Publications by authors named "Agyemang A"

Multidisciplinary cancer conferences (MCCs) improve patient outcomes. Our goals were to investigate the impact of a technology platform, navify® Clinical Hub for Tumor Boards (nCH) on the quality and educational value of gynecologic oncology MCCs. We conducted a prospective, mixed methods study of the gynecologic oncology MCC at a comprehensive cancer center from 2020 to 2023.

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Background: TGF (transforming growth factor)-β pathway is central to blood-brain barrier development as it regulates cross talk between pericytes and endothelial cells. Murine embryos lacking TGFβ receptor (activin receptor-like kinase 5) in brain pericytes (mutants) display endothelial cell hyperproliferation, abnormal vessel morphology, and gross germinal matrix hemorrhage-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH), leading to perinatal lethality. Mechanisms underlying how ALK5 signaling in pericytes noncell autonomously regulates endothelial cell behavior remain elusive.

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The traditional free-range system of livestock rearing contributes to the socioeconomic well-being of most rural households in Ghana. The traditional management system exposes livestock to a high disease incidence, but healthcare support for animal production is limited. Ethnoveterinary practice is an integral part of livestock treatment, particularly in rural communities where veterinary services are poor.

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This study investigated influence of biological sex on postconcussive symptoms (PCS) following concussion using the Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research (FITBIR) database. All studies with publicly released data as of 4/7/21 that included both males and females, enough information to determine severity of injury consistent with concussion, a measure of PCS, and objective measures of neurocognitive functioning were used. This resulted in 6 studies with a total of 9890 participants (3206 females, 6684 males); 815 participants completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), 471 completed the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPSQ), and 8604 completed the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-3rd Edition (SCAT 3).

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Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a significant public health issue among young people living in Botswana. There is a need for reliable and valid psychological and behavioural measures of causally important constructs for this population. We developed a new HIV knowledge measure for use with 10-19-year-olds living with HIV and translated and adapted additional tools measuring HIV adjustment, HIV disclosure cognitions and affect, HIV communication beliefs, antiretroviral (ART) adherence, and self-esteem, using a multi-step process.

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This study examined the link between board composition and environment, social and governance (ESG) investment, and how financing decisions moderate this nexus. The study constructed hypotheses using insights derived from stakeholder and agency theories. We used secondary data from 2010 to 2022 to conduct an empirical analysis using the system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and Fixed Effect (FE) estimators.

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Background: Widespread drug shortages led to higher utilization of ketamine in our intensive care unit, especially among patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of continuous infusion of ketamine on vasopressor requirements in patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Method: This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study comparing mechanically ventilated (MV), adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 receiving either propofol or ketamine for at least 72 hours.

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Background: Malaria parasites have a devastating effect on the infected host. However, there is a paucity of data on the effect of Plasmodium falciparum on thyroid hormones.

Methods: This case-control study (1:1) involved children <16 years of age with uncomplicated malaria.

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Introduction: Among patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), balance problems often persist alongside hearing and vision impairments that lead to poorer outcomes of functional independence. As such, the ability to regain premorbid independent gait may be dictated by the level of sensory acuity or processing decrements that are shown following TBI assessment. This study explores the relationships between standardized sensory acuity and processing outcomes to postural balance and gait speed.

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Background: This phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study assessed the efficacy and safety of tanezumab in subjects with cancer pain predominantly due to bone metastasis receiving background opioid therapy.

Methods: Subjects were randomized (stratified by (1) tumor aggressiveness and (2) presence/absence of concomitant anticancer treatment) to placebo or tanezumab 20 mg. Treatment was administered by subcutaneous injection every 8 weeks for 24 weeks (3 doses) followed by a 24-week safety follow-up period.

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Introduction: Among patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), postural instability often persists chronically with negative consequences such as higher fall risk. One explanation may be reduced executive function (EF) required to effectively process, interpret and combine, sensory information. In other populations, a decline in higher cognitive functions are associated with a decline in walking and balance skills.

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Premature infants with germinal matrix haemorrhage-intraventricular haemorrhage (GMH-IVH) suffer from neurobehavioural deficits as they enter childhood and adolescence. Yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Impaired development and function of interneurons contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Spices and herbs are widely used food ingredients that enhance most organoleptic features of prepared foods. They are also used for medicinal and preservative purposes. Spices and herbs are potential carriers of bacteria, yeasts, and molds due to the nature of cultivation, harvest methods, storage conditions, packaging procedures, distribution, sale, and general handling.

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Primary Objectives: Determine if an abnormal preliminary neuroendocrine disorder (NED) blood test screen is associated with mild TBI (mTBI) history or post-concussiveclinical features.

Research Design: Observational.

Methods: Among 1,520 participants with military combatexposure, we measured randomly timed serum levels of insulin-likegrowth factor-1, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and total testosterone as a preliminary NED screen.

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While intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) predominantly damages the periventricular white matter, it induces substantial injury to the cerebral gray matter. IVH destroys the germinal matrix, suppresses neurogenesis, and disrupts corticogenesis, thereby reducing the number of neurons in the upper cortical layer and volume of the cerebral gray matter. The pathogenesis of gray matter injury is attributed to IVH-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and mass effect damaging the germinal matrix as well as to post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilation (PHVD).

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Objective: Identify sociodemographic, injury, and hospital-level factors associated with acute hospital discharge dispositions following acute hospitalization for moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States.

Methods: The 2011-2014 National Trauma Data Bank data was used, including 466 acute care hospitals and 114,736 patients ≥16 years old who survived moderate-to-severe TBI. Outcome was acute hospital discharge dispositions: home with/without care (HC), skilled nursing home/other care facility (SNF/ICF) and inpatient rehabilitation/long-term care facility (IRF).

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Objective: Following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), many individuals suffer from persistent post-concussive, depressive, post-traumatic stress, and sleep-related symptoms. Findings from self-report scales link these symptoms to biomarkers of neurodegeneration, although the underlying pathophysiology is unclear. Each linked self-report scale includes sleep items, raising the possibility that despite varied symptomology, disordered sleep may underlie these associations.

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Objective: To describe associations of demographic, military, and health comorbidity variables between mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) history and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) status in a sample of Former and current military personnel.

Setting: Participants recruited and tested at seven VA sites and one military training facility in the LIMBIC-CENC prospective longitudinal study (PLS), which examines the long-term mental health, neurologic, and cognitive outcomes among previously combat-deployed U.S.

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The exploration of oil and gas contributes to green-house-gas. While exploring countries ensures economic growth, their activities also contribute to environmental pollution through carbon emissions. The 13-member states of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are the world's most important oil-producing and exporting countries.

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Non-IgE-mediated food allergies are a group of disorders characterized by subacute or chronic inflammatory processes in the gut. Unlike IgE mediated food allergies that may result in multi-organ system anaphylaxis, the non-IgE mediated food allergies primarily affect the gastrointestinal tract. This review outlines the clinical manifestations, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of non-IgE-mediated food allergies.

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Following preterm birth, serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) decrease compared to corresponding in utero levels. A recent clinical trial indicated that supplementation with recombinant human (rh) IGF-1/rhIGF-binding protein 3 (rhIGF-1/rhIGFBP-3) prevents severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in extremely preterm infants. In a preterm rabbit pup model, we characterized endogenous serum and hepatic IGF-1, along with brain distribution of IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor (IGF1R).

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