Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Christopher M. Woodley, Patricia S. M. Amado, Maria L. S. Cristiano, Paul M. O'Neill
Summary: Recent research has highlighted the need for fully synthetic endoperoxide-based antimalarials due to the rise of resistance to artemisinin in Southeast Asia and the synthetic limitations of the artemisinin scaffold. Various synthetic endoperoxide antimalarials utilizing different endoperoxide warheads have been explored, with two classes - 1,2,4-trioxolanes and 1,2,4,5-tetraoxanes - showing promise and still actively being developed.
MEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Navaporn Posayapisit, Jutharat Pengon, Philip J. Shaw, Chairat Uthaipibull, Darin Kongkasuriyachai, Aung Pyae Phyo, Francois Nosten, Yongyuth Yuthavong, Sumalee Kamchonwongpaisan
Summary: The effectiveness of antimalarial drug P218 against artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum is still uncertain, despite its efficacy against other drug-resistant parasites.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Guoming Li, Yueming Yuan, Shaoqin Zheng, Chenguang Lu, Mingqiang Li, Ruixiang Tan, Hongying Zhang, Rahamatou Silai, Ruimei Liu, Kamal Said Abdallah, Affane Bacar, Qin Xu, Jianping Song, Wanting Wu, Changsheng Deng
Summary: The study found that artemisinin-piperaquine and artemether-lumefantrine maintained high efficacy and tolerance in treating uncomplicated falciparum malaria in the Comoros. However, asymptomatic malaria infections may pose new challenges to malaria control.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Ali Mohamed Ali, Kamunkhwala Gausi, Said A. Jongo, Kamaka R. Kassim, Catherine Mkindi, Beatus Simon, Ali T. Mtoro, Omar A. Juma, Omar N. Lweno, Conrad H. Gwandu, Bakari M. Bakari, Thabiti A. Mbaga, Florence A. Milando, Ali Hamad, Seif A. Shekalaghe, Salim Abdulla, Paolo Denti, Melissa A. Penny
Summary: This study characterized the pharmacokinetics of ART-NQ in adults and children, providing valuable information for determining drug concentrations in patients during treatment.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Moses Ikegbunam, Johnson A. Ojo, Kossiwa Kokou, Ugonna Morikwe, Chukwuemeka Nworu, Chibuzo Uba, Charles Esimone, Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan, Olusola Ojurongbe
Summary: This study investigated artemisinin resistance-associated gene polymorphisms in two regions of Nigeria and did not observe mutations associated with artemisinin resistance. The findings suggest that artemisinin remains highly effective in treating malaria in the study areas.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Quique Bassat, Oumou Maiga-Ascofare, Jurgen May, Jerome Clain, Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma, Mirjam Groger, Ayola A. Adegnika, Jean-Claude Dejon Agobe, Abdoulaye Djimde, Johannes Mischlinger, Michael Ramharter
Summary: The triple artemisinin-based combination therapy (TACT) is a new treatment paradigm for uncomplicated falciparum malaria, which aims to prevent the development and spread of multidrug resistance more effectively than current artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). However, TACT is associated with a slightly higher frequency of adverse drug reactions compared to ACT. The challenge lies in evaluating efficacy and tolerability, and providing objective evidence for the management of patients and prevention of anti-malarial drug resistance by TACT.
Article
Microbiology
Amuza Byaruhanga Lucky, Chengqi Wang, Ahmad Rushdi Shakri, Mohammad Kalamuddin, Anongruk Chim-Ong, Xiaolian Li, Jun Miao
Summary: This study demonstrates the critical role of PfGCN5 gene in stress responses of Plasmodium falciparum, indicating its potential as a target for malaria intervention.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Harvie P. Portugaliza, H. Magloire Natama, Pieter Guetens, Eduard Rovira-Vallbona, Athanase M. Some, Aida Millogo, D. Florence Ouedraogo, Innocent Valea, Hermann Sorgho, Halidou Tinto, Nguyen Van Hong, Antonio Sitoe, Rosauro Varo, Quique Bassat, Alfred Cortes, Anna Rosanas-Urgell
Summary: The study found that in most infections from African cohorts, increased expression of pfap2-g and other sexual ring biomarkers was observed after treatment. The estimated parasite age at the time of treatment was negatively correlated with the increase in pfap2-g transcript levels, suggesting that younger parasites are less susceptible to stimulation of sexual conversion.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tran Dang Nguyen, Bo Gao, Chanaki Amaratunga, Mehul Dhorda, Thu Nguyen-Anh Tran, Nicholas J. White, Arjen M. Dondorp, Maciej F. Boni, Ricardo Aguas
Summary: Triple artemisinin-based combination therapies (TACTs) have shown high efficacy for the treatment of malaria and could delay the emergence and spread of artemisinin resistance, improving treatment outcomes and the chances of malaria elimination.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Neelima Shrivastava, Shah A. Khan, Saif Ahmad, Khalid Al-Balushi, Asif Husain
Summary: This review summarized the recent advances in the development of chemotherapeutic agents for malaria, focusing on the structure-activity relationship of potential antimalarial agents. The authors suggest that the multi-target conjugated hybrid approach is the best strategy for discovering and developing effective antimalarial agents.
MINI-REVIEWS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Lucien Platon, David A. Baker, Didier Menard
Summary: The ring-stage survival assay is the reference assay to measure in vitro Plasmodium falciparum artemisinin partial resistance. The main challenge of the standard protocol is to generate 0-to-3-h postinvasion ring stages (the stage least susceptible to artemisinin) from schizonts obtained by sorbitol treatment and Percoll gradient.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ana Beatriz Batista Rodrigues, Rebecca de Abreu-Fernandes, Zoraima Neto, Domingos Jandondo, Natalia Ketrin Almeida-de-Oliveira, Aline Rosa de Lavigne Mello, Joana Morais, Claudio Tadeu Daniel-Ribeiro, Didier Menard, Maria de Fatima Ferreira-da-Cruz
Summary: Artemisinin is recommended as the first-line drug for P. falciparum infections, but resistance is a concern. A study in Angola found little polymorphism in the Pfkelch13 gene, but the limited sample size may not be representative of all endemic areas.
Article
Immunology
Henglin Yang, Jingyan Wang, Hui Liu, Yan Zhao, Seetha Lakshmi, Xingliang Li, Renhua Nie, Chunfu Li, Hengye Wang, Yaming Cao, Lynette Menezes, Liwang Cui
Summary: The study showed that monthly prophylaxis with NQAZ tablets was well tolerated and highly effective in preventing Plasmodium infections, particularly in protecting against P. vivax.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Joyce Hernandez Maldonado, Oliver Grundmann
Summary: Artemisinin is a crucial drug for malaria treatment, but further research is needed on its potential interactions with other drugs. The metabolism of artemisinin involves primarily CYP2B6 and CYP3A enzymes, and reduced enzyme function may result in treatment failure. Clinicians should be attentive to potential drug interactions and closely monitor patients on artemisinin-based combination therapy.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Mukul Rawat, Abhishek Kanyal, Deepak Choubey, Bhagyashree Deshmukh, Rashim Malhotra, D. Mamatharani, Anjani Gopal Rao, Krishanpal Karmodiya
Summary: This study investigates the genetic and transcriptomic features of artemisinin-resistant parasites. The research identifies mutations in genes such as Kelch13 as molecular markers of resistance. The study also explores the deregulation of key biological pathways in resistant parasites. These findings provide important insights for further research on artemisinin resistance.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
E. B. Esu, M. Chibuzor, E. Aquaisua, E. Udoh, O. Sam, S. Okoroafor, M. Ongom, E. Effa, A. Oyo-ita, M. Meremikwu
Summary: There is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of various interventions to attract and retain health workers in rural and underserved areas. Regulatory measures and recruiting rural students appear to be effective in improving attraction and retention, but challenges remain, such as health workers potentially relocating once obligations are fulfilled.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
M. Chibuzor, I Arikpo, E. Aquaisua, E. Esu, S. C. Okoroafor, S. Omar, E. Effa, A. Oyo-Ita, M. Meremikwu
Summary: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of health workforce registries (HWRs) for improving health systems in low- and middle-income countries. The results suggest that HWRs can improve the distribution and skill-mix of the health workforce, quality and availability of data, as well as user satisfaction. However, more rigorous research from controlled experimental studies is needed to further consolidate the available evidence.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
E. Effa, D. Arikpo, C. Oringanje, E. Udo, E. Esu, O. Sam, S. Okoroafor, A. Oyo-Ita, M. Meremikwu
Summary: Governance and leadership strategies targeting the human resources for health crises in LMICs are diverse, interdependent, and complex. While some strategies show benefits in improving health workforce outcomes, only a few have an impact on population health outcomes.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angela Oyo-Ita, Xavier Bosch-Capblanch, Amanda Ross, Afiong Oku, Ekpereonne Esu, Soter Ameh, Olabisi Oduwole, Dachi Arikpo, Martin Meremikwu
Summary: This study showed that training traditional and religious leaders to support routine immunization in Cross River State, Nigeria was effective in increasing the proportion of children receiving at least one vaccine and improving timely vaccination for pentavalent and measles vaccines. However, there was no impact on the proportion of children up-to-date with vaccination. This indicates the potential of utilizing traditional and religious leaders as influencers for childhood vaccination.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Dimie Ogoina, Garba Iliyasu, Vivian Kwaghe, Akan Otu, Iorhen Ephram Akase, Olukemi Adekanmbi, Dalhat Mahmood, Micheal Iroezindu, Shamsudin Aliyu, Abisoye Sunday Oyeyemi, Stella Rotifa, Mukhtar Abdulmajid Adeiza, Uche Sonny Unigwe, Juliet Ijeoma Mmerem, Farouq Muhammad Dayyab, Zaiyad Garba Habib, Daniel Otokpa, Emmanuel Effa, Abdulrazaq Garba Habib
Summary: The study revealed gaps in knowledge and attitude towards antibiotic prescriptions and antimicrobial resistance among physicians in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria, leading to inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions. Additionally, most of the surveyed hospitals did not have antimicrobial stewardship programs in place.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akaninyene Otu, Emmanuel Effa, Clement Meseko, Simeon Cadmus, Chinwe Ochu, Rauna Athingo, Eve Namisango, Dimie Ogoina, Friday Okonofua, Bassey Ebenso
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Angela E. Oyo-Ita, Patrick Hanlon, Ogonna Nwankwo, Xavier Bosch-Capblanch, Dachi Arikpo, Ekperonne Esu, Christian Auer, Martin Meremikwu
Summary: The study assessed the cost-effectiveness of using traditional and religious leaders for community engagement to improve routine immunisation services in Southern Nigeria. The findings suggest that involving traditional and religious leaders in vaccination is a cost-effective strategy for improving childhood routine vaccination uptake.
Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
John Walley, Akaninyene Otu, Emmanuel Effa, Laura French, Obiageli Onwusaka
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xavier Bosch-Capblanch, Ekpereonne Esu, Stefan Dongus, Chioma Moses Oringanje, Hamed Jalilian, John Eyers, Gunnhild Oftedal, Martin Meremikwu, Martin Roosli
Summary: This study aims to systematically review the effects of RF-EMF exposure on symptoms in human subjects and assess the accuracy of perception of exposure. Relevant literature sources will be searched for randomized trials and crossover trials assessing the effects of RF-EMF exposure. Studies will be assessed for bias and the level of confidence in the evidence will be evaluated using the GRADE approach.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Sonagnon Kouhounde, Kifouli Adeoti, Majid Mounir, Alessandro Giusti, Paulo Refinetti, Akaninyene Otu, Emmanuel Effa, Bassey Ebenso, Victor O. Adetimirin, Josep Mercader Barcelo, Ousmane Thiare, Holy N. Rabetafika, Hary L. Razafindralambo
Summary: This mini-review provides an overview and holistic discussion on the concepts, methodologies, action mechanisms, and applications of probiotic-based multi-components in human, animal, plant, soil, and environment health. It also presents innovative profiling and monitoring methods for analyzing and characterizing these multi-component ingredients, and discusses selected applications and possible action mechanisms.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Akaninyene Otu, Okey Okuzu, Bassey Ebenso, Emmanuel Effa, Nrip Nihalani, Adebola Olayinka, Sanni Yaya
Summary: Mobile health tools delivered through wireless technology are proving to be effective in delivering quality training, rapid clinical decision-making, and monitoring interventions, particularly in under-resourced settings. The deployment of the InStrat COVID-19 health worker training application in Ogun State, Western Nigeria significantly improved health workers' understanding and management of the pandemic, showcasing the potential benefits of such mhealth solutions in similar contexts.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE CITIES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lawrence Mbuagbaw, Anel Schoonees, Joy Oliver, Dachi Arikpo, Solange Durao, Emmanuel Effa, Ameer Hohlfeld, Tamara Kredo, Charles Shey Wiysonge, Taryn Young
Summary: The study investigated the publication patterns of Cochrane authors from sub-Saharan Africa, finding that most authors were from South Africa and Nigeria, with a faster increase in non-Cochrane reviews and about a quarter of reviews covering infectious disease topics.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Akaninyene Otu, Okey Okuzu, Emmanuel Effa, Bassey Ebenso, Soter Ameh, Nrip Nihalani, Obiageli Onwusaka, Tomisin Tawose, Adebola Olayinka, John Walley
Summary: The study trained 1051 health workers in Nigeria through the InStrat COVID-19 app, showing a positive impact on training effectiveness. Particularly, differences in learning outcomes were observed in terms of gender, region, and cadre.
THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Akaninyene Otu, Emmanuel Effa, Victor Umoh, Nicholas Maxwell, Andrew Ekpenyong
Summary: Private sector activities across Africa to tackle COVID-19 include developing rapid diagnostic kits and deploying e-health platforms. Initiatives like those by the Joseph Ukpo Hospitals and Research Institute in Nigeria have helped reduce inequities in living and access to care for disadvantaged populations in rural areas.
PAN AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Udeme E. Ekrikpo, Khuthala Mnika, Emmanuel E. Effa, Samuel O. Ajayi, Chimezie Okwuonu, Bala Waziri, Aminu Bello, Collet Dandara, Andre P. Kengne, Ambroise Wonkam, Ikechi Okpechi
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF KIDNEY DISEASES
(2020)