Моксифлоксацин (авелокс) в сравнении с комбинацией "офлоксацин плюс метронидазол" при неосложненных воспалительных заболеваниях органов малого таза. Результаты многоцентрового, двойного слепого, рандомизированного клинического исследования

ЖЕНСКИЕ БОЛЕЗНИ /ЛЕК ТЕРМОКСИФЛОКСАЦИНАВЕЛОКСОФЛОКСАЦИНМЕТРОНИДАЗО

Colorectal cancer in South Africa: A heritable cause suspected in many young black patients

Background. Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) has a low incidence among the black African population. Largely unrecognised in the scientific literature is the fact that a disproportionately large number of young black patients

Monitoring of rotavirus infection in a paediatric hospital by RNA electrophoresis

During the spring of 1987 and the autumn of 1988, stool specimens were collected from infants and young children in the paediatric unit at H. F. Verwoerd Hospital,  Pretoria, and examined for the presence of rotaviruses to assess the potential for hospital-acquired infection in the paediatric wards. Stool samples were also  collected from children admitted to the hospital for causes unrelated to gastro-enteritis to investigate the possible asymptomatic carriage of rotavirus in this population. Hospital-acquired rotavirus infection was detennined in only 9% of cases. Very little asymptomatic carriage of the virus was identified. Electrophoretic analysis of the rotavirus strains showed that the majority of the infections (20 of 42) were associated with a particular strain with a long RNA profile, while 7 minor strains co-circulated (5 with a long electrophoretype and 2 with a short one). An apparent small outbreak of nosocomial infection with a single strain was observed to occur in one of the paediatric wards during the spring and early summer

The uptake mechanism of poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) based particles by mammalian cells

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The intracellular fate of nanocarriers determine the success and efficiency of target specific drug delivery systems and are highly dependent on the cellular uptake mechanism and the chemical composition of the nanocarriers. Poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (SMAnh) possesses many sought after properties, which make it attractive for the use in drug delivery systems. The highly reactive maleic anhydride units allow for easy modification or attachment of drugs through ester or amide linkages. Hydrolysis of these maleic anhydride groups to form poly(styrene-co-maleic acid) (SMA) makes this polymer water soluble and biocompatible, and the amphiphilic nature also allows noncovalent association with hydrophobic drugs. To exploit these properties of SMA for intracellular drug delivery the uptake mechanism of SMA based NPs by mammalian cells was investigated. Different synthesis methods to produce poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride-co-divinylbenzene) nanoparticles (SMANPs) were investigated, and the most promising results for control over SMANPs size were obtained using a tubular reactor. The size of the SMANPs could easily be controlled by the flowrate at which the monomer solution is pushed through the tube. SMANPs between 150 nm and 450 nm, with narrow size distributions, could be readily prepared with this method. The size was limited only by the length of the tubular reactor, and a longer reactor is anticipated to allow the synthesis of larger SMANPs. These SMANPs have intrinsic fluorescence properties; characterization by fluorescence spectroscopy exhibited an intense emission, between 290 – 375 nm, which was attributed to immobilized phenyl rings in the highly crosslinked SMANPs. The SMANPs were used as a model system to investigate the uptake mechanism of SMA based NPs by mammalian cells. Different sized hydrolyzed SMANPs (200 – 900 nm) and SMANPs functionalized with different amine derivates were used to investigate the effect of size and surface characteristics, on the uptake and uptake mechanism in two non-phagocytic cell lines, Vero and EA.hy 296. Results showed that all the NPs could be internalized into the cytosol of the cells, which confirmed the potential of SMA based NPs to be used in intracellular drug delivery. The hypothesis that SMA based NPs can enter mammalian cells through passive diffusion was investigated by inhibition of the endocytic mechanisms through the use of specific pharmacological inhibitors and low experimental temperatures (4 °C), to inhibit all energy dependent processes. Clathrin mediated endocytosis and caveolae mediated endocytosis could have contributed to the uptake of the NPs (360 nm) functionalized with ammonia, ethanol amine and DMAPA in both Vero and EA.hy926 cells. Non - specific uptake by macropinocytosis for some NPs could not be completely ruled out. However, high uptake (60 to 100 %) at 4 °C, was maintained for many hydrolyzed SMANPs with different sizes and NPs with different functionalizations in Vero and EAhy.296 cells, suggesting that passive diffusion through the cell membranes is likely. Very low hemolysis percentages after addition of these NPs to red blood cells were observed, suggesting that after NP internalization, the cell membranes were not permanently disrupted. Given the novelty of these observations, future work is imperative to further probe the cellular uptake of these NP.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die intrasellulêre lot van nanodraers bepaal die sukses en doeltreffendheid van teikenspesifieke medisyne-afleweringstelsels en is baie afhanklik van die sellulêre opname-meganisme en die chemiese samestelling van die nanodraers. Poli (stireen-ko-maleïne-anhidried) (SMAnh) het baie gesogte eienskappe, wat dit aantreklik maak vir gebruik in medisyne-afleweringstelsels. Die hoogs reaktiewe maleïne-anhidried groepe maak modifikasies maklik, en dwelms kan gemaklik deur esterof amiedkoppelings aangeheg word. Die hidrolise van hierdie maleïne-anhidried groepe om poli (stireen-ko-maleïnesuur) (SMA) te vorm, maak hierdie polimeer wateroplosbaar en bioversoenbaar, en die amfifiele aard laat ook nie-kovalente assosiasie toe met hidrofobiese middels. Om hierdie eienskappe van SMA te benut vir intrasellulêre medisyne-aflewering, is die opname-meganisme van SMA-gebaseerde NP's deur soogdierselle ondersoek. Verskillende sintetiseringsmetodes om poli (stireen-ko-maleïne anhidried-ko-divinielbenseen) nanopartiekels (SMANP's) te vervaardig, is ondersoek, en die mees belowende resultate vir die beheer oor die grootte van die SMANP's is verkry met behulp van 'n buisreaktor. Die grootte van die SMANP's kan maklik beheer word deur die vloeitempo waarop die monomeeroplossing deur die buis gedruk word. SMANP's tussen 150 nm en 450 nm, met smal grootte verspreidings, kan maklik met hierdie metode voorberei word. Die grootte is slegs beperk deur die lengte van die buisreaktor, en 'n langer reaktor word verwag om die samestelling van groter SMANP's moontlik te maak. Hierdie SMANP's het intrinsieke fluoressensieeienskappe; karakterisering deur fluoressensie spektroskopie het 'n intense emissie getoon, tussen 290 - 375 nm, wat toegeskryf word aan geïmmobiliseerde benseen ringe in die sterk verkoppelde network van die SMANP's. Die SMANP's is gebruik as 'n modelleerstelsel om die opname-meganisme van SMA- ebaseerde NP's deur soogdierselle te ondersoek. Verskillende groottes gehidroliseer SMANP's (200 - 900 nm) en SMANP's gefunksionaliseer met verskillende amienderivate, is gebruik om die effek van grootte en oppervlakkenmerke op die opname en opname meganisme in twee nie-fagositiese sellyne, Vero en EA.hy 296, te ondersoek. Resultate het getoon dat al die NP's in die sitosol van die selle geïnternaliseer kon word, wat die potensiaal van SMA-gebaseerde NP's vir intrasellulêre medisyne-aflewering gebruik bevestig. Die hipotese dat SMA-gebaseerde NP's soogdierselle deur passiewe diffusie kan binnedring, is ondersoek deur die endositiese meganismes te inhebeer deur die gebruik van spesifieke farmakologiese inhibeerders en lae eksperimentele temperatuur (4 ° C) om alle energie-afhanklike prosesse te inhibeer. Clathrin-gemedieerde endositose en caveolae-gemedieerde endositose kon bygedra het tot die opname van die NP's (360 nm) wat met ammoniak, etanolamien en DMAPA gefunksionaliseer is in beide Vero- en EA.hy926-selle. Nie-spesifieke opname deur makropinositose vir sommige NP's kan nie heeltemal uitgesluit word nie. Hoë opname (60 tot 100%) by 4 ° C is egter gehandhaaf vir baie gehidroliseerde SMANP's met verskillende groottes en NP's met verskillende funksionele groepe in Vero- en EAhy.296-selle, wat daarop dui dat passiewe diffusie deur die selmembrane waarskynlik is. Na die toevoeging van hierdie NP's tot rooibloedselle is daar baie lae hemolise-persentasies waargeneem, wat daarop dui dat die selmembrane na NP-internalisering nie permanent onderbreek is nie. Gegewe die nuutheid van hierdie waarnemings, is toekomstige werk noodsaaklik om die sellulêre opname van hierdie NP verder te ondersoek.Master

Prevalence of vaginitis, syphilis and HIV infection in women in the Orange Free State

Objective. To determine the prevalence of vaginitis, syphilis and HIV infection in women in the Orange Free State.Method. By cluster sampling, 120 rural (farm) and 120 urban (local authority) clusters, each containing 4 women, were selected. Women aged 18 - 49 years who were included in the study had a cervical smear taken for cytological evaluation and blood specimens drawn for syphilis and HIV testing; they were questioned on their knowledge of AIDS.Results. Trichomonas vaginalis vaginitis was present in 27,4% of the rural women and 29,6% of the urban women, Gardnerella vaginalis in 7,2% and 8,4% and Candida spp. in 2,6% and 6,7% respectively. Syphilis serology was positive in 12% of rural and 16% of urban women. HIV was present in 0,4% of rural and 1,5% of urban women. Ninety per cent of urban women and 74% of rural women knew AIDS was a sexually transmitted disease.Conclusions. The prevalences of trichomonas vaginitis and syphilis were unusually high, while HIV positivity was similar to that in other reports in South Africa

A comprehensive analysis of carotenoids metabolism in two red-fleshed mutants of Navel and Valencia sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis)

Kirkwood Navel and Ruby Valencia are two spontaneous bud mutations of the respective parental lines of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) Palmer Navel and Olinda Valencia, showing an atypical red pigmentation of the pulp. These red-fleshed varieties are commercially available and highly attractive for consumers but their carotenoid metabolism and the basis of the mutation have not been investigated. The red colour of Kirkwood and Ruby pulp was observed from the very early stages of fruit development until full maturity and associated with an altered carotenoid profiling. The red-fleshed varieties accumulated from 6- up to 1000-times more total carotenoids compared to the standard oranges. Specifically, the pulp of Kirkwood and Ruby accumulated large amounts of phytoene and phytofluene, and moderate contents of lycopene. Moreover, the red-fleshed oranges contained other unusual carotenes as δ-carotene, and lower concentrations of downstream products such as β,β-xanthophylls, abscisic acid (ABA) and ABA-glucosyl ester. This peculiar profile was associated with chromoplasts with lycopene crystalloid structures and round vesicles likely containing colourless carotenes. The flavedo and leaves of Kirkwood and Ruby showed minor changes in carotenoids, mainly limited to higher levels of phytoene. The carotenoid composition in Kirkwood and Ruby fruits was not explained by differences in the transcriptional profile of 26 genes related to carotenoid metabolism, covering the main steps of biosynthesis, catabolism and other processes related to carotenoid accumulation. Moreover, sequence analysis of the lycopene cyclase genes revealed no alterations in those of the red-fleshed oranges compared to the genes of the standard varieties. A striking event observed in Kirkwood and Ruby trees was the reddish coloration of the inner side of the bark tissue, with larger amounts of phytoene, accumulation of lycopene and lower ABA content. These observation lead to the conclusion that the mutation is not only manifested in fruit, affecting other carotenogenic tissues of the mutant plants, but with different consequences in the carotenoid profile. Overall, the carotenoid composition in the red-fleshed mutants suggests a partial blockage of the lycopene β-cyclization in the carotenoid pathway, rendering a high accumulation of carotenes upstream lycopene and a reduced flow to downstream xanthophylls and ABA

Metabolic syndrome at 6 weeks after delivery in a cohort of pre-eclamptic and normotensive women

BACKGROUND. The association between pre-eclampsia and the subsequent development of metabolic syndrome has not been well documented in low- and middle-income countries. OBJECTIVES. To compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome at 6 weeks after delivery among women with pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia with that in a normotensive, low-risk control group in an urban South African (SA) setting. METHODS. This was a prospective cohort study at two tertiary-level hospitals and one district-level hospital in Pretoria, SA. Women were recruited after delivery and were followed up 6 weeks later to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. RESULTS. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 48/150 women with pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia (32.0%), compared with 33/150 (22.0%) of the control group (p=0.05). CONCLUSIONS. Women who developed pre-eclampsia during pregnancy had an increased chance of metabolic syndrome being diagnosed 6 weeks after delivery. Guidelines should be developed to identify women with cardiometabolic risk, so that interventions may be implemented to modify this risk before and after pregnancy.http://www.samj.org.zadm2022Obstetrics and GynaecologyStatistic

The contribution of coaching and mentoring to the development of participants in entrepreneurial development programmes

CITATION: van Coller-Peter, S. & Cronjé, J. 2020. The Contribution of Coaching and Mentoring to the Development of Participants in Entrepreneurial Development Programmes. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, 18(2):51-67. doi:10.24384/bg74-fc70The original publication is available at https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/items/b6bb9783-f20a-44f6-9e07-f9bdf4437eb1/1/A significant need among small and medium enterprises is the transfer of skills, specifically business acumen, through mentorship and coaching. Despite the similarities between coaching and mentoring, it is important to understand the different contributions that coaching and mentoring can make to the development of entrepreneurs. The findings of this qualitative study acknowledge the different contributions of coaching and mentoring to participants at the University of Stellenbosch Business School’s (USB) Small Business Academy. It is therefore recommended that coaching and mentoring should be defined separately and differently within the context of the USB Small Business Academy’s Development Programme and similar entrepreneurial development programmes.https://radar.brookes.ac.uk/radar/items/7eea93d3-a316-4242-be40-0c9b11997bd4/1/Publishers versio

Avoiding philosophy as a trump-card in sociological writing. A study from the discourse of evidence-based healthcare

In this article I explore a situation where health sociologists encounter pure-philosophical reasoning in the fabric of social life. Accounts of the relationship between philosophy and sociology tend to be framed in abstract theory, so there is a need for practical ways to anchor philosophical reasoning in sociological writing. I consider the use of philosophies as strategic tools for socially grounded understanding, rather than rhetorical trump-cards which bypass socio-political questions. I present my understanding in two stages: first, I discuss my example topic of Evidence-Based Healthcare (EBHC), reviewing some philosophical contributions by writers in that discourse. These niche-writings I contextualise briefly in relation to other academic meetings between philosophy and sociology. Second, I offer three philosophical perspectives on the topic of EBHC, and outline their significance for understanding it sociologically. I conclude that to navigate the difficult ground where philosophy and sociology meet, sociologists can entrain pure-philosophical argumentation to the purpose of critical, socially situated understandings.PostprintPeer reviewe