Although the risk of malformations in the offspring of diabetic mothers remains the leading cause of perinatal mortality, the pathogenesis has not been elucidated. The hypothesis of this study was that protein glycation and oxygen free radicals play a role in hyperglycemia-induced malformations. CD-1 mouse embryos (0-2 somites) were cultured under hyperglycemic conditions for 48 hours with the exogenous addition of anti-glycating agents and oxygen free radical scavengers. The exogenous addition of aspirin (ASA) and D-lysine reduced significantly the malformations and embryonic glycated protein levels. Salicylate, arachidonic acid (AA), and to a lesser extent, indomethacin also exerted protective effects, but with no effect on glycated protein levels. We hypothesize that ASA, salicylate and indomethacin are protective by exerting free radical scavenging action; and ASA and D-lysine are acting as potent anti-glycating agents. Moreover, we suggest that AA may have inhibited hyperglycemia-induced malformations through the protective action of prostaglandins against free radical damage. Serum media lipid peroxidation (LPO) was reduced in the ASA and indomethacin groups possibly due to either a direct free radical scavenging action and/or the inhibitory effects of these agents on cyclooxygenase activity thereby decreasing the oxygen free radicals produced by this enzyme system. On the other hand, AA was associated with an increased level of LPO in the serum media. As the evidence has shown, the cause of hyperglycemia-induced malformations appears to be multifactorial and no one agent can completely eliminate the problem, although protective action can be exerted at different levels of the glycation-free radical cascade of tissue damage.

No description available.

Grief and causal attribution are two of the most commonly observed reactions to early miscarriage, yet little is known about these reactions or whether a relationship exists between them. This exploratory and descriptive correlational study examined the maternal grief intensities, the causal attributions, and the relationship between them in a convenience sample of 15 women who spontaneously aborted at 16 weeks' or less gestation. Women responded to both a written questionnaire and a semi-structured Interview at 6 to 10 weeks post-miscarriage. Their responses Indicated both current and retrospective reactions to their miscarriages. Responses were analysed using nonparametric statistics and content analysis. Maternal grief Intensities were found to vary widely at the time of the miscarriage, but all decreased significantly 6 to 10 weeks later. All women reacted to their miscarriage with attribution-seeking behaviors. The explanations most women formed were comprised of more than one causal attribution. Attributions were observed to have four distinct characteristics. Causal attributions were found to be either philosophical or physically oriented; to be organic, non-specific or maternal/self-blaming In origin; to be either dominant or non-dominant, and/or to refer to causalities immediate or prior to the physical event. At the time of the miscarriage a positive correlation between grief Intensity and maternal/self-blaming attributions and between grief Intensity and philosophical attributions was found. These relationships were not observed 6 to 10 weeks later. A positive correlation was found between grief intensity and attributions to maternal emotions at both the time of the miscarriage and 6 to 10 weeks later. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Nursing, School of / Graduate

Thesis (MScMedSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is considered the second most frequent cause of infant mortality worldwide. Research specifically pertaining to SIDS is limited in the South African setting. Identifiable causes for sudden infant death remain challenging despite full medico-legal investigations inclusive of autopsy, scene visit and ancillary studies. Viral infections could contribute to some sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) cases, especially since a multitude of respiratory viruses have been detected from autopsy specimens. The specific contribution of viruses in the events preceding death, including the subsequent involvement of the immature immune response in infants, still warrants deciphering. Infancy is characterised by marked vulnerability to infections due to immaturities of their immune systems that may only resolve as infants grow older when these sudden deaths rarely still occur. In South Africa there is a lack of a standard protocol for investigations into the causes of SIDS, including the lack of standard guidelines as to which specimens should be taken, which viruses should be investigated and which laboratory assays should be utilised. Objectives: In this prospective descriptive study we aimed to investigate the prevalence of viruses in SUDI and SIDS cases at Tygerberg Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) Mortuary over a one year period. The primary aim was to explore possible respiratory viral infections in SUDI and SIDS cases and to determine the usefulness of molecular techniques to detect viruses from SUDI cases. To determine the significance of viruses, we assessed signs of infection from lung histology. The secondary objectives included collecting demographic data to investigate possible risk factors for SUDI and to look for possible similarities between viruses confirmed in living hospitalised infants at Tygerberg, during the study period compared to viruses detected from SUDI cases. Methods: Between May 2012 and May 2013 samples were collected from 148 SUDI cases presenting at Tygerberg FPS Mortuary. As part of the mandatory routine investigations into SUDI, shell vial culture (SVC) results were collected from lung and liver tissue specimens and bacterial culture results were collected from left and right lung and heart swabs at autopsy. To investigate the possibility of viruses implicated in some of the infant deaths we used the Seeplex® RV15 Ace detection multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to establish the frequency of 13 ribonucleic acid (RNA) respiratory viruses (influenza A and B, human parainfluenza 1-4, human coronavirus [OC43, 229E/NL63], human rhinovirus A, B and C, respiratory syncytial virus A and B, human enterovirus and human metapneumovirus) from RNA extracted from tracheal and lower left and right lung lobe swabs. Tissue from the lower left and right lung lobes were also assessed for histology signs of infection. Results: During our study we confirmed multiple known demographic risk factors for SIDS, such as the age peak around 1-3 months, the male predominance, bed-sharing, sleeping in the prone position, heavy wrapping in warm blankets, prenatal smoke exposure, and socio-economic factors. With the Seeplex® RV15 Ace detection assay between one and three viruses were detected in 59.5% (88/148) of cases. Of the 88 cases that had viruses detected, 75% (66/88) had one virus and 25% (22/88) had co-detections of two to three viruses. The most common viruses detected were HRV in 77% (68/88) of cases, RSV in 18% (16/88) of cases and HCoV in 14% (12/88) of cases. Many of the viruses we detected from our cases are included in the SVC test that forms part of the medico-legal laboratory investigation for all SUDI cases at Tygerberg FPS Mortuary. SVCs were positive in 9.5% (14/148) of all cases only. We showed that the SVC method is potentially missing most of the 13 respiratory viruses we investigated that could contribute to death in some of the SUDI cases. Conclusion: In some cases that had a Cause of Death Classification - SIDS, the PCR viruses detected cannot be ignored, especially when it is supported by histological evidence of infection. We thus propose that the use of PCR could alter a Cause of Death Classification from SIDS to Infection in some of these cases. Further research is needed to determine the significance of detecting viruses from SUDI cases wherein no significant histological evidence of infection was observed. This questions whether PCR may be too sensitive and is detecting past and latent viral infections that do not play any role in the cause of death. The histological picture also requires further characterisation to determine if it accurately predicts infections or lethal events and can truly support virology findings, especially in young infants whose immune systems are still maturing. Without determining the true prevalence of viruses in SUDI cases and the viral-specific immune response, the contribution of virus-specific infections to this syndrome will remain largely undetermined. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Wiegiedood (“SIDS/SUDI”) word beskou as die tweede mees algemene oorsaak van sterftes in kinders jonger as een jaar wêreldwyd. Toegewyde SIDS-spesifieke navorsing in die Suid-Afrikaanse samelewing is beperk. Dit bly steeds „n uitdaging om oorsake te probeer identifiseer vir hierdie onverwagte sterftes in kinders (SUDI) ten spyte van volledige medies-geregtelike ondersoeke, insluitende die lykskouing, ondersoek van die doodstoneel en aanvullende ondersoeke. Virusinfeksies kan aansienlik bydra tot sommige onverwagte sterftes in kinders, aangesien verskeie respiratoriese virusse alreeds aangetoon is in monsters verkry tydens outopsies. Die spesifieke rol wat virusse speel in die prosesse wat die dood voorafgaan, asook die bydraende rol van „n onder-ontwikkelde immuunrespons in babas, regverdig verdere ondersoek. Die eerste jaar van lewe word gekenmerk deur verhoogde vatbaarheid vir infeksies weens die ontwikkelende immuunstelsels soos wat babas ouer word, en die voorkoms van SUDI neem stelselmatig af met „n toename in ouderdom. In Suid-Afrika bestaan daar tans geen standaard protokol vir die ondersoek van wiegiedood nie en daar is ook nie standaard riglyne oor die tipe monsters wat geneem moet word, watter virusse ondersoek moet word en watter laboratorium toetse uitgevoer moet word nie. Doelstellings: In hierdie prospektiewe beskrywende studie is gepoog om die virusse wat in gevalle van wiegiedood of SUDI voorkom te ondersoek. Die studie is uitgevoer by die Tygerberg Geregtelike Patologie Dienste lykshuis oor 'n tydperk van een jaar. Molekulêre tegnieke om virusse aan te toon in hierdie gevalle is gebruik om spesifieke virusinfeksies te ondersoek. Die resultate is met histologiese tekens van infeksie in longweefsel gekorreleer. Demografiese data is verder versamel om moontlike risikofaktore vir wiegiedood te ondersoek. Dit is verder vergelyk met virusse wat met dieselfde diagnostiese tegnieke in babas geïdentifiseer is wat tydens die studieperiode in Tygerberg Hospitaal opgeneem was met lugweginfeksies. Metodes: Monsters van 148 SUDI gevalle wat by die Tygerberg lykshuis opgeneem is, is versamel tussen Mei 2012 en Mei 2013. As deel van die roetine ondersoeke in SUDI gevalle, was selkultuur resultate verkry van long en lewer weefsel, asook bakteriële kulture van deppers wat van beide longe en hart geneem was tydens die lykskouings. „n Seeplex® RV15 Ace polimerase kettingreaksie (PKR) toets is gebruik om die teenwoordigheid van virusse te ondersoek wat moontlik by die babasterftes betrokke kon wees. Trageale- en longdeppers wat tydens die lykskouings versamel was, was getoets vir 13 ribonukleïensure (RNS) respiratoriese virusse (influenza A and B, human parainfluenza 1-4, human coronavirus [OC43, 229E/NL63], human rhinovirus A, B and C, respiratory syncytial virus A and B, human enterovirus and human metapneumovirus). Resultate: Ons studie het verskeie bekende demografiese risikofaktore vir SUDI bevestig, byvoorbeeld „n ouderdomspiek tussen een en drie maande ouderdom, manlike predominansie, deel van „n bed met ander persone, slaap posisie op die maag, styf toedraai in warm komberse, blootstelling aan sigaretrook voor geboorte en sosio-ekonomiese faktore. Die Seeplex® RV15 Ace toets het tussen een en drie virusse geïdentifiseer in 59.5% (88/148) van die gevalle. Uit die 88 gevalle waarin virusse opgespoor was, was selgs een virus in 75% (66/88) van gevalle gevind en twee en drie virusse in 25% (22/88). Die mees algemene virusse was HRV in 77% (68/88) van gevalle, RSV in 18% (16/88) van gevalle en HCoV in 14% (12/88) van gevalle. Baie van die virusse wat tydens hierdie studie ondersoek was, was ingesluit in die roetine selkultuur toets wat deel vorm van die standaard medies-geregtelike laboratoriumondersoeke in alle SUDI gevalle by die Tygerberg lykshuis, alhoewel die selkulture positief was in slegs 9.5% (14/148) van gevalle. Ons het gevind dat baie respiratoriese virusse potensieel gemisdiagnoseer word wat „n rol kon speel in of bydra tot die dood van sommige SUDI gevalle. Gevolgtrekking: In sommige gevalle waarin SIDS geklassifiseer is as die oorsaak van dood, kan die virusse wat met PKR toetse opgespoor is nie geïgnoreer word nie, veral waar die bevinding ondersteun word deur histologiese bewyse van infeksie. Ons stel dus voor dat die gebruik van PKR toetse die oorsaak van dood klassifikasie kan verander van SIDS na Infeksie in sommige van hierdie gevalle. Verdere navorsing is nodig om die waarde van gelyktydige opsporing van virusse in SUDI gevalle te bepaal wanneer daar geen noemenswaardige histologiese bewyse van infeksie gevind word nie. Dit bevraagteken of die PKR toets dalk te sensitief is en gevolglik vorige en latente virusinfeksies identifiseer wat nie noodwendig 'n rol in die oorsaak van dood speel nie. Die diagnostiese en kliniese waarde van die histologiese beeld in terme van die rol van virusinfeksies as bydraende oorsaak van dood moet verder ondersoek word, veral in jong kinders wie se immuunstelsels nog nie volledig ontwikkel is nie. Indien die werklike voorkoms van virusse in SUDI gevalle en die virus-spesifieke immuunrespons nie bepaal word nie, sal die rol van virus-spesifieke infeksies in hierdie sindroom grootliks onbekend bly. / Harry Crossley Foundation / Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (PRF) / National Health Laboratory Services Research Trust

Department of Advanced Nursing Science / PhDH / Background: Despite measures to curb unwanted pregnancies and to sustain and expand abortion services, a high number of complications and deaths still occur. The failure of these measures is evidenced by the high number of women who are admitted to the public hospitals of KwaZulu-Natal Province with complications from induced abortions. KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has repositioned Family Planning to a key priority in its health program in order to improve the situation for women. However, in order to improve the situation, it is necessary to understand the underlying causes. This study sought to identify challenges that affect women's access to Post Abortion Care (PAC) services in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. It also sought to shed light on the challenges faced by those who render PAC services, as well as assess the skills of those workers as observed while they provided PAC services. After conducting the research on challenges related to access and rendering of post abortion care services, the researcher identified a need to develop guidelines for management of unsafe and induced abortion complications, with the aim to improve the life expectancy of women and prevent maternal deaths. Therefore, an outcome of the study was the development of a PAC management guideline. Purpose: The purpose of the study was two-fold: Phase 1: to explore the challenges faced by women when accessing PAC, and the health care workers who render PAC services, and to assess the PAC skills of the health care workers; Phase 2: to use the findings of Phase 1 to develop guidelines for post abortion care management at selected Hospitals of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Methods: The design of the study was guided by the Andersen model of Health Care Utilization. The model focuses on the contextual factors - enabling factors, predisposing factors and need factors - that influence the individual's utilization of health care services. Five districts of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa were selected for the study. A convergent parallel mixed method was used to collect and interpret the data. A qualitative study was used to explore perceptions and challenges of women when accessing PAC; this was carried out by means of in-depth interviews with 23 women who accessed PAC services. Five Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were carried out with 50 health care workers to explore the challenges they experienced when managing abortion complications. A quantitative approach was used for direct skills observation of 92 health care workers. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data; descriptive statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data. Results: From the in-depth interview data, several main themes were identified. Women who accessed PAC identified a lack of facilities that offered PAC service, distance from the community to the hospital that provided PAC service, lack of transport, shortage of staff, unskilled staff, shortage of equipment, long waiting queues, stigma and discrimination as challenges associated with delay or avoidance of access to post abortion care services. The main themes raised by the health care providers were lack of support from the management, shortage of staff, lack of training, burnout, unavailability of the guidelines or protocols and shortage of equipment. The quality of PAC services was perceived as poor by both the women seeking care and the health care workers. The main concerns raised by the women were lack of respect, lack of privacy, sharing of bed and insufficient time with the health care provider. The results confirmed that guidelines are needed for the management of post abortion care services. The findings from the qualitative and quantitative parts of the study were used by an expert group to develop PAC management guidelines. The development of the guidelines was in accordance with the WHO models, PICOS & GRADES. The guidelines were validated by the group using a close-ended checklist, analysed with simple descriptive statistics. Conclusion: This study concludes that access to comprehensive quality post abortion care must be provided for all women at times of need. Quality PAC services should be rendered by skilled health care workers in a facility which is accessible and well equipped with functional equipments and updated guidelines. Recommendations: The study therefore recommends that measures should be taken to ensure the provision of quality PAC services. The PAC services should be accessible with the increased number of facilities, adequate trained health care workers with functional equipment and guidelines. Health care workers must receive training and management support to enhance quality PAC services. Privacy and respect must be maintained during provision of PAC services to ensure quality of care and increase demand. There must be continuous community awareness about PAC services which will encourage early-seeking behavior, and reduce fear of stigma and discrimination by the providers of PAC services before the complications arises. This study did not cover all the districts to identify the challenges on delaying PAC service. Therefore, this study recommends additional clinical, operations and community research which will give broader details and understanding on the challenges that cause delay for seeking immediate post abortion care services. / NRF