Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes are recognized as critical mediators within the tumor microenvironment (TME), exerting both pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects depending on contextual factors. These vesicles are also gaining attention for their potential as therapeutic vehicles in regenerative medicine and targeted drug delivery. However, the influence of the TME on the physical characteristics of MSC-derived exosomes remains poorly understood. In this study, we utilized Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to investigate the morphological and nanomechanical properties of MSC-derived exosomes under standard and TME-like conditions. AFM imaging in fluid mode preserved the native structure of exosomes and enabled high-resolution analysis of their topography, surface roughness, stiffness, adhesion, and deformation. AFM offers unique advantages in exosome research by enabling label-free, nanoscale analysis of vesicle properties in near-physiological conditions. The ability to detect such subtle but functionally significant changes highlights the relevance of AFM in exosome characterization and quality assessment. Our results revealed that exposure to the TME induces marked changes in exosomal membrane morphology and mechanical behavior, including increased surface heterogeneity, higher stiffness, and altered adhesive interactions. These biophysical alterations may reflect changes in membrane composition and protein or lipid cargo, potentially affecting exosome function, uptake, and therapeutic efficacy. Overall, our findings provide new insights into how the TME modulates MSC exosome biophysics and underscore the utility of AFM-based techniques for advancing the development of exosome-based diagnostics and therapies.
{"title":"An Atomic Force Microscopy analysis of Exosomes derived from Tumor Associated pluripotent Mesenchymal Stem Cells.","authors":"Tanmay Kulkarni, Simone Newell, Erik Armstrong, Narendra Banerjee, Jasmine Cuffee, Hirendra Banerjee, Santanu Bhattacharya","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.388","DOIUrl":"10.26502/fjhs.388","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes are recognized as critical mediators within the tumor microenvironment (TME), exerting both pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects depending on contextual factors. These vesicles are also gaining attention for their potential as therapeutic vehicles in regenerative medicine and targeted drug delivery. However, the influence of the TME on the physical characteristics of MSC-derived exosomes remains poorly understood. In this study, we utilized Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to investigate the morphological and nanomechanical properties of MSC-derived exosomes under standard and TME-like conditions. AFM imaging in fluid mode preserved the native structure of exosomes and enabled high-resolution analysis of their topography, surface roughness, stiffness, adhesion, and deformation. AFM offers unique advantages in exosome research by enabling label-free, nanoscale analysis of vesicle properties in near-physiological conditions. The ability to detect such subtle but functionally significant changes highlights the relevance of AFM in exosome characterization and quality assessment. Our results revealed that exposure to the TME induces marked changes in exosomal membrane morphology and mechanical behavior, including increased surface heterogeneity, higher stiffness, and altered adhesive interactions. These biophysical alterations may reflect changes in membrane composition and protein or lipid cargo, potentially affecting exosome function, uptake, and therapeutic efficacy. Overall, our findings provide new insights into how the TME modulates MSC exosome biophysics and underscore the utility of AFM-based techniques for advancing the development of exosome-based diagnostics and therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"9 1","pages":"25-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12885364/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146159485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-03-01Epub Date: 2024-02-17DOI: 10.26502/fjhs.171
Matthew Davis, Kit Simpson, Vanessa Diaz, Alexander V Alekseyenko
Purpose: The objective of this study is to describe patterns in barriers to breast cancer screening uptake with the end goal of improving screening adherence and decreasing the burden of mortality due to breast cancer. This study looks at social determinants of health and their association to screening and mortality. It also investigates the extent that models trained on county data are generalizable to individuals.
Methods: County level screening uptake and age adjusted mortality due to breast cancer are combined with the Centers for Disease Controls Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to train a model predicting screening uptake rates. Patterns learned are then applied to de-identified electronic medical records from individual patients to make predictions on mammogram screening follow through.
Results: Accurate predictions can be made about a county's breast cancer screening uptake with the SVI. However, the association between increased screening, and decreased age adjusted mortality, doesn't hold in areas with a high proportion of minority residents. It is also shown that patterns learned from county SVI data have little discriminative power at the patient level.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that social determinants in the SVI can explain much of the variance in county breast cancer screening rates. However, these same patterns fail to discriminate which patients will have timely follow through of a mammogram screening test. This study also concludes that the core association between increased screening and decreased age adjusted mortality does not hold in high proportion minority areas.
Objective: The objective of this study is to describe patterns in social determinants of health and their association with female breast cancer screening uptake, age adjusted breast cancer mortality rate and the extent that models trained on county data are generalizable to individuals.
目的:本研究的目的是描述乳腺癌筛查的障碍模式,最终目标是提高筛查的依从性,减少乳腺癌造成的死亡负担。本研究探讨了健康的社会决定因素及其与筛查和死亡率的关系。研究还探讨了根据县级数据建立的模型在多大程度上可推广到个人:方法:将县级乳腺癌筛查率和年龄调整后死亡率与美国疾病控制中心的社会脆弱性指数(SVI)结合起来,训练一个预测筛查率的模型。然后将学习到的模式应用于患者个人的去身份化电子病历,以预测乳房 X 线照相筛查的后续情况:结果:利用 SVI 可以准确预测一个县的乳腺癌筛查接受率。然而,在少数民族居民比例较高的地区,筛查率的提高与年龄调整死亡率的降低之间的联系并不成立。研究还表明,从县级 SVI 数据中得出的模式在患者层面上几乎不具有鉴别力:本研究表明,SVI 中的社会决定因素可以解释县级乳腺癌筛查率的大部分差异。然而,同样的模式却无法区分哪些患者会及时接受乳房 X 光筛查。本研究还得出结论,在高比例的少数民族地区,增加筛查与降低年龄调整死亡率之间的核心关联并不成立:本研究的目的是描述健康的社会决定因素的模式及其与女性乳腺癌筛查率、年龄调整后乳腺癌死亡率之间的关系,以及根据县级数据建立的模型在多大程度上可以推广到个人。
{"title":"County Mammogram Uptake can be Predicted from Social Determinants of Health, but Patterns Do Not Hold for Individual Patients.","authors":"Matthew Davis, Kit Simpson, Vanessa Diaz, Alexander V Alekseyenko","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.171","DOIUrl":"10.26502/fjhs.171","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The objective of this study is to describe patterns in barriers to breast cancer screening uptake with the end goal of improving screening adherence and decreasing the burden of mortality due to breast cancer. This study looks at social determinants of health and their association to screening and mortality. It also investigates the extent that models trained on county data are generalizable to individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>County level screening uptake and age adjusted mortality due to breast cancer are combined with the Centers for Disease Controls Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) to train a model predicting screening uptake rates. Patterns learned are then applied to de-identified electronic medical records from individual patients to make predictions on mammogram screening follow through.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Accurate predictions can be made about a county's breast cancer screening uptake with the SVI. However, the association between increased screening, and decreased age adjusted mortality, doesn't hold in areas with a high proportion of minority residents. It is also shown that patterns learned from county SVI data have little discriminative power at the patient level.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrates that social determinants in the SVI can explain much of the variance in county breast cancer screening rates. However, these same patterns fail to discriminate which patients will have timely follow through of a mammogram screening test. This study also concludes that the core association between increased screening and decreased age adjusted mortality does not hold in high proportion minority areas.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective of this study is to describe patterns in social determinants of health and their association with female breast cancer screening uptake, age adjusted breast cancer mortality rate and the extent that models trained on county data are generalizable to individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"7 1","pages":"128-137"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11034937/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140870394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-01Epub Date: 2024-04-12DOI: 10.26502/fjhs.178
Zubair Ahmed, Fihr Chaudhary, Marcel P Fraix, Devendra K Agrawal
A concussion is a particular manifestation of a traumatic brain injury, which is the leading cause of mortality and disabilities across the globe. The global prevalence of traumatic brain injury is estimated to be 939 instances per 100,000 individuals, with approximately 5.48 million people per year experiencing severe traumatic brain injury. Epidemiology varies amongst different countries by socioeconomic status with diverse clinical manifestations. Additionally, classifying concussions is an ambiguous process as clinical diagnoses are the only current classification method, and morbidity rates differ by demographic location as well as populations examined. In this article, we critically reviewed the pathophysiology of concussions, classification methods, treatment options available including both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic intervention methods, etiologies as well as global etiologic differences associated with them, and clinical manifestations along with their associated morbidities. Furthermore, analysis of the current research regarding the incidence of concussion based traumatic brain injuries and future directions are discussed. Investigation on the efficacy of new therapeutic-related interventions such as exosome therapy and electromagnetic field stimulation are warranted to properly manage and treat concussion-induced traumatic brain injury.
{"title":"Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Treatment Strategies of Concussions: A Comprehensive Review.","authors":"Zubair Ahmed, Fihr Chaudhary, Marcel P Fraix, Devendra K Agrawal","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.178","DOIUrl":"10.26502/fjhs.178","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A concussion is a particular manifestation of a traumatic brain injury, which is the leading cause of mortality and disabilities across the globe. The global prevalence of traumatic brain injury is estimated to be 939 instances per 100,000 individuals, with approximately 5.48 million people per year experiencing severe traumatic brain injury. Epidemiology varies amongst different countries by socioeconomic status with diverse clinical manifestations. Additionally, classifying concussions is an ambiguous process as clinical diagnoses are the only current classification method, and morbidity rates differ by demographic location as well as populations examined. In this article, we critically reviewed the pathophysiology of concussions, classification methods, treatment options available including both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic intervention methods, etiologies as well as global etiologic differences associated with them, and clinical manifestations along with their associated morbidities. Furthermore, analysis of the current research regarding the incidence of concussion based traumatic brain injuries and future directions are discussed. Investigation on the efficacy of new therapeutic-related interventions such as exosome therapy and electromagnetic field stimulation are warranted to properly manage and treat concussion-induced traumatic brain injury.</p>","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"7 2","pages":"197-215"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11067689/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140872428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Surface chemistry of nanoparticles play significant role in their cellular interaction. Along with other group, we previously demonstrated that dynamic alteration of cell membrane during uptake of gold nanoparticles can be thoroughly probed by nanomechanical properties of cell membrane. Additionally, endocytosis influences intracellular cytokines expression that also impact membrane stiffness. Hence, we have hypothesized that surface chemistry of gold nanoparticles influences intracellular cytokines which in turn imparts dynamic alteration of nanomechanical properties of cellular membrane of pancreatic cancer cells. Various gold nanoparticles decorated with targeting peptide, polyethylene glycol or their combinations have been used to treat two pancreatic cancer cell lines, Panc-1 and AsPC1, for 1 and 24 hours. Atomic force microscope is used to measure linear and nonlinear nanomechanical properties of cell membrane. Intracellular cytokine has been measured using real time polymeric chain reaction. We evaluated several criteria such as receptor dependent vs independent, PEGylated vs non-PEGylated and different timepoints, to deduce correlations between cytokines and nanomechanical attributes. We have identified unique relationship pro-tumorigenic cytokines with both linear and non-linear nanomechanical properties of Panc-1 and AsPC1 cell membrane during uptake of pristine gold nanoparticles or for PEGylation and for targeting peptide conjugation at the nanoparticle surface.
{"title":"Surface Chemistry of Gold Nanoparticles Modulates Cytokines and Nanomechanical Properties in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines: A Correlative Study.","authors":"Tanmay Kulkarni, Ramcharan Singh Angom, Enfeng Wang, Debabrata Mukhopadhyay, Santanu Bhattacharya","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.170","DOIUrl":"10.26502/fjhs.170","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Surface chemistry of nanoparticles play significant role in their cellular interaction. Along with other group, we previously demonstrated that dynamic alteration of cell membrane during uptake of gold nanoparticles can be thoroughly probed by nanomechanical properties of cell membrane. Additionally, endocytosis influences intracellular cytokines expression that also impact membrane stiffness. Hence, we have hypothesized that surface chemistry of gold nanoparticles influences intracellular cytokines which in turn imparts dynamic alteration of nanomechanical properties of cellular membrane of pancreatic cancer cells. Various gold nanoparticles decorated with targeting peptide, polyethylene glycol or their combinations have been used to treat two pancreatic cancer cell lines, Panc-1 and AsPC1, for 1 and 24 hours. Atomic force microscope is used to measure linear and nonlinear nanomechanical properties of cell membrane. Intracellular cytokine has been measured using real time polymeric chain reaction. We evaluated several criteria such as receptor dependent vs independent, PEGylated vs non-PEGylated and different timepoints, to deduce correlations between cytokines and nanomechanical attributes. We have identified unique relationship pro-tumorigenic cytokines with both linear and non-linear nanomechanical properties of Panc-1 and AsPC1 cell membrane during uptake of pristine gold nanoparticles or for PEGylation and for targeting peptide conjugation at the nanoparticle surface.</p>","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"7 1","pages":"112-127"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11065124/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140860772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Cermignani, Martin E. Rabassa, María Virginia Croce
{"title":"The Relevance of Cultural, Fatalistic and Psychosocial Factors in Breast Cancer Screening Behavior in Middle Age and Older Women","authors":"L. Cermignani, Martin E. Rabassa, María Virginia Croce","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26502/fjhs.101","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69347340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Priscilla P.M. Nyambayo, Michael S. Gold, Ushma C. Mehta
{"title":"Data Driven vigiPoint Identification Study of Adverse Event Reporting Patterns for Zimbabwe Reports in VigiBase WHO Global Database of Individual Case Safety Reports for Medicines and Vaccines","authors":"Priscilla P.M. Nyambayo, Michael S. Gold, Ushma C. Mehta","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.121","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26502/fjhs.121","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69347572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comparison of Biochemical Parameters in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 Individuals in Gandaki Province, Nepal","authors":"Anusha Thapa, Raksha Malla, Rebika Koirala, Sanjeeb Shrestha, Nischal Chimal, Sundar Adhikari, A. Nagila","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26502/fjhs.122","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69347578","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lu Tr, Malwela T, Ndou Nd, Ramathuba Du, Maputle Ms, Mbedzi T
{"title":"Support of Patients Admitted with COVID-19 at Public Hospitals in South Africa by the Family Members","authors":"Lu Tr, Malwela T, Ndou Nd, Ramathuba Du, Maputle Ms, Mbedzi T","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26502/fjhs.092","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69347738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare tumour that originates from the dermal fibroblasts. It is often a benign lesion with a low metastatic potential. However, if left untreated, it can become locally aggressive and infiltrate surrounding fascia, muscles and bones. Distant metastases, though uncommon, are usually to the lungs with lymph node involvement being extremely rare. Below is a case of a young African lady who at presentation had a locally advanced DFSP with extensive metastases to distant lymph nodes and the lungs.
{"title":"Metastatic Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans in a Young African Lady: A Case Report","authors":"Motsepe TA, Maritz SM","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26502/fjhs.146","url":null,"abstract":"Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare tumour that originates from the dermal fibroblasts. It is often a benign lesion with a low metastatic potential. However, if left untreated, it can become locally aggressive and infiltrate surrounding fascia, muscles and bones. Distant metastases, though uncommon, are usually to the lungs with lymph node involvement being extremely rare. Below is a case of a young African lady who at presentation had a locally advanced DFSP with extensive metastases to distant lymph nodes and the lungs.","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"49 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135507262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Geophagy is widely practiced during pregnancy especially in Africa. In Lubumbashi geophagic material contains high levels of toxic metallic elements next to the eggs, larvae, or adult species of the geohelminths and micro toxins. Despite the health risks uncounted, pregnant women still consume clay. Whether pregnant geophagists are aware of the risks-related to geophagia is unknown. A case- control study of 104 geophagists and 107 no geophagists pregnant women was conducted from September 1st, 2022, to February 28th, 2023The pregnant women consecutively enlisted were attending the prenatal care in four medical institutions in Lubumbashi and completed an interview-based questionnaire. 51.7% of the study population were not aware of the health risks of geophagia and consumed large amounts of clay during the early stages of the pregnancy. Identified health risks related to geophagy were mainly helminthic infestation and anemia. The degree of awareness is related to the level of women education and societal/marital status. Our results demonstrate that despite the identified related health risks and the awareness of them, geophagia remains common practice during pregnancy in Lubumbashi. A holistic prevention approach should be implemented to reduce the consequences of geophagy among pregnant women.
{"title":"Contributing Factors to The Awareness of Health Risks of Geophagy Among Pregnant Women in Lubumbashi","authors":"Cham LC, Kayeme Z, Bokanya I, Tambwe MA, Bito V, Kakoma SZ","doi":"10.26502/fjhs.133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26502/fjhs.133","url":null,"abstract":"Geophagy is widely practiced during pregnancy especially in Africa. In Lubumbashi geophagic material contains high levels of toxic metallic elements next to the eggs, larvae, or adult species of the geohelminths and micro toxins. Despite the health risks uncounted, pregnant women still consume clay. Whether pregnant geophagists are aware of the risks-related to geophagia is unknown. A case- control study of 104 geophagists and 107 no geophagists pregnant women was conducted from September 1st, 2022, to February 28th, 2023The pregnant women consecutively enlisted were attending the prenatal care in four medical institutions in Lubumbashi and completed an interview-based questionnaire. 51.7% of the study population were not aware of the health risks of geophagia and consumed large amounts of clay during the early stages of the pregnancy. Identified health risks related to geophagy were mainly helminthic infestation and anemia. The degree of awareness is related to the level of women education and societal/marital status. Our results demonstrate that despite the identified related health risks and the awareness of them, geophagia remains common practice during pregnancy in Lubumbashi. A holistic prevention approach should be implemented to reduce the consequences of geophagy among pregnant women.","PeriodicalId":73052,"journal":{"name":"Fortune journal of health sciences","volume":"27 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135651090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}