Variations in antenatal management and outcomes in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn: an international, retrospective, observational cohort study.

Background: Advances in haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn have led to numerous treatment options. We report practice variations in the management and outcomes of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn in at-risk pregnancies.

Methods: In this international, retrospective, observational cohort study, data from cases with moderate or severe haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn were retrieved from 31 centres in 22 countries.

Detection and Characterization of an H9N2 Influenza A Virus in the Egyptian Rousette Bat in Limpopo, South Africa.

In recent years, bats have been shown to host various novel bat-specific influenza viruses, including H17N10 and H18N11 in the Americas and the H9N2 subtype from Africa. (Egyptian Rousette bat) is recognized as a host species for diverse viral agents. This study focused on the molecular surveillance of a maternal colony in Limpopo, South Africa, between 2017-2018.

Cannabis sativa L. protects against oxidative injury in kidney (vero) cells by mitigating perturbed metabolic activities linked to chronic kidney diseases.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cannabis sativa L. is among numerous medicinal plants widely used in traditional medicine in treating various ailments including kidney diseases.

Aims: The protective effect of C.

Ruptured pseudoanuerysm of the posterial tibial artery after percutaneous Achilles tenotomy.

Congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), or clubfoot, is the the most common encountered musculoskeletal defect encountered at birth. Most cases present as an isolated deformity, with up to half of them presenting with bilateral deformity. CTEV have also been reported to present as part of syndromic phenomena.

Selective cytotoxic and anti-metastatic activity in DU-145 prostate cancer cells induced by Annona muricata L. bark extract and phytochemical, annonacin.

Background: Annona muricata L. was identified as a popular medicinal plant in treatment regimens among cancer patients in Jamaica by a previously conducted structured questionnaire. Ethnomedically used plant parts, were examined in this study against human prostate cancer cells for the first time and mechanisms of action elucidated for the most potent of them, along with the active phytochemical, annonacin.

Building a national hernia registry in South Africa: initial ventral hernia repair results from a diverse healthcare sector.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to introduce a new registry in a developing country by describing the demographics, management and 30-day outcomes of patients undergoing ventral hernia repair in the public and private healthcare sectors of South Africa.

Methods: This study was a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained hernia registry from the 1st of February 2019 to 29th of February 2020.

Results: 353 ventral hernia repair cases were recorded of which 47% were incisional hernias and the remainder were primary hernias.

A review on traditionally used South African medicinal plants, their secondary metabolites and their potential development into anticancer agents.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Approximately 70% of anticancer drugs were developed or derived from natural products or plants. Southern Africa boasts an enormous floral diversity with approximately 22,755 plant species with an estimated 3000 used as traditional medicines. In South Africa more than 27 million individuals rely on traditional medicine for healthcare.

Quadratus lumborum block for analgesia after caesarean section: a randomised controlled trial.

Quadratus lumborum block has been shown to provide satisfactory analgesia after caesarean section performed under neuraxial anaesthesia. However, its efficacy has not been demonstrated in patients who have received intrathecal morphine. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of quadratus lumborum block as part of a multimodal analgesic regimen including intrathecal morphine.

Evaluation of the nutritional composition of Myrothamnus flabellifolius (Welw.) herbal tea and its protective effect against oxidative hepatic cell injury.

The nutrient composition of Myrothamnus flabellifolius leaf tea extract (MLTE) and its protective effect against oxidative hepatic cell injury were evaluated. Gallic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, methyl gallate, and epicatechin were identified in MLTE by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The tea extract showed an appreciable nutritional content of proximate, sugar, vitamin E, monounsaturated fatty acids, omega 6 and 9 unsaturated fatty acids, as well as considerable amounts of various mineral elements.

Effects of Silver Nanoparticle from Dicoma anomala Sond. Root Extract on MCF-7 Cancer Cell Line and NF54 Parasite Strain: an In Vitro Study.

Biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) continue captivating researchers in biomedicine field of research. Dicoma anomala Sond. plant, locally known as hloenya, hlonya, maagbossie, inyongwana, is widely recommended by South African traditional health practitioners (THPs) to treat against different health issues.

Comparison of structures and cytotoxicity of mupirocin and batumin against melanoma and several other cancer cell lines.

To determine the computer-predicted anticancer activity of mupirocin and to compare its activities with those determined for another polyene antibiotic, batumin. Molecular docking, cytotoxicity assays, cell microscopy and cell cycle progression were studied in cancer and nontumorigenic cell lines. Cytotoxicity of mupirocin against several cancerous cell lines was detected with the highest one (IC = 5.

Multiplex real-time RT-PCR for detection and distinction of Spondweni and Zika virus.

Zika (ZIKV) and Spondweni viruses (SPOV) are closely related mosquito borne flaviviruses in the Spondweni serogroup. The co-circulation and similar disease presentation following ZIKV and SPOV infection necessitates the development of a diagnostic tool for their simultaneous detection and distinction. We developed a one-step multiplex real-time RT-PCR (ZIKSPOV) to detect and distinguish between SPOV and ZIKV by utilizing a single primer set combined with virus specific hydrolysis probes.

A tale of two sit-bones: The cyclist's ischial hygroma (Perineal nodular induration).

The ischial hygroma, also known as a perineal nodular induration, is a relatively rare and mostly cycling-specific injury that is often incorrectly diagnosed and managed. Here two cases with divergent managements are described to highlight the spectrum of treatment available to manage this condition. The presentation, assessment and management of two cases of perineal nodular induration are discussed.

Promising anticancer activity of batumin: a natural polyene antibiotic produced by Pseudomonas batumici.

Aim: To determine the computer-predicted anticancer activity of antibiotic batumin.

Materials & Methods: Cytotoxicity assays, cell morphology microscopy and cell cycle progression were studied in cancer and nontumorigenic cell lines. An in vivo experiment on Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL)-transplanted mice was conducted to evaluate potential antimetastatic.

Impact of CYP2D6 genotype on amitriptyline efficacy for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a pilot study.

Aim: Therapy with low-dose amitriptyline is commonly used to treat painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy. There is a knowledge gap, however, regarding the role of variable CYP2D6-mediated drug metabolism and side effects (SEs). We aimed to generate pilot data to demonstrate that SEs are more frequent in patients with variant CYP2D6 alleles.

Placental insufficiency among high-risk pregnancies with a normal umbilical artery resistance index after 32weeks.

Objective: To determine the incidence of abnormal multi-vessel Doppler values among advanced pregnancies at risk of suboptimal placentation but with a normal umbilical artery resistance index (RI), and to assess whether clinical and ultrasonography findings can identify them.

Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional study at Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa, women with high-risk pregnancies but normal umbilical artery RI after 32weeks underwent ultrasonography (fetal biometry, liquor, and placenta maturation) and Doppler assessment (uterine, umbilical, and middle cerebral arteries) between February 11 and October 21, 2013. Study data were compared among four groups: fetuses with normal uterofetoplacental Doppler values and those with any abnormal pulsatility index, each subdivided into small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) by estimated fetal weight.

Recreational Fish-Finders--An Inexpensive Alternative to Scientific Echo-Sounders for Unravelling the Links between Marine Top Predators and Their Prey.

Studies investigating how mobile marine predators respond to their prey are limited due to the challenging nature of the environment. While marine top predators are increasingly easy to study thanks to developments in bio-logging technology, typically there is scant information on the distribution and abundance of their prey, largely due to the specialised nature of acquiring this information. We explore the potential of using single-beam recreational fish-finders (RFF) to quantify relative forage fish abundance and draw inferences of the prey distribution at a fine spatial scale.

Effects of four decades of fire manipulation on woody vegetation structure in Savanna.

The amount of carbon stored in savannas represents a significant uncertainty in global carbon budgets, primarily because fire causes actual biomass to differ from potential biomass. We analyzed the structural response of woody plants to long-term experimental burning in savannas. The experiment uses a randomized block design to examine fire exclusion and the season and frequency of burn in 192 7-ha experimental plots located in four different savanna ecosystems.

Surfactant Mediated Cationic and Anionic Suspension Polymerization of PEG-Based Resins in Silicon Oil: Beaded SPOCC 1500 and POEPOP 1500.

A novel surfactant has been synthesized for use in cationic and anionic ring-opening suspension polymerization of PEG-based macromonomers in silicon oil. A polymer of acrylate esters containing pentamethyldisiloxane and PEG was prepared by radical polymerization. The surfactant can stabilize an emulsion of PEG-based macromonomers, initiator, and solvent in silicon oil such that polymer beads are obtained by ring-opening polymerization, initiated either by a Lewis acid (cationic ring opening) or potassium tert-butoxide (anionic ring opening).

Evangelical leaders and people with HIV.

A concern of much HIV-related public education has been the stigma associated with the disease and campaigns calling for solidarity between people with HIV aim to combat discrimination against them. There is evidence, however, that an influential minority of the population world-wide continues to hold hostile attitudes. The literature reports that religiously committed people are more likely to have less accepting attitudes towards people with HIV.

Splenic rupture caused by a cricket ball. A case report.

A 14-year-old boy presented with a ruptured spleen after being injured by a cricket ball during a match. A typical picture of splenic rupture with intra-abdominal haemorrhage was evident on admission to hospital. At emergency laparotomy splenorrhaphy was not feasible because of a deep hilar laceration and splenectomy was performed.