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Hazard Assessment of Some Heavy Metals in Tema Municipal Water Supply
Nakotey, Ebenezer
The study was undertaken to assess the quality status of drinking water in Tema municipal area. The concentrations of some selected toxic heavy metals (copper, zinc, nickel, cadmium, mercury, chromium, lead, iron, and manganese) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Among the nine selected heavy metals nickel and lead show higher concentration than the WHO recommended limits. This is an indication of pollution however their hazard quotients (HQ) of 0.04875 and 0.034938 is far less than 1. Besides, hazard index and incremental lifetime risk were calculated to be 0.0866 and 4.499 x 109 respectively. Since hazard quotient is far less than 1, and the risk value of 4.499 x 10-9 is also far less than 1 x 10-6 it implies no health risk is associated with the water and therefore their presence had no significant health effect on human life.
Herbage yield and nutritive value of ten varieties of elephant grass, pennisetum purpureum, in Ashanti Region of Ghana
(2000) Dzimale, Gabriel Jepson Kwadzo
Six experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of nine hybrid Pennisetum and a local Pennisetum purpureum grown in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The hybrid varieties were: 15743, 16786, 16791, 16798, 16834, 16835, 16837, 16838 and 16840 obtained from International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI.), Ethiopia. In the first experiment, agronomic characteristics of these varieties were measured at 56 days of regrowth. Parameters measured were plant height, bunch diameter, leafiness, stem diameter, tiller number, herbage yield and persistence. In the second experiment (intake studies), one hundred West African Dwarf Sheep (WADS) weighing between 9kg — 20kg were randomly allocated to ten treatments balancing for weight and sex. Grasses harvested each morning and chopped into short lengths were fed to each animal and feed refusals weighed back the following morning to determine intake. Adaptation period of 14 days was followed by 22 days of data collection for each animal. In the third trial (metabolism studies), eight WADS weighing 12 — 19 kg were used in a change over experiment. Feed intake, faecal output and urine volume was measured to determine apparent digestibility coefficient and nitrogen balance. Ten days adaptation was allowed followed by seven days collection period for each round. Degradability studies were conducted in the fourth experiment. Four rumen-fistulated rams were used in a completely randomised design. Grass samples collected during intake and metabolism studies were used for incubation at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hrs. In the fifth experiment grass samples collected during intake and metabolism studies were used for gas production. About 200 mg of each sample and 30 ml of rumen fluid media mixture was injected into syringes (incubation tubes) and incubated in lots of four in water-bath. Gas produced was recorded at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hrs respectively. Each of the Pennisetum varieties and their fractions were anyalysed for their content of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Urine and faecal nitrogen were also determined Measurements of agronomic characteristics indicated that the DM yield was significantly (P<0.05) higher in variety 16840 had 1948.55kgha1 while variety 15743 had the lowest, 496.06 kg/ha. The bunch diameter was significantly (P<0.05) greater for the local variety than the rest, which ranged from 20.3 to 50.7 cm. Tiller numbers ranged from 12 to 25 and variety 16838 was significantly (P<0.05) higher in tiller number than the local. Varieties 16791 and 16835 were significantly (P<0.05) taller than both the local and variety 16840. The plant height ranged from 57.57 cm for variety 15743 to 189.98 cm for variety, 16791 which were significantly (P<0.05) different. The leaf fractions were significantly (P<0.05) greater in varieties 15743, local, 16837 and 16786 than the rest. There were significant differences with respect to persistence. The local variety ranked highest and was significantly (P<0.05) better than 16840 and the rest. The chemical composition of the grasses showed that the CP levels in the whole plant ranged from a low of 7.7% in variety 16791 to a maximum of 13.2% in variety 15743. The NDF concentrations were between 64.3% for variety 15743 to 73% for variety 16786, while ADF concentrations did not show wide variations. The values ranged from 37.3% to 45.3% for varieties 16798 and local respectively. The ADL concentrations in the whole plant were least in varieties 16838, 15743 and 16837 (0.85, 0.87 and 0.87%) respectively. ADL concentrations in the leaf and stem fractions also varied. The dry matter intake per metabolic body size ranged from 62.78 to 80.41g kg-1 per day. Dry matter intake of varieties 16838 and 16786 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than varieties 16840, local, 16837 and 16798 while variety 16791 was least consumed. The apparent DM digestibilities of the local variety and varieties 15743, 16840 and 16838 (69.53%) were also significantly (P<0.05) higher than the rest. Rumen degradation often varieties using samples from intake studies did not differ significantly (P>0.05) between the varieties at 48 and 72 hours of incubation. Differences, however, existed among the treatments during the rest of the incubation periods. There were no significant (P>0.05) differences between degradation constants for samples used during intake studies. Dry matter loss from 3 hours to 120 hours ranged from 181g kg-1 to 600g kg-1 Rumen dry matter degradation using digestibility samples ranged from 90g kg-1 (3 hrs) to 736g kg-1 (120 hrs) for varieties 16798 and 15743 respectively. Dry matter losses were significantly (P<0.05) affected by incubation time periods, except at 48 and 72 hrs for digestibility and intake samples. Significant (P<0.05) differences were obtained for degradation constants (a, b, (a+b)) for samples used during digestibility studies. In vitro gas produced at 3, 6, 12 and 48 hrs was not significantly (P>0.05) different using samples from digestibility studies. The volume of gas produced did not differ significantly (P>0.05) for each of the incubation periods when samples of intake studies were used. Similar non-significant relationship was’ obtained for samples used during intake studies except for the potential gas production (P<0.05). In the metabolism studies, dry matter in take per metabolic body size was significantly (P<0.05) affected by the type of grass fed to the sheep. Varieties 16837 and 16786 were significantly (P<0.05) higher in dry matter intake than the rest. The least consumed were varieties 16791, 15743 and 16835. The nitrogen intake ranged from 3.89g kg-1 for variety 16835 to 10.57g kg-1 for variety 16837. Faecal nitrogen excreted ranged from 1.79g kg-1 for variety 15743 to 3.14g kg-1 for variety 16837 while urinary-N ranged from 1.18g kg-1 for variety 16791 to 3.34g kg-1 for variety 16786. The nitrogen balance was positive for all the varieties with the lowest from 0.60 for variety 16835 to 5.29 for variety 16837. The relationship between feed intake and apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter was not significant (r = 0.292). The correlation between feed intake and dry matter degradability from 3 to 120h incubation were not significant (P>0.05) at all incubation hours except at 6h (r= -0.320; P>0.05). However, the correlation between apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter and dry matter degradability was significant at 96 and I20h (r = 0.371; r = 0.440; P<0.05) but not the rest. At 3h of incubation, significant (P<0.05) relationship was obtained between apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter and in vitro gas production and not the rest of incubation hours. There was significant correlation between in vitro gas production and dry matter degradation using intake samples at 24h (r = 0.321; P<0.05). Significant relationship (P<0.05) was obtained between yield and other agronomic characteristics measured. Relationship between feed intake and chemical composition were not significant (P>0.05) while apparent digestibility and ADF were related (r = -0.660).
Time of harvesting and its effect on the quality of gari and flour from four cassava varieties
(2003) Apea Bah, Franklin Brian
Four varieties of cassava (Afisiafi, Tek bankye, Abasafltaa and Gblemoduade) were each harvested at 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 months after planting and processed into gari and flour. The yields of gari and flour obtained from processing 100kg of fresh, whole roots were determined. Selected physicochemical properties of the gari and flour samples at different ages were also studied. The properties of gari studied were moisture, ash, pH, total titratable acidity, swelling capacity and crude fibre, while that of flour were moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fibre, pH, swelling power, solubility, starch yield, amylose content and pasting characteristics. The data obtained were statistically analyzed to determine whether age and variety each affected the yields and physicochemical properties of the gari and flour. Age and variety both had significant effects (p<0.05) on flour yield, but gari yield was not significantly affected by either age or variety. Moisture, pH and bulk density of gari were significantly affected by age while crude fibre of gari was affected significantly by variety. Also, age significantly affected moisture, ash and crude protein of flour, while solubility and all pasting characteristics of the flour were affected significantly by variety. Afisiafi and Tek bankye had optimum flour yields at 13 months after planting while Abasafitaa and Gblemoduade had their optimum flour yields at 12 months after planting. However, Afisiafi and Tek bankye had optimum gari yields at 14 months after planting while Abasafitaa and Gblemoduade had optimum gari yields at 13 and 12 months after planting respectively.
Modern depositional environment in Lake Bosumtwi, mapped by the spatial relationships of bulk sediment and magnetic mineral grain size.
(2005-08-08) Addo, James Nii Kamuah
A study of the modern depositional environment mapped by the spatial relationships of bulk sediment and magnetic mineral grain size has been conducted at Lake Bosumtwi. A total of 134 sediment samples were collected from specific locations over the entire lake with sampling depths ranging from 2 cm to 8 cm using the Ekman dredge. Sample measurements include magnetic susceptibility, anhysteretic remanent magnetization, isothermal remanent magnetization, saturation isothermal remanent magnetization, loss- on-ignition as well as the determination of magnetic hysteretic parameters such as coercive force (Hc) and the remanent coercivity (Hcr). In addition, grain size analysis was performed on selected samples using the Rotap sieving method. The analysis of the measured results shows an increase in the magnetic concentration of the samples with increasing lake water depth. Coercivity values measured reveals that samples contain high proportions of magnetic minerals with low coercivity. The magnetic mineral grain size analyzed shows a decrease in size as lake water depth increases and bulk sediment grain size decreases with increasing water depth. The ratio of saturation remanent magnetization to saturation magnetization (Mrs/Ms) for selected samples were calculated. This ratio was observed to lie in the range of values, 0.21 – 0.31 indicating the presence of pseudo – single domain magnetic mineral grain size. Similarly, the percentage of organic content of the samples was found to increase with increasing lake water depth. From the results above, it can be concluded that, the uppermost 8 cm of surface sediment possibly accumulated under wet climatic conditions, which allowed the settling of sediments of reduced dust flux. The magnetic minerals present in the lake could be more of an authigenic and diagenetic origin than from allogenic origin.
Total mercury levels in freshwater fish from some inland waters in Ghana
(2006-07) Agorku, Eric Selorm
Effectiveness of Counselling on the Use of Antimalaria’s Among Caregivers Attending Health Facilities at Tano District
(2006-09-07) Bedima, Duut
Resistance of Plasinodiumfalciparum to cheap and commonly used anti-malaria drugs, such as chioroquine, has been the bane of most African countries including Ghana. This phenomenon is mainly due to the inappropriate use of these drugs. The impact of parasite resistance to anti-malaria drugs on patients, especially pregnant women and children under five years, has been devastating. Currently resistance to chioroquine in Ghana is estimated to be over 25%. Thus most malaria-striken patients treated with chloroquine do not experience improvement in their clinical status. The Ministry of Health of Ghana, in an effort to improve patient outcomes, introduced a new drug policy that recommends the use of artesunateamodiaquine combination as a first line drug in the treatment of malaria. However the success of this policy also hinges on the appropriate use of the new drug by patients, prescribers and caregivers. This study examined the effectiveness of counselling on the use of anti-malaria among caregivers attending health facilities in the Tano District. In this study, three variables [dose of drug, frequency of drug administration and duration of drug treatment] were used to assess whether or not respondents were effectively counselled on the use of anti-malaria. The study also assessed the effectiveness of counselling on malaria prevention and home-based remedies for malaria control. Most respondents [63%] did not know how to treat malaria appropriately with anti-malaria drugs. Similarly the study revealed that over 62% of the respondents did not know how to treat fever appropriately with an antipyretic.
Management of Root Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) on tomato with Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) Aqueous Extracts
(2007) Adomako, Joseph
Apart from high cost, increased concern for environmental and health hazards has called for a reduction in the use of synthetic nematicides for nematode control. Experiments were, therefore, conducted to ascertain the nematicidal potential of castor bean’s crude extract and its seven lower concentrations, water being used as control. In vitro studies in Petri dishes showed that castor bean extract and all the different concentrations had toxic effect on eggs and juveniles of root–knot nematodes. Egg hatch inhibition and juvenile mortality decrease with increased dilution of the extract. With an increase in exposure time, juvenile mortality increased. Plant house pot experiments were conducted to observe the effect of the extracts on root-knot nematodes and some growth parameters of tomato plants. The seedlings were either dipped, side-drenched or a combination of both with different concentrations of castor bean extracts. Results showed that plant height, stem girth, fresh shoot and root weights of extract-treated plants were significantly different (P=0.5) from those of the control plants. Numbers of root-knot juveniles and galls on the roots of the extract-treated plants were significantly different (P=0.5) from those of the control. A field trial gave contrary results from those of the plant house experiments. There was no significant difference (P=0.05) between plant height, mean gall score and mean number of juveniles from the tomato roots of all the treatments. The crude castor bean extract was nematotoxic to root-knot nematodes in vitro and potted tomato plants. Aqueous extract of castor bean can, therefore, be used by farmers to manage root-knot nematodes in the nursery before transplanting.
Impact of Dimension Stone Production on the Environment: A Case Study at Granites & Marbles Company Limited, Ghana.
(2007) Benin, Abraham Kwesi
The study evaluated the impacts of dimension stone production on the environment at the Tongo Quarry and the Factory at Accra. The variables studied were the blasting noise, pollution of nearby water sources and pollution of effluent discharge from factory. The study described the standard procedures for collecting and processing samples for water and sediment, and field analyses of conductivity, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. An experimental study was carried out on sediment and water samples in the laboratory to assess the level of heavy metal pollution. For this study, several composite samples were collected and analysed. The pH and turbidity values of the water samples were 6.3-7.45 pH and 0.15-118 NTU respectively. Curves were drawn that relate metal concentrations in Water and Soil Samples. With the exception of chromium concentration in samples, GM1s and FS1 which have very high values of 2.64 mg/l and 1.34 mg/l respectively, all the other samples were below the maximum permissible level of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana guidelines for discharge into natural water bodies. Quality assurance is maintained by strict collecting and processing procedures, replicate sampling, equipment blank samples, and a rigid cleaning procedure using detergent, hydrochloric acid and methanol. In this thesis, blasting operation and its possible environmental effects are defined. To achieve the study objectives, 24 blasts were carried out and 3 sets of recordings were taken for each distance of 4m, 210m, 416m, 622m 824m and 2000m. A measurement was recorded for each site for ambient noise levels. From this, experiment curves were drawn that relate average ambient and noise levels in decibels with distance from blasting point towards the community. The evaluation was performed if the noise level were within safe limits or not. The field experimental work conducted indicated that the highest blasting noise of 92.3 dB and 85.2 dB recorded at distances of 824m and 2000m respectively are within acceptable maximum permissible level of 115 dB with 5% allowable to 120 dB or less in an annual period.
The application of nnsupa system and sea sand for the treatment of factory effluents and surface water
(2007-08-05) Rockson, Patrick John
Samples of wastewater were analysed before and after filtration with, sea sand filter (SSF), Nnsupa filter (NF) and sea sand filter in tandem with the nnsupa filter (SSNF). The analyses were carried out using Atomic Absorption spectrophotometric technique for levels of copper, zinc, manganese, lead, nickel, iron, cadmium and chromium. Colorimetric, Titrimetric and Gravimetric methods were also used for the other physico-chemical parameters listed as follows pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, Biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate and bacteria. Also, particle size distribution test was done on the ceramic filter to ascertain the percentage composition of the ceramic materials as well as the sea sand used in the filter. The retention time and the flow rates of the filters were also determined. A summary of the percentage removal of the metals and the physico-chemical parameters revealed that the percentage removal in the SSNF and NF filter is better than in the SSF. This was based on the flow rate as well as the retention times of the filters.
Estimation of petrophysical data for assessing hydrocarbon potential in Western Ghana Oilfield (Tano Basin)
(2008) Kuffour, Opoku
Well log data were obtained from Ghana National Petroleum Corporation for each of the six exploratory wells studied. For each well, the following logs were collected; resistivity log, sonic log, formation density compensated log, compensated neutron log and gamma ray log. These in situ well logs were subjected to well log analysis and interpretation methods. The following Petrophysical parameters; porosity, permeability, water saturation, reservoir thickness and volume of shale were estimated for each hydrocarbon-bearing zone delineated for each well. The data obtained have been analyzed and interpreted quantitatively, to assess the hydrocarbon potential of each well. The mean estimates for porosity and permeability of all the oil-bearing zones delineated, range from 23.75 % to 34 % for porosity and 65 md to 714.7 md for permeability, compared to mean porosity range of 8.5 – 23.15 % and permeability range of 6.83 × 10-2 md to 5.99 md of the gas zones. The results of the well logs interpretation suggest that oil- bearing zones are much more porous and permeable than the gas-bearing zones. This was evident throughout the wells. The estimates for the water saturation of hydrocarbon-bearing zones range from 6 % to 63.6 % indicating good hydrocarbon saturation potential. The reservoir thickness estimated for all the oil-bearing zones delineated range from 2 m to 40 m while the gas-bearing zones range from 4 m to 10 m. The Western Basin low estimated reservoir thicknesses for hydrocarbon-bearing zone suggests that reservoir reserves potentials are not sufficient, but the range 8 % to 36.8 % of volume of shale estimated for the hydrocarbon-bearing zones of the wells suggests that sandstone lithology of the Western Basin is clean. The Western Basin proved to be a high capital venture, as far as drilling is concern due to abnormal high pressure zones detected in almost all the wells studied.
Antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the chemical constituents of terminalia ivorensis chev
(2008) Cobbinah, Emmanuel Amihere
Terminalia ivorensis is an indigenous plant which has found many uses in the road, housing, and carpentry industries, and is also used as phytomedicines. The bark of the plant was obtained from Kubease, a small town along the Kumasi-Konongo road in the Ashanti Region. The sample was washed, air-dried and milled. The moisture content of the milled sample was measured (10.33%). The remainder was extracted with water and ethanol, using soxhlet apparatus. The marc of the ethanol extraction was further extracted with water (herein referred to as water-after-ethanol extract). Portions of the extracts were screened for phytoconstituents and fractionated by bulk transfer methodology into groups of related polarity – chloroform fraction (i.e. acids and neutrals) and aqueous fractions (i.e. bases). The crude extracts and fractions were examined for antioxidant activities (hydrogen peroxide decomposition and Fe3+ reducing power) and also screened against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas earuginosa, and Streptococcus pneumoniae, by the diffusion method. The crude extracts were screened for the presence of some phytoconstituents. All the three extracts of Terminalia ivorensis were found to contain saponins, steroids and triterpenoids, and anthraquinones glycosides. In addition to these phytochemicals, tannins and polyphenols, and flavonoids were found in both crude aqueous and alcoholic extracts, and anthraquinones found only in the water-after-ethanol extract. None of the extracts contained carotenoids, general glycosides, alkaloids and coumarins. From the IR spectra of the extracts and fractions, -OH, aliphatic CH2 and CH3 groups, primary amines, amides, conjugated C=C and C=O could be deduced vii from the bark of the plant. This could confirm the presence of steroids and terpenes, polyphenols and some glycosides as indicated in the phytochemical screening. All the extracts and their fractions (crude extracts, chloroform and aqueous fractions of the water, ethanol and water-after-ethanol extracts) of Terminalia ivorensis showed significant activities against E. coli, S. pneumoniae, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa (MIC from 22.15 to 7937.04 μg/ml) compared to chloramphenicol (7.56 to 1881.64 μg/ml). The chloroform fraction of the water-after-ethanol extracts and the two fractions of the water extract however, did not show any activity against the test organisms. The results from the antioxidant studies showed that the all extracts and fractions of T. ivorensis, to a large extent, have appreciable antioxidant activities, accomplished by their significant reducing power (with absorbance from 0.093 to 0.346) and decomposition of H2O2 (decreasing from 86.18 to 55.02mM). However, the crude water-after-ethanol extract and the chloroform extract of the aqueous extract however, could not decompose H2O2 (increasing from 86.18 to 588.49mM). These antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the plant, to a large extent, are a significant factor in its usage for the management of wounds and age-related diseases (like cancer, trauma, stroke, asthma, hyperoxia, retinal damage, liver injury, and periodontis) and other bacterial-related diseases.
The effect of sand quality on the strength of sandcrete products- case study of sand won from Esreso, Aputuogya and the Adagya in the Atwima Kwawoma District of the Ashanti Region
(2008-06-05) Sagoe, Maame Adwo Bentumah
Sancrete blocks are widely used in Ghana for various purposes such as laying of foundations and walling. The quality of blocks produced, however, differs from one manufacturer to the other due to the different methods employed in the proper use of the constituent materials.
Utilisation of maize agrowastes for bio-ethanol production using saccharomyces cerevisiae and aspergillus niger in batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.
(2008-07-12) Johnson, Frank Seth
Maize or Corn (Zea mays) is the most abundant cereal cultivated in Ghana (Asante, 2004). According to Asante (2004), production between 1995 and 2004 had hovered around a million metric tones per annum. This was accompanied by large quantities of maize agrowastes (husk, cobs and stove). The yields of various components of maize are: grains, 35%; husk and skins, 30%; corncobs, 30%; and skin trimmings, 5% (Rangkuti and Djajanegara, 1983). Maize agrowastes do not pose as hazards to the environment but are underutilized resource. Currently the corncobs are burnt as fuel in the households of peasant rural farmers. The husks are used for wrapping kenkey and the stoves are usually burnt or left in the field. In large commercial farms where harvesting is mechanized, the agrowastes are left on the field and ploughed into the soil. This practice adds little to the soil nutrient status because maize agrowastes have high lignin, low nitrogen and readily available carbon content. Jigisha et al., (2005) put nitrogen content per dry weight of corn cobs at 0.4%. It has been shown that high lignin, high carbon to nitrogen ratio and and low nitrogen contents of maize residues negatively affect their decomposition rate (Safari et al., 2005). Maize agrowastes can be used to produce bioethanol. Production of bio-ethanol from lignocellulose is relatively expensive. Currently, production cost is $2.65/gallon compared to $1.65/gallon for corn ethanol (www.nrel.gov, 2008; Collins, 2007). Cellulase is the costly part in the cellulosic ethanol production, accounting for approximately 40% of the total cost (Howard et al., 2003; Miyamoto, 1997). One way of reducing this cost is isolating a fungus with efficient cellulase system which is more likely to be found in a habitat where the lignocellulosic maize agrowastes are the predominant source of carbon and energy. At Ejura farms where harvesting is mechanized, the agrowastes are left on the field and ploughed into the soil making it a good habitat for cellulolytic fungi (Agana, 2007). Baig et al. (2003) isolated a cellulolytic fungus efficient in degrading banana agrowastes from a field where banana has been grown for 7 years.
The Impact of the B-blocker, Carvedilol in the Treatment of Heart Failure Patients in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi
(2008-07-12) Anane, Charles
The study was carried out to determine the impact of the inclusion of the β- blocker, carvedilol, a “third generation” β-blocker with α-vasodilating properties, to the standard treatment guidelines for heart failure, on mortality and length of hospital stay. The updated treatment guidelines were adopted and implemented at the medicine directorate of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in January, 2006 based on the updated treatment guidelines of the American College of Cardiologists, American Heart Association, Heart Failure Society of America and European Society of Cardiology. These guidelines recommend heart failure in-patients receiving an Angiotensin-Converting-Enzymes Inhibitor and/or Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, a Diuretic, a β-Blocker and an Aldosterone-Antagonist. The study took into consideration the age and sex distribution of the patients, their conditions on admission and the causes of heart failure presented at the medical wards. It was retrospective, covering a four-year period. The period of study was divided into two i.e. January 2004 to December 2005 before the implementation of updated treatment guidelines and January 2006 to December 2007 after its implementation. All heart failure patients who fell within these periods were used.The setting was the medicine directorate of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa. The study involved 411 heart failure patients consisting of 233 males and 178 females. The ages of the patients admitted with heart failure during the period under review ranged from 13 to 100 years. The median age of the patients was 57.6 years with a standard deviation (SD) of 18.12. The male patients constituted 56.7% whiles 43.3% were female patients, the disease affecting more males than females during the period under review. The main causes of heart failure were hypertension (60.3% n=248), dilated cardiomyopathy (23.4% n=96), and valvular disease (4.6% n=19). Other conditions seen in patients were anaemia (0.49% n=2) and cardiogenic shock (1.9% n=8). Conditions of the patients on admission described as conscious/stable constituted 70.8%; conscious/unstable 27.7% and unconscious/unstable 1.5%. The implementation of the updated treatment guidelines with the β-blocker, carvedilol included led to a drastic reduction in overall mortality from 35.27% to 17.16% representing an 18.11% decrease in mortality or 50% improvement.The patients’ mean length of hospital stay was 5.1 days before its implementation and 3.2 days after its implementation representing 62.7% decrease. Almost all the patients received the loop diuretic, frusemide (97.8% n=402). The ACE-inhibitor, lisinopril, was used in 49.6% (n=204) of the patients, the aldosterone-antagonist, spironolactone was used in 45.8% of the patients (n=188) and the β-blocker, carvedilol was used in 22.4% (n=92) of the patients. In conclusion, the implementation of the updated treatment guidelines for heart failure in January 2006 which included the β-blocker, carvedilol led to a significant reduction in mortality, length of hospital stay and overall improvement in the quality of life of heart failure patients. The loop diuretic, frusemide and the ACE-inhibitor, lisinopril and the aldosterone-antagonist, spironolactone were commonly used whiles the β-blocker, carvedilol, was woefully underutilized.
Development of moringa oleifera leaf beverage
(2008-08-05) Quarcoo, Phyllis
Moringa is thought to have the potential of providing vital nutrition as well as health and well being to consumers. In this work, fresh Moringa leaves juice extract was envisaged as a good vehicle of spreading its nutraceutical benefits. To this end, the study design was in two parts: (a) surveys to establish the consumption patterns of beverages in Accra and (b) a fresh Moringa leaves’ extract formulation and optimization. The survey was conducted by administering a questionnaire to volunteer adult consumers in randomly selected communities in Accra. To develop an acceptable Moringa leave extract beverage, pineapple juice, carrot extract and ginger distillate were included as components to improve taste, color and flavor respectively. A constrained, simplex centroid mixture design for three components was employed to optimize the proportions of the components in the final product based on sensory attributes. Proximate and other chemical analyses as well as shelf stability studies under three different storage conditions of temperature were done for the optimized product. Data obtained from the survey revealed that juices were the most consumed beverages, particularly among women. The choice of a particular juice drink was very much influenced by its color. Contour plots generated from sensory data of the products were overlaid to determine the optimum ratios of the juice extracts. The final composition consisting of 50-52% Moringa, 38-40% Pineapple and 10-12% carrots was validated to be adequate. The optimized beverage recorded 2.9 g/100ml of protein, 1.02 mg/100ml of iron and 159.14 mg/100ml of vitamin C. After 8 weeks of storage 78% of vitamin C was still retained even under the most severe storage conditions (sunlight). There were no microbial growths under all the conditions of storage, and the product was still acceptable. The findings show that fresh Moringa leaves could be processed into an acceptable beverage, so that its beneficial nutraceutical properties could very easily be distributed.
Screening of six local sorghum varieties for their malting and brewing qualities
(2008-08-05) Gu-Ayebeafo Okrah, Stephen
Six locally available sorghum varieties were assessed for their malting and brewing qualities. With the exception of Chere, all varieties had suitable 1000 corn weights (>25 g). The differences in corn weights were also significant (p<0.05). Analysis of Germination energy (GE) and Germinative capacity (GC) gave results of >90 % for each variety, signifying their viability. Nitrogen content ranging from1.67 %-2.03 % was obtained for the varieties studied in their unmalted state. Results obtained for malted samples ranged between 1.38 %-1.89 %. With the exception of Dorado (fat 0.96 %), other varieties studied gave high fat contents (i.e. >1.0 %) for the malts. Significant differences were obtained for the malting losses. This ranged between 15.75 % (for Kapaala) and 28.06 %( for Chere). Strong correlation existed between malting loss and Diastatic power (DP) (r=0.803). DP levels for varieties studied indicated that Kapaala (40.07 oWk) was the least modified whiles Chere (60.3 oWk) was the most modified. Differences in DP between varieties studied were significant (p<0.05). The mashing regime and results obtained for Cold water extract (CWE), hot water extract (HWE) and filtration rates showed that all the varieties studied need to be pre-gelatinised before being added to barley malt mash as none gelatinised within malt enzyme temperature range (i.e. 60 OC-70 OC). Results further showed that Kapaala had the highest potential extract (77.94 %) while Sample1 (71.01 %) had the least. In all, the HWE for all the varieties studied ranged between 71.01 % and 77.94 %. Response of mashes to starch check level showed that none of the varieties gelatinises at a temperature suitable for the endogenous amylases. Thus, use of exogenous enzymes or barley malt part mash is required to hydrolyse the sorghum malt starch during the brewing process.
Distribution of species of the anopheles gambiae complex and their pyrethroid insecticide knock down resistance status in the Kumasi metropolis.
(2008-08-05) Agyepong, Nicholas
The Anopheles species play a central role in malaria transmission. Several methods are available to map out the distribution and distinction of various species of the Anopheles in the tropics and sub-tropical regions of the world. However the advent of molecular technology, polymerase chain reaction assay, which is faster and based on genotypic diversity of the species, simplified this research. This study was set out to identify and determine the distribution of Anopheles gambiae s.s, (the most prevalent malaria vector) within the selected communities in Kumasi. DNA was extracted from Anopheles mosquitoes larvae and used as template in polymerase chain reaction (PCR), for each specimen. Knock down resistance (Kdr) was further carried out on the samples. Seventy six out of 100 larvae collected were identified as gambiae s.s. Twenty six out of 50 An. gambiae samples were found to posses Kdr gene with remaining 24 samples being susceptible.
Studies on levels of mercury, cadmium and zinc in fish and sediments from river Offin in Ghana
(2008-08-05) Dwumah-Ankoana, Stephen
One hundred and forty eight fish samples covering twelve different species, twenty sediment samples and five soil samples were collected at five locations (Dominase, Nkotumso, Dunkwa-on-Offin, Buabenso, Awisam) along Offin River and analysed for total mercury, cadmium and zinc. Mercury was determined using the Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry employing an Automatic Mercury Analyzer (HG 5000 model). An Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (Unicam 929 model) was used for the determination of total cadmium and zinc. The fish species included Oreochromis niloticus, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus, Labeo coubie, Brycinus sp., Hepsetus odoe, Mormyrus sp., Papyrocranus afer, Heterobranchus sp., Tilapia zilli, Synodontis sp., Sarotherodon melanotheron, and Schilbe mystus. Total mercury concentration in fish ranged from 1.02 to 795.94 ng/g wet weight, from 68.73 to 1066.65 ng/g in sediments and from 44.61 to 137.80 ng/g in soil. Total cadmium concentration in fish ranged from below detection to 0.10 mg/kg wet weight and was below detection in all the sediments and soil sampled whereas total zinc concentration in fish ranged from below detection to 18.16 mg/kg wet weight, from 13.57 to 47.81 mg/kg in sediments and from 8.45 to 81.49 mg/kg in soil. Synodontis sp. recorded the highest concentration (mg/kg, wet weight) of Hg (0.79), Cd (0.10) and Zn (18.16) in all the fish samples analysed. About 37.5% and 18.8% fish species showed positive correlation between muscle tissue mercury concentration and fresh weight, and muscle tissue mercury concentration and total length of fish respectively. Generally, there was an irregular distribution of these metals in fish as the river flows downstream towards river Pra. Analytical results obtained showed that, cadmium and zinc concentrations in fish tissue were generally below the WHO maximum permissible limit; however, 3.4% of the fish samples analysed had tissue mercury concentrations above the WHO limit of 0.5 mg Hg/Kg. Though the results of the research indicates that consumption of fish from the Offin River is unlikely to constitute a health threat to consumers, the concentrations of Hg and Zn obtained were of elevated levels compared to those obtained in the year 2000 in River Offin. Continuous mining along the banks of Offin River coupled with long term bioaccumulation of heavy metals through food chain is of major concern. The study also revealed that Synodontis sp. (locally called Nkontro) has a good Hg, Cd and Zn accumulation potential and may serve as a biomarker for toxicological studies for these metals in the Offin River.
Studies on the use of two packages on some chemical and sensory properties of ‘fresh taste’: a natural orange drink
(2008-08-05) Anin, Stephen Kofi
A comparative study on the effects of High Density Polyethylene bottle and High Density Polyethylene sachet on some quality attributes of a natural orange drink product (Fresh Taste) was conducted upon storage of samples of the products under refrigeration, room and outdoor conditions over a 7-week period. Microbial load (Yeast and Coliform), Total Titratable Acidity (TTA%) and Organoleptic perceptions of trained sensory panelists were used as the measurable indicators. No significant differences were observed between the effectiveness of the protection provided by the High Density Polyethylene bottle and the High Density Polyethylene sachet at 95% confidence level. The effect of the alternative package (labeled High Density Polyethylene bottle) on communicativeness or marketability (communication function) was also evaluated using 100 panelists. The alternative package was unanimously preferred by all the panelists. A significant difference was detected between the effectiveness of the communication function of the alternative package (labeled HDPE bottle) and the existing package (HDPE sachet) of Fresh Taste. A survey was conducted to ascertain the veracity of the assertion that ‘the quality or standard of packaging of most food and beverage products made in Ghana is poor’ using structured questionnaires. The stakeholders interviewed namely consumers of food and beverage products, converters, users and some selected corporate respondents asserted that, the quality of packaging of most food and beverage products made in Ghana was not poor at 95% confidence limit.
Sensory and rheological properties of reduced-fat rock buns and mango pie containing a papaya (carica papaya)-derived fat replacer
(2008-08-08) Paintsil, Yvonne Perpetua
Two perishable fruits Papaya (Carica papaya) and mango (Keit variety) which are locally abundant in Ghana were selected for this study. Freeze dried papaya was used as a fat replacer in two pastry products, namely rock buns and mango pies (with dried mango and mango puree as filler). The effect of fat reduction on the sensory and rheological properties of the rock buns and mango pies were determined. The dried fruits were also assessed for their physicochemical properties. Five rock buns treatments (full (100%)-fat, 25%, 50% and 75% reduced-fat and fat- free (0%) treatments) were produced as well as two pie crust treatments(full (100%)-fat and 25% reduced-fat treatments). Trained sensory panellists determined that the 25 % reduced-fat rock buns treatment was more similar in sensory attributes to the full-fat control, whilst the 50 % reduced-fat treatment was found to be satisfactory in comparison to the other reduced-fat treatments. With the exception of mouth feel in which differences between the full-fat control and the fat-free treatment were not significant (p > 0.05), there were significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in sensory attributes between the control and the fat-free treatment for all other attributes. In the pie crust as well, sensory results showed that the reduced-fat treatment was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from the full-fat control for most attributes. Texture profile analysis of rock buns showed that hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness and resilience increased with increasing fat reduction; however, values for fracturability and modulus of deformation decreased with increasing fat reduction. In the pie, texture analysis indicated that the reduced-fat treatment was not significantly different (p > 0.05) in hardness from the full-fat control; nevertheless, for fracturability, differences between them were found to be significant (p ≤ 0.05). Colorimetric measurements revealed that the 25 % reduced-fat treatment was more similar in appearance (colour) to the control than the other reduced-fat treatments which were dull in appearance. Notwithstanding the colorimetric results, sensory results also proved that the 50 % reduced-fat treatment was also not significantly different (p > 0.05) in colour from its full-fat complement. Dried fruits and puree produced from mango were more shelf stable than the unprocessed fruit. Analytical results indicated that the fat replacer contains 2.51 g/100 g and 12 % pectin and total nutrition fibre respectively. This is an indication that the pawpaw-derived fat replacer could be a viable additive for fat replacement.

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