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Background Inflammation is undoubtedly a hallmark of cancer development. Its maintenance within tumors and the consequences on disease aggressiveness are insufficiently understood. Methods Data of 27 tumor entities (about 5000 samples) were downloaded from the TCGA and GEO databases. Multi-omic analyses were performed on these and in-house data to investigate molecular determinants of tumor aggressiveness. Using molecular loss-of-function data, the mechanistic underpinnings of inflammation-induced tumor aggressiveness were addressed. Patient specimens and in vivo disease models were subsequently used to validate findings. Results There was significant association between somatic copy number alterations (sCNAs) and tumor aggressiveness. SOX2 amplification was the most important feature among novel and known aggressiveness-associated alterations. Mechanistically, SOX2 regulates a group of genes, in particular the AP1 transcription factor FOSL2, to sustain pro-inflammatory signaling pathways, such as IL6-JAK-STAT3, TNFA and IL17. FOSL2 was found overexpressed in tumor sections of specifically aggressive cancers. In consequence, prolonged inflammation induces immunosuppression and activates cytidine deamination and thus DNA damage as evidenced by related mutational signatures in aggressive tumors. The DNA damage affects tumor suppressor genes such as TP53, which is the most mutated gene in aggressive tumors compared to less aggressive ones (38% vs 14%), thereby releasing cell cycle control. These results were confirmed by analyzing tissues from various tumor types and in vivo studies. Conclusion Our data demonstrate the implication of SOX2 in promoting DNA damage and genome instability by sustaining inflammation via FOSL2/IL6, resulting in tumor aggressiveness.

Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) remains an animal health problem in sub-Saharan Africa and in Cameroon in particular. Despite more than 40 years of fighting against AAT in some tsetse infested areas, the disease prevalence is still a concern. Improving the control strategies in different settings requires to understand the current epidemiological situation of AAT. The aim of the present study was to update our knowledge on the diversity of tsetse fauna and trypanosome species in the tsetse infested area of Faro and Deo division, Adamawa region, Cameroon. Tsetse flies were caught using Vavoua trap in two villages and the apparent density per trap (ADP) were estimated. After morphological identification of tsetse fly species, flies were dissected and their midguts recovered. The presence of blood meal residues was recorded. Trypanosomes species were checked in the flies' midguts by microscopy followed by PCR method. The vertebrate taxa on which tsetse flies have taken blood meal were determined using the heteroduplex-PCR method. A total of 338 tsetse flies including 11 teneral flies (10 Glossina palpalis palpalis and 01 G. morsitans submorsitans) and 327 non-teneral were trapped in Mayo Lainde and Tchabal Mbabo. Amongst the caught tsetse flies, of the 327 non-teneral flies, 315 (96.3%) were G. p. palpalis, 8 (2.4%) were G. morsitans submorsitans and 4 (1.2%) G. fuscipes fuscipes. Trypanosome infections including Trypanosoma congolense forest (19.88%) and savanah (2.53%) "types", T. brucei s.l. (7.30%) and T. vivax (2.85%) were identified in 45.08% of non-teneral flies (32.38% for single infection and 12.70% for mixed infection). Amongst the 54 blood meals identified in tsetse midguts, 41% were from humans, 33% from cattle and 26% from other vertebrate hosts. About 51.9% of blood meals were found with various trypanosome species including 42.6% with T. congolense and 24% with T. brucei s.l. This study revealed the presence of three tsetse taxa and the circulation of four trypanosome taxa in villages of the Faro and Deo division. About 45% of captured tsetse fly are infected with trypanosome species causing AAT. Tsetse flies feed on humans, cattle and many other vertebrates. Strategies to eliminate the vectors must be improved to reduce the pathological impacts of trypanosome infections in this area.

Aims: A healthy skeletal system with strong bones is essential to overall health. This study aimed to assess lifestyle and bone’s biomarkers of women. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The enrollment took place at the Yaounde Military Hospital from November 2016 to July 2017. Methodology: A set of 105 postmenopausal and 127 premenopausal participants were enrolled from November 2016 to July 2017 in Yaounde. Their physical activities level was evaluated using a questionnaire. Sunlight exposure between 10:00AM and 4:00PM was assessed. Colorimetric methods were used to evaluate calcium, albumin, and alkaline phosphatase activity in plasma. These parameters were then compared within year since menopause (YSM) and osteoporosis risk assessment instrument (ORAI) sub-groups. Results: 13.4% participants were moderately active. Only 22.8% participants had at least 30 minutes sun exposure daily. A multivariable analysis of demographic, lifestyle, biochemical characteristic revealed age, BMI, albumin and calcium were the main factors that influenced bone health among our participants. A significant difference of calcium concentration was found between the two groups whereas albumin was significantly higher in premenopausal than postmenopausal. Albumin was the only variable with a significant difference in the YSM sub-groups while only calcium was non-significantly higher among the ORAI sub-groups. Conclusion: Elevated plasma level of calcium, albumin and alkaline phosphatase could be indicators of high bone turnover.

To embark on an anti-vectorial fight against mechanical vectors of animal trypanosomosis, investigations were undertaken in order to determine the abundance, species diversity and daily activity of tabanids in a cattle ranch in Gabon. The nzi and vavoua traps were used to catch tabanids in three divisions of this ranch. In this study, 616 tabanids were captured: 349 (56.66%) in Division 1, 226 (36.69%) in Division 2 and 41 (6.66%) in Division 3. In the first Division, T. taeniola was the most abundant species with an Apparent Density (ADT) of 2.2, followed by H. pluvialis (ADT = 1.05). In the second Division, H. pluvialis was most abundant with ADT of 1.6, followed by T. taeniola (ADT = 0.38). In the last Division, the most abundant species was H. pluvialis (ADT = 0.15). Comparing the relative abundance of catches with sites (Divisions), we realized that there was no statistically significant difference in catches with trapping sites. It was noticed that Division 3 recorded the highest diversity index values. We realized that the nzi trap recorded higher tabanid catches than the vavoua trap. The diurnal activity rhythm of the most frequent species encountered slightly differed with prospection sites.

Aims: Lipids serve several important physiologic functions like energy homeostasis or biosynthesis of hormone within the human body. The deterioration of lipid metabolism which is favoured by menopause is the source of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the plasma lipid profile and dyslipidemia prevalence of some Cameroonian women. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The enrollment took place at the Yaounde Military Hospital from November 2016 to July 2017. Methodology: To achieve this goal, two sets of 105 postmenopausal and 127 premenopausal participants were enrolled in this study. 5ml of blood were collected on EDTA coated tubes from each participant. Enzymatic methods were used to evaluate total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride, while LDL cholesterol was determined using the Friedewald equation. These biological parameters were used to determine dyslipidemia. Thereafter, they were compared within age and year since menopause subgroups. Results: There was no significant difference in the mean values of total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C as well as triglyceride between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The mean HDL-C concentration was stable in the age subgroups while the mean total cholesterol and LDL-C were slightly increasing as postmenopausal participants got older. LDL-C level was significantly higher in women who had been in menopause for more than 15 years. The overall dyslipidemia prevalence was 53%. Dyslipidemia was significantly higher in the subgroup of women who had freshly entered menopause. Conclusion: Even though there was no change in the mean concentration of the plasma lipid parameters, of pre- and postmenopausal participants there was a general need to improve their lifestyle in order to reduce dyslipidemia prevalence.

Additional file 3: Table S3. Concordance between RDT and PCR targeting T. b. gambiense.

Additional file 2: Table S2. Concordance between RDT and PCR targeting all trypanosome species.

Additional file 2. Correlation of GenomeSTRiP and cn.MOPS and supplementary figures.

Additional file 1: Table S1. Concordance between CTC and RDT.

Additional file 4: Figure S3. Rhipicephalus annulatus dorsal and ventral views.

Additional file 7: Figure S6. Rhipicephalus decoloratus dorsal and ventral views.

Additional file 10: Figure S9. Rhipicephalus microplus dorsal and ventral views.

Additional file 3: Figure S2. Hyalomma truncatum and Hyalomma rufipes dorsal and ventral views.

Introduction The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the treatment of HIV infection has provided different good results: like long-term viral suppression, the decrease of opportunistic infections, and repair of the immune system. Methods We carried out a hospital-based cross-sectional analytic study involving 315 participants 228 were on HAART (group 1) and 87 were HAART-naive (group 2) at the HIV treatment centre of the Bamenda regional hospital with our study population being all people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in the North West region of Cameroon. The sampling was performed from the 15th of March to the 30th of June 2017. The questionnaire was administered face to face with participants and their vital signs taken. Blood pressure was measured using an automated electronic blood pressure monitor and hypertension (HTN) was considered as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90mmHg. Results The prevalence of hypertension in the HAART group was 36.44% (n=82, CI: 30.15%-43.10%) compared to that of the HAART-naive group which was 13.33% (n=12, CI: 7.08%-22.13%, P=0.01). HAART was associated with HTN after controlling for gender, family history of hypertension, body mass index (BMI), smoking and alcohol consumption. The odds ratio of the HAART-treated versus the HAART-naive was 3.86 (95% CI: 1.98-7.50). We also found an association between TDF/3TC/EFV (OR=2.83), AZT/3TC/NVP (OR=2.82), AZT/3TC+EFV (OR=3.48) and TDF/3TC+NVP (OR=2.36) and HTN whereas those on AZT+3TC+ATV/r (OR=0.84) and TDF+3TC+ATV/r (OR=0.45) were not associated to hypertension. Conclusion Our result suggests that blood pressure should be periodically measured and treated when necessary in PLWHIV on HAART.