Search Results (271)

With emerging improvement in screening and treatment, most patients with prostate cancer (PCa) live for a long period beyond their diagnosis. Erectile dysfunction (ED) and bowel and urinary incontinence have been shown to be the most bothersome side-effects of most PCa treatment options for patients. With increasing long-term survival, most PCa patients face the prospect of experiencing symptoms, side-effects of available treatment options, and diminished quality of life. The objective of the study was to explore the impact of treatment-induced ED on masculinity among Black South African PCa patients. Twenty (20) prostate cancer patients, selected through purposive sampling and receiving some form of treatment at Pietersburg tertiary Hospital, with ages ranging from 67 to 85 years (mean age = 76 years; SD = 5.3), participated in the study. In-depth, individual semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings indicate that ED threatens or adversely impacts the participants’ perceptions of their sense of masculinity leading to diminished quality of life. The results demonstrate that loss of masculinity brought about by PCa treatment-induced ED is experienced both physically as well as psychologically. The results highlight a need for collaboration between medical and psychological professionals in the management of PCa patients. This is crucial for improving the overall health related quality of life for patients. Full article

Plastic pollution is acknowledged as a serious problem for ecosystems. Among these plastics, polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) are emerging environmental pollutants, and their biological effects on hepatotoxicity are the least explored. Therefore, the present work examined the effect of PS-NPs on the hepatic transcription of the antioxidant genes Hmox1 and Sod3 in mice (n = 6, treatment (PS-NPs) vs. vehicle group (Veh)), mediated by RORγ and epigenetic modifications. The results show that PS-NP mice had significantly reduced body weight; increased activity of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH), and Complexes I, III, and V in the liver; and increased Alanine Transaminase (ALT), Aspartate Transaminase (ASP), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to the Veh group. Furthermore, PS-NPs resulted in considerably lower relative mRNA expression of Hmox1, Sod3, and RORγ in the liver than the Veh group. Likewise, when compared to Veh, PS-NPs significantly reduced the enrichment of RORγ, as well as the occupancies of the key components of the transcriptional activation pathway (P300, SRC1, Pol II, Ser5-Pol II, and Ser2-Pol II) at the loci of Hmox1 and Sod3. In comparison to Veh, PS-NPs showed downregulated occupancies of the histone active marks H3K9ac and H3K18ac, while H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 were higher at the target loci of Hmox1 and Sod3. In conclusion, the present study highlights that PS-NPs induce oxidative stress by modifying Hmox1 and Sod3 in mice’s livers through histone changes and nuclear receptor RORγ modulation. Full article

Availability of irrigation water during growing seasons in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) remains a significant concern. Persistent droughts and unpredictable rainfall patterns attributed to climate change, coupled with an increasing population, have exacerbated irrigation water scarcity. Globally, treated wastewater has been utilised as an irrigation water source; however, despite global advances in the usage of treated wastewater, its suitability for irrigation in RSA remains a contentious issue. Considering this uncertainty, this review article aims to unravel the South African scenario on the suitability of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes and highlights the potential environmental impacts and public health risks. The review synthesised literature in the last two decades (2000–present) using Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar databases. Findings reveal that treated wastewater can serve as a viable irrigation source in the country, enhancing various soil parameters, including nutritional pool, organic carbon, and fertility status. However, elevated levels of salts, heavy metals, and microplastics in treated wastewater resulting from insufficient treatment of wastewater processes may present significant challenges. These contaminants might induce saline conditions and increase heavy metals and microplastics in soil systems and water bodies, thereby posing a threat to public health and potentially causing ecological risks. Based on the reviewed literature, irrigation with treated wastewater should be implemented on a localised and pilot basis. This review aims to influence policy-making decisions regarding wastewater treatment plant structure and management. Stricter monitoring and compliance policies, revision of irrigation water standards to include emerging contaminants such as microplastics, and intensive investment in wastewater treatment plants in the country are recommended. With improved policies, management, and treatment efficiency, treated wastewater can be a dependable, sustainable, and practical irrigation water source in the country with minimal public health risks. Full article

As edge computing becomes increasingly central to modern digital infrastructure, it also creates opportunities for sophisticated malware attacks that traditional security systems struggle to address. This study proposes a natural language processing (NLP) framework integrated with ensemble learning into next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) to detect and mitigate malware attacks in edge computing environments. The approach leverages unstructured threat intelligence (e.g., cybersecurity reports, logs) by applying NLP techniques, such as TF-IDF vectorization, to convert textual data into structured insights. This process uncovers hidden patterns and entity relationships within system logs. By combining Random Forest (RF) and Logistic Regression (LR) in a soft voting ensemble, the proposed model achieves 95% accuracy on a cyber threat intelligence dataset augmented with synthetic data to address class imbalance, and 98% accuracy on the CSE-CIC-IDS2018 dataset. The study was validated using ANOVA to assess statistical robustness and confusion matrix analysis, both of which confirmed low error rates. The system enhances detection rates and adaptability, providing a scalable defense layer optimized for resource-constrained, latency-sensitive edge environments. Full article

Mastectomy, while a life-saving intervention for breast cancer, often leads to profound psychological and emotional challenges for affected women. Feelings of loss altered body image, and anxiety about recurrence can significantly impact mental well-being. This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of women after mastectomy at Mankweng Tertiary Hospital in Limpopo Province, South Africa. In this study, a qualitative phenomenological design was used. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with women who had undergone mastectomy. Fifteen participants were purposively sampled, and thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns and meanings in their narratives. The findings revealed that the participants initially described feelings of being ‘disabled’, incomplete, and anxious about cancer recurrence or their ability to perform maternal functions such as breastfeeding. However, over time, many developed resilience and acceptance, seeing surgery as a life-saving measure and an opportunity for renewal. The adjustment of women after mastectomy is a complicated emotional transition from crisis and loss to adjustment and empowerment. The results identify the need for holistic psychosocial support that combines counseling, peer networks, and education for their family members addressing their emotional healing, body image, and social reintegration. Full article

Background: ApoE is a major regulator of lipid metabolism and glycaemic control. The aim of the current study is to investigate the ApoE gene polymorphisms among Black South Africans with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associate them with their lipid profile. Methods: A cross-sectional case–control study was conducted among 107 participants, divided into two groups: patients with T2DM (n = 65) and non-diabetic controls (n = 42). Blood samples were collected for analysis of glycated haemoglobin, lipid profile, nitric oxide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and DNA genotyping using the MALDI-TOF. Continuous variables were analysed using Student’s t-test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Genotype and allele frequencies were compared using Fisher’s exact tests. Results: The ApoE3 allele was the most prevalent among both groups, observed in 55.47% in T2DM patients and 52.38% in the non-diabetic group, followed by E4 and E2. HWE analysis revealed a deviation from equilibrium [χ² (3) = 9.137, p = 0.0275]. TG levels differed significantly across ApoE alleles (F = 3.68, p = 0.03), with higher TG concentrations observed among E3 allele carriers and E4 allele carriers. Poor glycaemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7.0%) predominated across all ApoE alleles. Among E3 allele carriers, 75.0% of participants exhibited poor glycaemic control, whereas only 25.0% achieved good glycaemic control (p = 0.002). Conclusions: ApoE polymorphisms are associated with allele-specific heterogeneity in lipid metabolism and glycaemic control among individuals with T2DM, underscoring the complex, context-dependent role of genetic variation in metabolic dysregulation within African populations. Full article

Smallholder farmers’ yields fluctuate yearly due to the variability of climate, resources, and diseases. The study aimed to assess genotypes-by-environment interactions under different management practices using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction models. Potato cultivars (Mondial, Electra, Sababa, and Panamera) were grown in five environments (Mbalenhle, Hlathikhulu, Mbhava, Stezi, and Gobizembe) for three seasons (2021–2023). Potatoes were planted under mulch (non-mulched and mulched) and fungicide (sprayed and unsprayed) management practices. The results revealed that the genotype–environment effect had a minimal contribution to tuber yield, ranging from 8.42% to 11.01% across management practices. For instance, in the absence of fungicide application with mulch and non-mulched practices, resulted in genotype effects of 69.92% and 60.62% and environments effects of 20.52% and 30.95%, respectively. Full article

Caregiving for visually impaired individuals imposes substantial psychological, social, and financial burdens. This study examined depressive symptoms among family caregivers in rural Limpopo, South Africa, and their associations with sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 253 informal caregivers (response rate: 85.5%). Data on age, gender, marital status, education, employment, income, and socioeconomic status were collected. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the full 20-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and associations were analysed using chi-square tests, Cramer’s V, and logistic regression. Moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were reported by 29.2% of caregivers, with 28.1% experiencing mild-to-moderate symptoms. Male caregivers were less likely to report minimal symptoms (OR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.12–0.65). Caregivers aged 50–59 years were more likely to report lower depressive symptoms (OR = 1.3). Unmarried caregivers had higher odds of depressive symptoms compared with married caregivers (OR = 2.3). Education was protective: secondary education was associated with lower odds of severe symptoms, while primary education significantly increased risk (OR = 18.1). Lower-income caregivers tended to report higher depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms among caregivers are influenced by gender, age, marital status, education, and income. Interventions such as psychosocial support, financial assistance, and community-based respite services are essential to reduce caregiver burden. Full article

Cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic syndrome (CKMS) represents the intricate interconnection of cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic disorders, with systemic inflammation now recognized as a key driver of both pathogenesis and prognosis. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the prognostic value of inflammatory biomarkers in individuals with CKMS. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus were conducted to identify studies published between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2025, following the recognition of CKMS as a distinct syndrome in December 2023. Eligible studies included adults (aged ≥ 18 years) with CKMS, that assesses one or more inflammatory markers and reported prognostic outcomes such as mortality or disease progression. Data extracted included study characteristics, biomarker types, outcome measures, and key findings. In addition to longitudinal cohorts, we included a small number of cross-sectional studies and treated them as association (non-prognostic) evidence analyzed in a separate stream from prognostic cohorts. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) tool. Due to considerable variability in prognostic outcomes, follow-up durations, and inflammatory indices, a meta-analysis was not feasible. Instead, a narrative synthesis was undertaken to summarize the evidence, identify consistent associations, and emphasize the need for standardized approaches and biomarker validation in future CKMS research. Analysis was conducted in line with the SWiM guidelines. Thirteen studies (n = 13) comprising 282,016 participants (100,590 males; 97,295 females) were included from 1404 initial records. Five of the studies were cross-sectional, providing information on associations rather than prognostic outcomes. Most were large-scale cohort studies conducted in the USA and China. Frequently assessed biomarkers included systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (hs-CRP/HDL-C), dietary inflammatory index (DII), and triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index. Elevated levels of these biomarkers were consistently associated with higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, CKMS progression, and adverse metabolic outcomes. This review highlights systemic inflammation as a critical and associated marker of CKMS prognosis. Inflammatory biomarkers may assist in hypothesis generation, but clinical utility remains to be established pending standardized adjustment and external validation. Because CKMS has only recently been operationalized, we limited inclusion to studies published from 1 January 2024 onward, enhancing definitional comparability but narrowing the evidence base and potentially emphasizing early-adopter regions (predominantly the U.S. and China). Accordingly, these findings should be interpreted as early signals that require replication in diverse settings and confirmation through longitudinal and interventional studies to inform integrative CKMS management strategies. Across observational studies, the certainty of evidence is low to moderate due to indirectness and imprecision; findings should be treated as associational signals pending external validation. Full article

Developed and developing economies use globalization and foreign direct investment (FDI) to pave the way and to maximize economic growth. This study aims to investigate the impact of globalization and FDI on the economic growth of South Africa over the period from 1998 to 2022. The study employed the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach on annual data from the World Bank and the KOF index of globalization. ARDL tests reveal a long-run positive and statistically significant relationship of 12.7% in the case of economic globalization. This indicates that there is a reasonable level of the emergence of a globalized economy to integrate new and diverse systems, within internal economic growth forces that are supporting the globalization and endogenous growth theories. Political globalization is negative and statistically significant, while social globalization is positive but is used to depress long-run economic growth because of its insignificant status. The novelty of this study is to focus on the impacts of economic, social, and political globalization and FDI on the economic growth of South Africa, through direct and interactive procedures. The findings can be used by South African policymakers and other countries to prioritize reaping the benefits of globalization. These outcomes can be used to sensitize and promote policies that can attract relevant FDI, while enhancing economic growth. Full article

South Africa’s wine industry has traditionally concentrated on developed nations as its principal export markets. In recent years, regional markets within East Africa have emerged as promising areas for growth. However, these markets have not been examined, with existing research predominantly centred on the export of unprocessed agricultural commodities. This study investigates the factors influencing South Africa’s wine exports to Kenya, Tanzania, and Mauritius, considering wine as a final, value-added agricultural product. A trend analysis was conducted to examine export performance from 2010 to 2022, and an augmented gravity model was employed to identify key factors. The results show a steady increase in wine exports to these markets, with strong demand in Kenya and Tanzania. The gravity model demonstrates that higher production capacity in South Africa, larger populations in the importing countries, advantageous import duty structures, and a depreciated exchange rate positively influence exports, whereas high inflation rates significantly constrain export volumes. Consequently, strategies focused on increasing production, maintaining favourable trade conditions, and leveraging market opportunities could enhance export performance. Additionally, mitigating the effects of inflation through strategic pricing policies and industry collaboration could further strengthen South Africa’s wine export position within East African markets. Full article