ABSTRACT Dose calibrators are used for accurate measurement of radionuclide activity which is required to achieve the desired efficacy for the best clinical outcome. Observations from assayed activity with Capintec and Comecer dose calibrators at the nuclear medicine department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital have indicated that the two systems report significantly different (>10%) readings for the same activity source. Also unusually high background readings (>20% of the mean) have been no...
ABSTRACT In this study, the effects of clay ingestion on iron status and other anaemia factors were investigated using rats. Rats were fed clay at the levels consumed by Ghanaians (weight for weight) who have clay pica habit. A total of 28 white stock weanling rats, aged 3 weeks, were fed experimental diet containing clay for 11 weeks, an equivalent of four years in humans on lifespan basis. The rats were randomly assigned to four different experimental diets containing different levels of cl...
ABSTRACT The process and product characteristics of the traditional palm kernel technology were studied. The study was in two phases. Firstly, a survey on the technology in some selected areas in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions was done, to collate information on processors, processing methods, equipment used, raw materials, marketing of products and some other aspects of the technology. Then the processing methods encountered were replicated in the laboratory and investigated to assess...
ABSTRACT Protected Areas are increasingly becoming significant due to their double potential as tourism and biodiversity conservation areas. This has led to an increasing desire by governments to convert a lot of forests into Protected Areas. However, these conversions are sometimes met with strict opposition from members of fringe communities. This is sometimes attributed to the destruction of livelihood sources of community members and thus affects the smooth management of protected areas. ...
ABSTRACT Background: Entamoeba histolytica causes amoebiasis in humans which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries like Ghana where there are problems with sanitation. Studies conducted in Ghana have not placed much emphasis on the prevalence of this infection in both symptomatic and asymptomatic children in Accra. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica among children in Accra, and to identify some risk fa...
ABSTRACT This study evaluated the relationship between possible medical and social factors affecting maternal deaths. A conceptual framework was developed to help identify, classify, model and resolve these factors (by implementing the recommendations). A generalized linear model was fixed using the ‘R’ statistical analysis software. Three data sets (2016 and 2013 data sets on maternal mortality, and a data set on the causes of maternal deaths) were used in the analysis, which showed wide...
ABSTRACT Several hypotheses have been made about the possible mode of transmission of Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans) and one of these is the role of insects as possible vectors. Although studies have been conducted extensively on aquatic insects and mosquitoes, limited work has been done on the prevalence of M. ulcerans in other insects. This study investigated the potential role of nocturnal biting insects as vectors of M. ulcerans. Nocturnal insects were sampled from Buruli Ulcer ende...
ABSTRACT The dose to the contralateral breast for tangential breast irradiation has been estimated using Gafchromic films EBT2. The data collected consisted of measurements taken with anthropomorphic female Rando phantom. The EBT2 films were scanned and read using ScanMaker 9800XL plus and ImageJ software. A calibration curve was constructed using fourth – order polynomial fit to the data and a calibration equation was obtained from the graph which was used to convert the grey values into d...
Abstract It has been shown in epidemiological studies that malaria may play a role in the pathogenesis o f endemic Burkitt’s Lymphoma (eBL). The contribution o f m alaria to the pathogenesis o f eBL is believed to be due to the imbalances in the immune regulation during malaria infection. Studies have shown a loss o f CTL function due to a shift o f the immune responses from T h l towards Th2 T-cell function during malaria infection. This study sought to investigate the phenotypes o f perip...
ABSTRACT The low total conversion efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells have caused researchers to improve the individual components of the cell. This work aims to produce zinc oxide nanoparticles to help improve absorption and also reduce recombination in the photo anode of the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). In this work, zinc oxide nanoparticles were produced using the hydrothermal synthesis technique and the annealing effect was conducted on the prepared samples. The samples prepared...
ABSTRACT The oreation o f the Volta Lake in Ghana provides favourable conditions fo r rapid weed growth,, The present report represents an attempt to in v e s t ig a te the in te ra c t ion between one o f the economically important weeds on the Lake, P is t ia s t r a t io t e s , L ., an the physicochemical condition o f i t s environment in the f i e l d and laboratory, P is t ia is represented in most reaches o f the Lake but only sheltered bays and es tu arie s in the south are o...
ABSTRACT: The study was undertaken to develop a Densu basin integrated hydrological model capable of describing the major hydrological processes occurring in the land phase of the hydrological cycle and computation of water balance in the Densu river basin. Inadequate information on the hydrological processes as well as the regional water balance in the basin has adversely affected the sustainable development, assessment and efficient management of the basin’s water resources. A physi...
ABSRACT Background: Recent studies have indicated PON 1 polymorphism to be associated with cardiovascular-related diseases such as diabetes mellitus but varied reports have been provided from such association studies. In Ghana, there is no such information on PON 1 polymorphism in disease situations; except one instance reported in non-diseased Ghanaians. The present study has therefore provided baseline information on PON 1 Q192R polymorphism in Ghanaians with type II Diabetes Mellitus. Main...
ABSTRACT The high utilization and consumption levels of maize in developing countries call for the investigation of new methods of processing to introduce variety as well as improve the functionality and nutrient quality of maize-based foods. This study was carried out to determine the effect of nixtamalization, fermentation and cowpea fortification on maize and to identify the dominant microflora in fermented nixtamalized maize. The effect of cooking and lime concentration was determined usi...
ABSTRACT Background Higher-Risk Sexual Behavior (H-RSB) is an act whereby people engage in sexual activities with multiple partners and do not consistently use condom. This practice is very common in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Though the prevalence of HIV is decreasing in sub-Saharan Africa H-RSB keep increasing in the region. Objective This study investigated and compared the trends and determinants of Higher-Risk Sexual Behavior among ten countries in SSA. Method Data for this study was obta...