Publications by authors named "Wyk J"

Lorchels, also known as false morels (Gyromitra sensu lato), are iconic due to their brain-shaped mushrooms and production of gyromitrin, a deadly mycotoxin. Molecular phylogenetic studies have hitherto failed to resolve deep-branching relationships in the lorchel family, Discinaceae, hampering our ability to settle longstanding taxonomic debates and to reconstruct the evolution of toxin production. We generated 75 draft genomes from cultures and ascomata (some collected as early as 1960), conducted phylogenomic analyses using 1542 single-copy orthologs to infer the early evolutionary history of lorchels, and identified genomic signatures of trophic mode and mating-type loci to better understand lorchel ecology and reproductive biology.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Modest weight and lipid changes have been observed in cabotegravir plus rilpivirine long-acting (CAB+RPV LA) Phase 3/3b studies. The SOLAR study included standardized evaluations of weight and metabolic changes in people living with HIV switching to CAB+RPV LA dosed every 2 months (Q2M) vs. continuing bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir (BIC/FTC/TAF).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Due to their value as a food source, fiber, and other products globally, there has been a growing focus on the wellbeing and health of small ruminants, particularly in relation to anemia induced by blood-feeding gastrointestinal parasites like . The objective of this study was to assess the packed cell volume (PCV) levels in blood samples from small ruminants, specifically goats, and create an efficient biosensor for more convenient, yet accurate detection of anemia for on-farm use in agricultural environments for animal production optimization. The study encompassed 75 adult male Spanish goats, which underwent PCV testing to ascertain their PCV ranges and their association with anemic conditions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the transition of all teaching and learning of final-year General Surgery students to an online platform. Despite the utility of online methods, challenges exist such as a sense of impersonal learning, and poor student engagement. Student engagement with course content is important for deep learning.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: In South Africa, newly qualified physiotherapists transition to the workplace during community service, often in diverse healthcare settings, attending to patients with complex ailments. The transition is complicated by the shortage of rehabilitation personnel, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. While higher education curricula should prepare students for the workplace, the roles and expectations of new therapists remain unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ectomycorrhizal fungi in the genus form hypogeous fruiting bodies called truffles. Many species are highly prized due to their edible and aromatic ascomata. Historically, there has been attention on cultivating and selling European truffle species, but there is growing interest in cultivating, wild-harvesting, and selling species of truffles endemic to North America.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Two-drug regimens (2DRs) have been introduced in recent years to potentially reduce antiretroviral therapy (ART) toxicities and drug-drug interactions while demonstrating comparable efficacy to three-drug regimens (3DRs) for people with HIV (PWH). The objective of this study was to compare the real-world effectiveness and durability of a single-tablet 2DR of dolutegravir/lamivudine (DTG/3TC) with that of commonly prescribed 3DRs in ART-experienced, virologically suppressed PWH during the first 24 months of DTG/3TC availability in the United States.

Methods: Virologically suppressed (viral load [VL] < 200 copies/mL) adult PWH initiating DTG/3TC 2DR, bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF), or a DTG-based 3DR between 01MAY2019 and 31OCT2020 were identified in the OPERA cohort and followed through 30APR2021.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The SOLAR study compared the effectiveness of a long-acting injection treatment (CAB + RPV LA) to a daily oral regimen (BIC/FTC/TAF) for HIV over 12 months, showing that the injection was just as effective in managing the virus.
  • Out of 670 participants, those who switched to CAB + RPV LA reported significantly higher treatment satisfaction and better mental health outcomes compared to those who continued with BIC/FTC/TAF.
  • 90% of participants preferred the long-acting injection, indicating a positive shift in perceptions regarding HIV treatment by reducing psychological challenges associated with daily medication regimens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Despite the widespread prevalence of spina bifida and its impact on individual learners, there is limited information on how infection control is managed in the school environment.

Objective: This scoping review was conducted to map the evidence on infection control programmes at schools for learners with spina bifida (LSB) globally.

Methods: This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for the scoping review.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing, pruritic, inflammatory skin disease. Assessing the characteristics and risk factors of severe AD is central to healthcare workers' understanding and subsequent education of patients for the most optimal outcomes. The clinical characteristics are known to vary depending on populations and regions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Cabotegravir plus rilpivirine (CAB + RPV) is an effective long-acting injectable treatment for maintaining HIV-1 virologic suppression, and this analysis looked at its effects based on participants' body mass index (BMI).
  • Data was collected from various trials over periods ranging from 48 to 152 weeks, focusing on virologic outcomes, confirmed failures, and safety across different BMI categories.
  • Results showed similar efficacy and tolerability for CAB + RPV LA in both lower and higher BMI groups, with high rates of HIV-1 RNA suppression and comparable safety profiles.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • CAB + RPV LA is an HIV-1 treatment regimen given every 2 months that was evaluated in the CARISEL study for its effectiveness and patient outcomes after 12 months.
  • The study involved 430 patients who switched from daily oral therapy to this long-acting treatment, and the majority maintained low viral loads, with only a small percentage showing signs of treatment failure.
  • Overall, CAB + RPV LA was found to be safe, well-tolerated, and effective in keeping patients' HIV levels suppressed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study examines the safety and outcomes of a long-acting HIV treatment regimen, Cabotegravir (CAB) + Rilpivirine (RPV), focusing on injection site reactions (ISRs) experienced by participants across several trials.
  • - Analysis of injection techniques from healthcare providers revealed that practices such as slow injection speed and bringing the medication to room temperature helped minimize discomfort for patients during the injection process.
  • - Overall, the injections showed good tolerability, with most ISRs being mild to moderate and lasting only a few days, indicating that the CAB + RPV regimen is a viable option for long-term HIV maintenance therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: This study investigated the perceptions and performance of medical students regarding their engagement and learning of a knot-tying skill presented in an online demonstration format due to the emergency remote measures that accompanied COVID-19 restrictions.

Methods: Final-year undergraduate medical students were invited to view an online demonstration of a one-handed knot-tying skill and practice the skill using common household items. They recorded their attempts and uploaded them onto the Flipgrid application.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This guideline is aimed at those who are involved in the assessment of anthelmintic efficacy in ruminant livestock species (bovine, ovine and caprine). The intent is to provide a framework that can be adopted worldwide for the testing of anthelmintics in ruminants, such that studies carried out in different countries can be compared and thereby unnecessary duplication can be reduced. Recommendations are made for the selection, housing and feeding of study animals, the type of studies required, the method used to conduct those studies, the assessment of results and the standards for defining anthelmintic efficacy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Unlabelled: Long-acting cabotegravir is approved for pre-exposure prophylaxis and combination HIV treatment, both initiated with optional short-term oral lead-in (OLI). We evaluated the impact of OLI on long-acting cabotegravir pharmacokinetics. Cabotegravir plasma concentrations were compared between HIV-positive participants initiating injections with ( = 278) or without ( = 110) OLI in phase III treatment study FLAIR and in HIV-negative participants using OLI ( = 263) in pivotal pre-exposure prophylaxis studies HPTN 083 and HPTN 084.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluates the effectiveness of the two-drug regimen (DTG/3TC) for HIV treatment, focusing on individuals transitioning from a three-drug regimen while maintaining a viral load under 50 copies/mL.
  • It includes 787 treatment-experienced participants followed for a median of 13.6 months, finding low rates of virologic failure and loss of viral control.
  • Results indicate that DTG/3TC is a viable and generally well-tolerated option for HIV treatment across different age, sex, and racial groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Body weight is influenced by an interplay of individual and environmental factors. In people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), weight is also influenced by disease status with loss accompanying disease progression that is reversed with effective antiretroviral therapy. Weight changes in comparative antiretroviral therapy trials differ by regimen, with greater gains observed with the integrase strand transfer inhibitors dolutegravir and bictegravir, particularly when coadministered with tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, compared with regimens that include agents such as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate that attenuate weight gain.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In sports, the value and mutual benefit of university-stakeholder partnerships have been well-recognised. It has been argued that cricket has a unique set of challenges compared to other team sports. In 2016, the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA) and the University of Cape Town established a partnership to (i) conduct novel research on professional cricketers and (ii) ensure SACA programmes and initiatives are informed by said research and/or the currently available literature.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Smallholder goat production plays a major role in rural livelihoods and food security in Malawi, but suffers from drastic and unpredictable production losses. While goat production is closely linked to small-scale local markets for slaughter and butchering, the perspectives of butchers and their potential as a source of animal health information are largely untapped. Butchers can provide insights into goat health status at slaughter as well as issues that go unseen before slaughter, such as the presence of indigestible foreign bodies (IFBs).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The oncology consultation following surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) is usually the first step in the receipt of chemotherapy. Non-compliance with this consultation results in non-receipt of recommended chemotherapy, when appropriate, and worse clinical outcomes. This study sought to explore South African patients' attitudes and perceptions around attending scheduled oncology consultations following their CRC surgery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Cabotegravir + rilpivirine (CAB + RPV) dosed monthly or every 2 months is the first complete long-acting (LA) regimen recommended by treatment guidelines for the maintenance of HIV-1 virological suppression. This post hoc analysis summarizes outcomes for Asian participants through week 96.

Methods: Data from Asian participants naive to CAB + RPV randomized to receive dosing every 4 weeks (Q4W) or every 8 weeks (Q8W) in the FLAIR (NCT02938520) and ATLAS-2M (NCT03299049) phase 3/3b studies were pooled.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • * This method improves patient satisfaction by reducing concerns about stigma, adherence anxiety, and the daily reminder of their status, as it's administered by healthcare professionals.
  • * The review provides practical guidance on starting the treatment, handling missed doses, and transitioning to other medications, with case scenarios to illustrate real-life situations faced by clinicians.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study reviews the effectiveness and adherence to the new long-acting injectable HIV treatment, cabotegravir + rilpivirine (CAB + RPV LA), which is approved for individuals with stable virus levels and no treatment history issues.
  • In a sample of 321 adults receiving this treatment, 90% of injections were administered on schedule, and almost all patients maintained undetectable or suppressed viral loads during follow-ups.
  • Overall, the findings suggest that CAB + RPV LA is effective in real-world clinical settings, with minimal impact from minor delays in injection schedules on patient outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF