Captopril in hypertensive black men in southern Africa

A group of 55 black men with mild or moderate hypertension who were being treated with methyldopa, prazosin, and a thiazide diuretic in combination with sotalol, were studied before and after changing their treatment to captopril and a thiazide diuretic. The level of blood pressure control was similar in the 11 men with mild hypertension but the 44 men with moderate hypertension were less well controlled with captopril and a thiazide diuretic. In the men with moderate hypertension the mean increase in the systolic blood pressure after the change in treatment was 4,7 mmHg (not significant) and in the diastolic pressure 6,2 mmHg (P < 0,02). The mean blood pressure was higher during treatment with captopril in 37 men and lower in 18 men (P = 0,01). Thirty-seven men found both regimens acceptable and 33 of these men preferred the captopril regimen; however, 15 men said they did not like the captopril regimen while only 4 men did not like the methyldopa/prazosin regimen (P < 0,01). Side-effects from the captopril regimen were reported by 18 of the men and from the methyldopa/prazosin regimen by 6 men (P < 0,02). It was concluded that the captoprillthiazide regimen was less effective than the methyldopa/prazosin/sotalol/ thiazide regimen for the control of moderate hypertension in this population of black men. Although the men who liked both regimens preferred the captopril regimen, that regimen was associated with significantly more side-effects and was disliked by more of the men than was the methyldopa/prazosin regimen

A Grounded Theory of emergent benefit in pervasive game experiences

The phenomenon of pervasive games is a relatively new and unexplored area of games research. These are games that, unlike card, computer, or board games, incorporate elements from outside the perceived boundaries of play, in order to blur the line between reality and fiction and make the game feel more ‘real’. This thesis investigates the player experience of pervasive games, using a novel approach that is informed by the methodology of Glaserian Grounded Theory (Glaser 1978; 1998) in order to clarify understanding and explore issues that players of pervasive games would be likely to encounter. Following a discussion of various themes such as player interpretation, creative play, ambiguity in games and the ‘magic circle of play’, and guided by the preparatory work of the researcher, SF0 (www.sf0.org) is identified as a particularly suitable example of a pervasive game to use for an in-depth study. 24 players of SF0 are interviewed about the gameplay process, and their responses are analysed using the methods implied by Grounded Theory. A theory evolves regarding their experiences, namely that SF0 is providing the means and motive to take part in everyday activities that they somehow could not, or might not, have done before. In particular, SF0 is helping players to be artistic, outgoing and wise. Informed by the methodology, no formal literature review is conducted prior to the main study, therefore the literature is mainly consulted after theory generation in order to more widely situate the results in the context of games literature. Real-world benefit, such as that promoted by ‘serious games’, appears to be emerging from the gameplay in SF0, despite SF0 not appearing to be marketed as a serious game. This unexpected outcome is discussed in terms of implicit rules (Salen & Zimmerman, 2004), player satisfaction, knowledge transfer, and emergence (Johnson, 2001). It is suggested that one explanation for this outcome is the positive attitude SF0 holds towards contradictions in implicit rules which occur from player-to-player. It is recommended that the future study of emergent benefit in games should not be limited to the games overtly labelled as serious games.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Rearrangement of 4β,5β-methylenepregnanes: A simple approach to A-homopregnanes and 5β-methylpregnanes

A-homopregnanes and 5β-methylpregnanes were prepared from the easily available 3β-hydroxy-20β-acetoxy-4β,5β-methylenepregnane by cationic and radical rearrangements respectively. The A-homopregnane was formed in a single step upon spontaneous rearrangement and elimination by treatment of the cyclopropyl alcohol with BF3·Et2O. The 5β-methylpregnane was obtained by cleavage of the hydrazone of the corresponding cyclopropylketone followed by rearrangement mediated by mercury(II) hydrides. ©ARKAT.Fil:Di Chenna, P.H. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Dansey, V. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Ghini, A.A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Burton, G. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Lymphoproliferative disorders in non-AIDS associated Kaposi's sarcoma

The association of the non-AIDS-related, classic fonn of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) with secondary malignancies, especially Iymphoproliferative disorders, has frequently been noted. However, in endemic: African-type KS, such an association has been reported only rarely. A review of 62 non-AIDS-related cases of KS treated and followed up at Johannesburg General Hospital between 1980 and 1992 revealed 8 patients (13%)'in whom KS was associated with malignant Iymphoproliferative disorders. The prevalence of secondary Iymphoproliferative disorders was not significantly different among patients with classic KS (3/15; 20%) when compared with those who had African KS (4/47; 8%). In both forms of KS subtle disturbances of immunity have been described which may play a role in the pathogenesis of secondary Iymphoproliferative disorders, although the factors responsible and the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in malignant lymphoid transfonnation in these patients have not been fully elucidated