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Africa is grappling with severe food security challenges driven by population growth, climate change, land degradation, water scarcity, and socio-economic factors such as poverty and inequality. Climate variability and extreme weather events, including droughts, floods, and heatwaves, are intensifying food insecurity by reducing agricultural productivity, water availability, and livelihoods. This study examines the projected threats to food security in Africa, focusing on changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and the frequency of extreme weather events. Using an Exponential Growth Model, we estimated the population from 2020 to 2050 across Africa's five sub-regions. The analysis assumes a 5% reduction in crop yields for every degree of warming above historical levels, with a minimum requirement of 225 kg of cereals per person per year. Climate change is a critical factor in Africa's food systems, with an average temperature increase of approximately +0.3 °C per decade. By 2050, the total food required to meet the 2100-kilocalorie per adult equivalent per day will rise to 558.7 million tons annually, up from 438.3 million tons in 2020. We conclude that Africa's current food systems are unsustainable, lacking resilience to climate shocks and relying heavily on rain-fed agriculture with inadequate infrastructure and technology. We call for a transformation in food systems through policy reform, technological and structural changes, solutions to land degradation, and proven methods of increasing crop yields that take the needs of communities into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite the broad improvement in air quality, air pollution remains a major leading global risk factor for ill health and deaths each year. Air pollution has a significant impact on both health and economic growth in Africa. This paper reviews the health impacts of air pollution and the benefits of air pollution mitigation and prevention on climate change. Methods: We conducted a narrative review and synthesized current literature on the health impact of air pollution in the context of changing climate in Africa. Results: Particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in Africa pose significant health risks due to various sources, including household fuels and industrial emissions. Limited air quality monitoring hampers accurate assessment and public health planning. Africa's rapid urbanization exacerbates air pollution, impacting vulnerable populations disproportionately. Renewable energy adoption and improved monitoring infrastructure are crucial for mitigating air pollution's economic and health impacts. Recommendations include adopting air quality standards, identifying pollution sources, and prioritizing interventions for vulnerable groups. Integrating renewable energy into development plans is essential for sustainable growth. African leaders must prioritize environmental policies to safeguard public health amid ongoing industrialization. Conclusions: Air pollution prevention remains a vital concern that requires leaders to engage stakeholders, and other opinion leaders in society. African leaders should proactively explore new avenues to integrate non‑polluting renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind and hydropower into their national development plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Africa faces diverse and complex population/human health challenges due to climate change. Understanding the health impacts of climate change in Africa in all its complexity is essential for implementing effective strategies and policies to mitigate risks and protect vulnerable populations. This study aimed to outline the major climate change-related health impacts in Africa in the context of economic resilience and to seek solutions and provide strategies to prevent or reduce adverse effects of climate change on human health and well-being in Africa. Methods: For this narrative review, a literature search was conducted in the Web of Science, Scopus, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases. We also searched the reference lists of retrieved articles for additional records as well as reports. We followed a conceptual framework to ensure all aspects of climate change and health impacts in Africa were identified. Results: The average temperatures in all six eco-regions of Africa have risen since the early twentieth century, and heat exposure, extreme events, and sea level rise are projected to disproportionately affect Africa, resulting in a larger burden of health impacts than other continents. Given that climate change already poses substantial challenges to African health and well-being, this will necessitate significant effort, financial investment, and dedication to climate change mitigation and adaptation. This review offers African leaders and decision-makers data-driven and action-oriented strategies that will ensure a more resilient healthcare system and safe, healthy populations—in ways that contribute to economic resiliency. Conclusions: The urgency of climate-health action integrated with sustainable development in Africa cannot be overstated, given the multiple economic gains from reducing current impacts and projected risks of climate change on the continent's population health and well-being. Climate action must be integrated into Africa's development plan to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, protect vulnerable populations from the detrimental effects of climate change, and promote economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is reported to increase postoperative length of stay (LoS) and hospitalization costs in non-African settings. The impact of SSI on postoperative LoS and hospitalization costs in an African country such as South Africa (SA) is unknown. The aim of this research was to address this gap in the knowledge. Patients and Methods: This was a sub-analysis of data from a pre-existing laparotomy patient registry, collected at a quaternary SA hospital over a 5-year period. Demographic information, comorbidity, surgery-related variables, SSI, and other inpatient complications were collected for each patient during a retrospective chart review. Postoperative LoS was the primary study outcome. Quantile regression was used to investigate the impact of SSI across percentiles of postoperative LoS. Crude estimates of hospitalization costs attributed to SSI were also determined. Results: SSI was associated with an additional 1.06 days of hospitalization at the 25th percentile of postoperative LoS. The additional cost attributed to SSI at this percentile of postoperative LoS was ZAR8900/ $1180. SSI had no significant impact at other percentiles of postoperative LoS. Conclusion: SSI had implications for healthcare resource utilization and hospitalization costs in our setting, but only in patients who had shorter postoperative stays in hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A published report of surgical site infection (SSI) incidence and risk factors following laparotomy in a South African (SA) setting is lacking. This information would have important implications for SSI clinical prediction rules in SA patients undergoing this common surgical procedure. This study sought to determine the incidence and associated risk factors for SSI following laparotomy in a SA setting. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review study of 439 patients who underwent laparotomy at a SA quaternary hospital over a 5-year period. Demographic information, comorbidities, medication use, and surgery-related variables were collected for each patient. The Centers for Disease Control definition of SSI was used in this study. The incidence of SSI was determined using conventional epidemiological methods. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for SSI. Results: The incidence of SSI was 16.6% (CI: 13.4-20.4%). Risk factors for SSI included infectious indication for surgery (Odds Ratio, OR: 3.32, CI: 1.16-9.47; p=0.003), preoperative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory use (OR: 2.82, CI: 1.33-5.95; p=0.007), preoperative hypoalbuminemia (OR: 2.47, CI: 1.12-5.42; p=0.025), Bogota bag use (OR: 2.23, CI: 1.05-4.74; p=0.036), and perioperative blood transfusion (OR: 2.51, CI: 1.33-4.75; p=0.004). Conclusion: The incidence of SSI in SA patients undergoing laparotomy is higher than that reported for mixed surgical populations. Several risk factors for SSI were identified. The prognostic relevance of these risk factors, and the reduction in SSI risk when these factors are addressed requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context:Novel biomarkers are essential for developing rapid diagnostics and therapeutic interventions Objective:This review aimed to highlight biomarker characterisation and assessment of unique bacterial pili. Methods:A PubMed search for bacterial pili, diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutics was performed, with emphasis on the well characterised pili. Results:In total, 46 papers were identified and reviewed. Conclusion:Extensive analyses of pili enabled by advanced nanotechnology and whole genome sequencing provide evidence that they are strong biomarker candidates.Mycobacterium tuberculosiscurli pili are emphasised as important epitopes for the development of much needed point-of-care diagnostics and therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Accessory articulation of the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. We present two cases of accessory articulation of the transverse processes of the left C5/C6 and C6/C7 cervical vertebrae. The articulation at C5/C6 was found in a 34-year-old male following a mob assault, the C6/C7 accessory articulation occurred in a 28-year-old female involved in a high velocity motor-vehicle accident. Cervical spine fractures were suspected in both cases. Recognition of this variant anatomy and differentiation from a fracture is important especially in an acute trauma setting to prevent unnecessary immobilization and inappropriate specialist referral of these patients. Our search revealed only five previously reported cases in the literature mostly occurring at the C5/C6 level. This is only the second case ever described at the C6/C7 level., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by the British Institute of Radiology.)