Clinical characteristics of childhood asthma

A prospective study was undertaken of 298 asthmatic children attending a paediatric allergy clinic in Bloemfontein. A detailed history was obtained, and skin tests were performed. Male predominance and an early age of onset were confirmed. Symptomatic allergic rhinitis was an extremely common finding. A family history of allergy was obtained in over 90% of cases. Respiratory tract infections, changes in the weather and exercise were found to be the most common asthma-inducing factors. Common allergens were grass pollen (63%) and animal danders. House-dust mite (25%) and dietary allergens (less than 20%) were relatively uncommon. The failure to recognise the symptoms of asthma in children, particularly young children, was identified as an ongoing problem

Birth mass and neonatal mortality of lambs as level of nutrition of the ewe

No Abstrac

Synchronisation of oestrus in sheep early in the breeding season: the vaginal environment and fertility

No Abstrac

Effect on the fertility of "barren" or early post-partum Karakul ewes of oestrus synchronization and various levels of PMSG within and outside the normal breeding season

No Abstrac

Hormone levels in peripheral plasma of the Afrikaner cow II. Progesterone and total unconjugated oestrogen levels during late gestation and parturition

No Abstrac

The synchronisation of oestrus in sheep. 1. Dosage and time of prostaglandin administration following progestagen pretreatment

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Persistence and parthenogentic cleavage of tubal ova in the mare

As many as ten different ova in all stages of cytolysis were encountered in the uterine tubes of mares. As the follicles of the mare were consistently found to be mon-ovular, it is concluded that unfertilized ova do not, as a rule, pass out of the uterine tubes, but, contrary to all accepted data on the migration of ova, may remain there up to seven and a half months or longer. During this time they undergo gradual disintegration characterized by the following order of changes: deutoplasmic condensation, deutoplasmic extrusion, cytoplasmolysis, deutoplasmic fragmentation and comminution of yolk granules. The final stage identified is a fluid-filled, collapsed vesicle (zona vesicle) surrounded by the zona pellucida only. Immediately after ovulation the ovum was found to be without a corona radiata but enclosed in a large, irregular gelatinous mass of follicular origin. This is considered to be the reason why newly ovulated ova are so often missed. This mass becomes separated from the ovum within the second day after ovulation. Its significance in fertilization is speculated upon. Some unfertilized ova are able to undergo parthenogenetic cleavage. This hampers the identification of early cleavage stages of fertilized ova. Ovulation takes place after the first meiotic division. Sperm entrance stimulates the second meiotic division, as in most mammals.The journals have been scanned in colour with a HP 5590 scanner; 600 dpi. Adobe Acrobat v.11 was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Ovarian function, follicular oestradiol-17β, and luteal progesterone and 20α-hydroxy-pregn-4-en-3-one in cycling and pregnant equines

Reproductive patterns were studied in the majority of 46 mares before obtaining the ovaries for examination at slaughter. Steroids identified and determined were progesterone and 20∝-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one in the corpora lutea and oestradiol- 17 β in the follicular fluid. A study of ovarian morphology revealed no significant cyclical variations of the ovarian weight and number of follicles, but the total volume of follicular fluid increased in the latter half of the cycle. Consistent and marked follicular growth was present at about the 25th day of gestation. Mares 16 to 28 days pregnant had significantly more follicles than cycling mares, and the ovarian weight and volume of follicular fluid were also increased at this time. Peak total oestradiol values at 25 days and maximal progesterone concentrations at 27 days preceded implantation on the 28th day. Oestradiol was present before puberty and the amount in anoestrous animals seems to increase gradually as the breeding season approaches. In cycling mares, total follicular fluid oestradiol values are variable for up to five days after ovulation, but oestradiol is virtually absent during the mid-luteal period. From the 12th day there is a rapid increase to maximal values immediately prior to oestrus. Limited evidence suggests that ovarian oestradiol decreases from the commencement of oestrus. Pregnant animals exhibit an indistinguishable pro-oestrual rise, but drop suddenly when oestrus would be expected on the 17th day. When more than one corpus luteum was present and after two months gestation, no oestradiol was detected. Waves of follicular growth and oestradiol synthesis commence at 2, 12, 22 and 32 days after ovulation, suggesting a cyclical release of pituitary gonadotrophin every 10 days, irrespective of whether an active corpus luteum is present or not. Maximal follicular growth during pregnancy was encountered at 25 days, before the appearance of PMSG. Actual ovulation was only encountered soon after the– expected appearance of PMSG, suggesting a synergistic effect between PMSG and pituitary gonadotrophin. When steroidal inhibition of pituitary gonadotrophin increased and PMSG levels were maximal, the ovaries were relatively quiescent. Many active luteinized follicles were encountered as PMSG levels waned. Luteal progesterone concentrations rose linearly for 14 days; in cycling mares, regression took place on the 14th or 15th day. In pregnant animals the concentration continued to rise, reaching a peak at 27 days. Secondary corpora lutea, resulting from ovulations during the second month of gestation, had an initial concentration resembling cycling animals, but marked increases were found during the third month of gestation. The primary corpus luteum does not regress with the occurrence of secondary ovulations as is generally believed, but remains active for at least three months. 20∝-Hydroxypregn-4- en- 3- one was always present in the corpora lutea of cycling animals and increases were associated with luteal regression. This steroid was never detected in animals more than 18 days pregnant, including fresh secondary corpora lutea. The ovaries of mules contained similar amounts of steroids as found in horses. However, the occurrence of ovulation in the presence of functional corpora lutea suggests failure of the luteal regression mechanism, or alternatively an inability of the hypothalamus to regulate gonadotrophin secretion in the usual manner. The theoretical implications of these findings on sterility work are discussed.The journals have been scanned in colour with a HP 5590 scanner; 600 dpi. Adobe Acrobat v.11 was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Hormone levels in peripheral plasma of the Afrikaner cow I. Progesterone and luteinizing hormone levels during the oestrous cycle

No Abstrac

Severe porphyric neuropathy – importance of screening for porphyria in Guillain-Barré syndrome

The hepatic porphyrias are a group of rare metabolic disorders, each of which is associated with a specific enzymatic alteration in the haem biosynthesis pathway. In South Africa (SA), a high incidence of variegate porphyria (VP) is seen as a result of a founder effect, but acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is also encountered. The development of acute neurovisceral attacks is related to environmental factors, including medications, hormones and diet. A possible manifestation of a severe attack is rapidly progressing quadriparesis, which may mimic Guillain- Barré syndrome. We present four such cases, highlighting that acute porphyria should be considered in the differential diagnosis of Guillain- Barré syndrome. Three patients presented to Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, SA, with progressive quadriparesis, and one to a private hospital with acute abdominal pain followed by rapidly progressive quadriparesis. Two patients had started antiretroviral therapy before the development of symptoms, and one had started antituberculosis therapy. All patients had marked weakness with depressed reflexes, and showed varying degrees of confusion. An initial diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome led to administration of intravenous immunoglobulins in two patients. On testing for porphyria, it was found that two patients had AIP and two VP. Electrophysiological investigations revealed severe mainly motor axonal neuropathy in all. Two patients deteriorated to the point of requiring mechanical ventilation, and one of them died due to complications of critical illness. Haemin was administered to three patients, but the process of obtaining this medication was slow, which delayed the recommended early administration. The surviving patients showed minimal recovery and remained severely disabled. Porphyric neuropathy should always be considered as a differential diagnosis in a patient with an acute neuropathy, especially in SA. Absence of abdominal pain does not exclude the possibility of porphyria, and attacks may be precipitated by antiretroviral and antituberculosis medication. The outcome of our patients was not favourable; specifically, obtaining haemin was a challenge in the state hospital setting.http://www.samj.org.zaam2016Chemical PathologyInternal MedicineNeurolog