Based on an unselected material forty-seven cases of intraspinal neurinomas treated in a period of seven years, this report presents a comprehensive, clinical and statistical analysis. Divergences from the literature in respect of case history, distribution and frequency are pointed out. Attention is paid to the difficulties of early diagnosis. Problems of surgical treatment and the importance of microsurgical dissection are discussed.

Emergency open laparotomy in patients infected with HIV is accompanied by high mortality. The authors investigated the potential role of a laparoscopic approach for the management of acute abdomen in such patients. Prospectively, 10 patients with HIV disease (9 with AIDS) underwent laparoscopy for acute abdomen. The treatment was exclusively laparoscopic in 6 patients. A conversion to laparotomy was necessary in 4 patients but through guided elective incision in 3 of them. The postoperative course was uneventful in all patients but 1, who died. We advocate a laparoscopic approach, when feasible, as an initial step in the management of acute abdomen in HIV-positive patients.

No abstract

This study deals with an overview of the biomedical projects performed at iThemba LABS, particularly in relation to the spatial distribution of trace metals in hard human tissues from disadvantaged Sudanese communities, such as kidney stone concretions, teeth and hair, undertaken at the iThemba LABS Nuclear Microprobe (NMP) facility. Relevant information about the ion beam techniques used for material characterization was discussed. The Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) technique was used to investigate the elemental composition of human hard tissues on a microscopic scale with the elemental mapping; complementary ion beam techniques are used to provide information on the major and minor components. Analysis of teeth sections by μ-PIXE showed that the levels of trace elements were enriched and/or depleted, this may associated with leaching and/or erosive processes. On the other hand the characterization of kidney stone concretions by μ-PIXE showed a marked difference of individuals from different region within Sudan.

Original Article Surgical Operations Ahmed AA Elhag of the total number of cholecystectomies. General anaesthesia was used in 57.6% of operations. Urological operations represented 13.1% and paediatric surgery 11.7% of the total number of operations. Most of the patients (97%, n=846) were discharged home in good condition. Conclusion A variety of surgical operations were performed with a good outcome. Appendicectomy and hernia repair were the most common operations.