The more effort is put into work, the greater the chances of burnout. This is common among surgical personnel. We carried out this review study to determine the overall and per-specialty prevalence of burnout, and to identify the factors that affect burnout positively and negatively. All full-text articles reporting data related to burnout in surgery and surgical subspecialties using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were included. The following bibliographic databases were searched PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar (First 500 pages). We extracted data on the characteristics of the articles including the burnout prevalence and factors. 27 articles met the criteria. The studies involved 8617 surgeons cutting acrossvarious surgical specialties. The overall prevalence was 47%. The rate per specialty ranged between 15% and 77% with Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgeons having the highest rates. Associated factors included work-related issues and poor work/life balance while protective factors included career advancement, increase in postgraduate years, and having good relationships with co-residents. Our findings are similar to findings from other studies; ENT is seen to have the highest burnout rate while pediatric surgery the lowest. The high prevalence of burnout among surgeons is concerning and the identified factors responsible should be explored by surgeons, hospital management boards, training colleges, and all bodies concerned to see how it can be reduced.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a highly prevalent disease in the modern society. It can be defined as a group of metabolic diseases marked by chronic hyperglycemia arising from defects in insulin secretion or resistance to insulin action, or both. Its predecessor, prediabetes, is also an important entity, and its management is essential to prevent its progression to DM. Together, these entities burden global health and the world economy, and therefore, prevention and management are key to improving global health and reducing the financial burden on the world economy. Comprehensive lifestyle modification has been proven to be a safe and effective method for preventing the progression of prediabetes and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle modifications such as weight loss, exercise, and diets such as low-carbohydrate one, Mediterranean, and very low calorie diets are traditionally recommended. These particular diets aim to attain calorie deficits and thus induce weight loss. Intermittent fasting (IF) is one such diet that focuses more on the timing of calorie consumption. However, there are several methods of achieving this, which are highlighted in this review. IF has been shown to promote weight loss, reduce insulin resistance, improve glycemic control and lower the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, little literature is available regarding the use of IF in managing DM. This review intends to elucidate the role of intermittent fasting in preventing and treating DM, including its benefits and limitations. From the various studies reviewed in this article, it can be deduced that intermittent fasting can achieve suitable glycemic targets and weight control.

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) are common surgical procedures used to treat pediatric hydrocephalus. There have been numerous studies comparing ETV and VPS, but none from an African perspective. In this study, we sought to compare outcomes from African neurosurgical centers and review the associated complications. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses were used in conducting this study. PubMed, Google Scholar, and African Journal Online were searched. Data on treatment successes and failures for ETV and VPS were pooled together and analyzed with a binary meta-analysis. A clinically successful outcome was defined as no significant event or complication occurring after surgery and during follow-up (e.g., infection, failure, CSF leak, malfunction, and mortality). Seven studies fully satisfied the eligibility criteria and were used in this review. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the outcomes of ETV and VPS (OR- 0.27; 95% CI −0.39–0.94, P = 0.42). After reviewing the rates of complications of ETV and VPS from the identified studies, four were recurrent. The infection rates of ETV versus VPS were 0.02% versus 0.1%. The mortality rates were 0.01% versus 0.05%. The reoperation rates were 0.05% versus 0.3%, while the rates of ETV failure and shunt malfunction were 0.2% versus 0.2%. Conclusion: This study concludes that there is no significant difference between the outcomes of ETV and VPS insertion.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-malignant prostate gland enlargement of unknown cause that affects more than 50% of men over 60 and is the most common cause of bladder outlet obstruction and voiding symptoms. BPH is treated primarily with watchful waiting, phytotherapy (herbs), and medical or surgical options. In this study, we sought to examine the different management practices in African urological centers, outcomes of management, and complications. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, African Journal Online, and Google Scholar regarding the management of BPH from inception till date. Articles were selected based on their relevance to the management of benign prostatic enlargement in Africa. Results are reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews. The studies included were conducted from 1997 to 2022. They were from eight different African countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Togo, Ethiopia, Egypt, South Africa, Ghana, and Congo), with Nigeria contributing the most with 10 studies. Exactly 2999 patients were included in the study. Seventy-three (73.49%) percent of these patients totaling 2204, underwent surgical management of BPH, 124 (4.13%) patients were treated with phytomedicines or herbs, and 684 (22.80%) patients were treated with medical therapy. The complications and outcomes were studied and collated. A total of 808 patients opted for non-surgical treatment for BPH in the included studies. In this group, 124 were treated using phytochemicals or natural herbs, and 648 were treated with standard prescription medications. While surgical treatment for benign prostatic enlargement is shifting towards minimally invasive procedures in the developed world, open prostatectomy is still quite popular in Africa. Further research should focus not only on the reason for these disparities in management but also on the rationale for the selection of medical, surgical, or phytotherapy in African urological centres.