The Songhai Agroecological Sustainable Development Model: Synergy, Symbiosis, Collaboration, and Complementarity

The development across Africa has been piecemeal and uneven, sometimes actually leading to impoverishment and “underdevelopment.” Former colonizers and multilateral development agencies have often been the agents of these postcolonial development practices, which focused on facilitation of extraction of wealth, either as material resources or raw agricultural product and export, usually to former colonial era companies. The processing of those natural resources produced immense value-added wealth; however, not much wealth returned to Africa. These development models have been piecemeal, with symptomatic solutions that are Band-Aids, resulting in minimal progress in terms of actual improvement in the quality of life and well-being of citizens. To counter this, it is necessary to shift from linear, mechanistic worldviews to holistic, complex visualizations that are integrated and systemic. This transformation, in understanding and conceptualization through system lenses, makes clear that the unit of development must be ecosystems centered and represent organizational patterns that encompass the whole environment, including human, social, cultural, technological, and economic facets. This new understanding requires comprehensive ecological literacy transitioning from homo-arrogance to biomimicry. Such transformation enables comprehensive solutions that account for interaction among natural, physical, and social phenomena. This chapter describes a development approach, embodied in the Songhai model and conceptualized, developed, and successfully implemented by Godfrey Nzamujo. It captures the essence and reflects a new paradigm, whose core foundational ideas are synergy, symbiosis, collaboration, and complementarity. This new paradigm, as demonstrated by Nzamujo and Songhai, is described as a potentially transformative development model, ensuring sustainability for the future of Africa

Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Appropriate Technology Development

Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) comprises knowledge developed within indigenous societies, independent of, and prior to, the advent of the modern scientific knowledge system (MSKS). Examples of IKS such as Ayurveda from India and Acupuncture from China are well known. IK covers diverse areas of importance for society, spanning issues concerned with the quality of life - from agriculture and water to health. The IK resident in India and China have high relevance to rural life, especially given the level of engagement with agricultural and health technologies. The goal is to establish a heuristic whereby IK can be reviewed and evaluated within particular contexts to determine if the IKS can lead to the development of appropriate technology (AT) addressing that need sustainably. Although much work on cataloguing and documenting IKS has been completed in these two countries, a paucity of attention has been paid to the scientific rationale and technological content of these IKS. Evaluation of many indigenous technologies reveal that many of these technologies can be classified as ‘appropriate’, focused on basic needs of water, sanitation and agriculture, and many have origins in IKS that survived. Thus, IKS must be validated, exploited and integrated into AT innovation and development

Severe panuveitis in neuro-Behçet’s disease in Malaysia: a case series

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a multisystemic disease that is very rare in Malaysia. About 5% of patients develop central nervous system involvement, termed neuro-Behçet’s. Neuro- Behçet’s is one of the most serious causes of long-term morbidity and mortality. We report two cases of neuro-Behçet’s associated with uveitis (ocular BD) highlighting the clinical presentation, diagnostic measurement, and therapeutic management of these cases

Demyelinating disease masquerading as a surgical problem: a case series

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We report three cases of demyelinating disease with tumor-like presentation. This information is particularly important to both neurosurgeons and neurologists who should be aware that inflammatory demyelinating diseases can present as a mass lesion, which is indistinguishable from a tumor, both clinically and radiologically, especially when there is no evidence of temporal dissemination of this disease.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>The first patient was a 42-year-old Malay woman who developed subacute onset of progressive quadriparesis with urinary incontinence. Magnetic resonance imaging of her spine showed an intramedullary lesion at the C5-C7 level. She was operated on and biopsy was suggestive of a demyelinating disease. Retrospective history discovered two episodes of acute onset of neurological deficits with partial recovery and magnetic resonance imaging of her brain revealed demyelinating plaques in the centrum semiovale.</p> <p>The second patient was a 16-year-old Malay boy who presented with symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. A computed tomography brain scan revealed obstructive hydrocephalus with a lesion adjacent to the fourth ventricle. An external ventricular drainage was inserted. Subsequently, a stereotactic biopsy was taken and histopathology was reported as demyelination. Retrospective history revealed similar episodes with full recovery in between episodes.</p> <p>The third case was a 28-year-old Malay man who presented with acute bilateral visual loss and confusion. Magnetic resonance imaging of his brain showed a large mass lesion in the right temporoparietal region. Biopsy was consistent with demyelinating disease. Reexamination of the patient revealed bilateral papillitis and not papilledema. Visual evoked potential was prolonged bilaterally. In all three cases, lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid study was not carried out due to lack of patient consent.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These cases illustrate the importance of considering a demyelinating disease in the differential diagnosis of a mass lesion. Critical analyses of clinical presentations coupled with good physical examination are vital in assisting clinicians to reach the correct diagnosis.</p

African Environmental Ethics: Keys to Sustainable Development Through Agroecological Villages

This essay proposes African-based ethical solutions to profound human problems and a working African model to address those problems. The model promotes sustainability through advanced agroecological and information communication technologies. The essay\u27s first section reviews the ethical ground of that model in the work of the Senegalese scholar, Cheikh Anta Diop. The essay\u27s second section examines an applied African model for translating African ethical speculation into practice. Deeply immersed in European and African ethics, Godfrey Nzamujo developed the Songhaï Centers to solve the problem of rural poverty in seventeen African countries. Harnessing advanced technologies within a holistic agroecological ecosystem, Nzamujo\u27s villages furnish education spanning the fields of ethics, information communication technology, microbiology, international development, and mechanical, electrical, civil and biological engineering in a community-based and centered development enterprise. The essay proposes a global consortium of ecovillages based on Nzamujo\u27s model. The final section explores funding methods for the consortium. The conclusion contemplates a return to Africa to supplement environmental ethics that enhance life\u27s future on earth

Quality of life of epilepsy patients with obstructive sleep apnea in Malaysia

After that patients were assessed again with QOLIE-31 questionnaires. In our study, the frequency of OSA was positively associated with age. Seizure worry was significantly more in epilepsy patients with OSA compared to those without OSA.( p value &lt; 0.005) and quality of life scores were lower in this group with high sezure worry. There were significant differences (, p value &lt; 0.005) in medication effects, cognitive functioning, overall quality of life and seizure worry. We conclude that patients with epilepsy and OSA may have frequently seizure attack or severe seizure which influences their QoL and this situation improved with treatment of OSA using CPAP

Concurrent hyphema and orbital apex syndrome following herpeszoster ophthalmicus in a middle aged lady

INTRODUCTION: Hyphema and orbital apex syndrome occurring concurrently in a patient with herpeszoster ophthalmicus have not been reported previously. We present a case with these unique findingsand discuss the pathogenesis of these conditions and their management.PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 59-year-old Malay lady with underlying diabetes mellitus presented withmanifestations of zoster ophthalmicus in the left eye. Two weeks later, she developed total hyphema,and complete ophthalmoplegia suggestive of orbital apex syndrome. She was treated with combinationof intravenous acyclovir and oral corticosteroids, and regained full recovery of ocular motility. Totalhyphema persisted, and she required surgical intervention.DISCUSSION: Hyphema is postulated to occur due to an immune vasculitis affecting the iris vessels. Orbitalapex syndrome is probably due to an occlusive vasculitis affecting the vasculature of the extraocular mus-cles and optic nerve, resulting from a direct invasion by varicella zoster virus or infiltration of perivascularinflammatory cells. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain is essential to exclude possibility of localcauses at the orbital apex area.CONCLUSION: Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is an uncommon ocular presentation. Managing two concur-rent complications; persistent total hyphema and orbital apex syndrome is a challenging clinical situation.Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential to prevent potential blinding situation

Concurrent hyphema and orbital apex syndrome following herpeszoster ophthalmicus in a middle aged lady

INTRODUCTION: Hyphema and orbital apex syndrome occurring concurrently in a patient with herpes zoster ophthalmicus have not been reported previously. We present a case with these unique findings and discuss the pathogenesis of these conditions and their management. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 59-year-old Malay lady with underlying diabetes mellitus presented with manifestations of zoster ophthalmicus in the left eye. Two weeks later, she developed total hyphema,and complete ophthalmoplegia suggestive of orbital apex syndrome. She was treated with combinationof intravenous acyclovir and oral corticosteroids, and regained full recovery of ocular motility. Totalhyphema persisted, and she required surgical intervention. DISCUSSION: Hyphema is postulated to occur due to an immune vasculitis affecting the iris vessels. Orbitalapex syndrome is probably due to an occlusive vasculitis affecting the vasculature of the extraocular muscles and optic nerve, resulting from a direct invasion by varicella zoster virus or infiltration of perivascularinflammatory cells. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain is essential to exclude possibility of localcauses at the orbital apex area. CONCLUSION: Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is an uncommon ocular presentation. Managing two concur-rent complications; persistent total hyphema and orbital apex syndrome is a challenging clinical situation.Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential to prevent potential blinding situation

Modulation of Syndecan-1 Shedding after Hemorrhagic Shock and Resuscitation

The early use of fresh frozen plasma as a resuscitative agent after hemorrhagic shock has been associated with improved survival, but the mechanism of protection is unknown. Hemorrhagic shock causes endothelial cell dysfunction and we hypothesized that fresh frozen plasma would restore endothelial integrity and reduce syndecan-1 shedding after hemorrhagic shock. A prospective, observational study in severely injured patients in hemorrhagic shock demonstrated significantly elevated levels of syndecan-1 (554±93 ng/ml) after injury, which decreased with resuscitation (187±36 ng/ml) but was elevated compared to normal donors (27±1 ng/ml). Three pro-inflammatory cytokines, interferon-γ, fractalkine, and interleukin-1β, negatively correlated while one anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, positively correlated with shed syndecan-1. These cytokines all play an important role in maintaining endothelial integrity. An in vitro model of endothelial injury then specifically examined endothelial permeability after treatment with fresh frozen plasma orlactated Ringers. Shock or endothelial injury disrupted junctional integrity and increased permeability, which was improved with fresh frozen plasma, but not lactated Ringers. Changes in endothelial cell permeability correlated with syndecan-1 shedding. These data suggest that plasma based resuscitation preserved endothelial syndecan-1 and maintained endothelial integrity, and may help to explain the protective effects of fresh frozen plasma after hemorrhagic shock