Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf): Open Journal Systems
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Morphological variations of two cases of maxillary myofibromas
Get PDFThe aim of this case report is to depict the varied spectrum of clinical presentation of two cases of solitary myofibromas, one of which was intra-osseous whilst the other presented as a soft tissue lesion. This highlights the spectrum of the clinical presentation of the same pathology. In the most recent World Health Organisation (WHO) 2022 classification of soft tissue tumours, myofibroma is included under the category of myopericytomas. Myopericytoma is a distinctive perivascular myoid neoplasm that forms a morphological spectrum with myofibroma. Molecular evidence has revealed PDGFRB (platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta) mutations in myopericytoma and myofibroma as well as SRF-RELA gene fusions in both lesions confirming a common pathogenesis for both.1 Myofibromas are benign soft tissue neoplasms derived from myofibroblastic cells.2 The term myofibroma refers to a solitary lesion. Myofibromatosis refers to cases in which multiple lesions are present which may affect either one or multiple anatomical locations. Myofibromatosis is almost exclusively seen in young children under the age of 2-years. Myofibromas exhibit a wide age range of clinical presentation and may be present at birth or arise within the first two years of age, but may also present in adults with a significant male predominance. Solitary myofibromas have a predilection to occur in the oral cavity, skin or subcutis of the head, neck and trunk
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
Get PDFClinically (Figure 1) a unilateral swelling, proptosis and obliteration of the nasolabial fold was noted. Intraoral examination revealed normal-appearing overlying mucosa. A pantomograph (Figure 2) demonstrates a mixed diffuse expansile lesion and thinning of the cortices affecting both jaws. 3D reconstruction (Figure 3) overview the lesions' extent. CBCT interpretation (Figures 4 and 5) indicated engrossment of the frontal, parietal, temporal, sphenoid, ethmoid, maxillary, palatine, zygomatic, and mastoid bones. T1-weighted gadolinium-enhanced MRI image (Figure 6) of a patient with a similar lesion in the right maxilla demonstrates a heterogeneous appearance
Factors that affected the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal treatment carried out by postgraduate periodontology students
Get PDFThe training of postgraduate students in periodontology has a significant clinical impact. The overall assessment of the efficacy of non-surgical treatment of periodontitis, has value to inform training protocols as well as assess the quality of clinical service delivery. Furthermore, obstacles to successful treatment can be identified. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of non-surgical periodontal treatment, as well as the factors that may determine treatment outcome at the postgraduate clinic in the Periodontology Department at the University of the Western Cape, Tygerberg Dental Hospital, between 2016 and 2018. A cross-sectional record-based study of 100 patients was conducted. Demographic, social, clinical, treatment data were obtained from the hospital files. Periodontal parameters including bleeding index (BI), Pocket Probing depth (PPD), Plaque index (PI), and clinical attachment level (CAL), were recorded at the initial visit (Pre-treatment) and follow-up visits (Post-treatment), and the final treatment outcomes were calculated based on the differences of these parameters’ values between the initial visit and the last follow-up visit. Data were presented as mean and range for continuous variables and as a frequency for categorical variables. Statistical analyses were performed to determine if there was a relationship between the varied factors and treatment outcome with p < 0.05 as statistically significant. The results showed that all 100 patients demonstrated a marked reduction in PPD, PI, BI, and loss of CAL. The overall mean PPD reduction was 0.32 (0.5), the mean reduction in PI and BI were 37.2 (24.08) and 34.61 (22.78), respectively, and the mean clinical attachment gain was 0.42 (0.97) mm. Treatment outcome showed no difference in PPD, PI, BI, and CAL between females, smokers, and patients with systemic conditions compared to males, non-smokers, and patients without systemic conditions. On the other hand, patients who underwent more maintenance treatment visits over a period longer than 2 months duration had significantly better outcomes compared to patients who had less than two months of duration of treatment. This study proved the effectiveness of the non-surgical surgical periodontal treatment at the postgraduate periodontal clinic. Treatment duration and frequency of recall visits were the most influential factor impacting the treatment outcome
Effect of visible light and ultraviolet light on the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi to false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) larvae
No full textEntomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are effective and environment-friendly insect biological control agents. Ultraviolet (UV) light is known to have an effect on the survival of fungal conidia, and natural sunlight is potentially one of the most damaging factors undermining EPF persistence and pathogenicity. This study aimed to test the infection potential of an isolate of Beauveria bassiana and five Metarhizium species after exposure to different light treatments, on soil and leaf surfaces under laboratory and field conditions, using Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) as the test host. Conidia were exposed either to growth light alone, which emits the same visible light as the sun, but excluding UV light, or directly exposed to UV light for 12 h. The results indicated no negative effect on the infection potential of the conidia of most species tested. The conidia of the two Metarhizium pinghaense (5HEID and TH149) isolates showed the greatest tolerance to visible light and UV radiation exposure on both soil and leaf surfaces. Exposure of M. pinghaense isolates to visible light on soil surfaces showed pathogenicity of > 80% for both isolates, and of between 58% and 88% after exposure to UV light. On leaf surfaces, three Metarhizium isolates, M. pinghaense (5HEID and TH149) and M. majus (TH153) had > 90% pathogenicity following exposure to UV light, and M. pinghaense (TH149) and M. robertsii (6EIKEN) showed greater tolerance of > 70%, under laboratory conditions. However, the pathogenicity of the EPF isolates was very low in field trials, indicating that further trials on the use of formulations and adjuvants with the isolates are needed to improve long-term persistence and efficacy under field conditions
COMPENSATION FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION IN SOUTH AFRICA
No full textSouth Africa acceded to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) without reservations. Article 14(6) of this treaty requires South Africa to put measures in place to compensate people who have suffered miscarriages of justice (wrongful convictions). However, the right to be compensated for wrongful conviction is not provided for in South African law. This is so although case law shows that many people have been wrongfully convicted. A person who has been wrongfully convicted has to institute a civil case (delictual claim) or to apply for a free pardon. In this article, the author argues that these two options do not comply with what is required of South Africa under article 14(6) of the ICCPR. The author suggests ways in which South Africa could comply with its obligation under article 14(6) of the ICCPR. The author also suggests ways in which the common law (actio iniuriarum) could be developed to compensate people who have been wrongfully convicted
Cereal Production in the Eastern Free State, 1981 – 2007: Can Agricultural Extension Deliver Food Security?
No full textSince 1989, South Africa's agricultural productivity growth has reached a standstill while the South African population has kept growing at 1.93% per annum. Although the country is a surplus maize producer, per capita maize production has fallen at -0.38% p.a. since 1989. A provincial breakdown of food grain production will allow the government to monitor future food security, making prompt interventions possible. In this region, we need interventions that can relieve the stresses on the already over-burned natural resources, and this can be implemented through agricultural extension by raising agricultural productivity. This paper examines the field crop production trends in the Eastern Free State province of South Africa for positive or negative trends at the district level. The data reveals a decline in cereal, legume, and oil seed production between 1981 and 2007. The negative trajectory we see in all crops in all districts is concerning. In most districts, the decline is due to fewer hectares planted, but unfavourable weather and the withdrawal of support by the government may also be contributing factors. This disastrous trend could be turned around by greater investment in farmer education and skills development in the public extension service
What’s new for the clinician – summaries of recently published papers
Get PDFInterdental cleaning devices in the form of dental floss and interdental brushes have traditionally being used as adjuncts to plaque removal in the interproximal areas of teeth. However, their routine use among younger adolescents has been reported in many studies to be less than optimal. In orthodontic patients, fixed braces promote supra- and subgingival accumulation of biofilm by impeding oral hygiene resulting in an altered oral microbiome, enamel decalcification and gingivitis1. It was recently shown that patients with upper and lower multibracket appliances are affected significantly more frequently by gingivitis (65%) and white spot lesions (30%).1 Additionally, in the predominantly young orthodontic patients, interdental spaces are often too narrow to use interdental brushes and flossing is challenging and time-consuming. Oral irrigators are easy to use even in the presence of orthodontic braces and are therefore favoured by many patients. Most oral irrigators use a stream of water only to mechanically remove plaque from interproximal areas but there are also oral irrigators which use a mixture of air and water, called microburst technology
Pulpotomy: An alternative treatment modality to conventional root canal treatment
Get PDFVital pulp therapy is considered a successful treatment modality in primary and immature permanent teeth. The development of bioactive material has led to vital pulp therapy and pulpotomy treatment becoming a popular treatment modality in permanent teeth. This literature review investigates pulpotomy procedures on permanent teeth as a viable option, as opposed to conventional root canal treatment, as presented in the case report included.Aim The aim of this study is to evaluate literature on the reported success of pulpotomy treatment in mature permanent teeth. For this reason, the study specifically reviewed literature detailing the use of pulpotomies including the materials required for the procedure.MethodThe literature review is focused on studies using MTA and bioactive alternatives as pulpotomy material. An electronic search was done on EBSCOhost to source 58 articles published from 1979 to 2022. Results Literature investigated reports that pulpotomy treatment with bioactive materials shows promising results and therefore the possibility exists of it being a suitable treatment option or alternative to conventional root canal treatment
Emerging Local Voices and New Possibilities toward Attaining Sustainable Peace in Bawku, north-eastern Ghana
Get PDFGlobally, conflicts continue to change dynamics and increase in complexity, weakening the potential of various peacebuilding interventions, especially in the Global South. The Bawku crisis is a notable protracted conflict in Ghana and West Africa, which attracts enormous scholarly debates, especially on how to attain sustained peace in the area. However, there remains some important dynamics that are not significantly explored in the discussions on achieving sustained peace in Bawku. Drawing on in-depth field interviews, we present a new perspective on chieftaincy and landownership (and use), shifting from absolute control to a shared system, aimed at potentially resolving conflicts. The proposed shared political and landownership system also reveals important weaknesses relating to existing court verdicts and scholarly advocacy for a parallel system or the resettlement of the Mamprusi outside of the area. However, this empirical contribution offers a new possibility to resolve the Bawku crisis and similar challenges in Ghana and Africa