Baobab Index

This study aims to examine current global renal biopsy pre-analytic and analytic variability according to country income status. Technology access, pathologist workforce, and case volume variations are evaluated and organized by country income status. The study identifies gaps in technology access and guideline variations. The Renal Pathology Society membership was surveyed for general practice variables, tissue preparation, and processing for light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy between Aug 24, 2021, and Oct 22, 2021, with 66 questions. Respondent countries were stratified by income status using the World Bank classification. 126 members responded representing 47% North America, 26% Asia, 19% Europe, 4% South America, 3% Central America, 1% Australia, and 1% Africa. The majority process 500-1000, predominantly native kidney biopsies annually. Respondents from low-middle and upper-middle income status countries reported greater biopsies and fewer nephropathologists. There is significant variation in tissue processing and pathologic evaluation that further depended on country income status. Paraffin immunofluorescence is not widely available nor are THSD7A, collagen IV, and DNAJB9 immunostains. Electron microscopy is routine in ∼50% of biopsies. Based on country income status, there are major gaps in access to various technologies including electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, and genetic testing. Improved access to adequate resources is needed to standardize global renal biopsy practice. These data reveal many potential sources of variability across all processing phases and microscopic techniques. Further study is needed to understand the impact on renal pathology practice and diagnostics worldwide.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most prevalent cancer in Somalia and constitutes a major public health concern in the Horn of Africa. Despite its high incidence, the molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC are not well characterized. This scoping review synthesizes published data on TP53 mutations, environmental and lifestyle risk factors, and the epidemiology of ESCC to identify knowledge gaps and guide future research. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guideline and the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. A structured search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. ESCC was consistently identified as the leading cancer, representing up to one-third of all malignancies in Somali and neighbouring populations, with most cases diagnosed at advanced stages. Molecular evidence was limited; no sequencing-based studies from Somalia were identified. However, immunohistochemical data indicated p53 overexpression in approximately 60-70% of ESCC cases, suggesting frequent TP53 pathway disruption. Regional studies reported TP53 mutation rates of 50-70%, lower than the 90% observed in high-incidence Asian populations. Key environmental exposures, including khat chewing, co-exposure to aflatoxin and fumonisin, biomass fuel smoke, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and consumption of very hot beverages, were strongly associated with increased ESCC risk. This review demonstrates a substantial but poorly characterized burden of ESCC in the Horn of Africa, driven by distinct environmental and cultural exposures. Frequent TP53 pathway disruption is evident, yet genomic data remain scarce. Integrating exposure assessment with molecular profiling and enhancing food safety, clean cooking practices, and culturally tailored prevention strategies are essential to reduce ESCC incidence in the region.

The recent Lancet Commission on Nigeria's health system highlighted high out of pocket expenditures on health and underfunding of the public health sector as major obstacles to Nigeria's achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Nigeria has sought to address these gaps by extending health insurance coverage. This paper measures health insurance coverage and access to care in Nigeria in 2023, using the first round of the People's Voice Survey. We analyze health insurance coverage by calculating coverage rates and using multivariate logistic regression to estimate associations between insurance coverage, socioeconomic characteristics, and health system utilization. In 2023, 2% of Nigerians had insurance from the National Health Insurance Scheme. Education and income were the most consistent predictors of insurance coverage. Chronic illness and self-reported health were not associated with insurance status. Respondents with insurance were less likely to use public sector primary care providers as their usual source of care, and were more likely to use private hospitals. Those with insurance were also more likely to have had an inpatient hospitalization in the preceding year, and more likely to have received key preventive screenings. While those with insurance receive more and better care in Nigeria, insurance access has been limited to relatively advantaged population groups. Mobile phone-based monitoring platforms such as the People's Voice Survey could help policymakers in Nigeria track insurance coverage, and whether it contributes to reversal of these trends over time.

Genetic variation at the leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) locus is associated with tuberculosis (TB) severity and outcome. Here, we define a unique population of peripheral fibroblasts at the mycobacterial granuloma, the central immune structure in TB, whose recruitment and functions are coordinated by lta4h-dependent signals. Using single-cell profiling of zebrafish mycobacterial infections, we identify a layer of lta4h-dependent recruited fibroblasts at the granuloma's edge with mesenchymal and stem-like expression signatures, including aldh1a3 expression. Ablation of these cells compromises bacterial containment at the structure's periphery. Similarly, genetic disruption of apolipoprotein D, produced specifically in granuloma-associated fibroblasts, results in an altered eicosanoid balance, decreased inflammation, and increased dissemination of infection. In humans, this granuloma-associated fibroblast population is distinct from myofibroblasts, interacts with LTA4H-expressing macrophages, and is prominent across diverse TB granuloma types. These results link a host genetic susceptibility locus to the recruitment and function of a specialized fibroblast population that limits bacterial dissemination.

Methicillin-resistant Phenotypic identification of mupR-MRSA strains was verified by molecular methods. Characterization of all strains included PCR detection of Panton-Valentine leucocidin, immune evasion cluster genes, and staphylococcal protein A typing. Representative strains from each spa type were selected for whole-genome sequencing to determine their clonal lineages and relationships, including antibiotic and virulence gene content. Comparative analysis, phylogeny and classification of Eighty-two mupR-MRSA were characterized, comprising 32 strains that exhibited high-level mupirocin resistance (HmupR) and 50 strains with low-level mupirocin resistance (LmupR). The plasmid-mediated This study highlights the genetic diversity and potential for horizontal gene transfer among

Circulating bat coronaviruses present a significant pandemic threat, yet our understanding of their genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics remains limited. Over 3 years, we sampled 1,462 bats in Cambodia's Steung Treng province, identifying extensive and diverse coronaviruses co-circulation. Using metatranscriptomic and amplicon sequencing, we generated 33 complete sarbecovirus genomes sequences, revealing novel lineages that cluster into four distinct groups, each associated with different Rhinolophus bat species. Our analysis highlights rapid migration and recombination of sarbecovirus lineages over short distances and timescales. Of note, the receptor-binding domains of two novel viral groups exhibit high similarity to SARS-CoV-2, and pseudovirus assays confirmed the ability of this spike protein to mediate entry into cells expressing human ACE2, suggesting a potential zoonotic risk. The observed genetic diversity underscores the urgent need for continuous surveillance to identify high-risk animal-to-human interfaces and inform pandemic preparedness.

Severe tuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of critical illness and death in people living with HIV (PLWH) worldwide. Despite this, the immunopathology of severe HIV-associated TB (HIV/TB) is poorly understood. We aimed to identify an immunopathologic signature of severe HIV/TB in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed proteomic data from two prospective observational cohorts of adults hospitalized with severe undifferentiated infection in Uganda: an urban discovery cohort (Entebbe, n = 241) and a rural validation cohort (Tororo, n = 253). Adults (age ≥ 18 yr) hospitalized with severe febrile illness. None. Across both cohorts, severe HIV/TB was common, affecting 18% of participants in the discovery cohort and 21% in the validation cohort. Overall mortality was significant (30-d mortality of 22% in the discovery cohort and 60-d mortality of 26% in the validation cohort). Participants were stratified into three HIV/TB phenotypes: HIV-negative without TB, PLWH without TB, and PLWH with microbiologically diagnosed TB. We applied ordinal random forest models in the discovery cohort as a supervised feature-selection approach to identify proteins associated with progressive HIV/TB phenotype. In both cohorts, PLWH with microbiologically diagnosed TB were at highest risk of critical illness and death (30-d mortality of 42% in the discovery cohort and 60-d mortality of 52% in the validation cohort). An eight-protein signature reliably distinguished this phenotype, reflecting mediators of macrophage/dendritic cell activation (lysosome-associated membrane glycoprotein 3), natural killer cell and T-cell stimulation and cytotoxicity (cluster of differentiation 70, class I-restricted T-cell-associated molecule), B-cell activation (immunoglobulin lambda constant 2), protease-mediated tissue injury (protease, serine 2 [trypsin-2]), dysregulated coagulation (serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade A [alpha-1 antitrypsin], member 5), extracellular matrix remodeling (epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1), and growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis dysregulation (insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3). We identified an immunologic signature of severe HIV/TB defined by mediators of macrophage/dendritic cell and cytotoxic lymphocyte activation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and dysregulated coagulation. These findings offer new insight into HIV/TB pathobiology and highlight potential targets for host-directed therapies in this high-risk population.

Ovarian cancer (OVCA) remains one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, primarily due to late-stage diagnosis and the lack of reliable early-detection biomarkers. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising non-invasive biomarkers for cancer detection and prognosis. This study aimed to computationally identify circulating miRNAs associated with early-stage OVCA using publicly available datasets and bioinformatics workflows. Differential expression analysis was performed on miRNA-Seq datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Functional enrichment analysis and pathway annotation were performed using miEAA and PANTHER. A random forest-based machine-learning model was developed and optimized for miRNA biomarker classification. Differential expression analysis revealed distinct miRNA signatures between OVCA and other cancer types (BRCA, CESC, UCEC, and COAD), as well as between OVCA and control samples. Stage-specific analysis identified key miRNAs, including This study identifies a panel of circulating miRNAs with significant diagnostic potential for early-stage OVCA. Integration of these miRNAs into clinical workflows could enhance early detection and improve patient outcomes. Further validation using independent cohorts is warranted.

Reporter-expressing recombinant influenza A viruses (IAVs) have emerged as powerful tools for studying viral infection, host-pathogen interactions, and the identification and characterization of prophylactic and/or therapeutic countermeasures for the treatment of IAV infections. By incorporating a reporter gene, such as fluorescent, recombinase, or luciferase proteins, into the viral genome, these genetically engineered recombinant IAVs enable real-time visualization and quantification of infection

Despite the wealth of artworks from ancient Egypt in collections worldwide, the number of analytical studies on the organic media used in paints and adhesives is limited, especially because microsamples are often required. In this study, we used mass spectrometry-based proteomics to confidently identify the species and tissues of origin of proteinaceous materials in painted ancient Egyptian artifacts from several collections dating 1425 BCE to 400 CE. Proteomics confirmed the use of glue prepared from the collagen of multiple animals and revealed the presence of plant proteins, including sesame and moringa products, previously undocumented in ancient Egyptian artworks. This prompts additional discussions about the origins of these materials, their symbolic and religious meaning in connection with deities, and their value within the artistic, cultural, and economic contexts of ancient Egypt. Our study demonstrates that combining paleoproteomics results with other analytical methods, archaeological evidence, and textual sources sheds light on expected and more unconventional organic materials in painted artworks from ancient Egypt.