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

This diploma thesis deals with the issue of the eradication of infectious polio and its current problems. Polio is a highly infectious disease of viral origin. The most effective form of protection from the disease is vaccination. The main aim of this work was to determine the major issues in polio surveillance in the Pilsen region at present. Intermediate goals were determined in relation to the main aim: to ascertain the awareness of practicing paediatricians about the principles of poliomyelitis surveillance with an emphasis on diagnosing and reporting cases of acute palsy and further to ascertain the quality of the cooperation between the locally competent public health authority and practicing paediatricians in the field of poliomyelitis surveillance. The work is divided into two parts, theoretical and practical. The practical part was elaborated using a qualitative method based on semi-structured interviews with practicing paediatricians and with the locally competent public health authority. The research was participated in by 9 practicing paediatricians and one public health authority worker from the Pilsen region, with an average length of practice of 20 years. The resulting data was then evaluated by a coding method and divided into schemes according to Švaříček and Šeďová (2007). Three research questions were defined based on the set aims: RQ1: What do practising paediatricians see as the prime problems in polio surveillance? RQ2: How many cases of acute palsy do practising paediatricians record and subsequently report to the competent public health authority? RQ3: What is the quality of the cooperation between practising paediatricians and the locally competent public health authority? The research revealed that, according to the practising paediatricians, the problem in poliomyelitis surveillance is refusal of the vaccination and the associated decreasing immunisation coverage of the population. The next most commonly reported problem was population migration. Furthermore, it was found that not one practising paediatrician recorded or reported cases of acute palsy in their surgery. Only one respondent encountered acute palsy 10 years ago. The answer to the last research question is also apparent from the information obtained. More than half of the respondents agreed that so far there is no cooperation on this issue. Although four respondents stated that the cooperation is at a high level and is of very good quality.

Every human being applies their acquired knowledge during the interpretation and application of information, but all the humanly acquired knowledge are shaped by the social information processing model as determined by the traditions and values embedded in their culture. Therefore, the transition from information seeking to the application within a person is not completely dependent on cognition but in the current socio-cultural interpretation of that information. The cultural background of every individual often determines the interpretation and the understanding derivable from any information. Human socio-cultural values are the intervening variables during information seeking, and they can be grouped into three, namely psychological, physiological and environmental, but none acts alone during information seeking and application. Hence, culture as a factor must be considered both psychologically and environmentally to understand its impact on IB because culture comprises of both the tangible and the intangible aspects of human life. The aim of this study is to investigate the main reason for the contrasting results of the polio campaign across the north and south of Nigeria. The study adopted a mixed method approach comprising of a semi-structured interview and focus groups for the collection of data that adequately describe cultural variables to determine the aspects of culture directly impacting on IB, such as language, customs, traditions, and religious values which cannot be quantified or counted. The research approach considered IB in its totality and viewed information not only as tools designed by human to enhance communication and conceptualization of realities but also as the means which enabled the achievement of the desired goal for both the providers and the users of information. Therefore, IB was not only viewed from the context or content of the information but from the way people search, receive and utilise information to meet their respective needs. The study considered the how ; the what ; the where and the whom people consult when in need of information or for the explanation about the information received but not understood, to determine the chosen culture group s IB By considering culture from a multi-disciplinary perspective and IB evolutionarily, the study investigates the impact of cultural orientation on IB through the way the people of Nigeria relates with the polio eradication campaign. The study links all the factors of culture, such as language, tradition, and religion to the ways people relate to information, and the findings revealed that culture plays a significant role in the IB of individuals right from the point of the perceived knowledge gap to the point of information application. The language associated with the people s religious belief was also found to be of significant influence on language preference during communication of information, as well as in the process of encoding and decoding of information. Thus, culture did not only impact on IB during information seeking and application but also the language for the communication of information. Cultural orientation significantly impacted on the way people relates to the polio campaign as a consequence of their IB, and this informed their interpretations of the polio campaign and the eventual outcome of the campaign within the north and south of Nigeria.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of the physical exercise on the number of motor units in the thenar muscles of individuals, sedentary and athletes, affected by poliomyelitis. In order to do this, the motor unit numbers were estimated by the electroneuromiographic technique of Motor Unit Number Estimation (MUNE), by recording the mean amplitude of surface motor unit potentials (SMUP) and the amplitude of compound muscular action potential (CMAP). Ten sedentary and eight athletes were evaluated in two sessions separated by six months. We estimated from literature the number of motor units for the thenar muscles of health individuals. To compare the MUNE between the two measures separated by six months and between the experimental groups we use two way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni test. To compare the grouped values (first and second measures) of SMUP, CMAP and MUNE, between sedentaries and athletes, we used the non paired Student t test. To compare the MUNE values among health and polio individuals we used one way ANOVA followed by the Tukey multiple comparison test. We see no differences in the number of motor units between athletes and sedentaries (p=0.0726) or between the measurements done with six month intervals (p=0.9387); and there was no interaction among the two factors (p=0.5441). When the MUNE values were grouped, the t test did not show difference between sedentary and athletes (p= 0.0656). We noticed a clear decrease of MUNE values for the two polio groups when compared with the control group whosw data were taken from literature (saud x pólio sed: q0,05;2=16,49, p<0,001; saud x pólio atl: q0,05;2=16,37, p<0,001), but no difference between them (pólio sed x pólio atl: q0,05;2=0,7307 p>0,05). Our results suggest that physical exercise does not alter the number of motor units in polio affected individuals. / Este trabalho tem por objetivo avaliar o efeito do exercício físico sobre o número de unidades motoras nos músculos da eminência tênar de indivíduos, atletas e não atletas, afetados pela poliomielite, comparados a indivíduos saudáveis. Para tanto, estimou-se o número de unidades motoras dos dois grupos experimentais pela técnica eletroneuromiográfica da Estimativa do Número de Unidades Motoras (ENUM), registrando para isso a amplitude média dos potenciais de superfície das unidades motoras (PSUM) e a amplitude do potencial de ação muscular composto (PAMC). Foram avaliados dez indivíduos não atletas e oito atletas em duas sessões, separadas por seis meses de intervalo. Já o número de unidades motoras na eminência tênar de indivíduos saudáveis foi retirado da literatura especializada. Não se observou diferenças no número de unidades motoras entre o grupo de atletas e não atletas (p=0,0726) ou entre as duas medidas realizadas com intervalo de seis meses (p=0,9387). Tão pouco houve interação entre os dois fatores (p=0,5441). Quando os valores de ENUM para as duas medidas foram agrupados, o teste t de Student também não mostrou diferença significativa entre não atletas e atletas (p=0,0656). Notou-se, entretanto, uma diminuição acentuada da ENUM para os dois grupos com pólio em relação a um grupo de indivíduos saudáveis, cujos valores de ENUM foram obtidos da literatura (saudáveis x pólio não atletas: q0,05;2=16,49, p<0,001; saud x pólio atl: q0,05;2=16,37, p<0,001), mas nenhuma diferença entre eles (pólio não atletas x pólio atletas: q0,05;2=0,7307 p>0,05). Os resultados sugerem que o exercício físico não altera o número de unidades motoras em indivíduos afetados pela poliomielite.

No description available.

No / This paper provides the results of re-evaluation of a young adult individual from the Romano-British cemetery of 76 Kingsholm, Gloucester with club foot defomity by (Roberts et al 2004). Our reanalysis revealed an extensive bilateral asymmetry involving the lower and upper limb, spine and cranium and a right scoliosis, indicating more than the lower limb was affected. Consideration of the position and shape of the articulated club foot indicated a positional rather than a developmental condition, probably due to unilateral paralysis. Differential diagnosis considered congenital and acquired neuromuscular conditions; we argue that poliomyelitis is the most likely cause. Poliomyelitis is secondary to the infection with poliovirus that can affect the motor neurons from the spinal cord, causing a flaccid paralysis without sensory affection. Because the virus affects individual nerves, the paralysis is muscle-specific causing muscle imbalances and poor posture which can result in deformities and muscle disuse atrophy. Shortening of the leg is the most characteristic sign, however other typical deformations are in the lower limbs are external rotation of the knee, knee hyperestension, ankle and foot deformities (all observed in K131). The evaluation of K131’s entheses and bone structure suggests that, in life, this individual showed physical deformities consisting of a possibly visible atrophy of the left arm and leg, asymmetric gait, clubfoot and slight scoliosis which would have affected not only his appearance but also his ability to move and perform certain tasks. K131’s burial treatment is entirely normative for the period and the wider cemetery context. This could suggest that despite their impairment, this individual was not necessarily marginalised within their social context. However, historical sources account for extensive marginalisation and cruel treatment of the disabled and deformed in this period. So, whilst K131 was buried in a normative manner, it is difficult to reach definitive conclusions regarding how this individual was treated by their contemporaries.

It has been a widely accepted belief in scientific and public discourse at the end of the twentieth century that cannibalism was the principal means of transmission of the disease call 'Kuru'.The study argues that other explanations might have been excluded from consideration, in particular, iatrogenic transmission.Circumstantial evidence in support of this proposition is examined.The work begins with an examination of the relationship between a number of diseases including, X disease, poliomyelitis, louping ill, scrapie and kuru through the first half of the twentieth century. Major themes of the work revolve around the boundary between research on animal and human disease, the complexities of research in this area, and the different messages that exist simultaneously in three domains: scientific research and publications, government and institutional archives, and the public domain. The thesis argues that the circumstantial evidence presented needs to be considered seriously and that further research in the area is required before we can come to a reliable understanding of the factors involved in the transmission of kuru / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Western Sydney, 2001. / "A thesis submitted to the University of Western Sydney in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy" Bibliography : leaves 235-249.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-08-25 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Fundo de Auxílio aos Docentes e Alunos (FADA) / Objetivo: Avaliar a fadiga circadiana na Sequela de Poliomielite (SP) e na Síndrome Pós-Poliomielite (SPP) e compará-los aos parâmetros actigráficos e polissonográficos bem como, à fraqueza muscular. Método: trinta e nove (39) pacientes realizaram avaliação do questionário do pré-sono e polissonografia, trinta e três (33) realizaram actigrafia e os dados destes exames foram correlacionados com as escalas de fadiga de Chalder, respondida por trinta e oito (38) pacientes e Piper, respondida por trinta (30) pacientes, nos 3 períodos do dia (enviadas via correios). Resultados: o presente estudo, permitiu-nos identificar que a qualidade do sono está comprometida nas duas populações, tanto SP quanto SPP, sendo de maior gravidade a situação enfrentada pelo grupo SPP. A fadiga de fato tem relação com a hora do dia, apresentando-se circadianamente na população de SPP. Conclusão: a fadiga assume caráter circadiano bem definido na população de SPP, de acordo com a avaliação da escala de Piper. A fadiga apresenta relação com parâmetros do sono, especialmente quanto às variáveis índice de apneia e hipopneia, movimento de pernas e arquitetura do sono. A intensidade da fadiga é maior nos pacientes com SPP. A escala de fadiga de Piper mostrou-se bastante sensível e capaz de mensurar a fadiga circadiana na SPP. A intensidade da fadiga está fortemente relacionada ao grau de fraqueza muscular. / Objective: To evaluate the circadian fatigue in sequelae of poliomyelitis (PS) and Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) and compare them with actigraphy and polysomnography parameters as well as muscular weakness. Method: Thirty-nine (39) underwent evaluation of the pre-sleep questionnaire and polysomnography, thirty-three (33) underwent actigraphy and data from these examinations were correlated with the scales of the Chalder fatigue, answered by thirty-eight (38) patients and Piper, answered by thirty (30) patients in three periods of the day (sent by mail). Results: This study allowed us to identify the quality of sleep is affected in two populations, both PS and PPS, with increased severity of the situation faced by the PPS group. Fatigue in fact is related to the time of the day, appearing in the population of circadian PPS. Conclusion: The circadian fatigue character takes on well-defined population of PPS, according to the assessment of the scale of Piper. The fatigue is correlated with sleep parameters, especially considering the variables of apnea and hypopnea index, movement of legs and sleep architecture. The intensity of fatigue is greater in patients with PPS. The Piper fatigue scale proved to be very sensitive and can measure the circadian fatigue in PPS. The intensity of fatigue is strongly correlated with the degree of muscular weakness. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Submitted by Liliane Ferreira (ljuvencia30@gmail.com) on 2018-07-17T13:12:41Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Thairiane Guimarães Oliveira - 2018.pdf: 3935527 bytes, checksum: b2d64a8b08632bbd37415a47356f6a37 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2018-07-17T13:45:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Thairiane Guimarães Oliveira - 2018.pdf: 3935527 bytes, checksum: b2d64a8b08632bbd37415a47356f6a37 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-17T13:45:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Thairiane Guimarães Oliveira - 2018.pdf: 3935527 bytes, checksum: b2d64a8b08632bbd37415a47356f6a37 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-23 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / INTRODUCTION: The oral polio vaccine (OPV) can cause a vaccine-derived poliovirus, which is a deterrent to the complete eradication of the disease. Globally, there is a gradual replacement of OPV by the poliomyelitis vaccine (VIP). Brazil has adopted an IPV-OPV mixed schedule since 2012, but no study was conducted to evaluate and compare the completeness and delay of vaccinations before and after the replacement of the oral vaccination with the inactivated poliovirus vaccination. OBJECTIVES: To compare the completion and delay of vaccination of children under 12 months of age before and after the introduction of the VIP vaccine in routine vaccination. METHODOLOGY: Before-and-after study with two live birth cohorts in the city of Goiânia, Goiás. A cohort of live births in 2010 received the vaccine regimen exclusively with OPV, and another cohort of live births in 2014 received the mixed vaccine regimen IPV-OPV. Two sources of nominal secondary data were used: the Ambulatory Care Control System, which contains data on vaccines and the Live Birth Information System, which contains data on the child and the mother. Completeness of vaccination schedule was defined as the receipt of three valid doses from the primary series up to 12 months of age. Vaccination delay was defined as the dose of vaccine given >28 days after the recommended age. The SICAA and SINASC databases were linked by deterministic linkage to identify the records of the same child. The follow-up time for each child was 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 23,335 children were included, 9,563 of the cohort born in 2010 and 13,772 of the cohort born in 2014. The proportion of children who received the IPV-OPV mixed regimen presented 78.0% of vaccine completeness, while the proportion of children who received only OPV schedule presented 72.4% of vaccine completeness (p=0.000). A higher proportion of vaccine delay of the 1st dose was observed: 6.9% and 5.8%, the second dose was 25.4% and 18.2%, and the third dose was 31.1% and 19.3% for the IPV-OPV and exclusively VOP vaccination schemes, respectively. Children who received the IPV-OPV mixed schedule had a highest median age at all doses, more days of delay and longer intervals between doses, when compared to children who received the OPV schedule. CONCLUSION: Children who received the VIP-VOP mixed schedule presented higher vaccine delay, but a greater proportion of vaccine completeness when compared to the children who received only OPV schedule. Efforts to achieve at-risk groups with delays are still needed despite improvements in the completeness of polio vaccines. / INTRODUÇÃO: A vacina oral contra poliomielite (VOP) pode provocar uma poliovirose derivada da vacina, o que constitui um empecilho à completa erradicação da doença. Mundialmente, está ocorrendo uma substituição gradual da VOP pela vacina injetável contra poliomielite (VIP). O Brasil adotou um esquema misto VIP-VOP desde 2012, mas nenhum estudo foi realizado para avaliar e comparar a completude e atraso aos esquemas antes e após a substituição da vacinação oral pela injetável. OBJETIVOS: Comparar a completude e o atraso vacinal de crianças menores de doze meses de idade antes e após a introdução da vacina VIP na vacinação de rotina. METODOLOGIA: Estudo tipo antes-e-depois da introdução da vacina injetável contra poliomielite, com duas coortes de nascidos vivos no município de Goiânia, Goiás. Uma coorte de nascidos vivos em 2010 recebeu o esquema vacinal exclusivamente com VOP e, outra coorte de nascidos vivos em 2014 recebeu o esquema vacinal misto VIP-VOP. Foram utilizadas duas fontes de dados secundários nominais: o do Sistema de Controle do Atendimento Ambulatorial (SICAA) que contém dados de vacinas e o Sistema de Informação de Nascidos Vivos (SINASC) que contém dados sobre a criança e a mãe. Completude do esquema vacinal foi definido como o recebimento de três doses válidas da série primária até os 12 meses de idade. Atraso vacinal foi definido como a dose de vacina administrada >28 dias após a idade recomendada. As bases de dados SICAA e SINASC foram vinculadas por meio de linkage determinístico para identificação dos registros de mesma criança. O tempo de seguimento de cada criança foi de 12 meses. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídas 23.335 crianças, sendo 9.563 da coorte de nascidos em 2010 e 13.772 da coorte de nascidos em 2014. A proporção de crianças que recebeu o esquema misto VIP-VOP apresentou 78,0% de completude vacinal, enquanto que a proporção de crianças que recebeu o esquema exclusivamente VOP apresentou 72,4% de completude vacinal (p=0.000). Ainda se observou maior proporção de atraso vacinal da 1º dose: 6,9% e 5,8%, 2° dose: 25,4% e 18,2% e, 3° dose: 31,1% e 19,3% para os esquemas vacinais VIP-VOP e exclusivamente VOP, respectivamente. As crianças que receberam o esquema misto VIP-VOP apresentaram maior mediana da idade em todas as doses, mais dias de atraso e maiores intervalos entre as doses, quando comparado com as crianças que receberam o esquema exclusivamente VOP. CONCLUSÃO: Crianças que receberam o esquema misto VIP-VOP apresentaram maior atraso vacinal, mas maior proporção de completude vacinal quando comparadas com as crianças que receberam o esquema exclusivamente VOP. Apesar de melhorias alcançadas na completude das vacinas contra a poliomielite, ainda são necessários esforços para atingir grupos de risco com atrasos.