Relationship between uric acid, blood pressure and anthropometric indices in a healthy Ghanaian adult population

Background: Age- and sex-dependent variations in the relationship between uric acid and blood pressure and anthropometric indices have been reported in some populations. However, this has not been studied in a Ghanaian adult population.Methods: Body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure and serum uric acid levels were measured. Categorical differences were analysed with chi-square. Differences between groups were assessed by t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Association between serum uric acid and baseline characteristics of age, body mass index, waist circumference and blood pressure was assessed by Pearson’s correlation. Statistical significance was pegged at p<0.05.Results: Prevalence of hyperuricemia was 3.2%. There was no significant difference in prevalence of hypertension between males (28.6%) and females (28.9%). General obesity and central obesity prevalence were significantly higher among females. In males, serum uric acids levels had statistically non-significant positive correlations with age, blood pressure, waist circumference and body mass index. In females, the results showed that among women less than 45 years, serum uric acid had significant positive correlations with only body mass index and waist circumference. However, significant positive correlations were observed between all the baseline parameters and uric acid among women who are 45 years and above.Conclusions: Increasing serum uric acid levels are significantly associated with higher blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference. This relationship is stronger in females than in males, with the age group ≥45 years being the main determinant of this relationship

Real exchange rate misalignment and macroeconomic implications: Recent evidence from Ghana

We evaluate the degree of real exchange rate (REER)  misalignment and its macroeconomic implications for the  Ghanaian economy using quarterly data (2000Q1-2015Q3). Our results uncovered a clear misalignment of the actual REER from its equilibrium level throughout the sample period, although the REER was close to its equilibrium level at the end of 2012. The study also revealed a weak positive undervaluation-economic growth nexus for Ghana. Overvaluation was observed to exert disinflationary pressures, while undervaluation tends to increase inflationary pressures in Ghana. The study thus suggests that the use of REER undervaluation as a deliberate industrial policy instrument for sustained economic growth may be  counterproductive in the context of Ghana, as such policy may potentially undermine price stability objective of the central bank.Keywords: Equilibrium Exchange Rate; Misalignment;Ghana

Response to chemotherapy and association with three tumour markers in breast cancer patients in Ghana

Purpose: Oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2/neu) expression in breast cancer patients predict response to chemotherapy though recorded extent vary. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between ER, PR and HER2/neu expression and response of breast cancer to chemotherapy at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Methods: Records of all breast cancer cases seen from 2009 through 2011 were reviewed. Their receptor status, first line treatment [4 cycles of Adriamycin (60mg/m2) + Cyclophosphamide (600mg/m2)], second line treatment [Capecitabine (1g/m2) + Paclitaxel (170mg/m2)] and clinical response were extracted.Results: Complete remission after first and second line treatments were observed in 36 (38.3%, 95% CI: 28.5 to 48.9) and 34 (58.6%, 95% CI: .44.9 to 71.4) respectively. After both first and second line treatment 70 (74.5%, 95% CI: 64.4 - 82.9) had gone into remission. Prevalence of ER, PR, HER2/neu and Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) were 34.0% (95% CI: 24.6 to 44.5), 20.2% (95% CI: 12.6 to 29.7), 8.5% (95% CI: 3.7 to 16.1) and 59.6% (95%CI: 48.9 to 69.6) respectively. ER and PR positivity were independently associated with complete remission after first line treatment while TNBC was associated with non-remission. Conversely ER was independently associated with non-remission after second line treatment while TNBC was associated with complete remission. Conclusion: ER and TNBC status are significant predictors of complete remission and non-remission respectively after chemotherapy for breast cancer patient in Ghana.................................................................Cite this article as:Amankwaa-Frempong E, Yeboah FA, Nguah SB, Afriyie OO. Response to chemotherapy and association with three tumour markers in breast cancer patients in Ghana. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2014; 2(3):02034. DOI: 10.14319/ijcto.0203.

Antibiotics Availability and Usage in Health Facilities: A Case of the Offinso-South Municipality of Ghana

The use of antibiotics has received increased public health attention in recent times because their irrational use could pose a global health problem. Since the introduction of antimicrobial agents, there has been an association between antibiotic use and the development of antimicrobial resistance. The emergence of antibiotic resistance is primarily due to excessive and often unnecessary use of antibiotics in humans. This study therefore sought to assess antibiotics availability and usage in a municipal area of Ghana. The study was retrospective and descriptive in nature. Folders of 300 patients were sampled from a municipal hospital and three health centres. Simple random sampling technique was used in the recruitment of patients’ folders. The study revealed a high antibiotics usage in the municipality. Overall, respiratory tract infections rated the highest so far as conditions for which antibiotics were prescribed were concerned. The penicillins which were the frequently prescribed antibiotics formed 50% of prescriptions for the treatment of gastroenteritis, which was in violation of the existing standard treatment guidelines to be adhered to by prescribers. Regular training and refresher courses could be organized for prescribers towards ensuring the adherence to the existing treatment guidelines. Key words: antibiotics, availability, usage, health facilitie

Survival rates of head and neck cancers in Ghana: a retrospective study at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

OBJECTIVE: Data was collected to evaluate the survival rates of head and neck (conjunctiva, oropharyngeal and non-oropharyngeal) squamous cell carcinomas in Ghana. DATA DESCRIPTION: We provided data on a retrospective review of 8 years (January 2004 to December 2009) survival rate of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The data consist of patient demographic data and clinicopathological findings which includes tumour site, tumour stage and histological grades of the patients. Clinical outcome measurement was death through to January 2013 on record and confirmed from the hospitals birth and death registry department. More than 85% of death cases were confirmed by gender, age, and folder identification numbers from the birth and death registry

A firm-level assessment of the effect of macroeconomic uncertainty on Ghana's non-traditional export performance

The presence of macroeconomic uncertainty poses potential and veritable risk to real sector activity. Thus, this study set out to examine how Non-traditional Export (NTE) firms in Ghana respond to macroeconomic uncertainty. The study conducts a survey on NTE firms in Ghana to elicit responses, which are used to construct subjective measures for export performance and the key predictors including macroeconomic uncertainty. Eighty-seven (87) firms respond to the survey, representing a response rate of 45.8 percent. The study also employs both descriptive and econometric analyses (ordered logistic regression) for the investigation. The study finds that moderate to average and high levels of macroeconomic uncertainty are more likely to predict low export performance, and less likely to predict average to high levels of export performance. In addition, firms demonstrating moderate to average levels of export commitment and at the same time displaying moderate to average levels of product development capabilities are less likely to report low export performance. Furthermore, average to high levels of export performance are more likely to be predicted by firms that demonstrate a high adoption rate of export promotion programmes. The policy implication for this study is that any coordinated set of policies aimed at boosting NTE performance in Ghana must include specific policies measure aimed at addressinig conditions that evoke macroeconomic uncertainty

Buruli Ulcer Disease (Mycobacterium Ulcerans Infection)

The Buruli ulcer disease is due to infection by Mycobacterium ulcerans. This programme describes the basic pathophysiology of the disease, the typical clinical presentations, and the management of cases with complicated features. The program should be informative for both medical students and practitioners who wish to increase their knowledge about this serious tropical disease.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/133096/1/medical_african_health_oer_network-buruli_ulcer_disease_mycobacterium_ulcerans_infection-October10.zi

Response to chemotherapy and association with three tumour markers in breast cancer patients in Ghana

Purpose: Oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2/neu) expression in breast cancer patients predict response to chemotherapy though recorded extent vary. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between ER, PR and HER2/neu expression and response of breast cancer to chemotherapy at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Methods: Records of all breast cancer cases seen from 2009 through 2011 were reviewed. Their receptor status, first line treatment [4 cycles of Adriamycin (60mg/m2) + Cyclophosphamide (600mg/m2)], second line treatment [Capecitabine (1g/m2) + Paclitaxel (170mg/m2)] and clinical response were extracted.Results: Complete remission after first and second line treatments were observed in 36 (38.3%, 95% CI: 28.5 to 48.9) and 34 (58.6%, 95% CI: .44.9 to 71.4) respectively. After both first and second line treatment 70 (74.5%, 95% CI: 64.4 - 82.9) had gone into remission. Prevalence of ER, PR, HER2/neu and Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) were 34.0% (95% CI: 24.6 to 44.5), 20.2% (95% CI: 12.6 to 29.7), 8.5% (95% CI: 3.7 to 16.1) and 59.6% (95%CI: 48.9 to 69.6) respectively. ER and PR positivity were independently associated with complete remission after first line treatment while TNBC was associated with non-remission. Conversely ER was independently associated with non-remission after second line treatment while TNBC was associated with complete remission. Conclusion: ER and TNBC status are significant predictors of complete remission and non-remission respectively after chemotherapy for breast cancer patient in Ghana.................................................................Cite this article as:Amankwaa-Frempong E, Yeboah FA, Nguah SB, Afriyie OO. Response to chemotherapy and association with three tumour markers in breast cancer patients in Ghana. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2014; 2(3):02034. DOI: 10.14319/ijcto.0203.4</p

Genetic identification of three exhumed human remains at a hospital in Ghana: a forensic case report

DNA identification is very important in cases of high decomposition of dead bodies, in which the bodies cannot be identified by physical means.To compare the results of DNA typing, it is necessary to have related subjects with which to perform comparative analyses. Such tests are normally performed by comparing DNA profiles from people known to be immediate family members of the presumptive victim, such as parents or children because they share half of their genetic material with the unidentified.We report on how DNA analysis was used to solve a case of mixed-up bodies at a local mortuary in Ghana, West Africa. Two families and three buried human remains were in contention in this case. The first body (E9) was buried three months before exhumation. The second body (E11) was buried two and a half months before exhumation whiles the third body (E10) was buried a month before exhumation. Exhibit E5 was taken from an alleged child of the deceased, E11. Toenails of the exhumed bodies were sampled by a pathologist and used for DNA extractions using the QIAamp DNA Investigator Kit.&nbsp;Profiles from relatives were generated for comparison purposes. All samples gave a quality amount of genomic DNA after quantification. DNA was amplified with a GlobalFiler PCR amplification kit. Profiles from relatives were generated for comparison purposes.The human remains (exhibit E11) cannot be excluded as the biological father of the child (exhibit E5) because they share common alleles at all 23 genetic loci. The applicable combined paternity index was 17218125604.492 assuming a prior probability of 0.5. The probability of paternity is 99.99999999%. Based on this relationship testing, one of the bodies was successfully identified and handed over to the family for re-burial

Prospecting for Breast Cancer Blood Biomarkers: Death-Associated Protein Kinase 1 (DAPK1) as a Potential Candidate

Background. Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy in women worldwide. It is estimated to affect approximately 1.5 million women annually and responsible for the greatest number of cancer-related mortalities among women. In 2018, breast cancer mortalities stood at 627,000 women representing approximately 15% of all cancer deaths among women. In Ghana, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths, with an incidence of 2,900 cases annually; one of eight women with the disease die. This gives impetus to the fight for improved early detection, treatment, and/management. In this light, we investigated the potential of death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) as a biomarker for breast cancer. As a tumour suppressor, its expression is activated by several carcinogens to influence cellular pathways that result in apoptosis, autophagy, immune response, and proliferation. Aim. To investigate DAPK1 as a blood biomarker for breast cancer. Methods. Blood samples of participants diagnosed with breast cancer and healthy controls were collected and processed to obtain serum. Information on age, treatment, diagnosis, and pathology numbers was retrieved from folders. Pathology numbers were used to retrieve breast tissue blocks of patients at the Department of Pathology of the KBTH. Tissue blocks were sectioned and immunohistochemically stained with anti-DAPK1 and counterstained with hematoxylin to determine the DAPK1 expression levels. DAKP1 levels in blood sera were quantified using a commercial anti-DAPK1 ELISA kit. Case and control group means were compared using one-way ANOVA and Chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05. Results and Discussion. DAPK1 levels were higher in sera and breast tissues of breast cancer patients than controls. The augmented DAPK1 expression can be interpreted as a stress response survival mechanism to remediate ongoing deleterious events in the cells orchestrated by carcinogenesis. In the presence of abundant DAPK1, the proliferative power of cells (both cancerous and noncancerous) is increased. This may explain why high DAPK1 expression strongly associates with aggressive breast cancer phenotypes like the ER-negative breast cancers, especially the triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) which are the most aggressive, fast-growing, and highly metastatic. Conclusion. DAPK1 is highly expressed in sera and breast tissues of breast cancer patients than nonbreast cancer participants. The elevated expression of DAKP1 in circulation rather than in breast tissues makes it a candidate for use as a blood biomarker and potential use as therapeutic target in drug development