Irrational use of antibiotics and the risk of diabetes in Ghana

Epidemiological studies show clearly that Caesarean birth, perinatal or neonatal irrational antibiotic use is strongly associated with increased risk of obesity and diabetes in later life. Irrational use of antibiotics is a great global public health concern especially in developing economies like Ghana due to poor regulation on medicines. Unfortunately, this concern has been reduced to the fear of development of resistant organisms and the destruction of the world’s limited range of antibiotics therapy at the expense of other insidious risks including the development of metabolic and atopic diseases. These risks however appear to have greater implications on public health systems of developing economies. Here, we review the ignored role of antibiotics in the global obesity pandemic and project the risk that it poses to the health system of a developing economy like Ghana.Funding: Department of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah university of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaKeywords: Antibiotics, resistance, “thrifty gene”, diabetes, Ghan

MODELING COMMUTER PREFERENCES FOR A BUS

The research deals with the use of the discrete choice experiment technique and Random Utility Theory (RUT) to analyze bus choice behaviour for commuters in Asafo-market in Kumasi, Ghana. The principal aim of the study was the calibration of a logit model to forecast consideration sets. In order to estimate the model parameters, a specific survey was carried out inside the urban area of Kumasi. The survey focused on passengers and involved mainly employees, self employed workers and students (120 respondents). The data collected from the experimental survey was further calibrated and segmented according to gender. The magnitude of estimates generally indicates that commuters highly value buses with fixed departure time, spacious seats and Air Condition (AC). However, an increase in fare level will result in a disutility of bus choice

Terminalia ivorensis A. Chev. ethanolic stem bark extract protects against gentamicin-induced renal and hepatic damage in rats.

The aim of present study was to investigate the possible protective effects of an ethanolic stem bark extract of Terminalia ivorensis on gentamicin – induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Groups of animals received either gentamicin alone or in combination with 100, 300 or 1000 mg/kg of extract for a period of 14 days. On the 15th day, the modulatory effect of Terminalia ivorensis was examined by assessing biochemical and renal markers of hepatic and renal damage. Markers of oxidative injury including reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase and lipid peroxidation were assessed. Histology of the kidneys and the liver were also processed for analysis. The extract at a dose of 100-1000 mg/kg significantly reduced elevations in creatinine, urea and serum enzymes evoked by gentamicin. Additionally, the low levels of reduced glutathione and the antioxidant enzymes from the gentamicin treatment were significantly improved in the extract-treated animals. The results correlated well with the histopathological findings as the extract reversed the severe architectural distortions of the kidneys and liver caused by gentamicin. We conclude from the study that, the ethanolic stem bark extract of Terminalia ivorensis protects the liver and the kidneys against gentamicin-induced renal and hepatic damage

MODELING COMMUTER PREFERENCES FOR A BUS

The research deals with the use of the discrete choice experiment technique and Random Utility Theory (RUT) to analyze bus choice behaviour for commuters in Asafo-market in Kumasi, Ghana. The principal aim of the study was the calibration of a logit model to forecast consideration sets. In order to estimate the model parameters, a specific survey was carried out inside the urban area of Kumasi. The survey focused on passengers and involved mainly employees, self employed workers and students (120 respondents). The data collected from the experimental survey was further calibrated and segmented according to gender. The magnitude of estimates generally indicates that commuters highly value buses with fixed departure time, spacious seats and Air Condition (AC). However, an increase in fare level will result in a disutility of bus choice

Effects of Large-Scale Land Acquisition on Livelihood Assets in the Pru East District of Ghana

The activities of multi-national companies have affected the livelihood of smallholder farmer in the Pru East, though a lot of research work has been done on large scale land acquisition but this study focus on how it affects livelihood asset of smallholder farmers in the Pru East District. Over the past ten years, the Government of Ghana have leased out large tracts of land for investors, mainly foreign investors. Survey research approach was used for the study. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed and a sample size of 332 households was used for the study. The study used five indicators of the Livelihood Effect Index (LEI) espoused by Downing et al., (2001) to determine the effects of large-scale land acquisition on the livelihood of smallholder farming households. Large scale land acquisition has a significant positive moderate effect on the employment, healthcare and food security but, has a significant negative high effect on income levels of smallholder farming households. However, large scale land acquisition has no significant effect on the nutritional status of farming households in the Pru East district of the Bono East region. Kobre and Kadue communities with an LEI of 0.53 suggests that livelihoods of farming households in these two communities are the most effected with large scale land acquisition. The study also recommends that MMDAs must formulate by-laws to ensure that large scale land investors employ people from the host communities of the projects. Keywords: livelihood asset, large scale land acquisition, smallholder farmer, human capital asset, natural capital asset, financial capital asset, social capital asset. DOI: 10.7176/JEES/10-2-08 Publication date: February 29th 202

Responses of genes involved in cell cycle control to diverse DNA damaging chemicals in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells

BACKGROUND: Many anticancer agents and carcinogens are DNA damaging chemicals and exposure to such chemicals results in the deregulation of cell cycle progression. The molecular mechanisms of DNA damage-induced cell cycle alteration are not well understood. We have studied the effects of etoposide (an anticancer agent), cryptolepine (CLP, a cytotoxic alkaloid), benzo [a]pyrene (BaP, a carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP, a cooked-meat derived carcinogen) on the expression of cell cycle regulatory genes to understand the molecular mechanisms of the cell cycle disturbance. RESULTS: A549 cells were treated with DMSO or chemicals for up to 72 h and periodically sampled for cell cycle analysis, mRNA and protein expression. DMSO treated cells showed a dominant G1 peak in cell cycle at all times examined. Etoposide and CLP both induced G2/M phase arrest yet the former altered the expression of genes functioning at multiple phases, whilst the latter was more effective in inhibiting the expression of genes in G2-M transition. Both etoposide and CLP induced an accumulation of p53 protein and upregulation of p53 transcriptional target genes. Neither BaP nor PhIP had substantial phase-specific cell cycle effect, however, they induced distinctive changes in gene expression. BaP upregulated the expression of CYP1B1 at 6–24 h and downregulated many cell cycle regulatory genes at 48–72 h. By contrast, PhIP increased the expression of many cell cycle regulatory genes. Changes in the expression of key mRNAs were confirmed at protein level. CONCLUSION: Our experiments show that DNA damaging agents with different mechanisms of action induced distinctive changes in the expression pattern of a panel of cell cycle regulatory genes. We suggest that examining the genomic response to chemical exposure provides an exceptional opportunity to understand the molecular mechanism involved in cellular response to toxicants

A Study of the Effect of Inflation and Exchange Rate on Stock Market Returns in Ghana

The study examined the effect of exchange rate and inflation on stock market returns in Ghana using monthly inflation and exchange rate data obtained from the Bank of Ghana and monthly market returns computed from the GSE all-share index from January 2000 to December 2013. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration technique and the error correction parametization of the ARDL model were used for examining this effect. The ARDL and its corresponding error correction model were used in establishing the long- and short-run relationship between the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) market returns, inflation, and exchange rate. The result of the study showed that there exists a significant long-run relationship between GSE market returns and inflation. However, no significant short-run relationship between them existed. The result also showed a significant long- and short-run relationship between GSE market returns and exchange rate. The variables were tested for long memory and it was observed that such property did exist in these variables, making it a desirable feature of which investors can take advantage of. This is due to the establishment of long-run effect of inflation and exchange rate on stock market returns

AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF CARICA PAPAYA (CARICACEAE) LINN. CAUSES LIVER INJURY AND REDUCED FERTILITY IN RATS

Objective: Dried Carica papaya (Caricaceae) leaves have been used in traditional medicine as a contraceptive. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the safety of the aqueous leaf extract of Carica papaya and study its effects on fertility in rats.Methods: The aqueous extract of Carica papaya was administered as single doses to Sprague Dawley rats in an acute study. Animals were observed over a 24 h period for various signs of toxicity. In a separate experiment, the extract was administered to different groups of rats daily for 14 d in a sub-acute study. Animals were observed each day and sacrificed on the 15th day. Organs were then harvested for histopathology. Reproductive studies were also carried out in both male and female rats by administration of the extract at different doses. Markers for fertility were assessed in the rats by determination of fertility indices in the female and sperm analysis in the males. Hormonal assays were also performed.Results: In the acute toxicity study, the LD50 (lethal dose) of the aqueous extract was above 5000 mg/kg with no signs of autonomic or other symptoms of toxicity. In the sub-acute study, treatment of rats with extract (10-500 mg/kg; p. o) for 14 d had no effect on the formed elements of blood or haemoglobin. However, the levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and bilirubin (BIL) increased dose-dependently, suggesting a possible damage to the hepato-billiary system. In the reproductive studies in adult male and female rats, administration of the aqueous leaf extract (10-500 mg/kg; p. o) for 14 d to male rats resulted in significant reduction in sperm count, sperm motility, sperm viability and testosterone. Transverse sections of testes exhibited mild to moderate atrophy. Treatment of female rats with the extract also showed reduction in fertility and increases in maternal mortality and embryolethality.Conclusion: The study shows that the aqueous extract of Carica papaya has the potential to cause liver injury and adversely affect reproduction in rats. Keywords; Carica papaya, Fertility, Toxicity, Sperm count, Testosteron

Ethanolic stem bark extract of terminalia ivorensis A. Chev. protects against potassium dichromate–induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Objective: The plant Terminalia ivorensis is used in traditional medicine as a diuretic and in the management of renal failure. We reported previously that the ethanol stem bark extract of the plant protects against gentamicin-induced renal and hepatic damage in rats. To further elucidate the mechanism of its renoprotective activity, we studied the effects of the extract on Potassium dichromate–induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The present study assessed the effectiveness of the ethanol stem bark extract of Terminalia ivorensis - against renal oxidative injury evoked by potassium dichromate. Methods: Adult Sprague Dawley rats pre-treated with (100–1000 mg/kg p.o. bwt) of Terminalia ivorensis extract for 5 days were challenged with a single dose of Potassium dichromate (20 mg/kg Sc) in the neck region on the 4th day. On the sixth day, renal function and markers of oxidative injury were assessed. Results: Terminalia ivorensis (300–1000 mg/kg p.o) pre-treatment dose dependently prevented decreases in urine output in rats challenged with a nephrotoxic dose of Potassium Dichromate. The extract also protected the rats against Potassium dichromate-induced rise in serum electrolytes, urea and creatinine. Furthermore, it dose dependently prevented Potassium dichromate-induced decrease in renal glutathione (GSH) levels whereas tissue oxidative enzymes Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were protected from damage. Markers of lipid peroxidation such as level of renal Malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) also decreased dose dependently when compare with Potassium dichromate treated groups. The extract also protected the histomorphology of the kidney against Potassium dichromate induced damage. Conclusion: The ethanol stem bark extract of Terminalia ivorensis protects kidney against Potassium dichromate-induced renal damage

Examining graphemic and lexical anglicisms in Twi for academic purposes in textbooks written in Twi

This paper examines graphemic and lexical borrowings in Twi for Academic Purposes (TAP). Textbooks written in Asante Twi by some renowned scholars in the language constituted the dataset for this study. The textbooks were read and all instances of anglicisms or English features borrowed into Twi were collected. The borrowed-features were identified by drawing on our native speaker and scholarly competencies. The dataset was analyzed by drawing on Clyne’s (1977) Borrowing Typology and Haugen’s (1950) Borrowability Scale. Three key findings emerged from the analysis. First, the study yielded that in TAP two letters (<v>,  and <j>) are borrowed towards empowering Asante Twi to enable it to account for words that contain these letters. Second, at the lexical level, it was found that the borrowed words were either integrated or adapted into Asante Twi linguistic environment. The final point was that all the lexical items realized were nominals affirming the primacy of noun on borrowability scales. The findings have implications for developing Ghanaian languages for academic purposes.This paper examines graphemic and lexical borrowings in Twi for Academic Purposes (TAP). Textbooks written in Asante Twi by some renowned scholars in the language constituted the dataset for this study. The textbooks were read and all instances of anglicisms or English features borrowed into Twi were collected. The borrowed-features were identified by drawing on our native speaker and scholarly competencies. The dataset was analyzed by drawing on Clyne’s (1977) Borrowing Typology and Haugen’s (1950) Borrowability Scale. Three key findings emerged from the analysis. First, the study yielded that in TAP two letters (<v>,  and <j>) are borrowed towards empowering Asante Twi to enable it to account for words that contain these letters. Second, at the lexical level, it was found that the borrowed words were either integrated or adapted into Asante Twi linguistic environment. The final point was that all the lexical items realized were nominals affirming the primacy of noun on borrowability scales. The findings have implications for developing Ghanaian languages for academic purposes