Papua New Guinea Journal of Science, Technology & Engineering

Itaki L. Rodney. 

Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea. 

Abstract

Problem based learning is now being implemented in many medical schools around the world. UPNG adopted the problem-based model of teaching medical students in 1999. This paper describes the authors experience in teaching microbiology practical classes at UPNG. 

Keywords: Problem based learning, microbiology, UPNG, practical class.  

Ian Garbett, Jacob Kapo, Philip Kond, James Aua Lipu, Minat Lamowa, Thomas Tromba.

Tinsley District Hospital, PO Box 1027, Mount Hagen 281, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea Chi-Chi Obuaya, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London

Abstract

To assess the level of endemicity of malaria through estimation of the spleen rate and average enlarged spleen size (AES) in children in a rural community of Papua New Guinean Highlanders. 95 children aged between 2 to10 in the Ruti Valley of the Western Highlands Provincewere examined. The spleen rate was 92% with an AES of 2.36. The paper suggests that malaria is holo-endemic in Ruti Valley and highlights the urgent need for interventions such as bed nets and insecticide spraying in rural Papua New Guinea as well as improved access to medical services.   

Ian Garbett, Jacob Kapo, Philip Kond, James Aua Lipu, Minat Lamowa, Thomas Tromba. 

Tinsley District Hospital, PO Box 1027, Mount Hagen 281, Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. Chi-Chi Obuaya, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK.

Abstract 

To assess local perceptions about malaria in a rural community in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, 152 adults resident in the Ruti Valley, Mul/Baiyer District, Western Highlands Province were interviewed at 3 different sites over 4 days in parallel with a malarial endemicity study. Most participants identified the potential mortality of the disease, use of anti-malarial medication and its peak times of transmission with rainfall variation. Significant proportions were unaware of how malaria was transmitted and its prevention with mosquito nets. There were unexpected beliefs about the role played by food in disease transmission and control. Rural communities that were surveyed generally have an adequate knowledge of malaria control. Potential for the introduction of participatory strategies has been revealed, given the communities current understanding, to enhance the implementation of planned mosquito net provision strategies and their sustainability in this and other malaria endemic areas in the future. 

William Mol, Satoru Sasaki, Hiroshi Furukawa, Yuhei Yamamoto

Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sapporo, Japan

Kita-15, Nishi-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-8638, Japan, Tel: 81-11-706-6978, Fax: 81-11-706-7827 or E-mail: yu-h1@med.hokudai.ac.jp

ABSTRACT

 In the past the treatment for vascular malformation used to be mainly surgery. However, surgery poses the problems of bleeding and poor aesthetic outcomes. Sclerotherapy is an old therapeutic method that has been re-visited and popularized recently. Percutaneous and transcatheteric sclerotherapy are 2 methods of sclerotherapy that are employed. This paper presents assessment of patients undergoing only percutaneous sclerotherapy for vascular malformations at the Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University.The sclerosants used were absolute ethanol and 1 % polidocanol. Comparison between 2 sclerosants and among the different types of vascular malformations was performed. The major outcome category for each lesion types were; arteriovenous malformation, 35 % good, venous malformation 47 % good, macrocystic lymphatic malformation, 88 % excellent, microcystic lymphatic malformation 64 % good and capillary malformation 67 % fair. The rate of major complications was 1.7%. It was established that Absolute Ethanol is more effective than 1 % polidocanol. However, it is associated with more local complications compared with 1 % polidocanol. The outcome for low flow, single cavity lesions are much better than for high flow lesions and multi-cystic lesions. This paper recommends that polidocanol is useful for small, low flow, superficial lesions while absolute ethanol is useful for large and deep lesions as well as both low and high flow lesions.  

Key words: hemangioma, vascular malformation, percutaneous, transcatheteric, sclerotherapy, absolute ethanol, 1% polidocanol.