A major role of viruses in convulsive status epilepticus in children: a prospective study of 22 children.

UNLABELLED: A group of 22 previously healthy children with their first convulsive status epilepticus (SE), treated at Kuopio University Hospital, Finland, were prospectively studied. Eleven children had febrile and 11 afebrile SE. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect specific DNA from CSF, enzyme immunoassays and immunofluorescence assays to detect specific antibodies in serum and CSF, viral cultures were obtained from CSF, throat and stool and antigen detection from throat specimens. Viral infection was identified in 10 of 11 children with febrile SE (91%) and in 7 of 11 with afebrile SE (64%). Human herpes virus 6 infection was identified in 12 children (55%), and in at least six of them the infection was primary. Single cases of human herpes virus 7, parainfluenza 3, adenovirus 1, echovirus 22, rota, influenza A and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection were diagnosed. CONCLUSION: Viruses, human herpes virus 6 in particular, seem to be major associated factors in convulsive status epilepticus, both febrile and afebrile. Human herpes virus 7 and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are novel agents associated with status epilepticus.

Utilising the concept of protection in health maintenance among the Bena in Tanzania.

This article reports the findings of a study of the protective health care actions by the Bena. The article is based on an ethnographic research project that dealt with cultural care among the Bena tribe in the Ilembula villages in Tanzania. The data were collected with open-ended interviews and participatory observation. Forty-nine villagers were interviewed. The findings show that childhood and adulthood include some sensitive phases of the Bena life span that require protective actions to ensure reproductive, physical, and mental health. The following main protective actions were related to health protection in the sensitive phases: taking local herbs, avoiding sexual relations, hiding menstruation and early pregnancy from others, avoiding contacts with magic, avoiding kitchen work, using one's own utensils, and omitting greeting others.

Tracking and interviewing clients at risk for HIV and substance abuse in a Latino community.

Latino Family Services' (LFS) Outreach and Pre-Treatment Program (OPT) has a mission to increase access of high-risk individuals to substance abuse treatment and HIV/AIDS and related services, and to decrease high-risk behaviors related to HIV/AIDS, TB and/or substance abuse. This mission is addressed through three program components: (1) outreach to high-risk individuals; (2) assessment and referral to needed services; and (3) facilitation of substance abuse pre-treatment didactic and support groups. Part of the OPT's evaluation involved tracking and interviewing clients three and six months after the intake assessment. This paper discusses methodological challenges faced by the evaluator in longitudinal tracking and interviewing a bicultural high-risk population. Recognizing the diversity of the target client population, we developed a culturally sensitive approach to tracking and interviewing Hispanic clients. This included: locating a bilingual/bicultural research interviewer; translating the questionnaire into Spanish; conducting the interviews in Spanish when preferred by the client; identifying effective incentives for participants; and tracking clients in a culturally-sensitive manner. We also describe the approach taken to maintain the methodological rigor of the evaluation. This included: maintaining the objectivity of the interviewer; maintaining the independence of the research interviewer from job roles of program staff; and protecting client confidentiality. Finally, the problems associated with tracking and following-up with this high risk client group are described, as well as the outcomes of such efforts.

Professional nursing care in Tanzania: a descriptive study of nursing care in Ilembula Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania.

The purpose of this ethnonursing study is to find new knowledge of the professional nursing care practised in a Bantu cultural context in Tanzania. The main questions are: How do Bantu nurses describe nursing? What components are there in professional nursing care in Ilembula Lutheran Hospital? The data were collected through participant observation, interviews and personal working diaries in Ilembula Lutheran Hospital. Six Tanzanian nurses were interviewed. The findings indicated that nursing was based on formal training on one hand, and on a natural mother-child relationship on the other hand. The idea of respect towards life, which is central to the Bantu philosophy of life, guided nursing care. In professional nursing care there emerged curing and caring components. Protection, encouragement and comfort were distinguished as the main constructs of caring.

Elaboration of the ethylidene side chain in the synthesis of indole alkaloids: preparation of (+/-)-deplancheine and its analogues.

A new method of elaborating the ethylidene side chain in the synthesis of (+/-)-deplancheine ( 1) and its analogues is described.