Background: Prognostic factors for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID1–9) are not well established. This study aimed to summarize the available data on the association between the severity of COVID-19 and common hematological, inflammatory and biochemical parameters.Methods: EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of sciences were searched to identify all published studies providing relevant data. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool effect sizes.Results: The bibliographic search yielded 287 citations, 31 of which were finally retained. Meta-analysis of standardized mean difference (SMD) between severe and non-severe COVID-19 cases showed that CK-MB (SMD = 0.68,95%CI: 0.48;0.87;P-value:< 0.001), troponin I (SMD = 0.71, 95%CI:0.42;1.00;P-value:< 0.001), D-dimer (SMD = 0.54,95%CI:0.31;0.77;P-value:< 0.001), prothrombin time (SMD = 0.48, 95%CI:0.23;0.73;P-value:< 0.001), procalcitonin (SMD = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.34;1,11;P-value:< 0.001), interleukin-6 (SMD = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.25;1.61;P-value:0.007),C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD = 1.34, 95%CI:0.83;1.86;P-value:< 0.001), ALAT (SMD = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.34;0,71;P-value:< 0.001), ASAT (SMD = 0.96, 95%CI: 0.58;1.34;P-value:< 0.001), LDH (SMD = 1.36, 95%CI: 0.75;1.98;P-value:< 0.001), CK (SMD = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.10;0.87;P-value:0.01), total bilirubin (SMD = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.18;0.47;P-value:< 0.001), γ-GT (SMD = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.83;1.22;P-value:< 0.001), myoglobin (SMD = 1.14, 95%CI: 0.81;1.47;P-value:< 0.001), blood urea nitrogen (SMD = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.18;0.47;P-value:< 0.001) and Creatininemia (SMD = 0.18, 95%CI: 0.01;0.35;P-value:0.04) were significantly more elevated in severe cases, in opposition to lymphocyte count (SMD = -0.57, 95%CI:-0.71; − 0.42;P-value:< 0.001) and proportion of lymphocytes (SMD = -0.81, 95%CI: − 1.12; − 0.49;P-value:< 0.001) which were found to be significantly lower in severe patients with other biomarker such as thrombocytes (SMD = -0.26, 95%CI: − 0.48; − 0.04;P-value:0.02), eosinophils (SMD = − 0.28, 95%CI:-0.50; − 0.06;P-value:0.01), haemoglobin (SMD = -0.20, 95%CI: − 0.37,-0.03;P-value:0.02), albuminemia (SMD-1.67,95%CI -2.40; − 0.94;P-value:< 0.001), which were also lower. Furthermore, severe COVID-19 cases had a higher risk to have lymphopenia (RR =1.66, 95%CI: 1.26;2.20;P-value:0.002), thrombocytopenia (RR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.59;2.17;P-value: < 0.001), elevated procalcitonin level (RR = 2.94, 95%CI: 2.09–4.15;P-value:< 0.001), CRP (RR =1.41,95%CI: 1.17–1.70;P-value:0.003), ASAT(RR =2.27, 95%CI: 1.76;2.94;P-value:< 0.001), CK(RR = 2.61, 95%CI: 1.35;5.05;P-value: 0.01), Creatininemia (RR = 3.66, 95%CI: 1.53;8.81;P-value: 0.02) and LDH blood level (RR = 2.03, 95%CI: 1.42;290;P-value: 0.003).Conclusion: Some inflammatory (procalcitonin, CRP), haematologic (lymphocyte, Thrombocytes), and biochemical (CK-MB, Troponin I, D-dimer, ASAT, ALAT, LDH, γ-GT) biomarkers are significantly associated with severe COVID-19. These biomarkers might help in prognostic risk stratification of patients with COVID-19.

Background and aim: In the last two decades, the proportion of internet users has greatly increased worldwide. Data regarding internet addiction (IA) are lacking in Africa compared to other continents. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of IA in African countries. Methods: We systematically sought relevant articles in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane database published before September 25, 2021. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tool, and we estimated the pooled prevalence of IA using a random-effects meta-analytic model. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Results: We included 22 studies (13,365 participants), and collected data from Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Tunisia between 2013 and 2021. The mean age of participants ranged from 14.8 to 26.1 years, and the most used tool for IA screening was the Young's 20-item Internet Addiction Test. The pooled prevalence rate of IA was 40.3% (95% CI: 32.2%–48.7%), with substantial heterogeneity. The pooled prevalence for Northern Africa was 44.6% (95% CI: 32.9%–56.7%), significantly higher than the prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa, which was 31.0% (95% CI: 25.2%–37.1%). The risk of bias was moderate for most studies, the certainty was very low, and we found no publication bias. Discussion and conclusions: Four in every ten individuals was considered to have IA in Africa. Further research with methodological optimization seems needed, especially for IA screening tools and the representativity of some subregions.

Antipsychotic-induced weight gain is the most prevalent somatic adverse event occurring in patients treated by antipsychotics, especially atypical antipsychotics. It is of particular interest because of its repercussion on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality especially now that the use of second-generation antipsychotics has been extended to other mental health illnesses such as bipolar disorders and major depressive disorder. The mechanism underlying antipsychotics-induced weight gain is still poorly understood despite a significant amount of work on the topic. Recently, there has been an on-going debate of tremendous research interest on the relationship between antipsychotic-induced weight gain and body weight regulatory hormones such as leptin. Given that, researchers have brought to light the question of leptin’s role in antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Here we summarize and discuss the existing evidence on the link between leptin and weight gain related to antipsychotic drugs, especially atypical antipsychotics.

Fraser syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that often presents with ocular, renal, genital and limb’s congenital anomalies. The prognosis of this genetic disorder depends on the severity of the combination of congenital malformations, some of which may be fatal. The diagnosis of Fraser syndrome is based on established clinical criteria and genetic tests. The criteria enabling clinical diagnosis are visible dysmorphic features present at birth, hence, Fraser syndrome can easily diagnosed at birth, except when health professionals are inexperienced in clinical recognition. Herein, we report a case of Fraser syndrome missed out at birth and fortuitously diagnosed at the age of six months in a bid to raise clinicians’ awareness, particularly in resource-limited settings. We report a case of a six-month-old Cameroonian female infant, born at home and taken the following day to a primary healthcare facility for neonatal care. Her mother had no antenatal care until birth. She presented at our health center with respiratory distress and fever. She had a temperature of 38.8 °C and signs of left lung basal consolidation, suggestive of a left lower lober pneumonia, confirmed on chest x-ray. Other incidental clinical findings were several dysmorphic features like bilateral cryptophthalmos, nasal malformation, anal imperforation (with a perianal fistula), an external genital anomaly and syndactyly characteristic of Fraser syndrome associated with pneumonia. The patient responded well to intravenous antibiotics for the treatment of her pneumonia. Thereafter, she was referred to a pediatric surgeaon for surgical corrections of her bilateral cryptophthalmos, anal imperforation, external genital defect and syndactyly. Here we presented a case of Fraser syndrome in a Cameroonian infant whose diagnosis was missed out at birth and fortuitously made at six months of age. In view of the serious and potentially fatal complications of this genetic disorder, we draw clinicians’ attention, especially obstetricians, midwives and pediatricians for a high index of clinical suspicion geared at a timely diagnosis and management. Also, for a timely diagnosis, health education on regular antenatal and postnatal follow ups of the mother-infant couple respectively, cannot be overemphasized.