# ent

id: cord-031316-yvid6qps
type: PROTEIN
entity:
  cord 031316 yvid6qps authors Bisimwa Patrick N Ongus Juliette R Tiambo Christian K Machuka Eunice M Bisimwa Espoir B Steinaa


id: cord-151532-mpv2wegm
type: PERSON
entity:
  Burkhardt Amanda M Bustamante Carlos Cao Lormeau Van Mai Corcoran Martin M Duffy Darragh Guajardo Macarena Fuentes Fujita


id: cord-270425-1ughypnx
type: ORG
entity:
  the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund


id: cord-309327-eham6trt
type: ORG
entity:
  the Director Ethical Considerations for Decision making Regarding Allocation of Mechanical Ventilators


id: cord-309327-eham6trt
type: ORG
entity:
  influenza Joint Massachusetts Department of Public Health Harvard Altered Standards of Care Working Group


id: cord-309327-eham6trt
type: EVENT
entity:
  Ratification International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights Health as Liberation Medicine Theology


id: cord-349786-12lc3342
type: PROTEIN
entity:
  resistin nuclear factor kappa B NF κB toll like receptor 4 TL4 interleukin 6 IL 6 tumor necrosis factor


id: cord-349786-12lc3342
type: DISEASE
entity:
  dry cough diarrhoea dyspnea fatigue fever headache myalgia nasal congestion nausea runny nose sore throat tastelessness


id: cord-002774-tpqsjjet
type: GGP
entity:
  Ii 0 11 p 0 01 and symptoms of pain Ii 0 14 p 0 01 fatigue ji 0 34 p 0 001 and cognitive difficulties p 0 30 P 0 001 For the three dimensions of the IIRS multiple regression results revealed 1


id: cord-002774-tpqsjjet
type: LAW
entity:
  The Collaborative Process to Achieve Access to Primary Health Care for Black Women and Women of Colour Project


id: cord-002774-tpqsjjet
type: EVENT
entity:
  Black Women and Women of Colour Women s Health in Women s Hands Community Health Centre Sistering Parkdale Community Health Centre Rexdale Community Health Centre


id: cord-002774-tpqsjjet
type: LAW
entity:
  P5 77 C Health and Livelihood Implications of Marginalization of Slum Dwellers in Provision of Water and Sanitation Services


id: cord-002774-tpqsjjet
type: DISEASE
entity:
  HIV Criminal justice system involvement was measured by arrest incarceration drug felony and loss denial of social services


id: cord-018764-02l423mk
type: PROTEIN
entity:
  e intercellular adhesion molecule 1 ICAM 1 CD54 vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 VCAM 1 CD106 and E selectin


id: cord-317640-61crnh6a
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  R A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing R Foundation for Statistical Computing Mechanisms


id: cord-253466-7gpije5d
type: PROTEIN
entity:
  cellular origin RNA polymerase II EAP ribosome component proliferating cell antigen retinoblastoma protein p53 DNA ligase 1 DNA polymerase


id: cord-253466-7gpije5d
type: PROTEIN
entity:
  protein histone deacetylase 2 hSNF2H mSin3a TATA binding protein TBP TBP associated factors Leopardi


id: cord-342588-berrojmq
type: ORG
entity:
  the Trypanocidal Drug Melarsoprol Chemotherapy of Protozoal Infections Amebiasis Giardiasis Trichomoniasis Trypanosomiasis Leishmania


id: cord-029480-3md13om6
type: ORG
entity:
  the Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa IHRDA v Republic of Mali African Court of Human and Peoples Rights 11


id: cord-029480-3md13om6
type: ORG
entity:
  the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child


id: cord-266027-1xrq8cg9
type: GGP
entity:
  SEP i e neighborhood supermarket and neighborhood park and 5 ORs additionally adjusted for health behaviors i e physical activity alcohol


# bib

id: cord-001274-vz0qvp01
author: Chitray, M.
date: 2013-11-13
txt: ./txt/cord-001274-vz0qvp01.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-001274-vz0qvp01.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4010724/
doi: 10.1007/s00705-013-1838-9
summary:
  For this study, the L and P1 coding regions for eight FMDV A and nine FMDV O viruses isolated between 1975 and 2003 were successfully sequenced and analysed using phylogenetic analysis, examination of sequence variability, and identification of highly conserved genomic regions relating to previously identified FMDV functional and structural biological capabilities. The sub-Saharan African isolates included in this study belong to different topotypes of FMDV serotypes A and O as defined by 1D sequencing and represent a broad geographical distribution of viruses within East and West Africa. Characterising sequence variation in the VP1 capsid proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus (serotype O) with the respect to virion structure Sequence analysis of monoclonal antibody resistant mutants of type O foot and mouth disease virus: evidence for the involvement of the three surface exposed capsid proteins in four antigenic sites

title:
  Genetic heterogeneity in the leader and P1-coding regions of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotypes A and O in Africa

abstract:
  Genetic information regarding the leader (L) and complete capsid-coding (P1) region of FMD serotype A and O viruses prevalent on the African continent is lacking. Here, we present the complete L-P1 sequences for eight serotype A and nine serotype O viruses recovered from FMDV outbreaks in East and West Africa over the last 33 years. Phylogenetic analysis of the P1 and capsid-coding regions revealed that the African isolates grouped according to serotype, and certain clusters were indicative of transboundary as well as intra-regional spread of the virus. However, similar analysis of the L region revealed random groupings of isolates from serotypes O and A. Comparisons between the phylogenetic trees derived from the structural coding regions and the L region pointed to a possibility of genetic recombination. The intertypic nucleotide and amino acid variation of all the isolates in this study supported results from previous studies where the externally located 1D was the most variable whilst the internally located 1A was the most conserved, which likely reflects the selective pressures on these proteins. Amino acids identified previously as important for FMDV structure and functioning were found to be highly conserved. The information gained from this study will contribute to the construction of structurally designed FMDV vaccines in Africa. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00705-013-1838-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.


id: cord-002222-rgqwm3vb
author: Olarte-Castillo, Ximena A.
date: 2016-09-23
txt: ./txt/cord-002222-rgqwm3vb.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-002222-rgqwm3vb.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5035092/
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163548
summary:
  By screening a large number of predominantly fecal samples (n = 631) obtained from five carnivore species in the Serengeti ecosystem, East Africa, sapovirus RNA was detected in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta, family Hyaenidae), African lion (Panthera leo, family Felidae), and bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis, family Canidae), but not in golden or silver-backed jackals (Canis aureus and C. Long-term monitoring of sapovirus in a population of individually known spotted hyenas from 2001 to 2012 revealed: i) a relatively high overall infection prevalence (34.8%); ii) the circulation of several genetically diverse variants; iii) large fluctuations in infection prevalence across years, indicative of outbreaks; iv) no significant difference in the likelihood of infection between animals in different age categories. A total of 20 partial RdRp gene sequences (16 from spotted hyenas, 3 from African lions and 1 from bat-eared foxes) were obtained and used for the phylogenetic analysis, together with publically available sequence data from 25 representatives of all sapovirus genogroups, divergent unclassified sapoviruses, and other genera in the Caliciviridae family, including Norovirus and Vesivirus.

title:
  Divergent Sapovirus Strains and Infection Prevalence in Wild Carnivores in the Serengeti Ecosystem: A Long-Term Study

abstract:
  The genus Sapovirus, in the family Caliciviridae, includes enteric viruses of humans and domestic animals. Information on sapovirus infection of wildlife is limited and is currently lacking for any free-ranging wildlife species in Africa. By screening a large number of predominantly fecal samples (n = 631) obtained from five carnivore species in the Serengeti ecosystem, East Africa, sapovirus RNA was detected in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta, family Hyaenidae), African lion (Panthera leo, family Felidae), and bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis, family Canidae), but not in golden or silver-backed jackals (Canis aureus and C. mesomelas, respectively, family Canidae). A phylogenetic analysis based on partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene sequences placed the sapovirus strains from African carnivores in a monophyletic group. Within this monophyletic group, sapovirus strains from spotted hyenas formed one independent sub-group, and those from bat-eared fox and African lion a second sub-group. The percentage nucleotide similarity between sapoviruses from African carnivores and those from other species was low (< 70.4%). Long-term monitoring of sapovirus in a population of individually known spotted hyenas from 2001 to 2012 revealed: i) a relatively high overall infection prevalence (34.8%); ii) the circulation of several genetically diverse variants; iii) large fluctuations in infection prevalence across years, indicative of outbreaks; iv) no significant difference in the likelihood of infection between animals in different age categories. The likelihood of sapovirus infection decreased with increasing hyena group size, suggesting an encounter reduction effect, but was independent of socially mediated ano-genital contact, or the extent of the area over which an individual roamed.


id: cord-002774-tpqsjjet
title: Section II: Poster Sessions
author: nan
date: 2017-12-01
txt: ./txt/cord-002774-tpqsjjet.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-002774-tpqsjjet.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5711696/
doi: 10.1093/jurban/jti137
abstract: nan
summary:
  Results: The CHIP Framework The CHIP framework aims to improve the health and wellness of the urban communities served by St. Josephs Health Centre through four intersecting pillars: • Raising Community Voices provides an infrastructure and process that supports community stakeholder input into health care service planning, decision-making, and delivery by the hospital and across the continuum of care; • Sharing Reciprocal Capacity promotes healthy communities through the sharing of our intellectual and physical capacity with our community partners; • Cultivating Integration Initiatives facilitates vertical, horizontal, and intersectoral integration initiatives in support of community-identified needs and gaps; and • Facilitating Healthy Exchange develops best practices in community integration through community-based research, and facilitates community voice in informing public policy.


id: cord-002994-1zjrunzc
title: Full-Genome Characterization and Genetic Evolution of West African Isolates of Bagaza Virus
author: Faye, Martin
date: 2018-04-13
txt: ./txt/cord-002994-1zjrunzc.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-002994-1zjrunzc.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5923487/
doi: 10.3390/v10040193
summary:
  Based on these alignments, we investigated the genetic properties of these different isolates circulating in West Africa, such as genome length and location of main conserved amino acid motifs previously described in mosquito-borne flaviviruses (MBFVs) with sometimes mutations which include no physicochemical properties changes [3] . The RNAz method [21] implemented in the Vienna RNA Websuite (http://rna.tbi.univie.ac.at/) [22] was used to detect thermodynamically stable and evolutionarily conserved structural RNA domains on complete non-coding regions of the 11 West African BAGV isolates characterized in this study and the isolates from Spain and CAR, because complete non-coding sequences are not currently available for the isolate from India. Here, we described location of main conserved amino acid motifs on BAGV proteins using in silico analysis of complete genome sequences of the 11 West African BAGV isolates characterized in this study and sequences from India, CAR and Spain.

abstract:
  Bagaza virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus, first isolated in 1966 in Central African Republic. It has currently been identified in mosquito pools collected in the field in West and Central Africa. Emergence in wild birds in Europe and serological evidence in encephalitis patients in India raise questions on its genetic evolution and the diversity of isolates circulating in Africa. To better understand genetic diversity and evolution of Bagaza virus, we describe the full-genome characterization of 11 West African isolates, sampled from 1988 to 2014. Parameters such as genetic distances, N-glycosylation patterns, recombination events, selective pressures, and its codon adaptation to human genes are assessed. Our study is noteworthy for the observation of N-glycosylation and recombination in Bagaza virus and provides insight into its Indian origin from the 13th century. Interestingly, evidence of Bagaza virus codon adaptation to human house-keeping genes is also observed to be higher than those of other flaviviruses well known in human infections. Genetic variations on genome of West African Bagaza virus could play an important role in generating diversity and may promote Bagaza virus adaptation to other vertebrates and become an important threat in human health.


id: cord-018764-02l423mk
title: The molecular basis of paediatric malarial disease
author: Clark, Ian A.
date: 2007
txt: ./txt/cord-018764-02l423mk.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-018764-02l423mk.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7123729/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-7643-8099-1_9
summary:
  The influence of inflammatory cytokines on cellular function offers a molecular framework to explain the multiple clinical syndromes that are observed during acute malarial illness, and provides a fresh avenue of investigation for adjunct therapies to ameliorate the malarial disease process. The presence of hyperlactataemia, hypoglycaemia, and metabolic acidosis, all three consistent with a patient being forced to rely on anaerobic glycolysis for energy production, have provided a consensus that hypoxia is central to disease pathogenesis in falciparum malaria. Another inflammatory cytokine, macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) that is increased in malaria, and induced by TNF, has been shown to cause dyserythropoiesis in in vitro studies on bone marrow cells [95, 96] . Although the sepsis world now discusses several origins for the lactate increase, including inflammation-induced mitochondrial dysfunction [97] , in falciparum malaria it is still generally attributed to a reduced oxygen supply, mostly through microvascular occlusion by sequestered parasitised erythrocytes [121] .

abstract:
  Severe falciparum malaria is an acute systemic disease that can affect multiple organs, including those in which few parasites are found. The acute disease bears many similarities both clinically and, potentially, mechanistically, to the systemic diseases caused by bacteria, rickettsia, and viruses. Traditionally the morbidity and mortality associated with severe malarial disease has been explained in terms of mechanical obstruction to vascular flow by adherence to endothelium (termed sequestration) of erythrocytes containing mature-stage parasites. However, over the past few decades an alternative ‘cytokine theory of disease’ has also evolved, where malarial pathology is explained in terms of a balance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The final common pathway for this pro-inflammatory imbalance is believed to be a limitation in the supply and mitochondrial utilisation of energy to cells. Different patterns of ensuing energy depletion (both temporal and spatial) throughout the cells in the body present as different clinical syndromes. This chapter draws attention to the over-arching position that inflammatory cytokines are beginning to occupy in the pathogenesis of acute malaria and other acute infections. The influence of inflammatory cytokines on cellular function offers a molecular framework to explain the multiple clinical syndromes that are observed during acute malarial illness, and provides a fresh avenue of investigation for adjunct therapies to ameliorate the malarial disease process.


id: cord-021655-ojfm5rt3
title: Overview of African Wild Dog Medicine
author: Langan, Jennifer N.
date: 2018-09-28
txt: ./txt/cord-021655-ojfm5rt3.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-021655-ojfm5rt3.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7151821/
doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-55228-8.00077-1
abstract: nan
summary:
  Seasonal changes in steroid hormone profiles, body weight, semen quality and the reproductive tract in captive African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in South Africa Population analysis and breeding and transfer plan: african painted (wild) dog (Lycaon pictus) Monitoring stress in captive and free-ranging African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) using faecal glucocorticoid metabolites Studies of male reproduction in captive African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) Natural selection of the communal rearing of pups in African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) Canine distemper in African hunting dogs (Lycaon pictus) -possibly vaccine induced Vaccine-associated canine distemper infection in a litter of African hunting dogs (Lycaon pictus) Comparison of oral and intramuscular recombinant canine distemper vaccination in African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) Immunization and antibody persistence to canine distemper and rabies vaccination in captive african wild dogs (Lycaon pictus A survey of internal parasites in free-ranging African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus


id: cord-029480-3md13om6
title: Educational Values in Human Rights Treaties: UN, European, and African International Law
author: Meix-Cereceda, Pablo
date: 2020-07-21
txt: ./txt/cord-029480-3md13om6.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-029480-3md13om6.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7371825/
doi: 10.1007/s12142-020-00599-6
summary:
  -The original conception of law perceived not as a tool for personal defense, but as an opportunity given to all to survive under the protection of the order of the communal entity -Communalism which emphasizes group solidarity and interests generally, and all rules which sustain it, as opposed to individual interests, with its likely utility in building a sense of national unity among South Africans -The conciliatory character of the adjudication process which aims to restore peace and harmony between members rather than the adversarial approach which emphasizes retribution and seems repressive. 59 So far, it may be concluded that African instruments on human rights consider the very accessibility to school education as a key element for the first value that should guide education: the full development of the child''s personality.

abstract:
  While human rights treaties provide a formidable set of principles on education and values, domestic Courts often tend to adjudicate claims in terms of local arguments for or against each particular educational practice. This article explores how international human rights law could inspire the interpretation of domestic law and educational practice, without neglecting specific cultural aspects. Firstly, the article reviews the sociological debate on values in education and shows its importance for the legal discussion. Secondly, some critical contestations of international cultural human rights are outlined, as well as certain arguments to justify the importance of this model. The study of international law follows: the UN, the European Court of Human Rights, and three relevant African Charters, as well as every reference to education made by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and by the African Court is examined. Lastly, a comparative section reveals a certain cultural commonality inspired by the UN treaties, but also reflects some cultural and institutional differences between the European and the African regional systems.


id: cord-030370-89n13hml
title: Ebola Virus Disease in the Obstetric Population
author: Brown, Colin S.
date: 2019-04-11
txt: ./txt/cord-030370-89n13hml.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-030370-89n13hml.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7418530/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-94854-6_4
summary:
  Epidemiological factors Considerations for screening for general populations Early: fever, profound weakness or malaise, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, conjunctivitis, nausea or anorexia, throat pain or difficulty swallowing, abdominal or epigastric pain, diarrhea (bloody or nonbloody) Exposure/Contact: infected animals, bushmeat or fruit also fed on by bats, healthcare workers/ traditional healers also treating EVD, items soiled or touched by positive EVD patient, deceased EVD bodies Sexual intercourse with EVD-positive male or EVD survivor Late: confusion and irritability, hiccups, seizures, chest pain, diarrhea (watery or bloody), vomiting (with or without blood), skin rash, internal or external bleeding, shock, respiratory distress Additional considerations for screening obstetric population Vaginal bleeding of unknown origin, spontaneous abortion, premature labor and/or rupture of membranes, preterm labor, antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage, intrauterine fetal demise, stillbirth, loss of consciousness Exposure to products of conception or deceased fetus of EVD positive patient Being a pregnant woman with history of contact with confirmed EVD patient, recent EVD survivor with an intact pregnancy, newborn of an EVD positive mother, infant breastfed by a recent EVD positive mother WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data [55] setting, women were often left untreated or were provided minimal intervention by frightened medical staff working in an overwhelmed, under resourced health care system in crisis.

abstract:
  The clinical management of Ebola created a significant challenge during the outbreak in West Africa, due to the paucity of previous research conducted into the optimum treatment regimen. That left many centres, to some extent, having to ‘work out’ best practice as they went along, and attempting to conduct real time prospective research. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) [1] were the only organization to have provided relatively in depth practical guidance prior to the outbreak and this manual was the basis of further planning between the WHO, national Ministry of Health and Sanitation in Sierra Leone, and other relevant stakeholders. Additionally, guidance changed over the epidemic as experience grew. This chapter will describe four key areas in the management of Ebola in West Africa. Firstly, it outlines the most recent WHO guidance; secondly, it looks back at how Ebola was managed in differing low and high resource settings; thirdly it outlines possible and optimal options for managing complications, paying particular attention to some of the controversies faced; fourthly it describes recent and ongoing studies into potential novel therapies that may shape future practice.


id: cord-031316-yvid6qps
author: Bisimwa, Patrick N.
date: 2020-09-03
txt: ./txt/cord-031316-yvid6qps.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-031316-yvid6qps.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7468181/
doi: 10.1186/s12985-020-01398-8
summary:
  Sequences of p72 and p54 amplicon were compared with 25 other p72 and p54 ASFV sequences retrieved from the Gen-Bank database and the phylogenetic analysis revealed that the South Kivu ASF virus strains analyzed clustered with p72 genotype X including strains reported in previous studies in Burundi (AF449463), Kenya (AY261360) and Tanzania (JX403648, AF301546, MF437291) ( Fig. 2a and b) . Sequences of African swine fever virus (ASFV) strains from the South Kivu province, eastern DRC, showing tetrameric repeats of representative genotypes, including a reference sequence of a virus isolated in 1950 in Kenya (Kenya 1950; GenBank accession no.

title:
  First detection of African swine fever (ASF) virus genotype X and serogroup 7 in symptomatic pigs in the Democratic Republic of Congo

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and severe hemorrhagic viral disease of domestic pigs. The analysis of variable regions of African swine fever virus (ASFV) genome led to more genotypic and serotypic information about circulating strains. The present study aimed at investigating the genetic diversity of ASFV strains in symptomatic pigs in South Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples collected from 391 ASF symptomatic domestic pigs in 6 of 8 districts in South Kivu were screened for the presence of ASFV, using a VP73 gene-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the universal primer set PPA1-PPA2. To genotype the strains, we sequenced and compared the nucleotide sequences of PPA-positive samples at three loci: the C-terminus of B646L gene encoding the p72 protein, the E183L gene encoding the p54 protein, and the central hypervariable region (CVR) of the B602L gene encoding the J9L protein. In addition, to serotype and discriminate between closely related strains, the EP402L (CD2v) gene and the intergenic region between the I73R and I329L genes were analyzed. RESULTS: ASFV was confirmed in 26 of 391 pigs tested. However, only 19 and 15 PPA-positive samples, respectively, were successfully sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed for p72 (B646L) and p54 (E183L). All the ASFV studied were of genotype X. The CVR tetrameric repeat clustered the ASFV strains in two subgroups: the Uvira subgroup (10 TRS repeats, AAAABNAABA) and another subgroup from all other strains (8 TRS repeats, AABNAABA). The phylogenetic analysis of the EP402L gene clustered all the strains into CD2v serogroup 7. Analyzing the intergenic region between I73R and I329L genes revealed that the strains were identical but contained a deletion of a 33-nucleotide internal repeat sequence compared to ASFV strain Kenya 1950. CONCLUSION: ASFV genotype X and serogroup 7 was identified in the ASF disease outbreaks in South Kivu province of DRC in 2018–2019. This represents the first report of ASFV genotype X in DRC. CVR tetrameric repeat sequences clustered the ASFV strains studied in two subgroups. Our finding emphasizes the need for improved coordination of the control of ASF.


id: cord-032552-rjuug7er
author: Umviligihozo, Gisele
date: 2020-07-08
txt: ./txt/cord-032552-rjuug7er.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-032552-rjuug7er.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7499400/
doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16070.1
summary:
  As a group of early career scientists and the next generation of African scientific leaders with experience of working in medical and diverse health research fields in both SSA and resource-rich countries, we present a unique perspective on the current public health interventions to fight COVID-19 in Africa. As a group of early career scientists and the next generation of African scientific leaders with experience of working in medical and diverse health research fields in both SSA and resource-rich countries, we present a unique perspective on the current public health interventions to fight COVID-19 in Africa. We documented public health interventions implemented in seven SSA countries including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Cameroon, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana, the existing gaps and the important components of disease control that may strengthen SSA response to future outbreaks. We documented public health interventions implemented in seven SSA countries including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Cameroon, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana, the existing gaps and the important components of disease control that may strengthen SSA response to future outbreaks.

title:
  Sub-Saharan Africa preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic: A perspective of early career African scientists

abstract:
  Emerging highly transmissible viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 pose a significant global threat to human health and the economy. Since its first appearance in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, Hubei province, China, SARS-CoV-2 infection has quickly spread across the globe, with the first case reported on the African continent, in Egypt on February 14 (th), 2020. Although the global number of COVID-19 infections has increased exponentially since the beginning of the pandemic, the number of new infections and deaths recorded in African countries have been relatively modest, suggesting slower transmission dynamics of the virus on the continent, a lower case fatality rate, or simply a lack of testing or reliable data. Notably, there is no significant increase in unexplained pneumonias or deaths on the continent which could possibly indicate the effectiveness of interventions introduced by several African governments. However, there has not yet been a comprehensive assessment of sub-Saharan Africa’s (SSA) preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic that may have contributed to prevent an uncontrolled outbreak so far. As a group of early career scientists and the next generation of African scientific leaders with experience of working in medical and diverse health research fields in both SSA and resource-rich countries, we present a unique perspective on the current public health interventions to fight COVID-19 in Africa. Our perspective is based on extensive review of the available scientific publications, official technical reports and announcements released by governmental and non-governmental health organizations as well as from our personal experiences as workers on the COVID-19 battlefield in SSA. We documented public health interventions implemented in seven SSA countries including Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Cameroon, Zambia, South Africa and Botswana, the existing gaps and the important components of disease control that may strengthen SSA response to future outbreaks.


id: cord-102874-6z5f2gz3
author: Barreiro, Luis B.
date: 2005-11-30
txt: ./txt/cord-102874-6z5f2gz3.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-102874-6z5f2gz3.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0002929707633667
doi: 10.1086/497613
summary:
  Our results, which are based on diversity levels, neutrality tests, population genetic distances, and neck-region length variation, provide genetic evidence that CD209 has been under a strong selective constraint that prevents accumulation of any amino acid changes, whereas CD209L variability has most likely been shaped by the action of balancing selection in non-African populations. Sequence variation of the CD209/CD209L region was determined in 41 sub-Saharan Africans, 43 Europeans, and 43 East Asians, in a total of 254 chromosomes from the Human Genome Diversity Panel (HGDP)-CEPH panel ). To estimate Ϫ4 8 # 10 the substitution rate of each region and evince possible mutational differences that could explain the strong contrast observed in nucleotide-diversity patterns, we determined the human-chimpanzee divergence for both genes. Overall, differences in genomic forces seem to be insufficient to explain the contrasting patterns observed at both the sequence and neck-region length variation levels; therefore, the action of differential selective pressures acting on these genes becomes the most plausible scenario.

title:
  The Heritage of Pathogen Pressures and Ancient Demography in the Human Innate-Immunity CD209/CD209L Region

abstract:
  The innate immunity system constitutes the first line of host defense against pathogens. Two closely related innate immunity genes, CD209 and CD209L, are particularly interesting because they directly recognize a plethora of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Both genes, which result from an ancient duplication, possess a neck region, made up of seven repeats of 23 amino acids each, known to play a major role in the pathogen-binding properties of these proteins. To explore the extent to which pathogens have exerted selective pressures on these innate immunity genes, we resequenced them in a group of samples from sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and East Asia. Moreover, variation in the number of repeats of the neck region was defined in the entire Human Genome Diversity Panel for both genes. Our results, which are based on diversity levels, neutrality tests, population genetic distances, and neck-region length variation, provide genetic evidence that CD209 has been under a strong selective constraint that prevents accumulation of any amino acid changes, whereas CD209L variability has most likely been shaped by the action of balancing selection in non-African populations. In addition, our data point to the neck region as the functional target of such selective pressures: CD209 presents a constant size in the neck region populationwide, whereas CD209L presents an excess of length variation, particularly in non-African populations. An additional interesting observation came from the coalescent-based CD209 gene tree, whose binary topology and time depth (∼2.8 million years ago) are compatible with an ancestral population structure in Africa. Altogether, our study has revealed that even a short segment of the human genome can uncover an extraordinarily complex evolutionary history, including different pathogen pressures on host genes as well as traces of admixture among archaic hominid populations.


id: cord-151532-mpv2wegm
title: Diversity in immunogenomics: the value and the challenge
author: Peng, Kerui
date: 2020-10-20
txt: ./txt/cord-151532-mpv2wegm.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-151532-mpv2wegm.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2010.10402v3.pdf
doi: nan
summary:
  With the recent advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies, and the associated new discoveries and developments, the fields of immunogenomics and adaptive immune receptor repertoire research are facing both opportunities and challenges. By leveraging biological and clinical heterogeneity across different populations in omics data and expanding the populations that are included in immunogenomics research, we can enhance our understanding of human adaptive immune responses, promote the development of effective diagnostics and treatments, and eventually advance precision medicine. However, challenges need to be overcome, including the high levels of copy number variation and segmental duplication in the BCR and TCR loci, and the need for protocols to validate novel allelic variants gleaned from short-read sequencing data 45, 77 Finally, we suggest the need for additional infrastructure and expertise in regions and countries with populations underrepresented in research, and to enhance collaborations between countries, which are critical in minimizing global health disparities.

abstract:
  With the recent advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies, and the associated new discoveries and developments, the fields of immunogenomics and adaptive immune receptor repertoire research are facing both opportunities and challenges. The majority of immunogenomics studies have been primarily conducted in cohorts of European ancestry, restricting the ability to detect and analyze variation in human adaptive immune responses across populations and limiting their applications. By leveraging biological and clinical heterogeneity across different populations in omics data and expanding the populations that are included in immunogenomics research, we can enhance our understanding of human adaptive immune responses, promote the development of effective diagnostics and treatments, and eventually advance precision medicine.


id: cord-253466-7gpije5d
author: Netherton, Christopher
date: 2007-08-31
txt: ./txt/cord-253466-7gpije5d.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-253466-7gpije5d.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065352707700040
doi: 10.1016/s0065-3527(07)70004-0
summary:
  Significantly, Poliovirus infection causes enrichment of GEFs in membranes containing replicase proteins, and this would provide a mechanism for increasing levels of Arf1-GTP at sites of virus replication. There is evidence that Tobacco mosaic virus also uses the ER as a site of replication because the replicase enzyme and viral RNA are located on the ER of infected cells, and infection causes major changes in ER morphology (Reichel and Beachy, 1998) , including ER aggregation and formation of lamella structures. Even though these viruses infect a diverse range of hosts from different phyla, including vertebrates [poxviruses, African swine fever virus (ASFV)], arthropods (entomopox, ASFV, chloriridoviruses), amphibians and fish (Ranavirus, Megalocytivirus, and Lymphocystivirus genera of the Iridoviridae family), marine algae (phycodnaviruses), and protozoa (mimivirus), they all generate cytoplasmic factories as major sites of virus assembly and replication (illustrated in Fig. 4 ). Formation of DNA replication structures in herpes virus-infected cells requires a viral DNA binding protein

title:
  A Guide to Viral Inclusions, Membrane Rearrangements, Factories, and Viroplasm Produced During Virus Replication

abstract:
  Virus replication can cause extensive rearrangement of host cell cytoskeletal and membrane compartments leading to the “cytopathic effect” that has been the hallmark of virus infection in tissue culture for many years. Recent studies are beginning to redefine these signs of viral infection in terms of specific effects of viruses on cellular processes. In this chapter, these concepts have been illustrated by describing the replication sites produced by many different viruses. In many cases, the cellular rearrangements caused during virus infection lead to the construction of sophisticated platforms in the cell that concentrate replicase proteins, virus genomes, and host proteins required for replication, and thereby increase the efficiency of replication. Interestingly, these same structures, called virus factories, virus inclusions, or virosomes, can recruit host components that are associated with cellular defences against infection and cell stress. It is possible that cellular defence pathways can be subverted by viruses to generate sites of replication. The recruitment of cellular membranes and cytoskeleton to generate virus replication sites can also benefit viruses in other ways. Disruption of cellular membranes can, for example, slow the transport of immunomodulatory proteins to the surface of infected cells and protect against innate and acquired immune responses, and rearrangements to cytoskeleton can facilitate virus release.


id: cord-256195-1hmzgwrw
author: Izzy, Saef
date: 2020-09-01
txt: ./txt/cord-256195-1hmzgwrw.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-256195-1hmzgwrw.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33088846/
doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofaa401
summary:
  2 In the United States, where a racially and ethnically diverse population has been exposed to infection in the setting of known racial and ethnic health disparities, 14 several news reports have suggested that ethnic and racial minorities, especially Latinx and non-Latin African American individuals, may bear a higher burden of disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used medical records available from the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Massachusetts to examine the association between age, race and ethnicity, reported preexisting comorbidities, and the need for hospitalization and ICU admission in a large study population of COVID-19 positive patients. First, analysis of our large study population confirmed our firsthand clinical experience and showed indeed that Latinx and African American patients are at higher risk of being hospitalized and admitted to ICU level of care with COVID-19, than White patients.

title:
  Characteristics and outcomes of Latinx patients with COVID-19 in comparison to other ethnic and racial groups

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: There is limited understating of the impact of COVID-19 on the Latinx population. We hypothesized that Latinx patients would be more likely to be hospitalized and admitted to the ICU than White patients. METHODS: We analyzed all patients with COVID-19 in 12 Massachusetts hospitals between February 1 and April 14, 2020. We examined the association between race, ethnicity, age, reported comorbidities, and hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) admission using multivariable regression. RESULTS: Of 5190 COVID-19 patients, 29% were hospitalized; 33% required ICU and 4.3% died. 46% of patients were White, 25% Latinx, 14% African American, and 3% Asian American. Ethnicity and race were significantly associated with hospitalization. More Latinx and African American patients in the younger age groups were hospitalized than whites. Latinx and African Americans disproportionally required ICU, with 39% of hospitalized Latinx patients requiring ICU compared to 33% of African Americans, 24% of Asian Americans, and 30% of Whites (p&0.007). Within each ethnic and racial group, age and male gender were independently predictive of hospitalization. Previously reported pre-existing comorbidities contributed to the need for hospitalization in all racial and ethnic groups (p&0.05). However, the observed disparities were less likely related to reported comorbidities, with Latinx and African American patients being admitted at twice the rate of Whites, regardless of such comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Latinx and African American patients with COVID-19 have higher rates of hospitalization and ICU admission than White patients. The etiologies of such disparities are likely multifactorial and cannot be explained only by reported comorbidities.


id: cord-259852-skhoro95
author: Oboh, Mary Aigbiremo
date: 2020-08-18
txt: ./txt/cord-259852-skhoro95.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-259852-skhoro95.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.20.259
doi: 10.3961/jpmph.20.259
summary:
  In addition to the Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement fund (US$600 million) provided by the World Bank for strengthening health systems and disease surveillance, each country should further establish an epidemic emergency fund for epidemic preparedness and response. Given the various epidemic events that have previously oc-curred in Africa, from Ebola virus disease (EVD) [4] to yellow fever, cholera, measles and Lassa fever [5] , it would almost be safe to assume that African governments have prepared proactive measures against possible future epidemics. A measure could have been applied to restrict travel even from countries with fewer than 100 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases given that the virus is highly transmissible, with a high reproductive number [3] . In addition to the REDISSE fund (US$600 million) created by the World Bank for strengthening health systems and disease surveillance, each country should further map out an epidemic emergency fund that will be used to address situations such as this in the future.

title:
  Beyond SARS-CoV-2: Lessons That African Governments Can Apply in Preparation for Possible Future Epidemics

abstract:
  Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has placed unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems, even in advanced economies. While the number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 in Africa compared to other continents has so far been low, there are concerns about under-reporting, inadequate diagnostic tools, and insufficient treatment facilities. Moreover, proactiveness on the part of African governments has been under scrutiny. For instance, issues have emerged regarding the responsiveness of African countries in closing international borders to limit trans-continental transmission of the virus. Overdependence on imported products and outsourced services could have contributed to African governments’ hesitation to shut down international air and seaports. In this era of emerging and re-emerging pathogens, we recommend that African nations should consider self-sufficiency in the health sector as an urgent priority, as this will not be the last outbreak to occur. In addition to the Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement fund (US$600 million) provided by the World Bank for strengthening health systems and disease surveillance, each country should further establish an epidemic emergency fund for epidemic preparedness and response. We also recommend that epidemic surveillance units should create a secure database of previous and ongoing pandemics in terms of aetiology, spread, and treatment, as well as financial management records. Strategic collection and analysis of data should also be a central focus of these units to facilitate studies of disease trends and to estimate the scale of requirements in preparation and response to any future pandemic or epidemic.


id: cord-260305-pl2ditn7
author: Nyika, Aceme
date: 2009-11-30
txt: ./txt/cord-260305-pl2ditn7.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-260305-pl2ditn7.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19682966/
doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.08.010
summary:
  Abstract The disease burden in Africa, which is relatively very large compared with developed countries, has been attributed to various factors that include poverty, food shortages, inadequate access to health care and unaffordability of Western medicines to the majority of African populations. This paper argues that continuing to use African traditional medicines for old and new diseases without making concerted efforts to improve their efficacy and safety is unethical since the disease burden affecting Africa may continue to rise in spite of the availability and accessibility of the traditional medicines. The involvement of such organizations as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union (AU) in promoting scientific research into ATM has enhanced conduction of various types of scientific studies aimed at improving the safety, efficacy and quality of traditional medicines (AACHRD, 2002) .

title:
  The ethics of improving African traditional medical practice: Scientific or African traditional research methods?

abstract:
  Abstract The disease burden in Africa, which is relatively very large compared with developed countries, has been attributed to various factors that include poverty, food shortages, inadequate access to health care and unaffordability of Western medicines to the majority of African populations. Although for ‘old diseases’ knowledge about the right African traditional medicines to treat or cure the diseases has been passed from generation to generation, knowledge about traditional medicines to treat newly emerging diseases has to be generated in one way or another. In addition, the existing traditional medicines have to be continuously improved, which is also the case with Western scientific medicines. Whereas one school of thought supports the idea of improving medicines, be they traditional or Western, through scientific research, an opposing school of thought argues that subjecting African traditional medicines to scientific research would be tantamount to some form of colonization and imperialism. This paper argues that continuing to use African traditional medicines for old and new diseases without making concerted efforts to improve their efficacy and safety is unethical since the disease burden affecting Africa may continue to rise in spite of the availability and accessibility of the traditional medicines. Most importantly, the paper commends efforts being made in some African countries to improve African traditional medicine through a combination of different mechanisms that include the controversial approach of scientific research on traditional medicines.


id: cord-266027-1xrq8cg9
title: Socioeconomic Correlates of Obesity in African-American and Caribbean-Black Men and Women
author: Barrington, Debbie S.
date: 2020-07-04
txt: ./txt/cord-266027-1xrq8cg9.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-266027-1xrq8cg9.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00798-4
doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00798-4
summary:
  Covariates utilized for statistical adjustment due to their known associations with SEP and obesity include demographic variables such as age [5] , categorized into less than or equal to 29 years, 30-44 years, 45-59 years, and 60 or more years; marital status, [24] characterized as (1) married or living with a partner, (2) separated, divorced or widowed, and (3) never married; and three measures of health behaviors, (1) physical activity [22] , a continuous measure based on how often the study participants worked in the garden or yard, engaged in active sports or exercise, and walked, (2) smoking status [25] , specified as the participant never having smoked more than 100 cigarettes in his/her lifetime or "never smoker," having smoked more than 100 cigarettes in the past or "past smoker," and "current smoker," and (3) current alcohol consumption [22] , categorized for analytical purposes into consuming no alcoholic drinks within the past year or "none," having consumed less than 12 drinks within the past year, or "infrequent drinker," and moderate-to-heavy drinkers having consumed 12 or more drinks within the past year or "regular drinker." To minimize bias due to differentially distributed missing data on measures of SEP and BMI by ethnicity (African-American and Caribbean-Black) and sex, multiple imputation was performed prior to statistical analysis within the statistical software package IVEware [26] .

abstract:
  The high prevalence of obesity among Black Americans warrants additional investigation into its relationship with socioeconomic position (SEP), sex, and ethnicity. This cross-sectional study utilizes 2001–2003 data from the National Survey of American Life, a nationally representative sample of 3570 African-Americans and 1621 Caribbean-Blacks aged 18 years and older. Multivariate logistic regression models stratified by ethnicity and sex describe the independent associations between obesity and multilevel socioeconomic factors after adjustment for age, other SEP measures at the individual, family and neighborhood levels, and health behaviors such as physical activity, alcohol intake, and smoking. A positive relationship was observed between obesity and family income among African-American and Caribbean-Black men. Receipt of public assistance was a strongly associated factor for obesity in Caribbean-Black men and women. Among African-American women, inverse relationships were observed between obesity and education, occupation, and family income; residence within a neighborhood with a supermarket also decreased their odds of obesity. Residence in a neighborhood with a park decreased the odds of obesity only among African-American men, whereas residence in a neighborhood with a supermarket decreased the odds of obesity among Caribbean-Black men. The social patterning of obesity by individual, household, and neighborhood socioeconomic resources differs for African-American and Caribbean-Black men and women within these cross-sectional analyses; an appreciation of these differences may be a prerequisite for developing effective weight control interventions and policies for these two populations.


id: cord-270425-1ughypnx
title: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Racial Disparities: a Perspective Analysis
author: Louis-Jean, James
date: 2020-10-06
txt: ./txt/cord-270425-1ughypnx.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-270425-1ughypnx.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33025419/
doi: 10.1007/s40615-020-00879-4
summary:
  In the USA, health disparities among minority groups, especially African Americans, limit their access to quality medical care and other beneficial resources and services. Presently, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) highlights the extreme healthcare challenges that exist in the African American and other minority communities in the USA. This is a major concern that government and public health officials should address as it has been shown that in 21 out of 30 states reporting data, black people accounted for a higher share of COVID-19 cases than their share in the population [5] . Racial inequities in healthcare institutions, lack of access to information, higher levels of preventable chronic diseases (i.e., diabetes, asthmas, hypertension, etc.), and COVID-19 testing not being widely available in minority communities are among the many factors resulting in African Americans dying at disproportionate numbers during this pandemic [30] .

abstract:
  Health disparity refers to systematic differences in health outcomes between groups and communities based on socioeconomic isolation. In the USA, health disparities among minority groups, especially African Americans, limit their access to quality medical care and other beneficial resources and services. Presently, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) highlights the extreme healthcare challenges that exist in the African American and other minority communities in the USA. African Americans are dying at a rate nearly four times higher than the national average. With inadequate access to quality healthcare, viable resources, and information, COVID-19 will continue to have a disastrous effect on African American communities. This communication provides a brief overview of the health inequalities resulting in African Americans dying disproportionately during the COVID-19 pandemic.


id: cord-273275-f7rbn88x
title: BMI is Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Intensive Care Unit Admission in African Americans
author: Alkhatib, Ala L.
date: 2020-08-04
txt: ./txt/cord-273275-f7rbn88x.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-273275-f7rbn88x.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32748568/
doi: 10.1002/oby.22937
summary:
  This study aims to identify the risk factors for severe COVID‐19 disease in African American patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified risk factors for severe disease in COVID‐19, specifically in an African American population. ► Major health disparities have been identified in the COVID-19 epidemic within the United States, and this is one of the first studies to focus specifically on the risk factors within an African American population, a community that has been disproportionately impacted by this disease. In this study, we aim to describe the baseline characteristics of laboratoryconfirmed COVID-19-positive African American patients and determine the possible risk factors, including BMI, for the development of severe disease and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). In this retrospective observational cross-sectional study, we found that age, higher BMI, and obstructive lung disease were associated with severe COVID-19 in an African American population.

abstract:
  OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has disproportionately impacted the African American community. This study aims to identify the risk factors for severe COVID‐19 disease in African American patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross‐sectional analysis of African American patients with COVID‐19 treated between March 12 and April 9, 2020, at a single tertiary center. The primary outcome of interest was severe disease defined as those requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS: The study included 158 consecutive patients. The mean age was 57 years, and 61% were women. The mean (SD) of BMI was 33.2 (8.6) kg/m(2). Overall, patients admitted to the ICU were older (62 vs. 55 years, P = 0.003) and had higher BMI (36.5 kg/m(2) vs. 31.9 kg/m(2), P = 0.002). In unadjusted and adjusted analysis, the factors most associated with ICU admission in this sample were age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.073; 95% CI: 1.033‐1.114), BMI (aOR: 1.115; 95% CI: 1.052‐1.182), and lung disease (aOR: 3.097; 95% CI: 1.137‐8.437). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified risk factors for severe disease in COVID‐19, specifically in an African American population. Further inclusive research aimed at optimizing clinical care relevant to the African American population is critical to ensure an equitable response to COVID‐19.


id: cord-273965-ma1rwkdq
title: Preserving Bodily Integrity of Deceased Patients From the Novel SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in West Africa
author: Omonzejele, Peter F.
date: 2020-11-09
txt: ./txt/cord-273965-ma1rwkdq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-273965-ma1rwkdq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33169258/
doi: 10.1007/s11673-020-10061-4
summary:
  The enforcement of social distancing, self-isolation, and lockdown has made it impossible for West Africans to drift to their ancestral homes and villages, as is usually the case in times of crisis, with attendant consequences for communal life and traditional burial rites. Though the WHO has suggested it as one of the most effective ways to prevent contracting the COVID-19 virus, the fact remains that many West African communities do not have access to running water, especially those in rural areas (Omonzejele 2014, 418) . Since this is the most probable case for escapes from isolation centres, governments in the West African region should, perhaps, engage with the WHO to seek technical expertise in the decontamination of deceased people from COVID-19 isolation centres, and then make such corpses available to their families for traditional burial rites.

abstract:
  The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pandemic, otherwise known as COVID-19 brought about the use of new terminologies—new lexical items such as social distancing, self-isolation, and lockdown. In developed countries, basic social amenities to support these are taken for granted; this is not the case in West African countries. Instead, those suggested safeguards against contracting COVID-19 have exposed the infrastructural deficit in West African countries. In addition, and more profoundly, these safeguards against the disease have distorted the traditional community-individuality balance. The enforcement of social distancing, self-isolation, and lockdown has made it impossible for West Africans to drift to their ancestral homes and villages, as is usually the case in times of crisis, with attendant consequences for communal life and traditional burial rites. This could be one of the reasons why some COVID-19 patients are escaping from isolation centres, since to die in such centres violates their bodily integrity at an ontological level.


id: cord-276067-3io0xux2
title: COVID-19 and Neurosurgical Education in Africa: Making lemonade from lemons
author: Kanmounye, Ulrick Sidney
date: 2020-05-21
txt: ./txt/cord-276067-3io0xux2.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-276067-3io0xux2.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S1878875020310974
doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.05.126
summary:
  In the face of this new reality, and in order to limit the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, multiple programs have implemented physical distancing which reduces in-person interactions. Herein, we detail the framework of an online neurosurgical education initiative to advance the education of African residents and young Neurosurgeons during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. initiative to advance the education of African residents and young Neurosurgeons during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. African residents and young neurosurgeons are already learning from and about world renowned neurosurgeons via online medical education platforms (3). In order to limit the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, multiple programs have implemented physical distancing which reduces in-person interactions. Herein, we detail the framework of an online neurosurgical education initiative to advance the education of African residents during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Impact of COVID-19 on neurosurgery resident training and education

abstract:
  Abstract Never in history has the fabric of African Neurosurgery been challenged as it is today with the advent of covid-19. Even the most robust and resilient neurosurgical educational systems in the continent have been brought to their knees with Neurosurgical trainees and young neurosurgeons bearing the brunt. In the face of this new reality, and in order to limit the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic, multiple programs have implemented physical distancing which reduces in-person interactions. In some cases, residents have been asked to stay home at least till they are instructed otherwise. This unfortunate event presents an innovative opportunity for neurosurgical education in Africa. Herein, we detail the framework of an online neurosurgical education initiative to advance the education of African residents and young Neurosurgeons during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.


id: cord-279011-arjzx85c
author: Ibrahimi, Sahra
date: 2020-09-16
txt: ./txt/cord-279011-arjzx85c.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-279011-arjzx85c.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.21106/ijma.408
doi: 10.21106/ijma.408
summary:
  To our knowledge, no previous study has delineated inequities potentially incentivized by systemic racism, and whether synergistic effects impose an abnormally high burden of social determinants of mental health on African American families in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. In our model, we identified systemic racism to be the primary operator of mental health disparity, which disproportionately affects African American families at all levels of the SEM. No previous study has delineated inequities incentivized by systemic racism, and whether synergistic effects impose an abnormally high burden of social determinants of mental health on African American families in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we hypothesized systemic racism to be the primary operator of the mental health disparity, which disproportionately affects the psychological well-being of African American families at all levels of the socio-ecological model (SEM). • Systemic racism is the primary operator of mental health disparity, which disproportionately affects African American families at all levels of the social ecological model (SEM).

title:
  COVID-19 Devastation of African American Families: Impact on Mental Health and the Consequence of Systemic Racism

abstract:
  African Americans are bearing a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 pandemic. To our knowledge, no previous study has delineated inequities potentially incentivized by systemic racism, and whether synergistic effects impose an abnormally high burden of social determinants of mental health on African American families in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. We applied the social ecological model (SEM) to portray inequities induced by systemic racism that impact the mental health of African American families. In our model, we identified systemic racism to be the primary operator of mental health disparity, which disproportionately affects African American families at all levels of the SEM. Programs tailored towards reducing the disproportionate detrimental effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of African Americans need to be culturally appropriate and consider the nuances of systemic racism, discrimination, and other institutionalized biases.


id: cord-297103-f3jdbv47
title: Racial and Ethnic Disparities, Kidney Disease, and COVID-19: A Call to Action
author: Longino, Kevin
date: 2020-07-21
txt: ./txt/cord-297103-f3jdbv47.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-297103-f3jdbv47.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32838289/
doi: 10.1016/j.xkme.2020.07.001
abstract: nan
summary:
  It is incumbent upon all of us -as healthcare professionals, patients, and advocates -to confront racial and ethnic disparities and work together to ensure that all people with kidney disease receive nothing but the best care our system has to offer. Notably, severe COVID-19 has been associated with acute kidney injury (AKI), which can increase the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) over time. In an effort to address these challenges, NKF is advocating for access to affordable healthcare, to increase our federal investment in research, prevention, and innovations in care for people with kidney disease, and to ensure that racial and ethnic communities are not left behind. This work is important, but it alone cannot solve the many health and socioeconomic disparities facing Black or African American and other minority communities, which are rooted in historical and ongoing systemic racism.


id: cord-301856-71syce4n
title: Impact of Historic Migrations and Evolutionary Processes on Human Immunity
author: Domínguez-Andrés, Jorge
date: 2019-11-27
txt: ./txt/cord-301856-71syce4n.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-301856-71syce4n.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.it.2019.10.001
doi: 10.1016/j.it.2019.10.001
summary:
  With the burst of next-generation sequencing and the development of cutting-edge technologies such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and systems biology, we are starting to witness the great impact of evolutionary processes on human immunity and how the interactions between microorganisms and humans that took place millennia ago might play a fundamental role not only in the response against modern pathogenic threats, but also in the emergence of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases observed in modern populations worldwide. Specific genetic variants selected throughout different periods of human history may have influenced immune responses of present-day populations against pathogenic microorganisms and may have played a role in the development of certain inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Patients with African ancestry present a higher frequency of MTB-related genetic variants than individuals from other populations, including variants in the gene encoding for Toll-like receptor 6 (TLR6), mediating cellular responses to bacterial Malaria is one of the greatest causes of morbidity and mortality in the history of humanity.

abstract:
  The evolution of mankind has constantly been influenced by the pathogens encountered. The various populations of modern humans that ventured out of Africa adapted to different environments and faced a large variety of infectious agents, resulting in local adaptations of the immune system for these populations. The functional variation of immune genes as a result of evolution is relevant in the responses against infection, as well as in the emergence of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases observed in modern populations. Understanding how host–pathogen interactions have influenced the human immune system from an evolutionary perspective might contribute to unveiling the causes behind different immune-mediated disorders and promote the development of new strategies to detect and control such diseases.


id: cord-304909-3wmrjlhy
author: Wicker, L. V.
date: 2016-06-30
txt: ./txt/cord-304909-3wmrjlhy.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-304909-3wmrjlhy.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27359248/
doi: 10.1111/zph.12290
summary:
  No attempt has yet been made to collate the current knowledge of potential pathogens detected from species within the family Viverridae (Shepherd, 2008; Bongiovanni et al., 2014) despite the family''s long history of exploitation for human consumption (Abebe, 2003; Shepherd and Shepherd, 2010) , the management of threatened viverrids for conservation (Roberton et al., 2002) , the peri-urban habitation of many species within the family (King et al., 1993; Ninomiya et al., 2003; Sato et al., 2013) and their susceptibility to a number of important zoonotic pathogens including the novel coronavirus responsible for the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) (Guan et al., 2003; Tu, 2004) , rabies virus (Matsumoto et al., 2011) and highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 (HPAI H5N1) (Roberton et al., 2006) .

title:
  Potential Pathogens Reported in Species of the Family Viverridae and Their Implications for Human and Animal Health

abstract:
  The Viverridae is a family of nocturnal carnivores including civets, genets and African linsangs. While a list of known organisms isolated from a species is an essential tool for population management, this review represents the first attempt to collate published reports of organisms isolated from viverrids. A wide range of organisms, including 11 viruses, eight bacterial species, one internal arthropod species, representatives from eight genera of protozoan, 21 genera of nematode, seven genera of cestode, eight genera of trematode and six genera of external arthropod (mites, ticks and louse), have been reported in literature spanning over a century of research. Many of these are capable of infecting multiple hosts, including humans. This is of concern given the anthropogenic factors that bring humans and domestic species into close contact with viverrids, facilitating transmission and spillover of organisms between groups. These factors include trade in viverrids for human consumption, captive management in zoos, rescue centres or on commercial breeding farms, and the increasing overlap of free‐ranging viverrid distribution and human settlement.


id: cord-304935-8gcmqh4e
title: Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of biofuels in Ecuador
author: Chiriboga, Gonzalo
date: 2020-06-28
txt: ./txt/cord-304935-8gcmqh4e.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-304935-8gcmqh4e.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04213
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04213
summary:
  Several issues have slowed the incorporation of biofuels into worldwide transportation, for example, competition with the food sector for the use of feedstocks (Ho et al., 2014) , the decrease in the calorific value due to the presence of oxygen (Oh et al., 2018) , stillage handling and disposal (Silva et al., 2011) , and the Energy Return on Investment (EROI) (Jessica G Lambert, Hall, Balogh, Gupta and Arnold, 2013) . First, the study developed an extensive survey of the different raw materials with energetic potential (Instituto Nacional de Preinversi on, 2014), namely agricultural and forestry crops with higher production records and yields, such as sugar cane, corn, wood, African palm (Figueroa de la Vega, 2008) , and pinion (Instituto Interamericano de Cooperaci on para la Agricultura, 2016). Hence, statistical tools and case studies are needed to determine the relationship between the energy consumption "dependent variable" and the raw material "independent variable." For biofuels production, this information allows the construction of four scenarios with different levels of corn, wood, fat, and African palm designated.

abstract:
  In Ecuador, the net energy contribution of biofuels is unknown or unnoticed. To address this issue, we determined the Energy Return on Investment (EROI) for bioethanol and biodiesel. The selection of raw materials relied on their productive capacity, export and import records, and historical yields. Consequently, the scope included three raw materials for ethanol (sugar cane, corn, and forest residues) and four for biodiesel (African palm, pinion, bovine fat, and swine fat). Using a method based on the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of each biofuel, we assessed the entire production chain through statistical processing of primary and secondary information. Then we calculated the calorific values in the laboratory, compared energy inputs/outputs, and finally obtained the energetic returns. EROIs for bioethanol were: 1.797 for sugarcane, 1.040 for corn, and 0.739 for wood. The results for biodiesel were: 3.052 for African palm, 2.743 for pinion, 2.187 for bovine fat, and 2.891 for swine fat. These values suggest feasibility only for sugarcane in the case of ethanol. In contrast, biodiesel has better prospects because all the feedstocks analyzed had EROIs higher than two. Nevertheless, biodiesel is not available for trading in Ecuador because energy policy has overlooked systems based on higher energy return. Future studies should consider more comprehensive variables such as climate change, land use, and water management.


id: cord-305026-t4wkv89b
title: The Pandemic, Racism, and Health Disparities Among African American Men
author: Treadwell, Henrie M.
date: 2020-08-07
txt: ./txt/cord-305026-t4wkv89b.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-305026-t4wkv89b.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32762401/
doi: 10.1177/1557988320949379
abstract: nan
summary:
  The coronavirus pandemic has amplified health disparities by race and gender, perhaps most notably among African American men. While some attribute the overall poor health and disparate rates of morbidity and mortality to individual behaviors, that assessment fails to assess the direct damage inflicted by a social and political system that has marginalized and minimized efforts to provide meaningful services even at the primary health-care level. It is important to acknowledge that institutionalized populations are not included in population statistics unless they enter the health-care system for treatment, a subject discussed at length in the recently published manuscript, "Discerning disparities: The data gap" (Treadwell et al., 2019) and in the article "Collecting demographic data is the first step in eliminating racism in healthcare" (Eschner, 2020) . Damage is perpetrated when researchers and individuals who report on morbidity, mortality, and equitable health-care access remain silent about institutionalized populations, such as African American men who are disproportionately represented in America''s prisons.


id: cord-305103-g0ndggwc
title: Being African American and Rural: A Double Jeopardy from Covid‐19
author: Sood, Lakshay
date: 2020-05-03
txt: ./txt/cord-305103-g0ndggwc.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-305103-g0ndggwc.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12459
doi: 10.1111/jrh.12459
abstract: nan
summary:
  The effect of COVID-19 on African Americans is better understood by analyzing the racial disparities related to previous pandemics caused by other types of coronaviruses. Results from all the different studies of the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic indicate that African Americans had higher mortality and case fatality rates than whites. 6 Rural states like Oklahoma documented highest hospitalization rates for African Americans and lowest for whites. 6 These data are comparable to those for COVID-19, where 33% of hospitalized patients nationwide (among those whose race was known) were African American, even though the latter constitute only 13% of the US population. 2 Why are African Americans at greater risk for COVID-19, as compared to other racial/ethnic groups? 11 Within this region, there are racial disparities in health care coverage that disproportionately affect African Americans. Racial disparities in exposure, susceptibility, and access to health care in the US H1N1 influenza pandemic


id: cord-308165-pk8d48hs
author: Olu, Olushayo Oluseun
date: 2020-10-28
txt: ./txt/cord-308165-pk8d48hs.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-308165-pk8d48hs.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40249-020-00740-0
doi: 10.1186/s40249-020-00740-0
summary:
  Given the weak health system in most African countries, mounting timely and robust responses to the COVID-19 pandemic will be a big challenge hence the need to focus on targeted and high impact prevention and control interventions that could break the chain of transmission quickly. Putting the above scientific evidences on the characteristics and dynamics of COVID-19 transmission, prevention and control into perspective against the backdrop of the social, cultural and economic context in Africa, we deduce several lessons which could guide African countries to better prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent. African countries should learn from this experience and implement available guidance from WHO to ensure that essential health services are maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic particularly during lockdowns to reduce excess mortality from other preventable diseases [40] [41] [42] .

title:
  Moving from rhetoric to action: how Africa can use scientific evidence to halt the COVID-19 pandemic

abstract:
  The ongoing pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 has spread rapidly to all countries of the world. Africa is particularly predisposed to an escalation of the pandemic and its negative impact given its weak economy and health systems. In addition, inadequate access to the social determinants of health such as water and sanitation and socio-cultural attributes may constrain the implementation of critical preventive measures such as hand washing and social distancing on the continent. Given these facts, the continent needs to focus on targeted and high impact prevention and control strategies and interventions which could break the chain of transmission quickly. We conclude that the available body of scientific evidence on the coronavirus disease 2019 holds the key to the development of such strategies and interventions. Going forward, we recommend that the African research community should scale up research to provide scientific evidence for a better characterization of the epidemiology, transmission dynamics, prevention and control of the virus on the continent.


id: cord-309327-eham6trt
author: Lor, Aun
date: 2016-05-17
txt: ./txt/cord-309327-eham6trt.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-309327-eham6trt.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27801360/
doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2016.55
summary:
  Background: Recognizing the importance of having a broad exploration of how cultural perspectives may shape thinking about ethical considerations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded four regional meetings in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Eastern Mediterranean to explore these perspectives relevant to pandemic influenza preparedness and response. Methods: We reviewed the meeting reports, notes and stories and mapped outcomes to the key ethical challenges for pandemic influenza response described in the World Health Organization''s (WHO''s) guidance, Ethical Considerations in Developing a Public Health Response to Pandemic Influenza: transparency and public engagement, allocation of resources, social distancing, obligations to and of healthcare workers, and international collaboration. The key objectives for all four meetings were to: (1) identify culturalspecific ethical challenges in pandemic influenza detection and control, (2) explore approaches for addressing these ethical challenges, including how to best integrate ethical considerations into country/regional pandemic influenza preparedness and response guidelines and implementation strategies, and (3) begin establishing a social network to foster continued discussion about ethical issues in the practice of public health.

title:
  Key Ethical Issues Discussed at CDC-Sponsored International, Regional Meetings to Explore Cultural Perspectives and Contexts on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response

abstract:
  Background: Recognizing the importance of having a broad exploration of how cultural perspectives may shape thinking about ethical considerations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded four regional meetings in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Eastern Mediterranean to explore these perspectives relevant to pandemic influenza preparedness and response. The meetings were attended by 168 health professionals, scientists, academics, ethicists, religious leaders, and other community members representing 40 countries in these regions. Methods: We reviewed the meeting reports, notes and stories and mapped outcomes to the key ethical challenges for pandemic influenza response described in the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) guidance, Ethical Considerations in Developing a Public Health Response to Pandemic Influenza: transparency and public engagement, allocation of resources, social distancing, obligations to and of healthcare workers, and international collaboration. Results: The important role of transparency and public engagement were widely accepted among participants. However, there was general agreement that no "one size fits all" approach to allocating resources can address the variety of economic, cultural and other contextual factors that must be taken into account. The importance of social distancing as a tool to limit disease transmission was also recognized, but the difficulties associated with this measure were acknowledged. There was agreement that healthcare workers often have competing obligations and that government has a responsibility to assist healthcare workers in doing their job by providing appropriate training and equipment. Finally, there was agreement about the importance of international collaboration for combating global health threats. Conclusion: Although some cultural differences in the values that frame pandemic preparedness and response efforts were observed, participants generally agreed on the key ethical principles discussed in the WHO’s guidance. Most significantly the input gathered from these regional meetings pointed to the important role that procedural ethics can play in bringing people and countries together to respond to the shared health threat posed by a pandemic influenza despite the existence of cultural differences.


id: cord-310058-tp42rgmv
author: Zhu, Yuan-Shou
date: 2020-10-08
txt: ./txt/cord-310058-tp42rgmv.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-310058-tp42rgmv.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0003267020310151
doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.10.011
summary:
  title: Multiplex and visual detection of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) based on Hive-Chip and direct loop-mediated isothermal amplification On-chip LAMP showed the limits of detection (LOD) of ASFV synthetic DNAs and mock samples are 30 and 50 copies per microliter, respectively, and there is no cross-reaction among the target genes. Multiplex detection of real samples of ASFV and other swine viruses further demonstrates the high sensitivity and specificity of Hive-Chip. Last but not least, all methods aforementioned are usually focused on detecting only one gene target at a time, such as B646L encoding viral protein P72 (VP72) [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] , 9GL encoding sulfhydryl oxidase [20] , P1192R encoding topoisomerase II [22] , or K78R encoding DNA binding protein P10 [23] , which may lead to false-negative results because of possible mutations on the complex, highly variable genomes of ASFV.

title:
  Multiplex and visual detection of African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV) based on Hive-Chip and direct loop-mediated isothermal amplification

abstract:
  African swine fever is caused by African swine fever virus (ASFV), and has a mortality rate approaching 100%. It has already caused tremendous economy lost around the world. Without effective vaccine, rapid and accurate on-site detection plays an indispensable role in controlling outbreaks. Herein, by combining Hive-Chip and direct loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), we establish a multiplex and visual detection platform. LAMP primers targeting five ASFV genes (B646L, B962L, C717R, D1133L, and G1340L) were designed and pre-fixed in Hive-Chip. On-chip LAMP showed the limits of detection (LOD) of ASFV synthetic DNAs and mock samples are 30 and 50 copies per microliter, respectively, and there is no cross-reaction among the target genes. The overall performance of our platform is comparable to that of the commercial kits. From sample preparation to results readout, the entire process takes less than 70 min. Multiplex detection of real samples of ASFV and other swine viruses further demonstrates the high sensitivity and specificity of Hive-Chip. Overall, our platform provides a promising option for on-site, fast and accurate detection of ASFV.


id: cord-310315-w4rgjsbl
author: Belhadi, Amine
date: 2020-10-23
txt: ./txt/cord-310315-w4rgjsbl.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-310315-w4rgjsbl.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33095317/
doi: 10.1007/s00267-020-01375-5
summary:
  In seeking the answers to the above RQs considering the criticality of the infectious municipal WM generated during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper contributes to the development of a WM strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic by proposing a combined life-cycle assessment (LCA), life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis, and AHP-VIKOR method to select a WM treatment technology under the effect of IVF environment. The significant selection of the most suitable treatment technologies for the infectious SW and WW during the COVID-19 pandemic is a complex MCDM problem that implies consideration of multiple numbers of alternatives and evaluation criteria (Wang et al. To help decision-makers in the African context ascertain the current challenges of municipal WM and devise a suitable infectious waste treatment plan, a combined AHP and VIKOR method under the IVF environment is proposed to evaluate and prioritize the infectious SW and WW alternatives from an LCC-LCA perspective.

title:
  Infectious Waste Management Strategy during COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: an Integrated Decision-Making Framework for Selecting Sustainable Technologies

abstract:
  The emerging and underdeveloped countries in Africa face numerous difficulties managing infectious waste during the SARS-CoV-2 disease, known as the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the main aim of this paper is to help decision-makers in African countries to select the best available waste management strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present research undertakes seamless assessment and prioritization of infectious solid waste (SW) and wastewater (WW) treatment technologies based on a criteria system involving four dimensions, i.e., environment-safety, technology, economics, and sociopolitics. A combined approach that integrates the results of life-cycle assessments and life-cycle costs (LCA–LCC), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and VIKOR method in an interval-valued fuzzy (IVF) environment is proposed. The results reveal that combined incineration and chemical disinfection approach, and combined chlorination and ultraviolet irradiation are the most sustainable technologies for managing infectious SW and WW treatment in the present context. The proposed approach, alongside the findings of the study, constitutes a reference to devise urgent planning for contagious waste management in African countries as well as developing countries worldwide.


id: cord-311423-8yvu9xhw
author: Betson, D. N.
date: 2020-06-12
txt: ./txt/cord-311423-8yvu9xhw.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-311423-8yvu9xhw.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: http://medrxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.06.08.20124297v1?rss=1
doi: 10.1101/2020.06.08.20124297
summary:
  Methodology This short communication queried the publicly available Department of Health statistics on COVID-19 related mortality and underlying health conditions in four southern states (Alabama [AL], Georgia [GA], Louisiana [LA] and Mississippi [MS]) with a high proportion of African American residents. Second, unacast COVID-19 toolkit was used to derive a social distancing (SD) grade for any given state, based on three different metrics: (i) percent change in average distance travelled (ii) percent change in non-essential visits and (iii) decrease in human encounters (compared to national baseline). Second, unacast COVID-19 toolkit was used to derive a social distancing (SD) grade for any given state, based on three different metrics: (i) percent change in average distance travelled (ii) percent change in nonessential visits and (iii) decrease in human encounters (compared to national baseline). We queried the publicly available Department of Health (DOH) statistics on COVID-19 related mortality in four southern states (Alabama [AL], Georgia [GA], Louisiana [LA] and Mississippi [MS]) with a high proportion of African American residents.

title:
  Disproportionate COVID-19 Related Mortality Amongst African Americans in Four Southern States in the United States

abstract:
  Background African American have been severely affected by COVID-19 noted with the rising mortality rates within the African American community. Health disparities, health inequities and issues with systemic health access are some of the pre-existing issues African American were subjected to within the southern states in the United States. Second, social distancing is a critical non-pharmacological intervention to reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, social distancing was not practical and presented a challenge within the African American community, specifically, in the southern states. Objective This article assesses the effect of COVID-19 on African American in the southern states. Methodology This short communication queried the publicly available Department of Health statistics on COVID-19 related mortality and underlying health conditions in four southern states (Alabama [AL], Georgia [GA], Louisiana [LA] and Mississippi [MS]) with a high proportion of African American residents. Second, unacast COVID-19 toolkit was used to derive a social distancing (SD) grade for any given state, based on three different metrics: (i) percent change in average distance travelled (ii) percent change in non-essential visits and (iii) decrease in human encounters (compared to national baseline). Results Across the four states, on average, as many as 54% of COVID-19 related deaths are in the African American community, although this minority group comprises only 32% of the population cumulatively. This article finds that all four southern states received a social distancing grade of F. COVID-19 have demonstrated that adverse outcomes are higher in individuals with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, or pre-existing pulmonary compromise. Conclusion Recognizing that there is a great need for African American representation or diversity in the health workforce would be able to better address the health disparities. In addition, the lack of diversity in the healthcare system causes the morbidity and mortality rates to increase in the African American communities because it is not able to address its primary obligations within the African American communities in the southern states during COVID-19 pandemic. These primary obligations are to restore, protect, improve health and to suppress health disparities and inequalities of COVID-19 within in the African American communities. Keywords: COVID-19; African American; Mortality


id: cord-312183-zkoj5d8c
author: Frydman, Galit H.
date: 2020-07-24
txt: ./txt/cord-312183-zkoj5d8c.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-312183-zkoj5d8c.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1177/1076029620943671
doi: 10.1177/1076029620943671
summary:
  Recent studies have shown severe pulmonary and cardiac pathology, associated with increased thrombosis, is prevalent in African Americans with severe COVID-19. 65 Although clinical SCD is only present in an estimated 100 000 patients in the United States, the sickle cell trait is present in up to 8% of the African American population, with SCD flagged as an important risk factor for VTE. 87, 88 Among the population of African Americans who are infected with COVID-19, some of these patients may already reside in a prothrombotic state prior to COVID-19 because of higher baseline concentrations of FVIII, vWF, and D-dimer, as well as increased platelet activation. Coupled with the higher rate of preexisting conditions that predispose patients to higher rates of COVID-19 and disease, and the lower rate of therapeutic anticoagulation even when warranted, variation in coagulation status may be one of the factors that puts African Americans at higher risk.

title:
  Coagulation Status and Venous Thromboembolism Risk in African Americans: A Potential Risk Factor in COVID-19

abstract:
  Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (COVID-19) is known to induce severe inflammation and activation of the coagulation system, resulting in a prothrombotic state. Although inflammatory conditions and organ-specific diseases have been shown to be strong determinants of morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19, it is unclear whether preexisting differences in coagulation impact the severity of COVID-19. African Americans have higher rates of COVID-19 infection and disease-related morbidity and mortality. Moreover, African Americans are known to be at a higher risk for thrombotic events due to both biological and socioeconomic factors. In this review, we explore whether differences in baseline coagulation status and medical management of coagulation play an important role in COVID-19 disease severity and contribute to racial disparity trends within COVID-19.


id: cord-313574-8t5y9gqq
author: Roy, Siddhartha
date: 2020-06-24
txt: ./txt/cord-313574-8t5y9gqq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-313574-8t5y9gqq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32583358/
doi: 10.1007/s10900-020-00867-z
summary:
  To critically assess and synthesize the available evidence for the effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening programs in primary and community health care, this systematic review aims to review quality studies testing different strategies for increasing stool blood colorectal cancer screening rates in African Americans. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the effectiveness of colorectal cancer screening using stool blood testing approaches, specifically in studies which included either exclusively African Americans, or were conducted in health systems with a high proportion of African American patients. The form included questions on sample setting, sample size, study design, randomization procedures, follow-up time periods, target population, intervention description, control group description, participant demographics, type of screening tests, means of screening confirmation (chart versus self-report), and study outcomes by study arm and screening adherence. This systematic review examines summary findings from 11 experimental studies designed to test the effectiveness of interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening, specifically using stool blood CRC screening approaches such as FIT or gFOBT in African American communities.

title:
  Systematic Review of Interventions to Increase Stool Blood Colorectal Cancer Screening in African Americans

abstract:
  African Americans experience colorectal cancer (CRC) related disparities compared to other racial groups in the United States. African Americans are frequently diagnosed with CRC at a later stage, screening is underutilized, and mortality rates are highest in this group. This systematic review focused on intervention studies using stool blood CRC screening among African Americans in primary care and community settings. Given wide accessibility, low cost, and ease of dissemination of stool-based CRC screening tests, this review aims to determine effective interventions to improve participation rates. This systematic review included intervention studies published between January 1, 2000 and March 16, 2019. After reviewing an initial search of 650 studies, 11 studies were eventually included in this review. The included studies were studies conducted in community and clinical settings, using both inreach and outreach strategies to increase CRC screening. For each study, an unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for the CRC screening intervention compared to the control arm was calculated based on the data in each study to report effectiveness. The eleven studies together recruited a total of 3334 participants. The five studies using two-arm experimental designs ranged in effectiveness with ORs ranging from 1.1 to 13.0 using interventions such as mailed reminders, patient navigation, and tailored educational materials. Effective strategies to increase stool blood testing included mailed stool blood tests augmented by patient navigation, tailored educational materials, and follow-up calls or mailings to increase trust in the patient-provider relationship. More studies are needed on stool blood testing interventions to determine effectiveness in this population.


id: cord-316209-juvmabdq
title: What works and what does not work in response to COVID-19 prevention and control in Africa
author: Rutayisire, Erigene
date: 2020-06-12
txt: ./txt/cord-316209-juvmabdq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-316209-juvmabdq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S1201971220304604
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.024
summary:
  The lower number of COVID-19 cases in most African countries is attributed to inadequate health systems, low-to-absent testing capacity, poor reporting system and insufficient number of medical staff. On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) had declared COVID-19 a pandemic, pointing to the over 118,000 cases of the coronavirus illnesses in over 110 countries and territories around the world and the sustained risk of further global spread. Africa Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), World Health Organization and other international agencies are providing support and guidance to many African countries in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Despite reported low case-fatality of COVID-19, the pandemic is likely to cause more deaths in Africa if the compliance to COVID-19 prevention and control measures continues to be ignored as observed in some African countries.

abstract:
  Abstract Since the emergence of the pandemic in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, as of 10:00 CEST, June 6, 2020, there have been nearly 6,663,304 confirmed cases of COVID-19 including 392,802 deaths worldwide. In Africa, as of June 2, 2020, a total of 152,442 COVID-19 cases and 4334 deaths have been reported. The five countries with the highest commutative number of cases in Africa are South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, and Ghana. Africa, together with the rest of world have had to swiftly undertake measures necessary to protect the continent from irreversible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic that is claiming lives and destroying livelihoods. The lower number of COVID-19 cases in most African countries is attributed to inadequate health systems, low-to-absent testing capacity, poor reporting system and insufficient number of medical staff. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great threat to most African countries from cities to rural areas and has created a strong demand on already scarce resources and requires an intense mobilization of additional resources to implement established emergency contingency measures. Closure of borders and movements of people restrictions within the country as measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19; this has resulted in the sector being adversely affected by the loss of income. Cooperative prevention and control measures are one of the promising solutions to deplete the spread of COVID-19 on the continent.


id: cord-317640-61crnh6a
title: Homologous recombination shapes the genetic diversity of African swine fever viruses
author: Zhu, Zhaozhong
date: 2019-08-10
txt: ./txt/cord-317640-61crnh6a.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-317640-61crnh6a.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31500735/
doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.08.003
summary:
  Besides, the homologous recombination also led to changes of gene content of ASFVs. Finally, repeated elements of dozens of nucleotides in length were observed to widely distribute and cluster in the adjacent positions of ASFV genomes, which may facilitate the occurrence of homologous recombination. The paired t-test was used to test whether the genomic differences caused by the insertions and deletions (indels) were similar to those caused by the point mutations, and whether the number of repeated elements in the windows (1000-10,000bp in length) including recombination was similar to those without recombination. For robustness of the results, we also conducted the analysis based on the genome alignment by ClustalW (Larkin et al., 2007) , and found that the indels caused larger genomic differences than the point mutations did (p-value = 3.2e-9 in the paired t-test) (Fig. S3B) .

abstract:
  The African swine fever virus (ASFV) has severely influenced the swine industry of the world. Currently, there is no effective vaccine or drugs against the ASFV. How to effectively control the virus is challenging. In this study, we have analyzed all the publicly available ASFV genomes and demonstrated that there was a large genetic diversity of ASFV genomes. Interestingly, the genetic diversity was mainly caused by extensive genomic insertions and/or deletions (indels) instead of the point mutations. Further analyses showed that the indels may be attributed much to the homologous recombination, as supported by significant associations between the occurrence of extensive recombination events and the indels in the ASFV genomes. Besides, the homologous recombination also led to changes of gene content of ASFVs. Finally, repeated elements of dozens of nucleotides in length were observed to widely distribute and cluster in the adjacent positions of ASFV genomes, which may facilitate the occurrence of homologous recombination. This work highlighted the importance of homologous recombination in shaping the genetic diversity of the ASFVs, and could help understand the evolution of the virus.


id: cord-318593-ni84gzg5
title: Applying lessons from the Ebola vaccine experience for SARS-CoV-2 and other epidemic pathogens
author: Wolf, Jayanthi
date: 2020-06-15
txt: ./txt/cord-318593-ni84gzg5.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-318593-ni84gzg5.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-020-0204-7
doi: 10.1038/s41541-020-0204-7
summary:
  Experience gained in the development of vaccines for Ebola virus disease provide important lessons in the regulatory, clinical, and manufacturing process that can be applied to SARS-CoV-2 and other epidemic pathogens. Extraordinary efforts were made to advance this vaccine candidate through Phase 1, 2, and 3 clinical trials and the data generated in the context of the West African Ebola outbreak has supported its licensure by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), conditional authorization by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and several African countries, along with prequalification by the WHO. Regulatory agency collaboration is critical for success From the start of the West African Ebola outbreak, the US FDA, EMA, and Health Canada worked closely with each other and with the National Regulatory Authorities of the impacted West African countries, sharing information about candidate vaccines that were being tested and reviewing the clinical protocols, available data, and benefit-risk profiles.

abstract:
  The world is experiencing an unprecedented global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a novel coronavirus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Development of new vaccines and therapeutics are important to achieve long-term prevention and control of the virus. Experience gained in the development of vaccines for Ebola virus disease provide important lessons in the regulatory, clinical, and manufacturing process that can be applied to SARS-CoV-2 and other epidemic pathogens. This report outlines the main lessons learned by Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (MSD) during development of an Ebola Zaire vaccine (ERVEBO®) and looks ahead to critical lessons beyond vaccine development. It highlights focus areas for public-private partnership and regulatory harmonization that can be directly applied to current vaccine development efforts for SARS-CoV-2, while drawing attention to the need for parallel consideration of issues beyond development that are equally important to achieve global preparedness and response goals.


id: cord-319706-2e9jrv0s
title: Pre-existing traits associated with Covid-19 illness severity
author: Ebinger, Joseph E.
date: 2020-07-23
txt: ./txt/cord-319706-2e9jrv0s.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-319706-2e9jrv0s.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0236240
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236240
summary:
  For all patients considered to have Covid-19, based on direct or documented laboratory test result and suggestive signs and/or symptoms, we obtained information from the electronic health record (EHR) and verified data for the following demographic and clinical characteristics: age at the time of diagnosis; sex; race; ethnicity; smoking status defined as current versus prior, never, or unknown; comorbidities, including obesity, as clinically assessed and documented by a provider with ICD-10 coding; and, chronic use of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) medications. For the primary outcome of illness severity, categorized by escalating levels of care (i.e., hospitalization, intensive care, intubation), the pre-existing characteristics that demonstrated statistical significance in age-and sex-adjusted models included older age, male sex, African American race, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and the Elixhauser comorbidity score ( Table 2 ; Fig 3) .

abstract:
  IMPORTANCE: Certain individuals, when infected by SARS-CoV-2, tend to develop the more severe forms of Covid-19 illness for reasons that remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with increased severity of Covid-19 infection. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. We curated data from the electronic health record, and used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association of pre-existing traits with a Covid-19 illness severity defined by level of required care: need for hospital admission, need for intensive care, and need for intubation. SETTING: A large, multihospital healthcare system in Southern California. PARTICIPANTS: All patients with confirmed Covid-19 infection (N = 442). RESULTS: Of all patients studied, 48% required hospitalization, 17% required intensive care, and 12% required intubation. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, patients requiring a higher levels of care were more likely to be older (OR 1.5 per 10 years, P<0.001), male (OR 2.0, P = 0.001), African American (OR 2.1, P = 0.011), obese (OR 2.0, P = 0.021), with diabetes mellitus (OR 1.8, P = 0.037), and with a higher comorbidity index (OR 1.8 per SD, P<0.001). Several clinical associations were more pronounced in younger compared to older patients (P(interaction)<0.05). Of all hospitalized patients, males required higher levels of care (OR 2.5, P = 0.003) irrespective of age, race, or morbidity profile. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In our healthcare system, greater Covid-19 illness severity is seen in patients who are older, male, African American, obese, with diabetes, and with greater overall comorbidity burden. Certain comorbidities paradoxically augment risk to a greater extent in younger patients. In hospitalized patients, male sex is the main determinant of needing more intensive care. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these findings.


id: cord-322649-c99lszcu
author: Miao, Faming
date: 2019-05-15
txt: ./txt/cord-322649-c99lszcu.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-322649-c99lszcu.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.01004
doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01004
summary:
  title: Rapid and Sensitive Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Combined With Lateral Flow Strip for Detecting African Swine Fever Virus In this study, we developed a rapid test that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) of the ASFV p72 gene with lateral flow detection (LFD). Results showed that the sensitivity of recombinase polymerase amplification with lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) for ASFV was 150 copies per reaction within 10 min at 38°C. A dilution range of 10 0 to 10 5 copies per reaction of pMD19-p72 recombinant plasmid was used to evaluate the sensitivity of recombinase polymerase amplification with lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD), and the amplicons were evaluated through agarose gel electrophoresis. The sensitivity results showed that the detection limit of the ASFV RPA-LFD assay was 10 2 copies per reaction of the recombinant plasmid pMD19-p72. Development of a TaqMan PCR assay with internal amplification control for the detection of African swine fever virus A recombinase polymerase amplification-based assay for rapid detection of African swine fever virus

title:
  Rapid and Sensitive Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Combined With Lateral Flow Strip for Detecting African Swine Fever Virus

abstract:
  African swine fever virus (ASFV), the etiological agent of African swine fever (ASF), a hemorrhagic fever of domestic pigs, has devastating consequences for the pig farming industry. More than 1,000,000 pigs have been slaughtered since 3 August 2018 in China. However, vaccines or drugs for ASF have yet to be developed. As such, a rapid test that can accurately detect ASFV on-site is important to the timely implementation of control measures. In this study, we developed a rapid test that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) of the ASFV p72 gene with lateral flow detection (LFD). Results showed that the sensitivity of recombinase polymerase amplification with lateral flow dipstick (RPA-LFD) for ASFV was 150 copies per reaction within 10 min at 38°C. The assay was highly specific to ASFV and had no cross-reactions with other porcine viruses, including classical swine fever virus (CSFV). A total of 145 field samples were examined using our method, and the agreement of the positive rate between RPA-LFD (10/145) and real-time PCR (10/145) was 100%. Overall, RPA-LFD provides a novel alternative for the simple, sensitive, and specific identification of ASFV and showed potential for on-site ASFV detection.


id: cord-323966-vj9za3cx
title: COVID 19: Surgery & the question of race
author: Collier, Karole T.
date: 2020-05-20
txt: ./txt/cord-323966-vj9za3cx.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-323966-vj9za3cx.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0002961020302932
doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.05.026
abstract: nan
summary:
  These factors work synergistically with poor social determinants of health to increase vulnerability to COVID-19 and result in egregious disparities in infection rates and morbidity/mortality. In this moment, our response to African American COVID disparities is critical and signifies our call to action for all vulnerable populations affected. As AIDS spread across the U.S., it exposed structural vulnerability within African American communities and the ways in which poor pre-existing health infrastructure contributed to outcome disparities. 3 The AIDS epidemic is the only modern day health crisis we can compare to COVID-19; its lessons require us to have truthful reflection and discussion regarding our progress with disparities and the associations of race with health outcomes. Shortly before our nation had its first surge of COVID-19 patients, the American College of Surgeons published a perspective piece with a specific call to action in addressing disparities and surgical access.


id: cord-326027-58whwspe
author: Hernaez, Bruno
date: 2006-06-20
txt: ./txt/cord-326027-58whwspe.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-326027-58whwspe.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0042682206000353
doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2006.01.021
summary:
  title: Visualization of the African swine fever virus infection in living cells by incorporation into the virus particle of green fluorescent protein-p54 membrane protein chimera To track the behavior of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in the infected cells in real time, we produced an infectious recombinant ASFV (B54GFP-2) that expresses and incorporates into the virus particle a chimera of the p54 envelope protein fused to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). To determine that protein p54, a major component of the external envelope of ASFV, fused to EGFP protein remains incorporated to the viral particle, BA71V and B54GFP-2 virions were Percoll purified and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting using specific antibodies (Fig. 2a) . This new role for p54 in morphogenesis supports the selection of p54 as viral fusion protein and suggests that studies about p54-EGFP trafficking during infection in live cells would be helpful to analyze the acquisition of ASFV envelopes from ER during virus assembly.

title:
  Visualization of the African swine fever virus infection in living cells by incorporation into the virus particle of green fluorescent protein-p54 membrane protein chimera

abstract:
  Many stages of African swine fever virus infection have not yet been studied in detail. To track the behavior of African swine fever virus (ASFV) in the infected cells in real time, we produced an infectious recombinant ASFV (B54GFP-2) that expresses and incorporates into the virus particle a chimera of the p54 envelope protein fused to the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The incorporation of the fusion protein into the virus particle was confirmed immunologically and it was determined that p54-EGFP was fully functional by confirmation that the recombinant virus made normal-sized plaques and presented similar growth curves to the wild-type virus. The tagged virus was visualized as individual fluorescent particles during the first stages of infection and allowed to visualize the infection progression in living cells through the viral life cycle by confocal microscopy. In this work, diverse potential applications of B54GFP-2 to study different aspects of ASFV infection are shown. By using this recombinant virus it was possible to determine the trajectory and speed of intracellular virus movement. Additionally, we have been able to visualize for first time the ASFV factory formation dynamics and the cytophatic effect of the virus in live infected cells. Finally, we have analyzed virus progression along the infection cycle and infected cell death as time-lapse animations.


id: cord-331058-ou6vqp7n
title: Leveraging best practices: protecting sub-Saharan African prison detainees amid COVID-19
author: Chireh, Batholomew
date: 2020-06-24
txt: ./txt/cord-331058-ou6vqp7n.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-331058-ou6vqp7n.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32821332/
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.121.24133
summary:
  The risk of infection and death from COVID-19 is higher among older prisoners with pre-existing health conditions especially in sub-Saharan African. These focus areas include 1) challenges of social distancing; 2) higher risk of severe infection and death; 3) difficulties health care systems may face in the case of COVID-19 surge; and 4) recommended solutions to prevent harm and preventing a public health catastrophe. Although prison conditions in the United States may be quite different from those of sub-Saharan African countries, this paper applies these focus areas to the African context and provides simple and immediate measures to proactively prevent the spread of COVID-19 among prisoners in the region. As stated earlier older prisoners and persons with underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to report severe infection and death in low-and middle-income countries [3] .

abstract:
  The risk of infection and death from COVID-19 is higher among older prisoners with pre-existing health conditions especially in sub-Saharan African. Hawks L et al. raise four concerns that need to be considered when developing public health and clinical responses to COVID-19 to protect prisoners. This paper applies these concerns to the sub-Saharan African context. These focus areas include 1) challenges of social distancing; 2) higher risk of severe infection and death; 3) difficulties health care systems may face in the case of COVID-19 surge; and 4) recommended solutions to prevent harm and preventing a public health catastrophe. Prisoners are more vulnerable and the time to take immediate actions to minimize an imminent COVID-19 outbreak and its impacts is now.


id: cord-342588-berrojmq
title: Sleeping Sickness at the Crossroads
author: Burri, Christian
date: 2020-04-08
txt: ./txt/cord-342588-berrojmq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-342588-berrojmq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32276514/
doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed5020057
summary:
  The development of this orally active compound is described in detail in the papers of Neau et al., and Dickie et al., Fexinidazole received a positive scientific opinion from the European Medicines Agency for treatment of Gambiense HAT in late 2018, it was approved by the drug regulatory authority of the DRC and added to the WHO list of essential medicines in 2019, and the first official application in the DRC happened at the end of January 2020 on World NTD day in a public ceremony. In 2012, the World Health Organization, which has played an instrumental role in the control, set the goal for the elimination of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (gHAT), as a public health problem for 2020 and for the total interruption of transmission to humans for 2030.

abstract:
  Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT; sleeping sickness) is a disease with truly historic dimensions [...].


id: cord-343962-12t247bn
title: Key data for outbreak evaluation: building on the Ebola experience
author: Cori, Anne
date: 2017-05-26
txt: ./txt/cord-343962-12t247bn.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-343962-12t247bn.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0371
doi: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0371
summary:
  Here we build on experience gained in the West African Ebola epidemic and prior emerging infectious disease outbreaks to set out a checklist of data needed to: (1) quantify severity and transmissibility; (2) characterize heterogeneities in transmission and their determinants; and (3) assess the effectiveness of different interventions. Dynamic transmission models, which account for saturation effects, can be used to assess the long-term impact of the outbreak such as predicting the timing and magnitude of the epidemic peak or the attack rate (final proportion of population infected) [39, 40] . Estimates of the secondary attack rate have been obtained for the West African Ebola epidemic by reconstructing household data based on information reported by cases, in particular, as part of contact-tracing activities [86, 87] . Such data were widely used during the West African Ebola epidemic to quantify the risk of international spread of the disease, and to assess the potential impact of airport screening and travel restrictions on the outbreak [9,94 -96] .

abstract:
  Following the detection of an infectious disease outbreak, rapid epidemiological assessment is critical for guiding an effective public health response. To understand the transmission dynamics and potential impact of an outbreak, several types of data are necessary. Here we build on experience gained in the West African Ebola epidemic and prior emerging infectious disease outbreaks to set out a checklist of data needed to: (1) quantify severity and transmissibility; (2) characterize heterogeneities in transmission and their determinants; and (3) assess the effectiveness of different interventions. We differentiate data needs into individual-level data (e.g. a detailed list of reported cases), exposure data (e.g. identifying where/how cases may have been infected) and population-level data (e.g. size/demographics of the population(s) affected and when/where interventions were implemented). A remarkable amount of individual-level and exposure data was collected during the West African Ebola epidemic, which allowed the assessment of (1) and (2). However, gaps in population-level data (particularly around which interventions were applied when and where) posed challenges to the assessment of (3). Here we highlight recurrent data issues, give practical suggestions for addressing these issues and discuss priorities for improvements in data collection in future outbreaks. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The 2013–2016 West African Ebola epidemic: data, decision-making and disease control’.


id: cord-349786-12lc3342
title: Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic on Evolution of Diabetes in Malaria-Endemic African Region
author: Acquah, Samuel
date: 2020-10-08
txt: ./txt/cord-349786-12lc3342.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-349786-12lc3342.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8205261
doi: 10.1155/2020/8205261
summary:
  Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) which is widely distributed in the human body is implicated in the pathogenesis of malaria, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and COVID-19. With the continent already responsible for over 93% of global malaria burden and associated deaths in 2018 [6] , the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic does not only increase the infectious disease burden of the African region but could serve as another risk factor to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the region. Just like other known coronaviruses [14, 15] , the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, requires a specific receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), for entry into host cells [16] [17] [18] [19] . To this end, the COVID-19 virus, which reduces ACE2 levels or activities, can potentiate infected individuals for future development of T2DM through low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance.

abstract:
  The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to cause havoc to many countries of the globe, with no end in sight, due to nonavailability of a given vaccine or treatment regimen. The pandemic has so far had a relatively limited impact on the African continent, which contributes more than 93% of global malaria burden. However, the limited burden of COVID-19 pandemic on the African region could have long-term implications on the health and wellbeing of affected inhabitants due to its malaria-endemic status. Malaria causes recurrent insulin resistance with episodes of infection at relatively low parasitaemia. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) which is widely distributed in the human body is implicated in the pathogenesis of malaria, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and COVID-19. Use of ACE2 by the COVID-19 virus induces inflammation and oxidative stress, which can lead to insulin resistance. Although COVID-19 patients in malaria-endemic African region may not exhibit severe signs and symptoms of the disease, their risk of exhibiting heightened insulin resistance and possible future development of T2DM is high due to their prior exposure to malaria. African governments must double efforts at containing the continued spread of the virus without neglecting existing malarial control measures if the region is to avert the plausible long-term impact of the pandemic in terms of future development of T2DM.


id: cord-352670-21r0cwsc
title: Coronavirus in the era of digital connectivity: Opportunities and challenges
author: Muyingo, Rajab Idd
date: 2020-08-02
txt: ./txt/cord-352670-21r0cwsc.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-352670-21r0cwsc.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1002/pa.2246
doi: 10.1002/pa.2246
summary:
  We conclude that digital connectedness enabled African countries to access; share and implement globally suggested mechanisms aimed at controlling the spread of the COVID‐19 epidemic. We deduce that digital connectedness of individuals and organizations eased sharing of information on the causes and measures aimed at controlling and avoid the rapid spread of the epidemic in developing economies of Africa. We deduce that digital connectedness of individuals and organizations eased sharing of information on the causes and measures aimed at controlling and avoid the rapid spread of the epidemic in developing economies of Africa. We conclude that digital connectedness enabled African countries to access; share and implement globally suggested mechanisms aimed at controlling the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. In developing economies (Kasadha, 2018 (Kasadha, , 2020 , digital connectivity has increased community mobilization in response to their which has not yet been reported in Africa, the continent has often engaged its communities in the fight against other epidemics such as swine fever and Ebola viruses.

abstract:
  In this article, we examine the opportunities and challenges digital connectedness creates in the fight against epidemics, in particular the coronavirus (COVID‐19). We deduce that digital connectedness of individuals and organizations eased sharing of information on the causes and measures aimed at controlling and avoid the rapid spread of the epidemic in developing economies of Africa. We conclude that digital connectedness enabled African countries to access; share and implement globally suggested mechanisms aimed at controlling the spread of the COVID‐19 epidemic. Future, studies should examine how African economies use digital connectedness to increase individual and organizational participation in curbing epidemics and also boost health management.


id: cord-355737-o0y4rn0z
author: Ng, Melinda
date: 2015-12-23
txt: ./txt/cord-355737-o0y4rn0z.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-355737-o0y4rn0z.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.11785
doi: 10.7554/elife.11785
summary:
  To assess whether the EBOV infection defect in the African straw-colored fruit bat cells occurs at the viral entry step, we exposed an expanded panel of kidney fibroblast cell lines from four African pteropodids to VSV pseudotypes bearing GP spikes (VSV-GP) from seven filoviruses, including two non-African viruses, Reston virus (RESTV) and Lloviu virus (LLOV) ( Figure 1D ). Like the infection defect in African straw-colored fruit bat cells, this receptor binding defect was selective for EBOV GP, since GPs derived from MARV and the European filovirus, LLOV (Ng et al., 2014) , bound equivalently to all four pteropodid domain Cs ( Figure 4A ). . We conclude that a species-specific defect in virus-receptor interaction, caused by a single amino acid residue change in EhNPC1 relative to other, permissive African pteropodid NPC1 orthologs, reduces EBOV infection in African straw-colored fruit bat cells.

title:
  Filovirus receptor NPC1 contributes to species-specific patterns of ebolavirus susceptibility in bats

abstract:
  Biological factors that influence the host range and spillover of Ebola virus (EBOV) and other filoviruses remain enigmatic. While filoviruses infect diverse mammalian cell lines, we report that cells from African straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) are refractory to EBOV infection. This could be explained by a single amino acid change in the filovirus receptor, NPC1, which greatly reduces the affinity of EBOV-NPC1 interaction. We found signatures of positive selection in bat NPC1 concentrated at the virus-receptor interface, with the strongest signal at the same residue that controls EBOV infection in Eidolon helvum cells. Our work identifies NPC1 as a genetic determinant of filovirus susceptibility in bats, and suggests that some NPC1 variations reflect host adaptations to reduce filovirus replication and virulence. A single viral mutation afforded escape from receptor control, revealing a pathway for compensatory viral evolution and a potential avenue for expansion of filovirus host range in nature. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11785.001


