Development and characterization of MCF7 mammary carcinoma xenografts in a non-immunocompromised rat model

Purpose: To investigate the development of mammary tumours in female Sprague-dawley rats through a simple subcutaneous injection of human adenocarcinoma breast cells (MCF7) in combination with basement membrane matrix (BME).Methods: Nine Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group A received no injection, group B was injected with MCF7 cells at a cell density of 7.2 x 106/ml, and group C was co-injected with MCF7 and BME at 7.2 x 106/ml and 3.158 mg/ml, respectively. Tumour growth was observed over a duration of 70 days. Hematological analysis was performed using differential blood cell counts. Histological evaluation was carried out using standard LM techniques and H&E staining.Results: At day 35, RBC concentration across all groups was 8.10 x 106/mm3, whereas by day 70 the range decreased to (7.64 – 7.87) x 106/mm3. White blood cells (WBCs) were within normal range up to day 35, but monocytes and lymphocytes displayed an increase in concentration for group C. Mammary tissues from the thoracic region showed evidence of MCF7 cellular proliferation in both groups B and C.Conclusion: This study reveals that BME enhances tumour growth. Further studies are required to investigate optimization strategies for the development of mammary tumours in alternative recipient animal.Keywords: Tumour induction, MCF7, Histopathology, Thoracic mammary gland, Mammary tumour, Basement membrane matri

Study of Fusarium Langsethiae infection in UK cereals

Fusarium langsethiae is a relatively newly identified Fusarium species. It is responsible for the high levels of the Fusarium mycotoxins HT-2 and T-2 in oats in the UK and other parts of Europe. A field survey was performed to study the infection and development of F. langsethiae in the growing season of cereals under commercial production (2009 – 2011). The data showed oats to contain the highest levels of both F. langsethiae biomass and HT-2+T-2 mycotoxins in harvested heads of the cereals studied. Head infection if it occurs, was at emergence but before flowering, a deviation from other Fusarium species. Seemingly symptomless heads had high levels of F. langsethiae DNA and HT-2+T-2, confirming previous suggestions that F. langsethiae is a symptomless pathogen of oats. Four field experiments where winter and spring varieties of wheat, barley and oats were cultivated under identical field and agronomic conditions at two sites again showed oats to have the highest F. langsethiae DNA and HT-2+T-2 concentration among the cereals studied. Interestingly, there was a significantly higher quantity of HT-2+T-2 per unit of F. langsethiae DNA for oats compared to wheat and barley. An in-vitro detached leaf assay was used to screen UK varieties from the HGCA Recommended Lists in 2010 of wheat, barley and oats for resistance against F. langsethiae infection. Results from the experiment showed that none of the cereal varieties screened had total resistance to F. langsethiae infection, however, in oats, varieties with low HT-2+T-2 in heads under field conditions also had shorter lesion lengths in-vitro suggesting that the detached in-vitro leaf assay could be a good predictor of HT-2+T-2 concentration in harvested grain. Data from four different artificial inoculation methods (seed assay, stem base infection, boot-inoculation and a spray inoculation) established that although F. langsethiae is a seed borne pathogen it was not systemically transmitted from the seed to the other plant parts. The stem base infection study showed that F. langsethiae did not cause any stem base infection even when in close contact with the stem. The spray inoculation resulted in cereal heads having F. langsethiae DNA concentrations and subsequent HT-2+T-2 levels comparable to what has been observed under natural infections in commercial fields, suggesting that the infection route for F. langsethiae may not be that different from the other Fusarium head blight pathogens. Based on all the experiments carried out in this thesis, a generalized life-cycle was hypothesized for F. langsethiae which deviates from that of the other Fusarium species on small grain cereals due to its early head infection and its inability to cause stem base infection

Entrepreneurship development and new business start-ups: challenges and prospects for Ghanaian entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurial development in Ghana has come under sharp scrutiny in recent years as a result of the debates that have characterized the role of entrepreneurs to the development of the Ghanaian economy and the challenges militating against the growth and sustainability of entrepreneurs. Existing literature has overlooked the challenges that entrepreneurs face in starting new businesses in Ghana. This paper addressed the scholar gap in the literature within the context of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in diverse industries in Ghana. Using qualitative research approach with selected SMEs as case study, the paper unearths some of the challenges confronting entrepreneurs and the remedial measures to adopt in their operations to remain competitive and relevant in both the local and international markets. Four main themes emerged as the challenges that entrepreneurs face: funding availability and accessibility; lack of planning, skilled labour & proper management skills; lack of competitiveness, technology innovation & customer loyalty; and Legal and regulatory framework and social factors. Based on the outcomes in the findings, the study recommends assistance from stakeholders such as policy makers, financial institutions and the government of Ghana to help formulate new strategies to support entrepreneurship development initiatives and new business start-ups in Ghana.Keywords: Ghanaian entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship development, new business start-ups, prospects and challenge

Detection of Weak D (Du) Phenotype among Rh-D Negative Males and Females in Kumasi, Ghana

Weak Rh D phenotypes are very frequent in Africans. They are capable of causing alloimmunization in Rh D-negative individuals. Some weak Ds may elude routine typing using direct agglutination techniques. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of weak D phenotype among Rhnegatives, using indirect antiglobulin technique. A total of 400 donors between the ages of 16 and 35 years who were grouped by the blood bank were randomly sampled over a period of 2 months. Three hundred and sixty nine (92.25%) were typed as Rh D-positive and 31 (7.75%) RhD-negative. Two (6.45%) of the Rh D-negative donors were weak D positive while 29 (93.55%) were weak D negative. Among the males 25 (9.43%) were Rh D-negative and 240 (90.57%) RhD-positive. Two (8%) of the 25 males were weak D positive. Among the females, 6 (4.44%) were Rh D-negative and 129 (95.56%) RhD- positive. This implies that, there are people in Kumasi with weak D phenotype which cannot be detected by the direct monoclonal anti-D agglutination. Consequently, indirect antiglobulin test may be indicated for such individuals typed Rh D-negative. This study has shown the need for a comprehensive policy on appropriate testing of donors and newborns, and management of Rh D-negative mothers in the Region. This should include weak D testing of all Rh Dnegative blood donors before transfusion in Rh D-negative patient. Keywords: Rhesus D, weak Rh D, indirect antiglobulin test, Kumasi-Ghana Journal of Science & Technology (Ghana) Vol. 28 (3) 2008: pp. 34-4

An External Quality Assessment Of Haematology Laboratories-A Ghanaian Experience

Developed countries have guaranteed the quality of clinical laboratories through quality assurance programmes. However, these programmes have not received the needed attention in Ghanaian haematology laboratories, as is the case in many developing countries where visual counting of blood cells are the usual procedures. To assess the level of analytical quality of haematology laboratories in the Ashanti region of Ghana, form of an external quality assessment scheme was undertaken. The survey covered twelve haematology laboratories in both the public and the private sectors. Control blood samples were sent to the laboratories to be analyzed. The study, which lasted for five months, covered such routine haematological parameters as Hb, PCV, Total WBC and platelets. The results from these laboratories were compared to that of an automated cell counter using the Cell-Dyn 3700 (Abbot Diagnostic Division, USA). About 80% of the laboratories studied which were using the manual counting, achieved the medically accepted analytical performance for all the parameters except platelets, where the percentage of the laboratories dropped to about 70%. The study has established the need for a continuous internal and external quality assessment in haematology. Such practice together with continuous education of laboratory personnel and the provision of automated instruments will help to achieve optimum laboratory quality needed for proper health care delivery in the country. Keywords: External quality assessment, haematology laboratories, Ghana. Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 28 (1) 2008 pp. 17-2

Identification and molecular phylogenetics of lasiodiplodia parva associated with white, yam (dioscorea rotundata L.) in Ghana

Ten isolates of the fungus obtained from diseased yam tubers were identified using morphological characterisation, complemented with phylogenetic study, involving sequences of the rDNA-ITS region and part of the beta-tubulin gene of isolates. The pathogenicity of the isolates was tested on healthy yam tubers. The conidial morphology and size indicated that the isolates were Lasiodiplodia parva. In the phylogram, the isolates clustered with the type strain of L. parva and other L. parva strains of confirmed identities, in clade supported by a high bootstrap value. The fungus was able to cause the disease symptoms on artificially inoculated tubers, showing that it was responsible for the disease symptoms. The results showed that L. parva was responsible for the hard rot disease of yam in storage in Ghana, rather than the L. theobromae cited in the literature

Instructional Strategies for Effective Teaching and Learning of Creative Arts: The Dilemma of Generalist Teachers in Ghana

Creative Art was introduced into Ghana s primary school curriculum in 2007 Comprising Performing Literary and Visual Arts Creative Art was intended to foster creativity development among primary pupils However Creative Art is taught by generalist classroom teachers who lack the specialized training knowledge skill and experience to identify efficient teaching-learning strategies that allow pupils to actively participate in art making experiences This study adopted action research to guide 20 Lower Primary teachers in two schools to design and teach activity-based lessons in drawing colourwork weaving printmaking composition and assemblage to 95 pupils using clay crayons drums cardboard glue among other resources The intervention workshops proved that in-service education and training could build the professional capacity of generalist teachers in Ghana to effectively implement the Creative Arts curriculum for primary schools Ghana Education Service should train primary teachers if the objective of developing creative thinkers through Creative Arts could be achieve