Drivers of Ghanaians' approval of the electronic levy.

The government of Ghana proposed an electronic levy (E-LEVY) in the 2022 budget and economic policy statement to increase revenue in the wake of dwindling opportunities for borrowing from the external market. Whilst existing studies found that most Ghanaians did not support the E-LEVY, the factors that explain the decision were not studied. We contribute to the literature on the E-LEVY by examining the drivers of approval of the E-LEVY in Ghana. We used data of 600 respondents and fitted it to a cloglog model selected based on a battery of tests. We found that older persons were more likely to approve of the E-LEVY than younger people. Persons affiliated with the ruling party, the NPP, were more likely to approve of the E-LEVY than persons not affiliated with the party. Level of education, gender, size of household, monthly income and marital status did not distinguish the tendency to approve of the E-LEVY. Although the ruling party-affiliated respondents were more likely to approve of the E-LEVY, the low probability requires that the government engages not only its party supporters but independents, about the need to support and pay the E-LEVY.

Is low-level environmental mercury exposure of concern to human health?

Mercury has long been recognised as toxic, principally in relation to its effects on humans following acute or prolonged high-level occupational exposures and, in the latter half of the last century, from a number of environmental incidents. Recognised target organs are the kidneys, central nervous system and thyroid glands. Recently concern has grown about the potential risks to the human population from current background environmental levels, leading bodies such as the World Health Organisation to call for the reduction or, wherever possible, elimination of the use of mercury. This review considers the strength of the epidemiological evidence on the effects of prolonged low-level exposure to the various forms of mercury. The limited research base suggests that several of the potential targets of long-term environmental exposure to mercury are similar to those occurring from occupational exposure including the renal, cardiovascular and immune systems. However, the evidence also suggests that, particularly in the case of organic mercury compounds, the most sensitive endpoint is central nervous system toxicity, especially in relation to exposure during the in utero period and childhood. It also appears that those human populations which have traditionally consumed diets high in seafoods are at greatest risk. While the extent of risk to the general population that may arise from existing environmental exposure levels appears limited, this conclusion is based on an incomplete dataset and therefore the general consensus view that exposure to mercury in its various forms should be minimised where practical, appears to be justified. A number of potential areas of further research are suggested as being pre-requisite to the development of a more rigorous risk assessment.

Agriculture and deforestation in the tropics: a critical theoretical and empirical review.

Despite the important role that tropical forests play in human existence, their depletion, especially in the developing world, continue relentlessly. Agriculture has been cited as the major cause of this depletion. This paper discusses two main theoretical underpinnings for the role of agriculture in tropical deforestation. First, the forest biomass as input in agricultural production, and second, the competition between agriculture and forestry underlined by their relative marginal benefits. These are supported by empirical evidence from selected countries in Africa and South America. The paper suggests a need to find a win-win situation to control the spate of tropical deforestation. This may imply improved technologies in the agriculture sector in the developing world, which would lead both to increased production in the agriculture sector, and would also help control the use of tropical forest as an input in agriculture production.

Factors influencing the incidence and scale of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in southwest England.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle is a major economic problem in Britain. In the past 25 years, the infection has been concentrated in the southwest region of England. We investigated the effects of agricultural and farm-management characteristics on the occurrence and scale of TB in cattle in the region (1988-1996) using logistic and linear regression. Factors relating to the existence of previous infection in cattle and the management of cattle and badgers are all linked to the incidence of the infection--but those related specifically to the management of cattle are of overriding importance in determining the scale of the problem. Although our analysis was conducted at a large spatial scale, the results suggest that improvements to the procedure for testing and managing TB in cattle, reductions in cattle stocking density, a greater human input in herd management and more-carefully targeted badger culling all might contribute to reducing the incidence and/or number of herd breakdowns.

Post-natal ontogeny of stanniocalcin gene expression in rodent kidney and regulation by dietary calcium and phosphate.

BACKGROUND: Stanniocalcin (STC) is a polypeptide hormone first discovered in fish and more recently in mammals. In mammals, STC is produced in many tissues and does not normally circulate in the blood. In kidney and gut, STC regulates phosphate fluxes across the transporting epithelia, whereas in brain it protects neurons against cerebral ischemia and promotes neuronal cell differentiation. The gene is highly expressed in ovary and dramatically up-regulated during pregnancy and nursing. Gene expression also is high during mammalian embryogenesis, particularly in kidney where the hormone signals between epithelial and mesenchymal cells during nephrogenesis. METHODS: This study examined the patterns of STC gene expression and protein distribution in the mouse kidney over the course of post-natal development. Further, because STC is a regulator of renal phosphate transport, we also examined the effects of changing levels of dietary calcium and phosphate on renal levels of STC gene expression in adult rats. RESULTS: STC mRNA levels in the neonate kidney were found to be tenfold higher than adults. Isotopic in situ hybridization of neonate kidneys revealed that most, if not all, STC mRNA was confined to collecting duct (CD) cells, as is the case in adults. STC protein on the other hand was found in proximal tubule, thick ascending limb and distal tubules in addition to CD cells. This suggests that, as in adults, the more proximal nephron segments in neonates are targeted by CD-derived STC and sequester large amounts of hormone. The addition of 1% calcium gluconate to the drinking water significantly reduced STC mRNA levels in inner medullary CD cells of both males and females, but not those in the cortex and outer medulla. Placing animals on low phosphate diets also reduced STC mRNA levels, but uniquely in outer medullary and cortical CD cells, whereas a high phosphate diet increased transcript levels in the same regions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that STC may be of unique importance to neonates. They also suggest that changes in dietary calcium and phosphate can alter renal levels of STC gene expression, but that these effects vary between the early and late segments of the collecting duct.

The effectiveness of risperidone on acute stress symptoms in adult burn patients: a preliminary retrospective pilot study.

The traumatic event of a burn injury can precipitate acute stress symptoms of nightmares, flashbacks, hyperarousal and disturbed sleep patterns. In some acutely burned hospitalized patients these symptoms may be significantly distressing, not respond to brief psychotherapeutic interventions, and may require pharmacotherapy. This regional burn center has seen clinically positive results with a small sample of patients using low doses of risperidone. In light of these clinical observations a preliminary retrospective pilot study was undertaken. Ten patients fit the criterion of having clinically significant distressing acute stress symptoms and were treated with risperidone. All 10 reported symptom diminishment or relief 1 to 2 days after starting risperidone. Improvement was defined as decreased sleep disturbances, diminished nightmares/flashbacks, and decreased hyperarousal. None of the patients reported any side effects from the low dose of risperidone (0.5-2 mg at bedtime; average dose was 1 mg). Patients with less clinically distressing symptoms were treated with supportive therapy and guided imagery. Results need to be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample size and lack of a control group. However, the results are encouraging enough to warrant a prospective study in order to better understand the efficacy of the use of risperidone in treating such symptoms in burn patients.

The effect of dietary peptide concentration on endogenous ileal amino acid loss in the growing pig.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether dietary peptide concentration had an effect on endogenous ileal amino acid flow in the growing pig. Eight 33 kg live weight entire male pigs had post-valve T-caecum (PVTC) cannulas surgically implanted for the collection of ileal digesta. The pigs were fed twice daily at 100 g/kg metabolic body weight per d and were given diets containing enzyme-hydrolysed casein (EHC) at 0, 50, 100 and 200 g/kg in a Latin-square design. A basal casein-based diet was fed to the pigs for 6 d periods between receiving the experimental diets. The pigs received the experimental diets for 8 d periods, with continuous collection of digesta for 24 h on each of the fifth and eighth days. The endogenous ileal amino acid flows were determined with reference to recovery of the marker, Cr, directly for pigs receiving the protein-free diet or after centrifugation and ultrafiltration (10,000 Da molecular mass cut-off) for pigs on the EHC-based diets. Mean endogenous ileal N flows were 1753, 1948, 2851 and 5743 micrograms/g DM intake when the pigs received diets containing 0, 50, 100 and 200 g EHC/kg respectively. There was a significant (P < 0.05) effect of dietary peptide concentration on the endogenous ileal flows of N and all of the amino acids, with an increase in endogenous ileal amino flow with increasing dietary EHC concentration.

Dietary conjugated linoleic acids promote fatty streak formation in the C57BL/6 mouse atherosclerosis model.

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are positional isomers of linoleic acid which have been suggested by some to possess antiatherosclerotic properties. To test this hypothesis, three groups of twenty C57BL/6 mice were fed on atherogenic diets containing: 5 g CLA/kg, 2.5 g CLA + 2.5 g linoleic acid/kg or 5 g linoleic acid/kg. All diets were fed for 15 weeks and contained (g/kg): triacylglycerol 145, free fatty acids 5, cholesterol 10 and cholic acid 5. At the completion of the experimental period, when data from both groups fed on CLA were combined, dietary CLA did not produce significant differences in body weight, serum total cholesterol concentration or serum HDL-cholesterol concentration. However, mice receiving CLA developed a significantly higher serum HDL-cholesterol: total cholesterol ratio and a significantly lower serum triacylglycerol concentration than controls. Despite causing a serum lipoprotein profile considered to be less atherogenic, the addition of CLA to the atherogenic diet increased the development of aortic fatty streaks. Considering the increased atherogenesis associated with dietary CLA in the present study, and the failure to demonstrate a significant beneficial effect of CLA in other animal studies, there is currently no conclusive evidence to support the hypothesis that CLA protect against atherogenesis.

The effect of moderate alcohol consumption as either red or white wine in the C57BL/6 mouse atherosclerosis model.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest that the moderate consumption of alcohol, especially red wine, protects against atherosclerosis. This hypothesis was tested using the C57BL/6 mouse atherosclerosis model. DESIGN: Sixty mice were fed an atherogenic diet for 15 weeks. Two groups of 20 mice received drinking water containing 3.1% alcohol, either or white wine, while the control group received plain water. At the conclusion of the experiment, serum lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were measured and the formation of fatty streaks in the aortic sinus was quantified. RESULTS: When mice receiving red wine were compared with mice receiving white wine, no significant differences in serum lipoprotein profile or fatty streak formation were observed. Surprisingly, when data from mice receiving either red or white wine were combined, mice receiving alcohol developed a lower mean serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration [2.34 +/- 0.44 mmol/l (mean +/- SD)] and an increased mean area of aortic fatty streaks (0.46 +/- 0.22 mm2) than controls (2.70 +/- 0.59 mmol/l and 0.31 +/- 0.11 mm2). CONCLUSIONS: These results do not support the hypothesis that red wine provides more protection against atherosclerosis than white wine. The mechanisms by which the moderate intake of alcohol increased fatty streak formation in C57BL/6 mice require further investigation.

Daily supplementation with aged garlic extract, but not raw garlic, protects low density lipoprotein against in vitro oxidation.

The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) is believed to be an important process in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. In this study, human subjects were supplemented daily with one of: 6 g raw garlic; 2.4 g aged garlic extract (AGE); or 0.8 g DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate for 7 days to determine the effect on the susceptibility of LDL particles to Cu2+-mediated oxidation. LDL isolated from subjects given either alpha-tocopherol or AGE, but not raw garlic, was significantly more resistant to oxidation than LDL isolated from subjects receiving no supplements. These results suggest that if antioxidants are proven to be antiatherogenic, AGE may be useful in preventing atherosclerotic disease.

Dietary antioxidants do not reduce fatty streak formation in the C57BL/6 mouse atherosclerosis model.

Epidemiological studies and animal trials have suggested that dietary antioxidants protect against atherosclerosis. To test this hypothesis, C57BL/6 mice were fed atherogenic diets supplemented with either vitamin E or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Three groups of 20 mice were fed for 15 weeks on diets containing 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid. The diet of two groups was supplemented with either 2% vitamin E or 1% BHT. The control group received no antioxidant supplements. The lowest mean serum cholesterol concentration was measured in mice supplemented with vitamin E. Mean serum HDL cholesterol concentrations were highest in the control group, which also had the highest ratio of HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol. Mice fed BHT developed a significantly greater area of aortic fatty streak lesions than the other two groups. However, despite having a more atherogenic lipoprotein profile, mice fed vitamin E developed a level of fatty streak formation similar to the control group. At the end of the trial, mice consuming the vitamin E- and BHT-supplemented diets had higher serum total antioxidant levels than the control mice. Because of changes to lipid metabolism caused by both vitamin E and BHT, the results of this study cannot be used to support the hypothesis that antioxidants confer protection against atherosclerosis. The results do, however, raise the possibility that other studies demonstrating an antiatherogenic action of vitamin E and BHT may have been influenced by their effects on lipid metabolism.

Effectiveness of automated cervical cytology rescreening using the AutoPap 300 QC System.

This study assesses the performance of the AutoPap 300 QC System in identifying false-negative (FN) smears in a slide population previously screened as normal and compares the detection rate to that achieved with a random rescreen of the same slide population. A total of 1,840 "normal" smears were rescreened both manually and by the AutoPap 300 QC System. Overall, a total of 7 FN slides were detected. At QC selection rates of 30% and 20% the device achieved sensitivities for detection of FN smears of 57.19% (4/7) and 42.8% (3/7), respectively. This represents a three- to fourfold enrichment in the number of FN smears over that obtained by a random rescreen of a similar proportion of cases. None of the FN slides were identified by either method at a 10% rescreening rate. The ability of the device to detect slides previously classified as abnormal (n = 139) and FN (n = 40) was also studied. The overall sensitivity to abnormal smears at QC selection rates of 10%, 20%, and 50% was 61.9%, 77.0%, and 94.2%, respectively. Improved sensitivity to smears classified as LSIL or worse (n = 112) was obtained for corresponding selection rates (61.6%, 75.9%, and 93.8%). Sensitivity to FN slides classified as LSIL or worse (n = 17) for QC selection rates of 10%, 20%, and 50% was 29.4%, 70.6%, and 88.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the device to an adequate squamous and endocervical cell component was also determined. At predetermined thresholds, the overall sensitivity to slides with an inadequate squamous cell component (n = 55) and to those smears with an endocervical cell component (n = 1.587) was 81.8%, and 82.7% respectively. The study demonstrated that the AutoPap 300 QC System is superior to human random rescreen for the identification of FN smears although only a marginal improvement was noted due to the small sample. Further studies are required using a larger number of smears to fully assess the value of the device in quality control mode. The device also has the potential to improve the accuracy of specimen adequacy determinations and to serve as a useful adjunct to existing quality control measures designed to monitor individual performance and reporting accuracy.

The neurotensin antagonist SR 48692 fails to modify the behavioural responses to a dopamine D1 receptor agonist in the rat.

The effects of the neurotensin antagonist SR 48692 on the behavioural responses to the dopamine D1 receptor agonist SKF 38393 were investigated in the rat. SKF 38393 (5 mg/kg s.c.) elicited vacuous chewing movements (VCMs) and grooming, which were unaffected by SR 48692 (50 micrograms/kg i.p.). The dopamine D2 receptor antagonist raclopride (0.5 mg/kg s.c.) elicited a small increase in VCMs in animals treated with SR 48692 and attenuated grooming induced by SKF 38393. These effects were not otherwise modified by SR 48692. We conclude that VCMs induced by acute administration of a dopamine D1 receptor agonist are unlikely to be dependent upon enhanced release of neurotensin in the striatum or its projections. This is contrast to the vacuous chewing response which emerges following chronic administration of neuroleptics, which is attenuated by neurotensin receptor antagonist. Thus, inasmuch as chronic neuroleptic-induced VCMs in the rat may be analogous to tardive dyskinesia in humans, the responses induced by acute administration of a D1 agonist to the rat cannot be used as a model of this disorder. Furthermore, the behavioural effects of chronic neuroleptic administration reflect more than a simple shift in the balance of D1 versus D2 receptor stimulation.

Erythrocyte morphology and filterability in rats fed on diets containing different fats and oils.

The present study aimed to determine if the type of dietary fat or oil affects erythrocyte morphology and/or filterability in normal healthy rats. A feeding trial was carried out, in which nine groups of nine rats were fed on diets containing one of the following treatments (test fats or oils): anhydrous milk fat, anhydrous milk fat after passage through a column of active carbon, palm oil, MaxEPA fish oil, hydrogenated coconut oil, anhydrous tallow shortening, margarine hardstock, olive oil and soyabean oil. The test fats or oils supplemented with 10 g safflower-seed oil/kg were incorporated into otherwise nutritionally adequate diets so that the test fat or oil plus safflower-seed oil contributed 35% of the gross energy of the diet. The rats were fed for 10 weeks. Diet had a significant effect on five of the six classes of erythrocytes identified, and the proportion of cells in each class was shown to be dependent on diet. However, the attribute causing the dependence was not clear. There was no significant effect of diet on erythrocyte filterability index. There was no statistical correlation between erythrocyte filterability index and morphology. Although it has been observed that diet, particularly fish oil, can improve the filterability of erythrocytes once filterability is impaired, the effect of diet on erythrocyte filterability in normal healthy animals including humans is unclear. The importance of the differences in erythrocyte morphology due to diet is also unclear. Both areas deserve further investigation.

Thrombogenicity of dietary milkfat, fish oil and hydrogenated coconut oil in a pig model.

Abstract Extract Several indicators of thrombosis and thrombolysis were measured in four groups of 16 pigs fed for 10 weeks on either a low fat basal ration or rations containing 10% anhydrous milkfat (AMF), 10% fish oil (MaxEPA), or 10% hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO). At the end of the feeding period, pigs on the three test fat/oil rations were subjected to balloon angioplasty of both femoral arteries. Thrombus size at the site of injury was measured both morphometrically and using autologous blood platelets labelled with (99)Tc-HMPAO (technetium - "Deretec").

Complex sclerosing lesions (radial scars) of the breast can be palpable.

Complex sclerosing lesion (CSL)/radial scar and carcinoma of breast can both present mammographically as stellate lesions. The mammographic features used to distinguish these two entities are reported as being unreliable. All reports to date indicate that CSLs are not palpable. Of the 54,407 women screened in the first 2 1/2 years of the Warwickshire, Solihull and Coventry Breast Screening Service, 24 histologically-proven CSLs were identified. This represents an incidence of 0.04%. In six (25%) of these patients a corresponding clinically-palpable abnormality was identified. We found no imaging or histological features that differentiated the palpable lesions from the impalpable lesions. It is important not to assume that a palpable stellate lesion is a carcinoma.

Merkel cell tumour of the cheek.

A case of Merkel cell tumour of the cheek is described illustrating the management of this highly malignant neoplasm.

Malignant lymphoma of the lower urinary tract. A clinicopathological study with review of the literature.

The clinical and histopathological findings are reported in 3 primary malignant lymphomas of the lower urinary tract. Two arose in the bladders of a 70-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman. The first was histologically low grade and the patient remains free of disease after more than 7 years. The second was an intermediate grade neoplasm and the patient died after 39 months. The third tumour was found in the urethra of a 76-year-old woman and it appears to represent only the third primary malignant lymphoma described at this site. The bladder is an uncommon primary site of extranodal lymphoma. Most patients present with haematuria and cystoscopy shows 1 or more solid, round, tumour-like masses. Histological grade, particularly follicle formation, appears to have predictive value.

Effects of dietary fat, calcium, and vitamin D on growth and mammary tumorigenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in female Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study was designed to test the influence of dietary calcium and vitamin D levels on the promotional effect of high-fat diets on chemically induced mammary carcinogenesis. In a small preliminary experiment (Experiment A), 40 female Sprague-Dawley rats, 43 days old, were randomly divided into 5 groups (8 rats/group) and fed a semipurified diet containing 3% sunflower seed oil (SF) by weight, 1.5 mg of calcium/kcal and 0.5 IU vitamin D/kcal of diet. After 1 week, each rat was given 2.5 mg of dimethylbenz(a)anthracene by gastric gavage. One week later, the animals were switched to 1 of 4 diets varying in fat (3 or 20% SF by weight), calcium (1.5 or 0.25 mg/kcal), vitamin D (0.5 or 0.05 IU/kcal), and phosphate or to a fifth diet containing 3% SF by weight, 0.1 mg of calcium/kcal and 0.05 IU of vitamin D/kcal. In all 5 diets, calcium:phosphate weight ratios were maintained at 1.2:1. In animals fed the high-fat diet, reduction of dietary calcium (1.5 to 0.25 mg/kcal) and vitamin D (0.5 to 0.05 IU/kcal) increased the incidence of mammary lesions from 37 to 75% and the total number of lesions from 4 to 16. A trend toward an increase in lesion weight and total lesion burden was also seen. To confirm these results, the experiment was repeated using the same protocol; 126 rats were divided into 6 groups, treated with dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, and fed the diets as described. A sixth diet was included that contained 20% SF by weight, 0.01 mg of calcium/kcal, and 0.05 IU of vitamin D/kcal. As for Experiment A, in animals fed the high-fat diet, reduction of dietary calcium (1.5 to 0.25 mg/kcal) and vitamin D (0.5 to 0.05 IU/kcal) resulted in an increase in total mammary lesions from 31 to 55, a significant increase in average lesion burden/rat with lesions (1.6 +/- 0.6 to 12 +/- 3 g), and a trend toward increasing weight of lesions. The effect was less obvious in animals fed the low-fat diet where, in both experiments, an increase in the incidence of mammary lesions was observed only when the dietary calcium was reduced from 1.5 to 0.1 mg/kcal. These data suggest that decreasing calcium and vitamin D increase the promoting effects of a high-fat diet on mammary tumorigenesis in the rat.

Effects of dietary fat on long-term growth and mammary tumorigenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats given a low dose of DMBA.

The effects of dietary fat on experimental mammary cancer have typically been observed in relatively young animals. However, in human populations, breast cancer incidence and mortality are highest in postmenopausal women. To develop an animal model that stimulates the human situation more closely, female Sprague-Dawley rats were given a relatively small dose (1.5 mg) of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) at 50 days of age while on a semipurified diet containing 3% sunflower-seed oil. One week later, half of the 70 rats were transferred to a diet containing 20% sunflower-seed oil. Very few mammary lesions appeared until about 35 weeks after administration of DMBA, at which time palpable mammary nodules began to appear in many of the animals on the high-fat diet. More than half of the animals in this group had developed nodules by Week 41, whereas the other half of the animals on the low-fat diet developed nodules by Week 46. Rats on the high-fat diet gradually became much more obese than those on the low-fat diet and were significantly heavier at the time they developed lesions. The incidence of nodules continued to increase in both groups and reached 100% in the group fed the high-fat diet by Week 55, with a 70% incidence of adenocarcinomas. At this time, 79% of the animals on the low-fat diet had palpable nodules without a plateau in incidence being reached. On autopsy, adenocarcinomas were found in 57% of animals on the low-fat diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)