The antipsychotic potential of Salix Mucronata on ketamine-induced rats.

Salix mucronata is one of the herbal plants offered by the traditional health practitioners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa for the treatment of schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate the effects of repeated administration of ketamine on social interaction, novelty and motivation in adult, male Sprague Dawley rats. It also aimed to investigate the potential of risperidone and the herbal extract of S. mucronata to reverse impairments that are induced by ketamine. Experimental rats (n=45) received a dose of ketamine at 30 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection for 5 consecutive days. They were then allocated into their respective treatment groups and given risperidone (APD) and the herbal extract of S. mucronata (TM) at doses of 6 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, respectively, for 7 consecutive days. Social behaviour was tested using the 3-chambered sociability test, and anhedonia was tested using the sucrose preference test. Ketamine induction elicited social withdrawal and reduced social novelty which were later successfully reversed by risperidone and S. mucronata. The rats showed reduced preference to sucrose post-induction and post-treatment. Ketamine and mild stress caused by scruff restraint elicited reduced weight gain for the animals. No differences were noted on brain mass between controls and experimental groups and also between risperidone and S. mucronata groups. However, reduced brain volume was noted in experimental groups. Dopamine and acetylcholine concentration levels were high in groups which received risperidone and S. mucronata. These findings highlight that the antipsychotic potential of S. mucronata is similar to risperidone.

The Influence of Culture on the Cause, Diagnosis and Treatment of Serious Mental Illness (Ufufunyana): Perspectives of Traditional Health Practitioners in the Harry Gwala District, KwaZulu-Natal.

Cultural beliefs influence the perceived cause, methods of diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. A qualitative study was conducted among traditional health practitioners (THPs) in the Harry Gwala District Municipality to further explore this influence. Purposive sampling assisted in the recruitment of 31 participants (9 males and 22 females). The four key themes this study investigated in relation to mental illness included its causes, methods of diagnosis, common symptoms observed and treatment approaches used by THPs, and the system of patient management. Culturally, mental illness was reported to be caused by witchcraft and an ancestral calling in this study. Mental illness was predominantly diagnosed by spiritual intervention which included divination through consultation with the ancestors, familial background, burning of incense which can also be part of communicating with the ancestors and through examining the patient. The common symptoms included aggression, hallucination and unresponsiveness. Prevalent modes of treatment included the use of a medicinal concoction and performing cultural rituals where ancestors and other spirits were assumed influential. The duration of the treatment process was dependent on guidance from the ancestors. Most causal aspects of mental illness from diagnosis to treatment seemed to be influenced by cultural beliefs and ancestors.

Global perspectives on the traditional approaches used in the treatment of schizophrenia: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Traditional healing considers a holistic approach when diagnosing and treating patients for mental ailments, and is the preferred approach globally. OBJECTIVE: This review documented traditional healing approaches for treatment of schizophrenia used in different regions globally. METHODS: PICO framework was used to facilitate literature search from Google Scholar, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, Scopus, APA PsycINFO, and Web search. Studies documenting methods of treatment from the perspective of traditional healers, patients and/or caregivers were included and also studies which investigated herbal plants used in traditional healing in vitro and in vivo were included. Review articles, magazine/newspaper articles, editorials, letters, comments/opinion articles, and articles with inaccessible full text were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed using MMAT and SYRCLE tools. University Capacity Development Programme funded this review. RESULTS: 74 articles were included, these documented traditional healing practices used in Africa, Asia, America, Europe, and Oceania. Common approach globally was herbal medicine. Other reported methods included faith-based healing, consultation with the ancestors, performing rituals, acupuncture, and music and yoga therapies. Inhumane approaches included starving, beating, cutting and confining patients. In some cases, traditional healing was used as adjunctive treatment. The overall risk of bias for studies in this review was low. CONCLUSION: Traditional healing contributes in bridging the treatment gap for schizophrenia in developing countries. However, there is a lack of standardisation of the approaches employed in the different regions, and the safety and effectiveness of some of these approaches remain questionable.

Classification, neurovascularrelations and ostia of the sphenoid air sinus: a cadaveric study

The sphenoid air sinus is located deep at the base of the skull and is intimately related to delicate neurovascular structures. The purpose of this study was to describe the variations of the sphenoid sinus in relation to pneumatisation within the sphenoid bone, its ostium and the structures related to the walls of the sinus. Twenty-five cadaveric specimens were cut midsagittally and studied bilaterally (n = 50). The presellar, sellar and post-sellar sphenoid sinus types were observed in 16%, 36% and 48% cases, respectively. The protrusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in relation to the sinus walls was observed in 70% cases, while bulges of the optic (ON), maxillary (MN) and Vidian (VN) nerves were observed in 56%, 32% and 22% cases, respectively. Protrusions of ICA, ON and VN were prevalent in post-sellar sinuses and the bulge of MN was prevalent in the sellar sinuses. The ICA had a longer course in sellar and post-sellar sphenoid sinuses. The sphenoid sinus ostium shape was oval in 72.55% cases and round in 27.45% cases. The ostia were located superiorly on the anterior wall of the sinus in 34.69% cases and in the middle in 65.31% cases. Knowledge on the level of complexity and variability of the sphenoid sinus plays a pivotal role in preparing for saferendoscopic trans-sphenoid surgical approaches

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The septation of the sphenoidal air sinus: a cadaveric study / Septación del seno esfenoidal: investigación cadavérica

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sphenoidal sinus septation in a select South African population, and document the relation of the number and location of the septa to the structures intimately related to the sinus. The intersinus and intrasinus septa of the sinus, the number and attachments of the septa were recorded from forty five cadaveric head specimens. The sphenoidal sinus intersinus septa were recorded as follows: Type 0 (absent septum) in 7.5 %, Type 1 (single septum) in 65 % and Type 2 (double septa) in 22.5 % of cases. The incidence of intersinus septa deviating to the left was prevalent; hence, the right sphenoidal sinus was dominant. The occurrence of intrasinus septa was observed in 93.3 % of cases, with a higher prevalence in males. The intrasinus septa formed cave like chambers on the sinus walls in 65.6 % cases. Incidences of the intersinus septa attaching to sella turcica (ST) (46.25 %) were prevalent compared to cases where they attached to the internal carotid artery (ICA) (6.25 %), maxillary (MN) (1.25 %) and vidian (VN) (1.25 %) nerves. However, the intrasinus septa attached more to the ICA (52.63 %) compared to their attachment to the other neurovascular structures (ST - 26.32 %; MN - 5.36 % and VN - 2.63 %). Surgeons need to be aware of the complex anatomical variations of the sphenoidal sinus septation when performing endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgeries.

El propósito de este estudio fue investigar la septación del seno esfenoidal en una población sudafricana y documentar la relación del número y la ubicación de los septos en relación a las estructuras íntimamente relacionadas con el seno. Los septos interseno e intraseno del seno, el número y las uniones de los septos se registraron a partir de cuarenta y cinco cadáveres. El septo interseno del seno esfenoidal se registró de la siguiente manera: Tipo 0 (tabique/septo ausente) en el 7,5 %, Tipo 1 (tabique/septo único) en el 65 % y Tipo 2 (tabiques/septos dobles) en el 22,5 % de los casos. La incidencia de septos intersenos desviados hacia la izquierda fue prevalente. Por lo tanto, el seno esfenoidal derecho fue dominante. La ocurrencia de septo intraseno se observó en el 93,3 % de los casos, con una mayor prevalencia en varones. Los septos intrasenos formaron cámaras, como cuevas, en las paredes del seno en un 65,6 % de los casos. La incidencia de septos intersenos que se adhieren a la silla turca (ST) (46,25 %) fueron prevalentes en comparación con los casos en que se unieron a la arteria carótida interna (ACI) (6,25 %), al nervio maxilar (NM) (1,25 %) y nervio vidiano (NV) (1.25%). Sin embargo, los septos intersenos se adhirieron más a la ACI (52,63 %) en comparación con su unión a otras estructuras neurovasculares (ST - 26,32 %; NM -5,36 % y NV - 2,63 %). Los cirujanos deben ser conscientes de las complejas variaciones anatómicas de la tabicación del seno esfenoidal cuando se realizan cirugías transesfenoideas endonasales endoscópicas.