Sarcopenia is associated with worsened outcomes in solid cancers. Temporalis muscle thickness (TMT) has emerged as a measure of sarcopenia. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between TMT and outcome measures in patients with malignant intra-axial neoplasms. We searched Medline, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane databases for relevant studies. Event ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were analysed using the RevMan 5.4 software. Where meta-analysis was impossible, vote counting was used to determine the effect of TMT on outcomes. The GRADE framework was used to determine the certainty of the evidence. Four outcomes were reported for three conditions across 17 studies involving 4430 patients. Glioblastoma: thicker TMT was protective for overall survival (OS) (HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.46–0.76) (GRADE low), progression free survival (PFS) (HR 0.40; 95% CI 0.26–0.62) (GRADE high), and early discontinuation of treatment (OR 0.408; 95% CI 0.168–0.989) (GRADE high); no association with complications (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.60–1.10) (GRADE low). Brain Metastases: thicker TMT was protective for OS (HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.67–0.78) (GRADE moderate); no association with PFS (GRADE low). Primary CNS Lymphoma: TMT was protective for overall survival (HR 0.34; 95% CI 0.19–0.60) (GRADE moderate) and progression free survival (HR 0.23; 95% CI 0.09–0.56) (GRADE high). TMT has significant prognostic potential in intra-axial malignant neoplasms, showing a moderate to high certainty for its association with outcomes following GRADE evaluation. This will enable shared decision making between patients and clinicians.

Malaria is a major infectious disease globally with the highest incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease contributes to significant morbidity and

Hyperhidrosis affects approximately 4.8% of the US population, impairing quality of life with excessive sweating. Glycopyrronium tosylate (GT), a topical anticholinergic, treats primary axillary hyperhidrosis in adults and pediatric patients. Despite its use, comprehensive evaluation of GT’s long-term safety and efficacy has been lacking. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess GT’s effectiveness and safety profiles. Following Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a thorough search of electronic databases for clinical trials on GT. Studies underwent quality assessment and data extraction based on predefined criteria. Primary outcomes included changes in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale (HDSS), and Axillary Sweating Daily Diary (ASDD) or its change score (ASDD-C). Secondary outcomes evaluated safety concerns like mydriasis, dry mouth, urinary hesitation, and treatment-emergent adverse events. Our analysis, integrating data from three randomized controlled trials, highlights GT’s efficacy in improving quality of life and reducing sweating severity. Although minor adverse effects were reported, no significant increase in serious adverse events was observed. These findings suggest GT as a promising treatment for primary axillary hyperhidrosis, with benefits outweighing minimal side effects.

Sleep health in adolescence is a global public health concern. However, limited studies on adolescent sleep health in Africa exist, and the extent of the available literature on the African continent has not been previously mapped. This review aimed to map the studies on adolescent sleep health in Africa with a focus on the geographical distribution, publication trends, pattern of sleep health measures, prevalence of sleep disorders, the barriers and facilitators to good sleep health, rural-urban disparities, as well as the associations of sleep health with mental health, school schedule and cardio-metabolic risk among the adolescents. All published articles on adolescent sleep health in Africa in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian languages were to be included. We conducted a scoping review by searching five databases: MEDLINE (via PubMed), CINAHL (via EBSCOHost), PsycINFO (via EBSCOHost), Scopus, and the African Journal Online (AJOL), from the inception of the databases to January 2025. As previously highlighted in our published protocol, we used the JBI methodology for the scoping review. After screening 921 titles and abstracts and 78 full-text articles, we included 43 articles. There has been an increasing number of studies on adolescent sleep in Africa in the past 25 years. Cross-sectional studies were the most frequent design (67.4%). Most studies focused on sleep quantity and quality, with small sample sizes and scanty evidence on other aspects of sleep health. Inadequate weekday sleep duration was common among adolescents, often compensated by longer weekend sleep durations. Screen use at bedtime, sleeping environment, school schedules, and chronic medical conditions were the major risk factors for sleep disturbances. Poor sleep was associated with poor academic performance, depression, anxiety, and adverse cardiometabolic risk. This review shows a lack of studies on the multidimensional aspects of sleep health and the need for more objective sleep measures to better characterise the sleep health of adolescents in Africa. Larger studies with longitudinal and mixed-method designs are needed to drive the planning and execution of interventions to improve sleep health among African adolescents.

Introduction Despite the broad spectrum of neurological symptomatic manifestation in COVID19 patients, the brain tissue susceptibility and permissiveness to SARS-Cov2 infection is yet uncertain. This critical appraisal aims at bridging the gap by consolidating the body of evidence for meticulous evaluation of molecular neuropathological pathways and CSF diagnostic signatures of SARS-Cov2 infection in the central nervous system (CNS) that will underpin further strategic approach for neuroprotection and treatment of neurological COVID19 Methods and Analysis We have developed the protocol of this review according to the provisions of Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer’s Manual for Evidence Synthesis, 2015 and Arksey and O Malley’s Methodological Framewotk, 2005. The articles for this review will be sourced from several electronic databases including EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), Cochrane, Crossref Metadata and Semantic scholar. Herein we generated the search strategy using the medical subject headings [ MeSH Terms], term in all field bibliography at all permutations in conjunctions with boolean operators Ethical Clearance and Dissemination plan Herein the review will not involve the human participants henceforth the ethical clearance approval is not applicable. We will disseminate the final findings of this review to scientific conferences at local and international level. The manuscript for final findings will be published on reputable journal of neuroscience.

Introduction: The implantation of neuromodulation devices is an effective treatment option for neurological conditions, including movement disorders. However, there are associated risks of infection and reoperation. Antibiotic-impregnated envelopes may mitigate these risks, as demonstrated in cardiology, but their safety and efficacy in neuromodulation remain unexplored. This study seeks to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated envelopes in reducing infection and reoperation rates in neuromodulation surgeries, offering recommendations to enhance safety and cost-effectiveness in neuromodulation therapies. Methods and Analysis: Following PRISMA and SWiM guidelines, we will conduct an exhaustive search across major databases, including Medline, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Library, to identify all original research articles that investigate the efficacy of antibacterial envelopes for neuromodulation implants and report outcomes with the use of these envelopes. Exclusion criteria include reviews, meta-analyses, case studies, letters to the editor and abstract-only articles. Primary outcomes will include infection rates post-implantation, while secondary outcomes will encompass safety metrics such as complications, reoperation rates and cost-effectiveness. Comprehensive data extraction will capture the study design, participant demographics, specific neuromodulation procedures and detailed outcome measures. Study findings will provide critical insights into the effectiveness of antibiotic-impregnated envelopes in improving patient outcomes in neuromodulation procedures. PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42024549200: available via https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024549200