ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Chronic Kidney Disease Among People Living With HIV On TDF Based Regimen: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis.

Introduction Chronic kidney disease is a major public health concern among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHIV) who are taking tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based regi men. Despite the available evidence showing a high prevalence of CKD in this population, comprehensive pooled estimate of CKD among PLWHIV receiving TDF based regimen across the globe is lacking. Hence, the present systematic review aimed to provide a global pooled prevalence estimate of CKD. Method We conducted a systematic review of literatures published between January 2000 and May 2024. Articles and grey literature were searched from the following databases and search engine: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of science, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINHAL), and Google Scholar. We included eligible studies that report magnitude of CKD in TDF based regimen. We executed the pooled CKD, subgroup analysis, and funnel plot using random effect model. All statistical analysis including sensi tivity analysis were made using Stata 17 software. Results Sixty-nine studies with 88299 participants included in this meta-analysis. The pooled preva lence of CKD was 7% (95% CI:6–8). CD4 count less than 200 copies per milliliter, and being female were associated with CKD. Conclusion We concluded that the magnitude of CKD across the globe is high in people living with HIV who have received TDF based regimen. Early identification of CKD by considering regular renal function monitoring, and risk factors especially low CD4 count, and female gender at birth are essential.

Source: UG
Chronic myeloid leukaemia in an adult Ghanaian with sporadic neurofibromatosis 1

Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a common, progressive, autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder, are predisposed to malignancies. Several types of hematologic malignancies have been described in them. However, to date there has been no report to the best of our knowledge of a patient with NF1 developing chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We present an adult Ghanaian with NF1, who subsequently developed CML. Relevance of the case report is discussed

Source: UG
Chronic non-communicable diseases and the challenge of universal health coverage: Insights from community-based cardiovascular disease research in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana

Background: The rising burden of chronic non-communicable diseases in low and middle income countries has major implications on the ability of these countries to achieve universal health coverage. In this paper we discuss the impact of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) on primary healthcare services in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana. Methods. We review the evidence on the evolution of universal health coverage in Ghana and the central role of the community-based health planning services (CHPS) programme and the National Health Insurance Scheme in primary health care. We present preliminary findings from a study on community CVD knowledge, experiences, responses and access to services. Results: The rising burden of NCDs in Ghana will affect the achievement of universal health coverage, particularly in urban areas. There is a significant unmet need for CVD care in the study communities. The provision of primary healthcare services for CVD is not accessible, equitable or responsive to the needs of target communities. Conclusions: We consider these findings in the context of the primary healthcare system and discuss the challenges and opportunities for strengthening health systems in low and middle-income countries. © 2014 de-Graft Aikins et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Source: UG
Chronic non-communicable diseases and the challenge of universal health coverage: insights from community-based cardiovascular disease research in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana

Abstract Background The rising burden of chronic non-communicable diseases in low and middle income countries has major implications on the ability of these countries to achieve universal health coverage. In this paper we discuss the impact of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) on primary healthcare services in urban poor communities in Accra, Ghana. Methods We review the evidence on the evolution of universal health coverage in Ghana and the central role of the community-based health planning services (CHPS) programme and the National Health Insurance Scheme in primary health care. We present preliminary findings from a study on community CVD knowledge, experiences, responses and access to services. Results The rising burden of NCDs in Ghana will affect the achievement of universal health coverage, particularly in urban areas. There is a significant unmet need for CVD care in the study communities. The provision of primary healthcare services for CVD is not accessible, equitable or responsive to the needs of target communities. Conclusions We consider these findings in the context of the primary healthcare system and discuss the challenges and opportunities for strengthening health systems in low and middle-income countries.

Source: UG
Chronic non-communicable diseases in low- and middle-income countries: concepts and strategies for prevention, control and advocacy.

The burden of chronic diseases is an esca- lating problem in low-income and middle-in- come countries (LMICs). 1 The Sustain- able Development Goals state that by 2030, improving the prevention and management of chronic communicable and non-communi- cable diseases is a priority for primary care in public health systems. 2 3 Chronic diseases are long-term, disruptive and often intrusive to individuals' everyday lives. 4 The management of chronic diseases is a dynamic process that varies over time, depending on the disease What are the new findings?

Source: UG
Chronic Pain Experiences Among Advanced Cancer Patients In The Accra Metropolis

Chronic pain among advanced cancer patients (ACP) has several devastating effects on the patient’s quality of life and need to be understood for effective pain management. However, there is lack of literature on chronic pain experiences among ACP in Ghana. This study aimed to explore and describe chronic pain experiences among ACP in the Accra Metropolis. A qualitative approach with exploratory-descriptive design was used for this study. The Multidimensional Model of Cancer Pain was used as an organising framework for the study. A semi structured interview guide was used to collect data from 13 purposively sampled participants. The data were analysed using thematic content analysis. Findings indicated seven (7) major themes: sensory dimension, cognitive dimension, behavioural dimension, affective dimension, sociocultural dimension, pain coping strategies and pain management. Chronic pain was multi-sited, described in terms of known pain descriptors such as burning, shooting, sharp, piercing and tingling. The pain was of high intensity especially at night. Participants were knowledgeable about their pain and they interpreted their pain as: a progression of their cancer, emergence of death and ineffective medication. Furthermore, participants were preoccupied with death wishes, suicidal ideations/tendencies. They responded to pain behaviourally by communicating their pain using pain behaviours, verbally or being stoical. Chronic pain related symptoms such as disturbed sleep, fatigue and sexual difficulties were identified. Affectively, participants responded to their pain with negative emotions. Additionally, advanced cancer patients’ sociocultural characteristics influenced their perception of the pain, coping strategies, management of the pain and the overall pain experience. In conclusion, chronic pain has devastating effect on quality of life of patients with advanced cancer. It was recommended that, regular assessment of the pain and multidisciplinary approach is necessary for effective chronic pain management.

Source: UG
Chronic subdural haematoma: Review of 96 cases attending the korle bu teaching hospital, accra

BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural haematoma is not uncommon in Africa. Early diagnosis and treatment is satisfying. Simpler operative procedures are generally effective. This review is meant to find out the situation regarding the condition in Ghana. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study of patients with chronic subdural haematoma admitted to and treated by the Neurosurgical Unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital between January 1995 and December 1998 was undertaken. The case notes, computerise axial tomography (CT) scans and operative records were reviewed and the relevant data extracted. Incomplete records were excluded. RESULTS: 96 patients were involved. The mean age of the patients was 46.9 years, with male to female ratio of 16:1. The most common presenting feature was headache (64.7%). Time of injury to presentation was about 2 months. 81 were treated using burr hole and drainage and 15 by craniotomy and stripping of membranes. Eighty four were treated under general anaesthesia. Two were reoperated on because of recurrent bleed. There were two (2) deaths. Ninety patients had a Glasgow Outcome Score of good at the time of their last review. CONCLUSION: The data suggests that burr hole and closed drainage is a very effective method of managing CSDH.

Source: UG
A Chronic toxicity study of the ground root bark of Capparis erythrocarpus (Cappareceae) in male Sprague-dawley rats

The safety evaluation of Capparis erythrocarpus (CE) on chronic administration at 18 and 180 mg kg-1 body weight for 6 months was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The effects of CE on certain serum biochemical, haematological, urine and histopathological determinations were used as indices of organ specific toxicity. Also the effects of CE on rat blood clotting time and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time were determined. Results indicate that CE had no effect on urine, haematological and serum biochemical indices at termination of treatment with the exception of serum ALT level which was significantly (p&lt;0.05) attenuated in a dose-dependent fashion (21-35%). There were also no differences in blood clotting time and pentobarbital-induced sleeping time between CE-treated and control animals. Histopathological studies showed that CE did not adversely affect the morphology of the liver, kidney and heart tissues. However, lungs of CE-treated animals showed slight but insignificant inflammatory response in alveolar areas and Clara cell hyperplasia without the thickening of alveolar septa and bronchiolar epithelial wall. Organ weights were not adversely affected by CE treatment. There were significant (p&lt;0.05) changes in weight of CE-treated animals with duration of treatment compared to control. These results suggest that there is no organ specific toxicity associated with chronic administration of CE in rats and its ability to reduce body weight may be useful for slimming in obese persons. © 2013 Asian Network for Scientific Information.

Source: UG
The Chronicle of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea Volume 1

The following translation of azurara's chronicle of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea is the first complete English version that has appeared of the chief con temporary authority for the life-work of Prince Henry of Portuga1) surnamed the Navigator; and we may remind members of the Hakluyt Society, and other readers, that we have but lately passed the fifth centenary of the Prince's birth (March 4th, 1394). The first volume includes about half of the text, together with an introduction on the Life and writings of Azurara which it is hoped will be found more exhaustive and accurate than any previous notice of the historian.

Source: UG
The Chronicle of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea. (Vol. I)

There beginneth the Chronicle in which are set down all the notable deeds that were achieved in the Conquest of Guinea, written by command of the most high and revered Prince and most virtuous Lord the Infant Don Henry, Duke of Viseu and Lord of Covilham, Ruler and Governor of the Chivalry of the Order of Jesus Christ. The which Chronicle was collected into this volume by command of the most high and excellent Prince, and most powerful Lord and King Don Affonso the Fifth of Portugal.

Source: UG
The Chronicles of the Discovery and Conquest of Guinea

This Volume continues and ends the present edition of the chronicles of guinea, the first of which was published in 1896(vol. xcv of the Hakluyt society publications) here we have again to acknowledge the kind advice and help of various friends particularly of Senhor Batalha Reis and Mr. William Foster. As to the maps which accompany this volume: the sections of Andrea Bianco 1448 and of Fra Mauro 1457-9, here given, offer some of the best examples of the cartography of Prince Henry later years in relation to west Africa. These ancient examples are supplemented by a new sketch map of the discoveries made by the Portuguese seamen during the infant’s lifetime along the coast of the Dark Continent. The excellent photograph of prince henry statue from the great gateway at Belem is the work of Senhor Camacho. As to the introduction and notes, it is hoped that attention has been given to everything really important for the understanding of Azurara’s text: but the editors have avoided such treatment as belongs properly to a detailed history of geographical advance during this period.

Source: UG
Circular Migration and Entrepreneurship Development in Ghana

Migration patterns and processes across or within borders is not a new phenomenon. For so many years, a considerable amount of attention and research have been attached to the issue of loss of labour in the source country, the increase in population and its associated pressures on social amenities and available jobs on destination countries. Current policy debate has however shifted to circular migration as a mechanism that makes migration beneficial to individuals, home countries and destination countries simultaneously. In this chapter we focus on a type of “managed” circular migration in which potential migrants are selected, orientated and sent in response to job openings in a receiving-country and employed for a predetermined period of time. In countries with established experience of this system it is noted that circular migration plays an important role as a source of labour supply for labour scarce countries and also reduces the trend of illegal migration. Ghana implemented its first form of managed circular migration with Italy as a pilot programme in 2011, where 20 young men were sent to work in Italy’s agriculture sector. In this chapter we take a look at how this managed circular migration scheme can encourage entrepreneurship development in Ghana. The chapter also discusses the current policy environment and its interplay with the managed circular migration scheme and makes some policy suggestions that can make all three parties gain in this scheme.

Source: UG
Circulating adiponectin is associated with renal function independent of age and serum lipids in West Africans

Adiponectin, a protein secreted by adipose tissue, has been associated with renal dysfunction. However, these observations have not been adequately investigated in large epidemiological studies of healthy individuals in general and in African populations in particular. Hence, we designed this study to evaluate the relationship between adiponectin and renal function in a large group of nondiabetic West Africans. Total adiponectin was measured in 792 participants. MDRD and Cockroft-Gault (CG-) estimated GFR were used as indices of renal function. Linear and logistic regression models were used to determine the relationship between adiponectin and renal function. Adiponectin showed an inverse relationship with eGFR in univariate (Beta MDRD = - 0.18, Beta CG = - 0.26) and multivariate (Beta MDRD = - 0.10, Beta CG = - 0.09) regression analyses. The multivariate models that included age, sex, BMI, hypertension, smoking, HDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, and adiponectin explained 30 and 55.6 of the variance in GFR estimated by MDRD and CG methods, respectively. Adiponectin was also a strong predictor of moderate chronic kidney disease (defined as eGFR 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2). We demonstrate that adiponectin is associated with renal function in nondiabetic West Africans. The observed relationship is independent of age and serum lipids. Our findings suggest that adiponectin may have clinical utility as a biomarker of renal function.

Source: UG
Circulating cell-free DNA integrity as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for breast and prostate cancers

Background Cancer incidence and its related mortality is rising and is currently the second leading cause of death globally. In Africa, breast and prostate cancer in females and males, respectively, are the worst globally. However, biomarkers for their early detection and prognosis are not well developed. This study sought to investigate circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) integrity and its potential utility as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarker. Circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) is degraded DNA fragments released into the blood plasma. In healthy individuals, the source of ccfDNA is solely apoptosis, producing evenly sized shorter DNA fragments. In cancer patients, however, necrosis produces uneven longer cell-free DNA fragments in addition to the shorter fragments originating from apoptosis. DNA integrity, expressed as the ratio of longer fragments to total DNA, may be clinically useful for the detection of breast and prostate cancer progression. Methods Sixty-four (64) females, consisting of 32 breast cancer patients and 32 controls, and 61 males (31 prostate cancer patients and 30 controls) were included in the study. Each participant donated 5 ml peripheral blood from which sera were separated. Real-time qPCR was performed on the sera to quantify ALU 115 and 247 levels, and DNA integrity (ALU247/ALU115) determined. Results & Conclusion ALU species 115 and 247 levels in serum were elevated in breast and prostate cancer patients compared to their counterpart healthy controls. DNA integrity was higher in prostate cancer patients than in the control, but in breast cancer patients was lower compared to their controls. In prostate but not in breast cancers, DNA integrity increased with disease severity and higher staging.

Source: UG
Circulating Epstein-Barr virus in children living in malaria-endemic areas

The Department of Immunology conducts research in the field of immunology of infectious and non-infectious diseases. The Department has the overall goal of contributing knowledge to better diagnosis, management, control and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases in Ghana and worldwide. This is consistent with the overall strategy of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) and in line with the strategy of the College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana.

Source: UG
Circulation of hepatitis delta virus and occult hepatitis B virus infection amongst HIV/HBV co-infected patients in Korle-Bu, Ghana

Background Within HIV/HBV infected patients, an increase in HDV infection has been observed; there is inadequate information on HDV prevalence as well as virologic profile in Ghana. This study sought to determine the presence of HDV in HIV/HBV co-infected patients in Ghana. Methods This was a longitudinal purposive study which enrolled 113 HIV/HBV co-infected patients attending clinic at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana. After consenting, 5 mL whole blood was collected at two-time points (baseline and 4–6 months afterwards). The sera obtained were tested to confirm the presence of HIV, HBV antibodies and/or antigens, and HBV DNA. Antibodies and viral RNA were also determined for HDV. Amplified HBV DNA and HDV RNA were sequenced and phylogenetic analysis carried out with reference sequences from the GenBank to establish the genotypes. Results Of the 113 samples tested 63 (55.7%) were females and 50 (44.25%) were males with a median age of 45 years. A total of 100 (88.5%) samples had detectable HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), and 32 out of the 113 had detectable HBV DNA. Nucleotide sequences were obtained for 15 and 2 samples of HBV and HDV, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis was predominantly genotype E for the HBVs and genotype 1 for the HDVs. Of the 13 samples that were HBsAg unreactive, 4 (30.8%) had detectable HBV DNA suggesting the incidence of occult HBV infections. The percentage occurrence of HDV in this study was observed to be 3.54. Conclusion Our data suggest the presence and circulation of HDV and incidence of occult HBV infection in HIV/HBV co-infected patients in Ghana. This informs health staff and makes it imperative to look out for the presence of HDV and occult HBV in HIV/HBV co-infected patients presenting with potential risk of liver cancers and HBV transmission through haemodialysis and blood transfusions.

Source: UG
Circulation of multiple hepatitis B virus genotypes in individual pregnant women seeking antenatal care in northern Ghana

Background Identification and monitoring of HBV genotype variations is important, since that can help forecast the likelihood of developing serious liver disease and how well patients respond to antiviral medication. Given that HBV genotyping tests are not widely available in our healthcare system, this study characterized HBV genotypes in pregnant women seeking prenatal treatment in northern Ghana. Method By a cross-sectional approach, 2071 pregnant women seeking antenatal care in health facilities in northern Ghana were screened for HBV infection using hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) rapid diagnostic test kit. The women were aged between 17 and 41 years, were of varying gravidae (primigravidae and multigravidae) and gestational age (first, second and third trimesters). A confirmatory PCR assay was used to detect HBsAg, and the distribution of HBV genotypes was determined using a nested PCR assay. Results Three HBV genotypes (A, D and E) were detected among the pregnant women, of which 175 (91.6%) had genotype E, 9 (4.7%) had mixed genotypes A and E, 5 (2.6%) had mixed genotypes D and E, and 2 (1.1) had mixed genotypes A, D and E. The proportions of women with the different HBV genotypes were independent of age (p=0.925), gravidity (p=0.193, χ2=4.729) and gestational age (p=0.227, χ2=8.152). Conclusion This study for the first-time characterized circulating HBV genotypes in pregnant women in northern Ghana, which reveals genotypes A and D are found in mixed infections with genotype E. The findings have clinical implications on the management of chronic HBV infection among pregnant women in northern Ghana.

Source: UG