Parents' attitudes to adolescent sexual behaviour in Lesotho.

This study investigated the knowledge, attitudes and opinions of parents on various aspects of adolescents' sexual and reproductive health in Lesotho. The study used a qualitative methodology. Findings reveal that parents are aware that male and female adolescents engage in sexual relationships.

Gestational trophoblastic syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection: a retrospective analysis.

The appropriate management of gynecological malignancies in association with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is not established. To date the reported literature on the subject consists mainly of case reports. Due to the increasing prevalence of HIV infection, especially in sub-Saharan countries, the chances of finding both conditions in the same patient has produced management and ethical dilemmas.

Self-recognition in a flexible bis(pyrrole) Schiff base derivative: formation of a one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded polymer.

The title Schiff base compound, N,N'-bis(pyrrol-2-ylmethylene)propane-1,2-diamine, C(13)H(16)N(4), forms an interesting supramolecular structure (a one-dimensional ladder-like polymer) in the solid state that is based on the existence of complementary intermolecular N-H.N=C hydrogen bonds between the monomer units. The polymer axis is collinear with the c axis of the orthorhombic unit cell.

Severe soccer injuries in amateurs.

Objectives: To ascertain the number and type of severe soccer injuries admitted to King Edward Hospital in South Africa over 42 months.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients admitted for treatment or observation to the orthopaedic unit only. Patients treated as outpatients, irrespective of severity, are also presented for comparison.

Evaluation of the behaviour of a thermal diffusion sensor in a high field strength magnetic resonance system: an experimental study.

Patients with acute brain pathology requiring ferromagnetic bio-medical implants for on-going invasive monitoring are largely excluded from the benefits of MRI scanning. We evaluated the behaviour of a thermal diffusion cortical blood flow (TD-CBF) sensor both in vitro (phantom gelatin model) and in vivo environments in a high field strength MRI system. Two baboons underwent cranial subdural implantation of 2 TD-CBF sensors/hemisphere and a single left parietal sensor was implanted subcortically to determine any deleterious effects.

Alkaloid production in Crinum moorei cultures.

The alkaloids cherylline (1), crinamidine (2), crinine (3), epibuphanisine (4), lycorine (5), powelline (6), undulatine (7), 1-epideacetylbowdensine (8), and 3-O-acetylhamayne (9) were identified in the in vitro propagated bulblets of Crinum moorei. In addition, crinine, powelline, and undulatine were detected in the solidified Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The identity of the alkaloids was confirmed by comparing retention times and mass spectra with known samples.

The ethics of nurse poaching from the developing world.

Recruiting nurses from other countries is a long-standing practice. In recent years many countries in the developed world have more frequently recruited nurses from the developing world, causing an imbalance in the health services in often already impoverished countries. Despite guidelines and promises by developed countries that the practice should cease, it has largely failed to do so.

Microsatellite analysis of the DCC gene in nephroblastomas: pathologic correlations and prognostic implications.

Microsatellite instability has been reported in a wide variety of cancer types. Inactivation or loss of tumour suppressor genes has been shown to result in cell cycle deregulation and neoplastic growth. We conducted a microsatellite study using fluorescent-based DNA technology to determine whether mutations in the microsatellite sequences of the deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) gene, a tumour suppressor at 18q21.

Pedestrian casualties and fatalities in road traffic crashes in a South African municipality.

A study of the pedestrian casualties and fatalities in road traffic crashes in Durban, a South African municipality, for 1999 was undertaken using official road traffic accident data. The pedestrians age 25 to 44, although only 23.9% of the population, were 39.

A simple method to 'point count' silt using scanning electron microscopy aided by image analysis.

This study presents a simple method to 'point count' silt-sized grains using backscattered scanning electron microscopy together with image analysis. The work materialized out of the need to determine the heavy mineral abundance within silt obtained from coastal dunes to aid in the interpretation of dune weathering. This technique allows two broad mineral groups to be quantified according to their modal abundance.

Choriocarcinoma presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and intussusception.

Choriocarcinomas are rare genital tract tumours, which can present with extragenital symptoms and signs. We report on an 18-year-old nulliparous woman presenting with jejunal choriocarcinoma. An outline of the diagnostic difficulties and different manifestations of extragenital choriocarcinoma is given.

Delayed bowel erosion by tension-free vaginal tape (TVT).

A 71-year-old woman who had had a previous abdominal hysterectomy and Burch operation presented with stress urinary incontinence due to intrinsic urethral sphincter deficiency. She underwent a technically difficult placement of a TVT tape in April 2002. After an uneventful recovery she was discharged after 72 hours but presented almost 5 months later with small bowel obstruction.

Acute spinal cord injury in pregnancy: an illustrative case and literature review.

Acute trauma is not all that uncommon in pregnancy. It accounts for 15% of non-obstetric maternal deaths. Moreover, about 15% of acute spinal cord injuries involve young women of childbearing age (Gilson et al.

Microsatellite analysis of early stage (Ia-IIb) uterine cervical squamous carcinoma.

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy of the developing world. The oncogenic role of human papilloma virus (HPV) is well known. Attention is now focusing on the complicit genetic changes, which allow progression of these tumors.

Cardiac involvement in HIV-infected people living in Africa: a review.

The primary objective of this study was to review and summarise the literature on the spectrum and management of cardiac disease in HIV-infected people living in Africa. We searched MEDLINE (January 1980 to February 2003), reference lists of papers, and reviews on the subject, and contacted experts working in the field for information on relevant references. The review was limited to papers that were published in peer-reviewed journals and indexed on MEDLINE.

Evaluation of an antibiotic-impregnated shunt system for the treatment of hydrocephalus.

Object: Staphylococcus species are the most common organisms responsible for infection following implantable cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversionary procedures. The role of an antibiotic-impregnated shunt (AIS) system in the prevention of shunt infection has remained unclear because no human clinical trial has been reported on thus far. In this study, the authors assess an AIS system with respect to its prevention of shunt infection.

Bayesian optimal designs for Phase I clinical trials.

A broad approach to the design of Phase I clinical trials for the efficient estimation of the maximum tolerated dose is presented. The method is rooted in formal optimal design theory and involves the construction of constrained Bayesian c- and D-optimal designs. The imposed constraint incorporates the optimal design points and their weights and ensures that the probability that an administered dose exceeds the maximum acceptable dose is low.

Anastomotic aneurysm following aortobifemoral bypass.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the incidence of anastomotic aneurysm following aortobifemoral bypass and to document management of this condition in our practice.

Design: This is a prospective study of anastomotic aneurysms developing in patients with aortobifemoral bypasses followed up for 49 months.

Setting: Two tertiary referral hospitals served by the Durban Metropolitan Vascular Service.

Retroperitoneal haematoma and related organ injury--management approach.

Retroperitoneal haematoma following blunt or penetrating trauma may arise from injuries to bone, major vascular structures, hollow viscera or solid organs. Clinical significance varies from inconsequential to fatal. Although the guidelines for exploration are clear-cut during laparotomy for associated intra-abdominal injuries, this is not the case with isolated retroperitoneal haematoma.

Witnessed resuscitation--exploring the attitudes and practices of the emergency staff working in level I emergency departments in the province of KwaZulu-Natal.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the attitudes and practices of witnessed resuscitation by the staff working in Level I Emergency Departments in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Witnessed resuscitation involves the 'medical' resuscitation of the patient with their relatives or loved ones present in the resuscitation room (Boyd, 2000:171).

Methodology: A qualitative approach was used to explore the participants' attitudes and practices of witnessed resuscitation using individual semi--structured interviews.

Exploring the fear of contracting HIV/AIDS among trauma nurses in the province of Kwazulu-Natal.

A qualitative study, using phenomenology as an approach was conducted. The title of the study was "Exploring the fear of contracting HIV/AIDS among trauma nurses in the province of Kwazulu-Natal". Participants were selected on the basis of category (registered nurses), workplace (level one trauma units), and work experience (six months experience in a trauma unit).