Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy resulting from a β-globin chain mutation that causes abnormal hemoglobin (HbS) polymerization and leads to severe complications. Current treatment options primarily focus on symptom management, with limited curative potential. Recently, Casgevy, the first CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapy for SCD, has received breakthrough FDA approval. Clinical trials have shown that Casgevy administered to patients aged older than or equal to 12 years enables precise modifications in hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in elevated fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels and a significant reduction in vaso-occlusive events. Unlike conventional treatments, this therapy offers a curative approach and eliminates the need for recurrent transfusions and transplants, thereby improving the quality of life of patients with SCD. Casgevy has emerged as a beacon of hope for SCD patients and signifies a potential paradigm shift in SCD management due to its safety, curative potential, and transformative impact, positioning it as a groundbreaking intervention. Nevertheless, ethical considerations surrounding CRISPR technology and regulatory frameworks must be addressed to ensure responsible application and equitable access to this one-time gene editing therapy. As the authors celebrate this scientific advancement, sustained interdisciplinary collaboration and ethical scrutiny are essential to navigating the evolving landscape of CRISPR technology in medicine. This review aims to provide a detailed insight into the application of Casgevy, challenges associated with its application, future prospects of this therapy, and its comparison with existing treatment options for SCD.

This article examines how artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing dental radiology, a vital aspect of dental diagnosis and treatment planning. AI improves diagnosis accuracy through sophisticated applications like automated anomaly identification, image segmentation, and treatment planning, whereas traditional imaging techniques like periapical and panoramic radiography have limits. Clinical procedures are streamlined, and accurate dental condition diagnosis is made possible by methods such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs). AI contributes to improved patient outcomes by lowering radiation exposure and improving picture quality. Dental radiography has a bright future despite current obstacles including data collection and algorithm training; nonetheless, further study and cooperation are required to maximize AI’s incorporation into clinical practice. AI has the potential to revolutionize dental diagnostics, despite obstacles in data collection and the requirement for strong algorithm training. The creation of innovative imaging modalities, further research on AI applications, and cooperative efforts between scientists, physicians, and industry participants are some of the future directions. The dentistry community may better utilize AI to enhance patient care and diagnostic skills by creating clear criteria for its integration. In the long run, AI has the potential to transform dental radiology, resulting in better treatment outcomes and a more effective practice.

Background: Malaria is a global infectious (vector-borne: Anopheles mosquitoes) disease which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Among all its parasitic (protozoan: Plasmodium sp.) variants, Plasmodium falciparum (PF) is the most virulent and responsible for above 90% of global malaria deaths hence making it a global public health threat. Main context: Despite current front-line antimalarial treatments options especially allopathic medications and malaria prevention (and control) strategies especially governmental policies and community malaria intervention programs in SSA, PF infections remains prevalent due to increased antimicrobial/antimalarial drug resistance caused by several factors especially genetic mutations and auto(self)-medication practices in SSA. In this article, we focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as the largest SSA country by bringing perspective into the impact of self-medication and antimalarial drug resistance, and provided recommendation for long-term improvement and future analysis in malaria prevention and control in SSA. Conclusions: Self-medication and anti-malarial drug resistance is a major challenge to malaria control in DRC and sub-Saharan Africa, and to achieve sustainable control, individual, community and governmental efforts must be aligned to stop self-medication, and strengthen the health systems against malaria.

This article provides an updated overview of Vyjuvek, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medication and its potential in managing dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB). DEB is a rare genetic disorder characterized by skin fragility, blistering, wounds, and scarring. The underlying cause of DEB is the impaired production of type VII collagen (COL7), leading to weakened anchoring fibrils in the skin. Vyjuvek is the first topical gene therapy for DEB, utilizing a genetically modified HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus 1) vector to express human COL7 and promote wound healing. Clinical trials have shown that Vyjuvek increases the probability of complete wound healing compared to placebo. Although further research is needed, Vyjuvek represents a significant advancement in addressing the unmet medical needs of patients with DEB, offering hope for improved quality of life and long-term complication reduction.

The availability and accessibility of neurosurgical care across Africa remains limited despite recent advancements. Overall, Africa accounts for 15% of the global neurosurgical disease burden but has access to less than 1% of neurosurgeons globally. While the number of neurosurgeons has increased in recent decades, huge workforce shortages remain, with the region facing the second-largest neurosurgical deficit. Access to adequate facilities and equipment is also lacking. Barriers like poverty, conflicts, and distance from care centres negatively impact patients’ ability to access services. However, training programs like the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Rabat Training Center have contributed to building local capacity. Use of technologies like neuro-endoscopy is expanding access to more cost-effective interventions for conditions such as hydrocephalus. Undergraduate medical education is also seeing a rise in African students interested in neurosurgery. Despite these advancements, workforce shortfalls, inadequate infrastructure, and challenges posed by geopolitical instability continue to hinder the provision of comprehensive neurosurgical care. Limited research and funding discourage experienced surgeons from practicing in their home countries. Increased international collaboration, support for education, and tackling of structural issues are needed to continue strengthening Africa’s neurosurgical capacity and reducing the disease burden. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the current state of neurosurgery on the continent, highlight achievements, and identify persisting challenges.