Background: Beta (β)-endorphins are endogenous neuropeptides found in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of humans but there have been reports of the relationship between the plasma and CSF β-endorphin levels in different clinical conditions. However, the relationship between β-endorphin levels in the plasma and CSF of children with cerebral malaria (CM) has not been reported. Aim: To determine the relationship between β-endorphin levels in the CSF and plasma of children with CM. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study involved 40 children, aged between 6 months and 14 years, admitted with a diagnosis of CM at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: One milliliter (mL) of venous blood and 1mL of CSF obtained from each subject at admission were used to determine the β-endorphin levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Statistical Analysis: Bivariate linear regression was used to determine the association between plasma and CSF β-endorphin levels using the correlation coefficient (r), coefficient of determination (R²), and P values. Results: The plasma β-endorphin levels significantly positively correlated with CSF β-endorphin (r = 0.568, P = 0.001) such that for every unit rise in plasma β-endorphin, CSF β-endorphin rose by 0.252 pmol/L (confidence interval: 0.132–0.371 pmol/L). Conclusion: The finding of positive correlation between plasma and CSF β-endorphin levels in this study suggests a possible direct link between plasma and CSF in CM, probably from the disruption of the blood–brain barrier that has been reported in CM.

Introduction Problematic sleep is a major threat to health and quality of life among adolescents. Hence, to provide directions for research and interventions, there is a need to examine the literature on adolescent sleep health in Africa. However, available studies on adolescent sleep health in Africa have not been properly mapped. Thus, this scoping review aims to investigate the extent and type of available evidence concerning sleep health among adolescents in Africa and to highlight the relationship of adolescent sleep health with adverse mental health outcomes and cardiometabolic risk factors. The review will further highlight areas of agreement and controversies on adolescent sleep health, and identify evidence gaps that require research attention across the continent. Methods and analysis This scoping review will be conducted using Arksey and O’Malley’s six-step procedure. Thus, we have prepared this protocol according to the framework for scoping reviews developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. To identify eligible studies, we will search MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, AJOL, JSTOR, HINARI and Google Scholar. The review will include all published articles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian languages on adolescent sleep health in Africa from the inception of the databases, while relevant information will be extracted from included studies using an adapted data extraction tool. The results will be presented using tables and charts as appropriate. Ethics and dissemination The scoping review does not require ethical approval because the publications to be used for the review are publicly available and the study does not involve contact with humans or other animals as research participants. Furthermore, clinical records will not be used for the study. Upon completion, findings from the study will be disseminated through presentations at scientific meetings and publication in a relevant peer-reviewed journal. Scoping review registration Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/5sjwq/).

Objectives: Cerebral malaria (CM) is the most lethal form of malaria, yet its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Cytoadherence, sequestration, alterations in cytokine expression, inflammation, and microvascular obstruction are all hypothesized to be important in the aetio‐pathogenesis of coma which characterizes cerebral malaria and the death which sometimes result. Beta (β)‐endorphin has been postulated to be involved in the pathogenetic processes of inflammation and cytokine expression, although the exact role is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of β‐endorphin in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of children with CM and compare the levels of β‐endorphin in the plasma of children with CM with that of apparently healthy age‐ and sex‐matched controls at Ile‐Ife, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Additional to the standard investigation for CM, CSF and venous blood samples were obtained from the subjects for the determination of β‐endorphin levels.Results: Forty children with CM were studied along with forty age‐ and sex‐matched controls. The mean CSF β‐endorphin (± SD) level for the children with CM was 1.8 ± 0.9 pmol/L. The mean plasma β‐endorphin levels at admission (3.1 ± 2.0 pmol/L) and discharge (4.1 ± 3.3 pmol/L) were higher in children with CM than in the control subjects (2.7 ± 0.7 pmol/L). However, only the mean plasma β‐endorphin levels at discharge was significantly higher than that of controls (p = .012).Conclusion: Children with CM had higher mean plasma β‐endorphin levels compared to the controls and there was increased production of β‐endorphins in children with CM during the course of the illness.