ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Anthropogenic sources and environmentally relevant concentrations of heavy metals in surface water of a mining district in Ghana: A multivariate statistical approach

The levels of heavy metals in surface water and their potential origin (natural and anthropogenic) were respectively determined and analysed for the Obuasi mining area in Ghana. Using Hawth's tool an extension in ArcGIS 9.2 software, a total of 48 water sample points in Obuasi and its environs were randomly selected for study. The magnitude of As, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, Hg, Zn and Cd in surface water from the sampling sites were measured by flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Water quality parameters including conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids and turbidity were also evaluated. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis, coupled with correlation coefficient analysis, were used to identify possible sources of these heavy metals. Pearson correlation coefficients among total metal concentrations and selected water properties showed a number of strong associations. The results indicate that apart from tap water, surface water in Obuasi has elevated heavy metal concentrations, especially Hg, Pb, As, Cu and Cd, which are above the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA) and World Health Organisation (WHO) permissible levels; clearly demonstrating anthropogenic impact. The mean heavy metal concentrations in surface water divided by the corresponding background values of surface water in Obuasi decrease in the order of Cd > Cu > As > Pb > Hg > Zn > Mn > Fe. The results also showed that Cu, Mn, Cd and Fe are largely responsible for the variations in the data, explaining 72% of total variance; while Pb, As and Hg explain only 18.7% of total variance. Three main sources of these heavy metals were identified. As originates from nature (oxidation of sulphide minerals particularly arsenopyrite-FeAsS). Pb derives from water carrying drainage from towns and mine machinery maintenance yards. Cd, Zn, Fe and Mn mainly emanate from industry sources. Hg mainly originates from artisanal small-scale mining. It cannot be said that the difference in concentration of heavy metals might be attributed to difference in proximity to mining-related activities because this is inconsistent with the cluster analysis. Based on cluster analysis SN32, SN42 and SN43 all belong to group one and are spatially similar. But the maximum Cu concentration was found in SN32 while the minimum Cu concentration was found in SN42 and SN43. Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Source: UG
Anthropometric characteristics of children living in food-insecure households in the USA

Objective: This study provides information on food insecurity and child malnutrition in a technologically advanced nation. Design: Population-based study using multistage probability cluster sampling design to collect survey data. Multivariable regression models were used to determine associations between food security status and various malnutrition indices. Setting: We used a national sample from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014. Participants: The anthropometric and demographic data sets of 4121 children <7 years old were analysed for this study. Results: Food-insecure infants younger than 6 months had shorter upper arm length (–0·4 cm, P = 0·012) and smaller mid-upper arm circumference (–0·5 cm, P = 0·004); likewise those aged 6 months–1 year had shorter upper arm length (–0·4 cm, P = 0·008), body length (–1·7 cm, P = 0·007) and lower body weight (–0·5 kg, P = 0·008). Food-insecure children younger than 2 years were more likely to be underweight (OR: 4·34; 95 % CI 1·99, 9·46) compared with their food-secure counterparts. Contrariwise, food-insecure children older than 5 years were more likely to be obese (OR: 3·12; 95 % CI 1·23, 7·96). Conclusions: Food insecurity associates with child growth deficits in the USA. Food-insecure infants and young children are generally smaller and shorter, whereas older children are heavier than their food-secure counterparts, implying a double burden of undernutrition–overnutrition associated with child food insecurity. Child food and nutrition programmes to improve food insecurity should focus on infants and children in the transition ages.

Source: UG
Anthropometric Status, Body Composition And Timing Of Pubertal Milestones In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.

Background: With the rise of the triple burden of malnutrition, the changing nutrition situation in Sub-Saharan Africa may be associated with changes in pubertal timing of adolescents. The purpose of this review was to summarize the association between nutritional status and pubertal milestones among children in SSA. Method: A search of publications was conducted in PubMed and Scopus on 1st April 2023. Observational studies with children aged 0 to 22 years, that reported nutritional status and association with pubertal milestones in SSA were selected for review. Risk of bias was assessed using the NOS and results were presented using the PRISMA. Results: Twenty-three studies published from 1992 to 2021 reporting data from nine countries and a total of 21,853 children were included in this review. Mean menarche age relative to nutritional status varied from 17.2 years in stunted adolescents in Senegal to 13.3 (in the underweight), 13.9 (in normal weight girls), and 14.1 (in overweight girls) years in adolescents in Ethiopia. Adolescents who were not stunted in Kenya and those with higher height-for-age z-scores (HAZ) and body mass index (BMI) in South Africa had more advanced breast development. Pubic hair development was positively associated with HAZ and BMI z-scores (BMIZ) at 5 years in South Africa and overweight and obesity in adolescents in Nigeria. Attainment of voice break in adolescent boys in Nigeria was associated with lower likelihood of stunting and underweight. In a study in Zambia, earlier onset and more rapid progression of genital development assessed by testicular volume in boys was associated with increased height and arm muscle. Conclusions: Higher BMI, height, weight, and triceps skinfolds are significantly associated with advanced pubertal development in SSA. In SSA, less than one-third of the countries have published any research studies on nutritional status and pubertal milestones. Future studies should focus on detailed assessment of pubertal development and associated nutritional factors in both male and female adolescents in SSA. PROSPERO registration CRD42022350048.

Source: UG
Anti-anaphylactic properties of thonningia sanguinea

The Clinical Pathology Department conducts research that contributes to intervention strategies and safeguards of public health in Ghana. In view of this the Department carries out research into plant medicine development, drug interactions and regulation, bio-monitoring and prevention of poisoning from environmental toxicants (e.g. mycotoxins specifically aflatoxins and toxic heavy metals). The Department also provides specialized laboratory services in support of public health programmes.

Source: UG
Anti-atherogenic and anti-ischemic potentials of croton membranaceus observed during sub-chronic toxicity studies

The Clinical Pathology Department conducts research that contributes to intervention strategies and safeguards of public health in Ghana. In view of this the Department carries out research into plant medicine development, drug interactions and regulation, bio-monitoring and prevention of poisoning from environmental toxicants (e.g. mycotoxins specifically aflatoxins and toxic heavy metals). The Department also provides specialized laboratory services in support of public health programmes.

Source: UG
The Anti-dyslipidemic Effects of Milled Root Bark Ethanolic Extract of Capparis erythrocarpus in Sprague-Dawley Rats: Implications for Obesity and Cardiovascular Diseases

Dyslipidaemia is a major risk factor of the onset of cardiovascular disease and obesity. Sirappac, the milled root bark of C. erythrocarpus has been reported to significantly reduce body weight and sizes of Sprague-Dawley rats with possible effects on the alteration of lipid metabolism. The present study was thus, aimed at determining the effects of sirappac on the body weight, food intake, serum lipid levels and blood pressures in rats. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with sirappac at doses of 20, 100 and 200 mg/kg for a period of three months. Rats body weight and feed intake values were recorded daily. Serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDLC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDLC) and leptin levels were determined monthly throughout the study period. At the end of the treatment period, there were significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent reductions in body weight, food intake, serum levels of TC, LDLC, TG and serum leptin. However, the levels of HDLC increased significantly (p < 0.05) over the study period. Sirappac also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced rat systolic blood pressure without effect on the diastolic blood pressure. The results indicate that sirappac exerts anti-lipidaemic effects and could be indicated in management of cardiovascular diseases, whilst preventing obesity by reducing feed intake and the rate of increase in body weight in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Source: UG
Anti-inflammatory activity of Taraxacum officinale leaves in ovalbumin-sensitized guinea-pigs

Inflammatory mediators, such as histamine and eicosanoids have been implicated in the pathophysiology of allergen-induced asthma including bronchospasm, vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, perivascular and peribronchial oedema, acute functional changes in the lungs and diarrhoea due to increase intestinal motility. This study aims to ascertain the anti-inflammatory effect of the Taraxacum officinale ethanolic leaf extract (TOLE) on pulmonary vascular permeability and H1 -receptors in the ileum of ovalbumin(OA)-sensitized guinea-pigs. OA-sensitized guinea-pigs were challenged with 2% OA aerosols prior to 1 hr per os of drugs (TOLE or prednisolone). A piece of excised ileum was suspended in a tissue bath and challenged with histamine in the presence and absence of TOLE. Lungs were fixed in buffered formalin for histological studies using H & E stains. The results were reported as mean Â± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and Benferroni post hoc test. The results showed a significant dose-dependent reduction in anti-histaminic activity (p < 0.05) on isolated guinea-pig ileum. Histopathological lesions such as perivascular oedema, hypertrophy of smooth muscles, infiltration of eosinophils and basophils were reduced in the lungs of TOLE treated group compared to OA-sensitized controls. The study has shown that, TOLE has the potential to reduce pulmonary vascular permeability and intestinal motility in OA-sensitized guinea-pigs.

Source: UG
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the ethanolic stem bark extract of Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg (Moraceae)

Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg or breadfruit is used in ethnomedicne for the treatment of boils and wounds, hypertension, skin infections, and in pain management. This study therefore evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity, as well as the antioxidant potential of an ethanol stem bark extract of Artocarpus altilis. Foot volume, in chick carrageenan-induced foot edema model, was measured before and after treatment with 30-300 mg/kg of the extract, 0.3-3 mg/kg dexamethasone, and 10-100 mg/kg diclofenac. Total phenol content evaluation, DPPH radical scavenging and phosphomolybdenum antioxidant capacity assays, and phytochemical analysis of the extract were performed. The extract caused a dose - dependent decrease (P<0.05) in foot edema with the highest inhibition of 61.29±1.76% at a dose of 300 mg/kg; comparable to diclofenac and dexamethasone (69.56±1.01% and 68.74±0.98% respectively). The extract, which had a phenolic content of 159.89 mg of tannic acid equivalent (TAE) per gram, showed significant antioxidant activity. Triterpenoids, flavonoids, tannins and coumarins, found in the phytochemical analysis could have been responsible for the activity of the extract. Per the findings, the ethanolic stem bark extract of Artocarpus altilis exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and therefore gives credence to it use in folklore medicine.

Source: UG
The anti-inflammatory effect of a crude aqueous extract of the root bark of 'ficus elastica' in the rat

An investigation has been carried out to determine whether the aqueous extract of Ficus elastica is active as an anti-inflammatory agent in the carrageenin-induced oedema and adjuvant-induced arthritis in the rat. This investigation was prompted by the fact that practitioners of herbal medicine in West Africa use the plant for the treatment of muscle and joint pain. The results of the investigation clearly indicated that orally administered Ficus elastica extract markedly inhibited the experimentally induced inflammation in the two test models. This effect of Ficus elastica was very similar to that of indomethacin. Thus in the carrageenin-induced oedema Ficus elastica (2-10 mg/kg) and indomethacin (1-5 mg/kg) produced inhibition of the magnitude of 5.41-68.92% and 27.03-69.26%, respectively. Similarly, both the extract of Ficus elastica and indomethacin inhibited the primary as well as the secondary lesions of adjuvant arthritis in the rat. The extract used in this study was coloured buff and there is considerable evidence that flavonoids of plant origin possess anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore it may be concluded that the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract of Ficus elastica was probably due to the presence of a pigment of the flavonoid class. Further studies are in progress to elucidate the chemical characteristics of this active principle.

Source: UG
Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities of Guibourtia ehie on Human Prostate (PC-3) and Breast Cancer (MC-7) Cell Lines and in silico Studies on Its Metabolite 7,4′-Dihydroxyflavone

Guibourtia ehie (A. Chev.).Léonard (leguminosae), is a forest tree of Africa used traditionally for tumours, wound cleansing and diarrhoea. However, some of these ethnomedical uses have not been validated scientifically. The present study aimed at investigating the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of the plant extract. The study further evaluates the contribution of its metabolite 7,4′-dihydroxyflavone to these effects. Anti-inflammatory activity of the 70% ethanol extract of the stem bark of G. ehie was established using the carrageenan induced foot oedema in 7-day-old chicks at 30–100 mg/kg body weight with diclofenac as reference drug. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was used for the antioxidant test whereas cytotoxic effect was done using prostate cancer (PC-3) and breast cancer (MC-7) cell lines with MTT as a measure of cell viability. In silico analysis of the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of the compound isolated from the plant was also performed. The extract and reference drug diclofenac inhibited foot pad oedema by 28.58% and 61.99% respectively over the 5-hour period. The isolate showed a marginally higher activity than the extract (32.64%). The extract was cytotoxic against breast (MC-7) and prostate (PC-3) cancer cell lines with respective IC50 values of 67.43 and 61.12 µg/mL but showed poor selectivity index (SI < 2). The isolate 7,4′-dihydroxyflavone was non-cytotoxic and this was also confirmed from the in-silico studies. G. ehie and its isolate exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect as suggested by folklore medicine. The extract was cytotoxic to breast and prostate cancer cell lines but was nonselective.

Source: UG
Anti-malarial activity of the alkaloid, heptaphylline, and the furanocoumarin, imperatorin, from Clausena anisata against human Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites: ex vivo trophozoitocidal, schizonticidal and gametocytocidal approach

The Epidemiology Department contributes to the mission of the institute through basic and applied epidemiological research on, but not limited to, malaria and other diseases of public health importance. It is also home to the Social Science Unit of the Institute, including the Health Support Centre for HIV/AIDS and other communicable and noncommunicable health problems.

Source: UG
Anti-melanoma, tyrosinase inhibitory and anti-microbial activities of gold nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous leaf extracts of teraxacum officinale

There has been a tenacious search for pharmaceuticals of natural origin, as they are cost-effective and are noted for having little or no side effects. The rate at which diseases are developing resistance to synthetic drugs is quite alarming, and the side effects of these drugs remain an excruciating agony to the pharmaceutical industry. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have wide applications in current technology. However, their use in medicine has not been adequately explored. Chemical methods for the synthesis are associated with environmental benignity and tissue toxicity on in vivo administration. For the first time, we have synthesized AuNPs from leaf extracts of Teraxacum officinale that were found to have significant anti-melanoma, tyrosinase inhibitory and anti-microbial effects, and hence stand as promising candidates for use in cosmetics medical and food industries.

Source: UG
Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism compliance: Are FATF member states just scratching the surface?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how well countries comply with global anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regulations. Design/methodology/approach – With the help of an AML/CFT compliance index composed by the author, this study is able to numerically quantify countries’ AML/CFT compliance levels. Countries were selected based on their membership with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), precisely members who have gone through at least one round mutual evaluation and have duly submitted a report to the task force. The AML/CFT index was composed by assigning numeric values to the individual country ratings across all 49 FATF recommendations contained in their mutual evaluation reports (MER). Findings – Some notable findings include the yearly global level of AML/CFT compliance between the period 2004 and 2016, as well as compliance levels across continents for the same period. Compliance levels for the seven components of the FATF recommendations were also reported to help assess which set of recommendations countries comply with the most and why they do. It was also found that countries’ lack of compliance was as a result of high cost of compliance with FATF recommendations. Research limitations/implications – The main limitation of this study was a lack of high-frequency AML data of countries, especially less-developed countries. Originality/value – The uniqueness of this paper lies in the fact that the AML/CFT compliance index constructed and used in the study is the first of its kind.

Source: UG
Anti-money laundering regulations and financial sector development

This paper is aimed at establishing the effect of anti-money laundering regulations on financial sector development across the globe. Using data from 2012 to 2018 across 165 economies across different continents, income levels and regulatory environments, we test a number of complex and related hypotheses. (a) We examine the effect of anti-money laundering regulations on financial sector development. (b) We examine if this effect differs across developing countries and developed economies. (c) We examine the nonlinearities in the anti-money laundering regulations-financial sector development nexus. We use the Prais-Winsten approach and the panel threshold estimation approaches to test our hypothesized relationships. We find evidence that anti-money laundering regulations generally promote financial sector development; however, this positive effect is concentrated in developing economies. We also find evidence of threshold effects of anti-money laundering regulations for our sample. Consistent with the earlier findings, the positive effect of anti-money laundering regulations on financial development is concentrated in countries below the threshold value of anti-money laundering regulations. These countries are mostly developing countries. Our findings suggest that strengthening anti-money laundering regulations will be beneficial to developing countries.

Source: UG
Anti-nociceptive effects of an ethanolic extract of the whole plant of synedrella nodiflora (L.) gaertn in mice: Involvement of adenosinergic mechanisms

This study presents the effect of an ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Synedrella nodiflora, a plant used in Ghana for the treatment of epilepsy and pain, in formalin-induced pain and acetic acid-induced writhing assay and the possible mode(s) of action of its analgesic action. For comparison, morphine and diclofenac were used as standard opioid and NSAID respectively. The ethanolic extract (100-1000 mg kg-1; p.o.) and morphine (1-10 mg kg-1; i.p.) dose-dependently decreased both phases of the formalin-induced nociceptive behavior. The antinociceptive effect of S. nodiflora (300 mg kg-1 p.o.) on the first and second phases of formalin induced pain was significantly blocked by caffeine but not by naloxone. In the acetic acid- induced writhing test, diclofenac and S. nodiflora significantly reduced the number of writhes dose dependently. Also, the effect of S. nodiflora (300 mg kg-1 p.o.) was blocked by caffeine (3 mg kg-1 i.p.) but the analgesic effect of diclofenac was enhanced significantly. The observed effects of caffeine on the central and peripheral analgesic effects of S. nodiflora in the formalin and acetic acid induced writhing suggest the possible involvement of adenosinergic mechanism(s).

Source: UG
Anti-plasmodial, Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activities of Selected Ghanaian Medicinal Plants

Malaria affects about half of the world’s population. The sub-Saharan African region is the most affected. Plant natural products have been a major source of antimalarial drugs; the first (quinine) and present (artemisinin) antimalarials are of natural product origin. Some secondary metabolites demonstrate adjuvant antioxidant effects and selective activity. The focus of this study was to investigate the anti-plasmodial activity, cytotoxicities and antioxidant properties of eight (8) Ghanaian medicinal plants. The anti-plasmodial activity was determined using the SYBR green assay and the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT) was employed to assess cytotoxicity of extracts to human RBCs and HL-60 cells. Antioxidant potential of plant extracts was evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu and superoxide dismutase assays. Phytochemical contstituents of the plant extracts were also assessed. All the extracts demonstrated anti-plasmodial activities at concentrations <50 μg/ml. Parkia clappertoniana and Terminalia ivorensis elicited the strongest anti-plasmodial activities with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 1.13 μg/ml and 0.95 μg/ml, respectively. This is the first report on anti-plasmodial activities of Baphia nitida, Tabernaemontana crassa and Treculia Africana. T. Africana showed moderate anti-plasmodial activity with IC50 value of 6.62 μg/mL. Extracts of P. clappertoniana, T. Africana and T. ivorensis (0.4 mg/mL) showed >50% antioxidant effect (SOD). The extracts were not cytotoxicity towards RBCs at the concentration tested (200 μg/ml) but were weakly cytotoxic to HL-60 cell. Selectivity indices of most of the extracts were greater than 10. Our results suggest that most of the plant extracts have strong anti-plasmodial activity and antioxidant activity which warrants further investigations.

Source: UG