Microcardia and cardiomegaly screening using postero-anterior chest X-ray (PA CXR) across university students in Ghana - a retrospective study.

Background: Microcardia and cardiomegaly are good diagnostic and prognostic tools for several diseases. This study investigated the distribution of microcardia and cardiomegaly among students of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ghana to determine the prevalence of microcardia and cardiomegaly across gender, and to evaluate the correlation between the presence of these heart conditions and age.

Methods: This retrospective study involved a review of 4519 postero-anterior (PA) chest X-rays (CXRs) between 2020 and 2023.

Household economic burden of type-2 diabetes and hypertension comorbidity care in urban-poor Ghana: a mixed methods study.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) predispose households to exorbitant healthcare expenditures in health systems where there is no access to effective financial protection for healthcare. This study assessed the economic burden associated with the rising burden of type-2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension comorbidity management, and its implications for healthcare seeking in urban Accra.

Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design was used.

"The trip actually opened our eyes to things that we were supposed to do and we were not doing": developing primary health care system leadership in a low-income country with peer exchanges.

Background: Health care systems in low and middle-income countries are decentralizing and devolving power to the periphery. Transferring power without systematic processes to develop and nurture leaders at the district compromises the effectiveness and sustainability of the decentralized health system. To address this problem, we developed an approach to leadership learning by observation and experience that improved the organization and performance of the health care system in a district in Ghana.

Primary health care response to noncommunicable diseases: an assessment of Wellness Clinics in Ghana.

Background: Globally, there is a significant unmet need for the rapidly growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Ghana has adopted and implemented Wellness Clinics (WC) nationwide to respond to the rising burden of NCDs. Regrettably, very little is known about WCs, including their structure and the services they offer.

Knowledge and management of female genital schistosomiasis in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review protocol.

Background: Approximately 20 to 120 million women of reproductive age worldwide are thought to be affected by female genital schistosomiasis (FGS). It is a preventable manifestation of schistosomiasis in adolescent girls and women, which remains underreported, underdiagnosed, or misdiagnosed, and largely untreated.

Objective: This study aimed to map evidence on the knowledge and management of FGS from 1950 to 2022 in sub-Saharan Africa.

Coadministration of Stigmasterol and Dexamethasone (STIG+DEX) Modulates Steroid-Resistant Asthma.

Airway inflammation in asthma is managed with anti-inflammatory steroids such as dexamethasone (DEX). However, about 20% of asthmatics do not respond to this therapy and are classified as steroid-resistant. Currently, no effective therapy is available for steroid-resistant asthma.

Promoting healthy lifestyles among nurse trainees: Perceptions on enablers and barriers to dietary and physical activity behaviours.

Introduction: Promoting healthy lifestyles is important to protect against obesity and non-communicable diseases. However, there is a lack of understanding of the enablers and barriers to healthy lifestyles (dietary and physical activity) among pre-service nursing trainees in Ghana. This study therefore aims to examine the perceived practice, enablers and barriers in adopting healthy dietary and physical activity behaviours.

Pharmacokinetics of oral moxidectin in individuals with Onchocerca volvulus infection.

Background: Onchocerciasis ("river blindness"), is a neglected tropical disease caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus and transmitted to humans through repeated bites by infective blackflies of the genus Simulium. Moxidectin was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2018 for the treatment of onchocerciasis in people at least 12 years of age. The pharmacokinetics of orally administered moxidectin in 18- to 60-year-old men and women infected with Onchocerca volvulus were investigated in a single-center, ivermectin-controlled, double-blind, randomized, single-ascending-dose, ascending severity of infection study in Ghana.

World Health Organization and knowledge translation in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a mandate to promote maternal and child health and welfare through support to governments in the form of technical assistance, standards, epidemiological and statistical services, promoting teaching and training of healthcare professionals and providing direct aid in emergencies. The Strategic and Technical Advisory Group of Experts (STAGE) for maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and nutrition (MNCAHN) was established in 2020 to advise the Director-General of WHO on issues relating to MNCAHN. STAGE comprises individuals from multiple low-income and middle-income and high-income countries, has representatives from many professional disciplines and with diverse experience and interests.

Mammography Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) in Ghana.

Introduction: Diagnostic Reference Levels (DRLs) are essential for optimisation in mammography. A local DRL for screen-film mammography has been established in Ghana but none exists for the digital mammography systems. Furthermore, technological advancement is phasing out the use of screen-film mammography and replacing it with digital mammography systems.

Patients' knowledge, perception, and experience during magnetic resonance imaging in Ghana: A single centre study.

Introduction: The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment has the potency of inducing anxiety, panic attacks, and claustrophobia in patients with some patients describing it as being placed in a long confining tube. Therefore, having patients that are well-informed concerning the diagnostic tests they are about to undergo can contribute to these patients experiencing reduced anxiety, greater satisfaction, and participation in their care which is key in gaining patients' cooperation and compliance during imaging procedures such as MRI. This study purposed to assess patients' knowledge, perception and experience when undergoing MRI examination.

An Experimental Intervention Study Assessing the Impact of a Thin Silicone Gel Surface Overlay on Interface Pressure.

Introduction: The incidence of pressure ulcers (PUs) presents a substantial threat to patients, especially geriatric patients, those with restricted mobility, and patients suffering from chronic diseases such as cancer. PUs creates a huge financial burden on healthcare authorities and patients, costing billions to treat and manage. Radiography and radiotherapy patients may experience medical device related (MDR) PUs and studies have shown that high interface pressure (IP) values exist for the head when placed on an X-ray table without a mattress.

Cervical cancer screening behaviours and challenges: a sub-Saharan Africa perspective.

Cervical cancer may be fatal to women if not identified and treated early. The importance of organised cervical screening has been felt in many developed countries. However, the majority of women in developing countries may be under-screened or may have never been screened because many developing countries have not developed a national cervical cancer prevention program accessible to all women due to reasons such as competing funding priorities, low prioritization of cervical cancer and cultural practices across Africa.

A narrative review on pressure ulcer (PU) studies relevant to medical imaging.

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are defined as localised injuries to the skin and/or underlying tissue as a result of pressure or pressure together with shear. PUs present significant health implications to patients; costing billions to manage and/or treat. The burden of PU prevention in hospitals must be the concern of all healthcare professionals, including radiographers.

Compression force variability in mammography in Ghana - A baseline study.

Introduction: Breast compression during mammographic examinations improves image quality and patient management. Several studies have been conducted to assess compression force variability among practitioners in order to establish compression guidelines. However, no such study has been conducted in Ghana.

An audit of MRI machines and services in Ghana.

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful medical imaging modality for the diagnosis and management of patients. However, the huge costs associated with establishing and operating MRI means it may not be readily accessible and affordable for hospitals in developing countries. Little is currently known about the availability of MRI machines in Ghana.

Esophageal perforation by tilapia fish bone ingestion - A case report.

Introduction: Esophageal perforation (EP) is a rare, severe and challenging surgical emergency which can be caused by several factors. This report presents the case of a patient with EP caused by ingestion of a Tilapia fish bone.

Presentation Of Case: A 41-year-old male patient presented with a six-day history of painful right-sided neck swelling, associated with a progressive dysphagia, regurgitation, fever and chills.

Barriers to the Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening and Treatment among Rural Women in Ghana.

Background: This study sought to explore the barriers to the uptake of cervical cancer screening and treatment in the North Tongu district of Ghana.

Methods: Twenty-five in-depth interviews were conducted, while three focus group discussions were held among respondents. The data were analysed with the R package for qualitative data analysis using a thematic analytical approach.

Validation of a Simple and Robust Liebermann-Burchard Colorimetric Method for the Assay of Cholesterol in Selected Milk Products in Ghana.

Cholesterol plays a key role in the synthesis of bile acids and steroid hormones in the human body. However, excessively high levels are usually implicated in cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, it is essential to monitor exposure to high levels of it in products meant for human consumption, and this calls for the need to develop analytical methods to detect them.

Satisfaction with Maternal Healthcare Services in the Ketu South Municipality, Ghana: A Qualitative Case Study.

Background: Women's satisfaction with maternal healthcare services is vital in quality healthcare delivery. However, the dearth of in-depth information on the issue is a challenge in Ghana. In this study, we explore women's satisfaction with maternal care services at a health facility in the Ketu South Municipality, Ghana.

An Investigation of Pressure Ulcer Risk, Comfort, and Pain in Medical Imaging.

Introduction: Pressure ulcers present significant trauma to patients and are expensive to manage. In medical imaging (MI), no study has been conducted to rigorously investigate interface pressure (IP) risk on MI table surfaces. IP is defined as the pressure between human body and a supporting surface.

The concept, sexual behaviours and stigmatisation of persons living with HIV in Africa: A review article.

Stigma and discrimination and risky sexual behaviours have been major stumbling blocks to the efforts by implementers to mitigate the effects of HIV amongst communities in Africa. A key cultural resource, based on evolving South African cultural traditions, is the notion of , which is grounded in respect, ethics, humanity and the interconnectedness of beings. This concept can be a useful resource in upholding confidentiality, a central requirement in research ethics and the deliverance of health promotion interventions regarding HIV/AIDS.

Cochliobolus lunatus down-regulates proteome at late stage of colonization and transiently alters StNPR1 expression in Solanum tuberosum L.

Cochliobolus lunatus abundantly produces four-celled conidia at high temperatures (>30 °C) and under suitable conditions; the fungus colonizes potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars by adopting different invasion strategies at the microscopic level. Long-lasting defence during infection requires an upsurge in proteome changes particularly pathogenesis-related proteins chiefly under the control of nonexpresser of pathogenesis-related proteins.

Can free open access resources strengthen knowledge-based emerging public health priorities, policies and programs in Africa?

Tackling emerging epidemics and infectious diseases burden in Africa requires increasing unrestricted open access and free use or reuse of regional and global policies reforms as well as timely communication capabilities and strategies. Promoting, scaling up data and information sharing between African researchers and international partners are of vital importance in accelerating open access at no cost. Free Open Access (FOA) health data and information acceptability, uptake tactics and sustainable mechanisms are urgently needed.