Exploring the impact of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on informal settlements in Tshwane Gauteng Province,South Africa

ABSTRACT

Informal settlements remain a public health problem as they lack basic infrastructure. Furthermore, it is challenging to enforce public health regulations and protocols to prevent the spread of infection during a pandemic. This paper was set out to explore the impact of lockdown during COVID-19 among people living in informal settlements. An exploratory qualitative design was utilised. Purposive sampling was used to select research participants. In-depth one-to-one interviews were held involving 30 research participants through a WhatsApp online telephone platform. A thematic approach underpinned by the four stages of data analysis in interpretive phenomenological analysis was utilised to analyse the data. The study found that during the the research participants were affected by lack of space to practice social distancing, over-burdened infrastructure, lack of savings, loss of income and shortage of food, hunger and diseases, anxiety and depression and poor access to education. There is a need to prioritise the needs of informal settlers and endeavour to establish permanent homes. Health promotion and communication initiatives and pandemic awareness programmes are needed to mitigate the impact of lockdown during a pandemic in informal settlements.     

二补助育汤对胚胎着床障碍小鼠子宫血管生成相关因子表达的影响

目的：探讨二补助育汤对胚胎着床障碍模型小鼠子宫内膜形态及血管生成素-1（Ang-1）mRNA、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）mRNA的表达和定位的影响。方法：24只ICR雌性小鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、戊酸雌二醇组、二补助育汤组，每组6只，用米非司酮建立胚胎着床障碍动物模型，各组给予相应药物灌胃，妊娠第5天处死小鼠后，检测各组妊娠率、平均着床位点数、子宫内膜Ang-1和VEGF mRNA表达量及其蛋白定位。结果：模型组小鼠平均胚胎着床位点数、Ang-1 mRNA、VEGF mRNA表达量明显低于空白组（均P<0.05）；与模型组比较，二补助育汤组平均胚胎着床位点数、Ang-1 mRNA、VEGF mRNA表达量显著提高（均P<0.05）。结论：二补助育汤可提高子宫内膜Ang-1和VEGF蛋白表达量，促进子宫内膜血管生成，从而提高子宫内膜容受性。     

The epiphyseal scar joint line distance and age are important factors in determining the optimal screw length for medial malleoli fractures

AimThe screw length is important to achieve a stable fixation for medial malleoli fractures. We aimed to evaluate the optimal screw length for different age groups in surgically treated medial malleoli fractures. The second aim was to identify the utility of the distance of epiphyseal scar to joint line or joint line to medullary space for assessment of screw length.Material method368 X-rays and computed tomography (CT) images of ankle joints were retrospectively evaluated for optimal screw length, epiphyseal scar to joint line distance, joint to medullary space distance. The mean screw length for each decade was calculated. The correlations of screw length with age, screw length with distance of epiphyseal scar to joint line, and screw length with distance of joint line to medullary space were evaluated.ResultsThe optimal screw length was obviously decreased in patients in 61–70 and >70 years old group (p = 0.002). As the distance of epiphyseal scar from joint line was increased, the optimal length of screw was also increased (p = 0.001). The distance of epiphyseal scar from joint line was decreased by age (p = 0.011).ConclusionThe optimal screw length was decreased by age and the epiphyseal scar to joint line distance could be a clue for optimal screw length in medial malleoli fractures.     

改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者胫骨结节-股骨滑车沟间距的可行性分析

目的 探讨改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者胫骨结节-股骨滑车沟（tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove，TT-TG）间距的可行性。 方法 选取髌骨不稳患者30例。高年资手术医师A、B，使用改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距，对比高资年影像学医师C，使用双图法测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距。应用Cronbach′s alpha系数评价结果的可信度。应用组内相关系数（intraclass correlation coefficient，ICC）评价结果的可重复性。使用Bland-Altman分析图评价结果的一致性。 结果 高年资手术医师A、B使用改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距分别和高年资影像学医师C使用双图法测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距比较，Cronbach′s alpha系数分别为0.913和0.959，组内相关系数分别为0.913和0.958。Bland-Altman分析图显示，TT-TG间距差值（mm）的均值为-0.276（95%CI：-3.526~2.974）和0.143（95%CI：-3.110~3.397）。A、B医师之间使用改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距比较，Cronbach′s alpha系数为0.891，组内相关系数为0.891。Bland-Altman分析图显示TT-TG间距差值（mm）的均值为-0.276（95%CI：-3.526~2.974）。 结论 改良单图像法手工测量髌骨不稳患者TT-TG间距操作简单，可以准确测量出髌骨不稳患者的TT-TG间距，该方法和双图法可以相互替换使用。     

Radiographic Measurements of Patients With Juvenile Hallux Valgus Compared With Age-Matched Controls: A Cohort Investigation

The purpose of this study was to investigate radiographic measurements in a cohort of patients with juvenile hallux valgus (with a hallux valgus angle > 15 degrees ) using standardized weightbearing x-rays compared with an age-matched control group. First metatarsal protrusion distance, metatarsus primus adductus angle, metatarsus adductus, first metatarsal cuneiform angle, calcaneal inclination angle, and talocalcaneal angles were assessed with discriminant functional analysis. A total of 37 sets of data were analyzed from patients with a mean age of 13.45 +/- 1.75 years. The study identified 2 significant components of juvenile hallux valgus: a positive first metatarsal protrusion distance (P <.001) and metatarsal primus adductus angle (P = .002). Discriminant functional analysis was then used to determine the best predictors of juvenile hallux valgus. This analysis allowed only 1 variable, metatarsal protrusion distance, as a predictor of whether juvenile hallux valgus was present (P < .001), with 94.3% accuracy. This study showed that a positive metatarsal protrusion distance is a significant component of juvenile hallux valgus.     

正常者瞳孔间距与咬合垂直距离关系的研究

目的：研究正常[牙合]者瞳孔间距（Interpupillary Distance，IPD）与咬合垂直距离（Occlusal Vertical Dimension，OVD）的关系。方法：对116名福建籍青年正常[牙合]者测量其OVD与IPD，并进行两者相关回归分析。结果：总样本的OVD均值为65．35mm±4．70mm，IPD均值为63．98mm±3．26mm，男性正常[牙合]者OVD均值为68．16mm±4．23mm，IPD均值为65．46mm±2．96mm，女性正常[牙合]者的OVD均值为63．22mm±3．86mm，IPD均值为62．86mm±3．05mm;总样本的IPD与OVD的相关系数r=0．633，男性样本的IPD与0VD的相关系数r=0．563，女性样本的IPD与OVD的相关系数r=0．531。结论：IPD与OVD间存在显著相关性，IPD可以作为需咬合重建患者确定其OVD的参考指标。     

TEN YEARS' EXPERIENCE IN LOW VISION PRACTICE

The Low Vision Clinic at the Palmerston North Hospital has now been oerating for 70 years. Over the course of these ten years a number of factors have emerged which can be as readily applied to general ophthalmological practice as to low vision practice. The philosophy of low vision care is one of which all ophthalmologists should be aware and includes factors to be taken into account when dealing with children, people in the workplace, and everyday factors involved in daily living activities, all of which are equally relevant in routine ophthalmological practice. This paper endeavours to share some thoughts on these factors and also discusses means by which the visually handicapped can be helped in areas where specialist low vision services are not readily available.     

Is the spectacle lens jack‐in‐the‐box phenomenon really due to the lenses?

The calculation of the extent of the ring scotoma around positive lenses, as conventionally taught to students of clinical optics, indicates that the scotoma is of a significant size. Using knife-edge lenses this study shows that the calculations are invalid due to the finite size of the eye's entrance pupil and in many instances the scotoma is shown not to exist. The effect noticed in clinical practice is probably largely due to the frame and the edging techniques used which add to the refractive scotoma which is present with high powered lenses, large apertures and/or small pupil sizes.     

乡镇中,小学教室噪声卫生防护距离的研究

本文对乡镇中，小学的交通噪声进行了调查研究，结果表明，在９：００～１６：４５时间内，中学的Ｌｅｑ值为８０ｄＢ（Ａ），Ｌ５０为７２ｄＢ（Ａ），小学的Ｌｅｑ值为８０５ｄＢ（Ａ），Ｌ５０为７３ｄＢ（Ａ）。文章还对不同距离的噪怕衰减情况进行统计分析，并制订出乡镇中，小学教室内噪声不超过５０ｄＢ（Ａ）防护距离为１２０米，不超过４５ｄＢ（Ａ）防护距离为２２０米。