Publications by authors named "Raymond S Maalman"

Persistent ascending mesocolon (PAM) is a rare congenital anomaly in ⁓2%-4% of individuals. PAM is associated with various complications, including volvulus of the colon and caecum, bowel perforation, intestinal obstruction, and adhesions. This case is reported on a 48-year-old woman who reported to the Ho Teaching Hospital specialist clinic with a 13-year history of initial painless and reducible paraumbilical swelling.

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Background: Occupational exposure to wood dust, generated by various individual wood species, both softwood and hardwood, has been extensively documented as a causative factor for reduced lung function, frequent respiratory symptoms, and increased immunological responses in wood workers. This study explores the impact of wood dust from mixed tropical hardwood species on lung function, respiratory symptoms, and Immunoglobulin (Ig) E and G levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among wood workers at the Accra Timber Market and a control group from the University of Ghana.

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Background: Seventy percent of ureteric injuries result from iatrogenic causes with about 75% of these diagnosed in the postoperative period. It may have fatal complications such as sepsis and or renal functional damage increasing morbidity and treatment cost.

Objective: The study aimed to identify the risk factors for iatrogenic ureteric injuries from open surgical procedures and the intervention outcome in a resource-poor setting.

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Caesarean section with associated ureteric injuries that damage kidney function is uncommon. Such injury in women with a solitary kidney has far-reaching effects if the diagnosis is delayed. The case report describes the successful acute management with stenting of ureteric damage after caesarean section in a woman with a solitary kidney.

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Background: Occupational exposure to wood dust particles has long been reported of its associated varying degrees of negative health effects due to different extractive chemicals present in the various timber species. However, tropical hardwood is also reported to have higher levels of extractive chemicals of antihistamine, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. In Ghana, woodworkers have for years been exposed to wood dust from mixed tropical hardwood species, with little or no protective equipment such as nose masks, yet with less significant respiratory conditions.

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Primary anterior urethral calculi account for <0.3% of urinary stones with over 90% resulting from luminal anomalies. These stones are often diagnosed early and treated without clinical problems.

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Introduction And Importance: Surgical site infection (SSI) is an inevitable occurrence in bowel perforation with faecal soiled hernia wound(s) especially in retroviral patients. Unfortunately, the increased antibiotics and wound care demands do not prevent delayed healing, increased risk of hernia recurrence, or multiple surgeries to control the infection. The standard open or endo-laparoscopic Mesh repairs are either deferred or avoided with alternative tissue-based hernia repairs after bowel surgery.

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Background: Malaria is a preventable disease that causes huge morbidity and mortality in malaria-endemic areas, especially among children and pregnant women. The malaria control programme focuses on the prevention of mosquito bites using insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and mosquito aerosol sprays and coils, as well as prevention of severe disease among those infected through prompt and adequate treatment. The success of the malaria control programme in Ghana is dependent on the malaria prevention practices of people in the community.

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Background: Children need good nutrition to develop proper immune mechanisms and psychosocial maturity, but malnutrition can affect their ability to realize this. Apart from the national demographic and health survey, which is carried out every 5 years, there have not been enough documented studies on child breastfeeding and weaning practices of caregivers in the Volta Region. We, therefore, examined child breastfeeding and weaning practices of mothers in the Volta Region of Ghana.

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Background: Cadaveric dissection is essential and effective teaching method of anatomy in medical schools. In cadaveric dissection, the learner plays the central role of the teaching process and to view structures in their natural location. Cadaveric dissection is however perceived as tedious and time consuming by most students which influence their perception and attitude towards the teaching method.

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Article Synopsis
  • Mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and stress are significant public health problems globally, with a community-based study in Ghana revealing that over half of participants experienced at least one of these issues.
  • The study found that 25.2% had depression, 53.3% had anxiety, and 9.7% had stress, with 8.3% experiencing all three conditions simultaneously.
  • Key predictors of mental health challenges included education and income levels; adults with higher education were significantly less likely to suffer from these conditions, highlighting the need for better mental health strategies to meet Sustainable Development Goals.
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Background: Disorders of sex development are anomalies in which the development of urogenital ridge is undifferentiated for the male and female child. Imaging plays a vital role in investigating the gross anatomy and associated anomalies. Ultrasonography, such as genitography and magnetic resonance, is the primary modality for demonstrating internal gonads and genitalia.

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Testicular torsion is a urologic emergency that requires surgical intervention. Its diagnosis is rarely made in elderly men especially the subset of men on urethral catheter. As a result, delayed diagnosis and surgical exploration occur leading to testicular infarction with necrosis, abscess formation and ultimately orchidectomy.

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A complete penoscrotal transposition (CPST) is a very uncommon congenital maldevelopment that is always associated with other abnormal body variations (malformations). We report a rare case of a term neonate delivered with CPST, which had a flaccid penis and an intact scrotum with unilateral limb and digital deformity, imperforate anus, cardiac malformation a facial deformity. Neonate died two hours after delivery.

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Background: In 2017, a total of 295,000 women lost their lives due to pregnancy and childbirth across the globe, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia accounting for approximately 86 % of all maternal deaths. The maternal mortality ratio in Ghana is exceptionally high, with approximately 308 deaths/100,000 live births in 2017. Most of these maternal deaths occur in rural areas than in urban areas.

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Clinically, the cephalic vein is preferred for haemodialysis in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), to remove waste products from blood. The cut-down of cephalic vein in the deltopectoral groove is preferred when superior vena caval infusion is necessary. However, cephalic veins exhibit a wide array of developmental variations in terms of formation, course, and termination.

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