Oncologic Anthropology and the African Diaspora: Twenty-Year Anniversary Report, International Center for the Study of Breast Cancer Subtypes (ICSBCS).

The International Center for the Study of Breast Cancer Subtypes (ICSBCS) has played a vital role in defining and overcoming many inequities that exist in breast cancer treatment and outcome on a global basis through capacity-building programs that improve the management of breast cancer patients across the African diaspora. ICSBCS activities also fill critical gaps in disparities research related to the genetics of ancestry. Over the past 20 years, ICSBCS teams have spearheaded landmark studies documenting the relevance of genetic African ancestry to breast cancer risk, while also improving the quality of care delivered to patients in diverse communities.

Alcohol use and mental health distress correlates among artisanal gold miners in Ghana.

Despite rising concerns about alcohol use in artisanal mining, a focused investigation into its psychosocial drivers and mental health implications within sub-Saharan Africa's informal mining sector remains scarce. This study investigates the prevalence, motivations, and the association between alcohol use and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and stress) among artisanal miners in Ghana. Using community based cross-sectional survey data from 664 miners, alcohol use was assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, while symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression were measured via the GAD-7, PSS, and PHQ-9 instruments.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella typhi, Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii infections and levels of liver function markers among Hepatitis B Virus infected Ghanaians: A cross-sectional study in the Greater Accra Region.

Coinfection of humans with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and non-viral pathogens may worsen the outcome of HBV infection on the liver. This study determined the prevalence of Heliobacter pylori, Salmonella typhi, Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii among Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)-infected persons in the Greater Accra Region (GAR) of Ghana and examined how such co-infections might affect the levels of selected liver function markers (LFM). The design was cross-sectional, involving 120 HBsAg-positive HBV-infected persons.

Seroprevalence of Rift Valley Fever Viruses Antibodies in Domestic Livestock in the Tahoua Region of Niger.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) remains a significant public health and economic concern in Niger, particularly in the Tahoua region. This study aimed to update seroprevalence estimates of Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) and identify high-risk areas and animal populations. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between January and May 2024, during which 615 domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, and camels) were sampled and tested for RVFV-specific antibodies using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA).

Improving the reporting on health equity in observational research (STROBE-Equity): extension checklist and elaboration.

Data on health equity to inform societally relevant evidence based decisions and policy making are lacking in the research literature. Observational studies have the potential to provide data on health equity. Yet, guidance on how to report health equity data and considerations in observational research is inadequate.

Rare variants in PRKCI cause Van der Woude syndrome and other features of peridermopathy.

Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by lower lip pits and orofacial clefts (OFCs). With a prevalence of ∼1 in 35,000 live births, it is the most common form of syndromic clefting. Most VWS is attributed to variants in IRF6 (∼70%) or GRHL3 (∼5%), leaving up to 25% of individuals without a molecular diagnosis.

Potential of MRNA vaccines for mpox prevention: current evidence and future directions.

In 2022, the presumption of monkeypox (mpox) to be of limited epidemiology shifted when a global outbreak was announced. Being a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, it'd been reported in over 82 countries with over 17 000 confirmed cases by July 2022, thus showing its capability for spreading rapidly. As the smallpox vaccine offers 85% cross-immunity against mpox, the outbreak highlighted the attenuation of global immunity against orthopoxviruses after the cessation of vaccination campaigns against smallpox.

Improving the Reporting on Health Equity in Observational Research (STROBE-Equity): Extension Checklist and Elaboration.

Importance: Observational studies can provide valuable insights to inform decisions on health equity. Existing guidelines for reporting such studies, such as the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement, currently lack specific considerations for reporting on health equity. Health equity is defined as the absence of avoidable and unfair differences that may exist across individuals and populations due to structural and systematic inequities in living and working conditions, opportunities, and resources.

Significant Impact of Treatment Abandonment on Survival of Children With "Common and Curable" GICC Index Cancers in Sub-Saharan Africa-A Multicenter Prospective CANCaRe Africa Study.

Background: The World Health Organization Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC) targets a global survival rate of 60% for childhood cancer, focusing initially on six common, curable cancers. This study describes survival rates of five of these cancers in sub-Saharan Africa and assesses the impact of treatment abandonment (TxA).

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study included newly diagnosed children (<16 years) with Burkitt lymphoma (BL), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Wilms tumor (WT), retinoblastoma (RB), or Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), enrolled between January and December 2022 from seven hospitals in Malawi, Ethiopia (n = 2), Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and Cameroon.

Exploring the concept of surgical transition: surgical activity in the light of economic development in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and India.

Introduction: The surgical volume indicator measures surgical activity within a population, but it does not fully untangle the details behind the statistical indicator. As health systems evolve and countries develop economically, the types of surgeries performed, providers, and levels of healthcare facilities may provide a richer understanding of changes in surgical activity. This research studied surgical activity in four diverse settings by analyzing initial data to assess trends in patient characteristics, surgical staff, case distribution, level of care, and anesthesia practices, forming the basis for a "surgical transition" framework.

Computational elucidation of enoyl-ACP reductase inhibition by compounds: adaptive ligand binding drives antimalarial activity.

Abstract: Malaria remains a critical global health challenge due to rising resistance. Natural products are a rich source of novel antimalarials; extracts of (SD) have shown potent antiplasmodial effects. Here, three -derived isolates: SD03 (benzyl 2-methoxybenzoate), SD04 (1,10-dihydroxy-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one) and SD05 (8-hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxydibenzo[b,d]furan-1-carboxylic acid) were investigated to identify their molecular target.

Nutrient intakes from a 24-hour recall survey among children aged 2-5 years, adolescent girls aged 10-18 years, and women aged 19-49 years in five regions of Niger.

Background: Conducting dietary intake surveys among vulnerable groups is essential for assessing interventions and informing decision-makers on progress in transforming food systems for supporting healthier diets. We aimed to describe the usual intakes of nutrients and their adequacy compared to estimated average requirements in three target groups; children aged 2-5 years, adolescent girls aged 10-18 years, and women aged 19-49 years in the regions of Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua, Tillabéri, and Zinder in Niger.

Methods: We conducted the first quantitative food consumption survey in Niger.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio are indicators of kidney disease in sickle cell disease patients with microalbuminuria: a multicentre case-control study in Ghana.

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is present in secondary granules of neutrophils and it is a relatively newly recognized marker of kidney diseases. The fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) is a marker of inflammation but its diagnostic value has not been determined in sickle cell disease patients with kidney diseases. This study investigated the diagnostic roles of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (sNGAL) and FAR for kidney diseases in steady-state adult sickle cell disease (SCD) patients.

Exploring bioremediation potential: sustainable treatment of landfill leachate with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) grown on different agro-industrial waste.

Landfill leachate poses significant environmental risks due to its high concentrations of heavy metals and harmful physicochemical properties, which threaten ecosystems and human health. This study investigates the use of powdered oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) as a sustainable bioremediation agent for treating landfill leachate. The mushrooms were cultivated on three agricultural waste substrates, sawdust, corncob, and coconut fiber, and their efficiency in heavy metal removal was evaluated through batch adsorption experiments.

Anticipated First Contact and Time to Seek Healthcare for Possible Breast Cancer Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study in Rural Ghana.

Background: Breast cancer is a serious public health concern in Ghana. This study investigated the anticipated healthcare-seeking behaviour and preferences of women for possible breast cancer symptoms. Specifically, the study examined women's first point of contact as well as the timeliness of seeking healthcare for possible breast cancer symptoms.

Evaluation of Aggregate Oral Fluid Sampling for Early Detection of African Swine Fever Virus Infection.

African swine fever (ASF) needs to be controlled, and prevention of the spread of African swine fever virus (ASFV) is dependent on enhanced surveillance and early disease detection. Commercial swine operations, especially in North America, Europe, and Asia, are characterized by comparatively large numbers of pigs, and sampling individual pigs, which represents the main strategy for current ASF surveillance, can be both costly and labor intensive. A study performed in Ghana was designed to estimate the diagnostic sensitivity of pen-based aggregate oral fluid testing for ASFV in infected pigs in a pen of 30 animals and to evaluate its utility as a tool to support surveillance of ASF in the US.

Bridging the Capacity Building Gap for Antimicrobial Stewardship Implementation: Evidence from Virtual Communities of Practice in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi.

Background/objectives: Strengthening antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs is an invaluable intervention in the ongoing efforts to contain the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in low-resource settings. This study evaluates the impact of the Telementoring, Education, and Advocacy Collaboration initiative for Health through Antimicrobial Stewardship (TEACH AMS), which uses the virtual Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) learning model to enhance AMS capacity in Kenya, Ghana, and Malawi.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used, which included attendance data collection, facility-level assessments, post-session and follow-up surveys, as well as focus group discussions.

Factors associated with inequalities in malnutrition among children in Ghana using the 2022 GDHS and WHO HEAT framework.

Background: Childhood malnutrition can impair physical and cognitive development, thereby diminishing productivity at adulthood. Current research recognizes the crucial impact of early childhood nutrition on the long-term health and well-being of children. Ghana has achieved notable progress in lowering childhood malnutrition; nevertheless, it remains a major concern.

Financial development, public health financing, and health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: This paper examines the effect of multi-dimensional financial development on health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study decomposes financial development into access, depth, and efficiency and tests their separate effects on health outcomes. The paper also examines the interaction effect of public health spending and financial development on health outcomes.

Prevalence, Diagnostic Accuracy, and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Uropathogens in Urinary Tract Infections at a Health Facility in Kumasi, Ghana.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most prevalent infections in both men and women. The most common causative organisms are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and Staphylococcus spp.

The impact of radionuclides on water consumption in some water samples in the Ashanti Region, Ghana.

: The primary aim of this study is to assess the presence of natural radionuclides in water samples from selected towns in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. The study further aims to measure the physical parameters, determine the activity concentration of radionuclides, compute the annual committed effective dose, and assess cancer risk. : The study utilizes gamma spectrometry with a high-purity germanium detector at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.

Risk Factors for Typhoid Fever: Systematic Review.

Background: Typhoid fever, a significant global health problem, demonstrates a multifaceted transmission pattern. Knowledge of the factors driving its transmission is critical for developing effective control strategies and optimizing resource allocation.

Objective: This review aimed to comprehensively synthesize evidence on risk factors associated with typhoid fever transmission from 1928 to 2024.

Urban Noise Pollution in Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana: Implications for Public Health and Quality of Life.

This study focused on urban noise pollution in the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Ghana, examining its implications for public health and quality of life. Five submetropolitan areas: Subin, Bantama, Manhyia North, Manhyia South and Nhyiaeso were selected to represent different neighbourhood types: commercial, residential and mixed-use zones. Ambient noise levels were monitored using a JD-801A sound level meter.

Sexual activity and contraceptive use among adolescents: A descriptive survey in a Ghanaian municipality.

Contraceptive use is essential for reducing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents. Sexual activity during adolescence, particularly in developing countries, remains a major public health concern with significant implications for reproductive health. Adolescents aged 10-19 undergo significant hormonal changes that contribute to heightened sexual drive and an increased likelihood of early sexual activity.

Determinants of motorcycle-related head injuries among children and youth: an unmatched case-control study in northern Ghana.

Background: Motorcycles are a major source of road traffic injuries, with a preponderance of head injuries (HIs), especially among children and young adults. The reported prevalence of HI among children and young adults ranges between 17% and 67%. This study examined the determinants of motorcycle-related HIs among children and youth in northern Ghana.