NTRK Therapy among Different Types of Cancers, Review and Future Perspectives.

Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) has been a remarkable therapeutic target for treating different malignancies, playing an essential role in oncogenic signaling pathways. Groundbreaking trials like NAVIGATE led to the approval of NTRK inhibitors by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat different malignancies, significantly impacting current oncology treatment. Accurate detection of NTRK gene fusion becomes very important for possible targeted therapy. Various methods to detect NTRK gene fusion have been applied widely based on sensitivity, specificity, and accessibility. The utility of different tests in clinical practice is discussed in this study by providing insights into their effectiveness in targeting patients who may benefit from therapy. Widespread use of NTRK inhibitors in different malignancies could remain limited due to resistance mechanisms that cause challenges to medication efficacy in addition to common side effects of the medications. This review provides a succinct overview of the application of NTRK inhibitors in various types of cancer by emphasizing the critical clinical significance of NTRK fusion gene detection. The discussion also provides a solid foundation for understanding the current challenges and potential changes for improving the efficacy of NTRK inhibitor therapy to treat different malignancies.

The role of FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in human autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg ) expressing the forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) transcription factor (Tregs ) are instrumental for the prevention of autoimmune diseases. There is increasing evidence that the human T regulatory population is highly heterogeneous in phenotype and function. Numerous studies conducted in human autoimmune diseases have shown that Treg cells are impaired either in their suppressive function, in number, or both. However, the contribution of the FOXP3+ Treg subpopulations to the development of autoimmunity has not been delineated in detail. Rare genetic disorders that involve deficits in Treg function can be studied to develop a global idea of the impact of partial or complete deficiency in a specific molecular mechanism involved in Treg function. In patients with reduced Treg numbers (but no functional deficiency), the expansion of autologous Treg cells could be a suitable therapeutic approach: either infusion of in-vitro autologous expanded cells, infusion of interleukin (IL)-2/anti-IL-2 complex, or both. Treg biology-based therapies may not be suitable in patients with deficits of Treg function, unless their deficit can be corrected in vivo/in vitro. Finally, it is critical to consider the appropriate stage of autoimmune diseases at which administration of Treg cellular therapy can be most effective. We discuss conflicting data regarding whether Treg cells are more effectual at preventing the initiation of autoimmunity, ameliorating disease progression or curing autoimmunity itself.

Metformin Hydrochloride and Sitagliptin Phosphate Fixed-Dose Combination Product Prepared Using Melt Granulation Continuous Processing Technology.

The development of oral solid dosage forms, such as tablets that contain a high dose of drug(s), requires polymers and other additives to be incorporated at low levels as possible, to keep the final tablet weight low, and, correspondingly, the dosage form size small enough to be acceptable from a patient perspective. Additionally, a multi-step batch-based manufacturing process is usually required for production of solid dosage forms. This study presents the development and production, by twin-screw melt granulation technology, of a high-dose immediate-release fixed-dose combination (FDC) product of metformin hydrochloride (MET) and sitagliptin phosphate (SIT), with drug loads of 80% w/w and 6% w/w, respectively. For an 850/63 mg dose of MET/SIT, the final weight of the caplets was approximately 1063 mg compared with 1143 mg for the equivalent dose in Janumet®, the marketed product. Mixtures of the two drugs and polymers were melt-granulated at temperatures below the individual melting temperatures of MET and SIT (231.65 and 213.89°C, respectively) but above the glass transition temperature or melting temperature of the binder(s) used. By careful selection of binders, and processing conditions, direct compressed immediate-release caplets with desired product profiles were successfully produced. The melt granule formulations before compression showed good flow properties, were larger in particle size than individual starting API materials and were easily compressible. Melt granulation is a suitable platform for developing direct compressible high-dose immediate-release solid dosage forms of FDC products.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of HIV, HBV and HCV infection prevalence in Sudan.

Viral hepatitis constitutes a global health problem; previous studies have affirmed a considerable morbidity and mortality from both acute infections and chronic complications. On the other hand, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is also of known burden. Determining prevalence measures of these viruses is crucial for establishing appropriate country specific strategies regarding prevention, diagnosis, and containment. This systematic review was aimed to provide pooled seroprevalence estimates of the three viruses in Sudan. Structured review of the literature was conducted to obtain relevant studies published in both national and international databases. After assessment of quality and bias in all proposed studies, 57 prevalence studies were included. Meta-analysis was conducted for all studies and subgroup analysis was also approached. The total sample size of participants in included studies providing HIV antibodies prevalence was 15,479. Based on information retrieved from these studies, HIV prevalence ranged from 0 to 18.3% among different study populations. However, pooled prevalence estimate for HIV antibodies was 1%. Kassala, Eastern Sudan was the most endemic State (4.18%). The HBV reported seroprevalence rates ranged from 5.1 up to 26.81% among different populations and the overall pooled prevalence was 12.07%. For HCV antibodies; 2.74% was determined to be the pooled prevalence. Khartoum State was the most endemic State of both HBV and HCV with seroprevalence of 12.69% and 6.78%, respectively.Based on data reviewed and synthesized; there is no evidence for an HIV endemic in the general population of Sudan. However, both HBV and HCV seroprevalence rates are indicating otherwise. Reducing the overall burden of HIV, HBV and HCV infections will require new measures and national strategies and the recognition of the infections as one of the country's priority issues.

Femoral shortening osteotomy in total hip arthroplasty for severe dysplasia: a comparison of two fixation techniques.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare two distinct fixation methods for a total hip replacement performed via transverse femoral shortening osteotomy for patients with severe hip dysplasia. METHODS: In this retrospective study we compared two fixation methods for total hip replacement of 78 hips in 76 patients exhibiting Crowe type IV developmental hip dysplasia (DDH). The hip replacements were performed via a transverse femoral shortening osteotomy and carried out between September 2009 and December 2013. Group I patients underwent fixation of the shortened femoral segment via a cable attached to the osteotomied segment, and group II patients underwent fixation with a plate and screw. We compared the two techniques based on operating time, osteotomy site union time, Harris hip score, hip loosening signs, and overall clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The mean operating time for groups I and II was determined to be 116.5 ± 12.8 min and 137.7 ± 14 min, respectively (p < 0.05), while the average union time was 113 ± 51 days for group I and 152 ± 37 days for group II (p < 0.05). Fixation of the femur with a cable (group I) is therefore faster and results in more rapid union time when compared to plate osteosynthesis at the osteotomy site (group II). We observed only one non-union in group I compared with three in group II (p = 0.49). Harris hip scores at the final patient follow-up were 82.8 ± 7.8 and 80.8 ± 6.7 for groups I and II, respectively (p = 0.23). Thus, notably no significant differences were observed between the groups with regard to clinical outcomes such as the Harris hip score or loosening of the replacement components. CONCLUSION: Fixation of the removed femoral segment with a cable provided adequate rotational stability and decreased the operating time, leading to early union at the osteotomy site.

Anticancer activities of selected species of North American lichen extracts.

Cancer is the second leading cause of human deaths in the USA. Despite continuous efforts to treat cancer over the past 50 years, human mortality rates have not decreased significantly. Natural products, such as lichens, have been good sources of anticancer drugs. This study reports the cytotoxic activity of crude extracts of 17 lichen species against Burkitt's lymphoma (Raji) cells. Out of the 17 lichen species, extracts from 14 species showed cytotoxicity against Raji cells. On the basis of IC50 values, we selected Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa and Tuckermannopsis ciliaris to study the mechanism of cell death. Viability of normal lymphocytes was not affected by the extracts of X. chlorochroa and T. ciliaris. We found that extracts from both lichens decreased proliferation, accumulated cells at the G0 /G1 stage, and caused apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Both lichen extracts also caused upregulation of p53. The T. ciliaris extract upregulated the expression of TK1 but X. chlorochroa did not. We also found that usnic, salazinic, constictic, and norstictic acids were present in the extract of X. chlorochroa, whereas protolichesterinic acid in T. ciliaris extracts. Our data demonstrate that lichen extracts merit further research as a potential source of anticancer drugs.

Duration of treatment in pulmonary tuberculosis: are international guidelines on the management of tuberculosis missing something?

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence of an association between tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes and the performance of national tuberculosis programmes (NTP), no study to date has rigorously documented the duration of treatment among TB patients. As such, this study was conducted to report the durations of the intensive and continuation phases of TB treatment and their predictors among new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients in Malaysia. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive, non-experimental, follow-up cohort study. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Chest Clinic of Penang General Hospital between March 2010 and February 2011. The medical records and TB notification forms of all new smear-positive PTB patients, diagnosed during the study period, were reviewed to obtain sociodemographic and clinical data. Based on standard guidelines, the normal benchmarks for the durations of the intensive and continuation phases of PTB treatment were taken as two and four months, respectively. A patient in whom the clinicians decided to extend the intensive phase of treatment by ≥2 weeks was categorized as a case with a prolonged intensive phase. The same criterion applied for the continuation phase. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to find independent factors associated with the duration of TB treatment. Data were analyzed using Predictive Analysis Software Version 19.0. RESULTS: Of the 336 patients included in this study, 261 completed the intensive phase of treatment, and 226 completed the continuation phase of treatment. The mean duration of TB treatment (n = 226) was 8.19 (standard deviation 1.65) months. Half (49.4%, 129/261) of the patients completed the intensive phase of treatment in two months, whereas only 37.6% (85/226) of the patients completed the continuation phase of treatment in four months. On multiple logistic regression analysis, being a smoker, being underweight and having a history of cough for ≥4 weeks at TB diagnosis were found to be predictive of a prolonged intensive phase of treatment. Diabetes mellitus and the presence of lung cavities at the start of treatment were the only predictors found for a prolonged continuation phase of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The average durations of the intensive and continuation phases of treatment among PTB patients were longer than the targets recommended by the World Health Organization. As there are no internationally agreed criteria, it was not possible to judge how well the Malaysian NTP performed in terms of managing treatment duration among PTB patients.

Incidence and predictors of surgical site infection in a general surgery department in Algeria.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the epidemiology of surgical site infection (SSI) in Algeria. To determine the incidence and predictors of SSI in the 70-bed general surgery department at the Blida University Hospital, a 1-year prospective study (May 2006 to April 2007) was conducted. METHODS: SSIs were classified according to the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System criteria and identified by bedside surveillance and post-discharge follow-up. Predictors were identified using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of 593 surgical procedures, 32 SSIs were identified (5.4%). Twenty-eight (43.8%) of the infections were diagnosed after discharge. The incidence of SSIs varied by procedure and risk category. On multivariate regression analysis, age (OR=1.35) and NNIS risk index (OR=3.02) were significant predictors of SSI. The causative pathogens were isolated in 12 (37.5%) of the 32 recorded SSIs. Staphylococcus aureus was predominant (n=5). CONCLUSION: The high SSI rates reported in this study suggest the need to implement preventive measures in the surgery department. Potential areas for intervention include antibiotic prophylaxis and shaving practices for skin preparation.

Algerian medical teachers' research output and its determinants during the 2000-2009 decade.

BACKGROUND: Publications are the primary output of scientific research. We conducted a national study to quantify Algerian medical teachers' research output and identify its determinants during the 2000-2009 decade. METHODS: The American Medline database and the French Pascal database were used. A publication was eligible only if the lead author was an Algerian medical teacher (in medicine, pharmacy, or dentistry) working in Algeria. The same questionnaire was completed by cases (teachers who were first authors of an original article during the study period) and randomly selected controls. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to research output. RESULTS: A total of 79 original articles (42.2% of publications) were retrieved, a quarter of which were listed in Pascal alone. The publication rate was 2.6 original articles per 1000 teachers per year. The journals that published these original articles had a median impact factor of 0.83. The ability to publish an original article was 4.3 times higher if the teacher had undergone training in biostatistics and/or epidemiology (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=4.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.79-10.38). A promotion evaluation grid that did not encourage writing (aOR=3.44, 95% CI: 1.42-8.33), a doctoral thesis, seniority, foreign collaboration, and English language proficiency were found to be associated with publication output. CONCLUSIONS: Algerian medical teachers' research output was particularly low. Replacing the current promotion grid with a grid that promotes writing, developing abilities to read and write articles and developing English language proficiency are likely to improve this situation.

In situ decorated pd NPs on Triazin-encapsulated Fe3O4/SiO2-NH2 as magnetic catalyst for the synthesis of diaryl ethers and oxidation of sulfides.

This article is devoted to the synthesis of a new magnetic palladium catalyst that has been immobilized on A-TT-Pd coated-magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Such surface functionalization of magnetic particles is a promising method to bridge the gap between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis approaches. The structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties of the particles were characterized through different analytical techniques, including TEM, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDS, TGA-DTG, ICP, and VSM techniques. The obtained Fe3O4@SiO2@A-TT-Pd performance can show excellent catalytic activity for the synthesis of diaryl ethers and oxidation of sulfides, and the corresponding products were obtained with high yields. The advantages of this catalyst include a simple test method, green reaction conditions, no use of dangerous solvents, short reaction time, low catalyst loading, and reusability. Also, the nanocatalyst was easily separated from the reaction mixture with the help of a bar magnet and recovered and reused several times without loss of stability and activity.

Crystalline engineering of FAPbI3 via pyrrolidinium ionic liquid for stable perovskite solar cells with 21.72% efficiency.

Improving the crystallinity of formamidinium triiodide (FAPbI3) perovskite layer is one of the most effective approaches to increase the photovoltaic performance and stability of FAPbI3-based solar cells (FSCs). In the current study, FAPbI3 layers were fabricated through a sequential deposition method. The morphology and crystalline properties of the FAPbI3 layers were modified by controlling the lead iodide (PbI2) precursor by adding pyrrolidinium (Pyr) material into the PbI2 layer and modulating the FAPbI3 crystallization. The Pyr contributed to obtain (001)-preferred FAPbI3 orientation with no yellow photo-inactive phase. Subsequently, it reduced the unreacted PbI2 phase in the perovskite layer and suppressed the defect density, resulting in extended carrier lifetimes and improved ambient air and illumination stabilities. The Pyr-mediated FSCs recorded a champion efficiency of 21.72%, which is higher than that of control FSCs with a maximum efficiency of 19.08%. The developed Pyr-mediated method offers a practical and effective approach to fabricate stable and efficient FSCs.

Enhancement in the dielectric and magnetic properties of Ni2+-Cu2+ co-doped BaFe11Cu1-xNixO19 hexaferrites (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0).

Herein, Ni2+-Cu2+ co-doped barium hexaferrites (BaFe11Cu1-xNixO19, 0.0 ≤ x≤ 1.0 with an interval of 0.25) were successfully synthesized using a co-precipitation method. The formation of a magnetoplumbite structure with the P63/mmc space group was confirmed by Rietveld refinement of the obtained X-ray diffraction patterns. Microstructural investigations revealed grains in the shape of hexagonal plates, while co-doping resulted in a variation in the grain sizes of the prepared samples. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was performed to determine the valence state of iron in the prepared hexaferrites. Impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed that dielectric permittivity initially decreased with an increase in the co-dopant content up to x = 0.5 and then increased by two orders of magnitude for x = 1.0. Alternatively, resistive properties showed microstructural resistance values in the range 105-108 Ω, with the highest value obtained for the sample with x = 0.5. Furthermore, magnetic measurements indicated that all the prepared samples exhibited ferrimagnetic behaviour. Saturation magnetization and magnetic anisotropy values were found to be the highest for the sample with x = 1.0, which also had the lowest coercivity among the prepared samples. Herein, the observed variations in the obtained results can be explained by the variations in grain sizes and the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio associated with the preferential occupation of co-dopants at octahedral sites. Based on our findings, the BaFe11Ni1O19 (x = 1.0) composition appears to be the most promising choice as a microwave absorption material among the prepared samples owing to the coexistence of high dielectric permittivity (>103 at 107 Hz) and saturation magnetization (73 emu g-1).

A novel BiOBr/rGO photocatalysts for degradation of organic and antibiotic pollutants under visible light irradiation: Tetracycline degradation pathways, kinetics, and mechanism insight.

In this study, the BiOBr/rGO nanocomposite photocatalysts are fabricated by a facile solvothermal method. The BiOBr growth on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheet could improve BiOBr's photocatalytic activity by increasing its adsorption ability, surface area, and charge carriers' separation efficiency. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, Raman, FESEM, EDS, XPS, and UV-visible DRS. The BiOBr/rGO (BRG) nanocomposites showed improved photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye and Tetracycline (TC) under visible light irradiation. Rhodamine B and tetracycline degradation efficiency were about 96% and 73% within 120 min under visible light irradiation. The PL analysis indicates that BiOBr/rGO nanocomposite exhibited maximum separation efficiency of photoinduced charge carriers. The trapping test confirmed that O2- and h+ are significant active photodegradation species. The GC-MS spectra detected the two plausible transformation routes of tetracycline degradation. The current work presented a low-cost and facile approach for fabricating Bi-based composites.

Numerical simulation of a fractional stochastic delay differential equations using spectral scheme: a comprehensive stability analysis.

The fractional stochastic delay differential equation (FSDDE) is a powerful mathematical tool for modeling complex systems that exhibit both fractional order dynamics and stochasticity with time delays. The purpose of this study is to explore the stability analysis of a system of FSDDEs. Our study emphasizes the interaction between fractional calculus, stochasticity, and time delays in understanding the stability of such systems. Analyzing the moments of the system's solutions, we investigate stochasticity's influence on FSDDS. The article provides practical insight into solving FSDDS efficiently using various numerical techniques. Additionally, this research focuses both on asymptotic as well as Lyapunov stability of FSDDS. The local stability conditions are clearly presented and also the effects of a fractional orders with delay on the stability properties are examine. Through a comprehensive test of a stability criteria, practical examples and numerical simulations we demonstrate the complexity and challenges concern with the analyzing FSDDEs.

Bayesian control chart using variable sample size with engineering applications.

In this study, we suggested an innovative approach by introducing an Adaptive Exponential Weighted Moving Average (AEWMA) control chart utilizing Variable Sample Size (VSS) under Bayesian methodology. The proposed methodology utilized an integer linear function to dynamically adjust sample sizes according to the AEWMA statistic. Another appealing feature of our adaptive framework is the integration of the smoothing constant of an EWMA chart, which enhances monitoring responsiveness. We reveal the superiority of our recommended control chart by extensive simulations to existing Bayesian EWMA and Bayesian AEWMA control charts using Fixed sample size (FSS). The offered Bayesian VAEWMA control chart is more sensitive to detection improvement, a decrease in the false alarm rate, and overall more effective than the existing methods. These findings provide additional justification for the basic notion that process control statistical tools needed to be dynamic, as the manufacturing process itself was dynamic. The results suggest the importance of introducing adaptive SPC methods in dynamic manufacturing environments. A real data application is performed to evaluate the validity and optimal performance of our recommended chart."Please check article if captured correctly."="Dear Editor we have checked and found corrrect."As per standard instruction, city is required for affiliations; however, this information is missing in affiliations [1, 5]. Please check if the provided city is correct and amend if necessary."Dear Editor we have checked and found correct.  thanks youPlease check and confirm that the authors and their respective affiliations have been correctly identified and amend if necessary."Dear Editor we have checked and found correct. thank you".

Advanced stability analysis of a fractional delay differential system with stochastic phenomena using spectral collocation method.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in incorporating fractional calculus into stochastic delay systems due to its ability to model complex phenomena with uncertainties and memory effects. The fractional stochastic delay differential equations are conventional in modeling such complex dynamical systems around various applied fields. The present study addresses a novel spectral approach to demonstrate the stability behavior and numerical solution of the systems characterized by stochasticity along with fractional derivatives and time delay. By bridging the gap between fractional calculus, stochastic processes, and spectral analysis, this work contributes to the field of fractional dynamics and enriches the toolbox of analytical tools available for investigating the stability of systems with delays and uncertainties. To illustrate the practical implications and validate the theoretical findings of our approach, some numerical simulations are presented.

Modeling different infectious phases of hepatitis B with generalized saturated incidence: An analysis and control.

Hepatitis B is one of the global health issues caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), producing 1.1 million deaths yearly. The acute and chronic phases of HBV are significant because worldwide, approximately 250 million people are infected by chronic hepatitis B. The chronic stage is a long-term, persistent infection that can cause liver damage and increase the risk of liver cancer. In the case of multiple phases of infection, a generalized saturated incidence rate model is more reasonable than a simply saturated incidence because it captures the complex dynamics of the different infection phases. In contrast, a simple saturated incidence rate model assumes a fixed shape for the incidence rate curve, which may not accurately reflect the dynamics of multiple infection phases. Considering HBV and its various phases, we constructed a model to present the dynamics and control strategies using the generalized saturated incidence. First, we proved that the model is well-posed. We then found the reproduction quantity and model equilibria to discuss the time dynamics of the model and investigate the conditions for stabilities. We also examined a control mechanism by introducing various controls to the model with the aim to increase the population of those recovered and minimize the infected people. We performed numerical experiments to check the biological significance and control implementation.

Alefacept promotes immunosuppression-free renal allograft survival in nonhuman primates via depletion of recipient memory T cells.

Renal allograft tolerance has been achieved in MHC-mismatched primates via nonmyeloablative conditioning beginning 6 days prior to planned kidney and donor bone marrow transplantation (DBMT). To extend the applicability of this approach to deceased donor transplantation, we recently developed a novel-conditioning regimen, the "delayed protocol" in which donor bone marrow (DBM) is transplanted several months after kidney transplantation. However, activation/expansion of donor-reactive CD8(+) memory T cells (TMEM) occurring during the interval between kidney and DBM transplantation impaired tolerance induction using this strategy. In the current study, we tested whether, Alefacept, a fusion protein which targets LFA-3/CD2 interactions and selectively depletes CD2(high) CD8(+) effector memory T cells (TEM) could similarly induce long-term immunosuppression-free renal allograft survival but avoid the deleterious effects of anti-CD8 mAb treatment. We found that Alefacept significantly delayed the expansion of CD2(high) cells including CD8(+) TEM while sparing naïve CD8(+) T and NK cells and achieved mixed chimerism and long-term immunosuppression-free renal allograft survival. In conclusion, elimination of CD2(high) T cells represents a promising approach to prevent electively the expansion/activation of donor-reactive TEM and promotes tolerance induction via the delayed protocol mixed chimerism approach.

The description of Mediorhynchus africanus n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Gigantorhynchidae) from galliform birds in Africa.

Mediorhynchus africanus n. sp. is described from specimens collected from the helmeted guinea fowls, Numida meliagris Linn. 1758 in Kruger National Park and elsewhere in subSaharan Africa from the same and other galliform birds. These specimens were previously assigned to Mediorhynchus gallinarum Bhaleroa (Proc Zool Soc Lond Ser B Syst Morph 107:199-203, 1937) described from chickens, Gallus gallus L. in India and subsequently reported from other Asian countries. The identification of the African forms as M. gallinarum was based on similarities in the structure and measurements of the proboscis, proboscis armature and receptacle, lemnisci, and reproductive organs. A detailed study of specimens from South Africa and descriptions reported from elsewhere in Africa revealed marked differences that clearly distinguish the African material as new species. The African specimens are pseudo-segmented and flattened, the proboscis has two prominent apical pores, sensory pits are prevalent throughout the trunk, the posterior end of the female is broad with dorso-terminal dome-like extension opposite the subterminal gonopore, and the eggs are large. The Asian specimens from Indonesia and elsewhere are cylindrical and non-segmented, the proboscis lacks prominent apical pores, sensory pits are rare on the trunk, the posterior end of the female is pointed with a terminal gonopore, and the eggs are markedly smaller. We used DNA sequence from one mitochondrial gene (cytochrome oxidase subunit I) and one nuclear gene (18S ribosomal RNA) to infer the phylogenetic relationships of M. africanus and M. gallinarum and selected Acanthocephala. Medioryhnchus is monophyletic and M. africanus and M. gallinarum are allopatric sister species (9.7% sequence divergence). All findings indicate that M. africanus should be ranked as a separate species.