Thesis (PhD.--Faculty of Health Sciences)-University of Pretoria, 2004. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-183).

Thesis (M.S.) -- Mississippi State University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-96). Available online in PDF format.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-127).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1991.

Thesis (M.S.)--Purdue University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-56).

Orientador: Daniela Ponce / Resumo: Introdução: O prognóstico da lesão renal aguda (LRA) é desfavorável, com mortalidade intra-hospitalar de 40% a 80% e em longo prazo entre 15 e 72%. O impacto negativo da desnutrição sobre a evolução em curto prazo dos pacientes com LRA tem sido recentemente confirmado por diferentes estudos, já a evolução nutricional após a alta hospitalar de pacientes críticos tem sido pouco estudada. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a evolução nutricional dos pacientes após episódio de LRA e identificar marcadores nutricionais associados ao óbito tardio destes pacientes. Materiais e métodos: Estudo tipo coorte prospectivo realizado com pacientes maiores de 18 anos, com diagnóstico de LRA renal ou pós-renal, acompanhados pelo Grupo da LRA da Disciplina de Nefrologia do Departamento de Clínica Médica da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (FMB-UNESP) e submetidos à avaliação nutricional completa que incluiu a antropometria, a ingestão alimentar, a bioimpedância, os exames bioquímicos, a força de preensão manual, a anamnese e a avaliação subjetiva global; realizada em dois momentos durante a internação hospitalar (no momento da avaliação inicial e na alta do nefrologista) e em três momentos após a alta hospitalar (com 1 mês, 3 e 6 meses). Resultados: Foram incluídos 95 pacientes, que apresentaram idade de 62,3 ± 14,7 anos, prevalência de internação em enfermarias clínicas de 71,6%, índice de severidade da LRA (ATN-ISS) de 28%, sepse como principal etiologia (32,6%), mortalidade intra-hospitalar de 13,6% e tardia de 25,6%. Foram associados à mortalidade no ambiente hospitalar a gravidade da LRA (HR=1,89, IC95%= 1,48-3,46, p=0,04), a ausência de recuperação da função renal (HR=1,46, IC=1,02 - 2,16, p=0,03), a perda de peso grave (HR=1,95, IC95%= 1,19-3,3, p=0,02), a reactância no momento da avaliação do nefrologista (HR=1,51, IC95%=1,04-1,91, p=0,01) e o valor da albumina sérica no momento da última... / Abstract: Introduction: The prognosis of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is poor, with early mortality rate from 40% to 80% and late mortality between 15 and 72%. The negative impact of malnutrition on the early outcome of AKI patients has recently been confirmed by various studies. However, nutritional evaluation after discharge of critically ill patients has not been studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional status of patients after an episode of AKI and identify nutritional markers associated with late death in these patients. Methods: Prospective cohort study was performed with patients older than 18 years diagnosed with renal or post-renal AKI and followed up by AKI team, Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu School of Medicine and underwent complete nutritional assessment that included anthropometry, food intake, bioimpedance, biochemical tests, handgrip, anamnesis and subjective global assessment. It was performed in two moments at hospitalization (at the beginning and end of nephrologist evaluation) and in three moments after hospital discharge (at 1 month, 3 and 6 months). Results: We included 95 patients, age of 62.3 ± 14.7 years, prevalence of hospitalization in medical wards of 71.6%, index of severity of AKI (ATN-ISS) of 28%, early and late mortality rates were 13.6 and 25.6%,respectively. Risk factors associated with early mortality were AKI severity (HR=1.89, 95%CI= 1.48-3.46, p=0.04), no recovery of renal function (HR=1.46, 95%IC=1.02 - 2.16, p=0.03), severe weigh loss (HR=1.95, 95%CI= 1.19-3.3, p=0.02), reactance at first moment of nephrologist evaluation (HR=1.51, 95%CI=1.04-1.91, p=0.01) and albumin at last nephrologist evaluation (HR=1.41, 95%CI=1.04-1.61, p=0.01). weight variation between time of first evaluation by a nephrologists and after 1 month of outpatient follow-up (71.10 ± 19.43 x 71.66 ± 21, p = 0.02) and with late mortality the number of comorbidities (HR=1.79, 95%CI=1.45-2.46, p=0.04), cancer ... / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-10T14:23:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-02-27. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-12-10T14:29:54Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000851584.pdf: 1438887 bytes, checksum: f5b484c29744d12b5da935807b55f362 (MD5) / Introdução: O prognóstico da lesão renal aguda (LRA) é desfavorável, com mortalidade intra-hospitalar de 40% a 80% e em longo prazo entre 15 e 72%. O impacto negativo da desnutrição sobre a evolução em curto prazo dos pacientes com LRA tem sido recentemente confirmado por diferentes estudos, já a evolução nutricional após a alta hospitalar de pacientes críticos tem sido pouco estudada. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a evolução nutricional dos pacientes após episódio de LRA e identificar marcadores nutricionais associados ao óbito tardio destes pacientes. Materiais e métodos: Estudo tipo coorte prospectivo realizado com pacientes maiores de 18 anos, com diagnóstico de LRA renal ou pós-renal, acompanhados pelo Grupo da LRA da Disciplina de Nefrologia do Departamento de Clínica Médica da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu (FMB-UNESP) e submetidos à avaliação nutricional completa que incluiu a antropometria, a ingestão alimentar, a bioimpedância, os exames bioquímicos, a força de preensão manual, a anamnese e a avaliação subjetiva global; realizada em dois momentos durante a internação hospitalar (no momento da avaliação inicial e na alta do nefrologista) e em três momentos após a alta hospitalar (com 1 mês, 3 e 6 meses). Resultados: Foram incluídos 95 pacientes, que apresentaram idade de 62,3 ± 14,7 anos, prevalência de internação em enfermarias clínicas de 71,6%, índice de severidade da LRA (ATN-ISS) de 28%, sepse como principal etiologia (32,6%), mortalidade intra-hospitalar de 13,6% e tardia de 25,6%. Foram associados à mortalidade no ambiente hospitalar a gravidade da LRA (HR=1,89, IC95%= 1,48-3,46, p=0,04), a ausência de recuperação da função renal (HR=1,46, IC=1,02 - 2,16, p=0,03), a perda de peso grave (HR=1,95, IC95%= 1,19-3,3, p=0,02), a reactância no momento da avaliação do nefrologista (HR=1,51, IC95%=1,04-1,91, p=0,01) e o valor da albumina sérica no momento da última... / Introduction: The prognosis of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is poor, with early mortality rate from 40% to 80% and late mortality between 15 and 72%. The negative impact of malnutrition on the early outcome of AKI patients has recently been confirmed by various studies. However, nutritional evaluation after discharge of critically ill patients has not been studied. The aim of the study was to evaluate the nutritional status of patients after an episode of AKI and identify nutritional markers associated with late death in these patients. Methods: Prospective cohort study was performed with patients older than 18 years diagnosed with renal or post-renal AKI and followed up by AKI team, Department of Internal Medicine, Botucatu School of Medicine and underwent complete nutritional assessment that included anthropometry, food intake, bioimpedance, biochemical tests, handgrip, anamnesis and subjective global assessment. It was performed in two moments at hospitalization (at the beginning and end of nephrologist evaluation) and in three moments after hospital discharge (at 1 month, 3 and 6 months). Results: We included 95 patients, age of 62.3 ± 14.7 years, prevalence of hospitalization in medical wards of 71.6%, index of severity of AKI (ATN-ISS) of 28%, early and late mortality rates were 13.6 and 25.6%,respectively. Risk factors associated with early mortality were AKI severity (HR=1.89, 95%CI= 1.48-3.46, p=0.04), no recovery of renal function (HR=1.46, 95%IC=1.02 - 2.16, p=0.03), severe weigh loss (HR=1.95, 95%CI= 1.19-3.3, p=0.02), reactance at first moment of nephrologist evaluation (HR=1.51, 95%CI=1.04-1.91, p=0.01) and albumin at last nephrologist evaluation (HR=1.41, 95%CI=1.04-1.61, p=0.01). weight variation between time of first evaluation by a nephrologists and after 1 month of outpatient follow-up (71.10 ± 19.43 x 71.66 ± 21, p = 0.02) and with late mortality the number of comorbidities (HR=1.79, 95%CI=1.45-2.46, p=0.04), cancer ...

Knowledge and safer practices regarding occupational exposure are crucial to all employees working in healthcare facilities, especially Tuberculosis (TB) hospitals. This study aimed to explore and describe the knowledge and practices of employees working in three specialised TB hospitals regarding occupational exposure to TB. The results of the study will be used to make recommendations to the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDOH) and hospital managers that could assist in reducing the prevalence of occupational TB. This quantitative, descriptive and contextual study was conducted in three specialised TB hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District (NMBHD). Convenience sampling was used to select the research participants. The knowledge and practices of 181 employees towards occupational exposure to TB and infection control was measured through a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire covered areas such as the knowledge of TB and infection control, the infection control policy, infrastructure as well as patient transportation. The whole population was targeted and out of a potential 253 employees, 181 were on duty during the stage of data collection and agreed to willingly participate in the study. The data was analysed descriptively using MS excel and MS word. This study revealed that 69% (n=124/181) of employees in the three specialised TB hospitals in the NMBHD have adequate knowledge of infection control. However, only 10% (n=18/181) of employees reported appropriate infection control practices, while almost half of the participants 42% (n=76) apparently practice infection control poorly. The majority (78%, n=141) of the employees in the three specialised TB hospitals in the NMBHD reported knowing about the availability of an infection control policy in their respective hospitals, however only 42 % (n=76) have reportedly read the policy. In conclusion, knowledge and practices regarding occupational exposure in specialised TB hospitals in the NMBHD is not optimal. It is however, important to note that the majority of employees have knowledge about the TB disease itself and its symptoms. Recommendations were made in order to improve infection control knowledge and practices. These include the development of a plan for purchasing of equipment to address infection control, development of a curriculum specific for non-nursing personnel and the establishment of a plan to ensure the availability of patient consultation rooms and dining halls. A further recommendation deemed important by the researcher was isolation glass as a compulsory specification when purchasing patient transportation vehicles, in order to provide protection for the drivers transporting patients to and from the hospital.

Quantitative soil ingestion studies employing a mass balance tracer approach have been used to determine soil ingestion rate for use in human health risk assessments (HHRAs). Past studies have focused on soil ingestion in populations living in urban/suburban environments and the results have been highly variable. Moreover, there is a paucity of reliable quantitative soil ingestion data to support human health risk assessments of other lifestyles that may be predisposed to ingesting soil, such as indigenous populations following traditional lifestyles. Thus, the primary objective of the research was to determine if populations following lifestyles typical of traditional land use practices in rural or wilderness areas ingest more soil than populations living in urban or suburban environments. Further, the research investigated the use of alternative mass balance tracers, specifically isotopes of the 238U and 232Th decay series, to reduce soil ingestion estimate variability. Mass balance tracer methods were developed and validated in a pilot canine study, and methods using isotope tracers were adapted to permit quantification of sediment ingestion in the benthic fish Moxostoma macrolepidotum (Shorthead Redhorse Sucker). A pilot human soil ingestion study of 7 subjects from an Aboriginal community in British Columbia was conducted over a 3-week period. The mean soil ingestion rate calculated using the daily means of the 4 elemental tracers with the lowest food-to-soil ratios (i.e., Al, Ce, La, Si) was observed to be approximately 74 mg d-1 (standard deviation 91 mg d-1), The median soil ingestion rate was 60 mg d-1, and the 90th percentile was 196 mg d-1. These soil ingestion rate estimates are higher than those currently recommended for HHRAs of adults, and higher than those obtained in most previous studies of adults. However, the estimates are much lower than the earlier qualitative assessments for subsistence lifestyles (i.e., 330-400 mg d-1). The study results also demonstrated that isotopes of the 238U and 232Th decay series radionuclide are not reliable mass balance tracers for estimating soil ingestion in humans; however, they may be useful for quantifying soil and sediment ingestion in wildlife.