ABSTRACT Exercise training enhances healthy brain function by regulating inflammation and oxidative stress and promotes the production of growth factors including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is essential for neuronal growth and survival in deleterious neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Moreover, dietary nutrients in cocoa reduces oxidative stress and inflammation and may have a protective effect that affects the growth and survival of...
ABSTRACT Background: A detailed understanding of lumbar vertebral body morphometry and disc degeneration among Ghanaians is relevant for clinical and research purposes. Studies exist on how age and sex affect lumbar vertebral morphometry and disc degeneration among Caucasians, but there is paucity of similar information in African populations including Ghana. Association of weight and height with lumbar vertebral morphometry and disc degeneration remains inadequately investigated in both p...
ABSTRACT Introduction: Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a widely used over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic drug which is known to cause liver injuries in both humans and experimental animals when administered in overdose. Supratherapeutic dose of paracetamol results in accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which impairs the antioxidants defence mechanisms and thus, causes a redox imbalance. The resulting oxidative stress plays a vital role in paracetamol-induced hepatic toxicity....
ABSTRACT Four hundred and twenty-four consecutive umbilical cords of babies delivered at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were studied along side some birth variables. This research was to first of all, find whether there were any possible correlations between any pair of variables. Secondly, whether any variant of the cord could have any clinical significance. The umbilical cord measurements were made using a tape measure and the results statistically analysed using the Statistical Package for...
ABSTRACT The neural folds comprise two epithelial layers, namely, surface epithelium and neuroepithelium. In the fore and midbrain regions of the chick embryo, neural fold fusion in the dorsal midline involves a complete fusion of both layers. In the hindbrain region, however, fusion of the neuroepithelial portion of the neural folds does not occur. Rather, following apposition of the tips of the neural folds, many of the neuroepithelial cells that should participate in neural fold fusion und...
ABSTRACT Background: Microscopic examination of hair has been useful in personal identification in the forensic sciences for years. However, increasing artificial modification of scalp hair, especially by women for the purposes of beautification, threatens its relevance in this vein. Microscopic characterization of such hair could provide reference data that could help maintain its usefulness in personal identification in the forensic sciences and other areas. Aim: The study determined the ef...
ABSTRACT Studies have marked the importance of the relationship between height and hand and foot dimensions for forensic research. Also, the interaction between height, sex-related asymmetries, and handedness related asymmetries in hands and feet have been shown to vary in different populations. Hence the aims of this study are to determine whether foot and hand dimensions (length, breadth and circumference) are good estimators of sex and height and whether handedness and sex are associated w...
ABSTRACT Background: A large number of studies have emphasized the significance of the association between increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and increased cardiovascular risk. Incorporation of a measurement of CIMT into the conventional work-up of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors has been suggested to improve prediction of CV risk. In spite of all these studies, there is limited research on CIMT, CVD risk factors and its associations with anthropometric indices of obesity in ind...
ABSTRACT Background: Definite knowledge of the anatomical indices of adult proximal femur of indigenous Ghanaians will better inform procurement of best-fit prostheses imported from abroad, where these are made for populations with different anthropological indices. This development should forestall the occurrence of misfit femoral prostheses and attendant health hazards in Ghana. AIM: This study generated clinically relevant anatomical dimensions of the proximal femur in Ghanaian adults for ...
ABSTRACT Background: Gentamicin (GM) administration generates reactive oxygen species that have long been identified with nephrotoxicity. Cocoa flavanols are powerful antioxidants that have free radical scavenging capacity in reactive oxygen species (ROS) -mediated inflammatory processes such as from GM usage. Aim: This study investigated whether regular ingestion of natural cocoa would protect renal structure and function in rats with GM-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Methodology: Thirty...
ABSTRACT With the aid of an electron microscope the development of transverse tubules (T-tubules or system) was studied in pre- and post-natal hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) labelled with horse radish peroxidase (HRP). Thin sections (70-90 nm) and semi-thin sections (800-1000 nm) were cut using an ultramicrotome and examined under an electron microscope. No evidence of T-tubules was observed during the pre-natal and first week in neonatal stages of development when myocytes were characterise...