Poland’s Syndrome: A case report

Poland’s Syndrome is a rare congenital condition. It is classically characterized by absence of unilateral chest wall muscles and sometimes ipsilateral symbrachydactyly (abnormally short and webbed fingers). The condition typically presents with unilateral absence of the sternal or breastbone portion of the pectoralis major muscle which may or may not be associated with the absence of nearby musculoskeletal structures. We report a 12-year-old boy patient with typical features of Poland syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented case of a patient with Poland syndrome reported from Rwanda

Turner syndrome in childhood period – A case Report

INTRODUCTION: Turner syndrome is a frequent chromosome disorder characterized by short stature, gonadal dysgenesis and multisystem diseases associated with high morbidity and reduced life expectancyCASE: We reviewed an 18 month old patient who presented to the genetics unit at Rwanda Military Hospital (RMH), a tertiary healthcare facility, with a chief complaint of poor weight gain. She was born with a birth weight of 1.76kg and in the neonatal period, paediatricians had noticed dysmorphic features. At the first consultation at the RMH genetics unit, he weighed 5.2kg and was 64 cm tall. Physical examinations revealed some dysmorphic features, including hypertelorism, absent philtrum, short and webbed neck and large low set ears. Cytogenetic analysis showed the chromosomal formula of 45, X0. CONCLUSION: ThepatientwasdiagnosedwithTurnersyndromebasedonthecytogeneticanalysis and managed with physiotherapy of stimulation and re-education that led to improvements

Immunological profiles in HIV positive patients following Haart initiation in Kigali, Rwanda

Background: Interleukin-10, IL-2 and IFN -γ are some of the crucial cytokines associated with HIV infection and pathogenesis. While IL-2 and IFN-γ play critical roles in host resistance to infection, IL-10 inhibits the synthesis IFN-γ, IL-2 at mRNA and protein level; exacerbating damage to immune system.Objective: To determine the levels of, changes in and correlation between CD4 count, viral load, IL-10, IL-2 and IFN-γ before HAART and at six months of HAART among HIV positive patients in Kigali; with a view to understand cytokine networks particularly in relation to HAART ; and to see whether they can be used as alternative markers of the disease progression.Design: Longitudinal study.Setting: Kagugu, Kimironko, Biryogo, Gitega Health Centres and Centre Medico-Social Cornum; all located in Kigali.Subjects: Thirty three (33) HAART initiation eligible HIV positive patients including 13 women and 20 men.Results: A drop in viral load (though only a small number of patients achieved an undetectable viraemia); a recovery of CD4+ cells, a decrease in IL-10 (though it remained high for many patients especially those with unchanged viraemia); and an increase in IL-2 and IFN-γ indicated a successful HAART . A negative correlation between CD4 count and viral load and between CD4 count and IL-10 (but r <-0.5) was observed. IL-10 correlated positively and strongly with viremia (r > 0.5 at both time points: p-values <0.05). There was no significant correlation between CD4 count, IL-2 and IFN-γ.Conclusion: Results demonstrated the down-regulatory effect of IL-10 on Th1 cytokines and that a shift from Th1 to Th2 cytokine is associated with HIV disease progression. A successful HAART results in CD4+ cells recovery, drop in viraemia and IL-10 with up-regulation of Th1 cytokines. Also, findings show potential usefulness of IL-10 as a marker of HIV disease progression

Management challenges of disorders of sex development- Case Series

INTRODUCTION: Disorders of sex development (DSDs) are genetic abnormalities characterized by discordance between phenotypic, gonadal, and genetic sex. They are grouped into two categories based on karyotype: 46, XX DSD and 46, XY DSD.CASES: We reviewed two patients referred to the Rwanda Military Hospital genetic unit. The first patient was a 3-year-old toddler who was referred for confusing sex organs. Physical examination showed ambiguous genital organs with hypospadias and micropenis. Pelvic examination showed a swelling solid mass hat leading to a suspicion of ovary or undescended testes or combined ovary and testes (ovotestes). The second patient was a 17 years old teenager who presented with primary amenorrhea and lack of female secondary sexual characteristics at her age. The karyotype test was performed to investigate the genotypic sex of the patients and results revealed the karyotype formula of 46, XX/XY indicating the presence of two cell lines in the patient for the toddler and 46XYinv9 (p11q13) indicating the mismatch between the genotype and phenotype of the patients for the teenager. CONCLUSION: Patients were diagnosed with Disorder of Sex Development with 46, XX/XY and 46, XY genotypes respectively. A multidisciplinary team of a geneticist, urologist, endocrinologist and a psychologist reviewed the patient for the effective management

Limb body wall complex, amniotic band sequence, or new syndrome caused by mutation in IQ Motif containing K (IQCK)?

published_or_final_versio

Advancing detection and response capacities for emerging and re-emerging pathogens in Africa

Recurrent disease outbreaks caused by a range of emerging and resurging pathogens over the past decade reveal major gaps in public health preparedness, detection, and response systems in Africa. Underlying causes of recurrent disease outbreaks include inadequacies in the detection of new infectious disease outbreaks in the community, in rapid pathogen identification, and in proactive surveillance systems. In sub-Saharan Africa, where 70% of zoonotic outbreaks occur, there remains the perennial risk of outbreaks of new or re-emerging pathogens for which no vaccines or treatments are available. As the Ebola virus disease, COVID-19, and mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreaks highlight, a major paradigm shift is required to establish an effective infrastructure and common frameworks for preparedness and to prompt national and regional public health responses to mitigate the effects of future pandemics in Africa

Community mobilization for malaria elimination: application of an open space methodology in Ruhuha sector, Rwanda

Background Despite the significant reduction of malaria transmission in Rwanda, Ruhuha sector is still a highly endemic area for malaria. The objective of this activity was to explore and brainstorm the potential roles of various community stakeholders in malaria elimination. Methods Horizontal participatory approaches such as ‘open space’ have been deployed to explore local priorities, stimulate community contribution to project planning, and to promote local capacity to manage programmes. Two open space meetings were conducted with 62 and 82 participants in years 1 and 2, respectively. Participants included purposively selected community and local organizations’ representatives. Results Malaria was perceived as a health concern by the respondents despite the reported reduction in prevalence from 60 to 20% for cases at the local health centre. Some misconceptions of the cause of malaria and misuse of preventive strategies were noted. Poverty was deemed to be a contributing factor to malaria transmission, with suggestions that improvement of living conditions for poor families might help malaria reduction. Participants expressed willingness to contribute to malaria elimination and underscored the need for constant education, sensitization and mobilization towards malaria control in general. Active diagnosis, preventative strategies and prompt treatment of malaria cases were all mentioned by participants as ways to reduce malaria. Participants suggested that partnership of stakeholders at various levels could speed up programme activities. A community rewards system was deemed important to motivate engaged participants, i.e., community health workers and households. Establishment of malaria clubs in schools settings was also suggested as crucial to speed up community awareness and increase skills towards further malaria reduction. Conclusions This bottom-up approach was found useful in engaging the local community, enabling them to explore issues related to malaria in the area and suggest solutions for sustainable malaria elimination gains

Cancer risk in patients with Noonan syndrome carrying a PTPN11 mutation

Noonan syndrome (NS) is characterized by short stature, facial dysmorphisms and congenital heart defects. PTPN11 mutations are the most common cause of NS. Patients with NS have a predisposition for leukemia and certain solid tumors. Data on the incidence of malignancies in NS are lacking. Our objective was to estimate the cancer risk and spectrum in patients with NS carrying a PTPN11 mutation. In addition, we have investigated whether specific PTPN11 mutations result in an increased malignancy risk. We have performed a cohort study among 297 Dutch NS patients with a PTPN11 mutation (mean age 18 years). The cancer histories were collected from the referral forms for DNA diagnostics, and by consulting the Dutch national registry of pathology and the Netherlands Cancer Registry. The reported frequencies of cancer among NS patients were compared with the expected frequencies using population-based incidence rates. In total, 12 patients with NS developed a malignancy, providing a cumulative risk for developing cancer of 23% (95% confidence interval (CI), 8–38%) up to age 55 years, which represents a 3.5-fold (95% CI, 2.0–5.9) increased risk compared with that in the general population. Hematological malignancies occurred most frequently. Two malignancies, not previously observed in NS, were found: a malignant mastocytosis and malignant epithelioid angiosarcoma. No correlation was found between specific PTPN11 mutations and cancer occurrence. In conclusion, this study provides first evidence of an increased risk of cancer in patients with NS and a PTPN11 mutation, compared with that in the general population. Our data do not warrant specific cancer surveillance

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