Systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the status of carotid intima-media thickness and lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a measurement for subclinical atherosclerosis and has been associated with overall cardiovascular diseases, especially in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to assess the status of carotid health and lipid profile in T2DM.

Design: This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised data published from clinical studies.

First Report of (Imamura, 1931) Filipjev and Schuurmans Stekhoven, 1941 Associated with Grass in South Africa.

associated with grass in South Africa was identified morphologically and molecularly. This population is characterized by a body length of 409 - 529 μm, a stylet length of 9.5 - 13 μm, a post-vulval uterine sac of 45 - 50 μm, and the characteristic tail bifurcated at the end with one prong longer than the other.

Objectively-measured step cadence and walking patterns in a rural African setting: a cross-sectional analysis.

Objectives: To investigate free-living, accelerometry-derived step cadence and walking strategy parameters in 263 adult women (19-56 years) within a rural African setting. Participants were categorised into weight groups: Under-to-Normal Weight (UW/NW: < 25 kg/m), Overweight-to-Obese (OW/OB: ≥ 25 kg/m). From the minute-by-minute uni-axial accelerometry data, outcomes describing physical activity intensity, step volume, step cadence and step bouts were extracted.

Achieving SDGs and addressing health emergencies in Africa: strengthening health promotion.

In 1986, the World Health Organization (WHO) convened the first Global Conference on Health Promotion held in Ottawa, Canada. This conference yielded the Ottawa Charter which defined health promotion as the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. A series of conferences followed and in 2005, WHO convened the Sixth Global Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, which yielded the Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion.

One-Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide/Hausmannite Manganese Oxide for Symmetric and Asymmetric Pseudocapacitors.

In this paper, the pseudocapacitive performance of nitrogen-doped and undoped reduced graphene oxidetetragonal hausmannite nanohybrids (N-rGO/MnO and rGO/MnO) synthesized using a one-pot hydrothermal method is reported. The nanohybrid electrode materials displayed exceptional electrochemical performance relative to their respective individual precursors (i.e.

Use of biomarkers in monitoring pollution status of urban rivers, Limpopo, South Africa.

This study investigated the use of enzymes and histology as potential biomarkers in Sand and Blood Rivers in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Physico-chemical parameters were analyzed at sites S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 of the Sand River and sites B1 and B2 of the Blood River. Sites S1 and B1 were selected as the reference sites and located upstream of the Polokwane and Seshego wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) effluent discharge points, respectively.

Lithium inhibits NF-κB nuclear translocation and modulate inflammation profiles in Rift valley fever virus-infected Raw 264.7 macrophages.

Introduction: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a zoonotic life-threatening viral infection endemic across sub-Saharan African countries and the Arabian Peninsula; however, there is a growing panic of its spread to non-endemic regions. This viral infection triggers a wide spectrum of symptoms that span from fibril illnesses to more severe symptoms such as haemorrhagic fever and encephalitis. These severe symptoms have been associated with dysregulated immune response propagated by the virulence factor, non-structural protein (NSs).

In Vitro Evaluation of Anti-Rift Valley Fever Virus, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of South African Medicinal Plant Extracts.

Rift valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne virus endemic to sub-Saharan African countries, and the first sporadic outbreaks outside Africa were reported in the Asia-Pacific region. There are no approved therapeutic agents available for RVFV; however, finding an effective antiviral agent against RVFV is important. This study aimed to evaluate the antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of medicinal plant extracts.

Climatic oscillations during the Mio/Pliocene epochs induced cladogenesis in the terrestrial snail genus Gittenedouardia (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Cerastidae) from South Africa.

In South Africa, the terrestrial snail genus Gittenedouardia is the most species-rich member of the Cerastidae, where it is primarily distributed in the highly fragmented Afrotemperate and Indian Ocean coastal belt (IOCB) forest biomes. Phylogenetic relationships and cladogenetic events within the genus remain unstudied. In this respect, we reconstructed a dated phylogeny for eight Gittenedouardia species, and two populations identified to genus level using a combined mitochondrial (16S rRNA and COI) DNA sequencing dataset analysed using Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood framework.

The Effect of Lithium on Inflammation-Associated Genes in Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Raw 264.7 Macrophages.

Lithium remains the preferred Food and Drug Administration- (FDA-) approved psychiatric drug for treatment of bipolar disorders since its medical establishment more than half a century ago. Recent studies revealed a promising role for lithium in the regulation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration unclear about its exact mode of action. Thus, the intention of this study is to delineate the regulatory mechanisms of lithium on oxidative stress in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) activated macrophages by evaluating its effects on nuclear factor-B (NF-B) activity and mRNA expression of multiple oxidative stress-related NF-B genes.

Descriptive epidemiology of objectively-measured, free-living sleep parameters in a rural African setting.

Objectives: To investigate the descriptive nature of objectively-measured, free-living sleep quantity and quality, and the relationship to adiposity, in a rural African setting in 145 adults (≥ 40 years, female: n = 104, male: n = 41). Wrist-mounted, triaxial accelerometry data was collected over 9 days. Measures of sleep quantity and quality, and physical activity were extracted from valid minute-by-minute data.

In-vitro analysis of free radical scavenging activities and suppression of LPS-induced ROS production in macrophage cells by Solanum sisymbriifolium extracts.

The current study aims to evaluate the antioxidant, cytotoxicity activities and suppression of LPS-induced oxidative stress production and characterization of phytochemicals in Solanum sisymbriifolium leaf extracts. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity of the leaves of S. sisymbriifolium extracted with solvents of various polarities viz.

Objectively-measured physical activity patterns and longitudinal weight category status in a rural setting.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between longitudinal weight-change and objectively-measured physical activity (PA) in a rural African setting in 143 adults (≥ 30 years), using data from two cross-sectional surveys, separated by approximately 10 years. Participants were categorised into three weight-change groups (Weight-loss: ≥ 25 kg m→ < 25 kg m; Weight-gain: < 25 kg m→ ≥ 25 kg m; Weight-stability: remained < 25 kg m or ≥ 25 kg m). Daily ambulation and activity energy expenditure (AEE), measured in the 2005-2007 health survey, was examined across the weight-change groups.

Deriving objectively-measured sedentary indices from free-living accelerometry data in rural and urban African settings: a cost effective approach.

Objectives: To investigate the agreement between two data reduction approaches for detecting sedentary breaks from uni-axial accelerometry data collected in human participants. Free-living, uni-axial accelerometer data (n = 318) were examined for sedentary breaks using two different methods (Healy-Matthews; MAH/UFFE). The data were cleaned and reduced using MAH/UFFE Analyzer software and custom Microsoft Excel macro's, such that the average daily sedentary break number were calculated for each data record, for both methods.

Enzyme activity and histological analysis of Clarias gariepinus fed on Imbrasia belina meal used for partial replacement of fishmeal.

An experiment was carried out to assess the effect of replacing fishmeal with mopane worm meal in the diet of Clarias gariepinus. Juvenile C. gariepinus weighing 67.

Trace Metal Contamination and Risk Assessment of an Urban River in Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Ecological and human health risk assessments were undertaken in an urban river, Sand River. Suitability of river water for irrigation was also determined. Samples were taken on a monthly basis from four sites.

Alterations of haemato-biochemical parameters pre and post-challenge with Aeromonas hydrophila and survival of Oreochromis mossambicus fed Moringa oleifera-based diets.

This study investigated the extent of changes in haemato-biochemical and immunological parameters of O. mossambicus fed with M. oleifera-based diets pre and post-challenge with different concentrations of A.

The Prevalence and Determinants of Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factors amongst Adults in the Dikgale Health Demographic and Surveillance System (HDSS) Site, Limpopo Province of South Africa.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and determinants of chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) risk factors in a rural community in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.

Methods: This survey was conducted using the WHO "STEPwise approach to the surveillance of non-communicable diseases" (STEPS) methodology. Participants were residents of the Dikgale HDSS site and standardised international protocols were used to measure behavioural risk factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable intake and, physical activity) and physical characteristics (weight, height, waist and hip circumferences and blood pressure-BP).

An Investigation into the Physico-chemical Factors Affecting the Abundance and Diversity of Aquatic Insects in Organically Manured Aquadams and Their Utilization by Oreochromis mossambicus (Perciformes: Cichlidae).

The interaction between the fish Oreochromis mossambicus (Percifomes: Cichlidae) and aquatic insects after application of chicken, cow, and pig manure was studied in 7,000-liter plastic aquadams. Principal component analysis showed that most of the variation in water quality after application of manure was accounted for by potassium, nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, phosphate, and alkalinity. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that Gyrinidae, Elminidae, Hydrophilidae, Hydraenidae, and Athericidae were associated with high nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) characteristic of the chicken manure.

Sociocognitive Predictors of Condom Use and Intentions Among Adolescents in Three Sub-Saharan Sites.

Many HIV intervention programs in sub-Saharan Africa have applied social cognitive theories such as the theory of planned behavior. However, a recent sub-Saharan African review was unable to show increased effectiveness for theory-based interventions. This study assessed whether the predictive value of attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, and intention was similar to studies in Europe and the U.

Semi-purified extracts of Commelina benghalensis (Commelinaceae) induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in Jurkat-T cells.

Background: Commelina benghalensis (CB) is a small plant whose fleshy stems are used in South Africa to treat skin conditions (e.g., cancerous skin outgrowths).

Association of homocysteinaemia with hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and obesity.

Aim: Hyperhomocysteinaemia and the metabolic syndrome are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We investigated whether there is a link between the metabolic syndrome or its components and homocysteine levels in a population without cardiovascular disease.

Methods: From the population sample of 382 participants (286 females and 96 males) we isolated those reflecting the metabolic syndrome and determined their homocysteine levels.

Factors contributing to teenage pregnancy in the Capricorn district of the Limpopo Province.

Teenage pregnancy refers to pregnancy of a woman of less than 19 years. It is found commonly amongst young people who have been disadvantaged and have poor expectations with regard to either their education or job market. Adolescents may lack knowledge of access to conventional methods of preventing pregnancy, as they may be afraid to seek such information.

Adolescent alcohol use in rural South African high schools.

Objective: To examine psychosocial correlates of lifetime alcohol use among adolescents in rural South African high schools.

Method: Questionnaires were administered to 1600 students from 20 randomly selected high schools in the Mankweng district within Limpopo province. Self-report data on alcohol use, demographic, environmental and psychosocial variables were collected.

Debate. How should steps per day be reported--a proposal using data from Africa.

Recent reviews published in the IJBNPA provide more definitive ranges of ambulatory activity usually found in four general age groups, and how step data relates to public health guidelines. Of note in these reviews was the lack of data from Developing Countries. Apart from the lack of published data, available data was not presented in a format conducive to inclusion in the reviews.