The role of membrane trafficking and retromer complex in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Membrane trafficking is a physiological process encompassing different pathways involved in transporting cellular products across cell membranes to specific cell locations via encapsulated vesicles. This process is required for cells to mature and function properly, allowing them to adapt to their surroundings. The retromer complex is a complex composed of nexin proteins and peptides that play a vital role in the endosomal pathway of membrane trafficking. In humans, any interference in normal membrane trafficking or retromer complex can cause profound changes such as those seen in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Several studies have explored the potential causative mechanisms in developing both disease processes; however, the role of retromer trafficking in their pathogenesis is becoming increasingly significant with promising therapeutic applications. This manuscript describes the processes involved in membrane transport and the roles of the retromer in the onset and progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Moreover, we will also explore how these aberrant mechanisms may serve as possible avenues for treatment development in both diseases and the prospect of its future application.

Prison health during the COVID-19 era in Africa.

The world is facing a dreadful outbreak of a novel disease, COVID-19, that has claimed the lives of thousands. African countries have recorded the least number of COVID-19 cases despite their weak healthcare systems. However, African prisons could be an hotspot for the spread of the virus. In this article, we focused on describing certain possibilities of an uncontrollable outbreak of this pandemic in African prisons considering the overcrowding, poor access to healthcare among inmates, and already existing abuse of human rights. We hypothesized that negligence to prison health in Africa during this pandemic could lead to devastating events. It is therefore important that inmates are not forgotten in COVID-19 responses.