Characteristics of drowning deaths in an inner city river

A study was undertaken of all drowning deaths that occurred over a 30-year period from 1988 to 2017 in the urban section of the River Torrens, Adelaide, South Australia, an augmented waterway that runs through the central business district. Autopsy records from Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA) were reviewed. There were 34 drownings (0–5 cases/yr) with 28 males and 6 females (M;F = 4.6:1), with an age range for males of 18-76yrs (mean 42.0; SD 18.0) and for females of 20-84yrs (mean 69.3; SD 24.5). There were 15 (44%) accidents, 11 (32%) suicides, 1 (3%) homicide and 7 (21%) undetermined. Of the 22 cases during or after 1994 with complete toxicology reports, 10 (45%) had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of greater than 0.05% (g/100 mL) with an illicit substance detected in 4 (18%) cases: (MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), methylamphetamine and THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) acid). The presence of various therapeutic drugs was also detected in 10 cases (45%) including temazepam, fluoxetine, diazepam, olanzapine, amitriptyline, carbamazepine, codeine, citalopram and valproate. Although the numbers of cases were not high, the urban portion of the River Torrens had a much higher number of drowning events per kilometre compared to other inland waterways in South Australia such as the Murray River. This is most likely due to the vulnerability that exists for intoxicated individuals in the city from falls into the water and to the availability of the river as a means of suicide to members of the adjacent urban population.     

Quality of life after single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A randomized,clinical trial

Background

Controversy continues as to whether single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with the somewhat larger incision at the umbilicus, may lead to a worse postoperative quality of life and more pain compared with the more classic 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to compare single-incision and 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy from the perspective of quality of life.

Soul City: a sustainable edutainment vehicle facilitating social change

This paper outlines the programming model employed by the Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication, a South African NGO, in using ‘edutainment’ to facilitate social change. The paper refers to the intersection of this model and current thought on health promotion and various social change theories. It also discusses key challenges and factors contributing to sustainability over 12 years.     

海口地区2000年临床分离菌耐药性监测

目的：监测海口地区临床分离菌对抗菌药物的耐药状况。方法：采用VITEK微生物自动分析仪测定药敏。结果：2000年共收集临床分离菌1399株，革兰阳性球菌426株（30．5％），革兰阴性杆菌973株（69．5％），以铜绿假单胞菌、大肠杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、肺炎克雷伯杆菌最多见，所监测的细菌总体耐药率比国内其他地区偏高，且出现万古霉素耐药的表皮葡萄球菌和粪肠球菌。结论：海口地区的细菌耐药严重，控制细菌耐药成为当务之急。     

Hygiene in Operationsabteilungen – Empfehlungen des Nationalen Referenzzentrums für Krankenhaushygiene

Zusammenfassung. Viele Hygienema?nahmen in Operationsabteilungen sind durch wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen nicht belegt. Die in dieser Arbeit vom Nationalen Referenzzentrum für Krankenhaushygiene, das 1996 vom Bundesgesundheitsministerium eingerichtet wurde, zusammengestellten Empfehlungen stützen sich auf die Ergebnisse wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen und trennen so die unbedingt notwendigen von den weniger bzw. nicht sinnvollen Ma?nahmen.

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Summary. Many hygienic procedures performed in operation units are not supported by scientific investigations. The following recommendations by the National Reference Center for Hospital Epidemiology, founded by the German Ministry of Health in 1996, are based on the scientific literature and separate necessary from less necessary and unnecessary procedures.

     

内蒙古赤峰地区鼠疫现状和流行趋势预测及控制措施的研究

赤峰地区于１９４８￣１９９６年发现了１６６３２．２ｋｍ＾２鼠疫自然疫源地，分布于１１个旗（县、区）。目前达到控制鼠疫面积１３９１７．８ｋｍ＾２，占疫源地总面积的８３．６８％。选取与疫源地相关的１２种量经因子进行聚类分析，结果可分为：１．疫源性长存区；２．动物鼠疫间断流行区；３．鼠疫动物病控制区；４．疫源性基本消除区。同时对措施进行了探讨。     

Effects of chemical mediators of anaphylaxis on ciliary function

We assessed the effects of selected chemical mediators of anaphylaxis on CBF in vitro. Ciliated epithelial cells were obtained from the trachea of conscious sheep with a cytology brush and suspended in a perfusion chamber containing KH. Ciliary activity was viewed microscopically and recorded on videotape for subsequent slow-motion analysis of CBF. Prostaglandin E1 (10(-8) M to 10(-6) M), prostaglandin E2 (10(-10) M to 10(-6) M), and leukotriene-C4 (10(-8) M) increased CBF between 7% and 33%. Histamine caused ciliostimulation only at the relatively high concentrations above 10(-5) M (7% increase in CBF), whereas prostaglandin F2 alpha (10(-10) M and 10(-6) M) was without effect. In no preparation was ciliary discoordination observed. These findings indicate that several chemical mediators of anaphylaxis stimulate CBF and that the previously described impairment of mucociliary transport in stable allergic asthma or antigen-induced bronchoconstriction is probably not caused by a primary alteration of ciliary function.