The prevalence and perception of obesity and its association with the lifestyle of women at the Mangaung University Community Partnership Project healthcare centre, Bloemfontein

Background: This investigation was prompted by the increase of obesity in developing countries with the simultaneous increased risk of preventable noncommunicable diseases. We aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among women serving a predominantly black peri-urban community, who visited a healthcare centre in Bloemfontein. We also wanted to establish their perceived weight status, and any correlation between obesity, level of education, employment status and monthly income. Method: A cross-sectional analytical design was used. In June 2007, clinic-attending women aged 18-50 years were selected by a systematic sampling method to participate in the study. A self-administered questionnaire investigated participants’ socio-economic status, body image perception, psychological well-being, self-reported health status and physical activity. Body mass indices (BMIs) were calculated from weight and height measurements. Results: A total of 304 women completed the study, of whom 98 (32.2%) were overweight and 134 (44.1%) were obese, with a mean BMI of 30.1 kg/m2 [standard deviation (SD) 6.9 kg/m2]. More than half (53.4%) of the obese women perceived themselves as not obese. Approximately 84% of the participants were educated to secondary level, or higher. A significant difference in the employment status of the obese and non-obese participants (26.9% and 16.5% employed, respectively) was noted (p-value = 0.0013). The obese participants reported significantly less low self-esteem (29.5%) than the nonobese participants (42.4%) (p-value = 0.0250). Conclusion: The high prevalence of overweight and obesity, and the fact that 53.4% of the obese participants did not perceive themselves as such, poses a challenge for healthcare providers. Health-promotion strategies should aim to inform women about the health risks of overweight and obesity, and address misconceptions regarding perceived weight status.Keywords: overweight, obesity, women, socio-economic status, perceived weight statu

International normalised ratio control in a non-metropolitan setting in Western Cape Province, South Africa

Background. The quality of international normalised ratio (INR) control determines the effectiveness and safety of warfarin therapy. Data on INR control in non-metropolitan settings of South Africa (SA) are sparse.Objectives. To examine the time in therapeutic range (TTR) and its potential predictors in a sample of Garden Route District Municipality primary healthcare clinics (PHCs).Methods. INR records from eight PHCs were reviewed. The TTR and percentage of patients with a TTR >65% were determined. A host of variables were analysed for association with TTR.Results. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age of the cohort (N=191) was 56 (44 - 69) years. The median (IQR) TTR was 37.2% (20.2 - 58.8); only 17.8% of patients had a TTR ≥65%. Compared with patients aged >50 years, those aged <50 had worse INR control (median (IQR) TTR 26.6% (16.1 - 53.0) v. 43.5% (23.5 - 60.1); p=0.01). Patients hospitalised for any reason during the study period had worse INR control than patients not hospitalised (median (IQR) TTR 26.2% (16.2 - 50.2) v. 42.9% (23.5 - 62.0); p=0.02). On multivariable regression analysis, participants on warfarin for atrial fibrillation/flutter had better INR control than those with other indications for warfarin (odds ratio 2.21; 95% confidence interval 1.02 - 4.77; p=0.04), but the control was still very poor.Conclusions. INR control, as determined by TTR and proportion of TTR ≥65%, in these non-metropolitan clinics was poor. Age and hospitalisation as a marker of illness predicted poor control. There was a difference in control between groups, depending on the indication for warfarin. Evidence-based measures to improve the quality of INR control in patients on warfarin therapy need to be instituted as a matter of urgency

Integrable Spin Chains with U(1)^3 symmetry and generalized Lunin-Maldacena backgrounds

We consider the most general three-state spin chain with U(1)^3 symmetry and nearest neighbour interaction. Our model contains as a special case the spin chain describing the holomorphic three scalar sector of the three parameter complex deformation of N=4 SYM, dual to type IIB string theory in the generalized Lunin-Maldacena backgrounds discovered by Frolov. We formulate the coordinate space Bethe ansatz, calculate the S-matrix and determine for which choices of parameters the S-matrix fulfills the Yang-Baxter equations. For these choices of parameters we furthermore write down the R-matrix. We find in total four classes of integrable models. In particular, each already known model of the above type is nothing but one in a family of such models.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, references correcte

Inorganic Biomaterials Characterization

The biocompatibility of a material is crucial in branding it as a biomaterial. Building on the previous biocompatibility chapter, this chapter mainly focuses on the assessment of biocompatibility. The main aims of biocompatibility assessment are: 1) raw material characterisation; 2) in vitro; and 3) in vivo assessment of materials. Figure 3.1 shows a schematic representation of the components of biocompatibility assessment. This chapter will deal with each of these characterisations and assessment methods one by one in the following sections

A note on the universality of the Hagedorn behavior of pp-wave strings

Following on from recent studies of string theory on a one-parameter family of integrable deformations of $AdS_{5}\times S^{5}$ proposed by Lunin and Maldacena, we carry out a systematic analysis of the high temperature properties of type IIB strings on the associated pp-wave geometries. In particular, through the computation of the thermal partition function and free energy we find that not only does the theory exhibit a Hagedorn transition in both the $(J,0,0)$ and $(J,J,J)$ class of pp-waves, but that the Hagedorn temperature is insensitive to the deformation suggesting an interesting universality in the high temperature behaviour of the pp-wave string theory. We comment also on the implications of this universality on the confinement/deconfinement transition in the dual $\mathcal{N}=1$ Leigh-Strassler deformation of ${\cal N}=4$ Yang-Mills theory.Comment: 25 pages; fixed minor typo; added reference

Utility of crime surveys for Sustainable Development Goals monitoring and violence prevention using a public health approach

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have highlighted interpersonal violence and violence against women and girls as impediments to development globally. South Africa is adversely affected by violence and injury. The annual Victims of Crime Survey (VoCS) provides a potentially useful source of complementary data to bolster vital registration and police crime statistics, but it may not provide data that are sufficiently accurate and reliable to inform prevention efforts. We conducted a critical assessment of the VoCS’s methodological robustness and strength as a data source for high-level analyses, adopting a public health and SDGs monitoring perspective that was based on expert opinion and comparison with other data sources. We concluded that either the survey methods should be improved to provide findings that are better aligned with the SDGs agenda and are robust enough to inform high-quality research and prevention, or the funds used to conduct the VoCS should be redirected to other more suitable instruments

Sn (IV) porphyrin-biotin decorated nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots nanohybrids for photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive therapeutic procedure for cancer treatment. This study focuses on the synthesis, photophysicochemical properties, and PDT activity of Sn (IV) porphyrin (2), when linked to biotin decorated nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (B-NGQDs). The porphyrin complex 2 was conjugated through an ester bond to B-NGQDs to form 2-B-NGQDs. Singlet oxygen quantum yield increased for 2 when linked to B-NGQDs to form 2-B-NQGDs. The dark toxicity and photodynamic therapy studies were conducted for 2, NGQDs and their conjugates using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The cell viability for dark toxicity of all the compounds was above 90%, and 2-B-NGQDs showed high PDT activity at a concentration of 40 µg/mL with cell viability of 22%

On the perturbative chiral ring for marginally deformed N=4 SYM theories

For \cal{N}=1 SU(N) SYM theories obtained as marginal deformations of the \cal{N}=4 parent theory we study perturbatively some sectors of the chiral ring in the weak coupling regime and for finite N. By exploiting the relation between the definition of chiral ring and the effective superpotential we develop a procedure which allows us to easily determine protected chiral operators up to n loops once the superpotential has been computed up to (n-1) order. In particular, for the Lunin-Maldacena beta-deformed theory we determine the quantum structure of a large class of operators up to three loops. We extend our procedure to more general Leigh-Strassler deformations whose chiral ring is not fully understood yet and determine the weight-two and weight-three sectors up to two loops. We use our results to infer general properties of the chiral ring.Comment: LaTex, 40 pages, 4 figures, uses JHEP3; v2: minor correction