Case series of females charged with murder or attempted murder of minors and referred to Weskoppies Hospital in terms of the over a period of 21 years.

Women charged with murder or attempted murders of children are usually sent for forensic psychiatric evaluation. In South Africa research and literature on this population is scarce. A case series was studied of forensic files of 32 females charged with murder or attempted murder of children.

Is there a need for postoperative surveillance after day case groin surgery in children?

There is increasing awareness of the value of day case paediatric surgery in fulfilling the needs of the community. Is this cost effective, are there hidden complications and is there a need for routine follow-up? Seven hundred and thirty-one children attending the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital day surgery unit over a 32-month period, and undergoing 912 procedures confined to the inguinoscrotal region, were enrolled in the study. Surgical procedures performed included inguinal herniotomy, orchidopexy and circumcision.

Cooling the burn wound: evaluation of different modalites.

A study was undertaken to investigate the cooling and healing effect of different modalities: Melaleuca Alternifolia Hydrogel (Levtrade International (Pty) Ltd.) was compared with tap water as a coolant following application onto a fresh deep partial thickness hot water burn in a porcine model. Four identical circular scalds were created on the backs of 10 pigs.

Perianal candidosis--a comparative study with mupirocin and nystatin.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and clinical outcome of 2% mupirocin in a polyethylene glycol base and nystatin cream as treatment regimens in diaper candidosis.

Design: A prospective randomized comparative study.

Methods: In vitro.

Early detection of poor fetal prognosis by serial Doppler velocimetry in high-risk pregnancies.

Fifty-three high-risk pregnancies were followed up serially with Doppler velocimetry of the umbilical artery and uterine vessels from early on to investigate whether abnormalities in Doppler waveforms can predict the outcome of pregnancy accurately before other clinical signs develop. Results of Doppler velocimetry were withheld from the clinicians managing the patients. When the absence of end-diastolic velocities was first detected (in 13 fetuses) (AEDV group) there was no clinical difference between these pregnancies and those in which end-diastolic velocities were present (EDV group).

Microcirculation of the rat omentum studied by means of corrosion casts.

A study of the microvasculature of the omentum using corrosion casts was undertaken. The object was to supply information regarding the morphology of the three-dimensional structure of the microvasculature, information which may be valuable in understanding the functions of the omentum. Corrosion casts of rat omenta were prepared and studied.

Bactericidal efficacy of 5 per cent povidone iodine cream in Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn wound infection.

A new topical antiseptic agent, 5 per cent polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I) cream, with altered physicochemical properties, incorporated in a different carrier base has proved in vivo to be more effective in controlling burn wound infections than 10 per cent PVP-I ointment. Important biodynamic properties of the new formulation have not, however, been elucidated in vivo. Hence the need for a controlled study to evaluate the bioavailability of the active component after penetration through burn eschar; the bactericidal efficacy of the cream and determination of the bactericidal time of the cream in comparison with 10 per cent PVP-I ointment.

Angiology of the brain of the baboon Papio ursinus, the vervet monkey Cercopithecus pygerithrus, and the bushbaby Galago senegalensis.

The investigation was undertaken to compare the blood supply and venous drainage of the brain of the baboon P. ursinus, the vervet monkey C. pygerithrus, and the bushbaby G.

Efficacy of mupirocin in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus burn wound infection.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) have become increasingly prevalent as nosocomial pathogens, especially in burn wounds. MRSA constituted 38% of all S. aureus isolates in our 25-bed burns unit despite the utilization of a combination of 1% silver sulfadiazine and 0.

Bactericidal efficacy of mupirocin in multi-antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus burn wound infection.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) have become increasingly prevalent as pathogenic organisms, especially in burn wounds, with an associated mortality of 20-40% among those clinically infected. Mupirocin ointment, a new topical antibiotic, has proved in vitro and in vivo to be highly effective in the treatment of MRSA infections. A modified Walker burn wound model was used to define the rate of trans-eschar penetration, biodynamic availability and bactericidal efficacy of 2% mupirocin ointment in established MRSA burn wound infection.

Toxicity of Diplodia maydis in farm and laboratory animals.

The acute toxicity of maize culture material of eight strains of Diplodia maydis in ducklings, as well as the ability of five of these strains to induce typical diplodiosis (a neuromuscular disease) in cattle and sheep was shown. Typical diplodiosis was induced in 17 sheep and 11 cattle. Two of the five toxic strains were isolated from maize involved in diploidiosis outbreaks, the others from commercial maize.

The ultrastructure of the 'peripheral resistance' and the precapillary sphincters.

The vascularization of the primary somaesthetic cortex of the albino rat was studied by snap-fixing of the vessels with a constant infusion of glutaraldehyde through the left ventricle of the heart, followed by injection of a resin under a constant pressure and flow rate directly into the aorta. The vibrissae on one side were stimulated both before and during the fixing procedure. Specimens of the appropriate area of the cortex were taken and treated for viewing by scanning electron microscopy.

Surgical approach to the rostral cranial fossa by radical transfrontal craniotomy in the dog.

To overcome the problems of restricted visibility and surgical mobility, as well as those posed by anatomical features oif the canine subfrontal sinus region and associated dura mater, aggravated by hazards of infection from potentially infected frontal sinuses, of uncontrollable haemorrhage and post-operative brain compression, a radical approach was devised, combining invasion of the frontal sinus with a lateral rostrotentorial craniotomy. This offers adequate surgical manoeuvring space, excellent visualisation of the rostral cranial fossa and its contents, proper asepsis, minimal haemorrhage and no untoward after-effects. The technique lends itself to diverse neurosurgical applications in the rostral cranial fossa of the dog.

Procedures and modifications for reliable use of the unidirectional microflow respirator in the investigation of the carotid body of Gallus domesticus.

An artificial respirator was used to ensure successful and precise artificial respiration in short and long term experiments during radical exposure of the caudal cervical region and thoracic cavity to investigate cytological changes in the carotid body of mature chickens (Gallus domesticus). Modification of the respirator to stabilize gas flow, temperature and humidity consisted of replacing the ball check valve in the heating and humidifying cylinder with a fine regulating stopcock in the water outlet of the cylinder and inserting eight glass rods in a circle inside the cylinder. Accumulation of water condensate in the trachea and lungs during long term experiments was prevented by inserting a cotton filter moisture trap in the tracheal cannula.

An experimental evaluation of the germicidal efficacy of three topical antimicrobial agents in burns.

The bacteriocidal effect of three substances is discussed: 10% povidone iodine ointment (Betadine, betaisodona), 11,2% mafenide acetate (Naplatan) and silver sulphadiazine (Flamazine, Silvadene, Silvertone). A modified Walker burn model using male Long-Evans rats was studied. The infections were produced with a solution of 3 times 10(8) Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocin type H.

The determination of total cholinesterase in rectal biopsy tissue from patients with Hirschsprung's disease.

A spectrophotometric method is described for the quantitative biochemical assay of total cholinesterase in rectal biopsy tissue. Significantly increased enzyme activity was found in this tissue from patients with Hirschsprung's disease, suggesting that the assay has diagnostic value.

The ultrastructure of epithelioid cells in the avian (Gallus domesticus) carotid body.

10 clinically healthy white leghorn males were utilised for this investigation. Apart from toluidine blue-pyronin-stained Araldite sections, uranyl acetate and lead monoxide staining revealed three types of epithelioid cells. Nuclear and cytoplasmic contents, especially three types of granules, conveniently designated as q, r and p granules, are described in detail and tabulated.

Fluorescence microscopy of the avian (Gallus domesticus) carotid body.

Sterba's technique to detect neurosecretory substances was applied to carotid body tissue, surrounding branchial derivatives, ganglion nodosum and the carotid arterial wall. Mainly a yellowish-green, a yellowish-red and a bright yellow fluorescence was observed as well as greenish-yellow fibres with varicosities and terminal knobs. The metachromatic reaction of the technique was briefly discussed.

Relationship between serum and brain concentrations of phenytoin in the dog.

The concentrations of phenytoin (DPH) in the CNS of adult dogs given the drug by IV injection, continuous IV infusion, or repeated daily oral administration and of newborn pups given DPH by IV injection were consistently proportional to serum concentrations of the drug at the time of blood sample collections. Adult dogs injected IV with [14C]DPH failed to show predilection of the drug for the 13 anatomic brain sections sampled. The pharmacokinetics of DPH were studied in adult and neonatal dogs given 15 mg of the drug/kg of body weight as a single IV injection.

Histocytology of the avian (Gallus domesticus) carotid body.

The histotopography of the silvery-white glistening carotid body and the branchial derivates in the cranial thoracic inlets as well as the histocytology of the particular organ were revealed by various microtechniques. Three types of randomly distributed epithelioid cells, many capillaries, and small and large sinuses are observable. Myelinated fibres are sparsely distributed.