Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-02-15Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:07:59Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000736208.pdf: 2053203 bytes, checksum: c82376b5cb193316a011e2008b18d737 (MD5) / A infecção pelo HPV é a DST mais comum no mundo. Dos 630 milhões de casos novos anuais, trinta milhões são relacionados a verrugas anogenitais. Embora a forma subclínica seja mais comum, o aparecimento de condilomas também está associado à diminuição da imunidade causada pelo HIV. Tendo em vista as altas taxas de prevalência da coinfecção HPV/HIV, principalmente entre homens que fazem sexo com homens, os objetivos deste trabalho foram analisar a prevalência de verrugas anogenitais em homens portadores de HIV/aids e identificar fatores associados. Estudo transversal, descritivo e analítico com 159 homens atendidos em serviço de referência de Botucatu (SP). Dados sociodemográficos, comportamentais e clínicos foram relacionados ou não à presença de verrugas anogenitais. Após análise hierárquica dos dados, as variáveis com valor de p menor do que 0,2 foram incluídas no modelo logístico multivariado não condicional. Foram diagnosticados 49 (31,0%) pacientes HIV+ com verrugas anogenitais, cuja média de idade foi de 44,6 ± 9,6 anos. Os principais fatores associados às verrugas foram: escolaridade menor que ou igual a oito anos; maior tempo de diagnóstico do HIV; tratamento antirretroviral irregular; baixas contagens de linfócitos T CD4+. Verrugas anogenitais são prevalentes e relacionadas à imunossupressão da infecção pelo HIV. Ações como o cuidado integral do paciente e educação e prevenção em saúde colaboram para diagnóstico precoce e diminuição da vulnerabilidade a DSTs / HPV infection is the most usual STD in the world responsible for 630 million new cases annually, of which 30 million are related with anogenital warts. Although subclinical form is the most common, warts are also associated with reduction of HV-related immunity. There are high rates involving prevalence of the association HIV/HPV around the world. Following this point of view the aim of this study was analyze the prevalence of wart in HIV-infected men and describe the associated factors. cared by a reference service in the Botucatu city – São Paulo/Brazil. Sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical data were collected by an individual interview and medical records. There were 49 (31,0%) HIV-infected men with anogenital warts with mean age of 44,6 ± 9,6 years. The main associated factors were: have up to 8 years of study; longer duration of HIV-infection; irregular treatment to HIV-infection; lower counts of lymphocytes T CD4+. Genital warts are prevalent and are associated with HIV- infection magnitude. Actions such as the complete care over the patients, increasing the education and prevention in health system could help to do a previously, diagnosis and decreasing the vulnerability to STD

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O Aedes albopictus à vetor de diversas arboviroses e utiliza os criadouros naturais como local de reproduÃÃo. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever os determinantes da infestaÃÃo pelo Ae. albopictus em Ãreas verdes na cidade de Fortaleza. Trata-se de estudo descritivo exploratÃrio realizado em quatro Ãreas com alta concentraÃÃo de Ãrvores e presenÃa de criadouros naturais. Foram caracterizados os aspectos ambientais e fÃsicos dos criadouros, a dinÃmica populacional e a possibilidade de criadouros naturais servirem como fonte mantenedora de ovos viÃveis na estaÃÃo nÃo chuvosa. O estudo foi composto por duas etapas ao longo do ano de 2007. A primeira etapa realizada na estaÃÃo chuvosa, com coleta de toda a Ãgua existente dentro dos criadouros, naturais ou artificiais. A segunda etapa foi realizada na estaÃÃo nÃo chuvosa, quando foi coletado o material interno dos criadouros naturais. As caracterÃsticas dos criadouros foram classificadas de acordo com a literatura e relacionadas com a presenÃa de formas imaturas de Ae. albopictus. Na estaÃÃo chuvosa, dos 62 criadouros existentes 49 (79%) eram naturais e destes 25 (51%) estavam infestados pelo Ae. albopictus. Dentre as Ãrvores com criadouros positivos as do gÃnero Terminalia, AcÃcia, Bambusa e Magnifera se destacaram. O Ae. albopictus foi habitante solitÃrio em 24 (96%) dos criadouros naturais e a maior densidade de larvas se deu nos criadouros de menor volume e mais prÃximos do solo. Nove (37,5%) criadouros se mantiveram infestados nas duas estaÃÃes e outros cinco apenas na estaÃÃo chuvosa (14; 30,4%; IC 95%: 16,62 â 44,25). Conclui-se que os criadouros naturais, em Ãrvores de vÃrios gÃneros, oferecem condiÃÃes adequadas para a manutenÃÃo de formas imaturas de Ae. albopictus. Neste sentido pode haver sua propagaÃÃo na estaÃÃo chuvosa seguinte na Ãrea urbana de Fortaleza. Esse cenÃrio amplia os desafios para o controle do dengue e de outros processos infecciosos transmitidos por este vetor. / The Aedes albopictus mosquito is a vector of several different arboviruses and uses natural breeding sites for its reproduction. The objective of this study was to describe the determinants of Ae. albopictus infestation in verdant areas of Fortaleza, Cearà (Brazil). It is a descriptive, exploratory study conducted in four areas of the city with a high density of vegetation and the presence of natural breeding sites. The environmental, populational and physical aspects of these areas were detailed as well as the possibility that they serve as a source of protection for viable eggs in the dry season. The study was composed of two parts conducted throughout 2007. The first was undertaken during the rainy season with water samples taken from natural and artificial breeding sites. The second took place in the dry season and samples were collected only from within the natural breeding sites. These areas were classified in accordance with the literature and correlated with the presence of immature forms of Ae. albopictus. During the rainy period, of the 62 breeding areas in existence, 49 (79%) were natural and of these, 25 (51%) were infested with Ae. albopictus. Among the trees that tested positively in these areas, the genera Terminalia, Acacia, Bambusa and Magnifera stood out, while in the artificial breeding sites tires, opened coconuts and small plastic containers were most common. Ae. albopictus was the lone inhabitant of 24 (96%) of the natural breeding sites and the greatest density of larvae was found in areas of lesser vegetation and closer to the soil, whereas tires held the higher density within the artificial areas. Nine (37.5%) natural breeding sites continued to be infested in the two seasons and five others only in the rainy season (14; 30.4%; CI 95%: 16.62 â 44.25). In general terms, there was infestation of 51.0% of natural breeding only in the rainy season, 30.4% in only the dry season and 63.8% if considered in totality. One can conclude that trees of several genera in natural breeding areas offer adequate conditions for the development of immature forms of Ae. albopictus at several stages. In this sense, there may be expanded propagation in the next rainy season in the urban areas of Fortaleza. This scenario amplifies the challenges inherent in the control of dengue fever and other infectious diseases transmitted by this vector.

Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Medicine. Johannesburg 2012. / Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the most common bacterial oral infections in humans. Prevention and treatment of these infections are oral hygiene measures including antimicrobial compounds which can be chemical agents or natural products. Dodonaea viscosa var. angustifolia is an indigenous South African plant that has antibacterial, antiviral and anticandida properties. This study investigated the antibacterial and antivirulence effect of D. viscosa var. angustifolia on cariogenic bacteria and the causative organisms of periodontal diseases.

No description available.

Polyphenols are naturally-occurring phytochemicals, which form an integral part of the human diet. Results from epidemiological studies have associated polyphenol intake with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. Previous human intervention studies suggested that dietary polyphenols exert their cardioprotective effects through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. While most in vitro experiments have not accounted for the bioavailability and metabolism of these polyphenols, our work has provided direct evidence, using quercetin, that metabolic transformation, together with bioavailability, exert profound effects on bioactivity. We examined the effect of quercetin and its major metabolites on the production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids by human leukocytes. Studies comparing free radical scavenging, antioxidant activity and eicosanoid production demonstrate that there are different structural requirements for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. We also investigated the effect of metabolic transformation on flavonoid bioactivity by comparing the activity of quercetin and its major metabolites to inhibit inflammatory eicosanoid production from human leukocytes. Quercetin was a potent inhibitor of leukotriene B4 formation in leukocytes (IC50 ~ 2µM), and its activity was dependent on specific structural features, particularly the 2,3 double bond of the C ring. Functionalisation of the 3'-OH group with either methyl or sulfate reduced inhibitory activity up to 50% while a glucuronide substituent at the 3-OH effectively removed the leukotriene B4 inhibitory activity. The major quercetin metabolite quercetin-3'-O-sulfate retained considerable lipoxygenase inhibitory activity (IC50 ~ 7 µM) while quercetin-3-O-glucuronide maintained antioxidant activity but had no lipoxygenase inhibitory activity at physiologically relevant concentrations. We conclude that structural modification of quercetin due to metabolic transformation had a profound effect on bioactivity, and that the structural features required for antioxidant activity of 8 quercetin and related flavonoids were unrelated to those required for inhibition of inflammatory eicosanoids.

BACKGROUND Increasingly, it is recognised that the unique needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CaLDB) should be addressed within a framework of cultural competence. To date, there are limited data on the issues facing CaLDB patients in the Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) setting. Appreciation of an individual???s values, attitudes and beliefs underpins negotiation of behaviour change in the CR setting. Therefore an understanding of patient and professional interactions is of key importance. OBJECTIVES The focus of this study has been to undertake an exploration of CR service delivery to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, using Arabic speaking people as an exemplar of a CaLDB group. More broadly, this research project has sought to identify factors, which influence the practice of health professionals towards CaLDB patients, and to develop a model for evaluation of culturally competent health care in the CR setting. The study sought to achieve these aims by addressing the following research questions: 1. In what way do health practitioners in CR adjust their treatment and support to accommodate the perceived needs of CaLDB communities? 2. In what way do factors (such as individual and organisation perspectives) influence the adjustment of clinical practice and service delivery of CR practitioners; and what are practitioners??? and patients??? perception of barriers and facilitators to service delivery? 3. To what level are CaLDB patients satisfied with CR services? This study design is comprised of the following elements: (1) interviews with health practitioners and Arabic speaking background patients as an exemplar of CaLDB patients; (2) review of policy and procedure documents and medical records; and (3) field observation. METHOD This thesis embraces a qualitative approach as the primary method of investigation to align with the exploratory and descriptive nature of the study. The main methods used in the study were: in depth interviews with health professionals and patients; field observations; appraisal of relevant documents and consultation with expert panels. Study samples were selected through a purposive sampling strategy.Data were analysed using the method of content analysis, guided by the research questions. FINDINGS In total, 25 health professionals (20 female and 5 male) and 32 patients (21 male and 11 female) were interviewed. The method of qualitative content analysis was used for data analysis. Data analysis revealed four major themes: 1) The challenging context; 2) Tuning practices; 3) Influencing factors; and 4) Goodness of fit. The study demonstrated a challenging context for CR delivery, both from the perspective of patients and health professionals. Data reveal a process of reflection, negotiation, and navigation of care by CR health professionals in an effort to understand and meet the diverse needs of CALDB patients. CONCLUSION On the basis of the study findings, a process-oriented model of tuning practice to achieve cultural competence in CR delivery is proposed to inform policy, research and clinical practice.

[Truncated abstract] Vitamin E is comprised of a family of tocopherols (TOH) and tocotrienols. The most studied of these is [alpha]-tocopherol ([alpha]-TOH), as this form is retained within the body and any deficiency of vitamin E is corrected with this supplement. [alpha]-TOH is a lipid-soluble antioxidant required for the preservation of cell membranes and potentially acts as a defense against oxidative stress. Individuals who have a primary vitamin E deficiency such as low birth weight infants, secondary vitamin E deficiency due to fat malabsorption such as in abetalipoproteinaemia, or a genetic defect in TOH transport require supplementation. There is debate as to whether vitamin E supplementation in other patient groups is required. Vitamin E supplementation has been recommended for persons with FHBL, a rare disorder of lipoprotein metabolism that leads to low serum [alpha]-TOH and decreased LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations. We examined the effect of truncated apoB variants on vitamin E metabolism and oxidative stress in persons with heterozygous FHBL. We used HPLC with electrochemical detection to measure [alpha]- and [gamma]-TOH in serum, erythrocytes, and platelets, and GC-MS to measure urinary F2-isoprostanes and TOH metabolites as markers of oxidative stress and TOH intake, respectively. Erythrocyte [alpha]-TOH was decreased, but we observed no differences in lipid-adjusted serum TOHs, erythrocyte [gamma]-TOH, platelet [alpha]- or [gamma]-TOH, urinary F2-isoprostanes, or TOH metabolites. Taken together, our findings do not support the recommendation that persons with heterozygous FHBL should receive vitamin E supplementation. ... Sesame lignans are natural components of sesame seed oil and there is evidence that these lignans can inhibit CYP450 enzymes, in particular, those responsible for vitamin E metabolism. We hypothesised that sesame seed ingestion would increase serum [gamma]-TOH, lower plasma lipids and inhibit platelet function in human subjects with at least one cardiovascular risk factor. We used HPLC with electrochemical detection to measure [alpha]- and -TOH in serum and GC-MS to measure F2-isoprostanes and TOH metabolites as markers of oxidative stress and TOH intake, respectively. We used high-sensitive C-reactive protein as a measure of systemic inflammation. Platelet function was assessed using the PFA-100 platelet aggregation assay. Although serum [gamma]-TOH increased by 17%, we observed no effect on lipid metabolism, markers of inflammation, oxidative stress or platelet function following treatment with ~25 g/day sesame seeds for five weeks. Our findings challenge the hypothesis that sesame seed ingestion provides beneficial cardiovascular effects. In summary, we have studied the metabolism and transport of both [alpha]- and [gamma]-TOH in humans to evaluate the requirements for supplementation and the effects of vitamin E on platelet function and CYP3A4 activity. Specialised techniques using HPLC were developed to measure serum and cellular TOH concentrations both in supplemented and un-supplemented individuals. We also used GCMS to provide a sensitive, accurate assessment of TOH metabolites and midazolam pharmacokinetics in humans after vitamin E supplementation. We have examined the role vitamin E has on important biochemical endpoints, with emphasis on the implications for TOH supplementation in subjects at risk of CVD.

No abstract available. / Thesis (M.PH.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

House flies (Musca domestica L.) are common pests affecting horses and their owners. Control of house flies in stable yards is currently based on the use of pesticides. However, the development of resistance by these flies to most pesticide groups has motivated horse owners to seek alternative methods of fly control. An entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Bb) and an entomopathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) are two biological agents known to have activity against house flies. The broad objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of these two biological control agents on house flies in an equine environment. Using a structured questionnaire, presented in Chapter 2, thirty horse owners in KwaZulu-Natal were asked about the nuisance value of house flies, their current control measures, the potential market for biocontrol agents against house flies, and each owner’s perception of biocontrol methods. The horse owners were using three methods of house fly control namely, physical, chemical and biological. Most horse owners (97%) wanted access to effective biocontrol agents for control of house flies. Most horse owners (80%) stabled their horses at night, some or all of the time. The resultant manure piles in the stable yard were considered to be the primary cause of house fly problems. About 64% of the horse owners were dissatisfied with the currently available methods of controlling house flies in this situation. Chapter 3 covers two observational trials in which varying doses of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) were fed to horses, in order to identify a baseline dosage to give to horses in order to adequately control house fly populations growing in horse manure. The bacterium Bti, grown on wheat bran, was fed to six miniature horses at doses of 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g per meal in Trial 3a, and at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8 g per meal in Trial 3b. Faeces were collected three times a week for 11 weeks and placed in incubation trays to allow the number of emerging adult house flies and closed pupae to be counted. In Trial 3a, there was a significant reduction in the number of closed pupae with an increase in Bti in the feed. The regression equation suggests that there will be 3.1 times as many closed pupae in the faeces when horses are fed 1 g of Bti in their feed, than when horses are fed no Bti. This dosage is the minimum baseline dosage for future trials. v Using manure from horses dosed in Trials 3a and 3b, the survival of the bacterium through the gut of horses was evaluated using a standard isolation technique. The growth of Bt colonies on the manure after the Bt isolation technique showed that some of the bacterial cells survived transition through the digestive tract of the horse. This study was qualitative in nature and did not attempt to quantify the level of Bti spore survival. These two observations suggest that Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis has the potential to be used as a biocontrol agent, applied via horse feed, for the control of house flies in stable yards. Future clinical trials, with appropriate replication, should be conducted using 1 g Bti/meal as the lowest test dosage. The objective of Chapter 4 was to determine whether spraying Bti or Bb on to horse manure is effective in the control of house flies. Over a six week period, two spraying trials were conducted in which increasing doses of Bb and Bti were sprayed on to 500 g samples of horse manure. Counts of house fly pupae and adults were taken. The doses of Bb and Bti tested were 0, 1, 2, 4 g in Trial 4a, and 0, 4, 8 and 12 g in Trial 4b. The research reported in Chapter 4 was characterized by the unexpectedly high levels of biological variation in egg, larvae and pupae numbers that were found in samples of horse manure, taken from the same skip two days apart. The statistical design of the two trials conducted was inadequate to cope with the high level of variation about treatment means for fly and larval counts. However, despite the lack of significant differences between treatment means, there is observational evidence that suggests that both Bb and Bti do have an effect on house fly survival. A simplified statistical model, which compared the number of hatched house flies on untreated manure, with the number on manure treated with any level of Bb (1 to 4 g /250 ml water), found a significant reduction in the number of hatched flies on treated manure. There was no significant corresponding reduction in the number of closed pupae, which suggests that Bb acts primarily before the larva pupates. The optimal dose of Bb and Bti to be sprayed on to manure could not be determined because of the high variation about treatment means. It is suggested that, in future trials similar dosages for Bb could be tested, but that higher dosages of Bti (starting at 2 g/250 ml water) should be used. Trial periods should be extended and replication increased dramatically to reduce variation about treatment means. Transformation of data before analysis may also be necessary to equalize variation about treatment means. / M.Sc.Agric. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2013.

Child welfare agencies are currently being challenged to develop and implement educational and prevention programs that address sex education, STDs and HIV/AIDS. Based on two staff interviews, six adolescent and seven staff focus group discussions at Batshaw Youth and Family Centres, three main themes are addressed: first, that along with Batshaw Youth and Family Centres' mandate and initiatives, additional measures must be taken to translate policy into social work practice. Initiatives to educate staff and youth about sexuality, STDs and HIV/AIDS lacked consistency and continuity consequently, staffs and youth's experience and attitudes toward sex education, STDs and HIV/AIDS are affected. Implications for social work are also discussed.