A Review of Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome

Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) is a familial neoplastic condition seen in approximately 1 in 36,000 live births. It is caused by germline mutations of the tumor suppressor gene VHL, located on the short arm of chromosome 3. While the majority of the affected individuals have a positive family history, up to 20% of cases arise from de novo mutations. VHL syndrome is characterized by the presence of benign and malignant tumors affecting the central nervous system, kidneys, adrenals, pancreas, and reproductive organs. Common manifestations include hemangioblastomas of the brain, spinal cord, and retina; pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma; renal cell carcinoma; pancreatic cysts and neuroendocrine tumors; and endolymphatic sac tumors. Diagnosis of VHL is prompted by clinical suspicion and confirmed by molecular testing. Management of VHL patients is complex and multidisciplinary. Routine genetic testing and surveillance using various diagnostic techniques are used to help monitor disease progression and implement treatment options. Despite recent advances in clinical diagnosis and management, life expectancy for VHL patients remains low at 40–52 years. This article provides an overview of the major clinical, histological, and radiological findings, as well as treatment modalities

Informed Consent under the Ghana Health Service Patients Charter: Practice and Awareness

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Perspective Chapter: Accelerating Demand-Led Tomato Breeding for Emerging Markets in Africa

Tomato production in Africa has increased due to increased population, rising consumer demands for nutritious and healthy food and potential use of improved technologies. Demand-led’ plant breeding puts producers and consumers at the heart of research and development involving stakeholders even before the research starts. These ‘stakeholders’ are not only farmers but key actors along the tomato value chain. They influence how the tomato is traded as: fresh food and processing product. This chapter focuses on different approaches to fast-track tomato breeding so as to contribute to the transformation of African agriculture by enabling small scale farmers to compete in local and regional markets, by increasing the availability and adoption of high performing tomato varieties that meet market demands. It further outlines development of varieties that meet farmer needs, consumer preferences, and market demand in Africa. These new varieties are designed to meet client needs by connecting plant breeders with crop value chains, seed distribution organizations, and encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship in transforming agriculture in Africa. Lastly, it outlines the prospects and challenges associated with demand-led breeding of tomato and offers suggestions to increase food security in Africa

Stigma experiences, effects and coping among individuals affected by Buruli ulcer and yaws in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Stigma related to skin neglected tropical diseases like Buruli ulcer (BU) and yaws has remained underexplored and existing studies are limited to individual diseases despite the WHO call for integration in disease management. Within two districts in central Ghana, we explored stigma associated with BU and yaws to understand overlaps and disease-specific nuances to help guide integrated interventions. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 current or formerly affected individuals to assess the experiences, effects and coping strategies adopted to manage disease related stigma. Data were analysed along broad themes based on the sociological construct of macro and micro interaction and Goffman's treatise on stigma. Disapproving community labels fueled by misconceptions were noted among BU participants which contributed to macro stigma experiences, including exclusion, discrimination and avoidance. In contrast, a high level of social acceptance was reported among yaws participants although some micro-level stigma (anticipated, felt and self-stigma) were noted by individuals with both diseases. While younger participants experienced name-calling and use of derogatory words to address affected body parts, older participants and caregivers discussed the pain of public staring. Stigma experiences had negative consequences on psychosocial well-being, schooling, and social relations, particularly for BU affected people. Problem-focused strategies including confrontation, selective disclosure and concealment as well as emotion-focused strategies (religious coping and self-isolation) were noted. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The types and levels of stigma varied for BU and yaws. Stigma experiences also differed for adults and children in this setting and these differences should be accounted for in integrated interventions for these skin NTDs. School health programs need to prioritize educating school teachers about skin NTDs and the negative impact of stigma on the wellbeing of children

The use of Traditional Medicine by Ghanaians in Canada

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Synthesis and evalulation of new 1,4-benzodiazepinediones and quinazolines as antileishmanial agents

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Synthesis and evalulation of new 1,4-benzodiazepinediones and quinazolines as antileishmanial agents

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Physical, functional and cooking characteristics of six newly released cowpea (Vignaunguiculata [L]Walp) varieties in Ghana

As part of the innovative platform in varietal development and biodiversity, the CSIR - Crops Research Institute has released four cowpea varieties (Hans Adua, Nketewade, Zamzam and Agyenkwa). For consumer and end-use indices there is the need therefore to evaluate these newly released cowpea varieties alongside two previously released varieties(Asomdwee and Hewale), for their proximate composition, horticultural characteristics, bulk densities, hydration behavior and cooking characteristics to elicit data to support its broadened utilization. Approved methods of the AAAC, (2000) were used in determining percent crude protein, moisture, ether extract, crude ash, and carbohydrate content which ranged from 22.41 - 25.46, 7.41 - 11.37, 1.54 - 2.44, 2.71 - 3.07 and 57.61 - 63.17 % respectively. Total energy ranged between 337.54 and 350.98 kcal. Cooking time, Water UptakeRatio, Volume Expansion Ratio, Gruel solid loss, hydration capacity and Index, Swelling capacity ranged from 25.00 - 42.50 min, 1.14 - 1.32, 2.07 - 2.29, 0.27 - 0.78 g, 0.12 - 0.17 g/seed, 0.83 - 1.01, 0.270.35 mL/seed respectively.Flours' bulk densities, true densities and porosities ranged from 0.67 0.72 g/cm3, 0.37 0.47 g/cm3 and 98.03 98.93 % respectively.Horticultural characteristics seed shapes were described as kidney, ovoid and rhomboid. Seed coat texture were smooth; seed coat colour were whitish; seed sizes ranged between 123.30 - 301.86 mm3.From the results, these cowpeavarietiescould serve as a good template and a potential functional ingredient for a lot of aqueous and non-aqueous food formulations both in food and non-food utilization.Keywords: physico-chemical, horticultural, gruel solid loss, water uptake, bulk density

Identification and development of the 1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one and quinazoline-2,4-dione scaffolds as submicromolar inhibitors of HAT

A library of 1,4-benzodiazepines has been synthesised and evaluated for activity against Trypanosoma brucei, a causative parasite of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). The most potent of these derivatives has an MIC value of 0.97 μM. Herein we report the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of the abovementioned compounds