Recombinant alpha-interferon as salvage therapy in multiple myeloma

Ten patients with end-stage multiple myeloma refractory to conventional chemotherapy and hemibody irradiation received recombinant α-interferon as salvage therapy. The median duration of treatment was 8 weeks. One patient had an objective response and survived 8 months, whereas in the remaining 9 patients the disease progressed and median survival was 11,5 weeks. Side-effects were substantial and included confusion with extreme weakness, resulting in 5 patients refusing further therapy. The low response rate and the morbidity in this pilot study resulted in its discontinuation and the conclusion that recombinant α-interferon as singleagent therapy used for salvage in patients with refractory myeloma is of no value.S Afr Med J 1989; 76: 100-10

Understanding opportunity evaluation prototypes in search of more entrepreneurs

BACKGROUND : In search of more entrepreneurs for economic development, academics and policy makers are continuously seeking ways in which the participation of potential entrepreneurs in the economy can be enhanced. PURPOSE : This study investigates whether entrepreneurial prototype factors could be identified to inform how entrepreneurs evaluate opportunities. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY : In an experimental design, participants were requested to evaluate a single start-up opportunity. They completed a questionnaire exploring their thinking of the single case. Participants included 193 nascent and novice entrepreneurs that evaluated the same opportunity. The questionnaire was administered, leading to factor and regression analyses. FINDINGS : The factor analysis identified four prototype factors for potential use in selection. Discrimination was possible between the prototype factors (cognitive frameworks) of novice (first-time) and repeat (experienced) entrepreneurs for “positive financial model”; “uniqueness of the idea”; “big markets”; and “intuition.” Significant differences for the identified factors were reported between those who decided for and against starting the venture. Regression analysis suggested further discriminatory value, with the prototype factors for the start-up decision contributing to a potential selection process by venture capitalists, as well as educators. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS : The generalisability of the findings may be limited by the use of a single case evaluation. ORIGINALITY/VALUE : Firstly, support was found for the effectiveness of the methodology in identifying the prototypes. Secondly, the study contributes by informing educators of entrepreneurs about the relevancy of cognitive frameworks that could be developed to meaningfully enhance opportunity evaluation.https://unisapressjournals.co.za/index.php/SABRam2024Business ManagementSDG-08:Decent work and economic growt

Community health workers can improve child growth of antenatally-depressed, South African mothers : a cluster randomized controlled trial

CITATION: Tomlinson, M., et al. 2015. Community health workers can improve child growth of antenatally-depressed, South African mothers : a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry, 15:225, doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0606-7.The original publication is available at https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.comBackground: Maternal antenatal depression has long-term consequences for children’s health. We examined if home visits by community health workers (CHW) can improve growth outcomes for children of mothers who are antenatally depressed. Methods: A cluster randomized controlled trial of all pregnant, neighbourhood women in Cape Town, South Africa. Almost all pregnant women (98 %, N = 1238) were recruited and assessed during pregnancy, two weeks post-birth (92 %) and 6 months post-birth (88 %). Pregnant women were randomized to either: 1) Standard Care (SC), which provided routine antenatal care; or 2) an intervention, The Philani Intervention Program (PIP), which included SC and home visits by CHW trained as generalists (M = 11 visits). Child standardized weight, length, and weight by length over 6 months based on maternal antenatal depression and intervention condition. Results: Depressed mood was similar across the PIP and SC conditions both antenatally (16.5 % rate) and at 6 months (16.7 %). The infants of depressed pregnant women in the PIP group were similar in height (height-forage Z scores) to the children of non-depressed mothers in both the PIP and the SC conditions, but significantly taller at 6 months of age than the infants of pregnant depressed mothers in the SC condition. The intervention did not moderate children’s growth. Depressed SC mothers tended to have infants less than two standard deviations in height on the World Health Organization’s norms at two weeks post-birth compared to infants of depressed PIP mothers and non-depressed mothers in both conditions. Conclusions: A generalist, CHW-delivered home visiting program improved infant growth, even when mothers’ depression was not reduced. Focusing on maternal caretaking of infants, even when mothers are depressed, is critical in future interventions.https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-015-0606-7Publisher's versio

A randomized controlled trial of home visits by neighborhood mentor mothers to improve children's nutrition in South Africa

Malnourished children and babies with birth weights under 2500 g are at high risk for negative outcomes over their lifespans. Philani, a paraprofessional home visiting program, was developed to improve nutritional outcomes for young children in South Africa. One “mentor mother” was recruited from each of 37 neighborhoods in Cape Town, South Africa. Mentor mothers were trained to conduct home visits to weigh children under six years old and to support mothers to problem-solve life challenges, especially around nutrition. Households with underweight children were assigned randomly on a 2:1 ratio to the Philani program (n = 500) or to a standard care condition (n = 179); selection effects occurred and children in the intervention households weighed less at recruitment. Children were evaluated over a one-year period (n = 679 at recruitment and n = 638 with at least one follow-up; 94%). Longitudinal random effects models indicated that, over 12 months, the children in the intervention condition gained significantly more weight than children in the control condition. Mentor mothers who are positive peer deviants may be a viable strategy that is efficacious and can build community, and the use of mentor mothers for other problems in South Africa is discussed

Critical management studies in South Africa

This book shows how Critical Management Studies (CMS) scholarship is starting to develop a character of its own in South Africa. It attests to CMS slowly gaining momentum and acquiring an identity of its own amongst South African scholars. However, management studies in South Africa is dominated by capitalist ideology and positivist methodology. Although Interpretive scholarship has gained some momentum, it still falls within the parameters of ‘mainstream’, capitalist thinking. Scholarship outside the domain of capitalist thinking, such as critical scholarship, remains sorely underexplored. Being entrenched in the positivist tradition is arguably a major Achilles’ Heel for the progression of management as a field of inquiry. CMS presents a vehicle for alternative epistemologies to be heard in the management discourse. With its focus on power imbalances, struggles for emancipation from oppression, and distrust of capitalism, CMS provides the peripheral point of view with a voice. CMS presents a space where scholars can engage with South African realities surrounding political, cultural, social, and historic contexts and issues in management. This book is promoting CMS to the scholarly community, to show that there are exciting possibilities being offered by a different approach to management scholarship. This book also forms part of a larger project of growing CMS in South Africa, and is a collection of original works by academics actively working in CMS, following various methodological approaches which can be categorised into two broad methodological categories, namely, conceptual work and empirical work following an Interpretive approach

Supporting families managing childhood eczema:Developing and optimising Eczema Care Online using qualitative research

Background: childhood eczema is often poorly controlled due to under-use of emollients and topical corticosteroids. Parents/carers report practical and psychosocial barriers to managing their child’s eczema, including child resistance. Online interventions could potentially support parents/carers; however, rigorous research developing such interventions has been limited. Aim: to develop an online behavioural intervention to help parents/carers manage and co-manage their child’s eczema. Design and setting: Intervention development using a theory-, evidence- and Person-Based Approach with qualitative research. Methods: a systematic review and qualitative synthesis (32 studies) and interviews with parents/carers (N=30) were used to identify barriers and facilitators to effective eczema management, and a prototype intervention was developed. Think-aloud interviews with parents/carers (N=25) were then used to optimise the intervention to increase its acceptability and feasibility. Results: qualitative research identified that parents/carers had concerns about using emollients and topical corticosteroids; incomplete knowledge and skills around managing eczema; and reluctance to transitioning to co-managing eczema with their child. Think-aloud interviews highlighted that while experienced parents/carers felt they knew how to manage eczema, some information about how to use treatments was still new. Techniques for addressing barriers included: providing a rationale explaining how emollients and topical corticosteroids work; demonstrating how to use treatments; and highlighting that the intervention provided new, up-to-date information. Conclusions: parents/carers need support in effectively managing and co-managing their child’s eczema. The key output of this research is Eczema Care Online (ECO) for Families; an online intervention for parents/carers of children with eczema, which is being evaluated in a randomised trial

Critical management studies in South Africa

This book shows how Critical Management Studies (CMS) scholarship is starting to develop a character of its own in South Africa. It attests to CMS slowly gaining momentum and acquiring an identity of its own amongst South African scholars. However, management studies in South Africa is dominated by capitalist ideology and positivist methodology. Although Interpretive scholarship has gained some momentum, it still falls within the parameters of ‘mainstream’, capitalist thinking. Scholarship outside the domain of capitalist thinking, such as critical scholarship, remains sorely underexplored. Being entrenched in the positivist tradition is arguably a major Achilles’ Heel for the progression of management as a field of inquiry. CMS presents a vehicle for alternative epistemologies to be heard in the management discourse. With its focus on power imbalances, struggles for emancipation from oppression, and distrust of capitalism, CMS provides the peripheral point of view with a voice. CMS presents a space where scholars can engage with South African realities surrounding political, cultural, social, and historic contexts and issues in management. This book is promoting CMS to the scholarly community, to show that there are exciting possibilities being offered by a different approach to management scholarship. This book also forms part of a larger project of growing CMS in South Africa, and is a collection of original works by academics actively working in CMS, following various methodological approaches which can be categorised into two broad methodological categories, namely, conceptual work and empirical work following an Interpretive approach