Tenofovir-based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is one of the preferred first-line therapies in the management of HIV 1 infection. Ghana has since 2014 adopted this recommendation; however there is paucity of scientific data that reflects the safety and efficacy of the tenofovir-based therapy compared to zidovudine in the Ghanaian health system. This study sought to assess the comparative immune reconstitution potential between tenofovir and zidovudine-based HAART regimens, which includes lamivudine and efavirenz in combination therapy. It also aimed to investigate the adverse drug reactions/events (ADREs) associated with pharmacotherapy with these agents in a total of 106 HAART naïve HIV patients. The study included 80 patients in the tenofovir cohort while 26 patients were on the zidovudine regimen. The occurrence of HIV comorbidities profile was assessed at diagnosis and throughout the study period. The baseline CD4 T cells count of the participants was also assessed at diagnosis and repeated at a median period of five months (range 4–6 months), after commencing treatment with either tenofovir- or zidovudine-based HAART. After five months of the HAART, the tenofovir cohort recorded higher CD4 T cell count change from baseline compared to the zidovudine cohort (p < 0.0001). The patients on the tenofovir-based HAART and female sex however appeared to be associated with more multiple ADREs.

Non-renewable energy sources have been found to pose various environmental problems such as greenhouse gas emissions as they tend to deplete at faster rates. Renewable energy could, however, replace the conventional sources of energy such as fossil fuel and oil, serving as an alternative source of energy. Biological processes such as fermentation and anaerobic digestion for the past decades have given rise to the production of biofuels such as biogas and bioethanol. The inchoate gain in the shift for a renewable source of energy is that the feedstock is often a by-product, a residue or waste product of other processes without the competition of arable land. One of such feedstock is sugarcane bagasse. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) test is generally used to determine the possible methane that can be obtained from feedstocks. This study, however,aims at optimizing the anaerobic digestion of sugarcane bagasse with cow dungin a BMP test and controlled at mesophilic temperature (35 ± 2). Biodigester labelled as 1A (containing only the inoculum) was used as the control for the experiment, biodigester 2A (with 1:1 feedstock to inoculum ratio), biodigester 1C (without purification but a 1:3 feedstock to inoculum ratio) and biodigester 1D (with purification after a 1:3 feedstock to inoculum ratio) were reported in this study. Methane production was measured for a retention time (days) of 21 days using a 1000ml Schott bottles as biodigesters in batch mode. Sugarcanebagassewas characterized in the batch reactor to enable the inoculum activity and the biogas volume reported during the 21 days. The highest yield of methane was found to be 78% whiles the cumulative average biogas yield was 167mlfor the 21 days. However, the use of chemical absorption techniques for carbon dioxide removal in anaerobic digestion for biogas production is recommended as a promising factor.

Hypertension and its related disorders have a high mortality as well as morbidity and require strict adherence to medications in order to mitigate these consequences. Sexual dysfunction is prevalent among patients with hypertension and can either be attributed to the disease progression or as a result of antihypertensive medications. Most patients report the symptoms after initiation therapy and sometimes leads to a spurious association with antihypertensive drugs. However, most drugs in the antihypertensive classes have been associated with sexual dysfunction in both men and women. The most implicated drugs are diuretics, beta-blockers, and centrally acting agents while angiotensin modulating drugs have proved to improve upon erectile dysfunction. The older generation of antihypertensive medications tends to have a negative impact on sexual performance. Females experience sexual dysfunction associated with hypertension and its treatment, but this is grossly under-reported compared to their male counterparts. The incidence in females is higher compared to men and it is sometimes erroneously considered as part of the post-menopausal period rather than hypertension. The impact of medications on sexual dysfunction has somewhat produced contrasting results with some studies showing an association with medications and others proving otherwise. Clinicians need to be aware of the impact of sexual dysfunction among hypertensive patients in order to make an informed decision regarding dosage and choice of medications while keeping target blood pressure in mind.

Hypertensive heart disease is the commonest cardiac complication resulting from longstanding hypertension. Hypertensive patients inevitably develop hypertensive heart disease but the intensity and progression vary. Poor control is associated with a fast progression and worse outcome while the outcome of adequately controlled blood pressure is antithetical to the former. Various biochemical mediators have been implicated in hypertension and its related complications. Angiotensin-II is involved in both hypertension and remodeling of the cardiac and vascular architecture. The focus on Chymase and its inhibitors in modulating angiotensin-II levels have cast some doubts on the efficacy of solely using angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

Water contamination exists in various forms with toxicants either deep within the water bed or within the external environment. The degree of toxicity depends on the level of exposure which depends on the quantity of contaminants, their half-lives, reactiveness and its degree of accumulation. This study aimed at assessing the physicochemical properties of domestic water such as pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids and total suspended solids. The ions determined were potassium, sodium, calcium, chloride and fluoride. Among the numerous heavy metals in extant within the environment, arsenic, cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, iron and aluminium were also assessed. The water samples were collected from twenty (20) dug-out wells from nine (9) communities which were in proximity to a mining site. A CETAC ASX-520 autosampler was used for the sample introduction. The physicochemical properties were assessed with Hanna Benchtop pH/EC/TDS meter. Ions were measured using the Hach Lange Spectrometer. The heavy metals were analyzed using the thermo Scientific iCAP 7400 ICP-OES Duo. The measured samples were compared with the World Health Organization set guidelines. All the physicochemical properties exhibited derangements within some samples except for total dissolved solids. The results of the arsenic, cadmium, copper, zinc contaminants were found below the WHO acceptable limits while lead, iron and aluminium had some samples with levels above the acceptable limits. All the ions measured were within acceptable limits. Although, most heavy metals were within acceptable limits, however, bio-accumulation from long term exposure can lead to toxicity.