Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Paediatrics
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
1. PhD thesis titled, "Chronic inflammatory lung disease in children with human immunodeficiency virus infected children. Epidemiological considerations, aetiological determinants and the efficacy of low dose erythromycin in bronchiectasis."
(a) Presented abstract of the Epidemiological considerations, demographic data and inflammatory determinants in children with HIV-related bronchiectasis at the American Thoracic Society Meeting, New Orleans 2010 for which received and award for the best abstract for the MECOR and Fellow- in-Training Travel Awards.
(b) Completed article titled "Demographic, environmental and inflammatory factors in children with human immunodeficiency virus-related bronchiectasis." Submitted to Pediatric Pulmonology Journal
2. Other research activities as a mentor:
* Dr M. Kwofie-Mensah have submitted protocol for collection of ‘Presentation of black cystic fibrosis subject with 3120+1G>A mutation in South Africa.' Collection of data from 4 major CF centres in South Africa.
* Dr. T Magidimisa (MMed protocol) : " Correlation of lung function parameters with weight and height Z-scores in a CF clinic"
* The Division of Paediatric Pulmonology presented a number of posters and oral presentations at UP Faculty Day
* The Division actively supports MMed research
Contact person: Prof R Masekela.
Paediatric Oncology: Dr D Reynders
This has been a very busy year for Paediatric Oncology in that we have moved from Kalafong Hospital and established a new service at Steve Biko Academic Hospital. I think our most important achievement this year has been to establish a facility in which the first allogenic stem transplant has been performed in a child in the public sector. We have one MSc protocol provisionally approved by the research ethics committee, we have conducted two student audit projects in the ward and we also conducted an audit exploring the delay in referral of some of our local referring clinics this was been presented at annual SIOP meeting held in Boston USA. Dr Omar and I have both had review articles in published CME journal this year.
We are looking forward to next year and have already started working on some interesting research projects.
Research projects and outputs:
A comparison of the efficacy and cost of intravenous and oral formulations of ondansetron against chemotherapy-induced nausea MSc Pharmacology Researcher: Gretta Cornelia M’bitsi Ibouily
Audit of nausea and vomiting in children receiving chemotherapy at the SBAH Paediatric Oncology Unit. Researcher: Hanneke van der Walt
Audit of Pain Management at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital Paediatric Oncology Ward: Researcher: Judy Ings
The role of primary care in the early detection of childhood cancer. can we do more? Researchers: Fareed Omar, Poppy Ncube, Cecilia Matome, David Reynders
Contact person: Dr D Reynders.
I have been awarded NIH grant for which contract was signed in October and now am awaiting cost point number
Title: Development of an International Guide to Monitor and Support Child Development (GMCD)
Collaboration with Yale University
Grant: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
Multi-countries study: Eretria, India, South Africa and Turkey
Study will run for 6 years and there are 3 phases. Training of research assistance was done from 01-05 Nov 2010.
Piloting to be do Dec 2010-Jan 2010
Enrolment to start in March 2011
Phase 1
Standardize the GMCD tool
Phase II
Establish valid scoring criteria for the GMCD that enables accurate detection of Developmental Difficulties (DDs) when used in different cultures and languages.
Phase III
Conduct a pilot study in the four countries to identify approaches to implementing and sustaining ongoing developmental monitoring using the GMCD in community health clinics and assess to what extent identification of DDs using the GMCD results in access to services and appropriate management of DDs.
Contact person: Dr MC Mulaudzi.
Research in the HIV unit includes a study on HIV-diagnosis in children, showing the need to possibly revise the SA HIV diagnostic algorithm. Another study on neurodevelopment in HIV-infected children demonstrates developmental delay and necessity of early initiation of antiretroviral therapy. A study on HIV-exposed but uninfected children highlights their medical and social needs.
Contact person: Dr UD Feucht.
The research focus of the group is mitochondrial disorders in mainly paediatric patients in South Africa and it is in collaboration with the Mitochondrial Laboratory at North West University. There were a number of highlights. The clinical and biochemical characteristics of a cohort of South African patients with mitochondrial disorders were described. It is unique as it is the first report that included the local African population and it was found that they presented more likely with a myopathy and combined enzyme deficiencies. Aberrant ATP synthesis resulting from a novel deletion in mitochondrial DNA in an African patient with progressive external ophthalmoplegia was also found and described.
A unique dimension to the work was added with the use of second generation sequencing and 454 pyrosequencing was performed on a cohort of 80 patients. The data are currently analyzed and very interesting and promising results were obtained. It will have an influence in the diagnostic procedure of these extremely difficult to diagnose conditions and have an impact on future counselling.
Another important aspect of the project is the metabolomic project on the urine specimens of these patients and a useful instrument to select patients for a diagnostic muscle biopsy is developed.
Other projects in the group include the study on the effect of gastrostomy feeding on the physical health of children with spastic quadriplegia.
Dr. Lubbe was also involved in a unique public private partnership endeavour in which she orchestrated sponsorship for placement of a deep brain stimulator in a girl with primary dystonia.
Lessons learnt from patients are also part of the group’s daily experience and a very interesting case of Menkes disease where the clinical signs include important pitfalls was also presented at faculty day.
Contact person: Prof I Smuts.
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