ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Chronic kidney disease is common in sickle cell disease: a cross-sectional study in the Tema Metropolis, Ghana

Background: Renal involvement in sickle cell disease (SCD) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) amongst SCD patients, and how basic clinical variables differ across haemoglobin genotypes. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted from December 2013 to May 2014 at the Sickle cell clinic of the Tema General Hospital. One hundred and ninety-four (194) participants with SCD, receiving medical care at the outpatient sickle cell clinic were enrolled onto the study. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain information on demography, clinical history, blood pressure and anthropometry. Blood and urine samples were taken for serum creatinine and proteinuria determination respectively. The estimated GFR (eGFR) was calculated using the CKD-EPI and Schwartz equations. CKD was defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. Analysis was performed using GraphPad prism and P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: CKD was present in 39.2 % of participants. Using KDIGO guidelines, 40.8 % of the HbSS participants had stage 1 CKD and none had stage 2 CKD. In addition, 30.8 % of the HbSC participants had stage 1 CKD and 3.8 % had stage 2 CKD. There was a trend of increasing age across CKD stages and stage 2 CKD participants were oldest (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Results from the current study suggest that CKD is common amongst SCD patients and prevalence and intensity increases with age. Proteinuria and CKD was more common in HbSS genotype than in HbSC genotype.

Source: UCC
Chronica Mundi: Nature La naturaleza La natura

Chronica Mundi è una rivista scientifica a vocazione internazionale nata con l’idea di creare una piattaforma dove studiosi e anche semplici appassionati di storia possano trovare spunti di riflessione e dibattito. Gli studi pubblicati sulla rivista sono originali, hanno un’ampia copertura temporale e geografica e vengono valutati attraverso il metodo del peer-review. Chronica Mundi is a journal with an international vocation founded with the idea of creating a platform where experts, but also history enthusiasts, can find food for thought and discussion. Studies published in the journal are original, have broad geographic and temporal coverage and are evaluated through the method of peer review. Chronica Mundi es una revista científica de enfoque internacional con miras a crear una plataforma en la que estudiosos y aficionados a la historia puedan encontrar elementos de reflexión y debate. Los estudios publicados en la revista son artículos originales de investigación histórica, tienen una amplia cobertura geográficatemporal y se evalúan a través del método de revisión por pares.

Source: UCC
Chronological studies of traffic pollution using elemental analysis of tree rings: case study of Haatso-atomic Road

Mitigation of atmospheric pollution has been a topic of concern over the past decades. In this study, tree rings have been used to reconstruct past climates as well as to assess the effects of recent climatic and environmental changes on tree growth. Vehicular emission is one of the major sources of pollutants in the atmosphere and this study focused on the Haatso-Atomic road which over the years has been a spot for heavy vehicular traffic. Swietenia mahagoni (Mahogany) tree was logged and the rings counted and age determined to be 61 years spanning from 1957 to 2018. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was used to investigate the presence of the following heavy metals. Heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni) which ranged from (3.15—9.84mg/kg), (2.58 – 5.49 mg/kg), (8.18 – 15.78mg/kg), (0.12—0.60 mg/kg), (0.01—0.09 mg/kg) and (0.10 – 0.99 mg/kg) respectively, from vehicular emissions were determined for annual rings spanning from 1957 to 2018 and surprisingly an increasing trend was observed with some the heavy metals exceeding WHO guidelines. Tree growth rates were calculated through ring width measurements and related to annual precipitation data spanning over the sampling period. It was observed that wet seasons correlate with high growth rates of trees while low precipitations seasons related to low or no growth rate of trees

Source: UCC
Church And State: The Involvement Of The Methodist Church In Ghana‘s Political Dispensations And Nation building (1957-2017)

This study looked into the role played by the Methodist Church Ghana and some of its well-known individuals in the country's political growth. The research examined the contributions made by the Methodist Church and its adherents between 1957 and 2017 to Ghana's socio-economic and political development. The qualitative research approach was used to conduct this historical study. In this study, three key aspects of political regimes— democracy, political economy, and pulpit politics—were thoroughly examined. The study discovered that politics is essential to any society's development or decline. Since its establishment and especially after achieving independence from the British Methodist Conference, the Methodist Church Ghana has taken an active advocacy role in national politics. Because Christianity encourages socio-economic development and every attempt to separate church and state is a formula for underdevelopment. Christian participation in national politics and governance must therefore be encouraged not because they are paragon of virtues and others are not but from the Christian theological perspective, they ought to live the faith out practically according to the teachings of the Bible to affect society positively.

Source: UCC
The Church Of Pentecost And Customary Marriage In Ghana

The researcher investigated the reason The Church of Pentecost prefers ordinance marriage to that of the customary. The researcher observed that some members of the Church preferred only customary marriage, but the Church does not support their position. Although the customary is unarguably, the oldest form of contracting marriage and its practices reflect Ghanaian values and biblical principles, much importance seems to have been given to the ordinance marriage with no stated reasons. The case study approach was used to investigate the problem under consideration. This is due to the large size of the population involved. Mixed method was used to text for convergence or divergence of views of congregants and top leadership view on marriage. Three instruments including questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and documents analysis were used. Although the study revealed that members view on customary marriage deviate with that of leadership, there are significance reasons for these divergent views. For instance, the study uncovered that the polygynous nature of customary marriages pushes top leadership of the Church from fully embracing the customary marriage. Another aspect of divergent view was security; whiles top leadership sees customary marriage as a type which does not guarantee security to the marriage, most members and lay-officers sees it as the best form to adopt. Again, it was discovered that the position of the Church is not to bless marriages that ends at customary, meanwhile, this has not been effectively communicated to majority of her members. The study further revealed that, most of the churches used as case studies in this study do not have the required registered church buildings to officiate ordinance marriage. The implication of the research is that proper appraisal of the marriage processes in the church should be carried out in order to adopt the best practice for the upcoming generation. Since the study reveals that some of the members are unformed about marriages that CoP accepts, it calls for education of members on marriage issues. Again, a general open forum is recommended for members to share their concerns on the subject. Lastly, it is recommended that the Church should promote the review of the Marriages Acts Law to favour Christian marriages.

Source: UCC
Circulating Microrna in Plasma of Cervical Cancer Patients at Some Selected Teaching Hospitals in Ghana

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in plasma have emerged as promising biomarkers for various cancers, including cervical cancer. This study investigates the profile of circulating miRNAs in the plasma of cervical cancer patients and their potential role in diagnosis and prognosis. Plasma samples were collected from a cohort of 19 cervical cancer patients and 21 age-matched non-cancerous patients. We identified a panel of differentially expressed miRNAs associated with cervical cancer using quantitative real-time PCR. Notably, miR-27a, and miR-155, exhibited significant upregulation in the patient group compared to non-cancerous patients. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated the potential of these miRNAs as biomarkers, with area under the curve (AUC) values exceeding 0.7. Correlation analyses revealed that elevated levels of these miRNAs were associated with advanced clinical stages and poorer overall survival rates. Our findings suggest that circulating miRNAs in plasma could serve as non-invasive biomarkers for cervical cancer, aiding in early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies. Further validation in larger cohorts is warranted to confirm their clinical utility.

Source: UCC
Circulatory Inflammatory Cytokines and Microbiome Diversity among Adult Females at Risk of Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer continues to be a global burden, especially in LMICs. Currently, the role of dysbiosis in immune modulation that favours carcinogenesis is been highlighted. The main purpose of this study was to assess the association between circulatory inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and INF-γ) and cervico-vaginal microbiome diversity among adult females in a rural population. A total of 157 women of 21- 80 years old were recruited and closed-ended questionnaires were used to obtain data on awareness and knowledge of HPV infection and cervical cancer. Conventional Pap smear test, culture and ELISA were employed for cytology, bacteria isolation and cytokines estimation respectively. Mean age of the participants was 41.2 (1.1) years. Among the participants 36% (56/157) and 10% (16/157) were aware and had knowledge of Cervical cancer and HPV infection respectively. The primary sources of information were mainly broadcasting media (68.0%) and health care workers/facilities (53.0%). Participants with LSIL+ were 14/157 (8.9%). The significant infection among LSIL+ were Bacterial vaginosis and Candida (p<0.05). The significant bacteria isolate among LSIL+ were Staphylococcus aureus (22/101, 21.8%), Escherichia coli (32/101, 31.7%) and Citrobacter spp. (16/101. 15.8%). Finally, IL-10 concentrations increased among participants with dysbiosis and LSIL+ (RTI vs LSIL+RTI vs HSIL+RTI) [9.98(1.85) vs 13.61(3.648) vs 15.11(4.70) vs 9.22 (3.91) pg/nl respectively, p>0.05]. In conclusion, knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer and HPV infection among the adult women in rural communities is limited and dysbiosis possibly influenced immune suppression thus favouring the microenvironment for tumorigenesis.

Source: UCC
Circumareolar Incision‑subdermal Tunneling Dissection for Excision of Multiple Breast Fibroadenomata

Excision of multiple fibroadenomas (MF) in separate breast quadrants presents difficulties of number and location of incision(s) and extent of tissue dissection and may be associated with more complications and poorer cosmetic outcome. This is a report of excision of MF in multiple quadrants of the breast using a modification of subcutaneous dissection technique dubbed the circumareolar incision and subdermal tunneling (CAST) dissection. After exposure of the superficial fascia with circumareolar incision, subdermal cone wise dissection was made to allow mobilization of the segment bearing the lump(s). The lump(s) were enucleated and removed. MF were removed from four breasts in three young unmarried females. The first patient had multiple adenomas removed from three quadrants of both breasts: 14 on the right and six on the left. The second patient had excision of three lumps in three separate quadrants, and the third patient had excision of two lumps in two separate quadrants. All patients had edema and bruising. One breast had wound infection and dehiscence. There were no skin necrosis, no nipple loss, and no breast distortion. All ensuing scars were camouflaged. CAST dissection was used for excision of MF in multiple quadrants of the breast with preservation of excellent cosmetic outcome of a single circumareolar incision

Source: UCC
Circumcision status and time to first sex among never-married young men in Malawi: evidence from the demographic and health survey

This study examines the association between circumcision status and the timing of first sexual intercourse among adolescents in Malawi. Results of survival models applied to nationally representative sample of never-married young men aged between 15 and 24 obtained from the Demographic and Health Survey data show that being circumcised is associated with earlier initiation of sexual activity in Malawi. Young men who reported being circumcised experienced their first sexual intercourse earlier in life than their uncircumcised counterparts. Although the introduction of theoretically relevant knowledge, socio-cultural, demographic, and socioeconomic variables in the multivariate models attenuated the association between circumcision and earlier sexual initiation, the relationship nonetheless remained robust. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these findings and suggests relevant policy recommendations

Source: UCC
A cis-regulatory sequence driving metabolic insecticide resistance in mosquitoes: Functional characterization and signatures of selection

Although cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes are frequently up-regulated in mosquitoes resistant to insecticides, no regulatory motifs driving these expression differences with relevance to wild populations have been identified. Transposable elements (TEs) are often enriched upstream of those CYP450s involved in insecticide resistance, leading to the assumption that they contribute regulatory motifs that directly underlie the resistance phenotype. A partial CuRE1 (Culex Repetitive Element 1) transposable element is found directly upstream of CYP9M10, a cytochrome P450 implicated previously in larval resistance to permethrin in the ISOP450 strain of Cx. quinquefasciatus, but isabsent from the equivalent genomic region of a susceptible strain. Via expression of CYP9M10 in E.coli we have now demonstrated time- and NADPH-dependant permethrin metabolism, prerequisites for confirmation of a role in metabolic resistance, and through qPCR shown that CYP9M10 is >20-fold over-expressed in ISOP450 compared to a susceptible strain. In a fluorescent reporter assay the region upstream of CYP9M10 from ISOP450 drove 10x expression compared to the equivalent region (lacking CuRE1) from the susceptible strain. Close correspondence with the gene expression fold-change implicates the upstream region including CuRE1 as a cis-regulatory element involved in resistance. Only a single CuRE1 bearing allele, identical to the CuRE1 bearing diversity Encountered in non-CuRE1 alleles. This suggests a single origin and subsequent spread due to selective advantage. CuRE1 is detectable using a simple diagnostic. When applied to Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae from Ghana we have demonstrated a significant association with permethrin resistance in multiple field sites (mean Odds Ratio = 3.86) suggesting this marker has relevance to natural populations of vector mosquitoes. However, when CuRE1 was excised from the allele used in the reporter assay through fusion PCR, expression was unaffected, indicating that the TE has no direct role in resistance and hence that CuRE1 is acting only as a marker of an as yet unidentified regulatory motif in the association analysis. This suggests that a re-evaluation of the assumption that TEs contribute regulatory motifs involved in gene expression may be necessary

Source: UCC
Citizen participation and service delivery in Techiman municipality

The issue of citizens’ apathy towards the assembly’s activities, drop in revenue and weak Unit committees, revealed during the POCC analysis for the Techiman Municipal Assemblies’ 2006-2009 Medium Term Development Plan prompted this study. The study examined how citizens participated in the governance and service delivery in the Techiman Municipality. The study made use of survey methods by using interview schedule and questionnaires to gather information from the respondents. Purposive, Snow ball and Quota sampling methods were used to select the required sample size of 200. The data collected were analysed using the computer programme software: Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) version12. The findings indicate that, citizens understand participation and have demonstrated that by voting representatives to office, and for others, taking part in community decision – making processes. Majority of respondents however said they were sidelined in the selection of projects meant for their communities. Forums were identified as the modes mainly used by the Assembly to engage citizens in the Municipality. Majority of respondents see the assembly’s performance as unimpressive. Citizens were actively involved in rendering services in the areas of water and sanitation. The study recommends the education of Citizens on their rights and on the relevant laws pertaining to citizen participation as captured in the 1992 Fourth Republican constitution. The Assembly should provide Zonal Councils and Assembly members with permanent offices, financial and human resources and other logistics to facilitate their works.

Source: UCC
Citizenship Education in Colleges of Education in Ghana: A Preliminary Study into Social Studies Tutors‟ and Trainees‟ Understanding

Abstract. The study examined the perceived views of tutors and student trainees of Social Studies within the Colleges of Education within the context of Ghana with regard to the meaning and teaching methods that are most appropriate to teach citizenship education. The research drew upon social capital, ecological, and cognitive psychological theories to generate the conceptual framework for analysing the quantitative and qualitative data. The views of 36 tutors of social studies from eight colleges of education were surveyed through the multi-stage sampling technique, and eight respondents were interviewed to further understand the groups‟ perception of citizenship education. The major findings were: (i) tutors generally agreed on the components of citizenship education, (ii) tutors generally agreed on the characteristics of a good citizen. (iii) There was general agreement between the tutors and trainees that various classroom activities were important in the teaching of citizenship education and were being taught effectively. There were some differences between the groups on certain specific teaching methods and the effectiveness of the teaching of those activities. It was recommended that a policy be put in place for social studies teachers to have a regular in-service training on current issues in citizenship education. And that citizenship education should be introduced as a programme on its own in schools, colleges and universities and examined externally.

Source: UCC
Citizenship education in colleges of education in Ghana: An exploratory study of the perceptions of student teachers and tutors of social studies

The purpose of this study was to explore the perception of social studies teacher trainees and their tutors in the colleges of education in Ghana with regards to the meaning and teaching methods that are most appropriate to teach citizenship education. The research drew upon social capital, ecological, and cognitive psychological theories to generate the conceptual framework for analysing the quantitative and qualitative data. The perceptions of tutors and teacher trainees of social studies in their final year from eight colleges of education were surveyed, and small samples of the respondents were interviewed to further understand both groups’ perceptions of citizenship education. The major findings were: (i) Tutors and teacher trainees generally agreed on the components of citizenship education, chi-square test test showed that there was a difference in perceptions between tutors and teacher trainees (ii) Both tutors and trainees generally agreed on the characteristics of a good citizen. (iii) There was general agreement between the tutors and trainees that various classroom activities are important in the teaching of citizenship education and are being taught effectively. There were some differences between the groups on certain specific teaching methods and the effectiveness of the teaching of those activities. The study has made a significant contribution to the existing literature on citizenship education issues in the contemporary Ghanaian colleges of education. The study concludes with the recommendations to policy makers and stakeholders of education to consider the need to improve the quality of citizenship education materials.

Source: UCC
Citrus Seeds as a Potential Source of Oil for Domestic, Industrial and Medicinal Purposes

Citrus sinensis seeds have a lot of nutritional values as well as biological effective compounds responsible for the treatment of various diseases in the human body. However, greater percentage of the oranges gets rotten and this brings about reduction in the market value and an economic loss to the farmers who are into orange farming. The orange seeds are discarded as waste after the juice has been extracted. This has contributed greatly to environmental pollution. Also, there is an increase in demand of vegetable oils which has led to an increase in prices of vegetable oils. Seeds of sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis) were analyzed for oil and fatty acid composition. The crude oil was extracted by the use of soxhlet extraction. The results showed that oil content is as high as 71 %. The physico-chemical assessment gave the following results: refractive index (1.457), saponification value (165 mgKOH/g), peroxide value (4.12 meq/kg), iodine value (34.06 Wijs), moisture (5.803 ±0.1%) and ash (0.23 ± 0.15%). Crude fat (89.251 ± 0.2) with energy contents in the oil (803.261 Kcal/100g). The ATR-IR spectrum of oil showed prominent bands which was characteristics of unsaturated fatty acid. GC-FID analysis of fatty acid composition of Citrus sinensis seed oil indicated dominant fatty acids: Palmitoleic acid (C16:1), Linoleic acid and Palmitic acid (C16:0) with percentages 56.39%, 39.82% and 2.06% respectively. The fatty acid with the highest percentage composition (56.39%) is Palmitoleic acid (C16:1) a monounsaturated fatty acid. The Citrus sinensis seed oil showed greater degree of unsaturation forming 96.97% of the total fatty acids and 3.088% of saturated fatty acids. The oil was screened for antioxidant activities using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2’- azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and phosphomolybdenum assays. These results indicated that the seed oil of sweet orange is possible suitable for both human consumption and industrial importances. © University of Cape Coast https://ir.ucc.edu.gh/xmlui

Source: UCC