Roland Osei Saahene - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Roland Osei Saahene

Regular and Young Investigator Award Abstracts

Research Square (Research Square), Jul 31, 2019

Background: Head and neck Tumour (HNT) are tumour of the paranasal sinuses, the salivary glands a... more Background: Head and neck Tumour (HNT) are tumour of the paranasal sinuses, the salivary glands and the upper aero¬digestive tract. EGF can stimulate cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell growth, migration, and inhibit apoptosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of EGFR in head and neck tumour. Method: EGFR expression was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining on tissue samples from a consecutive series of 150 head and neck tumour patients who underwent tumor resections between 2014 and 2018. Results: The relationship between EGFR expressions, clinicopathological factors, was investigated. qRT-PCR results showed that the EGFR expression was high in tumor tissue samples than in the normal head and neck tissues. High and low EGFR was compared with ages ≤40,>40 in the head and neck cancer of p-value 0.03. There was a signi cant difference between the histological differentiation of the malignant tumour with p values of 0.001, when well, moderate and poor was compared. There was a signi cant difference (p-value 0.012) between the I-II and III-IV tumour stages when the high level and low expression of EGFR were compared. Conclusion: Our data suggest that EGFR plays an important role in head and neck tumour progression and that its expression will provide baseline data to facilitate identi cation of new molecular targeting therapeutics.

Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences, Jun 24, 2020

Heavy metal toxicity contributes to liver and kidney dysfunction and damage through oxidative str... more Heavy metal toxicity contributes to liver and kidney dysfunction and damage through oxidative stress mechanisms; however, from previous studies, extracts from the Vernonia amygdalina plant have shown to possess potent antioxidant properties. is study was aimed at uncovering the potential ameliorative effects of ethanolic extract from Vernonia amygdalina plant in heavy metal toxicityinduced liver and kidney dysfunction. For this study, 44 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups. e control group received a basal diet and water only while the treatment groups received varied dosages of the heavy metals. e copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) groups had five subgroups. e Cu only and Cu recovery subgroups were administered with 16 mg/kg Cu intraperitoneally daily for 14 days, whereas the Pb only and Pb recovery subgroups were administered with 13 mg/kg Pb intraperitoneally daily for 14 days. Subsequently, the Pb only and Cu only subgroups were sacrificed. e three Pb and Cu treatment subgroups received oral graded doses (100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) of the extract for 21 days. e Cu recovery and Pb recovery subgroups were left to recover for 21 days. After histological examinations, the Pb and Cu pretreatment groups showed evidence of focal necrosis accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltrations. e serum levels of liver biomarkers AST, ALT, and GGT, as well as urea and creatinine, were significantly elevated (P � 0.01) following copper and lead exposure. Upon posttreatment of the rats with the extract, the physiological levels of the biomarkers were restored and tissue architecture of the organs improved. us, the ethanolic extract of Vernonia amygdalina is capable of ameliorating the effects of heavy metal toxicity through potent antioxidative mechanisms.

Medical Principles and Practice

Objectives: Nrf2/BACH1/HO-1 proteins have been implicated in the development and progression of t... more Objectives: Nrf2/BACH1/HO-1 proteins have been implicated in the development and progression of tumors. However, their clinical relevance in breast cancer remains unclear and understudied. This study evaluated Nrf2/BACH1/HO-1 protein expression and its relationship with age, tumor grade, tumor stage, TNM, ER, PR, HER2, and histologic type. Methods: 114 female breast cancer and 30 noncancerous tissues were evaluated for Nrf2/BACH1/HO-1 protein expression using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The relationships between the expression and clinicopathologic factors were assessed using the χ2 test. Results: 74% of the cancerous samples had high Nrf2 protein expression, and 26% of them had low Nrf2 protein expression. Regarding the non-cancer samples, 43% had high Nrf2 protein expression and 57% had low Nrf2 protein expression (p < 0.002). 39% of the cancerous samples had high BACH1 protein expression, and 61% had low BACH1 protein expression. For the non-cancer samples, 80% had ...

Health Science Reports

Background: Plasmodium falciparum and Hookworm infections are prevalent in West Africa and they c... more Background: Plasmodium falciparum and Hookworm infections are prevalent in West Africa and they cause iron deficiency anemia and protein malnutrition in Children. Immune response of these parasites interact and their interactions could have repercussions on vaccine development and efficacy. The current goal of hookworm eradication lies on vaccination. We evaluated the effect of P. falciparum coinfection and albendazole treatment on naturally acquired antibody profile against hookworm L3 stage larvae antigen. Methods: In a longitudinal study, 40 individuals infected with Necator americanus only, 63 participants infected with N. americanus and P. falciparum, and 36 nonendemic controls (NECs) were recruited. The study was done in the Kintampo North Metropolis of Ghana. Stool and blood samples were taken for laboratory analyses. Serum samples were obtained before hookworm treatment and 3 weeks after treatment. Results: The malaria-hookworm (N. americanus and P. falciparum) coinfected subjects had significantly higher levels of IgE (β = 0.30, 95% CI = [0.12, 0.48], p = 0.023) and

Kidney International Reports, 2022

Biotechnic & Histochemistry, 2018

Breast cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm in women worldwide, and the treatment regimen... more Breast cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm in women worldwide, and the treatment regimens currently available are far from optimal. Targeted therapy, based on molecular typing of breast cancer, is the most precise form of treatment, and CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) is one of the molecular markers used in targeted therapies. As a member of the seven transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor family, CXCR2 and its associated ligands have been increasingly implicated in tumor-associated processes. These processes include proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, chemoresistance, and stemness and phenotypic maintenance of cancer stem cells. Thus, the inhibition of CXCR2 or its downstream signaling pathways could significantly attenuate tumor progression. Therefore, studies on the biological functions of CXCR2 and its association with neoplasia may help improve the prognosis of breast cancer. Furthermore, the targeting of CXCR2 could supplement the present clinical approaches of breast cancer treatment strategies. The present review discusses the structures and mechanisms of CXCR2 and its ligands. Additionally, the contribution of CXCR2 to the development of breast cancer and its potential therapeutic benefits are also discussed. Contents 1. Introduction 2. Structure and interactions of the chemokine CXC and its receptor CXCR2 3. Signaling pathways of CXCR2 activation 4. Biological characteristics of CXCR2 in breast cancer 5. Preclinical and clinical evidence of targeting CXCR2 in breast cancer 6. Conclusions and outlooks

Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals, 2018

BACKGROUND Paeonol, a phenolic component from the root bark of Paeonia moutan, has been identifie... more BACKGROUND Paeonol, a phenolic component from the root bark of Paeonia moutan, has been identified to possess antitumor effects. However, the effect of paeonol and the mechanism of CXCL4/CXCR3-B signals in paeonol-induced breast cancer cell remain unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS After MDA-MB-231 cells were pretreated with paeonol or DMSO, the proliferation activity was detected by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide), Hoechst, Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and Annexin-V/propidium iodide staining flow cytometry. Western blot and immunohistochemistry of human breast cancer and noncancerous tissues were performed to determine the molecular alteration of CXCL4/CXCR3-B signals. RESULTS Compared with the control, paeonol-treated breast cancer cells had low proliferation activity and high apoptotic index, indicating that paeonol induces breast cancer cell apoptosis. Western blot and immunohistochemistry showed that paeonol increased CXCR3-B signal, downregulated CXCL4, heme oxygenase (HO-1) with a corresponding increased BACH1, and decreased nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). CONCLUSIONS Thus, CXCL4/CXCR3-B may be involved in the mechanism of apoptosis induced by paeonol in breast cancer cells by regulating the expression of BACH1 and Nrf2 to downregulating HO-1 and promote apoptosis. Therefore, the authors suggest paeonol has a significant growth inhibitory effect on breast cancer cells, which may be related to the induction of apoptosis.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, 2019

Background/aim: Hexarelin is a synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide that exerts cardioprote... more Background/aim: Hexarelin is a synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide that exerts cardioprotective effects. However, its cardioprotective effect against heart failure (HF) is yet to be explained. This study investigated the therapeutic role of hexarelin and the mechanisms underlying its cardioprotective effects against coronary artery ligation (CAL)-induced HF in rats. Materials and methods: Rats with four weeks of permanent CAL, induced myocardial infarction, and HF were randomly separated into four groups: the control group (Ctrl), sham group (Sham), hexarelin treatment group (HF + Hx), and heart failure group (HF). The rats were treated with subcutaneous injection of hexarelin (100 µg/kg) in the treatment group or saline in the other groups twice a day for 30 days. Left ventricular (LV) function, oxidative stress, apoptosis, molecular analyses, and cardiac structural and pathological changes in rats were assessed. Results: The treatment of HF rats with hexarelin significantly induced the upregulation of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression and inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) to significantly improve LV function, ameliorate myocardial remodeling, and reduce oxidative stress. Conclusion: These findings indicate that hexarelin attenuates CAL-induced HF in rats by ameliorating myocardial remodeling, LV dysfunction, and oxidative stress via the upmodulation of PTEN signaling and downregulation of the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

IntechOpen eBooks, May 17, 2022

Macrophages are critical effector cells of the innate immune system that play central roles in th... more Macrophages are critical effector cells of the innate immune system that play central roles in the initiation and resolution of inflammation. They mediate resistance in response to pathogens and “danger” signals mainly through phagocytosis. Macrophages and other cells co-operate and complement one another in host defense. As innate immune cells, they also contribute to the initiation of adaptive immune responses. Therefore, appropriate activation of macrophages would aid effective immune response in curbing many infections. This chapter explores how the interaction and roles of macrophages influence outcomes during infections. It is expected that understanding these fundamental mechanisms may help stimulate research to exploit macrophages for therapeutic benefits.

American journal of hypertension, Jan 15, 2018

Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been implicated in the progression of cardiovascular disease, inc... more Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been implicated in the progression of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension. However, the role of TLR4 in the development of prehypertension is uncertain. Prehypertensive rats were treated with 8% salt for 12 weeks to induce prehypertension. These rats were then given either TAK-242 selective TLR4 blocker, or vehicle by bilateral micro-injection to the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Blood pressure and renal sympathetic nerve activity were recorded. PVN expression of TLR4, Myd88, NF-κB p65, pro-inflammation cytokines (PICs), IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, NOX2, NOX4, Cu/Zn SOD level, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and 67 kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67) were tested to determine the influence of TLR4 blockade. TLR4 expression increased significantly in the PVN of high salt groups with a corresponding increase in ROS and PICs. TLR4 blockade significantly reduced the signaling molecules downstream TLR4 and the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, decr...

Journal of neuroinflammation, Jan 24, 2018

Inflammation has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease. We determined whet... more Inflammation has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular disease. We determined whether nod-like receptor with pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) involved in the process of prehypertension, central blockade of NLRP3 decreased inflammation reaction, regulated neurohormonal excitation, and delayed the progression of prehypertension. Prehypertensive rats were induced by 8% salt diet. The rats on high-salt diet for 1 month were administered a specific NLRP3 blocker in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) for 4 weeks. ELISA, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry were used to measure NLRP3 cascade proteins, pro-inflammation cytokines (PICs), chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), C-X-C chemokine receptor type 3 (CXCR3), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), neurotransmitters, and leukocytes count detection, respectively. NLRP3 expression in PVN was increased significantly in prehypertensive rats, accompanied by increased number of microglia, CD4, CD8T ...

A Thesis submitted to the Department of Clinical Microbiology Kwame Nkrumah University of Science... more A Thesis submitted to the Department of Clinical Microbiology Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE , School of Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, 2009.

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM, 2021

Phyllanthus urinaria has been characterized for its several biological and medicinal effects such... more Phyllanthus urinaria has been characterized for its several biological and medicinal effects such as antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and immunoregulation. In recent years, Phyllanthus urinaria has demonstrated potential to modulate the activation of critical pathways such as NF-κB, P13K/AKT, and ERK/JNK/P38/MAPKs associated with cell growth, proliferation, metastasis, and apoptotic cell death. To date, there is much evidence indicating that modulation of cellular signaling pathways is a promising approach to consider in drug development and discovery. Thus, therapies that can regulate cancer-related pathways are longed-for in anticancer drug discovery. This review's focus is to provide comprehensive knowledge on the anticancer mechanisms of Phyllanthus urinaria through the regulation of NF-κB, P13K/AKT, and ERK/JNK/P38/MAPKs signaling pathways. Thus, the review summarizes both in vitro and in vivo effects of Phyllanthus urinaria extracts or bioactive con...

Advances in Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Journal of Cancer Epidemiology

Introduction. Head and neck tumors (HNT) are tumors that normally occur at the head and neck regi... more Introduction. Head and neck tumors (HNT) are tumors that normally occur at the head and neck region of the body. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been found to be highly expressed in breast and other tumors; therefore, there is the need to investigate the level of EGFR expression among patients with head and neck tumors in Ghana. Method. The level of EGFR expression was determined in head and neck tumor and control head and neck tissues with quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis. Results. The level of EGFR expressions was high in tumor tissues than in the control tissues. There was a significant difference of p value 0.025 among the ages >40 and ≤ 40 when the high and low level of EGFR was compared in the head and neck malignant tumor. The area under the curve for the high expression of EGFR among the malignant head and neck tumors was 0.901 with a specificity of 86.4%. Conclusion. EGFR can serve as a prognostic marker in monitoring patients with...