HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESSIBILITY AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IN GHANA: THE ROLE OF THE STUDENT LOAN SCHEME.

Abstract

Introduction:-Local anaesthetics are drugs which upon local injection or topical application cause reversible loss of sensory perception, especially that of pain, in a restricted area of the body. (1) The basic mechanism of action of all LAs are that they interrupt neural conduction by inhibiting the influx of sodium ions through channels within the neuronal membranes. Normally these channels exist in a resting state, during which sodium ions are prevented from entering the cell. When the neuron is stimulated, the channel assumes an activated state, in which sodium ions diffuse into the cell, causing depolarization. Due to this sudden change in membrane voltage, the sodium channel assumes an inactivated state, during which further influx is inhibited while active transport mechanisms return sodium ions to the exterior. Following this repolarization, the channel assumes its normal resting state. Local anaesthetics have greater affinity for receptors within sodium channels during their activated and inactivated states than when they are in their resting states. (2,3) Therefore, neural fibres having more rapid firing rates are most susceptible to local anaesthetic action.Crassocephalum crepidioides (Family: Asteraceae) known as Thickhead in English and Terapaibi in Manipuriis an errect, annual and succulent herb growing in many tropical regions. The leaves are mainly used to treat indigestion, diarrhoea, headache and epilepsy by the local people. In Tanzania the dried leaf powder is applied as a snuff to stop nose bleeding and smoked to treat sleeping sickness. (4) The leaves are heated and then the succus is used for sores and fresh wounds by the local people for many years. (5) However, till date no scientific study has been encountered regarding the evaluation of the effect of the plant in local anaesthetic activity. Hence considering its use in treating wounds for many years by the local people in different parts of the world, an attempt was made to evaluate the role of Crassocephalum crepidioides(CC) in local anaesthesiausing suitable experimental animal models. Materials and