A Comparison of Creatinine, Cystatin C, and Creatinine-Cystatin C Based Equations in HIV/AIDS Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Aim: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming prevalent among people living with HIV/AIDS infection, with kidney dysfunction progressing to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). We tested the diagnostic performance of creatinine, cystatin c, and the combined (creatinine + cystatin c)-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in assessing kidney dysfunction in HIV/AIDS patients on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the Saltpond District Hospital, Ghana.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 HIV/AIDS patients on ART at the Saltpond District Hospital was conducted.

REASSURED evaluation of the Bioline HCV point-of-care testing for diagnosing hepatitis C virus infection in primary healthcare settings of Ghana: a study protocol.

Introduction: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a silent epidemic that needs a comprehensive and contextualised approach to manage. Access to readily available, affordable and acceptable HCV point-of-care (POC) in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) is equally required to meet the global HCV goals. However, most guidelines for evaluating these IVDs such as the WHO prequalification process and country-specific standards disproportionately focus on diagnostic performance.

Assessing Concordance of Results: A Comparative Study of the Manual and Automated Urinalysis Methods.

Introduction: An accurate urine analysis is a good indicator of the status of the renal and genitourinary system. However, limited studies have been done on comparing the diagnostic performance of the fully automated analyser and manual urinalysis especially in Ghana. This study evaluated the concordance of results of the fully automated urine analyser (Sysmex UN series) and the manual method urinalysis at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana.

Health-related quality of life of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: A cross-sectional study in the cape coast metropolis.

Background And Aim: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) has in recent decades become a global pandemic, accounting for over 90% of DM cases. The study evaluated the health-related quality of life (HrQoL) and identified its determinants among type 2 DM patients at the University of Cape Coast Hospital.

Methods: We conducted our study at the University of Cape Coast Hospital from January to March 2022.

Toward schistosomiasis control: Assessment of infection-associated voiding symptoms, quality of life and the impact of exercise coupled with water intake on egg recovery in an endemic community in Ghana.

Assessment of the burden of disease and techniques for clinical diagnosis could ultimately help in schistosomiasis control. This study assessed the impact of exercises and water intake on ova recovery during laboratory diagnosis and schistosomiasis-associated urinary symptoms and quality of life (QOL) among inhabitants of Dendo, an endemic community in Ghana. The clinical findings and responses of 400 randomly selected participants were used for the study.

Self-reported continuing professional development needs of medical laboratory professionals in Ghana.

Background: Because of the essential nature of the work of medical laboratory professionals, continuing development in knowledge and skills is indispensable. The study aimed at identifying and prioritizing the development and training needs of medical laboratory professionals in Ghana. This is expected to help in developing focused continuing professional development (CPD) that meets the needs of practitioners as well as the changing medical trends.

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.

Comparison of Modified Manual Acid-Phenol Chloroform Method and Commercial RNA Extraction Kits for Resource Limited Laboratories.

Method: In a comparative experimental cross-sectional study, RNA was extracted from oral swabs and blood samples from 25 healthy individuals at the Department of Molecular Medicine, KNUST. RNA was extracted by the manual AGPC extraction method and commercial RNA extraction kits. The quantity (ng/l) and purities (260/280 nm) of the extracted RNA were measured spectrophotometrically using the IMPLEN NanoPhotometer® N60.

Assessment of Serum Free Light Chains as a Marker of Diabetic Nephropathy; A Cross-Sectional Study in the Kumasi Metropolis.

Aims: Although traditional tests such as serum urea, creatinine, and microalbuminuria have been widely employed in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy, their sensitivity and accuracy are limited because kidney damage precedes the excretion of these biomarkers. This study investigated the role of serum free light chains in the disease manifestation of diabetic nephropathy.

Materials And Methods: Using a cross-sectional design we recruited 107 diabetes mellitus out-patients who visited the Diabetes and Renal Disease Clinics at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Manhyia District Hospital, and Suntreso Government Hospital all in Ghana from November 2019 to February 2020.

Conservative therapy is associated with worse clinical features and biochemical derangements than renal replacement therapy: a retrospective study in Kumasi, Ghana.

Background: The incidence of end stage kidney disease (ESKD) is increasing in Ghana as with the rest of the world. This study compared the sociodemographic, diagnostic characteristics (clinical, biochemical and imaging) and clinical outcomes of ESKD patients who chose either renal replacement therapy (RRT) or conservative therapy as well as the factors that influenced their choice.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 382 ESKD patient from 2006 to 2018.

Treating Hepatitis B Virus in Times of COVID-19: The Case for Clinical Pharmacogenomics Research in Tenofovir-Induced Kidney Toxicity.

The current pandemic has markedly shifted the focus of the global research and development ecosystem toward infectious agents such as SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19. A case in point is the chronic liver disease associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection that continues to be a leading cause of severe liver disease and death globally. The burden of HBV infection is highest in the World Health Organization designated western Pacific and Africa regions.

The pattern of dyslipidaemia and factors associated with elevated levels of non-HDL-cholesterol among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Ho municipality: A cross sectional study.

Background: Dyslipidaemia is a key comorbid condition of type 2 diabetes mellitus that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. This study describes the pattern of dyslipidaemia and factors associated with elevated levels of non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ho.

Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled 210 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from Ho municipality.

Abnormal Obesity Phenotype Is Associated with Reduced eGFR among Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertensive Patients in a Peri-Urban Community in Ghana.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by hyperglycemia due to obesity and defects in insulin action. Significant complications of DM include kidney disease due to its association with hypertension and obesity. Thus, the contribution of the various obesity phenotypes to the kidney impairment observed among hypertensive and diabetes mellitus patients is of major concern.

Point-of-Care Sample Preparation and Automated Quantitative Detection of Schistosoma haematobium Using Mobile Phone Microscopy.

Schistosoma haematobium continues to pose a significant public health burden despite ongoing global control efforts. One of several barriers to sustained control (and ultimately elimination) is the lack of access to highly sensitive diagnostic or screening tools that are inexpensive, rapid, and can be used at the point of sample collection. Here, we report an automated point-of-care diagnostic based on mobile phone microscopy that rapidly images and identifies S.

Correction: Dry eye, its clinical subtypes and associated factors in healthy pregnancy: A cross-sectional study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 on diabetes mellitus patients in Cape Coast, Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic has had a greater psychological impact on patients with chronic ailments such as diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS compared to those without chronic conditions. We explored the psychological impacts of COVID-19 among people living with diabetes mellitus in Ghana.

Methods: this study employed a hospital-based cross-sectional design involving 157 diabetes mellitus patients aged 20 years and above.

Dry eye, its clinical subtypes and associated factors in healthy pregnancy: A cross-sectional study.

The study determined the frequency of dry eye, its clinical subtypes and risk factors among pregnant women. This study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study of pregnant women visiting the antenatal clinic of the University of Cape Coast hospital. Clinical dry eye tests were performed along with the administration of a symptom questionnaire.

Tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) best predicts the development of acute kidney injury.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is routinely diagnosed by creatinine-based guidelines, which is sub-optimal marker after injury due to renal and non-renal factors. This has necessitated the need for more specific and sensitive biomarkers for early detection of AKI in at risk patients. This prospective cross-sectional study used the biomarkers of cell cycle arrest and Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) to assess AKI among hospitalized patients.

Renal function in children infected with : a case-control study of an endemic Ghanaian community.

Schistosomiasis has been associated with kidney diseases leading to serious health problems especially in advanced cases. Most studies have used renal biopsy, and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of renal damage among urogenital schistosomiasis affected individuals. This study assessed serum urea, creatinine, and eGFR as biochemical markers of renal abnormalities in children with urogenital schistosomiasis () at a resource limited setting in Sorodofo-Abaasa in the Central Region of Ghana.

Meibomian Gland Dysfunction and Lipid Profile: A Study Among Pregnant Women.

Purpose: This study aimed to estimate the frequency of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) and its associated factors among pregnant women.

Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study of consecutive pregnant women visiting the University of Cape Coast hospital's antenatal clinic. Meibomian gland assessment and tear function test were performed along with the administration of a symptom questionnaire.

Vitamin D Deficiency Is Common in Ghana despite Abundance of Sunlight: A Multicentre Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Vitamin D is a steroid hormone important for the normal functioning of the body. It is produced through skin exposure to sunlight and from the diet. Although Ghana is located in the tropics where sunlight is abundant, factors like culture, diet, skin pigmentation, variation in the ozone layer, and geographical area influence the optimization of vitamin D concentration.

Serum Uric acid is a better indicator of kidney impairment than serum uric acid to creatine ratio ; a cross sectional study of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are likely to develop kidney disease. The need to identify more accessible and cheaper diagnostic biomarkers cannot be overemphasized. This study investigated the ability of serum uric and uric acid to creatinine ratio in assessing the kidney function of T2DM patients and determined the relationship between serum uric acid to creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Demographic, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Ghana.

Background: Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is the commonest of the hereditary kidney diseases and mostly ensues in utero with signs delayed until after several decades. This study assessed the demographic, diagnostic (clinical and biochemical features) and therapeutic patterns among ADPKD patients who attended the nephrology unit of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) from 2007 to 2018.

Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective analysis of ADPKD patient records was conducted at the nephrology unit of KATH in October 2020.

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 in poorly controlled vs well controlled Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus patients: A case-control study in a district hospital in Ghana.

Background: Hypofibrinolysis resulting from the up-regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) usually occurs in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), rendering them hypercoagulable. This study assessed the plasma antigen and activity levels of the PAI-1 enzyme in T2DM patients in a district hospital in Ghana.

Methods: This was a hospital-based case-control study conducted from December 2018 to May 2019 at Nkenkaasu District Hospital.

Posterior Blepharitis and Associated Potential Factors: A Study among Pregnant Women.

Purpose: This study evaluates in a cross-section of pregnant women the frequency of posterior blepharitis, its predisposing factors and how lipid profile impacts the occurrence of posterior blepharitis in pregnancy.

Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study of pregnant women.

Results: In this study, 201 pregnant women were recruited and included in the study's analysis.