Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf): Open Journal Systems
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Radiology corner
Get PDFTwo patients presented with multiple concentric calcifications superimposed over the mandibular ramus region. The first patient was a 41-year-old male who presented to the dental clinic requesting a partial denture (Figure 1A). The calcifications were detected incidentally on panoramic radiography. The second patient was a 15- year-old female who presented with a left facial swelling that had been present for 7 years (Figure 1B). What is your diagnostic hypothesis for both patients
The oral presentation of secondary syphilis among men: the evolving interplay between syphilis, HIV and prophylactic strategies
Get PDFSyphilis has been intricately linked with HIV because of shared transmission pathways and because these infections promote each other’s transmission. In addition, HIV infection may change the clinical presentation and management of syphilis lesions. Initially, the HIV epidemic had improved safe sex practices among men who have sex with men (MSM), but subsequent effective treatment and prophylaxis strategies, have resulted in behavioural disinhibition and a resurgence of syphilis. Here, we report on three cases of oral secondary syphilis and explore the relationship between oral syphilis and sexual practices, HIV and prophylactic measures that MSM employ. Three men, who presented to the University of Pretoria Oral Health Centre (UPOHC), complaining of oral lesions, were diagnosed by histopathology with secondary syphilis. The clinical appearance of the lesions, HIV status, treatment and prophylaxis employed by the men were documented. The clinical presentation, sexual practices, HIV status and prophylactic measures among these men differed and demonstrate the complexity of oral secondary syphilisdiagnosis and management.Syphilis presents variably in the oral cavity, and this may be linked to the sexual practices and HIV status of the patient
Analysis of the Mental Foramen and Inferior Alveolar Canal pattern based on CBCT data
Get PDFThe mental foramen is located in a position where certain dental procedures may cause inadvertent damage to the mental nerve and lead to disorders of sensory functions such as altered sensa¬tion, complete numbness, and neuropathic pain, which are uncommon but severe treatment complications with significant medico-legal implications. Hence thorough knowledge of its anatomical relation to its surrounding structures is critical while undertaking dental procedures. To investigate the size, shape, and position of the mental foramen (MF), its distance from adjacent teeth and mandibular borders, and the pattern of the inferior alveolar canal using CBCT in the Indian subpopulation. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study The study evaluated 310 CBCT scans (179 males, 131 females) in axial, sagittal, and coronal planes. CBCT scans were evaluated, mapped and measured for all the parameters listed above based on age and sex. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, independent‘t-test, and chi-square test. The size of MF is independent of age and sex; the most frequent shape of MF was Type III (round); location was below the apex of the second premolar (p>0.05). The distance of MF from the nearest root apex decreased with an increase in age and more in females than males (p>0.05). Inferior Alveolar Nerve Canal (IAC) pattern was perpendicular, and linear patterns of exit at MF were more common than anterior loops in all age groups
Do thermal requirements of Dichrorampha odorata, a shoot-boring moth for the biological control of Chromolaena odorata, explain its failure to establish in South Africa?
No full textChromolaena odorata (L.) RM King and H Rob. (Asteraceae) has been subject to a biological control programme in South Africa for over three decades. A shoot-tip boring moth, Dichrorampha odorata Brown and Zachariades (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), originating from Jamaica, was released as a biological control agent in 2013 but despite the release of substantial numbers of the insect, it has not established a permanent field population. Because climate incompatibility is a major constraint for classical biological control of invasive plants, and based on the differences in climate between Jamaica and South Africa and field observations at release sites, aspects of the thermal physiology of D. odorata were investigated to elucidate reasons for its failure to establish. Developmental time decreased with increasing temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 30 °C, with incomplete development for immature stages at 18 °C and 32 °C. The developmental threshold, t, was calculated as 8.45 °C with 872.4 degree-days required to complete development (K). A maximum of 6.5 generations per year was projected for D. odorata in South Africa, with the heavily infested eastern region of the country being the most eco-climatically suitable for establishment. The lower lethal temperature (LLT50) of larvae and adults was –4.5 and 1.8 °C, respectively. The upper lethal temperature (ULT50) for larvae was 39.6 °C whilst that of adults was 41.0 °C. Larvae thus had better cold tolerance compared to adults whereas adults had better heat tolerance compared to larvae. The critical thermal (CT) limits for adults were 3.4 ± 0.07 to 43.7 ± 0.12 °C. Acclimation at 20 °C for 7 days resulted in increased cold and heat tolerance with a CTmin and CTmax of 1.9 ± 0.06 and 44.4 ± 0.07 °C respectively, compared to the relative control, acclimated at 25 °C. Acclimation at 30 °C improved neither cold (CTmin: 5.9 ± 0.08 °C) nor heat tolerance (CTmax: 42.9 ± 0.10 °C). These results suggest that thermal requirements fall within field temperatures and are thus not the main constraining factor leading to poor establishment of D. odorata in South Africa
Prevalence of free-living acanthamoeba and its associated bacteria in energy-efficient hot water systems in South Africa
No full textAs part of the Eskom rebate programme, energy-efficient hot water systems such as solar water heaters (low pressure), heat pumps and energy-efficient showerheads were rolled out to the public as a measure to conserve and save energy. There has been a concern that these systems may not reach the required high temperatures, especially during winter, and, as a result of this, Acanthamoeba and its associated bacteria such as Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nontuberculous mycobacteria could flourish within these systems causing a potential health risk to consumers. This study examined the relationship between Acanthamoeba and its associated bacteria at different temperature ranges. A total of 156 water (69) and biofilm samples (87) were collected from a solar water heater, heat pump, geyser and showerheads and examined for these organisms using amoebal enrichment and molecular techniques. Amoeba could be cultivated from 45 (65.2%) of the water samples and 56 (64.4%) of the biofilm samples. The study confirmed the presence of Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nontuberculous mycobacteria in the hot water systems at both of the simulated winter (20°C to 30°C) and higher summer (40°C to 55°C) temperatures as well as the control system. There was a significant positive correlation between the presence of Acanthamoeba and the presence of Pseudomonas. Based on this association it is suggested that Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be investigated as an indicator organism for the presence of Acanthamoeba and opportunistic pathogens
Team approach to osteoarthritis management: Viewpoints of biokineticists and physiotherapists in South Africa
Get PDFBackground: The rehabilitative nature of biokinetics and physiotherapy in osteoarthritis management highlights a complex interaction between different professions to achieve effective outcomes for the patient. The success of a team approach is dependent on key competencies for optimal patient-focused care and appropriate cross-referral systems.
Objectives: To explore and describe the viewpoints of biokineticists and physiotherapists regarding a team approach to osteoarthritis management in the South African public and private healthcare setting.
Methods: A descriptive methodology with a convenience sampling technique was used. The target population consisted of biokineticists (n=47) and physiotherapists (n=165) located within the South African healthcare sectors. A self administered, online questionnaire surveyed rehabilitative professionals’ views of a team approach to osteoarthritis management.
Results: There is no evidence that the biokineticists and physiotherapists differ with respect to how they rate the communication between team members in osteoarthritis management (p=0.68). Communication was viewed as neither of a high nor low quality by biokineticists (43%) and physiotherapists (36%). Biokineticists (54%) and physiotherapists (69%) felt adequately equipped on their understanding of the role of various healthcare professions involved in osteoarthritis management (p=0.22). However, 43% of rehabilitative professionals indicated that they had not been exposed to inter-professional education initiatives (p=0.61).
Conclusion: Both professions were well-versed on the roles of various professions involved in osteoarthritis management, however, communication was not optimal. While this study creates an awareness of the benefits of team-based management for osteoarthritis, the findings could stimulate debate on the optimal implementation of key competencies required for effective teamwork, thereby facilitating patient focused care and referral systems.
Dung beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) attracted to carrion in Ghana, West Africa and evidence for adult food source plasticity
No full textA study on dung beetles attracted to carrion using baited pitfalls was conducted in eight Upper Guinean wet and moist forest sites as well as one savannah site in Ghana, West Africa. A total of 42 species and 1380 individuals were collected from all sites. The highest diversity was found in the Shai Hills savannah with 19 species while the lowest total of only four species was collected in the Cape Three Points forest. The forest sites combined had seven unique species while the savannah locality had 12 unique taxa. Most carrion feeders belong to the genus Onthophagus; Onthophagus liberianus made up 23% of the total catch and together with the next nine most abundant species accounted for 78% of the specimens collected. Two dung beetle tribes of African savannah species not noted as carrion feeders were strongly attracted to vertebrate carrion and included a member of the Oniticellini, Latodrepanus caelatus (Gerst.) and the Onitini, Onitis cupreus Castelnau. Additionally, a forest species of Sisyphini, Neosisyphus angulicollis Felsche, that is uncommon on carrion was attracted to carrion in large numbers. For two species, Onthophagus liberianus and O. rufopygus, studied herein and previously in the Ivory Coast, the relative attractiveness of carrion and dung in each country varied greatly, demonstrating behavioral plasticity in food choice
THE FISCAL AUTONOMY OF SOUTH AFRICAN MUNICIPALITIES TO LEVY RATES: AN APPRAISAL OF City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality v Zibi [2021] ZASCA 97
No full textThe Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 protects the fiscal autonomy of local government. Integral to this autonomy, is the original power given to municipalities to impose rates on property. This power is regulated by the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act 6 of 2004 (MPRA). In City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality v Zibi (234/2020) [2021] ZASCA 97 (9 July 2021), the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) had to decide on whether the City of Johannesburg was entitled to levy a rate in the form of a penalty on residential property for illegal or unauthorised use, without first changing the category of the property on its valuation roll or supplementary roll, from “residential” to “illegal or unauthorised” use and publishing this in the provincial gazette. The majority judgment held that the City’s decision to levy a penalty in respect of the use of the property within its jurisdiction was not ultra vires its constitutional and legislative powers because it had done so as part of a validly adopted property rates policy. On the contrary, the minority judgment came to the conclusion that the City was not empowered under section 8 of the MPRA to determine “illegal use” as a category of rateable property, nor to include such category in its rates policies. The minority judgment held that the action of the City of Johannesburg was illegal. This article appraises the judgments of the SCA in City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality v Zibi. It argues, inter alia, that although the reasoning of the majority judgment was correct, it overlooked the transitional arrangements in section 93B of the MPRA that was introduced by section 35 of the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Amendment Act 29 of 2014. In addition, it is argued that the position adopted in the minority decision is wrong because it reflects the closed list of ratable properties that municipalities must comply with after 1 July 2022. This overlooked the wide discretionary powers municipalities enjoyed in relation to differentiation and categories of rateable properties as a result of transitional legislative arrangements
Impact of Extension Services on the Use of Climate Change Coping Strategies for Smallholder Ruminant Livestock Farmers in Raymond Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
No full textThe study assessed the impact of extension services on the use of climate change coping strategies for livestock farmers in Raymond Local Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study utilised a cross-sectional survey design with 82 livestock farmers obtained through a purposive sampling method. The study used Propensity Score Matching (PSM) to analyse the data. Most respondents were single females aged 63, with average household sizes of 6, and had primary education, mostly keeping small stock. Climate change was mainly witnessed through changes in rainfall, with 80% of respondents indicating that it is caused by deforestation. The results suggest that access to extension services impacted the extensive utilisation of climate change coping strategies that decreased the livestock numbers at the 10% statistical level. Access to extension appears to limit the available options as coping strategies for climate change resulted in decreased livestock numbers. In conclusion, access to extension has negatively affected the use of various climate change-induced coping strategies for reduced livestock numbers, with no effect on the other coping strategies. Recommendations include retraining extension officers on various climate change coping strategies they can impart to livestock farmers. Also, agricultural climate policy should focus on creating awareness and increasing access to extension services among livestock farmers on climate risk coping strategies to mitigate the impact on rural livestock farmers