Expression patterns of immune checkpoint proteins and -induced cytokines in chronic hepatitis B virus-infected and uninfected individuals: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aim: Chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection remains a major public health problem. The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) 2018 Hepatitis B Guidelines provide that CHB individuals not requiring antiviral therapy yet are monitored to determine the need for antiviral therapy in the future; however, these tests do not include measurement of cytokines and immune cell characterization. This case-control study compared the cytokine and immune checkpoint protein expression profiles between CHB individuals not yet on antiviral treatment and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-negative individuals.

The mediating role of quality of life on depression and medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study.

Background And Aim: Patients living with diabetes mellitus have a high burden of psychological distress such as depression and anxiety as well as impaired quality of life, which may negatively impact their adherence to medications, glucose control, and health-related costs.This study assessed the impact of quality of life and depression on medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes (type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]) in a tertiary care setting in Ghana.

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study involving 238 patients with diabetes aged 18 years and above.

Multiple indicators of violence against female sex workers and its associated factors in Ghana: Evidence from the 2015 integrated bio-behavioral surveillance survey cross-sectional study.

Background And Aims: Violence against female sex workers (FSWs) is a widespread phenomenon, especially in African nations like Ghana where sex work is outlawed primarily because of the pervasive worldview that sex work is a contravention of morality. Violence against FSWs deters them from accessing critical health services and heightens their risk of STIs including HIV infection. The study examined the prevalence and the associated factors of multiple indicators of violence against FSWs.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and hyaluronic acid levels as markers of fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease at the main tertiary referral hospital in Ghana: A case-control study design.

Background And Aims: Liver fibrosis leading to chronic liver disease (CLD) is a major cause of morbidity, mortality and health-care expenditure worldwide. The "gold standard" for diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis is histological analysis of liver tissue obtained by liver biopsy, an invasive procedure. Therefore, there is the need to identify noninvasive and inexpensive markers for diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis.

Prevalence of common adverse events experienced following COVID-19 vaccination and its associated factors in Ghana: Cross-sectional study design.

Background And Aims: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (COVID-19) pandemic devasted the general life of people and various human activities across the globe, and Ghana is of no exception. This led to development of vaccines within record time to combat morbidity and mortality associated with the virus. In Ghana, COVID-19 vaccines were introduced in addition to existing COVID-19 protocols.

Assessing the role of eosinophil-mediated immune response markers in detecting hookworm infection: A case-control study in Kintampo, Ghana.

Background And Aim: Human hookworm disease caused by and is a serious public health problem. Hookworm infection activates eosinophil-mediated tissue inflammatory responses, involving the production of the eosinophil-specific chemokine (eotaxin), recruitment of eosinophils, secretion of the cationic protein, and production of antiparasite immunoglobulin E (IgE). We investigated eosinophil-mediated immune response as markers (CCL11, eosinophil cationic protein [ECP], and IgE) for detecting hookworm infection.

Women's experiences of surviving severe obstetric complications: a qualitative inquiry in southern Ghana.

Women who survive severe obstetric complications (SOC) have health and well-being issues even up to 1 year postpartum and have challenges in their quality-of-life (QoL). However, little is known about their predicaments. This study aimed to describe the impact of severe obstetric complications on women's QoL and well-being after surviving severe obstetric complications.

Bleomycin-induced pneumonitis in a young Ghanaian male with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

We report a case of a young Ghanaian male who developed Bleomycin Induced Pneumonitis (BIP) after being treated for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Pulmonary toxicity is the most feared complication of bleomycin therapy despite its effectiveness in achieving cure in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and germ cell tumors. BIP has a significant mortality rate if detected late and a high index of suspicion is required in all patients on bleomycin-based therapies with sudden onset of respiratory symptoms.

Barriers to addressing mental health issues in childbearing women in Ghana.

Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate factors hampering the provision of mental health services by nurses and midwives to childbearing women to assist in the prioritization and distribution of limited mental health resources.

Design: This is a cross-sectional self-report study.

Methods: Data collected from 309 nurses and midwives were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistic, namely chi-square and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Comparative study of the nutritional composition of local brown rice, maize (obaatanpa), and millet-A baseline research for varietal complementary feeding.

Introduction: Childhood malnutrition remains a major public health issue of concern particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and inadequate complementary feeding is a common cause. Promoting dietary diversity is one way of tackling this problem. High dependence on maize has its limitations; modifying other local staples into complementary foods can be a feasible alternative to promote optimum nutrition.

Sustaining hope: A narrative inquiry into the experiences of hope for nurses who work alongside people living with HIV in Ghana.

Aim: In this research, we explored how nurses working in HIV care in Ghana live and work with hope.

Background: Nurses who work with people living with HIV have concerns about their well-being and quality of life. They also complain of stress-related workload due to high nurse-patient ratio.

Guidelines for the nursing management of gestational diabetes mellitus: An integrative literature review.

Aims And Objectives: An integrative literature review searched for, selected, appraised, extracted and synthesized data from existing available guidelines on the nursing management of gestational diabetes mellitus as no such analysis has been found.

Background: Early screening, diagnosis and management of gestational diabetes mellitus are important to prevent or reduce complications during and postpregnancy for both mother and child. A variety of guidelines exists, which assist nurses and midwives in the screening, diagnosis and management of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Improving nutritional status of children with Cerebral palsy: a qualitative study of caregiver experiences and community-based training in Ghana.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood disability worldwide, and evidence shows that children with CP are at an increased risk of malnutrition due to feeding difficulties. This qualitative study explores caregiver experiences of feeding before and after a community-based training program in Ghana.

Methods: Thirteen caregivers of children with CP, who were severely undernourished, were interviewed at the start of the training program.

The Effect of Cognitive Impairment on the Health-Related Quality of Life Among Stroke Survivors at a Major Referral Hospital in Ghana.

Background: The sequelae of stroke include both physical and cognitive impairment. However, the physical impairment usually takes center-stage during rehabilitation, while cognitive impairment is largely ignored. Cognitive deficit is very common following stroke and its assessment and identification is crucial as it impacts on the outcome and rehabilitation of stroke survivors.

Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among students of a tertiary institution in Ghana.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are listed as one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity by the World Health Organization. The World Heart Federation lists overweight/obesity, blood lipid profile, and blood pressure as some of the modifiable risk factors to developing CVDs. This study sought to determine the prevalence of some of these modifiable risk factors among University of Ghana students.

EDiP: the Epitope Dilution Phenomenon. Lessons learnt from a malaria vaccine antigen and its applicability to polymorphic antigens.

Polymorphism in vaccine antigens poses major challenges to vaccinologists. The Plasmodium falciparum Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA1) poses such a challenge. We found that immunization with a mixture of three variants yielded functional antibody levels to all variants comparable to levels induced by monovalent immunization.

Micronutrient composition and acceptability of leaf-fortified dishes by children in Ada-East district, Ghana.

, a green leafy vegetable, is a good source of minerals and vitamins which could be consumed as part of diet to improve human health and well-being. Drying leaves could make it readily available for use as a food fortificant. The objectives of the study were to determine micromineral and -carotene content of dried leaves, and leaf-incorporated local dishes, and also assess school children's (4-12 yr) acceptability of dried leaf-incorporated local dishes and feasibility of introducing dried leaves into a school lunch menu.

Changing Patterns of the Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori Among Patients at a Corporate Hospital in Ghana.

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) discovered in 1982, has strongly been associated with multiple clinical disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. This study described the prevalence of H.

Predictors of subjective well-being among older Ghanaians.

Background: Later years of life are accompanied by many physical, emotional and environmental changes which may impact on the well-being of the individual. Many factors are known to influence the subjective well-being of older adults, but most, if not all of this information was the result of studies in the Western world. This study aimed at obtaining and documenting the predictors of subjective well-being (SWB) among older Ghanaians.

Household costs of mental health care in Ghana.

Background: In Ghana, the prevalence of mental illness is about 13% and most patients are seen on out-patient basis. The economic burden of mental health care to patients and their families is, largely, unknown.

Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate the direct and indirect costs of mental illness to patients and their families and also to describe the intangible costs associated with mental illness.

Retinopathy in severe malaria in Ghanaian children--overlap between fundus changes in cerebral and non-cerebral malaria.

Background: In malaria-endemic areas, reliably establishing parasitaemia for diagnosis of malaria can be difficult. A retinopathy with some features unique to severe malaria with a predictive value on prognosis, has been described. Detection of this retinopathy could be a useful diagnostic tool.