Fucoidan's Molecular Targets: A Comprehensive Review of Its Unique and Multiple Targets Accounting for Promising Bioactivities Supported by In Silico Studies.

Fucoidan is a class of multifunctional polysaccharides derived from marine organisms. Its unique and diversified physicochemical and chemical properties have qualified them for potential and promising pharmacological uses in human diseases, including inflammation, tumors, immunity disorders, kidney diseases, and diabetes. Physicochemical and chemical properties are the main contributors to these bioactivities. The previous literature has attributed such activities to its ability to target key enzymes and receptors involved in potential disease pathways, either directly or indirectly, where the anionic sulfate ester groups are mainly involved in these interactions. These findings also confirm the advantageous pharmacological uses of sulfated versus non-sulfated polysaccharides. The current review shall highlight the molecular targets of fucoidans, especially enzymes, and the subsequent responses via either the upregulation or downregulation of mediators' expression in various tissue abnormalities. In addition, in silico studies will be applied to support the previous findings and show the significant contributors. The current review may help in understanding the molecular mechanisms of fucoidan. Also, the findings of this review may be utilized in the design of specific oligomers inspired by fucoidan with the purpose of treating life-threatening human diseases effectively.

Evaluation of hematological indices of childhood illnesses in Tamale Metropolis of Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Although hematological indices cannot in entirety be used to diagnose diseases or defects, the appropriate interpretation of these indices could complement diagnostics such as microscopy and serology for numerous illnesses in children. This study sought to evaluate distinct hematological indices characterizing different childhood illnesses. METHODS: Full blood counts from 150 children (age range from 1 to 15 year) presenting different disease conditions at the Tamale Central Hospital were assessed. The hematological indices were compared between disease categories, and relationships between disease indicators were determined. RESULTS: The prevalence of the diagnosed childhood illness were: 50.7% malaria, 20.0% diarrhea, 13.3% typhoid fever, 10.0% Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), and 6.0% malaria-typhoid co-infection. Fever was diagnosed in a majority (66.0%) of the children, but was independent of each disease group, (χ2 = 9.18, P = .057). Of the 24 hematological indices analyzed, eight; red blood cell (RBC) (P < .001), hemoglobin (Hb) (P < .001), mean cell volume (MCV) (P = .002), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) (P < .001; lowest and below normal range for SCD), red cell distribution width (RDW_CV) (P < .001), eosinophil percentage [EOS (%)] (P = .001), eosinophil number [EOS#] (P = .002), and platelets (PLT) (P = .001; lowest for malaria) differed significantly across the different disease groups. Levels of Hb and/or MCV were below the normal reference ranges for most of the diagnosed diseases. In addition, low PLT and MCH were respectively distinct for children with malaria and SCD. CONCLUSION: Hematological indices including Hb, MCV and PLT, or MCH may be useful indices that could incite further diagnostic tests for malaria or SCD among children in Ghana.

A comparative assessment of the glucose monitor (SD Codefree) and auto analyzer (BT-3000) in measuring blood glucose concentration among diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine how well the measurements from a glucometer (SD Codefree) correlated with those from a standard auto analyser (BT-3000) using blood samples from diabetic and non-diabetic patients at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital in Ghana. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 150 randomly selected patients; 100 diabetic patients (4 type 1 and 96 type II) and 50 non diabetic patients. Ante-cubital venous and finger pricked blood samples were obtained from the patients following standard procedures, and blood glucose concentrations were determined using the two methods respectively. RESULTS: Data generated was entered and analysed using SPSS version 20. The mean glucose concentration for the diabetic patients (n = 100) using the glucometer were not significantly different from that of the auto analyser (10.16 ± 3.708 mmol/L vs. 9.458 ± 3.204 mmol/L, p = 0.154), though the glucometer generally overestimated the glucose concentration. Similarly, readings for non-diabetics were comparable between the two methods (5.286 ± 0.477 mmol/L vs. 5.092 ± 0.525 mmol/L, p = 0.057). The correlation between the two methods was good and highly significant (r = 0.862, p < 0.001) with both methods depicting high sensitivity and specificity in measuring blood glucose levels among diabetics as indicated by the ROC curve.