“She is my sister although she’s got factory faults”: a psychosocial study of Xhosa women’s sister-sister relationships

The current study examines the constructions that Black, Xhosa women from the working class and in middle adulthood draw on to make meaning of their sister-sister relationships. In addition to this, it aims to uncover their motivations for investing in these meanings. It makes use of a psychosocial theoretical framework that draws on discursive psychology and psychoanalysis. Discursive psychology is used to analyse the constructions the participants used to make meaning of their relationship, while psychoanalysis is used to interpret their investments in these constructions. Six participants were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The findings emphasise the psychosocial nature of the participants’ sisterly relationships, as caught between ‘inner’ world of feelings and emotions and the ‘outer’ world of social practices and expectations. Their narratives pointed to the obligatory nature of the sister-sister relationship, which drives participants to downplay the hatred or dislike that is present in their relationship and to emphasise traditional scripts of helping each other, promoting solidarity amongst sisters and other women. The analysis highlights the ways in which the participants negotiate and express their gender roles through sistering, reinforcing and challenging the traditional view of femininity and as a result providing for multiple femininities. In addition to these, the findings show that women may choose specific narratives to construct their sister-sister relationships as they allow them to feel safe and in control of their lives. Using psychoanalysis alongside discursive psychology enables the findings to illustrate how the participants invest in different constructions of their relationship in ways that are influenced by their values and life histories

“She is my sister although she’s got factory faults”: a psychosocial study of Xhosa women’s sister-sister relationships

The current study examines the constructions that Black, Xhosa women from the working class and in middle adulthood draw on to make meaning of their sister-sister relationships. In addition to this, it aims to uncover their motivations for investing in these meanings. It makes use of a psychosocial theoretical framework that draws on discursive psychology and psychoanalysis. Discursive psychology is used to analyse the constructions the participants used to make meaning of their relationship, while psychoanalysis is used to interpret their investments in these constructions. Six participants were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The findings emphasise the psychosocial nature of the participants’ sisterly relationships, as caught between ‘inner’ world of feelings and emotions and the ‘outer’ world of social practices and expectations. Their narratives pointed to the obligatory nature of the sister-sister relationship, which drives participants to downplay the hatred or dislike that is present in their relationship and to emphasise traditional scripts of helping each other, promoting solidarity amongst sisters and other women. The analysis highlights the ways in which the participants negotiate and express their gender roles through sistering, reinforcing and challenging the traditional view of femininity and as a result providing for multiple femininities. In addition to these, the findings show that women may choose specific narratives to construct their sister-sister relationships as they allow them to feel safe and in control of their lives. Using psychoanalysis alongside discursive psychology enables the findings to illustrate how the participants invest in different constructions of their relationship in ways that are influenced by their values and life histories

A Gartner duct cyst of the vagina causing dysuria and dyschezia in a Yorkshire Terrier

A 5 year-old, intact female Yorkshire terrier was referred for dysuria and dyschezia. The radiographic and ultrasound examination showed a round shaped mass caudal to the urinary bladder that contained anechoic fluid within the thin walls. During surgery, the cyst was noted to be attached to the outer wall of the vagina, not connected to the vaginal lumen. Cystic fluid was removed and the cystic wall was resected. Then the remaining cystic wall was omentalized to prevent a recurrence

Imaging of non-traumatic abdominal emergencies in adults at Limbe Regional Hospital: A qualitative survey of frontline physicians

Introduction: The choice of imaging modalities in non-traumatic abdominal emergencies typically manifesting as pain is informed by the clinical context, availability, cost and safety considerations. The objective of this study was to elucidate how emergency department (ED) physicians use and perceive the role of imaging in non-traumatic abdominal emergencies (NTAE) in adults. Materials and methods: A qualitative in-depth interview of consenting physicians working at the ED of Limbe Regional Hospital was conducted during the month of April 2021. Data was collected on sociodemographic variables, work experience and imaging prescription attitudes for non-traumatic abdominal emergencies. Interview data were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically. Results: Fourteen participants were interviewed in-depth of which 9 (64.3%) were females and the median age (range) of all participants was 29 (27 to 35) years. The average duration of work experience after qualification as a physician was 2 years (range: 1 to 6 years) and all participants were general practitioners. Plain abdominal radiography and ultrasonography were reported to be the first-line imaging modalities for all NTAEs, with both often requested sequentially. The utilization of computed tomography was reserved for situations where plain films and ultrasonography were negative or indeterminate, and often upon recommendation by a specialist physician or the reporting radiologist. The perceived role of imaging was to provide a diagnosis as the clinical impression was often uncertain. Conclusion: Plain abdominal films and ultrasonography remain key imaging modalities for the assessment of non-traumatic abdominal emergencies, with computed tomography utilization being more reserved. The continuous sensitization and mentoring of frontline physicians will be useful to foster better utilization of imaging modalities.   English title: Imagerie des urgences abdominales non traumatiques chez l’adulte : Enquête qualitative auprès des médecins du service des urgences à Hôpital Régional de Limbe  Introduction: La disponibilité croissante des modalités d'imagerie dans les hôpitaux donne la possibilité aux médecins de première ligne de choisir la technique la mieux indiquée pour leurs patients. L'objectif de cette étude était d'élucider comment les médecins du service des urgences de l’Hôpital Régional de Limbe au Cameroun conçoivent l’utilité des modalités d'imagerie médicale dans la prise en charge des urgences abdominales non traumatiques chez les adultes. Matériel et méthodes: Un entretien qualitatif détaillé avec les médecins exerçant au service des urgences était réalisé pendant le mois d’avril 2021. Les données étaient recueillies sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et les habitudes lors des demandes d’examen d’imagerie pour investiguer les urgences abdominales non-traumatiques. Les interviews étaient enregistrées sur fichier audio, transcrit et analysé de façon thématique. Résultats: Quatorze participants ont été interrogés dont 9 (64,3%) étaient des femmes, et l'âge médian (intervalle) était de 29 (27 à 35) ans. La durée moyenne de l'expérience de travail après l’obtention du diplôme de docteur en médecine était de 2 ans (intervalle : 1 à 6 ans). Tous les participants étaient des médecins généralistes. L'échographie et la radiographie de l’abdomen sans préparation, souvent couplée, étaient citées comme les modalités d'imagerie demandées en première intention pour investiguer les urgences abdominales non traumatiques. La demande de la tomodensitométrie était réservée aux cas où l’échographie et la radiographie étaient non contributives, voire par recommandation par un médecin spécialiste ou du radiologue. Selon les répondants, le principal rôle de l'imagerie serait de fournir un diagnostic de certitude. Conclusion: L'échographie et la radiographie demeurent les principales modalités d'imagerie dans l'investigation des urgences abdominales non-traumatiques, l’utilisation du scanner étant plus restreinte. Une sensibilisation pour renforcer les connaissances et pratiques des médecins de première ligne s’avérait utile

Évaluation de la dose patient en scanographie pédiatrique dans deux hôpitaux universitaires à Yaoundé Cameroun

Les pratiques de radioprotection des patients sont peu documentées en Afrique subsaharienne en raison de l’absence ou de la mise en œuvre approximative des lois et règlements qui y sont relatifs. Ce travail investigue la justification et l’optimisation en scanographie pédiatrique dans deux hôpitaux universitaires de Yaoundé au Cameroun. L’enquête rétrospective portait sur 171 examens chez des enfants de 0 à 15 ans pendant un trimestre. Les données collectées à l’aide d’une fiche adaptée du modèle de l’Institut de radioprotection et de sureté nucléaire d’évaluation dosimétrique en scanographie ont été confrontées aux référentiels de la Société française de radiologie et de la Société francophone d’imagerie pédiatrique et prénatale. La conformité de chaque examen a été analysée et les valeurs d’index de dose scanographique et de produit dose longueur (PDL) ont été comparées aux niveaux de référence diagnostiques (NRD) des référentiels ci-dessus. Si tous les examens étaient justifiés, les protocoles, non affichés, étaient variables selon les équipes et les services. La tension était conforme dans 87,7 % des cas et 15,2 % des PDL étaient supérieurs aux NRD pour les scanners thoraciques et abdominaux en mode spiralé et cérébraux en mode séquentiel. Un affichage des protocoles optimisés est nécessaire pour améliorer les pratiques dans ces services avec une rotation importante de techniciens et résidents de radiologie

Benign Cystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma Revealed by Small Bowel Obstruction

Benign cystic peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare tumor which frequently occurs in women of reproductive age. Abdominal pain associated with pelvic or abdominal mass is the common clinical presentation. We report the case of a 22-year-old woman with a pathological proved benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum revealed by a small bowel obstruction and a painful left-sided pelvic mass with signs of psoitis. Contrast enhanced abdominal CT-scan demonstrated a large pelvic cystic mass with mass effect on rectosigmoid and pelvic organs. The patient underwent surgical removal of the tumor. Pathological examination revealed the diagnosis of benign cystic mesothelioma of the peritoneum. The outcome was excellent with a 12-month recoil

Hematocolpos cause inhabituelle de retention chronique d’urine chez l’adolescente: a propos d’un cas.

L’hématocolpos est une conséquence fréquente de l’imperforation de l’hymen aboutissant à l’accumulation progressive du sang menstruel dans la cavité vaginale à la puberté. Il se traduit sur le plan clinique par des douleurs pelviennes cycliques et une aménorrhée primaire. La rétention d’urines est une présentation rare, n’ayant jamais été publiée en milieu camerounais. Les auteurs rapportent ici un cas de rétention chronique d’urines secondaire à un hématocolpos chez une fille de 15 ans consultant pour troubles mictionnels et importante distension abdominale. L’échographie abdomino-pelvienne a permis d’évoquer le diagnostic de rétention chronique d’urines sur hématocolpos ; diagnostic qui a été confirmé par hymenotomie après sondage vésical. Un hématocolpos doit être systématiquement recherché chez la jeune fille avec troubles mictionnels et aménorrhée primaire. Le traitement chirurgical de l’imperforation de l’hymen permet de remédier aux troubles mictionnels et à l’aménorrhée primaire.MOTS CLES: Hématocolpos - Rétention chronique d’urines - Imperforation de l’hymen - Echographie

Pseudoaneurysm of the Common Carotid Artery in an Infant due to Swallowed Fish Bone

Carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare condition, particularly in the paediatric population. Only about 30 cases of carotid artery aneurysms in infants have been published until now. This paper reports the case of a giant pseudoaneurysm of the left common carotid artery due to swallowed fish bone by an 8-year-old boy. This pseudoaneurysm was 5.5 cm transverse-diameter and resulted in severe respiratory distress. It was treated by resection and end-to-end anastomosis with satisfactory outcome after one-year follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest carotid artery pseudoaneurysm ever described in children

Case Report Pseudoaneurysm of the Common Carotid Artery in an Infant due to Swallowed Fish Bone

Carotid artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare condition, particularly in the paediatric population. Only about 30 cases of carotid artery aneurysms in infants have been published until now. This paper reports the case of a giant pseudoaneurysm of the left common carotid artery due to swallowed fish bone by an 8-year-old boy. This pseudoaneurysm was 5.5 cm transverse-diameter and resulted in severe respiratory distress. It was treated by resection and end-to-end anastomosis with satisfactory outcome after one-year follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest carotid artery pseudoaneurysm ever described in children

Urethral Duplication with a Cystic Phallic Urethra Associated with a Uterus Didelphys, Partial Agenesis of the Tibia, and an Equinovarus Foot

Urethral duplication is a rare congenital malformation, especially in females. It may be associated with complex urogenital malformations, but the association with a cystic phallic urethra and a uterus didelphys is exceptional. We report a case of a newborn with urethral duplication, with the accessory urethra exteriorized by a large cyst, associated with a uterus didelphys and bone malformations. We discuss the clinical, radiographic, and therapeutic aspects as well as a literature review