Phenotypic and Allelic Frequencies of ABO and Rh(D) Blood Antigens in Ghana: A Systematic Review.

Background: ABO and Rh blood group systems are the most significant blood group systems recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion and are widely used for clinical and anthropological purposes. This systematic review determined the distribution and allelic frequency of ABO and Rh(D) antigens in Ghana.

Methods: Literature searches were performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect, up to February 20, 2024, and included studies published from 2000 to 2024 in all regions of Ghana.

Toxicological evaluation of LivLonga, a polyherbal combination, in rodents.

There has been keen interest on herbs and phytoconstituents with hepatoprotective property to help restore healthy liver function. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian traditional system of medicine mentions about , and which are reported to have hepatoprotective activity. Apart from supporting metabolism, liver plays pivotal role in numerous bodily processes, immune functions to digestion, detoxification, and storage of nutrients.

An Evaluation of the Sensitivity and Specificity of Three COVID-19 Rapid Immunochromatographic Test Kits Compared to Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) Among Clinical Samples.

Background and objective The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. This highlights the need for simple, rapid, and affordable diagnostic tests that can serve as alternatives to the existing costly and demanding polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, especially in resource-limited countries like Ghana. In light of this, we aimed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of three COVID-19 rapid immunochromatographic antigen test kits vs.

Reproductive history is associated with functional disabilities and symptoms in women with knee osteoarthritis: a case-control study.

Objectives: Studies that have examined the correlation between reproductive history and knee osteoarthritis (KOA) have had heterogeneous findings. We aimed to investigate the reproductive history and its relationship with pain and physical dysfunction in women with KOA. This case-control study, comprising 204 women aged 50 and older with and without KOA recruited through random cluster sampling, was executed from February 2018 to October 2018 in the health centers of Tabriz City.

Molecular characterization of HAMP rs10421768 gene and phenotypic expression of hepcidin; a case-control study among sickle cell anaemia patients in Ghana.

Background: The sporadic nature of blood transfusion therapy coupled with the alteration of HAMP genes may exacerbate the risk of iron burden in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients. The study determined the polymorphic distribution of the HAMP promoter gene rs10421768 and hepcidin levels in SCA patients.

Method: Sixty participants aged ≥12years [45 SCA patients and 15 controls (HbA)] were recruited from 15th March, 2023 to 20th July, 2023 for a case-control study at Methodist Hospital Wenchi, Ghana.

Complete Blood Count Reference Intervals for Children Aged Less Than 1 to 12 Years in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Reliable laboratory diagnostic results are key for evaluating and improving children's health. To interpret these results, child-specific reference intervals (RIs), which account for constant biological changes and physiological development with sex and age, are required, as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). This study presents age- and sex-specific reference intervals for complete blood count (CBC) parameters in children (<1-12 years old) in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Subjective biosafety assessment of bisdemethoxycurcumin from the rhizomes of .

, a plant native to the Indian subcontinent has a variety of biological activities. Curcumin is the most abundant and biologically active compound with many therapeutic properties. Demethoxycurcumin (DMC) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) - the two other bioactive components present in , besides curcumin, are collectively termed curcuminoids.

Psychometric Assessment of Infant Colic Scale in Iranian Population.

Introduction: Infant colic, causing excessive crying, poses anxiety for parents and a challenge for pediatricians and nurses. The Infant Colic Scale (ICS) serves to assess the severity and causal factors of colic. Despite its significance, the psychometric properties of ICS have not been evaluated in the Iranian population.

The Effects of Ginger () Extract Ointment on Pain and Episiotomy Wound Healing in Nulliparous Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Episiotomy is a usual midwifery surgery. Iran is a country with an abundant source of medicinal plants. This study aimed to investigate ginger extract ointment's effects on the pain and recovery of episiotomy incisions in nulliparous women.

Assessment of Safety Profile of Activated Curcumin C3 Complex (AC®), Enriched Extract of Bisdemethoxycurcumin from the Rhizomes of .

The present work was carried out to investigate the toxic effects of Activated Curcumin C3 Complex (AC®) through the methods of acute, subacute, subchronic, reproductive/developmental toxicity, and genotoxicity when administered orally in experimental rodents. The studies were carried out in line with OECD principles of good laboratory practice. A single-dose acute oral toxicity study was conducted on female Wistar rats that produced no toxic effects after 14 days (the observation period) of treatment.

Are sex differences in blood cell count and hemoglobin moderated by the 2D:4D ratio? A cross-sectional study in a Ghanaian population.

Background And Aims: There are sex differences in blood cell count and hemoglobin (HGB) in adulthood due to differences in the levels of circulating sex hormones. The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is the putative marker of prenatal hormone exposure. The 2D:4D or the right-left difference (Dr-l) are sexually dimorphic and are correlates of sex hormones in adulthood.

Plasma levels of fibrinolytic and coagulation biomarkers in HIV-infected individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy: A case-control study in a Northern Ghanaian population.

Background And Aim: Impaired coagulation and fibrinolysis have been implicated in thromboembolism in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. This study evaluated the plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and coagulation biomarkers in HIV-infected individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods: This matched case-control study from March to December, 2020 comprised 76 participants: 38 HIV-positive individuals on HAART and 38 apparently healthy HIV-negative individuals as controls.

Effects of COVID-19 disease on PAI-1 antigen and haematological parameters during disease management: A prospective cross-sectional study in a regional Hospital in Ghana.

Background: Individuals with COVID-19 experience thrombotic events probably due to the associated hypofibrinolysis resulting from the upregulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen. This study evaluated plasma PAI-1 antigen levels and haematological parameters before treatment and after recovery from severe COVID-19 in Ghana.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Sunyani Regional Hospital, and recruited 51 patients who had RT-PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2.

Insulin Resistance in relation to Hypertension and Dyslipidaemia among Men Clinically Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.

Pathophysiologically, type 2 diabetes can result from insulin resistance or insulin insufficiency alone. It is unclear whether relative insulin shortage or pronounced insulin resistance is linked to poor cardiometabolic problems like obesity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between insulin resistance (IR), hypertension, and dyslipidaemia, in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Self-Care Performance of Pregnant Women in Preventing COVID-19 Infection and Its Relationship with Perceived Stress.

To determine the status of self-care performance of pregnant women in the prevention of COVID-19 disease and its relationship with perceived stress during the epidemic period of this disease. This cross-sectional study was performed on 228 pregnant women who referred to the health centers in Tabriz, Iran, for prenatal care. They were selected by cluster sampling.

Prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence and associated factors in Iranian postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is one of the most common symptoms during menopause, leading to a decreased quality of life and limited social activities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence and associated risk factors in postmenopausal women.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study using cluster sampling on 433 postmenopausal women in Tabriz-Iran, 2021-2022.

The relationship between urinary incontinence with sexual function and quality of life in postmenopausal women.

Background: Urinary incontinence has a significant impact on the psychosocial well-being of postmenopausal women. This study aimed to determine the relationship between urinary incontinence with sexual function and quality of life.

Method: It was a cross-sectional study using cluster sampling on 433 postmenopausal women in Tabriz-Iran, 2021-2022.

Validation of the Iranian version of the ENDOPAIN-4D questionnaire for measurement of painful symptoms of endometriosis.

Endometriosis is one of the leading gynecological disorders in reproductive ages. About two-thirds of women with endometriosis experience chronic pelvic pain. There are different methods for the assessment of pain in endometriosis.

The Anti-Obesity Potential of Extract Containing Piceatannol, Scirpusin A and Scirpusin B from Rhizomes: Preclinical and Clinical Evaluations.

Purpose: Obesity is a complex medical problem that increases the risk of other diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and fatty liver disease. The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of rhizome extract (CRE), standardized to contain Piceatannol, Scirpusin A, and Scirpusin B (5% total Stilbenoids) in overweight individuals. The mechanism of activity was evaluated in a diet-induced mice model of obesity and adipocytes in vitro.

Effect of hope therapy on psychological well-being of women after abortion: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Giving a healthy birth plays a vital role in a person's personality development, but giving unhealthy birth and abortion can increase the risk of a range of mental disorders and psychological harms including reduced well-being and quality of life. Psychological interventions can reduce the problems of individuals, so the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of counseling with hope therapy on psychological well-being (primary outcome) and quality of life (secondary outcome) of women with an experience of abortion.

Method: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in Alzahra and Taleghani educational and medical centers in Tabriz, Iran, on 52 women aged 16 years and above whose pregnancies led to abortion in 2020-21.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in LCAT may contribute to dyslipidaemia in HIV-infected individuals on HAART in a Ghanaian population.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is known to cause lipid abnormalities such as dyslipidaemia in HIV-infected individuals. Yet, dyslipidaemia may not independently occur as it may be worsened by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL). This case-control study was conducted in three-selected hospitals in the Northern part of Ghana.

Impacts of epidural electrical stimulation on Wnt signaling, FAAH, and BDNF following thoracic spinal cord injury in rat.

Electrical stimulation (ES) has been shown to improve some of impairments after spinal cord injury (SCI), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The Wnt signaling pathways and the endocannabinoid system appear to be modulated in response to SCI. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ES therapy on the activity of canonical/noncanonical Wnt signaling pathways, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), which regulate endocannabinoids levels.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms with dyslipidemia in antiretroviral exposed HIV patients in a Ghanaian population: A case-control study.

Dyslipidemia is a potential complication of long-term usage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and also known to be associated with genetic factors. The host genetic variants associated with dyslipidemia in HIV patients on ART in Ghana have not been fully explored. The study constituted a total of 289 HIV-infected patients on stable ART for at least a year.

Subchronic and Reproductive/Developmental Toxicity Studies of Tetrahydrocurcumin in Rats.

Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) is a major metabolite of curcumin, which is obtained from . THC has various benefits and overcomes the bioavailability issue of curcumin. To establish it as a pharmacologically active molecule, its safety profile has to be determined.