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Biomedical subjects

J Dommisse

Publications and source records attributed to J Dommisse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

The psychological effects of Apartheid psychoanalysis: social, moral and political influences.

The notorious governmental policy of Apartheid affects the people of that country psychologically, as well as politically, socially, economically and medically. It does so in a variety of ways, including: the humiliating effects on blacks and arrogance inducing effects on whites; the disruption of family-life by the enforced migrant labor system; the stunted brain-development and behavioral effects that result from the inexcusably widespread childhood malnutrition in that wealthy country, (the world's 6th-largest food-exporter); the distortions and alienations in personality development, on racial lines; the mental breakdowns and suicides that result from the physical and mental torture that unchanged security-police detainees are subjected to while under interrogation. In addition, when mental health services are required they are grossly inferior for blacks, especially in the rural areas and particularly in out-patient care. The white-doctor: black-patient relationship, perforce the rule, is distinctly problematic in this socio-political climate. The World Medical Association and the World Psychiatric Association have been supportive to the South African government and silent, respectively, in the face of all the documented information on this hazardous public health situation. The United Nations and its agencies, the World Health Organization and the Centre Against Apartheid, should be commended for their work and unequivocal stands on this issue and should be heeded in their calls for a principled response by more of the world's psychiatric, psychological and medical communities.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1985

Placenta praevia and intra-uterine growth retardation.

In 297 cases of placenta praevia, intra-uterine growth retardation was noted in 17,5% of the neonates. This indicates the need for careful monitoring of fetal growth and function during the conservative management of placenta praevia.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Apartheid as a public mental health issue.

The most serious hazard to the physical and mental health of the majority rural poor black population in South Africa is caused by the ruling wealthy white minority's policy of apartheid. Forced removals and dumping of millions of people into small, disconnected, barren, poor reserve areas, bereft of adequate medical, psychiatric and public health services (the 'final solution' of the 'native problem') causes widespread malnutrition, infectious and other diseases, and high mortality and mental-illness rates. Blacks and progressive whites are banned, terrorized, detained without trial, tortured, and murdered by the state; the Africans are not only disfranchised but are now also being denationalized and deprived of their ancient birthright to this richly-endowed part of Africa. Acceptance of this modern version of Naziism by the World Psychiatric Association and the World Medical Association, in the face of adequate information provided by the United Nations, its agency the World Health Organization, the American Psychiatric Association, and numerous other agencies and reports, needs urgent examination and decisive action.

American Medical Association↗
PubMed1984

The value of an auditory stimulatory test in antenatal fetal cardiotocography.

One hundred auditory stimulatory antenatal fetal cardiotocographic tests were compared to standard non-stress tests in patients with pregnancy hypertension. The incidence of equivocal tests was significantly reduced. The A.S.T. is a simple and reliable test for assessing fetal heart reactivity in hypertensive pregnancy.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1983

Iron-storage deficiency and iron supplementation in pregnancy.

Haematological parameters were determined in 146 pregnant patients seen before 20 weeks' gestation. Eighteen per cent had both reduced serum ferritin and raised serum transferrin values without significant anaemia, suggesting covert iron-storage deficiency. One group then received 120 mg elemental iron daily and the other no iron supplementation. Repeat haematological assessment 20 weeks later indicated that in 48% of patients a significant decrease in haemoglobin concentration occurred if no iron was given. Supplementary iron prevented this decrease from occurring in patients with iron stores, but was insufficient to restore depleted stores or to prevent depletion of iron stores in 34% of patients with adequate stores. It is suggested that patients with depleted iron stores require therapeutic doses of iron, whereas those with adequate stores require little or no iron supplementation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Prazosin and oxprenolol therapy in pregnancy hypertension.

Prazosin (Minipress; Pfizer), the first purely alpha-blocking antihypertensive agent, was used to treat 22 pregnant patients with moderately severe hypertension (diastolic blood pressure persistently above 95 mmHg at gestational ages ranging from 18 to 33 weeks). Prazosin was used because it is a postsynaptic alpha-blocking agent producing no direct tachycardia or renin stimulation and because its action in producing visceral vasodilation might improve uteroplacental perfusion. Oxprenolol (Trasicor; Ciba), a beta-blocking agent with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, was added to the prazosin regimen in 12 cases. In this group pregnancy was prolonged for an average of 32 days and 10 infants survived the neonatal period. Fetal loss, mainly due to abortion, was high in the patients who had significant proteinuria, and it was not possible to prolong the pregnancy in these cases. There were no significant maternal, fetal or neonatal side-effects attributable to this combined alpha- and beta-blocking therapy, which may have both theoretical and practical advantages over other current therapies.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1982

Folic acid -- has it a role in the treatment of severe iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy?

Forty-one pregnant patients with severe iron deficiency anaemia were treated with either intravenous iron-dextran (Imferon; Fisons) or intravenous iron plus folic acid. There was no difference in the rate of response or the eventual total response in the two groups, suggesting that iron therapy does not unmask or produce a relative folic acid deficiency.

Anemia, Hypochromic↗
PubMed1982

Laminaria tents or vaginal prostaglandins for cervical ripening. A comparative trial.

Laminaria tents and vaginal prostaglandin E2 were used to ripen the cervix in a randomly selected group of 20 patients in whom induction of labour was indicated and the Bishop score was less than 5. In the 14 patients who failed to go into labour both methods improved the Bishop score, but the laminaria tents were significantly (P less than 0,02) more effective cervical dilators. The use of laminaria tents in advocated in selected cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Intravenous labetalol and intravenous dihydralazine in severe hypertension in pregnancy.

The effect of intravenous infusion of labetalol and of dihydralazine in increasing doses was compared in 12 women with severe hypertension in pregnancy. In 5 our of 6 women labetalol produced a smooth, progressive fall in blood pressure to normal levels with minimal side effects. In 2 our of 6 women on dihydralazine the blood pressure control was satisfactory but in the remaining 4 patients treatment had to by discontinued because of unpredictable, sudden falls in blood pressure. One of the 6 infants of mothers treated with labetalol manifested signs of adrenergic blockade. Continuous infusion of labetalol appears to offer significant advantages in the management of severe hypertension in pregnancy and merits further trial.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

The plasma ferritin level as a reliable index of body iron stores following intravenous iron dextran.

To determine whether the plasma ferritin assay reliably reflects body iron stores, as determined by the presence of stainable iron in the marrow, 63 iron-deficient patients were serially studied after receiving a total dose infusion of iron dextran (Imferon). In 58% (Group I) anemia did not recur. In 19% (Group II) classical iron deficiency was present with low plasma ferritin levels, reduced transferrin saturation and absence of stainable iron in the marrow. In 13% (Group III) evolving iron deficiency was seen with low plasma ferritin level but normal hemoglobin and transferrin saturation. The development of overt iron deficiency was associated with a fall in the transferrin saturation and absence of stainable iron in the marrow. In the remaining 10% (Group IV) the initially raised plasma ferritin fell in parallel with the developing anemia, reduction in transferrin saturation and absence of reticuloendothelial marrow iron. These studies demonstrated that in the development of iron deficiency anemia following total dose infusion of iron dextran (Imferon) there was a relationship (r = 0.9625; p less than 0.05) between decreasing body iron stores and falling plasma ferritin levels. Accordingly, the latter measurement should replace bone marrow studies carried out for this purpose.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

An evaluation of prostaglandin E2 administered intrarectally to induce labour.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE) 4 mg administered as an intrarectal suppository failed to induce labour in 70% of patients with a favourable cervical score. This may indicate that intravaginally administered PGE, which is effective in inducing labour in 70% of patients, acts at least in part directly on the cervix.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1981

The selection of patients at the Groote Schuur Maternity Hospital.

The Peninsula Maternity and Neonatal Service (PMNS) was established on 1 January 1980 as a result of the regionalization of obstetric and neonatal services in the Cape Peninsula. Some 20000 deliveries per annum occur in the 5 maternity hospitals and 3 Midwife Obstetric Units (MOUs) under the aegis of the PMNS. As part of the reorganization of the service the booking and referral criteria have been revised, taking into account the function of the Groote Schuur Hospital Maternity Block as the high-risk unit. The concept of risk in perinatology is discussed. The booking and referral criteria are detailed under the headings of booking criteria for hospital and for MOUs and referral criteria from the MOU to hospital -- antenatally, in labour, in the puerperium and for neonatal problems.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗