Thyroid dysfunction and glycaemic control among Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Ghana: A comparative cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Thyroid disorders and diabetes mellitus coexist and are prevalent endocrinopathies among adult population. Thyroid dysfunction contributes to metabolic imbalances, increase beta-cell apoptosis and glucose intolerance. There is paucity of data and contradicting findings on how thyroid dysfunction influence glycaemic control.

Assessing the variability and the role of inflammatory cytokines and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in predicting stroke among hypertensives: A case-control study.

Background: Atherosclerosis is a complex lipid-driven inflammatory disease in which numerous cell types and inflammatory mediators are involved in the progression of hypertension to stroke. Mediators' markers that could predict the progression of hypertension to stroke are of research importance. We assessed the predictive value of individual and combined cytokines and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) among hypertensives with or without stroke.

Assessment of intestinal and blood protozoan infections among pregnant women visiting ante-natal care at Tafo Hospital, Ghana.

Introduction: Intestinal and blood protozoans cause morbidity and mortality in both pregnant women and developing foetuses worldwide. It constitutes a major health problem in many tropical areas in Africa. This study assessed the prevalence of intestinal and blood protozoans' parasitic load and their risk factors among pregnant women visiting antenatal care at Tafo Hospital, Ghana from November 2016 to January 2017.

Profiling vitamin D, its mediators and proinflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis: A case-control study.

Introduction: The active form of vitamin D has immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect. Vitamin D is implicated in pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its deficiency leads to increased inflammation. Moreover, its production is dependent on concentration of calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Profiling immuno-metabolic mediators of vitamin B12 deficiency among metformin-treated type 2 diabetic patients in Ghana.

Background: The association between prolong metformin usage and B12 deficiency has been documented. However, the prevalence estimates of metformin-induced vitamin B12 deficiency showed substantial disparity among studies due to varied study definitions of vitamin B12 deficiency. Metformin blocks the calcium dependent absorption of the vitamin B12-Intrinsic Factor complex at the terminal ileum.

Increased metformin dosage suppresses pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in systemic circulation and might contribute to its beneficial effects.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder, characterized by persistent elevation of blood glucose either due to insulin resistance or insulin insufficiency. Metformin is the recommended first choice of drug for the management of T2DM and is known to improve insulin sensitivity and prevents hyperglycemia by reducing chronic inflammation. T-helper type 1 (Th1) and type 17 (Th17) cells, are important pro-inflammatory CD4 T cell subsets secreting TNF-α, and INF-γ (Th1), and interleukin 17 (Th17).

Individual and combined bioscore model of presepsin, procalcitonin, and high sensitive C - reactive protein as biomarkers for early diagnosis of paediatric sepsis.

Background: Paediatric sepsis remains a major public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. Clinical symptoms associated with sepsis are unreliable and laboratory parameters unspecific, making an early diagnosis of paediatric sepsis difficult. The lack of definitive biomarker(s) for early diagnosis of sepsis further leads to the misuse of antibiotics.

Evaluation of red blood cell count as an ancillary index to hemoglobin level in defining the severe falciparum malarial anemia among Ghanaian children in low-resource communities.

Our study evaluated red blood cell count as supporting hematological index to hematocrit level in predicting severe malarial anemia instead of the hemoglobin levels among malaria-infected children in Ghana. This case-control study was conducted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana. The study recruited 139 children, of which 45 were Controls (C), 43 with severe malaria (SM), and 51 with mild malaria (MM).

Renal abnormalities among children with sickle cell conditions in highly resource-limited setting in Ghana.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with progressive multi-organ failure especially, the brain and kidney and leads to high morbidity and mortality rate. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of renal abnormalities among children with SCD. This cross-sectional study recruited 212 sickling positive patients comprising of 96 Hb AS, 48 Hb SC, and 68 Hb SS phenotypes from the Pediatric Unit of Wassa Akropong Government Hospital, Wassa Akropong, Ghana.

Detecting among HIV-infected women with or without human papillomavirus using real-time PCR with the ANYPLEX™ II STI-7 assay system.

Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections increase the chances of women contracting human papillomavirus (HPV), the prime causative agent of cervical cancer. Additionally, is the most frequent pathogen prevailing in sexually transmitted diseases in HIV-infected women. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of among HIV-infected women with or without HPV in Ghana.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the comparison of fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c as the glycemic criterion for MetS definition in non-diabetic population in Ghana.

Background: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), owing to its ability to reflect glycemia over a relatively longer time span, is still been investigated as an adjunct test for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) to identify subjects at risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in some Caucasian populations. However, whether or not HbA1c can serve as an adjunct to FPG in the definition of MetS in the Ghanaian population remains unknown. This study determined the prevalence of MetS and evaluated HbA1c ≥ 5.

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria and Anti-Microbial Susceptibility Patterns among Women of Reproductive Age. A Cross-Sectional Study in Primary Care, Ghana.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) poses serious future clinical repercussions for reproductive women. The study determined the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria along with anti-microbial susceptibility patterns among women of reproductive age in a primary care facility. The study recruited a total of 300 women of reproductive age attending the Tetteh Quarshie Memorial Hospital at Akuapem-Mampong, Ghana, between January and March 2018.

Evaluation of Individual and Combined Markers of Urine Dipstick Parameters and Total Lymphocyte Count as a Substitute for CD4 Count in Low-Resource Communities in Ghana.

We evaluated the individual and combined levels of urine dipstick and total lymphocyte count (TLC) as surrogate markers for CD4 count in a low-resource community in Ghana. This cross-sectional study recruited 200 HIV-infected patients from the Saint Francis Xavier Hospital, Assin Fosu, Ghana. Complete blood count, CD4 count, and urine dipstick analysis were measured for participants.