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Biomedical subjects

G Daynes

Publications and source records attributed to G Daynes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Psychotropic analgesic nitrous oxide prevents craving after withdrawal for alcohol, cannabis and tobacco.

We investigated the anti-craving effect of psychotropic analgesic nitrous oxide (PAN) in both an urban and rural community. Our results show that PAN, effectively eliminates or reduces craving in both cohorts in 98% of cases reporting craving. This positive effect is extremely rapid occurring within 40 minutes in patients withdrawing from alcohol, cannabis and nicotine. Although the concept of craving has been dogged by confusion and misunderstanding the idea is of practical importance because there appears to be a link between craving and relapse in patients who have a problem with substance abuse. The anti-craving effect of PAN may, therefore, be useful in preventing relapses in patients who abuse alcohol, nicotine and cannabis. Because PAN is an opioid it would seem that craving may be mediated by an underactivity of the endogenous opioid system. This work also confirms the safety and rapidity of the PAN therapy for treating addictive withdrawal states produced by alcohol, nicotine and cannabis. These findings confirm the usefulness of PAN as an investigative, diagnostic and therapeutic tool of the endogenous opioid system in man.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Observations on early school failure in Zulu children.

The outcome of the screening of 2,190 children who had to repeat the school entry grades (Substandard A) in 25 junior primary schools in two KwaZulu townships is reported and the implications are discussed. The high number of repeaters did not appear to be due to an excess of mentally retarded children, the percentage being similar to that which could be expected in such a community world-wide. Difficulty in intelligence testing was experienced, but we describe how this was overcome by testing speed of learning. Visual defects, hearing defects and having no food before school accounted for the failure of many repeaters. Lack of preschool teaching by parents and schools and very strict discipline necessitated by large classes and a wide range in ages, which both led to anxiety on the part of the pupils, and sending children to school at too young an age were regarded as additional factors. Simple interventions were suggested to the school teachers; more than 1,000 pupils were followed up, with encouraging results.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1989

The initial management of alcoholism using oxygen and nitrous oxide: a transcultural study.

This study confirms the value of analgesic nitrous oxide/oxygen therapy for initial management of alcoholism in a mainly rural cohort. The gas administration at no time impairs consciousness. 150 consecutive patients, mainly of Zulu origin (of both sexes) suffering from chronic alcoholism were treated with nitrous oxide/oxygen mixtures. The majority of patients showed significant and extremely rapid improvement, which was maintained and resulted in early entry into the rehabilitation programme. This method resulted in a considerable reduction in addictive sedative benzodiazepine medication during their hospital stay. The treatment also provided relief from craving. I conclude that the incorporation of this therapy into the management of chronic alcoholism is a useful, safe and effective adjunct without adverse side effects.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1986

Gonadotrophin release and meat consumption in vegetarian women.

Many factors including diet modify the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and menstrual periodicity. We have determined the effect of a daily meat or a soybean supplement in rural vegetarian Black women on the length of the menstrual cycle and the episodic and luteinizing releasing hormone stimulated release of luteinizing hormone. The daily meat but not soybean supplement increased the length of the menstrual cycle (p less than or equal to 0.01), increased the release of LH (p less than or equal to 0.01), and decreased the stimulated release of LH in the luteal phase (p less than or equal to 0.01). These changes are opposite to those reported previously in the Caucasian women fed a meatless diet. Thus addition of meat in the diet modifies the episodic release of gonadotrophins and follicular maturation. The importance of a carbohydrate diet preferentially maintaining CNS-rhythmicity is suggested.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Initiation of primary psychiatric care in Transkei.

A psychiatric service had to be set up from scratch for a population of about 3 million people in Transkei when it became independent. This unusual requirement taught us certain lessons concerning the early diagnosis, management and after-care of patients admitted to Umzimkulu Hospital. Special mention is made of the alcohol-related mental disorders, depressive disorders and those associated with headache and convulsive seizures which were encountered, and the management and prevention thereof are commented upon.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1981

Community response to mental illness in Transkei.

In Transkei, responsible action in the event of mental illness in a family is first taken by the relatives of the patient. Their action will depend upon their culture, wealth and status in the community as well as on their understanding and knowledge of mental illness, on their confidence and on available transport. The help given by neighbours is described, the quality of their assistance depending also upon their knowledge and attitudes. An outline of the management of mental disease in clinics, hospitals and special centres is given. Four groups especially likely to develop mental illness are identified and community preventive measures are suggested.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Gout and port.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Gout↗
PubMed1977

The changing epidemiology of serum albumin levels in Southern Africa.

It is generally accepted that serum albumin levels are the best criterion of protein nutritional status. In order to investigate this situation in the Black populations of South Africa, serum albumin concentrations were determined in several hundred normal individuals during each of three large-scale epidemiological surveys. The populations, who lived at very different socio-economic levels, were a tribal Xhosa group, a rural Tswana community and a sample of the detribalized urban population of Soweto. In each group males and females had similar serum albumin levels, which decreased with advancing age; however, there were significant overall differences between each of these populations (P less than 0,05). In distinction to the findings in other surveys, the rural group had the highest serum albumin level, while the tribal population had the lowest. It is apparent that the semi-westernized rural Tswana group enjoy an adequate standard of protein nutrition, the urban community is in a marginal situation, and the tribal Xhosa group is seriously undernourished.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Rheumatoid arthritis in a tribal Xhosa population in the Transkei, Southern Africa.

An epidemiological survey of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was undertaken in a tribal Xhosa community in the Transkei of Southern Africa. 577 respondents aged 18 and over were examined clinically and of these, 549 were investigated radiologically and 482 serologically. The presence of RA was then assessed by means of a modification of the Rome criteria, as used in previous comparable surveys. The prevalence of 'definite' RA in the adults aged 18 and over in this population was 0-68% and of 'probable' RA, 1-6%. The combined 'definite' and 'probable' prevalence was 2-2%. The relatively low prevalence of RA in this population is consistent with the results of other surveys in unsophisticated African Negro populations in West Africa and South Africa, and contrasts with the higher prevalence encountered in an urbanized South African Negro community and in populations in Europe and the USA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Serum uric acid concentrations in a Xhosa community in the Transkei of Southern Africa.

Serum uric acid (SUA) concentrations were measured in specimens obtained from 479 respondents aged 15 and over during an epidemiological survey of bone and joint conditions in a tribal Xhosa community living in the Transkei, Southern Africa. Population SUA levels in the Xhosa were significantly lower than those previously observed in South Africa Negro groups in rural and urban environments. This finding agrees with the observations that population SUA concentrations tend to rise with increasing complexity of life style.

Adolescent↗