CURRENT ISSUE

ABSTRACT: Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) and transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) remain major global health burdens. Ex vivo gene-editing therapies aim to achieve durable fetal hemoglobin (HbF) induction or direct mutation correction.
Methods: We systematically reviewed clinical studies of CRISPR-Cas9 or base-editing therapies for SCD and TDT (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, conference proceedings; 2010–03 December 2025). Eleven studies (>170 treated patients) reporting post-infusion outcomes were included.
Results: All therapies produced robust, pancellular HbF (30–65%) and total hemoglobin in/near the normal range. In TDT (n > 100 evaluable), transfusion independence (≥12 months, Hb ≥9 g/dL) was achieved in 89–100% across platforms, sustained up to >4 years. In SCD (n > 60 evaluable), adjudicated vaso-occlusive crises were eliminated for ≥12 months in ≥97% of patients treated with exagamglogene autotemcel and 100% in smaller cohorts (EDIT-301, BEAM-101). No graft failures occurred. Serious adverse events and one death were attributable to busulfan conditioning, not editing. No therapy-related malignancies or confirmed harmful off-target edits have been reported, although follow-up remains limited (median ~18 months, longest >4 years).
Conclusion: Current evidence from phase 1–3 trials demonstrates that ex vivo gene editing can achieve functional cure for many patients with TDT and severe SCD. Conditioning-related toxicity, limited long-term safety data, and delivery complexity remain critical barriers to broader implementation.

ABSTRACT: Lower limb amputation is a major public health challenge that significantly impacts the lives of affected individuals, their relatives, healthcare systems, and society at large. Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are responsible for a significant percentage of the cases of lower limb amputations. The aim of this research is to analyze the existing literature to determine the prevalence of lower limb amputations resulting from severe lower extremity injuries caused by RTAs, as well as to examine the impact that these amputations have on quality of life (QoL) and psychological consequences.
A thorough literature search was carried out across three databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar), and a total of six publications were included in this review. The pooled effect was evaluated in Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software, employing a random effect model. Based on our analysis, the pooled prevalence of lower limb amputations as a result of RTA was 43.2%. Out of the six studies that were considered for inclusion in this review, only three of them reported on results that were related to psychological outcomes and quality of life. It is necessary to have rehabilitation programs that are all-encompassing and address both the physical and psychological components.

ABSTRACT: Background: Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and oocyte retrieval are key stages in the in vitro fertilization process. If developing follicles are difficult to access or visualize using the preferred imaging method (transvaginal ultrasound scan), careful monitoring with transabdominal ultrasound and oocyte retrieval may be required to avoid cycle cancellation and enhance in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment success.
This study aimed to assess the feasibility, pregnancy outcomes and presence of risk factors among a cohort of women who had transabdominal oocyte retrieval during their IVF treatment process
Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out at Kingswill Specialist Hospital, Lagos Nigeria from January 2020 to December 2023. Medical records of women who had transabdominal oocyte retrieval (TAOR) were retrieved and variables such as socio-demographic variables, indications and pregnancy outcomes were analysed. 
Results: Fifty-seven women had TAOR during the study period. The mean age of the women was 36.2 ± 4.28 SD years. Their mean weight was 86.0kg ± 14.79 SD.  Twenty-six (45.6%) had pelvic masses, 50.9% had previous pelvic surgeries. 
There were 21 (36.8%) conceptions, 38 (66%) live births and 5.2% miscarriages. 
Conclusion: Couples’ desire to conceive continues to pose a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where wealth and strength are sometimes equated to family size, often accompanied by substantial social, psychological, and economic consequences for affected individuals. When IVF treatment cycles are cancelled due to inaccessible oocytes, these burdens are further intensified, sometimes with severe psychological and financial repercussions. To improve outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction and safety, it is essential to prioritize careful patient selection, thorough evaluation of key clinical factors, and the customization of care. In this context, transabdominal oocyte retrieval has been observed to be a potentially safe and necessary intervention. However, the small sample size of 57 patients limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions about its safety and efficacy, and the absence of a control group restricts the ability to compare outcomes relative to transvaginal oocyte retrieval (TVOR) patients.