Browsing by Author "Muller, N."

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    Chemical characteristics of red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama) meat
    (South African Society for Animal Science, 2010) Hoffman, L. C.; Smit, K.; Muller, N.
    The aim of this study was to determine the effect of region (Qua-Qua, Maria Moroka, Sandveld and Tussen die Riviere) and gender on carcass characteristics and chemical composition of meat from the red hartebeest. The parameters measured on 29 red hartebeest included body weight, carcass weight, dressing percentage, proximate composition, fatty acid, cholesterol, amino acid and mineral content. The average carcass weight of males (79.3 kg) was significantly higher than that of females (56.0 kg); however, there was no difference in dressing percentages. The animals obtained from the Qua-Qua region had the highest lipid content (1.3 g/100 g meat sample) compared to hartebeest sampled in other regions. Differences in concentrations of individual fatty acids, amino acids and minerals were minor and of no practical value. The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (0.78) is above the recommended 0.7 and therefore has positive implications for human health. These nutrient values determined in meat from red hartebeest could be incorporated into human food composition tables. These results will also be of value to the South African game meat exporters who may wish to market their products in terms of their nutritional value in order to compete with meat from domestic livestock or international venison products. In such cases, it is required by law (both locally and internationally) to provide adequate nutritional labelling.
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    HIV-associated nephropathy - an initial presentation in an HIV-positive patient
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1994) Bates, W. D.; Muller, N.; Van de Wal, B. W.; Jacobs, J. C.
    The lesions of HIV-associated nephropathy occur in patients with AIDS, AIDS-related complex and in individuals clinically asymptomatic for HIV infection. We report on a 35-year-old black South African woman who presented with nephrotic syndrome and renal failure. The renal biopsy appearance suggested HIV infection and this was subsequently verified. This finding emphasises the possibility that otherwise asymptomatic patients presenting with renal disease may be HIV-positive.
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    Nephrotic syndrome in Namibian children
    (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 1999) Van Buuren, A. J.; Bates, W. D.; Muller, N.
    Background and objectives. Patterns of nephrotic syndrome vary between regions and countries, and influence approaches to management. In the mid-1970s the University of Stellenbosch became involved in providing tertiary care to Namibia, including a paediatric nephrology service. The aim of this study was to document the clinical, pathological and outcome features of nephrotic syndrome in Namibian children. Subjects. Seventy black Namibian children with nephrotic syndrome were managed from 1975 to 1988. Sixty-eight renal specimens (67 biopsies and 1 autopsy specimen) were evaluated. Results. Twenty-nine of the 70 children (41.4%) were hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers, of whom 25 (86.2%) were male. Of the 29, 26 had predominantly membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN), 1 mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis (MCGN), and 1 focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS); 1 child in advanced renal failure was not biopsied. Five children (7.4%) showed minimal change disease (MCD), 11 (16.2%) FSGS and 15 (22.1%) diffuse mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (DMP). The remaining 10 children showed diffuse glomerulosclerosis (6), MCGN (3) and endocapillary proliferative GN (1). Four of the 5 children with MCD went into remission on immunosuppressive treatment. Of the 15 with DMF, 4 improved spontaneously and only 1 of those treated did not improve. Only 2 of those with FSGS improved on treatment. The children with HBV-associated MGN and MCGN were offered symptomatic rather than specific treatment. Thirteen children presented with degrees of chronic renal failure. Eight are known to have died, 3 of relentless nephrotic syndrome and 4 (of whom 3 were HBV carriers) of end-stage renal failure. One child died of penicillin anaphylaxis. Conclusions. The pattern of nephrotic syndrome in black Namibian children differed greatly from the non-African pattern elsewhere in that MCD was uncommon and HBV-associated GN was the most common single group. The most frequent pattern of HBV-associated GN was MGN with some mesangiocapillary features showing marked male predominance. MCD and DMP were potentially treatable and could only be identified by biopsy. HBV carrier rates exert a major influence on the proportions of morphological subgroups of nephrotic syndrome in children. As these HBV carrier rates alter in future due to the influence of vaccination and urbanisation, the relative size of nephrotic subgroups seems likely to alter.
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    Physical and chemical properties of selected beef muscles infused with a phosphate and lactate blend
    (South African Society for Animal Science, 2012) Hoffman, L. C.; Vermaak, A.; Muller, N.
    The consumer demands a beef product of consistent and acceptable tenderness. The infusion of beef muscles with a blend containing sodium and potassium salts, various phosphates and lactates has the potential to improve the current status of low meat consumption and inconsistent tenderness of fresh beef products in South Africa. In the present investigation, the biceps femoris (BF, silverside), rectus femoris muscle (RF), semitendinosus muscle (ST, eye of the silverside), supraspinatus muscle (SS, scotch fillet) and longissimus et lumborum muscles from the left side of beef carcasses were infused, 3 d post mortem, with a blend consisting of various sodium and potassium salts, di- and triphosphates and lactates, while the corresponding muscles from the right side were untreated and served as the control. The changes in beef quality over a 19-d period and the initial proximate and mineral composition of the muscles were also determined. The general findings suggest that an increase in tenderness concurrent with an acceptable beef colour resulted from the infusion with this blend. The chemical composition of the treated muscles was not negatively affected by the infusion and the mineral content of the treated muscles was increased, accordingly.