Prevalence and Demographic Distributions of Pre-Eclampsia among Pregnant Women at Ho Teaching Hospital

Background: In Sub-Saharan Africa, pre-eclampsia remains a major health problem contributing to high rates of maternal mortality. Despite this condition having adverse effects on maternal and child health, its prevalence and associated risk factors are still significant, especially in developing countries including Ghana. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and demographic distributions associated with pre-eclampsia among pregnant women at the Ho Teaching Hospital. Methods: A facility-based retrospective study was conducted by reviewing available data or hospital records of pregnant mothers admitted to the labor and maternity wards from January 2018 to December 2020. All pregnant women who were diagnosed with pre-eclampsia within this period were included in the study. The data were collected using a structured checklist. Results: 5609 data on pregnant women from 2018 to 2020 were recorded. Out of the 5609 data recorded, 314 pre-eclampsia cases were recorded giving an overall prevalence of 5.6%. The yearly prevalence for 2018, 2019, and 2020 were 4.6%, 5.6%, and 6.6%, respectively. The most recorded pre-eclampsia cases were seen among women within the age group of 18 - 24 years. The data showed that 112 (35.7%) of the pregnant women who had pre-eclampsia were nulliparous. Pre-eclampsia-associated maternal and fetal complications were;preterm delivery 221 (70.4%), intrauterine fetal death 62 (19.7%), eclampsia 9 (2.9%), HELLP syndrome 5 (1.6%) and maternal death 17 (5.4%). Associated factors of pre-eclampsia were parity, level of education, and occupation (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed a rising trend in the incidence of pre-eclampsia over the years at the Ho Teaching Hospital. Parity, level of education, and occupation were found to be associated with developing pre-eclampsia.

Propofol with Varied Functions: A Potential Therapeutic Opportunity for Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting and Pruritus—A Narrative Review

Background: Despite the advances in anesthetics and non-pharmacological techniques, the prevalence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in all patients remains high. It is one of the most common distressing symptoms that cause dissatisfaction among patients after anesthesia and surgery. A sub-hypnotic dose of propofol has been shown to reduce morphine-induced postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus. This review article will provide sufficient knowledge on the role of propofol in minimizing opioid-induced postoperative nausea, vomiting, and pruritus by providing detailed information on propofol antiemetic and antipruritic effects, as well as discussions based on empirically available data. Method: We conducted a narrative review of the literature published between 1990 and 2023 from a range of databases;PubMed, BioMed Central, Biosis Previews, Nature, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, Springer-Link, and Elsevier. Discussion and Conclusion: The literatures reviewed in this study have demonstrated that propofol may have diverse therapeutic effects including antiemetic and antipruritic. The antiemetic effect of propofol may be an effective therapeutic approach for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. The literature also demonstrated that the use of propofol for sedation during surgery may as well ameliorates opioids induced postoperative pruritus, which may be beneficial to surgical patients. Also, it was demonstrated that prophylactic use of propofol may be an effective way of preventing nausea and vomiting and pruritus during opioid use.

New Approaches to the Prognosis and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer Using Fuzzy Expert Systems

Breast cancer remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating effective early detection and prognosis to enhance patient outcomes. Current diagnostic methods, including mammography and MRI, suffer from limitations such as uncertainty and imprecise data, leading to late-stage diagnoses. To address this, various expert systems have been developed, but many rely on type-1 fuzzy logic and lack mobile-based applications for data collection and feedback to healthcare practitioners. This research investigates the development of an Enhanced Mobile-based Fuzzy Expert system (EMFES) for breast cancer pre-growth prognosis. The study explores the use of type-2 fuzzy logic to enhance accuracy and model uncertainty effectively. Additionally, it evaluates the advantages of employing the python programming language over java for implementation and considers specific risk factors for data collection. The research aims to dynamically generate fuzzy rules, adapting to evolving breast cancer research and patient data. Key research questions focus on the comparative effectiveness of type-2 fuzzy logic, the handling of uncertainty and imprecise data, the integration of mobile-based features, the choice of programming language, and the creation of dynamic fuzzy rules. Furthermore, the study examines the differences between the Mamdani Inference System and the Sugeno Fuzzy Inference method and explores challenges and opportunities in deploying the EMFES on mobile devices. The research identifies a critical gap in existing breast cancer diagnostic systems, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, mobile-enabled, and adaptable solution by developing an EMFES that leverages Type-2 fuzzy logic, the Sugeno Inference Algorithm, Python Programming, and dynamic fuzzy rule generation. This study seeks to enhance early breast cancer detection and ultimately reduce breast cancer-related mortality.

Growth, Development and Yield of Kenaf as Affected by Planting Dates and N Fertilization

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L) consists of various beneficial components like stalks, seeds, leaves, fibers, oils, proteins, allelopathic chemicals, and fiber strands, among other things. Despite the numerous uses of the crop, there is little or no information on optimum agronomic practices such as planting date and N fertilization of the crop in the Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana where the crop is widely cultivated by smallholder farmers. Field experiments were therefore carried out in 2020 and repeated during the 2021 cropping season in the study area. The objective of the study was to determine appropriate planting date and N fertilization for increased kenaf productivity. In each year, the treatments consisted of 3 × 5 factorial combinations of three planting dates (1st July, 7th July and 14th July) and five levels of N (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg/ha) replicated three times. The design of the experiment was a split-plot with the N fertilizer as the main plot and the planting date assigned to sub plot. The results showed that, planting kenaf in early (1st) July or N fertilization at the rate of 60 kg/ha increased plant density, stem height, stem diameter, dry bast and core yields in both cropping seasons.

Potential Risks to the Environment as a Result of Pesticide Handling in the Nanumba-North Municipality, Ghana

The present study deduced the potential risks to the environment as a result of pesticide handling in the Nanumba-North Municipality of the Northern Region of Ghana. Cluster sampling was used to select 30 communities from Nanumba-North Municipality. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling were used respectively to select 7 households from each community and one farmer from each household, giving a sample size of 210 farmers. The instrument used for the study was a questionnaire of respondents. The quantitative data obtained were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The study concluded that 11 types of pesticides are commonly used by the farmers on their fields, with atrazine (22%) being the most commonly used pesticide which is an herbicide, and deltamethrin (1%) was the least used pesticide which is an insecticide. The study, therefore, recommends that appropriate authorities in the area should inculcate means to enlighten farmers on the best way of pesticide utilization that can beef up the ambition of sustainable agricultural production and desirable environmental conditions.

Effects of Maternal Death on Children Living in the Sagnarigu Municipality

Introduction: The greatest effect of maternal mortality is renowned in children aged 2 - 5 months whose mothers had died. Children whose mothers died due to maternal complications were likely to record a higher mortality in infancy compared to children of surviving mothers. Motherless children mostly suffer a lot due to lack of day-to-day care, isolation, lack of motivation as well as economic cost associated with mother’s death. Thus, the purpose of this study was to ascertain the lives of children whose mothers passed away during childbirth at the Sagnarigu Municipality. Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out at the Sagnarigu Municipal. The study recruited 297 respondents. To assess the effects of maternal death on the lives of children, families that experienced maternal death were assessed. The number of pregnancies experienced by the deceased woman, pregnancy-related complaints experienced, determinants of maternal death, number of children alive, and their standard of living were assessed with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Results: The data showed that negligence, illiteracy, poor road access, poverty, ignorance, delays in recognizing the problem, delays in making appropriate decisions, delays in the health facility, delays in giving the appropriate treatments, and traditional beliefs were some of the factors that led to maternal death in the Sagnarigu Municipality. Conclusion: The study concluded that determinants of maternal death in the Sagnarigu Municipal included the following;negligence, illiteracy, poverty, and delays in recognizing the problem. The study findings also demonstrated that the effects of maternal death on children are diverse and cut across different areas of a child’s life including livelihood sustenance, healthcare, education, and emotional and psychological development.

Maize-Soybean Integration for Managing Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth in the Sudan Savannah Zone of Ghana

Field experiments were conducted at Gore near Zebila in Bawku West District of the Upper East Region of Ghana during the 2015 and 2016 cropping season on four Striga tolerant maize varieties in maize/soybean integration alongside maize monocrop as a means of managing the devastating effects of Striga. The study determined the relative Striga tolerance of the maize varieties in terms of yield and yield components, as well as the most effective intercrop for the reduction of Striga seed bank. The treatment differences were not significant (p < 0.05) in affecting plant height, plant population, leaf area index (LAI), Striga count and Striga biomass. Similarly, yield components of maize such as height of cob attachment, cob length, cob weight, 100 seed weight, grain yield, as well as straw weight were not significantly affected by the treatments. There was no relativity of Striga stress tolerance in terms of yield and yield components of the four maize varieties. All the entries efficiently tolerated the biotic stress of Striga and further supported growth and grain yield equally. There was reduced S. hermonthica seed bank production in the soil in both cropping systems. The four maize varieties are proven tolerant materials to Striga infestation and are therefore recommended for long-term Striga seed bank depletion in the study area.

Analgesic Efficacy of Intrathecal Bupivacaine with or without Morphine in Lower Limb Orthopedic Surgery. A Comparative Study

Background: Lower limb orthopaedic surgeries are commonly associated with moderate to severe postoperative pain. Adequate pain relief is essential for patients undergoing such procedures, as uncontrolled pain can lead to delayed recovery, prolonged hospitalization, and increased morbidity. Intrathecal administration of bupivacaine, a long-acting local anesthetic, has been shown to provide effective analgesia after lower limb orthopaedic surgery. However, the duration of analgesia with bupivacaine alone is limited, and the addition of an opioid, such as morphine, can prolong the duration of analgesia. Objective: The objective of this study was to document the comparative effect of adding morphine to intrathecal bupivacaine or only intrathecal bupivacaine for lower limb trauma orthopedic surgeries in terms of onset of action, duration of analgesia, pain severity, and side effects. Methods: This was a comparative longitudinal study design conducted at the Orthopaedic Unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit 60 patients. A standard structured questionnaire was also used to collect data on the socio-demographics, and clinical features of patients, drug used,side effects and severity of pain at 24,48 and 72 hrs after surgery. Results: Co-administration of intrathecal bupivacaine with morphine produced good and long-lasting postoperative analgesia with a mean time of 1004.25 ± 310.43 minutes, whiles using only bupivacaine produced shorter postoperative analgesia with a mean time of 294.75 ± 195.53 minutes. The p-value p values of p = 0.635 and p = 0.689 respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that co-administration of intrathecal bupivacaine with morphine emerged as a better option for postoperative pain management after lower limb orthopedic surgeries as compared to administering only bupivacaine regarding the duration of analgesia. Milder side effects like pruritus, nausea, and vomiting were seen in group B than in group A and were promptly well managed to the patient’s satisfaction.

A New Image Watermarking Scheme Using Genetic Algorithm and Residual Numbers with Discrete Wavelet Transform

Transmission of data over the internet has become a critical issue as a result of the advancement in technology, since it is possible for pirates to steal the intellectual property of content owners. This paper presents a new digital watermarking scheme that combines some operators of the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the Residue Number (RN) System (RNS) to perform encryption on an image, which is embedded into a cover image for the purposes of watermarking. Thus, an image watermarking scheme uses an encrypted image. The secret image is embedded in decomposed frames of the cover image achieved by applying a three-level Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). This is to ensure that the secret information is not exposed even when there is a successful attack on the cover information. Content creators can prove ownership of the multimedia content by unveiling the secret information in a court of law. The proposed scheme was tested with sample data using MATLAB2022 and the results of the simulation show a great deal of imperceptibility and robustness as compared to similar existing schemes.

A Modified Lagrange Method for Solving Convex Quadratic Optimization Problems

In this paper, a modified version of the Classical Lagrange Multiplier method is developed for convex quadratic optimization problems. The method, which is evolved from the first order derivative test for optimality of the Lagrangian function with respect to the primary variables of the problem, decomposes the solution process into two independent ones, in which the primary variables are solved for independently, and then the secondary variables, which are the Lagrange multipliers, are solved for, afterward. This is an innovation that leads to solving independently two simpler systems of equations involving the primary variables only, on one hand, and the secondary ones on the other. Solutions obtained for small sized problems (as preliminary test of the method) demonstrate that the new method is generally effective in producing the required solutions.

Preliminary Investigation of Formulated Herbal Ointment Demonstrates Amelioration of Excision Wound in Experimental Rabbit Model Compared with Silver Sulfadiazine

In light of the use of Lannea barteri in the management of diverse illnesses and treatment of wounds in traditional medicine, the current study was conducted to assess the wound-healing efficacy of crude aqueous extract of the stem bark of Lannea barteri and its shea butter formulated ointment using an excision wound model in the rabbit. The herbal ointment (5%, w/w) exhibited a significant wound healing activity, showing 99.9% ± 0.3% wound contraction at the end of the experiment (24th day). There was no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the 5% (w/w) herbal ointment compared with Silver Sulphadiazine cream (positive control), which showed a 97.8% ± 1.0% rate of excision wound contraction on day 24. Compared with the negative control group (administered with only shea butter), the wound healing activity of the ointment was significant (p Lannea barteri for the treatment of wounds and demonstrates that shea butter usage as a base in formulating an herbal ointment might aid in topical application for wound repair and regeneration, as well as the potential for enhanced wound healing.

Using Residual Estimators to Detect Outliers and Potential Controlling Observations in Structural Equation Modelling: QQ Plot Approach

The structural equation model (SEM) concept is generally influenced by the presence of outliers and controlling variables. To a very large extent, this could have consequential effects on the parameters and the model fitness. Though previous researches have studied outliers and controlling observations from various perspectives including the use of box plots, normal probability plots, among others, the use of uniform horizontal QQ plot is yet to be explored. This study is, therefore, aimed at applying uniform QQ plots to identifying outliers and possible controlling observations in SEM. The results showed that all the three methods of estimators manifest the ability to identify outliers and possible controlling observations in SEM. It was noted that the Anderson-Rubin estimator of QQ plot showed a more efficient or visual display of spotting outliers and possible controlling observations as compared to the other methods of estimators. Therefore, this paper provides an efficient way identifying outliers as it fragments the data set.

New Reverse Conversion for Four-Moduli Set and Five-Moduli Set

Most reverse conversions in Residue Number Systems (RNS) are based on the Chinese Remainder Theorem (CRT) and the Mixed Radix Conversion (MRC). The complexity of the circuitry of the CRT is high due to the large modulo-M operation. The MRC has a simple circuitry but it’s a sequential process in nature. The purpose of this research is to obtain an efficient reverse conversion method to reduce the computational overhead found in the conventional reverse conversion algorithms. In this paper, new algorithms for reverse conversion in RNS for four-moduli set and five-moduli set have been proposed and their correctness evaluated. Numerical evaluations to ascertain the correctness and simplicity of the algorithm have been presented. These algorithms have fewer multiplicative index operations than those in the conventional CRT and MRC. The large modulo-M operation has been eliminated which reduces the computational overhead.