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.

Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines mediate the progression of severe anemia in malaria-infected children: A prospective study.

Background: Severe Plasmodium falciparum malarial anemia is still the principal cause of death in children in underdeveloped countries. An imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is associated with malaria progression. This study evaluated circulating levels of selected inflammatory cytokines among malaria-infected children in Ghana.

Investigating hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count in preeclampsia: A case-control study in Ghana.

Background And Aims: Preeclampsia poses a heightened risk for women, particularly in the development of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, leading to adverse outcomes for both mothers and newborns. The incidence of HELLP syndrome tends to be notably higher among women with preeclampsia compared with those with normotensive pregnancies. However, there is a dearth of research on the frequency of HELLP syndrome within the context of preeclampsia specifically in Ghana.

Maternal hepatitis B status and Sex at birth: A cross-sectional study in a Ghanaian population.

Maternal carrier status of hepatitis B has been associated with excess sons while maternal immunity to it has been associated with excess daughters at birth. However, the proportion of males at birth (sex ratio) is relatively low in Sub-Saharan Africa despite the relatively high prevalence of hepatitis B. However, no known study has tested this hypothesis in the Ghanaian population; hence the aim of the study.

Exploring Hematological and Biochemical Disparities in Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Females: A Cross-Sectional Twin Study in a Ghanaian Population.

There are sex-dependent differences in hematological and biochemical variables in adulthood attributed to the predominant effects of testosterone in males and estrogen in females. The Twin Testosterone Transfer (TTT) hypothesis proposes that opposite-sex females may develop male-typical traits due to exposure to relatively higher levels of prenatal testosterone than same-sex females. Additionally, prenatal testosterone exposure has been suggested as a correlate of current circulating testosterone levels.

Immune checkpoint molecules B7-1 and B7-H1 as predictive markers of pre-eclampsia: A case-control study in a Ghana.

Background/aim: Immune tolerance in the fetal-maternal junction is maintained by a balance in the Th1/Th2 system. Th1-type immunity is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune checkpoint molecules (ICMs) such as B7-H1, while Th2-type immunity is characterized by anti-inflammatory cytokines and ICMs such as B7-1. Any imbalance in the Th1/Th2 immune system may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-eclampsia (PE).

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.

The impact of age on sex bias in models for height and sex estimation based on hand and foot dimensions the impact of age on sex bias.

There are sex differences in age-related bone modifications after puberty. Androgens stimulate radial bone expansion in males, while estrogen stimulates endosteal apposition but limits periosteal expansion in females. The potential effect of age on observed sex biases in height and sex estimation models is most significantly relevant for forensic or bioarchaeological research that relies, at least in part, on hand and foot bone measurements of living or skeletal remains for purposes of identification or demographic reconstruction.

Can maternal postpartum testosterone and estradiol retrospectively predict the offspring's sex at birth? A cross-sectional study in Ghana.

The selection of X- or Y-bearing spermatozoa during fertilization may depend on maternal circulating sex hormones. The zona pellucida of the developing oocyte is adapted to be selective for the Y-bearing spermatozoa when maternal circulating androgens are relatively high. This study sought to determine whether maternal postpartum testosterone and estradiol can retrospectively predict the offspring sex at birth.

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.

Interactions between sex and the age at disease onset on cardiometabolic risk factors in a Ghanaian population with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aim: The are sex differences in cardiometabolic risk factors in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as well as the age at disease onset. However, the impact of these risk factors on the age at onset of T2DM is less known in the Ghanaian population. An understanding of the differential impact of cardiometabolic risk factors on the age at onset on T2DM may lead to sex-specific interventions in preventive and management strategies for T2DM.

Sex-moderated relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and circulating hormones in an adult Ghanaian population.

The second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is the putative marker of prenatal hormone exposure. The 2D:4D ratio or the right-left difference (Dr-l) are said to be negative and positive correlates, respectively, of circulating testosterone and estrogen in both adult males and females. However, previous studies on the subject have reported mixed results.

Does sex interact with the 2D:4D ratio or adult circulating hormones on the estimated glomerular filtration rate? A cross-sectional study in Ghana.

The 2D:4D ratio is the putative marker of prenatal hormone exposure and has been suggested as a correlate of adult circulating testosterone and estrogen. The study aimed to determine whether sexual dimorphism in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) can be partly explained by the 2D:4D ratio or adult circulating testosterone or estrogen. The study was cross-sectional from June to December 2021 at the University for Development Studies.

Sexual Dimorphism and Sex-2D : 4D Interactions on Fasting Lipid Variables in an Adult Ghanaian Population.

Prenatal hormone exposure has been suggested as a correlate of adult circulating estrogen and testosterone. If this observation is true, then prenatal hormone exposure may have an association with lipid homeostasis in adulthood. The study sought to investigate sexual dimorphism and the interactions between the putative marker of prenatal hormone exposure (2D : 4D) and sex on adult fasting plasma lipid variables.

The association between the 2D:4D ratio and offspring sex at birth: A cross-sectional study in Ghana.

Objectives: The 2D:4D ratio is the putative marker of prenatal androgen exposure. Low maternal 2D:4D ratio has been associated with high or male-biased secondary sex ratio. Hitherto, there has not been any study in Ghana regarding the maternal 2D:4D ratio and sex ratio at birth.

The relationship between offspring's 2D:4D ratio and postpartum maternal circulating testosterone, estradiol, and their indices in a Ghanaian population.

Objectives: The 2D:4D ratio is influenced by prenatal testosterone (PT) and estrogen (PE) exposure in utero. This study sought to determine whether evidence of Manning's hypothesis can still be observed even in the postpartum period. We hypothesize that the offspring 2D:4D ratios will be inversely correlated with maternal postpartum circulating testosterone but positively correlated with estradiol.

The relationship between 2D:4D ratio and postpartum adult female variables in a Ghanaian population.

Objectives: Postpartum hematological and anthropometric assessment is a requirement for optimal maternal and child health. The study aimed to determine the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and postpartum hematological and anthropometric variables in adult females.

Methods: The study was cross-sectional from December 2020 to April 2021 involving 272 postpartum adult females, aged between 18 and 36 years.

Second to fourth (2D:4D) digit ratio and their relationships among a mother and child population in Ghana.

The study aimed to determine the relationship between digit ratios among a mother-child population in Ghana. This was a cross-sectional study from December 2020 to April 2021 involving 272 mothers, their daughters (n = 132) and their sons (n = 140). The right (2D:4DR) and the left (2D:4DL) digit ratios were measured using computer-assisted analysis.

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.

Forensic science in Ghana: A review.

The use of forensic science continues to grow across the world. In Ghana, major advancements took off in 2011, including the introduction of modern DNA profiling and the establishment of an automated fingerprint identification system. These developments have led to some positive impacts on the delivery of justice, including the exoneration of a wrongly incarcerated individual.