ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
A Single Dose Oral Azithromycin versus Intramuscular Benzathine Penicillin for the Treatment of Yaws-A Randomized Non Inferiority Trial in Ghana

Background: Yaws is a treponemal infection that was almost eradicated fifty years ago; however, the disease has re-emerged in a number of countries including Ghana. A single-dose of intramuscular benzathine penicillin has been the mainstay of treatment for yaws. However, intramuscular injections are painful and pose safety and logistical constraints in the poor areas where yaws occurs. A single center randomized control trial (RCT) carried out in Papua New Guinea in 2012 demonstrated the efficacy of a single-dose of oral azithromycin for the treatment of yaws. In this study, we also compared the efficacy of a single oral dose of azithromycin as an alternative to intramuscular benzathine penicillin for the treatment of the disease in another geographic setting. Methodology: We conducted an open-label, randomized non-inferiority trial in three neighboring yaws-endemic districts in Southern Ghana. Children aged 1–15 years with yaws lesions were assigned to receive either 30mg/kg of oral azithromycin or 50,000 units/kg of intramuscular benzathine penicillin. The primary end point was clinical cure rate, defined as a complete or partial resolution of lesions 3 weeks after treatment. The secondary endpoint was serological cure, defined as at least a 4-fold decline in baseline RPR titre 6 months after treatment. Non- inferiority of azithromycin treatment was determined if the upper bound limit of a 2 sided 95% CI was less than 10%. Findings: The mean age of participants was 9.5 years (S.D.3.1, range: 1–15 years), 247(70%) were males. The clinical cure rates were 98.2% (95% CI: 96.2–100) in the azithromycin group and 96.9% (95% CI: 94.1–99.6) in the benzathine penicillin group. The serological cure rates at 6 months were 57.4% (95% CI: 49.9–64.9) in the azithromycin group and 49.1% (95% CI: 41.2–56.9) in the benzathine penicillin group, thus achieving the specified criteria for non-inferiority. Conclusions: A single oral dose of azithromycin, at a dosage of 30mg/kg, was non-inferior to a single dose of intramuscular benzathine penicillin for the treatment of early yaws among Ghanaian patients, and provides additional support for the WHO policy for use of oral azithromycin for the eradication of yaws in resource-poor settings. Trial Registration: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry PACTR2013030005181 http://www.pactr.org/ © 2017 Public Library of Science. All Rights Reserved.

Source: UG
Single nucleotide polymorphism typing of mycobacterium ulcerans reveals focal transmission of buruli ulcer in a highly endemic region of Ghana

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) gene and their associations with body weight and growth rate traits in indigenous guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) of northern Ghana

Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 (IGF2) plays important roles in stimulating cell proliferation, differentiation and migration culminating its effects as a modulator of juvenile growth in animals. Although the gene that codes for IGF2 (IGF2) has been investigated as a candidate gene in several livestock species, there is no information on polymorphisms in IGF2 in guinea fowls (gIGF2), an important indigenous poultry species from West Africa. Therefore, this study sought to identify the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in three populations of indigenous guinea fowls in northern Ghana. Target genomic regions in gIGF2 were amplified and sequenced from 84 indigenous guinea fowls from Upper East Region (n = 17), former Northern Region (n = 22) and Upper West Region (n = 45) of Ghana together with domesticated French variety (n = 3). The sequences were aligned with the reference genomic sequence (domesticated French variety) of chromosome 6 (GenBank accession no., NC_034414.1) to identify SNPs. Statistical associations among the genotypes arising from the SNPs and juvenile growth traits were estimated using linear models. Two novel SNPs were identified in gIGF2 among the indigenous guinea fowls. An insertion of a Guanine (G) within a poly G motif of the intron following the third exon at the 13,955,730 bp location was identified in the majority (84.5%) of indigenous guinea fowls, while the wild type allele was observed in the minority of indigenous guinea fowls and in the domesticated French variety sampled. Also, a biallelic transition arising from the substitution of G by Adenine (A) at position 13,956,496 bp (13,956,496 G > A) located on the fourth exon, which codes for most of the extension peptide of prepro IGF2, was observed in the minority (11.9%) of indigenous guinea fowls. No significant associations among the genotypes arising from the two SNPs, with body weights and weekly growth rates, were identified

Source: UG
Single nucleotide polymorphisms: A paradigm in oral disease research

Background: A higher occurrence of oral cancer is observed in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries when compared with other countries in the world. Cancer, a disease with complex pathophysiology, has been linked to chronic inflammation. Inflammation has been considered an important component of tumor initiation and progression. This is supported by the fact that many cancers arise at the sites of chronic inflammation, but the exact mechanism by which inflammation influences cancer is unknown. Purpose: This review article correlates single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), chronic inflammation, and oral cancer. The article emphasizes the critical role that SNPs play in oral cancer susceptibility, progression, and prognosis. This involves discussing the impact of specific SNPs on oral cancer risk and patient outcomes. Review: Gene polymorphism has been documented in the molecular pathogenesis of various cancers, including oral cancer, and SNPs are the most common form of gene polymorphism. Genetic variation has been documented in the molecular pathogenesis of various cancers, including oral cancer, and SNPs are the most common form of gene polymorphism. SNPs have been documented in inflammatory conditions as well as in various diseases. Conclusion: SNPs have phenotypic consequences and therefore can serve as genetic fingerprints. The upregulation or downregulation of genes is able to drive oral carcinogenesis.

Source: UG
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms: A Paradigm In Oral Disease Research.

Background: A higher occurrence of oral cancer is observed in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries when compared with other countries in the world. Cancer, a disease with complex pathophysiology, has been linked to chronic inflammation. Inflammation has been considered an important component of tumor initiation and progression. This is supported by the fact that many cancers arise at the sites of chronic inflammation, but the exact mechanism by which inflammation influences cancer is unknown. Purpose: This review article correlates single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), chronic inflammation, and oral cancer. The article emphasizes the critical role that SNPs play in oral cancer susceptibility, progression, and prognosis. This involves discussing the impact of specific SNPs on oral cancer risk and patient outcomes. Review: Gene polymorphism has been documented in the molecular pathogenesis of various cancers, including oral cancer, and SNPs are the most common form of gene polymorphism. Genetic variation has been documented in the molecular pathogenesis of various cancers, including oral cancer, and SNPs are the most common form of gene polymorphism. SNPs have been documented in inflammatory conditions as well as in various diseases. Conclusion: SNPs have phenotypic consequences and therefore can serve as genetic fingerprints. The upregulation or downregulation of genes is able to drive oral carcinogenesis

Source: UG
A single S1034C mutation confers altered drug sensitivity to PfMDR1 ATPase activity that is characteristic of the 7G8 isoform

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
A single-dose live-attenuated YF17D-vectored SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate

The expanding pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requires the development of safe, efcacious and fast-acting vaccines. Several vaccine platforms are being leveraged for a rapid emergency response1 Here we describe the development of a candidate vaccine (YF-S0) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that uses live-attenuated yellow fever 17D (YF17D) vaccine as a vector to express a noncleavable prefusion form of the SARS-CoV-2 spike antigen. We assess vaccine safety, immunogenicity and efcacy in several animal models. YF-S0 has an excellent safety profle and induces high levels of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), mice (Mus musculus) and cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), and—concomitantly—protective immunity against yellow fever virus. Humoral immunity is complemented by a cellular immune response with favourable T helper 1 polarization, as profled in mice. In a hamster model2 and in macaques, YF-S0 prevents infection with SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, a single dose conferred protection from lung disease in most of the vaccinated hamsters within as little as 10 days. Taken together, the quality of the immune responses triggered and the rapid kinetics by which protective immunity can be attained after a single dose warrant further development of this potent SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate.

Source: UG
Single-dose pharmacokinetics of perhexiline administered orally to humans

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of perhexiline and its major metabolites, the cis- and trans-monohydroxyperhexilines M1 and M3, respectively, in human plasma or urine has been developed. Perhexiline and its metabolites are extracted from plasma or urine and derivatized with 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. The extracted dinitrophenyl derivatives of drug and metabolites are separated on a Spherisorb S5 ODS column by gradient elution. The limits of detection for perhexiline and its monohydroxy metabolites were 15 and 3 ng/ml, respectively. The inter-assay coefficients of variation for 100 ng/ml perhexiline, 100 ng/ml M1 and 400 ng/ml M3 were 10.5, 7.6 and 5.6%, respectively (n = 9). The method has been employed in a limited kinetic study with five healthy adult male volunteers who received 150-mg and 300-mg Pexid tablets at an interval of one week. In four subjects perhexiline exhibited marked first pass effects, with plasma M1 levels higher than unchanged perhexiline; in the urine M1 was the predominant metabolite except in one subject who had higher M3 than M1 in the 300-mg Pexid study. The fifth subject exhibited a defective capacity to hydroxylate perhexiline; M1 and M3 were not detectable in plasma, and the urinary excretion of the monohydroxyperhexilines was relatively less, with M3 present in higher amounts than M1.

Source: UG
Single-dose treatment of wuchereria bancrofti infections with ivermectin and albendazole alone or in combination: Evaluation of the potential for control at 12 months after treatment.

The Department of Parasitology conducts research into parasitic diseases of public health importance with the overall goal of reducing their transmission and the heavy disease burden that they impose on affected populations. The Department maintains focus on parasitic diseases in general. These include major diseases such as malaria, and others listed under the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) control initiative such as, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis.

Source: UG
Sino-Africa Relations: A Case of Neo-Colonialism?

China’s official relationship with Africa dates back to the 1950s when they first met at the Bandung Conference in Indonesia. The relationship has been strengthened through increased economic activities through trade, investment and aid which has been coupled with the establishment of FOCAC in the 21st century to regularize the diplomatic and political relations and provide a common platform where all African countries can interact with their Chinese counterpart. The heightened relationship between China and Africa has caused a stir in the political, economic, media and academic circles across the globe. There are fears of neo-colonialism associated with this relationship. The study thus set out to investigate the veracity of the claim of China being a neo-colonial state. To achieve the objectives, the study employed qualitative methods by relying on data from primary and secondary sources. In identifying the target population, the purposeful sampling techniques was used and data collected through semi-structured interview guides. Using the content analysis, the study analyzed the relationship between China’s trade, aid and investment with Africa with particular interest on Ghana from 2005 to 2015 through the broad framework of China’s policy towards Africa. The relationship between China and Africa has increased significantly since the beginning of the 21st century. The relationship which is supposed to be grounded in south to south cooperation is rather modeled on similar north to south relations. The relationship between China and Africa provides Africa with both prospects and challenges. China’s activities and interactions in Africa is best explained in the context of neo-colonialism.

Source: UG
Sino-Ghana bilateral relations and Chinese migrants’ illegal gold mining in Ghana

This article examines the participation of some Chinese migrants in illegal gold mining (known as galamsey) in Ghana, and how the Government’s policy to address the issue created diplomatic tension between China and Ghana. Drawing on primary data from in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 250 respondents and supplementary information from archival sources and personal observation, the study found that small-scale gold mining is an area legally reserved for Ghanaian indigenes, who faced stern competition from some Chinese migrants’ miners. Their ability to mobilize resources and machinery to execute galamsey virtually displaced the indigenes from their source of livelihood and caused environmental catastrophes. The Ghana Government’s policy response to the Chinese migrants’ galamsey, which led to arrests, sentencing and deportations of some Chinese miners, angered Beijing and fractured Ghana–China diplomatic ties. But the dispute could not collapse the entrenched bilateral relations between the two nations because the calculated mutual benefit derived from the relations was thought to be higher than the Chinese galamsey issue. Policy reforms which legally integrate Chinese migrants’ miners into the small-scale mining sector would stop galamsey and strengthen Sino-Ghana relations.

Source: UG
Situating the Notion of “gbɛkɛfɔŋs” in the Discourse of Child Sexual Abuse Among the Ga in Accra, Ghana

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a prevalent problem in many societies across the globe. There have been several discussions of the subject and attempts have been made to explain its incidence and find ways to prevent and/or control it. However, despite these efforts, the problem seems to persist in developing countries like Ghana with dire consequences for the children and society at large. This paper sought to glean insights about the persistence of the problem by focusing on the discourse surrounding the subject. Using Focus Group Discussions with adult members in the Ga communities in Accra namely La, Teshie, and James Town where the phenomenon is relatively pervasive, the paper sought to understand the reasoning and the implications of accusing children who were sexually abused in the Ga community of seducing the perpetrators and engaging in sex for money. The paper posits that the labeling of victims of CSA as “gbɛkɛfɔŋs” (children of bad character) disempowers children and perpetuates the abuse of children. Thus, introducing and situating this notion of “gbɛkɛfɔŋs” in the center of the discourse largely results in a victimization of the victims and a vicious cycle of CSA. The conclusions from this study point to the need for a reorientation of parental and communal roles and an empowering of children to identify and resist sexual abuse. © 2018 Taylor & Francis

Source: UG
Situation analysis of TB microscopy centres in Ghana

The Bacteriology Department aims to improve the quality of life first for Ghanaians and the world at large by conducting research into bacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana and globally. In addition to working on enteric pathogens and sexually transmitted diseases, the department’s current main focus is on the two most important mycobacterial diseases of public health importance to Ghana, namely Buruli ulcer (BU) and tuberculosis (TB).

Source: UG
A Situational Analysis of the Conditions of Street Children in Tamale Metropolis in Northern Region of Ghana

This paper examined the conditions and the reasons why children operate on the streets of Tamale Metropolis. It uses focus group discussion and observation to find out the problems facing the street children, the nature of their work and what they perceive to be the solution to their plight. Rooted in streetism is the problem of poverty as it was noted or expressed by respondents. Through literature review the paper discusses meaning, causes and effects of poverty and comes out with strategies for reducing poverty. The study noted that the children were on the street because the parents were poor and could not take care of them. The children also expressed readiness to leave the street if they could be assisted to learn a trade. It was noted that working on the street was risky, unpleasant and without hope of building one’s career.The study recommends that students in basic schools should be well trained in both theoretical knowledge and practical skills and be well equipped with employable skills so as to make them useful outside the classroom. Again, instead of dropping students along the educational ladder for not meeting entry requirements to higher institutions and thereby regarding them as failures, they should rather be given apprenticeship training to prepare them for the job market especially in the informal sector.

Source: UG
Situational Analysis on the Impact of Perinatal Deaths Among Bereaved Families in Ghana

Background: Annually, about 5.9 million perinatal deaths occur worldwide, leaving millions bereaved due to stillbirths or early neonatal deaths. The highest burden of stillbirths (97%) and newborn deaths (98%) occurs in lower- and middle-income countries, with the majority occurring in Sub-Saharan African countries. Method: This cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted to identify existing policies and protocols to support bereaved families, explore the needs of bereaved families, and to also assess the impact of perinatal death on families in Ghana. All in depth interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed themati cally. The results were presented in narratives and supported with illustrative quotes from respondents. Results: In all, 42 in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 (23.8%) from the Northern belt (Upper East), 11 (26.2%) from the middle belt (Ashanti) and 21 (50.0%) from the Southern belt (Greater Accra). The study revealed that practicing health professionals and other stakeholders within the health service delivery chain were not aware of protocols, written guidelines or written documents to initiate counseling at the facility in the event of a mother losing a child. Most of the respondents did not know what to do in the event that a mother loses a baby during delivery or immediately after. Respondents were in favor of having a policy or guidelines which will help them to counsel families who go through perinatal bereavement. Respondents were of the view that it is important for families who experience perinatal grief to be supported. Conclusion: All staff who meet the pregnant mother during her pre-and-post-delivery stages should be trained on the use of guidelines or policies. There is the need to have a policy, train and equip health staff to ensure that families experiencing perinatal grief are provided with effective counseling. Ghana Health Service should consider training and recruiting professional counselors who will support the health staff in dealing with perinatal grief

Source: UG