This dissertation discusses anti-HIV-1 microbicide research. In particular, it concentrates on microbicide formulation and delivery. Microbicides are anti-HIV-1 agents that when applied in the human vagina or rectum may prevent sexual HIV-1 transmission. Although most of the anti-HIV-1 agents being developed as microbicides are active in vitro, they have proved to be ineffective in vivo. A review of microbicide development over the last decade expounds the view that unsatisfactory microbicide failures may be a result of inefficient delivery systems employed. Thus, necessitating a thorough scientific qualitative and quantitative investigation of important aspects involved in HIV-1 transmission as a prerequisite for microbicide development. In this dissertation it is postulated that intravaginal targeting of HIV-1 increases the chances of microbicide success, wherein vaginal micro-environmental factors including pH would be maintained at HIV-1 prohibitive acidic levels to ward off other sexually transmitted diseases which compromise vaginal epithelial barrier properties. Furthermore, targeting early stages of the HIV-1 infection accompanied by computation and delivery of appropriate microbicide quantities could result in an effective microbicide formulation. In an effort to address microbicide formulation challenges, an intravaginal delivery system able to deliver anti-HIV-1 agents (zidovudine and BP36) over 28 days was formulated. This delivery system is a caplet-shaped composite system comprising zidovudine (AZT) and BP36-loaded pectin-mucin-polyethylene glycol submicrospheres embedded within a poly(D,L-lactide), magnesium stearate, polyvinyl acetate/polyvinylpyrolidone (Kollidon® SR) and poly(acrylic acid) based polymeric caplet matrix. The delivery system was tested in vitro and in vivo in the pig model. X-ray imaging illustrated the delivery system swelling and its matrix contrast fading over time as vaginal fluid permeated the matrix’s core. Plasma, vaginal fluid and tissue drug was detected and quantified using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem photodiode array detector. AZT plasma and vaginal fluid concentrations measured on days; 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 decreased gradually with time. Vaginal tissue AZT concentrations (after 28 days) were higher than plasma AZT concentrations and were in the same range as vaginal fluid AZT concentrations. The herbal extract, BP36, was detected in plasma, vaginal fluid and tissue but was only qualitatively analysed due to its lack of standardization. Histopathological analysis of excised vaginal tissue revealed different scores of abnormalities comprising mild to moderate epithelial proliferation and exocytosis, subepithelial leukocyte influx, perivascular cell cuffing and isolated epithelial erosion, stromal fibrosis and isolated tissue necrosis.

Zhang, Dexing = 階梯式治預防焦慮癥和抑鬱癥的效果和可性的研究 / 張德杏. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-205). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese; appendixes includes Chinese. / Zhang, Dexing = Jie ti shi zhi yu fang jiao lü zheng he yi yu zheng de xiao guo he ke xing de yan jiu / Zhang Dexing.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2007. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 107 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 7 uppsatser.

M.Cur / According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s(CDC) National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System of 1996, Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P. aeruginosa) can be rated as the number two cause of nosocomial pneumonia(Chen & Rudoy,2006). Nosocomial pneumonia increases hospital cost and morbidity and mortality in patients. Most of the patients in the critical care unit are immune compromised because of underlying illnesses. Antibiotics eliminates the patient’s normal flora which causes opportunity for pathogens to colonise. Indwelling procedures like endotracheal intubation cause a point of entrance for pathogens like P.aeruginosa. The endotracheal tube bypasses the normal physiological processes and inhibits the cough reflex. It is the nurse’s responsibility to remove secretion through endotracheal suctioning. During the past ten years the closed suction method was increasingly implemented to remove secretions because studies showed closed suction caused less infection than open suction. In a spesific critical care unit in a private hospital in Pretoria the nurses are of the opinion that closed suctioning does not effectively remove secretion. Patients are therefore suctioned open which can cause air contamination because the colonised ventilator circuit is opened. The following question can be asked in view of the above arguments and problem statement: Is there a difference in aircontamintion between open and closed suctioning? The aim of the study is to determine whether any difference in air contamination exists between open and closed suctioning in a spesific critical care unit in Pretoria. v A comparitive contextual design with crossover methods was used. Patients are allocated to group 1 or group 2 through random sampling. An air exstractor is used to take airsamples before, during and after suctioning. There was no significant difference in terms of air contamination for open and closed suction. This is probably because of too small a sample. The null hypothesis is accepted and that is there is no significant difference in air contamination between open and closed suction.

One-third of American children under the age of 18 years and one in ten Canadian children aged 0-11 years are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) predisposing them to multiple health problems. Although several intervention strategies to reduce ETS exposure among children have been tested, to date there is not enough evidence to recommend one strategy over another. The objectives of this study were: (a) to test if parents' participation in an intervention based on an empowerment ideology and participatory experiences decreases the number of cigarettes smoked in homes; and (b) to identify barriers to making homes and vehicles smoke-free, as well as facilitators used by parents to manage these barriers. To enable informed decision-making on how to measure empowerment, a systematic review was conducted to identify questionnaires that best measure health-related empowerment among adults and in families. / In a randomized controlled trial, 36 families were allocated to the intervention (n=17) or control group (n=19). The six week intervention included three, two hour group sessions, followed by three follow-up telephone calls, all at weekly intervals. Data were collected in interviewer-administered questionnaires at baseline and at six months follow-up. / No significant difference was detected between the intervention and control groups in the number of cigarettes smoked in the home daily at six months follow-up. However empowerment increased and the number of cigarettes smoked in the home decreased in both the intervention and control groups from baseline (median=17) to six-month follow-up (median=5). / Parents identified multiple barriers to smoke-free homes and vehicles including personal factors, factors involving others, and factors related to the physical environment. The most commonly identified barriers to smoke-free homes were personal factors, with tobacco addiction cited most often. In describing how to overcome barriers, parents identified facilitators involving other people as most effective, yet they most often relied on themselves. None ofthe parents identified a health provider as a facilitator. The multiple and complex barriers identified in this study suggest that interventions and practice guidelines should incorporate multiple strategies and individualized approaches to assist parents to make their homes and vehicles smoke-free.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

<p>Dental plaque is the most important etiological factor of periodontal diseases. Mechanical plaque control is the most effective way in preventing periodontal diseases. Chemical plaque control methods (such as mouthrinses) have been recommended to be used because of some drawbacks in the mechanical methods in some areas of the dentition (such as interproximal areas). But are these mouthrinses really effective in those areas? The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Essential Oils mouthrinse (Listerine) on plaque formation in interproximal areas with Chlorhexidine and Sterile water.</p>

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in Diagnostic Radiology Johannesburg, 2013 / Palpable solid breast masses that are circumscribed and not calcified on mammogram or ultrasound are probably benign. There is controversy therefore, whether these deserve tissue diagnosis. More data is required to determine whether short term follow up can replace the need for biopsy. Benign appearing lesions greater than 3cm in diameter on ultrasound continue to undergo biopsy due to fear that a malignancy or phyllodes tumour might be missed. Published research reflects patients from Europe and North America, and no relevant data from Africa exists. AIM: This study aims to determine the histological spectrum of sonographically benign lesions greater than 3cm, which were biopsied, in our local population (majority of black patients) and to determine whether biopsy is indicated based on the local cancer risk. The study also aims to characterise the results by age and population group as well as correlate the histological result with the size of the lesion on ultrasound, the HIV status, family history and the seniority of the examining radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study of biopsy results of sonographically benign breast masses was undertaken using biopsy procedural recording sheets. . The size of the lesions (continuous variables) mean with standard deviations was determined. The prevalence of lesions was expressed as a percentage. Other categorical variables were summarized as frequency and percentage. The vi histological spectrum of the lesions was determined. The HIV status and family history of the patients as well as the seniority of the reviewing radiologist was assessed. A Krusskal Wallis test and separate logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients (below 40 years of age) were included from a total of 13112 patients (of all ages) seen between 2007 and the end of 2010. 73 lesions were identified (65 benign and 8 malignant). The prevalence of benign lesions was 89.7%. .The prevalence of malignant lesions was 10.29%.There was little evidence to support lesion size for predicting histology (p value = 0.22) or benignity. There was little evidence that the family history and HIV status were significant. CONCLUSION: There was a high prevalence (10.29%) of malignancies in lesions classified by ultrasound as benign. The size of the lesion did not correlate with histological subtype or whether the lesion was benign or malignant. Training of sonographers, standardization of technique for established users and double reading, may produce a different result, as both junior and senior radiologists mistook malignant lesions for benign ones on ultrasound. Repeating this research using double reading after training may demonstrate whether there is a true higher prevalence of malignancy in ultrasonically benign breast lesions in our community. Until then, routine biopsy of these lesions is recommended.