Association between lean body mass and muscle thickness with frailty in community dwelling dutch older adults

Rationale: Lean body mass, including muscle, is known to decrease with age, which may contribute to loss of physical function, an indicator of frailty. Moreover, low muscle thickness is considered an indicator of frailty in critically ill patients. However, little is known about the relationship between muscle thickness and frailty in community dwelling adults. Therefore, we studied the association between frailty and whole body lean body mass index (LBMi) and muscle thickness of the rectus femoris (RF) in community dwelling older adults. Methods: In older adults aged ≥55y, who participated in the Hanze Health and Ageing Study, frailty status was assessed with a multidimensional instrument, measuring frailty on a cognitive, psychosocial en physical level, i.e., the Groningen Frailty Indicator (GFI), using ≥4 as cut-off score for frailty. LBMi (kg/m2) was estimated with BIA (Quadscan 4000©, Bodystat), using the build-in equation. Muscle thickness (mm) of the RF was measured with ultrasound, using the Bodymetrix© (Intelametrix). Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed for LBMi and for RF thickness. Multivariate analysis corrected for age, sex, body mass index (kg/m2), and handgrip strength (handgrip dynamometer; kg). A p-level of <0.05 was considered significant and Odds Ratios (OR; [95% CI]) were presented. Results: 93 participants (age 65.2±7.7 years; male 46 %; LBMi 17.2±2.6 kg/m2; RF 14.6±4.4 mm; median GFI =1 (interquartile range=0-3; frail: n=18) were included in the analysis. In both the univariate and multivariate analysis, LBMi (p=0.082, OR=0.82 [0.66-1.03]; p=0.077, OR=0.55 [0.28-1.07] respectively) and muscle thickness of RF (p=0.436, OR=0.95 [0.84-1.08]; p=0.796, OR= 1.02 [0.88-1.18] respectively) were not significantly associated with frailty. None of the co-variables were significantly associated with frailty either. Conclusion: In this sample of older adults aged ≥55 years, LBMi and RF thickness are not associated with frailty. However, frail participants scored at cut-off or just above, and measurements in a population with higher scores for frailty may provide further insight in the association between lean body mass and muscle thickness and frailty

Die dekonstruksie van tradisionele probleem-realiteite in 'n plattelandse gemeenskap : 'n narratief-pastorale perspektief (Afrikaans)

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this documentThesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.Practical Theologyunrestricte

The effect of increased propolis production on the productivity of a honeybee farming system

This study was conducted to investigate a method for stimulating increased propolis production in Cape honeybee hives. The study took place near George situated in the Southern Cape region of South Africa. Standard Langstroth hives were used (n = 12) containing honeybee colonies of equal strength from the species Apis mellifera capensis. Propolis production in colonies equipped with commercial propolis traps (n = 6) was compared to propolis production in control colonies (n = 6). The strength of the colonies was determined by calculating the area of worker brood cells and the number of frames containing bees. For a ninemonth period propolis production, honey production, brood area, resin percentage, frames containing bees and income generated were measured on a monthly basis with the removal of the traps. There were no significant difference (p > 0.5) in honey production (24.66 ± 1.19 kg and 26.53 ± 1.31 kg), worker brood area (1967.3 ± 258.61 cm2 and 1085.4 ± 312.99 cm2) and frames containing bees (10 ± 1.13 frames and 9.8 ± 1.2 frames) between the hives with traps and hives without traps. However, propolis production was significantly influenced (p < 0.01) by the propolis traps, with the hives containing traps producing 361.87 ± 8.78g propolis compared to 38.2 ± 2.17g propolis in the control group. Propolis production in both control (28 g) and treatment groups (260.2 g) was significantly influenced by honey flow (p = 0.027). From December to March the production of honey was 22.12 (control) and 24.25 kg (treatment). A positive correlation was also found between frames containing bees and worker brood area (R = 0.73). Hives containing propolis traps were more profitable than the control group when honey and propolis income were pooled (467.17 ± 19.47 Rand vs. 353.8 ± 17.03 Rand). Therefore, the increased propolis production significantly improved profitability of the hive without affecting overall hive productivity

Aspects of growth empirics in South Africa

Economic growth is the single most important factor in the economic success of nations. Growth can be robust in trying circumstances over the short term, but usually requires the basic tenets of peace, safety and security, the rule of law, price and exchange rate stability and a market friendly ambience to be sustainable over decades. Achieving this is a formidable task, but does not guarantee success, because other factors, such as pessimism or uncertainty in the business community, rumours and corruption, can impede progress. Government policy plays a vital role in economic growth, but measures of it are scarce and problematic. Similarly, economic data focus on outcomes, rather than on causes, for example, numbers employed rather than labour market policies. Growth analysts generally use indirect measures to analyse growth causes and effects. There are more of these, but many are also volatile over the long term. Economists devised empirical tools to compensate for these obstacles, and such tools were used in this study to investigate South Africa’s growth record, in order to determine what worked and what did not. This study shows that measures of openness of the economy to trade are indicative of growth. A robust and export-oriented manufacturing sector contributes to growth and perpetuates itself. This implies that barriers to trade, such as tariffs and quotas must be minimised and manufactured exports promoted, rather than primary products such as iron ore and coal. Nonproductive government spending reduces the growth rate and should be minimised, and the largest expenditures should be on safety and security (because crime incidence reduces growth), housing for the poor, and education, while most other services such as electricity, transport and communication should be privatised. While investment is important, its link to growth is bi-directional. However, productivity is a significant contributor to growth. Unused capacity of human resources and machines is productivity’s main detractor. Policies to enhance rival competition in the private sector, with full utilisation of capacity, increase productivity growth and can have sizeable spin-offs for economic growth and living standards.Thesis (DCom(Economics))--University of Pretoria, 2005.Economicsunrestricte

An exploratory study of translations of the Dewey Decimal Classification system into South African languages

This research investigated the feasibility of South African translations of Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). The study provides an introductory overview of DDC throughout the world, followed by its use in South Africa. The introduction highlights shortcomings and possible solutions – of which translations seem to be the most ideal. This research involved a critical analysis of the literature on DDC translations, a documentary analysis and technology-based research in the form of Google translations and evaluation of parts of Abridged Edition 15 of DDC. The critical analysis of the literature and the documentary analysis identified problems relating to translations, how translations deal with shortcomings in DDC, the fact that no literature exists on multilingual translations, and the process of translations (including the fact that this is an expensive endeavour). It also revealed information about sponsorship and the mixed translation model. The technology-based research, using Google Translate for translations of parts of Abridged Edition 15 and the subsequent evaluation of these translations indicated that Google translations were comprehensive and needed minimum editorial effort. Further to this it paved the way for describing a possible workflow for South African translations and indicated that the parts already translated as well as further Google translations can expedite the translation process. A model for South African translations, based on only the cost of the Pansoft translation software was proposed. The mixed model approach, where some languages are used as main languages (schedules, Relative Index terms and the like) and others for Relative Index terms only, was deemed the most appropriate in the South African context. This led to the conclusion that DDC translations into ten of the official South African languages are indeed feasible. The research supports translations that keep the integrity of DDC intact, with possible expansions based on literary arrant. It is important, though, to get the support of the South African library community and authoritative bodies such as the National Library of South Africa and/or the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) to negotiate and sign a contract for these translations.Information ScienceD. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science

Pandemic Influenza and Healthcare Demand in the Netherlands: Scenario Analysis

In accordance with World Health Organization guidelines, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports designed a national plan to minimize effects of pandemic influenza. Within the scope of the Dutch pandemic preparedness plan, we were asked to estimate the magnitude of the problem in terms of the number of hospitalizations and deaths during an influenza pandemic. Using scenario analysis, we also examined the potential effects of intervention options. We describe and compare the scenarios developed to understand the potential impact of a pandemic (i.e., illness, hospitalizations, deaths), various interventions, and critical model parameters. Scenario analysis is a helpful tool for making policy decisions about the design and planning of outbreak control management on a national, regional, or local level

Performance of acute respiratory distress syndrome definitions in a high acuity paediatric intensive care unit

BACKGROUND: For years, paediatric critical care practitioners used the adult American European Consensus Conference (AECC) and revised Berlin Definition (BD) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to study the epidemiology of paediatric ARDS (PARDS). In 2015, the paediatric specific definition, Paediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference (PALICC) was developed. The use of non-invasive metrics of oxygenation to stratify disease severity were introduced in this definition, although this potentially may lead to a confounding effect of disease severity since it is more common to place indwelling arterial lines in sicker patients. We tested the hypothesis that PALICC outperforms AECC/BD in our high acuity PICU, which employs a liberal use of indwelling arterial lines and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV). METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from children < 18 years mechanically ventilated for at least 24 h in our tertiary care, university-affiliated paediatric intensive care unit. The primary endpoint was the difference in the number of PARDS cases between AECC/BD and PALICC. Secondary endpoints included mortality and ventilator free days. Performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC-ROC). RESULTS: Data from 909 out of 2433 patients was eligible for analysis. AECC/BD identified 35 (1.4%) patients (mortality 25.7%), whereas PALICC identified 135 (5.5%) patients (mortality 14.1%). All but two patients meeting AECC/Berlin criteria were also identified by PALICC. Almost half of the cohort (45.2%) had mild, 33.3% moderate and 21.5% severe PALICC PARDS at onset. Highest mortality rates were seen in patients with AECC acute lung injury (ALI)/mild Berlin and severe PALICC PARDS. The AUC-ROC for Berlin was the highest 24 h (0.392 [0.124–0.659]) after onset. PALICC showed the highest AUC-ROC at the same moment however higher than Berlin (0.531 [0.345–0.716]). Mortality rates were significantly increased in patients with bilateral consolidations (9.3% unilateral vs 26.3% bilateral, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: PALICC identified more new cases PARDS than the AECC/Berlin definition. However, both PALICC and Berlin performed poorly in terms of mortality risk stratification. The presence of bilateral consolidations was associated with a higher mortality rate. Our findings may be considered in future modifications of the PALICC criteria. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12931-021-01848-z