ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Antitumor agents. 256. Conjugation of paclitaxel with other antitumor agents: evaluation of novel conjugates as cytotoxic agents

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
Antonius Gvilielmus Amo Afer Axim in Ghana

The Martin-Luther- University Halle – Wittenberg takes pride in presenting the works of the Ghanaian of the 18th century, ANTON WILHELM AMO. The Department of English of this university has contributed the English version of his works. It is hoped that this translation will prove useful to those students of the literature of the Enlightenment, to whom the Latin text might offer some difficulties.

Source: UG
Antrocaryon micraster (A. Chev. And Guillaumin) stem bark extract demonstrated anti-malaria action and normalized hematological indices in Plasmodium berghei infested mice in the Rane’s test

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
Anxiolytic-like effect of the leaves of Pseudospondias microcarpa (A. Rich.) Engl. in mice

Pseudospondias microcarpa is a plant used for managing various diseases including CNS disorders. Previous studies showed sedative and anticonvulsant effects, suggesting possible anxiolytic activity. This study therefore assessed the anxiolytic effects of P. microcarpa hydroethanolic leaf extract (PME) in mice. In the present study, anxiolytic-like effect of the extract in behavioural paradigms of anxiety - the elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark box (LDB), social interaction test and stress-induced hyperthermia (SIH) - was evaluated. Mice treated with PME (30-300 mg kg-1, p.o.) exhibited anxiolytic-like activity similar to diazepam in all the anxiety models used. The extract increased open arm activity (p&lt;0.05) in the EPM as well as increasing the time spent in the lit area in relation to the time spent in the dark area of the LDB. Sociability and preference for social novelty significantly (p&lt;0.05-0.001) increased in mice treated with PME. In the SIH paradigm in mice, both PME and the benzodiazepine receptor agonist, diazepam, significantly (p&lt;0.05) reduced the stress-induced increase in rectal temperature. The extract did not impair motor coordination and balance in the beam walk test. Results of the present study indicate that PME possesses anxiolytic-like effects in mice. © 2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.

Source: UG
AP-2α Regulates S-Phase and Is a Marker for Sensitivity to PI3K Inhibitor Buparlisib in Colon Cancer

Activating protein 2 alpha (AP-2α; encoded by TFAP2A) functions as a tumor suppressor and influences response to therapy in several cancer types. We aimed to characterize regulation of the transcriptome by AP-2α in colon cancer. CRISPR-Cas9 and short hairpin RNA were used to eliminate TFAP2A expression in HCT116 and a panel of colon cancer cell lines. AP-2α target genes were identified with RNA sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing. Effects on cell cycle were characterized in cells synchronized with aphidicolin and analyzed by FACS and Premo FUCCI. Effects on invasion and tumorigenesis were determined by invasion assay, growth of xenografts, and phosphorylated histone H3 (PHH3). Knockout of TFAP2A induced significant alterations in the transcriptome including repression of TGM2, identified as a primary gene target of AP-2α. Loss of AP-2α delayed progression through S-phase into G2–M and decreased phosphorylation of AKT, effects that were mediated through regulation of TGM2. Buparlisib (BKM120) repressed in vitro invasiveness of HCT116 and a panel of colon cancer cell lines; however, loss of AP-2α induced resistance to buparlisib. Similarly, buparlisib repressed PHH3 and growth of tumor xenografts and increased overall survival of tumor-bearing mice, whereas, loss of AP-2α induced resistance to the effect of PI3K inhibition. Loss of AP-2α in colon cancer leads to prolonged S-phase through altered activation of AKT leading to resistance to the PI3K inhibitor, Buparlisib. The findings demonstrate an important role for AP-2α in regulating progression through the cell cycle and indicates that AP-2α is a marker for response to PI3K inhibitors.

Source: UG
AP39, A Novel Mitochondria-Targeted Hydrogen Sulfide Donor, Promotes Cutaneous Wound Healing In An In Vivo Murine Model Of Acute Frostbite Injury

Frostbite injury refers to cold tissue injury which typically affects the peripheral areas of the body, and is associated with limb loss and high rates of morbidity. Historically, treatment options have been limited to supportive care, leading to suboptimal outcomes for affected patients. The pathophysiology of frostbite injury has been understood in recent years to share similarity with that of cold ischemia-reperfusion injury as seen in solid organ transplantation, of which mitochondria play an important contributing role. The present study investigated whether AP39, a novel mitochondria-targeted slow-releasing hydrogen sulfide donor, applied top ically in a vehicle cream at 200 nM or 1 µM could mitigate frostbite injury and promote wound healing in mice. Frostbite injury was induced continuously for 3 min on the dorsal skin of C57BL/6 mice (Mus musculus) using magnets frozen on dry ice (-80 ◦C). AP39, delivered via a vehicle cream, was used daily to treat frostbite injury until animals were euthanized on day 15 after induction of frostbite injury. Wound tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin along with immunofluorescence staining with cleaved caspase-3, CD31, KI-67, CD163, fibronectin and cytokeratin. While 200 nM AP39 improved granulation tissue maturation (p < 0.001), angio genesis (p < 0.01) and cell proliferation (p < 0.001) compared to vehicle control, 1 µM AP39 further increased granulation tissue formation compared to other frostbite groups (p < 0.001). Thus, AP39 promoted frostbite wound healing, and therefore could be considered as a treatment option for patients with frostbite injury.

Source: UG
Aphrodisiacs and phallic competence: Implications for dominant masculinity

The study explores how use of aphrodisiacs influence the construction of phallic competence and sex decision making based on in-depth interviews with 20 women and 16 men in Ghana. Participants were recruited mainly by word-of-mouth through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The findings indicate that aphrodisiacs influence dominant masculinity for both women and men. Women differentiated between men based on their phallic competence (ability to satisfy a woman sexually) and preferred eho ne ho (average) penis for sex. The penis has to perform satisfactorily to stimulate a woman's sexual pleasure. In reality, however, the size of a penis does not necessarily matter once it can sexually satisfy a woman even if it is a small penis. The use of aphrodisiac was mainly to sustain erection and prolong sex in order to satisfy a woman sexually. Women were selfish in their quest to seek sexual pleasure and exerted indirect pressures on their male partners to seek sexual virility by recommending and providing them with aphrodisiacs.

Source: UG
Aplastic anaemia in Zimbabweans.

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
APOL1 genotype associated risk for preeclampsia in African populations: Rationale and protocol design for studies in women of African ancestry in resource limited settings

Background Women of African ancestry are highly predisposed to preeclampsia which continues to be a major cause of maternal death in Africa. Common variants in the APOL1 gene are potent risk factor for a spectrum of kidney disease. Recent studies have shown that APOL1 risk variants contribute to the risk of preeclampsia. The aim of the study is to understand the con tribution of APOL1 risk variants to the development of preeclampsia in pregnant women in Ghana. Methods The study is a case-control design which started recruitment in 2019 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The study will recruit pregnant women with a target recruitment of 700 cases of preeclampsia and 700 normotensives. Clinical and demographic data of mother- baby dyad, with biospecimens including cord blood and placenta will be collected to assess clinical, biochemical and genetic markers of preeclampsia. The study protocol was approved by Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Institutional Review Board (Reference number: KBTH-IRB/000108/2018) on October 11, 2018. Preliminary results As of December 2021, a total of 773 mother-baby pairs had been recruited and majority of them had complete entry of data for analysis. The participants are made up of 384 pre eclampsia cases and 389 normotensive mother-baby dyad. The mean age of participants is 30.69 ± 0.32 years for cases and 29.95 ± 0.32 for controls. Majority (85%) of the participants are between 20-30years. At booking, majority of cases had normal blood pressure com pared to the time of diagnosis where 85% had a systolic BP greater than 140mmHg and a corresponding 82% had diastolic pressure greater than 90mmHg. Conclusion Our study will ultimately provide clinical, biochemical and genotypic data for risk stratification of preeclampsia and careful monitoring during pregnancy to improve clinical management and outcomes.

Source: UG
APOL1 genotype associated risk for preeclampsia in African populations: Rationale and protocol design for studies in women of African ancestry in resource limited settings

Background Women of African ancestry are highly predisposed to preeclampsia which continues to be a major cause of maternal death in Africa. Common variants in the APOL1 gene are potent risk factor for a spectrum of kidney disease. Recent studies have shown that APOL1 risk variants contribute to the risk of preeclampsia. The aim of the study is to understand the contribution of APOL1 risk variants to the development of preeclampsia in pregnant women in Ghana. Methods The study is a case-control design which started recruitment in 2019 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The study will recruit pregnant women with a target recruitment of 700 cases of preeclampsia and 700 normotensives. Clinical and demographic data of mother- baby dyad, with biospecimens including cord blood and placenta will be collected to assess clinical, biochemical and genetic markers of preeclampsia. The study protocol was approved by Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Institutional Review Board (Reference number: KBTH-IRB/000108/2018) on October 11, 2018. Preliminary results As of December 2021, a total of 773 mother-baby pairs had been recruited and majority of them had complete entry of data for analysis. The participants are made up of 384 preeclampsia cases and 389 normotensive mother-baby dyad. The mean age of participants is 30.69 ± 0.32 years for cases and 29.95 ± 0.32 for controls. Majority (85%) of the participants are between 20-30years. At booking, majority of cases had normal blood pressure compared to the time of diagnosis where 85% had a systolic BP greater than 140mmHg and a corresponding 82% had diastolic pressure greater than 90mmHg. Conclusion Our study will ultimately provide clinical, biochemical and genotypic data for risk stratification of preeclampsia and careful monitoring during pregnancy to improve clinical management and outcomes

Source: UG
APOL1, CDKN2A/CDKN2B, and HDAC9 Polymorphisms and Small Vessel Ischemic Stroke

OBJECTIVE: Worldwide, the highest frequencies of APOL1-associated kidney variants are found in indigenous West Africans among whom small vessel disease (SVD) ischemic stroke is the most common stroke phenotype. The objective of this study was to investigate the association and effect sizes of 23 selected SNPs in 14 genes of relevance, including the APOL1 G1 variants, with the occurrence of SVD ischemic stroke among indigenous West African participants in the Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network (SIREN) Study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases were consecutively recruited consenting adults (aged 18 years or older) with neuroimaging-confirmed first clinical stroke. Stroke-free controls were ascertained using a locally validated version of the Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status (QVSFS). Logistic regression models adjusting for known vascular risk factors were fitted to assess the associations of the 23 SNPs in rigorously phenotyped cases (N = 154) of SVD ischemic stroke and stroke-free (N = 483) controls. RESULTS: Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) rs73885319 (OR = 1.52; CI: 1.09-2.13, P-value = .013), rs2383207 in CDKN2A/CDKN2B (OR = 3.08; CI: 1.15-8.26, P -value = .026) and rs2107595 (OR = 1.70; CI: 1.12-2.60, P-value = .014) and rs28688791 (OR = 1.52; CI: 1.03-2.26, P-value = .036) in HDAC9 gene were associated with SVD stroke at 0.05 significance level. Polymorphisms in other genes did not show significant associations. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of a specific association of APOL1 with a stroke subtype. Further research is needed to confirm these initial findings and deepen understanding of the genetics of stroke in people of African ancestry with possible implications for other ancestries as all humans originated from Africa.

Source: UG
Apology: A repair mechanism in akan social interaction

This article addresses apology among the Akan of Ghana. An apology is a redressive speech mechanism that pays attention to the face needs of interlocutors during social interaction. Among the Akan, apology forms an integral part of the communicative competence of the individual and denotes humility and a sense of honesty and integrity. This article discusses apology under the speech act of expressives. An apology is one of the speech acts that gives information about the Akan social values of speech and social interaction. This article will look at the functions, forms and major features of apology. It will discuss the communicative and ethnographic situations that trigger the use of apologies in the Akan language. It will also look at the use of apology in ntam, a statutory verbal taboo among the Akan. © 2004 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Source: UG
Apparel shopping styles of Ghanaian female young adults

Purpose – The purpose of the study was to identify the apparel shopping styles of Ghanaian female young adults and to assess the applicability of the consumer styles inventory (CSI) within the Ghanaian context. Design/methodology/approach – A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 405 Ghanaian female undergraduate students aged 18–25 years from the University of Ghana. The CSI was used to collect data and these were analyzed using principal component analysis. Findings – The results showed that the subjects adopted multiple shopping styles when scouting for stores and selecting apparel for managing their appearance. Seven of the CSI dimensions were confirmed (perfectionism, brand consciousness, novelty-fashion consciousness, confused by over-choice, impulsive carelessness, recreational hedonism and habitual brand loyalty). A new shopping style, indifference shopping orientation was identified. Practical implications – Market segmentation, product development and marketing strategies should be tailored to the shopping styles of female young consumers in Ghana. Originality/value – This study, for the first time, uses the consumer characteristic approach and the CSI to identify the apparel decision-making styles of young adult female Ghanaians. This fulfils the need for the study of shopping styles, which is vital for producers and marketers to enable them to make informed decisions to meet specific needs and expectations of these cohorts of consumers.

Source: UG
An Appeal to the Religion, Justice, and Humanity of the Inhabitants of the British Empire, In Behalf of the Negro Slaves in the West Indies

To all the inhabitants of the British Empire, who value the favour of God, or are alive to the interests or honour of their country - to all who have any respect for justice, or any feelings of humanity, I would. solemnly address myself. I call upon them, as they shall hereafter answer, in the great day of account, fox the use they shall have made of any power or influence with which Providence may have entrusted them, to employ their best endeavours, by all lawful and constitutional means, to mitigate, and, as soon as it may be safely done, to terminate the Negro Slavery of the British Colonies; a system of the grossest injustice, of the most heathenish irreligion and immorality, of the most unprecedented degradation, and unrelenting cruelty. At any time, and under any circumstances, from such a heavy load of guilt as this oppression amounts to, it would be our interest no less than our duty to absolve ourselves

Source: UG
Appetitive and dietary effects of consuming an energy-dense food (peanuts) with or between meals by snackers and non-snackers.

Background. Energy-dense foods are inconsistently implicated in elevated energy intake (EI). This may stem from other food properties and/or differences in dietary incorporation, that is, as snacks or with meals. Objective. Assess intake pattern and food properties on acute appetitive ratings (AR) and EI. Design. 201 normal and overweight adults consuming a standard lunch. Test loads of 1255.2 kJ (300 kcal) were added to the lunch or provided as snack. Loads (peanuts, snack mix, and snack mix with peanuts) were energy, macronutrient, and volumetrically matched with a lunch portion as control. Participants completed meal and snack sessions of their randomly assigned load. Results. No differences were observed in daily EI or AR for meal versus snack or treatment versus control. Consumption of peanuts as a snack tended to strengthen dietary compensation compared to peanuts or other loads with a meal. Conclusions. Inclusion of an energy-dense food as a snack or meal component had comparable influence on AR and EI. Peanuts tended to elicit stronger dietary compensation when consumed as a snack versus with a meal. If substantiated, this latter observation suggests that properties other than those controlled here (energy, macronutrient content, and volume) modify AR and EI.

Source: UG
Applicability of a monoclonal antibody-based dipstick in diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis in the Central Region of Ghana

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
Applicability Of The Contextual Mediated Model To Predicting Road Crashes In Ghana And The United Kingdom.

Models of driver crash risks have been developed in high income countries (e.g., the contextual mediated model). However, the extent to which these models apply to motoring in low and middle income countries, which bear the majority of the world’s road crash fatalities is unknown. We investigate the applicability of a modified contextual mediated model which distinguishes between distal and proximal factors that increase crash liability. The model was applied to 404 UK and 478 Ghanaian motorists to examine the extent to which the processes underlying crash risk are culture specific. Path analyses showed that distal factors (e.g., anxiety, distracted driving susceptibility) predicted crash involvement directly and indirectly through errors, violations and hazard monitoring in both countries. Hazard monitoring was a significant predictor of crash involvement, independent of DBQ factors in both UK and Ghana, highlighting its importance in understanding driver behaviour and crash risk. The findings provide empirical support for the usefulness of the revised contextual mediated model to explain driving behaviour in Ghana as well as the UK.

Source: UG
Application of 2D-Electrical resistivity tomography in delineating groundwater potential zones: Case study from the voltaian super group of Ghana

This study assesses the efficiency of a key geophysical groundwater exploration technique, Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) in part of the Voltaian Supergroup in Northern Ghana. In the Northern Ghana, groundwater has been the main source of water for domestic and other uses. Much of the terrain is underlain by Neoproterozoic sedimentary rocks which have lost their primary porosity to partial metamorphic episodes during the Pan-African Orogeny. As a result, groundwater acquisition in this terrain is challenging compared to crystalline basement aquifers. Borehole success rates (yields≥13 L per minutes) have generally been low (50%) as the terrain has been difficult to characterize with standard geophysical techniques. Previously, when the electromagnetic and vertical electrical sounding (VES) techniques were used to explore for groundwater resources, the success rate was less than 50%. In order to have an improved yield, the 2D Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) approach was used for the investigation to provide information about the lateral and vertical extent of weathering and fracturing in the sub-surface. A total of 30 ERT profiles were run across strike of the underlying lineaments at a maximum profile length of 800 m. The Schlumberger, Dipole-dipole and the Wenner array protocols were used concurrently for the data collection and the GEOTOMO RES2D Inversion software was used for the inversion. Analysis of data on 40 boreholes in 22 selected communities in different Voltaian rock units of drill depths ranging between 92 and 192m indicates a 80% drilling success rate when drilling is guided by ERT surveys, providing a significant improvement over previous approaches recording a less than 50% success rate. Comparison between the drilling logs and the ERT revealed a strong correlation between the inferred resistivity boundary and lithology changes. On average, the resistivity patterns that indicate a promising zone for drilling a wet well ranges between 10 and 300 Ω-m. This investigation shows that, in hydrogeologically difficult terrains such as the Voltaian Supergroup, a careful application of the ERT with clear understanding of the underlying geological conditions would significantly improve success.

Source: UG