http://192.168.40.123:8080/handle/123456789/6 Tue, 10 Nov 2026 06:28:39 GMT 2026-11-10T06:28:39Z http://192.168.40.123:8080/handle/123456789/18440 Emerging flu-like illnesses and Disease X in Africa with insights into therapeutic strategies and pandemic preparedness Parvez, Anwar; Islam, Md. Tarakul; Zaman, Rukaiya; Hasan, Md Hasibul; Mim, Nusrat Jahan; Hasan, Md Mahmudul; Sultana, Sharifa; Biswas, Shanto; Biswas, Partha Public health systems throughout Africa continue to face challenges from emerging and re-emerging flu-like infections, where the risk of major epidemics is increased by inadequate surveillance infrastructure, insufficient diagnostic capacity, and available treatment. Zoonotic disease is a highly infectious illness, can generally be transmitted from animals to humans and impacts millions of individuals worldwide, resulting in significant morbidity, mortality, and economic repercussions. To address this gap, we sought available information on zoonotic and flu-like infections in Africa and consolidated the data into a comprehensive summary utilizing suitable methodologies. Global attention has been focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) susceptibility to new respiratory viruses of zoonotic origin since the enigmatic "Disease X" recently surfaced there. This review summarizes the most recent data on the etiological agents, clinical characteristics, epidemiology, and management approaches of flu-like illnesses in Africa, with a focus on Disease X as a pandemic preparedness model. By contrasting well-known respiratory illnesses, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19, it highlights connections in transmission patterns and diagnostic difficulties. Emerging therapy strategies, diagnostic technology, and the possible use of natural substances to treat such infections are also included in the review. The findings of the study emphasize how environmental variables, zoonotic spillovers, and a lack of proper healthcare infrastructure combine to make Africa more susceptible to respiratory epidemics. Strengthening integrated disease surveillance, increasing access to rapid molecular diagnostics, speeding up vaccination development, and investigating phytochemical-based therapies as supplementary approaches are likely remedies. This article offers a forward-looking strategy for strengthening Africa’s health systems, informing evidence-based interventions, and increasing its readiness for emerging infectious diseases and future pandemics by combining these findings. Review Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT http://192.168.40.123:8080/handle/123456789/18440 2026-02-02T00:00:00Z http://192.168.40.123:8080/handle/123456789/18439 The diagnostic performance of International Ovarian Tumor Analysis: Simple Rules for diagnosing ovarian tumors—a systematic review and meta-analysis Gareeballah, Awadia; Gameraddin, Moawia; Abdulwadoud Alshoabi, Sultan; Alsaedi, Amirah; Elzaki, Maisa; Alsharif, Walaa; Mohamed Daoud, Ibrahim; Aldahery, Shrooq; Alelyani, Magbool; AbdElrahim, Elrashed; H Alhazmi, Fahad; Y Hamd, Zuhal; Ahmed Abouraida, Raga; Uddin Khandaker, Mayeen; Adam, Mohamed Introduction Adnexal masses are a common health issue in gynecology; the challenge lies in the differential diagnosis of these masses. The International Ovarian Tumor Analysis Simple Rules (IOTA-SR) offers the first scoring system to aid in diagnosis. It is based on a set of five ultrasound imaging features indicative of a malignant ovarian tumor and five features indicative of a benign tumor. This review aims to assess the diagnostic performance of IOTA-SR for classifying ovarian tumors as benign or malignant. Methods A systematic review was conducted on MEDLINE, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. The terminologies “IOTA-SR”, “adnexal, mass”, and “ovarian tumors scoring” were employed. Twenty-seven research articles conducted from 2008 to 2022 were included in the meta-analysis; the publication outcome indicates that performance quality tests were extracted directly or indirectly, including true positive (TP), false positive (FP), true negative (TN), and false negative (FN). The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) was used to evaluate the study quality and estimate the risk of bias. After estimating the pooled effect of the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was estimated using the bivariate random effects model. Utilizing Cochran’s Q statistics and Higgins’s inconsistency test through the I2 index for pooled analysis, the heterogeneity of studies was quantitatively evaluated. The funnel plot and Egger’s test were utilized to visually and quantitatively evaluate potential publication bias. Results Among 27 studies, including 7,841 adnexal masses, the results of this meta-analysis showed excellent diagnostic performance with a pooled sensitivity of 92% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.89–0.94] and a pooled specificity of 92% (95% CI, 0.89–0.94). The IOTA-SR was applicable in 85.7% of adnexal masses. Conclusion The IOTA-SR is highly effective in the presurgical differentiation of malignant versus benign adnexal masses when applied by an expert ultrasonography operator. Review Mon, 20 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://192.168.40.123:8080/handle/123456789/18439 2025-01-20T00:00:00Z http://192.168.40.123:8080/handle/123456789/18437 Targeting Neurological Disorders with Stilbenes: Bridging the Preclinical-Clinical Gap Alam Begh, Md. Zamshed; Khan, Jishan; Zehravi, Mehrukh; Sweilam, Sherouk Hussein; Raja, A. Dinesh; Muthukumar, A.; Haque, M Akiful; Ranjan Kar, Nihar Neurological disorders (NDs) encompass a range of debilitating conditions that affect the nervous system, including prevalent illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic stroke. Despite significant ongoing studies, effective therapeutic strategies to halt or slow down the progression of these illnesses are still lacking. Stilbenes, a class of natural polyphenols, have shown potential as candidates for therapeutic strategies due to their capacity to protect the nervous system. Preclinical studies have provided strong evidence that stilbenes can regulate many cellular pathways implicated in neurodegeneration, with resveratrol being a well-studied compound that has shown the ability to reduce oxidative damage, promote neurogenesis, and enhance mitochondrial function - crucial for maintaining brain health. In preclinical animal models, initial research has also shown promise in additional substances such as piceatannol and pterostilbene. Furthermore, clinical studies have explored the therapeutic benefits of stilbenes in NDs. Despite promising results in preclinical research, the use of stilbenes in clinical trials is currently limited, with most studies focusing on resveratrol. Although several clinical studies have demonstrated the beneficial impact of resveratrol supplementation on brain health and degenerative consequences, other investigations have yielded ambiguous findings, underscoring the urgent need for more comprehensive and precisely planned clinical research. This study delves into the potential benefits of stilbenes as neuroprotective agents for NDs. It emphasizes the need for more clinical research to enhance our understanding of their therapeutic effectiveness in specific patient groups. Review Mon, 07 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://192.168.40.123:8080/handle/123456789/18437 2024-10-07T00:00:00Z http://192.168.40.123:8080/handle/123456789/18436 Targeted therapeutic management based on phytoconstituents for sickle cell anemia focusing on molecular mechanisms: Current trends and future perspectives Rezaul Islam, Md.; Rauf, Abdur; Akash, Shopnil; Sharker, Muntasir; Mahreen, Mashiat; Munira, Most Ayesha Khatun; Dhar, Puja Sutro; A. Hemeg, Hassan; Iriti, Marcello; Imran, Muhammad The global epidemic of Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is causing thousands of children to die. SCA, a genetic disorder affecting the hemoglobin-globin chain, affects millions globally. The primary physiological issue in these patients is the polymerization of sickle hemoglobin within their red blood cells (RBCs) during their deoxygenating state. The RBC undergoes a sickle shape due to the polymerization of mutant hemoglobin within it and membrane deformation during anoxic conditions. To prevent complications, it is essential to effectively stop the sickling of RBCs of the patients. Various medications have been studied for treating SCA patients, focusing on antisickling, γ-globulin induction, and antiplatelet action. Natural and synthetic anti-sickling agents can potentially reduce patient clinical morbidity. Numerous clinical trials focused on using natural remedies for the symptomatic therapy of SCA. Medicinal plants and phytochemical agents have antisickling properties. Recent studies on plant extracts' natural compounds have primarily focused on in vitro RBCs sickling studies, with limited data on in vivo studies. This review discussed the potential role of phytoconstituents in the management of SCA. Review Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://192.168.40.123:8080/handle/123456789/18436 2024-10-24T00:00:00Z