Chlorpromazine, Clotiapine and Thioridazine- A C10mparative Clinical Trial on Bantu Psychotic Patients

In a non-blind assessment of 3 neuroleptic drugs, chlorpromazine (Largactil), thioridazine (Melleril) and clotiapine (Etomine), we found Etomine to be the drug of choice when the diagnosis is in doubt between a toxic psychosis or schizophrenia. This drug also offered the highest discharge rate, 77'7% at 12 weeks compared with 73'5% in the thioridazine group, and 55'5% in the chlorpromazine group. No clouding of consciousness was seen in the clotiapine group, whereas it was troublesome in the chlorpromazine group in patients having received high parenteral doses

Should young adults with sore throat be treated with antibiotics?

The diagnosis of streptococcal sore throat on clinical grounds remains a problem. In this study the clinical prediction in a group of young adults corresponded with laboratory findings indicative of a streptococcal (group A or non-A) infection in 23% of cases. The culture of throat swabs was of little value, as the only group A culture-positive patient did not show an antibody response, indicating a carrier state. Ln 5 cases a streptococcal infection was diagnosed on rising antibody titres only, as culture remained negative. The value of rising antibody titres as a diagnostic tool is also questioned, since they occurred more frequently in the healthy controls than in the sore-throat group. Antibiotic treatment for sore throat was rarely supported by laboratory findings in the young adult population studied

The MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey: I. Survey overview and highlights

Please abstract in the article.The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, US National Science Foundation, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the DSI/NRF, the SARAO HCD programme, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation.http://www.aanda.orghj2022Physic

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Mycelial compatibility groups of Sclerotium rolfsii in South Africa

Sclerotium rolfsii, the causal organism of stem rot or southern blight of groundnut, is widely distributed and has been reported to cause disease in over 500 plant species throughout the world and at least 30 in South Africa. The disease is a problem in most groundnut producing areas in South Africa and no efficient control strategy has yet been developed in this country. Previous studies on the fungus have indicated that diversity within populations of S. rolfsii can be defined by placing isolates into mycelial compatibility groups (MCGs). A total of 121S. rolfsii isolates were collected from 15 localities and seven plant species throughout South Africa and paired against each other. Thirteen MCGs were identified, some containing isolates from the same host plant or geographic area, suggesting a possible relationship between MCG and host plant or locality. Other MCGs, however, contained isolates from a variety of hosts from various localities. The population of the fungus in South Africa is diverse, with vague associations between MCG, host and geographical distribution

Root caries in a sample of elderly persons.

With the anticipated increase in the aged adult population and the associated gingival recession, the prevalence of root caries is expected to increase. The purpose of this study was to determine the experience and distribution of root caries in a group of aged adults living in Kayelitsha. All non-institutionalized elderly black adults participating in a community geriatric programme were examined. Root caries was recorded using visual and tactile criteria and expressed as the root caries index (RCI) rate. The mean age of the subjects was 65.2 years, the mean number of teeth present was 17.3 and the mean RCI rate was 2.2 per cent. All subjects had gingival recession while only 23.8 per cent had root caries. No surfaces with restored root caries lesions were found. In the maxilla the highest RCI rate was observed on the interproximal surfaces of the posterior teeth (4.4 per cent) but in the mandible the buccal surfaces of the posterior teeth had the highest RCI rate (4.2 per cent). In both the maxilla and the mandible the lingual surfaces of the anterior teeth showed no root caries. Maxillary teeth did not have a significantly higher root caries attack rate than mandibular teeth. Root caries does not appear to be a public health problem in the sampled population.Articl