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.

Background Although diabetes and poor glycaemic control significantly increase the risk of tuberculosis and adversely affect tuberculosis treatment outcomes, the global burden of diabetes in the context of tuberculosis remains unknown. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of diabetes among patients with tuberculosis at global, regional, and country levels. MethodsWe searched PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, Web of Science, and Global Index Medicus to identify studies published between Jan 1, 1986, and June 15, 2017, on the prevalence of diabetes in patients with active tuberculosis, with no language restrictions. Criteria to diagnose tuberculosis and diabetes concurred with WHO guidelines. Methodological quality of eligible studies was assessed, and random-effect models meta-analysis served to obtain the pooled prevalence estimate of diabetes among patients with active tuberculosis, globally. Heterogeneity (I²) was assessed via the χ² test on Cochran's Q statistic. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016049901. FindingsWe screened 7565 records of which 200 studies (2 291 571 people with active tuberculosis) were included in meta-analyses. The pooled prevalence of diabetes was 15·3% (95% prediction interval 2·5-36·1; I² 99·8%), varying from 0·1% in Latvia to 45·2% in Marshall Islands. Subgroup and metaregression analyses for identifying sources of heterogeneity showed that four International Diabetes Federation (IDF) regions (North America and Caribbean [19·7%], western Pacific [19·4%], southeast Asia [19·0%], Middle East and North Africa [17·5%]) had significantly higher prevalence estimates than the three others (Africa [8·0%], South and Central America [7·7%], and Europe [7·5%]; p<0·0001). Additionally, the prevalence increased with age, in men, and in countries with low tuberculosis burden. The prevalence of diabetes was decreased in countries that had low incomes and low Human Development Index scores. The form of tuberculosis infection and presence of HIV seemed not to affect the prevalence of diabetes among patients with active tuberculosis.Interpretation This study suggests a high burden of diabetes among patients with active tuberculosis, with disparities according to age, sex, regions, level of country income, and development. Cost-effective strategies to curb the burden of diabetes among patients with active tuberculosis are needed.

Currently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the priority of the global health agenda. Since the first case was reported in Wuhan, China, this infection has continued to spread and has been considered as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) within 3 months of its outbreak. Several studies have been done to better understand the pathogenesis and clinical aspects of the disease. It appears that COVID-19 affects almost all body organs due to the direct effect of the virus and its induced widespread inflammatory response. This multi-systemic aspect of the disease has to be inculcated in COVID-19 management by health providers to improve patient outcomes. This strategy could help curb the burden of the disease especially in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) like most African countries where the pandemic is at an "embryonic" stage.

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The objective was to summarize existing data on the prevalence of active tobacco smoking among patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus in Africa. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and AJOL to include studies published from January 01, 2000 to August 23, 2017 reporting on the prevalence of active smoking in individuals aged ≥15 years with hypertension or diabetes mellitus residing inside Africa. We used a random-effects meta-analysis model to pool studies. The pooled prevalence of active smoking among patients with hypertension or diabetes was 12.9% (95%CI: 10.6–15.3; 50 studies; 16,980 patients) and 12.9% (95%CI: 9.6–16.6; 42 studies; 18,564 patients), respectively. For both conditions, the prevalence of active smoking was higher in males than in females (p < 0.001), and in Northern compared to sub-Saharan Africa (p < 0.001). There was no difference between urban and rural settings, and between community-based and hospital-based studies, except for patients with diabetes for whom the prevalence was higher in hospital-based studies (p = 0.032). The prevalence of active smoking is high among patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus in Africa, with the heaviest burden in Northern Africa. Interventions for smoking prevention or cessation should be implemented in these high risk populations, targeting particularly the males.

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 ongoing 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.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an unprecedented pandemic. COVID-19 is a highly contagious and potentially fatal respiratory infection which has spread within three months of its outbreak to more than 173 countries, causing 3.7 million infections and 256,551 deaths at this writing. Unfortunately, no treatment or vaccine currently exists for COVID-19, although several clinical trials are on-going to find a definite solution to this pandemic. Prevention through public health measures remain the best strategy recommended till date. This prevention involves physical distancing and compulsory confinement at home in several European countries, in the UK and USA. Unfortunately, home confinement decreed in most high-income countries like France has been dangerous for women, victims of psychological, physical and sexual violence from their intimate partner. Violence between intimate partners has become an unintended consequence of the stay-at-home policy against COVID-19. Since the promulgation of a home confinement decreed in many high resource settings (USA, UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, etc), the rate of violence between intimate partners has increased tremendously resulting to the worst scenario, women’s death in some of these countries. The stay-at-home law is not yet a national decree in several low resource settings like Africa, where COVID-19 has not been declared an epidemic in several countries. However, intimate partner violence has been reportedly described as a real violation of women’s right before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in the African continent. This commentary highlights the effects of intimate partner violence due to COVID-19 confinement in France and extrapolates what may be the effect of an implementation of a COVID-19 confinement law in Cameroon. Also, the authors suggest recommendations to lessen the burden of intimate partner violence in countries with a stay-at-home policy.

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