3,062 research outputs found
Acute viral bronchiolitis: Dawn of a new era for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection through vaccination
Many cases of bronchiolitis are caused by the respiratory syncytial
virus (RSV), which was first identified in 1956 as causing illness in
humans. Despite ongoing efforts since the 1960s to develop an RSV
vaccine, it has remained elusive. The RSV vaccine research agenda
experienced a major setback after the increased susceptibility to
severe RSV disease and death in children who received the first
formalin-inactivated vaccine in the 1960s. Only in the mid-1980s
was the search for an RSV vaccine re-ignited. Alternative approaches
to developing this vaccine included attempts at attenuation of RSV,
which generally resulted in vaccine candidates that were either too
reactogenic or too attenuated. Furthermore, the targeted approach
of using the conserved fusion protein (F-protein), although showing
some promise in older persons with underlying medical conditions,
was not developed into a potential candidate for young children, for
whom the need is greatest.http://www.samj.org.zaam2016Paediatrics and Child Healt
Atopic dermatitis
The articles in this issue of CME reflect the views of a number of individuals who developed the guideline for the management of atopic dermatitis (AD) to improve the outcome of its treatment in South Africa (SA). AD has a major impact on the quality of life of sufferers and it is hoped that the articles and the guidelines they embody, if implemented, play a role in achieving these outcomes. Not only is AD the most common skin disease in children, but it causes tremendous morbidity. Engaging with many of these suffering children and their parents daily, is emotionally draining and energy sapping. No other skin condition places such demands on resources, time and the human spirit.http://www.samj.org.zaam201
Acute viral bronchiolitis: Dawn of a new era for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection through vaccination
Many cases of bronchiolitis are caused by the respiratory syncytialvirus (RSV), which was first identified in 1956 as causing illness inhumans. Despite ongoing efforts since the 1960s to develop an RSVvaccine, it has remained elusive. The RSV vaccine research agendaexperienced a major setback after the increased susceptibility tosevere RSV disease and death in children who received the firstformalin-inactivated vaccine in the 1960s. Only in the mid-1980swas the search for an RSV vaccine re-ignited. Alternative approachesto developing this vaccine included attempts at attenuation of RSV,which generally resulted in vaccine candidates that were either tooreactogenic or too attenuated. Furthermore, the targeted approachof using the conserved fusion protein (F-protein), although showingsome promise in older persons with underlying medical conditions,was not developed into a potential candidate for young children, forwhom the need is greatest
Ultra- and Hyper-compact HII regions at 20 GHz
We present radio and infrared observations of 4 hyper-compact HII regions and
4 ultra-compact HII regions in the southern Galactic plane. These objects were
selected from a blind survey for UCHII regions using data from two new radio
surveys of the southern sky; the Australia Telescope 20 GHz survey (AT20G) and
the 2nd epoch Molonglo Galactic Plane Survey (MGPS-2) at 843 MHz. To our
knowledge, this is the first blind radio survey for hyper- and ultra-compact
HII regions.
We have followed up these sources with the Australia Telescope Compact Array
to obtain H70-alpha recombination line measurements, higher resolution images
at 20 GHz and flux density measurements at 30, 40 and 95 GHz. From this we have
determined sizes and recombination line temperatures as well as modeling the
spectral energy distributions to determine emission measures. We have
classified the sources as hyper-compact or ultra-compact on the basis of their
physical parameters, in comparison with benchmark parameters from the
literature.
Several of these bright, compact sources are potential calibrators for the
Low Frequency Instrument (30-70 GHz) and the 100-GHz channel of the High
Frequency Instrument of the Planck satellite mission. They may also be useful
as calibrators for the Australia Telescope Compact Array, which lacks good
non-variable primary flux calibrators at higher frequencies and in the Galactic
plane region. Our spectral energy distributions allow the flux densities within
the Planck bands to be determined, although our high frequency observations
show that several sources have excess emission at 95 GHz (3 mm) that can not be
explained by current models.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
The occupational illnesses of grandparents
While visiting our kids and grandson last year, I had a recurring thought: being a grandparent is not for 'sissies'. My wife and I thought about how grandparenting challenged our health; each day saw some insult to body homeostasis and we were grateful each night for another day survived. Don't get me wrong, we wouldn't trade days with our little man for all the gold in China or the USA, but I came to think that grandparents are special people, not for giving love or gifts, but for putting our bodies on the line. Occupational illness is a given - the Compensation Commissioner needs to take note.http://www.samj.org.z
The interaction between respiratory allergies and infection
The link between allergy and infection, or the microbial world, is receiving world-wide attention. Infectious organisms
may play a role in allergy prevention, but some organisms have been linked to the causation of atopic disease.
Many (sometimes the same) organisms may exacerbate atopic disease, including diseases of the respiratory tract.http://reference.sabinet.co.za/sa_epublication/cacihb201
Pediatric asthma in Southern Africa
Pediatric asthma has been well researched and actively managed in Southern Africa for many years. From the
earliest study of asthma prevalence in 1979 revealing a significant rural – urban asthma gradient to more recent studies
suggesting that asthma now abounds in all population and socio-economic groups, Southern Africa has been the subject of
a significant number of publications relating to asthma prevalence, etiologies or associations and treatment guidelines.
Asthma is now present in 20% of school-children across Southern Africa, but may not have the same etiological factors
commonly seen in the West. Southern Africa has areas with a high asthma prevalence, areas with amongst the highest
mortality in the world and similar problems to first-world countries with regard to morbidity and cost of disease. Guidelines
for asthma management published from South Africa highlight the importance of aiming for complete asthma control
and avoiding morbidity, exacerbations and mortality.http://www.benthamscience.com/open/toallj
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