Joseph Yorke - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Joseph Yorke

Research Square (Research Square), Jun 20, 2024

Forensic science international. Reports, Apr 1, 2024

Open journal of urology, 2024

BMC Research Notes

Background Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is a rare but potentially curable tumour of the gastro... more Background Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is a rare but potentially curable tumour of the gastrointestinal tract accounting for up to 1% of all gastrointestinal tumours. The discovery of Imatinib mesylate, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor has improved the chances even for unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic diseases. Methods This study sought to document the clinical and pathological characteristics of GISTs from two tertiary hospitals in Ghana that have undergone immunohistochemistry confirmation between 2014 and 2021. Results The median age of the subjects was 50 years with most of them (28.0%) being above 61 years. There were more females than males (64.0% vs. 36.0%). Abdominal mass and abdominal pain made up the majority of the clinical presentations. The majority of the subjects had partial gastrectomy (32.0%) which was followed by wedge resection (28.0%). Appendectomy and sleeve gastrectomy were the least performed procedures (8% each). Four of the 25 patients (16.0%) had...

PLOS ONE, Jan 13, 2020

Dyslipidemia is a potential complication of long-term usage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a... more Dyslipidemia is a potential complication of long-term usage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and also known to be associated with genetic factors. The host genetic variants associated with dyslipidemia in HIV patients on ART in Ghana have not been fully explored. The study constituted a total of 289 HIV-infected patients on stable ART for at least a year. Fasting blood was collected into EDTA tube for lipids measurement. Lipid profiles were used to define dyslipidemia based on the NCEP-ATP III criteria. HIV-infected subjects were categorized into two groups; those with dyslipidemia (cases) (n = 90; 31.1%) and without dyslipidemia (controls)(n = 199; 68.9%). Four candidate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genes (ABCA1-rs2066714, LDLR-rs6511720, APOA5-rs662799 and DSCAML1-rs10892151) were determined. Genotyping was performed on isolated genomic DNA of study participants using PCR followed by a multiplex ligation detection reaction (LDR). The percentage of the population who had the rare homozygote alleles for rs6511720 (T/T), rs2066714 (G/G), rs10892151 (T/T) and rs662799 (G/G) among case subjects were 5.5%, 14.4%, 6.6% and 10.0% whiles 2.0% 9.1%, 6.5% and 4.0% were observed among control subjects. There were statistically significant differences in the genotypic prevalence of APOA5 (p = 0.0357) and LDLR polymorphisms (p = 0.0387) between case and control subjects. Compared to the AA genotype of the APOA5 polymorphisms, individuals with the rare homozygote genotype [aOR = 2.38, 95%CI(1.06-6.54), p = 0.004] were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of developing dyslipidemia after controlling for age, gender, treatment duration, CD4 counts and BMI. Moreover, individuals with the rare homozygous genotype of ABCA1 (G/G) [aOR = 10.7(1.3-88.7), p = 0.0280] and LDLR (rs6511720) G>T [aOR = 61.2(7.6-493.4), p<0.0001) were more likely to have high levels of total cholesterol levels. Our data accentuate the presence of SNPs in four candidate genes

International journal of surgery research and practice, Jul 29, 2019

Retained surgical sponges (gossypiboma) are very rare but occur even under the presumed correct s... more Retained surgical sponges (gossypiboma) are very rare but occur even under the presumed correct sponge counts postoperatively. Gossypiboma has the ability to cause significant harm to the patient and carry heartfelt medicolegal and professional repercussions to clinicians and hospitals. Its manifestations may be non-specific and may take weeks, months or even years from the time of surgery. Therefore, diagnosis is based on a high index of suspicion with careful assessment of the patient's history, physical examination, and investigation. Retained sponges may extrude externally through a fistulous tract or internally into the rectum, vagina, bladder, intestinal lumen or through direct migration; however, intra-luminal migration is relatively rare. It is in consonance with this rarity that we report a case of an intestinal obstruction secondary to an intra-luminal foreign body. Intra-operative findings revealed a laparotomy towel accidentally left behind during a laparotomy for a ruptured acute appendicitis.

Anaesthesia, 2021

SummaryPeri‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this stu... more SummaryPeri‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30‐day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30‐day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30‐day mortality in patients without SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4–1.5). In patients with a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery wi...

Anaesthesia, 2021

SummarySARS‐CoV‐2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critica... more SummarySARS‐CoV‐2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. Since surgical patients are already at higher risk of venous thromboembolism than general populations, this study aimed to determine if patients with peri‐operative or prior SARS‐CoV‐2 were at further increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We conducted a planned sub‐study and analysis from an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study of elective and emergency patients undergoing surgery during October 2020. Patients from all surgical specialties were included. The primary outcome measure was venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis) within 30 days of surgery. SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis was defined as peri‐operative (7 days before to 30 days after surgery); recent (1–6 weeks before surgery); previous (≥7 weeks before surgery); or none. Information on prophylaxis regimens or pre‐operative anti‐coagulation for baseline comorbidities was no...

BJS Open, 2022

Background Existing emergency general surgery (EGS) guidelines rarely include evidence from low- ... more Background Existing emergency general surgery (EGS) guidelines rarely include evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and may lack relevance to low-resource settings. The aim of this study was to develop global guidelines for EGS that are applicable across all hospitals and health systems. Methods A systematic review and thematic analysis were performed to identify recommendations relating to undifferentiated EGS. Those deemed relevant across all resource settings by an international guideline development panel were included in a four-round Delphi prioritization process and are reported according to International Standards for Clinical Practice Guidelines. The final recommendations were included as essential (baseline measures that should be implemented as a priority) or desirable (some hospitals may lack relevant resources at present but should plan for future implementation). Results After thematic analysis of 38 guidelines with 1396 unique recommendations, 68 recom...

Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Background Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is a rare but potentially curable tumour of the gastro... more Background Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is a rare but potentially curable tumour of the gastrointestinal tract accounting for up to 1% of all gastrointestinal tumours. The discovery of Imatinib mesylate, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor has improved the chances even for unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic diseases. Methods This study sought to document the clinical and pathological characteristics of GISTs from two tertiary hospitals in Ghana that have undergone immunohistochemistry confirmation between 2014 and 2021. Results The median age of the subjects was 50 years with most of them (28.0%) being above 61 years. There were more females than males (64.0% vs 36.0%). Abdominal mass and abdominal pain made up the majority of the clinical presentations. The majority of the subjects had partial gastrectomy (32.0%) which was followed by wedge resection (28.0%). Appendectomy and sleeve gastrectomy were the least performed procedures (8% each). Four of the 25 patients (16.0%) had ...

Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, 2014

Retained surgical sponges (gossypiboma) are very rare but occur even under the presumed correct s... more Retained surgical sponges (gossypiboma) are very rare but occur even under the presumed correct sponge counts postoperatively. Gossypiboma has the ability to cause significant harm to the patient and carry heartfelt medicolegal and professional repercussions to clinicians and hospitals. Its manifestations may be non-specific and may take weeks, months or even years from the time of surgery. Therefore, diagnosis is based on a high index of suspicion with careful assessment of the patient's history, physical examination, and investigation. Retained sponges may extrude externally through a fistulous tract or internally into the rectum, vagina, bladder, intestinal lumen or through direct migration; however, intra-luminal migration is relatively rare. It is in consonance with this rarity that we report a case of an intestinal obstruction secondary to an intra-luminal foreign body. Intra-operative findings revealed a laparotomy towel accidentally left behind during a laparotomy for a ruptured acute appendicitis.

Ghana Medical Journal

The inferior vena cava is the most commonly injured abdominal vessel and accounts for about 25% o... more The inferior vena cava is the most commonly injured abdominal vessel and accounts for about 25% of abdominal vascular injuries. Despite improved preoperative care and operative techniques, the mortality rates for the inferior vena cava injuries are still high due to delayed presentation, inadequate or delayed fluid resuscitation, difficulty of diagnosis and technical problems in repair. A case of the inferior vena cava injury encountered after abdominal stab injury with about 4cm vertical tear of infrarenal vena cava, survived due to immediate transportation, appropriate and successful perioperative fluid and blood resuscitation, prompt surgical management with a team approach and critical post-operative surgical management.

British Journal of Surgery

Background The Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measur... more Background The Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation. Methods This was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling a...

Burns & Trauma, 2016

BackgroundBurn injuries are a serious problem worldwide, with most occurrences in low- and middle... more BackgroundBurn injuries are a serious problem worldwide, with most occurrences in low- and middle-income countries. Depending on the extent of injury, burn victims are faced with the challenges of fitting into society due to complications such as extensive scarring and contractures. The current study seeks to determine whether epidemiological studies of burn patients can provide guidelines to enhance burn prevention among the Ghanaian population.MethodsData from the Burns Registry of the Burns Intensive Care Unit (BICU) of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) was obtained. Data on sex, age, aetiology, % total body surface area (TBSA), and admission outcomes from May 1, 2009, to April 30, 2013, were retrieved for a total of 487 patients during this period.ResultsData on burn admissions comprising 263 (54.0 %) males and 224 (46.0 %) females were obtained from the Burns Registry. Children 0–10 years were the most affected age group. The yearly mean % TBSA ranged from 24.74 % to 35.07 ...

Journal of Herbal Medicine

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases are a public health burden for developing countries like Ghana. ... more Abstract Cardiovascular diseases are a public health burden for developing countries like Ghana. Scientifically validated herbal medicines are viable options in the prevention and treatment of such conditions. In this study, a randomised controlled trial involving 15 healthy subjects identified with hyperlipidaemia was undertaken. Treatment comprised a traditional Ghanaian herbal formulation prepared from the leaves and twines of Momordica charantia (MCP-1) with a standard dietary guideline. A control group was managed using a standard dietary guideline alone. In all, 15 subjects completed the study: MCP-1 had 10 subjects and 5 subjects in the control group. At the termination of the trial after 8 weeks, reduction in lipoprotein values were recorded for all participants. In the MCP-1 group, triglycerides reduced by 3.46 % compared to 3.37 % for the control while total cholesterol was also reduced by 9.78 % and 9.43 % in the MCP-1 and control groups respectively. High density lipoproteins (HDL) levels increased by 6.92 % for MCP-1 and 3.92 % for the control group. However, these changes were not statistically significant except in the instance of the low-density lipoproteins (LDL-c; CI: -41.24 to -19.76) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL-c; CI: -26.87 to -8.192). Changes to other disease indices such as blood pressure (BP), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and body mass index (BMI) were also not different between the 2 groups. MCP-1 was well tolerated among the subjects and was shown to safe from the biochemical and haematological indicators. The product, MCP-1 has therefore been shown to be a safe and prospective anti-lipidaemic agent.

The Lancet Global Health

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (... more Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.

Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 2021

Background Prostate cancer (PCa) has one of the highest heritability of all major cancers, where ... more Background Prostate cancer (PCa) has one of the highest heritability of all major cancers, where the genetic contribution has been documented, and knowledge about the molecular genetics of the disease is increasing. However, the extent and aspects to which genetic variants explain PCa heritability in Africa are limited. Main body In this review, we summarize studies that highlight how identified genetic variants explain differences in PCa incidence and presentation across ethnic groups. We also present the knowledge gaps in PCa genetics in Africa and why Africa represents an untapped potential ground for genetic studies on PCa. A significant number of genome-wide association studies, linkage, and fine-mapping analyses have been conducted globally, and that explains 30–33% of PCa heritability. The African ancestry has a significant mention in PCa incidence and presentation. To date, the candidate gene approach has replicated 23 polymorphisms including dinucleotide and trinucleotide r...

The data-set consists of CRC patients' demographic data, clinico_pathological characteristics... more The data-set consists of CRC patients' demographic data, clinico_pathological characteristics, and quality of life data

Research Square (Research Square), Jun 20, 2024

Forensic science international. Reports, Apr 1, 2024

Open journal of urology, 2024

BMC Research Notes

Background Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is a rare but potentially curable tumour of the gastro... more Background Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is a rare but potentially curable tumour of the gastrointestinal tract accounting for up to 1% of all gastrointestinal tumours. The discovery of Imatinib mesylate, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor has improved the chances even for unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic diseases. Methods This study sought to document the clinical and pathological characteristics of GISTs from two tertiary hospitals in Ghana that have undergone immunohistochemistry confirmation between 2014 and 2021. Results The median age of the subjects was 50 years with most of them (28.0%) being above 61 years. There were more females than males (64.0% vs. 36.0%). Abdominal mass and abdominal pain made up the majority of the clinical presentations. The majority of the subjects had partial gastrectomy (32.0%) which was followed by wedge resection (28.0%). Appendectomy and sleeve gastrectomy were the least performed procedures (8% each). Four of the 25 patients (16.0%) had...

PLOS ONE, Jan 13, 2020

Dyslipidemia is a potential complication of long-term usage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a... more Dyslipidemia is a potential complication of long-term usage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and also known to be associated with genetic factors. The host genetic variants associated with dyslipidemia in HIV patients on ART in Ghana have not been fully explored. The study constituted a total of 289 HIV-infected patients on stable ART for at least a year. Fasting blood was collected into EDTA tube for lipids measurement. Lipid profiles were used to define dyslipidemia based on the NCEP-ATP III criteria. HIV-infected subjects were categorized into two groups; those with dyslipidemia (cases) (n = 90; 31.1%) and without dyslipidemia (controls)(n = 199; 68.9%). Four candidate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genes (ABCA1-rs2066714, LDLR-rs6511720, APOA5-rs662799 and DSCAML1-rs10892151) were determined. Genotyping was performed on isolated genomic DNA of study participants using PCR followed by a multiplex ligation detection reaction (LDR). The percentage of the population who had the rare homozygote alleles for rs6511720 (T/T), rs2066714 (G/G), rs10892151 (T/T) and rs662799 (G/G) among case subjects were 5.5%, 14.4%, 6.6% and 10.0% whiles 2.0% 9.1%, 6.5% and 4.0% were observed among control subjects. There were statistically significant differences in the genotypic prevalence of APOA5 (p = 0.0357) and LDLR polymorphisms (p = 0.0387) between case and control subjects. Compared to the AA genotype of the APOA5 polymorphisms, individuals with the rare homozygote genotype [aOR = 2.38, 95%CI(1.06-6.54), p = 0.004] were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of developing dyslipidemia after controlling for age, gender, treatment duration, CD4 counts and BMI. Moreover, individuals with the rare homozygous genotype of ABCA1 (G/G) [aOR = 10.7(1.3-88.7), p = 0.0280] and LDLR (rs6511720) G>T [aOR = 61.2(7.6-493.4), p<0.0001) were more likely to have high levels of total cholesterol levels. Our data accentuate the presence of SNPs in four candidate genes

International journal of surgery research and practice, Jul 29, 2019

Retained surgical sponges (gossypiboma) are very rare but occur even under the presumed correct s... more Retained surgical sponges (gossypiboma) are very rare but occur even under the presumed correct sponge counts postoperatively. Gossypiboma has the ability to cause significant harm to the patient and carry heartfelt medicolegal and professional repercussions to clinicians and hospitals. Its manifestations may be non-specific and may take weeks, months or even years from the time of surgery. Therefore, diagnosis is based on a high index of suspicion with careful assessment of the patient's history, physical examination, and investigation. Retained sponges may extrude externally through a fistulous tract or internally into the rectum, vagina, bladder, intestinal lumen or through direct migration; however, intra-luminal migration is relatively rare. It is in consonance with this rarity that we report a case of an intestinal obstruction secondary to an intra-luminal foreign body. Intra-operative findings revealed a laparotomy towel accidentally left behind during a laparotomy for a ruptured acute appendicitis.

Anaesthesia, 2021

SummaryPeri‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this stu... more SummaryPeri‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30‐day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30‐day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30‐day mortality in patients without SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4–1.5). In patients with a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery wi...

Anaesthesia, 2021

SummarySARS‐CoV‐2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critica... more SummarySARS‐CoV‐2 has been associated with an increased rate of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients. Since surgical patients are already at higher risk of venous thromboembolism than general populations, this study aimed to determine if patients with peri‐operative or prior SARS‐CoV‐2 were at further increased risk of venous thromboembolism. We conducted a planned sub‐study and analysis from an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study of elective and emergency patients undergoing surgery during October 2020. Patients from all surgical specialties were included. The primary outcome measure was venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis) within 30 days of surgery. SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis was defined as peri‐operative (7 days before to 30 days after surgery); recent (1–6 weeks before surgery); previous (≥7 weeks before surgery); or none. Information on prophylaxis regimens or pre‐operative anti‐coagulation for baseline comorbidities was no...

BJS Open, 2022

Background Existing emergency general surgery (EGS) guidelines rarely include evidence from low- ... more Background Existing emergency general surgery (EGS) guidelines rarely include evidence from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and may lack relevance to low-resource settings. The aim of this study was to develop global guidelines for EGS that are applicable across all hospitals and health systems. Methods A systematic review and thematic analysis were performed to identify recommendations relating to undifferentiated EGS. Those deemed relevant across all resource settings by an international guideline development panel were included in a four-round Delphi prioritization process and are reported according to International Standards for Clinical Practice Guidelines. The final recommendations were included as essential (baseline measures that should be implemented as a priority) or desirable (some hospitals may lack relevant resources at present but should plan for future implementation). Results After thematic analysis of 38 guidelines with 1396 unique recommendations, 68 recom...

Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Background Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is a rare but potentially curable tumour of the gastro... more Background Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour is a rare but potentially curable tumour of the gastrointestinal tract accounting for up to 1% of all gastrointestinal tumours. The discovery of Imatinib mesylate, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor has improved the chances even for unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic diseases. Methods This study sought to document the clinical and pathological characteristics of GISTs from two tertiary hospitals in Ghana that have undergone immunohistochemistry confirmation between 2014 and 2021. Results The median age of the subjects was 50 years with most of them (28.0%) being above 61 years. There were more females than males (64.0% vs 36.0%). Abdominal mass and abdominal pain made up the majority of the clinical presentations. The majority of the subjects had partial gastrectomy (32.0%) which was followed by wedge resection (28.0%). Appendectomy and sleeve gastrectomy were the least performed procedures (8% each). Four of the 25 patients (16.0%) had ...

Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences, 2014

Retained surgical sponges (gossypiboma) are very rare but occur even under the presumed correct s... more Retained surgical sponges (gossypiboma) are very rare but occur even under the presumed correct sponge counts postoperatively. Gossypiboma has the ability to cause significant harm to the patient and carry heartfelt medicolegal and professional repercussions to clinicians and hospitals. Its manifestations may be non-specific and may take weeks, months or even years from the time of surgery. Therefore, diagnosis is based on a high index of suspicion with careful assessment of the patient's history, physical examination, and investigation. Retained sponges may extrude externally through a fistulous tract or internally into the rectum, vagina, bladder, intestinal lumen or through direct migration; however, intra-luminal migration is relatively rare. It is in consonance with this rarity that we report a case of an intestinal obstruction secondary to an intra-luminal foreign body. Intra-operative findings revealed a laparotomy towel accidentally left behind during a laparotomy for a ruptured acute appendicitis.

Ghana Medical Journal

The inferior vena cava is the most commonly injured abdominal vessel and accounts for about 25% o... more The inferior vena cava is the most commonly injured abdominal vessel and accounts for about 25% of abdominal vascular injuries. Despite improved preoperative care and operative techniques, the mortality rates for the inferior vena cava injuries are still high due to delayed presentation, inadequate or delayed fluid resuscitation, difficulty of diagnosis and technical problems in repair. A case of the inferior vena cava injury encountered after abdominal stab injury with about 4cm vertical tear of infrarenal vena cava, survived due to immediate transportation, appropriate and successful perioperative fluid and blood resuscitation, prompt surgical management with a team approach and critical post-operative surgical management.

British Journal of Surgery

Background The Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measur... more Background The Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation. Methods This was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling a...

Burns & Trauma, 2016

BackgroundBurn injuries are a serious problem worldwide, with most occurrences in low- and middle... more BackgroundBurn injuries are a serious problem worldwide, with most occurrences in low- and middle-income countries. Depending on the extent of injury, burn victims are faced with the challenges of fitting into society due to complications such as extensive scarring and contractures. The current study seeks to determine whether epidemiological studies of burn patients can provide guidelines to enhance burn prevention among the Ghanaian population.MethodsData from the Burns Registry of the Burns Intensive Care Unit (BICU) of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) was obtained. Data on sex, age, aetiology, % total body surface area (TBSA), and admission outcomes from May 1, 2009, to April 30, 2013, were retrieved for a total of 487 patients during this period.ResultsData on burn admissions comprising 263 (54.0 %) males and 224 (46.0 %) females were obtained from the Burns Registry. Children 0–10 years were the most affected age group. The yearly mean % TBSA ranged from 24.74 % to 35.07 ...

Journal of Herbal Medicine

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases are a public health burden for developing countries like Ghana. ... more Abstract Cardiovascular diseases are a public health burden for developing countries like Ghana. Scientifically validated herbal medicines are viable options in the prevention and treatment of such conditions. In this study, a randomised controlled trial involving 15 healthy subjects identified with hyperlipidaemia was undertaken. Treatment comprised a traditional Ghanaian herbal formulation prepared from the leaves and twines of Momordica charantia (MCP-1) with a standard dietary guideline. A control group was managed using a standard dietary guideline alone. In all, 15 subjects completed the study: MCP-1 had 10 subjects and 5 subjects in the control group. At the termination of the trial after 8 weeks, reduction in lipoprotein values were recorded for all participants. In the MCP-1 group, triglycerides reduced by 3.46 % compared to 3.37 % for the control while total cholesterol was also reduced by 9.78 % and 9.43 % in the MCP-1 and control groups respectively. High density lipoproteins (HDL) levels increased by 6.92 % for MCP-1 and 3.92 % for the control group. However, these changes were not statistically significant except in the instance of the low-density lipoproteins (LDL-c; CI: -41.24 to -19.76) and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL-c; CI: -26.87 to -8.192). Changes to other disease indices such as blood pressure (BP), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and body mass index (BMI) were also not different between the 2 groups. MCP-1 was well tolerated among the subjects and was shown to safe from the biochemical and haematological indicators. The product, MCP-1 has therefore been shown to be a safe and prospective anti-lipidaemic agent.

The Lancet Global Health

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (... more Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.

Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics, 2021

Background Prostate cancer (PCa) has one of the highest heritability of all major cancers, where ... more Background Prostate cancer (PCa) has one of the highest heritability of all major cancers, where the genetic contribution has been documented, and knowledge about the molecular genetics of the disease is increasing. However, the extent and aspects to which genetic variants explain PCa heritability in Africa are limited. Main body In this review, we summarize studies that highlight how identified genetic variants explain differences in PCa incidence and presentation across ethnic groups. We also present the knowledge gaps in PCa genetics in Africa and why Africa represents an untapped potential ground for genetic studies on PCa. A significant number of genome-wide association studies, linkage, and fine-mapping analyses have been conducted globally, and that explains 30–33% of PCa heritability. The African ancestry has a significant mention in PCa incidence and presentation. To date, the candidate gene approach has replicated 23 polymorphisms including dinucleotide and trinucleotide r...

The data-set consists of CRC patients' demographic data, clinico_pathological characteristics... more The data-set consists of CRC patients' demographic data, clinico_pathological characteristics, and quality of life data