Research Articles (Medical Bioscience): Recent submissions
Now showing items 181-200 of 258
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Cardioprotective and anti-hypertensive effects of Prosopis glandulosa in rat models of pre-diabetes
(Clinics Cardive Publishing, 2013)AIM: Obesity and type 2 diabetes present with two debilitating complications, namely, hypertension and heart disease. The dried and ground pods of Prosopis glandulosa (commonly known as the Honey mesquite tree) which is ... -
Molecular detection of tick-borne pathogen diversities in ticks from livestock and reptiles along the shores and adjacent islands of lake Victoria and lake Baringo, Kenya
(Frontiers Media, 2017)Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are responsible for some of the most serious emerging infectious diseases facing sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the rest of the world today (1, 2). In Kenya, TBPs (including viral diseases—arboviruses) ... -
Association between promoter methylation of MLH1 and MSH2 and reactive oxygen species in oligozoospermic men—A pilot study
(Wiley, 2017)MLH1 and MSH2 are important genes for DNA mismatch repair and crossing over during meiosis and are implicated in male infertility. Therefore, the methylation patterns of the DNA mismatch repair genes MLH1 and MSH2 in ... -
Determination of seminal oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) as an easy and cost-effective clinical marker of male infertility
(Wiley, 2017)Oxidative stress (OS) is an important contributing factor to male infertility. While previous methods to measure seminal OS are time-consuming and limited to the use of freshly produced semen, oxidation reduction potential ... -
Accurate automated quantitative imaging of tortoise erythrocytes using the NIS image analysis system
(Taylor & Francis, 2013)The standard method for assessing blood cell characteristics using an ocular micrometer is time-consuming and limited. We used the Nikon NIS Elements imaging software and May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining to determine whether ... -
Biodegradable ceramics consisting of hydroxyapatite for orthopaedic implants
(MDPI, 2017)This study aims to analyze hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings enriched with Mg and Ti prepared by a magnetron sputtering technique on Ti6Al4V substrate. For preparation of the coatings, three magnetron targets (HAP, MgO and ... -
Effects of GnRH vaccination in wild and captive African Elephant bulls (Loxodonta africana) on reproductive organs and semen quality
(Public Library of Science, 2017)OBJECTIVES: Although the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in some isolated habitats in southern Africa, contraception is of ... -
The impact of sperm DNA damage in assisted conception and beyond: recent advances in diagnosis and treatment
(Elsevier, 2013)Sperm DNA damage is a useful biomarker for male infertility diagnosis and prediction of assisted reproduction outcomes. It is associated with reduced fertilization rates, embryo quality and pregnancy rates, and higher ... -
Oestrogen, testosterone, cytotoxin and cholinesterase inhibitor removal during reclamation of sewage to drinking water
(Water Research Commission, 2013)Namibia is the driest sub-Saharan country in Africa. Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, reclaims sewage water for domestic use at the Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant (GWRP). Risks associated with sewage effluent and reclaimed ... -
The in vitro effects of artificial and natural sweeteners on the immune system using whole blood culture assays
(Taylor & Francis, 2013)This article investigates the effects of commercially available artificial (aspartame, saccharin, sucralose) and natural sweeteners (brown sugar, white sugar, molasses) on the immune system. Human whole blood cultures ... -
The threat of aerobic vaginitis to pregnancy and neonatal morbidity
(Women's Health and Action Research Centre, 2017)Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is an endogenous opportunistic infection brought about by the disruption of the normal vaginal microbiota. Its early diagnosis and treatment during pregnancy may reduce the risk of negative pregnancy ... -
A simple point of care test can indicate the need for periodontal therapy to reduce the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes in mothers attending antenatal clinics
(Taylor & Francis Group, 2017)INTRODUCTION: Although the association between periodontal disease (PD) and adverse pregnancy outcomes has gained recognition amongst antenatal healthcare workers, not much has changed in practice to address it. This ... -
Interpretation of semen analysis using WHO 1999 and WHO 2010 reference values: abnormal becoming normal
(Wiley, 2017)Reference values of WHO 1999 manual were used for the interpretation of semen analysis until 2010 when new reference values were introduced which have lower cut-off compared to WHO 1999. Therefore, several men who previously ... -
Quantification and identification of sperm subpopulations using computer-aided sperm analysis and species-specific cut-off values for swimming speed
(Taylor & Francis, 2013)Motility is an essential characteristic of all fl agellated spermatozoa and assessment of this parameter is one criterion for most semen or sperm evaluations. Computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) can be used to measure ... -
Reconstruction of major maternal and paternal lineages of the Cape Muslim population
(Sociedade Brasileira de Genética, 2013)The earliest Cape Muslims were brought to the Cape (Cape Town - South Africa) from Africa and Asia from 1652 to 1834. They were part of an involuntary migration of slaves, political prisoners and convicts, and they ... -
Odontogenic myxoma: a clinicopathological study in a South African population
(Blackwell, 2016)Background: Odontogenic myxoma is a benign, locally aggressive neoplasm of the jaws. Prevalence rates range between 0.5% and 17.7% of odontogenic tumours. There are few reports in the literature on this lesion in African ... -
Identification and characterization of microRNAs expressed in the African malaria vector Anopheles funestus life stages using high throughput sequencing
(BioMed Central, 2016)Background: Over the past several years, thousands of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified in the genomes of various insects through cloning and sequencing or even by computational prediction. However, the number of ... -
Accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in detecting lumbo-sacral nerve root compromise: A systematic literature review
(BioMed Central, 2016)Background: MRI is considered to be the diagnostic tool of choice in diagnosing nerve root compromise among patients presenting with clinical suspicion of lumbo-sacral radiculopathy. There exists controversy among researchers ... -
Unlocking community capabilities across health systems in low- and middle-income countries: lessons learned from research and reflective practice
(BioMed Central, 2016)The right and responsibility of communities to participate in health service delivery was enshrined in the 1978 Alma Ata declaration and continues to feature centrally in health systems debates today. Communities are a ... -
The association between environmental exposures during childhood and the subsequent development of Crohn's Disease: A score analysis approach
(Public Library of Science, 2017)Background Environmental factors during childhood are thought to play a role in the aetiology of Crohn's Disease (CD). In South Africa, recently published work based on an investigation of 14 childhood environmental exposures ...