Acute Effects Of 24-h Sleep Deprivation On Salivary Cortisol And Testosterone Concentrations And Testosterone To Cortisol Ratio Following Supplementation With Caffeine Or Placebo

International Journal of Exercise Science 10(1): 108-120, 2017. Caffeine has become a popular ergogenic aid amongst athletes and usage to improve athletic performance has been well documented. The effect of caffeine on anabolic and catabolic hormones in a sleep-deprived state has had little investigation to date. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the potential of caffeine to offset the effects, if any, of short-term sleep deprivation and exercise on an athlete’s testosterone and cortisol concentrations via salivary technique. Eleven competitive male athletes volunteered to be part of this prospective double-blinded study. Three test days were scheduled for each athlete; one non-sleep deprived, one sleep-deprived with caffeine supplementation (6 mg.kg-1) and one sleep-deprived with placebo ingestion. Sleep deprivation was defined as 24-h without sleep. Each test day was composed of 2 aerobic components: a modified Hoff test and a Yo-Yo test. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were measured via salivary analysis at 4 different time-points; T1 to T4, representing baseline, and pre- and post-aerobic components, respectively. Overall no significant differences were detected comparing the different sleep states for testosterone or cortisol concentrations. A trend existed whereby the sleep-deprived with caffeine ingestion state mirrored the non-sleep deprived state for cortisol concentration. Therefore, caffeine supplementation may have potential benefits for athletes during short-term aerobic exercise when sleep-deprived. An increase in mean testosterone concentration post-aerobic exercise was only observed in the sleep-deprived with caffeine ingestion state

Clinical presentations and outcomes of ectopic pregnancy at a tertiary referral hospital in Ghana

Background: Ectopic gestation is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among women of reproductive age. The clinical presentations vary depending on whether it is ruptured or not. Understanding the various modes of presentation is therefore critical to early detection and management to reduce associated morbidity and mortality. We determined the patterns of presentation and outcomes of ectopic pregnancy in the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) of Ghana.Objective: This study aimed to determine patterns of presentation of ectopic pregnancy in the KBTH of Ghana and the outcomes for patients presenting with the condition.Methods: We collected data from pregnant women presenting to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the KBTH during the study period and diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy. A case of ectopic pregnancy was any woman diagnosed by an obstetrician/gynaecologist either by clinical features or pelvic ultrasound. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, as well as clinical history, examination findings, treatment, and outcomes. Data were analyzed descriptively to determine the patterns of presentation of ectopic gestations.Results: A total of 104 ectopic pregnancies representing 8.81% (n = 104/1,180) of gynaecological emergencies were recorded during the study period. Of the 104 ectopic pregnancies recorded, 6.7% (n = 7) were diagnosed as unruptured. The mean (± standard deviation) gestational age at diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was 7.2 ±1.9 weeks. About 94.2% (n = 98) of patients with ectopic pregnancy had visited a health facility before the visit at which the diagnosis was eventually made, and 76.9% (n = 80) of the ectopic cases had ruptured at diagnosis. For 1.9% (n = 2) of the participants, ectopic pregnancy was detected by ultrasound. The triad of amenorrhoea in 91.3% (n = 95), lower abdominal pains in 91.3% (n = 95) and irregular vaginal bleeding in 47.1% (n = 49) of the ectopic pregnancies were the main presenting symptoms of ruptured ectopic pregnancy.Conclusion: The incidence of ruptured ectopic pregnancy in the KBTH was high. Primary health care practitioners should rule out ectopic pregnancy in women of the reproductive age group who present with the triad of amenorrhoea, lower abdominal pain and irregular vaginal bleeding

The effects of wrong pronunciation on the meaning of French words: a case study of french students of Wesley College of Education, Kumasi

Abstract: Pronunciation of French words may seem tricky and difficult as a result of the several sounds that come with the words. In the attempt by students to pronounce these French words, learners refer to English words that sound similar. This however affects the pronunciation of some, and thus hides their meanings. This study investigates the effect of wrong pronunciation on the meanings of French words, a problem identified among French students of Wesley College of Education. The mixed method was employed and 70 respondents, made up of 60 students from level 100 and 10 students from level 200 were selected and used in collecting data for the study. Questionnaires, observation and reading test were used as the key instruments to collect data. The results from the study indicate that many French learners pronounce two different words in exactly the same way. Some of these learners do not actively listen to the difference in sounds of French words. The maternal languages (L1 and L2) of learners contributed immensely to the wrong pronunciation of French words which in turn affects their meanings. Suggestions for correct pronunciation of French words are also offered to enhance easy understanding of French words. Keywords: Pronunciation; learners; wrong pronunciation; mixed method; sound

Pregnancy outcomes and associated characteristics at the expected date of delivery and beyond in a large tertiary hospital in Ghana

Background: Globally, pregnancies that have gone beyond the expected date of delivery (EDD) contribute significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.Objective: This study aimed to determine the proportion, pregnancy outcomes, and associated characteristics of deliveries at EDD and beyond at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the KBTH. Postpartum women who delivered at a gestational age of 40 weeks and beyond were selected from the labour wards, grouped according to gestational age, and followed up to their first postnatal visit. Data were collected on demographic, obstetric and postpartum health status. The association between study variables and delivery at and beyond EDD was determined using the F-test statistic and Chi-square test for continuous and categorical outcomes, respectively. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Of the 300 participants, 44% (n = 132) delivered at 40 weeks plus 0 to 6 days (40 + 0 - 6 weeks) of gestation, 44.7% (n = 134) at 41 + 0 - 6 weeks, and 11.3% (n = 34) at ≥ 42 weeks. The proportion of deliveries at EDD and beyond was 9.9% (n = 300/304) of total deliveries during the period. The pregnancies ≥ 42 weeks were 1.1% (n = 34/3041) of total deliveries. Factors that were significant associations with women who delivered at ≥ 42 + 0 weeks were a referral from other hospitals (p < 0.017), labour induction (p < 0.001), a longer first stage of labour (p < 0.008), and a longer total labour duration (p < 0.009).Conclusion: The proportion of deliveries in which the pregnancies had progressed to the EDD and beyond and that of prolonged pregnancy at the KBTH were 9.9% and 1.1%, respectively. The duration of the first stage of labour and the total duration of labour was longer in women with pregnancies ≥ 42 weeks

Intrusion and extrusion of liquids in highly confining media: bridging fundamental research to applications

Wetting and drying of pores or cavities, made by walls that attract or repel the liquid, is a ubiquitous process in nature and has many technological applications including, for example, liquid separation, chromatography, energy damping, conversion, and storage. Understanding under which conditions intrusion/extrusion takes place and how to control/tune them by chemical or physical means are currently among the main questions in the field. Historically, the theory to model intrusion/extrusion was based on the mechanics of fluids. However, the discovery of the existence of metastable states, where systems are kinetically trapped in the intruded or extruded configuration, fostered the research based on modern statistical mechanics concepts and more accurate models of the liquid, vapor, and gas phases beyond the simplest sharp interface representation. In parallel, inspired by the growing number of technological applications of intrusion/extrusion, experimental research blossomed considering systems with complex chemistry and pore topology, possessing flexible frameworks, and presenting unusual properties, such as negative volumetric compressibility. In this article, we review recent theoretical and experimental progresses, presenting it in the context of unifying framework. We illustrate also emerging technological applications of intrusion/extrusion and discuss challenges ahead