Nisin F, intraperitoneally injected, may have a stabilizing effect on the bacterial population in the gastro-intestinal tract, as determined in a preliminary study with mice as model.

AIMS: To determine if nisin F has an effect on the bacterial population in the gastro-intestinal tract. METHODS AND RESULTS: Six male C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with 200 µl sterile saline and six with nisin F (200 µl, equivalent to 640 arbitrary units). Fecal samples were collected before injection and 8, 24 and 48 h after injection, and the bacteria amplified by PCR-DGGE using 16S rDNA primers. The composition of the bacterial population in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of mice that were injected with saline changed during 48 h, whereas the bacterial population in the GIT remained relatively unchanged in animals injected with nisin F. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that nisin F inhibits the growth of specific bacteria in the GIT within the first 4 h. Furthermore, the species remained repressed for at least 44 h after one intraperitoneal injection with nisin F. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report suggesting that nisin F may have a stabilizing effect on the bacterial population in the gastro-intestinal tract.

The prevalence of homocysteinemia and hypercholesterolemia in angiographically defined coronary heart disease.

Total serum homocysteine and cholesterol levels were determined in 163 male patients with typical angina who were subjected to coronary angiography. The prevalence of homocysteinemia in coronary heart disease (CHD) was 41.9%. Serum homocysteine levels were significantly elevated (p less than 0.05) in patients with major occlusion in two or three coronary arteries. Furthermore, the prevalence of homocysteinemia correlated positively (p less than 0.05) with the number of coronary vessels that were occluded. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 34.9%, but, in contrast to homocysteinemia, no graded strength of association with the number of stenotic coronary arteries could be demonstrated. The results suggest that homocysteinemia may contribute significantly to the development of coronary heart disease.

The prevalence of osteoarthrosis in a rural African community.

Osteoarthrosis occurs in all population groups throughout the world. However, the pattern of the condition may differ considerably amongst various developing, traditionally living people, perhaps because of their different living habits, occupational factors and genetics. The distribution and prevalence of osteoarthrosis in a developing African population are reported in this paper. A radiological survey of the hands and feet of 543 adult respondents was undertaken. The prevalence of multiple osteoarthrosis and Heberden's nodes was very low. There was a sharp rise in the prevalence of osteoarthrosis after the age of 40 years. The prevalence in males and females was very similar; a finding which agrees with previous African studies but is in contrast to Caucasian surveys. We also found more distal interphalangeal involvement in males than in females. The incidence of proximal interphalangeal involvement was very similar to that reported in other published studies.

Delayed skin hypersensitivity as indicator of T-cell function in three population groups.

Immunological differences between a rural under-developed black population with a low incidence of rheumatoid arthritis, and living according to old traditional ways have been compared with an urban black and urban Caucasian population with a high incidence of the disease. A delayed skin hypersensitivity test for cell-mediated immunity with seven antigens and control was used. The rural group showed a statistically significant inhibition of cell-mediated immunity with 37% showing an anergic response. A matched Caucasian group showed a more marked response while an urban black group occupied an intermediate position. The 37% anergic response in our rural group was seen despite the fact that they were very healthy and their immune systems resisted multiple parasitic and infective onslaughts. From this data interpretation of an anergic response to multiple skin antigen tests in peoples from under-developed populations must be approached with great caution. Whether this altered cell-mediated immunity plays a role in the low incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in under-developed peoples is still speculative.

Paracetamol metabolism in African villagers.

Paracetamol clearance has been measured from serial serum samples in 49 healthy black Africans from a village in Southern Africa. The subjects are minimally exposed to known environmental inducing or inhibiting agents and the staple diet consists of maize cereal and greens. The mean clearance (+/- SD) was 4.98 +/- 1.61 ml min-1 kg-1, which is significantly faster than the values found in previous investigations with paracetamol in whites and Asian immigrants in London. The mean half-lives were fairly similar but the apparent volumes of distribution were also found to be larger in the present study. The ethnic difference in paracetamol kinetics identified in this study is possibly genetically controlled.

Antipyrine metabolism in African villagers.

Antipyrine clearance has been measured from serial serum samples in 49 healthy black Africans from a village in Southern Africa. The subjects follow a lifestyle which minimally exposes them to environmental inducing or inhibiting agents. Food is mainly maize cereal with a protein content of only about 8.8%, together with greens. Antipyrine clearance, half-life and apparent volume of distribution (mean +/- SD) were, respectively, 0.538 +/- 0.163 ml min-1, kg-1, 14.81 +/- 6.5 h and 0.626 +/- 0.075 litre/kg. These results do not differ significantly from the mean values found in a group of lactovegetarian Indo-Pakistani immigrants to Britain. This would suggest that the major environmental determinant influencing hepatic mixed-function oxidase activity is the presence or absence of meat in the diet. However, the relative contributions of environment and heredity will be difficult to determine.

[Ainhum]. / Ainhum.

Ainhum is an ancient disease described in 1821 by Messum and its origin is still unknown. It is a tropical or semitropical disease seen in Blacks, Whites and Indians which affects the 5th and sometimes the 4th toe and causes spontaneous amputation. Females are more often affected than males, and there is a tendency to geographical clustering of cases and familial occurrence.

[The incidence pattern of certain cancers in the RSA]. / Die voorkomspatroon van sekere karsinome in die RSA.

The numbers of patients treated for seven types of carcinoma during 1977 at 10 hospitals in South Africa have been reviewed. The total number of patients admitted to the 10 hospitals in 1977 was 286 373. Slightly more than 1%, namely 3 409, of these patients suffered from carcinoma of the cervix, oesophagus, breast, lung, liver, stomach or colon. Carcinoma of the cervix was commonest among Black patients and carcinoma of the colon among Whites. The relative incidence of the different types of carcinoma among Whites was almost the opposite of the sequence among Blacks.

Health and disease in a traditional-living tribe in southern Africa.

An isolated traditional-living tribe has been identified in Southern Africa. The lifestyle, eating habits and socio-economic conditions have been studied intensively and are being correlated with the pattern of health and disease of the people. Physical examination, urinalyses, biochemical studies and X-ray investigations show a remarkable absence of the diseases normally associated with a Western lifestyle and yet no evidence of malnutrition was found. Those findings are compared with the results of investigations on urbanized black people. The aim of the study is to determine the long-term effects of inevitable westernization on this tribe.

[Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in a traditional black community]. / Groep A beta-hemolitiese streptokokke in 'n tradisionele Swart gemeenskap.

Throat swabs taken from a group of traditionally living people in a remote area of Venda, with no symptoms of sore throat, revealed the presence of Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci in 1,62% of subjects in the 5 - 25-year age group. This is significantly different from the picture in an urban population in Pretoria where the carrier rate was found to be 16,8%. The incidence is apparently not influenced by the low economic level in the rural area. The organisms in the rural area were found to be less sensitive to sulphafurazole than those in the urban area.

[Beta-hemolytic streptococci as a cause of sore throat in the Pretoria area]. / Beta-hemolitiese streptokokke as oorsaak van seerkeel in Pretoria en omgewing.

A study was performed in Pretoria on 232 unselected patients who presented with the complaint of sore throat. A throat swab was positive for Lancefield group A beta-haemolytic streptococci in 33,2% of these patients. The incidence was significantly higher in Black patients (45,5%) than in White patients (23,2%) and 12,1% of healthy controls showed a positive culture. No seasonal variation was detected. Throat swabs kept overnight at room temperature were falsely negative for beta-haemolytic streptococci in 43,2% of cases. A correlation was found with certain clinical signs.

[Basic principles in the design of consulting rooms]. / Basiese beginsels van spreekkamerontwerp.

The basic principles of the placing and planning of consulting rooms are discussed. Emphasis is placed on optimal use of expensive floorspace by using walls for shelves, and having compact furniture and sliding doors. The effective circulation of doctors and patients in the complex should be a prime consideration. Communication appliances should be planned from the outset. Certain pitfalls are mentioned. Different practices have varying needs but certain basic principles apply to all. Doctors should give careful personal attention to the planning of their consulting rooms and not merely leave it to supposed experts in this field.

[Primary health care by the hospital physician]. / Primêre sorg deur die hospitaal-geneesheer.

The doctor rendering primary care in a hospital is the key to the whole realm of medical science to the patient. Primary evaluation and emergency care must be accurate, efficient and comprehensive. The traditionally unpopular work in a casualty department and polyclinic can be interesting and provide work satisfaction to family practice trainees if these are well organized. Delegation of routine work to ancillary staff is an important time-saver.