Negative inotropic effect of ketamine in rabbit ventricular muscle.

The effect of ketamine on myocardial contractile force was examined in rabbit papillary muscles in order to determine the underlying mechanism of action of the anesthetic. Ketamine HCl (20 and 40 mg/L) inhibited rested-state contractions that are dependent on the transsarcolemmal influx of Ca2+ for activation and reduced the upstroke velocity of the slow action potential, which reflects Ca2+ influx through the slow Ca2+ channel. On the other hand, ketamine had a relatively small effect on potentiated-state contractions and no effect on rapid cooling induced contractures, both of which are activated by the release of Ca2+ stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. These results suggest that ketamine inhibition of transsarcolemmal Ca2+ influx plays a major role in the negative inotropic action of the anesthetic.

A study on food hygiene practices in chop bars in the Kumasi metropolis

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the District Health Management Team (DHMT); which is the Government agency in charge of the implementation of health programmes in the metropolis; have been concerned about poor sanitary conditions in the metropolis. The metropolis has a host of health facilities including a teaching hospital; five urban health centres and over 100 private health facilities. But poor sanitary conditions have led to a very high morbidity and risk of epidemics. Diarrhoeal diseases remain the second commonest disease reported in all the health institutions. There is a daily influx of about 200;000 people into the metropolis and this had led to the flourishing of the cooked food business in the metropolis. Most of the food sellers prepare their food under unhygienic conditions. In-spite of the health education given by the KMA and DHMT on food hygiene and food hygiene practices; the education seemed not to have had any impact on hygiene practice. This has necessitated the study to determine the factors leading to the low practices on food hygiene among chop bar keepers in the metropolis