micranthum (kinkeliba)

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    Aquest treball és el fruit de la identificació i l’anàlisi dels compostos lipídics del Combretum micranthum conegut com a kinkeliba. En aquesta anàlisi hem pogut destacar la gran presència d’alcans, alcohols, àcids, terpenoides i esterols com el β- sitosterol( un compost important en la biomedicina) i també a part de la presència de la vitamina E comú de les plantes verdes, s’ha pogut identificar la vitamina K de gran importància que serveix com a cofactor en l'activació de la proteïna en el cos humà.Este trabajo es el fruto de la identificación y análisis de los compuestos lipídicos del Combretum micranthum conocido como kinkeliba. En este análisis hemos podido destacar la gran presencia de alcanos, alcoholes, ácidos, terpenoides y esteroles como el β- sitosterol (un compuesto importante en la biomedicina) y también aparte de la presencia de la vitamina E común de las plantas verdes, se ha podido identificar la vitamina K de gran calado que sirve como cofactor en la activación de la proteína en el cuerpo humano.This work is the result of the identification and analysis of the lipid compounds of Combretum micranthum known as kinkeliba. In this analysis we have been able to highlight the great presence of alkanes, alcohols, acids, terpenoids and sterols such as β-sitosterol (an important compound in biomedicine) and also apart from the presence of vitamin E common to green plants, we have been able to identify the very important vitamin K which serves as a cofactor in protein activation in the human body

    Prevalence and awareness of diabetes in Guinea: findings from a WHO STEPS

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    Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes, and to assess its awareness and related risk factors among adult Guineans.Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1 100  adults (46.6% women) aged 35–64 years from Lower Guinea, during September to December 2009, using the WHO STEPwise approach of surveillance of chronic  disease risk factors. Data were collected in three steps: demographic and  behavioural risk factors, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood cholesterol and glucose testing. A multi-stage cluster sample design was applied to generate nationwide representative data.Results: The mean age of all participants was 47.3 years (SD 8.8), similarly in  Conakry, rural Lower Guinea and urban Lower Guinea. The prevalence of diabetes was 5.7% (95% CI 4.0–8.1). Among participants with diabetes, only 44.0% were aware of their status. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, determinants of diabetes prevalence were urban residency, male sex, age group 45–64 years, increased waist circumference, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Male sex, rural residency, age group 45–54 years, no formal education, waist circumference, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were independent predictors of screen-detected diabetes.Conclusion: The present study found a high prevalence and low awareness of  diabetes, suggesting the need for appropriate actions to strengthen primary  healthcare approaches towards non-communicable diseases in Guinea.Keywords: Diabetes, epidemiology, Guine

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

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    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

    Morbidity and mortality outcomes in neonates who were transferred from home and hospitals to the only neonatal intensive care unit in Guinea: a descriptive report using routinely collected health data

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    Background The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for neonatal mortality has identified its reduction as one of the main targets to be achieved by 2030. We provide a descriptive report on neonatal outcomes from the only neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Guinea. Methods Data collection took place between November 2004 and May 2005 at the NICU of the Institute of Child Health in the capital, Conakry. A descriptive summary of the neonatal, maternal and intrapartum characteristics is reported. Results A total of 294 neonates were admitted to the NICU incubators during the study period, transferred either from hospitals (48%) or directly from their homes (52%). The most common reasons for admission were foetal distress (37.1%) and maternalandndash;foetal infections (35.4%). Among 270 neonates with known outcome, the overall mortality among the admitted children remained high at 20.7% (56/270), with a large proportion of the deaths (71.4%, 40/56) occurring within 7 d of their admission. The mortality rate was 23.7% (31/131) among the neonates who were admitted to our NICU after home birth and 17.9% (25/139) among those who were transferred from hospitals (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 0.75andndash;2.67). Conclusion Almost one in every five neonates who were admitted to the NICU incubator died during the study period. More hospitals equipped with NICU facilities are urgently required if Guinea is to achieve the SDG target for neonatal mortality.</p

    Morbidity and mortality outcomes in neonates who were transferred from home and hospitals to the only neonatal intensive care unit in Guinea: a descriptive report using routinely collected health data

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    Background The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for neonatal mortality has identified its reduction as one of the main targets to be achieved by 2030. We provide a descriptive report on neonatal outcomes from the only neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Guinea. Methods Data collection took place between November 2004 and May 2005 at the NICU of the Institute of Child Health in the capital, Conakry. A descriptive summary of the neonatal, maternal and intrapartum characteristics is reported. Results A total of 294 neonates were admitted to the NICU incubators during the study period, transferred either from hospitals (48%) or directly from their homes (52%). The most common reasons for admission were foetal distress (37.1%) and maternal–foetal infections (35.4%). Among 270 neonates with known outcome, the overall mortality among the admitted children remained high at 20.7% (56/270), with a large proportion of the deaths (71.4%, 40/56) occurring within 7 d of their admission. The mortality rate was 23.7% (31/131) among the neonates who were admitted to our NICU after home birth and 17.9% (25/139) among those who were transferred from hospitals (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 0.75–2.67). Conclusion Almost one in every five neonates who were admitted to the NICU incubator died during the study period. More hospitals equipped with NICU facilities are urgently required if Guinea is to achieve the SDG target for neonatal mortality.</p

    Factors Associated with Reliable Contact Tracing During the 2021 Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Guinea

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    Background: In 2021, an Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak was declared in Guinea, linked to persistent virus from the 2014-2016 West Africa Epidemic. This paper analyzes factors associated with contact tracing reliability (defined as completion of a 21-day daily follow-up) during the 2021 outbreak, and transitively, provides recommendations for enhancing contact tracing reliability in future. Methods: We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study using multivariate regression analysis of contact tracing data from 1071 EVD contacts of 23 EVD cases (16 confirmed and 7 probable). Results: Findings revealed statistically significant factors affecting contact tracing reliability. Unmarried contacts were 12.76× more likely to miss follow-up than those married (OR = 12.76; 95% CI [3.39-48.05]; p &lt; 0.001). Rural-dwelling contacts had 99% lower odds of being missed during the 21-day follow-up, compared to those living in urban areas (OR = 0.01; 95% CI [0.00-0.02]; p &lt; 0.01). Contacts who did not receive food donations were 3× more likely to be missed (OR = 3.09; 95% CI [1.68-5.65]; p &lt; 0.001) compared to those who received them. Contacts in health areas with a single team were 8× more likely to be missed (OR = 8.16; 95% CI [5.57-11.96]; p &lt; 0.01) than those in health areas with two or more teams (OR = 1.00; 95% CI [1.68-5.65]; p &lt; 0.001). Unvaccinated contacts were 30.1× more likely to be missed compared to vaccinated contacts (OR = 30.1; 95% CI [5.12-176.83]; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: Findings suggest that contact tracing reliability can be significantly influenced by various demographic and organizational factors. Considering and understanding these factors-and where possible addressing them-may be crucial when designing and implementing contact tracing strategies during future outbreaks in low-resource settings.</p

    Global surveillance of cancer survival 1995–2009: analysis of individual data for 25 676 887 patients from 279 population-based registries in 67 countries (CONCORD-2)

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    Background: Worldwide data for cancer survival are scarce. We aimed to initiate worldwide surveillance of cancer survival by central analysis of population-based registry data, as a metric of the effectiveness of health systems, and to inform global policy on cancer control. Methods: Individual tumour records were submitted by 279 population-based cancer registries in 67 countries for 25·7 million adults (age 15–99 years) and 75 000 children (age 0–14 years) diagnosed with cancer during 1995–2009 and followed up to Dec 31, 2009, or later. We looked at cancers of the stomach, colon, rectum, liver, lung, breast (women), cervix, ovary, and prostate in adults, and adult and childhood leukaemia. Standardised quality control procedures were applied; errors were corrected by the registry concerned. We estimated 5-year net survival, adjusted for background mortality in every country or region by age (single year), sex, and calendar year, and by race or ethnic origin in some countries. Estimates were age-standardised with the International Cancer Survival Standard weights. Findings: 5-year survival from colon, rectal, and breast cancers has increased steadily in most developed countries. For patients diagnosed during 2005–09, survival for colon and rectal cancer reached 60% or more in 22 countries around the world; for breast cancer, 5-year survival rose to 85% or higher in 17 countries worldwide. Liver and lung cancer remain lethal in all nations: for both cancers, 5-year survival is below 20% everywhere in Europe, in the range 15–19% in North America, and as low as 7–9% in Mongolia and Thailand. Striking rises in 5-year survival from prostate cancer have occurred in many countries: survival rose by 10–20% between 1995–99 and 2005–09 in 22 countries in South America, Asia, and Europe, but survival still varies widely around the world, from less than 60% in Bulgaria and Thailand to 95% or more in Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the USA. For cervical cancer, national estimates of 5-year survival range from less than 50% to more than 70%; regional variations are much wider, and improvements between 1995–99 and 2005–09 have generally been slight. For women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2005–09, 5-year survival was 40% or higher only in Ecuador, the USA, and 17 countries in Asia and Europe. 5-year survival for stomach cancer in 2005–09 was high (54–58%) in Japan and South Korea, compared with less than 40% in other countries. By contrast, 5-year survival from adult leukaemia in Japan and South Korea (18–23%) is lower than in most other countries. 5-year survival from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is less than 60% in several countries, but as high as 90% in Canada and four European countries, which suggests major deficiencies in the management of a largely curable disease. Interpretation: International comparison of survival trends reveals very wide differences that are likely to be attributable to differences in access to early diagnosis and optimum treatment. Continuous worldwide surveillance of cancer survival should become an indispensable source of information for cancer patients and researchers and a stimulus for politicians to improve health policy and health-care systems

    The histology of ovarian cancer: worldwide distribution and implications for international survival comparisons (CONCORD-2)

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    Objective Ovarian cancers comprise several histologically distinct tumour groups with widely different prognosis. We aimed to describe the worldwide distribution of ovarian cancer histology and to understand what role this may play in international variation in survival. Methods The CONCORD programme is the largest population-based study of global trends in cancer survival. Data on 681,759 women diagnosed during 1995–2009 with cancer of the ovary, fallopian tube, peritoneum and retroperitonum in 51 countries were included. We categorised ovarian tumours into six histological groups, and explored the worldwide distribution of histology. Results During 2005–2009, type II epithelial tumours were the most common. The proportion was much higher in Oceania (73.1%), North America (73.0%) and Europe (72.6%) than in Central and South America (65.7%) and Asia (56.1%). By contrast, type I epithelial tumours were more common in Asia (32.5%), compared with only 19.4% in North America. From 1995 to 2009, the proportion of type II epithelial tumours increased from 68.6% to 71.1%, while the proportion of type I epithelial tumours fell from 23.8% to 21.2%. The proportions of germ cell tumours, sex cord-stromal tumours, other specific non-epithelial tumours and tumours of non-specific morphology all remained stable over time. Conclusions The distribution of ovarian cancer histology varies widely worldwide. Type I epithelial, germ cell and sex cord-stromal tumours are generally associated with higher survival than type II tumours, so the proportion of these tumours may influence survival estimates for all ovarian cancers combined. The distribution of histological groups should be considered when comparing survival between countries and regions
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