Effluent treatment using electrochemically bleached seawater-oxidative degradation of pollutants.

Use of seawater electrolytically enriched with hypochlorite and the in situ generation of hypochlorite on the high seas, stand a good chance for disinfection and decrease of bio and non-biodegradable organics in effluent before discharged into estuaries and deep oceans. Enriched seawater effectively decreased the biological oxygen demand measured over 5 days (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels of semi-treated wastewater. The oxidative degradation of Brilliant Blue, a triaryl industrial dye by hypochlorite and electrolytically enriched seawater are compared at pH 6.

Control of HIV/AIDS and AIDS-related conditions in Africa with special reference to periodontal diseases.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic, described as one of the worst in human history, is having devastating consequences on the African continent. With 70% of the world's HIV-infected population living in sub-Saharan Africa, the economic, social and health care challenges are staggering. While synthesis of effective vaccines is still at an early stage, containment of the pandemic requires a holistic response through an integrated approach of prevention, treatment and improvement in living conditions.

Autistic defenses in agoraphobic syndrome: "flat" objects and the retardation of projective identification.

The function of autistic defenses in the generation of agoraphobic symptoms is explored in the case of a patient treated in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. The therapist's growing awareness of autistic modes of relating in the case facilitated various changes in the transference relationship. Although oedipal concerns are seen as important, a formulation is presented whereby autistic modes of generating experience are viewed as fundamental to an understanding of agoraphobic experience.

Aerobic dechlorination of cis- and trans-dichloroethenes by some indigenous bacteria isolated from contaminated sites in Africa.

The innate toxicity of dichloroethenes (DCEs) and their tendency to be reduced to vinyl chloride (VC) (a known human carcinogen) is a cause for environmental concern. Aerobic bacteria capable of growth on cis- and trans-DCEs as sole carbon and energy sources were isolated by enrichment culture technique and identified to belong to the genera; Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter. Axenic and mixed cultures of the bacterial isolates utilized DCEs at concentrations above the maximum contaminant level allowable in drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Evaluation of the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst. stem-bark aqueous extract in mice and rats.

In order to appraise some of the ethnomedical uses of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst.

Anticipatory interpretations: addressing "cautionary tales" and the problem of premature termination.

This article explores the use of anticipatory interpretations early in the therapeutic process as a means of addressing the problem of premature termination with some patients. The author argues that emerging transference references, detected through a close attention to "cautionary tales" or derivative communications, should be used in early interpretive interventions. It is suggested that such transference references form a "template of intention" that help determine future difficulties in the therapeutic alliance.

Heavy metal uptake by spinach leaves grown on contaminated soils with lead, mercury, cadmium, and nickel.

Spinach plants were grown in soil pots contaminated with increasing mixtures of lead, mercury, cadmium, and nickel salts. Plants in the control soil were grown in the absence of the heavy metals mixture. The elemental distribution of Cd, Ni, Pb, and Hg in the roots and leaves of Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea) was determined in two stages, Stage 1, after five weeks of plant growth and Stage 2, after 10 weeks with full growth.

Potentiation of the antiinflammatory effect of Anacardium occidentale (Linn.) stem-bark aqueous extract by grapefruit juice.

In an attempt to scientifically appraise some of the ethnomedical uses of Anacardium occidentale Linn. (family: Anacardiaceae), the present study was undertaken to examine the antiinflammatory effect of the plant's stem-bark aqueous extract in rats. Young adult male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were used.

Anatomical basis for a successful upper limb sympathectomy in the thoracoscopic era.

In this clinico-anatomical study, factors potentially responsible for unsuccessful upper limb sympathectomy (ULS) by the thoracoscopic route were evaluated. This study comprised two subsets: 1) in the clinical subset, 25 patients (n = 50 sides) underwent bilateral second thoracic ganglionectomy for palmar hyperhidrosis, and factors predisposing to unsuccessful ULS were identified; and 2) in the anatomical subset, the neural connections of the first and second intercostal spaces were bilaterally dissected in 22 adult cadavers (22 right, 21 left; n = 43 sides). Alternate neural pathways (ANP) were noted in 9 of 50 sides in the 25 clinical cases (18%).

The psychoanalytic research interview: preliminary suggestions.

Psychoanalytically informed interview techniques and interview analysis can yield useful psychoanalytic insights about a particular research subject within the space of a few interviews. Basic hermeneutic principles, often used to understand the research interview, are not sufficient for understanding unconscious meaning and intrapsychic processes; they pay little attention to the particular theoretical and technical aspects of the interview needed to create the best conditions for understanding unconscious meaning. The portability of psychoanalytic concepts and their applicability outside the therapeutic setting are considered, after which four epistemological principles are outlined, derived mainly from the narrative tradition in psychoanalysis, that can inform interview technique and the analysis of the interview.

Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate from South Africa with multiple TEM, SHV and AmpC beta-lactamases.

Klebsiella pneumoniae 2207, from Durban, was resistant to cefoxitin and beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations as well as oxyimino-aminothiazolyl cephalosporins. Beta-lactamases with isoelectric points of 5.4, 5.

The anatomical rationale for an upper limb sympathetic blockade: preliminary report.

Stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) has long been considered pivotal in the diagnosis, determination of prognosis and management of chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) by sympathectomy. To date a variety of SGB techniques have been described. An inaccurate SGB may mislead clinicians and deny patients a potentially beneficial procedure.

Haloalkane and haloacid dehalogenases from aerobic bacterial isolates indigenous to contaminated sites in Africa demonstrate diverse substrate specificities.

Five bacteria were isolated from contaminated sites in Nigeria and South Africa using the culture enrichment technique. They were subjected to standard cultural, biochemical and microbiological techniques and identified to be species of Bacillus, Burkholderia, Corynebacterium, Micrococcus and Pseudomonas. Axenic cultures of the bacterial isolates utilized 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) as the sole carbon source up to a final substrate concentration of 10 mM.

Hypoglycemic effect of Sclerocarya birrea [(A. Rich.) Hochst.] [Anacardiaceae] stem-bark aqueous extract in rats.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of Sclerocarya birrea [(A. Rich.) Hochst.

Primary level psychological services in South Africa: can a new psychological professional fill the gap?

Care for common mental health problems in medium-resourced countries has been conceptualized by the World Health Organization as needing to be provided by primary health care personnel, in particular primary health care nurses. This study, which comprised a file audit of a psychological referral service at primary level in South Africa, suggests that in contexts where specialized psychological services are lacking, the demand for mental health services includes that of psychometric assessment services for mental retardation and/or scholastic problems. It is argued that in these contexts, third generation health systems reforms should be applied to the provision of care for more common mental health problems as well as mental retardation and/or scholastic problems in medium-resourced countries.

Visuospatial deficits in children 3-7 years old with shunted hydrocephalus.

Objective: To define non-verbal intelligence deficits in children 3-7 years of age following shunted hydrocephalus (HCP).

Design: Prospective randomised single-blinded study. Thirty shunted HCP (study) and 30 cardiac (control) patients between the ages of 3 and 7 years were compared on eight non-verbal subtests of the Junior South African Individual Scales (JSAIS).

Closely associated theropod trackways from the Jurassic of Zimbabwe.

Eighty-eight tracks of large theropod dinosaurs were found in the mid-Jurassic of Zimbabwe. Among the tracks, at least five adjacent trackways are recorded. The adjacent tracks were probably made by animals traveling as a group, given that they are in relatively close succession; that there are three overlapping tracks (among just 23) suggesting reasonably close associations of the animals; that all the tracks are apparently of the same ichnotaxon; that the preservational types of the tracks are similar; and that the tracks are all of animals traveling in one general direction closely associated in time (there are no returning tracks of the same animals or of those of other species; presence of such tracks would be highly probable if the tracks were made over a period of time of even several hours).

The dinosaurian origin of feathers: perspectives from dolphin (Cetacea) collagen fibers.

The early origin of birds is a hotly disputed debate and may be broadly framed as a conflict between paleontologists and ornithologists. The paleontological emphasis has shifted from Archaeopteryx and its origins to recent finds of Cretaceous birds and "feathered" dinosaurs from China. The identification of alleged feathers has, however, relied principally on the visual image.

Hypoglycemic effect of Hypoxis hemerocallidea corm (African potato) aqueous extract in rats.

Diabetes mellitus has been recognized as a clinical syndrome since ancient times, and remains a crippling global health problem today. It is a group of heterogeneous, autoimmune, hormonal and metabolic disorders, often accompanied by hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity. Current estimates suggest that approximately 150 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes mellitus.

Isolation and molecular characterization of multiresistant Staphylococcus sciuri and Staphylococcus haemolyticus associated with skin and soft-tissue infections.

The isolation, molecular identification and genotyping of multiresistant Staphylococcus sciuri and Staphylococcus haemolyticus from skin and soft-tissue infections are reported. Accurate and full identification of three coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates was achieved using PCR, while the API STAPH method failed to identify an isolate of S. haemolyticus fully.

The association between religiosity, sexual fantasy, participation in sexual acts, sexual enjoyment, exposure, and reaction to sexual materials among black South Africans.

This study investigated the association of religiosity with sexual fantasies, participation, enjoyment, exposure, and reaction to sexual materials of 1,292 first-year university students. Participants who scored higher on the religiosity scale were more likely to report fantasies about heterosexual intercourse but less likely to have participated in heterosexual intercourse and less likely to report enjoyment of heterosexual or lesbian sexual intercourse or oral sex. Participants who were more religious were less likely to have been exposed to almost all types of sexual material and were more likely to disapprove of almost all types of sexual material.

School bag carriage and pain in school children.

Purpose: In South Africa (SA), anecdotal evidence for the incidence of shoulder, back and neck pain in school children is alarming but no scientific studies have confirmed this impression. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between pain and school bag carriage in scholars in Durban, SA.

Method: A study was carried out at four different schools in the Verulam and Chatsworth Regions in Kwa-Zulu Natal, SA.