Clothing needs and related problems of female social pensioners in Stellenbosch

This article reports on a study of the clothing needs and related problems of female social pensioners in Stellenbosch. The sample consisted of 107 coloured women who were 60 years and older, and non-institutionalized. A structured questionnaire was used to gather the data during interviews in the respondents' homes. It was found that most of the respondents buy their clothes at stores in Stellenbosch. They prefer certain stores which sell clothes at affordable prices. Style preferences include cardigans, gathered skirts, loose-fitting jackets, and dresses with front openings. The women value clothes that fit well, are comfortable and are aesthetically pleasing. The respondents felt that their clothes are adequate for their activities but that they lack certain clothing items, such as winter sleepwear and underwear

Verbetering van de lichtonderschepping in een tomatengewas door aanpassing van de rijstructuur: Effecten van de rijstructuur op lichtverdeling, fotosynthese en productie

Doel van dit project was te onderzoeken wat het effect is van de rijstructuur op de lichtverdeling en fotosynthese van een tomatengewas, en de effecten daarvan op de productie. Ook werd gekeken of de bladstand en de fotosynthesecapaciteit van de bladeren zich aanpassen aan wijzigende lichtverdeling. Tevens werd de hypothese getest of alternatieve vormen van tussenplanten zouden leiden tot lagere verdamping en dus tot energiebesparing. Verder is gekeken naar het effect op productie van twee substraten, namelijk kokosmatten type ‘Profit’ van Van der Knaap, en steenwolmat type ‘Master Dry’ van Grodan

Occurrence of subdural hematomas in Dutch glutaric aciduria type 1 patients

Patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA1), a rare inherited metabolic disorder, have an increased risk for subdural hematomas (SDHs). GA1 is therefore generally included in the differential diagnosis of children presenting with SDHs. This retrospective cohort study reviews all 25 registered, in the Dutch Diagnosis Registration for Metabolic Disorders, GA1 patients in the Netherlands. This was done between May 2014 and November 2014 to determine the lifetime incidence of SDHs in this population. Seventeen patients were diagnosed either due to clinical symptoms or because of family members with GA1. One out of these 17 had a SDH. This patient showed widened Sylvian fissures on MRI, characteristic for GA1. Eight patients were diagnosed by newborn screening. Three of them had neuroimaging results, and none of them had SDHs. This study shows an overall lower incidence (4.0 %) of SDHs in patients with GA1 than reported in the literature (20–30 %). Conclusion: This finding, in combination with the fact that SDHs in GA1 appear to occur only in the presence of characteristic brain abnormalities on imaging, we recommend that GA1 should not routinely be a part of the differential diagnosis of children with unexplained SDHs in the absence of imaging characteristics suggestive of GA1. What is known:• Glutaric aciduria type 1 is a rare metabolic disorder predisposing children to subdural hematoma development due to brain abnormalities.• Because of these subdural hematomas, glutaric aciduria type 1 testing is part of abusive head trauma work-up.What is new:• The overall subdural hematoma incidence in glutaric aciduria type 1 patients is much lower than previously reported and only occurs in case of predisposing brain abnormalities

Prenatal counseling of an isolated fetal small head circumference during the second trimester expert ultrasound examination

Objective: To evaluate perinatal and postnatal outcomes of fetuses with an isolated small head circumference (HC) on expert ultrasound examination in the second trimester for further recommendations in prenatal care. Study Design: In a retrospective cohort we included singleton-pregnancies with a fetal HC &gt; −3.0 SD and ≤ −1.64 SD determined on expert ultrasound examination between 18 and 24 weeks of gestational age. Three subgroups were determined: “isolated small HC (ISHC)”, “small HC plus abdominal circumference (AC) ≤ p10 (SHC+)” and “small HC plus AC ≤ p10 and Doppler abnormalities (SHC + D)”. After ultrasound examination, genetic testing was sometimes offered and postnatally genetic tests were performed on indication. Results: We included 252 pregnancies: 109 ISHC, 104 SHC+, and 39 SHC + D. In the ISHC and SHC+ subgroup, 96 % of the fetuses were born alive and did not die neonatal. In the SH + D group this was only 38 %. In the SHC+ subgroup, less fetuses were delivered vaginal (non-instrumental) compared to the ISHC subgroup (61 % vs. 73 %, p &lt; 0.01). In the ISHC and SHC+ subgroup s some fetuses were diagnosed with congenital defects (4 % vs. 10 %, p = 0.08) and with a genetic anomaly (6.4 % vs. 7.7 %, p = 0.13) after 24 weeks or postnatally. In SHC + D subgroups 5 % presented with congenital defects and 2.6 % with a genetic anomaly. Conclusion: We conclude that fetuses with a small HC without structural anomalies on second trimester expert ultrasound require follow-up and special medical attention. We recommend differentiating between ISHC, SHC+, and SHC + D for prenatal counseling. Genetic testing and referral to a clinical geneticist should be considered.</p

Prenatal counseling of an isolated fetal small head circumference during the second trimester expert ultrasound examination

Objective: To evaluate perinatal and postnatal outcomes of fetuses with an isolated small head circumference (HC) on expert ultrasound examination in the second trimester for further recommendations in prenatal care. Study Design: In a retrospective cohort we included singleton-pregnancies with a fetal HC &gt; −3.0 SD and ≤ −1.64 SD determined on expert ultrasound examination between 18 and 24 weeks of gestational age. Three subgroups were determined: “isolated small HC (ISHC)”, “small HC plus abdominal circumference (AC) ≤ p10 (SHC+)” and “small HC plus AC ≤ p10 and Doppler abnormalities (SHC + D)”. After ultrasound examination, genetic testing was sometimes offered and postnatally genetic tests were performed on indication. Results: We included 252 pregnancies: 109 ISHC, 104 SHC+, and 39 SHC + D. In the ISHC and SHC+ subgroup, 96 % of the fetuses were born alive and did not die neonatal. In the SH + D group this was only 38 %. In the SHC+ subgroup, less fetuses were delivered vaginal (non-instrumental) compared to the ISHC subgroup (61 % vs. 73 %, p &lt; 0.01). In the ISHC and SHC+ subgroup s some fetuses were diagnosed with congenital defects (4 % vs. 10 %, p = 0.08) and with a genetic anomaly (6.4 % vs. 7.7 %, p = 0.13) after 24 weeks or postnatally. In SHC + D subgroups 5 % presented with congenital defects and 2.6 % with a genetic anomaly. Conclusion: We conclude that fetuses with a small HC without structural anomalies on second trimester expert ultrasound require follow-up and special medical attention. We recommend differentiating between ISHC, SHC+, and SHC + D for prenatal counseling. Genetic testing and referral to a clinical geneticist should be considered.</p

CYP1A2 and coffee intake and the modifying effect of sex, age, and smoking

Background: The enzyme CYP1A2 (cytochrome 1A2) is involved in the metabolism of certain drugs and caffeine, and its activity can be influenced by factors such as sex, age, and smoking. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs762551A>C, which has also been studied for its modifying effect on cardiovascular disease, has been reported to alter enzyme activity. Objective: The objective was to study the effect of CYP1A2, sex, age, and smoking on coffee intake. Design: Within the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort, all coffee drinkers for whom genome-wide association data were available were selected. Because SNP rs762551 was not on the Illumina 550 platform, SNP rs2472299 was used as a proxy, with the A allele of rs762551 linked to the G allele of rs2472299. Linear regression analyses were used to determine the effect and interaction of rs2472299, sex, age, and smoking on coffee intake. Adjusted geometric means of coffee intake were calculated per genotype for the different smoking and sex strata by using multivariable general linear models. A combined analysis, with the use of a "risk score,"was performed to determine the contribution of each separate factor. Results: rs2472299G>A, female sex, and nonsmoking were significantly inversely related to coffee intake. Coffee intake was lowest in nonsmoking women homozygous for rs2472299G>A (3.49 cups/d; ∼436 mL). All factors contributed almost linearly to the intake of coffee, with the highest coffee intake in smoking men without the A allele (5.32 cups/d; ∼665 mL). Conclusion: rs2472299G>A, linked to rs762551A>C, sex, age, and smoking significantly contribute to coffee intake

Psychometrics of the observational scales of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation of Rehabilitation (USER): Content and structural validity, internal consistency and reliability: A study on psychometric properties of the USER.

Introduction: : Establish content and structural validity, internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, and measurement error of the physical and cognitive scales of the Utrecht Scale for Evaluation clinical Rehabilitation (USER) in geriatric rehabilitation. Material and methods: : First, an expert consensus-meeting (N=7) was organised for content validity wherein scale content validity index (CVI) was measured. Second, in a sample of geriatric rehabilitation patient structural validity (N=616) was assessed by confirmatory factor analyses for exploring unidimensionality. Cut-off criteria were: Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) 0.95. Local independence (residual correlation0.30 and Hs-coefficient >0.50) were also calculated. Cronbach alphas were calculated for internal consistency. Alpha's > 0.7 was considered adequate. T hird, two nurses independently administered the USER to 37 patients. Intraclass-correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for inter-rater reliability (IRR), standard error of measurement (SEM) and Smallest Detectable Change (SDC). Results: : The CVI for physical functioning was moderate (0.73) and excellent for cognitive functioning (0.97). Structural validity physical scale was acceptable (CFI;0.95, TLI;0.93, RMSEA;0.07, ECV;0.78, OmegaH;0.87; Monotonicity;(Hi;0.52-0.75 and Hs;0.63)). Cognitive scale was good (CFI;0.98, TLI;0.96, RMSEA;0.05, ECV;0.66 and OmegaH;0.90. Monotonicity;(Hi;0.30 -0.70 and Hs;0.61)). Cronbach's alpha were high: physical scale;0.92 and cognitive scale;0.94. Reliability physical scale ICC;0.94, SEM;5 and SDC;14 and cognitive scale ICC;0.88, SEM;5 and SDC;13. Conclusion: : The observational scales of the USER have shown sufficient content and structural validity, internal consistency, and interrater reliability for measuring physical and cognitive function in geriatric rehabilitation. Trial registration: : N/AGeriatrics in primary carePublic Health and primary car

Vitamin D Status and Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults:A Role for Physical Functioning?

Objectives: Depressive symptoms and low vitamin D status are common in older persons and may be associated, but findings are inconsistent. This study investigated whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations are associated with depressive symptoms in older adults, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. We also examined whether physical functioning could explain this relationship, to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Data from two independent prospective cohorts of the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used: an older cohort (≥65 years, n = 1282, assessed from 1995–2002) and a younger-old cohort (55–65 years, n = 737, assessed from 2002–2009). Measurements: Depressive symptoms were measured at baseline and after 3 and 6 years with the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Cross-sectional and longitudinal linear regression techniques were used to examine the relationship between 25(OH)D and depressive symptoms. The mediating role of physical functioning was examined in the longitudinal models. Results: Cross-sectionally, associations were not significant after adjustment for confounders. Longitudinally, women in the older cohort with baseline 25(OH)D concentrations up to 75 nmol/L experienced 175 to 24% more depressive symptoms in the following 6 years, compared with women with 25(OH)D concentrations >75 nmol/L. Reduced physical performance partially mediated this relationship. In men and in the younger-old cohort, no significant associations were observed. Conclusions: Older women showed an inverse relationship between 25(OH)D and depressive symptoms over time, which may partially be explained by declining physical functioning. Replication of these findings by future studies is needed

Verticale temperatuurgradiënten in geconditioneerde kassen: Effecten op groei, ontwikkeling en onderliggende processen bij tomaat

In de jaren 2003 tot 2007 is het aantal bedrijven waarop (semi)gesloten geteeld wordt geleidelijk toegenomen. Op alle bedrijven bleken echter vragen te bestaan over de reacties van het gewas op het nieuwe klimaat. Daarom is in 2008 door Wageningen UR Glastuinbouw een onderzoek gestart naar de groei van tomaat in geconditioneerde kassen, waarin veel aandacht wordt besteed aan de fysiologische processen in de plant. Het onderzoek wordt gefinancierd vanuit het programma Kas als Energiebron door Productschap Tuinbouw en het ministerie van EL&I en wordt begeleid door een aantal tomatentelers en een adviseur. Het onderzoek dat in dit rapport wordt beschreven had als centrale vraag hoe een verticale temperatuurgradiënt de processen in de plant beïnvloedt

Where there’s smoke, there’s more smoke: The social settings and friendship interactions that encourage young adults to smoke cigarettes

Despite widespread public health campaigns in Western countries people continue to smoke cigarettes and more worryingly, young people continue to take up the habit. In this thesis it is argued that cigarette smoking practices for young adults can be understood in terms of contributing to their sense of identity construction through friendship interactions and sociability. Data collected from email administered surveys and snowball sampling techniques, alongside secondary data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (2007), inform the research undertaken in this thesis and the results support the social benefits hypothesis in explaining why young adults smoke cigarettes. This study thereby suggests that in order for anti-smoking initiatives to be more successful in tackling the smoking habits of young adults additional research is required in identity formation, interactive factors and sociability factors that affect cigarette smoking practices of young adults