827 research outputs found
The possible association between stage of HIV disease and the nutrient composition of breast milk
Thesis (M. Tech. (Biomedical technology)) - Central University of technology, Free State, 2013Breastfeeding is a major source of childhood nutrition and protection, but with South Africa having one of the highest HIV prevalence in the world the risk of HIV transmission from mother to infant through breastfeeding becomes a major issue. Infant mortality due to malnutrition and infections is also of great concern. Exclusive breastfeeding and giving antiretroviral drugs to the HIV-infected mother and the HIV-exposed infant is one of the most significant ways to improve infant survival rates and reduce transmission of HIV through breastfeeding. Whether HIV disease progression and its metabolic impact on the mother will affect the nutrient composition of breast milk is a question that arises.
The aim of this study was to determine the possible association between the stage of HIV disease, as measured by the immunological markers, and the nutrient composition of breast milk.
The study population consisted of 60 HIV infected female volunteers who were divided into two groups. Milk and blood samples were obtained from 30 HIV-positive women that was not on any ARV treatment and from 30 HIV-positive women that was on ARV treatment. Their HIV status and treatment regime were obtained from their files. Participants were also asked to complete a questionnaire.
Macro-nutrients that were measured included lactose, proteins, fat, total solids and the energy content of the breast milk. This was done on the MIRIS Human milk analyser. The micro-nutrients that were measured were calcium and phosphate on the DXC 800 chemistry analyser. Blood analysis was included to determine the stage of HIV disease progression in the HIV-positive mothers and comprised of a CD4/CD8+ T cell count, viral load and a full blood count. CD4/CD8+ T cells were determined using flowcytometry on the BD FACScalibur. The COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test was used for the determination of the viral load and the full blood count was done using a Sysmex XT2000i haematology analyser.
When comparing the analysed haematological variables, the white blood cells and red blood cells indicated a significant difference between the two groups. Both of the groups were anaemic. The CD3+ T cell count was higher and the CD4+ T cell count was lower than the reference range in both groups. The median CD4+ T cells and HIV-1 viral load for the HIV with treatment group was higher than the HIV-infected without treatment group.
The analyzed milk data yielded no p-value of great significance, suggesting that there was no statistically significant difference recorded of the measured nutrients between mothers receiving treatment and those who did not receive any treatment for HIV.
The Spearman Correlation Coefficient was used to determine if HIV disease progression would have an influence on the nutrients that were measured. For the HIV-infected without treatment group, a significant correlation was found between the HIV-1 viral load and percentage total solids in breast milk. For the HIV-infected with treatment group the only positive correlation was between the CD4+ T cell count and the percentage total solids and energy content of the breast milk. No strong positive correlation could be established between the immunological markers of HIV disease progression and the analysed nutrients in the breast milk.
Taking this into consideration, HIV-positive mothers can breastfeed their babies even if their HIV status is at a more advance phase, but the emphasis should be placed on exclusive breastfeeding and getting the needed support to breastfeed
Afrikaanse Speltoetser 2.1 en Woordafbreker vir Microsoft Office®.
Sentrum vir Tekstegnologie. Afrikaanse Speltoetser 2.1 en Woordafbreker vir Microsoft Office®. 2004. Potchefstroom: Noordwes-Universiteit
Requirements for updating of the truck tractor (tt) wim calibration method
The Truck Tractor (TT) Method has been used for the routine post-calibration and quality
management of weigh-in-motion (WIM) data in South Africa for more than ten years. In its
initial form it was called the FTR (Front-axle Truck-tractor Ratio) Method, and was first
presented at the International Conference on WIM in Paris in 2008. The quality and
stability of reported axle loading and overloading information on the major toll routes in the
country improved significantly since the TT Method was introduced.
The TT Method uses the truck tractors of a sub-population of articulated 6- and 7-axle
trucks in its data-based calibration process. The default target weight for these truck
tractors is 21.8 t. Initially the calibration factors produced by the TT Method were
remarkably accurate (typically to within ± 3%) despite the method being very simple.
The TT Method did not maintain its original level of accuracy over the past decade
because of gradual changes in the South African vehicle fleet. Indications are that the
default target value of 21.8 t for truck tractors is currently about 5% too low. It needs to be
replaced with a variable calibration target that takes cognizance of the unique
characteristics of each WIM location. The new target should among other things account
for the split between short and long wheelbase trucks, the proportion of 6- vs 7-axle trucks
and the general degree of vehicle loading. The method needs to maintain a balance
between accuracy and complexity. A first prototype of the enhanced TT Method has been
developed and the results look promising. Once proven successful the method will be
integrated into the smGolem software that is used for the routine processing, calibration
and quality management of WIM data on the major toll concession projects in South Africa.Papers presented at the 40th International Southern African Transport Conference on 04 -08 July 202
Haematological condition of the San (Bushmen) relocated from Namibia to South Africa
No Abstract
Dose-dependent effects of exogenous gonadotrophins on the endometrium of the rat
We compared the serwn levels of oestrogen and progesterone and the endometrial morphology of normal pregnant rats at 5,5 days' gestation with those of pregnant rats given either low (10 IU) or high (20 IU) doses of two gonadotrophins: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and hwnan chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). Evidence of ovarian hyperstimulation was observed in the high- but not the low-dose group; both treatment regimens caused significant changes in the endometrial surface, epithelial height, the microvillous border, the glycocalyx, the subepithelial stromal cells and the mitotic activity of the surface epithelial and stromal connective tissue cells. The effects of the highdose treatment were Inore severe than those of the low-dose treatment. The serum oestradiol and progesterone levels of the treated groups were not significantly different from those of the control group. The changes in the endometrium after both treatment regimens may interfere with normal trophoblastic-endometrial interactions and could influence the maintenance of pregnancy. This investigation demonstrated that even low doses of gonadotrophins, which do not cause obvious ovarian stimulation, affect uterine morphology. The findings haveimportant implications for in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer programmes
Helioseismic Ring Analysis of CME Source Regions
We apply the ring diagram technique to source regions of halo coronal mass
ejections (CMEs) to study changes in acoustic mode parameters before, during,
and after the onset of CMEs. We find that CME regions associated with a low
value of magnetic flux have line widths smaller than the quiet regions implying
a longer life-time for the oscillation modes. We suggest that this criterion
may be used to forecast the active regions which may trigger CMEs.Comment: Accepted for publication in J. Astrophys. Astr. Also available at
http://www2.nso.edu/staff/sushant/paper.htm
Age of diagnosis for congenital hearing loss at Universitas Hospital, Bloemfontein
Background. Congenital hearing loss affects 3 - 6/1 000 children worldwide. The benefits of early identification of hearing loss and early intervention have been clearly established. There are no previous studies reporting on the age of diagnosis of congenital hearing loss in the Free State province.Objectives. To determine the age of diagnosis of congenital hearing loss in the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic at Universitas Hospital. Secondary aims included determining age at first visit, as well as the time delay between first visit and diagnosis, and documenting any interventions which took place.Methods. A retrospective, descriptive study was undertaken, analysing data from 2001 to 2010.Results. A total of 260 cases of congenital hearing loss were analysed. The median age of diagnosis of hearing loss was 44.5 months. The median age of first visit was 40.9 months, and the median delay between first visit and diagnosis was 49 days.Conclusions. The median age of diagnosis far exceeds national and international benchmarks. This has a profoundly negative impact on the development and outcomes of children with hearing loss. These results have been used to motivate for the expansion of hearing screening and diagnostic services in the province
Development Studies Working Paper, no. 47
This Working Paper contains the results of a pilot investigation undertaken in 1986/87 in selected areas of the Keiskammahoek District of Ciskei. The pilot study was undertaken in order to compile a comprehensive plan for a long-term study of the Keiskammahoek District as a whole. Such a study would be designed to analyse socio-economic and political changes which have taken place in the District, measured against the results of a major multidisciplinary research project (The Keiskammahoek Rural Survey) which was undertaken in the area between 1948 and 1950. The existence of the Keiskammahoek Rural Survey affords a unique opportunity for comparative social science research, particularly because it is well known that substantial changes have taken place in the District. However, the precise nature and scale of the changes were unknown; hence, the decision to conduct a pilot survey first. The results of the pilot survey, published here, have turned out to be extremely valuable in formulating proposals for a subsequent on-going research undertaking; and have fully justified the time and money devoted to the exploratory investigation which constituted the basis of the pilot project.Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER
Diagnosis of hearing loss using automated audiometry in an asynchronous telehealth model : a pilot accuracy study
INTRODUCTION : Standard criteria exist for diagnosing different types of hearing loss, yet
audiologists interpret audiograms manually. This pilot study examined the feasibility of
standardised interpretations of audiometry in a telehealth model of care. The aim of this study was to examine diagnostic accuracy of automated audiometry in adults with hearing loss in
an asynchronous telehealth model using pre-defined diagnostic protocols.
MATERIALS AND METHODS : We recruited 42 study participants from a public audiology and
otolaryngology clinic in Perth, Western Australia. Manual audiometry was performed by an
audiologist either before or after automated audiometry. Diagnostic protocols were applied
asynchronously for normal hearing, disabling hearing loss, conductive hearing loss and
unilateral hearing loss. Sensitivity and specificity analyses were conducted using a two-by-two
matrix and Cohen’s kappa was used to measure agreement. RESULTS : The overall sensitivity for the diagnostic criteria was 0.88 (range: 0.86 – 1) and
overall specificity was 0.93 (range: 0.86 – 0.97). Overall Kappa (k) agreement was
“substantial” k = 0.80 [95%CI 0.70, 0.89] and significant at p<0.001.
DISCUSSION : Pre-defined diagnostic protocols applied asynchronously to automated
audiometry provide accurate identification of disabling, conductive and unilateral hearing
loss. This method has the potential to improve synchronous and asynchronous tele-audiology
service delivery.http://jtt.sagepub.comhb2016Speech-Language Pathology and Audiolog
Evaluation and histological examination of a Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis small animal infection model
Bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BGC), caused by Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis, is associated with production losses in cattle worldwide. This study aimed to develop a reliable BGC guinea pig model to facilitate future studies of pathogenicity, abortion mechanisms and vaccine efficacy. Seven groups of five pregnant guinea pigs (1 control per group) were inoculated with one of three strains via intraperitoneal (IP) or intra-vaginal routes. Samples were examined using culture, PCR and histology. Abortions ranged from 0% to 100% and re-isolation of causative bacteria from sampled sites varied with strain, dose of bacteria and time to abortion. Histology indicated metritis and placentitis, suggesting that the bacteria induce inflammation, placental detachment and subsequent abortion. Variation of virulence between strains was observed and determined by culture and abortion rates. IP administration of C fetus subsp. venerealis to pregnant guinea pigs is a promising small animal model for the investigation of BGC abortion. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
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