Fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede is die onderbou of basis waarop al die vereiste vaardighede en aktiwiteite in die kurrikulum vir Senior Fase Liggaamlike Opvoeding van die Kurrikulum en Assesseringsbeleidsverklaring (KABV), gebou is. Dit word verder in die literatuur beklemtoon dat die kwalitiet waarmee leerders „n fundamentele bewegingsvaardigheid uitvoer, net so belangrik is soos die kwantitatiewe uitkoms van die uitvoering. Liggaamlike Opvoedingonderwysers behoort dus bewus te wees van beide die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe vlakke van leerders se fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede in die lig van die vereiste ontwikkeling en inoefening van gespesialiseerde bewegings- en sportvaardighede in die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram. Fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede speel verder „n integrale rol in „n leerder se algehele motoriese behendigheid. Die Liggaamlike Opvoeding-onderwyser moet voorts bewus wees van geslags- en etniese verskille in fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede en motoriese behendigheid ten einde effektief in die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram te differensieer en by verskillende leerders se vermoëns aan te pas. Verder, aangesien dit die primêre doelstelling van Liggaamlike Opvoeding in die KABV is om leerders te bemagtig om fisiek aktief te wees, is die verwantskap tussen fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede, motoriese behendigheid en fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke nog „n aspek wat van belang is vir die Liggaamlike Opvoeding-onderwyser in die samestelling van die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram. Laastens toon navorsing „n verwantskap tussen motoriese behendigheid en akademiese prestasie. Die doel van hierdie studie was eerstens om die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe stand van fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede by Senior Fase leerders in die Potchefstroom-omgewing te bepaal. Die tweede doelstelling was om die verskille tussen geslagte en etniese groepe ten opsigte van motoriese behendigheid te bepaal. Die derde doelstelling was om die verband tussen motoriese behendigheid en fisieke aktiwiteit te bepaal, en laastens om die verband tussen motoriese behendigheid en akademiese prestasie te bepaal. ʼn Totaal van 239 Senior Fase leerders (98 seuns en 141 dogters), tussen die ouderdomme 13 en 14 jaar het aan die studie deelgeneem. Kwantitatiewe metodologie, met „n eenmalige dwarssnit-ontwerp, is vir die doeleindes van die studie gebruik. Die proefpersone se fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede en motoriese behendigheid is bepaal met behulp van die verkorte weergawe van die Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2 (BOT-2) (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005), „n kwantitatiewe toetsbattery wat bestaan uit vier komponente, naamlik fynmotoriese kontrole, manipulasie koördinasie, liggaamskoördinasie en krag-en-ratsheid. Vir die kwalitatiewe bewegingsanalise is van die Fundamentele Bewegingspatroonassesseringsinstrument (FMPAI) (Gallahue & Donnelly, 2003) gebruik gemaak. Vir die meting van fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke is gebruik gemaak van die gestandaardiseerde International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (Sjöström, 2005). Hierdie vraelys vra die deelnemer om fisieke aktiwiteite van die laaste sewe dae, en ook van ‟n normale week oor die algemeen, gemeet in totale METS (metabolic equivalent – intensiteit van oefening), te rapporteer. Die leerders se akademiese prestasie is gemeet deur gebruik te maak van die gemiddelde akademiese punt (gemiddeld van al die vakke – Afrikaans, Engels, Wiskunde, Lewensoriëring, Geskiedenis, Geografie, Natuur-Wetenskap, Tegnologie, Ekonomiese en Bestuurswetenskappe en Skeppende Kunste), op die leerder se rapport aan die einde van die jaar, asook die gemiddelde punte vir die twee vakke Engels en Wiskunde, soos op die rapport aan die einde van die jaar aangedui. Beskrywende statistiek is gebruik om gemiddeldes ( x ), minimum- en maksimumwaardes, en standaardafwykings (sa) met behulp van die Statistica vir Windows rekenaarprogram (StatSoft, 2012) te bereken. Verbande tussen die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe resultate, tussen die motoriese behendigheidtoetse en die fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke, asook tussen motoriese behendigheidstoetse en akademiese prestasie is ontleed met behulp van Spearman korrelasiekoëffisiënte. Om die praktiese betekenisvolheid van die verbande te bepaal is die korrelasiekoëffisiënt as effekgrootte (EG) gebruik. Ten einde die betekenisvolheid van geslagsen etniese verskille te bepaal, is die data verder geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van onafhanklike t-toetse (p<0.05) en vir die doel van die interpretasie van praktiese betekenisvolheid van die verskille is effekgroottes (EG) bereken. Uit die resultate van die studie blyk dit dat daar in die kwantitatiewe evaluasie, veral by die wisselspronge, lynloop en eenbeenstand, agterstande by 20 tot 35% van die leerders was. Met betrekking tot die kwalitatiewe uitvoering van die vaardighede was die eenbeenstand by 22.6 tot 24.5% van die leerders nog nie in die volwasse stadium van bemeestering van fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede nie. Die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe tellings het verder by die bonsen- vang- en die dribbel-van-die-bal toetse nie gekorreleer nie, wat daarop dui dat leerders soms kwantitatief, maar nie noodwendig kwalitatief, aan die norme voldoen het nie. Met betrekking tot verskille tussen geslagte en etniese groepe, toon die resultate dat die meisies oor die algemeen beter as die seuns gevaar het, en die Wit leerders beter gevaar het as die Swart leerders in die fynmotoriese koördinasietoetse. Met betrekking tot liggaamskoördinasie het die Wit leerders betekenisvol beter as die Swart leerders in die wisselsprongtoets gevaar. Betekenisvolle verskille is verder met betrekking tot die krag- en ratsheidkomponent gevind, waar die Wit leerders beter as die Swart leerders in die eenbeenspring-item gevaar het, terwyl onderskeidelik seuns en Wit groepe beter resultate as die meisies en die Swart groepe in die opsit- en opstoottoetse getoon het, asook met betrekking tot die totale motoriese behendigheidstelling (totale BOT-2 telling). Wat die fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke van die proefpersone betref, toon die totale groep ʼn gemiddelde waarde van 489.68 METS per week, wat as matig-aktief geklassifiseer kon word, terwyl die seuns as hoog-aktief en die meisies as matig-aktief beskou kan word. Daar is ook statisties betekenisvolle korrelasies tussen die fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke en verskeie motoriese vaardighede gevind, sowel as die totale BOT-2 telling by die totale groep en die seuns en meisies afsonderlik. Die motoriese sub-item waar die sterkste korrelasie met fisieke aktiwiteitvlakke in die totale groep asook by seuns en meisies afsonderlik gevind is, was die liggaamskoördinasie-item van die wisselspronge. Laastens toon die resultate met betrekking tot die verband tussen motoriese behendigheid en akademiese prestasie, betekenisvolle korrelasies tussen die verskillende groepe (seuns, meisies en totale groep) se Engelse, Wiskunde en jaargemiddeld en verskeie sub-items van al die komponente van die BOT-2, naamlik fyn-motoriese kontrole, manipulasie koördinasie, liggaamskoördinasie, krag en ratsheid, asook die totale motoriese behendigheidtelling, alhoewel hoofsaaklik met klein praktiese effekte. Die sterkste korrelasie is by al die groepe tussen die jaargemiddeld, asook die Engels en Wiskunde in ‟n mindere mate, met krag en ratsheid, gevind. Die totale motoriese behendigheidstelling het verder betekenisvol gekorreleer met die jaargemiddeld by al die groepe, met praktiese betekenisvolheid van medium effek. Die resultate van hierdie studie beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid van die bewustheid van en assessering van die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe stand van leerders se fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede deur die Liggaamlike Opvoeding-onderwyser. Die ontwikkeling en instandhouding van fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede behoort dus in die kurrikulum vir Senior Fase Liggaamlike Opvoeding ingesluit te word, ook met die oog op optimale motoriese behendigheidsontwikkeling. Die Liggaamlike Opvoeding-onderwyser behoort verder die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram aan te pas by die motoriese behendigheidsvlakke van die verskillende geslagte en etniese groepe in die klas, met spesifieke aandag aan die liggaamskoördinasievaardighede van Swart meisies en Swart seuns, asook krag- en ratsheidvaardighede by meisies en Swart leerders. Die verwantskappe wat gevind is tussen fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke en motoriese behendigheid beklemtoon voorts die waarde van motoriese vaardigheidsontwikkeling in die Liggaamlike Opvoedingklas ten einde die kurrikulum vir Liggaamlike Opvoeding se doelwit om leerders te bemagtig om fisiek aktief te wees, te bereik. Laastens toon die verwantskappe wat gevind is tussen motoriese behendigheid en akademiese prestasie dat die ontwikkeling en instandhouding van motoriese vaardighede in die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram in Senior Fase-leerders se kognitiewe ontwikkeling en akademiese prestasie „n rol kan speel. / PhD (Movement Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede is die onderbou of basis waarop al die vereiste vaardighede en aktiwiteite in die kurrikulum vir Senior Fase Liggaamlike Opvoeding van die Kurrikulum en Assesseringsbeleidsverklaring (KABV), gebou is. Dit word verder in die literatuur beklemtoon dat die kwalitiet waarmee leerders „n fundamentele bewegingsvaardigheid uitvoer, net so belangrik is soos die kwantitatiewe uitkoms van die uitvoering. Liggaamlike Opvoedingonderwysers behoort dus bewus te wees van beide die kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe vlakke van leerders se fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede in die lig van die vereiste ontwikkeling en inoefening van gespesialiseerde bewegings- en sportvaardighede in die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram. Fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede speel verder „n integrale rol in „n leerder se algehele motoriese behendigheid. Die Liggaamlike Opvoeding-onderwyser moet voorts bewus wees van geslags- en etniese verskille in fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede en motoriese behendigheid ten einde effektief in die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram te differensieer en by verskillende leerders se vermoëns aan te pas. Verder, aangesien dit die primêre doelstelling van Liggaamlike Opvoeding in die KABV is om leerders te bemagtig om fisiek aktief te wees, is die verwantskap tussen fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede, motoriese behendigheid en fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke nog „n aspek wat van belang is vir die Liggaamlike Opvoeding-onderwyser in die samestelling van die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram. Laastens toon navorsing „n verwantskap tussen motoriese behendigheid en akademiese prestasie. Die doel van hierdie studie was eerstens om die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe stand van fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede by Senior Fase leerders in die Potchefstroom-omgewing te bepaal. Die tweede doelstelling was om die verskille tussen geslagte en etniese groepe ten opsigte van motoriese behendigheid te bepaal. Die derde doelstelling was om die verband tussen motoriese behendigheid en fisieke aktiwiteit te bepaal, en laastens om die verband tussen motoriese behendigheid en akademiese prestasie te bepaal. ʼn Totaal van 239 Senior Fase leerders (98 seuns en 141 dogters), tussen die ouderdomme 13 en 14 jaar het aan die studie deelgeneem. Kwantitatiewe metodologie, met „n eenmalige dwarssnit-ontwerp, is vir die doeleindes van die studie gebruik. Die proefpersone se fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede en motoriese behendigheid is bepaal met behulp van die verkorte weergawe van die Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2 (BOT-2) (Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005), „n kwantitatiewe toetsbattery wat bestaan uit vier komponente, naamlik fynmotoriese kontrole, manipulasie koördinasie, liggaamskoördinasie en krag-en-ratsheid. Vir die kwalitatiewe bewegingsanalise is van die Fundamentele Bewegingspatroonassesseringsinstrument (FMPAI) (Gallahue & Donnelly, 2003) gebruik gemaak. Vir die meting van fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke is gebruik gemaak van die gestandaardiseerde International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (Sjöström, 2005). Hierdie vraelys vra die deelnemer om fisieke aktiwiteite van die laaste sewe dae, en ook van ‟n normale week oor die algemeen, gemeet in totale METS (metabolic equivalent – intensiteit van oefening), te rapporteer. Die leerders se akademiese prestasie is gemeet deur gebruik te maak van die gemiddelde akademiese punt (gemiddeld van al die vakke – Afrikaans, Engels, Wiskunde, Lewensoriëring, Geskiedenis, Geografie, Natuur-Wetenskap, Tegnologie, Ekonomiese en Bestuurswetenskappe en Skeppende Kunste), op die leerder se rapport aan die einde van die jaar, asook die gemiddelde punte vir die twee vakke Engels en Wiskunde, soos op die rapport aan die einde van die jaar aangedui. Beskrywende statistiek is gebruik om gemiddeldes ( x ), minimum- en maksimumwaardes, en standaardafwykings (sa) met behulp van die Statistica vir Windows rekenaarprogram (StatSoft, 2012) te bereken. Verbande tussen die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe resultate, tussen die motoriese behendigheidtoetse en die fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke, asook tussen motoriese behendigheidstoetse en akademiese prestasie is ontleed met behulp van Spearman korrelasiekoëffisiënte. Om die praktiese betekenisvolheid van die verbande te bepaal is die korrelasiekoëffisiënt as effekgrootte (EG) gebruik. Ten einde die betekenisvolheid van geslagsen etniese verskille te bepaal, is die data verder geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van onafhanklike t-toetse (p<0.05) en vir die doel van die interpretasie van praktiese betekenisvolheid van die verskille is effekgroottes (EG) bereken. Uit die resultate van die studie blyk dit dat daar in die kwantitatiewe evaluasie, veral by die wisselspronge, lynloop en eenbeenstand, agterstande by 20 tot 35% van die leerders was. Met betrekking tot die kwalitatiewe uitvoering van die vaardighede was die eenbeenstand by 22.6 tot 24.5% van die leerders nog nie in die volwasse stadium van bemeestering van fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede nie. Die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe tellings het verder by die bonsen- vang- en die dribbel-van-die-bal toetse nie gekorreleer nie, wat daarop dui dat leerders soms kwantitatief, maar nie noodwendig kwalitatief, aan die norme voldoen het nie. Met betrekking tot verskille tussen geslagte en etniese groepe, toon die resultate dat die meisies oor die algemeen beter as die seuns gevaar het, en die Wit leerders beter gevaar het as die Swart leerders in die fynmotoriese koördinasietoetse. Met betrekking tot liggaamskoördinasie het die Wit leerders betekenisvol beter as die Swart leerders in die wisselsprongtoets gevaar. Betekenisvolle verskille is verder met betrekking tot die krag- en ratsheidkomponent gevind, waar die Wit leerders beter as die Swart leerders in die eenbeenspring-item gevaar het, terwyl onderskeidelik seuns en Wit groepe beter resultate as die meisies en die Swart groepe in die opsit- en opstoottoetse getoon het, asook met betrekking tot die totale motoriese behendigheidstelling (totale BOT-2 telling). Wat die fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke van die proefpersone betref, toon die totale groep ʼn gemiddelde waarde van 489.68 METS per week, wat as matig-aktief geklassifiseer kon word, terwyl die seuns as hoog-aktief en die meisies as matig-aktief beskou kan word. Daar is ook statisties betekenisvolle korrelasies tussen die fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke en verskeie motoriese vaardighede gevind, sowel as die totale BOT-2 telling by die totale groep en die seuns en meisies afsonderlik. Die motoriese sub-item waar die sterkste korrelasie met fisieke aktiwiteitvlakke in die totale groep asook by seuns en meisies afsonderlik gevind is, was die liggaamskoördinasie-item van die wisselspronge. Laastens toon die resultate met betrekking tot die verband tussen motoriese behendigheid en akademiese prestasie, betekenisvolle korrelasies tussen die verskillende groepe (seuns, meisies en totale groep) se Engelse, Wiskunde en jaargemiddeld en verskeie sub-items van al die komponente van die BOT-2, naamlik fyn-motoriese kontrole, manipulasie koördinasie, liggaamskoördinasie, krag en ratsheid, asook die totale motoriese behendigheidtelling, alhoewel hoofsaaklik met klein praktiese effekte. Die sterkste korrelasie is by al die groepe tussen die jaargemiddeld, asook die Engels en Wiskunde in ‟n mindere mate, met krag en ratsheid, gevind. Die totale motoriese behendigheidstelling het verder betekenisvol gekorreleer met die jaargemiddeld by al die groepe, met praktiese betekenisvolheid van medium effek. Die resultate van hierdie studie beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid van die bewustheid van en assessering van die kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe stand van leerders se fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede deur die Liggaamlike Opvoeding-onderwyser. Die ontwikkeling en instandhouding van fundamentele bewegingsvaardighede behoort dus in die kurrikulum vir Senior Fase Liggaamlike Opvoeding ingesluit te word, ook met die oog op optimale motoriese behendigheidsontwikkeling. Die Liggaamlike Opvoeding-onderwyser behoort verder die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram aan te pas by die motoriese behendigheidsvlakke van die verskillende geslagte en etniese groepe in die klas, met spesifieke aandag aan die liggaamskoördinasievaardighede van Swart meisies en Swart seuns, asook krag- en ratsheidvaardighede by meisies en Swart leerders. Die verwantskappe wat gevind is tussen fisieke aktiwiteitsvlakke en motoriese behendigheid beklemtoon voorts die waarde van motoriese vaardigheidsontwikkeling in die Liggaamlike Opvoedingklas ten einde die kurrikulum vir Liggaamlike Opvoeding se doelwit om leerders te bemagtig om fisiek aktief te wees, te bereik. Laastens toon die verwantskappe wat gevind is tussen motoriese behendigheid en akademiese prestasie dat die ontwikkeling en instandhouding van motoriese vaardighede in die Liggaamlike Opvoedingprogram in Senior Fase-leerders se kognitiewe ontwikkeling en akademiese prestasie „n rol kan speel. / PhD (Movement Education), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

MOTIVATION: The increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is creating immense concern worldwide. In 2009, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) announced the new MetS definition. MetS is diagnosed by any 3 of the following 5 indicators being present: increased waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), triglycerides, and fasting glucose values, and decreased high–density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL–C) concentrations. Psychosocial stress relating to an urban environment or acculturation greatly influences the prevalence of both MetS and target organ damage (TOD). Furthermore, in urban Africans, active coping (AC) responses have been associated more with MetS and the related cardiovascular pathology than avoidance. A further synergistic effect of MetS and AC responses was also revealed in African men, in strong association with both subclinical atherosclerosis and renal impairment. Microalbuminuria was four times higher in Africans with MetS, than in those without any MetS indicators. Furthermore, Africans, especially those utilising AC responses, present with greater carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) than their Caucasian counterparts, although they exhibit a lipid profile that is anti–atherogenic. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were firstly to indicate and compare differences regarding AC responses in the African and Caucasian men, in accord with the prevalence of MetS indicators. Secondly, the extent to which AC responses and MetS indicators predict endothelial dysfunction was investigated. METHODOLOGY: This comparative target population study is nested in the Sympathetic Activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans (SABPA) study, which was conducted from February until the end of May in both 2008 (Africans) and 2009 (Caucasians), avoiding seasonal changes. The Ethics Committee of the North–West University approved the study, and all volunteers gave written informed consent prior to participation. Procedures were conducted according to the institutional guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. The participants included 202 male teachers of which 101 were African and 101 Caucasian. Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurements were recorded with the Cardiotens CE120 at 30 minute intervals during the day and 60 minutes at night. Actical accelerometers determined physical activity (PA). Registered clinical psychologists supervised completion of the psychosocial questionnaires, including the Coping Strategy Indicator. Participants fasted overnight; after the last BP recording, disconnection of the Cardiotens CE120 and Actical followed. A fasting 8 hour overnight collected urine sample was obtained from each participant. Anthropometric measurements followed, after which a registered nurse commenced blood sampling. The SonoSite Micromaxx was used for the scanning of CIMT. MetS indicators (glucose, triglyceride, and HDL–C), together with gamma glutamyl transferase, cotinine, and ultrahigh–sensitivity C–reactive protein (hs–CRP), were analyzed with Konelab 20i. The albumin–to–creatinine ratio and CIMT determined TOD. Participants were stratified according to ethnicity and median splits of AC response scores (high AC and low AC). Diabetic medication users (n= 8), and participants with renal impairment (n= 2) or HIV positive (n= 13), were excluded from analyses. 2×2 ANCOVA’s determined significant interactions for ethnicity and AC. Partial correlations between MetS indicators and TOD were performed within each ethnic and AC group, independent of age, alcohol consumption and PA. Regression analyses were performed for four models, firstly with microalbuminuria and secondly with CIMT as dependent variables. Significant values were noted as p 0.05, r 0.35, and adjusted R2 0.25. RESULTS: Caucasian men were physically more active than African men, whilst BP, alcohol consumption and hs–CRP levels were significantly higher in African men. Psychological variables revealed higher avoidance scores in Caucasian men and higher social support scores in African men. More MetS indicators exceeded the IDF cut–off points in high AC African men (14.71%) than in their Caucasian counterparts (3.33%). Furthermore, more MetS indicators predicted endothelial dysfunction in African men, especially the high AC responders. CONCLUSION: The following hypotheses were accepted: high AC responses in urban African men were associated with a higher prevalence of MetS indicators than in their Caucasian counterparts, while MetS indicators were associated with a marker of TOD in urban high AC African men, but not in their Caucasian counterparts. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Motivation Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a known inflammatory marker, which is found in various body fluids. SuPAR reflects the immune and pro–inflammatory status of patients caused by HIV and tuberculosis, amongst others. However, recent studies have shown that suPAR is related to cardiovascular function. The cardiovascular health of the black South African population is a major health concern as this group suffers mostly from hypertension and stroke, leading to an alarming increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. SuPAR may be able to contribute to early detection and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. No studies regarding the associations of suPAR with cardiovascular function have been investigated on black South Africans. Objectives To investigate suPAR as a possible marker of cardiovascular function in African and Caucasian men and women, by determining possible gender and ethnic–specific associations of suPAR with cardiovascular function. Methodology There were 207 African and 314 Caucasian men and women (aged 20–79 yrs.) included in this study. High–sensitivity C–reactive protein, glucose, lipids and creatinine were determined in fasting serum and suPAR was analyzed in plasma samples. Blood pressure was measured using the OMRON apparatus (HEM–747), with a 5–min rest interval between measurements. The Finometer device was used to determine the Windkessel compliance and the carotid dorsalis–pedis pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured with the Complior (SP acquisition system) on the left side of each subject in the supine position. The means, adjusted means and proportions were compared between the groups by using independent t–tests, analysis of co–variance and the chi–square test, respectively. Associations were investigated between cardiovascular variables and suPAR using single and multiple regression analyses with either pulse wave velocity, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure or Windkessel compliance as dependent variable. Covariates included were age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, glucose and high–density lipoprotein cholesterol. Results and conclusion SuPAR levels were significantly higher in Africans (P<0.001) compared to Caucasians. After adjusting for body mass index, suPAR increased significantly with age in all groups, except for African women. Moreover, the suPAR levels of African men and women were significantly higher than the Caucasians within each age quartile. While adjusting for age and body mass index, the cardiovascular profiles of the African and Caucasian men were less favourable compared to women, but suPAR levels were significantly higher in Caucasian women compared to men. In single regression, various measures of cardiovascular function correlated with suPAR in African men and Caucasian men and women. After adjusting for confounders the associations disappeared in Caucasian women, and remained nonsignificant in the African women. However, the association between PWV and suPAR remained significant in African men (B=0.19; P=0.030), while the association of systolic blood pressure (B=0.20; P=0.017), diastolic blood pressure (B=0.17; P=0.020) and Windkessel compliance (B=–0.14; P=0.004) with suPAR remained significant in Caucasian men. In conclusion, Africans presented higher suPAR levels compared to Caucasians, even when stratified by age. Gender specific associations indicated that suPAR was associated with arterial stiffness in African and Caucasian men only, therefore, indicating that suPAR could be a possible biomarker for predicting cardiovascular dysfunction. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tydens ondersoeke na kinder seksuele misbruik benut word, het in n hoë mate mettertyd ontwikkel. Navorsing het n waardevolle bydrae gelewer tot effektiewe en geskikte assesseringstegnieke. Verdere navorsing is egter nodig om die bestaande tegnieke te ondersoek. Die persoon wat by forensiese assesserings betrokke is, kan baat vind by die leiding wat navorsing bied. Op grond hiervan het die navorser ondersoek ingestel na die forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tans in die praktyk deur forensiese maatskaplike werkers benut word. Gedurende die ondersoek is verskeie tegnieke wat tydens forensiese assesseringsonderhoude benut word, geïdentifiseer en bespreek. Die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie is vir die doel van hierdie studie deur die navorser uitgesonder. Hierdie tegniek is aan die hand van n gevallestudie bestudeer en bespreek. Ondersoek is ook ingestel na die menings van maatskaplike werkers wat in die forensiese veld werksaam is, asook dié van justisie–amptenare, onder wie landdroste en staatsaanklaers, wat in die hof vir seksuele misdrywe werksaam is, ten opsigte van die benutting van die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie. Die justisie–amptenare was aanvanklik nie vertroud met die tegniek nie. Nadat literatuur vir bestudering aan hulle beskikbaar gestel is, is vasgestel dat hulle ontvanklik is vir en positief staan teenoor die benutting van die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie. Die ondersoek het ten doel gehad: * Om deur middel van n literatuurstudie die forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tans in die praktyk benut word, te identifiseer en te bespreek; en * Om die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasietegniek aan die hand van n literatuurstudie en empiriese navorsing te evalueer. Samevattend kan gestel word dat die tegnieke, soos in hierdie navorsing bespreek, deel behoort uit te maak van die protokol van die professionele persoon wat die seksueel misbruikte kind assesseer. Hierdie navorsing het bevind dat die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie n waardevolle forensiese assesseringstegniek is ten opsigte van die seksueel misbruikte kind. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

MOTIVATION: The increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is creating immense concern worldwide. In 2009, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) announced the new MetS definition. MetS is diagnosed by any 3 of the following 5 indicators being present: increased waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), triglycerides, and fasting glucose values, and decreased high–density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL–C) concentrations. Psychosocial stress relating to an urban environment or acculturation greatly influences the prevalence of both MetS and target organ damage (TOD). Furthermore, in urban Africans, active coping (AC) responses have been associated more with MetS and the related cardiovascular pathology than avoidance. A further synergistic effect of MetS and AC responses was also revealed in African men, in strong association with both subclinical atherosclerosis and renal impairment. Microalbuminuria was four times higher in Africans with MetS, than in those without any MetS indicators. Furthermore, Africans, especially those utilising AC responses, present with greater carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) than their Caucasian counterparts, although they exhibit a lipid profile that is anti–atherogenic. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were firstly to indicate and compare differences regarding AC responses in the African and Caucasian men, in accord with the prevalence of MetS indicators. Secondly, the extent to which AC responses and MetS indicators predict endothelial dysfunction was investigated. METHODOLOGY: This comparative target population study is nested in the Sympathetic Activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans (SABPA) study, which was conducted from February until the end of May in both 2008 (Africans) and 2009 (Caucasians), avoiding seasonal changes. The Ethics Committee of the North–West University approved the study, and all volunteers gave written informed consent prior to participation. Procedures were conducted according to the institutional guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. The participants included 202 male teachers of which 101 were African and 101 Caucasian. Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurements were recorded with the Cardiotens CE120 at 30 minute intervals during the day and 60 minutes at night. Actical accelerometers determined physical activity (PA). Registered clinical psychologists supervised completion of the psychosocial questionnaires, including the Coping Strategy Indicator. Participants fasted overnight; after the last BP recording, disconnection of the Cardiotens CE120 and Actical followed. A fasting 8 hour overnight collected urine sample was obtained from each participant. Anthropometric measurements followed, after which a registered nurse commenced blood sampling. The SonoSite Micromaxx was used for the scanning of CIMT. MetS indicators (glucose, triglyceride, and HDL–C), together with gamma glutamyl transferase, cotinine, and ultrahigh–sensitivity C–reactive protein (hs–CRP), were analyzed with Konelab 20i. The albumin–to–creatinine ratio and CIMT determined TOD. Participants were stratified according to ethnicity and median splits of AC response scores (high AC and low AC). Diabetic medication users (n= 8), and participants with renal impairment (n= 2) or HIV positive (n= 13), were excluded from analyses. 2×2 ANCOVA’s determined significant interactions for ethnicity and AC. Partial correlations between MetS indicators and TOD were performed within each ethnic and AC group, independent of age, alcohol consumption and PA. Regression analyses were performed for four models, firstly with microalbuminuria and secondly with CIMT as dependent variables. Significant values were noted as p 0.05, r 0.35, and adjusted R2 0.25. RESULTS: Caucasian men were physically more active than African men, whilst BP, alcohol consumption and hs–CRP levels were significantly higher in African men. Psychological variables revealed higher avoidance scores in Caucasian men and higher social support scores in African men. More MetS indicators exceeded the IDF cut–off points in high AC African men (14.71%) than in their Caucasian counterparts (3.33%). Furthermore, more MetS indicators predicted endothelial dysfunction in African men, especially the high AC responders. CONCLUSION: The following hypotheses were accepted: high AC responses in urban African men were associated with a higher prevalence of MetS indicators than in their Caucasian counterparts, while MetS indicators were associated with a marker of TOD in urban high AC African men, but not in their Caucasian counterparts. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Motivation Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a known inflammatory marker, which is found in various body fluids. SuPAR reflects the immune and pro–inflammatory status of patients caused by HIV and tuberculosis, amongst others. However, recent studies have shown that suPAR is related to cardiovascular function. The cardiovascular health of the black South African population is a major health concern as this group suffers mostly from hypertension and stroke, leading to an alarming increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. SuPAR may be able to contribute to early detection and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. No studies regarding the associations of suPAR with cardiovascular function have been investigated on black South Africans. Objectives To investigate suPAR as a possible marker of cardiovascular function in African and Caucasian men and women, by determining possible gender and ethnic–specific associations of suPAR with cardiovascular function. Methodology There were 207 African and 314 Caucasian men and women (aged 20–79 yrs.) included in this study. High–sensitivity C–reactive protein, glucose, lipids and creatinine were determined in fasting serum and suPAR was analyzed in plasma samples. Blood pressure was measured using the OMRON apparatus (HEM–747), with a 5–min rest interval between measurements. The Finometer device was used to determine the Windkessel compliance and the carotid dorsalis–pedis pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured with the Complior (SP acquisition system) on the left side of each subject in the supine position. The means, adjusted means and proportions were compared between the groups by using independent t–tests, analysis of co–variance and the chi–square test, respectively. Associations were investigated between cardiovascular variables and suPAR using single and multiple regression analyses with either pulse wave velocity, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure or Windkessel compliance as dependent variable. Covariates included were age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, glucose and high–density lipoprotein cholesterol. Results and conclusion SuPAR levels were significantly higher in Africans (P<0.001) compared to Caucasians. After adjusting for body mass index, suPAR increased significantly with age in all groups, except for African women. Moreover, the suPAR levels of African men and women were significantly higher than the Caucasians within each age quartile. While adjusting for age and body mass index, the cardiovascular profiles of the African and Caucasian men were less favourable compared to women, but suPAR levels were significantly higher in Caucasian women compared to men. In single regression, various measures of cardiovascular function correlated with suPAR in African men and Caucasian men and women. After adjusting for confounders the associations disappeared in Caucasian women, and remained nonsignificant in the African women. However, the association between PWV and suPAR remained significant in African men (B=0.19; P=0.030), while the association of systolic blood pressure (B=0.20; P=0.017), diastolic blood pressure (B=0.17; P=0.020) and Windkessel compliance (B=–0.14; P=0.004) with suPAR remained significant in Caucasian men. In conclusion, Africans presented higher suPAR levels compared to Caucasians, even when stratified by age. Gender specific associations indicated that suPAR was associated with arterial stiffness in African and Caucasian men only, therefore, indicating that suPAR could be a possible biomarker for predicting cardiovascular dysfunction. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tydens ondersoeke na kinder seksuele misbruik benut word, het in n hoë mate mettertyd ontwikkel. Navorsing het n waardevolle bydrae gelewer tot effektiewe en geskikte assesseringstegnieke. Verdere navorsing is egter nodig om die bestaande tegnieke te ondersoek. Die persoon wat by forensiese assesserings betrokke is, kan baat vind by die leiding wat navorsing bied. Op grond hiervan het die navorser ondersoek ingestel na die forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tans in die praktyk deur forensiese maatskaplike werkers benut word. Gedurende die ondersoek is verskeie tegnieke wat tydens forensiese assesseringsonderhoude benut word, geïdentifiseer en bespreek. Die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie is vir die doel van hierdie studie deur die navorser uitgesonder. Hierdie tegniek is aan die hand van n gevallestudie bestudeer en bespreek. Ondersoek is ook ingestel na die menings van maatskaplike werkers wat in die forensiese veld werksaam is, asook dié van justisie–amptenare, onder wie landdroste en staatsaanklaers, wat in die hof vir seksuele misdrywe werksaam is, ten opsigte van die benutting van die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie. Die justisie–amptenare was aanvanklik nie vertroud met die tegniek nie. Nadat literatuur vir bestudering aan hulle beskikbaar gestel is, is vasgestel dat hulle ontvanklik is vir en positief staan teenoor die benutting van die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie. Die ondersoek het ten doel gehad: * Om deur middel van n literatuurstudie die forensiese assesseringstegnieke wat tans in die praktyk benut word, te identifiseer en te bespreek; en * Om die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasietegniek aan die hand van n literatuurstudie en empiriese navorsing te evalueer. Samevattend kan gestel word dat die tegnieke, soos in hierdie navorsing bespreek, deel behoort uit te maak van die protokol van die professionele persoon wat die seksueel misbruikte kind assesseer. Hierdie navorsing het bevind dat die sistematiese aanrakingseksplorasie n waardevolle forensiese assesseringstegniek is ten opsigte van die seksueel misbruikte kind. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Motivation Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus are common in the black population of South Africa. The literature also shows that elevated blood glucose concentrations can lead to an increase in blood pressure and a blunted decline in nocturnal blood pressure. Therefore, the motivation for this study was to determine if blood glucose may play a role regarding the blunted nocturnal decline in blood pressure in African and Caucasian men. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a blunted nocturnal decline in blood pressure and blood glucose in African and Caucasian men. Methodology A comparative population study was preformed that consisted of 202 school teachers (101 African and 101 Caucasian) between the ages of 25–60 years from the North West Province, South Africa. Subjects were excluded if their body temperature was elevated, had a dependence or abuse of psychotropic substances, were regular blood donors and/or vaccinated in the previous three months. Ambulatory systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured. Blood samples from the antebrachial vein were collected in sodium fluoride tubes to determine the serum glucose level and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) percentage. Estimated average glucose (eAG) was determined from the percentage HbA1c by means of a regression formula. Means and proportions were compared by standard t–test and the chi–square test, respectively. Pearson correlations were used to determine unadjusted associations and multiple regression analysis to determine adjusted associations between variables. Results and Conclusion African men had an elevated HbA1c (p<0.001), eAG (p<0.001), nighttime SBP (p<0.001) and DBP (p<0.001). These results remained similar when non–dipping African and Caucasian men were compared. The Africans also smoked more (p=0.012), consumed more alcohol (p=0.049), had a higher percentage of non–dippers (p=0.054), HIV infected subjects (p<0.001) and a larger number of subjects that used anti–hypertensive medication (p=0.049). The unadjusted analysis showed positive correlations between all the blood pressure measurements and serum glucose, HbA1c and eAG in the African non–dipper men. While in the non–dipper Caucasian men, only daytime SBP and nighttime SBP (22:00–06:00) correlated positively with serum glucose, HbA1c and eAG. Furthermore, when viewing the relationship between carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) and the blood pressure measurements in the African population, only nighttime (00:00– 04:00) SBP (r=0.581, p<0.001) and DBP (r=0.566, p<0.001) showed positive associations. After adjustments were made for age and body mass index the associations between the various blood pressure measurements and blood glucose disappeared in the non–dipper Caucasian men. However, in the non–dipper African men both nighttime (22:00–06:00) SBP and (00:00– 04:00) SBP showed positive correlations with serum glucose, HbA1c and eAG. After full adjustments (age, BMI, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, C–reactive protein and baroreceptor sensitivity) were made, nighttime (00:00–04:00) SBP was the only measure of blood pressure that correlated positively with HbA1c (p=0.069) and eAG (p<0.001) in the nondipper African men. No significant relationships were found for Caucasian men. Furthermore, to determine if the association between nighttime (00:00–04:00) SBP and eAG were independent of CIMT, we adjusted for CIMT. By doing so the positive association between SBP and eAG remained significant in the non–dipper African men (R2=0.617; =0.438; p=0.008) and nonsignificant in the non–dipper Caucasian men (R2=0.423; =0.169; p=0.33). However, the relationship between CIMT and eAG disappeared when we adjusted for SBP, suggesting that the SBP and eAG relationship drives CIMT. In conclusion, the association between the early morning SBP (00:00–04:00) and the blood glucose in non–dipping African men suggests that the blunted decline in nocturnal blood pressure during the early morning hours is associated with chronically elevated blood glucose. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Motivation Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus are common in the black population of South Africa. The literature also shows that elevated blood glucose concentrations can lead to an increase in blood pressure and a blunted decline in nocturnal blood pressure. Therefore, the motivation for this study was to determine if blood glucose may play a role regarding the blunted nocturnal decline in blood pressure in African and Caucasian men. Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between a blunted nocturnal decline in blood pressure and blood glucose in African and Caucasian men. Methodology A comparative population study was preformed that consisted of 202 school teachers (101 African and 101 Caucasian) between the ages of 25–60 years from the North West Province, South Africa. Subjects were excluded if their body temperature was elevated, had a dependence or abuse of psychotropic substances, were regular blood donors and/or vaccinated in the previous three months. Ambulatory systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured. Blood samples from the antebrachial vein were collected in sodium fluoride tubes to determine the serum glucose level and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) percentage. Estimated average glucose (eAG) was determined from the percentage HbA1c by means of a regression formula. Means and proportions were compared by standard t–test and the chi–square test, respectively. Pearson correlations were used to determine unadjusted associations and multiple regression analysis to determine adjusted associations between variables. Results and Conclusion African men had an elevated HbA1c (p<0.001), eAG (p<0.001), nighttime SBP (p<0.001) and DBP (p<0.001). These results remained similar when non–dipping African and Caucasian men were compared. The Africans also smoked more (p=0.012), consumed more alcohol (p=0.049), had a higher percentage of non–dippers (p=0.054), HIV infected subjects (p<0.001) and a larger number of subjects that used anti–hypertensive medication (p=0.049). The unadjusted analysis showed positive correlations between all the blood pressure measurements and serum glucose, HbA1c and eAG in the African non–dipper men. While in the non–dipper Caucasian men, only daytime SBP and nighttime SBP (22:00–06:00) correlated positively with serum glucose, HbA1c and eAG. Furthermore, when viewing the relationship between carotid intima–media thickness (CIMT) and the blood pressure measurements in the African population, only nighttime (00:00– 04:00) SBP (r=0.581, p<0.001) and DBP (r=0.566, p<0.001) showed positive associations. After adjustments were made for age and body mass index the associations between the various blood pressure measurements and blood glucose disappeared in the non–dipper Caucasian men. However, in the non–dipper African men both nighttime (22:00–06:00) SBP and (00:00– 04:00) SBP showed positive correlations with serum glucose, HbA1c and eAG. After full adjustments (age, BMI, smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, C–reactive protein and baroreceptor sensitivity) were made, nighttime (00:00–04:00) SBP was the only measure of blood pressure that correlated positively with HbA1c (p=0.069) and eAG (p<0.001) in the nondipper African men. No significant relationships were found for Caucasian men. Furthermore, to determine if the association between nighttime (00:00–04:00) SBP and eAG were independent of CIMT, we adjusted for CIMT. By doing so the positive association between SBP and eAG remained significant in the non–dipper African men (R2=0.617; =0.438; p=0.008) and nonsignificant in the non–dipper Caucasian men (R2=0.423; =0.169; p=0.33). However, the relationship between CIMT and eAG disappeared when we adjusted for SBP, suggesting that the SBP and eAG relationship drives CIMT. In conclusion, the association between the early morning SBP (00:00–04:00) and the blood glucose in non–dipping African men suggests that the blunted decline in nocturnal blood pressure during the early morning hours is associated with chronically elevated blood glucose. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.