The quality of child life and health an indictment against society?

An inaugural lecture delivered in June, 1983 at the University of Ghana, Legon

A three-year prospective study of 137 cases of acute leukaemia in Zimbabwe

A clinical study on the prevalence of leukemia in patients observed in Zimbabwean major hospitals.In the period December 1985 to November 1988 inclusive, 137 cases of acute leukaemia were diagnosed in patients of all age groups: 129 cases came under our direct care, and a further eight cases were diagnosed on blood and marrow films sent from elsewhere (four from Mpilo Hospital (Bulawayo) and four from other hospitals)

Impact of primary health care on childhood and mortality in rural Ghana: the Gomoa experience

A CAJM article on the impact of primary healthcare activities in Ghana.The impact of a combination of PHC intervention activities on child survival, growth, morbidity and mortality was assessed in three selected rural communities (Gomoa Fetteh, Gomoa Onyadze/Otsew Jukwa and Gomoa Mprumem) in the Central Region of Ghana from 1987 to 1990. EPI, provision of basic essential drugs and supplies for the treatment of common childhood diseases, treatment of the sick child, growth monitoring, health education, provision of antenatal services, family planning, training and supervision of Community Health Workers, disease surveillance and special studies were the major PHC strategies used to improve the health of the child and the pregnant woman in the three communities

Population based reference intervals for common blood haematological and biochemical parameters in the Akuapem north district

Objectives: To estimate the reference intervals for commonly used blood haematology and biochemical parameters in an adult (18-55yrs) population of residents of Mampong Akuapem. Design: This was a population based cross sectional study of a randomly selected sample of the adult population of Mampong. The sample was selected from anupdated census list of the Mampong area. Results: Median values (95% range) for measured parameters were established as follows: Haemoglobin, (males) 14.2 g/dl (females) 12.0 g/dl Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), (female) 19.6 U/L (males) 26.1 U/L and Creatinine, (males) 108 mmol/L (females) 93 mmol/L. Conclusion: In comparison to reference values that are commonly used in Ghana, the haemoglobulin levels from this study were lower, and liver function parameters higher. This could be a result of genetic or environmental differences and calls for the need to establishsite specific reference values applicable to our populatio

THE EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS AND SCION CULTIVARS ON THE BREADFRUIT-CHATAIGNE GRAFT UNION

Grafting breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) on chataigne (Artocarpus camansi) rootstock has the potential to be used as a commercial propagation method to increase the supply of breadfruit within the Caribbean and the environmental distribution of breadfruit trees. However, variable success in grafting these two species has been reported and the impact of important factors on successful grafting has not been elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the plant growth regulators Indole butyric acid (IBA) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) - and the cultivar of the scion on the breadfruit-chataigne graft union. Scion was taken from three breadfruit cultivars 'Yellow' and 'White' from Trinidad and Tobago, and 'JA1', a Jamaican accession, and from chataigne, the control. IBA treatments (100 ppm and 200 ppm) and BAP treatment (200 ppm) negatively affected (P < 0.05) length of survival of the newly grafted plants compared with the control (0 ppm). Grafted plants with 'White' and chataigne scion cultivars generally survived longer (P < 0.05) than grafts with other cultivars. Therefore, genetic differences among the breadfruit scions clearly influenced successful grafting of breadfruit on chataigne rootstock. The basis of these differences and the effects of PGRs on the grafting these species require further investigation

Antibody response to 17D yellow fever vaccine in Ghanaian infants

OBJECTIVE: To assess the seroresponses to yellow fever vaccination at 6 and 9 months of age; assess any possible adverse effects of immunization with the 17D yellow fever vaccine in infants, particularly at 6 months of age. METHODS: Four hundred and twenty infants who had completed BCG, OPV and DPT immunizations were randomized to receive yellow fever immunization at either 6 or 9 months. A single dose of 0.5 ml of the reconstituted vaccine was administered to each infant by subcutaneous injection. To determine the yellow fever antibody levels of the infants, each donated 1 ml whole blood prior to immunization and 3 months post-immunization. Each serum sample was titred on Vero cells against the vaccine virus. FINDINGS: The most common adverse reactions reported were fever, cough, diarrhoea and mild reactions at the inoculation site. The incidences of adverse reactions were not statistically different in both groups. None of the pre-immunization sera in both age groups had detectable yellow fever antibodies. Infants immunized at 6 months recorded seroconversion of 98.6% and those immunized at 9 months recorded 98% seroconversion. The GMT of their antibodies were 158.5 and 129.8, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that seroresponses to yellow fever immunization at 6 and 9 months as determined by seroconversion and GMTs of antibodies are similar. The findings of good seroresponses at 6 months without significant adverse effects would suggest that the 17D yellow fever vaccine could be recommended for use in children at 6 months in outbreak situations or in high risk endemic areas

Specific T-cell recognition of the merozoite proteins, rhoptry associated protein-1 and erythrocyte binding antigen-1 of Plasmodium falciparum

The merozoite proteins merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP-1) and rhoptry-associated protein 1 (RAP-1) and synthetic peptides containing sequences of MSP-1, RAP-1, and erythrocyte-binding antigen 1, induced in vitro proliferative responses of lymphocytes collected from Ghanaian blood donors living in an area with a high rate of transmission of malaria. Lymphocytes from a large proportion of the Ghanaian blood donors proliferated in response to the RAP-1 peptide, unlike those of Danish control blood donors, indicating that this sequence contains a malaria-specific T-cell epitope broadly recognized by individuals living in an area with a high transmission rate of malaria. Most of the donor plasma samples tested contained immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies recognizing the merozoite proteins, while only a minority showed high IgG reactivity to the synthetic peptides