A profile of social isolation and the influence of demographics in older persons living in residential care, Durban, South Africa

Introduction: Residential care settings have shown high social isolation rates with incumbent risks necessitating measurement to formulate health promotion policies. Objective: To measure social isolation levels in older persons living in a lower socio-economic residential care setting in South Africa. Method: A cross sectional survey with older persons from four inner city residential care facilities. A researcher administered questionnaire was developed based on the Working Paper No.66, Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative. Data were analysed to describe social isolation and assess the influence of demographics. Results: The response rate was 72.14% (n = 277) and representative of the residential care population for age and gender. Nearly half of the respondents (47.3%) met criteria for social isolation in terms of social network support and density and almost 20% for perceived isolation through decreased levels of friendship. Conclusion: Although residential care does not prevent social isolation, the residents in the setting may provide a buffering in the provision of some social suppor

Characterization of seed coat post harvest darkening and condensed tannin accumulation during seed coat development in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Seed coat biochemistry and colour are highly variable in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) (syn. dry bean). Genetic studies of dry bean seed coat chemistry and colour have important implications in breeding efforts for improving nutrition and seed quality for consumer acceptance. The results of this thesis detail the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of seed coat post harvest darkening (PHD) in parents and progeny of crosses among them as well as the phenotypic characterization of seed coat condensed tannin (CT) accumulation in five genotypes of bean. Seed coat PHD represents a problem for producers and consumers of several different market classes of dry bean. There are three post harvest darkening phenotypes: (i) non-darkening (ND), (ii) slow darkening (SD) and (iii) regular darkening (RD). The inheritance of PHD was determined by evaluating 28 populations derived from crosses between RD, SD and ND genotypes. Results suggest that at least two major, unlinked genes control the PHD trait in dry bean. Recessive epistasis with three phenotypic classes best explains the segregation ratios observed in populations from crosses between SD and ND parents. One gene, J, is responsible for whether a bean will darken and seeds of plants that are jj do not darken at all. Another gene, SD, influences the rate a seed coat will darken with seed from sdsd individuals darkening more slowly that those with the dominant SD allele. Quantitative evaluation of seed coat PHD demonstrated that there was a wide range of darkening within any given PHD phenotype. Crosses made between the ND x ND cross class resulted in F2 progeny that were all ND, however, a wide range of seed coat background colours was noted in the progeny. In several of the crosses made between ND x RD and SD x RD classes the resulting F1 progeny were all RD; however, a wide range of RD phenotypes were observed in the F2 progeny. These phenotypes are not likely due to quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with the PHD trait, but rather a result of other chemical reactions occurring in the seed coat. Condensed tannins (CT; syn. proanthocyanidins), kaempferols, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and possibly other compounds or enzymes may be interacting and causing this quantitative range within any given genotype as a function of environmental variability, genotype and their interaction. CT have been associated with PHD but are not responsible for the major difference between RD and SD lines. They may, however be responsible for the quantitative nature of the phenotype. Condensed tannins can be harmful or beneficial to human health and the environment depending on the amount present and where it is found in the plant. Manipulating the production, accumulation and form of CT in the seed coat of dry bean would be beneficial to bean producers, consumers and breeders. This experiment quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated differences in patterns of CT accumulation in the seed coats of five genotypes of dry bean which exhibited low, medium or high concentrations of CT in their seed coats at maturity. Condensed tannin content was assessed from seeds harvested every other day from 6 – 40 days after flowering (DAF) using a modified BuOH-HCl assay. Results illustrated that CT accumulated as early in low CT genotypes as in high CT genotypes. CT content stabilized after 14 DAF in low CT genotypes. By contrast, CT content peaked then leveled off 30 DAF in moderate and high CT genotypes. A reduction in CT content in the higher CT lines was observed in the final stages of seed development

Gender Differences in HIV-Related Neurological Progression in a Cohort of Injecting Drug Users Followed for 3.5 Years

We evaluated potential gender differences in the development of HIV related neurologic impairment, by matching 38 pairs of HIV positive male and female injecting drug users on their baseline age, education, disease stage and CD4 counts, and following them for 3.5 years. Adjusting for age, education, drug use, history of head injury and baseline CD4 count, more women had sensory abnormalities and symptoms than men at baseline, but the odds of having neurological impairment, particularly extrapyramidal signs and sensory abnormalities were increased over time in men but not in women. Men with ARC or AIDS had more neurological impairment than women in similar stages of illness. This study suggests further investigations of gender differences in HIV disease progression

The meaning and validation of social support networks for close family of persons with advanced cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To strengthen the mental well-being of close family of persons newly diagnosed as having cancer, it is necessary to acquire a greater understanding of their experiences of social support networks, so as to better assess what resources are available to them from such networks and what professional measures are required. The main aim of the present study was to explore the meaning of these networks for close family of adult persons in the early stage of treatment for advanced lung or gastrointestinal cancer. An additional aim was to validate the study’s empirical findings by means of the Finfgeld-Connett conceptual model for social support. The intention was to investigate whether these findings were in accordance with previous research in nursing.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seventeen family members with a relative who 8–14 weeks earlier had been diagnosed as having lung or gastrointestinal cancer were interviewed. The data were subjected to qualitative latent content analysis and validated by means of identifying antecedents and critical attributes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The meaning or main attribute of the social support network was expressed by the theme <it>Confirmation through togetherness</it>, based on six subthemes covering emotional and, to a lesser extent, instrumental support. Confirmation through togetherness derived principally from information, understanding, encouragement, involvement and spiritual community. Three subthemes were identified as the antecedents to social support: Need of support, Desire for a deeper relationship with relatives, Network to turn to. Social support involves reciprocal exchange of verbal and non-verbal information provided mainly by lay persons.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study provides knowledge of the antecedents and attributes of social support networks, particularly from the perspective of close family of adult persons with advanced lung or gastrointestinal cancer. There is a need for measurement instruments that could encourage nurses and other health-care professionals to focus on family members’ personal networks as a way to strengthen their mental health. There is also a need for further clarification of the meaning of social support versus caring during the whole illness trajectory of cancer from the family members’ perspective.</p