First results from the lessons learnt from the deployment of the Med Safety App for reporting adverse drug reactions in Ghana.

Background: The use of mobile phone technology for reporting adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in pharmacovigilance is relatively new.The objective of the study was to explore challenges and facilitators for the use of the Med Safety App for reporting ADRs in Ghana. A comparative evaluation of ADR reports received through the app and the standard paper-based form was also conducted. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a purposive sampling technique. The study population was persons who had downloaded the Med Safety App launched in Ghana 18 months before the study. Results: Of the 350 participants, 121 provided answers to the questionnaire sent as a Google form, representing a response rate of 34.6%.Ninety-five (78.5%) of the participants were healthcare professionals, and the remaining were patients. Seventy-five (64.7%) of the participants were using the app after initial installation because they thought it had helpful features. However, only 33 (27.3%) participants used the app to report ADRs, and of these, seven (21.2%) participants indicated that they would continue to use the app because it was easier than the other means of reporting ADRs. Most of the respondents, 109 (94%), indicated that they would recommend the app to someone else. There were some differences between the reports received through the app and between the paper-based Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) 1 form and the app, which warrant further exploration. Conclusion: Most participants indicated that the app is a useful tool and easy to use, and they were satisfied with the features of the app. Given that only just under one-third of participants had used the app to report ADRs, more time and training may be required to fully evaluate the feasibility of the use of the app going forward. The findings will help improve introduction of the app in other countries.

Determinants of Use of Biotherapeutics in sub-Saharan Africa.

Biologic drugs are reshaping clinical practice in various disciplines, even while access to them is imbalanced across global settings. In sub-Saharan Africa, biotherapeutics have potential roles to play in the treatment of a range of conditions that include infectious and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). However, the literature is scarce on guidance for addressing local access challenges, including technical, regulatory, affordability, and other healthcare delivery aspects. This article aims to assess fundamental determinants of use of biologic medicines in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose is to inform strategic actions of scientists, physicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders that are working to improve access to innovative therapies in low resource parts of the world.

Observation of unphosphorylated STAT3 core protein binding to target dsDNA by PEMSA and X-ray crystallography.

The STAT3 transcription factor plays a central role in a wide range of cancer types where it is over-expressed. Previously, phosphorylation of this protein was thought to be a prerequisite for direct binding to DNA. However, we have now shown complete binding of a purified unphosphorylated STAT3 (uSTAT3) core directly to M67 DNA, the high affinity STAT3 target DNA sequence, by a protein electrophoretic mobility shift assay (PEMSA). Binding to M67 DNA was inhibited by addition of increasing concentrations of a phosphotyrosyl peptide. X-ray crystallography demonstrates one mode of binding that is similar to that known for the STAT3 core phosphorylated at Y705.