Motivation: Ischemic heart disease is the eighth leading cause of death in an African population. Silent ischemia can be defined as an ischemic episode without associated pain. The clinical significance of silent ischemia is growing and can now be considered as a risk factor in the development of coronary disease. Hypertension and associated risk factors, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes are associated with silent ischemia. Other factors such as higher pulse pressure, double product, heart rate and higher carotid intima-media thickness are also associated with silent ischemia. Urbanisation is rising in South-Africa. This new lifestyle is associated with several risk factors including: poor diets, lower physical activity levels, hypertension and increased smoking and alcohol abuse. The prevalence of stroke is high among Africans, which can be due to a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between silent ischemia and cardiovascular function in African men. The focus fell on hypertension and associated risk factors, higher total cholesterol levels, and increased pulse pressure, heart rate and sub-clinical atherosclerosis. vi Methodology: This study constituted a population study in the North-West province carried out on urbanized African male teachers aged between 20-60 years. The SABPA (Sympathetic activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans) sub-study consisted of a total of 80 African male volunteers. The Cardiotens apparatus was placed on each participant on the first morning. This apparatus took ambulatory blood pressure measurements as well as Electrocardiogram measurements. Hereafter, participants continued with their normal work day until 1700. After an overnight stay at the Metabolic unit of the North-West University Potchefstroom campus, the apparatus was removed at 0600. During statistical analyses, the African males were divided into groups of participants with silent ischemia (SI) and those without silent ischemia (nSI), as determined by the ambulatory electrocardiogram. Statistical analyses were performed by means of the Statistica version 10 software program. Results: In comparison with the nSI men, the SI showed the following: above normal high sensitivity C-reactive protein and glucose, higher ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, pulse pressure, resting ST-segment depression and carotid intima-media thickness. Multiple regression analyses indicated that ambulatory silent ischemia is associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis, possibly increasing their stroke risk. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tydens ondersoeke na kinder seksuele misbruik benut word, het in n hoë mate mettertyd ontwikkel. Navorsing het n waardevolle bydrae gelewer tot effektiewe en geskikte assesseringstegnieke. Verdere navorsing is egter nodig om die bestaande tegnieke te ondersoek. Die persoon wat by forensiese assesserings betrokke is, kan baat vind by die leiding wat navorsing bied. Op grond hiervan het die navorser ondersoek ingestel na die forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tans in die praktyk deur forensiese maatskaplike werkers benut word. Gedurende die ondersoek is verskeie tegnieke wat tydens forensiese assesseringsonderhoude benut word, geïdentifiseer en bespreek. Die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie is vir die doel van hierdie studie deur die navorser uitgesonder. Hierdie tegniek is aan die hand van n gevallestudie bestudeer en bespreek. Ondersoek is ook ingestel na die menings van maatskaplike werkers wat in die forensiese veld werksaam is, asook dié van justisie–amptenare, onder wie landdroste en staatsaanklaers, wat in die hof vir seksuele misdrywe werksaam is, ten opsigte van die benutting van die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie. Die justisie–amptenare was aanvanklik nie vertroud met die tegniek nie. Nadat literatuur vir bestudering aan hulle beskikbaar gestel is, is vasgestel dat hulle ontvanklik is vir en positief staan teenoor die benutting van die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie. Die ondersoek het ten doel gehad: * Om deur middel van n literatuurstudie die forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tans in die praktyk benut word, te identifiseer en te bespreek; en * Om die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasietegniek aan die hand van n literatuurstudie en empiriese navorsing te evalueer. Samevattend kan gestel word dat die tegnieke, soos in hierdie navorsing bespreek, deel behoort uit te maak van die protokol van die professionele persoon wat die seksueel misbruikte kind assesseer. Hierdie navorsing het bevind dat die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie n waardevolle forensiese assesseringstegniek is ten opsigte van die seksueel misbruikte kind. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine associations between physical activity (PA), blood pressure (BP) and renin in urban black Africans. Methods: The study sample included 137 urban African males (N=68) and females (N=69) (aged 41.53 ± 8.13 and 44.16 ± 7.37 years, respectively), from the North West Province, South Africa. Anthropometric measurements, ambulatory blood pressure and energy expenditure were determined. Actical® accelerometers were used to determine energy expenditure (METS) over a 24 hour period. Fasting blood samples were used to determine fasting blood glucose, serum cotinine (COT), gamma–glutamyl transferase (GGT) and plasma renin. Results: A greater percentage (64%) of African males were hypertensive compared to African females (33.33%). SBP (p<0.001) and DBP (p<0.001) were significantly higher in males than females. Female subjects were more obese (32.00±7.75 kg/m2) whereas males demonstrated an overweight status (27.28±5.86kg/m2). Male subjects displayed overall higher lifestyle risks (BP, smoking, alcohol consumption, HIV–status) than females. Multivariate regression analyses demonstrated an inverse relationship between BP and renin in both males and females, but no associations existed between renin and physical inactivity. Conclusion: PA appeared not to buffer elevated blood pressure in this specific African sample, as no significant associations supported this hypothesis. The results confirm that black Africans display lower renin levels associated with elevated blood pressure. Furthermore, low renin and physical inactivity was not related to indicate elevated BP through elevated SNS activity. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Biokinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Motivation: Ischemic heart disease is the eighth leading cause of death in an African population. Silent ischemia can be defined as an ischemic episode without associated pain. The clinical significance of silent ischemia is growing and can now be considered as a risk factor in the development of coronary disease. Hypertension and associated risk factors, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes are associated with silent ischemia. Other factors such as higher pulse pressure, double product, heart rate and higher carotid intima-media thickness are also associated with silent ischemia. Urbanisation is rising in South-Africa. This new lifestyle is associated with several risk factors including: poor diets, lower physical activity levels, hypertension and increased smoking and alcohol abuse. The prevalence of stroke is high among Africans, which can be due to a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between silent ischemia and cardiovascular function in African men. The focus fell on hypertension and associated risk factors, higher total cholesterol levels, and increased pulse pressure, heart rate and sub-clinical atherosclerosis. vi Methodology: This study constituted a population study in the North-West province carried out on urbanized African male teachers aged between 20-60 years. The SABPA (Sympathetic activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans) sub-study consisted of a total of 80 African male volunteers. The Cardiotens apparatus was placed on each participant on the first morning. This apparatus took ambulatory blood pressure measurements as well as Electrocardiogram measurements. Hereafter, participants continued with their normal work day until 1700. After an overnight stay at the Metabolic unit of the North-West University Potchefstroom campus, the apparatus was removed at 0600. During statistical analyses, the African males were divided into groups of participants with silent ischemia (SI) and those without silent ischemia (nSI), as determined by the ambulatory electrocardiogram. Statistical analyses were performed by means of the Statistica version 10 software program. Results: In comparison with the nSI men, the SI showed the following: above normal high sensitivity C-reactive protein and glucose, higher ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, pulse pressure, resting ST-segment depression and carotid intima-media thickness. Multiple regression analyses indicated that ambulatory silent ischemia is associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis, possibly increasing their stroke risk. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tydens ondersoeke na kinder seksuele misbruik benut word, het in n hoë mate mettertyd ontwikkel. Navorsing het n waardevolle bydrae gelewer tot effektiewe en geskikte assesseringstegnieke. Verdere navorsing is egter nodig om die bestaande tegnieke te ondersoek. Die persoon wat by forensiese assesserings betrokke is, kan baat vind by die leiding wat navorsing bied. Op grond hiervan het die navorser ondersoek ingestel na die forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tans in die praktyk deur forensiese maatskaplike werkers benut word. Gedurende die ondersoek is verskeie tegnieke wat tydens forensiese assesseringsonderhoude benut word, geïdentifiseer en bespreek. Die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie is vir die doel van hierdie studie deur die navorser uitgesonder. Hierdie tegniek is aan die hand van n gevallestudie bestudeer en bespreek. Ondersoek is ook ingestel na die menings van maatskaplike werkers wat in die forensiese veld werksaam is, asook dié van justisie–amptenare, onder wie landdroste en staatsaanklaers, wat in die hof vir seksuele misdrywe werksaam is, ten opsigte van die benutting van die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie. Die justisie–amptenare was aanvanklik nie vertroud met die tegniek nie. Nadat literatuur vir bestudering aan hulle beskikbaar gestel is, is vasgestel dat hulle ontvanklik is vir en positief staan teenoor die benutting van die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie. Die ondersoek het ten doel gehad: * Om deur middel van n literatuurstudie die forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tans in die praktyk benut word, te identifiseer en te bespreek; en * Om die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasietegniek aan die hand van n literatuurstudie en empiriese navorsing te evalueer. Samevattend kan gestel word dat die tegnieke, soos in hierdie navorsing bespreek, deel behoort uit te maak van die protokol van die professionele persoon wat die seksueel misbruikte kind assesseer. Hierdie navorsing het bevind dat die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie n waardevolle forensiese assesseringstegniek is ten opsigte van die seksueel misbruikte kind. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine associations between physical activity (PA), blood pressure (BP) and renin in urban black Africans. Methods: The study sample included 137 urban African males (N=68) and females (N=69) (aged 41.53 ± 8.13 and 44.16 ± 7.37 years, respectively), from the North West Province, South Africa. Anthropometric measurements, ambulatory blood pressure and energy expenditure were determined. Actical® accelerometers were used to determine energy expenditure (METS) over a 24 hour period. Fasting blood samples were used to determine fasting blood glucose, serum cotinine (COT), gamma–glutamyl transferase (GGT) and plasma renin. Results: A greater percentage (64%) of African males were hypertensive compared to African females (33.33%). SBP (p<0.001) and DBP (p<0.001) were significantly higher in males than females. Female subjects were more obese (32.00±7.75 kg/m2) whereas males demonstrated an overweight status (27.28±5.86kg/m2). Male subjects displayed overall higher lifestyle risks (BP, smoking, alcohol consumption, HIV–status) than females. Multivariate regression analyses demonstrated an inverse relationship between BP and renin in both males and females, but no associations existed between renin and physical inactivity. Conclusion: PA appeared not to buffer elevated blood pressure in this specific African sample, as no significant associations supported this hypothesis. The results confirm that black Africans display lower renin levels associated with elevated blood pressure. Furthermore, low renin and physical inactivity was not related to indicate elevated BP through elevated SNS activity. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Biokinetics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Darbo tikslas: Nustatyti padidėjusio arterinio kraujospūdžio paplitimą tarp 14-15 metų amžiaus vaikų ir įvertinti veiksnių įtaką jo rizikai. Uždaviniai: .Nustatyti padidėjusio arterinio kraujospūdžio paplitimą tarp 14- 15 metų amžiaus vaikų;Nustatyti kai kurių aplinkos veiksnių įtaką arterinio kraujospūdžio rizikai; Įvertinti sąsajas tarp padidėjusio arterinio kraujo spaudimo ir analizuotų rizikos veiksnių. Tyrimo metodika. Gavus Kauno regioninio biomedicininių tyrimų etikos komiteto leidimą, 2010 m. lapkričio mėnesį buvo pradėtas tyrimas, kuriame dalyvavo 56- ių Kauno miesto mokyklų 12-15 metų amžiaus moksleiviai. Arterinis kraujo spaudimas buvo išmatuotas 2692 moksleiviams, 1468 mergaitėms ir 1224 berniukams. Atlikus matavimus vaikams buvo pateiktos anketos, kuriose buvo 80 klausimų. Klausimynas suskirstytas į grupes: bendroji dalis, mityba, emocijos, aktyvumas, miegas ir elgsena. Gautų rezultatų analizė buvo atlikta, naudojant SPSS 17.0 for Windows, Exel 2007 programas. Rezultatai. Analizuojant Kauno miesto moksleivių AKS rodmenis buvo nustatyta, kad 57,4 proc. 14-15 metų amžiaus moksleivių neturi problemų su kraujospūdžio padidėjimu. 26,4 proc. moksleivių buvo nustatytas aukštas normalus AKS (atitinkantis prehipertenzijos lygį), o 16,2 proc. nustatytas padidėjęs AKS (atitinkantis I ir II laipsnio hipertenziją (AH)). Gauti rezultatai parodė didesnę AKS riziką berniukams. Gimnazijose padidėjęs AKS sudarė 42,4 proc. , vidurinėse mokyklose 43,3 proc. o pagrindinėse 39,7 proc... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Aim of the research. To identify diffusion of raised arterial blood pressure among 14-15 year olds and to evaluate the factors of the risk. Objectives of the research: to identify prevalence of raised arterial blood pressure among 14-15 year olds; to set some environmental factors on the risk of arterial blood pressure; to evaluate the correlation between the increased arterial blood pressure and analyzed risk factors. Methodology of the research: In November 2010, upon thepermit of Kaunas region Regional Biomedical Research Ethics Committee the research was started in which 12-15 year old pupils from 56 schools in Kaunas took part. The arterial blood pressure was measured for 2692 pupils – 1468 girls and 1224 boys.After accomplishing the measurements pupils weregiven a questionnaire, consisting of 80 questions. The questionnaire was divided into parts: common part, nutrition, emotions, activities, rest and behavior. The analysis of the results was carried out by using SPSS 17.0 for Windows and Exel 2007 programs. Results of the research. During the analysis of the data received it was identified that 57,4 % of 14-15 year olds do not meet the problem of increased blood pressure. 26,4 % have high normal ABP (corresponding to the level of prehypertensia), and increased ABP was identyfied to 16,2 %. (corresponding to I and II degree hypertensia (AH)). The obtained results indicated ABP risk to boys. Gymnasiums had 42.4 %. of whom had increased ABP as well as in secondary... [to full text]

Previous research has reported positive associations between anger, perceived stress and blood pressure. These associations have largely been based on cross-sectional data and a small number of longitudinal works. Using a prospective longitudinal cohort design, this study more directly tested the relationships between anger, perceived stress and blood pressure by using a psychological therapeutic intervention (mindfulness-based stress reduction) to manipulate anger and perceived stress. Anger and perceived stress were in turn evaluated for association with blood pressure. Despite improvements in psychosocial functioning and reductions in blood pressure, findings from this study failed to demonstrate an association between change in anger or perceived stress with change in daytime or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure. A model where these variables interact indirectly via stress coping mechanisms or health behaviours may be the linking mechanism in this study. Results from this thesis have contributed evidence to a divided field dominated by cross-sectional research.

Previous research has reported positive associations between anger, perceived stress and blood pressure. These associations have largely been based on cross-sectional data and a small number of longitudinal works. Using a prospective longitudinal cohort design, this study more directly tested the relationships between anger, perceived stress and blood pressure by using a psychological therapeutic intervention (mindfulness-based stress reduction) to manipulate anger and perceived stress. Anger and perceived stress were in turn evaluated for association with blood pressure. Despite improvements in psychosocial functioning and reductions in blood pressure, findings from this study failed to demonstrate an association between change in anger or perceived stress with change in daytime or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure. A model where these variables interact indirectly via stress coping mechanisms or health behaviours may be the linking mechanism in this study. Results from this thesis have contributed evidence to a divided field dominated by cross-sectional research.