Search

To design, implement, and evaluate a Hospital-based Pharmacy Internship Program that meets the educational requirements of pharmacy graduates to register as competent pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates.The Pharmacy Internship Program was designed as a 6-month, full- time, competency-based program. Intern performance was assessed through monthly continuous evaluations. Interns who successfully completed the program were eligible to take the Department of Health Licensing Examination. Pharmacy intern surveys were collected to assess their overall satisfaction with the program.Over the previous 5 years, the program has trained 53 interns. All interns completed the 6-month training program. Of the 53 graduates, 45 completed the post-internship survey. Interns reported a high level of satisfaction with the program structure and content.The Pharmacy Internship Program structure was successful in its first 5 years of implementation and was both feasible and sustainable. The program was viewed as highly beneficial for the professional and personal growth of pharmacy interns and provided them with the necessary competencies and skills to successfully enter the workforce.Diseñar, implementar y evaluar un programa de prácticas de farmacia dentro de un hospital que cumpliera con los requisitos formativos de los graduados en farmacia y les permitiese posteriormente acceder al examen de licencia para ejercer como farmacéuticos en los Emiratos Árabes Unidos.Método: El programa de prácticas de farmacia fue diseñado como un programa de 6 meses, a tiempo completo, y enfocado a la adquisición de competencias. El desempeño de los participantes se evaluó minuciosamente mediante un método de evaluación continua mensual. Los participantes que completaron con éxito el programa podían presentarse al Examen del Departamento de Salud (examen de licencia) para obtener la licencia de farmacéutico. Se realizaron encuestas a los participantes del programa para evaluar su satisfacción general con el mismo.El programa ha capacitado a 53 participantes en los últimos 5 años. Todos los participantes completaron el programa de prácticas de 6 meses. De los 53 graduados que participaron, 45 completaron la encuesta sobre el programa de prácticas. Los participantes manifestaron una gran satisfacción con el formato y el contenido del programa.La estructura del programa de prácticas en farmacia hospitalaria fue un éxito en sus primeros 5 años de existencia y resultó ser viable y sostenible. El programa se consideró altamente beneficioso para el crecimiento profesional y personal de los participantes y les proporcionó las competencias y habilidades necesarias para incorporarse con éxito al mundo laboral.

Health economics offers a lifeline to policymakers as a way of improving health outcomes in the face of increased monetary constraints. Doctors are uniquely placed in healthcare delivery where they have a pertinent influence on both supply and demand for healthcare provisions. Every clinical decision made by doctors is also an economic decision, and the true cost of offering a scarce healthcare resource includes not being able to fund alternative therapies and hence, foregoing its benefit. Technology and innovation in medicine is seeing an increase in potential therapies; however, how well do they perform against the current gold standard and are they worth the additional cost? A personalized and patient-centered approach to medicine has paved the way for a holistic health outcome measure, quality-adjusted life years, which is predominately used by United Kingdom resource allocators. Aortic surgical interventions are resource-intensive, and recent trends have shown the growing economic burden as yearly costs continue to climb. Health economic models are not without their weaknesses and it is important that future analyses assess the impact on society, distributional consequences, and the value of collecting more information to reduce the uncertainty of the economic result.

Pathogen-tested foundation plant stocks are the cornerstone of sustainable specialty crop production. They provide the propagative units that are used to produce clean planting materials, which are essential as the first-line management option of diseases caused by graft-transmissible pathogens such as viruses, viroids, bacteria, and phytoplasmas. In the United States, efforts to produce, maintain, and distribute pathogen-tested propagative material of specialty crops are spearheaded by centers of the National Clean Plant Network (NCPN). Agricultural economists collaborated with plant pathologists, extension educators, specialty crop growers, and regulators to investigate the impacts of select diseases caused by graft-transmissible pathogens and to estimate the return on investments in NCPN centers. Economic studies have proven valuable to the NCPN in (i) incentivizing the use of clean planting material derived from pathogen-tested foundation plant stocks; (ii) documenting benefits of clean plant centers, which can outweigh operating costs by 10:1 to 150:1; (iii) aiding the development of disease management solutions that are not only ecologically driven but also profit maximizing; and (iv) disseminating integrated disease management recommendations that resonate with growers. Together, economic studies have reinforced efforts to safeguard specialty crops in the United States through the production and use of clean planting material.

In Bwanya v The Master of the High Court 2021 (1) SA 138 (WCC), the Western Cape High Court ordered that the applicant, a partner in an opposite-sex partnership, was entitled to inherit from her deceased partner’s estate by ordering an amendment of the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987 to cater for unmarried opposite-sex partners. The court distinguished the case from Volks NO v Robinson 2005 (5) BCLR 446 (CC) — which precludes an unmarried partner from claiming maintenance from the deceased partner’s estate — on the basis that the case involved an inheritance claim as opposed to maintenance. The note argues that the failure of the court to deal with the central argument in Volks in respect of inheritance rights undermines the strength of the judgment. The Constitutional Court in confirmation proceedings should address this matter, and consider a softening of the doctrine of stare decisis to overrule the Volks case. Furthermore, the case opens the door to claims by other unmarried partners in polygamous relationships. While such claims involve policy considerations that are best addressed by the legislature, they are likely to come before the courts in the near future. Courts should recognise such claims in acknowledgment of the diversity in family formations in South Africa.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in widespread economic, health and social disruptions. The delivery of cardiovascular care has been stifled during the pandemic in order to adhere to infection control measures as a way of protecting patients and the workforce at large. This cautious approach has been protective since individuals with COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease are anticipated to have poorer outcomes and an increased risk of death. The combination of postponing elective cardiovascular surgeries, reduced acute care and long-term cardiac damage directly resulting from COVID-19 will likely have increased the demand for cardiac care, particularly from patients presenting with more severe symptoms. The combination of increased demand and inhibited supply will likely result in huge backlog of unmet patients’ needs. The novelty, virulence and infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused substantial morbidity and mortality which have necessitated modifications to the UK government’s healthcare strategy. Without improving cost efficiency, the UK’s ageing population will likely need an increasing spend on cardiac surgery simply to maintain the same level of service. However, the government’s short-term increase in spending is unsustainable especially in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty. This means that the long-term impact of COVID-19 will only increase the need to find innovative ways of delivering equivalent or superior cardiac care at a reduced unit cost.

High-throughput nucleic acid extraction is critical for the implementation of modern viroid detection assays. Successful large-scale nursery, field surveys, and other regulatory, quarantine, or research diagnostic programs are increasingly dependent on high-throughput tissue pulverization and nucleic acid extraction protocols. Magnetic bead-based approaches using semi-automated robotic equipment allow high-throughput extraction and purification of high-quality uniform total nucleic acids for each individual sample. Here, we describe a streamlined and optimized protocol for citrus tissue processing and RNA extraction that can be used for downstream applications such as viroid detection by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

High-throughput nucleic acid extraction is critical for the implementation of modern viroid detection assays. Successful large-scale nursery, field surveys, and other regulatory, quarantine, or research diagnostic programs are increasingly dependent on high-throughput tissue pulverization and nucleic acid extraction protocols. Magnetic bead-based approaches using semi-automated robotic equipment allow high-throughput extraction and purification of high-quality uniform total nucleic acids for each individual sample. Here, we describe a streamlined and optimized protocol for citrus tissue processing and RNA extraction that can be used for downstream applications such as viroid detection by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (multiplex qPCR) enables the amplification of more than one target in a single reaction using different reporter dyes with distinct fluorescent spectra. The number of reporter fluorophores is typically restricted to three or four, depending upon the capability of the real-time PCR platform and software used. Each target is amplified by a different set of primers and a uniquely labeled probe that distinguishes each PCR amplicon. Thus, the levels of several targets of interest can be quantified in real time. By combining several reactions in a single tube, multiplex qPCR reduces the quantity, and cost of reagents needed to screen a sample for multiple targets. Specificity and efficiency are not affected by the inclusion of the three assays in a multiplex reaction.

Multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (multiplex qPCR) enables the amplification of more than one target in a single reaction using different reporter dyes with distinct fluorescent spectra. The number of reporter fluorophores is typically restricted to three or four, depending upon the capability of the real-time PCR platform and software used. Each target is amplified by a different set of primers and a uniquely labeled probe that distinguishes each PCR amplicon. Thus, the levels of several targets of interest can be quantified in real time. By combining several reactions in a single tube, multiplex qPCR reduces the quantity, and cost of reagents needed to screen a sample for multiple targets. Specificity and efficiency are not affected by the inclusion of the three assays in a multiplex reaction.

Background Viral suppression remains the most desired outcome in the management of patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and this can be achieved by an effective combined Antiretroviral Therapy (cART). However, some patients who achieve viral suppression may experience viral rebound with dire consequence. We evaluated viral suppression and rebound and their associated factors among adult patients on cART in Kumasi, Ghana. Methods This hospital-based retrospective study was conducted at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. We reviewed the medical records of 720 HIV patients on cART. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 26.0 and GraphPad prism version 8.0. Pp<0.0001], having good adherence to ART [aOR=5.64, 95%CI (2.86-11.13), pp=0.0260] and increasing duration of treatment (pppppp=0.004) and Zidovudine/Lamivudine/Nevirapine (aOR=18.68, 95% CI: 1.58-220.90; p=0.02) were independently associated with higher odds of viral rebound. Conclusion Approximately 76% viral suppression rate among HIV patients on cART in Kumasi falls below the WHO 95% target by the year 2030. Choice of ART combination, drug adherence, WHO clinical staging and baseline viral load are factors associated with suppression or rebound. These clinical characteristics of HIV patients must be monitored concurrently with the viral load.

In 2016 the Eastern Cape Local Division in Mthata heard a claim by Mrs Winnie Madikezela-Mandela that, amongst other things, her customary marriage to former President Nelson Mandela continued to exist until his death, despite the dissolution of their civil marriage. Not long thereafter, in 2017, former President Jacob Zuma's daughter made headlines by claiming half of her soon-to-be-ex-husband's multimillion-rand estate despite the couple’s having entered into a valid ante-nuptial contract. The claim was that her preceding customary marriage had not been accompanied by an ante-nuptial contract, and therefore the marriage was in community of property. These high-profile cases raise the fundamental legal question: what effect does a civil marriage between parties have on the parties' customary marriage to each other? Historically the subsequent civil marriage terminated the customary marriage, as such marriages were not legally recognised in South Africa. The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 allows for such dual marriages without specifying the consequences thereof. Most commentators have interpreted the provisions to perpetuate the historical position; the civil marriage terminates the customary marriage. While this appears distasteful, the rationale is legal certainty and accords with the recommendations of the South African Law Commission. Furthermore, alternative customary dispute resolution mechanisms are still available to the parties, who are unlikely to suffer prejudice under the interpretation. In addition, given the social reality in which dual marriages are conducted and how they are perceived by parties, parties should be allowed to conclude an ante-nuptial contract after their customary marriage but before their civil marriage to regulate the proprietary consequences of their marriage.

Spiroplasma citri is a bacterium that causes stubborn disease of citrus and infects other crops, ornamentals, and weeds. It is transmitted by leafhoppers in a circulative manner. Due to limited sequence data on S. citri, the bacterium was isolated from naturally infected Chinese cabbage grown on a farm in Fresno County, CA. DNA from S. citri CC-2 was extracted from a pure culture in LD8 and subjected to PacBio sequencing. Four contigs were obtained with a single circular chromosome of 1,709,192 bp and three plasmids of 40,210, 39,313, and 2,921 bp in size. The genome developed herein extends the sequence database of S. citri and is the first whole-genome sequence record of S. citri from California.

After decades of non-recognition, customary law is today recognised as a valid system of law in South Africa treated as equal to the common law. The article examines how the question of the ascerta...

Citrus yellow-vein disease (CYVD) was first reported in California in 1957. We now report that CYVD is associated with a virus-like agent, provisionally named citrus yellow-vein associated virus (CYVaV). The CYVaV RNA genome has 2,692 nucleotides and codes for two discernable open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 encodes a protein of 190 amino acid (aa) whereas ORF2 is presumably generated by a −1 ribosomal frameshifting event just upstream of the ORF1 termination signal. The frameshift product (717 aa) encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Phylogenetic analyses suggest that CYVaV is closely related to unclassified virus-like RNAs in the familyTombusviridae. Bio-indexing and RNA-seq experiments indicate that CYVaV can induce yellow vein symptoms independently of known citrus viruses or viroids.

Background Spiroplasma citri comprises a bacterial complex that cause diseases in citrus, horseradish, carrot, sesame, and also infects a wide array of ornamental and weed species. S. citri is transmitted in a persistent propagative manner by the beet leafhopper, Neoaliturus tenellus in North America and Circulifer haematoceps in the Mediterranean region. Leafhopper transmission and the pathogen’s wide host range serve as drivers of genetic diversity. This diversity was examined in silico by comparing the genome sequences of seven S. citri strains from the United States (BR12, CC-2, C5, C189, LB 319, BLH-13, and BLH-MB) collected from different hosts and times with other publicly available spiroplasmas. Results Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA sequences from 39 spiroplasmas obtained from NCBI database showed that S. citri strains, along with S. kunkelii and S. phoeniceum, two other plant pathogenic spiroplasmas, formed a monophyletic group. To refine genetic relationships among S. citri strains, phylogenetic analyses with 863 core orthologous sequences were performed. Strains that clustered together were: CC-2 and C5; C189 and R8-A2; BR12, BLH-MB, BLH-13 and LB 319. Strain GII3–3X remained in a separate branch. Sequence rearrangements were observed among S. citri strains, predominantly in the center of the chromosome. One to nine plasmids were identified in the seven S. citri strains analyzed in this study. Plasmids were most abundant in strains isolated from the beet leafhopper, followed by strains from carrot, Chinese cabbage, horseradish, and citrus, respectively. All these S. citri strains contained one plasmid with high similarity to plasmid pSci6 from S. citri strain GII3–3X which is known to confer insect transmissibility. Additionally, 17 to 25 prophage-like elements were identified in these genomes, which may promote rearrangements and contribute to repetitive regions. Conclusions The genome of seven S. citri strains were found to contain a single circularized chromosome, ranging from 1.58 Mbp to 1.74 Mbp and 1597–2232 protein-coding genes. These strains possessed a plasmid similar to pSci6 from the GII3–3X strain associated with leafhopper transmission. Prophage sequences found in the S. citri genomes may contribute to the extension of its host range. These findings increase our understanding of S. citri genetic diversity.

Objectives Spiroplasma citri is a bacterium with a wide host range and is the causal agent of citrus stubborn and brittle root diseases of citrus and horseradish, respectively. S. citri is transmitted in a circulative, persistent manner by the beet leafhopper, Neoaliturus (Circulifer) tenellus (Baker), in North America. Five strains of S. citri were cultured from citrus, horseradish, and N. tenellus from different habitats and times. DNA from cultures were sequenced and genome assembled to expand the database to improve detection assays and better understand its genetics and evolution. Data description The whole genome sequence of five strains of S. citri are described herein. The S. citri chromosome was circularized for all five strains and ranged from 1,576,550 to 1,742,208 bp with a G + C content of 25.4–25.6%. Characterization of extrachromosomal DNAs resulted in identification of one or two plasmids, with a G + C content of 23.3 to 27.6%, from plant hosts; and eight or nine plasmids, with a G + C content of 21.65 to 29.19%, from N. tenellus. Total genome size ranged from 1,611,714 to 1,832,173 bp from plants and 1,968,976 to 2,155,613 bp from the leafhopper. All sequence data has been deposited in DDBJ/ENA/GenBank under the accession numbers CP046368-CP046373 and CP047426-CP047446.

The involvement of Kurdish women in nationalistic revolutions has left many astonished. Kurdistan's history is enriched with many women that have had leadership roles in political, religious, and even military positions. This research examined the life of modern working women in Kurdistan that have turned to entrepreneurship to break from societal ties in addition to expressing their creativity and unique skills while continuing to meet their responsibilities as daughters, wives, and mothers. The purpose of this research was to answer questions regarding the motives of female entrepreneurs as well as the general and gender-based barriers that female entrepreneurs face in the Region. According to Al-silefanee (2019), the entrepreneurial ecosystem consists of two significant elements, the entrepreneur and the environment in which the entrepreneur operates. Regardless of how new the idea of entrepreneurship is to KRI, the region has the chance to build-up the entrepreneurship ecosystem by encouraging entrepreneurship through the development of an environment that facilitates entrepreneurial youth and initiate economic growth. Keywords: Female Entrepreneurship; Online Businesses; Entrepreneurship Motives.

A time-course study was performed over two years to investigate seasonal changes in copy numbers of different Grapevine leafroll associated virus (GLRaV) in infected grapevine (Vitis vinifera) in North America. We examined GLRaV-1, -2, -3, -4, and GLRaV-2RG in 104 grapevines that previously tested positive for one or more of these GLRaVs. Vines were selected from the Davis grapevine virus collection and the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository in northern California. Samples were collected from the beginning of the growing season (late April) until February; from April to November, mature leaf petioles were collected, and from December to February, cambial scrapings were taken from dormant cuttings. All samples were tested by RT-PCR and RT-qPCR; RT-qPCR was found to be the more sensitive technique. GLRaVs were more reliably detected in samples collected between August and February. Grapevines infected with GLRaV-2 were evenly detected throughout the year, while infection with GLRaV-1, -3 -4, and -2RG was best observed from November to February for both experimental years. Virus titer was lowest early in the growing season (April/May), and viral load differed among the GLRaVs. The viral load of GLRaV-3 remained unchanged, regardless of the season tested. Viruses associated with leafroll disease in grapevines were not uniformly distributed in both leaf petioles and cambium of grapevines; GLRaV-2 was the most evenly distributed virus in the grapevine, followed by GLRaV-1, GLRaV-3, and finally by GLRaV-4, which had the most uneven distribution.

Froneman J states in MM v MN: ‘The process of determining the content of a particular customary norm can present some challenges.’ This case gives rise to a number of issues which have been discussed in some part elsewhere, however this note considers the Constitutional Court’s approach in MM v MN in ascertaining customary law and the difficulties the Court experienced. The issue in MM v MN was whether a polygamous customary marriage was validly concluded in Tsonga customary law and in particular, whether the first wife’s consent was required for the subsequent customary marriage. This note scrutinises how the Constitutional Court ascertained the Tsonga customary law on the issue. Tentative conclusions include that innovation and respect for customary law may not be enough for the judgment to stand as good precedent.

In Ramuhovhi v President of the Republic of South Africa (2016), a South African High Court declared section 7(1) of the South African Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (1998) (hereafter the RCMA) which regulates the proprietary consequences of polygamous marriages entered into prior to the commencement of the RCMA unconstitutional. This article examines a number of issues raised by this judgment. It explores the court's constitutional analysis of section 7(1) of the RCMA and argues that the analysis should have examined the living customary law on the matter. The dichotomy between official and living customary law raised in the judgment is reflected upon and the court's obvious preference for official customary law is highlighted. The court's failure to develop living customary law is critiqued and it is argued that the court of first instance is better placed than the Constitutional Court to develop customary law. Lastly, the article analyses the interim remedy provided by the court. It arg...

In 2016 independent or private schools made headlines as learners protested the codes of conduct of various schools and the lack of accommodation of African hairstyles. The question of a school’s autonomy to enact a code of conduct and prohibit certain religious or cultural dress is not new and there has been worldwide controversy regarding schools banning the Islamic headscarf. This article examines the obligation of South African public and independent schools to accommodate the headscarf and diverse hairstyles. It argues that the Islamic headscarf is a central tenet of the Islamic faith protected by the constitutional right to religious freedom and that given the current guidelines on school uniforms, public schools are bound to accommodate the headscarf. The matter is more nuanced with independent schools that may be established in the pursuit of a religious ethos. The article argues that independent schools are equally prohibited from discrimination on religious and cultural grounds and must demonstrate the justifiability of the lack of accommodation. While these bans may be allowed, the historical inequalities in education and the socio-economic context in which the provision of excellent education still favours certain races must be weighed carefully against the school’s religious vision.Hairstyles are a more complex matter given their diversity. The article argues that disputes as to whether a hairstyle forms part of a culture are likely to become difficult given the porous and evolving nature of culture. Public and independent schools are rather urged to re-evaluate their codes of conduct. Codes that favour Eurocentric notions of neatness may indirectly discriminate on race, a completely untenable situation in a constitutional South Africa. These codes must be revised to celebrate and affirm our diversity rather than be used to exclude and alienate segments of society.

Background: Pyrazinamide (PZA) is one of the most important drugs for tuberculosis (TB) treatment, however, its susceptibility is not routinely tested. High-resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis has been widely used for many applications. In this study, HRM assay was developed and evaluated for the detection of PZA resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates. Methods: Ninety five M. tuberculosis clinical isolates with different susceptibility patterns to anti-TB drugs were used to evaluate this assay. Isolates were phenotypically (Bactec MGIT 960) and genotypically (HRM and pncA gene sequencing) analysed for PZA resistance. Results: Bactec MGIT 960 analysis revealed that 29 of the 95 M. tuberculosis isolates were PZA resistant. In comparison to the Bactec MGIT 960, HRM showed a sensitivity of 47.7% and specificity of 74.6%, and the overall agreement between the two methods was 68.4%. Based on DNA sequencing, a correlation of 0.67 (significant at p-value < 0.05) between phenotypic resistance to PZA and pncA mutations was observed. PZA resistance was strongly associated with multi-drug resistant (MDR)-TB as it was shown in 79.3% of the MDR isolates included in the study. Conclusion: HRM is simple and useful for screening clinical M. tuberculosis isolates for PZA resistance, however, further modifications to improve its performance are required.

ObjectivesTo identify the availability and variability of learning opportunities through patient presentations on an acute medical placement at a teaching hospital.DesignA prospective study evaluating all acute admissions to the Acute Medical Unit over 14 days (336 hours). Clinical presentations and the day and time of admission were recorded and compared with the learning outcomes specified in the medical school curriculum.SettingAn Acute Medical Unit at a London teaching hospital.Outcomes(1) Number of clinical presentations to the Acute Medical Unit over 14 days and (2) differences between the availability and variation of admissions and presentations between in-hours and out-of-hours.ResultsThere were 359 admissions, representing 1318 presentations. Of those presentations, 76.6% were admitted out-of-hours and 23.4% in-hours. Gastrointestinal bleeding, tachycardia, oedema and raised inflammatory markers were over three times more common per hour out-of-hours than in-hours. Hypoxia was only seen out-of-hours. Important clinical presentations in the curriculum such as chest pain and hemiparesis were not commonly seen.ConclusionsThere is greater availability of presentations seen out-of-hours and a changing landscape of presentations seen in-hours. The out-of-hours presentation profile may be due to expanded community and specialist services. Medical schools need to carefully consider the timing and location of their clinical placements to maximise undergraduate learning opportunities.