The first training session, for the 2010 Institutional Audit, “Reflective practice – how to do a self-evaluation,” was held on 19 June 2008. The session was presented by Prof Jan Both of the University of Stellenbosch. Working group convenors and members were in attendance.

Training sessions will also be run for panel members in programme reviews and strategic unit reviews as from the third term.

Written by CPUT News
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Researchers from CPUT’s Obesity and Chronic Disease of Lifestyle Research Unit are participating in a landmark medical study.

The study will explore reference ranges, which are sets of values used by healthcare professionals to interpret medical test results from blood samples.

Head of the unit, Prof Tandi Matsha says current reference ranges have been derived from non-local populations, whose characteristics are very different from those living on the African continent.

Matsha says the study, which is the first of its kind, will aim to establish reference ranges or normal values that are based on the local population.

“Reference ranges are the most widely used medical decision-making tool. However, the lack of reference values impacts on patient management,” she says.

The reference ranges currently used in the medical sector are those that are based on the American and European communities.

Matsha says this is a global initiative and will see researchers in other countries, such as Japan, participate in the study. However, the Bellville bases unit will focus on South Africa and also work closely with partners in Kenya and Nigeria.

Closer-to-home collaborators include the University of Stellenbosch and Pathcare. A CPUT student, Francious Smit will also complete his doctoral study based on this project.

Matsha says the unit is currently recruiting individuals who would like to participate in the study, which kicks off this week.

To be part of this landmark study, participants should be older than 18 and meet various other criteria. For more click here.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT Biomedical Sciences PhD student Guillaume Aboua made history by scooping the award for Best Poster Presentation at the University of Stellenbosch’s 53rd Annual Academic Day, held from 12 to 13 August 2009 at Stellenbosch University’s Medical School.

The poster entered in the Maternal and Health category, was the first winning poster for CPUT at this event.

Aboua also walked away with the first prize for the Most Outstanding under 35 Scientist.

The University of Stellenbosch has held the awards ceremony for the past 52 years and this year was the 53rd year.

Aboua is studying towards his Biomedical Sciences PHD at the Medical School courtesy of a partnership between Stellenbosch University and CPUT. The Medical School, which operates from the Tygerberg Hospital, belongs to Stellenbosch University.

At the function, Aboua presented his work in the division: Maternal and Women Health.

About 15 people competed for the Maternal and Women Health category and among them were basic scientists, registrars and clinicians from the Medical School.

According to Dr Stefan du Plessis, head of the Division of Medical Physiology at Stellenbosch University and Aboua’s co-supervisor, the judges were looking at the scientific merit of the poster, the actual presentation and the message as it needed to be clinically applicable.

The message contained in Aboua’s presentation, which is part of his thesis, revolved around the pathological effects of organic hydroperoxides on testicular tissue and epididymal sperm.

He had to create an animal model, which for the first time is going to test the in vivo effects of oxidative stress on male reproductive function.

On the same study, three articles have been already accepted for publication with Aboua being the first author.

The articles are going to be published by the African Journal of BioTechnology, Medical Technology SA and Fertility and Sterility Journals.

Aboua said: “Getting such recognition really boosts confidence as it shows that the work I have done has certain standards especially for the fact that we’ve collaborated with overseas people.”

He said that his work is a follow-up on his Masters Degree, where he did In Vitro work supervised by Dr Nicole Brooks of CPUT’s Biomedical Sciences Department.

Two articles from that work have been accepted and have already been published by Medical Technology SA and the Asian Journal of Antrology.

He had already presented some of his work at international conferences in Rome (Italy) and Havana (Cuba) and will be presenting some of his work in China next month.

“I am very proud of Aboua winning the award because it was in presence of good company. He really has the ability of working independently and is one of the few students who can do that,” Dr Du Plessis said of Mr Aboua’s achievements.

Aboua had also presented some of his work at a conference that was held in Durban from the 6 to 10 September 2009.

His presentation at the conference tackled the question: Red Palm oil, a Nation’s Good Samaritan for Sperm Apoptosis? He is now testing if red palm oil can protect men against sperm oxidative stress.

Born in the Ivory Coast, Aboua had been in South Africa for the past ten years. He completed his Bsc at Unisa, BTech and MTech studies at CPUT.

By Andiswa Dantile

Written by CPUT News
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Researchers based in the Health and Wellness Sciences Faculty at CPUT, in collaboration with the University of Stellenbosch, are leading research on the prevalence of diabetes and the associated cardiovascular risks factors.

The prevalence of diabetes in South Africa, especially in the Western Cape, is not well documented, and as a result there is no recent data available on the prevalence of diabetes in this province.

However, with the research being conducted by CPUT postgraduate students and staff, this gap of information in the health sector is being addressed.

Shafick Hassan, head of the Radiography and Nursing Department who is heading up the research team said: “The last prevalence study on diabetes was conducted in Mamre in the 1980’s.”

With researchers focusing on the Bellville South community in the Northern Suburbs, findings have already revealed a sharp increase in the prevalence of diabetes, compared to what was reported more than a decade ago.

The researchers spent several months collecting blood samples to measure glucose and cholesterol levels and conducted blood pressure tests on individuals aged between 35 and 65.

Approximately 1000 people had been tested.

“To date we have found the prevalence of diabetes in that community to be much higher than anticipated. Preliminary results indicate a diabetic prevalence of 26.3%,” said Hassan.

The results of the study may also indicate a broader health problem in the population of the Western Cape , which could severely impact on the limited health resources in province.

Research has proved that diabetes is a contributing factor to various health problems, including eye problems, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease.

Studies have also linked the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance ( IGT ) to the global epidemic of obesity and lifestyle changes associated primarily with urbanization.

Hassan said the findings of this study will provide vital information, which will be useful for national and provincial health planners when planning intervention strategies for conditions related to diabetes and future health services needs.

More importantly, he said information on this study must be disseminated appropriately.

Currently the lead researchers, which include CPUT’s Dr Tandi Matsha and Stellenbosch University Professor Rajiv Erasmus, are discussing the findings with stakeholders in the health sector.

The researchers, who are linked to the Oxidative Stress Research Group, which is based in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, are also in the process of writing up a number of journal articles on this study.

They had also presented data on the study at several conferences.

Hassan said the research is ongoing and that plans are in place to extend the study to other communities in the Western Cape .

By Candes Keating, Marketing and Communication Department

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