Public health
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Despite the widespread use of neonatal screening programmes for sickle cell disease in Western regions, few studies have focused on the special healthcare needs in sub-Saharan African countries. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the need for a neonatal screening programme for sickle cell disease, and if justified, to propose a realistic healthcare programme for sickle cell newborns in those countries based on personal experiences in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) as well as from a review of the literature. ⋯ This paper provides an overview of practices employed in neonatal screening and clinical care programmes for sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan African countries. The development of these programmes is pivotal to improving the health care of those affected by haemoglobin disorders. However, such programmes require major economic and organizational resources, which must taken into account and balanced against other local health priorities.
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It has been reported that the incidence of testicular cancer has plateaued in some parts of the USA, especially among non-Hispanic Whites in Los Angeles. Temporal trends analysis was conducted over three decades to assess the evidence for such a plateau, and to examine whether the incidence of testicular cancer remains stable across racial/ethnic groups. This study also investigated the influence of age at diagnosis on the incidence of testicular cancer. ⋯ Overall, the incidence of testicular cancer continues to plateau in the USA, while racial variance persists. Black males demonstrate the greatest increase in annual percentage change. Further studies are needed to examine the recent increase among Black males and the potential determinants.