'n Analitiese ondersoek van sewe van Sergei Rachmaninof se Preludes, opp. 23 en 32

Bibliography: leaves 68-70.Ten spyte van toenemende belangstelling in die solo-klavierwerke van Sergei Rachmaninof, is daar nog steeds beperkte studies vir die bestudering daarvan beskikbaar. Die doel van hierdie studie is die ontleding van 'n aantal aspekte wat 'n invloed op die bestudering en uitvoering van sewe van Rachmaninof se Preludes,.Opp. 23 en 32, het. In die studie word die historiese gebeure rondom sy lewe bespreek, wat dien as agtergrond tot die komposissie van Rachmaninof se Preludes. Die bespreking oor die klawerbordprelude verwys na die onstaan van klawerbordpreludes, die preludes uit Das Wohltemperierte Clavier van J. S. Bach, en volg dan die ontwikkeling van diengenre met die Preludes van Chopin en Rachmaninof. Sodoende word Rachmaninof se Preludes binne perspektief tot die ontwikkeling van die genre geplaas. In die laaste hoofstuk word 'n styl-tegniese ontleding van die sewe preludes van Rachmaninof gedoen, met verwysing na musikale inhoud en uitvoeringsprobleme. Ten slotte word gevolgtrekkings ten opsigte van die bespreekte werk gemaak

National HIV surveillance - South Africa, 1990 - 1992

The findings of three annual surveys of women attending antenatal clinics (at the end of 1990,1991 and 1992) are presented here. These surveys form part of the National HIV Surveillance Programme. This programme is probably the most usefulmeans of monitoring the trend and distribution of the epidemic. In all strata, a consistent rise in the HIV prevalence rate was found; it doubled almost every 12 months. The point prevalence rate in antenatal clinic attenders in South Africa increased from 0,76% in 1990 to 1,49% in 1991 and 1,49% in 1992. The prevalence rate was found to vary widely geographically: Natal/KwaZulu formed the spearhead of the epidemic with a 4,77% rate of HIV infection in 1992. Venda and the Capeappeared to be the least affected with rates of 0,64% and 0,66% respectively

3D image of Inoue balloon inflation during mitral valvuloplasty

Mitral balloon valvuloplasty is an important intervention in the armory of the cardiologist, offering a safe and effective percutaneous option in the treatment of patients with mitral stenosis

Mind the gap: Patterns of red blood cell product usage in South Africa, 2014 - 2019

Background. A key component of any successful healthcare system is the availability of sufficient, safe blood products delivered in an equitable manner. South Africa (SA) has a two-tiered healthcare system with public and privately funded sectors. Blood utilisation data for both sectors are lacking. Evaluation of blood utilisation patterns in each healthcare sector will enable implementation of systems to bring about more equality.Objectives. To conduct a critical evaluation of red blood cell (RBC) product utilisation patterns at the South African National Blood Service (SANBS).Methods. Operationally collected data from RBC requests submitted to SANBS blood banks for the period 1 January 2014 - 31 March 2019 were used to determine temporal RBC product utilisation patterns by healthcare sector. Demographic patterns were determined, and per capita RBC utilisation trends calculated.Results. Of the 2 356 441 transfusion events, 65.9% occurred in the public and 34.1% in the private sector. Public sector patients were younger (median (interquartile range (IQR)) 33 (22 - 49) years) than in the private sector (median (IQR) 54 (37 - 68) years), and mainly female in both sectors (66.2% in the public sector and 53.4% in the private sector). Between 2014 and 2018, per capita RBC utilisation decreased from 11.9 to 11.0/1 000 population in the public sector, but increased from 34.8 to 38.2/1 000 population in the private sector.Conclusions. We confirmed distinctly different RBC utilisation patterns between the healthcare sectors in SA. Possible drivers for these differences may be healthcare access, differing patient populations and prescriber habits. Better understanding of these drivers may help inform equitable public health policy

A multicentre cross-sectional descriptive study evaluating the cardiovascular risk profile of preoperatively identified patients with hypertension

Background. The prevalence of hypertension in adults in South Africa (SA) is 35%. Hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in sub-Saharan Africa. However, 49% of people are unaware of their blood pressure status. Screening for hypertension prior to surgery provides a unique opportunity to diagnose and treat affected individuals. Furthermore, assessing overall CV risk identifies patients at highest risk for complications, and improves the utilisation of scarce resources. Objectives. To evaluate the CV risk profile of hypertensive patients in the adult population of the Western Cape Province presenting for elective non-cardiac, non-obstetric surgery. Methods. This report documents the CV risk profile of patients recruited to the HASS-2 study (Hypertension and Surgery Study 2), which was undertaken in seven Western Cape hospitals. Patients were screened for hypertension and pharmacological treatment was initiated or adjusted in patients with stages 1 and 2 disease. Stage 3 patients were referred to a physician. In the present substudy, patients with stages 1 and 2 hypertension were assessed for associated CV risk factors, the presence of target organ damage, and documented CV or kidney disease; they received an overall risk stratification according to the 2018 European Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Hypertension Guidelines. Results. Sixty-one patients with stage 1 and 12 with stage 2 hypertension were analysed. Established CV disease was present in 13.7% of the study population, and CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min) in 10.8%. Seventy-one percent of the study group had a raised body mass index, and 55.9% underlying metabolic syndrome. Prediabetes and diabetes were present in 16.1% and 14.5%, respectively. According to the 2018 European guidelines, 34.7% were at moderate, 33.3% at high and 16.7% at very high risk for a CV event in the following 10 years.Conclusions. The perioperative period is a critical time during which surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists can influence patients’ CV risk of adverse events. This involves appropriate screening, education and treatment. In this study population, nearly 9 out of 10 elective surgical patients with stage 1 or 2 hypertension had CV risk factors placing them at moderate to very high risk. The simultaneous assessment of these additional CV risk parameters, in addition to diagnosis and management of hypertension, may further decrease the health and financial burden in resource-limited facilities in SA, and improve CV outcomes.