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Biomedical subjects

E Pretorius

Publications and source records attributed to E Pretorius.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

The biological safety of condom material can be determined using an in vitro cell culture system.

Latex products have long been recognized as a cause of latex protein allergy. The increased usage of latex gloves, with the consequent increased occurrence of latex allergies appears to have escalated with increasing awareness of the transmission of HIV-AIDS and other infections. The use of condoms as a means to prevent the transmission of STD's (sexually transmitted diseases) and HIV-AIDS has been widely promoted. Although extensive testing is done to evaluate the physical quality of condoms, no information is available regarding the biological safety of condoms. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of short-term exposure to physiological levels of condom surface material on cell viability (MTT assay) and cell growth (crystal violet assay). A direct contact cell culture testing method (FDA test method F813-83 used to evaluate the cytotoxic potential of medical materials and devices) was used. The modified test method was found to be a sensitive test system for the evaluation of the biological safety of condoms. This study reveals the importance of evaluating the biological safety of all condoms that are commercially available, because of the potential health risk that may be associated with prolonged use of certain types of condoms.

Cell Culture Techniques↗
PubMed1996

[Voice problems in some groups of professional users of voice: implications for prevention].

The primary prevention of communication problems is a growing part of the professional responsibility of the speech-language therapist. Functional voice hyperfunction, which often occurs in professional users of voice, can be prevented. In this article three separate studies on voice problems of people in three different professions are reported. The subjects included 183 educators, 50 ministers and 20 singers. The data were obtained using questionnaires. The results indicate that voice problems and symptoms of voice problems occur in all three groups, that these speakers have little knowledge of the subject, that they expose themselves to high risk factors, and that they do not conserve their voices. Guidelines for instruction in prevention are provided.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The Acridine Orange test: determining the relationship between sperm morphology and fertilization in vitro.

The prediction of human fertilization is an important aspect of research protocols dealing with male fertility. Sperm DNA has been reported to be an indicator of human sperm fertility potential. The Acridine Orange test for evaluation of sperm DNA has been employed during the present study to determine its relationship with human sperm morphology and fertilization in vitro. Seventy-six patients from the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and/or gamete intra-Fallopian transfer (GIFT) programme were randomly selected for the study. All patients had a routine semen analysis, sperm DNA evaluation and underwent standard IVF procedures at the time of the study. The results indicated a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.38, P = 0.0006) between results of the Acridine Orange test and normal sperm morphology. Patients with an Acridine Orange test value exceeding 24% had significantly higher oocyte fertilization rates than patients with lower values, for metaphase I (74 versus 51%, P = 0.0008) and for metaphase II oocytes (88 versus 60%, P = 0.0001). Sperm morphology, however, proved to be a more significant predictor of fertilization in vitro compared to the Acridine Orange test.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMed1991

Detection of sperm antibodies on unwashed spermatozoa with the immunobead test: a comparison of results with the routine method and seminal plasma TAT titers and SCMC test.

This study investigated whether the immunobead test (IBT) could, for the purposes of simplicity and saving time, be applied directly on an unwashed semen sample instead of washed spermatozoa. These two methods were performed simultaneously on the semen samples of 15 men with a positive MAR test and 10 men with a negative MAR test. A possible association was found between the unwashed samples, showing positive IB binding (greater than 20%) on the tail and/or head and the seminal plasma TAT titers (P less than .00001, Fisher's exact test). In all cases with IB binding of greater than or equal to 20% on unwashed spermatozoa, positive seminal plasma TAT titers (greater than or equal to 32) and SCMC tests (greater than or equal to 50%) were found. In all cases where the binding of the beads was mainly located on the tailtips of the washed or unwashed spermatozoa, negative seminal plasma TAT titers and SCMC tests were found. Coating of the head and/or upper tail regions in both methods was always associated with high TAT titers and a strong-positive SCMC test. It is concluded that the IBT for IgA, but not for IgG, can be performed directly on unwashed semen and that the position of IB binding on the spermatozoa is of prognostic importance with regard to the expected outcome of the SCMC test and seminal plasma TAT titers.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1991

Traditional and modern medicine working in tandem.

Because of the many problems relating to health care delivery in Africa, it is becoming apparent that neither the exclusive/monopolistic nor the tolerant legislative systems should be tolerated any longer. Especially since the Alma Ata Conference held by the WHO/UNICEF there has been growing impetus towards either inclusive/parallel (the beneficial co-existence of traditional and modern medical systems), or integrated systems. Although the idea of making traditional and modern medicine work in tandem in a united treatment context has its merits, it is also plagued by issues such as the nature of the products of an integrated training, resistance by stubborn protagonists of either of the two systems, or that only lip-service is paid to the idea of co-operation. Nevertheless, it is believed that all interest groups--the authorities responsible for health care delivery, the Western-trained health care workers, the traditional healers and the users of these services--stand to gain from such liaison.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1989

Sperm antibodies, semen quality, and male infertility.

Twelve couples who underwent infertility investigations at the Universitas Hospital in Bloemfontein were examined using several tests: postcoital (PCT), sperm-cervical-mucus-contact (SCMC-T), indirect immunobead (IBT), tray-agglutination (TAT), and sperm-immobilization procedures (SIT). Two factors played a role during the immunologic evaluation of a couple: semen quality and the intensity of the antibody in the cervical mucus or seminal plasma.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1988

The SCMC test: a reliable monitor for antispermatozoal antibodies.

Seventeen couples (13%) were selected from a group of 129 infertile patients according to the following criteria: (i) unexplained infertility for 3 years and (ii) greater than 50% shaking spermatozoa during SCMC testing. The couples were tested for sperm antibodies after a complete diagnostic work-up schedule. Post-coital tests were performed during the first menstrual cycle of the wife, followed by SCMC and sperm antibody titre testing. Ten males and seven females were thus treated with 96 mg methylprednisolone. Nine (52%) of the 17 with sperm antibodies achieved a pregnancy. The results of the SCMC test were in all the cases indicative of the actual sperm antibody titre. Reduction of the antibody titre and a decrease in the percentage of shaking spermatozoa as detected by the SCMC test correlated well with the pregnancy rate amongst the patients.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of immunobead test (IBT), tray-agglutination test (TAT), and sperm immobilization test (SIT).

The present investigation relates the results obtained by the indirect immunobead test (IBT) to those found during the tray-agglutination test (TAT) and sperm immobilization test (SIT) performed on 16 positive blood sera samples. An IB binding of greater than 50% can be regarded as significantly positive (p less than 0.05), since 77% of the positive IB samples with an IB binding of greater than 50% also revealed a TAT titer of greater than 1:8. The IBT is an excellent test for the detection of sperm antibodies during routine screening procedures.

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed1987

The immunobead test as a sperm antibody detector.

The occurrence of sperm antibodies on the surface of sperm can be demonstrated by several methods. A study to evaluate the immunobead (IB) test as a laboratory procedure during the detection of sperm antibodies among infertile males showed an overall prevalence of 6.8% and 5.8% for IgG and IgA respectively--convincing evidence that the IB test can be employed as a sperm antibody detector.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1987

Gamete intrafallopian transfer: a treatment for long-standing infertility.

Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) has been described by Asch et al. (1,2) as an alternative technique in the treatment of infertile couples. At the University of the Orange Free State, the GIFT technique was introduced in July 1985, and during phase I, 31 patients were treated by means of GIFT. All patients had had at least six cycles of ovulation induction with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Their diagnoses were anovulation (3 patients), mild endometriosis (17 patients), and unexplained infertility (11 patients). All husbands' semen analyses were normal. Of the 31 patients, 3 failed, due to spontaneous ovulation before laparoscopy (1 patient) and unsuccessful follicle aspiration at laparoscopy with no oocytes found (2 patients). Four ongoing pregnancies resulted from the remaining 28 patients. This represents a pregnancy rate of 14.29% per laparoscopy (including the failures). The patients who became pregnant had had infertility treatment for 5, 6, 8, and 8 years, respectively. GIFT therefore appears to be a promising method of treatment for long-standing infertility.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The SCMC test: a accurate indicator for spermatozoal antibodies.

Eighteen couples (12.9%) were selected from a group of 138 infertile couples for a special study about the reliability of the SCMC test, when compared with spermantibody titres in the cervical mucus and or seminal plasma and corticosteroides as treatment for immunologic infertility. It can be demonstrated that there exists a reliability of the SCMC test as an immunologic assay for sperm antibody activity in the semen and the cervical mucus.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1986

Sperm cervical mucus contact test and immunobead test for sperm antibodies.

Twenty-five patients were studied for the presence of sperm antibodies in their cervical mucus and seminal plasma. The sperm cervical mucus contact test (SCMC) and the immunobead test (IBT) were used to evaluate sperm antibody activity. A close correlation was found between the results of the SCMC and IBT tests, and it was concluded that both techniques can be regarded as good indicators of sperm antibodies.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1986

Sperm/cervical mucus contact test for sperm antibodies.

Thirteen couples with a history of primary infertility for at least 3 years were selected according to the following criteria: a positive sperm/cervical mucus contact (SCMC) test, the presence of sperm-agglutinating antibodies in the cervical mucus, and/or seminal fluid of one of the partners. Nine of the males and 4 of the 13 females were accordingly treated with high dosages of corticosteroids for 6 months. Among 4 (44%) males and 2 (50%) females a pregnancy ensued. Four (80%) of the 6 patients in whom a pregnancy was reported showed not only a decline in their sperm antibody titer but also a decrease in the percent shaking spermatozoa during SCMC testing.

Antibodies↗