The effect of tuberculous meningitis on the cognitive and motor development of children

No Abstract

Fetal Metabolic Stress Disrupts Immune Homeostasis and Induces Proinflammatory Responses in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-and Combination Antiretroviral Therapy-Exposed Infants

Analytical BioScience

Boekbespreking

No abstract available

The epidemiology and outcome of childhood tuberculous meningitis The Pelonomi Hospital experience

A prospective study was undertaken to determine the epidemiology and outcome of tuberculous meningitis in children admitted to hospital in Bloemtontein, OFS. Over a 5-year period 75 patients were studied, and 78% of them were < 5 years of age. The largest group of patients came from rural areas. The annual incidence in the 0 - 14-year-old group for the City of Bloemfontein was estimated at 3,6/100000. Most patients were in an advanced stage of illness at the start of therapy and the mortality rate was 18%. Of those patients who survived, 26% had severe neurological sequelae. The incidence of tuberculous meningitis can be decreased by improving primary health care facilities in certain areas of the OFS

Can CT predict the level of CSF block in tuberculous hydrocephalus?

Introduction: Treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus in children with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) depends on the level of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) block. Air-encephalography is regarded as the gold standard for differentiating communicating and non-communicating hydrocephalus. Since air-encephalography involves a lumbar puncture, it carries the risk of cerebral herniation. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether communicating and non-communicating hydrocephalus in TBM can be differentiated by means of cranial computerised tomography (CT). Methods: A number of CT indices were measured in 50 children with communicating and 34 children with non-communicating hydrocephalus according to air-encephalographic findings. Results: The only CT finding that correlated with the type of hydrocephalus was the shape of the third ventricle. Significantly more children with non-communicating hydrocephalus had a rounded third ventricle than those with communicating hydrocephalus. Conclusion: CT is therefore not useful in determining the level of CSF block in TBM. Air-encephalography remains the most reliable way of determining the level of CSF obstruction. © Springer-Verlag 2004.Articl

Metabolic risks of neonates at birth following in utero exposure to HIV-ART: the amino acid profile of cord blood

Analytical BioScience

Pretoriana, no. 053, April 1967

Uit die onderwys in Pretoria gedurende die laaste jare van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek en daarna / N.A. Coetzee -- Oor die Nederlandse verenigingslewe in ou Pretoria / J. Ploeger -- Die ampswoning van Conyngham Greene / J.M. Schoeman -- The president and the rose / C.W.L. de Souza -- Die konsentrasiekamp te Meintjieskop / J.L. Hattingh -- Kultuuraktiwiteite van die Pretoriase jeug tussen 1883 en 1913 / G.J. van Eck -- Die voorstad Groenkloof, Pretoria, en die herkoms van sy straat- en parkname / K.M. (Ina) van Eck -- Die eerste poging tot koffieverbouing in die Pretoriase distrik / H.M. Rex -- Correspondence / C.J. Beane

Antibacterial and anticandidal activity of Tylosema esculentum (marama) extracts

Bean and tuber extracts of Tylosema esculentum (marama) - an African creeping plant - were obtained using ethanol, methanol and water. Based on information that T. esculentum is used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases, the antibacterial and anticandidal effects of tuber and bean extracts were investigated. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was tested on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, ATCC 6538), Mycobacterium terrae (ATCC 15755), Corynebacterium diphtheriae (clinical) and Candida albicans (ATCC 2091). We performed the broth microdilution test for the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and a method to determine survival of microorganisms after in vitro co-incubation with the highest concentrations of T. esculentum extracts, followed by assessment of colony counts. Ethanol and methanol (phenolic) bean extracts exhibited higher potency against bacteria and yeast than aqueous extracts. Marama bean seed coat crude ethanolic extract (MSCE) and seed coat polyphenolic fractions, especially soluble-bound fraction (MSCIB), were highly antimicrobial against M. terrae, C. diphtheriae and C. albicans. All marama bean polyphenolic fractions, namely cotyledon acidified methanol fraction (MCAM), seed coat acidified methanol fraction (MSCAM), cotyledon insoluble-bound fraction (MCIB), seed coat insoluble-bound fraction (MSCIB), cotyledon-free polyphenolic fraction (MCFP) and seed coat free polyphenolic fraction (MSCFP) had high antimicrobial effects as shown by low respective MIC values between 0.1 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL. These MIC values were comparable to those of control antimicrobials used: amphotericin B (0.5 mg/mL) and cesfulodin (0.1 mg/mL) against C. diphtheriae, streptomycin (1.0 mg/mL) and gentamicin (0.4 mg/mL) against M. terrae, and amphotericin B (0.05 mg/mL) against C. albicans. Marama seed coat soluble-esterified fraction (MSCS) had closer activity to that of cefsulodin against M. terrae. High amounts of phenolic substances, such as gallic acid, especially in the seed coats, as well as high amounts of phytosterols, lignans, certain fatty acids and peptides (specifically protease inhibitors) in the cotyledons contributed to the observed antibacterial and anticandidal activities. Marama extracts, especially phenolic and crude seed coat extracts, had high multi-species antibacterial and anticandidal activities at concentrations comparable to that of some conventional drugs; these extracts have potential use as microbicides

Towards climate-smart, three-dimensional protected areas for biodiversity conservation in the high seas

Marine species are moving rapidly in response to warming, often in different directions and with variations dependent on location and depth. Given the current impetus to increase the area of protected ocean to 30%, conservation planning must include the 64% of the ocean beyond national jurisdictions, which in turn requires associated design challenges for conventional conservation to be addressed. Here we present a planning approach for the high seas that conserves biodiversity, minimizes exposure to climate change, retains species within reserve boundaries and reduces conflict with fishing. This is developed using data from across four depth domains, considering 12,932 vertebrate, invertebrate and algal species and three climate scenarios. The resultant climate-smart conservation areas cover 6% of the high seas and represent a low-regret option that provides a nucleus for developing a full network of high-seas marine reserves.Isaac Brito-Morales, David S. Schoeman, Jason D. Everett, Carissa J. Klein, Daniel C. Dunn, Jorge García Molinos, Michael T. Burrows, Kristine Camille V. Buenafe, Rosa Mar Dominguez, Hugh P. Possingham, and Anthony J. Richardso