Profile of stress factors associated with mental disorders in children and adolescents referred for evaluation and treatment to the Free State Psychiatric Complex, 2007

Introduction. South African children and adolescents face serious challenges. Over the past decades children have been exposed to rapid and stressful changes in their environment, including increased crime and violence. Aim of study. The aim of the study was to determine the profile of stress factors leading to mental disorders in children and adolescents referred to the Child and Adolescent Unit at the Free State Psychiatric Complex, Bloemfontein, from January 2006 to December 2007. Methods. A total of 669 children (0 - 12 years) and adolescents (13 - 18 years) referred to the unit for evaluation and treatment were included in the study. Results. Thirty per cent were diagnosed with attention deficit and disruptive behaviour disorders, followed by major depressive disorders (22.7%), anxiety disorders (18.5%), conduct disorders (16.1%), mild mental retardation (15.7%), adjustment disorders (9.6%), elimination disorders (8.8%), developmental disorders (7.6%) and bereavement (7.0%). Social stressors were identified in 64.1% of participants, and psychological stressors in 19%. Conclusions. Stress plays an important role in the lives of children and adolescents, which could lead to emotional problems if not well managed. The functioning of children and adolescents should be monitored continuously. Schools are in a favourable position to identify stressors affecting children and adolescents. Educators therefore need training and opportunities to consult on mental health matters. Furthermore, religious organisations should be enlisted to identify stressors manifesting as spiritual dysfunction. School health services can play a role in the recognition of biological stressors such as epilepsy, pregnancy, enuresis, illness, speech problems and sensory dysfunction

Einfluss der autochthonen Mikroflora auf die Sorption und Remobilisierung des Technetiums und des Selens Abschlussbericht

In dem Forschungsvorhaben wurde der Einfluss der autochthonen Mikroorgansimen auf die Mobilitaet von Technetium und Selen untersucht. Beide redoxsensitiven Radionuklide sind im Abfall von Kernbrennelementen enthalten (Tc ca. 6%). Aus vorangegangenen Forschungsarbeiten ist bekannt, dass die Mobilitaet der beiden Elemente durch Mikroorganismen beeinflusst werden kann. Es war jedoch nicht bekannt, welche Mikroorganismen in Sedimenten aus groesseren Tiefen vorkommen und welchen Einfluss sie auf die Mobilitaet ausueben. Fuer die Durchfuehrung von Umlaufsaeulenversuchen unter Verwendung von Sedimenten mit autochthoner mikrobieller Besiedlung ist es erforderlich bei der Probennahme und Bearbeitung auf sterile Handhabung und Konservierung der im Sediment angetroffenen physikochemische Bedingungen zu achten. Hierfuer wurden spezielle Techniken zur Probennahme, Lagerung und Verarbeitung der Proben entwickelt. Die Ergebnisse der Umlaufsaeulenversuche mit autochthoner mikrobieller Besiedlung wurden denen von parallel durchgefuehrten Sterilversuchen gegenuebergestellt und mit Hilfe einer erweiterten Version des hydrochemischen Modellierungsprogrammes PHREEQE ueberpueft. Es zeigte sich, das die im Boden vorhandene Mikroorganismen vor allem aufgrund ihrer ausserordentlich geringen Populationsdichte (von<10 E+6 KBE) nur einen sehr geringen Einfluss zeigen. Jedoch laesst sich bemerken, dass bei konventionell durchgefuehrten Laborversuchen zur Abschaetzung der Rueckhaltekapazitaeten von Sedimenten gegenueber Schadstoffen durch mikrobielle Kontamination mit zu hohen Sorptionsraten bzw. Festlegungsraten gerechnet werden muss. (orig.)Within this research project the influence of autochthonous mirco-organisms on immobilization and remobilization of Technetium and Selenium was investigated. Both redoxsensitive radionuclides are part of the waste of nuclear fuel (Tc app. 6%). Former investigations have shown, that immobilization behaviour of both elements could be influenced by micro-organisms. It has not been known, if the autochthonous (or in situ) organisms from greater depth do also have an influence on radionuclide mobility. The autochthonous populations of micro-organisms in deep sediments and their influence on the migration of Tc and Se were investigated in this study. For this reason recirculation column experiments were carried out. Absolutely sterile and anaerobic handling was necessary for the sampling and the further treatment of the sediments and waters used in the experiments. Therefor special methods for sampling, storage and handling had been developed. The results of recirculation column test with autochthonous micro-organisms were compared with sterile parallel tests and were verified with the results of an elaborated version of the hydrogeochemical equilibration code PHREEQE. It was shown that the autochthonous micro-organisms had only very little influence on the migration behaviour. The reason is the very low population (less than 10 E+6 CFU). Nevertheless it has to be taken into consideration, that conventional laboratory experiments for the estimation of the retention capacities of sediments for hazardous waste lead to an overestimation, if the sediments are contaminated with allochthonous micro-organisms (CFU=colony forming units). (orig.)Available from TIB Hannover: F97B1413 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman