Publications by authors named "Viljoen C"

Background: Antarctic expeditions, although supported by scientific knowledge, face various challenges, with little research conducted to explore the physical demands that explorers experience.

Objective: To summarise physiological, psychological, body composition and nutritional changes faced during trek expeditions in the Antarctic's continental portion.

Design: Systematic review.

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Depression is an important public health issue. In the general adult population, about 6.7% are affected.

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Objectives: To determine the incidence, severity, and nature of injuries sustained by female trail runners and investigate selected training variables as risk factors for injuries.

Design: Cross-sectional, retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Online questionnaire (Jisc Online Surveys).

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This study aims to investigate anthropometric and training characteristics associated with injuries in runners using a complex approach. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 97 Brazilian runners of both sexes (age: 39.1 ± 11.

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Article Synopsis
  • Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a serious heart condition affecting mothers, and this study investigates the use of bromocriptine, a potential treatment alongside standard care, to see if it improves maternal outcomes.
  • The study analyzed data from the EORP PPCM registry, comparing outcomes of 85 patients treated with bromocriptine to 409 patients receiving standard treatment, revealing that bromocriptine was linked to better maternal health outcomes.
  • Results showed a significant reduction in adverse outcomes for the bromocriptine group (22% had complications) compared to the standard care group (33%), suggesting that bromocriptine may be an effective option for treating PPCM.
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Background: The influence of menstrual cycle phases (MCPs), menstrual irregularities (MI) and hormonal contraceptive (HC) use on injury among female athletes has been scrutinised. Existing systematic reviews investigating the effect of exposures affecting the endogenous reproductive hormone status on sporting injuries are limited in terms of the types of studies included and injuries investigated.

Objective: This scoping review aims to summarise the coverage of the literature related to the extent, nature and characteristics of the influence of MCP, MI and HC use on musculoskeletal injuries among athletes.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Even those who recover may deal with long-term health issues like hypertension and arrhythmias, affecting not just their health but also their families' well-being and quality of life.
  • * A collaborative, multidisciplinary approach is essential for managing PPCM, involving various healthcare professionals to address both medical and psychosocial needs, along with informing women about the risks of future pregnancies.
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Background: Concussions in Rugby Union are common with an increased risk to adolescent players. Coaches are key to injury prevention and a greater understanding of their knowledge and sentiments may guide future initiatives. There is a lack of data on rugby coaches, especially in South Africa.

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Objectives: Trail running is a popular off-road sport involving running in natural environments over various terrains, often in remote locations. This study aims to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of injuries and illnesses, i.e.

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The Lancet Low Back Pain (LBP) Series highlighted the lack of LBP data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The study aimed to describe (1) LBP care is currently delivered in LMICs and (2) that care is delivered. An online mixed-methods study.

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Aims: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is characterized by left ventricular (LV) dysfunction developing towards the end of pregnancy or in the first months postpartum. Although about 60% of women with PPCM (the majority of which are prescribed evidence based heart failure [HF] medications) show LV recovery within 6 to 12 months, others remain with persistently impaired LV function. Poor adherence to medical therapy represents a major cause of avoidable hospitalizations, disability, and death in other cardiovascular conditions.

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There is a growing recognition that the profound environmental changes that have occurred over the past century pose threats to human health. Many of these environmental factors, including air pollution, noise pollution, as well as exposure to metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and other metals, are particularly detrimental to the cardiovascular health of people living in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs). Low-to-middle income countries are likely to be disproportionally burdened by cardiovascular diseases provoked by environmental factors.

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Objectives: Determine the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of training and match injuries in university student rugby players over a two-season period.

Design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Varsity Cup (VC) and Young Guns (YG) rugby tournaments (2018 and 2019).

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Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a global disease with substantial morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze to what extent socioeconomic factors were associated with maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Methods: In 2011, >100 national and affiliated member cardiac societies of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) were contacted to contribute to a global PPCM registry, under the auspices of the ESC EORP Programme.

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Objectives: Determine and compare the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and injury severity among race entrants training towards different ultra-trail race distances.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: The six months training period before the 2022 Mac Ultra races (46 km, 80 km, 161 km and 322 km).

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Background: Poor medication adherence leads to poor health outcomes and increased healthcare costs among patients with heart failure (HF). This study aimed to objectively assess medication adherence by measuring carvedilol and enalaprilat plasma concentrations among patients with HF.

Methods: The present sub-study of the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Rapid Optimization, helped by NT-proBNP testing, of Heart Failure therapies (STRONG-HF) study involved adult patients with acute HF admitted in two Mozambican and two Nigerian hospitals who were not optimally treated with oral enalapril and carvedilol.

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Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) remains an important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality globally. The pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, and the diagnosis is often missed or delayed.

Objectives: This study explored the serum proteome profile of patients with newly diagnosed PPCM, as compared with matched healthy postpartum mothers, to unravel novel protein biomarkers that would further an understanding of the pathogenesis of PPCM and improve diagnostic precision.

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Background: Among ultra-endurance runners (UER), the mental, behavioral, and physical demands of training/competition can result in maladaptive outcomes. Mental health issues are common in athletes and can impact psychology, physical health, and performance.

Objective: To synthesize information regarding the incidence/prevalence and factors associated with mental health issues among UER.

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The current study investigated the association between psychological factors and financial behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in older people. Older people were chosen compared to other age groups because of the relatively greater impact in this age group of suboptimal financial decisions on future financial wellbeing. We hypothesised that the psychological factors facilitating general wellbeing during the COVID-I9 pandemic, i.

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Purpose Of Review: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) contributes significantly to maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. In this review, we describe the present-day epidemiology and current understanding of the pathogenesis of PPCM. We provide an updated approach to diagnosis and management of PPCM, and discuss risk factors and predictors of outcome.

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Using an expert consensus-based approach, a netball video analysis consensus (NVAC) group of researchers and practitioners was formed to develop a video analysis framework of descriptors and definitions of physical, technical and contextual aspects for netball research. The framework aims to improve the consistency of language used within netball investigations. It also aims to guide injury mechanism reporting and identification of injury risk factors.

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This JACC Focus Seminar provides an overview of and highlights recently published research on cardiomyopathies and nutritional heart disease that have a higher prevalence in tropical regions. The development of tropical cardiomyopathies and nutritional cardiovascular disease (CVD) is complicated by high rates of poverty, fragmented health care systems, and suboptimal access to health care because of socioeconomic inequalities, leading to the fact that children, adolescents, and young adults are disproportionally affected. Such tropical cardiomyopathies and nutritional CVD that have not been prevalent in high-income countries in the past decades are now reemerging.

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Objective: To determine independent risk factors associated with a history of exercise-associated muscle cramps (hEAMCs) in distance runner race entrants in a community-based mass participation event.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: 2012 to 2015, Two Oceans marathon races (21.

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