Cancer research across Africa: a comparative bibliometric analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Research is a critical pillar in national cancer control planning. However, there is a dearth of evidence for countries to implement affordable strategies. The WHO and various Commissions have recommended developing stakeholder-based needs assessments based on objective data to generate evidence to inform national and regional prioritisation of cancer research needs and goals. METHODOLOGY: Bibliometric algorithms (macros) were developed and validated to assess cancer research outputs of all 54 African countries over a 12-year period (2009-2020). Subanalysis included collaboration patterns, site and domain-specific focus of research and understanding authorship dynamics by both position and sex. Detailed subanalysis was performed to understand multiple impact metrics and context relative outputs in comparison with the disease burden as well as the application of a funding thesaurus to determine funding resources. RESULTS: African countries in total published 23 679 cancer research papers over the 12-year period (2009-2020) with the fractional African contribution totalling 16 201 papers and the remaining 7478 from authors from out with the continent. The total number of papers increased rapidly with time, with an annual growth rate of 15%. The 49 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries together published just 5281 papers, of which South Africa's contribution was 2206 (42% of the SSA total, 14% of all Africa) and Nigeria's contribution was 997 (19% of the SSA total, 4% of all Africa). Cancer research accounted for 7.9% of all African biomedical research outputs (African research in infectious diseases was 5.1 times than that of cancer research). Research outputs that are proportionally low relative to their burden across Africa are paediatric, cervical, oesophageal and prostate cancer. African research mirrored that of Western countries in terms of its focus on discovery science and pharmaceutical research. The percentages of female researchers in Africa were comparable with those elsewhere, but only in North African and some Anglophone countries. CONCLUSIONS: There is an imbalance in relevant local research generation on the continent and cancer control efforts. The recommendations articulated in our five-point plan arising from these data are broadly focused on structural changes, for example, overt inclusion of research into national cancer control planning and financial, for example, for countries to spend 10% of a notional 1% gross domestic expenditure on research and development on cancer

Isolation and characterization of microorganisms associated with the traditional sorghum fermentation and development of starter culture for production of Sudanese kisra

Sorghum flour of the Dabar variety was obtained from Sudan. The flour was mixed with water in 1:2 (wt/vol) ratio and fermented at 30\sp\circC for 24 h. The bacterial populations increased with fermentation time and reached a plateau at approximately 18 h. At the end of 24 h sorghum batter pH dropped from 5.95 to 3.95 and had a lactic acid content of 0.80%. The microbial population during the 24-h period of fermentation consisted of bacteria (Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus confusus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus sp., Erwinia ananas, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter cloacae); yeasts (Candida intermedia and Debaryomyces hansenii) and molds (Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., and Rhizopus sp.). Pediococcus pentosaceus was the dominant microorganism at the end of the 24-h fermentation. When three consecutive fermentations using an inoculum from the previous fermentation were carried out, the bacterial population increase plateaued at 9 h. The lactic acid content and pH were 0.90% and 3.86, respectively, by 9 h and 1.45% and 3.58 by 24 h. The microbial populations in these fermentations were dominated by P. pentosaceus. The end products produced during fermentation of sorghum flour for production of Sudanese kisra were lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, ethanol, propyl acetate, and 2-furanmethanol. Lactic, and acetic acids were the major organic acids produced. The total water soluble sugars of sorghum flour consist of high percent of sucrose and maltose and less amounts of fructose and glucose. As the fermentation progresses the amounts and type of water soluble sugar changes. There was an increase in glucose and maltose concentrations, and decrease in the sucrose concentrations during natural fermentation. However, the sucrose, glucose and fructose were not detectable during traditional fermentation. Developed starter cultures that consist of combinations of lactic acid bacteria with different proportion of hetero- to homolactics or combinations of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts did not produce the same amount or types of end products that produced during traditional fermentation of sorghum flour. Sensory evaluation of kisra produced from sorghum fermented by these developed starter cultures remained the important key to choose the best starter combinations

Mammography and ultrasound imaging of preinvasive and invasive canine spontaneous mammary cancer and their similarities to human breast cancer

Understanding the evolution of proliferative breast disease such as atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma in situ is essential for clinical management of women diagnosed with these lesions. Therefore, an animal model that faithfully represents human breast disease in every aspect from spontaneity of dysplasia onset, histopathologic features, and genetics to clinical outcome is needed. Previously, we studied canine spontaneous atypical hyperplasia and ductal carcinoma in situ (low, intermediate, and high grade) and reported their similarities to human lesions in histopathologic and molecular features as well as prevalence. To further validate the resemblance of these lesions to humans, we examined their mammographic and sonographic characteristics in comparison with those of human’s as well as the potential of the human Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) to predict canine disease. Nonlesional, benign, and malignant mammary glands of dogs presented to Sassari Veterinary Hospital were imaged using mammography and ultrasonography. The images where then analyzed and statistically correlated with histopathologic findings and to their similarities to humans. Our results showed that canine mammary preinvasive lesions, benign, and malignant tumors have mammographic abnormalities, including the presence, pattern, and distribution of macrocalcification and microcalcification, similar to their human counterparts. BI-RADS categorization is an accurate predictor of mammary malignancy in canine, with 90% sensitivity and 82.8% specificity. The similarities of mammographic images and the ability of BI-RADS to predict canine mammary malignances with high specificity and sensitivity further confirm and strengthen the value of dog as a model to study human breast premalignancies for the development of prognostic biomarkers