“No Jab, No Entry”: A Constitutional and Human Rights Perspective on Vaccine Mandates in Ghana

As part of global efforts to reach herd immunity to stem the spread of COVID-19, the government of Ghana in 2021 declared December as the month of vaccination. Along with the declaration were statements about the government’s intention to make vaccination mandatory in January 2022 for select groups of persons and to restrict access of unvaccinated persons to certain public spaces. The directives attracted varied reactions since they touched on constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights. Later, in March 2022, the president eased some restrictions, such as mask wearing and social distancing at public events but subject to all users being fully vaccinated. This paper analyzes the constitutional and human rights implications of a vaccine mandate in Ghana. It answers the question, Is mandatory vaccination necessary and appropriate given the COVID-19 situation in Ghana? I make a case for finding a reasonable balance between the personal liberties of Ghanaians and the state’s responsibility to protect public health. Using the proportionality test, I argue that while mandatory vaccination is permissible within Ghana’s legal and constitutional framework, a tiered approach is preferable

Clinical outcomes for T1-2N0-1 oral tongue cancer patients underwent surgery with and without postoperative radiotherapy

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the results of curative surgery with and without radiotherapy in patients with T1-2N0-1 oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to evaluate survival and prognostic factors. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 86 patients with T1-2N0-1 OSCC who received surgery between January 2000 and December 2006. Fourteen patients (16.3%) received postoperative radiotherapy (PORT). Patient characteristics, tumor characteristics, treatment modality, failure patterns, and survival rates were analyzed. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 45 months. The five-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 80.8% and 80.2%, respectively. Higher tumor grade and invasion depth > or = 0.5 cm were the significant prognostic factors affecting five-year OS and DFS (OS rate; 65% vs. 91%, p = 0.001 for grade; 66% vs. 92%, p = 0.01 for invasion depth: DFS rate; 69% vs. 88%, p = 0.005 for grade; 66% vs. 92%, p = 0.013 for invasion depth). In the risk group, there was no local failure in patients with postoperative radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In T1-2N0-1 OSCC, factors that affected prognosis after primary surgery were higher tumor grade and deep invasion depth over 0.5 cm. Postoperative radiotherapy should be considered in early oral tongue cancer patients with these high-risk pathologic featuresope

The role of adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy in rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastasis: a retrospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Synchronous liver metastases are detected in approximately 25% of colorectal cancer patients at diagnosis. The rates of local failure and distant metastasis are substantial in these patients, even after undergoing aggressive treatments including resection of primary and metastatic liver tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy is beneficial for pelvic control and overall survival in rectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastasis after primary tumor resection.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Among rectal cancer patients who received total mesorectal excision (TME) between 1997 and 2006 at Yonsei University Health System, eighty-nine patients diagnosed with synchronous liver metastasis were reviewed. Twenty-seven patients received adjuvant pelvic RT (group S + R), and sixty-two patients were managed without RT (group S). Thirty-six patients (58%) in group S and twenty patients (74%) in group S+R received local treatment for liver metastasis. Failure patterns and survival outcomes were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Pelvic failure was observed in twenty-five patients; twenty-one patients in group S (34%), and four patients in group S+R (15%) (<it>p </it>= 0.066). The two-year pelvic failure-free survival rates (PFFS) of group S and group S+R were 64.8% and 80.8% (<it>p </it>= 0.028), respectively, and the two-year overall survival rates (OS) were 49.1% and 70.4% (<it>p </it>= 0.116), respectively. In a subgroup analysis of fifty-six patients who received local treatment for liver metastasis, the two-year PFFS were 64.9% and 82.9% (<it>p </it>= 0.05), respectively; the two-year OS were 74.1% and 80.0% (<it>p </it>= 0.616) in group S (n = 36) and group S+R (n = 20), respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Adjuvant pelvic RT significantly reduced the pelvic failure rate but its influence on overall survival was unclear. Rectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastasis may benefit from adjuvant pelvic RT through an increased pelvic control rate and improved quality of life.</p

Enabling Coexistence: Navigating Predator‐induced Regime Shifts in Human‐ocean Systems

1. Rapid system‐wide changes triggered by predators can pose considerable challenges to people. In the Northeast Pacific, the recovery of sea otters Enhydra lutris following their extirpation due to the 18th and 19th century fur trade is driving a social‐ecological regime shift with profound implications. While the ecological consequences of this shift are well documented, very little research has examined the conditions that enable or constrain people\u27s ability to adapt to the social, economic and cultural changes that transpire. 2. Through a collaborative partnership and workshops with Indigenous knowledge holders spanning Alaska to British Columbia, along with quantitative and qualitative interviews in two Indigenous communities among the first to experience sea otter recovery, we examined people\u27s perceptions of the social‐ecological conditions that affect their ability to adapt to these changes. 3. We found that communities differed in their relative rankings of adaptation‐enabling conditions; however, the following four broad strategies were perceived as critical to improving coexistence with sea otters: (a) strengthening Indigenous governance and decision‐making authority; (b) promoting adaptive co‐management; (c) weaving Indigenous knowledge and Western science into management plans and (d) establishing learning platforms. Both communities also identified that increased livelihood options and financial assistance would not compensate for lost food security. 4. Differences in enabling conditions and attitudes towards sea otters within and between communities can be attributed to the social‐ecological and political context in which sea otter recovery occurs. 5. Our study suggests that enhancing Indigenous peoples\u27 ability to adapt to predator‐induced regime shifts will require a transformation in current resource governance systems if we are to navigate towards an ecologically sustainable and socially just operating space. Overall, this work highlights the need for more Indigenous authority, knowledge and leadership in addressing predator‐induced regime shifts in coupled human‐ocean systems. &nbsp

Chemical and functional properties of glandless cottonseed protein

Typescript (photocopy).Glandless cottonseed protein isolates (CPI-I and II) were prepared using gel filtration chromatography. They contained large amounts of glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid and had minimum solubilities at pH 4 and between pH 6 and 8, respectively. CPI-I showed higher emulsion capacity and stability and higher foam expansion and stability than CPI-II. The percent transmittance (%T) of 0.5% CPI-I solutions at all ionic strengths increased with increasing temperatures. However, %T of 0.5% CPI-II solutions increased with increasing temperatures at lower ionic strengths (0.01 and 0.1) but decreased at higher ionic strengths (0.5 and 1.0). On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE (SDS-PAGE), band intensities of CPIs decreased with increasing ionic strengths as they were heated. The 7S and 11S protein fractions were isolated using Sephacryl S-300 HR column chromatography. These protein fractions had sedimentation coefficients of 6.8S and 10.7S and molecular weights of about 1.40 x 10^5 and 2.39 x 10^5 g/mole, respectively. Gossypol, phytic acid, -SH, and -SS- contents of these protein fractions were 2 a 0 ppm, 0.0091 and 0.0067%, 4.26 and 54.23 μM/g, and 2.57 and 40.26 μM/g, respectively. Both protein fractions showed minimum solubility at pH6. The 7S protein had greater emulsion capacity and stability than 11S protein. However, 11S protein showed greater foam expansion than 7S protein, but foam stability was almost the same. Unheated 7S and 11S proteins had two bands each on PAGE. The heated protein fractions also showed two bands each on SDS-PAGE. The 7S protein fraction and beef myosin were heated together to study their heat-induced interactions. At 80°C, the intensity of the protein bands of the mixtures was the sum of the corresponding 7S protein and myosin bands; however, at 90 and 100°C, the intensity of the bands for myosin heavy and light chains in the mixture decreased when compared to that of unheated myosin

Chemical and functional properties of glandless cottonseed protein

Typescript (photocopy).Glandless cottonseed protein isolates (CPI-I and II) were prepared using gel filtration chromatography. They contained large amounts of glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid and had minimum solubilities at pH 4 and between pH 6 and 8, respectively. CPI-I showed higher emulsion capacity and stability and higher foam expansion and stability than CPI-II. The percent transmittance (%T) of 0.5% CPI-I solutions at all ionic strengths increased with increasing temperatures. However, %T of 0.5% CPI-II solutions increased with increasing temperatures at lower ionic strengths (0.01 and 0.1) but decreased at higher ionic strengths (0.5 and 1.0). On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE (SDS-PAGE), band intensities of CPIs decreased with increasing ionic strengths as they were heated. The 7S and 11S protein fractions were isolated using Sephacryl S-300 HR column chromatography. These protein fractions had sedimentation coefficients of 6.8S and 10.7S and molecular weights of about 1.40 x 10^5 and 2.39 x 10^5 g/mole, respectively. Gossypol, phytic acid, -SH, and -SS- contents of these protein fractions were 2 a 0 ppm, 0.0091 and 0.0067%, 4.26 and 54.23 μM/g, and 2.57 and 40.26 μM/g, respectively. Both protein fractions showed minimum solubility at pH6. The 7S protein had greater emulsion capacity and stability than 11S protein. However, 11S protein showed greater foam expansion than 7S protein, but foam stability was almost the same. Unheated 7S and 11S proteins had two bands each on PAGE. The heated protein fractions also showed two bands each on SDS-PAGE. The 7S protein fraction and beef myosin were heated together to study their heat-induced interactions. At 80°C, the intensity of the protein bands of the mixtures was the sum of the corresponding 7S protein and myosin bands; however, at 90 and 100°C, the intensity of the bands for myosin heavy and light chains in the mixture decreased when compared to that of unheated myosin