BioMed Research International最新文献

This study examines cesarean section (C-section) deliveries in Ghana from 2008 to 2017 in 10 regions, distinguishing between scheduled and emergency procedures. Scheduled C-sections target specific maternal conditions, such as advanced age, multiparity, and medical history, while emergency C-sections address acute fetal distress, preeclampsia, bleeding, and other urgent situations. The analysis reveals various regional patterns, with the Brong-Ahafo Region showing a potential deceleration after 2017 and the Upper West Region indicating a possible acceleration. The high number of C-sections in Greater Accra and Ashanti may be related to population density and health facilities. The study proposes empirical models, including linear, quadratic, and exponential components, emphasizing quasilinearity. The exponential model suggests transient and permanent phases of cesarean frequency, with the latter dominated by quasilinearity. Optimal parameter values are determined, which highlights the stability of the model. However, caution is advised when projecting too far into the future due to the inevitable slowing of observed trends. The findings offer insights for healthcare planning, resource allocation, and policymaking, emphasizing the need for region-specific approaches and ongoing monitoring of cesarean dynamics to inform nuanced interventions.

Background: In low-income countries, such as Ethiopia, home birth is the main cause of maternal and neonatal mortality. Several separate studies have been conducted on the prevalence of home birth preference. However, there is no pooled prevalence of home birth preferences. So, this systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed at assessing the overall preference for home birth and related factors among Ethiopian women. Methods and Materials: The review included only published articles. Medline/PubMed, Web Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library are the main databases. The review includes cross-sectional studies in English that meet eligibility requirements. The combined prevalence of women's preference for home birth is calculated by random effect models. In addition, Egger's tests and funnel diagrams were used to investigate publication biases. STATA Version 14 is used to perform all statistical analyses. Results: The review included 14 studies with 6631 participants. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of women's preference for home birth was 41.48% (confidence interval (CI): 49.99; 63, 56; I2:98.7%; p ≤ 0.001). In the analysis of the subgroups, the Oromia region had the highest home birth preference rate at 61.40% (55.54%, 67.16), while southern Ethiopia had the lowest value at 20.52% (5.18, 29.75). The probability of preferring home birth was higher for women without education (OR = 0.22, p ≤ 0.001, I ² = 69.7%) and for younger women (ODR = 0.47, p ≤ 0.001, I ² = 84.2%). Conclusion: According to the study, 41% of Ethiopian women prefer home births over institutional births. Age and education of women are statistically important factors in the choice of birthplace. To solve this problem, health professionals and other stakeholders are strongly encouraged to provide women's health education at the community and institutional levels.

Background: As part of efforts to reach the elimination target by 2030, the WHO and CDC recommend that all HCWs adhere to the three-dose Hepatitis B vaccination schedule to protect themselves against the infection. This study assessed Hepatitis B vaccination coverage and associated factors among personnel working in health facilities in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, Ghana. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 530 HCWs was conducted in four hospitals in Kumasi from September to November 2023. An investigator-administered questionnaire was employed in gathering participant demographics and other information related to vaccination coverage. IBM SPSS Version 26.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0 were used for analysing the data. Results: Even though the majority (70.6%) reported having taken at least one dose of the vaccine, only 43.6% were fully vaccinated (≥ 3 doses). More than a quarter (29.4%) had not taken any dose of the HBV vaccine. Close to a quarter (23.6%) had not screened or tested for HBV infection in their lifetime. The statistically significant variables influencing vaccination status were age, marital status, profession, and status in the hospital. Nearly one-half (44.9%) of the participants who have not taken the vaccine reported they do not have a reason for not taking it, and a high proportion (80.1%) were willing to take the vaccine when given for free. Conclusion: To combat the low Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among healthcare workers in Kumasi, Ghana, amidst the significant public health threat of HBV infection, comprehensive measures are necessary. These include implementing infection prevention control programmes, enhancing occupational health and safety, and conducting health promotion campaigns in healthcare facilities. Extending and intensifying Hepatitis B screening and vaccination initiatives to tertiary institutions and encouraging employers, supervisors, or team leaders to provide these services nationwide are also recommended.

Background: Self-management (SM) is the gold standard of care and is the direct active participation of patients in their disease management. Condition-specific factors, physical and social environment, individual and family, and the process of SM are factors that influence SM in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). Poor SM leads to high retroviral infection transmission, mortality, and morbidity. Objective: This study was aimed at assessing SM and its associated factors among PLHIV at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UOGCSH), Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a systematic random sampling technique at the UOGCSH from May 20 to July 30, 2022. The data were collected using a previously validated tool and were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 25. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with poor SM. The statistical significance was considered at a p value < 0.05. Result: Of 419 PLHIV, the median (IQR) SM score was 39 (9), and above half (52.6%, 95% CI: 48%-57%) of them had poor SM. Being unemployed (AOR = 2.49, 95%CI = 1.19, 5.19), living alone (AOR = 2.16, 95%CI = 1.12, 4.17), unfamiliar with the management of HIV-related symptoms (AOR = 3.59, 95%CI = 2.08, 6.20), poor social support (AOR = 3.02, 95%CI = 1.54, 5.93), poor self-efficacy (AOR = 3.04, 95%CI = 1.83, 5.06), and unsupported by the adherence support group (AOR = 17.17, 95%CI = 8.37, 35.22) were significantly associated with poor SM. Conclusion: The majority of PLHIV had poor SM. This study supports the findings of individual family SM theory and previously published studies regarding factors affecting SM. The government, hospital, adherence support groups, and PLHIV should work on modifiable sociodemographic, condition-specific, and process of SM to improve SM of PLHIV.

Introduction: Vernonia amygdalina Delile (VAD), also known as bitter leaf, is widely utilized in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments, including cancer. The presence of bioactive compounds in VAD is believed to be responsible for its characteristic bitterness. In Ghana, it is a common practice to mitigate the bitterness of VAD by combining it with Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle (lime) juice extracts, although this method lacks scientific evidence and documentation. Therefore, the antioxidant and anticancer activities of VAD and lime juice extracts (V5) and their combined effects were evaluated in vitro. Method: The antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effects of VAD extracts were determined against Jurkat, MCF-7, HepG2, and PNT2 cells using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay to quantify antioxidant activity and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to assess cytotoxicity. The statistical analysis of the data was conducted using Microsoft Excel and GraphPad Prism 8.0. Linear regression was employed to determine the correlation between the concentration and the percentage of antioxidant activity, while p values were calculated using Student's t-test. Results: The laboratory analysis focused on the extracts V1, V2, V3, V4, and V5. Briefly, V1 and V2 contained equal amounts of saponins and terpenoids. Among these, V2 exhibited the highest free radical scavenging activity, as indicated by an EC50 value of 2.14 ± 0.06 mg/mL. V2 also demonstrated cytotoxicity against the MCF-7, HepG2, Jurkat, and PNT2 cell lines. On the other hand, V3 and V4 did not show any cytotoxic effects across all tested cell lines. In contrast, V5 was toxic to HepG2 and MCF-7 cells but had no cytotoxic effect on Jurkat cell lines. V2 exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity (0-1000 μg/mL), with the strongest inhibition observed against Jurkat cells (IC50 value = 96.341 μg/mL) and a selective index of 3.567. The difference in activity between the extracts from different parts of the plant and the extract combined with lime juice was significant (p < 0.05), indicating a synergistic effect of the phytochemicals in both VAD and lime juice. Conclusion: V2 and V5 demonstrated a remarkable antioxidant property, and they are effective in inhibiting cancer cell lines, respectively.

Herbal medicines (HMs) have deciphered indispensable therapeutic effects against cardiovascular disease (CVD) (the predominant cause of death worldwide). The conventional CVD therapy approaches have not been efficient and need alternative medicines. The objective of this study was a review of herbal bioactive compound efficacy for CVD therapy based on computational and in silico studies. HM bioactive compounds with potential anti-CVD traits include campesterol, naringenin, quercetin, stigmasterol, tanshinaldehyde, Bryophyllin A, Bryophyllin B, beta-sitosterol, punicalagin, butein, eriodyctiol, butin, luteolin, and kaempferol discovered using computational studies. Some of the bioactive compounds have exhibited therapeutic effects, as followed by in vitro (tanshinaldehyde, punicalagin, butein, eriodyctiol, and butin), in vivo (gallogen, luteolin, chebulic acid, butein, eriodyctiol, and butin), and clinical trials (quercetin, campesterol, and naringenin). The main mechanisms of action of bioactive compounds for CVD healing include cell signaling and inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, decrease of lipid accumulation, and regulation of metabolism and immune cells. Further experimental studies are required to verify the anti-CVD effects of herbal bioactive compounds and their pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic features.

Introduction: Although intensive care units (ICUs) are where severe and complicated cases are managed, there is limited evidence on treatment outcomes in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study is aimed at assessing the magnitude and associated factors of mortality among patients with sepsis admitted to ICUs at southern Amhara public hospitals, Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 547 medical records of patients with sepsis admitted to the ICUs at Injibara, Debre Markos, and Debre Tabor hospitals in the past 3 years were retrieved from August 10-31, 2022. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported, and a p value < 0.05 was set to declare the significance of the association. Results: In this study, 46.2% (95% CI: 41.7%-50.3%) of patients with sepsis died during their ICU stay. Respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract infections contributed to 32.3%, 25.8%, and 9.6% of mortality, respectively. Individuals aged 60 and above (AOR: 4.07; 95% CI: 2.23-7.44), those with a Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 10 at admission (AOR: 11.27; 95% CI: 4.64-27.37), respiratory site of infection (AOR: 5.38; 95% CI: 2.94-9.86), creatinine level > 1.1 mg/dL (AOR: 4.20; 95% CI: 2.33-7.60), vasopressor use (AOR: 3.13; 95% CI:1.66-5.95), initiation of antibiotics 1-3 h after admission (AOR: 2.80; 95% CI: 1.64-4.76), and a hospital stay of more than 20 days (AOR: 3.44; 95% CI: 1.40-8.46) were significantly associated with mortality. Conclusion: Overall, the mortality rate among patients with sepsis admitted to ICUs in southern Amhara public hospitals was high. Mainly, death was attributed to respiratory infections. Elderly patients and those with deteriorated clinical conditions at admission were at higher risk. Therefore, special attention is needed for elderly patients admitted with respiratory infections, antibiotics should be initiated as early as possible, and interventions must be designed to shorten the length of stay in ICUs.

Statement of the Problem: When replacing the maxillary central incisor (MCI) or adjusting its dimensions, Syrian dentists may have difficulties in selecting the appropriate size due to the lack of a dental anthropometric database for Syrian society. Purpose: The purpose of this observational study was to investigate the correlation between MCI dimensions and face length and width in Syrian females and males. Materials and Methods: The study included 180 Syrian participants (90 females and 90 males) without facial or dental defects and aged between 20 and 25 years. A digital photograph of each individual's face was taken to measure face length and width. Maxillary stone casts were made for each individual to assess the MCI width and height using a digital caliper. The correlation between facial and dental variables was investigated with the Pearson correlation coefficient. Moreover, intersex variations were tested using an independent-sample t-test (p < 0.05 considered significant). Results: The mean MCI width was 8.58 mm, the mean MCI cervical width was 7.96 mm, the mean MCI height was 9.69 mm, the average MCI width-to-height ratio was 89%, and the average MCI cervical width-to-height ratio was 82%. The intersex variations in dental values were not statistically significant. None of the studied facial dimensions showed any significant correlation with any of the MCI measurements. Conclusion: The faces of Syrian men were larger than those of Syrian women, but their MCIs had similar proportions and sizes. Facial height and width were not the appropriate parameters for determining MCI size for Syrians.

A biomarker is defined as a characteristic that is measured as an indicator of a normal biological or pathological process, a response to an exposure or intervention. Biomarkers with a diagnostic approach must identify not only the presence but also the absence of the disease with high precision, so having the biological source of the said marker is of vital importance to ensure precision and accuracy; the aim was to carry out a review of its diagnostic potential. The search strategy was carried out in three databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. The keywords that were used were as follows: "gingival crevicular fluid", "Biomarker", and "Diagnosis", using the Boolean operator "AND". The filter was used at 10 years. Within the type of molecules most studied, the cytokine family was the most abundant with 25.42% of the studies, followed by metalloproteinases and proteins with 16.9% each one. Studies that included RNA-type genetic material were less frequently found. As has been demonstrated, the use of GCF as a source of biomolecules for diagnostic use has been increasing, both for oral diseases, which reflects the local conditions of the disease; it also has the ability to reflect the development of distant diseases; and this is because GCF is a blood ultrafiltrate.

Background: Curcumin is a polyphenol compound with anticancer effects. We aimed to review the anti-neoplastic effects of curcumin on urogenital cancers, by regulating different microRNA expressions. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Medline (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science up to the end of August 2024. All English, in vitro, and observational studies that evaluated the effect of curcumin on preventing or treating urogenital cancers through its impact on microRNA expression were included. In vivo or silico studies were excluded. Result: A total of 2549 records were found. Finally, 25 studies were included. Twelve studies assessed the effect of curcumin on prostate cancer, six studies on ovarian cancer, three studies on cervical cancer, three studies on bladder cancer, and one study on renal cancer. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that regulate the post-transcriptional pathways. They possess pivotal roles in different fundamental mechanisms in cells such as differentiation, migration, apoptosis, and proliferation. Curcumin exerts its anticancer effects on urogenital neoplasms by upregulating tumor suppressor microRNAs (miR-143, miR-145, miR-Let-7, miR-101, miR-3127, miR-3178, miR-1275, miR-3198, miR-1908, miR-770, miR-1247, miR-411, miR-34a, miR-383, miR-708, miR-483, miR-199a, miR-335, miR-503, miR-10b, miR-551a, miR-9, miR-203, miR-7110, miR-29b, and miR-126) and downregulating oncogenic microRNAs (miR-21, miR-210, miR-382, miR-654, miR-494, miR-193b, miR-671, miR-222, miR-23b, miR-664, miR-183, miR-214, miR-320a, miR-23a, miR-30a, miR-320d, miR-1285, miR-32, miR-181a, miR-205, miR-216a, miR-1246, and miR-106b). Conclusion: Cell proliferation is inhibited, and cell apoptosis is induced by curcumin in different urogenital cancers through suppressing oncogenic microRNAs or provoking tumor suppressor microRNAs.