ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis among adult patients with ascites attending Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the most common and life-threatening complications of ascites, mostly in patients with cirrhotic ascites and children with nephrotic syndrome. Recognition and prompt treatment of this condition is essential to prevent serious morbidity and mortality. It is therefore important to determine the prevalence of SBP among in-patients with ascites attending our facility and to determine the clinical characteristics associated with SBP among these patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 140 patients with ascites irrespective of the underlying cause from 25th March 2016 to 25th November 2016. Demographic information and clinical data were collected using a standardized questionnaire. Ascitic fluid culture, the gold standard for SBP diagnosis and ascitic fluid cell count was done. Positive ascitic fluid culture and/ or ascitic polymorpho nuclear leukocyte ≥250cells/mm3 were diagnostic for SBP. RESULTS: Of the 140 patients with ascites the mean age was 44.7±13.2 years. There were seventy six (76) male and sixty four (64) female patients. The prevalence of SBP was 21.43% (30/140). Majority, (41.7%) of the bacteria isolated from ascitic fluid with SBP was Escherichia coli. History of jaundice, low arterial blood pressure on admission and encephalopathy were found to be independent predictors of SBP. CONCLUSION: SBP is common among patients with ascites admitted at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Jaundice, encephalopathy and low blood pressure are highly suggestive of SBP and diagnostic paracentesis should be done immediately on admission to confirm the diagnosis.

Source: UG
Spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage: Computed tomographic patterns in Accra.

The diagnosis of stroke and the ability to distinguish the subtypes is central in the management of patients. This CT study has confirmed an increased prevalence of stroke (CVA) among Ghanaians. It has also reaffirmed a relatively higher incidence (52.9%) of spontaneous intracranial haemorrhage over cerebral infarcts among the 1,172 stroke patients studied. The study points to a male preponderance and a mean age of 55.7 years. Parenchymal haemorrhage was found to be the commonest variety of these haemorrhages. It occurred in 83.6% of cases while primary subarachnoid haemorrhage was reported in only 8.1% of cases. Ventricular extension of the parenchymal haemorrhage was reported in 22.7% of cases. The latter were mostly unilateral and on the left side especially in the parietal lobe (70.9%), subdural haemorrhage like the parenchymal variety was also reported to be more on the left, mainly unilateral and acute. Haemorrhages in the cerebellum and pons which are normally difficult to diagnose were also outlined with ease in the CT images. Other CT findings in these patients include parilesional oedema and mass effect found in 87.10% and 77.4% respectively.

Source: UG
Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reaction among health professionals in Ghana

Background: Spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADR) is an effective means of ensuring postmarketing surveillance of drugs, and health professionals play a cardinal role through voluntary reporting of ADR. However, the pharmacovigilance system in Ghana is plagued with under-reporting issues, which is of public health concern. Method: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study involving 268 health professionals at Kpone-Katamanso District was carried out. Data on spontaneous reporting of ADR, demographics of participants, knowledge, and attitudes of professionals towards reporting and factors that may influence ADR reporting were collected. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association of the independent variables with spontaneous reporting of ADR. Result: Overall, 77.6% (208) of the 268 respondents had observed ADR; however, only 17.3% of the respondents had ever reported an ADR to the Ghana FDA. Health professionals who had average knowledge on spontaneous reporting of ADR were 51.9%, while 30.3% had good knowledge of spontaneous reporting of ADR. After adjustment on potential confounding variables (Knowledge, Feedback from FDA, Uncertainty about cause of ADR, Severity of ADR), Age (AOR = 2.26, 95%CI = 1.25–4.10), Fear of Legal Consequences (AOR = 0.15, 95%CI = 0.41–0.51), Time Constraint (AOR = 0.3, 95%CI = 0.10–0.91), Pharmacovigilance training (AOR = 18.78, 95%CI = 5.46–64.59) and Unavailability of Reporting form (AOR = 0.28, 95%CI = 0.09–0.88) were found to be significantly associated spontaneous reporting of ADR. Conclusion: The proportion of health professionals in the Kpone- Katamanso District who spontaneously reported observed ADR was low though they had average knowledge about ADR reporting. This underscores the need for a policy to be implemented that makes spontaneous reporting of adverse drug reaction mandatory for health professionals.

Source: UG
“Sports as a Tool for Promoting Diplomacy: A Case Study of Afcon”

For peaceful coexistence, a way of harmonizing the different cultures is key. Sports is an important tool for uniting people, friends and foes, but is also an essential tool in promoting diplomatic relations among states and international organizations. Knight (2020) argues that, diplomacy can be turned to when circumstances necessitate a debate on a round table for people from all walks of life. The research centres on how AFCON, a biennial soccer men's tournament, promotes diplomacy and, in doing so, its achievement with the contribution of all the stakeholders involved, and finally what factors have made it hard for the tournament to promote diplomacy. The research elucidates States’ acknowledgement of this reality and, in some instances, has exploited their influence in global sports in the guise of soft power efforts to further their goals in international affairs. This involves developing and fostering an African identity through AFCON, collaborating with the world community through sports to construct a fair and inclusive global, financial, political, and social order, and advocating adherence for international law and treaty responsibilities, such as the abolition of apartheid and racism. The conceptual framework underpinning this study centres on the concept of power, specifically relating to soft power derived from the shoulders of the civil society. Additionally, this study employs a qualitative research method. Findings from this study show that AFCON has a critical role in fostering unity, promoting nationalism, as a tool for building nation’s international image, as a means for integration and has economic benefits to participating countries despite some of the challenges the Confederation for African Football is confronted with, such as corruption and political instability in host countries, among others.

Source: UG
Spousal Age Differences And Women’s Contraceptive Use In Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: This study examines the likelihood of contraceptive use among married women in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the influence of spousal age difference. Methods: Binary logistic regressions predicting contraceptive use were estimated using a sample of 478,193 women in first union from 29 sub-Saharan African countries spanning two decades from 1999 to 2022. The data were sourced from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). Results: The regression results indicate that spousal age difference is negatively correlated with the likelihood of con traceptive use with each additional year reducing the odds of using contraception by 1.1 percent. The association between the two variables has remained largely consistent over time. The findings also show substantial variation in the influence of spousal age differences on contraceptive use ranging from statistically significant and negative odds in some countries to not statistically significant but positive odds in others. Measures of female autonomy, education and healthcare decision-making, had a modest influence on the size and significance of the association between spousal age difference and contraceptive use. Conclusions: The relationship between spousal age difference and contraceptive use is of concern given the preva lence of age-disparate relationships in the context. These findings add to the literature on the potentially nega tive implications of age-disparate relationships, while highlighting that the association is not uniformly negative across countries.

Source: UG
Spray-dried doxorubicin-albumin microparticulate systems for treatment of multidrug resistant melanomas Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/1061186X.2010.504270

As multidrug resistance continues to be a problem in cancer treatment, controlled release delivery systems, such as microspheres, may aid to give a slower release of anticancer drugs into drug resistant tumor cells. In this study doxorubicin microspheres microencapsulated in an albumin matrix were prepared via the spray-drying method and characterized for particle size, content analysis, and release studies. They were then evaluated in vitro using drug resistant murine melanoma tumor cells for uptake and efflux studies. Spray-drying produced a dispersed powder with a mean particle size of 4.91 ± 1.2 µm, 60% product yield, and encapsulation efficiency of 85% and a ζ potential range of 37 to −40 mV. Intracellular doxorubicin concentrations were higher in drug resistant tumor cells treated with microspheres as opposed to solution, and efflux of doxorubicin from the tumor cell was inhibited. Greater cytotoxic effects were seen in tumor cells treated with doxorubicin microspheres versus solution up to and after 3 days. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies conducted in male Sprague–Dawley rats, revealed a plasma-level time curve indicative of a two-compartment model, and showed prolonged half-life of doxorubicin, greater area under the plasma concentration time curve, and increased plasma concentrations of doxorubicin in rats at 8 and 24 h after administration of doxorubicin microspheres. Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/1061186X.2010.504270

Source: UG
“Squeezing money out of a rock”: diverse economies of contemporary theatre in Ghana

Ghana has a vibrant theatre tradition, and yet making theatre in Ghana is complex and theatre artists must grapple with the challenges posed by a lack of state support, limited access to formal funding and theatre venues, and a precarious labour market. This paper employs the perspective of diverse economies to explore how theatre artists make theatre. Rather than privileging formal institutions, capitalist enterprises, and waged labour, the diverse economies perspective brings to the fore diversity in labour arrangements, transactions, funding, and livelihood activities. We explore how theatre artists in Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region, and Accra, the national capital, engage in a diverse array of income generating activities, use different forms of labour, blend formal and informal finance, and engage in a multitude of transactions – that is, deploy diverse economies – to make the kinds of theatre they want and to lead the kinds of lives they find valuable.

Source: UG
Stability and change in the distribution of cytospecies of the Simulium damnosum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southern Ghana from 1971 to 2011

Abstract Background Simulium damnosum s.l., the most important vector of onchocerciasis in Africa, is a complex of sibling species that have been described on the basis of differences in their larval polytene chromosomes. These (cyto) species differ in their geographical distributions, ecologies and epidemiological roles. In Ghana, distributional changes have been recorded as a consequence of vector control and environmental change (e.g. deforestation), with potential disease consequences. We review the distribution of cytospecies in southern Ghana and report changes observed with reference to historical data collated from 1971 to 2005 and new identifications made between 2006 and 2011. Methods/Results Larvae were collected from riverine breeding sites, fixed in Carnoy&#8217;s solution and chromosome preparations made. Cytotaxonomic identifications from 1,232 samples (including 49 new samples) were analysed. We report long-term stability in cytospecies distribution in the rivers Afram, Akrum, Pawnpawn and Pru. For the rivers Oda, Ofin and Tano we describe (for the first time) patterns of distribution. We could not detect cytospecies composition changes in the upper Pra, and the lower Pra seems to have been stable. The elimination of the Djodji form of S.&#8201;sanctipauli in the Volta Region seems to have had no long-term effects on the distribution of the other cytospecies, despite an initial surge by S.&#8201;yahense. There has been a recent increase in the occurrence of savannah cytospecies in the river Asukawkaw, and this might be related to continuing deforestation. Conclusions Cytospecies&#8217; distributions have not been stable from 1971 to 2011. Although there are no obvious causes for the temporary appearance and subsequent disappearance of cytospecies in a particular location, a major influence has been vector control and migration patterns, probably explaining observed changes on the Black Volta and lower Volta rivers. Deforestation was previously implicated in an increase of savannah cytospecies in southern Ghana (1975&#8211;1997). Our data had little power to support (or refute) suggestions of a continuing increase, except in the Asukawkaw river basin.

Source: UG
Stability and change in the distribution of cytospecies of the Simulium damnosum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) in southern Ghana from 1971 to 2011

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
The stability of 3C-SiC(111) on Si(111) thin films: First-principles calculation

We report total energy calculation to elucidate the interface structures between SiC(111) and Si(111) with unequal atom densities due to apparent lattice matching between them. The result shows one stable and three metastable structures for a particular interfacial system with energy differences ranging from 10–52 meV per Å2 for both Si-C and Si-Si interfaces respectively. It was observed that, there is atomic undulation near the Si-C interface pinched at Si substrate. The interface formation energies indicates Si-Si is more favourable compared with Si-C. The electronic structure reveals metallic character due to electron transfer from SiC to Si due to relative electronegativity differences between Si and C atoms.

Source: UG
Stability of Solanum aethiopicum Shum accessions under varied water deficit stress levels and identification of pertinent breeding traits for resistance to water shortage

Drought is a major constraint to productivity of Solanum aethiopicum ‘Shum’ group due to loss in market and nutrient value of stressed plants. This study evaluated S. aethiopicum Shum group accessions to identify genotypes (G) that excel across moisture deficit stress levels (WLs). A split-plot arrangement composed of four WLs and twenty accessions of S. aethiopicum as main plot and sub-plot factors, respectively, was implemented in a screenhouse, and repeated for two experiments. In each experiment, there was a highly significant effect of at least two WLs on mean performance among at least two accessions for most of the traits at p<0.05. Further, very highly significant WL x G interactions were obtained for leaf relative water content (LRWC), leaves per plant (LPP) and plant height (PH), and non-significant for leaf blade length and leaf blade width. The order of priority as breeding traits for stability superiority across WLs was suggested as LRWC>PH>LPP. Consequently, based on LRWC, the most superiorly stable accessions were identified as accession 160 followed by accessions 145, 137, 108P and 184G while the least stable ones were identified as accessions 163G, 141, 163 and 108. The broad sense heritability (H2) for each of the three recommended traits for drought resistance breeding was above 0.9 thus supportive for a good response to selection. Drought stress negatively affected the performance of S. aethiopicum Shum group but the exhibited variation allowed for selection of superiorly stable genotypes.

Source: UG
Stable integrant-specific differences in bimodal HIV-1 expression patterns revealed by high-throughput analysis

HIV-1 gene expression is regulated by host and viral factors that interact with viral motifs and is influenced by proviral integration sites. Here, expression variation among integrants was followed for hundreds of individual proviral clones within polyclonal populations throughout successive rounds of virus and cultured cell replication, with limited findings using CD4+ cells from donor blood consistent with observations in immortalized cells. Tracking clonal behavior by proviral “zip codes” indicated that mutational inactivation during reverse transcription was rare, while clonal expansion and proviral expression states varied widely. By sorting for provirus expression using a GFP reporter in the nef open reading frame, distinct clone-specific variation in on/off proportions were observed that spanned three orders of magnitude. Tracking GFP phenotypes over time revealed that as cells divided, their progeny alternated between HIV transcriptional activity and non-activity. Despite these phenotypic oscillations, the overall GFP+ population within each clone was remarkably stable, with clones maintaining clone-specific equilibrium mixtures of GFP+ and GFP- cells. Integration sites were analyzed for correlations between genomic features and the epigenetic phenomena described here. Integrants inserted in the sense orientation of genes were more frequently found to be GFP negative than those in the antisense orientation, and clones with high GFP+ proportions were more distal to repressive H3K9me3 peaks than low GFP+ clones. Clones with low frequencies of GFP positivity appeared to expand more rapidly than clones for which most cells were GFP+, even though the tested proviruses were Vpr-. Thus, much of the increase in the GFP- population in these polyclonal pools over time reflected differential clonal expansion. Together, these results underscore the temporal and quantitative variability in HIV-1 gene expression among proviral clones that areconferred in the absence of metabolic or cell-type dependent variability, and shed light on cell-intrinsic layers of regulation that affect HIV-1 population dynamics.

Source: UG
Staff retention in public libraries in Ghana

There is excessive turnover among trained graduate librarians of the Ghana Library Board (GLB). All too often, the ones who leave are not the ones that management, as well as colleagues, wish would leave. An acceptable reason from the management point of view is that they leave to accept a position with higher pay. Management finds comfort in this explanation. Nevertheless, research has proved that employees leave for a number of reasons, besides money. The trained graduate librarians who leave the GLB are no exception. Examines the problems of voluntary turnover, by analysing these reasons, and attempts to offer suggestions which it is hoped could help reduce the incidence of turnover at the GLB to the barest minimum.

Source: UG
Staffing the unit with nurses: the role of nurse managers

Purpose – To explore the staffing practices of nurse managers at the unit. Design/methodology/approach – Introduction: Ensuring that units are staffed with adequate nurses to render quality nursing care to clients has become increasingly challenging for most hospitals. There is growing evidence linking best patient outcomes and fewer adverse events to the presence of nurses at the bedside. Hospitals require to attract and retain nurses in the units to address the issues of quality, staff and patient safety. Methods: The study used a descriptive phenomenological design to purposively select 15 nurse managers (NMs) and 47 nurses for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions respectively. Findings – The study found that the demand for nurses to work in the unit was not scientific. Nurses affirmed their frustration of inadequate numbers of staff in the unit especially, at the periphery hospitals. Time can be used as a source of motivation for nurses and nurses should be involved in the development of the duty roster to enable effective compliance. Compensation for additional duties is relevant in nursing. Research limitations/implications – The research was carried only in one region in Ghana, and the findings may not be the same in the other regions. Practical implications – Inadequate staffing level has serious implications on patient safety, quality of care and staff outcomes. This situation necessitates the implementation of health sector staffing norms to ensure the right calibre of mix staff are recruited and retained. Originality/value – This study is the first in Ghana that we aware of that explore staffing practices at the unit that identifies factors that impact staff schedules for effective care.

Source: UG
Stage‑specific Plasmodium falciparum immune responses in afebrile adults and children living in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

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