Impact of Chikungunya Virus Infection on Health Status and Quality of Life: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND:Persistent symptoms, mainly joint and muscular pain and depression, have been reported several months after Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection. Their frequency and their impact on quality of life have not been compared with those of an unexposed population. In the present study, we aimed to describe the frequency of prolonged clinical manifestations of CHIKV infection and to measure the impact on quality of life and health care consumption in comparison with that of an unexposed population, more than one year after infection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:In a retrospective cohort study, 199 subjects who had serologically confirmed CHIKV infection (CHIK+) were compared with 199 sero-negative subjects (CHIK-) matched for age, gender and area of residence in La Réunion Island. Following an average time of 17 months from the acute phase of infection, participants were interviewed by telephone about current symptoms, medical consumption during the last 12 months and quality of life assessed by the 12-items Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) scale. At the time of study, 112 (56%) CHIK+ persons reported they were fully recovered. CHIK+ complained more frequently than CHIK- of arthralgia (relative risk = 1.9; 95% confidence interval: 1.6-2.2), myalgia (1.9; 1.5-2.3), fatigue (2.3; 1.8-3), depression (2.5; 1.5-4.1) and hair loss (3.8; 1.9-7.6). There was no significant difference between CHIK+ and CHIK- subjects regarding medical consumption in the past year. The mean (SD) score of the SF-12 Physical Component Summary was 46.4 (10.8) in CHIK+ versus 49.1 (9.3) in CHIK- (p = 0.04). There was no significant difference between the two groups for the Mental Component Summary. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:More than one year following the acute phase of infection, CHIK+ subjects reported more disabilities than those who were CHIK-. These persistent disabilities, however, have no significant influence on medical consumption, and the impact on quality of life is moderate

Persisting Mixed Cryoglobulinemia in Chikungunya Infection

Chikungunya virus is present in tropical Africa and Asia and is transmitted by mosquito bites. The disease is characterized by fever, headache, severe joint pain and transient skin rash for about a week. Most patients experience persisting joint pain and/or stiffness for months to years. In routine practice, diagnosis is based upon serology. Since 2004 there has been an ongoing giant outbreak of Chikungunya fever in East Africa, the Indian Ocean Islands, India and East Asia. In parallel, more than 1,000 travelers were diagnosed with imported Chikungunya infection in most developed countries. Considering the clinical features of our patients (joint pain), we hypothesized that cryoglobulins could be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease as observed in chronic hepatitis C infection. Cryoglobulins, which are immunoglobulins that precipitate when temperature is below 37°C, can induce rheumatic and vascular disorders. From April 2005 through May 2007, we screened all patients with possible imported Chikungunya infection for cryoglobulins. They were present in over 90% of patients, and possibly responsible for the unexpected false negativity of serological assays. Cryoglobulin frequency and levels decreased with time in recovering patients

Exploring critical organisational change phenomena as barriers, enablers and opportunities for successful digital transformation in the South African mining industry

Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2023This study explored the critical organisational change phenomena influencing the success of digital transformation in the South African mining industry amid the challenges of modernisation. Recognising the inadequacies of a narrow technology-centric approach, the research adopted an exploratory qualitative design, emphasising the interplay between organisational change phenomena and organisational elements. Findings underscored the significance of organisational digital maturity in determining digital transformation readiness, success, and scope, with identified barriers and enablers emphasising the need for a holistic integration of OCP with organisational change and organisational design elements. The study provided actionable recommendations for organisations, emphasising the leverage of digital transformation for improved decision-making and operational efficiency, mitigating resistance through comprehensive organisational change phenomena and organisational digital maturity implementation, and positioning DT as a key driver for business improvement in the South African mining sector. This study contributed valuable insights to the evolving landscape of digital transformation within organisational change, specifically tailored to the unique challenges of the South African mining industry. By highlighting the importance of a holistic and integrated approach, the study offered practical guidance for organisations aiming to enhance their DT strategies, potentially revitalising the mining industry and fostering improved business outcomes in terms of safety, production, and sustainabilitypagibs202

An evaluation of the influence of Basic Military Training on the visual skills of recruits

Most sport coaches are under the impression that if their athletes have 20/20 vision, nothing more is needed to be done in the visual arena. This is a common misconception in youth sport and professional sport. Every sport involves the visual system in one way or another, yet very few coaches or athletes spend any time training the visual system to perform optimally during competition. To perform at the highest level of competition, athletes have to be in tune with their visual motor and visual perceptual system. Participants consisted of 200 male and female recruits enrolled for Basic Military Training (BMT) at the training academy in Ellisras, South Africa. Only recruits who completed the informed consent and adhere to the inclusion exclusion criteria participated in the study. The primary purpose of this study was to see how the recruits improve their visual skills after intense training which included cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength (upper body and abdominal), muscular endurance, speed, power, agility and flexibility. The training intensity of the sessions exceeded 6 metabolic equivalents (METs). Data sampling was completed over a period of one week during weeks 1, 12 and 20. The proposed schedule for the data gathering is suggested to ensure the special requirements demanded by the different tests and to see at what rate their visual skill improve. Results in this study suggests that a Basic Military Training (BMT) programme, focusing on intense physical training, enhances hand-eye co-ordination, visual response speed, accuracy, anticipation, visual concentration and short term visual memory. The improvement of various visual skills observed in this research provides evidence that physical exercise, along with an enhanced state of physical fitness, does have a positive effect on visual proficiency.Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2013.gm2014Physiologyunrestricte

A framework to enhance budget transparency in local government

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The high expectations of the citizens of South Africa, that became prominent after the first d emocratic e lection i n S outh A frica, h ave manifested as the “Rebellion of the poor” with subsequent service delivery protests that are becoming more frequent and more violent. The efficient use of resources at all levels of government, but specifically a t l ocal g overnment l evel will a llow for better service delivery, but citizens need to be given information and allowed to make inputs prior to decisions being taken to understand the budgetary constraints and prioritise projects. The primary objectives of this study are, firstly, t he d evelopment o f a framework to enhance budget transparency in local government, with the aim of managing citizen expectation and reducing the phenomena of service delivery protests in South Africa. Secondly, framework validation within the context of local government. The achievement of the primary objectives rely on the successful achievement of secondary objectives. The first s econdary o bjective i s t o d efine and contextualise the current state of service delivery as a function of local government in South Africa. Secondly, to evaluate best practice guidelines and frameworks for budgeting methodology in local governments in the current literature discourse. Lastly, to evaluate best practice guidelines and frameworks for communicating budget expenditure to citizens in local government in the current literature discourse. A case study research approach, along with structured interviews for data collection, was followed and the knowledge gained through the validation allowed for improvement of the framework and the operationalisation of the framework. The conclusion was made that the framework does hold promise as an expectation management tool to reduce the phenomena of service delivery protests in South Africa.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoë verwagtinge van die burgers van Suid-Afrika, wat prominent geword het na die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in Suid-Afrika, het as die “Rebellion of the poor” gemanifesteer met daaropvolgende betogings teen swak dienslewering wat al hoe meer gewelddadig raak. Die doeltreffende gebruik van hulpbronne op alle vlakke van regering, maar spesifiek op plaaslike regeringsvlak, sal beter dienslewering moontlik maak. Burgers moet egter inligting gegee word en toegelaat word om insette te lewer, voordat besluite geneem word, om die begrotingsbeperkings te verstaan en projekte te kan prioritiseer. Die primêre doelwitte van hierdie studie is eerstens die ontwikkeling van ’n raamwerk om begrotingsdeursigtigheid in plaaslike regering te verbeter, met die doel om burgerverwagtinge te bestuur en die verskynsels van betogings teen swak dienslewering in Suid-Afrika te verminder. Die tweede primêre doelwitte is die validasie van die raamwerk binne die konteks van plaaslike regering. Die bereiking van die primêre doelwitte is gekoppel aan die suksesvolle bereiking van sekondêre doelwitte. Die eerste sekondêre doelwit is om die huidige stand van dienslewering as ’n funksie van plaaslike regering in Suid-Afrika te definieer e n t e k ontekstualiseer. Tweedens, o m d ie b este p raktykriglyne en raamwerke vir begrotingsmetodologie in plaaslike regerings in die huidige literatuurdiskoers te evalueer. Laastens, om die beste praktykriglyne en raamwerke om begrotingsuitgawes aan burgers in plaaslike regering te kommunikeer in die huidige literatuurdiskoers te evalueer. ’n Gevallestudie-navorsingsbenadering, saam met gestruktureerde onderhoude vir data-insameling, is gevolg en die kennis wat verkry is deur die validasie maak dit moontlik om die raamwerk en die operasionalisering van die raamwerk te verbeter. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak dat die raamwerk as ’n verwagtingsbestuursinstrument belofte toon om die verskynsel van betogings teen swak dienslewering in Suid-Afrika te verminder.Master

Analysis of Dipylidium caninum tapeworms from dogs and cats, or their respective fleas

A 28S rDNA PCR detection assay was previously developed to identify Dipylidium caninum DNA inside single fleas collected from both cats and dogs. Sequence analysis of the 28S rDNA fragment indicated two genetically distinct variations of the target region. The two genotypes, so-called “D. caninum canine genotype” and “D. caninum feline genotype”, based on host origin, are further investigated and described in this paper. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and hydrolysis probe-based genotyping assays were developed and validated for genotyping D. caninum DNA. The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the “feline genotype” was sequenced and compared to the D. caninum mt genome available in GenBank. The molecular characterization of D. caninum isolates collected from infected fleas, and also proglottids collected from dogs and cats, confirmed the existence of two distinct genotypes. These genotypes are related to host origin (dogs or cats), irrespective of their geographical origin, and they present a biological adaptation to their respective host, as confirmed by the comparison of biological development and host preference in another study. The genetic differences (Part 1, present paper) and biological observations (Part 2, in this journal) enabled us to suggest the existence of two distinct species within D. caninum, which will have to be clarified

Analysis of

A 28S rDNA PCR detection assay was previously developed to identify Dipylidium caninum DNA inside single fleas collected from both cats and dogs. Sequence analysis of the 28S rDNA fragment indicated two genetically distinct variations of the target region. The two genotypes, so-called “D. caninum canine genotype” and “D. caninum feline genotype”, based on host origin, are further investigated and described in this paper. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and hydrolysis probe-based genotyping assays were developed and validated for genotyping D. caninum DNA. The complete mitochondrial (mt) genome of the “feline genotype” was sequenced and compared to the D. caninum mt genome available in GenBank. The molecular characterization of D. caninum isolates collected from infected fleas, and also proglottids collected from dogs and cats, confirmed the existence of two distinct genotypes. These genotypes are related to host origin (dogs or cats), irrespective of their geographical origin, and they present a biological adaptation to their respective host, as confirmed by the comparison of biological development and host preference in another study. The genetic differences (Part 1, present paper) and biological observations (Part 2, in this journal) enabled us to suggest the existence of two distinct species within D. caninum, which will have to be clarified

Superconducting Terahertz Receivers for Space and Ground-based Radio Astronomy

The main task of the RFBR_BRICS project 'Superconducting terahertz receivers for space and ground radio astronomy' is the development of terahertz technologies and the creation of superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) receivers with quantum sensitivity for novel radio telescopes, including ultra-long baseline radio interferometers. This research program brings together scientific groups from four BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa), which have a high international reputation and successful experience in the development of ultrasensitive receivers. The report discusses the working plan and the first results of the project; in particular development of the SIS-receivers for Russian space program 'Millimetron

Fatal family outbreak of Bacillus cereus-associated food poisoning

Bacillus cereus is a well-known cause of food-borne illness, but infection with this organism is not commonly reported because of its usually mild symptoms. A fatal case due to liver failure after the consumption of pasta salad is described and demonstrates the possible severity of the emetic syndrome