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BackgroundAlthough peer-to-peer contact might empower patients in various ways, studies show that only a few patients actually engage in support groups. ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to explore factors that facilitate or impede engagement in face-to-face and online peer support, using the Theory of Planned Behavior. MethodsA questionnaire was completed by 679 patients being treated for arthritis, breast cancer, or fibromyalgia at two Dutch regional hospitals. ResultsOur results showed that only a minority of the patients engaged in organized forms of peer support. In total 10% (65/679) of the respondents had engaged in face-to-face meetings for patients in the past year. Only 4% (30/679) of the respondents had contact with peers via the Internet in the past year. Patients were more positive about face-to-face peer support than about online peer support (P < .001). In accordance with the Theory of Planned Behavior, having a more positive attitude (P < .01) and feeling more supported by people in the social environment (P < .001) increased the intention to participate in both kinds of peer support. In addition, perceived behavioral control (P = .01) influenced the intention to participate in online peer support. Nevertheless, the intention to engage in face-to-face and online peer support was only modestly predicted by the Theory of Planned Behavior variables (R2 = .33 for face-to-face contact and R2 = .26 for online contact). ConclusionAlthough Health 2.0 Internet technology has significantly increased opportunities for having contact with fellow patients, only a minority seem to be interested in organized forms of peer contact (either online or face-to-face). Patients seem somewhat more positive about face-to-face contact than about online contact.

Monogenean parasites belonging to Quadriacanthus have never been reported from Clarias ngamensis, but are commonly found on congeners. In view of the specificity of monogeneans, the genetic proximity and the co-occurrence of C. ngamensis and C. gariepinus in Africa, it is hypothesised that a parasitological survey of C. ngamensis will yield several species of Quadriacanthus as its congeneric host C. gariepinus harbours these parasites. The present study aims to explore the monogenean parasites from the gills of C. ngamensis in the Upper Congo Basin by (i) inventorying their diversity and providing their morphological characterisation, and (ii) analysing their infection parameters. Monogeneans were isolated from the gills, and identified based on morphological analysis of genital and haptoral sclerotized parts. Seven parasite species belonging to Quadriacanthus were found. Among them, two species, Q. aegypticus and Q. allobychowskiella, are both newly reported in the Upper Congo Basin and newly recorded on C. ngamensis. Quadriacanthus amakaliae sp. nov., Q. halajiani sp. nov., Q. domatanai sp. nov., Q. lubandaensis sp. nov., and Q. curvicirrus sp. nov. are new to science and described herein. The most prevalent parasite species was Q. curvicirrus sp. nov. in the Luapula River (prevalence = 66.7%) with mean infection intensity of 6.3 ± 5.8. Quadriacanthus allobychowskiella and Q. aegypticus are known parasites from C. gariepinus and their presence on C. ngamensis is probably the result of lateral transfers. The discovery of five new species from C. ngamensis highlights the parasite diversity still to be explored in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A parasitological study carried out in May 2022 and March 2023 in the Nyando River of Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya, disclosed two parasitic lernaeid copepods: Lamproglena cleopatra Humes, 1957, from the gills of a cyprinid, the Ningu Labeo victorianus Boulenger, 1901, endemic to the Lake Victoria drainage system, and Lamproglena clariae Fryer, 1957, from a clariid, the North African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822). The copepods were studied and supplementary taxonomic information was presented using scanning electron micrographs and genetic data. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provided information on the morphology of L. cleopatra's antennae, oral region, thoracic legs (2–5), and furcal rami not previously reported. Analyses of the partial fragments of 18S and 28S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) of the two parasites showed them to be distinct from all other Lamproglena taxa retrieved from GenBank. This study presents new taxonomic information on morphology using SEM and provides the first ribosomal (18S and 28S rDNA) and mitochondrial (mtDNA) data for these two parasite species. The cox1 data provided are the first for all 38 nominal species of Lamproglena. Notably, the study also provides a new host record for L. cleopatra and extends the geographical information of this species to Kenya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between March 2015 and September 2016, three species of Cichlidae (Coptodon rendalli, Oreochromis mossambicus and Tilapia sparrmanii) were screened for the presence of stomach monogeneans. Four localities across three provinces of South Africa (Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West) were sampled and a total of five Enterogyrus species were identified, viz. E. cichlidarum, E. coronatus, E. malmbergi, E. mashegoi and E. multispiralis. Finding E. malmbergi from O. mossambicus and T. sparrmanii represents new host and geographic records. Enterogyrus coronatus was reported from C. rendalli and T. sparrmanii from three localities. Both hosts are new host records for the species and show a wide distribution of E. coronatus within South Africa. Tilapia sparrmanii is a new host record for E. cichlidarum, E. mashegoi and E. multispiralis. Enterogyrus mashegoi and E. cichlidarum are reported from new localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adoptive immunotherapy with donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) is an effective treatment for relapsed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. To identify the effector and target cell populations responsible for the elimination of the leukemic cells in vivo we developed an assay to measure the frequency of T lymphocyte precursor cells capable of suppressing leukemic progenitor cells. Target cells in this assay were CML cells that were cultured in the presence of stem cell factor, interleukin 3, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and erythropoietin. [3H]thymidine incorporation at day 7 represented the proliferation of the progeny of the [CD34.sup.+] CML progenitor cells, and not of the more mature [CD34.sup.-] CML cells. Effector cells were mononuclear cells, which were used in a limiting dilution analysis to measure the frequencies of CML progenitor cell-inhibitory lymphocyte precursors (PCILp) in peripheral blood of seven patients before and after DLI for relapsed CML. In the six patients who entered complete remission, a 5-to 100-fold increase of PCILp was found during the clinical response. In the patient with resistant relapse the frequency of PCILp was

The joint strategic management process supported by OR/MS-based decision support models enabled the South African National Defense Force to maximize its resources. The project aims to reduce the size and shape of the defense force without compromising the quality. The result yielded 22% savings in approved force design for resources that have a variety of uses and where the value of money is not easily quantifiable.

The Loskop Dam in South Africa is the most contaminated waterbody in the Olifants River which is a transboundary river that flows into Mozambique. The present study measured selected metal concentrations in the muscle of Labeo rosae and Oreochromis mossambicus from Loskop Dam, and assessed the human health risks associated with consumption of these fish species. Trace metals were below detection level in the surface water whereas bottom sediment exhibited relatively higher concentrations. A significant seasonal variations (p < 0.05) as well as inter-species difference (p < 0.05) of metal concentrations were observed in the fish muscle. Selenium concentration showed to have increase over the recent few years. Concentrations exceeding permissible level for human consumption was recorded for As, Se and Sb in both species. Other metals which THQ > 1 was Cr for L. rosae and Co for O. mossambicus. The current study shows that there could be some serious health and environmental implications for rural communities making use of Loskop Dam fish as food source. These findings add to knowledge in Africa, particularly South Africa, where other fish species have been identified as being potentially dangerous for human consumption in terms of Se, Sb, As, Co and Cr levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]