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Background Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that affects many people in Africa, yet the burden of the disease is often hidden. The management of epilepsy in Africa is often inadequate due to a lack of awareness and education, limited access to diagnostic tools and treatments, inadequate coordination of care, and the stigma associated with the condition. Method A comprehensive literature review was conducted to gather information on the epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of epilepsy in Africa. The review included studies from peer‐reviewed journals, government reports, and gray literature. Results The review revealed a high burden of epilepsy in Africa. The studies also showed a significant gap in the availability and accessibility of diagnostic tools, antiepileptic drugs, and specialized therapies such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Additionally, the review found that cultural beliefs and practices, socioeconomic factors such as poverty and lack of access to healthcare, and the stigma associated with the condition, also pose significant challenges to managing epilepsy in Africa. Conclusion The study highlights the urgent need for improved epilepsy management in Africa. Additionally, the study calls for further research on epilepsy in Africa and collaboration between all stakeholders to improve the management of epilepsy in Africa.

Malaria affects millions of lives annually, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Despite being largely preventable, 2021 witnessed 247 million infections and over 600,000 deaths across 85 countries. In the ongoing battle against malaria, a promising development has emerged with the endorsement by the World Health Organization (WHO) of the R21/Matrix-M ™ Malaria Vaccine. Developed through a collaboration between the University of Oxford and Novavax, this vaccine has demonstrated remarkable efficacy, reaching 77% effectiveness in Phase 2 clinical trials. It is designed to be low-dose, cost-effective, and accessible, with approval for use in children under three years old. This perspective paper critically examines the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, its development, potential impact on global malaria eradication efforts, and the challenges and opportunities it presents.

Background Limited health insurance coverage in Africa poses a significant challenge, impeding access to quality healthcare for millions of individuals. Methods This paper synthesizes information from existing literature and research on the topic of limited health insurance coverage in Africa. The identified consequences and root causes are presented in a structured format. Results The consequences of limited health insurance coverage in Africa include increased financial burden on households, decreased access to health services, and inadequate coverage for essential health services. These consequences contribute to reduced utilization of healthcare services and negative health outcomes, including the deterioration of existing health conditions and the development of new health problems. The financial burden is particularly significant due to high poverty rates in Africa, forcing households to pay for healthcare services out of pocket and leading to considerable financial strain and even financial ruin. Additionally, limited health insurance coverage restricts access to necessary health services, resulting in delayed treatment, missed diagnoses, and poor health outcomes. Conclusion The root causes of limited health insurance coverage in Africa are multifaceted and include factors such as poverty, lack of government support, and limited private‐sector involvement. These systemic issues contribute to the persistence of inadequate health insurance coverage and hinder efforts to improve access to quality healthcare for African populations.

This paper examines the far-reaching implications of Triple Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy (TACT) in the global battle against malaria. Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy (ACT) is recognized for its cost-effectiveness, lower likelihood of adverse events, and widespread acceptance by patients and healthcare providers. However, TACT introduces novel dimensions to the fight against malaria that make them a superior choice in several aspects. TACT has been demonstrated to address resistance, offer a broader spectrum of action, reduce the risk of treatment failure, and can be tailored to meet regional needs, strengthening the global effort to combat malaria. However, maximizing these benefits of TACT depends on accessibility, particularly in resource-limited regions where malaria is most prevalent. Collaborative efforts among stakeholders, sustainable pricing strategies, efficient supply chains, and public–private partnerships are essential to ensure that TACT reaches needy populations. Moreover, dispelling prevalent malaria myths through health education campaigns is critical in this endeavour. The paper underscores the significance of collaborative initiatives and partnerships among governments, international organizations, research institutions, acadaemia, pharmaceutical companies, and local communities. Together, these efforts can pave the way for the acceptance, adoption, and success of TACT, ultimately advancing the global goal of a malaria-free world.

Background Timely thrombolysis within the golden hour (≤ 60 min from onset) is critical for minimizing disability in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Mobile stroke units (MSUs) enable prehospital thrombolysis, with effectiveness varying by urban versus rural settings, the presence of an onboard neurologist, and telemedicine models. This study maps evidence on MSU effectiveness in reducing time to thrombolysis in AIS compared to standard emergency medical services (EMS), examines factors modulating effectiveness (e.g., geographic setting, operational protocols), and identifies research gaps. Methods This scoping review followed the Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched from January 2008 to March 2025 for peer-reviewed studies reporting thrombolysis timing in AIS with MSUs. Included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, and meta-analyses (using both fixed-effects and random-effects models) were synthesized narratively, with data on time reductions, treatment rates, outcomes, and limitations extracted by two blinded reviewers (NA and EK) and tabulated. Results Thirteen studies (five RCTs, six observational studies, and two meta-analyses) involving 39,800 patients across urban and mixed settings were included. MSUs reduced the median onset-to-needle time by 20–41 min, increasing golden-hour rates from less than 5% (EMS) to 21–33%. Urban settings reduced time by 25–41 min and onboard neurologists by up to 41 min, compared to 20–40 min in rural areas and 30–37 min with telemedicine. Thrombolysis rates increased by 10–20% with MSUs compared to EMS, with earlier treatment associated with improved 90-day mRS outcomes of 0–1. Gaps include limited rural data, sparse real-world evidence of cost-effectiveness, and inconsistent reporting of outcomes. Conclusion MSUs enhance access to thrombolysis in AIS, resulting in substantial time savings and potential benefits to outcomes, particularly in urban settings. Further research is needed on rural applicability, cost-effectiveness, and standardized outcomes to optimize global MSU implementation.

Objective To map the scope, nature, and extent of evidence on using Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for post-stroke arm motor recovery in preclinical and clinical settings, identifying key findings, safety profiles, and evidence gaps to guide future research. Data sources Following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published up to March 2025. Studies evaluated invasive or transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) for arm or forelimb motor recovery in adult stroke survivors or animal models. Study selection The titles and abstracts of selected studies were screened against the eligibility criteria using Covidence software to ensure rigor and transparency. Studies that met the inclusion criteria or required a full-text review were retained. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion or consultation with a third reviewer. A full-text review was done to arrive at a final list of studies. Data extraction Data were extracted on study characteristics, intervention protocols, motor outcomes, safety profiles, and evidence gaps. Data synthesis A scoping synthesis approach was employed, with scoping synthesis organized by preclinical and clinical findings. Conclusions VNS is a promising adjunct to task-specific rehabilitation, enhancing arm motor recovery with a favorable safety profile. taVNS offers a scalable, non-invasive alternative but requires further optimization. Future research should focus on diverse stroke populations, standardize protocols, and investigate synergistic combinations with other rehabilitative strategies to optimize functional outcomes.

Background Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a rare and severe form of childhood epilepsy that is often refractory to conventional antiepileptic drugs. Emerging evidence suggests that Cannabidiol (CBD) offer therapeutic benefits for DS. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CBD in pediatric patients with DS based on data from ten clinical trials. Methods A review was conducted to identify clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of CBD in pediatric patients diagnosed with DS. PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and relevant grey literature were systematically searched for relevant articles up to October 2023, and clinical trials within the last 10 years were included. The search strategy incorporated controlled vocabulary terms and keywords related to \"Cannabidiol,\" \"Dravet Syndrome,\" and \"pediatric patients.\" Results The analysis revealed promising efficacy outcomes. Notably, CBD demonstrated substantial reductions in seizure frequency, with some patients achieving seizure freedom. The findings emphasised the consistency of CBD's efficacy across different patient subgroups. The safety profile of CBD was generally acceptable, with adverse events often being manageable. Conclusion This review consolidates evidence from multiple clinical trials, affirming the potential of CBD as a promising treatment option for pediatric patients with DS. While further research is needed to address existing knowledge gaps, CBD's efficacy and acceptable safety profile make it a valuable addition to the therapeutic tools for DS.

Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of dementia around the globe. Its pathogenesis is characterized primarily by the extracellular deposition of amyloid β peptides and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Despite the significant investments in neurological research, the exact molecular mechanism of AD pathogenesis is still not fully elucidated. Several studies converge on a hypothesis that pathogenic microbes might play a role in AD progression. Although this hypothesis has been considered relatively weak for decades, it has recently received considerable attention due to increasing evidence on the association between microorganisms and AD. There is a lack of experimental and scientific arguments conveying that these microorganisms engender cognitive and neuropathological deficits and modifications specific to AD, challenging the theory that it could be an infectious neurological disease. This review focuses on recent advances in the infection hypothesis and provides an overview of new findings portraying the significance of pathogenic microbes in AD and the challenges confronting the validity of the hypothesis. Methodology Data were collected from medical journals published on PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Embase bibliographical databases with a predefined search strategy. All articles considering neurological disorders, especially AD associated with infectious diseases, were included. Results This work focused on providing an overview of new findings around the relationship between microorganisms and AD, challenges facing the validity of the theory, and recommendations on how the scientific community can best develop alternative approaches to address the pathophysiology of AD. Conclusion While many studies reinforce the suspicion of an infectious etiology of AD, it is important to note that it is yet not validated how microorganisms’ presence in the brain can develop AD due to the limited available evidence. Certainly, ground‐breaking work is mandatory in this field of research, and these reports so far warrant a thorough investigation into how a chronic infection may remain silent while progressing its neuroinflammation. Amid this uncertainty arises the hope that many researchers will take on this challenge and join this endeavor to benefit AD patients worldwide. Graphical The figure was drawn and analyzed by Adekunbi Oluyemisi, Olivier Uwishema, Ashraf Mahmoud, and Inês F. Silva Correia.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in ophthalmology is transforming the field, offering new opportunities to enhance diagnostic accuracy, personalize treatment plans, and improve service delivery. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current applications and future potential of AI in ophthalmology. AI algorithms, particularly those utilizing machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), have demonstrated remarkable success in diagnosing conditions such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma with precision comparable to, or exceeding, human experts. Furthermore, AI is being utilized to develop personalized treatment plans by analyzing large datasets to predict individual responses to therapies, thus optimizing patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. In surgical applications, AI-driven tools are enhancing the precision of procedures like cataract surgery, contributing to better recovery times and reduced complications. Additionally, AI-powered teleophthalmology services are expanding access to eye care in underserved and remote areas, addressing global disparities in healthcare availability. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, particularly concerning data privacy, security, and algorithmic bias. Ensuring robust data governance and ethical practices is crucial for the continued success of AI integration in ophthalmology. In conclusion, future research should focus on developing sophisticated AI models capable of handling multimodal data, including genetic information and patient histories, to provide deeper insights into disease mechanisms and treatment responses. Also, collaborative efforts among governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and technology companies are essential to deploy AI solutions effectively, especially in low-resource settings.