Third-generation cephalosporins for upper respiratory tract infections.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C H van Niekerk.
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Pregnant Anglo-Arab and Thoroughbred mares (n = 24) were divided randomly according to age and breed into 4 groups of 6 mares each from approximately 6 weeks before their expected foaling date. Diets received by the 4 groups varied in essential amino-acid and total protein contents. Serum progestagen, FSH and LH concentrations were determined from the day of parturition until foal heat and during the 1st oestrous cycle following foal heat. Serum progestagen, FSH and LH concentrations did not differ between the treatment groups. Progestagen concentrations were high (mean = 7.0: 5.2-16.4 ng/ml) at parturition but decreased rapidly within 48 h. As progestagen concentrations decreased LH concentrations increased from Days 3-6 post partum to reach maximum values at, or the day after ovulation. FSH concentrations declined 3-4 d after parturition and increased 2-3 d before ovulation at foal heat. The duration of elevated progestagen concentrations during the luteal phase of the subsequent oestrous cycle affected the interovulatory period. A 12-14 d FSH cyclical releasing pattern occurred. Season/photoperiod affected the resumption of normal oestrous cyclicity during the post partum period. The duration of the 1st oestrous cycle after foal heat in mares fed a low-quality protein diet showed a greater range (13-30 d) compared to mares fed a high-quality protein diet (18-26 d).
Sixty-four Thoroughbred and Anglo-Arab mares aged 6-12 years were used, of which 40 were non-lactating and 24 lactating. Foals from these 24 mares were weaned at the age of 6 months. Non-lactating and lactating mares were divided into 4 dietary groups each. The total daily protein intake and the protein quality (essential amino-acid content) differed in the 4 groups of non-lactating and 4 groups of lactating mares. The mares were covered and the effect of the quantity and quality of dietary protein on serum progestagen concentrations during pregnancy was studied. A sharp decline in serum progestagen concentrations was recorded in all dietary groups from Days 18 to 40 of pregnancy, with some individual mares reaching values of less than 4 ng/ml. Serum progestagen concentrations recorded in some of the non-lactating mares on the low-quality protein diet increased to higher values (p < 0.05) than those of mares in the other 3 dietary groups at 35-140 days of pregnancy. A similar trend was observed for the lactating mares on a low-quality protein diet at 30-84 days of pregnancy. No such trends were observed in any of the other dietary groups. High-quality protein supplementation increased serum progestagen concentrations during the 1st 30 days of pregnancy. Lactation depressed serum progestagen concentrations until after the foals were weaned.
Sixty-four Thoroughbred and Anglo-Arab mares aged 6-12 years were randomly allocated to 4 dietary groups and fed diets that differed in the total protein content and quality (essential amino-acids). Forty mares were non-lactating and 24 lactating. Eight mares were withdrawn from the investigation owing to injuries or gynaecological pathology. An overall conception rate of 94.6% and a foaling rate of 80% was achieved. Five of 14 (35.7%) mares (Group 1) fed a low-quality protein diet suffered from early embryonic loss before 90 days of pregnancy compared to 3 of 41 (7.3%) mares in the remaining groups that received the higher-quality protein in their diets. Serum progestagen concentrations of mares in Group 1 that suffered foetal loss were indicative of luteal function insufficiency during the 1st 40 days post-ovulation. Non-lactating mares in all 4 groups gained on average approximately 30 kg in mass during the 90 days before the breeding period. Lactating mares in Group 1 (low-quality protein) lost on average 25 kg in mass during lactation, with no weight loss observed among the lactating mares in the other 3 groups. No difference in the diameter of the embryonic vesicle was found between dietary groups until Day 35 of pregnancy.
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Four rations that differed in their crude protein and essential amino-acid content were compiled. Digestibility of the crude protein and essential amino-acid contents were determined biologically in a feeding trial using 4 Anglo-Arab stallions. Their respective daily diets were: Diet 1:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay (Eragrostis tef); Diet 2:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay (Medicago sativa); Diet 3:2 kg cubes, 5 kg tef hay, 200 g fishmeal; Diet 4:2 kg cubes, 5 kg lucerne hay, 200 g fishmeal. The concentrations of the amino-acids threonine, iso-leucine, leucine and arginine were increased in the total ration when lucerne hay replaced the tef hay while fishmeal supplementation increased the methionine and lysine contents, which provided a wide-range of concentrations of digestible amino-acids in each of the 4 rations.
The effect of 4 different diets, in terms of protein quantity and quality, on total serum protein (TSP), albumin and globulin was investigated. Non-pregnant mares that were not lactating (n = 36), pregnant mares that had foaled (n = 24) and their foals (n = 24) were used in this study. Daily total protein intake had no effect on blood protein concentrations in the mares. Total protein intake and quality (available essential amino-acids) did affect the body mass of mares during lactation. When mares were fed the minimum recommended (National Research Council 1989) total daily protein, foal mass decreased by approximately 25% at weaning compared to the foals whose dams were on a higher level of protein intake. The TSP concentrations of foals at birth were on average 10 g/l lower than those of the mares. Albumin concentrations of foals during the first 60 days of life were on average 2-3 g/l lower than those of the mares. Globulin concentrations of foals were approximately 5 g/l lower than those of mares at weaning.
In the main experiment the total daily protein intake and quality (essential amino-acids) was varied in 4 groups of mares. The incidence of oestrus in mares during the transitional period was unaffected by protein nutrition. Ovarian activity, as evaluated by follicular development and size of the ovaries, was affected. Mares that received low-quality protein (Groups 1 and 2) had a higher number of smaller follicles (< 10 mm) that developed during the transitional period compared to mares on a high-quality protein intake (Groups 3 and 4). The mares that received the high quality protein ovulated 2-3 weeks earlier in the breeding season in a synchronised period of 4-5 weeks compared to a period of 6-8 weeks in Groups 1 and 2. The duration of the subsequent oestrous cycles was not affected. There was no difference in the diameter of the largest follicle of mares between groups on the day before ovulation. In a separate experiment, 5 maiden Anglo-Arab mares, 4-5 years of age, were slaughtered at different stages during the anovulatory, transitional and ovulatory periods of the breeding cycle. The morphology of the ovaries and uteri of these mares was described and photographed for use as guidelines when comparing ovarian changes and follicular activity of mares.
The effect of total protein intake and protein quality on the serum concentrations of certain reproductive hormones during the anovulatory, transitional and ovulatory periods were studied in 36 Anglo-Arab mares. High-quality protein stimulated FSH and LH production during the late transitional period. Serum progestagen and melatonin concentrations were unaffected by the quality of protein nutrition during the anovulatory period. Mares receiving high-quality protein exhibited a 10-14-day cyclical pattern of FSH release approximately 4-6 weeks earlier than the mares fed the lower-quality protein diet, and also ovulated 3-4 weeks earlier than the mares on the lower-quality protein diet. Progesterone concentrations during the 1st oestrous cycle after the anovulatory period were unaffected by protein quality in the diet.
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A prospective study was undertaken of 298 asthmatic children attending a paediatric allergy clinic in Bloemfontein. A detailed history was obtained, and skin tests were performed. Male predominance and an early age of onset were confirmed. Symptomatic allergic rhinitis was an extremely common finding. A family history of allergy was obtained in over 90% of cases. Respiratory tract infections, changes in the weather and exercise were found to be the most common asthma-inducing factors. Common allergens were grass pollen (63%) and animal danders. House-dust mite (25%) and dietary allergens (less than 20%) were relatively uncommon. The failure to recognise the symptoms of asthma in children, particularly young children, was identified as an ongoing problem.
Paraffin pneumonia is a common form of poisoning, but pneumatoceles are an uncommon complication. This is a report of 6 patients who developed pneumatoceles after the ingestion of paraffin. These children's ages varied from under 18 months to 4 years; they were clinically more ill and were hospitalised longer than those who did not develop pneumatoceles. The pneumatoceles were discovered at the earliest on day 6 and, although extensive and in 2 cases bilateral, caused no clinical impairment of respiratory function. The pneumatoceles appear to resolve spontaneously but this may take more than 200 days.
Paraffin pneumonia is a common form of poisoning but pneumatocoeles are an uncommon complication. This is a report of the computerized tomography (CT) of seven patients who developed pneumatocoeles after the ingestion of paraffin. The finding on the CT are presented and the situation and characteristics of the pneumatocoeles are indicated.
We describe a 4-month-old girl with Estren-Dameshek variant of Fanconi's anemia (FA) presenting with a pancytopenia secondary to extranodal bone marrow malignant lymphoma as the first hematologic manifestation of the syndrome. Although she was phenotypically normal, her cultured lymphocytes showed an increased spontaneous chromosome breakage, which was enhanced by diepoxybutane (DEB). Cytogenetic studies showed that 7 of her 12 relatives, including both parents, were heterozygote carriers of the FA gene. This confirms the diagnosis of FA of the Estren-Dameshek variant. A complete hematologic remission was attained within 28 days, and she remained in continuous bone marrow remission till the age of 14.5 months, when she developed acute gastroenteritis and died. No unusual sensitivity to chemotherapy was experienced, though leukopenia and recurrent infections proved troublesome. FA has an incidence many times higher in the Orange Free State region of South Africa than reported elsewhere in the world.
Fifty-one patients suffering from symptomatic seasonal rhinitis were studied in a double-blind comparative trial using nasal sprays containing 2% sodium cromoglycate (Rynacrom; Fisons) (group 1) or 2% sodium cromoglycate plus 0,2% chlorpheniramine (group 2). Dosage was two sprays into each nostril 4 times a day. There was a marked clinical improvement in both treatment groups although the differences between the two regimens were not significant. In group 2 80% of patients thought the treatment had been effective within 2 days and in group 1 58% of patients also experienced relief of symptoms within 2 days. At final assessment, full or reasonable control was achieved in 22 of 25 patients in group 2 and in 21 of 25 patients in group 1. These differences are not significant. Fourteen patients in group 2 and 6 patients in group 1 reported a burning sensation in the nose when the spray was administered, but this was usually mild and transient. No side-effects from the use of the intranasal antihistamine/sodium cromoglycate spray were recorded.
Sera from 1575 black primary school children in Bloemfontein were subjected to serological screening tests for syphilis. Forty-six (2,92%) were found to be seropositive on screening; 32 (2,03%) of these were confirmed as true-positive reactions and 10 (0,64%) manifested only biological false-positive reactions. Four sera were insufficient for confirmatory tests. From published reports covering a period of over 60 years, it is evident that syphilis is widespread in South Africa, especially in black communities. There is no evidence of a decline in the prevalence of the disease but rather of an increase, including endemic syphilis affecting children. A nationwide survey is recommended to determine the magnitude of the problem and the need for a sustained treatment campaign.
A combination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid 4:1 was administered to 35 children (aged 2 to 10 years) with infections. The combination was administered orally as a suspension, every 8 h for 5 to 7 days. Sixteen children (aged 2 to 5 years), received 125 mg amoxycillin and 31.25 mg clavulanic acid, and 19 (6 to 10 years) received 250 mg amoxycillin and 62.5 mg clavulanic acid per dose. Following the first dose serum concentrations of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid were determined by microbiological assay. In the younger group receiving the lower dosage (mean: amoxycillin 9.11 mg/kg and clavulanic acid 2.34 mg/kg), the mean peak concentration of amoxycillin was 3.5 mg/l and of clavulanic acid 1.2 mg/l, occurring 1.32 h and 1.39 h, respectively, after administration. In the older group receiving the higher dosage (mean: amoxycillin 12.35 mg/kg and clavulanic acid 3.14 mg/kg) the mean peak serum level of amoxycillin was 4.0 mg/l and of clavulanic acid 1.3 mg/l, occurring 1.43 h and 1.23 h, respectively, after administration. The higher dose per kilogram body weight resulted in a higher peak serum concentration both of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid. The formulation was well tolerated by all the children and no serious side-effects were recorded. Treatment was considered clinically effective in all cases.
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