A systematic review of heavy metals contamination in cosmetics.

Background: Globally, the consumption and use of cosmetics have increased exponentially. The presence of hazardous metals raises worries about their potential long-term impacts on human health. Objective: This review's primary goal is to shed light on the presence and ranges of heavy metal concentrations in diverse cosmetic samples as well as the instrumental techniques used by various authors to analyse the hazardous metals in the articles under evaluation. Methodology: This analysis concentrated on 16 publications that measured the levels of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, iron, nickel, chromium, and mercury in various cosmetic samples that were published between the years 2012 and 2020. Results: The study's findings support the existence of these metals as pollutants or components in cosmetics, both of which pose substantial health hazards. The regulations and acceptable limits vary across different countries, which is a significant challenge for the cosmetic industry. Conclusion: Therefore, there is a pressing need to standardise the acceptable limits of these toxic metals in cosmetics. Instrumental techniques such as AAS, GFAAS, ICP-OES/ICP-AES, and ICP-MS were employed by Researchers to analyse the toxic metals in cosmetics.

Effect of Smoking and Grilling on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ghanaian Tilapia.

The study assessed 18 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in O. niloticus (Nile tilapia) sampled from an aquaculture cage (farm) and a wild catch. The PAHs in fish samples were analysed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Four PAHs (in order of levels: Indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene > Anthracene > Perylene > Pyrene; 100-0.8 µg/kg) and only one PAH (Pyrene: 4 µg/kg) were detected in raw samples from the cage and wild catch respectively. Chargrilling significantly increased Pyrene levels after cooking (wild: 4-11 µg/kg; cage: 5-23 µg/kg, p < .05), and likewise Anthracene levels in cage samples (13-153 µg/kg) but decreased Indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene levels from 100 ± 20 to 1.2 ± 0.2 µg/kg in cage samples. Smoking significantly increased 13 to 15 PAH congeners' levels (from < 1.0 up to 340 µg/kg) and total PAHs (wild: 4 to 840 µg/kg; cage: 110 to 560 µg/kg), and decreased Indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene (100 to 1.3 µg/kg) in cage samples but showed no effect on Benzo [g, h, i] perylene and Dibenzo [a, h] anthracene levels in all samples. For smoked samples, Benzo [a] pyrene and PAH4 (Benzo [a] anthracene, Chrysene, Benzo [b] fluoranthene, and Benzo [a] pyrene) exceeded the respective maximum permissible limits of 2 µg/kg and 12 µg/kg, and significantly influenced the levels of carcinogenic PAHs (CPAH, 135-170 µg/kg). Nevertheless, the Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) estimates, from a conservative approach, were far below the threshold (10-4), implying that consuming smoked or grilled tilapia from the study site is safe.

Colorectal Cancer Screening in Ghana: Physicians' Practices and Perceived Barriers.

INTRODUCTION: Ghana has seen a rise in the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) over the past decade. In 2011, the Ghana National Cancer Steering Committee created a guideline recommending fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) for CRC screening in individuals over the age of 50. There is limited data available on current Ghanaian CRC screening trends and adherence to the established guidelines. METHODS: We conducted a survey of 39 physicians working at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. The survey evaluates physician knowledge, practice patterns, and perceived personal-, patient- and system-level barriers pertaining to CRC screening. RESULTS: Almost 10% of physicians would not recommend colorectal cancer screening for asymptomatic, average risk patients who met the age inclusion criteria set forth in the national guidelines. Only 1 physician would recommend FOBT as an initial screening test for CRC. The top reasons for not recommending CRC screening with FOBT were the lack of equipment/facilities for the test (28.1%) and lack of training (18.8%). The two most commonly identified barriers to screening identified by >85% of physicians, were lack of awareness of screening/not perceiving colorectal cancer as a serious health threat (patient-level) and high screening costs/lack of insurance coverage (system-level). CONCLUSION: Despite creation of national guidelines for CRC screening, there has been low uptake and implementation. This is due to several barriers at the physician-, patient- and system-levels including lack of resources and physician training to follow-up on positive screening results, limited monetary support and substantial gaps in knowledge at the patient level.

Perspectives in musculoskeletal injury management by traditional bone setters in Ashanti, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: The popularity of the services of traditional bone setters (TBS) in Ghana as an alternative health care requires exploration and documentation of the perspectives of providers and users. OBJECTIVE: To explore and document the perspectives of providers and users of the services of TBS in the management of musculoskeletal injuries in the Ashanti region, Ghana. METHODS: From the social constructivist and qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were used to explore the perspectives of eight TBS and 16 users of their services, selected purposively through snowballing. Thematic content analysis (TCA) was employed. RESULTS: High recovery rate, warm reception, prompt attention, and the relatively lower charges, are reported to motivate the patronage of the services of TBS for the management of fractures in the legs, arms, ribs, joint bones dislocations, waist and spinal cord problems. The TBS combined traditional and orthodox procedures, using plant and animal-based materials, beliefs, spirituality (God-given) and physical therapy in the management of musculoskeletal injuries. No adverse experience was reported by either the providers or users of the traditional management methods. CONCLUSION: With plant and animal-based materials, TBS are observed to combine traditional and orthodox procedures to confidently manage musculoskeletal injuries to the satisfaction of their highly motivated patrons. Although over 60% of the TBS attribute the healing power behind their practice to God, the rest do not discount the role of spiritual therapy. Further studies expanded to include the perspectives of non-users of the services of the TBS will authenticate the findings of this study.

Glanuloplasty with Oral Mucosa Graft following Total Glans Penis Amputation.

This is a report on the technique of neoglans reconstruction in a patient with amputated glans penis following guillotine neonatal circumcision. A 4 cm long and 2 cm wide lower lip oral mucosa graft was harvested and used to graft the distal 2 cm of the corporal bodies after 2 cm of the distal penile skin had been excised. One edge of the lower lip oral mucosa graft was anastomosed to the urethral margins distally and proximally to the skin. At six months of followup, patient had both satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes.