An assessment of preliminary food-based dietary guidelines for infants 6-12 months of age in the Little Karoo area of the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

Objective: This study aimed to assess mother's/caregiver's understanding, practical application and cultural acceptability of a preliminary set of South African food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) for children aged 6-12 months living in the Little Karoo area of the Western Cape Province.

Design: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study design was followed. Focus group interviews, recorded on videotape, were analysed for qualitative data.

In vitro RNA editing in plant mitochondria does not require added energy.

RNA editing in flowering plant mitochondria is investigated by in vitro assays. These cauliflower mitochondrial lysates require added NTP or dNTP. We have now resolved the reason for this requirement to be the inhibition of the RNA binding activity of the glutamate dehydrogenases (GDH).

Expression of mitochondrial tatC in Nicotiana tabacum is responsive to benzothiadiazole and salicylic acid.

A cDNA, up-regulated upon treatment of tobacco cells with salicylic acid and benzo (1,2,3) thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester, was identified by differential RNA display and the full sequence obtained. This mitochondrial gene, twin arginine translocation (tatC), resembles orthologues across different species, including the gene that codes for a sec-independent membrane translocating protein in bacteria. Hypothetical tatC proteins have also been identified in the mitochondria of Arabidopsis thaliana, Oenothera berteriana, Beta vulgaris, Oryza sativa and Marchantia polymorpha.

Antioxidant therapy for severe cardiac failure induced by iron overload secondary to dyserythropoietic anaemia.

We present a case of a patient with longstanding transfusion-dependent congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia (CDA) who developed cardiomyopathy despite iron chelation therapy. She presented with severe heart failure that responded poorly to conventional therapy, recovering only when therapy was augmented with metabolic agents including antioxidants and with increased iron chelation. The present case gives support to the concept of treating oxidatively induced heart failure with metabolic and antioxidant therapy.

A comparative study on the antimutagenic properties of aqueous extracts of Aspalathus linearis (rooibos), different Cyclopia spp. (honeybush) and Camellia sinensis teas.

Antimutagenic activity of aqueous extracts of the South African herbal teas, Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) and Cyclopia spp. (honeybush) was compared with that of Camellia sinensis (black, oolong and green) teas in the Salmonella mutagenicity assay using aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) as mutagens. The present study presents the first investigation on antimutagenic properties of C.

Benzothiadiazole inhibits mitochondrial NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase in tobacco.

An inducer of acquired disease resistance in plants, benzo (1,2,3) thiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester, exhibited direct, concentration-dependent inhibition of the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase activity of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain of cultured tobacco cells. The complex I activity was less sensitive to inhibition by salicylic acid, an endogenous activator of acquired disease resistance. Using a dichlorodihydrofluorescein assay, it was found that benzothiadiazole, salicylic acid and the complex I inhibitor rotenone, increased reactive oxygen species production within cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

Partially edited RNAs are intermediates of RNA editing in plant mitochondria.

RNA editing in flowering plant mitochondria addresses several hundred specific C nucleotides in individual sequence contexts in mRNAs and tRNAs. Many of the in vivo steady state RNAs are edited at some sites but not at others. It is still unclear whether such incompletely edited RNAs can either be completed or are aborted.

Acaricide efficiency of amitraz/cypermethrin and abamectin pour-on preparations in game.

The efficacy of an amitraz/cypermethrin pour-on preparation (1% w/v each) was tested against natural tick infestations of buffaloes, eland and blesbok in three separate trials. The eland were also treated with a 0.02% abamectin (w/v) acaricidal pour-on preparation.

RNA editing sites in plant mitochondria can share cis-elements.

RNA editing in flowering plant mitochondria alters numerous C nucleotides in a given mRNA molecule to U residues. To investigate whether neighbouring editing sites can influence each other we analyzed in vitro RNA editing of two sites spaced 30 nt apart. Deletion and competition experiments show that these two sites carry independent essential specificity determinants in the respective upstream 20-30 nucleotides.

An in vitro RNA editing system from cauliflower mitochondria: editing site recognition parameters can vary in different plant species.

Most of the 400 RNA editing sites in flowering plant mitochondria are found in mRNAs. Consequently, the sequence vicinities of homologous sites are highly conserved between different species and are presumably recognized by likewise conserved trans-factors. To investigate the evolutionary adaptation to sequence variation, we have now analyzed the recognition elements of an editing site with divergent upstream sequences in the two species pea and cauliflower.

Effect of fibroids on fertility in patients undergoing assisted reproduction. A structured literature review.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the current data to understand the impact of intramural leiomyomata on pregnancy outcome in assisted reproduction.

Patients And Methods: In this review, articles were found by means of computerized Medline and Cochrane Library search using the key words uterine myomata, leiomyomata, fibroids, implantation, pregnancy, infertility and in vitro fertilization. Limitations were English, human, 1990-2002.

Systemic aspects of interstitial cystitis, immunology and linkage with autoimmune disorders.

It is recognized that interstitial cystitis (IC) is often associated with a number of diseases such as allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjögren's syndrome. The prevalence of allergies in IC is reported to be between 40 and 80% of patients. The background of the association is not known and does not seem to be the result of a generalized allergic constitution.

Factors affecting pregnancy outcome in a gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) programme.

Objective: To identify the factors that most significantly affected pregnancy rates in a gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) programme.

Methods: A total of 863 GIFT cycles were analysed retrospectively. The variables found to be associated significantly with pregnancy were then used to obtain multivariate analysis using logistical regression.

Apoptosis and apoptosis-related molecules in the submandibular gland of the nonobese diabetic mouse model for Sjögren's syndrome: limited role for apoptosis in the development of sialoadenitis.

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which lymphocytic infiltrates develop in the exocrine glands. Pathogenetic aspects of the disease can be studied in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse strain, a spontaneous model for Sjögren's syndrome. Apoptosis may play a role in the initation phase and in the effector phase of autoimmune diseases.

Evaluation of serological markers to differentiate between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease: pANCA, ASCA and agglutinating antibodies to anaerobic coccoid rods.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, in particular the differentiation between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is important for treatment and prognosis. Several serological markers have been used as non-invasive diagnostic tools in inflammatory bowel disease patients both to differentiate ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease and to define patient subgroups.

Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of three serological tests in differentiating ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease by single or combined use.

Cost analysis of regular and filgrastim treatment in patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis.

In this double blind randomized placebo controlled clinical trial of filgrastim in chronic sinusitus, we analyzed costs of a 24-week interval in which filgrastim was administered. Since we hypothesized that the scheduled preventive visits within the trial might cause savings as compared to the regular situation in which these patients have a strong tendency to visit the outpatient clinic immediately in case of complications, direct medical costs within the trial were also compared to costs of regular treatment. The difference in costs between both trial groups was driven by the filgrastim costs (Euro 5108).

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection with testicular spermatozoa in men with azoospermia.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to gain an insight into the optimal management of the infertile couple with the husband suffering from azoospermia.

Methods: One hundred and forty-two intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles performed with testicular extracted spermatozoa were retrospectively analysed. The following factors were investigated for their possible influence on fertilization, cleavage, damage, pregnancy, and ongoing pregnancy rates: the use of fresh, cryopreserved, and preincubated (24 h) spermatozoa and the etiology of the husbands' azoospermia (obstructive and nonobstructive).

A hampered chemoattractant-induced cytoskeletal rearrangement in granulocytes of patients with unexplained severe chronic and relapsing infections of the upper and lower airways. In vitro restoration by G-CSF exposure.

Granulocytes play a major role in host defense against bacterial infections. Severe inborn defects in granulocyte function are associated with fulminant bacterial infections in early childhood. Subtle disturbances in granulocyte function might contribute to an enhanced susceptibility to bacterial infections in adulthood.

Quality of life of patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis: effects of filgrastim treatment.

In this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, we investigated the influence of filgrastim administration on the quality of life (QOL) of refractory chronic sinusitis patients who did not respond to regular treatments. QOL was considered to be an important outcome measurement because apart from classic sinusitis parameters, it measures the overall burden of the symptomatology of chronic sinusitis patients caused by general malaise, tiredness, and social impediments. The QOL of 56 patients was assessed five times during the 24-week trial with the EuroQol, the Short Form (SF)-36, and the McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ).

Stepwise regression analysis to study male and female factors impacting on pregnancy rate in an intrauterine insemination programme.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of male and female factors on the pregnancy rate in an intrauterine insemination (IUI) programme. Data on 522 cycles were retrospectively studied. All patients 39 years or younger were included in the study where data were available on male and female diagnosis, as well as on ovulation induction methodology.

Demarcating coastal vegetation buffers with multicriteria evaluation and GIS at Saldanha Bay, South Africa.

The Saldanha-Langebaan coastal zone forms an integral part of the South African coastal resource base. As elsewhere in the world, an acute need exists to balance development and economic growth and conservation in the coastal zone as an exploitable resource frontier area. Vegetated buffers and greenways are conservation concepts that have been used with great success in such conservation efforts.