The Marburg virus (MARV), discovered in 1967, has led to devastating outbreaks over the world; the mortality rate of Marburg virus disease (MVD) varies according to the outbreak and viral type. The very first known filovirus hemorrhagic fever outbreaks occurred in Germany and the former Yugoslavia. MVD is a deadly illness caused by the MARV virus, part of the Filoviridae family. It progresses with early viral replication that damages immune cells, followed by destruction of organs like the spleen, liver, and lymphoid tissues. Combatting this disease requires proper health education, and strong strategies. MVD is a lethal single-stranded RNA virus transmitted by Egyptian rousette bats, with a fatality rate of approximately 90%. This work explored ongoing studies on the recent vaccine developments and experimental therapies, such as a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based vaccine and MVA-BN-Filo, aiming to combat this deadly infection. Over the previous years, MARV has also spread to non-endemic African countries, demonstrating its potential to cause epidemics. Although MARV-specific vaccines are evaluated in preclinical and clinical research, none have been approved for human use. Studies revealed that Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara, a well-established viral vector used to generate vaccines against emerging pathogens, can deliver multiple antigens and has a remarkable clinical safety and immunogenicity record. MVD has been recently reported in Rwanda in 2024, an African country, and nearly 15 outbreaks of MVD have been reported. This review describes the nature of the MVD, key outbreaks, the virus’s pathogenesis, mode of transmission, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, and control and prevention measures to advance MVD treatment, drug development, vaccine creation, and prevention of MVD.

Large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated considerable promise in various domains, including dentistry. This study aimed to evaluate five advanced LLM

Background: Overweight and obesity are global public health concerns, particularly among women of reproductive age. Due to urbanization, sedentary lifestyles, and dietary changes in Rwanda, these health concerns have become more prevalent. This study analyzed data from the 2019/2020 Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey (RDHS) to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of overweight and obesity among Rwandan women. Methods: This study used secondary data from 6831 women aged 15–49 years from the 2019/2020 RDHS and selected through multistage stratified sampling. Sample weights were applied to adjust for the complex survey design. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify associated factors. Result: The overall prevalence of overweight or obesity among women of reproductive age in Rwanda was 26.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 25.1–27.8%]. The prevalence was higher among women aged ≥35 years (32.9%), urban residents (42.2%), those in wealthier households (35.2%), living in Kigali (42.6%) or the Eastern region (27.0%), and among those whose partners had primary (30.8%) or secondary education (46.4%). In the multivariable analysis, all these groups significantly increased odds of being overweight or obese: age ≥35 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.74; 95% CI: 1.20–2.52], urban residence (AOR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.46–2.56), rich wealth status (AOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.52–2.49), residence in Kigali (AOR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.02–2.11) or East (AOR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.06–1.81), and partner’s primary (AOR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.01–1.77) or secondary education (AOR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.01–2.21). Media ownership radio (28.7%, AOR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.06–1.75) and mobile phone (37.3%, AOR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.42–2.15) were also significantly associated with overweight or obesity. Conclusion: Factors like age, urban residence, partner’s education, wealth, and media use were linked to overweight and obesity in Rwandan women. Policymakers should focus on promoting physical activity and healthier diets to address this public health issue.

This review evaluates the evolution and impact of clear aligner therapy (CAT) over the past 25 years. Since its introduction by Align Technology in 1999 as Invisalign, CAT has transformed orthodontic treatment with its clear, removable aligners. Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, covering studies published from 2000 to 2025. Resultsː The review highlights technological advancements, clinical effectiveness, patient satisfaction, limitations, and future prospects of CAT, providing insights into its role in contemporary orthodontics. Conclusionsː CAT has made significant strides in aesthetics, comfort, and convenience over the past 25 years. Despite technological advancements, challenges remain in achieving predictable outcomes for complex tooth movements. Success depends on appropriate case selection, patient compliance, and practitioner expertise.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a significant public health concern globally, with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) bearing a considerable burden. Dysbiosis of the oral microbiome may play a role in the pathogenesis of HTN, with a scarcity of evidence in SSA. The aim of this review was to explore the existing literature on the influence of oral health and dysbiotic oral microbiomes on the development of HTN in SSA countries. Methods: A comprehensive search across electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science, was conducted from 2000 up to December 2025. Studies involving SSA populations and addressing the role of the oral microbiome in HTN were included. Results: The review identified 12 studies investigating oral microbiota dysbiosis and its association with HTN in six SSA countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Senegal, Ghana, and Cameroon). Of these, 10 studies assessed periodontal diseases using clinical indices as a proxy for dysbiosis, 1 study assessed dental caries, while only a single study performed direct microbial analysis (using 16S rRNA gene sequencing). Eight studies reported quantitative effect estimates: odds ratios for the association between periodontal disease or gingivitis and HTN ranged from 1.5 to 4.30 (all P < 0.05), while one study reported an association between dental caries and HTN (odds ratio, 0.72–0.73). The reported prevalence of HTN ranged between 19.7 and 91.8%. Conclusion: This scoping review finds that most available evidence from SSA supports an association between periodontal disease and HTN. However, direct evidence regarding the oral microbiome itself remains very limited, with only one study performing species-level microbial analysis.