South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Allergy is a common health problem in South Africa (SA), and a rational approach to allergy testing is essential to ensure cost-effective as well as optimal patient diagnosis and management. ⋯ The current diagnostic recommendations include allergens that demonstrate significant sensitisation in all regions of SA. Two additional allergens that show significant regional sensitisation in the South African population were identified. These findings may aid the recommendations for the most appropriate and cost-effective approach to allergy testing of symptomatic patients in SA.
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Trauma in pregnancy poses a unique challenge to clinicians. Literature on this topic is limited in South Africa (SA). ⋯ Trauma in pregnancy is relatively uncommon and mostly due to a RTC or deliberately inflicted trauma. Fetal outcome is largely dependent on the severity of the maternal injury, with injuries requiring laparotomy leading to a high fetal mortality rate.
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The basis of a manuscript is the research question, which is reported within a standard publication structure. The 'Background' section clarifies the question. ⋯ The 'Discussion' section describes how findings of the study relate to current knowledge and the practical implications of the results, and suggests future studies. This structure differs from that of a thesis, the aims of which are broader than reporting on a specific research question.
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The most common clinical indication for renal biopsy in the early post-transplant period is early graft dysfunction (EGD), which may present either as delayed graft function (DGF) or acute graft dysfunction. Even though it is a valuable diagnostic tool, renal allograft biopsy is not without risk of major complications. Recent studies have suggested that, with modern immunosuppressive induction regimens and more accurate ways to determine high immunological risk transplants, early acute rejection (AR) is uncommon and routine biopsy for EGD does not result in a change in management. ⋯ Considering the relative safety and high rate of detection of AR, a liberal approach to renal biopsy for EGD remains justifiable in our setting.
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Historical Article
Human brucellosis in South Africa: A review for medical practitioners.
Brucellosis is recognised as a neglected zoonotic tropical disease of global health and economic importance. Medical practitioner unawareness of the disease is reported to contribute to the overall neglect. ⋯ The overall aim of this review article is to increase medical practitioner capacity to detect, diagnose and treat brucellosis in the SA context. A brief review of the literature on human brucellosis in SA is presented, together with a discussion of current issues related to medical detection, treatment and management of brucellosis, applicable to the SA context.