The frequency and duration of uterine contractions during labour

The behaviour of uterine contractions in the first stage of labour was studied in 1 555 Black and Indian patients. Significant racial differences were found; as well as significant differences in parity.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 799 (1974)

The Frequency and Duration of Uterine Contractions during Labour

The behaviour of uterine contractions in the first stage of labour was studied in 1 555 Black and Indian patients. Significant racial differences were found; as well as significant differences in parity.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 799 (1974)

Extraperitoneal Lower Segment Caesarean Section for Infected Cases

Click on the link to view the abstract.S. Afr. Med. J., 48, 788 (1974)

The alteration of dopamine receptors in L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) induced dyskinesias.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) can ease symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), butextended use of L-DOPA causes abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) called L-DOPA induced dyskinesias (LIDs). The present study aims to investigate alterations in HPA axis stimulation, neuroinflammation, DA signalling, and cholinergic signalling using molecular markers in a rat model of LIDs. A unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesion in the medial forebrain bundle of male Sprague-Dawley rats was used to model Parkinsonism. The PD rat model was treated with L-DOPA to further model LIDs. L-DOPA treated groups included rodents treated for 14 days and rats that developed AIMs during 28 days of treatment. LIDs severity was rated using the AIMs score. Motor skills were assessed using the elevated beam walking test. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Morris water maze test and the novel object recognition test. The concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), corticosterone, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and dopamine (DA), and the expressions of D1 receptor (D1R) and D2 receptor (D2R) were quantified. L-DOPA treatment for 14 days improved the 6-OHDA-induced hypokinesia, incoordination, spatial learning, and spatial memory but did not improve recognition memory impairment. Prolonged (28 days) L-DOPA treatment led to AIMs development and failed to improve 6-OHDA-induced spatial memory impairment. L-DOPA treatment significantly increased striatal TNF-α and striatal DA concentration, cerebellar TNF-α and DA concentration, prefrontal cortex (PFC) DA and AChE concentration, but significantly reduced striatal AChE concentration, the concentration of TNF-α and D1R expression in the PFC, plasma corticosterone, and hippocampal AChE concentration. When treatment was prolonged for 28 days, striatal D2R expression significantly increased, while cerebellar TNF-α and DA concentration significantly decreased. Increased striatal D2R signalling increases motor output since the direct basal ganglia (BG) pathway is activated in LIDs. The present study showed significantly increased cerebellar DA concentration in response to BG hypoactivity; however, as striatal D2R increased cerebellar DA decreased. The connectivity between the BG and cerebellum in PD increases off L-DOPA and lowers On L-DOPA. The cognitive decline in the 6-OHDA lesioned rodents and those treated with L-DOPA results from increased AChE concentration. High AChE concentration leads to increased ACh catabolism which impairs cognitive function

Draft genome sequence of the putative endophytic bacterium pantoea agglomerans r6, associated with lactuca serriola from South Africa

Here, we present the draft genome sequence (;4.7 Mb) of the endopyhtic bacterium Pantoea agglomerans strain R6, which was isolated from surface-sterilized roots of Lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce

Phylogenetic analysis of canine distemper virus in South African wildlife

<div><p>Canine distemper virus (CDV) causes a severe contagious disease in a broad range of hosts. This is the first study to genetically characterise CDV strains from four different wildlife species in South Africa. The phylogenetic diversity of CDV is examined, using the haemagglutinin gene. The South African wildlife CDV isolates showed a high degree of similarity to CDV in South African domestic dogs. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed the presence of 12 geographical lineages with CDV strains from South African wildlife falling within the Southern African lineage. The study reveals two possible co-circulating sub-genotypes corresponding to the northern and southern regions of South Africa respectively. CDV strains from the non-canid species were distinct, but similar to CDV isolates from domestic dog and wild canids. Residues at amino acid sites of the SLAM binding region support the notion that CDV strains encoding 519I / 549H are better adapted to non-canid species than canid species. The amino acids present at site 530 are conserved regardless of host species. Strains from South African wild carnivores showed no difference between host species with all strains presenting 530N. All non-canid strains in this study presented the combination 519I/549H. No evidence of host adaptation or lineage grouping was observed for the Nectin-4 binding region. Further studies should include CDV strains isolated from various hosts from a wider geographical range in South Africa.</p></div

Assessing introgressive hybridization in roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus):Lessons from South Africa

Biological diversity is being lost at unprecedented rates, with genetic admixture and introgression presenting major threats to biodiversity. Our ability to accurately identify introgression is critical to manage species, obtain insights into evolutionary processes, and ultimately contribute to the Aichi Targets developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The current study concerns roan antelope, the second largest antelope in Africa. Despite their large size, these antelope are sensitive to habitat disturbance and interspecific competition, leading to the species being listed as Least Concern but with decreasing population trends, and as extinct over parts of its range. Molecular research identified the presence of two evolutionary significant units across their sub-Saharan range, corresponding to a West African lineage and a second larger group which includes animals from East, Central and Southern Africa. Within South Africa, one of the remaining bastions with increasing population sizes, there are a number of West African roan antelope populations on private farms, and concerns are that these animals hybridize with roan that naturally occur in the southern African region. We used a suite of 27 microsatellite markers to conduct admixture analysis. Our results indicate evidence of hybridization, with our developed tests using a simulated dataset being able to accurately identify F1, F2 and non-admixed individuals at threshold values of qi > 0.80 and qi > 0.85. However, further backcrosses were not always detectable with backcrossed-Western roan individuals (46.7-60%), backcrossed-East, Central and Southern African roan individuals (28.3-45%) and double backcrossed (83.3-98.3%) being incorrectly classified as non-admixed. Our study is the first to confirm ongoing hybridization in this within this iconic African antelope, and we provide recommendations for the future conservation and management of this species