Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf): Open Journal Systems
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Phenotypes and Clinical Genotypes of Bruxism Patients: A Systematic Review
Get PDFBackground. Bruxism is a phenomenon where psychological and exogenous biological factors act in greater percentage. Several genetic polymorphisms have been described in GABAA receptors, and some have been associated with motor limitations, such as the rs1805057 polymorphism of the GABRB1 gene (GABAA), which found a haplotype associated with a lower limitation in movement in acute pain processes. The aim to identify the clinical phenotypes in bruxism patients. Eligibility criteria were as follows: observational studies, case control studies, odds ratios, bruxism, patients, and a keyword search that included [[bruxism]], OR [[temporomandibular joint disorders]] OR [[sleep bruxism]], OR [[awake bruxism]], OR [[polymorphism]] or [[GABAA]], or [[serotonin]] , using the Boolean operators AND, OR and NOT. Were included 210 identified records in databases; 50 records from other sources; 117 records were deleted after determining they were duplicates; 42 studies were included in qualitative synthesis ; finally, who met inclusion requirements 5 studies were included in synthesis. The comparison of global DNA methylation profiles in patients with bruxism shows a possible genetic influence on their etiology, indicating that patients with HTR2A rs2770304 alleles are at increased risk. the HTR2A rs2770304 allele leads to an increased risk of bruxism
Towards the African Economic Community: Legal and Historical Perspectives
No full textThis article submits that the 1963 Charter of the Organisation of African Unity provided a legal foundation for continental economic integration. This was followed by successive declarations and legal agreements such as the Lagos Plan of Action, the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community and the Constitutive Act of the African Union, all of which became more explicit. While the Organisation of African Unity of 1963 and the African Union of 2002 respectively pronounced the direction of the continental organisations, the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community was then established to translate the vision into actionable activities towards a continental economic community through the establishment of the Regional Economic Communities that would ultimately be the foundation blocks for the integration of the continent. The article shows that all the Regional Economic Communities have a strong legal appeal to achieve African unity and the desire to integrate African economies. Consequently, the African Union has to date attained a continental Free Trade Area and is still to attain a continental customs union and the common market using the same legal architecture, these being stages in developing an African Economic Community. The article also demonstrates that the various Regional Economic Communities owe their existence to the Charter of the Organisation of African Unity or the Lagos Plan of Action or the Abuja Treaty, all under the umbrella of the Constitutive Act of the African Union.
Management of lumbar bone stress injury in cricket fast bowlers and other athletes
Get PDFBackground: Recent guidelines (including a special series in The Lancet) have emphasised a minimal role for imaging when assessing low back pain in adults, as the majority of patients will have non-specific findings on imaging that do not correlate well with pain.
Objective: To assess whether the diagnosis of lumbar bone stress injuries in young athletes should be considered an exception to the recommendation to avoid imaging for low back pain in adults.
Method: Narrative review.
Results: Early lumbar bone stress injury diagnosis has been available via traditional MRI sequences (and its precursor Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)) for 25-30 years. MRI assessments using bone window sequences (such as Volumetric Interpolated Breath-hold Examination (VIBE)) have allowed a better understanding of the diagnosis and prognosis of lumbar bone stress injury in young athletes. MRI with bone sequences has allowed non-radiating scans to serially follow the healing of unilateral stress fractures. In the majority of cases, non-chronic unilateral fractures can heal; however, this takes three-six months rather than the six-ten weeks that would be the typical unloading period if using symptoms (only) as a guide. The use of MRI to provide evidence of bony healing (as opposed to fibrous union, which creates the pars defect that predisposes to further bone stress lesions) can lead to better long-term outcomes in athletes. There is evidence to flag this as a structural lesion which is both painful and, more importantly, can heal/resolve if managed correctly. Therefore it represents an important ‘specific’ diagnostic subset within adult low back pain.
Conclusion: Structural (rather than functional) management of bone stress injuries in high-demand athletes, such as cricket pace bowlers, is in contrast to the recommendation of functional management for general back pain in adults. Structural management is justified when there are demonstrable superior outcomes of having better structure. Although this has not yet been shown in randomised trials of elite athletes, apparent lengthier Test cricket careers of pace bowlers who do not have pars defects suggest better athletic outcomes if bony healing is achieved. For lower demand young adults, or athletes with established bilateral pars defects, functional management may be more pragmatic
University and stakeholder partnerships to innovate in sport – the development of the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) career transition screening tool
Get PDFIn sports, the value and mutual benefit of university–stakeholder partnerships have been well-recognised. It has been argued that cricket has a unique set of challenges compared to other team sports. In 2016, the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) and the University of Cape Town established a partnership to (i) conduct novel research on professional cricketers and (ii) ensure SACA programmes and initiatives are informed by said research and/or the currently available literature. As the demand on professional cricketers has increased, so has the interest in their career transitioning. That is, how do professional cricketers manage stressors created by changes (or non-changes) throughout their playing careers? To help identify gaps for intervention as a cricketer transitions through their professional career, the purpose of this short report is to describe how a university–stakeholder partnership developed a career transitioning screening tool for professional cricketers in South Africa
Estimation of the 2D cross-sectional area of the wetting pattern under drip irrigation and spatio-temporal variation of the components of the wetting pattern
No full textThe wetting pattern which occurs under surface drip irrigation is an important component for the optimum design of the system and for irrigation programming. The aim of this investigation was to devise a model which enables estimation of the 2D cross-sectional area of the wetting pattern which occurs under a surface dripper by an analytical method. The main parameters of the wetting pattern are the wetting diameter on the soil surface, the maximum wetted depth and maximum wetted width in the soil profile, and the depth of this maximum wetted width from the soil surface. In the laboratory experiments, water applications were carried out on two soil textures (clay loam and clay) with homogeneous soil profiles at two discharge rates over 125 min and 170 min periods. The sizes of the parameters of the wetting pattern were measured as consecutive series over 5-min intervals during the water application period. The general/main shape which represents the wetting patterns which occur under different irrigation conditions was defined and mathematically modelled. When the results were evaluated statistically, a correlation of 0.9128 was found between the momentary rates of change of the maximum depth of the wetting pattern predicted by the model and those measured in the experiment. The correlation between the momentary variations of accelerations of the same parameter was 0.9205. In addition, the size of the wetting pattern showed an increment in reducing velocities during the water application period. The results indicate that the model devised in this investigation can be used in the prediction of the cross-sectional area of the wetting pattern which occurs under a surface dripper
Proteus Syndrome – A one in a million occurrence
Get PDFThe syndrome is named after the Greek sea-god Proteus, who could change his shape. Proteus Syndrome (PS) is a rare condition with an incidence of less than 1 in 1 million people. It is characterized by variable, multifocal overgrowth of bones, skin, or other tissue derived from any of the three germinal layers. It is generally not apparent at birth, but signs develop rapidly from as early as 6 months and get more severe with age. Craniofacial deformities are less frequent but overgrowth of facial bones leads to disfigurement, malocclusion and a number of other oral and dental anomalies. The following case report of a young boy with PS was written for three reasons. Firstly, it will describe this unusual condition to colleagues who have never encountered patients with the syndrome. It then stresses the importance of a holistic approach to treatment planning. This entails addressing the immediate needs, and then basing the definitive treatment on considerations of possible short- and long term, patient-related developments. Finally, it illustrates how a complex case was treated successfully with conservative management using modifications of standard clinical procedures
Case – Calcification of the epiglottis
Get PDFThis 70-year-old male patient presented to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology for CBCT imaging prior to implant therapy (Figure 1
SECTION 165 OF THE COMPANIES ACT 71 OF 2008: A COMPARATIVE DISCUSSION OF THE CONCEPTS OF RATIFICATION, ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES
No full textThe lack of access to company files, company information and other company documents has historically been an obstacle to applicants attempting to institute derivative proceedings on behalf of a company. The information contained in these documents is critical in order to prove wrongful conduct. Section 165(14) of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 provides that the court is the final authority on whether to grant leave to institute proceedings: ratification is merely a factor for the court to consider. The subsection does away with the common-law rule that illegal acts or frauds on the minority (previously commonly known as the exceptions to the rule in Foss v Harbottle) are not ratifiable by the company. The availability of an alternative remedy is an important factor to consider when determining whether the derivative action will be in the best interests of the company, especially if the proposed derivative action may result in lengthy and time-consuming litigation. However, the availability of another remedy should not be a deterrent to applicants who wish to institute derivative proceedings
JUDICIAL SCRUTINY OF DERIVATIVE MISCONDUCT IN SOUTH AFRICAN EMPLOYMENT LAW: A CAREFUL APPROACH TO THE DUTY TO SPEAK
No full textThe concept of derivative misconduct has in the past come to the aid of employers in disciplining employees who are reticent about disclosing information that would support the prosecution of an offence. Though dismissal based on derivative misconduct is designed to target the perpetrators of the original misconduct, the justification is wide enough to encompass those innocent of it, but who through their silence make themselves guilty of a derivative violation of trust and confidence. In applying the concept of derivative misconduct, South African labour courts have placed too much emphasis on the unilateral duty of good faith owed by the employee to the employer rather than the reciprocal nature of the duty and the true realities of South African industrial relations. The ground-breaking judgment of the Constitutional Court in National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) obo Nganezi v Dunlop Mixing and Technical Services (Pty) Limited (2019) 40 ILJ 1957 (CC) crafted significant principles in relation to the application of derivative misconduct within the context of collective bargaining. This article seeks a critical unpacking of the legal quagmire, which has not been fully addressed by the Constitutional Court, and to provide a way forward that may be adopted by employers to promote a spirit of fairness in the employment relationship