Patent review of novel compounds targeting opioid use disorder (2018-2024).

Introduction: Opioids have served as a cornerstone in pain management for decades. However, the emergence of increasingly potent synthetic analogs brings forth a range of side effects, including respiratory depression, tolerance, dependence, constipation, and, more importantly, the development of severe and debilitating opioid use disorder (OUD). Search for therapeutics to mitigate OUD has been challenging and this has called for novel approaches that include design of small molecules targeting neuronal circuits involved in addiction (opioid, dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and glutamate receptors, etc.

Health impacts of a remotely delivered prolonged nightly fasting intervention in stressed adults with memory decline and obesity: A nationwide randomized controlled pilot trial.

Objective/goals: Cognitive decline is intricately linked to various factors such as obesity, stress, poor sleep, and circadian rhythm misalignment, which are interrelated in their impact on cognitive health. Irregular food-intake timing further compounds these issues. The practice of prolonged nightly fasting (PNF) may help synchronize food intake with circadian rhythms, potentially mitigating adverse effects of cognitive decline and associated factors.

Oxidative Stress and Cancer Risk in Schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, coming second only to malaria in terms of morbidity. The disease-causing parasite can inhabit the body for over a decade, leading to imbalances in the host's metabolic systems. The flukes and their eggs can illicit various immunological and metabolic complications resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

The impact of COVID-19 on health service utilization in sub-Saharan Africa-a scoping review.

Background: Despite comparatively low rates of COVID-19 admissions and recorded deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the pandemic still had significant impact on health service utilization (HSU). The aim of this scoping review is to synthesize the available evidence of HSU in SSA during the pandemic, focusing on types of studies, changes in HSU compared with the pre-pandemic period, and changes among specific patient groups.

Methods: The scoping review was guided by the methodological framework for conducting scoping reviews developed by Arksey and O'Malley.

The role of financial inclusion and technological innovation in stimulating environmental sustainability in the European countries: A new perspective based on load capacity factor.

Given the alarming level of climate change, policymakers across the globe are seeking strategies to mitigate environmental pollution to achieve sustainable development. In this context, renewable energy and technological advancements have emerged as an effective way to lower pollution and attain sustainable development. This study evaluates the effect of financial inclusion, technological innovation, and renewable energy on the load capacity factor (LCF) in European countries from 2004 to 2018.

ProC6C, a novel multi-stage malaria vaccine, elicits functional antibodies against the minor and central repeats of the Circumsporozoite Protein in human adults.

Introduction: ProC6C is a multi-stage malaria vaccine which includes Circumsporozoite Protein (PfCSP), Pfs48/45 and Pfs230 sequences, designed to elicit functional antibodies that prevent sporozoite invasion of human hepatocytes (PfCSP) and parasite development in mosquitoes (Pfs48/45 and Pfs230). ProC6C formulated on Alhydrogel was evaluated in combination with Matrix-M in a Phase 1 trial in Burkina Faso. The PfCSP antibody responses were assessed for magnitude, specificity, avidity and functionality.

Secular trends and sociodemographic disparities in physical activity among adults in eleven African countries: WHO STEPS 2003-2020.

Background: Mortality from physical inactivity-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is projected to surpass deaths from communicable diseases by 2030 in Africa. Monitoring physical activity (PA) is important for planning public health interventions addressing NCDS and planetary health, but there is a dearth of evidence on PA trends in Africa. This study explored the secular trends in overall and domains of PA (leisure, occupation, and transport), and examined the gender, age, and education disparities in PA trends across African countries.

Targeted gene panel sequencing of liquid and tissue biopsies reveals actionable genomic alterations in Ghanaian metastatic breast cancer cases.

Purpose: Breast cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality among African women. The adoption of molecular genomic technologies in the management of cancer cases is limited in Africa. To provide much-needed insights on the feasibility and utility of such precision medicine paradigms in Africa, we conducted a prospective, non-interventional study involving combined tissue and plasma Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based testing in cancer patients in Ghana.

Investigating the relationships between motor skills, cognitive status, and area deprivation index in Arizona: a pilot study.

Introduction: Previous studies highlight the negative impact of adverse socioeconomic conditions throughout life on motor skills and cognitive health. Factors such as cognitive activity, physical activity, lifestyle, and socioeconomic position significantly affect general health status and brain health. This pilot study investigates the relationships among the Area Deprivation Index (ADI)-a measure of neighborhood-level socioeconomic deprivation, brain structure (cortical volume and thickness), and cognitive status in adults in Arizona.

Comparative Determination of Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimation Formulae in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: An Observational Study.

Assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) involves collecting timed urine samples for 24 hours, requiring significant time and resources in the clinical setting. Using predictive GFR formulae to assess renal function may be a better alternative. Our goal was to determine which predictive GFR formula had the highest level of concordance with the GFR that has been measured in a resource-poor setting.

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome-A rare cause of recurrent seizures in adulthood.

It is important to consider DDMS as a differential diagnosis in any patient with early childhood onset of epilepsy. Early diagnosis and optimal management are key to reducing the disabling effect of DDMS.

Levels of anti-insulin antibodies in diabetic retinopathy patients: an observational cross-sectional study.

This study evaluated the levels of anti-insulin antibodies (AIAs) and the influence of some antidiabetic medications on AIA in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients with retinopathy. An observational cross-sectional study. A lower titer of AIA IgG was observed in the diabetic retinopathy (DR) and DM-only study categories compared with the control group [DR = 86 (5-560), DM-only = 50 (5-500), versus control = 200 (7-565); p = 0.

Prevalence of Preferences for End-of-Life Place of Care and Death Among Patients With Cancer in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: There is limited information on preferences for place of care and death among patients with cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The aim was to report the prevalence and determinants of preferences for end-of-life place of care and death among patients with cancer in LMICs and identify concordance between the preferred and actual place of death.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was conducted.

AMA1 and CSP antigen diversity in parasite isolates from southern Ghana.

Introduction: Diversity in malarial antigens is an immune evasion mechanism that gives malaria parasites an edge over the host. Immune responses against one variant of a polymorphic antigen are usually not fully effective against other variants due to altered epitopes. This study aimed to evaluate diversity in the Plasmodium falciparum antigens apical membrane antigen 1 (PfAMA1) and circumsporozoite protein (PfCSP) from circulating parasites in a malaria-endemic community in southern Ghana and to determine the effects of polymorphisms on antibody response specificity.

Medication errors at a diabetes management center in a resource-poor setting.

Background: Medication errors are known to cause adverse drug reactions, hospital admissions and mortality. In most resource-poor settings, medication errors occur but are undocumented.

Objective: This study sought to investigate medication errors in a diabetic clinic at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana.

Impact of distinct cognitive domains on gait variability in individuals with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.

Background: Gait variability is a common feature in neurodegenerative diseases and has been linked to cognitive impairment. Despite this link, the influence of specific cognitive domains, such as memory, visual spatial skills, executive function, and verbal function on gait variability is not well-understood.

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of these specific cognitive domains on gait variability in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia during preferred and dual task walking.

The Association among Hypothalamic Subnits, Gonadotropic and Sex Hormone Plasmas Levels in Alzheimer's Disease.

This study investigates the sex-specific role of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal axis in Alzheimer's disease progression, utilizing ADNI1 data for 493 individuals, analyzing plasma levels of gonadotropic and sex hormones, and examining neurodegeneration-related brain structures. We assessed plasma levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone (P4), and testosterone (T), along with volumetric measures of the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, and hypothalamic subunits, to explore their correlation with Alzheimer's disease markers across different cognitive statuses and sexes. Significant cognitive status effects were observed for all volumetric measures, with a distinct sex-by-cognitive status interaction for hypothalamic volume, indicating a decrease in males but not in females across cognitive impairment stages.

Associating white matter microstructural integrity and improvements in reactive stepping in people with Parkinson's Disease.

Reactive steps are rapid responses after balance challenges. People with Parkinson's Disease (PwPD) demonstrate impaired reactive stepping, increasing fall-risk. Although PwPD can improve steps through practice, the neural mechanisms contributing to improved reactive stepping are poorly understood.

Radiologic patterns of distant organ metastasis in advanced breast cancer patients: Prospective review of computed tomography images.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) metastases to the abdomen and pelvis affect the liver, mesentery, retroperitoneum, peritoneum, bladder, kidney, ovary, and uterus. The study documented the radiological pattern and features of the chest, bone, abdominal and pelvic (AP) metastases among advanced BC patients.

Aim: The aim is to document the radiological pattern and features of breast cancer metastasis in the chest, abdomen, pelvis and bones.