17 research outputs found
Otolaryngological and head and neck manifestations in HIV-infected patients seen at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa
Background. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of HIV infection. According to recent census statistics, 5.6 million people in South Africa (SA) are HIV-positive, the highest number of infected individuals worldwide. Over 80% of HIV-infected individuals will present with ear, nose and throat (ENT) manifestations. Previous studies show that oral diseases seem to be the most common ENT-related manifestation, reported in about 40 - 50% of HIV-infected patients. In SA, there is lack of local information regarding the otolaryngological and head and neck manifestations in HIV-infected individuals.Objective. To ascertain our local trends of ENT and head and neck manifestations in HIV-infected patients seen at our specialised ENT-HIV Clinic, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, SA.Methods. A 1-year prospective study involving 153 HIV-infected patients was conducted in the clinic from January to December 2011. Patient history was taken and examinations were performed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) HIV/AIDS classification system. Data analysis was performed using Epi Info 7 software.Results. The most common manifestations were adenoid hypertrophy/hyperplasia followed by cervical lymphadenopathy, chronic suppurative otitis media, otitis media with effusion and sensory-neural hearing loss.Conclusion. Patients typically presented with early manifestations during symptomatic WHO stages I and II in contrast to results reported in similar developing world studies from Iran, Nigeria and India. A possible explanation may lie in the SA government HIV Counselling and Testing campaign and the antiretroviral rollout programme, the effectiveness of which is becoming evident
Otolaryngological and head and neck manifestations in HIV-infected patients seen at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa
BACKGROUND. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest incidence of HIV infection. According to recent census statistics, 5.6 million people in
South Africa (SA) are HIV-positive, the highest number of infected individuals worldwide. Over 80% of HIV-infected individuals will
present with ear, nose and throat (ENT) manifestations. Previous studies show that oral diseases seem to be the most common ENT-related
manifestation, reported in about 40 - 50% of HIV-infected patients. In SA, there is lack of local information regarding the otolaryngological
and head and neck manifestations in HIV-infected individuals.
OBJECTIVE. To ascertain our local trends of ENT and head and neck manifestations in HIV-infected patients seen at our specialised ENT-HIV
Clinic, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, Gauteng Province, SA.
METHODS. A 1-year prospective study involving 153 HIV-infected patients was conducted in the clinic from January to December 2011.
Patient history was taken and examinations were performed based on the World Health Organization (WHO) HIV/AIDS classification
system. Data analysis was performed using Epi Info 7 software.
RESULTS. The most common manifestations were adenoid hypertrophy/hyperplasia followed by cervical lymphadenopathy, chronic
suppurative otitis media, otitis media with effusion and sensory-neural hearing loss.
CONCLUSION. Patients typically presented with early manifestations during symptomatic WHO stages I and II in contrast to results reported
in similar developing world studies from Iran, Nigeria and India. A possible explanation may lie in the SA government HIV Counselling
and Testing campaign and the antiretroviral rollout programme, the effectiveness of which is becoming evident.http://www.samj.org.zaam201
Revival of the magnetar PSR J1622-4950: observations with MeerKAT, Parkes, XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR
New radio (MeerKAT and Parkes) and X-ray (XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and
NuSTAR) observations of PSR J1622-4950 indicate that the magnetar, in a
quiescent state since at least early 2015, reactivated between 2017 March 19
and April 5. The radio flux density, while variable, is approximately 100x
larger than during its dormant state. The X-ray flux one month after
reactivation was at least 800x larger than during quiescence, and has been
decaying exponentially on a 111+/-19 day timescale. This high-flux state,
together with a radio-derived rotational ephemeris, enabled for the first time
the detection of X-ray pulsations for this magnetar. At 5%, the 0.3-6 keV
pulsed fraction is comparable to the smallest observed for magnetars. The
overall pulsar geometry inferred from polarized radio emission appears to be
broadly consistent with that determined 6-8 years earlier. However, rotating
vector model fits suggest that we are now seeing radio emission from a
different location in the magnetosphere than previously. This indicates a novel
way in which radio emission from magnetars can differ from that of ordinary
pulsars. The torque on the neutron star is varying rapidly and unsteadily, as
is common for magnetars following outburst, having changed by a factor of 7
within six months of reactivation.Comment: Published in ApJ (2018 April 5); 13 pages, 4 figure
The 1.28 GHz MeerKAT DEEP2 Image
We present the confusion-limited 1.28 GHz MeerKAT DEEP2 image covering one qb » ¢ 68 FWHM primarybeam area with θ = 7 6 FWHM resolution and s = m - n 0.55 0.01 Jy beam 1 rms noise. Its J2000 center position
α = 04h 13m 26 4, δ = −80° 00′ 00″ was selected to minimize artifacts caused by bright sources. We introduce
the new 64-element MeerKAT array and describe commissioning observations to measure the primary-beam
attenuation pattern, estimate telescope pointing errors, and pinpoint (u, v) coordinate errors caused by offsets in
frequency or time. We constructed a 1.4 GHz differential source count by combining a power-law count fit to the
DEEP2 confusion P(D) distribution from 0.25 to 10 μJy with counts of individual DEEP2 sources between 10 μJy
and 2.5 mJy. Most sources fainter than S ∼ 100 μJy are distant star-forming galaxies (SFGs) obeying the far-IR/
radio correlation, and sources stronger than 0.25 μJy account for ∼93% of the radio background produced by
SFGs. For the first time, the DEEP2 source count has reached the depth needed to reveal the majority of the star
formation history of the universe. A pure luminosity evolution of the 1.4 GHz local luminosity function consistent
with the Madau & Dickinson model for the evolution of SFGs based on UV and infrared data underpredicts our
1.4 GHz source count in the range -5 log Jy 4 [ ( )] S
The MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey: I. Survey overview and highlights
Please abstract in the article.The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), the National Research Foundation (NRF), the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, US National Science Foundation, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the DSI/NRF, the SARAO HCD programme, the South African Research Chairs Initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation.http://www.aanda.orghj2022Physic
The SARAO MeerKAT 1.3Â GHz Galactic Plane Survey
We present the SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS), a 1.3 GHz continuum survey of almost half of the Galactic Plane (251○ ≤l ≤ 358○ and 2○ ≤l ≤ 61○ at |b| ≤ 1
5). SMGPS is the largest, most sensitive and highest angular resolution 1 GHz survey of the Plane yet carried out, with an angular resolution of 8″ and a broadband RMS sensitivity of ∼10–20 μJy beam−1. Here we describe the first publicly available data release from SMGPS which comprises data cubes of frequency-resolved images over 908–1656 MHz, power law fits to the images, and broadband zeroth moment integrated intensity images. A thorough assessment of the data quality and guidance for future usage of the data products are given. Finally, we discuss the tremendous potential of SMGPS by showcasing highlights of the Galactic and extragalactic science that it permits. These highlights include the discovery of a new population of non-thermal radio filaments; identification of new candidate supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae and planetary nebulae; improved radio/mid-IR classification of rare Luminous Blue Variables and discovery of associated extended radio nebulae; new radio stars identified by Bayesian cross-matching techniques; the realisation that many of the largest radio-quiet WISE H II region candidates are not true H II regions; and a large sample of previously undiscovered background H I galaxies in the Zone of Avoidance
Black workers, typhoid fever and the construction of the Berg River – Saldanha military water pipeline, 1942 – 1943
War creates a huge need for labour to support the war efforts of the belligerent parties.
In South Africa tens of thousands of ‘non-white’ workers were mobilised during the
Second World War to satisfy the Union Defence Force’s (UDF’s) labour needs at home
and abroad. This article, firstly, outlines the role of ‘non-white people’, particularly
black Africans, in the UDF with special reference to those employed within the Union of
South Africa. Secondly, it briefly delineates typhoid fever as an historical thorn in the
flesh of military forces up to the early 20th century. It then looks briefly into the
incidence of and perceptions on typhoid fever as a killer disease in South Africa on the
eve of the Second World War. Against that background, the article investigates the
employment of black workers on the construction of the Berg River-Saldanha Bay
military water pipeline and the UDF’s response to the threat and subsequent outbreak
of typhoid fever amongst the workers at the Berg River intake site in 1943. The article
concludes that the public health authorities and UDF were aware of the threat of typhoid
fever with regard to the Berg River water scheme, but did not take sufficient precautionary
measures, which could have had serious repercussions for the Allied war effort. This
incident should serve as a warning to the South African National Defence Force when
deploying on peace support operations on the African continent where typhoid fever
remains a serious threat next to Hiv/Aids
Combined Atomistic Molecular Calculations and Experimental Investigations for the Architecture, Screening, Optimization, and Characterization of Pyrazinamide Containing Oral Film Formulations for Tuberculosis Management
Determination of arsenic in the sub-ppb-range by differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry
The SARAO MeerKAT 1.3 GHz Galactic Plane Survey
We present the SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS), a 1.3 GHz continuum survey of almost half of the Galactic Plane (251° 358°and 2° 61°at ). SMGPS is the largest, most sensitive and highest angular resolution 1 GHz survey of the Plane yet carried out, with an angular resolution of 8" and a broadband RMS sensitivity of 10--20 Jy/beam. Here we describe the first publicly available data release from SMGPS which comprises data cubes of frequency-resolved images over 908--1656 MHz, power law fits to the images, and broadband zeroth moment integrated intensity images. A thorough assessment of the data quality and guidance for future usage of the data products are given. Finally, we discuss the tremendous potential of SMGPS by showcasing highlights of the Galactic and extragalactic science that it permits. These highlights include the discovery of a new population of non-thermal radio filaments; identification of new candidate supernova remnants, pulsar wind nebulae and planetary nebulae; improved radio/mid-IR classification of rare Luminous Blue Variables and discovery of associated extended radio nebulae; new radio stars identified by Bayesian cross-matching techniques; the realisation that many of the largest radio-quiet WISE HII region candidates are not true HII regions; and a large sample of previously undiscovered background HI galaxies in the Zone of Avoidance