Phage therapy in the management of respiratory and pulmonary infections: a systematic review.

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) pose a significant threat to global health, causing more than 2 million deaths worldwide. This menace is intensified by the alarming increase in drug resistance, which limits the availability of effective antibiotics for bacterial respiratory infections. Consequently, there is an urgent demand for alternative therapeutic options.

Yaws in Africa: Past, Present and Future.

Yaws is an infectious, neglected tropical disease that affects the skin of many children and adolescents who live in poor, rural, low-income communities in humid, tropical areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Yaws is currently endemic in at least 15 countries, but adequate surveillance data are lacking. In line with the WHO's effort to improve early detection, diagnosis, and proper management leading to the eventual eradication of yaws, this article reviews the existing literature on yaws in Africa to highlight the epidemiological pattern, genetic variability, diagnosis modalities, treatment, and control strategies, the challenges and prospects for yaws eradication.

Metabolic resistance to pyrethroids with possible involvement of non-coding ribonucleic acids in Anopheles funestus, the major malaria vector in western Kenya.

Background: The resurgence of Anopheles funestus, a dominant vector of human malaria in western Kenya was partly attributed to insecticide resistance. However, evidence on the molecular basis of pyrethroid resistance in western Kenya is limited. Here, we reported metabolic resistance mechanisms and demonstrated that multiple non-coding Ribonucleic Acids (ncRNAs) could play a potential role in An.

Determinants of physical function, as measured using PROMIS PF-10a, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the international COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study.

Objectives: Physical function in RA is largely influenced by multiple clinical factors, however, there is a growing body of evidence that psychological state and other comorbidities also play an essential role. Using data obtained in the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases study, an international self-reported e-survey, we aimed to explore the predictive ability of sociodemographic and clinical variables on Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function Short Form 10a (PROMIS PF-10a) in RA and to investigate variation in disease activity and functional outcomes based on country-level socio-economic parameters.

Methods: Patient demographics, disease characteristics including current symptom status, functional status and treatment variables, as well as income level of the country of residence, were extracted from survey responses.

Empowering African Expertise: Enhancing Safety Data Integration and Signal Detection for COVID-19 Vaccines Through the African Union Smart Safety Surveillance Joint Signal Management Group.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated new vaccine development. Limited safety data necessitated robust global safety surveillance to accurately identify and promptly communicate potential safety issues. The African Union Smart Safety Surveillance (AU-3S) program established the Joint Signal Management (JSM) group to support identification of potential vaccine safety concerns in five pilot countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa), accounting for approximately 35% of the African population.

Is personhood lost after mental illness? Exploring the dynamic interface between personhood and mental illness in Ghana.

Understanding of local conceptions of personhood and mental illness is central for developing therapeutic alliance and treatment regimens for persons living with mental illness. Such persons are exposed to several discriminatory behaviours yet factors that seem to encourage these behaviours are still not entirely understood. Personhood as construed from an emic perspective could potentially guide an understanding of societal attitudes toward individuals suffering from mental illness.

Molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenemases-producing Shigella in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The treatment of Shigella infections has become a major challenge due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant Shigella. There is however insufficient knowledge regarding the molecular epidemiology of Shigella strains producing beta-lactamases in Africa. This systematic review investigated the scientific literature on the molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemases producing Shigella in Africa.

Presentation, management and outcomes of ruptured intracranial aneurysms in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Approximately two percent of the world's population are affected by intracranial aneurysms (IAs). This study aimed to evaluate literature regarding presentation, treatment and outcomes of ruptured IAs in Africa.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature using PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Translation, adaptation and validation of an epilepsy screening instrument in two Ghanaian languages.

Introduction: The prevalence of epilepsy in sub-Saharan Africa varies considerably, and the exact estimate for Ghana remains unclear, particularly in peri-urban areas where data are scarce. More community-based studies are required to understand better the actual burden of epilepsy in these areas and the difficulties in accessing healthcare.

Objective: To adapt and validate a household survey epilepsy-screening instrument in Shai-Osudoku and Ningo-Prampram District of Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

Digital health for early psychosis in Ghana: patient and caregiver needs and preferences.

In West Africa, the long-term consequences of poor early psychosis recovery include poverty, neglect, and community ostracization. To understand the potential for digital health approaches to support early psychosis care in Ghana, we conducted a survey study among early psychosis patients and their caregivers about mental health needs, technology use and access, and interest in digital mental health. Hospital staff at Accra Psychiatric Hospital reviewed hospital medical records from January 2023 - December 2023 identifying young adults (≥18 years old) who had experienced psychosis symptoms for the first time within the prior five years.

A bioactive fraction from the leaves of Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. exhibits antiproliferative activity via cell cycle arrest at the G1/S checkpoint and initiation of apoptosis via poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1) cleavage in HeLa cells.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ceibapentandra (L.) Gaertn. (Malvaceae) has been used in Africa traditionally to manage a variety of illnesses, including cancer.

Respectful maternity care and mistreatment: Women's experiences during induction of labor and childbirth in Ghana.

Background: Most studies on respectful maternity care (RMC) and mistreatment of women have focused on intrapartum care with limited information on how women are treated during induction of labor (IOL), pre-labor phase of the maternity care continuum. Emerging multi-country evidence indicates that nearly 30% of women who undergo IOL do not consent to the procedure and constitutes a violation of their rights to optimal maternal health. This study explored women's lived experiences of respectful care and mistreatment during IOL in a tertiary setting in Ghana.

Chemoprotective Mechanism of Sodium Thiosulfate Against Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity Is via Renal Hydrogen Sulfide, Arginine/cAMP and NO/cGMP Signaling Pathways.

Cisplatin is a common and highly effective chemotherapeutic agent whose nephrotoxic side effect is well-characterized. Sodium thiosulfate (STS), an FDA-approved hydrogen sulfide (HS) donor drug, is emerging as a chemoprotective agent against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN). In this study, we investigated the chemoprotective mechanism of STS in a rat model of CIN.

Cholera Outbreaks in Low- and Middle-Income Countries in the Last Decade: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cholera is linked to penury, making low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) particularly vulnerable to outbreaks. In this systematic review, we analyzed the drivers contributing to these outbreaks, focusing on the epidemiology of cholera in LMICs. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024591613).

In Vitro Evaluation of Rosemary Essential Oil: GC-MS Profiling, Antibacterial Synergy, and Biofilm Inhibition.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become precarious, warranting investments in antimicrobial discovery. To investigate the antibacterial activity of rosemary essential oil (REO), alone and in combination with selected conventional antibiotics. REO was subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (including minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination) and investigation of anti-pre-biofilm and antibiofilm activities.

Pathogens spread by high-altitude windborne mosquitoes.

Recent studies have revealed that many mosquito species regularly engage in high-altitude windborne migration, but its epidemiological significance was debated. The hypothesis that high-altitude mosquitoes spread pathogens over large distances has not been directly tested. Here, we report for the first time that high-altitude windborne mosquitoes are commonly infected with arboviruses, protozoans, and helminths affecting vertebrates and humans, and provide the first description of this pathogen-vector aerial network.

The impact of COVID-19 on HIV care: a comprehensive analysis of patient and healthcare providers experiences at the largest HIV treatment center in Ghana.

Background: We sought to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected care delivery for HIV patients in Ghana.

Methods: Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), we performed a cross-sectional study between May and July 2021 among 40 people living with HIV and 19 healthcare providers caring for HIV patients. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were done with HIV patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, data scientists, administrators, and counselors to ascertain barriers and facilitators to HIV care during the pandemic.

Health assets among refugees in Australia: a systematic review.

Background: A health assets-based approach seeks to identify health-promoting or protective factors across multiple levels. Evidence of the health assets of refugees at the individual, family, and community levels in Australia is scarce. We aimed to synthesise current evidence from Australia to identify refugee health assets and explore how they influence health and well-being.

Integration and acceptability of cervical cancer screening as part of postnatal care among women attending postnatal clinics in the Accra Metropolis, Greater Accra Region, Ghana.

Cervical cancer is a recognized preventable disease yet the fourth most common cancer among women globally. This study assessed the integration and acceptability of cervical cancer screening as part of routine sixth-week postnatal care among women attending a postnatal clinic. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study among 347 postpartum women who were attending their 6th-week postnatal visit.

Cesarean section: One procedure, varied techniques. Detailed observations of 1013 first cesarean sections in a tertiary hospital in Ghana.

Objective: Cesarean sections (CS) are among the most performed surgical procedures in the world. Small variations in surgical techniques could have a significant impact on a global scale, for example, in postoperative complications. In the present study we aimed to observe and audit every single step used during first time CS.

Assessing the Reliability of YouTube Content for Plastic Surgery Patient Information in Africa With the Modified DISCERN and JAMA Scores.

Introduction: YouTube has become a popular source of health information, including plastic surgery. Given the platform's wide reach and potential influence on patient decisions, this study aimed to assess the quality of information available on YouTube for African audiences seeking plastic surgery procedures.

Methods: This cross-sectional study extracted data from YouTube videos on plastic surgery relevant to Africa.

Pan African Vivax and Ovale Network (PAVON) Malaria Diagnostic Competency Training: Offering Training Opportunities to Impact Malaria Elimination Strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

PAVON has developed a malaria microscopy competency training scheme to augment competency in malaria microscopy. Here, data accrued from training activities between 2020 and 2023 in Botswana are presented. Three trainings were done for 37 central and peripheral level technicians for a two-week period.

Pathological Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: A Review for Clinicians.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, driven by the novel coronavirus and its variants, has caused over 518 million infections and 6.25 million deaths globally, leading to a significant health crisis. Beyond its primary respiratory impact, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been implicated in various extra-pulmonary complications.

Comparison of nasopharyngeal bacteriological profile between patients with diabetes and healthy individuals in Accra, Ghana.

Background: The nasopharynx is characterised by a rich microbial diversity, making it an important endogenous reservoir for respiratory infections. People living with diabetes (PLWD) have a high risk for acquisition of respiratory tract infections, but their nasopharyngeal bacterial flora have rarely been investigated.

Aim: To investigate the nasopharyngeal bacterial flora among PLWD and non-diabetics at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.