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Delivery vehicles are necessary for many therapeutics to overcome the various challenges in their path. It is clear, however, that the relationship between delivery vehicles and the immune system is a complex one. One such delivery vehicle is the lipidoid nanoparticle, which has been shown to be potent in several cell types. This thesis details the first time lipidoids have been used for wound delivery, and demonstrates the successful silencing of an inflammatory protein, TNFα, in the context of diabetic ulcers. Knockdown is seen in an in vitro macrophage-fibroblast coculture model, as well as in nondiabetic and diabetic mice wound models. Lipidoids silence roughly half of the TNFα gene expression in the diabetic wound and have been shown to help the wound close faster than untreated controls. Of course, immune activation can decrease therapeutic efficacy or trigger dangerous reactions in the patient. Learning more about what chemical moieties cause an immune response would allow for the design of a particle that could better resist immune clearance and avoid the creation of a secondary response. This thesis investigated the effect of a lipidoid library on the immune system using a two pronged approach. The lipidoids were first tested against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and then were injected into mice to probe the in situ immune response. Several types of B cells were examined in this latter case, namely germinal center B cells, plasma cells, and memory B cells. A T cell dependent response occurred, favoring memory B cells for most of the lipidoids tested. There was an increase in free antibody in the blood that reflected this increase in antibody producing cells. Nitrogen rings and carbon tail lengths of eleven and twelve carbons were particularly reactive, though it appears that the amine head group determines immune response more than the tail. Further work will analyze whether these increases in immune cells reflect a loss of therapeutic efficacy, as current ramifications are unclear. An in-depth T cell subset analysis with flow cytometry would also help complete the picture.

Structural biology forms the basis of all functions in an organism from how enzymes work to how a cell is assembled. In silico structural biology has been a rather isolated domain due to the perceived difficulty of working with the tools. This work focused on constructing a web-based Functional Genomics Information Management System (FunGIMS) that will provide biologists access to the most commonly used structural biology tools without the need to learn program or operating specific syntax. The system was designed using a Model-View-Controller architecture which is easy to maintain and expand. It is Python-based with various other technologies incorporated. The specific focus of this work was the Structural module which allows a user to work with protein structures. The database behind the system is based on a modified version of the Macromolecular Structure Database from the EBI. The Structural module provides functionality to explore protein structures at each level of complexity through an easy-to-use interface. The module also provides some analysis tools which allows the user to identify features on a protein sequence as well as to identify unknown protein sequences. Another vital functionality allows the users to build protein models. The user can choose between building models online on downloading a generated script. Similar script generation utilities are provided for mutation modeling and molecular dynamics. A search functionality was also provided which allows the user to search for a keyword in the database. The system was used on three examples in Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV). In the first case, several FMDV proteomes were reannotated and compared to elucidate any functional differences between them. The second case involved the modeling of two FMDV proteins involved in replication, 3C and 3D. Variation between the several different strains were mapped to the structures to understand how variation affects enzymes structure. The last example involved capsid protein stability differences between two subtypes. Models were built and molecular dynamics simulations were run to determine at which protein structure level stability was influenced by the differences between the subtypes. This work provides an important introductory tool for biologists to structural biology. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Biochemistry / unrestricted

Research shows that up to 80% of recreational skiers have lower limb alignments which can impede their ability to turn their skis properly (Subotnick,1982). The most difficult of these alignment problems to control within a ski-boot is the varus alignment of the subtalar joint (Macintyre and Matheson, 1988). The use of custom molded footbeds made specifically for use inside of ski boots has been suggested as one method of compensating for a varus aligned foot. This study compared the effectiveness of one brand of custom molded ski boot footbed with that of a noncustom insole in controlling the motions of the lower limb associated with subtalar varus. Specifically these motions were those of the rearfoot and the navicular tubercle, along with the alignment of the tibial tuberosity with respect to the mid-line of the ski boot. In addition, subjects were given the opportunity to assess their subjective feelings of edge control, pain, and fatigue while skiing with both the custom molded footbeds and non-custom insoles. The subject group for this study consisted of 13 advanced level adult skiers who demonstrated more than three degrees of subtalar varus when non-weight bearing. Each subject received a pair of custom molded ski boot footbeds at the beginning of the study. Ski boots that had been cut away at the rear and the medial side were used in the laboratory in order to observe the motions of the navicular tubercle and the rearfoot as the subject transferred their weight in a simulated skiing motion. The right and left navicular tubercle, tibial tubercle, and the insertion of the Achilles at the calcaneus of each subject were located by palpation and marked. After sufficient practice of the weight transfer motion, two trials of each landmark were photographed using 35mm slide film. The subjects were first photographed while using the non-custom insoles and again using the custom molded footbeds. The slides were digitized and comparisons were made between the two types of insoles for both the start and end locations of the landmarks as well as for the ranges of motion through which the landmarks traveled. Statistical analyses of the group results indicated that there was significantly less (p=0.000) navicular motion during the shift from the start to the end positions with the use of the custom molded footbeds as compared to the non-custom insoles. The rearfoot angle was significantly less at both the start (p=0.000) and end (p=0.000) positions with the use of the custom footbeds as compared to the noncustom insoles. There was no statistical difference between the amount of rearfoot motion allowed by either type of insole. The tibial tubercle was positioned significantly (p=0.000) closer to the mid-line of the ski boot when using the custom footbeds than with the use of the non-custom insoles. These results indicate that the custom footbeds domaintain the subtalar joint in a more neutral position than do non-custom insoles. During the skiing section of the study the subjects rated the custom footbeds as providing better edge control (p=0.000) and resulting in less fatigue (p=0.000) than noncustom insoles. There was no statistical significance when comparing the ratings given by the group for the level of pain experienced with the use of either type of insole. There was a statistically significant improvement (p=0.000) in race times for the group when using the custom footbeds as compared to the non-custom insoles. The results of this study indicate that custom molded ski boot footbeds are able to control subtalar motion more effectively than a non-custom insole. It appears that this control of subtalar motion enhances the skiing experience by increasing edge control and reducing the amount of fatigue experienced. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus causes a highly contagious, economically important disease of cloven-hoofed animals, including livestock animals such as cattle and swine. In South Africa, the disease is controlled primarily through prophylactic vaccination and strict animal movement control. To control effectively the spread of FMD, it has become increasingly more important to develop diagnostic tests that can differentiate FMDV-infected animals from those that have been vaccinated. Currently, the detection of antibodies to nonstructural proteins, especially the 3ABC nonstructural polypeptide, is considered to be the most reliable method to distinguish virus-infected from vaccinated animals. Towards the development of such a serological test, the primary aim of this investigation was to express the 3ABC nonstructural polypeptide of the SAT2 type FMD virus ZIM/7/83 in both a prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression system in order for the recombinant protein to be used as a diagnostic antigen. The nucleotide sequence of the 3ABC-encoding region of SAT2/ZIM/7/83 was determined, the amino acid sequence deduced and subsequently compared to corresponding sequences of other virus isolates representing all seven FMDV serotypes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 3ABC polypeptide of the SAT serotypes, which are mostly restricted to sub-Saharan Africa, clustered separately from the euroasiatic FMDV serotypes (types A, O, C and Asia1). Amino acid sequence alignments also indicated considerable variation in the 3A, 3B and 3C proteins between the SAT and euroasiatic types located mainly in previously identified epitope-containing regions. These results suggest that the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests based on the 3ABC nonstructural polypeptide of the European FMDV types may be compromised when applied to the African sub-continent. Therefore, a SAT-specific diagnostic assay is required to distinguish virus-infected from vaccinated animals. The 3ABC-encoding region of SAT2/ZIM/7/83 was subsequently expressed in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein using the bacterial expression vector pGEX-2T, and in Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells using the BAC-to-BACTM baculovirus expression system. Although high-level expression of the recombinant GST-3ABC protein was obtained, the GST-3ABC protein was insoluble and could not be purified by glutathione affinity chromatography. Therefore, the recombinant GST-3ABC fusion protein was purified from reverse-stained SDS-polyacrylamide gels and shown to be immunoreactive in Western blot analysis using an FMDV-specific serum. Expression of the 3ABC polypeptide in insect cells infected with a recombinant bacmid yielded soluble recombinant protein, but the level of expression was lower compared to that obtained in E. coli. In addition, Western blot analysis of cell extracts prepared from recombinant bacmid-infected cells revealed the presence of three immunoreactive proteins of 47, 25 and 18 kDa. These correspond with the size of the FMDV proteins 3ABC, 3AB and 3A, respectively, suggesting that the 3C protease was responsible for proteolytic cleavage of the 3ABC polypeptide. Based on the results obtained, the bacmid expression system appears to be more suitable for the production of the 3ABC polypeptide. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted

Orientador: Paulo Roberto Ottoni / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T21:08:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Goncalves_JulioCesar_M.pdf: 958035 bytes, checksum: bff52de81b7c3c724a9c8490e285fb4c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Esta dissertação é uma pesquisa sobre as traduções de Jacques Derrida em língua portuguesa, ocorridas de 1968 a 1986, com a intenção de analisar e incentivar as manifestações dos tradutores, através de notas e demais contextos, diante do double bind da tradução e da desconstrução que se opera nas disseminações próprias do trabalho de tradução. Na dissertação aborda-se também como historicamente se deu a influência da desconstrução no Brasil, quais os locais iniciais e os principais órgãos formais de sua incidência como uma forma de leitura crítica no pensamento brasileiro. O objetivo básico deste trabalho é a coleta de dados que contribuam para discussões sobre tradução, desconstrução e as possibilidades marginais de manifestação do tradutor / Abstract: This dissertation is a research about the translation of Jacques Derrida in Portuguese language, occurred from 1968 to 1986, aiming to analyze and to stimulate the translators¿ manifestations, through notes and other contexts, before the double bind of translation and the deconstruction which occurs on disseminations peculiar to the work of translation. In the dissertation it is also approached how historically the influence of deconstruction happened in Brazil, what were the former places and the mainly formal institutions of its incidence as an instrument of critical reading in Brazilian thought. The basic purpose of this work is to present a data collecting which contribute to discussions about translation, deconstruction and the marginal possibilities of translator¿s manifestation / Mestrado / Teoria, Pratica e Ensino da Tradução / Mestre em Linguística Aplicada

This PhD thesis aimed at evaluating the contribution of participatory epidemiology (PE) to improve the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) surveillance and control activities, especially the involvement of farmers at local level. The first objective aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the FMD surveillance and vaccination strategy at local level by using PE approach. The second objective aimed at assessing the feasibility of applying PE tools to improve the involvement of farmers in the FMD surveillance in Vietnam. PE methods performed in our study included informal interviews (focus group and individual), scoring tools (pairwise ranking, proportional pilling, disease impact matrix scoring and disease signs matrix scoring), visualization tools (mapping, timeline, flow chart) and sociological tools called Q methodology. 122 focus groups, 467 individual interviews, 339 questionnaire surveys were performed during two field studies in 2014 and 2015. 409 sera and 152 probang samples were taken. Conventional questionnaire surveys, Bayesian modelling and laboratory test (ELISA and rtRT-PCR) was used to validate the performance of PE in FMD surveillance. Disease was considered as the most important issues in animal production. FMD was the most important disease for dairy cattle production, followed by haemorrhagic septicaemia. For beef cattle production, it was recorded in reverse order. The most important disease for pig production was porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome while FMD was ranked fourth. Farmers showed their abilities in differential diagnostic of important diseases based on its clinical symptoms. Sero-prevalence of FMD were estimated at 23% for population 1 (bordering with Cambodia) and 31% for population 2 (locating far from the border), respectively. Sensitivity and Specificity of PE were found to be 59% and 81%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value were found to be 48% and 86% for population 1 and 58% and 81% for population 2, respectively. The presence of serotype A, lineage A/Asia/Sea-97 and serotype O with two separate lineages, O/ME-SA/PanAsia and O/SEA/Mya-98 supported virus circulation through trans-boundary animal movement activities. Dairy farms frequently applied quarantine, disinfection and vaccination as prevention methods. Beef farms preferred cleanliness and good husbandry management practices. Pig farms considered that all prevention methods had the same importance. Three distinct discourses “Believe”, “Confidence”, “Challenge”, representing common perceptions among farmers and accounting for 57.3 % of the variance, were identified based on Q methodology. Farmers take vaccination decisions themselves without being influenced by other stakeholders and feel more secure after FMD vaccination campaigns. However, part of the studied population did not consider vaccination to be the first choice of prevention strategy. The benefitcost ratio of FMD vaccination for dairy cow production in large-scale and in small-scale and meat cattle production were 37.2, 30.0 and 7.3, respectively. The sensibility analysis showed that FMD vaccination was profitable for all of production types even through the increase of vaccine cost and decrease of market price of milk and slaughter cattle. From the focus groups organized at sentinel villages, 18 new villages were identified as potentially infected by FMD. 77 suspected animals were confirmed positive for FMD, with viral serotypes O and A. Sensitivity and specificity of participatory surveillance were recorded at 0.75 and 0.65, respectively. The effectiveness of PE in FMD surveillance system to detect outbreak in Vietnam was demonstrated. It was demonstrated that vaccination was the most effective and economic method to prevent FMD. Through the application of simple, adaptive tools which facilitate direct and active participation of farmers, PE allowed to reach a better acceptability of surveillance and to obtain qualified information.

O diabetes mellitus é um transtorno metabólico que leva a uma deficiência na secreção de insulina, na sua ação ou em ambos. O mau controle glicêmico pode acarretar em diversas complicações, entre elas, o pé diabético, que é o responsável pela maior parte de amputações não traumáticas dos membros inferiores e gera um custo muito alto para o tratamento de feridas e de cicatrização das amputações. A tecnologia tem proporcionado a criação de novos métodos de tratamento, como as membranas de hidrogel veiculadoras de fármaco. Com isso o nosso objetivo foi testar a eficiência do hidrogel com papaína no tratamento de úlceras em pés diabéticos. A pesquisa foi realizada no município de Porto Nacional (TO) com todos os pacientes portadores de pé diabéticos que deram entrada no HRPPN de 01 de outubro de 2014 a 31 de outubro de 2015, que se encaixavam dentro dos critérios de inclusão do trabalho e assinaram o TCLE. Para a análise socioeconômica aplicou-se um questionário com perguntas objetivas. Para a aplicação da membrana, as feridas foram lavadas com soro fisiológico a 0,9% e os curativos foram realizados de acordo com o protocolo do hospital e trocados a cada 24 horas. Utilizou-se uma planilha de diagnóstico para realizar o acompanhamento diário das feridas. Dezoito pacientes participaram do estudo, sendo que, 16 deles foram internados devido ao pé diabético e ao DM descompensado. 50% dos pacientes eram do sexo feminino e 50% do masculino, todos com idade entre 29 anos e 80 anos. 22% fazem uso de hipoglicemiante oral e insulina e os outros 78% usam apenas hipoglicemiante oral. 82% têm companheiro ou é casado e a maior parte não possui renda ou recebe até um salário mínimo (61%). Quanto à escolaridade, 28% são analfabetos e 34% não concluíram o ensino médio. 50% dos pacientes são naturais de Porto Nacional e 11% de outros estados. Quanto ao conhecimento que os pacientes tinham das complicações que tem como causa o DM, o pé diabético foi a única citada por todos, as demais complicações eram desconhecidas por muitos; somente um paciente tem ciência de todas as complicações. Dos 18 pacientes, 7 puderam ser tratados com a membrana de hidrogel com papaína, mas como não houve melhora significativa, a membrana teve que ser substituída pelo curativo convencional. A membrana não aderiu à pele saudável e nem na ferida, uma vez que apresentou rigidez, fato que pode ter retardado o processo de cicatrização, já que o curativo não envolveu a ferida completamente. A membrana também apresentou baixa taxa de absorção do exsudato, fazendo com que as feridas ficassem maceradas. A cisteína, composto presente na membrana, fez com que ela liberasse um forte odor que causou repulsa nos pacientes e seus familiares, fato que desmotivou o paciente a querer realizar o tratamento. Dados estes resultados, infere-se que a utilização do hidrogel com papaína não trouxe melhora para as feridas do pé diabético, houve um leve desbridamento em algumas feridas, mas sem cicatrização. / Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that leads to a deficiency in insulin secretion, its action or both. Poor glycemic control can lead to a number of complications, including diabetic foot, which is responsible for most non- traumatic lower limb amputations and generates a very high cost for wound healing and amputation healing. The technology has provided the creation of new treatment methods, such as drug-bearing hydrogel membranes. Our aim is to test the efficiency of papain hydrogel in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The study was carried out in the municipality of Porto Nacional (TO) with all patients with diabetic foot who entered the HRPPN from October 1, 2014 to October 31, 2015, who fit within the inclusion criteria of the work and signed The TCLE. For the socioeconomic analysis a questionnaire with direct questions was applied. For the application of the membrane the wounds were washed with 0.9% saline and the dressings were performed according to the hospital protocol and changed every 24 hours. A diagnostic worksheet was used to perform the daily follow-up of the wounds. Eighteen patients participated in the study, and 16 of them were hospitalized due to diabetic foot and decompensated DM. 50% of the patients were female and 50% were male, all aged between 29 years and 80 years. 22% use oral hypoglycemic and insulin and the other 78% only use oral hypoglycemic. 82% have a partner or are married and most of them have no income or receive up to a minimum wage (61%). As for schooling, 28% are illiterate and 34% did not finish high school. 50% of the patients are from Porto Nacional and 11% from other states. As for the patients\' knowledge of the complications caused by DM, the diabetic foot was the only one mentioned by all, the other complications were unknown by many; only one patient is aware of all the complications. From 18 patients, 7 could be treated with the papain hydrogel membrane, but as there was no significant improvement, the membrane had to be replaced by the conventional dressing. The membrane did not adhere to healthy skin or even to the wound, since it presented rigidity, a fact that may have delayed the healing process since the dressing did not involve the wound completely. The membrane also had a low absorption rate of the exudate, causing the wounds to become macerated. The cysteine, a compound present in the membrane, caused it to release a strong odor that caused disgust in patients and their families, a fact that discouraged the patient from wanting to perform the treatment. Given these results, it was inferred that the use of the papain hydrogel did not improve the wounds of the diabetic foot, there was a slight debridement in some wounds, but without healing.

Les origines des Primates font l’objet d’importantes controverses. La radiation initiale des premiers Primates ainsi que leurs liens phylogénétiques précis au sein des Euarchonta (le clade incluant les Primates, Scandentia, Dermoptères et Plesiadapiformes) sont débattus. De plus, l’interprétation fonctionnelle et évolutive de certains caractères morphologiques qui définissent les Primates est incertaine. Parmi eux, se trouvent l’acquisition de capacités de préhension manuelle et pédale, avec un pied spécialisé dans la saisie et un gros orteil opposable, ainsi que des ongles remplaçant les griffes sur les phalanges distales. De ce fait, le morphotype ancestral des Primate est très étudié, bien que l’arborealité et la petite taille de nos premiers ancêtres soient consensuelles. Le but de cette thèse était de revisiter certains aspects encore flous des origines des Primates, en se concentrant sur les mécanismes de préhension de la main et du pied, à travers une approche interdisciplinaire mêlant éthologie, biomécanique, anatomie comparée et analyse phylogénétique. Un réexamen du genre Plesiadapis (Plésiadapiforme) conduit au questionnement de l’hypothèse récente concernant les relations phylogénétiques des premiers primates. De plus, une étude quantitative des postures manuelles et pédales en relation au type de support utilisé lors de la locomotion, suivie d’une analyse morphologique des métapodes et phalanges de mains et pieds, ont été conduites sur différentes espèces de Primates et non-Primates. Les résultats furent ensuite couplés de façon intégrative afin de relier les caractères morphologiques à leur fonction, tout en évaluant leur importance phylogénétique. Les résultats de ces travaux permettent de proposer des hypothèses alternatives concernant deux caractères clés chez les Primates, comme la fonction initiale des ongles : liés plutôt à une capacité sensorielle que mécanique ; ainsi que concernant le scenario environnemental qui a pu conduire à l’évolution de leurs capacités de préhension pédale : supports fins verticaux et non la niche de fines branches. Également, un nouveau type de capteur de force spatialement résolu a été créé dans l’optique de mieux caractériser les contraintes biomécaniques en jeu lors de la locomotion arboricole. Ce dernier a des applications dans différents domaines, comme la robotique. / Primate origins are subject to important controversies. The initial radiation of first Primates and their precise relationships within Euarchontans (the clade including Primates, Scandentians, Dermopterans, and Plesiadapiformes) are still debated. Moreover, the functional and evolutionary interpretation of some of the morphological characters that define Primates is still uncertain. Among them are the acquisition of manual and pedal prehensile abilities, with a specialized grasping foot bearing an opposable hallux, and nails instead of claws on the distal phalanges. Thus, the ancestral morphotype of Primates is under active investigation, despite the consensus on the arboreality and small size of our early ancestors. This PhD dissertation aimed at revisiting some blurry aspects of primate origins focusing on hand and foot grasping mechanisms, through an interdisciplinary approach blending ethology, biomechanics, comparative morphology and phylogenetics. A reappraisal of the genus Plesiadapis (Plesiadapiformes) led to question a recent hypothesis on early Primates’ phylogeny. In addition, a quantitative analysis of manual and pedal postures relatively to substrate type used during locomotion, followed by a morphological study of hand and foot metapodials and phalanges were also conducted on series of primate and non-primate species. The results were analyzed in an integrative way to relate morphological features to functional attributes, along with assessing their phylogenetic importance. Among many results, this work allowed proposing alternative hypotheses regarding two key characters of primates, the primary function of nails: more linked to sensitivity than to a mechanical advantage; and the environmental scenario that may have driven the evolution of hallucal grasping capabilities: small vertical substrates instead of the fine branch niche. Moreover, in an effort to better understand biomechanical constraints at play during arboreal locomotion, a novel spatially-resolved force sensor was created, which has potential applications in various fields such as robotics.

Introduktion: Fotsår är en vanlig komplikation hos patienter med diabetes mellitus. Diabetiska fotsår leder till stort lidande, där patientens liv påverkas. Det finns en ökad risk för amputation som framtida utfall. Det krävs ett multidisciplinärt team inom sjukvården för att behandla dessa sår.   Syfte: Att beskriva hur personer med diabetes upplever att leva med diabetiska fotsår.  Metod: Litteraturstudie baserat på 12 kvalitativa originalartiklar. Sökning utfördes i databaserna PubMed och CINAHL. Kvalitetsgranskning har gjorts utifrån SBS´s mall för bedömning av studier med kvalitativ metod (SBU, 2020) och en manifest innehållsanalys har använts för resultatanalysen.  Resultat: Analysen resulterade i sju kategorier: Psykisk påverkan, lidande, funktion, sjukvård, arbete & ekonomi, framtid samt familj & vänner. Patienterna beskrev främst negativa upplevelser av att leva med fotsår där fysiska, sociala, socioekonomisk och psykologiska konsekvenser identifierades. Upplevelser som nedstämdhet, känslan av att vara en börda, minskad självständighet och rädsla för amputation uttrycktes. Slutsats: Fotsår bidrog till att patienterna upplevde både negativa och positiva upplevelser, känslor och erfarenheter. För att ge den bästa möjliga omvårdnad behöver sjuksköterskan se patienten i ett helhetsperspektiv för att kunna tillgodose alla aspekter av patienternas liv som påverkas fotsåret. / Introduction: Foot ulcers are a common complication in patients with diabetes mellitus. Diabetic foot ulcers cause great suffering where different aspects of a patient's life are affected, there is an increased risk of amputation present. In order to treat the ulcers health care need to implement a multidisciplinary team approach.  Aim: To describe how diabetic patients experience living with diabetic foot ulcers.  Method: Literature study based on 12 qualitative original articles. Literature searches were performed in the databases PubMed and CINAHL. A quality review was performed and based on SBU’s template for assessment of studies with qualitative methodology (SBU, 2020) and manifest content analysis was used for the result analysis.  Results: Analysis resulted in seven categories: Psychological impact, suffering, function, health care, employment & economy, future and family & friends. Patients mainly experienced negative implications to living with diabetic foot ulcers, where physical, social, socioeconomic and psychological consequences were identified. Experiences such as depression, the feeling of being a burden, reduced independence and fear of amputation were expressed.  Conclusion: Diabetic foot ulcers contributed to patients experiencing both negative and positive experiences and feelings. To provide good care nurses need to apply a holistic perspective and approach to their practice, in order to cater to all aspects of patients' life that are affected by the diabetic foot ulcers.