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Biomedical subjects

H J Scholtz

Publications and source records attributed to H J Scholtz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Muti or ritual murder.

Ritual or muti murders are a form of human sacrifice practised by some African tribes. The murder is carried out after body parts are removed while the victim is still alive. This case report describes the methods of identification of a young child who was murdered by a traditional healer (isangoma) in Cape Town, and the practice of the traditional healer.

Adolescent↗

Injured pedestrians in Cape Town--the role of alcohol.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a profile of injured adult pedestrians and attempt to define the role which alcohol plays in this regard. DESIGN: Prospective survey of injured pedestrians who presented consecutively over 9 weeks to Groote Schuur Hospital. Data on fatally injured pedestrians were retrospectively collected from the State Mortuary. SETTING: Hospital-based study conducted at the trauma unit, Groote Schuur Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 321 pedestrians--196 injured and 35 'dead on arrival'. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sociodemographics, blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and injury severity. RESULTS: Patients were predominantly male and, on average, 35.6 years old. They were most frequently injured at night and over weekends. The BAC was positive in 62.1% of pedestrians, and the mean BAC was 0.19 g/dl. Most pedestrians had at least one lower limb injury and nearly half had a head injury; however, BAC-positive pedestrians were 2.6 times more likely to have a head injury (P = 0.0009). Furthermore, BAC-positive pedestrians sustained more severe injuries, more frequently required admission to the ICU, had longer hospital admission and were more likely to die of their injuries. The overall case fatality rate was 19.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The influence of alcohol intoxication among injured adult pedestrians in Cape Town is high, suggesting that alcohol plays a major role in these accidents. Consequently, there should be some degree of culpability in those who cross the road while in an intoxicated state. However, equal attention should be given to safe and convenient crossing points, good lighting and education with regard to the wearing of reflective clothing after dark.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Identification of a suicide victim by facial reconstruction.

Facial reconstruction is used in an attempt to identify an individual by a three dimensional representation of the facial features using the skull as the foundation after metrical and non-metrical analysis to determine age, race and gender. The skeletonized remains of a female who was reported missing six years previously were recovered from the summit of Table Mountain in Cape Town. Some personal possessions were also recovered, one of which was a shark tooth pendant which the victim's parents recognized. Although there were distinctive dental features, the antemortem dental records had been lost during the initial investigation which therefore precluded identification by this means. However, positive identification was required and facial reconstruction on the skull was undertaken which the parents duly identified. The method used for facial reconstruction is described.

Face↗

[The management of pharyngeal cancer from the surgical viewpoint].

From experiences in Rostock nasopharyngeal carcinomas are a domain of radiotherapy, whereas surgical measures can be used in lymph node metastases additionally. Carcinomas of the oropharynx need a balanced radiosurgical combination therapy, which has been done by sandwich-procedure in Rostock for 10 years. The value of an additional chemo- or immunotherapy needs further securing yet, as generally a prospective randomized study is suggested for all the country. Carcinomas of hypopharynx are treated in combination by operation of different dimension and after-irradiation.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Immunolocalization of beta-lipotropin in the inner ear of the guinea pig.

The occurrence of beta-lipotropin (beta-LTH) immunoreactive material was investigated in the inner ear of newborn and juvenile guinea pigs by means of Sternberger's PAP technique. Unlike met5-enkephalin and endorphin, beta-LTH could not be found in the organ of Corti but was identified in the spiral ganglion and the neuroepithelium of the crista ampullaris.

Animals↗

Immunocytochemical detection of peptides in the guinea pig cochlea.

The cochleae of juvenile guinea pigs were investigated for the presence of several neuropeptides. Glucagon, insulin, CCK and beta-endorphin immunoreactive neurons and nerve fibers as well as hair cells were demonstrated by the peroxidase antiperoxidase technique. Small amounts of substance P were also found in different sites in the inner ear. In contrast, prolactin-like material could not be found at all. These findings have significance with regard to the putative role of neuropeptides in neuromodulation.

Animals↗

Neuropeptides in macula utriculi and macula sacculi of guinea pig labyrinth. An immunohistochemical study.

The neuropeptides Substance P, beta-Endorphin, Prolactin, Cholecystokinin, and Glucagon were investigated by means of Sternbergers PAP technique in the neuroepithelium of the Maculae utriculi and sacculi of the labyrinth of newborn guinea pigs. This brief report will show the localization of some neuropeptides in the neuroepithelium of the Maculae utriculi and sacculi. We could not find information about similar studies on this topic in the literature. In connection with investigations of the sensory apparatus of the inner ear we have recently presented neuropeptides evidence for the presence of certain peptides in the Ggl. spirale and the hair cells of the organ of Corti. With this paper we continue to report on neuropeptides in the labyrinth of the juvenile guinea pig as revealed by immunohistochemistry (Nowak et al., in press).

Acoustic Maculae↗

Vertical saccades in brain stem disorders.

Mean peak velocity and accuracy of vertical saccades were measured in 15 patients with disorders in the brain stem and in 12 normal subjects. (1) In the normal group up-directed saccades were faster than down-directed and the velocity of the saccade was not dependent on the age of the subject. Up-saccades were faster whether electro-oculography or photo-electro-oculography were used. (2) In patients with brain stem disorders the velocity of vertical saccades did not significantly differ from the saccadic velocity in the normal group. This is in contrast to what was found in horizontal saccades, where a reduced velocity was characteristic.

Adult↗

Antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, tonsillar carcinoma and control groups.

In the sera of 17 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and of 19 patients with tonsillar carcinoma (TC) the titres of IgA, IgG and IgM antibodies to EBV VCA (viral capsid antigen) and of IgG antibodies to EBV EA (early antigen) were determined by the indirect immunofluorescence (IF) method. Significant difference was observed in the frequency of IgA antibodies to EBV VCA and IgG antibodies to EBV EA between NPC patients and controls. There was also a significant difference between the frequency of IgM antibody to EBV VCA and EBV EA antibody titres in TC patients and controls. The geometric mean titre (GMT) of IgG antibodies to EBV VCA was significantly higher in the NPC and TC patients as compared to controls.

Adult↗

[Crohn disease of the oral and pharyngeal cavities].

Crohn's disease is very rarely found in the oral and pharyngeal cavity. The article reports on a female patient with Crohn's disease in the oral and pharyngeal cavity. The differences in the macroscopic findings due to the disease being localized in the oral and pharyngeal cavity are described. The clinical oral and pharyngeal lesions which suggest the presence of Crohn's disease.

Crohn Disease↗

[The importance of the vertebral venous plexus for the occurrence of haematogenous metastases in malignant diseases of the head and neck (author's transl)].

The analysis of observation about the progress of 1136 malignant diseases of the epi- and mesopharynx and of the nasal cavity and sinuses from the ENT-Clinic of Jena showed in 16 to 18 per cent of the cases haematogenous metastases observed only in a third to a half in the lung. If the lung had been spared especially the axial skeleton and the liver had metastases. This finding was especially significant in cases of epipharyngeal carcinomas. The discussion about the causes of the frequent occurence of metastases in the axial skeleton led to the supposition, that an independent way of the spreading of haematogenous metastases via the vertebral venous system and the azygos veins could be possible.

Azygos Vein↗

[Problems of intracranial extension of malignant disease of the nose and sinuses (author's transl)].

Out of 424 cancers of the nasal cavities or sinuses seen at the University E.N.T. Clinic Jena, 120 had penetrated into the anterior or middle cranial fossa. The commonest of these were tumours of the upper sinuses but a fifth of all antral tumours were also involved. The favourite site of intracranial breakthrough was studied in relation to the origin of the tumour and a particular liability of antral cancers to extend to the middle cranial fossa was noted. Critical analysis of the preoperative diagnostic features showed that the extent of the tumour relative to the base of the skull was often only demonstrated by a wide external surgical exposure. Operative and electrosurgical exenteration after Zange followed by radium application to the infiltrated dura resulted in over 17% of the operated patients surviving 5 years or more without recurrences. Irradiation alone was unsuccessful in all cases. In recent years resection of the tumour has been followed by excision of the infiltrated segment of the dura and the defect covered with fascia lata. First impressions and several examples are given.

Adult↗