Research Articles
Permanent URI for this communityhttp://197.255.125.131:4000/handle/123456789/22010
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
Browse
6 results
Search Results
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 Library associations in Africa and the case for professionalism(Library Review, 1995-02) Alemna, A.A.The library associations in several African countries have been inactive for some time. In those countries where they do try to survive, economic and social constraints are a hindrance to them. Considers the attempts of library associations in Africa to meet the criteria for professionalism. Discusses various barriers to professionalism and suggests how some of these barriers can be broken down. Anticipates that IFLA should play an important role in the development of library associations in Africa.Item The periodical literature of library and information in Africa: 1990–1995(The International Information & Library Review, 1996-06) Alemna, A.A.TheAfrican Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science(AJLAIS) is 5 years' old. Despite its relatively young age, it has become the most consistent and reliable journal for information professionals in Africa. This study is an analysis of the papers covered in the first five volumes (1990–1995). Sixty-nine papers are analysed including the status of the authors, gender, country of origin, and types of research. The type and origin of cited documents the authors used in writing articles were also explored. When compared to previous studies, this study reveals an increase in the number of publications from Africa. Of particular interest is the increase in the number of female contributors. The major areas of interest are information technology, rural libraries and status/image of librarians.Item Biliary excretion in persons with low blood glutathione levels(East African Medical Journal, 1998) Ankrah, N.; Dunyo, S.K.; Nyarko, A.K.; Appiah-Opong, R.; Ofosuhene, M.A study to investigate the association between blood glutathione (GSH) levels and biliary excretory status was conducted in apparently healthy Ghanaian subjects without frank biliary disease and anaemia. The results showed that, in adults (mean age: 38.5 years) and children (mean age: 13.0 years), plasma conjugated bilirubin is inversely correlated with blood GS (respective site r=-0.524, p<0.011 and -0.395, p<0.005). Persons with elevated plasma conjugated bilirubin compared to controls (mean: 6.0 versus 2.5 umol/L, p<0.001) also exhibited low blood GSH values (3.5 versus 4.2 umol/gHb, p<0.029). Malaria parasites with counts up to 2,453 parasites/ul blood had no effect on the obtained data. The results suggest that low blood GSH levels may be relevant to delays in biliary excretion of conjugated toxins from the liver, as exemplified by the rise in conjugated bilirubin levels in the plasma, and predispose liver cells to increased oxidant state and damage.Item Seasonality of rotavirus infection in Ghana.(Annals of Tropical Paediatrics, 1994) Armah, G.E.; Mingle, J.A.A.; Dodoo, A.K.; Anyanful, A.; Antwi, R.; Commey, J.; Nkrumah, F.K.Human rotavirus (HRV) infection and its seasonal distribution was studied over a 12-month period in Ghana. A total of 561 stool samples, 447 diarrhoea stools and 114 non-diarrhoea stools (controls), were obtained from children attending three polyclinics in Accra. Rotavirus was detected during 10 of the 12 months and showed a seasonal trend. It was high during the relatively cool dry months and low during the wet season. Peaks of infection were in February (26.2%) and September (24.5%). HRV was detected in 67 of 447 of the diarrhoea stools (15.0%) and in eight of 114 controls (7.0%). The HRV isolation rate was highest (20.2%) in the under-18-months age groupItem Randomized controlled trial of acellular diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccines in southern Ghana.(Annals of Tropical Paediatrics, 1996) Afari, E.A.; Kamiya, Y.; Nkrumah, F.K.; Dunyo, S.K.; Akpedonu, P; Kamiya, H; Fukai, FA randomized controlled trial of acellular diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (ADPT) freeze-dried and liquid vaccines in infants was conducted in a peri-urban community (Ashaiman) in southern Ghana. Immunogenicity of the acellular vaccines, persistence of antibodies and adverse reactions were compared with those achieved with a whole-cell diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) vaccine. The incidence of pertussis in the vaccine groups and prevalence of pertussis in children under 5 years of age in the study area were also determined. The acellular vaccines produced significantly fewer local and systemic reactions. Local reactions such as swelling and redness were observed in 2% (8/399) to 2.3% (9/385) of the acellular vaccine recipients as against 31% (122/394) in the whole-cell vaccine group. Fever (≥ 37.5°C) occurred in 7.27% (29/399) to 9.8% (38/385) in the acellular vaccine groups compared with 36.6% (145/394) in the whole-cell vaccine group. Geometric mean titres (GMTs), measured by ELISA, to pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) were significantly higher in the acellular vaccine groups than in the whole-cell DPT (WCDPT) group. There were no significant differences in the GMTs of tetanus and diphtheria antitoxins between the two groups after each vaccination. Twelve months after primary vaccination, GMTs to PT in the freeze-dried, liquid ADPT groups and the WCDPT group have fallen from 56.23, 62.63 and 44.97 ELISA U/ml to 6.08, 6.18 and 11.30 ELISA U/ml, respectively. GMTs to FHA in all the vaccine groups also dropped during the same period from 49.94, 41.73 and 20.74 ELISA U/ml to 7.26, 7.72 and 5.91 ELISA U/ml, respectively. In this comparative controlled trial, the ADPT vaccines were more immunogenic, with less local and systemic reactions, than the WCDPT vaccine but there was a considerable drop in antibody titres in all the vaccine groups 12 months after primary vaccination. However, the levels of titres of anti-PT and anti-FHA antibodies in all the three vaccines that confer protection are not known. Further studies are necessary to provide this information in order to assess the need for subsequent booster doses after primary immunization with both ADPT and WCDPT vaccines.