Publications by authors named "J M Du Plessis"

The lack of information on exposure of opencast mineworkers to solar ultraviolet radiation, a group I carcinogen, was addressed. The feasibility of using electronic dosimeters in the determination of exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation was investigated. The objective of the study was to determine the feasibility of measuring the occupational exposure of opencast mineworkers to solar ultraviolet radiation using electronic dosimeters.

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Background:  Medication non-compliance is a significant healthcare issue that is widespread. Extensive research has identified factors that contribute to medication non-compliance in different healthcare settings. As a result, there was a need to develop a conceptual framework to facilitate medication compliance among adults living with depression.

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Purpose: Response assessment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) with positron emission tomography-computerized tomography (PET-CT) is standard of care in well-resourced settings but unavailable in most African countries. We aimed to investigate correlations between changes in PET-CT findings at interim analysis with changes in blood test results in pediatric patients with cHL in 17 South African centers.

Methods: Changes in ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), albumin, total white cell count (TWC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), and absolute eosinophil count were compared with PET-CT Deauville scores (DS) after two cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine in 84 pediatric patients with cHL.

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Background: Non-compliance with psychiatric medication among patients diagnosed with depression ranges from 28% to 52% exacerbating illness and reducing treatment effectiveness. There is a paucity of research on medication non-compliance and its causes in South Africa and globally, and an urgent need to develop appropriate interventions.

Aim: This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of adults living with depression who are non-compliant with their psychiatric medication and formulate recommendations to facilitate their medication compliance.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a heart condition that occurs in women during late pregnancy and shortly after childbirth, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is important for diagnosing and managing it.
  • - A study involving 32 women with PPCM found they had significantly lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fractions and higher LV end-diastolic volumes compared to 26 healthy controls, and 58% of PPCM patients exhibited specific late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) patterns.
  • - Most PPCM patients showed improvement in heart function, with 92% demonstrating an increased LV ejection fraction at follow-up, highlighting the potential for CMR findings to guide diagnosis and management in clinical practice
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