Cryptolepine Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation, Stemness, and Metastatic Processes by Inhibiting WNT/β-Catenin Signaling.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Evidence shows that over 90% of CRC cases are initiated by a deregulated Wingless Integrated Type-1 (WNT)/β-catenin signaling pathway. The WNT/β-catenin pathway also promotes CRC cell proliferation, stemness, and metastasis.

Risk of Heavy Metal Poisoning From Consuming Grasscutter Digesta in Ghana.

Grasscutter (cane rat/) digesta is used as a spice in Ghana. Research shows that heavy metals from the environment may accumulate in the internal organs of grasscutters, which raises concerns about the possible contamination of grasscutter digesta, too, with heavy metals. Although grasscutter meat in Ghana has been described as safe for consumption, information is lacking on the health risks associated with ingesting the digesta.

Inverse Comorbidity between Down Syndrome and Solid Tumors: Insights from In Silico Analyses of Down Syndrome Critical Region Genes.

An inverse comorbidity has been observed between Down syndrome (DS) and solid tumors such as breast and lung cancers, and it is posited that the overexpression of genes within the Down Syndrome Critical Region (DSCR) of human chromosome 21 may account for this phenomenon. By analyzing publicly available DS mouse model transcriptomics data, we aimed to identify DSCR genes that may protect against human breast and lung cancers. Gene expression analyses with GEPIA2 and UALCAN showed that DSCR genes and are significantly downregulated in breast and lung cancers, and their expression levels are higher in triple-negative compared to luminal and HER2-positive breast cancers.

A multicenter study of the prevalence and risk factors of malaria and anemia among pregnant women at first antenatal care visit in Ghana.

Background: Malaria in pregnancy remains a major public health problem in Africa and Ghana and has been associated with a variety of pregnancy-related adverse complications. The development of effective and timely health policies for the prevention and control of malaria and anemia in pregnancy; requires current and consistent data on the prevalence and risk factors. We report the prevalence and risk factors of malaria and anemia from three major hospitals across three regions in Ghana.