Anthropometric profile of HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected women aged 25–44 years in Mangaung, Free State

Background: Obesity and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) affect significant numbers of black women in South Africa.Method: Using township maps, a random sample of 500 black women residing in Mangaung in the Free State was selected to participate in this study in the year 2000. The women were divided into two age groups, namely 25–34 years (n = 273) and 35–44 years (n = 215). Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight [to calculate the body mass index (BMI)] and waist circumference (WC) were taken. Fat percentage was measured with bioelectrical impedance. HIV status was determined using a microparticle enzyme immunoassay method. Socio-demographic status, health status, dietary intake, level of physical activity, body perception and attitude toward weight control, as well as prevalence and risk of lifestylediseases were determined as part of the larger study.Results: Sixty-one per cent of younger women (25–34 years) and 38% of older women (35–44 years) were infected with HIV. In younger HIV-infected women, median BMI, WC and fat percentage were significantly lower than in HIV-uninfected women.Conclusions: HIV infection rates were found to be higher among younger than older women. The prevalence of obesity was high overall. Median BMI values ranged between 24.4 kg/m2 and 27.6 kg/m2. A large percentage of all women fell in the unhealthy fat percentage category (excessive body fat), ranging between 65.9% of HIV-infected young women and 79.3%of older HIV-infected women. HIV, even in the asymptomatic stage, influences anthropometric indicators

Iron status and anaemia of chronic disease in HIV-infected African women in Mangaung, Bloemfontein

Background: Anaemia occurs widely among people living with HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HIV status on ironstatus, more specifically to investigate the nutritional health of women between 25 and 44 years of age.Methods: An epidemiological study was undertaken in Mangaung, a black residential community of Bloemfontein in the Free State (South Africa).A random sample consisted of 500 women in two age groups (25–34 [n = 273] and 35–44 years [n = 215]). Blood specimens were collected in ethyldimethylacetic acid collection tubes according to standard procedures. Respondents fasted overnight, abstained from exercise and avoided consuming alcohol and caffeine for 24 hours prior to collection of the blood specimens. All specimens were taken in the morning. A full blood count was performed using a Coulter Microdiff 18 Cell Counter. The metabolic variables haematocrit (Hct), haemoglobin (Hb), serum iron, ferritin and transferrin were determined. The red blood cell count was performed to calculate the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Age and HIV-status groups were described and compared by nonparametric methods. A p-value lower than 0.05 was considered significant. HIV-infected and -uninfected groups were compared by 95% confidence intervals for the difference in the percentage of women with parameters below or above the normal range.Results: Sixty-one per cent of the younger women and 38% of the older women were HIV infected. The percentage with serum ferritin levels below20 μg/L was higher in HIV-uninfected women, ranging from 0% in older HIV-infected women to 10.4% in younger HIV-uninfected women. A largepercentage of women had elevated transferrin values, ranging from 23.9% in older HIV-infected women to 44.8% in older HIV-uninfected women.A large percentage of women had anaemia of chronic disease, with HIV-infected women afflicted more often.Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that prevalence of HIV infection in Mangaung is high, especially among women between 25 and34 years of age. Although the parameters of iron status on average did not indicate iron deficiency in the different age and HIV-status groups, a large percentage of women did have anaemia of chronic disease, with HIV-infected women afflicted more often. Knowledge of the HIV status of a patient is of paramount importance in evaluating laboratory results of iron levels to determine future treatment or nutritional recommendations. HIV-infected and -uninfected individuals might not be comparable regarding their laboratory results to interpret iron store depletion, with consequences for further therapeutic actions in these two groups. The progression rate to AIDS might also be enhanced by certain interventions.Keywords: iron; HIV; nutrition; women; South Afric

Evaluation of energy and macronutrient intake of black women in Bloemfontein: A cross-sectional study

There is growing evidence that urbanization of black South Africans is associated with changes in the structure of dietary intake. The urban diet is more diverse than the rural diet, and includes more animalfoods, refined carbohydrates and fats, posing a potential risk to the health of urbanized populations. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the macronutrient intake of non-pregnant,pre-menopausal black women living in Bloemfontein in South Africa. A representative group of 500 participants was randomly selected to participate. Women were divided into two age groups. Youngerwomen were 25 - 34 years old and older women 35 - 44 years old. Macronutrient intake was determined using a validated Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ). Median macronutrient intake was compared with the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) as applicable. Median energy, macronutrient and cholesterol intake of younger and older women was compared using non-parametric 95% confidenceintervals (CI’s). P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Median energy distribution of macronutrients was determined and compared with standard references. After being screened foreligibility, four pregnant women were excluded from the study, and 496 women qualified for participation. Median total energy, protein and carbohydrate intakes of all women exceeded the DRI. Median intakes of fibre were low, while median fat intakes were high. Younger women had significantly higher intakes of total fat (p = 0.034), saturated fat (p = 0.046) and PUFA (p = 0.015). Median energy distribution was 12% protein (both age groups), 32% fat (younger women) and 31% fat (older women) and 51% carbohydrates (younger women) and 53% carbohydrates (older women). The high median energy and macronutrient intakes may pose a potential risk for the development of chronic lifestyle diseases. The main focus of intervention should be to improve the quality of the diet, by decreasing fat intake and replacing this with fruit and vegetables. The benefits of a low glycaemic index and high fibre diet need to be emphasized

The metabolic profiles of HIV-infected and non-infected women in Mangaung, South Africa

Objective: To determine the biochemical nutritional status of HIV-infected women in Mangaung.Design: Cross-sectional.Setting: The community of Mangaung, Free State, South Africa.Subjects: A representative group of 500 black women (25–44 years) was selected randomly to participate.Outcome measures: Biochemical analyses were performed for total  lymphocytes, serum protein, serum albumin, plasma fibrinogen, serum insulin, serum glucose, serum triglycerides and serum cholesterol using standard methodology. Values were compared to standard references, and between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women.Results: After screening for eligibility, 488 women qualified. Sixty-one per cent of the younger women (25–34 years) and 38% of the older women (35–44 years) were HIV-infected. HIV-infected women had significantly lower median blood values for total lymphocytes (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.02 for younger and older group respectively) and serum albumin (p = 0.0001 for both age groups), but significantly higher median concentrations of serum protein (p = 0.0001 for both age groups) than uninfected women. Plasma fibrinogen and serum insulin concentrations were significantly lower in HIV-infected younger women than in their uninfected counterparts (p = 0.002 for both parameters). Older HIV-infected women had significantly lower total serum cholesterol values (p = 0.01) than older HIV-uninfected women. Serum glucose and serum triglycerides did not differ significantly between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women.Conclusions: The results indicate a possible impact of HIV infection on serum protein and serum albumin, which may adversely affect biochemical nutritional status and the course of HIV progression. Future research into the causes and possible treatment of metabolic changes in women in this community should be prioritised

Mutations in GPAA1, Encoding a GPI Transamidase Complex Protein, Cause Developmental Delay, Epilepsy, Cerebellar Atrophy, and Osteopenia.

Approximately one in every 200 mammalian proteins is anchored to the cell membrane through a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. These proteins play important roles notably in neurological development and function. To date, more than 20 genes have been implicated in the biogenesis of GPI-anchored proteins. GPAA1 (glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor attachment 1) is an essential component of the transamidase complex along with PIGK, PIGS, PIGT, and PIGU (phosphatidylinositol-glycan biosynthesis classes K, S, T, and U, respectively). This complex orchestrates the attachment of the GPI anchor to the C terminus of precursor proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum. Here, we report bi-allelic mutations in GPAA1 in ten individuals from five families. Using whole-exome sequencing, we identified two frameshift mutations (c.981_993del [p.Gln327Hisfs∗102] and c.920delG [p.Gly307Alafs∗11]), one intronic splicing mutation (c.1164+5C>T), and six missense mutations (c.152C>T [p.Ser51Leu], c.160_161delinsAA [p.Ala54Asn], c.527G>C [p.Trp176Ser], c.869T>C [p.Leu290Pro], c.872T>C [p.Leu291Pro], and c.1165G>C [p.Ala389Pro]). Most individuals presented with global developmental delay, hypotonia, early-onset seizures, cerebellar atrophy, and osteopenia. The splicing mutation was found to decrease GPAA1 mRNA. Moreover, flow-cytometry analysis of five available individual samples showed that several GPI-anchored proteins had decreased cell-surface abundance in leukocytes (FLAER, CD16, and CD59) or fibroblasts (CD73 and CD109). Transduction of fibroblasts with a lentivirus encoding the wild-type protein partially rescued the deficiency of GPI-anchored proteins. These findings highlight the role of the transamidase complex in the development and function of the cerebellum and the skeletal system

TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

An analysis of Dietary Micronutrient Intakes in Two Age Groups of Black South African Women

Objective: To assess micronutrient intake of black women living in Mangaung, South Africa. Subjects and Method: A sample of 500 pre-menopausal black South African women (496 qualified to participate) from two age groups (25–34 and 35–44 years) were selected randomly in Mangaung, the black residential area of Bloemfontein. A validated Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ) was used to determine dietary intake of participants. Data were categorized into the two age groups. Median micronutrient intakes were compared to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Adequate Intake (AI). The prevalence of women with intakes ≤ 67% of the RDA was calculated. Results: Median calcium and vitamin D intakes were lower than the AI. Of all women, 46.2% to 62.2% consumed ≤ 67% of the RDA for total iron, selenium, folate and vitamin C, and more than 94% consumed ≤ 67% of the RDA for selenium. At least 25% of all women consumed ≤ 67% of the RDA for vitamin A and E. The vitamin B6 intake of older women was inadequate and a fairly large percentage of the total sample consumed ≤ 67% of the RDA. Conclusion: Generally, micronutrient intakes were adequate in this population. Attention should be given to those micronutrients where median intakes were ≤ 67% of the RDA and those that were not at or above the respective AI in these groups of women. Un Análisis de las Ingestas de Micronutrientes Dietéticos en dos Grupos Etáreos de Mujeres Negras de Sudáfrica RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la ingesta de micronutrientes en mujeres negras de Mangaung, Sudáfrica. Sujetos y Método: Una muestra de 500 mujeres surafricanas negras premenopáusicas (496 clasificaron para participar) de dos grupos etarios (25–34 y 35–44 años) se seleccionó aleatoriamente en Mangaung, el área residencial negra de Bloemfontein. Un cuestionario cuantitativo de frecuencia alimenticia (CCFA) validado, fue usado para determinar la ingesta dietética de las participantes. Los datos fueron clasificados en dos grupos etarios. Se comparó la mediana de las ingestas de micronutrientes con la ración dietética recomendada (RDR), y la ingesta adecuada (IA). Se calculó la prevalencia de mujeres con ingestas ≤ 67% de la RDR. Resultados: La mediana de la ingesta de vitamina D y calcio estuvo por debajo de la IA. De todas las mujeres, 46.2% a 62.2% consumieron ≤ 67% de la RDR para el total de hierro, selenio, folato y vitamina C, y más del 94% consumieron ≤ 67% de la RDR para el selenio. Por lo menos 25% de todas las mujeres consumieron ≤ 67% de la RDR para la vitamina A y E. El consumo de vitamina B6 de las mujeres de mayor edad fue inadecuado y un porcentaje bastante grande de la muestra total consumió ≤ 67% de la RDR. Conclusión: Generalmente, las ingestas de micronutrientes eran adecuadas en esta población. Debe prestarse la atención a los micronutrientes cuyas ingestas medianas fueron ≤ 67% de la RDR y aquellos que no correspondieron o estuvieron por encima del IA respectivo en estos grupos de mujeres

Examining cortical thickness in subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorder: a freesurfer analysis of a multi-site cohort

Please help populate SUNScholar with the full text of SU research output. Also - should you need this item urgently, please send us the details and we will try to get hold of the full text as quick possible. E-mail to [email protected]. Thank you.Geneeskunde en GesondheidswetenskappePsigiatri