Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Sexually Transmitted Blood-Borne Infections among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care in Jirapa, Upper West Region of Ghana.

Background: Sexually transmitted blood-borne infections (STBBIs) contribute to negative outcomes of pregnancy. Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis infections in pregnancy contribute significantly to maternal and child morbidities and mortalities. This study assessed the prevalence, knowledge, and risk factors of STBBIs (HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis) among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Jirapa. Methods: A cross-sectional study design involving 246 pregnant women was employed for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information about the knowledge, prevalence, and risk factors of STBBIs. Results: The overall prevalence of STBBIs was 11.4%; HBV prevalence was 9.8% and 0.8% each for HCV, HIV, and syphilis. About 66% of mothers were aware of mother-to-child transmission of infections during pregnancy. Knowledge of transmission of HIV (93.9%), hepatitis (67.1%), and syphilis (53.7%) in pregnancy was relatively high. Knowledge of risk factors for HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis was 97.6%, 74.4%, and 76.0%, respectively. More than 98% of respondents knew about the prevention of HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis. Significant risk factors associated with and predictive of STBBIs were female genital mutilation (FGM) and gravidity. Conclusion: The occurrence of STBBIs among pregnant women was strongly associated with FGM and gravidity. Public health education should be directed at stopping the practice of FGM and improving reproductive health in the study area.

Ginsenoside Rg1 and the control of inflammation implications for the therapy of type 2 diabetes: A review of scientific findings and call for further research.

The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is gradually assuming pandemic proportions, leaving in its trail increased morbidity and mortality. This trend is mainly credited to the adoption of unhealthy lifestyles resulting in increased cases of overweightness and obesity. Traditionally, T2D is considered a metabolic disorder epitomized by prolonged elevated levels of glucose due to insulin resistance and/or decreased insulin secretion resulting from pancreatic ß-cells dysfunction. Our current understanding of the disease implicates the adipose tissue in the induction of low-grade chronic inflammation which in turn initiates a cascade of anti- and pro-inflammatory responses by the immune system ultimately damaging the ß-cells of the pancreas. The central role of inflammation in the initiation and progress of T2D is now receiving a lot of attention. This review gives an overview of the centrality of inflammation in the pathogenesis of T2D and focuses on the therapeutic potential of ginsenoside Rg1. This review is borne out of the hypothesis that, if inflammation is an absolute precondition to T2D initiation and progress, then attenuation of inflammation should hold therapeutic promise. In line with this, we highlight the anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 among others and proffer suggestions for future studies.

Urinary Tract Infection and Associated Factors among Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care at a Primary Health Care Facility in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is frequently encountered during pregnancy and is associated with adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal effects. However, very little information is available on the prevalence of UTI among pregnant women in the northern part of Ghana, a region with a high birth rate. This study employed a cross-sectional analysis of the prevalence, antimicrobial profile, and risk factors associated with UTI in 560 pregnant women attending primary care for antenatal check-ups. Sociodemographic obstetrical history and personal hygiene information were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire. Afterward, clean catch mid-stream urine samples were collected from all participants and subjected to routine microscopy examination and culture. Of 560 pregnant women, 223 cases (39.8%) were positive for UTI. There was a statistically significant association between sociodemographic, obstetric, and personal hygiene variables and UTI (p < 0.0001). Escherichia coli (27.8%) was the commonest bacterial isolate followed by CoNS (13.5%) and Proteus species (12.6%). These isolates exhibited greater resistance to ampicillin (70.1-97.3%) and cotrimoxazole (48.1-89.7%) but were fairly susceptible to gentamycin and ciprofloxacin. Gram-negative resistance to meropenem was up to 25.0%, and Gram positives resistance to cefoxitin and vancomycin was up to 33.3% and 71.4% respectively. The current findings extend our knowledge of the high frequency of UTIs and associated risk factors in pregnant women with E. Coli being the predominant and usual isolate. Variation existed in the resistance pattern of isolates to various drugs, underscoring the need to perform urine culture and susceptibility before treatment.

Transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors in Ghana: A 3-year multicentered health facility-based retrospective study.

Transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) remain a major health challenge particularly in developing countries. Here, we present a multicentered hospital-based retrospective study on the prevalence, distribution, and risk factors of TTIs in Ghana. Data on blood donors from four health facilities, namely Nkwanta South Municipal Hospital (Oti region), Weija-Gbawe Municipal Hospital (Greater Accra region), SDA Hospital (Northern region) and Wa Municipal Hospital (Upper West region) were extracted and analyzed. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were applied to compare sociodemographic data with TTI status. A total of 6094 blood donors were included in this study, and 2% were females. The overall prevalence of TTIs was 21.0% (1232/5868). Specifically, the prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and Syphilis was 6.6% (385/5868), 4.9% (286/5830), 2.9% (168/5867), and 6.8% (393/5739), respectively. Wa dominated in all the viral agents considered in this study, while the Oti region recorded the highest prevalence in T. pallidum. The odds of HBV infection was 3.1 (p = 0.008) among first-time donors, while that for HCV was 2.8 (p = 0.042). For rural dwellers, donors significantly had T. pallidum (p < 0.001; OR = 2.8), HCV (p < 0.001; OR = 2.9), and HIV (p = 0.028; OR = 1.5) infections. Generally, the recipients of transfused blood were predominantly pregnant mothers, followed by children and accident victims. This study has revealed significant disparities and relatively high prevalence of TTIs in Ghana, specifically HBV, HCV, HIV and T. pallidum infections. The variations suggest the presence of unique health challenges per study area, hence the need for a tailored intervention for each study site.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus induced epithelial cell apoptosis, ameliorates inflammation and prevents colon cancer development in an animal model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Probiotics have been suggested as prophylactic measure in colon carcinogenesis. This study aimed at determining the potential prophylactic activity of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG CGMCC 1.2134 (LGG) strain on colorectal carcinogenesis via measuring its effect on Nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) inflammatory pathway and apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 64 Sprague Dawley rats were grouped into four as follows; Group 1 (Healthy control), Group 2 (LGG), Group 3 (cancer control Dimethyl hydrazine (DMH)) and Group 4 (LGG+DMH). LGG was administered orally to LGG and LGG+DMH groups. Colon carcinogenesis was chemically induced in LGG+DMH and DMH groups by weekly injection of 40mg/kg DMH. Animals were sacrificed after 25 weeks of experiment and tumor characteristics assessed. The change in expression of NFκB-p65, COX-2, TNFα, Bcl-2, Bax, iNOS, VEGFα, ß-catenin, Casp3 and p53 were evaluated by western blotting and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: LGG treatment significantly reduced tumor incidence, multiplicity and volume in LGG+DMH treatment group compared to DMH cancer control group. Also, LGG treatment reduced the expression of ß-catenin and the inflammatory proteins NFκB-p65, COX-2 and TNFα; the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, but increased the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, casp3 and p53 compared with DMH group. CONCLUSION: LGG have a potential protection effect against colon carcinogenesis; inducing apoptosis and ameliorating inflammation, and may hold a promise as bio-therapeutic dietary agent.