13 research outputs found
New observations on the stratigraphy and radiocarbon dates at the Cross Creek site, Opito, Coromandel Peninsula
This paper re-examines stratigraphy and radiocarbon dates at Cross Creek in Sarah's Gully. Three new radiocarbon dates are presented for Layer 9, the earliest, and previously undated, occupation. This investigation is part of a programme of archaeological work being carried out on the Coromandel Peninsula. Although there are several individual research projects underway, they have a common theme related to the Polynesian settlement period on the Coromandel Peninsula. The two seasons of excavation at Tairua are being written up by Matthew Campbell of CFG Heritage on behalf of Roger Green. Louise Furey, also CFG Heritage, is researching a thematic study on early sites for the Department of Conservation, Archaeological research in the Opito area includes documenting a pollen sequence for Opito under a grant obtained from the Green Foundation for Polynesian Research: Pam Chester, Louise Furey and Brenda Sewell are participants. In addition, positively identifying the Kaharoa Ash in the Opito-Sarah's Gully area is a priority
An overview of a cohort of South African patients with mitochondrial disorders
Mitochondrial disorders are frequently encountered
inherited diseases characterized by unexplained
multisystem involvement with a chronic, intermittent, or
progressive nature. The objective of this paper is to describe
the profile of patients with mitochondrial disorders in South
Africa. Patients with possible mitochondrial disorders were
accessed over 10 years. Analyses for respiratory chain and
pyruvate dehydrogenase complex enzymes were performed
on muscle. A diagnosis of a mitochondrial disorder was
accepted only if an enzyme activity was deficient. Sixtythree
patients were diagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder,
including 40 African, 20 Caucasian, one mixed ancestry, and
two Indian patients. The most important findings were the
difference between African patients and other ethnicities:
respiratory chain enzyme complexes CI+III or CII+III
deficiencies were found in 52.5% of African patients, being
of statistical significance (p value=0.0061). They also
presented predominantly with myopathy (p value=
0.0018); the male:female ratio was 1:1.2. Twenty-five
(62.5%) African patients presented with varying degrees
of a myopathy accompanied by a myopathic face, high
palate, and scoliosis. Fourteen of these 25 also had ptosis
and/or progressive external ophthalmoplegia. No patients of
other ethnicities presented with this specific myopathic
phenotype. Caucasian patients (16/20) presented predominantly
with central nervous system involvement. Of the
South African pediatric neurology patients, Africans are
more likely to present with myopathy and CII+III deficiency,
and Caucasian patients are more likely to present with
encephalopathy or encephalomyopath
Comparison of different nutritional assessments and body-composition measurements in detecting malnutrition among gynaecologic cancer patients
Background: Few studies have assessed global nutritional assessment tools and body-composition measurements in gynecologic cancer patients.----- Objective: We aimed to assess the convergent validity of different nutritional tools such as the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), serum albumin, skinfold-thickness measurements, and total-body potassium (TBK) and body density measurements to identify gynecologic cancer patients at risk of malnutrition.----- Design: We assessed the nutritional status of 194 patients with suspected or proven gynecologic cancer according to the SGA and the scored PG-SGA, and skinfold-thickness (n = 145), TBK (n = 51), and body density measurements (n = 42) before primary treatment.----- Results: According to the SGA and the scored PG-SGA global rating, 24% of gynecologic cancer patients were classified as malnourished. The prevalence of malnutrition was highest in ovarian (67%) and lowest in endometrial (6%) cancer patients. The ability of the PG-SGA score (P < 0.001) and albumin (P < 0.001), triceps skinfold-thickness (P = 0.041), and TBK (P = 0.005) measurements to predict the SGA was significantly better than chance. TBK significantly correlated with measurements associated with protein depletion, including age (P < 0.001), arm muscle area (P < 0.001), fat-free mass (P < 0.001), and the PG-SGA score (P = 0.009). Multiple regression analysis showed that, together, the PG-SGA score and arm muscle area adjusted for age accounted for 66% of total TBK variance.----- Conclusions: The PG-SGA is significantly associated with subjective and objective parameters and is a widely recognized, clinically relevant method of evaluating nutritional status. It therefore seems most appropriate for identifying malnourishment in gynecologic cancer patients