Randomized Trial: A Pilot Study Investigating the Effects of Transcendental Meditation and Yoga Through Retinal Microcirculation in Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death, and psychosocial stress is considered a contributing factor to these issues. With the rising number of heart surgeries, proper rehabilitation post-surgery is essential. Previous studies have demonstrated the positive impact of yoga and transcendental meditation on the cardiovascular system.

Cardio-Metabolic Health of Offspring Exposed in Utero to Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus and Anti-Retroviral Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Background: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) use during pregnancy continues to rise as it is known to decrease the likelihood of HIV transmission from mother to child. However, it is still unknown whether foetal exposure to (ART) may affect the foetal environment, predisposing the offspring to cardiometabolic risk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to systematically review the cardio-metabolic effects of in utero exposure to HIV/ART on offspring.

Retinal venular vessel diameters are smaller during ten days of bed rest.

Older individuals experience cardiovascular dysfunction during extended bedridden hospital or care home stays. Bed rest is also used as a model to simulate accelerated vascular deconditioning occurring during spaceflight. This study investigates changes in retinal microcirculation during a ten-day bed rest protocol.

Assessment of the Performance of Obesity Measures in the Screening of Hypertension in a South African Adolescent Population.

Obesity is known to be one of the most significant risk factors for essential hypertension in childhood. However, whether obesity cut-offs may predict hypertension screening in adolescents remains controversial. This study investigated the performance of obesity cut-off values for the screening of hypertension in a South African adolescent population.

A pilot study: Exploring the influence of COVID-19 on cardiovascular physiology and retinal microcirculation.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affects the cardiovascular system. The current study investigated changes in heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and microcirculation in patients recovering from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection.

Methodology: Out of 43 initially contacted COVID-19 patients, 35 (30 males, 5 females; age: 60 ± 10 years; and body mass index (BMI): 31.

Vascular Responses following Light Therapy: A Pilot Study with Healthy Volunteers.

(1) Background: Studies have reported the effectiveness of light therapy in various medical conditions. Our pilot study aimed to assess the effect of Maharishi light therapy (MLT) on physiological parameters, such as the heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), BP variability (BPV), and the retinal microvasculature of healthy participants; (2) Methodology: Thirty (14 males and 16 females) healthy, non-smoking participants between 23 and 71 years old (46 ± 18 years) were included in this randomized crossover study. Each participant was tested with a placebo (using LED light) and gem lights, 24 h apart.

Oxidative stress is associated with markers of renal dysfunction in children aged 6-9 years old in a South African population.

Introduction: although studies have shown a relationship between albuminuria and oxidative stress in adults, limited information on the subject is available in children. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between oxidative stress and albuminuria in South African children of African ancestry.

Methods: a cross-sectional study involving 6-9 years old children in randomly selected rural and urban schools of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa was conducted.

Association between obesity and lung function in South African adolescents of African Ancestry.

Background: There is a growing body of literature on the increasing prevalence of obesity in adolescents of Sub-Saharan African ancestry. However, limited data is available on the impact of obesity on pulmonary function. This study assessed the relationship between obesity and lung function in South African adolescents of African ancestry.

Gut permeability is associated with hypertension and measures of obesity but not with Endothelial Dysfunction in South African youth.

Background: Though gut permeability has shown to be associated with measures of obesity and hypertension, its relationship with endothelial dysfunction, an early predictor for cardiovascular diseases remains unknown.

Objective: This study assessed the relationship between hypertension, measures of obesity, gut permeability and endothelial dysfunction.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study which enrolled 151 South African youths was conducted.

Neuroprotective effects of Lippia javanica (Burm.F.) Spreng. Herbal tea infusion on Lead-induced oxidative brain damage in Wistar rats.

Background: Though Lippia javanica (Burm.f.) Spreng antioxidant activity has been demonstrated, its effect in protecting the brain from lead (Pb)-induced oxidative damage is unknown.

An Overview of Vascular Dysfunction and Determinants: The Case of Children of African Ancestry.

The balance between dilatory and constrictive factors is important as it keeps blood vessels in a homeostatic state. However, altered physiological processes as a result of obesity, hypertension, oxidative stress, and other cardiovascular risk factors may lead to vascular damage, causing an imbalance of vasoactive factors. Over time, the sustained imbalance of these vasoactive factors may lead to vascular dysfunction, which can be assessed by non-invasive methods, such as flow-mediated dilation, pulse wave velocity, flow-mediated slowing, retinal vessel analysis, peripheral vascular reactivity, and carotid intima-media thickness assessment.

Assessment of the Cardiovascular Risk Profile of Infants Exposed to Pre-eclampsia : A Prospective Case-Control Study in South African Children of African Ancestry.

It has been reported that maternal gestational environment may be programmed to have a significant impact on foetal and offspring health later in life. Studies have shown that children born to pre-eclamptic mothers are prone to obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in their adult life. However, such findings are yet to be established in an African population.

Athrixia phylicoides tea infusion (bushman tea) improves adipokine balance, glucose homeostasis and lipid parameters in a diet-induced metabolic syndrome rat model.

Background: Central obesity and insulin resistance are associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) which is aggravated by diet and sedentary lifestyle. Athrixia phylicoides (AP) is reported by rural communities to have medicinal benefits associated with MetS such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of AP on diet-induced MetS in Wistar rats to validate its ethnopharmacological use.

Assessment of Anthropometric Indices for Optimal Cut-Offs for Obesity Screening in a South African Adolescent Population.

The assessment of obesity in sub-Saharan Africa relies on cut-offs established from western populations. This study assessed anthropometric indices to determine optimal cut-off values for obesity screening in the South African adolescent population. A cross-sectional study involving 1144 (796 females and 348 males) adolescents aged 11-17 years from the Eastern Cape Province of South African was conducted.

Lippia javanica (Zumbani) herbal tea infusion attenuates allergic airway inflammation via inhibition of Th2 cell activation and suppression of oxidative stress.

Background: Lippia javanica (lemon bush) is commonly used in the treatment of respiratory ailments, including asthma in southern African countries but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-asthmatic effects of L. javanica using a rat model of asthma.

Effect of Clove () spice as microbial inhibitor of resistant bacteria and Organoleptic Quality of meat.

For centuries, spices have been utilized as flavourants, colourants and as preservatives in food. Moreover, spices possess various antimicrobial properties with massive health benefits for the treatment and management of ailments and diseases. The present study was focused on three (3) aspects; (1) isolation and molecular identification of bacteria from the meat; (2) to determine the antimicrobial activity of the spices against the pathogens; (3) to assess the organoleptic properties of the spiced meat.

Assessment of the impact of HIV infection and anti-retroviral treatment on the cardiometabolic health of pregnant mothers and their offspring (ARTMOMSBABES).

Background: The risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is becoming more prevalent in pregnant women though not much data is available for pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Foetoplacental vascular endothelial dysfunction is thought to be at the origin of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity later on in life. Because HIV and anti-retroviral treatment (ARTs) are associated with endothelial dysfunction, children exposed in utero to these conditions may be at greater risk of developing CVDs.

Relationship between Endothelial Function, Antiretroviral Treatment and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in HIV Patients of African Descent in South Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Limited information on the effect of antiretroviral treatment (ART) on vascular function in South Africans of African descent living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is available. The relationship between ART, vascular function and cardiovascular risk factors in South Africans of African ancestry with HIV was therefore studied. This cross-sectional study recruited 146 HIV-positive individuals on ART (HIVART), 163 HIV-positive individuals not on ART (HIVART) and 171 individuals without HIV (HIV) in Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Their Relationship with Vascular Dysfunction in South African Children of African Ancestry.

Vascular dysfunction is known to be an initiator of the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, there is paucity of information on the relationship of vascular dysfunction with cardiovascular risk factors in children of African ancestry. This study investigated the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and vascular function in South African children of African ancestry.

Relationship between High Blood Pressure and Microalbuminuria in Children Aged 6-9 Years in a South African Population.

Though the association between high blood pressure and microalbuminuria is well established in adults, there is a paucity of information on microalbuminuria in children. This study investigated the relationship between high blood pressure and microalbuminuria in 6-9-year-old children. A cross-sectional study, which included 306 primary school children of age 6-9 years old from urban areas (n = 154) and rural areas (n = 152) of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, was conducted.

Understanding the Pathogenesis, Therapeutic Targets/Drug Action and Pharmacogenetics of Type 2 Diabetes: Is there a Future for Personalised Medicine?

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic non-communicable disease that is of major health concern with a steadily rising prevalence across the globe. It is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose level either as a result of impaired insulin secretion and/or insulin action usually termed insulin resistance. This disease is influenced by lifestyle/feeding habit changes and genetic factors that cause physiological changes in glucose and lipid metabolism.

Association of Hypertension and Obesity with Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Diseases in Children Aged 6-9 Years Old in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are known to begin early in life, but limited data on the relationship of obesity and hypertension with other known CVD risk factors, such as endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic low-grade inflammation is available on children. In this cross-sectional study involving 6-9 years old school children aged from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa the relationship between obesity/hypertension and other risk factors for CVDs was investigated. General anthropometric parameters were measured, followed by blood pressure (BP) measurements and pulse wave velocity (PWV).