Selected Ion Flow Tube-Mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) is an analytical measurement technology for the real-time quantification of volatile organic compounds in gaseous samples. This technology has current and potential applications in a wide variety of industries, although the focus of this research is in medical science. In this field, SIFT-MS has potential as a diagnostic device, capable of determining the presence of a particular disease or condition. In addition, SIFT-MS can be used to monitor the progression of a disease state, or predict deviations from expected behaviour. Lastly, SIFT-MS can be used for the identification of biomarkers of a particular disease state. All these possibilities are available non-invasively and in real-time, by analysing breath samples. SIFT-MS produces an extensive amount of data, requiring specific mathematical methods to identify biomarker masses that differ significantly between populations or time-points. Two classification methods are presented for the analysis of SIFT-MS mass scan data. The first method is a cross-sectional classification model, intended to differentiate between the diseased and non-diseased state. This model was validated in a simple test case. The second method is a longitudinal classification model, intended to identify key biomarkers that change over time, or in response to treatment. Both of these classification models were validated in 2 clinical trials, investigating renal function in humans and rats. The first clinical trial monitored changes in breath ammonia, TMA and acetone concentrations over the course of dialysis treatment. Correlations with the current gold standard plasma creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen were reported. Finally, biomarkers of renal function were identified that change predictably over the course of treatment. The second trial induced acute renal failure in rats, and monitored the change in renal function observed during recovery. For comparison and validation of the result, a 2-compartment model was developed for estimating renal function via a bolus injection of a radio-labelled inulin tracer, and was compared with the current gold standard plasma creatinine measurement, modified using the Cockcroft-Gault equation for rats. These two methods were compared with SIFT-MS monitoring of breath analytes, to examine the potential for non-invasive biomarkers of kidney function. Results show good promise for the non-invasive, real-time monitoring of breath analytes for diagnosis and monitoring of kidney function, and, potentially, other disease states.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Chronic renal failure patients are confronted with many challenges and often express feelings of being a burden to their families. Since the inception of haemodialysis in 1913, limited research has been conducted to explore the coping behaviours of the families of haemodialysed patients, especially in the South African context. The family’s inability to cope with the condition and treatment, may impact on their wellness as well as that of the family member on haemodialysis. In light of the limited research available on the coping behaviours of families of haemodialysed patients, this study set out to describe the coping behaviours using the mixed method. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHOD: The study followed an explanatory mixed method approach with sequential design and was divided into two phases. Phase one addressed the first objective in identifying and describing the coping behaviours of the families using the Family Crisis Orientated Personal Scale (F–COPES) developed by McCubbin, Larsen and Olson. During phase two, the researcher conducted interviews to explore the coping behaviour identified in phase one. RESULTS: The mean scores of the subscales of the F–COPES scale ranged from 3.05 to 4.16 with reliability indices found to be within the normal range. The average mean score for the subscale “seeking spiritual support” measured highest at 4.16, followed by “mobilising the family to acquire and accept help” (M=3.94). “Acquiring social support” measured lowest at 3.05. Four categories emanated from the thematic analysis of the data from the second phase namely, challenges, coordinated care, support structures and beliefs about disease. CONCLUSION: The subscales “seeking spiritual support, mobilising the family to acquire and accept help, reframing and acquiring social support” showed concordance with the categories derived from the qualitative data analysis. Supporting evidence for “passive appraisal” as a sub–scale from the first phase and “challenges” as a category from the second phase could not be found. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Chronic renal failure patients are confronted with many challenges and often express feelings of being a burden to their families. Since the inception of haemodialysis in 1913, limited research has been conducted to explore the coping behaviours of the families of haemodialysed patients, especially in the South African context. The family’s inability to cope with the condition and treatment, may impact on their wellness as well as that of the family member on haemodialysis. In light of the limited research available on the coping behaviours of families of haemodialysed patients, this study set out to describe the coping behaviours using the mixed method. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHOD: The study followed an explanatory mixed method approach with sequential design and was divided into two phases. Phase one addressed the first objective in identifying and describing the coping behaviours of the families using the Family Crisis Orientated Personal Scale (F–COPES) developed by McCubbin, Larsen and Olson. During phase two, the researcher conducted interviews to explore the coping behaviour identified in phase one. RESULTS: The mean scores of the subscales of the F–COPES scale ranged from 3.05 to 4.16 with reliability indices found to be within the normal range. The average mean score for the subscale “seeking spiritual support” measured highest at 4.16, followed by “mobilising the family to acquire and accept help” (M=3.94). “Acquiring social support” measured lowest at 3.05. Four categories emanated from the thematic analysis of the data from the second phase namely, challenges, coordinated care, support structures and beliefs about disease. CONCLUSION: The subscales “seeking spiritual support, mobilising the family to acquire and accept help, reframing and acquiring social support” showed concordance with the categories derived from the qualitative data analysis. Supporting evidence for “passive appraisal” as a sub–scale from the first phase and “challenges” as a category from the second phase could not be found. / Thesis (M.Cur.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Thematic Paper (M.C.T.M. (Clinical Tropical Medicine))--Mahidol University, 2008. / LICL has E-Thesis 0038 ; please contact computer services. LIRV has E-Thesis 0038 ; please contact circulation services.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 1999. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xvi, 184 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1982. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.N.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2003. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 176-183. Also available online.

Bakgrund: Njurarna har en central funktion i kroppen och sviktar dessa innebär det en stor påverkan på det dagliga livet samt en kontinuerlig kontakt med sjukvården. Sjukdomen och dess behandling påverkar inte bara kroppen fysiskt utan även psykiskt och socialt. Njurtransplantation är en kostnadseffektiv och väletablerad behandlingsform vilken ger god prognos för patienten. Dock är efterfrågan på organ större än tillgången vilket i många fall innebär en väntan på obestämd tid för patienten. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att beskriva patienters upplevelser av att leva med kronisk njursvikt i väntan på transplantation. Metod: Litteraturbaserad studie baserad på tio vetenskapliga artiklar med kvalitativ ansats. Resultat: Ur analysen framkom tre kategorier; Livet begränsas, en oviss väntan samt stöd från omgivningen med nio underkategorier. Diskussion: Livet i väntan på transplantation medför många begränsningar som i sin tur innebär lidande. Detta skapar ett behov av stöd från omgivningen, däribland sjuksköterskan. För att sjuksköterskan ska kunna ge stöd åt patienten är det viktigt att förstå hur patienter upplever livet i väntan på transplantation.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T15:01:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 922695 bytes, checksum: f8f5149bcaecc139482a8d18e90f692f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This research aimed to study the religiosity and quality of life (QV) of 100 patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis treatment, with the range of age varying from 18 years old to 90 years old, being 50 man and 50 women. After the ethical procedures, there were applied the following questionnaires: Socio-Demographic Data, WHOQOL-bref and Religious Attitude Scale. For statistical analysis the data were entered in the SPSS platform, executing calculations of percentages, analyzing Cronbach's alpha, used on the Student T test, Pearson correlation calculations, variance analysis, in addition to the average and standard deviations to describe the profile of participants. During the entire process of data collection it was used a field journal to write informal notes about the content of the patients speeches, presented on tables with the positive and negative interpretations of their speeches, using the analysi of Bardin and Lexical. The results found enabled the identification of the time of the chronic kidney disease with the minimum period of 12 months and maximum period of 300 months of disease, ranging from 1 month to 144 months of treatment. Regarding the religious options, 60% of the sample described themselves as catholic. With respect to minimum load factor considered for interpretation of components, it was found that on the range of religious attitudes, the first component gathered 8 items, with saturation ranging between 0.83 and 0.48, had a standard deviation of 8,6 and a variance of 74.6%, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.87. The second component grouped 6 items, with saturation varying from 0.80 to 0.55, standard deviation of 7.7 and a variance of 59.1%, Cronbach's alpha 0.86. The third component collected 7 items, ranging from 0.70 to 0.47, standard deviation was 5.8 and variance 34.1%, alpha of Cronbach's was 0.86. It was observed on the research that the self-assessment about QV averaged 3.8 with a standard deviation of 0.8. On satisfaction with their health, we obtained an average of 3.2 with a standard deviation of 1. The Physical Domain averaged 9.6 with a standard deviation of 2.5. On the Psychological Field it was found an average of 22 with a standard deviation of 4. On the Field Level of Independence there was an average of 12 with a standard deviation of 3. On the Social Relations Domain it was averaged 11 with a standard deviation of 2.5. Finally, the Environmental Domain, where it reached an average of 29 with a deviation of 4.5. That component 1 of the Religious Attitude Scale was correlated with the psychological domain of WHOQOL-bref (r = 0.21, p <0.05). Moreover, there is also a positive correlation between this component and the social relationships domain (r = 0.25, p <0.05). You can also verify a positive correlation between the component 2 of the religious attitude with the independence level of QV (r = 0.28, p <0.01) and the domain of social relationships (r = 0.22, p <0.05). Finally, it is possible to observe a positive correlation between the component 3 of the Religious Attitude Scale with the level of independence domain (r = 0.22, p <0.05), with the social relationships domain (r = 0.22, p <0.05) and the environmental domain (r = 0.23, p <0.05). There was also a positive correlation between satisfaction with the QV and the religious component 2 (r = 0.22, p <0.05). Regarding the duration of the disease and treatment time with the domains of QV, there was a negative correlation between duration of disease and physical domain (r = -0.20, p <0.05), a negative correlation between duration of illness and level of independence domain (r = -0.24, p <0.05) and a negative correlation with strong statistical significance between disease duration and social relationships domain (r = -0.27, p <0.01). It was found on this research that there is an influence of religion with the QV of patients with chronic renal failure, which means, it was observed that the components of the religious attitude had a positive correlation with social relationships, psychological, level of independence and the environment. However, there was no influence of religiosity with the physical domain. Thus, it was observed that religion is a source of comfort and hope to patients, empowering them and promoting general welfare, helping with the acceptance of this inevitable condition. / Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo estudar a religiosidade e a qualidade de vida (QV) de 100 pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica em hemodiálise, com idades variando entre 18 anos e 90 anos, sendo 50 pacientes do sexo masculino e 50 do feminino. Após os procedimentos éticos, na coleta de dados foram aplicados os seguintes questionários: Dados Sócio-Demográficos, formulário WHOQOL-Abreviado e Escala de Atitude Religiosa. Para as análises estatísticas os dados foram digitados na plataforma do SPSS, sendo realizados cálculos de percentagem, analisados alfa de Cronbach, utilizados o teste T de Student, cálculos de correlação de Pearson, análise de variância, além das médias e desvios padrão para a descrição do perfil dos participantes. Durante todo o processo de coleta de dados foi utilizado um diário de campo para as anotações informais sobre o conteúdo das falas dos pacientes, sendo estas apresentadas em quadros com as interpretações positivas e negativas dos seus discursos, através da análise de Bardin e Léxica. Os resultados encontrados permitiram identificar que os pacientes em estudo tinham o tempo mínimo de 12 meses e tempo máximo de 300 meses da doença renal crônica, com uma variação de 1 mês de tratamento à 144 meses. Quanto às opções religiosas, 60% da amostra se autodenominou católica. Com relação a carga fatorial mínima considerada para interpretação dos componentes, verificou-se que na escala de atitude religiosa, o primeiro componente reuniu 8 itens, com saturação variando de 0,83 a 0,48, apresentou desvio padrão de 8,6 e uma variância de 74,6%, com alfa de Cronbach de 0,87. O segundo componente agrupou 6 itens, com saturação variando de 0,80 a 0,55, desvio padrão de 7,7 e uma variância de 59,1%, alfa de Cronbach de 0,86. O terceiro componente coligou 7 itens, com uma variação de 0,70 a 0,47, desvio padrão foi de 5,8 e a variância de 34,1%, o alfa de Cronbach foi de 0,86. Foi observado na pesquisa que a autoavaliação da QV apresentou uma média de 3,8 com um desvio padrão de 0,8. Na satisfação com a sua saúde, obteve-se uma média de 3,2 com um desvio padrão de 1. O Domínio Físico obteve uma média de 9,6 com um desvio padrão de 2,5. No Domínio Psicológico se verificou uma média de 22 com um desvio padrão de 4. No Domínio Nível de Independência observou-se uma média de 12 com desvio padrão de 3. No Domínio Relações Sociais se obteve uma média de 11 com um desvio padrão de 2,5. Por fim, o Domínio Ambiental, onde chegou-se a uma média de 29 com um desvio de 4,5. O componente 1 da Escala de Atitude Religiosa se correlacionou com o domínio psicológico do Formulário WHOQOL-Abreviado (r = 0,21, p<0,05). Além disso, também há uma correlação positiva entre este componente e o domínio relações sociais (r = 0,25, p<0,05). Pode-se verificar também uma correlação positiva entre o componente 2 da atitude religiosa com o nível de independência de QV (r = 0,28, p< 0,01) e com o domínio de relações sociais (r = 0,22, p<0,05). Por fim, é possível observar uma correlação positiva entre o componente 3 da Escala de Atitude Religiosa com o domínio nível de independência (r=0,22, p<0,05), com o domínio relações sociais (r =0,22, p<0,05) e com o domínio ambiental (r =0,23, p<0,05). Houve também uma correlação positiva entre a satisfação com a QV e o componente de religiosidade 2 (r = 0,22 , p<0,05). Quanto ao tempo da doença e tempo de tratamento com os domínios da QV, observou-se uma correlação negativa entre o tempo da doença com o domínio físico (r = -0,20, p<0,05), uma correlação negativa entre o tempo da doença e o domínio nível de independência (r = -0,24, p<0,05), e uma correlação negativa com forte significância estatística entre o tempo de doença e o domínio relações sociais (r = -0,27, p<0,01). Verificou-se neste trabalho que há uma influência da religiosidade com a QV dos pacientes renais crônicos, ou seja, foi observado que os componentes da atitude religiosa tiveram uma correlação positiva com os domínios relações sociais, psicológico, nível de independência e ambiental. Entretanto, não houve uma influência da religiosidade com o domínio físico. Assim, foi observado que a religiosidade é uma fonte de conforto e esperança para os pacientes, fortalecendo-os e promovendo bem-estar geral, ajudado a aceitação da condição inevitável.

Orientador: Luiz Antônio de Lima Resende / Banca: Marcondes Cavalcante França Junior / Banca: Kátia de Freitas Alvarenga / Banca: José Luiz Weffort / Banca: Silke Anna Theresa Weber. / Resumo: Baseados em trabalhos prévios de nosso grupo de pesquisa, os autores pensam que perdas dentárias na insuficiência renal crônica poderiam estar associadas a neuropatia trigeminal, o que não está descrito na bibliografia consultada. Para investigar a hipótese, foram estudados 30 pacientes urêmicos em programa de hemodiálise durante os últimos 5 anos. Dez foram excluídos devido a história clínica de alcoolismo ou diagnóstico de diabetes. Dentre 20 pacientes urêmicos (sem alcoolismo ou diabetes) evidências clínicas de comprometimento trigeminal foram observadas em 4 (20% dos casos). Estudos do blink reflex sugeriram comprometimentos das aferências trigeminais em 12 (60%). A análise das repostas R1 possibilitou classificar os comprometimentos das aferências trigeminais em axonais ou desmielinizantes. Alterações das respostas R2 sugeriram hiperexcitabilidade ou hipoexcitabilidade dos neurônios internunciais do tronco encefálico, e foram encontradas algumas alterações de R2 possivelmente indicativas de mau prognóstico / Abstract: Based on anterior works of our research group, the authors believe that teeth lost in chronic renal failure would be associated to trigeminal neuropathy, an association not described in medical literature. This study was conducted to investigate this hypothesis, and 30 uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis were analysed in the last 5 years. Ten were excluded because they have chronic alcoholism or diabetes. From 20 uremic patients, without alcoholism or diabetes, clinical evidences of trigeminal neuropathy was obtained in 4 (20 %), and electrophysiological studies by blink reflex showed abnormalities suggesting trigeminal neuropathy in 12 (60%). From R1 response analysis, it was possible to separate the electrophysiological evidences of impairment of the afferent trigeminal pathways in two groups: axonal or demyelinating pattern. R2 abnormalities suggested hyperexcitability or hypoexcitability of the interneurons in pons and medulla. In addition, the authors believe that some findings in the blink reflex may be of prognostic value / Doutor