Research Articles
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A research article reports the results of original research, assesses its contribution to the body of knowledge in a given area, and is published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. The faculty publications through published and on-going articles/researches are captured in this community
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Item A Strategy for Promoting Improved Pharmaceutical Use: The International Network for Rational Use of Drugs(Social Science & Medicine, 1992) Ross-Degnan, D.; Laing, R.; Quick, J.; Ali, H.M.; Ofori-Adjei, D.; Salako, L.; Santo, B.Over the last decade, pharmaceutical selection, procurement, distribution, and financing have improved as a result of essential drugs programs. However, despite improved availability, pharmaceuticals are frequently used irrationally. The International Network for the Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD) has been established to help address this problem. The Network joins core groups of researchers from four African and three Asian countries with support groups in Boston, Sweden, WHO, and Australia. The activities of the Network are supported by multilateral, bilateral, foundation donors and by Management Sciences for Health. INRUD functions as a participatory organization in which members are involved in decision-making. The primary objective of the Network is to identify through a coordinated set of country-based research projects a set of effective interventions to recommend as policy options for the promotion of rational drug use. In developing these research projects, INRUD stresses the importance of a multi-disciplinary perspective for adequately understanding the reasons underlying inappropriate use of drugs. To better enable country groups to utilize strong research methodologies and to blend the strengths of multiple disciplines effectively, a major activity of the Network thus far has been the building of local research capacity.Item Plasmodium falciparum: sensitivity to chloroquine in wiwo in three ecological zones in Ghana(Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1992) Afari’, E. A.; Akanmori, B. D.; Nakano’, T.; Ofori-Adjei, D.4690 children aged 6-15 years in 5 urban and 4 rural communities in 3 ecological zones in Ghana were screened from June 1988 to December 1990 to provide suitable candidates for the World Health Organization standard in vivo test for susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine. 1880 (40.1%) had parasitaemia, mostly (83.7-98.6%) due to P. falciparum infection. Of the 626 in vivo tests performed, 570 (91.1%) showed sensitivity to chloroquine and 56 (8.9%) responses were classified as resistant to chloroquine at RI (5.1%) and RI1 (3.8%). The resistance responses were commonest (17.1-22.7%) in the coastal zone, followed by the savanna zone (8.6lO.O%), and lowest in the forest zone (3.1-6.3%). The RI1 responses occurred mainly in communities in the coastal zone. There was no RI11 resistance in any zone. The pattern of RI (early) and RI1 responses of I’. falciparum to chloroquine in this study suggested an increase in sensitivity, or a reduction in resistance, of P. falciparum to chloroquine from the coast to the forest and northern savanna zones, and from the urban to the rural communities in each zone in Ghana.Item Susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with genetic variation in the enzymatic detoxification of aflatoxin B1(Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 1995) Mcglynn, K.A.; Rosvold, E.A.; Ofori-Adjei, D.; et al.Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been postulated to be a hepatocarcinogen in humans, possibly by causing p53 mutations at codon 249. AFB1 is metabolized via the phase I and II detoxification pathways; hence, genetic variation at those loci may predict susceptibility to the effects of AFB1. To test this hypothesis, genetic variation in two AFB1 detoxification genes, epoxide hydrolase (EPHX) and glutathione S-transferase Ml (GSTM1), was contrasted with the presence of serum AFB,-albumin adducts, the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and with p53 codon 249 mutations. Mutant alleles at both loci were significantly overrepresented in individuals with serum AFB1-albumin adducts in a cross sectional study. Mutant alleles of EPHX were significantly overrepresented in persons with HCC, also in a case-control study. The relationship of EPHX to HCC varied by hepatitis B surface antigen status and indicated that a synergistic effect may exist. p53 codon 249 mutations were observed only among HCC patients with one or both high-risk genotypes. These results indicate that individuals with mutant genotypes at EPHX and GSTM1 may be at greater risk of developing AFB1 adducts, p53 mutations, and HCC when exposed to AFB1. Hepatitis B carriers with the high-risk genotypes may be an even greater risk than carriers with low-risk genotypes. These findings support the existence of genetic susceptibility in humans to the environmental carcinogen AFB1 and indicate that there is a synergistic increase in risk of HCC with the combination of hepatitis B virus infection and susceptible genotype.Item Comparative trial of oral versus intramuscular chloroquine in children with cerebral malaria(Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1991) Neeymye, J.; Ofori-Adjei, E.; Ofori-Adjei”, D.; Renner, L.One hundred and thirteen children aged 12 years or less with cerebral malaria in Accra, Ghana were treated with chloroquine either with a low dose regime of 3.5 mg/kg 8-hourly intramuscularly, or orally by nasogastric tube, in a standard regime, both to a total of 25 mg/kg body weight. There was no obvious difference in outcome in the 2 treatment groups. The overall mortality of 5.3% (5.9% and 4.4% in the oral and intramuscular treatment groups respectively) was similar to that seen 10 years ago in this hospital. The average parasite clearance time had increased to 61 h, compared to 41 h noted 10 years ago. The incidence of hypoglycaemia (3%) was very low compared to studies in other malaria endemic areas. The reason for this is not clear but it could have contributed to the low mortality. Neurological deficits were seen on day 14 in 7.8% of patients. Parasitaemia recurred within 14 d in 22% of surviving patients, confirming the presence of RI/RI1 chloroquine resist ance in Accra.Item Barriers to successful university library automation in Ghana with particular reference to the Balme library(The International Information & Library Review, 1995) Amekuedee, J.O.Library automation assumed a great deal of importance in libraries in the mid 1960's. Since then it has become a household word in librarianship. Library automation in university libraries in Ghana is a relatively new concept. Even though computers have been installed in the three university libraries in Ghana, computerization has not had much impact on the services provided by these libraries. This paper reviews the computerization projects in the university libraries in Ghana, with a particular reference to the Balme Library of the University of Ghana. Reasons for automation, areas of application and problems associated with automation are discussed. Also highlighted are barriers militating against successful university library automation, like financial problems, attitudinal problems, lack of co-operation among university libraries, hardware and software problems and personnel problems. Recommendations are made for the improvement of automation at the university libraries in Ghana. These include evaluation of existing systems, properly planned automation project, financial support and co-operation among the university libraries.Item Rupture of hernial sac in an infant following peritoneal dialysis.(Peritoneal Dialysis International, 1994-01-01) Sackey, A.H.; Cook, R.C.M.; Judd, B.A.Inguinal hernais are a well-known compilation of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), with an estimated incidence of 15% in Children (1). We describe an infant with an unusual presentation.Item Epilepsy in the Freeman Sheldon Syndrome.(J Child Neurol, 1995-07-01) Sackey, A.H.; Coulter, B.; Fryer, A.; van Velzen, D.The Freeman Sheldon Syndrome, also known as whistling face syndrome, is rare congenital disorder characterized by a small mouth, immobile face and distal arthrogryposis.Item Hemiplegia after Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine.(BMJ, 1994-01-01) Sackey, A.H.; Broadhead, R.L.; Cook, R.C.M.Inguinal hernias are a well-known complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), with an estimated incidence of 15% in children (1). We describe an infant with an unusual presentation.Item Interval between Insulin Injection and Breakfast in Diabetes.(Arch Dis Child, 1994) Sackey, A.H.; Jefferson, I.G.The relationship between the insulin-breakfast interval, postprandial increase in blood glucose, and glycaemic control was studied in 58 children with diabetes. Patients recorded insulin-breakfast intervals in a home diary over a seven day period, and during a 24 hour period at the weekend provided eight serial capillary dried blood spots for glucose analysis. The highest mean blood glucose value occurred two hours after breakfast and showed a significant correlation with fructosamine concentrations. Weekend insulin-breakfast intervals ranged from 2-30 minutes, with 70% reporting intervals of less than 15 minutes. There was a significant correlation between the weekend insulin-breakfast interval and the after breakfast increase in blood glucose with a mean increment of 0.4 mmol/l in the 30 minute group and 7.2 mmol/l in the 2 minute group. Over the whole study period, children with mean insulin-breakfast intervals of two to 12 minutes had a mean fructosamine concentration of 376 mumol/l compared with 341 mumol/l in those with intervals of 15-35 minutes. This study has shown that the interval between insulin injection and breakfast significantly influences the morning postprandial rise in blood glucose and consequently short term glycaemic control. It is therefore important that patients are encouraged to leave an interval of about 30 minutes between insulin injection and breakfast.Item Vitamin A Administration in Neonates: A Continuing Problem.(Paediatrics Today, 1994-01) Shaw, N.J.; Harrison, C.; Sackey, A.H.; Hughes, A.Vitamin A Administration in Neonates: A Continuing Problem.