PPARα-ERRα crosstalk mitigates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease progression.

Background And Aims: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the most prevalent liver disease worldwide, continues to rise. More effective therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. We investigated how targeting two key nuclear receptors involved in hepatic energy metabolism, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα), ameliorates MASLD.

"Watch them do what they do": Effects of the clinical learning environment on radiography students' clinical placement experiences.

Introduction: Clinical placement (CP) is essential to radiography education, providing students with opportunities to put theory into practice. However, a 'Best Practice Clinical Learning Environment' (BPCLE) for radiography students, is one that is adequately resourced, both in terms of equipment and professionals, as these are critical to the development of students' professional skills. Consequently, this study examined the effects of the clinical learning environment on Ghanaian radiography students' CP experiences.

Nutrition Knowledge Among Students in an Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Is Inadequate and Associated With Residence.

Objective: This study examined the nutrition knowledge and dietary habits of students at an Historically Black College and University.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey with 297 participants was conducted online using Qualtrics. An adapted questionnaire was used to obtain general nutrition knowledge.

Impact of Guest Orientation in Host-Guest Supramolecular Hydrogels.

Host-guest interactions have been increasingly explored for use in the dynamic physical cross-linking of polymeric precursors to form hydrogel networks. However, the orientation of guest motifs is restricted upon macromolecule conjugation. The implications of such restriction on both the kinetics and thermodynamics of the resulting host-guest supramolecular cross-links are poorly understood.

Surgery for Medication Refractory Epilepsy in Africa: A Review of Seizure Freedom Outcomes.

Background: Epilepsy is a chronic condition that confers social stigma, reduced engagement in work and social activities, increased risks of comorbidities, and premature death. It is often treated with medications, but in about a third of patients, epilepsy may be refractory to medications. It is estimated that each year 211,456 new individuals across Africa meet criteria for surgically treatable epilepsy, and the current volume of surgically treatable epilepsy is 1,819,067 cases across the region.

Leveraging local health system resources to address quality healthcare gaps in sub-Saharan African: lessons from the SafeCare quality improvement programme in Ghana.

Introduction: In low- and-middle-income-countries (LMICs) like Ghana, universal access to quality healthcare remains a mirage and this undermines achievement of sustainable development goal (SDG) 3. The SafeCare Quality Improvement (QI) programme is an initiative of PharmAccess Foundation, a Netherlands-based non-governmental organisation (NGO). In 2009 SafeCare QI programme was launched in Ghana to help address gaps in healthcare quality standards, leveraging existing local resources.

Incidence, prevalence and risk factors for comorbid mental illness among people with hypertension and type 2 diabetes in West Africa: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Mental illness remains a significant global health concern that affects diverse populations, including individuals living with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes, predominantly in lower-income to middle-income countries. The association between non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental illness is firmly established globally, however, this connection has yet to be comprehensively explored in West Africa. Our systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesise existing evidence on the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for comorbid mental illness with hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes in West Africa.

Cancer Clinical Trial Participation: A Qualitative Study of Black/African American Communities' and Patient/Survivors' Recommendations.

Background: Black/African Americans experience a disproportionate cancer burden and mortality rates. Racial/ethnic variation in cancer burden reflects systemic and healthcare inequities, cancer risk factors, and heredity and genomic diversity. Multiple systemic, socio-cultural, economic, and individual factors also contribute to disproportionately low Black/African American participation in cancer clinical trials.

Experiences of women living with cervical cancer in Ghana: challenges and coping strategies.

Background: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women globally. The condition is both preventable and treatable yet remains a leading cause of cancer death in Ghana. This study aims to explore the unique experiences of women living with cervical cancer with a focus on the challenges and coping strategies.

Socio-demographic factors, housing characteristics, and clinical symptoms associated with falciparum malaria in two rapidly urbanizing areas in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

Background: Malaria has been described as a disease of poverty, affecting the poorest populations typically living in rural areas. As hitherto rural areas transition into semi-urban environments, this study investigated the prevalence of falciparum malaria and associated risk factors in two rapidly urbanizing districts in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted at Agona and Mankranso Government Hospitals located within the Sekyere South and Ahafo Ano Southwest districts respectively, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana.

Quality assessment of medicines in selected resource-limited primary healthcare facilities using low- to medium-cost field testing digital technologies.

Background: Digital technologies can assess the quality of medicines in resource-challenged health facilities in a timely manner and ensure effective healthcare.

Objectives: This study assessed the quality of some non-communicable disease medicines, antimalarials, antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and hematinics in selected healthcare facilities as part of their (potential) participation in a digital pharmaceutical supply chain management system (Med4All).

Methods: All the sampled medicines were screened using TruScan analyzer and GPHF-minilab, that is low-medium field technologies.

Emotional labor and absenteeism among early childhood educators: The mediating roles of negative affect and psychological meaningfulness.

Teacher absenteeism is one of the key factors that has been fingered as the bane of quality early childhood education in low- and middle-income countries. Failing to report to school as scheduled is considered symptomatic of emotional dysregulation. However, limited research has explored emotional labor as a possible predictor of teacher absenteeism.

A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study on Hepatitis B Vaccination Coverage and Associated Factors Among Personnel Working in Health Facilities in Kumasi, Ghana.

As part of efforts to reach the elimination target by 2030, the WHO and CDC recommend that all HCWs adhere to the three-dose Hepatitis B vaccination schedule to protect themselves against the infection. This study assessed Hepatitis B vaccination coverage and associated factors among personnel working in health facilities in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana. A cross-sectional study involving 530 HCWs was conducted in four hospitals in Kumasi from September to November 2023.

Frequency-Specific Alternations in the Amplitude of Fluctuations in Tension-Type Headache: A Machine Learning Study.

Brain neural signal at different frequency bands relates to different functions. However, the frequency-specific properties of spontaneous brain activity in tension-type headache (TTH)-the most rampant primary headache-remain largely unknown. We investigated the local neural activity of 33 TTH patients and 31 healthy controls (HCs) in the conventional frequency band and two sub-frequency bands (slow-4 and slow-5 frequency band), employing fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF), percent amplitude fluctuations (PerAF) and Wavelet-ALFF analytic methods.

Mixed-methods to explore barriers to the use of food security initiatives in a historically black college and university (HBCU).

Background: To assess students' use and perception of the initiatives to tackle food insecurity (FI) in a Texas historically black college and university (HBCU).

Methods: HBCU students > 18 years (288 students). A mixed-methods approach involving an online survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted among the students and major stakeholders to evaluate the prevalence of FI, and gain insights into the challenges to accessing, utilizing and effectively implementing food security (FS) initiatives.

Impact of health systems interventions in primary health settings on type 2 diabetes care and health outcomes among adults in West Africa: A systematic review protocol.

Type 2 diabetes is a major global public health challenge, particularly in the African region. Though evidence exists on pharmacological agents and non-pharmacological interventions in maintaining blood glucose concentration, the healthcare systems' ability to meet patients' needs may be inadequate. The management of non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes, has been postulated to depend on functioning health systems.

Bi- and Monoallelic Variants and Chronic Kidney Disease in West Africans.

Background: Apolipoprotein L1 gene () variants are risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) among Black Americans. Data are sparse on the genetic epidemiology of CKD and the clinical association of variants with CKD in West Africans, a major group in the Black population.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study involving participants from Ghana and Nigeria who had CKD stages 2 through 5, biopsy-proven glomerular disease, or no kidney disease.

Factors influencing vaccination up-take among nomadic population in four regions of Ghana: a qualitative study.

Background: Vaccination has contributed to the reduction in vaccine preventable diseases. Despite, improved global coverage, vaccination among nomadic populations is still low especially in Africa. This study explored factors influencing vaccination uptake among pastoralist nomads in Ghana.