Human genetic variation particularly in Africa is still poorly understood. This is despite a consensus on the large African effective population size compared to populations from other continents. Based on sequencing of the mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit II (MT-CO2), and genome wide microsatellite data we observe evidence suggesting the effective size (Ne) of humans to be larger than the current estimates, with a foci of increased genetic diversity in east Africa, and a population size of east Africans being at least 2-6 fold larger than other populations. Both phylogenetic and network analysis indicate that east Africans possess more ancestral lineages in comparison to various continental populations placing them at the root of the human evolutionary tree. Our results also affirm east Africa as the likely spot from which migration towards Asia has taken place. The study reflects the spectacular level of sequence variation within east Africans in comparison to the global sample, and appeals for further studies that may contribute towards filling the existing gaps in the database. The implication of these data to current genomic research, as well as the need to carry out defined studies of human genetic variation that includes more African populations; particularly east Africans is paramount.
Coronaviruses are a family of related viruses that cause diseases in mammals and avians. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks peripheral nerves.The case:A 65 years old Sudanese male with no diabetes mellitus or hypertension present to the clinic; On examination, he has upper and lower limb weakness (quadriplegia). The condition was preceded by upper respiratory tract infection. Chest X-ray showed features of pneumonia Chest CT scan showed multiple bilateral ground-glass opacities and consolidation typical of COVID-19 pneumonia. Brain MRI was normal. The COVID-19 nasal swab test was positive. Nerve conduction study showed evidence of polyradiculopathies with dominant demyelination supporting the diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome. The patients died after seven days; because of progressive respiratory failure.
Background: Patients with dementia are more prone to acquire COVID-19 infection.Patients with COVID-19 showed a tendency to develop cognitive impairment. Objectives: We aimed to study the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 infection among adult Sudanese demented patients and the prevalence of cognitive impairment among adult Sudanese nondemented patients. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that took place in Sudan, Khartoum state in the period (September to December 2021) in a private neurology/psychiatry clinic. A total of 135 adult Sudanese patients were included in this study and were divided into two groups. The first group consists of 100 patients with a known history of dementia that got infected recently with COVID-19, while the second group consists of 35 patients who developed some sort of cognitive impairment after recovering from COVID-19 infection. Regarding the second group, cognitive functions were assessed by senior consultant neurologist and senior consultant psychiatrist using a well validated neuropsychological measure. Results: Out of 100 patients in the first group, females were 60 and males were 40. Age distribution is between 63 and 98. The common presenting symptoms of COVID-19 among this group were cough and fever (90 patients), diarrhea and vomiting (5 patients), breathlessness (4 patients), coughing of blood (5 patients), convulsions (1 patient), paraplegia (1 patient), and hemiplegia (1 patient). Regarding the second group, age distribution varied from 30 to 80 years. Cognitive functions impairment was noticed as follows: memory recall (22%), memory recognition (23%), memory encoding (24%), processing speed (16%), executive functioning (19%), phonemic fluency (17%), and category fluency (17%). Conclusion: Patients with dementia are more susceptible to develop COVID-19 infection. Patients with COVID-19 Infection are at risk of developing some sort of cognitive impairment after recovery.
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