Detection of two strains of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2

Two strains of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2) were obtained by mechanical transmission from grapevines to Nicotiana benthantiana. The strains, designated 94/970 and 93/955, consistently differed with regard to the development of symptoms. The first induced chlorotic and occasional white-necrotic local lesions while the second induced chlorotic followed by metallic-opalescent, solid necrotic local lesions. The strains were indistinguishable with regard to the molecular weight of their capsid proteins or serologically. A difference in the pattern of minor dsRNA bands was consistently observed

Determinants of communication between partners about STD symptoms: implications for partner referral in South Africa

BackgroundSTDs as preventable diseases are a major public health problem in South Africa, both in terms of their effect on quality of life, their economic costs and the fact that STDs as co-factors drive the HIV epidemic. Their widespread occurrence and high prevalence rates are cause for concern. It is argued that the duration of infection increases the probability of harmful sequelae and STD transmission, including HIV, to others. The promotion of seeking health care for STD symptoms at an early stage and partner referral for STD treatment are important strategies in preventing STD transmission to others and re-infection of partners. The cost implications of contact tracing by healthcare workers has resulted in patients being encouraged to refer their partners for STD treatment. This has not always been effective, despite efforts to improve partner referral rates by improved “contact cards” (i.e. a card with a code representing the STD that the patient has been treated for to be given to sexual partners as a way to speed up treatment) and more accessible healthcare services. Other studies have found that the proportion of clients who present with contact cards at STD services ranged from about 2% to 39%, while the proportion of partners who were referred for treatment range from 16% to 30%. Mathews et al. argue that returning contact cards might not be a sensitive enough proxy indicator for partner referral rates.Partner referrals have been found to be seriously compromised by patients' causal explanations for STDs, as well as by the unequal power of the genders in sexual relationships, which impacts on the patients' ability to communicate about sexual matters. Patients often lack an understanding of the importance of referring their asymptomatic partners for treatment. Women's inability to discuss sexual issues due to their unequal status in sexual relationships might impact on partner referral behaviour. Men have been found to blame the STD on the “outside women” (sexual partners outside the primary relationship) and are therefore less likely to refer these partners. The conflict that could arise from informing a partner about an STD was viewed by men as a reason not to communicate about having a STD.While the ability to communicate about STDs with sexual partners is an essential prerequisite for referring them for medical treatment, little attention has been paid to understanding this process. This study is aimed at gaining some understanding of the determinants of communication between partners about STD symptoms. In this study, “talking with a partner about STD symptoms” before seeking medical treatment was viewed as an indication of the likelihood of future partner referral behaviour.Methods A randomly selected sample of 1 477 patients with STD symptoms was interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the determinants of talking to a partner about the present STD.ResultsIt was found that patients who had talked with their partner about their current STD symptoms were more likely to be female, be employed, have a tertiary level of education, have had only one sexual partner in the preceding six months, have used condoms, albeit inconsistently during the last six months, and to have thought about abstaining from sex while infected. Those who talked were also more likely to have good knowledge about the effects of STDs and the transmission of STDs in the absence of symptoms, had positive attitudes towards condoms and perceived social support for partner referral.ConclusionImproved partner referral through health education interventions needs to focus specifically on a subgroup of patients, e.g. men and the unemployed, and on the improvement of knowledge regarding the consequences of STDs and asymptomatic transmission. Social and partner support for partner referral and perceived self-efficacy in this regard should be encouraged and maintained. In the absence of skills and counselling services to manage the consequences of STD partner referral, this prevention strategy will remain vulnerable.For full text, click here:SA Fam Pract 2006;48(7):17-17

Interventions for chronic low back pain: whole body vibration and spinal stabilisation

Objectives. This study explored, described and compared the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) therapy and conventional spinal stabilisation exercises in persons with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Design. A non-randomised sampling technique was used to delineate the base of volunteers gathered by a combination of accidental and snowball sampling methods. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned into either a WBV or a spinal stabilisation (SS) group. The dependent variables were perception of pain and general functionality, abdominal muscular endurance, spinal muscular endurance and hamstring flexibility. These were measured at the pre-, mid- and post-test assessments. During the 8-week intervention, both groups performed the same spinal stabilisation exercises 3 sessions per week, the difference being the dynamic performance of the conventional land-based SS group compared with the static, isometric performance on the vibration platform. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) determined differences between groups at the pre-, mid- and post-test. Dependent sample t-tests were computed to determine whether the increases/decreases over time were significant within each group. Cohen’s d was used to determine the practical significance of results. Results. There were significant decreases in perception of pain and enhanced performance of functional activity of daily living, increases in abdominal and hamstring flexibility midway through and after the intervention period for both groups. Neither of the two methods of rehabilitation was significantly superior except for spinal muscular endurance in the WBV group after the 8-week intervention. WBV could be considered as an alternative method of exercise intervention for the rehabilitation of CLBP

First report of a Turnip yellows virus in association with the brassica stunting disorder in South Africa

No abstract available.http://apsjournals.apsnet.org/loi/pdisMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

Partial right atrial inflow occlusion for transient systemic hypotension during deployment of thoracic stentgrafts

Purpose Temporary balloon occlusion of the inferior vena cava to lower cardiac output is a relatively infrequently used technique to induce controlled systemic hypotension. In this technical note, we describe the feasibility, reliability, and safety of partial occlusion of right atrial inflow and the effect on systemic blood pressure during the deployment of a thoracic stentgraft. Materials and Methods Twenty consecutive patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair, with proximal landing in zone 0-3 of the thoracic aorta, were prospectively included. Right atrial inflow occlusion was performed with a compliant occlusion balloon. Results Median time to reach a mean arterial pressure of 50 mmHg was 43 s. Median recovery time of blood pressure was 42 s. Conclusion Partial right atrial inflow occlusion with an occlusion balloon is feasible with reliable results and without procedure-related complications.Cardiovascular Aspects of Radiolog

Role of the residual layer and large-scale subsidence on the development and evolution of the convective boundary layer

Observations, mixed-layer theory and the Dutch Large-Eddy Simulation model (DALES) are used to analyze the dynamics of the boundary layer during an intensive operational period (1 July 2011) of the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence campaign. Continuous measurements made by remote sensing and in situ instruments in combination with radio soundings, and measurements done by remotely piloted aircraft systems and two manned aircrafts probed the vertical structure and the temporal evolution of the boundary layer during the campaign. The initial vertical profiles of potential temperature, specific humidity and wind, and the temporal evolution of the surface heat and moisture fluxes prescribed in the models runs are inspired by some of these observations.; The research focuses on the role played by the residual layer during the morning transition and by the large-scale subsidence on the evolution of the boundary layer. By using DALES, we show the importance of the dynamics of the boundary layer during the previous night in the development of the boundary layer at the morning. DALES numerical experiments including the residual layer are capable of modeling the observed sudden increase of the boundary-layer depth during the morning transition and the subsequent evolution of the boundary layer. These simulations show a large increase of the entrainment buoyancy flux when the residual layer is incorporated into the mixed layer. We also examine how the inclusion of the residual layer above a shallow convective boundary layer modifies the turbulent kinetic energy budget.; Large-scale subsidence mainly acts when the boundary layer is fully developed, and, for the studied day, it is necessary to be considered to reproduce the afternoon observations.; Finally, we also investigate how carbon dioxide (CO2) mixing ratio stored the previous night in the residual layer plays a fundamental role in the evolution of the CO2 mixing ratio during the following day.Postprint (published version

Impact of Temporary Portocaval Shunting and Initial Arterial Reperfusion in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Perioperative Medicine: Efficacy, Safety and Outcom

BRCA1-deficient mammary tumor cells are dependent on EZH2 expression and sensitive to Polycomb Repressive Complex 2-inhibitor 3-deazaneplanocin A

10.1186/bcr2354Breast Cancer Research114R6

Primary capreomycin resistance is common and associated with early mortality in patients with extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

CAPRISA, 2015.Abstract available in pdf