Black African Population Research Articles

BackgroundThe association between COVID-19 and newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM) remains uncertain. This cross-sectional study examines the role of insulin resistance (IR) and selected inflammatory markers in COVID-19 associated newly diagnosed DM.Research design and methodsA cross-sectional pilot study was conducted at an academic tertiary hospital and a primary healthcare facility, with COVID-19 patients additionally followed for three months post-discharge. Participants included patients hospitalised with moderate to severe COVID-19 during the third wave of predominantly the delta variant. Diagnostic markers predictive of newly diagnosed DM were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Four predictive diagnostic models were developed, incorporating combinations of triglyceride-glucose index (TyG index), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body mass index (BMI) and inflammatory cytokines. Model performance and optimal cutoff values were determined using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis and the Youden index.ResultsA total of 127 individuals were evaluated, consisting of 84 patients admitted with moderate to severe COVID-19 and 43 healthy controls. Among the 84 COVID-19 participants, 45 were newly diagnosed with DM, 20 had no DM, and 19 had pre-existing DM. Those with newly diagnosed DM exhibited significantly higher BMI and IR markers (HOMA-IR, and TyG index) compared to those without newly diagnosed DM (p < 0.001, p = 0.05 and p = 0.002, respectively). The predictive diagnostic model for newly diagnosed DM included the TyG index, BMI, IL-10 and IL-1β, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.91 (95% CI, 0.84–0.98). The TyG index was strongly associated with newly diagnosed DM (Crude Odds Ratio [COR] 11.25 (95% CI, 2.80-76.28; p-value = 0.01); Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 6.83 (95% CI, 1.57, 42.96; p-value = 0.01) and showed improved predictive accuracy when used with BMI (AUC 0.86; 95% CI, 0.77–0.95), compared to the TyG index alone (AUC 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59–0.86). These findings support the potential role of the TyG index as a practical alternative to HOMA-IR in resource-limited settings where insulin measurement may not be feasible.ConclusionsIn our study population, IR rather than insulin deficiency was more strongly associated with newly diagnosed DM in patients with COVID-19. The TyG index may serve as a practical diagnostic marker for predicting newly diagnosed DM in resource-limited settings, with BMI and inflammatory markers further improving model accuracy. However, given our predominantly Black African study population, validation in larger and more diverse populations is needed.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12902-025-02056-2.

Uncertainty exists about whether women of West African ancestry have increased rates of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast tumors, which commonly have earlier age onsets than ER-positive tumors and are aggressive. High-quality population-based studies in Africa with tumor pathology data are generally unavailable, and there is speculation that younger population age structures may explain the increased frequencies of reported ER-negative tumors. To estimate age-standardized and age-specific rates of ER-negative breast cancer among Ghanaian women and non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White women in the US. This cross-sectional study used 2013 through 2015 data from a population-based case-control study conducted in 2 metropolitan areas of Ghana, Accra and Kumasi, to estimate ER-specific breast cancer incidence rates among women 18 to 74 years of age. Incidence rates were recovered by applying sampling weights for controls calculated by district, 5-year age groups, and nonresponse rates from the 2010 census-based enumeration area listings. US Breast Cancer Registry data were retrieved from 17 registries in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program for non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White women with breast cancer 20 to 74 years of age. Analyses were conducted January 2020 through May 2025. Age, sex, race and ethnicity, ER tumor status, and country (US and Ghana). For each of 3 populations, crude, age-standardized, and age-specific breast cancer incidence rates were calculated overall and by ER status. Analyses were performed for 1071 women (age range, 18-74 years; 468 [51%] ER-negative) in Ghana and 18 321 non-Hispanic Black women (age range, 20-74 years; 5117 [29%] ER-negative) and 103 227 non-Hispanic White women (age range, 20-74 years; 15 040 [15%] ER-negative) in SEER. From 2013 through 2015, ER-negative age-standardized incidence rates were 42.3 (95% CI, 38.7-46.3) per 100 000 women for Ghanaian participants and 43.1 (95% CI, 42.0-44.3) per 100 000 for US non-Hispanic Black women, both higher rates than that of 24.0 (95% CI, 23.6-24.4) per 100 000 for US non-Hispanic White women. ER-positive age-standardized incidence rates were 42.1 (95% CI, 38.4-46.1) per 100 000 women for Ghanaian participants, 105.4 (95% CI, 103.6-107.3) per 100 000 for non-Hispanic Black women, and 128.5 (95% CI, 127.9-129.7) per 100 000 for non-Hispanic White women. In this cross-sectional study of Ghanaian and US non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White women with breast cancer, age-standardized tumor incidence rates for women with ER-negative tumors in Ghana were similar to those for US non-Hispanic Black women, and both rates were higher than for US non-Hispanic White women. This finding may suggest increased susceptibility requiring elucidation in US non-Hispanic Black and West African populations.

As part of the ecumenism movement, mainline churches have contributed to, and were in the forefront of fighting the apartheid government, which favoured the interests of white people as opposed to black people. Christian leaders who belonged to mainline churches included Manas Buthelezi, Desmond Tutu, Simon Maimela, Buti Tlhagale, Beyers Naude, Alan Boesak, Itumeleng Mosala, among others. Despite the rich legacy of Black Theology, after the dawn of democracy, the church seems to have gone in seclusion, and shrewd capitalists and politicians are running the show. This article aims to concede that mainline churches have abandoned the struggle after the dawn of democracy in South Africa. In this article, the struggle refers to deliberate involvement in economic liberation, especially the black African population, focusing on mainline churches in the rural and township areas where the majority of the poor population resides and worships. To achieve this, the article firstly explores the realities of poverty in South Africa. Secondly, it examines the ills that continue to be perpetuated by crime to demonstrate poverty and unemployment. Thirdly, it shows the strength of mainline churches in how they, through their leadership and congregations, participated in other struggles in South Africa. Fourthly, the article argues that mainline churches’ drive, attitude and fortitude have diminished, especially by exploring the economic disfranchisement of the black South African populace. The article explores Black Theology of liberation and Miriam Makeba’s song titled ‘A luta continua’ to address identified issues, and employs desktop literature review as a methodology. Contribution: The article concludes that the direct activism that existed within black, African mainline churches has diminished, despite its black, African populace being at the receiving end of the economic injustices in South Africa.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models allow to simulate the behaviour of compounds in diverse physiological populations. However, the categorization of individuals into distinct populations raises questions regarding the classification criteria. In previous research, simulations of the pharmacokinetics of the mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), were performed in the black South African population, using PBPK modeling. This study investigates the prevalence of clinical CYP450 phenotypes (CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4/5) across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), to determine the feasibility of defining SSA as a single population. SSA was subdivided into Central, East, South and West Africa. The phenotype data were assigned to the different regions and a fifth SSA group was composed of all regions’ weighted means. Available data from literature only covered 7.30% of Central, 56.9% of East, 38.9% of South and 62.9% of West Africa, clearly indicating critical data gaps. A pairwise proportion test was performed between the regions on enzyme phenotype data. When achieving statistical significance (p < 0.05), a Cohen’s d-test was performed to determine the degree of the difference. Next, per region populations were built using SimCYP starting from the available SSA based SouthAfrican_Population FW_Custom population, supplemented with the phenotype data from literature. Simulations were performed using CYP probe substrates in all populations, and derived PK parameters (Cmax, Tmax, AUCss and CL) were plotted in bar charts. Significant differences between the African regions regarding CYP450 phenotype frequencies were shown for CYP2B6, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6. Limited regional data challenge the representation of SSA populations in these models. The scarce availability of in vivo data for SSA regions restricted the ability to fully validate the developed PBPK populations. However, observed literature data from specific SSA regions provided partial validation, indicating that SSA populations should ideally be modelled at a regional level rather than as a single entity. The findings, emerging from the initial AFB1-focused PBPK work, underscore the need for more extensive and region-specific data to enhance model accuracy and predictive value across SSA.

To report the outcomes of inverted internal limiting membrane (ILM) flap 'flower-petal' surgical technique for the treatment of full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) in patients from Rwanda. This is a retrospective consecutive case series of all cases of FTMH that underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) surgery with inverted ILM flap technique between April 2022 and March 2023 at the Kabgayi Eye Unit. The primary outcome was the anatomical success defined as FTMH closure. The secondary outcome was the change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before surgery and at final visit, termed as ΔBCVA. A total of ninety-eight eyes of ninety-eight patients (65% females) were included in the analysis. Mean patient age was 61.3 ± 15.7years (range 7-82). Mean follow-up duration was 8.9 ± 4.2months (range 2-15). Mean minimum linear diameter (MLD) was 549 ± 315µm (range 50-2150). Postoperative macular hole closure rate was 93%. Mean BCVA improved from 1.24 ± 0.37 logMAR (range 0.4-2) to 0.95 ± 0.50 logMAR (range 0-3; p-value < 0.001). Most patients (56%) underwent PPV only, while in the remainder PPV was combined with phacoemulsification cataract surgery. SF6 gas was the most commonly used postoperative tamponade (37%), followed by C3F8 (36%) and C2F6 (27%). Postoperative complications were encountered in 6 cases (6%), the most common being eccentric macular holes (5%). The inverted ILM flap technique for FTMH in a Black African population demonstrated a high anatomical success rate. Our results will guide future management practices for the Black African ethnicity where FTMH outcomes are notoriously worse.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in South Africa (SA) is a growing public health crisis, driven by the intersecting burdens of HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension, diabetes and obesity. In Black African populations, high-risk apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) variants add a genetic predisposition to non-diabetic kidney diseases, compounding risk. Global recognition of CKD has recently advanced, marked by the 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) non-communicable disease resolution, which urges the integration of kidney care into national health strategies. This resolution emphasises prevention, early detection and treatment, while strengthening primary healthcare and addressing social determinants of health, particularly in low-income countries. However, in SA, domestic capacity has not kept pace. Public-sector dialysis slots have remained static since 1994, while the private sector has expanded rapidly, deepening inequities by province and income. In the public sector, dialysis is rationed to patients eligible for transplantation, yet transplant access is limited by organ shortages, logistical barriers and variable provincial resources. Expanding deceased donation and implementing kidney paired donation (KPD) programmes are essential to increase transplant opportunities, particularly for incompatible donor- recipient pairs, and to improve equity in access. Children and adolescents face additional barriers, including limited age-specific pathways and the absence of structured transition to adult care. Workforce shortages, inadequate regulatory oversight, inconsistent procurement processes and incomplete registry reporting undermine service quality, limit expansion and perpetuate inequities in access. Without urgent reform, CKD will continue to drive preventable morbidity, premature mortality and escalating costs. Scaling equitable dialysis and transplantation services, integrating KPD and investing in prevention, workforce and infrastructure are critical to reversing current trends and fulfilling the WHO’s call for action.

BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) significantly impact quality of life, particularly among Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities in the UK, who face disproportionate burdens and barriers to care. Despite growing recognition of ethnic health disparities, there is limited understanding of interventions tailored to these populations. This scoping review aimed to map the existing literature on interventions for MSDs among Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic groups in the UK, identifying key approaches, gaps, and opportunities for culturally appropriate healthcare delivery.MethodA scoping review was conducted following the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework. Seven databases (PubMed Central, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline Full-text, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Cochrane) were systematically searched up to April 2025. Studies were included if they assessed MSD interventions among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in the UK. Both qualitative and quantitative studies were considered. Data were synthesised narratively using thematic analysis supported by NVivo v.11 software.FindingsNine studies met the inclusion criteria. Three primary themes emerged: (1) language and communication initiatives, such as multilingual resources and telephone helplines; (2) pharmacological and dietary interventions, particularly addressing vitamin D deficiency and rheumatoid arthritis management; and (3) peer-support and educational initiatives, including community-based and culturally tailored programmes. A significant underrepresentation of Black African and Black Caribbean populations was identified alongside a noticeable lack of participatory or qualitative research approaches.ConclusionThere is a critical need for ethnically inclusive, culturally tailored MSD interventions in the UK. Future research should prioritise holistic, community-based approaches and actively address structural inequalities to improve health outcomes and ensure equitable care across all ethnic groups.

Parkinson's disease in Malawi: A cross-sectional Study of clinical profiles and risk factors.

Background:Many Black Africans live in the UK. More than 850,000 people live with dementia in the UK, and more than 25,000 people with dementia are from Black and minority ethnic groups. The study explores themes of lay knowledge and beliefs about dementia.Design and Methods:This study employs a qualitative research design and methods to explore lay knowledge and beliefs about dementia amongst Black African populations living in London. The research is philosophically underpinned by social constructionism and sociological and anthropological lay concepts of health and illness. The researcher interviewed 31 adult respondents, male and female, from the Black African community in London to generate rich data. Participants were first-generation immigrants from West Africa living in London and were mainly carers. Thematic data analysis informed by a grounded theory approach was used to analyse the data.Results:The findings show that dementia is a complex biopsychosocial phenomenon. Four key themes with subthemes emerged and were developed: (i) Traditional views, (ii) Disease and illness, (iii) Help-seeking, and (iv) Caregiving and treatment. The group’s understanding of dementia evolved from traditional views to a more medical perspective. This study added witchcraft to the dementia literature on BAME in the UK.Conclusions:The study concluded that the group does not lack knowledge of dementia. Their understanding and beliefs about dementia are evolving, and further efforts are needed to enhance awareness through education, training, and outreach to support individuals with dementia and their families within the Black African community.

IntroductionThis study aimed to determine whether triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-c) ratio, which has been shown to be an innovative proxy marker of atherogenic indicator in the human plasma, and an indicator of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and insulin resistance (IR), can predict systolic hypertension (SHT), diastolic hypertension (DHT), diabetic fasting plasma glucose (dFPG), hypertriglyceridemia (HTG), hypercholesterolemia (HCHOL), low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) and high low-density cholesterol (LDL-c) in the Nigerian adolescent population living in metropolitan Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.MethodsA dietary and nutritional survey (DNS) was conducted from October 2007 to March 2010. A total of 650 adolescent participants were recruited using a four-stage stratified sampling method but statistical analysis was restricted to the 613 who had complete anthropometric and clinical data. The sensitivity, specificity, and distance to the corner on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve in each TG/HDL level were calculated. The shortest distance in the ROC curves was used to determine the optimal cutoff of the TG/HDL-c ratio for detecting MetS, Systolic and diastolic hypertension and diabetes.ResultsIn all the subjects, the median TG/HDL-c ratio was significantly higher (P-value <000001) only among those with, than those without MetS (8.2 vs 3.0), those with and without hypertriglyceridemia (4.2 vs 1.3), hypercholesterolemia (5.3 vs 2.8), low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (7.2 vs 2.5) and high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (3.3 vs 1.8, P-value = 0.0001). The prevalence of systolic hypertension, diabetic FPG, total cholesterol and LDL-c was higher with higher TG/HDL-c ratio while that of HDL-c was lower with higher TG/HDL-c in all subjects. TG/HDL-c ratio was strong in predicting dyslipidemia, especially hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia in early and mid-adolescents and cardiometabolic risk factors of two or more in adolescents. An inverse relationship was observed between the stages of adolescence and cutoffs for MetS.ConclusionsTG/HDL-c ratio effectively predicted MetS, hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia among early and mid-adolescent Nigerians. As a tool, the TG/HDL-c ratio should be considered for the initial prediction of MetS and some of its dyslipidimic components. Further studies are needed to confirm findings in this study.

There is a paucity of information and data on congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) in the African setting. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, pattern and distribution of CAKUT as observed from computed tomography (CT) scans in a black African population. This was a retrospective study carried out in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria. The study population was drawn from subjects who had an abdominopelvic CT scan or CT urography for either urological or non-urological conditions. Data was pulled from three large-volume referral centers for CT scans in the city center, and study period extended from January 2015 to December 2024. Analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) for Windows, version 27.0. Data were described using frequencies and proportions in tables and charts. The records of 3507 subjects were retrieved for this study. A total number of 122 subjects had congenital anomalies of the kidneys or the urinary tract, which gave a prevalence of 3.5% (95% confidence interval: 2.9-4.1%). The mean age of subjects was 39 ± 19.8 years and the majority of them were males (57.4%). The most prevalent anomaly was pelviureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction (1.28%), followed by duplex collecting system. The prevalence of CAKUT from this study was 3.5%. Pelvic ureteric junction obstruction was the most prevalent congenital anomaly of the urinary tract in our setting.

The clinical utility of dementia prognostic scores has limited validity across diverse populations. This study aimed to enhance the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) model by incorporating resting heart rate (RHR) using a machine learning method across a diverse population. We developed CAIDE and CAIDE-RHR models using a random forest algorithm in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) dataset. Model performances were assessed using area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), Matthew's correlation coefficient (MCC), and the Brier score. Incorporating RHR into the CAIDE model significantly improved predictive accuracy across Black African, Asian, White, and Native Hawaiian populations (mean AUC range: 0.80-0.91). However, this improvement was not observed in the American Indian population, where the AUC decreased from 0.87 to 0.84. Our findings highlight significant ethnic differences in dementia risk prediction models. These results underscore the need for validating and tailoring dementia risk scores to ensure applicability across diverse races. Incorporating resting heart rate (RHR) into the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE) model significantly improves its predictive accuracy for dementia risk across diverse populations, offering a novel addition to dementia risk models. The application of the machine learning technique enhances dementia risk prediction by capturing complex, non-linear relationships among variables. The improved model enables more precise early identification of individuals at risk of cognitive decline, supporting preventive strategies in dementia care. Resting heart rate, a simple and non-invasive cardiovascular measure, is demonstrated to be a valuable predictor for dementia risk, making it practical for clinical application.

BackgroundHIV prevalence in Harare reached a maximum of around 33% of adults in 1995, before falling to 12% in 2019. We examine trends in the incidence of Kaposi sarcoma (KS), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin lymphoma, and squamous cell conjunctival cancers (SCCCs) in the population of Harare in relation to changes in HIV prevalence, and the increasing availability and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART).MethodsData from the population-based cancer registry of Harare are used to calculate incidence rates for the Black (African) population for the years 1990-2019.ResultsIncidence of KS increased to a peak in the late 1990s, after which rates declined, especially at younger ages. Mean age at diagnosis increased by about 8 years in men and 6 years in women. SCCC shows a similar trend to that of KS, with a dramatic 10-fold increase in incidence, followed by an equivalent fall. Although Hodgkin lymphoma showed no change in incidence over the 30-year period, rates of NHL progressively increased. Incidence in younger adults (aged younger than 44) stabilized after about 2001 but continued to increase in older individuals.ConclusionsThe availability of high-quality cancer registry data over a long period has provided a unique opportunity to study the effects of the epidemic of HIV-AIDs and of ART availability on the risk of cancer in an African population. As HIV prevalence fell and ART coverage expanded, incidence of KS and SCCC declined, whereas for NHL the trends suggest that long-term infection with HIV may pose an increased risk, despite ART.

Background: Pes planus is a condition where the arch of the foot collapses, resulting in the entire sole contacting the ground. The biomechanical implications of pes planus on gait have been widely studied; however, research specific to Black African populations, particularly recreational runners, is scarce. Aim: This study aimed to describe the forefoot centre of pressure (CoP) trajectory during the barefoot gait cycle among Black African recreational runners with pes planus. Methods: A prospective explorative and quantitative study design was employed. Participants included Black African male recreational runners aged 18 to 45 years diagnosed with pes planus. A Freemed™ 6050 force plate was used to collect gait data. Statistical analysis included cross-tabulations to identify patterns. Results: This study included 104 male participants across seven weight categories, with the majority in the 70-to-79 kg range (34.6%, n = 36). Most participants with pes planus showed a neutral foot posture (74.0%, n = 77) on the foot posture index 6 (FPI-6) scale. Flexible pes planus (94.2%, n = 98) was much more common than rigid pes planus (5.8%, n = 6). Lateral displacement of the CoP was observed in the right forefoot (90.4%, n = 94) and left forefoot (57.7%, n = 60). Load distribution patterns differed between feet, with the right foot favouring the medial heel, arch, and metatarsal heads, while the left foot favoured the lateral heel, medial heel, and lateral arch. No statistical significance was found in the cross-tabulations, but notable lateral CoP displacement in the forefoot was observed. Conclusions: The findings challenge the traditional view of pes planus causing overpronation and highlight the need for clinicians to reconsider standard diagnostic and management approaches. Further research is needed to explore the implications of these findings for injury prevention and management in this population.

Several non-invasive tests are used to assess liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients with liver disease. However, most validation studies have not included populations in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the APRI and FIB-4 scores in a Congolese cohort. A cohort of patients in Kinshasa underwent FibroScan and laboratory testing to calculate APRI and FIB-4 scores. Pearson correlation, sensitivity, specificity, and ROC curve analyses were used to evaluate the performance of these non-invasive scores against FibroScan. Cirrhosis was defined as liver stiffness ≥14 kPa by FibroScan. Thresholds for APRI and FIB-4 scores predicting cirrhosis were set at ≥ 1.5 and ≥ 2.67, respectively. The study included 316 patients (mean ± SD age: 48.1 ± 14.1 years; 60.8% male; 10.1% with diabetes; 37.1% obese; 14.2% with hepatitis B; 6.7% with hepatitis C; 25.6% with a history of alcohol use). The Pearson correlation between APRI and FibroScan was r = 0.210 (p < 0.001), while the correlation between FIB-4 and FibroScan was better (r = 0.478, p < 0.001). In subgroup analyses, FIB-4 correlated with FibroScan only among patients with alcohol use or hepatitis B or C, APRI only correlated with FibroScan in alcohol dependent patients. The sensitivity and specificity of APRI were 29.7% and 97.9% respectively, compared to 60.0% and 93.3% for FibroScan. The areas under the ROC curve were 0.8462 for APRI and 0.8312 for FIB-4, with thresholds lower than those reported in the literature: 0.422 for APRI and 1.285 for FIB-4, but these varied according to the subgroup. APRI and FIB-4 scores demonstrate high specificity but low sensitivity for diagnosing cirrhosis in this population. Their diagnostic performance is notably better in patients with alcohol-related liver disease or viral hepatitis, but poor among those with diabetes or obesity.

Abstract The history of wound healing intertwines with human civilization. A clay tablet from 2200 Bce describes early wound care techniques, including the ‘three healing gestures’ of cleansing the wounds, preparing the plasters and applying the bandage. Keloids, an exaggerated fibroproliferative response to cutaneous wound healing, have been recognized across cultures throughout history. Ancient civilizations, including Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, utilized keloids for identification, punishment and cultural practices. Keloid scars were recognized as early as 3000 Bce, when the Edwin Smith papyrus, the earliest known surgical treatise detailing ancient Egyptian medical practice, depicted a ‘swelling on his breast, large, spreading, and hard’, that felt like ‘touching a ball of wrappings’. Keloids uniquely affect Homo sapiens, with Black African populations being particularly susceptible. It is not surprising that the narrative of keloids is based in African folklore, recounted in African proverbs and folk medicine. The East Nigerian Yoruba tribe documented keloids as early as the 10th century. In 1790, Retz mistakenly referred to keloids as ‘fatty hernias’ or ‘darter de graisse’ in his book Treatise on Skin Diseases and Things of Mind. The term ‘keloid’ was introduced by Baron Jean-Louis Alibert (1768–1837), a French pioneer in dermatology, in 1806. He identified the keloid as a specific entity, describing it as tumour-like scars that he initially referred to as ‘les cancroïdes de la peau’. By 1817, when it became clear that these cicatricial tumours were in fact noncancerous, Alibert changed the name to ‘cheloïde’ or ‘keloïde’. The term is derived from the Greek word ‘$\chi\eta \lambda\overset{\prime}{\eta}$’ ($\rm kh\hat{\bar e} |\bar e$) for crab’s claw and the suffix -oid meaning ‘like’. This represented their horizontal invasive expansion beyond the initial wound edges into the surrounding skin. The 1863 photograph ‘Whipped Peter’ vividly illustrated the severe keloid scarring resulting from brutal beatings of an escaped slave, bringing wider attention to the condition. Treatment approaches have evolved with time. Cosman et al. conducted the first systematic study of keloids in 1961 (Cosman B, Crikelair GF, Ju DMC et al. The surgical treatment of keloids. Plast Reconstr Surg 1961; 27: 335–58). Intralesional corticosteroid injections, introduced in the mid-1960s, remain a popular treatment. Pressure therapy emerged in the 1970s, followed by topical silicone gel sheeting in the early 1980s. In 1999, Fitzpatrick demonstrated the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil in reducing keloid size. Despite significant advancements, keloids continue to present a challenging clinical problem. Their unique occurrence in humans, particularly in those of African descent, and their relentless invasion into healthy skin make them a persistent enigma in modern medicine.

Objective: This study aimed to identify partial D variants in african black populations living in Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the CPC Hematology Laboratory from April 2016 to June 2017. A 5 ml volume of blood was collected in an EDTA tube, from all patients coming for the ABO/D blood grouping. Three Biorad antisera reagents characterized by monoclonal anti-D antibody were used for D antigen testing: IgG (MS-26)/IgM (TH-28) , anti-DVI- [LHM59/20 (LDM3) +175-2] and anti-DVI+ [ESD-1M+175-2] . An extended partial Rh D typing panel of 12 anti-D (LHM76/58; LHM76/59; LHM174/102; LHM50/2B; LHM169/81; ESD1; LHM76/55; LHM77/64; LHM70/45; LHM59/19; LHM169/80; LHM57/17) was used to identify partial D on discrepant results. Results: Of the 3 439 patients sampled, 1.6% with a median age of 24 years showed discordant results. Men were 2.7 times (1.3-5.5) more likely to have concordant results (p = 0.005) than women. Variant characterization revealed 7.3% of weak D and 87.3% of partial D including 36.4% DFR, 32.7% DV, 14.6% DIII, 1.8% DAR-E, and 1.8% DHK/DAU-4. Conclusion: The use of anti-D reagents from different cell lines is essential for the detection of D variants. The identification of these variants by larger panels of antisera is highly required and their confirmation with molecular approaches is becoming paramount.

Molecular profile of non-small cell lung cancer in a predominantly Black African population in Kenya: A single institution review.

Abstract Background: Repeated exposure to stress can result in dysregulation of the endocrine system and excess secretion of hormones, even when stress is not present. The degree of dysregulation has been coined allostatic load (AL), and higher AL has been associated with increased risk of cancer. We explored the relationship of AL with the development of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), the asymptomatic precursor to multiple myeloma, and the potential mediating effect of AL on racial disparities in MGUS prevalence. Methods: Nationally representative data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used. In 1999-2004, MGUS testing was performed on a subtset of participants who were 50 years or older and had available serum samples. AL was scored 0-7, based on markers of metabolic, renal, and immune physiologic systems, as previously described (Obeg-Gyasi, et al, 2022). The association of AL with MGUS was assessed using multivariable odds ratio (aOR). A mediation analysis was performed to determine the relationship of AL in the observed disparities in MGUS incidence. Results: Among the 5616 participants sampled, 2.8% had MGUS, suggesting a MGUS prevalence of 2.2% of the U.S. population above the age of 50. The characteristics of the sample with and without MGUS are compared in Table 1 Table 1 Characteristic MGUS (n=155, N=1, 364, 360) No MGUS(n = 5461, N= 60, 016, 515) P Age, mean (SD) 68.65 (1.01) 62.92 (0.22) &amp;lt;0.01 Male (%) 53.2 46.8 0.20 Non-Hispanic White (%) 79.4 79.9 0.03 African American or Black (%) 13.4 7.9 Hispanic (%) 3.6 8.2 Other (%) 3.6 4.0 Allostatic Load, mean (SD) 2.65 (0.11) 1.97 (0.04) &amp;lt;0.01 Overweight or obese (%) 80.4 71.1 0.03 Elevated Alkaline phosphatase (%) 22.1 20.7 0.68 Elevated Creatinine (%) 29.9 20.3 0.01 Reduced Creatinine Clearance (%) 31.6 16.1 &amp;lt;0.01 Elevated C-reactive protein (%) 32.2 22.7 &amp;lt;0.01 Elevated White Blood Count (%) 23.4 24.1 0.87 Reduced Albumin (%) 45.2 22.3 &amp;lt;0.01 . African American and Blacks were twice as likely to have MGUS compared to non-Hispanic Whites (aOR 2.00; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.42-3.31; P&amp;lt;0.01). After adjusting for age, race, and sex, each one unit increase in AL was associated with 30% increase in odds of having MGUS (aOR=1.30; 95% CI 1.14-1.47; P&amp;lt;0.01). AL mediated 9.6% (95% CI -1.1%-20.3%, P=0.08) of the disparities between African American and Black and non-Hispanic White participants. Conclusions: Higher AL was associated with increased odds of MGUS. AL may also explain, at least in part, the higher incidence of MGUS among the African American and Black population in the US. Citation Format: Mark Aaron Fiala, Tuo Lan, Michael Slade, Ravi Vij, Su-Hsin Chang. Allostatic load and prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4983.

Objective: Various insulin resistance (IR) indices have been developed to assess cardiovascular (CVS) risk. We compared the association between ten IR indices and cardiac, renal, and vascular end-organ measures in a predominantly young (age 45.0 ± 18.3 years) South African Black population. Methods: We assessed the relationships between ten IR indices (homeostatic model assessment for IR [HOMA-IR], quantitative insulin sensitivity check index [QUICKI], metabolic score for IR [METS-IR], triglyceride-glucose index [TyG], TyG-body mass index [TyG-BMI], TyG-waist circumference [TyG-WC], TyG-waist-to-height ratio [TyG-WHtR], triglyceride to high-density cholesterol concentration [TyG-HDL], lipid accumulation product [LAP], visceral adiposity index [VAI]) and end-organ measures in 779 community participants of African ancestry. Results: HOMA-IR and QUICKI were the only IR indices consistently associated with end-organ measures (left ventricular [LV] mass index, p ≤ 0.005; LV relative wall thickness, p < 0.0001; early-to-late mitral velocity, p ≤ 0.01; E/e', p ≤ 0.002; e', p < 0.0001; pulse wave velocity, p = 0.036 (HOMA-IR only); glomerular filtration rate [GFR], p < 0.0001), independent of confounders. Furthermore, HOMA-IR was consistently higher, and QUICKI lower, in those with compared to those without end-organ damage (LV hypertrophy [p ≤ 0.03], concentric LV [p < 0.03], and reduced GFR [p ≤ 0.008]), independent of confounders. Importantly, the associations between HOMA-IR or QUICKI and end-organ measures were independent of additional CVS risk factors, including adiposity measures, and were replicated in the participants without diabetes mellitus (n = 669) and in the participants without high blood pressure (n = 505). Conclusions: In a predominantly young community of African ancestry, of ten recommended IR indices, only HOMA-IR and QUICKI were consistently associated with end-organ damage independent of CVS risk factors.