Epidemiology of neurodegenerative diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

BACKGROUND:Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are experiencing rapid transitions with increased life expectancy. As a result the burden of age-related conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases might be increasing. We conducted a systematic review of published studies on common neurodegenerative diseases, and HIV-related neurocognitive impairment in SSA, in order to identify research gaps and inform prevention and control solutions. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, 'Banque de Donnees de Sante Publique' and the database of the 'Institut d'Epidemiologie Neurologique et de Neurologie Tropicale' from inception to February 2013 for published original studies from SSA on neurodegenerative diseases and HIV-related neurocognitive impairment. Screening and data extraction were conducted by two investigators. Bibliographies and citations of eligible studies were investigated. RESULTS: In all 144 publications reporting on dementia (n=49 publications, mainly Alzheimer disease), Parkinsonism (PD, n=20), HIV-related neurocognitive impairment (n=47), Huntington disease (HD, n=19), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, n=15), cerebellar degeneration (n=4) and Lewy body dementia (n=1). Of these studies, largely based on prevalent cases from retrospective data on urban populations, half originated from Nigeria and South Africa. The prevalence of dementia (Alzheimer disease) varied between <1% and 10.1% (0.7% and 5.6%) in population-based studies and from <1% to 47.8% in hospital-based studies. Incidence of dementia (Alzheimer disease) ranged from 8.7 to 21.8/1000/year (9.5 to 11.1), and major risk factors were advanced age and female sex. HIV-related neurocognitive impairment's prevalence (all from hospital-based studies) ranged from <1% to 80%. Population-based prevalence of PD and ALS varied from 10 to 235/100,000, and from 5 to 15/100,000 respectively while that for Huntington disease was 3.5/100,000. Equivalent figures for hospital based studies were the following: PD (0.41 to 7.2%), ALS (0.2 to 8.0/1000), and HD (0.2/100,000 to 46.0/100,000). CONCLUSIONS: The body of literature on neurodegenerative disorders in SSA is large with regard to dementia and HIV-related neurocognitive disorders but limited for other neurodegenerative disorders. Shortcomings include few population-based studies, heterogeneous diagnostic criteria and uneven representation of countries on the continent. There are important knowledge gaps that need urgent action, in order to prepare the sub-continent for the anticipated local surge in neurodegenerative diseases

Evacuation gastrique comparée de l'orge et du blé broyés chez le porc

USSR - Central Asia - Karakul sheep, Uzbekistan, Samarkand, Ovis AiresColorVolume 136, Page 1

Evacuation gastrique comparée de l'orge et du blé broyés chez le porc

International audienc

Les plantes africaines dans la parfumerie : Revue de la littérature

Le secteur du parfum est très dynamique. Le marché mondial de saveurs et parfums a été évalué à 26,0 milliards de dollars en 2015. Cependant, cette filière est de plus en plus envahie par les substances de synthèse dont l’usage est source de nombreuses maladies cutanées, respiratoires et parfois de cancers. Cette revue donne un aperçu des possibilités d’alternative aux substances de synthèses utilisées et de leurs impacts sur la valorisation des ressources naturelles en Afrique. Les bases de données (Scopus, PubMed) et les moteurs de recherches (Sciences Direct, Research4life, Google Scholar) ont fait l’objet d’une recherche d’articles sur les huiles essentielles d’espèces africaines utilisées en parfumerie à partir de mots clés. Un total de près 300 articles publiés sur les plantes aromatiques utilisées en parfumerie a été consulté et une cinquantaine a été retenue. L'analyse des données a permis de recenser 47 espèces de plantes africaines représentées dans 16 familles. La plupart des espèces rencontrées proviennent des pays d’Afrique du Nord et du Sud. En Afrique de l’Ouest, très peu d’espèces sont utilisées dans les formulations de parfum. Cinq formulations de parfums à base d’huiles essentielles ont également été recensées. Les parfums ont été préparés avec différents supports tel que la vaseline, l’alcool et l’eau. Les parfums ayant comme support l’eau pourrait être une alternative de forme de parfum pour les personnes sensibles à l’alcool

Mapping soil transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis under uncertainty: a systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence

Spatial modelling of STH and schistosomiasis epidemiology is now commonplace. Spatial epidemiological studies help inform decisions regarding the number of people at risk as well as the geographic areas that need to be targeted with mass drug administration; however, limited attention has been given to propagated uncertainties, their interpretation, and consequences for the mapped values. Using currently published literature on the spatial epidemiology of helminth infections we identified: (1) the main uncertainty sources, their definition and quantification and (2) how uncertainty is informative for STH programme managers and scientists working in this domain.We performed a systematic literature search using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocol. We searched Web of Knowledge and PubMed using a combination of uncertainty, geographic and disease terms. A total of 73 papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Only 9% of the studies did not address any element of uncertainty, while 91% of studies quantified uncertainty in the predicted morbidity indicators and 23% of studies mapped it. In addition, 57% of the studies quantified uncertainty in the regression coefficients but only 7% incorporated it in the regression response variable (morbidity indicator). Fifty percent of the studies discussed uncertainty in the covariates but did not quantify it. Uncertainty was mostly defined as precision, and quantified using credible intervals by means of Bayesian approaches.None of the studies considered adequately all sources of uncertainties. We highlighted the need for uncertainty in the morbidity indicator and predictor variable to be incorporated into the modelling framework. Study design and spatial support require further attention and uncertainty associated with Earth observation data should be quantified. Finally, more attention should be given to mapping and interpreting uncertainty, since they are relevant to inform decisions regarding the number of people at risk as well as the geographic areas that need to be targeted with mass drug administration