Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease: Brain Tissue Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Interactions.

This study utilises amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD) human brain samples from the GEO database and employs differential expression gene (DEG) analysis to identify genes that are pivotal in both neurodegenerative diseases. Through in depth GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, we elucidated the biological functions and potential pathways associated with these DEGs. Furthermore, by constructing protein‒protein interaction networks, we highlight the significance of shared DEGs in both cellular physiology and disease contexts.

The Beneficial Effects of Lactobacillus Strains on Gut Microbiome in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background/objectives: Growing evidence suggests that the gut-brain axis influences brain function, particularly the role of intestinal microbiota in modulating cognitive processes. Probiotics may alter brain function and behavior by modulating gut microbiota, with implications for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). The purpose of this review is to systematically review the current literature exploring the effects of probiotic supplementation on gut microbiota and cognitive function in AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Country economic status is strongly associated with burn survival - validation of the (modified) ABSI.

Background: Predicting burn-related mortality is vital for family counseling, triage, and resource allocation. Several of the burn-specific mortality prediction scores have been developed, including the Abbreviated Burn Severity Index (ABSI) in 1982. However, these scores are not tested for accuracy to support contemporary estimates of the global burden of burn injury.

Gossypol is a natural product with good antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates.

Gossypol has demonstrated significant antimalarial activity against chloroquine-resistant and susceptible Plasmodium falciparum parasites. However, data on its potency in clinical isolates of P. falciparum remains limited.

"After Cutting It, Things Have Never Remained the Same": A Qualitative Study of the Perspectives of Amputees and Their Caregivers.

Introduction: Physical and emotional loss from amputation and associated physical disability are associated with adverse physical and psychological experiences. However, little research, within the Ghanaian context, has focused on the impact of amputation on the well-being of amputees and their caregivers and the coping strategies they use to mitigate challenges experienced. Therefore, the present study explored the impact of amputation on the well-being of amputees and caregivers, and the coping strategies they employ to manage distress associated with amputation and caregiving.

Evaluating the implementation of online research training and mentorship among early-career family physicians in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Research is needed to improve the performance of primary health care. In Africa, few family physicians conduct research, and therefore an online research training and mentorship programme was developed to build research capacity amongst novice and early career researchers.

Aim: To evaluate the implementation of the AfriWon Research Collaborative (ARC) training and e-mentorship programme in sub-Saharan Africa.

Give Peace a Chance? How Regulatory Foci Influence Organizational Conflict Events in Intractable Conflict Environments.

An intractable conflict environment (ICE) is an extreme context in which deep, unsolvable conflict between groups is central to the actors within it. While non-ICEs are typically assumed in organizational research, ICEs are increasingly common contexts for organizations. Moreover, this context influences peoples' interpretation of potential organizational conflict incidents inside the organization and therefore the likelihood and emotional intensity of organizational conflict events.

Effect of a Culturally Adapted Exercise Program on the Anthropometrics and Body Composition of Postmenopausal Women With Excess Weight Gain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is recommended as a component of weight management for the prevention of weight gain and weight regain after weight loss. Yet, no study has adapted culturally appropriate PA for postmenopausal women's health.

Aims: The study aimed to investigate the effect of a developed culturally appropriate exercise program for Ghanaian postmenopausal women with excess weight gain on the anthropometrics and body composition.

An African perspective to biodiversity conservation in the twenty-first century.

Africa boasts high biodiversity while also being home to some of the largest and fastest-growing human populations. Although the current environmental footprint of Africa is low compared to other continents, the population of Africa is estimated at around 1.5 billion inhabitants, representing nearly 18% of the world's total population.

Exploring the synergy between emotional intelligence and self-esteem among university students in Ghana.

Background: The need for educational institutions to create a conducive learning environment for participation of all students in school activities is one of the pillars advocated under Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. While there are structures institutionalized to promote students' well-being, universities are faced with a myriad of challenges which can negatively impact mental health and disrupt the overall learning experiences of students. This study explored the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Self-Esteem which have been found to influence the mental health of students.

Comprehensive health risk assessment of urban ambient air pollution (PM, NO and O) in Ghana.

Urbanization and industrialization have drastically increased ambient air pollution in urban areas globally from vehicle emissions, solid fuel combustion and industrial activities leading to some of the worst air quality conditions. Air pollution in Ghana causes approximately 28,000 premature deaths and disabilities annually, ranking as a leading cause of mortality and disability-adjusted life years. This study evaluated the annual concentrations of PM NO and O in the ambient air of 57 cities in Ghana for two decades using historical and forecasted data from satellite measurements.

Childhood Tuberculosis-Advances in Treatment and Prevention.

Tuberculosis (TB) in childhood presents a substantial global burden with nearly two million episodes of disease in children and adolescents annually. The majority of children who die from TB never receive appropriate treatment. Advancements in childhood TB treatments have been slow and there are many challenges with TB treatment in children.

Sickle Lung Disease Long-Term Consequences and Prevention.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is of global significance due to its severity and occurrence worldwide. Inheritance of the abnormal hemoglobin structure contributes to microvascular events that underlie the development of the multi-systemic complications seen in the disease pathogenesis. Pulmonary complications are common and heterogeneous including pulmonary hypertension, sleep-disordered breathing and lung function abnormalities.

Clinical breast examination and its associated factors among reproductive age women in Ghana: multilevel logistic regression analysis.

Background: Breast cancer poses a significant health burden in Ghana and globally, being the primary cause of cancer-related illness and death among women. The World Health Organization has identified clinical breast examination as the gold standard for women in low and middle-income countries. However, the uptake of clinical breast examination remains low in these settings, including Ghana, where the nationwide prevalence and associated factors of this practice have not been determined.

Persistent ascending mesocolon: an unexpected content in a giant and complex paraumbilical hernia of a 48-year-old obese woman.

Persistent ascending mesocolon (PAM) is a rare congenital anomaly in ⁓2%-4% of individuals. PAM is associated with various complications, including volvulus of the colon and caecum, bowel perforation, intestinal obstruction, and adhesions. This case is reported on a 48-year-old woman who reported to the Ho Teaching Hospital specialist clinic with a 13-year history of initial painless and reducible paraumbilical swelling.

Machine learning and molecular docking prediction of potential inhibitors against dengue virus.

Introduction: Dengue Fever continues to pose a global threat due to the widespread distribution of its vector mosquitoes, and . While the WHO-approved vaccine, Dengvaxia, and antiviral treatments like Balapiravir and Celgosivir are available, challenges such as drug resistance, reduced efficacy, and high treatment costs persist. This study aims to identify novel potential inhibitors of the Dengue virus (DENV) using an integrative drug discovery approach encompassing machine learning and molecular docking techniques.

Employee engagement, perceived organizational support, and job performance of medical staff at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.

This study examined the moderating effect of perceived organizational support on the link between employee engagement and the job performance of medical staff at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The study adopted a purely quantitative approach, using the explanatory research design. Data were collected from 310 full-time nurses and midwives of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital in the Central Region of Ghana.

Survival machine learning methods for mortality prediction after heart transplantation in the contemporary era.

Although prediction models for heart transplantation outcomes have been developed previously, a comprehensive benchmarking of survival machine learning methods for mortality prognosis in the most contemporary era of heart transplants following the 2018 donor heart allocation policy change is warranted. This study assessed seven statistical and machine learning algorithms-Lasso, Ridge, Elastic Net, Cox Gradient Boost, Extreme Gradient Boost Linear, Extreme Gradient Boost Tree, and Random Survival Forests in a post-policy cohort of 7,160 adult heart-only transplant recipients in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) database who received their first transplant on or after October 18, 2018. A cross-validation framework was designed in mlr.

Barriers to orthodox medical care of prostate cancer in Ghana.

Traditional medicine is widely used in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Ghana, where it is commonly integrated with modern orthodox medicine. This study examines the barriers that delay the pursuit of orthodox medical care for prostate cancer (PCa) in Ghana's Central region, where a blend of traditional and modern orthodox medicine exists. The preference for indigenous traditional medicine often results in late-stage presentations of PCa, adversely affecting patient outcomes.

Educate, Advocate, Act Now: a sustainable approach to combating antimicrobial resistance TODAY.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a great challenge to health systems all over the world. It is exacerbated by the abuse, misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals, plants and the environment. This viewpoint emphasizes the critical need to address the challenges of AMR through an integrated, long-term approach that focuses on education, advocacy and collective action.

Coping strategies of COVID-19 recovered patients at the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre.

Background: The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is a disease with diverse effects on multiple organ systems, leading to varying presentations and severe complications. As the pandemic progresses, the challenges faced by those who recovered from the disease evolved as various coping strategies were adopted post recovery.

Aim: This study investigated the coping strategies used by individuals recovering from COVID-19 to manage the physical, psychological, and social impacts of the disease.

Use of youth-friendly health services and predictive factors: A community-based analytical cross-sectional study among young people in the Tamale metropolis.

Globally, teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections are on the increase among young people. However, their knowledge and uptake of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services are low. This study evaluated young people's knowledge, attitude and utilization of youth-friendly health services in the Tamale Metropolis.

Post-COVID-19 conditions and health effects in Africa: a scoping review.

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused global devastations in social, economic and health systems of every nation, but disproportionately of nations in Africa. In addition to its grave effects on the global systems, there is continuation or development of new symptoms among individuals who have contracted the virus, with the potential to further stress the health systems on the continent. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to collate and summarise the existing research evidence on the prevalence and health effects of post-COVID-19 conditions in Africa.

The prognosis for delayed immune recovery in HIV-infected children might be associated with pre-cART CD4 T cell count irrespective of co-infection with tuberculosis.

Background: Immune reconstitution following the initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) significantly impacts the prognosis of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Our previous studies have indicated that the baseline CD4 T cells count and percentage before cART initiation are predictors of immune recovery in TB-negative children infected with HIV, with TB co-infection potentially causing a delay in immune recovery. However, it remains unclear whether these predictors consistently impact immune reconstitution during long-term intensive cART treatment in TB-negative/positive children infected with HIV.