Phylogenetic analysis to define feline immunodeficiency virus subtypes in 31 domestic cats in South Africa

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a lentivirus, is an important pathogen of domestic cats around the world and has many similarities to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A characteristic of these lentiviruses is their extensive genetic diversity which has been an obstacle in the development of successful vaccines. Of the FIV genes, the envelope gene is the most variable and sequence differences in a portion of this gene have been used to define 5 FIV subtypes (A, B, C, D and E). In this study, the proviral DNA sequence of the V3-V5 region of the envelope gene was determined in blood samples from 31 FIV positive cats from 4 different regions of South Africa. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the presence of both subtypes A and C, with subtype A predominating. These findings contribute to the understanding of the genetic diversity of FI

Aphasia, an acquired language disor

Affecting an estimated one in every 272 South Africans, or 0.37% of the population, aphasia is a neurological condition described as “any disturbance in the comprehension or expression of language caused by a brain lesion”. Despite extensive debate throughout the history of neuropsychology there is no universal agreement on the classification of aphasia subtypes. The original localisationist model attempts to classify aphasia in terms of major characteristics, and then to link these to areas of the brain in which the damage has been caused. These initial two categories, namely fluent and non-fluent aphasia, encompass eight different subtypes of aphasia. Aphasia occurs mostly in those of middle age and older, with males and females being affected equally. As the general practitioner is likely to have first contact with affected patients, it is important to be aware of aphasia and to diagnose and refer patients in an appropriate and expeditious manner.In this article we will review the types of aphasia, an approach to its diagnosis, aphasia subtypes,  rehabilitation and prognosis.Keywords: aphasia; language disorder; approach; Broca; Wernic

Cone beam computed tomography volumetric airway changes after orthognathic surgery:a systematic review

The aim of this systematic review was to provide a structured overview of three-dimensional airway volume changes in relation to various orthognathic surgeries. Clinical human studies performing pre- and postoperative three-dimensional airway volume assessments to investigate volumetric changes of the airway after orthognathic surgery were included. Pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied in an extensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science electronic databases. The cut-off date was set to January 1, 2022. Forty-one articles reporting retrospective and prospective case–control and case series studies were included. All studies were determined to be of medium quality (moderate risk of bias). The included studies were categorized by type of intervention. Pre- and postoperative volumes were extracted from the available data, and volume changes as a percentage of the preoperative levels were calculated. Isolated mandibular setback surgery generally decreased the airway volume. Isolated maxillary or mandibular advancement, bimaxillary advancement, and surgically assisted maxillary expansion generally increased the airway volume in the total airway and oropharynx, among which the effect of bimaxillary advancement surgery appeared most significant. High heterogeneity exists in the terminology and definitions of the airway and its segments. A more uniform methodology for airway volume measurement is needed to provide an insight into the impact on the airway of specific types of surgical intervention. In conclusion, airway volumes are affected after orthognathic surgery, which may be of clinical significance, especially in patients who are predisposed to obstructive sleep apnoea

The clinical utility and cost effectiveness of routine thyroid screening in adult psychiatric patients presenting at Stikland Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Objective: The use of thyroid tests to assess psychiatric patients remains debatable. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the utility and cost effectiveness of the current protocol used in thyroid testing in adult psychiatric patients presenting at Stikland Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Method: This was a retrospective chart review conducted at Stikland Hospital between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2005. The following data was recorded: demographic variables, clinical diagnoses at admission and discharge, number of days from admission to a thyroid test request, the reason for thyroid screening, number of thyroid tests, their yield and costs involved, as well as the action taken following an abnormal thyroid test result. Results: The mean age of patients (n = 1080: n = 364 male, n = 716 female) was 42.8 years (SD ±16.6). Pre-existing thyroid disease was documented in 70 (6%) of patients. Normal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test results significantly (p = 0.0001) increased, whilst abnormal TSH test results significantly (p = 0.0001) decreased from baseline to follow-up. Except for gender, the outcome of TSH screening was independent of demographic and clinical diagnoses. Only 16% of TSH tests yielded clinically significant results. Conclusion: The findings of this study do not support the early, routine screening for thyroid dysfunction in psychiatric patients at this facility. It is possible that thyroid screening may present with transient abnormalities of no particular clinical significance, and would therefore not be a cost effective practice.Keywords: Psychiatry; Screening; Thyroid abnormality; Thyroid stimulating hormon

Do fluctuations in the somatic growth rate of rock lobster (Jasus lalandii) encompass all size classes? A re-assessment of juvenile growth

Catch rates in the South African rock lobster (Jasus lalandii) fishery declined after 1989 in response to reduced adult somatic growth rates and a consequent reduction in recruitment to the fishable population. Although spatial and temporal trends in adult growth are well described, little is known about how juvenile growth rates have been affected. In our study, growth rates of juvenile rock lobster on Cape Town harbor wall were compared with those recorded at the same site more than 25 years prior to our study, and with those on a nearby natural nursery reef. We found that indices of somatic growth measured during 1996–97 at the harbor wall had declined significantly since 1971–72. Furthermore, growth was slower among juvenile J. lalandii at the harbor wall than those at the natural nursery reef. These results suggest that growth rates of juvenile and adult J. lalandii exhibit similar types of spatiotemporal patterns. Thus, the recent coastwide decline in adult somatic growth rates might also encompass smaller size classes

Assessment of the education environment of senior medical students at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Background. The education environment (EE) of a medical school plays a critical role in the learning of its students. The learner, other learners, teachers and the physical environment (campus and hospitals) influence the EE. In addition to recommendations of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) to revise the clinical training platform, staff and senior medical students occasionally experienced the EE in the clinical departments to be challenging.Objective. To assess the perceived EE in clinical departments at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa, among the 2012 fourth and fifth-year medical students. Differences in perceived EE scores between different demographic groups were also assessed.Method. Only the departments where students rotated in both their fourth and fifth years (Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Surgery, Paediatrics and Neonatology, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry) were assessed. The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) questionnaire was contextualised for each department and distributed among fourth- and fifth-year medical students. Questionnaires were self-administered and participation was voluntary. Differences among demographic groups and departments were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal- Wallis test (p<0.05).Results. The overall response rate was 87.7%. The overall median DREEM combined score for the departments was 137/200. Paediatrics and Neonatology was consistently top-rated, whereas Obstetrics and Gynaecology consistently received the lowest rating in all domains and subscale analyses. There were few significant differences between the DREEM scores of demographic groups.Conclusion. The overall EE in the clinical departments was mostly positive, although concerns were raised regarding some departments.

Serological response of cattle to infection with Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis in southern Africa

The indirect fluorescent antibody test was used to measure the antibody response of cattle for 8 weeks after infection with either Babesia bigemina or Babesia bovis, or a combination of both species. Serological crossreactions were observed between the 2 species, but these were most marked when B. bigemina antigen was used. In animals infected with both Babesia spp., the B. bigemina reaction appeared to suppress the B. bovis reaction.The articles have been scanned in colour with a HP Scanjet 5590; 600dpi. Adobe Acrobat XI Pro was used to OCR the text and also for the merging and conversion to the final presentation PDF-format

Self-tuning curing oven control

Abstract: Certain modern materials used in manufacturing require a specific temperature profile during the curing process to produce the desired characteristics (such as hardness). Classically, to obtain optimum control of an oven, a series of trials should be embarked on to accurately determine the coefficients of the regulator. This paper proposes a method to automatically determine the optimum parameters of the controller during the first heating process. The method has been implemented and validated in a small curing oven (3 kW). The step response and steady state error obtained were acceptable