This study assessed the role of community engagement in promoting malaria prevention and treatment practices in Centenary District, located in Mashonaland Central Province, Zimbabwe a region with persistently high malaria prevalence. A descriptive mixed-methods research design was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection approaches. Structured questionnaires were administered to 50 healthcare providers comprising Community Health Workers (CHWs), nurses and doctors, while semistructured interviews were conducted with three key informants, including the Executive Officer for Health and two District Health Executive members. Stratified random sampling ensured representative coverage across professional roles and demographic categories. Findings revealed that CHWs constituted the majority of respondents (50%), underscoring their pivotal role in rural malaria control. Health education campaigns (50%), Insecticide-Treated Net (ITN) distribution (20%) and environmental clean-up activities (15%) were the most reported community engagement strategies. Ninety percent of participants perceived community engagement strategies as effective; however, 55% reported poor community understanding of these efforts. Cultural beliefs, logistical barriers and inadequate infrastructure were identified as major implementation challenges, particularly in hard-to-reach communities. Thirty percent of respondents reported significant improvements in malaria prevention practices, while 50% observed moderate progress, especially where school clubs, community barazas and faith-based initiatives were active. The study recommends enhancing CHW support and incentivisation, promoting culturally relevant health messaging, increasing local leadership involvement in malaria campaigns and strengthening multi-sectoral partnerships to align community efforts with the National Malaria Strategic Plan.

Tuberculosis is a communicable disease that, despite having effective methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment, still represents a significant challenge to public health. In 2022, it was the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent in Brazil, surpassed only by COVID-19. Annually, more than 80 thousand people in the country continue to fall ill due to this disease, indicating that tuberculosis is still an endemic condition. Tuberculosis has several manifestations, including pulmonary and extrapulmonary forms. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis accounts for at least 15% of cases and includes rare conditions, such as perianal tuberculosis, which is manifested by ulcerative lesions or perianal fistulas. This paper describes the case of a 41-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with a complaint of a painful, exudative perianal ulcerative lesion. The lesion was circumferential around the anus with a radial extension of approximately 4 cm, significantly impairing ambulation and defecation. The condition had been ongoing for one year, during which the patient had undergone two biopsies and received both oral and topical medical treatments, without clinical improvement. Given the severity of pain, the lesion’s location, the difficulty in maintaining hygiene, and the patient’s impaired ability to defecate, a protective colostomy was performed to provide partial symptomatic relief. Subsequently, a diagnosis of anorectal tuberculosis was confirmed, and with appropriate treatment, the wound completely healed and intestinal transit was successfully restored.

Background: Unilateral nasal disease presents a diagnostic challenge in otolaryngology due to the potential risk of neoplastic pathology despite the predominance of inflammatory conditions. Early differentiation between benign and malignant causes is essential to prevent delayed diagnosis and optimize outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the clinicopathological profile, radiological characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes of unilateral nasal disease among adult patients attending Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital, Baghdad. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted from February 1 to December 30, 2025. Seventy adult patients presenting with unilateral nasal symptoms and radiologically confirmed unilateral sinonasal pathology were included. All patients underwent detailed clinical evaluation, nasal endoscopy, and computed tomography (CT) scanning. Surgical management using Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) was performed when indicated. Histopathological examination established definitive diagnoses. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The mean age was 45.8±9.6 years, with a predominance of middle-aged patients (p = 0.032). Females constituted 38 (54.29%) of cases. Nasal obstruction was the most common presenting symptom 63 (90.00%) (p<0.001). Inflammatory lesions predominated, with nasal polyposis 18 (25.71%) and chronic rhinosinusitis 13 (18.57%) being the most frequent diagnoses. Benign lesions accounted for 65 (92.86%), while malignant tumors represented 5 (7.14%) (p<0.001). Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common malignancy. CT findings revealed soft tissue mass in 52 (74.29%) and bone erosion in 8 (11.43%) (p = 0.018). FESS was performed in 46 (65.71%) patients (p = 0.004). At 6-month follow-up, recurrence occurred in 6 (8.57%) cases (p = 0.041). Complete clinical resolution was achieved in 58 (82.86%) patients (p<0.001). Conclusion: Although inflammatory conditions represent the majority of unilateral nasal diseases, a clinically significant proportion of neoplastic lesions exists. Comprehensive evaluation combining endoscopy, CT imaging, and histopathological confirmation is essential. Early surgical intervention with FESS demonstrates favorable outcomes and low complication rates.

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is an eye and extraocular health disorder that arises due to prolonged use of digital devices. This study aims to analyze the etiology of CVS incidence in students of the Faculty of Medicine, Muhammadiyah University of Semarang. The study used a quantitative cross-sectional design with a sample of 128 respondents selected via random sampling. Data were collected using the CVS-Q questionnaire and direct measurements of light intensity and working position. The results of univariate analysis showed a prevalence of CVS of 57%, with the most dominant symptoms being headaches (69.5%) and blurred vision (64.8%). The Chi-Square test results showed that laptop screen distance (p = 0.001) and eye angle (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with the incidence of CVS. In contrast, the variables of room lighting (p = 0.781), laptop brightness (p = 0.597), and body position (p = 0.647) were not statistically significant. Multivariate analysis confirmed that eye angle was the most influential factor in the risk of CVS. This study concluded that ergonomic eye-screen adjustment is a key factor in preventing digital visual fatigue. Students are advised to pay attention to viewing distance and eye elevation when using digital devices to maintain the visual system's operational efficiency.

Background: Patients with compound fractures of the lower limb long bones caused by missile injuries are at high risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) due to immobilization, endothelial injury and trauma-induced hypercoagulability. The optimal use of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in this population remains controversial because of concerns regarding bleeding complications. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological prophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin in preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) among patients with compound lower limb long-bone fractures caused by missile injuries, compared with no prophylaxis. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted between August 2024 and July 2025 at Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital and Imam Ali Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Thirty-three male patients aged 16–48 years with isolated Gustilo type IIIA or IIIB compound fractures of the femur and/or tibia caused by missile injuries were included. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 15) received subcutaneous enoxaparin (4000 IU once daily) and Group B (n = 18) received no pharmacological prophylaxis. All patients underwent standardized emergency and orthopedic management, including wound debridement and external fixation. Clinical monitoring for DVT and bleeding was performed daily. Doppler ultrasonography was conducted between days 10 and 14 of admission. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test and Fisher’s exact test, with p <0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Two patients (11%) in the non-prophylaxis group developed asymptomatic DVT, while no cases were detected in the prophylaxis group. The overall DVT incidence was 6%. The difference between groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.4886). No patients in either group developed clinically significant bleeding or abnormal coagulation profiles. Hemoglobin levels, biochemical parameters and transfusion requirements were comparable between groups. Conclusion: Early administration of enoxaparin appeared to reduce the incidence of DVT in patients with isolated compound lower limb fractures caused by missile injuries without increasing bleeding risk. However, the difference was not statistically significant, likely due to the small sample size. Larger multicenter studies are required to establish definitive evidence and develop standardized thromboprophylaxis protocols for this high-risk trauma population.

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) represents a significant reproductive health problem with multifactorial and often unexplained etiology. Recent evidence suggests that leptin, a key metabolic and reproductive hormone, may play an important role in early pregnancy maintenance and placental development. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate serum leptin levels in women with unexplained early recurrent pregnancy loss compared with women with previous normal pregnancies and to assess the potential prognostic value of leptin for pregnancy continuation. Methods: A prospective case–control study was conducted at the Gynecological and Pediatric Hospital in Kirkuk, Iraq, from January to November 2025. A total of 120 pregnant women were enrolled and divided into two groups: 60 women with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss and 60 healthy pregnant controls. All participants were aged 20–35 years and had viable singleton pregnancies between 5 and 12 weeks of gestation. Comprehensive clinical, ultrasonographic, genetic, and laboratory assessments were performed to exclude known causes of miscarriage. Serum leptin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was conducted using appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests. Results: Women with RPL demonstrated significantly higher serum leptin levels at 5–8 weeks (12.53±3.62 pg/ml) compared with controls (6.26±3.31 pg/ml; p<0.001). At 10–12 weeks, leptin levels increased further in the RPL group (18.38±5.36 pg/ml vs. 7.23±3.94 pg/ml; p<0.001). Elevated leptin levels were detected in 68.33% and 76.67% of RPL cases at 5–8 and 10–12 weeks, respectively. Leptin concentrations increased significantly with advancing gestation and with the number of previous miscarriages (p<0.01). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed good diagnostic performance of leptin for predicting RPL (accuracy: 78.57%). Conclusion: Serum leptin levels are significantly elevated in women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss during early pregnancy and increase progressively with gestational age and miscarriage history. These findings suggest that leptin dysregulation may contribute to the pathophysiology of RPL and may serve as a useful biomarker for early risk assessment.

Background: Short stature is a common pediatric concern and may represent normal growth variants or underlying pathological conditions. Early identification and accurate etiological classification are essential for appropriate management and prevention of long-term complications. Despite extensive global data, regional epidemiological information remains limited. Objective: To determine the patterns and etiological distribution of short stature among children attending the growth center at Shar Hospital, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq and to assess the relative frequency of underlying causes. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted at the growth center at Shar Hospital, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq, from March 2014 to January 2015. A total of 326 children aged 2–17 years with short stature (height<−2 SD or below the 3rd percentile) were included. Data were extracted from medical records and included demographic characteristics, family history, clinical findings, laboratory investigations, bone age assessment and hormonal evaluation. Growth hormone deficiency was confirmed using stimulation tests when indicated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Results: The mean age of patients was 9.6 years, with the highest frequency in the 8–11-year age group (32.5%). Females represented 54.3% of cases. Delayed bone age was observed in 63.8% of patients. Idiopathic short stature was the most common cause (49.8%), followed by familial short stature (19%) and growth hormone deficiency (16.3%). Small for gestational age accounted for 7.4%, while hypothyroidism and Turner syndrome each accounted for 1.8%. Other rare causes collectively represented 4%. Most children did not have significant endocrine or systemic pathology. Conclusion: Idiopathic and familial short stature constitute the majority of cases in this population, whereas endocrine causes represent a smaller proportion. Comprehensive evaluation including detailed history, anthropometric assessment, bone age analysis and targeted laboratory testing is essential for accurate diagnosis. Regional data such as these are valuable for optimizing diagnostic strategies and healthcare planning.