Scarifications Research Articles

Pre-hospital management of childhood convulsions in Ilesa, South-west, Nigeria

Convulsion evokes a lot of fear in mothers and caregivers whenever it occurs. They even think that their child is dying. Many interventions are often carried out because of anxiety and limited knowledge. The aim of this study is to examine the interventions instituted by caregivers for children with convulsions before presentation in the hospital for treatment. We prospectively studied all the 276 children that presented to the emergency room with convulsion over a period of seven months and the care administered at home before presenting in the hospital was noted. One hundred and nine (39.5%) of the children had water poured on them during convulsion. Substances administered orally were; salt 32 (11.6%), onions 14 (5.1%), palm oil 3 (1.1%) and herbal concoctions 13 (4.7%), of which two contained cow urine. Metal spoons were used as mouth gag in 41 (14.9%) of subjects while 29 (10.5%) children had intramuscular (IM) injections given by health workers at home (eight) in various health centres (15) and hospitals (6). Other interventions were scarifications and drinking of their mothers’ urine. While 40 (14.5%) children had more than one treatment given to them before their arrival, 99 (35.9%) had no treatment given before their arrival. Caregivers continue to carry out various interventions at home for convulsions in children. Majority of the interventions are not beneficial while some are harmful. There is, therefore, need to continue to educate caregivers on the appropriate prehospital interventions of convulsions in children before presenting in the hospital. Key words: Convulsion, pre-hospital interventions.

Estructura morfo-anatómica y salida de dormición física de las semillas de Malvastrum coromandelianum ssp. coromandelianum (Malvaceae)

Introducción y objetivos: Uno de los principales problemas para el manejo y uso de muchas especies vegetales es la presencia de semillas con dormición física. En este trabajo estudiamos la presencia de dormición física en mericarpos (unidad de dispersión) y semillas, las estructuras morfo-anatómicas involucradas y los métodos de salida de dormición física en semillas de Malvastrum coromandelianum (Malvaceae).
 M&M: Se realizaron ensayos de imbibición en mericarpos y en semillas intactas y escarificadas. Se describió la estructura morfo-anatómica de las semillas con microscopio electrónico de barrido y se evaluó el efecto de la escarificación mecánica, química y térmica sobre la germinación y estructura de las semillas.
 Resultados: Los mericarpos y las semillas escarificadas incrementaron > 160% su peso inicial, mientras que las semillas intactas incrementaron < 40% su peso. Las semillas presentaron una cubierta con células en empalizada y un complejo de abertura al agua ubicado en la región chalazal. Los mayores porcentajes y menores t 50 se registraron luego de la escarificación mecánica, seguido de la química y térmica (calor seco). Las escarificaciones química y térmica produjeron la eliminación de la tapa chalazal y formación de grietas alrededor de la región chalazal, mientras que la formación y eliminación de una ampolla chalazal sólo se observó luego de la escarificación química.
 Conclusiones: Las semillas de M. coromandelianum presentan dormición física. El ingreso de agua ocurre a través de un complejo de abertura (Tipo III compuesto) en la región chalazal de las semillas. Las escarificaciones mecánica, química y térmica son métodos eficientes para la salida de la dormición física y germinación de semillas.

Histological Evaluation of Effect of beta-Tricalcium Phosphate on Bone healing in Alloxan-Induced diabetes

Background: Improved glucose level control with insulin injections have allowed for the diabetic population to live longer and healthier lives. Unfortunately diabetes remains a worldwide epidemic disease with multiple health implications. Specifically, its effects upon fracture healing are compromised in diabetics with as high as 87% recovery delay relative to “healthy” counterparts. Current medical treatments for bone injuries have been largely focused on replacing the lost bone with allogenic or autogenous bone grafts, beta-tricalcium phosphate (β -TCP), a ceramic alloplast, has interconnected system of micropores, has been widely used as a biologically safe osteoconductive bone substitute. The aim of this study was histological evaluation of effect of topical application of β –TCP on bone healing of diabetic rabbit. Materials and methods: Sixty New Zealand rabbits used in this study were divided into three groups for four healing intervals the experimental groups were: 1-Control group(C).2-Diabetic rabbits received insulin treatment regarded as controlled diabetes mellitus (CDM)group.3-Diabetic rabbits did not receive any treatment regarded as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (UDM)group. All animals subjected to surgical operation in right tibia, creating bone defect 3mm in depth and 4mm in diameter filled with β-Tricalcium Phosphate. Animals' scarifications were done in 5 day, 2, 4 and 6 weeks durations. Routine processing and sectioning technique was performed for histological evaluation. Results: Histological findings indicated that bone defects in control(C) and controlled diabetes mellitus (CDM) groups showed early bone formation, mineralization and maturation in comparison to healing of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (UDM) group. Histomorphometric analysis for all bone parameters examined in this study, showed variation in significance among all groups in different durations. Conclusion: The study revealed that application of β-TCP was more effective in enhancement of bone regeneration and in acceleration of bone healing process in controlled diabetes as compared to the uncontrolled one.

Jayne Cortez (1934 ? 2012) "She Leaves Us with Scarifications?

Jayne Cortez (1934 ? 2012) "She Leaves Us with Scarifications?

On Some Causes of Backwardness and Stupidity in Children: And the Relife of these Symptoms in Some Instances by Naso-Pharyngeal Scarifications

On Some Causes of Backwardness and Stupidity in Children: And the Relife of these Symptoms in Some Instances by Naso-Pharyngeal Scarifications

??dematous Laryngitis, successfully treated by Scarifications of the Glottis and Epiglottis

??dematous Laryngitis, successfully treated by Scarifications of the Glottis and Epiglottis