Background: The occurrence of fetal death poses a significant challenge for obstetric care providers. Viruses are the primary concern, followed by bacteria and protozoa associated with infections during pregnancy. Among protozoal infections, toxoplasmosis is reported to have a high incidence and is one of the pivotal reasons for fetal mortality. Thereby, the present analysis aims to investigate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among pregnant women experiencing a bad obstetric history. Methodology: The current investigation was a prospective study carried out in the Department of Microbiology over a period of 1 year and 6 months. In this study, overall 120 patients were included. Venous blood was collected from the patients, labeled, and centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min. Two tests were performed for the detection of T. gondii, i.e., NovaLisa Toxoplasma gondii IgM U-capture and NovaLisa T. gondii IgG tests. Results: In the current investigation, the seroprevalence of IgM and IgG antibodies was observed as 5% and 45%, respectively. Total seroprevalence toxoplasmosis was found to be around 51.7%. A higher incidence of seropositive cases of toxoplasmosis was linked to a nonvegetarian diet when compared to a vegetarian diet. Conclusion: Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was found to be 51.7% which indicates that, T. gondii infection has an important role in the adverse fetal outcome in pregnant women.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a recognized risk factor for cognitive decline and dementia, but the mechanisms linking glycemic dysregulation to brain health remain incompletely understood. Glycated hemoglobin captures long-term average glycaemia but fails to reflect acute fluctuations or hypoglycemia, both of which may contribute to cognitive impairment. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) provides new metrics such as Time-in-Range (TIR), yet their relationship with cognitive outcomes is only beginning to be explored. We conducted a systematic review of studies published between January 2020 and August 2025 that investigated associations between TIR, hypoglycemia, and cognitive outcomes in older adults with T2DM. Searches across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Cochrane yielded seven eligible studies, including two observational cohorts, three randomized controlled trials, one narrative review, and one study applying digital biomarkers. Populations spanned Japan, China, Ireland, the United States, and multinational cohorts, with sample sizes ranging from 120 to nearly 5,000 participants. Preliminary findings suggested that higher TIR was associated with better cognitive screening performance and preserved brain connectivity, whereas recurrent hypoglycemia and lower TIR were linked with poorer outcomes. However, considerable heterogeneity in study designs, exposure definitions, cognitive assessments, and follow-up durations, together with the small number of studies, limited the certainty of evidence. In conclusion, CGM-derived metrics such as TIR and hypoglycemia show potential relevance to cognitive health in older adults with T2DM, but current evidence is sparse and hypothesis generating. Larger, standardized, and longitudinal studies are required before clinical recommendations can be made.
Background: Building a robust competitive strategy is the focal point for most contemporary businesses. Therefore, to succeed in the current turbulent environment corporate entities require a great deal of strategic management capabilities. Strategic management entails a systematic process of identifying an organization’s internal and external factors, setting optimal goals, and developing, evaluating, and implementing strategies to achieve these goals. The main objective of the study was to determine the effects of strategic management practices (SMP) on health Service delivery in public hospitals in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. Methodology: The study used a cross-sectional study where a quantitative research approach and explanatory design were employed. The study was analyzed using the statistical software Social Sciences Statistics Package (version 26), and a sample size of 85 respondents was selected using stratified and simple random techniques, ensuring that the respondents participated willingly and based on their availability. Results: Majority (52.9%) of the participants were males while the age bracket 26–35 dominated (44.7%). The respondents agreed that there was participation of the internal stakeholders in formulating the strategic plans (M = 4, standard deviation [SD] = 1), agreed that the macro environment forces such as inflation, unemployment, political instability affect their planning process (M = 4, SD = 1) but disagreed, there were high rate of competition in this industry (M = 2, SD = 1). In addition, the respondents were unsure whether the outputs of the strategies and plans were evaluated in terms of strategic controlling (M = 3, SD = 1). Conclusion: The study found that strategic planning, strategic controlling, and strategy implementation had a significant effect on health service delivery. The study also found that management commitment significantly moderates the relationship between SMP and health service delivery. Thus, the study concluded that SMP and management commitment are significant predictors of health service delivery.
Visual acuity assessment is a fundamental clinical skill in ophthalmology and serves as an essential tool for the early detection of visual impairment and refractive errors. Despite its importance, many undergraduate medical students demonstrate limited confidence and competence in accurately performing visual acuity testing. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured skill-based training module designed to improve the proficiency of Phase III MBBS students in visual acuity assessment. The module incorporated interactive demonstrations, supervised hands-on practice sessions, and real-patient assessments to facilitate experiential learning. Student performance was evaluated using pre- and post-training assessments, and the outcomes were analyzed using a paired t-test. In addition, learner perceptions and satisfaction were assessed through structured feedback questionnaires. The module’s effectiveness was evaluated using Levels 1 (Reaction) and 2 (Learning) of Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model. Following completion of the training, students demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge and skills related to visual acuity testing. The mean test score increased from 10.03 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.21–11.62) before training to 11.62 (95% CI: 10.61–12.63) after training (P < 0.005). Participants also reported improved understanding of Snellen chart interpretation, fewer procedural errors, and greater confidence in clinical practice. These findings suggest that structured, skill-based training modules are effective in enhancing core ophthalmic competencies among undergraduate medical students.
