Genome-wide association analyses identify 95 risk loci and provide insights into the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) genetics are characterized by lower discoverability than most other psychiatric disorders. The contribution to biological understanding from previous genetic studies has thus been limited. We performed a multi-ancestry meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies across 1,222,882 individuals of European ancestry (137,136 cases) and 58,051 admixed individuals with African and Native American ancestry (13,624 cases). We identified 95 genome-wide significant loci (80 new). Convergent multi-omic approaches identified 43 potential causal genes, broadly classified as neurotransmitter and ion channel synaptic modulators (for example, GRIA1, GRM8 and CACNA1E), developmental, axon guidance and transcription factors (for example, FOXP2, EFNA5 and DCC), synaptic structure and function genes (for example, PCLO, NCAM1 and PDE4B) and endocrine or immune regulators (for example, ESR1, TRAF3 and TANK). Additional top genes influence stress, immune, fear and threat-related processes, previously hypothesized to underlie PTSD neurobiology. These findings strengthen our understanding of neurobiological systems relevant to PTSD pathophysiology, while also opening new areas for investigation.

Staphylococcus aureus membrane vesicles: an evolving story.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important bacterial pathogen that causes a wide variety of human diseases in community and hospital settings. S. aureus employs a diverse array of virulence factors, both surface-associated and secreted, to promote colonization, infection, and immune evasion. Over the past decade, a growing body of research has shown that S. aureus generates extracellular membrane vesicles (MVs) that package a variety of bacterial components, many of which are virulence factors. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of S. aureus MVs and highlight their biogenesis, cargo, and potential role in the pathogenesis of staphylococcal infections. Lastly, we present some emerging questions in the field.

Lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in ankylosing spondylitis than non-inflammatory rheumatic disease controls in a 1978-98 study: a potential effect of increased physical energetics in manual occupations in the pre-2000 chronologic era.

OBJECTIVES: No article on serum lipids in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and control subjects has been reported from USA. The primary aim of this study was to determine if any difference occurred in serum lipid levels in AS and control rheumatic disorders in two time periods, 1978-98 and 2000-10. The secondary aim was to investigate variables associated with lipid levels and if a difference was found between AS and control disorders. METHODS: The AS patients were compared to non-inflammatory rheumatic disorders (NIRDs) in 1978-98 and 2000-10 surveys and to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the 2000-10 survey. Patients were matched within 5 years of age, sex, and clinic or hospital source. RESULTS: In the 1978-98 survey, entry mean (SEM) serum cholesterol level [mg/dL] was highly (p<0.001) significantly lower in 69 AS [179.0 (4.8)] than 69 matched NIRD controls [208.0 (5.6)]. In 29 pairs of AS and NIRD subjects having manual labour occupations, mean (SEM) cholesterol level was additionally lower in AS [156.7 (5.9)] and higher in 29 NIRD controls [213.3 (8.6)] (p<0.001). In manual labour workers, mean (SEM) serum triglyceride was significantly lower (p=0.004) in 15 AS [110.3 (14.1)] than 14 NIRD controls [185.2 (19.3)]. In the 2000-10 survey, no lipid difference was found between AS vs. NIRD control patients. CONCLUSIONS: In the 1978-98 survey, AS had significantly lower mean serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels than NIRD control patients. Associated manual labour occupations may have significantly contributed to results, possibly related to increased energy expenditures from physical activity in the pre-2000 era.

No Improvement in Intention-to-treat Survival and Increasing Liver Nonutilization Rate During the MELD Era.

BACKGROUND: Although post liver transplant survival rates have significantly improved during the past 2-3 decades, the trend in intention-to-treat (ITT) survival (survival from waitlist addition) has not been well studied. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data to determine the trend in ITT survival in liver transplant candidates. Adult (age ≧ 18 y) patients who were on the waitlist between the time period of March 1, 2002, to December 31, 2019 (n = 200 816) and deceased liver donors that were registered between the same time period (n = 152 593) were analyzed. RESULTS: We found a constant increase in posttransplant survival rates; however, the ITT survival rates showed no statistically significant improvement through the study period. We observed significant linear increase in waitlist dropout rates over time. We also observed linear increase in liver nonutilization rate in both entire cases and brain-dead cases. Donor risk index increased significantly over the years; however, it was mostly driven by increase in donation after circulatory death cases; without donation after circulatory death cases, donor risk index was stable throughout the 17 y we observed. CONCLUSIONS: The reason of the increased liver nonutilization rate is unclear; however, it is possible that reluctance to use high-risk organ to maintain better posttransplant outcomes contributed to this increase, which also could have led to increase in waitlist dropout rates and no improvements in ITT survival. Further investigation is warranted on the increased nonutilization rates to improve over all contribution of liver transplant to patient care.

Assessing the Reliability of Facial Feminization Content on Social Media and Its Impact on the Dissemination of Misinformation.

BACKGROUND: The surge in social media usage has transformed the dissemination and consumption of healthcare information, notably impacting plastic surgery and cosmetic specialties. This study focuses on the influence of social media, particularly Instagram and TikTok, in shaping perceptions of individuals seeking facial feminization (FF) procedures. METHODS: Using the validated DISCERN scale, we assessed the reliability and accuracy of FF content on TikTok and Instagram. The study also analyzed the relationship between content reliability on engagement metrics (likes, comments, views) and the type of content shared (educational, testimonial, promotional). RESULTS: The analysis encompassed 225 TikTok videos and 75 Instagram posts. TikTok content showed 9.33% as "very poor," 66.2% as "poor," 22.6% as "fair," and only 1.33% as "excellent." Similarly, Instagram content demonstrated 14.67% as "very poor" and 69.33% as "poor," with no content rated as "good" or "excellent." Educational content received higher reliability scores on both platforms. TikTok engagement metrics showed lower reliability ratings correlating with more views, comments, and likes. CONCLUSION: The study underscores the critical role of social media in shaping patient perspectives on FF procedures. The prevalence of inaccurate information necessitates a focus on responsible engagement by healthcare professionals, aiming to provide accurate, educational content that aligns with patients' informational needs and ultimately enhances surgical outcomes.

Inputs to the locus coeruleus from the periaqueductal gray and rostroventral medulla shape opioid-mediated descending pain modulation.

The supraspinal descending pain modulatory system (DPMS) shapes pain perception via monoaminergic modulation of sensory information in the spinal cord. However, the role and synaptic mechanisms of descending noradrenergic signaling remain unclear. Here, we establish that noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) are essential for supraspinal opioid antinociception. While much previous work has emphasized the role of descending serotonergic pathways, we find that opioid antinociception is primarily driven by excitatory output from the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) to the LC. Furthermore, we identify a previously unknown opioid-sensitive inhibitory input from the rostroventromedial medulla (RVM), the suppression of which disinhibits LC neurons to drive spinal noradrenergic antinociception. We describe pain-related activity throughout this circuit and report the presence of prominent bifurcating outputs from the vlPAG to the LC and the RVM. Our findings substantially revise current models of the DPMS and establish a supraspinal antinociceptive pathway that may contribute to multiple forms of descending pain modulation.

Demographic characteristics and epigenetic biological aging among post-9/11 veterans: Associations of DunedinPACE with sex, race, and age.

Measures of epigenetic aging derived from DNA methylation (DNAm) have enabled the assessment of biological aging in new populations and cohorts. In the present study, we used an epigenetic measure of aging, DunedinPACE, to examine rates of aging across demographic groups in a sample of 2,309 United States military veterans from the VISN 6 MIRECC's Post-Deployment Mental Health Study. As assessed by DunedinPACE, female veterans were aging faster than male veterans (ß = 0.39, 95 % CI [0.29, 0.48], p < .001), non-Hispanic Black veterans were aging faster than non-Hispanic White veterans (ß = 0.58, 95 % CI [0.50, 0.66], p < .001), and older veterans were biologically aging faster than younger veterans (ß = 0.21, 95 % CI [0.18, 0.25], p < .001). In secondary analyses, these differences in rates of aging were not explained by a variety of biopsychosocial covariates. In addition, the percentage of European genetic admixture in non-Hispanic Black veterans was not associated with DunedinPACE. Our findings suggest that female and non-Hispanic Black veterans are at greater risk of accelerated aging among post-9/11 veterans. Interventions that slow aging might provide relatively greater benefit among veterans comprising these at-risk groups.

Biliary complications after adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation: An international multicenter study of 3633 cases.

In living-donor liver transplantation, biliary complications including bile leaks and biliary anastomotic strictures remain significant challenges, with incidences varying across different centers. This multicentric retrospective study (2016-2020) included 3633 adult patients from 18 centers and aimed to identify risk factors for these biliary complications and their impact on patient survival. Incidences of bile leaks and biliary strictures were 11.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Key risk factors for bile leaks included multiple bile duct anastomoses (odds ratio, [OR] 1.8), Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy (OR, 1.4), and a history of major abdominal surgery (OR, 1.4). For biliary anastomotic strictures, risk factors were ABO incompatibility (OR, 1.4), blood loss >1 L (OR, 1.4), and previous abdominal surgery (OR, 1.7). Patients experiencing biliary complications had extended hospital stays, increased incidence of major complications, and higher comprehensive complication index scores. The impact on graft survival became evident after accounting for immortal time bias using time-dependent covariate survival analysis. Bile leaks and biliary anastomotic strictures were associated with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.7 and 1.8 for graft survival, respectively. The study underscores the importance of minimizing these risks through careful donor selection and preoperative planning, as biliary complications significantly affect graft survival, despite the availability of effective treatments.

Primary third eyelid lymphoma with aggressive local behavior in a dog.

Lymphoma is the most common hematopoietic neoplasm in dogs. However, cases primarily involving the third eyelid are rarely reported in the species. The subtype most frequently described in this location is marginal zone lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, which has an indolent behavior. A 10-year-old intact female Poodle was presented with a 2-month history of a nodule in the left third eyelid for evaluation. This nodule was surgically excised; however, local recurrence was detected nineteen days postoperatively, with the formation of a mass that expanded and replaced the extraocular orbital tissues and infiltrated the eye. Euthanasia was elected due to the deteriorating clinical condition, and a necropsy was performed. Macroscopically, the mass infiltrated and expanded the eyelids with narrowing of the palpebral fissure, expanded into the orbital space, and infiltrated the cornea and bulbar conjunctiva. Histologically, the mass was composed of sheets of intermediate to large neoplastic lymphocytes, with frequent epitheliotropism and tingible bodies. Neoplastic lymphocytes were immunoreactive for PAX5, CD20, and CD79a and were not immunoreactive for CD3. The neoplasm was restricted to the left eyelid and orbit. A diagnosis of primary third eyelid lymphoma (extranodal) with immunophenotype B and locally aggressive behavior was made based on the macroscopic, histological, and immunohistochemical findings.

"The Materials Didn't Really Seem to Apply to Me": A Focus-Group Study on Young Women's Needs and Perspectives on Breast Cancer Educational Material.

Young women breast cancer survivors face unique challenges in navigating diagnosis and treatment information while also navigating their own life demands (i.e., fertility, childcare, careers). Special consideration to printed and online cancer educational materials distributed to young women should be evaluated for their suitability, but few studies have investigated the educational preferences and needs of young women cancer survivors. We sought to explore young women breast cancer survivors' needs and preferences regarding cancer educational material from diagnosis to survivorship. We used a qualitative design with convenience sampling of young women breast cancer survivors who completed active treatment at a medical center within the last 5 years to participate in semi-structured online focus groups from November 2020 to May 2021. Thirty-three young women (75.8% White, 12.1% Black, 12.1% other) participated in one of seven online focus groups, each lasting approximately 2 h. Four dominant themes emerged from the data: (1) initial interaction with online materials; (2) reasons for seeking printed and online materials; (3) disconnection of visuals; and (4) recommendations. Our findings revealed that young women were initially hesitant to seek online information, but later sought printed and online information after specific endorsement of materials. Current breast cancer materials lack content specific to young women's needs (i.e., reconstruction options), and graphics have little age and racial diversity. Oncology nurses may consider novel methods of education delivery, such as short videos to be shared easily on social media for specific content like scarring results and reconstruction options.

Correlates of suicidal behaviors and genetic risk among United States veterans with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder.

Persons diagnosed with schizophrenia (SCZ) or bipolar I disorder (BPI) are at high risk for self-injurious behavior, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviors (SB). Characterizing associations between diagnosed health problems, prior pharmacological treatments, and polygenic scores (PGS) has potential to inform risk stratification. We examined self-reported SB and ideation using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) among 3,942 SCZ and 5,414 BPI patients receiving care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). These cross-sectional data were integrated with electronic health records (EHRs), and compared across lifetime diagnoses, treatment histories, follow-up screenings, and mortality data. PGS were constructed using available genomic data for related traits. Genome-wide association studies were performed to identify and prioritize specific loci. Only 20% of the veterans who reported SB had a corroborating ICD-9/10 EHR code. Among those without prior SB, more than 20% reported new-onset SB at follow-up. SB were associated with a range of additional clinical diagnoses, and with treatment with specific classes of psychotropic medications (e.g., antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc.). PGS for externalizing behaviors, smoking initiation, suicide attempt, and major depressive disorder were associated with SB. The GWAS for SB yielded no significant loci. Among individuals with a diagnosed mental illness, self-reported SB were strongly associated with clinical variables across several EHR domains. Analyses point to sequelae of substance-related and psychiatric comorbidities as strong correlates of prior and subsequent SB. Nonetheless, past SB was frequently not documented in health records, underscoring the value of regular screening with direct, in-person assessments, especially among high-risk individuals.

Cobalt Oxide on Boron-Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride as Bifunctional Photocatalysts for CO2 Reduction and Hydrogen Evolution.

In this work, the prepared cobalt oxide decorated boron-doped g-C3N4 (CoOx/g-C3N4) heterojunction exhibits remarkable activity in CO2 reduction (CO2RR), resulting in high yields of CH3COOH (∼383 µmol·gcatalyst-1) and CH3OH (∼371 µmol·gcatalyst-1) with 58% selectivity to C2+ under visible light. However, the same system leads to high H2 evolution (HER) by increasing the cobalt oxide content, suggesting that the selectivity and preference for the CO2RR or HER depend on oxide decoration. By comparing HER and CO2RR evolution in the same system, this work provides critical insights into the catalytic mechanism, indicating that the CoOx/g-C3N4 heterojunction formation is necessary to foster high visible light photoactivity.

The prosubiculum in the human hippocampus: A rostrocaudal, feature-driven, and systematic approach.

The hippocampal subfield prosubiculum (ProS), is a conserved neuroanatomic region in mouse, monkey, and human. This area lies between CA1 and subiculum (Sub) and particularly lacks consensus on its boundaries; reports have varied on the description of its features and location. In this report, we review, refine, and evaluate four cytoarchitectural features that differentiate ProS from its neighboring subfields: (1) small neurons, (2) lightly stained neurons, (3) superficial clustered neurons, and (4) a cell sparse zone. ProS was delineated in all cases (n = 10). ProS was examined for its cytoarchitectonic features and location rostrocaudally, from the anterior head through the body in the hippocampus. The most common feature was small pyramidal neurons, which were intermingled with larger pyramidal neurons in ProS. We quantitatively measured ProS pyramidal neurons, which showed (average, width at pyramidal base = 14.31 µm, n = 400 per subfield). CA1 neurons averaged 15.57 µm and Sub neurons averaged 15.63 µm, both were significantly different than ProS (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < .0001). The other three features observed were lightly stained neurons, clustered neurons, and a cell sparse zone. Taken together, these findings suggest that ProS is an independent subfield, likely with distinct functional contributions to the broader interconnected hippocampal network. Our results suggest that ProS is a cytoarchitecturally varied subfield, both for features and among individuals. This diverse architecture in features and individuals for ProS could explain the long-standing complexity regarding the identification of this subfield.

Comparison of histological delineations of medial temporal lobe cortices by four independent neuroanatomy laboratories.

The medial temporal lobe (MTL) cortex, located adjacent to the hippocampus, is crucial for memory and prone to the accumulation of certain neuropathologies such as Alzheimer's disease neurofibrillary tau tangles. The MTL cortex is composed of several subregions which differ in their functional and cytoarchitectonic features. As neuroanatomical schools rely on different cytoarchitectonic definitions of these subregions, it is unclear to what extent their delineations of MTL cortex subregions overlap. Here, we provide an overview of cytoarchitectonic definitions of the entorhinal and parahippocampal cortices as well as Brodmann areas (BA) 35 and 36, as provided by four neuroanatomists from different laboratories, aiming to identify the rationale for overlapping and diverging delineations. Nissl-stained series were acquired from the temporal lobes of three human specimens (two right and one left hemisphere). Slices (50 µm thick) were prepared perpendicular to the long axis of the hippocampus spanning the entire longitudinal extent of the MTL cortex. Four neuroanatomists annotated MTL cortex subregions on digitized slices spaced 5 mm apart (pixel size 0.4 µm at 20× magnification). Parcellations, terminology, and border placement were compared among neuroanatomists. Cytoarchitectonic features of each subregion are described in detail. Qualitative analysis of the annotations showed higher agreement in the definitions of the entorhinal cortex and BA35, while the definitions of BA36 and the parahippocampal cortex exhibited less overlap among neuroanatomists. The degree of overlap of cytoarchitectonic definitions was partially reflected in the neuroanatomists' agreement on the respective delineations. Lower agreement in annotations was observed in transitional zones between structures where seminal cytoarchitectonic features are expressed less saliently. The results highlight that definitions and parcellations of the MTL cortex differ among neuroanatomical schools and thereby increase understanding of why these differences may arise. This work sets a crucial foundation to further advance anatomically-informed neuroimaging research on the human MTL cortex.

Organization of head and neck cancer rehabilitation care: a national survey among healthcare professionals in Dutch head and neck cancer centers.

PURPOSE: Head and neck cancer (HNC) treatment often leads to physical and psychosocial impairments. Rehabilitation can overcome these limitations and improve quality of life. The aim of this study is to obtain an overview of rehabilitation care for HNC, and to investigate factors influencing rehabilitation provision, in Dutch HNC centers, and to some extent compare it to other countries. METHODS: An online survey, covering five themes: organizational structure; rehabilitation interventions; financing; barriers and facilitators; satisfaction and future improvements, among HNC healthcare- and financial professionals of Dutch HNC centers. RESULTS: Most centers (86%) applied some type of rehabilitation care, with variations in organizational structure. A speech language therapist, physiotherapist and dietitian were available in all centers, but other rehabilitation healthcare professionals in less than 60%. Facilitators for providing rehabilitation services included availability of a contact person, and positive attitude, motivation, and expertise of healthcare professionals. Barriers were lack of reimbursement, and patient related barriers including comorbidity, travel (time), low health literacy, limited financial capacity, and poor motivation. CONCLUSION: Although all HNC centers included offer rehabilitation services, there is substantial practice variation, both nationally and internationally. Factors influencing rehabilitation are related to the motivation and expertise of the treatment team, but also to reimbursement aspects and patient related factors. More research is needed to investigate the extent to which practice variation impacts individual patient outcomes and how to integrate HNC rehabilitation into routine clinical pathways.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Is Associated With Elevated Risk of Incident Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack in Women Veterans.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with ischemic heart disease in women veterans, but evidence for associations with other cardiovascular disorders remains limited in this population. This retrospective longitudinal cohort study evaluated the association of PTSD with incident stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) in women veterans. METHODS AND RESULTS: Veterans Health Administration electronic health records were used to identify women veterans aged ≥18 years engaged with Veterans Health Administration health care from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019. We identified women veterans with and without PTSD without a history of stroke or TIA at start of follow-up. Propensity score matching was used to match groups on age, race or ethnicity, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, female-specific risk factors, a range of mental and physical health conditions, and number of prior health care visits. PTSD, stroke, TIA, and risk factors used in propensity score matching were based on diagnostic codes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for associations of PTSD with an incident stroke/TIA composite. Subanalyses considered stroke and TIA separately, plus age- and race- or ethnicity-stratified analyses were carried out. The analytic sample included 208 092 women veterans (104 046 with and 104 046 without PTSD). PTSD was associated with a greater rate of developing stroke/TIA (HR, 1.33 [95% CI, 1.25-1.42], P<0.001). This elevated risk was especially pronounced in women <50 years old and in Hispanic/Latina women. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate a strong association of PTSD with incident stroke/TIA in women veterans. Research is needed to determine whether addressing PTSD and its downstream consequences can offset this risk.

Effectiveness of educational interventions for the prevention of lead poisoning in children: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood exposure to lead has severe health consequences including long-term physical, behavioral, and learning problems. Lead poisoning often occurs in the home and persists as a form of environmental injustice, disparately impacting certain children based on factors such as socioeconomic status, immigration status, and race. Because abatement is costly, many prevention programs rely on educational interventions. We conducted a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of educational interventions on reducing blood lead levels (BLL) in children. CONTENT: Following PRISMA-P guidelines, a librarian-guided search strategy incorporated database-specific subject headings and keywords related to lead poisoning and education, and encompassed four databases: Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection and CINAHL. Two reviewers screened the results for those that met inclusion criteria (original research, study population of children under 18 years, inclusion of an educational intervention, outcome of BLL). SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK: We screened the titles of 2,062 non-duplicate studies, the abstracts of 78 studies, and full texts of 23 articles, resulting in 17 articles that met eligibility criteria. Thirteen studies used multi-pronged interventions, which precluded comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of the educational component. Interventions that had success in lowering BLL included some notable elements: longevity of intervention, consideration of culture and ethnicity; use of a community or home-based approach; and provision of supplies or assistance with cleaning. Of the four of studies that used solely educational interventions, three were successful in reducing BLL. Among the 12 studies that used a control group, six found their interventions to be successful in reducing BLL. This review found that educational interventions, either alone or as part of a multi-pronged approach, do not consistently reduce BLL in children. However, educational interventions may decrease severity of lead poisoning in children when more robust interventions are not feasible.

Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of cannabis use disorder in a veteran cohort enriched for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Cannabis use has been increasing over the past decade, not only in the general US population, but particularly among military veterans. With this rise in use has come a concomitant increase in cannabis use disorder (CUD) among veterans. Here, we performed an epigenome-wide association study for lifetime CUD in an Iraq/Afghanistan era veteran cohort enriched for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comprising 2,310 total subjects (1,109 non-Hispanic black and 1,201 non-Hispanic white). We also investigated CUD interactions with current PTSD status and examined potential indirect effects of DNA methylation (DNAm) on the relationship between CUD and psychiatric diagnoses. Four CpGs were associated with lifetime CUD, even after controlling for the effects of current smoking (AHRR cg05575921, LINC00299 cg23079012, VWA7 cg22112841, and FAM70A cg08760398). Importantly, cg05575921, a CpG strongly linked to smoking, remained associated with lifetime CUD even when restricting the analysis to veterans who reported never smoking cigarettes. Moreover, CUD interacted with current PTSD to affect cg05575921 and cg23079012 such that those with both CUD and PTSD displayed significantly lower DNAm compared to the other groups. Finally, we provide preliminary evidence that AHRR cg05575921 helps explain the association between CUD and any psychiatric diagnoses, specifically mood disorders.

The impact of environmental conditions on non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review of epidemiologic evidence.

Background: The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is increasing. Environmental conditions such as heavy metals and air pollution have been linked with the incidence and mortality of chronic diseases such as cancer, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. We aimed to scope the current state of evidence on the impact of environmental conditions on NCDs in SSA. Methods: We conducted a scoping review to identify environmental conditions linked with NCDs in SSA by identifying studies published from January 1986 through February 2023. We searched African Index Medicus, Ovid Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Greenfile. Using the PICOS study selection criteria, we identified studies conducted in SSA focussed on physical environmental exposures and incidence, prevalence, and mortality of NCDs. We included only epidemiologic or quantitative studies. Results: We identified 6754 articles from electronic database searches; only 36 met our inclusion criteria and were qualitatively synthesised. Two studies were conducted in multiple SSA countries, while 34 were conducted across ten countries in SSA. Air pollution (58.3%) was the most common type of environmental exposure reported, followed by exposure to dust (19.4%), meteorological variables (13.8%), heavy metals (2.7%), soil radioactivity (2.7%), and neighbourhood greenness (2.7%). The examined NCDs included respiratory diseases (69.4%), cancer (2.7%), stroke (5.5%), diabetes (2.7%), and two or more chronic diseases (19.4%). The study results suggest an association between environmental exposures and NCDs, particularly for respiratory diseases. Only seven studies found a null association between environmental conditions and chronic diseases. Conclusions: There is a growing body of research on environmental conditions and chronic diseases in the SSA region. Although some cities in SSA have started implementing environmental monitoring and control measures, there remain high levels of environmental pollution. Investment can focus on improving environmental control measures and disease surveillance.