Reactive case detection (RACD) is the screening of household members and neighbors of index cases reported in passive surveillance. This strategy seeks asymptomatic infections and provides treatment to break transmission without testing or treating the entire population. This review discusses and highlights RACD as a recommended strategy for the detection and elimination of asymptomatic malaria as it pertains in different countries. Relevant studies published between January 2010 and September 2022 were identified mainly through PubMed and Google Scholar. Search terms included “malaria and reactive case detection”, “contact tracing”, “focal screening”, “case investigation”, “focal screen and treat”. MedCalc Software was used for data analysis, and the findings from the pooled studies were analyzed using a fixed-effect model. Summary outcomes were then presented using forest plots and tables. Fifty-four (54) studies were systematically reviewed. Of these studies, 7 met the eligibility criteria based on risk of malaria infection in individuals living with an index case < 5 years old, 13 met the eligibility criteria based on risk of malaria infection in an index case household member compared with a neighbor of an index case, and 29 met the eligibility criteria based on risk of malaria infection in individuals living with index cases, and were included in the meta-analysis. Individuals living in index case households with an average risk of 2.576 (2.540–2.612) were more at risk of malaria infection and showed pooled results of high variation heterogeneity chi-square = 235.600, (p < 0.0001) I² = 98.88 [97.87–99.89]. The pooled results showed that neighbors of index cases were 0.352 [0.301–0.412] times more likely to have a malaria infection relative to index case household members, and this result was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The identification and treatment of infectious reservoirs is critical to successful malaria elimination. Evidence to support the clustering of infections in neighborhoods, which necessitates the inclusion of neighboring households as part of the RACD strategy, was presented in this review.

Background. In Ghana, Cymbopogon citratus leaves together with guava, pawpaw, and lime are processed into a decoction to treat fever. To encourage its usage, preclinical validation of the safety profile of the plant is required. The acute and subchronic toxicities of the conventional Soxhlet ethanolic Cymbopogon citratus leaves extract in Sprague–Dawley rats were investigated. Methods. Pulverized Cymbopogon citratus leaves were extracted with 98% ethanol using the conventional Soxhlet extraction (CSE) method and dried. In the acute toxicity study, a single dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight was administered to six female Sprague–Dawley rats and 1 ml/100 g body weight normal saline to control (6) once, and signs of toxicity were observed every hour for the first 12 hr, 24 hr, and 48 hr through to 14 days. In the subchronic study, the treatment groups were administered 200 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg, and 1200 mg/kg, respectively, of the CSE C. citratus leaves extract for six weeks. Analyses were conducted on the blood, urine, and serum samples of the rats. Histopathological examination of the liver, heart, kidney, spleen, and lungs was carried out at termination. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine statistically significant differences between the test and control rats at . Results. The results revealed that there were no statistically significant differences ( ) in the urinalysis and haematological analysis between control and test rats over the treatment period. Similarly, CSE C. citratus leaves extract did not induce any significant biochemical changes in the treatment group; however, there was a weight loss effect on the treated rats. There were no noticeable morphological changes in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney of the test rats compared to the control. Conclusion. CSE ethanolic C. citratus leaves extract has a weight loss effect, and long-term administration of the extract may not cause any organ-specific toxicity to the consumers.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contact tracing and malaria reactive case detection (RACD) are effective strategies for disease control. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global attention COVID-19 has received in the recent past and present has hampered malaria control efforts. Among these are difficulties in finding and treating malaria-infected individuals in hypoendemic settings in the community, due to lockdown restrictions by countries. It is common knowledge that malaria cases that cannot be identified remain untreated. To sustain the gains made in malaria control, we proposed a two-pronged hybrid approach for COVID-19 contact tracing and malaria RACD in communities with COVID-19 and malaria coinfections. Such an approach would equally factor the burden of malaria cases and COVID-19 to support an effective strategy for responding to current and future pandemics.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with dyslipidaemia and exaggerated immune response with high morbidity and mortality. However, the diagnostic capacity of simple inflammatory indicators to detect dyslipidaemia in T2DM is not fully explored. Aim The study aimed to assess the predictive ability of simple biomarkers of inflammation in the diagnosis of dyslipidaemia among patients with T2DM in the Ho municipality. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 193 patients with T2DM conveniently recruited at the Ho Municipal Hospital. A questionnaire was administered to gather socio-demographic, lifestyle and clinical data. Anthropometry and blood pressures were measured. Fasting blood samples were obtained for full blood count, glucose and lipid assays. Cell line ratios reflecting various inflammation pathways were calculated. Dyslipidaemia was defined using National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The diagnostic value of biomarkers were assessed based on logistic regression and area the under curve (AUC) analyses. Results The overall prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 167(86.5%; 95% CI: 81.0-90.6). A unit change in total white blood cell count was associated with 2.073 odds of developing dyslipidaemia (OR: 2.073: 95% CI: 1.037–4.144; p = 0.039) after adjustment for confounders. Total white blood cell counts significantly discriminated between respondents with dyslipidaemia and those without dyslipidaemia (AUROC: 0.64: 95% CI: 0.57–0.7; p = 0.0195). Conclusion The prevalence of dyslipidaemia is high among study participants. Total white blood cell count appears to be an important clinical tool for the diagnosis of dyslipidaemia in our study cohort. This highlights it’s utility as a potential biomarker for early detection and disease management.

Background: Sex and age are important factors that influence the prevalence of dyslipidaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the age and sex-specific patterns of dyslipidaemia have not been well characterised among patients with T2DM. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of mixed dyslipidaemia (MD) and the age and sex-specific differences in the risk factors of MD among patients with T2DM in the Ho municipality. Methodology: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was designed to conveniently recruit 193 participants with T2DM from the Diabetic Clinic of the Ho Municipal Hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to collect socio-demographic, lifestyle, and clinical variables. Fasting blood samples were obtained for plasma glucose and lipid profile assays. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were made. MD was defined as the presence of dual or triple combination of lipid abnormality. In the subgroup analyses, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with MD. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated at 95% confidence interval (CI). A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Overall, MD was present in 78(40.4%) of total study participants, higher in females (33.1%) and participants aged 50 years or older (27.5%). High LDL-C/high TG combination was most frequent in females (11.4%) and participants aged 50 years or older (11.4%). Alcohol intake was associated with a 15-fold increased risk of MD (AOR: 14.8; 95% CI: 1.48-147.43; p=0.022) among females. Being on insulin and oral combination therapy was associated with a lower risk of MD (AOR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.15-0.91; p=0.0313) among females. In participants aged 50 years or older, family history of diabetes and/or CVD remained significantly associated with MD (AOR: 2.75; 95% CI: 1.05-7.21; p=0.04) after adjusting for confounders. Conclusions: The prevalence of MD was high among patients with T2DM. Older age and female gender were more susceptible to MD with alcohol intake, combined hypoglycaemic therapy and family history of diabetes and/or CVD as independent predictors of MD. There is the need to evaluate MD in patients with T2DM particularly among females and the older population to reduce the risk of future CVD.

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with dyslipidaemia and exaggerated immune response with high morbidity and mortality. However, the capacity of inflammatory indicators to detect dyslipidaemia in T2DM is not fully explored. Aim To assess the predictive ability of simple biomarkers of inflammation in the diagnosis of dyslipidaemia among patients with T2DM in Ho. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 193 patients conveniently recruited at the Ho Municipal Hospital. A questionnaire was administered to gather socio-demographic, lifestyle and clinical data. Anthropometry and blood pressure were measured. Fasting blood samples were obtained for full blood count, glucose and lipid assays. Cell line ratios reflecting various inflammation pathways were calculated. Dyslipidaemia was defined using National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The diagnostic value of biomarkers were assessed based on logistic regression and area the under curve (AUC) analyses. Results The overall prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 167 (86.5%; 95% CI: 81.0–90.6). A unit change in total white blood cell count was associated with 2.073 odds of developing dyslipidaemia (OR: 2.073: 95% CI: 1.037–4.144; p = 0.039) after adjustment for confounders. Total WBC count alone showed modest predictive value for dyslipidaemia (AUROC: 0.64: 95% CI: 0.57–0.7; p = 0.0195), but combining it with other parameters improved their performances significantly with AUCs ranging from 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72–0.94: p < 0.001) for dyslipidaemia to 0.69 (95% CI: 0.21–1.00; p) for coronary risk ratio. Conclusion Dyslipidaemia was highly prevalent. While total WBC count showed modest predictive value, its utility improved significantly when combined with other haematological parameters.