DOCSLIB.ORG

Download File CCDN 30.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Download File CCDN 30.Pdf Working together to eliminate cyanide poisoning, konzo, tropical ataxic neuropathy (TAN) and neurolathyrism Cassava Cyanide Diseases & Neurolathyrism Network (ISSN 1838-8817 (Print): ISSN 1838-8825 (Online) Issue Number 30, December 2017 Contents an Ethiopian boy adopted in an American family 2. Editorial ......................................................................... 1 Some ‘recycled’ reports on cases that occurred Articles ........................................................................... 2 decades ago in India or Ethiopia were also Hans Rosling – edutainer and konzo researcher ........ 2 published. In the present issue professor Mishra Survey of grass pea consumption in Gazipur, Uttar reports on a survey in an area of India that is Pradesh, India ............................................................... 5 supposed to be prone to neurolathyrism, but found Mapping of konzo and rehabilitation needs in no new cases. The local diet consisted of a mixture Zambezia Province, Mozambique ................................ 6 of rice and grass pea seasoned with onion. This confirms the findings of dr Getahun in Ethiopia who CCDNN Coordination: identified addition of cereals and onion as protective 3 factors in the epidemiology of neurolatyrism . When dr Gopalan visited the Rewa district he noted that rice was cheaper than grass pea and that market Technologiepark 3, B-9052 Gent -Zwijnaarde, Belgium effects may be responsible for the absence of new Prof Fernand LAMBEIN, Coordinator cases of neurolathyrism. Also in Bangladesh no [email protected] recent cases are reported in the literature, and the price of rice seems to be lower than the price of Dr. Delphin DIASOLUA NGUDI grass pea. Poverty and food insufficiency during Phone: +32 92 64 52 82 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] drought are often reported as risk factors, when the poorest and often illiterate only can afford the Editorial Board: J.P. Banea, Julie Cliff, Arnaldo Cumbana, D. Diasolua cheapest food available, which after a drought is Ngudi, J. Elliott, F. Lambein., N.L.V.Mlingi, Humberto grass pea. The absence of new cases in Ethiopia Muquingue, Bala Nambisan, Dulce Nhassico, S.L.N. may be explained by the rapid economic Rao, D. Tshala-Katumbay Jan development (up to +10% GNP/year). In the multi- ElliottCountry Contacts: pronged approach to prevent neurolathyrism, Cameroon: E.E. Agbor; increasing the market value may be a valid tactic. D.R. Congo : JP Banea & J. Nsimire Chabwine; Toxicity and nutritional value of grass pea remain a Indonesia : A. Hidayat; Mozambique: Anabela Zacarias; matter of controversy. While much research is Nigeria: M.N. Adindu and P.N. Okafor focusing on physiological effects of ODAP in animal Website: http://ipbo.vib-ugent.be/projects/ccdn systems and its level in the plant, others herald the positive effects of grass pea on the ecology and on human health.4 In 2017, research on Lathyrus sativus and its neuroactive metabolite has also produced Editorial remarkable results. Metabolomic studies on the biosynthesis of β-ODAP have shown a link with The year 2017 seems to have given hope for the primary metabolism.5 This explains the difficulty to prevention of neurolathyrism, but new cases of lower the content of β-ODAP by classical breeding, konzo and new areas afflicted by konzo give a very especially to develop varieties with zero ODAP. different picture. However, as the opposition against the use of GMO- In the recent literature on neurolathyrism, we found technology in food seems to be waning 6, there is the description of some older cases that have hope that such technologies may circumvent the emigrated from Ethiopia to Israёl 1 and the story of 1 metabolic obstacles. grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) J. Agric. Food The picture of konzo in several African countries is Chem., 2017, 65 (47), pp 10206–10213 grimmer, although the interest for konzo is 6http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/s increasing. A recent issue of The Lancet carried a cience/2015/07/are_gmos_safe_yes_the_case_agai picture of a severe konzo case (see below) among nst_them_is_full_of_fraud_lies_and_errors.html 7 prize-winning photographs. The first epidemic of 7Palmer J. Health in focus 2017, The Lancet 390, konzo has now been published as a case study for 8 2017, p.2761 teaching purposes. This may give rise to further 8 epidemiological surveys like the one in this issue on Taibo CLA, Cliff J, Rosling H, Hall CD, Park MM, a previously un-surveyed part of Mozambique. Even Frimpong JA. An epidemic of spastic paraparesis of more alarming is the article by professor Boivin et al. unknown aetiology in Northern Mozambique. The on the effect of cassava on cognitive performance of Pan African Medical Journal. 2017;27(Suppl 1):6. small children in D.R. Congo.9 This can have long- doi:10.11604/pamj.supp.2017.27.1.12623. term effect on the development of the children and 9 Boivin MJ, Daniel Okitundu D., Makila-Mabe B., hence on the development of populations Sombo M-T, Mumba D., Sikorskii A., Banea depending on cassava as staple food. In his Mayambu JP, Tshala-Katumbay D. Cognitive and comment, Charles Newton pointed out the often motor performance in Congolese children with occurring limitation of sulphur donors in malnutrition. konzo during 4 years of follow-up: a longitudinal The deficiency of essential sulphur amino acids analysis The Lancet Global Health 5, 2017, e936- methionine and cysteine in cassava and grass pea e947. is well documented and can be countered by F. Lambein and D. Diasolua Ngudi addition of cereals or onions to the diet. The low incidence of neurolathyrism in grass pea consuming regions, and the persistence of the high Articles incidence of konzo in cassava depending populations might be linked to differences in Hans Rosling – edutainer and konzo economic development in the regions that researcher influenced the availability of foodstuffs added in the Hans Rosling, figure 1, died 7 February 2017. (1-3) diet to the grass pea or cassava staple, giving a He was a professor at the Karolinska Institutet in better balance of essential amino acids and Stockholm, Sweden who became a well-known micronutrients. The recent low incidence or even edutainer in 2006 after a TED talk. His message absence of new cases of neurolathyrism is excellent was that we need to base our worldview on facts news, but new periods of drought-triggered famine and not on prejudges. He founded the foundation could dramatically change this, especially in view of Gapminder (www.gapminder.org) together with his the progressing change in climate. son Ola Rosling and his daughter-in-law Anna R Rönnlund. The moving bubbles of the “Gapminder References world” has been a success factor. (4) In 2018 a book will be published “Factfulness” which all three 1 Bick A.S., Meiner Z., Gotkine M. Levin N. Using gapminder founding members have authored Advanced Imaging Methods to Study together. Hans continuously underlined the need to Neurolathyrism. Israel Medical Association J. 18, have an updated view of the world. Many of his 2016, 341-345. presentations are available on YouTube. One of the 2Pruente J., Wilson P. E.. An Adolescent with most well-known is perhaps his 200 countries, 200 Spastic Paraplegia from Neurolathyrism: A Case years in 4 minutes (5). Report:: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.06.433 For most of the CCDN readers, Hans Rosling, may 3Getahun H., Lambein F., Van Hoorne M., Van der also be known as a prominent researcher on konzo. Stuyft P. Food-aid cereals to reduce neurolathyrism In November 2017 his autobiography “How I learnt related to grass-pea preparations during famine, to understand the world” was published, written in 2003, Lancet 362, 1808-1810. Swedish by him and an assisting journalist (6). In 4 this autobiography, he describes how this came Parida R.C.; Ghosh P.K.. 2016, Khesari Dal, from a toxic villain to a health-promoting hero. Science about. In the following, I will summarise some of the Reporter, April 2016, 28-29 key events. You should know, however, that the original version is more elaborated and contains 5 Liu F., Jiao C., Bi C., Xu Q., Chen P., Heuberger many hilarious memories. A.L. and Krishnan H.B. Metabolomics approach to understand mechanisms of β-N-oxalyl-l-α,β- The starting point was when he as an active diaminopropionic acid (β-ODAP) biosynthesis in member of the socio-democrat students’ association was organising a meeting in November 1967 with a 2 Mozambican professor of anthropology from the Cava Health Centre.” University of Syracuse in the United States, Cava, located over 100 km Northwest of Nacala, Eduardo Mondlane, who at the time was the leader had a small catholic mission with a health centre, of the Mozambican independence movement the most remote in the district of Nacala. Sister FRELIMO. After the meeting, which was very poorly Lucia was an Italian nun and nurse who had worked attended, Eduardo Mondlane said goodbye there for over 20 years. She was highly appreciated individually to each of the attendees by asking each in the area, known to ride a 250 cubic motorbike of them: and never ask for help. “What are you studying? When do you get your After a 1-day ride in a jeep, Sister Lucia welcomed exam?” them warmly. Hans noticed she was called “Mama Hans, as a 19-year old first-year student in statistics, Lucia” by the locals. Sister Lucia took the command had not yet thought of any exam and answered: and showed them to simple but clean guest rooms. “I start my studies in medicine next year and will Next morning after breakfast and prayer, it was time graduate as a doctor in … 1975.” to examine the patients. Hans noticed that they all had the same history: Suddenly both their legs had “Great! We will most likely be independent by then! become paralysed.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Good Things on the Rise: the One-Sided Worldview of Hans Rosling
    Good Things on the Rise: The One-Sided Worldview of Hans Rosling By Christian Berggren, Prof. emer. Industrial Management, Linköping University, Sweden, October 12, 2018 Charisma and positive messages about world development made Hans Rosling (1948– 2017), a former professor of international health at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, an international star. His posthumous gospel, Factfulness (1), which contains a collection of illustrative statistics and imaginative insights, has reached a global audience. In the United States, Bill Gates recently announced that he will hand out the book to all graduating university students, and 32 more translations are in the pipeline. An article in the science journal Nature praised the book in glowing terms: “This magnificent book ends with a plea for a factual world view. …Like his famous presentations, it throws down a gauntlet to doom-and-gloomers in global health by challenging preconceptions and misconceptions.” (2) However, Factfulness actually employs a biased selection of variables, avoids analysis of negative trends, and does not discuss any of the serious challenges related to continual population growth. A policy based on the simplistic worldview presented in Factfulness could have serious consequences. Who will dare stand up to media sensation Hans Rosling? This question asked by four writers in a leading Swedish daily in October 2015. Their criticism of his cavalier attitude toward the rapid rise in Africa’s population went unanswered. Perhaps the famous lecturer was leery of entering into a dialogue that might reveal the weaknesses of his analysis. Despite his position as a professor at the Karolinska Institute, Rosling’s research production was meager.
    [Show full text]
  • Global and Local Health – Legacy of Hans Rosling
    Seminar Global and Local Health – Legacy of Hans Rosling When: 26th October, 2017. 9.00 – 13.00. Where: Jacob Berzelius, Berzelius väg 3 Please register for the event here: https://sv.surveymonkey.com/r/PC3JR9Z In 2006, Hans Rosling presented his TED talk, which made him known internationally and changed the way we look at the world. However, long before that Hans Rosling had discovered a disease related to Cassava toxicity. It is an interesting story of a researcher who went to Mozambique to work as a health worker. Hans Rosling and his wife had traveled from Sweden to Mozambique. He had studied medicine and public health. In mid-1981, a disease appeared in the province of Nampula, north of Mozambique causing paralysis, with blurred vision and difficulty speaking. Soon over 1,000 cases were reported. The condition was called Konzo, which, in the Yaka language (spoken in a village of southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo) means “tied legs.” Cassava is the third most important food crop in the tropics, after rice and maize. Esteemed by smallholder farmers for its tolerance to drought and infertile soils, the crop is inherently eco-efficient, offering a reliable source of food and income. Half a billion people in Africa eat cassava every day, and this high-starch root is also an important staple in Latin America and the Caribbean. The seminar “Global and Local Health – Legacy of Hans Rosling will discuss the disease Konzo in the context of research carried out by Hans Rosling. The seminar is a collaboration between Swedish Agriculture University, Uppsala (SLU – Global) and Centre for global health, Karolinska Institutet.
    [Show full text]
  • Research on Motor Neuron Diseases Konzo and Neurolathyrism: Trends from 1990 to 2010
    Research on Motor Neuron Diseases Konzo and Neurolathyrism: Trends from 1990 to 2010 Delphin Diasolua Ngudi1,2, Yu-Haey Kuo2, Marc Van Montagu2, Fernand Lambein2* 1 Programme National de Nutrition (PRONANUT), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2 Institute of Plant Biotechnology Outreach (IPBO), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium Abstract Konzo (caused by consumption of improperly processed cassava, Manihot esculenta) and neurolathyrism (caused by prolonged overconsumption of grass pea, Lathyrus sativus) are two distinct non-infectious upper motor neurone diseases with identical clinical symptoms of spastic paraparesis of the legs. They affect many thousands of people among the poor in the remote rural areas in the central and southern parts of Africa afflicting them with konzo in Ethiopia and in the Indian sub-continent with neurolathyrism. Both diseases are toxico-nutritional problems due to monotonous consumption of starchy cassava roots or protein-rich grass pea seeds as a staple, especially during drought and famine periods. Both foods contain toxic metabolites (cyanogenic glycosides in cassava and the neuro-excitatory amino acid b-ODAP in grass pea) that are blamed for theses diseases. The etiology is also linked to the deficiency in the essential sulfur amino acids that protect against oxidative stress. The two diseases are not considered reportable by the World Health Organization (WHO) and only estimated numbers can be found. This paper analyzes research performance and determines scientific interest in konzo and neurolathyrism. A literature search of over 21 years (from 1990 to 2010) shows that in terms of scientific publications there is little interest in these neglected motorneurone diseases konzo and neurolathyrism that paralyze the legs.
    [Show full text]
  • Responding to the Ebola Epidemic in West Africa: What Role Does Religion Play? Case Study
    WFDD CASE STUDY RESPONDING TO THE EBOLA EPIDEMIC IN WEST AFRICA: WHAT ROLE DOES RELIGION PLAY? By Katherine Marshall THE 2014 EBOLA EPIDEMIC was a human and a medical drama that killed more than 11,000 people and, still more, devastated the communities concerned and set back the development of health systems. Its impact was concentrated on three poor, fragile West African countries, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, but the tremors reverberated throughout the world, gen- erating reactions of compassion and fear, spurring mobilization of vast hu- man and financial resources, and inspiring many reflections on the lessons that should be learned by the many actors concerned. Among the actors were many with religious affiliations, who played distinctive roles at various points and across different sectors. This case study is one of a series produced by the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs at Georgetown University and the World Faiths De- velopment Dialogue (WFDD), an NGO established in the World Bank and based today at Georgetown University. The goal is to generate relevant and demanding teaching materials that highlight ethical, cultural, and religious dimensions of contemporary international development topics. This case study highlights the complex institutional roles of religious actors and posi- tive and less positive aspects of their involvement, and, notably, how poorly prepared international organizations proved in engaging them in a systematic fashion. An earlier case study on Female Genital Cutting (FGC or FGM) focuses on the complex questions of how culture and religious beliefs influ- ence behaviors. This case was prepared under the leadership of Katherine Marshall and Crys- tal Corman.
    [Show full text]
  • Resolution Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on the Establishment of the United Nations Population Award
    Information note on the United Nations Population Award United Nations Population Award 2017 Edition United Nations Population Award The United Nations General Assembly established the United Nations Population Award in resolution 36/201 on 17 December 1981. The Award is presented annually to an individual or individuals, or to an institution or institutions, or to any combination thereof, for the most outstanding contribution to the awareness of population questions or to their solutions. The Committee for the United Nations Population Award selects the laureates of the Award. The Committee is composed of ten representatives of Members States of the United Nations (Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Benin, Islamic Republic of the Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Poland and Paraguay) elected by the Economic and Social Council for a term of three years (2016-2018). Laureates of the 2017 Award 1. Individual (posthumous) Professor Hans Rosling was selected in recognition of his dedication and unwavering commitment to public health, population dynamics and the eradication of poverty in his multiple capacities as a physician, a researcher and a teacher, and for his remarkable contribution to a better understanding of international and global health through his numerous publications and initiatives. While serving as a Medical Officer in Northern Mozambique in the 1980s, Dr. Rosling’s investigations led to the discovery of an epidemic paralytic disease now known as Konzo, and spent two decades studying outbreaks of this disease in remote rural areas across Africa. As a champion of international cooperation, Dr. Rosling led health research collaborations with universities in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
    [Show full text]
  • Similarities Between Tropical Spastic Paraparesis And
    Lathyrus Lathyrism Newsletter 2 (2001) Similarities between Tropical Neurolathyrism Neurolathyrism is a neurologic disorder caused by Spastic Paraparesis (TSP) and excessive ingestion of Lathyrus species. Lathyrism has neurolathyrism been known since ancient times; epidemics have occurred in some regions, including Russia, southern Europe, the Middle East and India, particularly during times of famine. At these times increased consumption of Lathyrus sativus, L. cicera and Vicia sativa has been implicated. Horses, cattle, swine and birds have been Vladimir Zaninovic’ affected. Emeritus Professor of Neurology, Universidad del Clinically, lathyrism often presents relatively rapidly Valle, Cali, Colombia after a prolonged period (months) of ingesting large amounts of the grain, often in the context of general malnutrition. Disease often commences with Email: [email protected] OR complaints of pain or cramps in the legs or in the [email protected] region of the lumbar spine. Lower extremity weakness and sphincter disfunction then develop, soon evolving into permanent spastic paraparesis. The cramping pains and the sphincter dysfunction usually subside when the intoxication ceases and spasticity develops7. There are a few pathologic studies of lathyrism, but a report by Hirano et al.8 confirms earlier descriptions of bilateral atrophy in the distal pyramidal tract in the lumbar cord. Additionally, there have been Tropical Spastic Paraparesis morphologic descriptions of degenerative changes in Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (TSP) is a slowly the spinocerebellar tracts and dorsal columns. In progressive spastic paraparesis with an insidious onset concert, these data suggest a central nervous system in adulthood. It has been found all around the world (CNS) disease expressed most pronouncedly in the (except in the poles), mainly in tropical and subtropical distribution of the longest CNS fibres.
    [Show full text]
  • Awareness and Knowledge of Konzo and Tropical Ataxic Neuropathy (TAN) Among Women in Andom Village - East Region, Cameroon
    International Journal of Research and Review www.ijrrjournal.com E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 Original Research Article Awareness and Knowledge of Konzo and Tropical Ataxic Neuropathy (TAN) Among Women in Andom Village - East Region, Cameroon Esther Etengeneng Agbor1, J Howard Bradbury2, Jean Pierre Banea3, Mbu Daniel Tambi4,A Desire Mintop5, Koulbout David6, R Mendounento7 1Senior Lecturer/researcher, Department of Biochemistry, University of Dschang – Cameroon 2Evolution, Ecology and Genetics Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200 Australia 3Programme National de Nutrition (PRONANUT), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 4Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Dschang, Cameroon 5Medical Doctor, Regional delegation of Ministry of Public health – Bertoua, East region - Cameroon 6Administrator/researcher, Regional delegation of Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation - Cameroon 7Medical personnel, Government health Centre – Andom, East Region – Cameroon. Corresponding author: Esther Etengeneng Agbor Received: 29/10/2014 Revised: 25/11/2014 Accepted: 25/11/2014 ABSTRACT Background: Konzo and Tropical Ataxic Neuropathy (TAN) are toxico – nutritional neurological diseases associated with sub-lethal and moderate dietary cyanide exposure respectively, resulting from the consumption of insufficiently processed cassava products. In Cameroon, the cassava growing and consuming rural communities appear to have little awareness and knowledge of these nutritional diseases. Objective: To provide a preliminary insight into the awareness and knowledge of Konzo and TAN among rural women specifically in Andom village located in the East Region of Cameroon. Methodology: A convenient sample of 57 women between the ages of 20 - 70 years from a cassava growing/consuming local community was surveyed about Konzo and TAN.
    [Show full text]
  • Talk Innovation
    Talk Innovation Nepal NCO May 2015 Social Policy and Economic Analysis Section UNICEF Nepal Preface 'Talk Innovation' is a series of inspirational talk events by distinguished influencers in their respective fields, to share knowledge on innovation and its significant role in development. The heart behind this initiative was found on the goal to inspire and motivate the country and its youths that solutions to their community's problems are found within themselves and not from the outside. UNICEF Nepal Country Office partnered and joined forces with multiple actors - government, private sector, academia, media house, and students- to realize knowledge sharing that can eventually lead to new knowledge generation for Nepal. The power of innovation has vast potentials to unlock new social and economic opportunities and lead to sustainable development. UNICEF Nepal is committed to supporting and working towards meeting the challenges of today and shaping a better future for Nepal. We hope the individual talks on innovation left positive impacts and brought new wave of ideas on the minds of the thinkers, planners, and doers of Nepal. Tomoo Hozumi Representative UNICEF Nepal Country Office Acknowledgements This report documents the Talk Innovation program, a collection of talks on social innovation by distinguished influencers in their respective fields. The report was prepared by Ko Woon (Cori) supervised by Amjad Rabi, Chief of Social Policy and Economic Analysis. Rabindra Giri contributed the article on Hans Rosling, Hans Rosling mesmerises Nepal provides hard-hitting advice, and Microsoft Innovation Center Nepal with interviews and reports on the speakers. All infographics and designing of this report were delivered by Ko Woon Park.
    [Show full text]
  • Neuro-Ophthalmologic Findings in Konzo, an Upper Motor Neuron Disorder in Africa
    European Journal of Ophthalmology / Vol. 13 no. 4, 2003 / pp. 383-389 Neuro-ophthalmologic findings in konzo, an upper motor neuron disorder in Africa J.-C.K. MWANZA 1,5, D. TSHALA-KATUMBAY 2,3, D.L. KAYEMBE 1, K.E. EEG-OLOFSSON 4, T. TYLLESKÄR 5 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Kinshasa University Hospital, Kinshasa 2 Department of Neurology, Kinshasa University Hospital, Kinshasa - Democratic Republic of Congo 3 Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon - USA 4 Department of Neurosciences, Section for Clinical Neurophysiology, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala - Sweden 5 Center for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen - Norway PURPOSE. To investigate the neuro-ophthalmological manifestations in konzo, a non-pro- gressive symmetric spastic para/tetraparesis of acute onset associated with consumption of insufficiently processed bitter cassava roots combined with a low protein intake. METHODS. Twenty-one Congolese konzo patients underwent neuro-ophthalmological inves- tigations including visual acuity testing, assessment of light pupillary reflexes, evaluation of ocular motility and deviation, direct ophthalmoscopy, and visual field perimetry. Objec- tive refraction including retinoscopy and keratometry, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy were al- so done. RESULTS. Five patients had visual impairment, and 14 had temporal pallor of the optic disc. Fourteen presented visual field defects, the most frequent being concentric constriction and peripheral defects. Overall, 11 subjects had symptoms qualifying for the diagnosis of optic neuropathy. Two had spontaneous pendular nystagmus in primary position of gaze. Visual field defects and pallor of the optic discs were found in mild, moderate and severe forms of konzo. No correlation was found between the severity of the motor disability of konzo and the extent of visual field loss.
    [Show full text]
  • Reviewing the Effect of Bitter Cassava Neurotoxicity on the Motor Neurons of Cassava-Induced Konzo Disease on Wistar Rats Stella Enefa, Chikwuogwo W
    Saudi Journal of Medicine Abbreviated Key Title: Saudi J Med ISSN 2518-3389 (Print) |ISSN 2518-3397 (Online) Scholars Middle East Publishers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Journal homepage: https://saudijournals.com Original Research Article Model of Konzo Disease: Reviewing the Effect of Bitter Cassava Neurotoxicity on the Motor Neurons of Cassava-Induced Konzo Disease on Wistar Rats Stella Enefa, Chikwuogwo W. Paul, Lekpa K. David* Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria DOI: 10.36348/sjm.2020.v05i11.005 | Received: 05.10.2020 | Accepted: 21.10.2020 | Published: 28.11.2020 *Corresponding Author: Lekpa K. David Abstract Introduction: Cassava (Manihot Esculenta) is a staple food in tropical and subtropical regions in Africa, and is the main source of carbohydrate in these regions. Nevertheless, it contains cyanogenic glycosides metabolised to hydrogen cyanide, which has been shown by studies to affect the motor neurons of the central nervous system and causes neurodegenerative disease as konzo. However, the cassava-induced konzo disease and its neurotoxicity in rat model is yet to be explored. Method: 30 Adult female Wistar rats were assigned to 4 experimental groups (i) negative control n=5 (ii) positive control n=5, (iii) konzo-induced group n=15, (iv) protein-treated group n=5. The bitter cassava foods were taken by oral ingestion for a period of 5 weeks. Motor activity was evaluated using forelimb grip strength testing done weekly. RESULTS: There was significant difference in weight and forelimb grip strength between the negative control group and the konzo-induced group p˂0.05.
    [Show full text]
  • Epidemic Spastic Paraparesis in Bandundu (Zaire)
    J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry: first published as 10.1136/jnnp.49.6.620 on 1 June 1986. Downloaded from Journal'of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry 1986;49:620-627 Epidemic spastic paraparesis in Bandundu (Zaire) H CARTON,* KAZADI KAYEMBE,t KABEYA,t ODIO, A BILLIAU§ K MAERTENSII From the Department ofNeurology, Catholic University ofLeuven, Belgium,* Centre Neuropsychopathologique University ofKinshasa, Zaire,t Hopital de Panzi, Bandundu, Zaire, Rega Institute, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium,§ Department ofOphthalmology, University ofKinshasa, Zaire 11 SUMMARY Epidemiological findings of twenty sporadic cases of epidemic spastic paraparesis (buka-buka) in three areas of Bandundu (Zaire) are reported. These findings suggest the in- volvement of an infectious agent and do not support the hypothesis of a dietary cyanide intoxi- cation, which has been advanced to explain the outbreak of a very similar disease (Mantakassa) in Mozambique. Acute as well as chronic spastic paraparesis of un- covered essentially by a savanna highland of 900 m altitude, known origin is much more common in tropical coun- cut by forest galleries along the multiple rivers running in a tries than in temperate climates. Deficiencies or south-north direction. toxicities due to primitive diets as well as infectious Twenty patients residing in three localities more than agents have been implicated.' Sometimes these dis- 200 km apart, and belonging to three different tribes in eases occur in epidemics. The earliest documented Southern Bandundu were examined by two neurologists and one ophthalmologist. The histories were taken either in oneProtected by copyright. cases of epidemic spastic paraparesis in the Bandundu of the major languages of Zaire (Lingala) or in the local region of Zaire occurred in 1928 and were reported by languages: Kiyaka with the aid of a Muyaka physician, Trolli.2 Ever since there have been new outbreaks Tshitshokwe with the aid of the local schoolhead and Ki- affecting hundreds of cases in several areas of Band- suku with the aid of a local health worker.
    [Show full text]
  • Toxic Disorders of the Upper Motor Neuron System
    4738-Eisen-18 6/16/06 5:58 PM Page 361 Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Vol. 82 (3rd series) Motor Neuron Disorders and Related Diseases A.A. Eisen, P.J. Shaw, Editors © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved Chapter 18 Toxic disorders of the upper motor neuron system D. DESIRE TSHALA-KATUMBAY* AND PETER S. SPENCER Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA 18.1. Introduction 18.2. Epidemiology Dysfunction of the motor system has been associated 18.2.1. Historical background with dietary dependence on food plants with neurotoxic potential, notably the grass pea (chickling pea) and cas- Lathyrism has affected humans and animal populations sava (manioc), in various and geographically distinct since antiquity. The disease was known to ancient regions of the world. Reliance on grass pea (Lathyrus Hindus, to Hippocrates (460–377 BC), Pliny the Elder sativus or related neurotoxic species) or on insufficiently (23–79 AD), Pedanius Dioskurides (50 AD) and Galen processed bitter cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) as (130–210 AD) (Desparanches, 1829; Hippocrates, staples, the latter in association with malnutrition, has 1846; Proust, 1883; Hubert, 1886; Schuchardt, 1887; resulted in epidemics of (neuro)lathyrism and konzo Spirtoff, 1903). Lathyrism affects populations reliant (neurocassavism), respectively; these are clinically on food products derived from neurotoxic species of the similar self-limiting neurodegenerative disorders con- Lathyrus genus, member of the Fabacae family, most fined to the upper motor neuron system. Studies of out- commonly Lathyrus sativus (grass pea) (Stockman, breaks of lathyrism and konzo have suggested 1917; Selye, 1957; Dwivedi and Prasad, 1964; Rao et al., individual susceptibility to the toxic effects of these 1969; Kislev, 1985).
    [Show full text]