ABSTRACT The geographical distribution of different types and subtypes and the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vary significantly. Identification of HCV genotypes has become increasingly important for the clinical management and prognosis of HCV infections. Available evidence shows that HCV is endemic in West Africa, but there is little data on HCV genotypes present in Ghana. This study therefore set out to identify circulating HCV genotypes in healthy Ghanaians and determine the rela...
ABSTRACT The use of medicinal plants has been found to be effective in the treatment of diseases such as cancer. Aframomum longiscapum seed has been used in the treatment of cancer in ethno medicine but has not been subjected to appropriate scientific evaluation. This study was therefore designed to evaluate the protective effect of Aqueous Extract of Aframomum longiscapum (AEAL) seed against sodium arseniteand ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity and clastogenicity in male Wistar rats. Phytochemic...
ABSTRACT Mitochondria are organelles present in the eukaryotic cell that produce about 90% of the energy required by the cell through oxidative phosphorylation. They also play vital roles in other metabolic processes in the cell. They have unique features that make them sensitive to a number of xenobiotics. Thus, they serve as primary or secondary targets for these xenobiotics. Medicinal plants contain a range of phytochemicals which also have the potential to interfere with mitochondrial fun...
ABSTRACT Glutathione and enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) play crucial roles in defending the cell against reactive oxygen species (ROS) which have been implicated in HIV replication. It has been shown that cells infected with HIV generate large amounts of inflammatory products such as superoxide anions, peroxynitrites and other ROS, and is accompanied by the deregulation of antioxidant enzymes. The pro-oxidative stress...
ABSTRACT V Yeast mating type locus gene alpha2 (MATa2), Yeast G protein complementing gene ( YGC1) and minichromosome maintenance gene (M C M 1) have been identified by isolation of plasmids that are able to complement or suppress a gpa1::HIS3 mutation. MATa2 and YGC1 rescue both MATa and M A Ta-gpa1::HIS3 haploid cell types whereas MCM1 complements only MATa gpal::HIS3 cell type. MATa2 is known to be a general repressor and a determinant of both haploid and diploid cell types. MCM1 is known ...
A total of 1,075 fasting Human Serum and early morning urine samples were assayed for various biochemical parameters. The parameters include: Blood lipids, Total Cholesterol, High Density lipoproteins, Low Density lipoproteins, Vitamin A, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Bicarbonate, Urinary glucose, Protein and Blood. From the results obtained, the calculated phospholipids:cholesterol ratio was less than 1 amongst the hypertensives. This confirmed the work of Stroev and Makarova, 1986; Of...
ABSTRACT Milicia regia and M . excelsa are inva.lua.iDle plant species in Ghana for their durable timber. Their numbers are however dwindling. Efforts by the forestry department to establish plantations have been unsuccessful due primarily to attack by Phytolyma species, resulting in gall formation. Phenols and phenolic oxidases appear to be important in the defence mechanisms of some plants as well as in wound healing and regulation of growth in these plants. Thus, they may be natural resist...
ABSTRACT Background: Dengue and malaria are two important mosquito-borne diseases. Together, both diseases are indistinguishable due to similarities in clinical and laboratory characteristics. These similarities have contributed immensely to the over-diagnosis of malaria and the under-recognition of dengue in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. No baseline study has yet been conducted in Ghana to estimate the burden of dengue. This study therefore set out to estimate the prevalence of dengu...
ABSTRACT Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Thyroid Dysfunction (TD) are the two most common endocrinopathies seen in general population. Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) is commonly associated with altered thyroid function. The aim of the research is to evaluate TD in patients with T2DM attending Endocrinology Clinic of UsmanuDanfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto. Blood samples were collected from 80 Type 2 diabetic patients and 80 non-diabetics (control) and analyze for fasting blood s...
ABSTRACT Background: Influenza B viruses are receiving attention lately perhaps due to the degree of haemagglutinin (HA) antigen mismatching between vaccine composition strains and circulating strains. Neuraminidase inhibitor (NI) antiviral has also been implicated in prophylaxis and treatment of severe cases of influenza diseases. However, mutations in the two major surface glycoproteins, HA and nueraminidase (NA) could cause the virus to escape host defence mechanisms leading to failure of ...
ABSRACT Background: Recent studies have indicated PON 1 polymorphism to be associated with cardiovascular-related diseases such as diabetes mellitus but varied reports have been provided from such association studies. In Ghana, there is no such information on PON 1 polymorphism in disease situations; except one instance reported in non-diseased Ghanaians. The present study has therefore provided baseline information on PON 1 Q192R polymorphism in Ghanaians with type II Diabetes Mellitus. Main...
ABSTRACT Clinical manifestations of Plasmodium falciparum infections are caused by invasion of erythrocytes by malaria parasites, a process mediated by multiple receptor-ligand interactions. Antibodies against some parasite ligands significantly inhibit parasite growth in vitro, demonstrating that these interactions may be good targets for the development of an effective blood stage vaccine. This study was aimed at investigating the erythrocyte receptors used by P. falciparum isolates in Ghan...
ABSTRACT Purpose: Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a malignant tumor which is commonly associated with Epstein Barr virus (EBV). Two genotypes of EBV, genotype 1 and genotype 2, which are geographically restricted, are implicated in the pathogenesis of NPC. This study aimed at detecting and characterizing EBV genotypes involved in the pathogenesis of NPC in Ghana. Experimental design: Whole blood and biopsy samples were collected from 55 patients diagnosed of NPC by CT scan and endoscopy at the...
ABSTRACT HIV-1 infection is mediated by the interaction between the host cellular CD4 receptor and co-receptors with HIV Envelope protein (Env). Inhibition of HIV entry into host cell presents a biological target for therapeutic intervention. Broadly neutralizing antibody (bNabs) are potent in neutralizing a broad range of HIV strains by binding to the Env and preventing entry into the host cell. VRC01 is a CD4 binding-site class bNabs that binds to the conserved CD4 binding region of Env. Ho...
Abstract Background As malaria transmission continues to decline, a better understanding of how transmission intensity and patterns influence clinical presentation of disease and the acquisition of immunity to malaria is important for our understanding of the pathophysiology of malaria and the changes in immune responses. Erythrocyte invasion is a crucial step in the life cycle of Plasmodium falciparum. However, the targets of naturally acquired invasion inhibitory antibodies remain unclear. ...