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Vulval Swellings - A Case Report
No full textVulval swellings have always caused dilemmas in diagnosis and more so when they are huge in size. Sebaceous cysts are known to occur as a result of blocked pilo-sebaceous gland and duct or as a result of any injury to the skin. Face, neck, chest, back, scalp, and ears are known sites, however, they also occur in the vulva. They are mostly asymptomatic but cause intense pain and discomfort if infected. Symptomatic cysts warrant removal. 
Reversal of Diabetes-Induced Intestinal Hyperplasia in Male Rats Treated with Ocimum gratissimum Leaf Extract
No full textMorphologic alterations that compromise nutrient handling are reported in the small intestine of diabetic rats. Ocimum gratissimum (OG) has antiproliferative activities in cancer cells, hence this study investigated the effect of OG on intestinal histomorphometry and glucose absorption in diabetic rats. Twenty-five male rats (180-210g) were randomly grouped into five as control, normal+OG, diabetic (Dia), diabete + OG (Dia +OG), and diabetic + glibenclamide (Dia + Gli). Diabetes was induced by alloxan monohydrate in Dia, Dia + OG, and Dia + Gli then treated with distilled water (DW), OG, (400 mg/kg) or glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), respectively; while control and normal + OG were normal rats administered with DW or OG for 28 days. Fasting blood glucose level of the animals was monitored weekly. Glucose absorption and histomorphometry analysis (villi height, crypt depth, epithelial height, muscle thickness and goblet count) of the jejunum and ileum were determined. Data were compared using ANOVA. Fasting blood glucose was reduced in the Dia + OG after treatments. Glucose absorption increased only in the Normal + OG animals. Villus height of the ileum increased in Dia but decreased in the Dia + OG and Dia + Gli. Ileal crypt depth was significantly increased in Dia compared with the control. Although, the ileal crypt depth was higher in the Dia + OG than the control, it was significantly lower compared with Dia group. Epithelial height of the ileum increased in Dia group compared with control while goblet cell count was increased in the jejunum of the two groups administered OG. In conclusion, Ocimum gratissimum reversed intestinal hyperplasia without changes in intestinal glucose absorption in alloxan-induced diabetic male wistar rats
An unusual case of keratin granuloma peritonealis following spontaneous rupture of mature ovarian cystic teratoma: A case report and discussion
No full textMature ovarian teratoma is a common benign tumour in women of reproductive age group. This is a slowly growing tumouroften remains asymptomatic for a long period of time unless large sized or some complication occurs. Torsion is the mostcommon complication, whereas rupture is an unusual complication of mature teratoma. We report a case of keratin granulomaperitonealis, a very rare condition following spontaneous rupture of mature ovarian teratoma. Rarity of this condition warrantsits mention.A 40 year old female presented with an acute abdomen with the background history of gradually increasing abdominal painand distension for three months. She had exploratory laparotomy which revealed keratin granulomas and chemical peritonitis.The diagnosis of spontaneously ruptured teratoma was made. The abdomen was closed following rigorous peritoneal washout.After an interval of 8 weeks, left adenexectomy and adhesiolysis were performed. She made full recovery after the surgery
Placental malaria: A threat to obstetric outcomes
No full textPlacental malaria occurs when there is sequestration of Plasmodiumfalciparum infected red blood cells in the placenta. This is the primarymechanism by which malaria in pregnancy perpetuates its adverseperinatal outcomes such as miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth,intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), low birth weight and poorcognitive function
‘I’m doing it for myself’: Using a smartphone-based exercise service during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
No full textBackground: Sufficient physical activity (PA) lowers poor health outcomes, with data showing these protective effects in populations under varying levels of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. The advent of online PA programmes has created novel opportunities to offset the deleterious effects of inactivity. However, data are limited and the readiness and acceptance of such technology is unknown. These authors nevertheless noted an opportunity to investigate this approach based on promising emerging data at the time of the hard lockdown in South Africa.
Objective: This exploratory study investigated the engagement and perceptions of a smartphone application to promote health and fitness in a sample of employees at a South African university.
Methods: Employed members of staff (n=15) of the University of the Witwatersrand were recruited through email invitation during the hard Level 5 COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Individualised home-based PA programmes were prescribed through a mobile application for a period of eight weeks. Researchers qualified in Biokinetics provided online supervision of the exercise sessions during the intervention. Participants were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire about their use of the application. Thematic analysis was used to understand these responses.
Results: Lack of motivation was perceived to have a negative effect on participation in the online PA programme. Only one participant reported using the mobile application consistently during the study period, while half of the participants reported having trouble with the usage of the application. The participants frequently mentioned the need for technical support and further engagement from the clinicians supervising the PA programme to ensure use and progression. Staff identified issues with connectivity and already having too many phone applications (apps) amongst the reasons for the technical difficulties.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the challenges and potential for the uptake of online PA interventions during COVID-19 and, despite its small sample size, the data provide important lessons learned that will be used as information in further investigations
24 hour movement behaviours and the health and development of pre-school children from Zimbabwean settings: the SUNRISE pilot study
No full textBackground: In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) released global guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for the early years. The International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years, SUNRISE, aimed to assess the extent to which children aged three and four years meet the WHO global guidelines and its association with health and development.
Objectives: To assess movement behaviours in pre-school children from low-income settings in Zimbabwe and to establish associations between these movement behaviours and adiposity, motor skills and executive function.
Methods: Pre-school children/caregivers were recruited from two urban and two rural public schools respectively in Zimbabwe. The caregivers answered questions on the children’s physical activity, screen time, sedentary behaviour and sleep patterns. Children’s movement behaviours were objectively measured using accelerometers. Gross and fine motor skills and executive function were assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 and Early Years Toolbox, respectively. Focus group discussions were carried out with caregivers and teachers on the acceptability and feasibility of the study.
Results: Eighty-one children participated in the study. The proportions of children meeting the guidelines were physical activity 92%, sedentary behaviour 70%, and sleep 86%, and all guidelines combined 24%. Boys and girls were similar (p>0.05 for all variables) for all executive function variables, but rural children had significantly lower inhibition scores (p=0.026) than urban children.
Conclusion: The study adds to the growing literature on movement behaviours and associated risk factors in low-resourced settings. Further investigations of movement behaviours in this age group in Zimbabwe are recommended
Position-specific physical and technical demands during the 2019 COPA América Football tournament
No full textBackground: Despite a substantial body of literature on the physical and technical performance characteristics of football players in Asian and European tournaments, research on South American football players is scarce.Objectives: The purpose of the study was to examine the physical and technical characteristics of football players according to specific playing positions at the 2019 COPA América tournament.Methods: A total of 180 match observations from 13 games were monitored using the InStat tracking system. Players were grouped into the following five playing positions: central defenders (n = 45), wide defenders (n = 46), central midfielders (n = 50), wide midfielders (n = 17), and forwards (n = 22).Results: Descriptive statistics (means ± standard deviations) and the one-way analysis of variance were used to analyse the data. Findings showed that the total distance covered by central midfielders (10 553 ± 763 m) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of central defenders (9226 ± 720 m; effect size (d) = 1.79), wide defenders (9929 ± 633 m; d = 0.89) and forwards (9383 ± 820 m; d = 1.45). Wide midfielders (214 ± 170 m), wide defenders (152 ± 199 m) and forwards (138 ± 94 m) covered greater distances sprinting than central defenders (67 ± 42 m; d = 1.19) and central midfielders (91 ± 66 m; d = 0.95). Concerning technical variables, central midfielders played significantly more passes compared to players in other playing positions (p < 0.05). In relation to crossing, wide defenders completed significantly more crosses than players in other positions (p < 0.05).Conclusion: These findings have direct implications for tailoring tactics so players can meet the physical and technical demands of the game.  
South African Journal of Sports Medicine: What happened in 2020 and plans for 2021
No full textNo Abstrac
Tackle injury epidemiology and performance in rugby league – narrative synthesis
No full textBackground: In rugby league (RL), the ability to repeatedly engage in the tackle, whether as a ball carrier or tackler, is essential for team success and player performance. It is also the leading cause of injury, with over 90% of total injuries occurring during the tackle in professional and amateur cohorts. To effectively reduce the risk of injury and optimise performance, establishing the extent of the ‘problem’, through injury surveillance or descriptive performance studies is required.
Objective: The purpose of this narrative synthesis was to systematically search and synthesise tackle injury epidemiology and tackle performance frequency in RL. To achieve this objective, a systematic review was conducted.
Methods: The search was limited to English-only articles published between January 1995 and October 2018. Based on the search criteria, a total of 53 studies were found: 32 focused on tackle injury epidemiology (nine cases studies) and 21 focused on tackle frequency.
Results: In general, over 600 tackles may occur during an RL match. Tackle injury frequencies (both overall and time-loss injuries) ranged between 47%-94% at the professional level, and between 38%-96% for the lower levels of play. A greater proportion of injuries occurring in professional RL are severe time-loss injuries when compared to lower levels of play. Most time-loss and overall injuries occur to players who are tackled, i.e., ball carriers, across all levels of play.
Conclusion: This narrative synthesis will facilitate tackle injury prevention and performance research in RL, and act as a reference document for coaches and practitioners
The Isokinetic Rugby Union Physical Work Evaluation (RUPWE) protocol: Can Rugby Union Players meet the physical work demands of the game?
No full textBackground: To protect the lumbar spine from excessive forces, rugby union players need to demonstrate the work ability of the trunk extensors and flexors to meet the physical demands.Aim: To measure and evaluate whether rugby union players were able to meet the imposed physical work demand, considering limitations, tolerances and resistance to fatigue, using isokinetic dynamometry for trunk extensors (TE) and trunk flexors (TF).Methods: Fifty-five male players, between the ages of 18 and 23 years, participated in the study. All participants completed a PAR-Q (pre-activity risk) questionnaire before the isokinetic testing. Their height was between 1.80 ± 0.67 m and body mass was 86.0 ± 17.5 kg. Participants were subjected to a newly designed protocol using the Biodex Isokinetic System 3 Dynamometer, called the Rugby Union Physical Work Evaluation (RUPWE).Results: There was a significant difference between the forwards’ trunk extensor peak torque to body weight 488% ± 119% and the trunk flexor peak torque to body weight 289% ± 73%. Furthermore, there was a large effect size between trunk extensor and trunk flexor muscle performance for the forwards (d =2.0) and backs (d =1.9) for peak torque to body weight. Spearman’s rank-order correlations (rs) showed a moderate negative correlation for the forwards between trunk extensor peak torque to body weight and time to peak torque, (rs = -0.4; p=0.018). There is a strong negative correlation for the backs between trunk extensor peak torque to body weight and time to peak torque, (rs = -0.6; p=0.003).Conclusion: The physical work evaluation protocol can be used as a screening tool for rugby players as it measures the extensive mechanical load placed on the lumbar region. This has the potential to evaluate their athletic performance for the demands of tackling and scrumming