Sexually transmitted infections and prostate cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most incident cancer and the sixth cause of death by cancer in men worldwide. Despite extensive research efforts, no modifiable risk factors have been consistently identified for PC risk. A number of studies have focused on possible relationships between sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and PC. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the association between infection caused by Neisseria gonorrheae, Treponema pallidum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, Herpes Simplex Virus types 1 and 2, Human Herpes Virus 8 and Cytomegalovirus, and PC. We conducted a comprehensive, systematic bibliographic search of medical literature to identify relevant studies. We calculated summary relative risk (SRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between each STI and PC through random effect models. Subgroup, meta-regression and sensitivity analyses were carried out to detect between-study heterogeneity and bias. We included 47 studies published between 1971 and 2011. Men who reported having ever had any STI in lifetime had an increased PC (SRR 1.49, 95% CI 1.19–1.92). We found a significantly increased PC risk in men having had gonorrhoea (SRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05–1.37). No other single STI was significantly associated with PC. Due to high incidence of both STIs and PC worldwide, prevention of STIs may help preventing a considerable number of PC cases.     

Prevalence,intensity and associated risk factors of Schistosoma mansoni infections among schoolchildren around Lake Tana,northwestern Ethiopia

BackgroundSchistosomiasis is one of the widely distributed neglected tropical diseases. It is a serious public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is highly prevalent and widely distributed in Ethiopia due to suitable environmental factors and human activities. The prevalence and infection intensity varied from locality to locality in the country. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni infection and associated risk factors among schoolchildren around Lake Tana.MethodsA school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 710 schoolchildren from February to April 2021 in eight selected primary schools around Lake Tana. A questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic information and potential risk factors of S. mansoni infection. After collecting socio-demographic information, students were requested to bring about 2grams of stool specimens for parasitological examination. The collected stool samples were processed using a single Kato-Katz and Ritchie’s concentration techniques. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23 and factors with a p-value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.ResultsThe overall prevalence of S. mansoni was 34.9% (95% CI: 31.4–38.7) among schoolchildren in the study area. The eggs per gram (EPG) of stool ranged from 24 to 1659 with arithmetic and geometric mean values of 138.1 EPG and 85.1 EPG, respectively. The majority of S. mansoni infections (61.4%) were classified as low infection intensity. Among the different determinant factors being male (AOR = 1.74; 95%CI = 1.233–2.457; P-value = 0.002), bathing habits (AOR = 1.494; 95%CI = 1.013–2.199; P-value = 0.043) and students attending at Qunzela primary school (AOR = 10.545; 95%CI = 3.264–34.067; P-value = 0.001), Alabo primary school (AOR = 3.386; 95%CI = 1.084–10.572; P-value = 0.036) were significantly associated with S. mansoni infection.ConclusionThis study revealed that more than one-third of schoolchildren were infected by S. mansoni in the study area. The majority of the infections were classified as low infection intensity. Being male, bathing habits and schools in which students attended were independent explanatory factors for S. mansoni infection. Therefore, integrated control strategies are needed to improve the health conditions of schoolchildren in the study area.     

Parental risk factors and anorectal malformations: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Anderson's disease (AD) or chylomicron retention disease (CMRD) is a very rare hereditary lipid malabsorption syndrome. In order to discover novel mutations in the SAR1B gene and to evaluate the expression, as compared to healthy subjects, of the Sar1 gene and protein paralogues in the intestine, we investigated three previously undescribed individuals with the disease.

Methods

The SAR1B, SAR1A and PCSK9 genes were sequenced. The expression of the SAR1B and SAR1A genes in intestinal biopsies of both normal individuals and patients was measured by RTqPCR. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies to recombinant Sar1 protein was used to evaluate the expression and localization of the Sar1 paralogues in the duodenal biopsies.

Results

Two patients had a novel SAR1B mutation (p.Asp48ThrfsX17). The third patient, who had a previously described SAR1B mutation (p.Leu28ArgfsX7), also had a p.Leu21dup variant of the PCSK9 gene. The expression of the SAR1B gene in duodenal biopsies from an AD/CMRD patient was significantly decreased whereas the expression of the SAR1A gene was significantly increased, as compared to healthy individuals. The Sar1 proteins were present in decreased amounts in enterocytes in duodenal biopsies from the patients as compared to those from healthy subjects.

Conclusions

Although the proteins encoded by the SAR1A and SAR1B genes are 90% identical, the increased expression of the SAR1A gene in AD/CMRD does not appear to compensate for the lack of the SAR1B protein. The PCSK9 variant, although reported to be associated with low levels of cholesterol, does not appear to exert any additional effect in this patient. The results provide further insight into the tissue-specific nature of AD/CMRD.     

Prelacteal feeding and associated factors in Ethiopia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Prelacteal feeding can be defined as giving any solid or liquid foods other than breast milk during the first three days after birth. It affects timely initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding practices. Even though the issue was investigated in Ethiopia, fragmented and inconsistent findings were reported. Therefore, the main objective of this meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of prelacteal feeding and associated factors in Ethiopia.

Methods

The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guideline was followed. Articles were systematically searched through different searching mechanisms. Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument adapted for cross-sectional study design was used for quality assessment of each individual study. The total of 28 studies were included and analyzed. The random effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence; subgroup analysis and meta-regression were performed to identify the probable source of heterogeneity. Both Egger’s, and Begg’s test were used to check publication bias. The effects between associated factor variables, and prelacteal feeding practices were tested.

Results

A total of 492 studies were retrieved and 28 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of prelacteal feeding practice in Ethiopia was 25.29% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 17.43, 33.15) with severe heterogeneity (I² =?99.7, p <?0.001) and no publication bias. Antenatal care (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.25, 95% CI 0.09, 0.69), counselling on infant feeding (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.22, 0.63), timely initiation of breastfeeding (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.21, 0.38) and an urban residence (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.26, 0.86) had lower odds, while home birth had higher odds (OR 3.93, 95% CI 2.17, 7.10) of prelacteal feeding in Ethiopia.

Conclusions

In Ethiopia, one in four children were given prelacteal foods. Mothers who gave birth at home are more prone to give prelacteal foods. Whereas, antenatal care, timely initiation of breastfeeding, counseling on infant feeding and an urban residence decreases prelacteal feeding practices in Ethiopia. Therefore, the government and health institutions should focus to increase maternal health service utilization and promote infant and young child feeding practices according to the guideline.

     

The prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in Papua New Guinea: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The potential for an expanded HIV epidemic in Papua New Guinea (PNG) demands an effective, evidence-based and locally-appropriate national response. As sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may be important co-factors in HIV transmission nationally, it is timely to conduct a systematic review of STI prevalences to inform national policy on sexual health and HIV/STI prevention.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of HIV and STI prevalences in PNG, reported in peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications for the period 1950–2010. Prevalence estimates were stratified by study site (community or clinic-based), geographic area and socio-demographic characteristics. The search strategy identified 105 reports, of which 25 studies (10 community-based; 10 clinic-based; and 5 among self-identified female sex workers) reported STI prevalences and were included in the systematic review. High prevalences of chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomonas were reported in all settings, particularly among female sex workers, where pooled estimates of 26.1%, 33.6%, 33.1% and 39.3% respectively were observed. Pooled HIV prevalence in community-based studies was 1.8% (95% CI:1.2–2.4) in men; 2.6% (95% CI:1.7–3.5) in women; and 11.8% (95% CI:5.8–17.7) among female sex workers.

Conclusions/Significance

The epidemiology of STIs and HIV in PNG shows considerable heterogeneity by geographical setting and sexual risk group. Prevalences from community-based studies in PNG were higher than in many other countries in the Asia-Pacific. A renewed focus on national STI/HIV surveillance priorities and systems for routine and periodic data collection will be essential to building effective culturally-relevant behavioural and biomedical STI/HIV prevention programs in PNG.     

Diagnosis of Schistosoma infection in non-human animal hosts: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundReliable and field-applicable diagnosis of schistosome infections in non-human animals is important for surveillance, control, and verification of interruption of human schistosomiasis transmission. This study aimed to summarize uses of available diagnostic techniques through a systematic review and meta-analysis.Methodology and principal findingsWe systematically searched the literature and reports comparing two or more diagnostic tests in non-human animals for schistosome infection. Out of 4,909 articles and reports screened, 19 met our inclusion criteria, four of which were considered in the meta-analysis. A total of 14 techniques (parasitologic, immunologic, and molecular) and nine types of non-human animals were involved in the studies. Notably, four studies compared parasitologic tests (miracidium hatching test (MHT), Kato-Katz (KK), the Danish Bilharziasis Laboratory technique (DBL), and formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation-digestion (FEA-SD)) with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and sensitivity estimates (using qPCR as the reference) were extracted and included in the meta-analyses, showing significant heterogeneity across studies and animal hosts. The pooled estimate of sensitivity was 0.21 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03–0.48) with FEA-SD showing highest sensitivity (0.89, 95% CI: 0.65–1.00).Conclusions/significanceOur findings suggest that the parasitologic technique FEA-SD and the molecular technique qPCR are the most promising techniques for schistosome diagnosis in non-human animal hosts. Future studies are needed for validation and standardization of the techniques for real-world field applications.     

Zinc supplementation and cardiovascular disease risk factors: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

Background and objectiveA deficit in zinc has been related to a higher probability of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative capabilities of zinc may have a wide range of therapeutic impacts on CVDs. We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the possible impacts that zinc supplementation may have on the risk factors associated with CVDs.MethodsTo identify eligible randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of zinc supplementation on CVDs risk factors, electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were systematically searched up to January 2023. The heterogeneity of trials was checked using the I² statistic. According to the heterogeneity tests, random effects models were estimated and pooled data were defined as the weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsOf 23165 initial records, 75 studies that met inclusion criteria were analyzed in this meta-analysis. The pooled findings indicated the significant lowering effects of zinc supplementation on triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and glutathione (GSH), with no noticeable effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), insulin, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT).ConclusionOverall, zinc supplementation may boost recognized coronary risk factors that contribute to the development of CVDs. Future research should be conducted to bolster our results.     

Socioeconomic differences in prostate cancer treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundSince the 1990s, most nations have had a reduction or stabilisation in prostate cancer mortality. However, socioeconomic differences in disease specific mortality and survival have persisted. This has been partially attributed to differences in treatment choices. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to describe and quantify socioeconomic differences in use of prostate cancer treatment in the literature.MethodsMEDLINE, CINAHL and Embase were searched from 01 January 2000–01 April 2021 to identify articles that reported use of prostate cancer treatment by socioeconomic status. Random effects meta-analysis was used to analyse socioeconomic differences in treatment where there was more than one study for treatment type. A modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias.ResultsOut of 7267 articles identified, eight met the inclusion criteria and six were analysed using meta-analysis. Meta-analysis could only be completed for non-active treatment (watchful waiting/active surveillance). Lower education was associated with non-active treatment (OR=0.90, [95% CI 0.83–0.98], p=0.02, I²=67%), however, level of income was not (OR=0.87, [CI 0.75–1.02], p=0.08, I²=94%). Sensitivity analysis of studies where active surveillance was the outcome (n=3), indicated no associations with level of income (OR=0.91, [95% CI 0.82–1.01], p=0.08, I²=52%) or education (OR=0.88, [95% CI 0.70–1.10], p=0.25, I²=79%). All studies were assessed as high-risk of bias.DiscussionThe relationship between socioeconomic status and prostate cancer treatment depended on the socioeconomic variable being used, the treatment type and how it was defined in research. Considerable methodological limitations were identified. Further research should improve on previous findings and address current gaps.     

Prevalence and associated factors of asymptomatic leishmaniasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Asymptomatic leishmaniasis is believed to play important role in maintaining the transmission of Leishmania spp. within endemic communities. Therefore, the efforts to eliminate leishmaniasis are daunting if we cannot manage asymptomatic leishmaniasis well. To clarify the global prevalence and factors associated with the asymptomatic Leishmania infection, we assessed the prevalence of asymptomatic leishmaniasis by a systematic review followed by meta-analyses. In addition, factors associated with the asymptomatic leishmaniasis versus symptomatic were also analyzed. We included all of the original articles alluding to the human asymptomatic leishmaniasis that was confirmed by at least one laboratory diagnosis method regardless of age, sex, race, and ethnicity of the patients, study design, publication date or languages. In total, 111 original articles were chosen for the data extraction. Based on our meta-analyses of the original articles reporting asymptomatic leishmaniasis mostly in endemic areas, the prevalence of asymptomatic leishmaniasis was 11.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.6%‐14.4%] in general population, 36.7% [95% CI 27.6%‐46.8%] in inhabitants living in the same or neighboring household to the symptomatic patients, and 11.8% [95% CI 7.1%-19%] in HIV infected patients. Among individuals with leishmaniasis, 64.9% [95% CI 54.7%-73.9%] were asymptomatic and males were more susceptible to develop symptoms, with OR=1.88, 95% CI 1.19-2.99, P=0.007. Meta-regression analysis showed no significant change in the prevalence of asymptomatic leishmaniasis during the last 40 years.     

Detecting and identifying Schistosoma infections in snails and aquatic habitats: A systematic review

BackgroundWe were tasked by the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the following question: What techniques should be used to diagnose Schistosoma infections in snails and in the water in potential transmission sites? Our goal was to review and evaluate the available literature and provide recommendations and insights for the development of WHO’s Guidelines Development Group for schistosomiasis control and elimination.MethodologyWe searched several databases using strings of search terms, searched bibliographies of pertinent papers, and contacted investigators who have made contributions to this field. Our search covered from 1970 to Sept 2020. All papers were considered in a PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework, and retained papers were grouped by technique and subjected to our GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) evidence assessment profile determined in consultation with WHO. We also considered issues of sensitivity, specificity, coverage, cost, robustness, support needs, schistosome species discrimination, and relevant detection limits.Principal findingsOur PRISMA process began with the perusal of 949 articles, of which 158 were retained for data extraction and evaluation. We identified 25 different techniques and for each applied a GRADE assessment considering limitations, inconsistency, imprecision, indirectness, and publication bias. We also provide advantages and disadvantages for each category of techniques.ConclusionsOur GRADE analysis returned an assessment of moderate quality of evidence for environmental DNA (eDNA), qPCR and LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal amplification). No single ideal diagnostic approach has yet been developed, but considerable recent progress has been made. We note a growing trend to use eDNA techniques to permit more efficient and replicable sampling. qPCR-based protocols for follow-up detection offer a versatile, mature, sensitive, and specific platform for diagnosis though centralized facilities will be required to favor standardization. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) can play a complementary role if inhibitors are a concern, or more sensitivity or quantification is needed. Snail collection, followed by shedding, is encouraged to provide specimens for sequence verifications of snails or schistosomes. LAMP or other isothermal detection techniques offer the prospect of less expensive and more distributed network of analysis but may face standardization and verification challenges related to actual sequences amplified.Ability to detect schistosome infections in snails or in the water is needed if control and elimination programs hope to succeed. Any diagnostic techniques used need to be regularly verified by the acquisition of DNA sequences to confirm that the detected targets are of the expected species. Further improvements may be necessary to identify the ideal schistosome or snail sequences to target for amplification. More field testing and standardization will be essential for long-term success.     

Global prevalence and case fatality rate of Enterovirus D68 infections,a systematic review and meta-analysis

A substantial amount of epidemiological data has been reported on Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections after the 2014 outbreak. Our goal was to map the case fatality rate (CFR) and prevalence of current and past EV-D68 infections. We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO, CRD42021229255) with published articles on EV-68 infections in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Global Index Medicus up to January 2021. We determined prevalences using a model random effect. Of the 4,329 articles retrieved from the databases, 89 studies that met the inclusion criteria were from 39 different countries with apparently healthy individuals and patients with acute respiratory infections, acute flaccid myelitis and asthma-related diseases. The CFR estimate revealed occasional deaths (7/1353) related to EV-D68 infections in patients with severe acute respiratory infections. Analyses showed that the combined prevalence of current and past EV-D68 infections was 4% (95% CI = 3.1–5.0) and 66.3% (95% CI = 40.0–88.2), respectively. The highest prevalences were in hospital outbreaks, developed countries, children under 5, after 2014, and in patients with acute flaccid myelitis and asthma-related diseases. The present study shows sporadic deaths linked to severe respiratory EV-D68 infections. The study also highlights a low prevalence of current EV-D68 infections as opposed to the existence of EV-D68 antibodies in almost all participants of the included studies. These findings therefore highlight the need to implement and/or strengthen continuous surveillance of EV-D68 infections in hospitals and in the community for the anticipation of the response to future epidemics.     

Effects of high phenolic olive oil on cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases are the world's leading cause of death. Prevention by nutrition is an easy and effective approach especially by advising foods with nutraceutic properties like high phenolic olive oil (HPOO).AimThe aim of this review was to systematically access and meta-analyse the effects of HPOO on risk factors of the cardiovascular system and thusly to evaluate its use as a nutraceutical in prevention.Data synthesisMedline/PubMed, EMBase, the Cochrane Library, CAMbase and CAM-QUEST were searched through July 2013. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing high vs. low (resp. non) phenolic olive oils in either healthy participants or patients with cardiovascular diseases were included. For study appraisal the Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool was used. Main outcomes were blood pressure, serum lipoproteins and oxidation markers. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated and analysed by the generic inverse variance methods using a random effects model. Eight cross over RCTs comparing ingestion (21–90 d) of high vs. low (resp. non) phenolic olive oils with a total of 355 subjects were included.ResultsThere were medium effects for lowering systolic blood pressure (n = 69; SMD −0.52; CI −0.77/−0.27; p < 0.01) and small effects for lowering oxLDL (n = 300; SMD −0.25; CI [−0.50/0.00]; p = 0.05). No effects were found for diastolic blood pressure (n = 69; SMD −0.20; CI −1.01/0.62; p = 0.64); malondialdehyde (n = 71; SMD −0.02; CI [−0.20/0.15]; p = 0.79), total cholesterol (n = 400; SMD −0.05; CI [−0.16/0.05]; p = 0.33); HDL (n = 400; SMD −0.03; CI [−0.14/0.08]; p = 0.62); LDL (n = 400; SMD −0.03; CI [−0.15/0.09]; p = 0.61); and triglycerides (n = 360; SMD 0.02; CI [−0.22/0.25]; p = 0.90).LimitationsThe small number of studies/participants limits this review.ConclusionsHPOO provides small beneficial effects on systolic blood pressure and serum oxidative status (oxLDL). HPOO should be considered as a nutraceutical in cardiovascular prevention.     

Survival pattern of colorectal cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Cancer incidence is relatively low in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), however, prognosis is expected to be poor in comparison with high-income countries. Comprehensive evidence is limited on the survival pattern of colorectal cancer patients in the region. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the pattern of colorectal cancer survival in the region and to identify variation across countries and over time. We searched international databases MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, ProQuest, CINAHL, and Google Scholar to retrieve studies that estimated survival from colorectal cancer in SSA countries from inception to December 31, 2021 without language restriction. Due to between-study heterogeneity, we performed a random-effects meta-analysis to pool survival rates. To identify study-level sources of variation, we performed subgroup analysis and meta-regression. Results are reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO database (CRD42021246935). 23 studies involving 10,031 patients were included in the review, of which, 20 were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results showed that the pooled 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year survival rates in SSA were 0.74 (95% CI, 0.66–0.81), 0.50 (95% CI, 0.41–0.58), 0.36 (95% CI, 0.27–0.47), 0.31 (95% CI, 0.22–0.42), and 0.28 (95% CI, 0.19–0.38) respectively. Subgroup analyses indicated that the survival rate varied according to year of study, in which those conducted in recent decades showed relatively better survival. The 5-year survival was higher in middle-income SSA countries (0.31; 95%CI: 0.17–0.49) than low-income countries (0.20; 95%CI: 0.11–0.35), however, the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, survival from colorectal cancer is low in sub-Saharan Africa compared to other regions. Thus, intervention strategies to improve screening, early diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer should be developed and implemented to improve survival in the region.     

Circulating visfatin levels and cancers risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Visfatin levels have been reported to be abnormal in many types of cancers. However, epidemiological studies yielded inconsistent results. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between circulating visfatin levels and cancer risk. A systematic search was conducted for relevant studies in health-related electronic databases up to March 2018. Data related to standard mean difference (SMD) and overall odds ratio (ORS) were collected and analyzed. Summary SMD and pooled OR with 95% CIs were calculated using a random-effect model. Funnel plot and Egger's linear regression test were conducted to examine the risk of publication bias. A total of 27 studies with 2,693 cases and 3,040 healthy controls were included in meta-analysis for pooling SMD analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed a significant higher visfatin levels in patients with various cancers than in controls, with a pooled SMD of 0.88, 95% CI = 0.56–1.20, p = 0.000. In subgroup, metaregression, Galbraith plot, and sensitivity analysis showed no substantial difference among all the analyzed factors. Data from 14 studies were also used for pooling ORs analysis. Metaresults revealed that high visfatin levels were associated with cancer risk (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.14–1.34, p = 0.000). No evidence of publication bias was observed for pooling ORs and SMD analysis. This meta-analysis indicated a significant association between high circulating visfatin levels and increased risk of various cancers. Visfatin may represent a potential biomarker for early detection of cancers who may benefit from preventive treatment.Note.     

Ethiopian women's breast cancer self-examination practices and associated factors. A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundBreast neoplasm is the most frequently diagnosed and the leading cause of cancer death in the vast majority of the countries. Breast cancer self-examination is a check-up of a woman does at home to look for changes or problems in the breast tissue. The benefit of early recognition is for early treatment that is more effective, higher long-term survival rates and better quality of life. The aim of this review was to determine the pooled prevalence of breast cancer self-examination practice and identify its associated factors among Ethiopian women.MethodsGoogle Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, web of science, and Cochrane Library were used for search of articles. This review includes thirty four articles conducted in Ethiopia between 2011 and 2020. The review contains 14,908 women to determine the ever pooled prevalence of breast cancer self-examination practice. Health workers and students made up 28.35% of the total participants. Data were extracted using a standardized data extraction format prepared in Microsoft Excel and analyzed with Stata 14. To assess heterogeneity I² test were used. A random effect meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled breast cancer self-examination (BCSE) practice of Ethiopian women. Moreover associated factors were also assessed.ResultsIn Ethiopian women, the overall ever and regular pooled breast cancer self-examination practice was 36% (95% CI: 28, 43) and 16% (95% CI: 28, 43) respectively. The ever pooled prevalence for health workers or students was 53% (95% CI: 41, 65), whereas for other participants it was 25% (95% CI: 19, 30). Good knowledge about breast self-examination (AOR: 3.69: 95% CI: 2.70, 5.05), positive attitude towards BCSE (AOR: 2.72: 95% CI: 1.74, 4.24), Getting to know people with breast cancer(AOR: 2.77: 95% CI: 1.51, 5.09), family history of breast cancer (AOR: 2.49: 95% CI: 1.60, 3.88) and personal history of breast cancer (AOR: 2.26: 95% CI: 1.70, 3.01) were associated factors to BCSE practice among Ethiopian women. All of the studies included in this review were conducted in a cross-sectional design was a limitation of this review and meta-analysis.ConclusionThis review and meta-analysis showed the ever and regular pooled prevalence of BCSE among Ethiopian women. More than one third of Ethiopian women ever practiced BCSE. We recommend that awareness creation should be perform in order to tackle the risk of breast cancer.     

Potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundToxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular and neurotropic apicomplexan protozoan parasite infecting almost all warm-blooded vertebrates including humans. To date in Ethiopia, no systematic study has been investigated on the overall effects of potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals. We intended to determine the potential risk factors (PRFs) associated with seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii from published data among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals of Ethiopia.MethodologyAn systematic review of the previous reports was made. We searched PubMed, Science Direct, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar for studies with no restriction on the year of publication. All references were screened independently in duplicate and were included if they presented data on at least two risk factors. Meta-analysis using the random or fixed-effects model was made to calculate the overall effects for each exposure.ResultsOf the 216 records identified, twenty-four reports met our eligibility criteria, with a total of 6003 individuals (4356 pregnant women and 1647 HIV infected individuals). The pooled prevalences of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were found at 72.5% (95% CI: 58.7% - 83.1%) in pregnant women and 85.7% (95% CI: 76.3% - 91.8%) in HIV infected individuals. A significant overall effect of anti-Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity among pregnant women (p < 0.05) was witnessed with age, abortion history, contact with cats, cat ownership, having knowledge about toxoplasmosis, being a housewife and having unsafe water source. Age, cat ownership, and raw meat consumption were also shown a significant effect (p < 0.05) to anti-Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity among HIV infected individuals.ConclusionsThis review showed gaps and drawbacks in the earlier studies that are useful to keep in mind to design accurate investigations in the future. The pooled prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was found to be higher among pregnant women and HIV infected individuals. This suggests that thousands of immunocompromised individuals (pregnant women and HIV infected patients) are at risk of toxoplasmosis due to the sociocultural and living standards of the communities of Ethiopia. Appropriate preventive measures are needed to reduce the exposure to Toxoplasma gondii infection. Further studies to investigate important risk factors are recommended to support the development of more cost-effective preventive strategies.     

A systematic review of African studies on intimate partner violence against pregnant women: prevalence and risk factors

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is very high in Africa. However, information obtained from the increasing number of African studies on IPV among pregnant women has not been scientifically analyzed. This paper presents a systematic review summing up the evidence from African studies on IPV prevalence and risk factors among pregnant women.

Methods

A key-word defined search of various electronic databases, specific journals and reference lists on IPV prevalence and risk factors during pregnancy resulted in 19 peer-reviewed journal articles which matched our inclusion criteria. Quantitative articles about pregnant women from Africa published in English between 2000 and 2010 were reviewed. At least two reviewers assessed each paper for quality and content. We conducted meta-analysis of prevalence data and reported odds ratios of risk factors.

Results

The prevalence of IPV during pregnancy ranges from 2% to 57% (n = 13 studies) with meta-analysis yielding an overall prevalence of 15.23% (95% CI: 14.38 to 16.08%). After adjustment for known confounders, five studies retained significant associations between HIV and IPV during pregnancy (OR1.48–3.10). Five studies demonstrated strong evidence that a history of violence is significantly associated with IPV in pregnancy and alcohol abuse by a partner also increases a woman''s chances of being abused during pregnancy (OR 2.89–11.60). Other risk factors include risky sexual behaviours, low socioeconomic status and young age.

Conclusion

The prevalence of IPV among pregnant women in Africa is one of the highest reported globally. The major risk factors included HIV infection, history of violence and alcohol and drug use. This evidence points to the importance of further research to both better understand IPV during pregnancy and feed into interventions in reproductive health services to prevent and minimize the impact of such violence.     

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of infectious diseases of Duck: A world perspective

The Indian poultry industry is one of the fast-growing sectors of which duck farming plays an important role. Duck population in India is 33.51 million that is concentrated towards north-east and southern parts of the country who rears mainly for eggs and meat. Duck diseases are of great concern as they badly affect the financial status of the small, landless farmers. Databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, J gate were used to search articles between 2000 and 2019 that showed the prevalence of viral, bacterial, and parasitic duck diseases. R open source software was used to derive forest plots by statistical analysis. Pooled prevalence estimates of duck diseases worldwide was found to be 20% (95%-CI:15–26). Also, continent-wise analysis of all duck diseases has revealed highest prevalence in North America, followed by Asia, Africa, Europe,Oceania and South America. This prevalence of data would be helpful to the policymakers to develop appropriate intervention strategies to prevent and control diseases in their respective locations.     

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection and its associated factors among primary school students in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionIntestinal parasitic infection are a major public health concern affecting both children and adolescents in Ethiopia. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine pooled prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infection in this target group.MethodWe systematically retrieved available articles on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection following database searches using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct between March 1 and May 27, 2020. Two authors independently extracted all relevant data using a standardized Microsoft Excel data extraction form. Heterogeneity among included studies was assessed with the Higgins I² tests. The pooled estimates and associated factors were assessed with a random-effects model using Stata/se Version 14.ResultWe retrieved 30 eligible articles with a pooled sample size of 14,445 primary school children with response rate of 97.8%. Entamoeba spp (16.11%), Ascaris lumbricoides (13.98%), hookworm (12.51%) and Giardia lamblia (9.98%) are the top causes of intestinal parasitic infection among primary school children in Ethiopia. The pooled prevalence for at least one intestinal parasitic infection was 46.09 (95% CI: 38.50, 53.68). Heterogeneity was assessed by doing subgroup analysis by study province/region. Thus, the highest prevalence of 66.6% (95% CI: 55.5, 77.7) occurred in Tigray region, which was followed by Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region at 50.8% (95% CI: 33.1, 68.5). No latrine availability (OR = 4.39: 2.50,7.73), no fingernail hygiene (OR = 2.37: 1.67, 3.35), open defecation (OR = 1.67:1.64,4.36), no formal maternal education (OR = 2.02: 1.18,3.47), rural residence (OR = 1.88: 1.46, 2.41), no habit of wearing shoes (OR = 2.66: 1.79, 3.96), non-pipe source of drinking water (OR = 1.99: 1.42,2.76), no regular hand washing practices (OR = 3.45:1.85,6.47), and no habit of washing fruits and vegetables (OR = 1.59:1.01,2.49) were associated with parasitic infection.ConclusionsThe prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection was high (46%). Attention should be given to promoting personal hygiene, latrine utilization, wearing shoes, avoiding eating raw food, creating awareness for those mothers who lack formal education. Moreover, future research ideally will expand on the topic by conducting research in regions which have no prior research.     

Epidemiology of yellow fever virus in humans,arthropods, and non-human primates in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Yellow fever (YF) has re-emerged in the last two decades causing several outbreaks in endemic countries and spreading to new receptive regions. This changing epidemiology of YF creates new challenges for global public health efforts. Yellow fever is caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV) that circulates between humans, the mosquito vector, and non-human primates (NHP). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we review and analyse data on the case fatality rate (CFR) and prevalence of YFV in humans, and on the prevalence of YFV in arthropods, and NHP in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We performed a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, African Journal Online, and African Index Medicus databases. We included studies reporting data on the CFR and/or prevalence of YFV. Extracted data was verified and analysed using the random effect meta-analysis. We conducted subgroup, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias analyses using the random effect meta-analysis while I² statistic was employed to determine heterogeneity. This review was registered with PROSPERO under the identification CRD42021242444. The final meta-analysis included 55 studies. The overall case fatality rate due to YFV was 31.1% (18.3–45.4) in humans and pooled prevalence of YFV infection was 9.4% (6.9–12.2) in humans. Only five studies in West and East Africa detected the YFV in mosquito species of the genus Aedes and in Anopheles funestus. In NHP, YFV antibodies were found only in members of the Cercopithecidae family. Our analysis provides evidence on the ongoing circulation of the YFV in humans, Aedes mosquitoes and NHP in SSA. These observations highlight the ongoing transmission of the YFV and its potential to cause large outbreaks in SSA. As such, strategies such as those proposed by the WHO’s Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) initiative are urgently needed to control and prevent yellow fever outbreaks in SSA.