Towards the attainment of self-sustaining growth: Ghana and the Ivory Coast

Ghana and the Ivory Coast are two neighbouring states of the West Coast of Africa so similar in size, geography, resource endowment, stage of economic development in terms of per capita income and capacity to develop at the date of independence (Ghana 1957 and Ivory Coast 1960), that a comparison of the results of the economic policies adopted and the political orientation followed by each of them has ever been a big challenge. While Ghana had at the time of independence almost twice the population of Ivory Coast, the agricultural sector had similar importance accounting for more than 40 percent of GDP, the industrial sector for less than 10 percent. The principal agricultural export crops were the same: cocoa, coffee and wood and the importance of external trade was also similar, amounting to about 30 percent of GDP in each country in 1960 (table 1). But while in Ghana cocoa was by far the most important export product it was coffee in the case of Ivory Coast.

The Andean Group: An answer to some problems of LAFTA

Regional economic integration is considered as an efficient mean to accelerate economic development of the participating states. It is therefore one of the major themes of the next UNCTAD conference. One famous example of integration between developing countries is LAFTA (Latin American Free Trade Association). LAFTA failed, however, in so far as the smaller members were not able to achieve the gains in industrial development they had hoped for. This seems to have been due to the fact that LAFTA mainly concentrated on trade liberalization. An answer to these shortcomings is the Andean Group, formed by Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The Group tries to solve the problems through implementation of sectorial programs of industrial development and a harmonized investment policy. The Andean Group is therefore a unique example where trial and error lead to a new and possibly more adequate form of economic integration. --

Lateral Flow Assays for the Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis: Current Status.

Purpose of reviewDiagnosis during early stages of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and targeted antifungal treatment has the potential to improve survival significantly. Despite advances in the diagnostic arsenal, invasive mold infections remain difficult to diagnose-especially at early stages before typical radiological signs develop. Varying availability and time-to-results are important limitations of current approved biomarkers and molecular assays for diagnosis of IA. Here, we will give an update on the Aspergillus-specific lateral-flow device (LFD) test. We further review promising findings on feasibility of point-of-care (POC) detection of urinary excreted fungal galactomannan-like antigens.Recent findingsPOC LFD assays for detection of Aspergillus antigens are currently in development. The Aspergillus-specific LFD test, which is based on the JF5 antibody (Ab), detects an extracellular glycoprotein antigen secreted during active growth of Aspergillus spp. The test has shown promising results in various studies. In addition, a monoclonal Ab476-based LFD for POC detection of urinary excreted fungal galactomannan-like antigens has been developed but needs further validation.SummaryImportant advances have been made in the development of LFD assays for IA. Most promising is the Aspergillus-specific LFD test; commercial availability is still pending, however. The search for reliable POC tests for other molds, including mucorales, continues

Using Interleukin 6 and 8 in Blood and Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid to Predict Survival in Hematological Malignancy Patients With Suspected Pulmonary Mold Infection.

Background: Molds and other pathogens induce elevated levels of several cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of IL-6 and IL-8 as well as fungal biomarkers in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) for overall survival in patients with underlying hematological malignancies and suspected mold infection. Methods: This cohort study included 106 prospectively enrolled adult cases undergoing bronchoscopy. Blood samples were collected within 24 h of BAL sampling and, in a subset of 62 patients, serial blood samples were collected up until 4 days after bronchoscopy. IL-6, IL-8, and other cytokines as well as galactomannan (GM) and β-D-glucan (BDG) were assayed in blood and BAL fluid and associations with overall mortality were assessed at the end of the study using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Both blood IL-8 (AUC 0.731) and blood IL-6 (AUC 0.699) as well as BAL IL-6 (AUC 0.763) and BAL IL-8 (AUC 0.700) levels at the time of bronchoscopy were predictors of 30-day all-cause mortality. Increasing blood IL-6 levels between bronchoscopy and day four after bronchoscopy were significantly associated with higher 90-day mortality, with similar findings for increasing IL-8 levels. In ROC analysis the difference of blood IL-8 levels between 4 days after bronchoscopy and the day of bronchoscopy had an AUC of 0.829 (95%CI 0.71-0.95; p < 0.001) for predicting 90-day mortality. Conclusions: Elevated levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in blood or BAL fluid at the time of bronchoscopy, and rising levels in blood 4 days following bronchoscopy were predictive of mortality in these patients with underlying hematological malignancy who underwent bronchoscopy for suspected mold infection