The relationship between anthropometry, dietary intake and physical activity in women (25-44 years) in Mangaung

ThesisSouth Africa, like many other countries, is a country in transition, leading to political, demographic, social, economical, and nutritional changes, affecting particularly the African population. This new era is characterised by changes from the traditional lifestyle, to a more western sedentary lifestyle and eating habits, associated with chronic diseases of lifestyle, including obesity. In addition, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa cannot be ignored, since nutrition, physical activity and HIV are strongly related. The effect of the nutrition transition, including the increase in chronic diseases of lifestyle, has prompted the need to determine the association between anthropometry, dietary intake and physical activity. A representative sample of 500 African women, (age groups 25-34, and 35-44 years), from the Mangaung area of Bloemfontein, was selected for the study. Levels of physical activity, anthropometric status and dietary intake were determined. Physical activity was determined using an adapted questionnaire that classified respondents into one of three physical activity categories (low, normal and high). Weight, height, circumference (waist and hip), and bio-impedance measurements were obtained, and used to calculate body mass index, fat distribution and fat percentage of respondents. Dietary intake was determined by means of a standardized food frequency questionnaire, and analyzed to determine the habitual food intake of respondents. A very small percentage of both HIV negative and HIV positive younger and older women hac physical activity levels that fell within the normal to high category. Women that were unemployec generally had lower levels of physical activity than those that were employed. Employed womer perspired more, climbed more stairs and participated more in sporting activities than unemployeo women. As expected, women that fell in the normal to physically active category also cycled more, although watching television was a leisure time activity practiced by both physically inactive and physically active women. Anthropometric results included body mass index, fat distribution and fat percentage. More than fifty percent of respondents of HIV negative women had a body mass index above 25 kg/m2 • Fa1 distribution showed a gynoid fat distribution, with 83.5 percent of the women from the younger group, and 62.7 percent of women from the older group having a waist-hip-ratio smaller than 0.8. The fat percentages of both HIV negative and HIV positive women from both age groups were high. The BMI and fat percentage of HIV positive women was significantly lower than that of HIV negative women. Median dietary intakes indicated high energy and macronutrient intakes for both HIV positive and HIV negative women. Median intakes of the macronutrients calculated as percentage of the total daily energy intake showed that median percentage of protein fell within recommendations, while median percentage of carbohydrate and fat intake exceeded recommendations. Reverting to a more traditional lifestyle, including diet and physical activity, could assist in alleviating the conditions of over-and under nutrition, and unfavourable anthropometric parameters associated with the health status of these African women

Diabetes-related knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Free State province, South Africa

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global health problem with high morbidity and mortality in patients who are mostly still economically active. The growing incidence and health implications for those affected make T2DM a major public health issue. Objectives: To compile a demographic, anthropometric and knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) profile of adult patients with T2DM in the public health sector of the Free State province, South Africa. Design: A descriptive observational study was conducted. Setting: A total of 255 participants attending public health facilities in the Free State were interviewed. Outcome Measures: Questionnaires were completed in an interview to determine demographics and KAP. Anthropometric measurements were obtained by standard techniques. Results: The majority of the participants (n = 222; 87.1%) were black women from urban areas, who were overweight and obese. The median age at diagnosis was 48 years (range 15–80 years), and 25 participants (9.8%) lacked formal schooling. In 212 participants (83.1%), a waist circumference above cut-off points was observed. Only half of the participants knew the normal range for blood glucose. Approximately 80% felt that they would be a different person if they did not have diabetes. Although 96.1% of participants were knowledgeable about the benefits of physical exercise, only 31.0% reported exercising on a daily basis. A statistically significant association was found between knowledge and attitudes, indicating that better knowledge about diabetes could be associated with a more positive attitude towards diabetes. Conclusion: Poor knowledge, a negative attitude and poor practices related to diabetes were observed in a very high percentage of participants, which may contribute to morbidity and mortality. The fact that knowledge was associated with attitude indicates that interventions aimed at improving knowledge could benefit patients in more than one way. Interventions to equip patients to successfully manage their condition are urgently required

A global infrageneric classification system for the genus Crotalaria (Leguminosae) based on molecular and morphological evidence

Crotalaria is a large genus of 702 species with its centre of diversity in tropical Africa and Madagascar and secondary radiations in other parts of the world. The current infrageneric classification system is based on morphological and morphomet- ric studies of the African taxa only and is here re-evaluated using a phylogenetic approach. DNA sequences derived from the nuclear ITS and the plastid matK, psbA-trnH and rbcLa markers were analyzed using parsimony and model-based (Bayesian) approaches. The resultant molecular phylogeny allowed for a new interpretation of diagnostically important morphological characters, including specialisations of the calyx, keel, standard petal and style, which are variously convergent in several unrelated infrageneric groups. Of particular interest is the congruence between the new phylogeny and the distribution of stand- ard petal callosity types. A sectional classification system for the entire genus is proposed for the first time. The new system that is formalised here comprises eleven sections: Amphitrichae, Calycinae, Crotalaria, Geniculatae, Glaucae, Grandiflorae, Hedriocarpae, Incanae, Schizostigma, Borealigeniculatae and Stipulosae. Sectional limits of the Geniculatae, Calycinae and Crotalaria are modified. The subsections Stipulosae, Glaucae and Incanae are raised to sectional level, while some groups previously recognized as subsections are abandoned due to non-monophyly (subsections Chrysocalycinae, Hedriocarpae, Macrostachyae and Tetralobocalyx). Two new sections are recognized, Amphitrichae and Borealigeniculatae.Web of Scienc

The actin-based motor protein myosin II regulates MHC class II trafficking and BCR-driven antigen presentation

Antigen (Ag) capture and presentation onto major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules by B lymphocytes is mediated by their surface Ag receptor (B cell receptor [BCR]). Therefore, the transport of vesicles that carry MHC class II and BCR–Ag complexes must be coordinated for them to converge for processing. In this study, we identify the actin-associated motor protein myosin II as being essential for this process. Myosin II is activated upon BCR engagement and associates with MHC class II–invariant chain complexes. Myosin II inhibition or depletion compromises the convergence and concentration of MHC class II and BCR–Ag complexes into lysosomes devoted to Ag processing. Accordingly, the formation of MHC class II–peptides and subsequent CD4 T cell activation are impaired in cells lacking myosin II activity. Therefore, myosin II emerges as a key motor protein in BCR-driven Ag processing and presentation

Seasonal Variation in TP53 R249S-Mutated Serum DNA with Aflatoxin Exposure and Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure are etiological factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in countries with hot, humid climates. HCC often harbors a TP53 (tumor protein p53) mutation at codon 249 (R249S). In chronic carriers, 1762T/1764A mutations in the HBV X gene are associated with increased HCC risk. Both mutations have been detected in circulating cell-free DNA (CFDNA) from asymptomatic HBV carriers

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

A taxonomic study of the type section of the genus Lebeckia Thunb.(Fabaceae, Crotalarieae)

A taxonomic study of the type section of the genus Lebeckia Thunb. (sect. Lebeckia; syn. Eu-Lebeckia Benth., Phyllodiastrum Walp.) is presented. The genus Lebeckia (Fabaceae, Crotalarieae) is endemic to the western parts of southern Africa and the type section is endemic to the Cape Floristic Region. Species delimitations and relationships within the sections of the genus are not clear and are in urgent need of a revision since the genus has not been studied in its entirety for nearly 150 years. Lebeckia section Lebeckia, now consists of 14 species, all with acicular (needle-shaped) leaves. Based on fruit morphology, four informal species groups have here been distinguished within the section. An analysis of morphological characters revealed the existence of four undescribed species, namely “L. brevicarpa” M.M.le Roux and B-E.van Wyk sp. nov. ined., [previously confused with L. sepiaria (L.) Thunb.], “L. brevipes” M.M.le Roux and B-E.van Wyk sp. nov. ined., (hitherto confused with L. longipes Bolus and L. pauciflora Eckl. and Zeyh.), “L. uniflora” B-E.van Wyk and M.M.le Roux [previously confused with L. wrightii Bolus] and “L. zeyheri” M.M.le Roux and B-E.van Wyk [previously considered to be a variety of L. plukenetiana E.Mey.] A key to the 14 species of section Lebeckia is presented. Diagnostic characters, nomenclature, typification and distribution maps of all the species are presented, discussed and illustrated. Morphological data was used in a cladistic analysis and resulted in a partially resolved cladogram, confirming the presence of four (presumably monophyletic) groups within the section. In a molecular systematic study, four DNA sequences were used to explore relationships, but the resolution was low and unsatisfactory and the result only partially supported the hypothesis based on morphological characters. However, the molecular phylogeny agreed with the morphological analysis in providing convincing support for the monophyly of the section.Prof. B.E. van Wy

A taxonomic study of the genus Crotalaria l (Fabaceae, tribe Crotalarieae) and a modified infrageneric classification system

D.Phil.The genus Crotalaria (tribe Crotalarieae, Fabaceae) includes 700 species with its main centre of species diversity in Africa and Madagascar and secondary radiations to other parts of the world (including North and South America, India, South-East Asia and Australia). Molecular systematics has recently provided profound new insights into generic relationships in the Crotalarieae, thereby creating the opportunity to re-evaluate the taxonomic and functional significance of flower and fruit structure in the tribe, with emphasis on the large genus Crotalaria. A representative sample of flowers from 211 species was dissected to record morphological character states and fruit transverse sections of 142 species was cut to record anatomical variation across the tribe. These data were supplemented from the literature to allow for generalizations. Six structural-functional flower types were identified: (1) pump; (2) gullet; (3) hugging; (4) saddle; (5) tunnel; and (6) brush. The saddle and tunnel types are here described for the first time. Crotalaria is the only genus within the tribe that has the brush type; specialized flowers characterized by a rostrate keel, highly dimorphic anthers, stylar trichomes and four types of elaborate callosities on the standard petal: (1) ridge callosities – vertical swellings on the blade and claw; (2) disc callosities – subcircular swellings on the blade; (3) columnar callosities – cylindrical protruding appendages on the blade; and (4) lamelliform callosities – plate-like protruding appendages on the blade. Trends toward specialization are apparent across the phylogeny as a whole suite of specialized floral characters and are homoplastic as a result of convergence

The e-Flora of South Africa – restructuring data to comply with Darwin Core standards for inclusion into the World Flora Online

The e-Flora of South Africa project was initiated in 2013 by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) in support of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC, 2011-2020). South Africa's flora consists of ca. 21,000 taxa of which more than half are endemic. South Africa will contribute a national Flora towards Target 1 of the GSPC ("To create an online flora of all known plants by 2020"). South Africa's contribution is ca. 6% of the world’s flora of which ca. 3% are endemic and therefore unique. South Africa’s electronic Flora is comprised of previously published descriptions. South Africa’s e-Flora data forms part of the Botanical Dataset of Southern Africa (BODATSA) that is currently managed through the Botanical Research And Herbarium Management System (BRAHMS). To date, South Africa’s e-Flora data (http://ipt.sanbi.org.za/iptsanbi/resource?r=flora_descriptions) represents 19,539 indigenous taxa, 79,139 descriptions of distribution, morphological, habitat and diagnostic data, and 27,799 bibliographic records. The e-Flora data was recently published online using the Integrated Publishing Toolkit and henceforth harvested by the World Flora Online (WFO) into the portal. A series of challenges were encountered while manipulating descriptive data from BRAHMS to be ingested by the WFO portal; from taxonomic issues to data quality issues not excluding compliance to data standards. To contribute to the WFO portal, the taxa in BODATSA has to match with the taxa in the WFO taxonomic backbone. Once there is a match, a unique WFO taxon identifier is assigned to the taxa in BODATSA. This process presented various challenges because the WFO taxonomic backbone and the taxonomic classification system that is used by South Africa (South African National Plant Checklist) does not fully correlate. The schema used to store taxonomic data also does not agree between BRAHMS and WFO and had to be addressed. To enable consistency for future, a detailed guideline document was created providing all the steps and actions that should be taken when publishing an e-Flora, managed in BRAHMS, to the WFO portal. The presentation will focus on matching taxonomic classifications between BRAHMS and WFO; dealing with character encoding issues and manipulating data to meet Darwin Core standards

A taxonomic revision of the Argyrolobium robustum and A. transvaalense groups (Fabaceae) in southern Africa

Previous studies on the genus Argyrolobium (Genisteae, Fabaceae) in southern Africa recognized a group of species defined by a suffrutescent habit, monomorphic flowers and leaves, and the plants not turning black when dried as 'section A. transvaalense'. A formal rank was never published for this group. Here a taxonomic study of this group is conducted, including comprehensive descriptions of and a key to the species, nomenclature, typifications, diagnostic characters, and geographical distribution. Based on an assessment of morphological characters, two groups can be recognised; 1) the A. robustum group that comprises four species with a herbaceous habit with up to 55-flowered inflorescences, flowers drying black or turning black when damaged, keel petals lacking pockets, and staminal sheaths fully open above, and 2) the A. transvaalense group comprising five species with a suffruticose habit with up to 24-flowered inflorescences, flowers becoming discoloured (darker coloured or brown) when dried, keel petals with pockets except in A. megarhizum, and staminal sheaths variously fused into a closed tube.Funding provided by: Botanical Education Trust*Crossref Funder Registry ID: Award Number: Funding provided by: National Research FoundationCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001321Award Number: FBIP210331591471Literature and herbarium material (including types) from JSTOR Global Plants (2022), AMD, B, BM, BOL, E, G, HBG, J, JE, K, L, M, MEL, MO, NBG (including SAM), NH, NU, PRE, REG, S, TCD, TUB, and UPS (herbarium acronyms according to Thiers 2023) were studied and used to delimit species following standard alpha-taxonomic methods. Specimens were arranged into morpho types based on overall morphological similarities and distributions. For each morpho type, three measurements of each vegetative and some reproductive (inflorescences, bracts, bracteoles, fruits and seeds) characters were taken from a minimum of five specimens, and where available, representative of the full range of variation. From these, one flower (where available) per specimen was rehydrated, dissected, and flower parts measured. Larger plant parts were measured with a ruler while micromorphological characters were photographed and measured using an Olympus DSX110 digital microscope with Olympus DSX software v. 3.1.9 (Olympus Corporation 2011-2019). Diagnostic characters were identified and used to describe taxa. In addition, fieldwork was conducted in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces (South Africa) to observe plants in their natural habitat. Photos were taken using a Canon EOS 450D with a 100 mm Canon macro lens (Canon Inc.). Specimens with sufficient locality information were georeferenced following the Natural Science Collections Facility protocol (Englebrecht 2021) and distribution maps generated with QGIS v. 3.22.7-Bialozieza software (© 1989, 1991 Free Software Foundation, Inc.)