Preventing Episodic Migraine With Caloric Vestibular Stimulation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel solid-state, caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) device to provide adjuvant therapy for the prevention of episodic migraine in adult migraineurs.

Background: Migraine causes significant disability in ∼12% of the world population. No current migraine preventive treatment provides full clinical relief, and many exhibit high rates of discontinuation due to adverse events.

The relationship between HIV and AIDS and water scarcity in Nyamakate resettlements land, north-central Zimbabwe.

HIV and AIDS and water variability have been studied separately, yet, they impact on rural households simultaneously in an interactive manner. The study provide narratives on various realities from a study in the Nyamakate community that illustrates the dialectical relationship between HIV and AIDS and water scarcity. A qualitative research methodology was employed, and the following data collection tools were used: semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and participant observations.

Caught between the global economy and local bureaucracy: the barriers to good waste management practice in South Africa.

Empirical research shows that good waste management practice in South Africa is not always under the volitional control of those tasked with its implementation. While intention to act may exist, external factors, within the distal and proximal context, create barriers to waste behaviour. In addition, these barriers differ for respondents in municipalities, private industry and private waste companies.

Improving waste management through a process of learning: the South African waste information system.

Piloting of the South African Waste Information System (SAWIS) provided an opportunity to research whether the collection of data for a national waste information system could, through a process of learning, change the way that waste is managed in the country, such that there is a noticeable improvement. The interviews with officials from municipalities and private waste companies, conducted as part of the piloting of the SAWIS, highlighted that certain organizations, typically private waste companies have been successful in collecting waste data. Through a process of learning, these organizations have utilized this waste data to inform and manage their operations.

Towards the creation of a health information system for cancer in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

The paper aims to evaluate the potential of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in the creation of a health information system (HIS) for cancer. A case study describes the spatial distribution of reported cancer in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and correlates this with levels of development. The study illustrates the problems of data shortage in a developing country.

Long-term use of narcotic/antidepressant medication in the management of phantom limb pain.

The successful management of 5 consecutive patients with intractable phantom limb pain is described. The main therapy is a combination of a narcotic and antidepressant. Medication remained effective during the average observation time of 22 months.

Intrathecal normal saline without preservative does not have a local anesthetic effect.

The effects of intrathecally administered normal saline (preservative-free) were studied in patients undergoing differential spinal block anesthesia for evaluation of chronic pain below the waist. The injection of 5 ml saline did not significantly change the sensitivity to pinprick measured in the lower back and both lower extremities. Temperature measurement in both the lower extremities and psychogalvanic skin reflex did not show evidence of sympathetic block; the psychogalvanic skin reflex was abandoned because of inconsistent results.