"Substance and physical abuse: the effects on oral health"

Substance abuse is an escalating health problem. Apart from the serious consequences experienced by drug users, such abuse negatively affects the operational activities of law enforcement officers, teachers and health care workers. Adverse pharmacological and physiological effects predispose to permanent changes in neurological processes, to increasingly violent and high-risk sexual behaviour, to a higher susceptibility to HIV and to a detrimental effect on oral health with a consequent decrease in the quality of life.DHE

Methamphetamine abuse: Oral symptoms and dental treatment needs

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine: a highly addictive drug commonly used in South Africa. Users often present with poor oral hygiene, grossly decayed teeth and complain of a dry mouth. The prevalence of dental caries among users is high. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used with a convenience sample of 308 self-reported methamphetamine users who were part of an in- or out-patient rehabilitation programme at one of 22 specialised substance addiction treatment centres in the Western Cape. RESULTS: The majority were in their late twenties, unemployed and not satisfied with the appearance of their teeth. A dry mouth and a bad taste were the most common symptoms reported. More than three quarters reported "stiff" facial muscles and more than half, grinding of their teeth. The most common reason for the last dental visit was toothache and the most common treatment at that visit was dental extraction. CONCLUSION: Lower levels of education were associated with increased numbers of extractions and a higher probability of poor oral health. Xerostomia, a bad taste and "stiff" facial muscles were the most common symptoms reported. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: A thorough intra-oral examination together with comprehensive note taking is crucial for the management of patients abusing methamphetamine.DHE

Lebenslange Freiheitsstrafe in Europa:Die neue Rechtssprechung des Europäischen Gerichtshofs für Menschenrechte

Die Europäische Haltung der lebenslangen Freiheitsstrafe gegenüber hat sich in den letzten Jahren deutlich gewandelt. Signifikant hierfür ist der Europäische Gerichtshof für Menschenrechte (EGMR), insbesondere die Große Kammer, welche sich in den letzten Jahren vermehrt mit dem Thema auseinandersetzen musste. Die Entwicklung ist besonders auffällig in den letzten fünf Jahren, da seit 2012 der EGMR verstärkt für ein Verbot der lebenslangen Freiheitsstrafe ohne Möglichkeit einer vorzeitigen Entlassung plädiert. Ein solches Verbot hat nicht nur Auswirkungen auf nationale Rechtsfragen, sondern auch auf zwischenstaatliche Beziehungen, da es sich auf die Rechtmäßigkeit von Ausweisungsverfahren Schwerkrimineller auswirkt. Während sich die Große Kammer im Jahr 2017 inkonsequent ihrer vorherigen Aussage gegenüber zeigte, dass auch lebenslang Inhaftierte eine realistische Chance auf Entlassung verdienen, wurde zum ersten Mal für die generelle Abschaffung der lebenslangen Freiheitsstrafe argumentiert

Substance abuse and maxillofacial injuries

Some of the major causes of maxillofacial injuries are assault/ inter-personal violence (IPV), motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), work-related injuries, sporting accidents and falls. However, the epidemiological data for the different types of injury vary significantly and are influenced by geographic location, socioeconomic status, the time of year when patients are assessed and the type of facility where the study is conducted. The 2012 Statistics South Africa's release document on 'mortality and causes of death in South Africa' indicated that 9.8% of all deaths in South Africa were reported as nonnatural. Transport accidents were the third most common (11.2%) reported cause of non-natural deaths followed by assaults at 10.2%. According to a number of international studies, the face is the most common site affected by assault- related trauma. Substance abuse is a major public health concern in South Africa and has also been rated as the leading health problem in the United States. Intoxication is also the most common denominator associated with violence and injury. In a Swiss study, Eggensperger found that almost a quarter of assault-related facial fractures were caused by people intoxicated with alcohol, illicit drugs or a combination thereof. This article explores epidemiologic data and relevant information related to maxillofacial trauma, specifically associated with alcohol and substance abuse.DHE

On politics of friendship

CITATON: Smit, D. J. 2021. Stellenbosch Theological Journal 2021, 7(1):1–39, doi:10.17570/stj.2021.v7n1.a13.The original publication is available at https://ojs.reformedjournals.co.zaThe paper distinguishes four dominant discourses in contemporary so-called politics of friendship, namely a politics of enmity (Schmitt), a politics based on the notion of friends as “another self” (Aristotle), a politics of love (Augustine), and a politics of “perhaps” (Derrida). It then considers if and how Koopman’s person and work fit into such a typology.Publisher's versio

An investigation of the risk factors and effects of methamphetamine on oral health

Magister Chirurgiae Dentium - MChDThe aim of the study was to document the oral health status of individuals using methamphetamine. Methamphetamine (TIK) is a highly addictive drug that acts as a stimulant for the central nervous system. The clinical picture of methamphetamine abuse is termed “Meth Mouth” and can be explained by contributing factors such as dry mouth, a poor appetite, consumption of large amounts of soft drinks and poor oral hygiene. A cross-sectional study was conducted at 22 different substance addiction treatment centres in the Western Cape. A questionnaire was administered to elicit demographic details, diet, drug addiction, dental status and medical history. The aim of the study was to document the oral health status of methamphetamine users. The study consisted of a convenience sample of 308 participants who used methamphetamine as a primary drug of choice. An oral examination was performed to measure dental caries status (DMFT) and treatment needs. The majority was male, unemployed and between 25 and 29 years old. The mean duration of drug addiction was 6 years predominantly on a daily basis and 93.51% by smoking the drug. The mean DMFT was 10 and dental extractions were the most common procedure performed at the last dental visit. A significant difference was observed between levels of education and the mean number of extractions that were required per participant. The duration of exposure to methamphetamine was related to the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth. The majority experienced a bad taste, stiff facial muscles and a dry mouth when using the drug. Diet included large quantities of liquids (mainly beer and soft drinks) and the majority reported having a poor appetite. Users brushed their teeth less frequently when using methamphetamine

The psychosocial effect of the COVID-19 national lockdown on Dentistry and Oral Hygiene students

The COVID-19 lockdown has had a psychological and social impact on dental students globally. To determine the psychosocial effect on students enrolled in dentistry and oral hygiene courses at UWC. To determine the psychosocial effects (living conditions, levels of anxiety, fear of COVID-19, and food security levels) experienced by students during the lockdown. A descriptive, cross-sectional study using a quantitative approach was used. Methods: A randomised sample (n=250), stratified by sex and academic year group, comprising undergraduate oral hygiene BOH total students = 90 and dentistry BDS total students = 450 (UWC, 2020) was used. Data was gathered via an online survey, (Google Forms). Survey questions included the GAD-7, FCV-19S questionnaire, and Food Security scales. The data were analysed using Epi Info 7. The response rate was 36% (n=90); 69.67% were female; the mean age was 22.34 (SD = 2.66); 91% lived with their parents during lockdown. Students’ main sources of funding were parents (47%), NSFAS or bursary (42%) and self-funded (11%). Substantial psychosocial effects with high anxiety (33%), fear of COVID-19 (47.3 %), and a lesser effect for food insecurity (FI) (5.49%) was reported. The study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to psychosocial effects in a discipline that under ‘normal” conditions is experienced as stressful. This requires educational institutions to develop a targeted approach through relevant support systems that would identify vulnerable students at critical times

Round-robin tournaments with homogeneous rounds

We study single and double round-robin tournaments for n teams, where in each round a fixed number (g) of teams is present and each team present plays a fixed number (m) of matches in this round. In a single, respectively double, round-robin tournament each pair of teams play one, respectively two, matches. In the latter case the two matches should be played in different rounds. We give necessary combinatorial conditions on the triples (n,g,m) for which such round-robin tournaments can exist, and discuss three general construction methods that concern the cases m=1, m=2 and m=g−1. For n≤20 these cases cover 149 of all 173 non-trivial cases that satisfy the necessary conditions. In 147 of these 149 cases a tournament can be constructed. For the remaining 24 cases the tournament does not exist in 2 cases, and is constructed in all other cases. Finally we consider the spreading of rounds for teams, and give some examples where well-spreading is either possible or impossible

Oblici odmjeravanja kazne u međunarodnom kaznenom pravosuđu

Ovo je tekst predavanja što ga je autor održao 9. svibnja 2003. u Max Planckovu institutu za strano i međunarodno kazneno pravo, Freiburg i. Br. Prethodna verzija objavljena je pod nazivom Punishment and Human Rights in Criminal Justice, Human Rights Law Review 2002, 1. Njemački je tekst objavljen u Zeitschrift für die gesamte Strafrechtswissenschaft (ZStW), Auslandsrundschau, 115. Band, 2003, str. 931-957. Prijevod s njemačkog prof. dr. sc. Petar Novoselec. Prijevod objavljujemo uz suglasnost izdavača ZStW, de Gruyter Rechtswissenschaftlichen Verlags-GmbH, Berlin

Oblici odmjeravanja kazne u međunarodnom kaznenom pravosuđu

Ovo je tekst predavanja što ga je autor održao 9. svibnja 2003. u Max Planckovu institutu za strano i međunarodno kazneno pravo, Freiburg i. Br. Prethodna verzija objavljena je pod nazivom Punishment and Human Rights in Criminal Justice, Human Rights Law Review 2002, 1. Njemački je tekst objavljen u Zeitschrift für die gesamte Strafrechtswissenschaft (ZStW), Auslandsrundschau, 115. Band, 2003, str. 931-957. Prijevod s njemačkog prof. dr. sc. Petar Novoselec. Prijevod objavljujemo uz suglasnost izdavača ZStW, de Gruyter Rechtswissenschaftlichen Verlags-GmbH, Berlin