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1.
S Afr Med J ; 114(2): e1306, 2024 Feb 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38525581

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Low- and middle-income countries have a critical shortage of specialist anaesthetists. Most patients arriving for surgery are of low perioperative risk. Without immediate access to preoperative specialist care, an appropriate interim strategy may be to ensure that only high-risk patients are seen preoperatively by a specialist. Matching human resources to the burden of disease with a nurse-administered pre-operative screening tool to identify high-risk patients who might benefit from specialist review prior to the day of surgery may be an effective strategy. OBJECTIVE: To develop a nurse-administered preoperative anaesthesia screening tool to identify patients who would most likely benefit from a specialist review before the day of surgery, and those patients who could safely be seen by the anaesthetist on the day of surgery. This would ensure adequate time for optimisation of high-risk patients preoperatively and limit avoidable day-of-surgery cancellations. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted to identify preoperative screening questions for use in a three-round Delphi consensus process. A panel of 16 experienced full-time clinical anaesthetists representing all university-affiliated anaesthesia departments in South Africa participated to define a nurses' screening tool for preoperative assessment. RESULTS: Ninety-eight studies were identified, which generated 79 questions. An additional 14 items identified by the facilitators were added to create a list of 93 questions for the first round. The final screening tool consisted of 81 questions, of which 37 were deemed critical to identify patients who should be seen by a specialist prior to the day of surgery. CONCLUSION: A structured nurse-administered preoperative screening tool is proposed to identify high-risk patients who are likely to benefit from a timely preoperative specialist anaesthetist review to avoid cancellation on the day of surgery.


Subject(s)
Anesthesia , Nurse's Role , Humans , Delphi Technique , South Africa , Preoperative Care
2.
S Afr Med J ; 113(3): 135-140, 2023 03 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36876351

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major post-surgical complication that contributes to morbidity and mortality. AKI is welldocumented after cardiac surgery. However, less is known regarding the incidence and risk factors following major non-cardiac surgery.Globally the incidence of AKI post major surgery has been evaluated; however, there are no data available for South Africa (SA). OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the incidence of AKI after major non-cardiac surgery at a tertiary academic SA hospital. Secondary outcomes wereto identify perioperative risk factors that are associated with an elevated risk to develop AKI in the postoperative period. METHODS: The study was conducted at Tygerberg Hospital, a single tertiary centre in Cape Town, SA. Perioperative records of adults whounderwent major non-cardiac surgery were retrospectively collected. Variables pertaining to potential risk factors for AKI were captured,and serum creatinine levels were recorded up to 7 days postoperatively and compared with baseline measurements to determine whetherAKI had developed. Descriptive statistics along with logistic regression analysis were used to interpret results. RESULTS: The overall incidence of AKI was 11.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.8 - 12.6). Based on surgical discipline, trauma surgery(19%), followed by abdominal (18.5%) and vascular surgery (17%) had the highest incidence. Independent AKI risk factors wereidentified after multivariate analysis. These were: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio (OR) 2.19; 95% CI 1.09 - 4.37;p=0.005), trauma surgery (OR 3.00; 95% CI 1.59 - 5.64; p=0.001), abdominal surgery (OR 2.14; 95% CI 1.33 - 3.45; p=0.002), vascularsurgery (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.31 - 4.45; p=0.004), urology procedures (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.31 - 4.45; p=0.005), red blood cell transfusion(OR 1.81; 95% CI 1.21 - 2.70; p=0.004), emergency surgery (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.15 - 2.65; p=0.009) and inotrope use (OR 2.77; 95% CI1.80 - 4.26; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of our study are in keeping with international literature regarding the incidence of AKI after major non-cardiacsurgery. The risk factor profile, however, is in several regards different from what has been found elsewhere.


Subject(s)
Acute Kidney Injury , Cardiac Surgical Procedures , Adult , Humans , Incidence , Retrospective Studies , South Africa
3.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35498762

ABSTRACT

Background: Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is part of the management of critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). However, inappropriate use of these drugs has important clinical implications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and Clostridium difficile-associated gastrointestinal tract infections. The overuse of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) as SUP is a rapidly growing problem globally. Objectives: To describe the use of SUP in three selected ICUs in Johannesburg, South Africa (SA). Methods: A retrospective, descriptive, contextual study design was used. Data were collected from ICU records of adult patients admitted into these units during the study period (1 August 2013 - 31 October 2013). Results: A total of 174 patients were included in the study. Of these, 156 were on SUP and only 38.5% (n=60/156) were appropriately treated with SUP according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists guidelines. There was an inappropriate use of SUP in over 50% of those who were treated. The most frequently prescribed SUP was histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) (51.3%; n=80/156), followed by PPIs (30.8%; n=48/156), sucralfate (17.3%; n=27/156), and a combination of PPI and H2RA (0.6%; n=1/156). Conclusion: The study demonstrated overuse of SUP. The most commonly used drug for SUP was H2RA and not PPIs. This study demonstrates that the problem of SUP overuse internationally also exists locally. The development of local guidelines may help to improve the practice of SUP in SA. Contributions of the study: This study showed overuse of SUP and should encourage doctors to critically evaluate why they prescribe SUP and whether it is really indicated. This should help in the adoption of practices towards appropriate use of SUP.

4.
S Afr Med J ; 110(11): 1134-1138, 2020 Oct 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33403993

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Postoperative residual curarisation (PORC) is a potentially life-threatening complication of non-depolarising muscle relaxant use in anaesthesia. Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring has the potential to reduce the risk of PORC, but many anaesthetists rely on clinical assessment of neuromuscular function alone. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the occurrence of PORC in the recovery room at an academic hospital in Gauteng, South Africa. Additionally, this prospective, cross-sectional study aimed to determine the extent of intraoperative neuromuscular monitoring and to assess clinical factors that may influence the risk of PORC. METHODS: Patient characteristics and clinical information, including whether neuromuscular monitoring had been conducted, were recorded. Patients were evaluated by clinical assessment and determination of a quantitative train-of-four ratio (TOFR). PORC assessment methods were compared and clinical characteristics were analysed for association with TOFR status. RESULTS: The incidence of PORC (TOFR <0.9) in the study group was 45.5%; however, 78% passed the clinical assessment. The specificity of clinical assessment to detect residual paralysis was 24%. Notably, only 3 patients (6%) were monitored intraoperatively for neuromuscular function. Advanced age (p=0.011, r=-0.34) and female gender (p=0.001) were shown to be associated with a TOFR <0.7. CONCLUSIONS: PORC is more common in practice than currently recognised. This deduction is supported by the low rate of intraoperative neuromuscular monitoring conducted and the high pass rate on clinical assessment. Routine use of quantitative monitoring of neuromuscular function should be encouraged to minimise the risk of this serious yet preventable condition.


Subject(s)
Anesthesia Recovery Period , Delayed Emergence from Anesthesia/diagnosis , Postoperative Complications/prevention & control , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delayed Emergence from Anesthesia/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neuromuscular Monitoring/methods , Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents/therapeutic use , Postoperative Complications/chemically induced , Prospective Studies , South Africa
5.
J Biochem Mol Toxicol ; 33(11): e22393, 2019 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31518035

ABSTRACT

Environmental exposure to lead (Pb) is reported to associate with the development of Alzheimer's disease, where the formation of ß-amyloid peptides (APs) of (1-40), (1-42), and (25-35) is considered as the major risk factor. In this context, we aimed at investigating the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major flavonoid polyphenol available in green tea, in mitigating the individual and combined toxicity generated by Pb and ß-APs in terms of oxidative stress and apoptosis in human neuronal cells. SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to Pb and ß-APs of (1-40) and (25-35) individually and in different combinations in the presence and absence of EGCG. The results indicated that EGCG mitigated both Pb- and ß-AP-induced oxidative stress in scavenging reactive oxygen species and apoptosis by improving the expression levels of Bax and bcl2 and inhibiting annexin V and caspase-3. Thus, our study shows that EGCG protects SH-SY5Y cells against the cytotoxicity induced by Pb and ß-APs by decreasing oxidative stress and inhibiting apoptosis.


Subject(s)
Amyloid beta-Peptides/adverse effects , Apoptosis/drug effects , Catechin/analogs & derivatives , Lead/adverse effects , Neurons/metabolism , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Alzheimer Disease/etiology , Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Annexin A5/metabolism , Camellia sinensis/chemistry , Caspase 3/metabolism , Catechin/pharmacology , Cell Cycle/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Survival/drug effects , Humans , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , bcl-2-Associated X Protein/metabolism
6.
S Afr Med J ; 109(8b): 613-629, 2019 08 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31456540

ABSTRACT

Background. In South Africa (SA), intensive care is faced with the challenge of resource scarcity as well as an increasing demand for intensive care unit (ICU) services. ICU services are expensive, and practitioners in low- to middle-income countries experience daily the consequences of limited resources. Critically limited resources necessitate that rationing and triage (prioritisation) decisions are frequently necessary in SA, particularly in the publicly funded health sector. Purpose. The purpose of this consensus statement is to examine key questions that arise when considering the status of ICU resources in SA, and more specifically ICU admission, rationing and triage decisions. The accompanying guideline in this issue is intended to guide frontline triage policy and ensure the best utilisation of intensive care in SA, while maintaining a fair distribution of available resources. Fair and efficient triage is important to ensure the ongoing provision of high-quality care to adult patients referred for intensive care. Recommendations. In response to 14 key questions developed using a modified Delphi technique, 29 recommendations were formulated and graded using an adapted GRADE score. The 14 key questions addressed the status of the provision of ICU services in SA, the degree of resource restriction, the efficiency of resource management, the need for triage, and how triage could be most justly implemented. Important recommendations included the need to formally recognise and accurately quantify the provision of ICU services in SA by national audit; actively seek additional resources from governmental bodies; consider methods to maximise the efficiency of ICU care; evaluate lower level of care alternatives; develop a triage guideline to assist policy-makers and frontline practitioners to implement triage decisions in an efficient and fair way; measure and audit the consequence of triage; and promote research to improve the accuracy and consistency of triage decisions. The consensus document and guideline should be reviewed and revised appropriately within 5 years. Conclusion. In recognition of the absolute need to limit patient access to ICU because of the lack of sufficient intensive care resources in public hospitals, recommendations and a guideline have been developed to guide policy-making and assist frontline triage decision-making in SA. These documents are not a complete plan for quality practice but rather the beginning of a long-term initiative to engage clinicians, the public and administrators in appropriate triage decision-making, and promote systems that will ultimately maximise the efficient and fair use of available ICU resources.


Subject(s)
Critical Care/standards , Health Care Rationing/standards , Intensive Care Units/standards , Patient Admission/standards , Triage/standards , Adult , Consensus , Humans , South Africa
7.
S Afr Med J ; 109(8b): 630-642, 2019 08 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31456541

ABSTRACT

Background. In South Africa (SA), administrators and intensive care practitioners are faced with the challenge of resource scarcity as well as an increasing demand for intensive care unit (ICU) services. ICU services are expensive, and practitioners in low- to middle-income countries experience the consequences of limited resources daily. Critically limited resources necessitate that rationing and triage (prioritisation) decisions are routinely necessary in SA, particularly in the publicly funded health sector. Purpose. The purpose of this guideline is to utilise the relevant recommendations of the associated consensus meeting document and other internationally accepted principles to develop a guideline to inform frontline triage policy and ensure the best utilisation of adult intensive care in SA, while maintaining the fair distribution of available resources. Recommendations. An overall conceptual framework for the triage process was developed. The components of the framework were developed on the basis that patients should be admitted preferentially when the likely incremental medical benefit derived from ICU admission justifies admission. An estimate of likely resource use should also form part of the triage decision, with those patients requiring relatively less resources to achieve substantial benefit receiving priority for admission. Thus, the triage system should maximise the benefits obtained from ICU resources available for the community. Where possible, practical examples of what the consensus group agreed would be considered appropriate practice under specified South African circumstances were provided, to assist clinicians with practical decision-making. It must be stressed that this guideline is not intended to be prescriptive for individual hospital or regional practice, and hospitals and regions are encouraged to develop specified local guidelines with locally relevant examples. The guideline should be reviewed and revised if appropriate within 5 years. Conclusion. In recognition of the absolute need to limit patient access to ICU because of the lack of sufficient intensive care resources in public hospitals, this guideline has been developed to guide policy-making and assist frontline triage decision-making in SA. This document is not a complete plan for quality practice, but rather a template to support frontline clinicians, guide administrators and inform the public regarding appropriate triage decision-making.


Subject(s)
Critical Care/standards , Health Care Rationing/standards , Intensive Care Units/standards , Patient Admission/standards , Triage/standards , Adult , Consensus , Humans , South Africa
8.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37719327

ABSTRACT

Background: In South Africa (SA), intensive care is faced with the challenge of resource scarcity as well as an increasing demand for intensive care unit (ICU) services. ICU services are expensive, and practitioners in low- to middle-income countries experience daily the consequences of limited resources. Critically limited resources necessitate that rationing and triage (prioritisation) decisions are frequently necessary in SA, particularly in the publicly funded health sector. Purpose: The purpose of this consensus statement is to examine key questions that arise when considering the status of ICU resources in SA, and more specifically ICU admission, rationing and triage decisions. The accompanying guideline in this issue is intended to guide frontline triage policy and ensure the best utilisation of intensive care in SA, while maintaining a fair distribution of available resources. Fair and efficient triage is important to ensure the ongoing provision of high-quality care to adult patients referred for intensive care. Recommendations: In response to 14 key questions developed using a modified Delphi technique, 29 recommendations were formulated and graded using an adapted GRADE score. The 14 key questions addressed the status of the provision of ICU services in SA, the degree of resource restriction, the efficiency of resource management, the need for triage, and how triage could be most justly implemented. Important recommendations included the need to formally recognise and accurately quantify the provision of ICU services in SA by national audit; actively seek additional resources from governmental bodies; consider methods to maximise the efficiency of ICU care; evaluate lower level of care alternatives; develop a triage guideline to assist policy-makers and frontline practitioners to implement triage decisions in an efficient and fair way; measure and audit the consequence of triage; and promote research to improve the accuracy and consistency of triage decisions. The consensus document and guideline should be reviewed and revised appropriately within 5 years. Conclusion: In recognition of the absolute need to limit patient access to ICU because of the lack of sufficient intensive care resources in public hospitals, recommendations and a guideline have been developed to guide policy-making and assist frontline triage decision-making in SA. These documents are not a complete plan for quality practice but rather the beginning of a long-term initiative to engage clinicians, the public and administrators in appropriate triage decision-making, and promote systems that will ultimately maximise the efficient and fair use of available ICU resources.

9.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37719328

ABSTRACT

Background: In South Africa (SA), administrators and intensive care practitioners are faced with the challenge of resource scarcity as well as an increasing demand for intensive care unit (ICU) services. ICU services are expensive, and practitioners in low- to middle-income countries experience the consequences of limited resources daily. Critically limited resources necessitate that rationing and triage (prioritisation) decisions are routinely necessary in SA, particularly in the publicly funded health sector. Purpose: The purpose of this guideline is to utilise the relevant recommendations of the associated consensus meeting document and other internationally accepted principles to develop a guideline to inform frontline triage policy and ensure the best utilisation of adult intensive care in SA, while maintaining the fair distribution of available resources. Recommendations: An overall conceptual framework for the triage process was developed. The components of the framework were developed on the basis that patients should be admitted preferentially when the likely incremental medical benefit derived from ICU admission justifies admission. An estimate of likely resource use should also form part of the triage decision, with those patients requiring relatively less resources to achieve substantial benefit receiving priority for admission. Thus, the triage system should maximise the benefits obtained from ICU resources available for the community. Where possible, practical examples of what the consensus group agreed would be considered appropriate practice under specified South African circumstances were provided, to assist clinicians with practical decision-making. It must be stressed that this guideline is not intended to be prescriptive for individual hospital or regional practice, and hospitals and regions are encouraged to develop specified local guidelines with locally relevant examples. The guideline should be reviewed and revised if appropriate within 5 years. Conclusion: In recognition of the absolute need to limit patient access to ICU because of the lack of sufficient intensive care resources in public hospitals, this guideline has been developed to guide policy-making and assist frontline triage decision-making in SA. This document is not a complete plan for quality practice, but rather a template to support frontline clinicians, guide administrators and inform the public regarding appropriate triage decision-making.

10.
Adv Biosyst ; 3(1): e1800127, 2019 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32627345

ABSTRACT

Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent CuInS2 -ZnS nanocrystals (CIZS NCs) are synthesized via an ultra-fast, non-injection microwave (MW)-assisted nanoalloying process at 230 ºC within 5 min using 1-dodecanethiol (DDT) as both the sulfur source and solvent under solvothermal (ST) condition. The structural and surface analyses reveal that DDT-functionalized CIZS NCs exhibit quasi-pyramids of tetragonal-phase with well-defined facets. The DDT-functionalized CIZS NCs present a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 76% and a long-lived fluorescence lifetime of ≈0.6 µs in organic-phase. Subsequently, DDT-functionalized CIZS NCs are phase-transferred via ligand-exchange using 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) into water-soluble MUA-CIZS NCs that exhibit a substantial PLQY of 55%. In addition, the NIR-fluorescent MUA-functionalized CIZS NCs in conjugation with folic acid (FA), as a tumor-targeting ligand, demonstrates enhanced tumor-targeted imaging ability. The FA-MUA-CIZS NC conjugates exhibit a cell viability of ≈75% even at the highest concentration of 1 mg mL-1 and a labeling efficiency of 95.4%. The in vivo imaging results corroborate that FA-MUA-CIZS NCs conjugates are actively targeted to folate receptor-positive B16F10 tumor-bearing C57BL/6 mice in 2 h. The histopathological and hematological studies confirm no significant changes in tissue architecture and blood biochemical parameters. The confocal microscopy studies reveal deep penetration and uniform distribution of FA-MUA-CIZS NCs conjugates in subcutaneous melanoma.

11.
Afr J Health Prof Educ ; 10(1): 61-65, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30473874

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pharmacy educators are responsible for ensuring that students are equipped with the necessary regulatory knowledge required to deal with ethical challenges that arise in practice. Teaching methods have a strong impact on student learning, making it essential to determine how learning is influenced when changing pedagogy. OBJECTIVE: To describe students' experience and perceptions of the use of a case-based learning (CBL) activity as an adjunctive method to didactic teaching of pharmacy law and ethics. METHOD: A survey was conducted among 3rd-year pharmacy students enrolled for a Pharmacy Law and Ethics course at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. The course content was delivered didactically, followed by a CBL activity for which the students were divided into groups and assigned various real-life case studies. RESULTS: Most of the 74 respondents (66%) agreed that the activity was enjoyable and metacognitively useful. A majority (77%) found the activity interactive, and 92% agreed that it enhanced their understanding of pharmacy law concepts. Eighty percent agreed that it facilitated their understanding of law and ethics concepts, and their application to real-life situations. CONCLUSION: The use of CBL was beneficial to both the individual student's learning experience and the overall class learning process. More importantly, the exercise improved their metacognitive awareness, and suggests the need to consider this method of teaching as part of the formal curriculum to better equip students to deal with ethical issues that will arise in practice.

12.
S Afr Med J ; 108(4): 271-274, 2018 Mar 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29629676

ABSTRACT

A high proportion of HIV-positive patients in South Africa receive concomitant efavirenz (EFV) and isoniazid (INH) therapy. EFV is metabolised in the liver via CYP2B6, and genetic polymorphism of CYP2B6 is known to result in slowed metabolism of the drug. INH is also metabolised in the liver, causing inhibition of a pathway that plays an important role in slow EFV metabolisers. Concomitant INH use therefore affects plasma levels of EFV. EFV is well known to cause neuropsychiatric side-effects on initiation, and a recent adult case series described late-onset neurotoxicity in the form of subacute ataxia and encephalopathy in patients treated with EFV for a median of 2 years, in association with toxic plasma levels of the drug. We have seen an increase in cases of EFV toxicity presenting to our neurology referral unit. All cases have been in the context of recent initiation of concomitant INH. We therefore conducted a retrospective case record audit to describe these seven cases with the additional advantage of tertiary-level assessment. We outline the clinical features and investigation results, as well as outcomes after EFV was stopped. Our main objectives are to highlight the probable role of concomitant INH use in the development of this syndrome, and to suggest that only limited work-up may be warranted in suspected cases.


Subject(s)
Algorithms , Benzoxazines/toxicity , Brain Diseases/chemically induced , Brain Diseases/prevention & control , Cerebellar Ataxia/chemically induced , Cerebellar Ataxia/prevention & control , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Neurotoxins/toxicity , Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/toxicity , Adult , Alkynes , Antitubercular Agents/metabolism , Antitubercular Agents/toxicity , Benzoxazines/metabolism , Cyclopropanes , Electroencephalography , Female , Humans , Isoniazid/metabolism , Isoniazid/toxicity , Neurotoxins/metabolism , Retrospective Studies , Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/metabolism , South Africa , Toxicity Tests
14.
Sci Rep ; 6: 26078, 2016 05 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27188464

ABSTRACT

Near-infrared (NIR) luminescent CuInS2-ZnS alloyed nanocrystals (CIZS-NCs) for highly fluorescence bioimaging have received considerable interest in recent years. Owing, they became a desirable alternative to heavy-metal based-NCs and organic dyes with unique optical properties and low-toxicity for bioimaging and optoelectronic applications. In the present study, bright and robust CIZS-NCs have been synthesized within 5 min, as-high-as 230 °C without requiring any inert-gas atmosphere via microwave-solvothermal (MW-ST) method. Subsequently, the in vitro and in vivo nano-xenotoxicity and cellular uptake of the MUA-functionalized CIZS-NCs were investigated in L929, Vero, MCF7 cell lines and zebrafish-embryos. We observed minimal toxicity and acute teratogenic consequences upto 62.5 µg/ml of the CIZS-NCs in zebrafish-embryos. We also observed spontaneous uptake of the MUA-functionalized CIZS-NCs by 3 dpf older zebrafish-embryos that are evident through bright red fluorescence-emission at a low concentration of 7.8 µg/mL. Hence, we propose that the rapid, low-cost, large-scale "sustainable" MW-ST synthesis of CIZS-NCs, is an ideal bio-nanoprobe with good temporal and spatial resolution for rapid labeling, long-term in vivo tracking and intravital-fluorescence-bioimaging (IVBI).

15.
S Afr Med J ; 102(5): 312-25, 2012 Mar 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22554341

ABSTRACT

Neuropathic pain (NeuP) is challenging to diagnose and manage, despite ongoing improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Many patients do not respond satisfactorily to existing treatments. There are no published guidelines for diagnosis or management of NeuP in South Africa. A multidisciplinary expert panel critically reviewed available evidence to provide consensus recommendations for diagnosis and management of NeuP in South Africa. Following accurate diagnosis of NeuP, pregabalin, gabapentin, low-dose tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (duloxetine and venlafaxine) are all recommended as first-line options for the treatment of peripheral NeuP. If the response is insufficient after 2 - 4 weeks, the recommended next step is to switch to a different class, or combine different classes of agent. Opioids should be reserved for use later in the treatment pathway, if switching drugs and combination therapy fails. For central NeuP, pregabalin or amitriptyline are recommended as first-line agents. Companion treatments (cognitive behavioural therapy and physical therapy) should be administered as part of a multidisciplinary approach. Dorsal root entry zone rhizotomy (DREZ) is not recommended to treat NeuP. Given the large population of HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa, and the paucity of positive efficacy data for its management, research in the form of randomised controlled trials in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) must be prioritised in this country.


Subject(s)
Analgesics/therapeutic use , Neuralgia/drug therapy , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy , Severity of Illness Index , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic/therapeutic use , Drug Therapy, Combination , Evidence-Based Medicine , Humans , Nociceptors/drug effects , Pain Measurement/drug effects , Pain Threshold , Pain, Intractable/drug therapy , Practice Guidelines as Topic , South Africa
16.
HIV Med ; 12(1): 46-53, 2011 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20553336

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The yield of screening for acute HIV infection among general medical patients in resource-scarce settings remains unclear. Our objective was to evaluate the strategy of using pooled HIV plasma RNA to diagnose acute HIV infection in patients with negative or discordant rapid HIV antibody tests in Durban, South Africa. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with negative or discordant rapid HIV antibody tests from a routine HIV screening programme in an out-patient department in Durban with an HIV prevalence of 48%. Study participants underwent venipuncture for pooled qualitative HIV RNA, and, if this was positive, quantitative RNA, enzyme immunoassay and Western blot (WB). Patients with negative or indeterminate WB and positive quantitative HIV RNA were considered acutely infected. Those with chronic infection (positive RNA and WB) despite negative or discordant rapid HIV tests were considered to have had false negative rapid antibody tests. RESULTS: Nine hundred and ninety-four participants were enrolled with either negative (n=976) or discordant (n=18) rapid test results. Eleven [1.1%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.6-2.0%] had acute HIV infection, and an additional 20 (2.0%; 95% CI 1.3-3.1%) had chronic HIV infection (false negative rapid test). CONCLUSIONS: One per cent of out-patients with negative or discordant rapid HIV tests in Durban, South Africa had acute HIV infection readily detectable through pooled serum HIV RNA screening. Pooled RNA testing also identified an additional 2% of patients with chronic HIV infection. HIV RNA screening has the potential to identify both acute and chronic HIV infections that are otherwise missed by standard HIV testing algorithms.


Subject(s)
AIDS Serodiagnosis/methods , HIV Infections/epidemiology , HIV Seroprevalence , HIV-1/immunology , Mass Screening/methods , RNA, Viral/blood , Acute Disease , Adult , Algorithms , Ambulatory Care , Blotting, Western , Chronic Disease , False Negative Reactions , Female , HIV Infections/blood , HIV Infections/diagnosis , Humans , Immunoenzyme Techniques , Male , Middle Aged , Predictive Value of Tests , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , South Africa/epidemiology
17.
Environ Pollut ; 157(2): 654-63, 2009 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18838199

ABSTRACT

Information regarding polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in environmental media in Africa is limited. This paper presents results of a monitoring program conducted in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa designed to characterize levels, trends and sources of airborne PCBs. Particulate and vapor samples were sampled over the 2004-2005 period at three sites. The total PCB concentration averaged 128+/-47 pgm(-3), and levels were highest in winter. Tri- through hexa-congeners predominated, and the vapor fraction was predominant. Several tetra- through hexa-chlorinated congeners had levels comparable to those at urban sites in the northern hemisphere, but hepta- through deca-congeners resembled levels at background sites. PCB source areas, deduced using spatial and temporal patterns, compositional information and trajectory analyses, likely included local, regional and global sources. Soils at three rural sites showed high PCB concentrations, and milk from a local dairy showed PCB concentrations comparable to USA levels in year 2000.


Subject(s)
Air Pollutants/analysis , Food Contamination/analysis , Milk/chemistry , Polychlorinated Biphenyls/analysis , Animals , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Humans , Industry , Seasons , Soil Pollutants/analysis , South Africa , Urban Health/statistics & numerical data
18.
Neurology ; 68(15): 1205-12, 2007 Apr 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17420404

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The PET tracer (11)C-labeled Pittsburgh Compound-B ((11)C-PIB) specifically binds fibrillar amyloid-beta (Abeta) plaques and can be detected in Alzheimer disease (AD). We hypothesized that PET imaging with (11)C-PIB would discriminate AD from frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), a non-Abeta dementia. METHODS: Patients meeting research criteria for AD (n = 7) or FTLD (n = 12) and cognitively normal controls (n = 8) underwent PET imaging with (11)C-PIB (patients and controls) and (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) (patients only). (11)C-PIB whole brain and region of interest (ROI) distribution volume ratios (DVR) were calculated using Logan graphical analysis with cerebellum as a reference region. DVR images were visually rated by a blinded investigator as positive or negative for cortical (11)C-PIB, and summed (18)F-FDG images were rated as consistent with AD or FTLD. RESULTS: All patients with AD (7/7) had positive (11)C-PIB scans by visual inspection, while 8/12 patients with FTLD and 7/8 controls had negative scans. Of the four PIB-positive patients with FTLD, two had (18)F-FDG scans that suggested AD, and two had (18)F-FDG scans suggestive of FTLD. Mean DVRs were higher in AD than in FTLD in whole brain, lateral frontal, precuneus, and lateral temporal cortex (p < 0.05), while DVRs in FTLD did not significantly differ from controls. CONCLUSIONS: PET imaging with (11)C-labeled Pittsburgh Compound-B ((11)C-PIB) helps discriminate Alzheimer disease (AD) from frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Pathologic correlation is needed to determine whether patients with PIB-positive FTLD represent false positives, comorbid FTLD/AD pathology, or AD pathology mimicking an FTLD clinical syndrome.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/diagnostic imaging , Benzothiazoles , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Dementia/diagnostic imaging , Image Enhancement/methods , Positron-Emission Tomography/methods , Aged , Aniline Compounds , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Radiopharmaceuticals , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and Specificity , Thiazoles
20.
Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol ; 20(8): 657-65, 1998 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9922981

ABSTRACT

The objective of the study was to evaluate the advanced hypothesis that genetically predisposed salt-sensitivity contributes to an increased adrenergic susceptibility and platelet activity and both these factors play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in a Dahl rat model. The results showed: i) Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DS) gradually develop a diastolic hypertension by the end of 3 months of age, in spite of the diet they are fed. Low-Na diet (0.5% NaCl) does not prevent hypertension but delays its development. High-Na diet (8%) exacerbates their hypertension. ii) After 2 months of Na-loading, DS rats expressed significantly increased sodium and water retention and increased plasma volume by 15%, compared with 2.8% in Dahl salt-resistant (DR) rats on high-Na diet. iii) The increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in DS rats paralleled the development of hypertension and was stimulated by Na-loading. It was assessed by their catecholamines status and heart rate changes. iv) Platelet activity of DS rats was increased as reflected in collagen-induced nonstimulated and adrenaline-stimulated aggregation, and an increased plasma T x B2/6-keto PGF1 alpha ratio. Na-loading further increased platelet activity. v) Both DR and DS rat platelets displayed alpha 2-adrenoceptors (A2) of low binding capacity (Bmax 25 and 35 fmol/mg protein, respectively) and low affinity (KD 5.6 nM for both groups), suggesting that platelet alpha 2 adrenoceptors in this strain of rats might not play a significant biological role in their increased platelet activity. The fact that platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors do not define the stimulation of SNS in DS rat do not exclude their participation in development of salt-dependent hypertension, since a genetic defect(s) of these ubiquitous receptors (brain, kidney, blood vessels) could still contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease.


Subject(s)
Hypertension/genetics , Platelet Aggregation/drug effects , Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2/physiology , Animals , Catecholamines/blood , Hypertension/metabolism , Hypertension/prevention & control , Male , Platelet Aggregation/genetics , Platelet Aggregation/physiology , Rats , Rats, Inbred Dahl , Sodium, Dietary/administration & dosage
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