Many recent outbreaks of influenza A (H1N1) in the world, especially in Brazil, it has become clear that the severity of the disease is not known in the same form. On Wednesday, June 7, 2023, Brazil notified the WHO of a fatal case of human infection with a variant of the influenza A(H1N1) virus of swine origin, this case was confirmed in a laboratory in the region of the interior state of Paraná. This is the first human infection caused by an influenza A (H1N1) virus reported in 2023 nationwide in Brazil. To mitigate H1N1 flu in Brazil, we urge the Brazillian government through its Ministry of Health to improve on mass awareness about the signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu among the Brazillians. The Brazillian government should also implement the One Health approach towards the control of H1N1 flu in Brazil, as we believe that these recommendations would go a long way in preventing future cases and the spread of H1N1 flu in Brazil. This article aims to present the clinical presentations of the H1N1 flu and the implications, recommendations and the way forward to protect the Brazilian population against the H1N1 flu.

Objectives: Chest computed tomography (CT) plays a crucial role in evaluating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. This study aimed to assess the association between initial chest CT findings and mortality in adult inpatients with COVID-19 in the city of Goma, North Kivu province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Materials and Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study of patients hospitalized in Goma with COVID-19 pneumonia who underwent chest CT from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. For each patient included, two experienced radiologists independently reviewed the initial chest CT. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify chest CT findings associated with mortality at the 5% significance level. Results: Of 76 patients included in the study, 26 (34.2%) died. The degree of lung parenchymal involvement >25% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 16.27 [3.30–80.16]) and the presence of consolidations (aOR = 3.33 [1.00–11.47]) were predictive of mortality with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.8392. Sensitivity was 73.08%, specificity was 82%, positive predictive value was 67.86%, and negative predictive value was 85.42%. Conclusion: Lung involvement >25% and consolidations on chest CT appear to predict death in adult inpatients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Abstract Banana Wilt caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum (Xvm), has emerged as a significant threat to food security in eastern DR Congo (Kivu). Currently, the only means of combatting this biotic constraint is through best agricultural practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of medicinal plants used in Kivu in inhibiting of Xvm. Three in vitro experiments were conducted at Uganda's National Agriculture Research Organization (NARO) laboratories and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Kivu. The bacterial samples were collected in banana cultivated in Kivu and isolated on Yeast Extract Peptone Agar (YPGA). Pure Xvm colonies were used for identification via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and greenhouse inoculation trials. A completely randomized design was used for the inhibition tests (1) on Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA) using disc diffusion with 10 extracts, (2) in liquid YPG Broth, and (3) on MHA using disc diffusion with 19 extracts. The first two trials used ten plant species extracts diluted in petroleum ether, while the third trial used 19 plant extracts diluted in methanol. After maceration, filtration, and solvent evaporation, 10mg of extract was diluted in 80 µl of distilled water + 10µl of Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Ten µl of this solution was impregnated on perforated discs of Whatman filter paper. Zingiber officinale (ginger) and Ricinus communis (castor) were the most effective plant extracts in suppressing Xvm. Of the thirteen plant species identified as effective against the pathogen, the Myrtaceae and Euphorbiaceae families were the most represented.

Abstract Introduction: Cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) are congenital malformations which mainly affect the upper lip and/or palate and are the most common malformations of the orofacial sphere. The objective of the present study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic profile of cleft lip and palate patients managed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Material and Methods a retrospective descriptive study of 1666 patients with cleft lip and palate collected in 20 provinces of the DRC and managed between January 2017 and June 2022. The variables studied were epidemiological, anatomo-clinical and therapeutic. Results The mean age of patients seeking care was 11.6 years. The male predominance was (58.6%). A family history of CLP was found in 4.3% of cases and the association of CLP with other visible congenital malformations was identified in 1.5%. Isolated cleft lips were (66.1%) and palates (2.6%) of cases. Combinations involving cleft lip, palate and alveoli were observed respectively as following in terms of frequency: cleft lip-alveolar (15.7%), cleft lip-alveolar-palatal (10.6%) and cleft lip-palate (4.9%). The left side cleft was more common. Cheiloplasty was the most common repair procedure for cleft lip (81.4%) and the isolate palatoplasty was performed for 2.6% cleft palate. Conclusion In the DRC, CLP are common, with male predominance and often treated late. Cleft lips occur more commonly than cleft palates.

Our aim is to describe the epidemiological, anatomoclinical and therapeutic profile of obstetric fistula (OF) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This was a descriptive retrospective study that collected 1416 obstetric fistulas in 1267 patients in seven provinces of the DRC, treated between January 2017 and December 2022. The variables studied were epidemiological, anatomoclinical and therapeutic. The mean age of patients at the time of surgical repair was 33.2 years (range: 15 and 77 years) and 32.8% of patients were aged between 20 and 29 years. The mean age of the fistula at repair was 10 years (range: 3.5 months and 56 years). At the time of fistula, 61.7% of patients had delivered vaginally and 28.7% by caesarean section and 8.2% of patients had a haemostasis hysterectomy. Labour lasted at least 3 days in 47.3% of these patients for the fistula birth. Deliveries took place either at home (27.4%) or in a health facility (72.6%); 83.6% of newborns resulting from these births had died. Taken as a whole, urogenital fistulas are more common than genito-digestive fistulas. Urethro-vaginal (26.2%) and vesico-uterine (24.7%) anatomoclinical entities were predominant among urogenital fistulas. A total of 1416 fistulas were surgically repaired in 1267 patients. These repairs were successful for 1226 (86.6%) fistulas. The main surgical route used was transvaginal (68.8%). In the DRC, obstetric fistula is common in young adult women. It often results from vaginal delivery, after prolonged labour. Fistula births often result in the death of newborns. Uro-genital obstetric fistulas are the most frequent with predominance of urethro-vaginal and vesico-uterine anatomoclinical entities. Fistulas remain untreated for a long time. Mostly done transvaginally, surgical repair gives a good result.

Amidst coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there has been a misplaced priority on meningitis in the Niger Republic, thus refocusing resources and attention away from the continuing meningitis campaign in the Niger Republic. The over-strained state of public health resources and staff has also led to decreased surveillance, postponed diagnoses, and constrained immunization efforts in Niger Republic. This review aims to bridge the gaps regarding meningitis amid COVID-19 in Niger Republic and offer recommendations to government to mitigate meningitis in the country, with the hope of finding a permanent solution to this debilitating disease. The authors reviewed 45 past and present pieces of literature on meningitis and COVID-19 from 2013 to 2023 in well-renowned scientific databases such as PubMed, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, Medline, and Embase. Since 2015, Niger Republic has experienced multiple meningitis epidemics that have resulted in 20,789 cases and 1, 369 deaths [a case fatality rate (CFR) of 6.6%]. A total of 231 cases of meningitis were reported from 1 November 2021 to 31 January 2022. And recently, 559 cases of meningitis (of which 111 are laboratory confirmed), including 18 deaths (overall CFR 3.2%), occurred in the Zinder region, southeast of Niger Republic, from 1 November 2022 to 27 January 2023. Meningitis remains a public health concern in the world, especially in Niger Republic, which could lead to serious long-term complications. Therefore, adequate and novel measures and therapeutic actions should be implemented by the Niger Government to lessen the burden of the disease in the country.

ABSTRACT The Nyiragongo volcano is one of the most alkali-rich volcanic centres on the planet (Na2O + K2O generally >10 wt.%, agpaitic index up to 1.34), characterized by a semi-permanently active lava lake which hosts silica-undersaturated (SiO2 < 40 wt.%), low viscosity lavas. To improve our understanding of this unique magmatic system, we present a set of 291 samples, acquired during new field excursions between 2017 and 2021. The major and trace element composition of all samples was measured, revealing a lithological range extending from primitive picrites (Mg# 82) erupted from parasitic cones to a variety of highly evolved nephelinites, leucitites, and melilitites erupted from the main edifice as recently as 2002, 2016, and 2021. We measured major and trace element compositions from the full spectrum of minerals present in all sampled lithologies. From these we calculated that the main magma reservoirs feeding Nyiragongo are at approximately 9–15 and 21–33 km depth, in agreement with recent seismic observations. Fractional crystallization modelling using observed mineral compositions and proportions was performed to quantitatively link the lithologies to specific residual liquid fractions assuming evolution from an olivine-melilite parental melt. Our modelling indicates that fractionation and cumulate formation in deep chambers reduces the remaining melt fraction to ~60%, after which melts are injected into upper, liquid dominated magma chambers where fractionation and accumulation of clinopyroxene, melilite, and feldspathoids dominates. Characterisation of mineral textures and geochemistry reveals high crystal mobility in a repeatedly recharging plumbing system split between liquid-dominated, evolved magma chambers and more solid-dominated, primitive mushes, decreasing in liquid fraction with depth.

Introduction: The ability of growth-promoting antibiotics to accumulate in livestock products such as meat, eggs, and milk, and the antibiotic resistance conferred on bacteria has prompted researchers to turn to phyto-additives. The present study was designed to evaluate the potential of Typha angustifolia rhizome powder as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoters in broiler chicken. Materials and methods: For this purpose, 512 one-day-old chickens of the Cobb500 strain were randomly distributed in a completely randomized design of 8 treatments of 16 chicks replicated four times. Experimental rations consisted of incorporating into a control ration 1 g of Doxycycline® (0+), and 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g of Typha angustifolia /kg of feed, respectively. Results: The main results revealed that feed intake was not significantly affected by the different treatments. Over the study period, supplementing chicken with 6 g of T. angustifolia/kg increased live weight and weight gain by about 6.72% and 6.82%, respectively, compared to the negative control. Similarly, this phyto-additive, at the incorporation rate of 6 g/kg, decreased the chicken feed conversion ratio by 12.83% compared to the control without additives. The 6 g of Typha angustifolia/kg of feed induced a significant increase in the weight, length, and density of the intestine as compared to the negative control ration. This phyto-additive, whatever the rate, significantly increased the number of lactic acid bacteria, and the digestibility of crude protein and dietary fiber compared to the negative control. Apart from the serum concentration of total cholesterol and high-density cholesterol, which increased significantly with 1 g of Typha angustifolia compared to the negative control, all the haemato-biochemical parameters were not significantly affected by this phyto-additive, whatever the incorporation rate. Conclusion: In the condition of the present study, it was concluded that 6 g of Typha angustifolia/kg of feed can be used as a substitute for antibiotics growth promoters in animal feed.

Introduction and importance: Demons-Meigs syndrome is a rare condition characterized by the presence of a benign fibroma of the ovary, ascites, and pleural effusion. It is very uncommon, and the diagnosis is made with difficulty based on symptoms that usually mimic disseminated malignancy or tuberculosis, but imaging may confirm the diagnosis. The definitive treatment is laparotomy, after which the symptoms resolve. Case presentation: We present a 36-year-old female with Demons-Meigs’ syndrome with severe dyspnea who underwent an abdominal surgical exploration, which revealed ascites of 1500 ml and an ovarian fibroma weighing 7.5 kg and measuring 12 cm in length. There were no postoperative complications. CA-125 was undetectable at 3 months post-procedure. Clinical discussion: The most common symptoms are dyspnea, fever, fatigue, and weight loss. In low- and middle-income countries, patients usually present with late-stage disease. The treatment of choice for Demons-Meigs’ syndrome is exploratory laparotomy. Conclusion: This tumor is often misdiagnosed as a uterine myoma on sonography. The symptoms resolved, and the patient became asymptomatic after laparotomy and thoracocentesis. For this reason, when patients present with effusion and an abdominal mass, a thorough assessment should be done to confirm if it is Demons-Meigs’ syndrome, which can be completely cured by the removal of the tumor.