Neuropsychological tests associated with symptomatic HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) in a cohort of older adults in Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) prevalence is expected to increase in East Africa as treatment coverage increases, survival improves, and this population ages. This study aimed to better understand the current cognitive phenotype of this newly emergent population of older combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-treated people living with HIV (PLWH), in which current screening measures lack accuracy. This will facilitate the refinement of HAND cognitive screening tools for this setting. METHOD: This is a secondary analysis of 253 PLWH aged ≥50 years receiving standard government HIV clinic follow-up in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. They were evaluated with a detailed locally normed low-literacy neuropsychological battery annually on three occasions and a consensus panel diagnosis of HAND by Frascati criteria based on clinical evaluation and collateral history. RESULTS: Tests of verbal learning and memory, categorical verbal fluency, visual memory, and visuoconstruction had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve >0.7 for symptomatic HAND (s-HAND) (0.70-0.72; p < 0.001 for all tests). Tests of visual memory, verbal learning with delayed recall and recognition memory, psychomotor speed, language comprehension, and categorical verbal fluency were independently associated with s-HAND in a logistic mixed effects model (p < 0.01 for all). Neuropsychological impairments varied by educational background. CONCLUSIONS: A broad range of cognitive domains are affected in older, well-controlled, East African PLWH, including those not captured in widely used screening measures. It is possible that educational background affects the observed cognitive impairments in this setting. Future screening measures for similar populations should consider assessment of visual memory, verbal learning, language comprehension, and executive and motor function.

The prevalence and outcomes of depression in older HIV-positive adults in Northern Tanzania: a longitudinal study.

Studies of depression and its outcomes in older people living with HIV (PLWH) are currently lacking in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in PLWH aged ≥ 50 years in Tanzania focussing on prevalence and 2-year outcomes of depression. PLWH aged ≥ 50 were systematically recruited from an outpatient clinic and assessed using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Neurological and functional impairment was assessed at year 2 follow-up. At baseline, 253 PLWH were recruited (72.3% female, median age 57, 95.5% on cART). DSM-IV depression was highly prevalent (20.9%), whereas other DSM-IV psychiatric disorders were uncommon. At follow-up (n = 162), incident cases of DSM-IV depression decreased from14.2 to 11.1% (χ2: 2.48, p = 0.29); this decline was not significant. Baseline depression was associated with increased functional and neurological impairment. At follow-up, depression was associated with negative life events (p = 0.001), neurological impairment (p < 0.001), and increased functional impairment (p = 0.018), but not with HIV and sociodemographic factors. In this setting, depression appears highly prevalent and associated with poorer neurological and functional outcomes and negative life events. Depression may be a future intervention target.

Prevalence and 1-year incidence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) in adults aged ≥50 years attending standard HIV clinical care in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs) are prevalent in older people living with HIV (PLWH) worldwide. HAND prevalence and incidence studies of the newly emergent population of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-treated older PLWH in sub-Saharan Africa are currently lacking. We aimed to estimate HAND prevalence and incidence using robust measures in stable, cART-treated older adults under long-term follow-up in Tanzania and report cognitive comorbidities. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. PARTICIPANTS: A systematic sample of consenting HIV-positive adults aged ≥50 years attending routine clinical care at an HIV Care and Treatment Centre during March-May 2016 and followed up March-May 2017. MEASUREMENTS: HAND by consensus panel Frascati criteria based on detailed locally normed low-literacy neuropsychological battery, structured neuropsychiatric clinical assessment, and collateral history. Demographic and etiological factors by self-report and clinical records. RESULTS: In this cohort (n = 253, 72.3% female, median age 57), HAND prevalence was 47.0% (95% CI 40.9-53.2, n = 119) despite well-managed HIV disease (Mn CD4 516 (98-1719), 95.5% on cART). Of these, 64 (25.3%) were asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment, 46 (18.2%) mild neurocognitive disorder, and 9 (3.6%) HIV-associated dementia. One-year incidence was high (37.2%, 95% CI 25.9 to 51.8), but some reversibility (17.6%, 95% CI 10.0-28.6 n = 16) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: HAND appear highly prevalent in older PLWH in this setting, where demographic profile differs markedly to high-income cohorts, and comorbidities are frequent. Incidence and reversibility also appear high. Future studies should focus on etiologies and potentially reversible factors in this setting.

Preliminary evaluation of a smartphone application (DelApp) for identification of delirium in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE: In sub-Saharan Africa, there are no validated screening tools for delirium in older adults, despite the known vulnerability of older people to delirium and the associated adverse outcomes. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a brief smartphone-based assessment of arousal and attention (DelApp) in the identification of delirium amongst older adults admitted to the medical department of a tertiary referral hospital in Northern Tanzania. METHOD: Consecutive admissions were screened using the DelApp during a larger study of delirium prevalence and risk factors. All participants subsequently underwent detailed clinical assessment for delirium by a research doctor. Delirium and dementia were identified against DSM-5 criteria by consensus. RESULTS: Complete data for 66 individuals were collected of whom 15 (22.7%) had delirium, 24.5% had dementia without delirium, and 10.6% had delirium superimposed on dementia. Sensitivity and specificity of the DelApp for delirium were 0.87 and 0.62, respectively (AUROC 0.77) and 0.88 and 0.73 (AUROC 0.85) for major cognitive impairment (dementia and delirium combined). Lower DelApp score was associated with age, significant visual impairment (<6/60 acuity), illness severity, reduced arousal and DSM-5 delirium on univariable analysis, but on multivariable logistic regression only arousal remained significant. CONCLUSION: In this setting, the DelApp performed well in identifying delirium and major cognitive impairment but did not differentiate delirium and dementia. Performance is likely to have been affected by confounders including uncorrected visual impairment and reduced level of arousal without delirium. Negative predictive value was nevertheless high, indicating excellent 'rule out' value in this setting.

Low levels of frailty in HIV-positive older adults on antiretroviral therapy in northern Tanzania.

There are over 3 million people in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) aged 50 and over living with HIV. HIV and combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) exposure may accelerate the ageing in this population, and thus increase the prevalence of premature frailty. There is a paucity of data on the prevalence of frailty in an older HIV + population in SSA and screening and diagnostic tools to identify frailty in SSA. Patients aged ≥ 50 were recruited from a free Government HIV clinic in Tanzania. Frailty assessments were completed, using 3 diagnostic and screening tools: the Fried frailty phenotype (FFP), Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and Brief Frailty Instrument for Tanzania (B-FIT 2). The 145 patients recruited had a mean CD4 + of 494.84 cells/µL, 99.3% were receiving cART and 72.6% were virally suppressed. The prevalence of frailty by FFP was 2.758%. FFP frailty was significantly associated with female gender (p = 0.006), marital status (p = 0.007) and age (p = 0.038). Weight loss was the most common FFP domain failure. The prevalence of frailty using the B-FIT 2 and the CFS was 0.68%. The B-FIT 2 correlated with BMI (r = - 0.467, p = 0.0001) and CD4 count in females (r = - 0.244, p = 0.02). There is an absence of frailty in this population, as compared to other clinical studies. This may be due to the high standard of HIV care at this Government clinic. Undernutrition may be an important contributor to frailty. It is unclear which tool is most accurate for detecting the prevalence of frailty in this setting as levels of correlation are low.

Carpenter syndrome in a patient from Tanzania.

Carpenter syndrome (acrocephalopolysyndactyly type II) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. It was clinically diagnosed in a female baby with polysyndactyly and craniosynostosis in a referral clinic in Northern Tanzania. In the RAB23 gene, a previously described homozygous variant c.82C>T p.(Arg28*) was detected that results in a premature stop codon. Both parents were demonstrated to be heterozygous carriers of this variant. Herewith, its pathogenicity is proved. A literature search suggests this is the first molecularly confirmed case of Carpenter syndrome in continental Africa.

The pharmacotherapy team: A novel strategy to improve appropriate in-hospital prescribing using a participatory intervention action method.

AIMS: Prescribing medication is a complex process that, when done inappropriately, can lead to adverse drug events, resulting in patient harm and hospital admissions. Worldwide cost is estimated at 42 billion USD each year. Despite several efforts in the past years, medication-related harm has not declined. The aim was to determine whether a prescriber-focussed participatory action intervention, initiated by a multidisciplinary pharmacotherapy team, is able to reduce the number of in-hospital prescriptions containing ≥1 prescribing error (PE), by identifying and reducing challenges in appropriate prescribing. METHODS: A prospective single-centre before- and after study was conducted in an academic hospital in the Netherlands. Twelve clinical wards (medical, surgical, mixed and paediatric) were recruited. RESULTS: Overall, 321 patients with a total of 2978 prescriptions at baseline were compared with 201 patients with 2438 prescriptions postintervention. Of these, m456 prescriptions contained ≥1 PE (15.3%) at baseline and 357 prescriptions contained ≥1 PEs (14.6%) postintervention. PEs were determined in multidisciplinary consensus. On some study wards, a trend toward a decreasing number of PEs was observed. The intervention was associated with a nonsignificant difference in PEs (incidence rate ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.83-1.10), which was unaltered after correction. The most important identified challenges were insufficient knowledge beyond own expertise, unawareness of guidelines and a heavy workload. CONCLUSION: The tailored interventions developed with and implemented by stakeholders led to a statistically nonsignificant reduction in inappropriate in-hospital prescribing after a 6-month intervention period. Our prescriber-focussed participatory action intervention identified challenges in appropriate in-hospital prescribing on prescriber- and organizational level.

Screening for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) in Adults Aged 50 and Over Attending a Government HIV Clinic in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Comparison of the International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) and IDEA Six Item Dementia Screen.

Validated screening tools for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are lacking for the newly emergent ageing population of people living with HIV (PLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We aimed to validate and compare diagnostic accuracy of two cognitive screening tools, the International HIV dementia scale (IHDS), and the Identification and Interventions for Dementia in Elderly Africans (IDEA) screen, for identification of HAND in older PLWH in Tanzania. A systematic sample of 253 PLWH aged ≥ 50 attending a Government clinic in Tanzania were screened with the IHDS and IDEA. HAND were diagnosed by consensus American Academy of Neurology (AAN) criteria based on detailed clinical neuropsychological assessment. Strict blinding was maintained between screening and clinical evaluation. Both tools had limited diagnostic accuracy for HAND (area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve 0.639-0.667 IHDS, 0.647-0.713 IDEA), which was highly-prevalent (47.0%). Accurate HAND screening tools for older PLWH in SSA are needed.

RESUMEN: Faltan pruebas cognitivas válidas para los trastornos neurocognitivos asociados al VIH (según sus siglas en inglés, HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND) en la población emergente de personas mayores que viven con el VIH en el África subsahariana. Nuestro objetivo era validar y comparar la precisión diagnóstica de dos pruebas cognitivas, la escala internacional de demencia por VIH (según sus siglas en ingles International HIV dementia scale (IHDS) y la prueba 'IDEA', para el cribado de trastornos neurocognitivos asociados al VIH (HAND) en personas mayores viviendo con VIH en Tanzania. Una muestra sistemática de 253 personas de ≥50 años que asistieron a una clínica gubernamental en Tanzania se examinó con el IHDS y la IDEA. HAND fueron diagnosticados por consenso según los criterios de la Academia Americana de Neurología (AAN) basados en una detallada evaluación neuropsicológica y clínica. Las fases de cribado y de evaluación clínica se realizaron de forma independiente y a ciegas. Ambas herramientas tenían una precisión de diagnóstico limitada para HAND (área bajo la característica de funcionamiento del receptor (AUROC) curva 0.639 ­ 0.667 IHDS, 0.647-0.713 IDEA). HAND era altamente frecuente (47%). Se necesitan pruebas cognitivas por cribado de deterioro cognitivo en personas mayores con VIH en el África subsahariana.

Altitude-Related Disorders on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: Two-Year Survey in a Local Referral Center.

INTRODUCTION: A significant number of climbers on Mount Kilimanjaro are affected by altitude-related disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the main causes of morbidity and mortality in a representative cohort of climbers based on local hospital records. METHODS: We conducted a 2-y retrospective chart review of all patients presenting to the main referral hospital in the region after a climb on Mount Kilimanjaro, including all relevant records and referrals for postmortem studies. RESULTS: We identified 62 climbers who presented to the hospital: 47 inpatients and 15 outpatients. Fifty-six presented with high altitude illness, which included acute mountain sickness (n=8; 14%), high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) (n=30; 54%), high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) (n=7; 12%), and combined HAPE/HACE (n=11; 20%). The mean altitude of symptom onset ranged from 4600±750 m for HAPE to 5000±430 m for HAPE/HACE. The vast majority of inpatients (n=41; 87%) were improved on discharge. Twenty-one deceased climbers, most having died while climbing (n=17; 81%), underwent postmortem evaluation. Causes of death were HAPE (n=16; 76%), HAPE/HACE (n=3; 14%), trauma (1), and cardiopulmonary (1). CONCLUSIONS: HAPE was the main cause of death during climbing as well as for hospital admissions. The vast majority of climbers who presented to hospital made a full recovery.

Risk factors for symptomatic HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder in adults aged 50 and over attending a HIV clinic in Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), although prevalent, remains a poorly researched cause of morbidity particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We aimed to explore the risk factors for HAND in people aged 50 and over under regular follow-up at a government HIV clinic in Tanzania. METHODS: HIV-positive adults aged 50 years and over were approached for recruitment at a routine HIV clinic appointment over a 4-month period. A diagnostic assessment for HAND was implemented, including a full medical/neurological assessment and a collateral history from a relative. We investigated potential risk factors using a structured questionnaire and by examination of clinic records. RESULTS: Of the cohort (n = 253), 183 (72.3%) were female and the median age was 57 years. Fifty-five individuals (21.7%) met the criteria for symptomatic HAND. Participants were at a greater risk of having symptomatic HAND if they lived alone [odds ratio (OR) = 2.566, P = .015], were illiterate (OR 3.171, P = .003) or older at the time of HIV diagnosis (OR = 1.057, P = .015). Age was correlated with symptomatic HAND in univariate, but not multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In this setting, HIV-specific factors, such as nadir CD4 count, were not related to symptomatic HAND. The "legacy theory" of early central nervous system damage prior to initiation of anti-retroviral therapy initiation may contribute, only in part, to a multifactorial aetiology of HAND in older people. Social isolation and illiteracy were associated with symptomatic HAND, suggesting greater cognitive reserve might be protective.

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome in a patient from Tanzania.

We report an African infant with Ellis-van Creveld (EVC) syndrome. EVC syndrome is a chondral and ectodermal dysplasia with autosomal recessive transmission. The baby presented with polydactyly, short limbs and atrioventricular septal defect, but was withdrawn from clinical follow up for the first year of life. Initial hematological abnormalities could not be explained and normalized later. EVC syndrome was confirmed by genetic analysis that showed two pathogenic mutations in the EVC2 gene, c.653_654del, p.Val218Glyfs*12 in exon 5, and c.2710C>T, p.Gln904* in exon 16. The variant c.653_654del; p.Val218Glyfs*12 in exon 5 has not been described before. Our review of medical literature suggested this is the first molecularly confirmed case of EVC syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa.

Explorative Prospective Evaluation of Short-Term Subjective Effects of Hormonal Treatment in Trans People-Results from the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence.

INTRODUCTION: Although many studies on the short- and long-term effects of hormonal treatment (HT) in trans people focus on objective changes such as body composition or bone density, few studies have evaluated self-reported effects of HT. AIM: To evaluate self-reported symptoms during the first year of HT in trans people. METHODS: This study is part of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence, a multicenter prospective cohort study. For this study, 205 trans women and 193 trans men from the gender clinics of Amsterdam, Ghent, and Florence, who were >18 years of age and started hormonal treatment were included. Questionnaires, self-developed based on the Menopause Rating scale and clinical experiences, were completed, and changes in symptom scores were analyzed using linear mixed models. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported psycho vegetative symptoms, as well as physical, cognitive, emotional, sexual and genital complaints, and pain were evaluated at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months of HT using a 4-point Likert scale (no, mild, moderate, or severe complaints). RESULTS: In trans men, with a median age of 23, transient increases were reported in night sweats, weight gain, and clitoral pain. Persistent increases were reported for hot flashes, balding, voice instability, acne, and increase in sexual desire, whereas emotional instability, fear, and menses decreased. For trans women, with a median age of 29, hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, weight gain, changes in olfactory sense, brittle nails, emotional instability, mood swings, and breast tenderness increased persistently during 12 months of HT, whereas a decrease was observed for balding and sexual desire. Sleeping difficulties decreased temporarily. No changes were observed in palpitations, dizziness, abdominal complaints, anxiety, panic attacks, cognition, and pain, except for clitoral and breast pain. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Knowledge on the occurrence of these self-reported, subjective effects and their course over time may help physicians informing trans people starting with and during HT. STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS: This study was performed in a large cohort of trans people. The follow-up period was limited to 12 months. CONCLUSION: Changes in self-reported symptoms were mentioned in all investigated areas, except cognition. Most symptoms were as expected and even desired, whereas others may be considered unpleasant by some trans people. van Dijk D, Dekker MJHJ, Conemans EB, et al. Explorative Prospective Evaluation of Short-Term Subjective Effects of Hormonal Treatment in Trans People-Results from the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence. J Sex Med 2019;16:1297-1309.

Mountain neurology.

Mountain climbers may develop specific illnesses that largely depend on the altitude reached and the rate of ascent. The popularity of travel to high altitude destinations, extreme tourist activities and mountain climbing means that neurologists in low-altitude countries are increasingly likely to encounter neurological problems and disorders in people exposed to high altitude. Additionally, they may have to advise patients with pre-existing neurological conditions on the risks of ascent to altitude. This article focuses on neurological-related high-altitude illnesses: acute mountain sickness and high-altitude cerebral oedema, as well as high-altitude retinopathy and other neurological disorders. This overview combines current understood pathogenesis with the experience of managing altitude-related illness at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency-Induced Neuropathy and Cognitive and Motor Impairment in the Elderly: A Case Study.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can present with a variety of neurological and cognitive symptoms. Especially in elderly patients, vitamin B12 deficiency can be easily overlooked because symptoms may be attributed to comorbid conditions or solely to the aging process. In this case study, we present two patients, a 71-year-old man and a 74-year-old female, with vitamin B12 deficiency. The male patient had a history of (partial) resection of the ileum/jejunum/colon because of intestinal ischemia. The female patient had a history of hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes with complications (including peripheral neuropathy), mitochondrial myopathy, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Both patients presented with severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, and impaired walking. Next to this, the male patient suffered from depressive symptoms and mild disorientation, and the female patient experienced neuropathic pain. She also mentioned a positive family history for B12 deficiency. The first patient had normal to high B12 levels because he was already on B12 injections (once every three weeks) because of an earlier diagnosed B12 deficiency. The female patient had B12 levels within normal range (holotranscobalamin 54 pmol/L) and her diagnosis was confirmed by elevated homocysteine and methylmalonic acid levels. Treatment with frequent hydroxocobalamin injections and other supplements significantly improved their cognitive, emotional, and motor functions. These cases underscore the need for a high level of clinical suspicion in elderly patients, also in cases of normal B12 levels but with clinical signs of deficiency and a positive risk factor, such as stomach or small bowel surgery or positive family history.

Plain language titleA case study of two elderly patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and neurological and cognitive complaintsPlain language summaryVitamin B12 deficiency in elderly patients can be easily overlooked as symptoms can also be caused by other age-related diseases or the aging process. In our article we present two elderly patients, a 71-year-old male and a 74-year-old female, with neurological complaints, such as severe fatigue, cognitive decline, and walking impairment. The male patient had a history of small bowel surgery, and the female patient mentioned that she had several siblings with B12 deficiency. Additionally, the male patient suffered from depressive symptoms and mild disorientation, and the female had severe pain in her legs. The male patient already received B12 injections because of an earlier B12 diagnosis, but with a relatively low frequency. The B12 levels of the female patients were within the normal range. However, her diagnoses could be confirmed with additional laboratory measurements, such as homocysteine and methylmalonic acid. Treatment with frequent B12 injections and other supplements significantly improved their cognitive, emotional, and motor functions. Our study shows that clinicians should carefully consider the possibility of B12 deficiency in elderly patients with cognitive and neurological complaints, also in patients with B12 levels within the normal range, but with risk factors such as family members with B12 deficiency or conditions that may impair the vitamin B12 uptake, such as previous stomach or small bowel surgery.

A rare case of pulmonary embolism in a Mt. Kilimanjaro recreational hiker: A case report with review of literature.

Pulmonary embolism is one of the rarest complications of high-altitude sickness that can coexist with high altitude pulmonary edema. The risk of developing this phenomenon increases significantly with prolonged stay in high altitudes especially above 5000 m. Given the fatality of the condition, early screening and management is crucial; however, there is no gold standard approach in diagnosis. A 44-year-old male, a Tanzanian tourist first time hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro developed difficulty in breathing on the 4th day of ascending on a route that takes 6 days to summit whereby he was saturating at 38% on room air at the height of 4775 m. He was admitted with the clinical diagnosis of high altitude pulmonary edema. However, in the course of treatment for 72 h with no improvement, further investigations including computed tomography scan were suggestive of pulmonary embolism whereby he was treated with full recovery. Pulmonary embolism case reports are increasingly rising with the difficult to notice among high altitude pulmonary edema patients given their presentation similarities. A high index of suspicion based on clinical examination and investigations should prompt a clinician to include or exclude it.

Spinal ganglioneuroma with extension to the brachial plexus. The challenges for total surgical excision, a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Ganglioneuromas are benign neurogenic tumors that arise from the sympathetic ganglia. They are less aggressive compared to the more immature neuroblastomas and ganglioneuroblastomas but can grow to exert mass effect on surrounding tissues. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 7 years old girl who presented with progressive quadriplegia for 4 months. On examination, she had a right supra-clavicular mass with reduced power in the right hand than the left. Power in the lower limbs was also reduced with hyper-reflexia, clonus and Babinski positive. Laboratory investigations were unremarkable and Chest X-Ray showed a widened mediastinum. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan revealed an extra-medullary spinal tumor at C6/C7 extending laterally on the right through the C6/7 neuro-foramen to the para-spinal tissue and brachial plexus. A C6/7 laminectomy with Spinal cord decompression by partial resection of the tumor was done. Histology of the resected tissue showed ganglioneuroma. DISCUSSION: The presentation of Ganglioneuromas is usually asymptomatic until they are huge enough to exert mass effect on surrounding tissue. Most are located in the posterior mediastinum, retro-peritoneum and neck. Due to this, it may be very challenging to achieve total resection especially when they surround major vessels or nerves. A multi-disciplinary approach is needed for the best surgical outcomes but this is not always realized in our setting. CONCLUSION: In resource limited settings, more collaboration and training is needed to realize appropriate management of complex surgical conditions. Although complications are not uncommon, total surgical excision is necessary to prevent recurrence and progression of Ganglioneuromas.

Parkinson's Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: Pesticides as a Double-Edged Sword.

Long-term exposure to pesticides used in agriculture is increasingly being identified as a risk factor for developing Parkinson's disease. How chronic pesticide exposure might contribute to the growth of Parkinson's disease in the mainly agricultural communities of Sub-Saharan Africa has thus far received limited attention. There are specific concerns in this area of the world: aging of the population, in combination with chronic exposure to widely used pesticides, including those that have been restricted elsewhere in the world because of neurotoxicity and other health risks. Of interest, the prevalence of Parkinson's disease among specific (semi)nomadic populations in Tanzania seems very low, possibly due to their lack of exposure to agricultural chemicals. But at the same time, pesticides have also brought important benefits to this part of the world. Specifically, in Sub-Saharan Africa, pesticides have been directly helpful in preventing and controlling famine and in containing major human infectious diseases. This creates a complex risk-benefit ratio to the use of pesticides within a global perspective, and urgently calls for the development and implementation of affordable alternatives for areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa, including non-neurotoxic compounds and non-chemical alternatives for the use of pesticides.

Mucuna pruriens to treat Parkinson's disease in low-income countries: Recommendations and practical guidelines from the farmer to clinical trials. Paving the way for future use in clinical practice.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive and disabling neurodegenerative disease that rapidly worsens and results in premature mortality if left untreated. Although levodopa is the gold standard treatment for PD globally, its accessibility and affordability are severely limited in low- and middle-income countries worldwide. In this scenario, Mucuna pruriens (MP), a leguminous plant growing wild in tropical regions, emerges as a potential alternative or adjunct to levodopa-based medications due to its cost-effectiveness and global natural availability. Recent studies have demonstrated that MP can significantly ameliorate motor symptoms, although tolerability may vary. The proposition that MP could play a pivotal role in providing affordable and symptomatic relief for PD in low- and middle-income countries is grounded in its promising therapeutic profile, yet caution is warranted until more comprehensive data on the long-term safety and efficacy of MP become available. This manuscript summarizes the knowledge gained about MP by the authors, focusing on how to cultivate, store, and provide it to patients in the safest and most effective way in clinical trials. We aim to increase clinical trials investigating its safety and efficacy in PD, before promoting individual use of MP on a global scale, particularly in countries where availability and affordability of levodopa-based medications is still limited.

Lack of Association of Vascular Risk Factors with HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders in cART-Treated Adults Aged ≥ 50 Years in Tanzania.

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are highly prevalent in those ageing with HIV. High-income country data suggest that vascular risk factors (VRFs) may be stronger predictors of HAND than HIV-disease severity, but data from sub-Saharan Africa are lacking. We evaluated relationships of VRFs, vascular end-organ damage and HAND in individuals aged ≥ 50 in Tanzania. c-ART-treated individuals were assessed for HAND using consensus criteria. The prevalence of VRFs and end organ damage markers were measured. The independent associations of VRFs, end organ damage and HAND were examined using multivariable logistic regression. Data were available for 153 individuals (median age 56, 67.3% female). HAND was highly prevalent (66.7%, 25.5% symptomatic) despite well-managed HIV (70.5% virally suppressed). Vascular risk factors included hypertension (34%), obesity (10.5%), hypercholesterolemia (33.3%), diabetes (5.3%) and current smoking (4.6%). End organ damage prevalence ranged from 1.3% (prior myocardial infarction) to 12.5% (left ventricular hypertrophy). Measured VRFs and end organ damage were not independently associated with HAND. The only significant association was lower diastolic BP (p 0.030, OR 0.969 (0.943-0.997). Our results suggest that vascular risk factors are not major drivers of HAND in this setting. Further studies should explore alternative aetiologies such as chronic inflammation.