Concussion knowledge and attitudes amongst Stellenbosch University hostel rugby players

Background: Concussion occurs more frequently in contact sports, such as rugby, and is furthermore not fully recognised during play. It is also underreported in the literature, to medical personnel, or to coaches.Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the knowledge about and attitudes towards concussion by Stellenbosch University hostel rugby players.Methods: The study focussed on gathering quantitative information through implementing a cross-sectional study design. One hundred and eighty Stellenbosch University hostel rugby players completed the modified Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey - Student Version (RoCKAS-ST). The RoCKAS-ST questionnaire is divided into three parts, namely, the evaluation of the Concussion Knowledge Index (CKI) and Concussion Attitudes Index (CAI), and a 16-symptom checklist.Results: The participants scored on average 75% in the CKI and 81% in the CAI. The correlation between CKI and CAI was r=0.14 which is considered a weak positive correlation.Discussion: The participants demonstrated sufficient knowledge of concussion and thus a safer attitude towards concussion. There were some concerning factors from the knowledge of the concussion questions and the symptoms that may have an effect on attitudes towards concussion.Conclusion: The study revealed that Stellenbosch University hostel rugby players have sufficient knowledge of what constitutes concussion, as well as the necessity of having safe attitude towards it. However, a small number of participants showed that they still may lack knowledge in certain areas concerning concussion.Keywords: head injuries; hostel league; university level rugby; surve

Comparison of nuclear replication activity and protein expression patterns during tomato seed germination

Flow cytometric determination of DNA amounts in embryos of fully matured dry tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seeds revealed mainly 2C signals. Apparently, most embryonic cells had arrested the cell cycle activity during maturation at the presynthetic G1 phase of nuclear division. During imbibition of tomato seeds, both in water and in PEG solution, an augmentation in the 4C signal of tissues at the embryonic root tip region occurred. This increase was found to be related to cells entering the synthetic phase of nuclear division leading to a doubling of the chromosomal material. In the root tip cells, 4C/2C ratios rose 1 day after imbibition in water while radicle emergence started 2 days later. Apparently, DNA synthesis preceded germination. The induction of nuclear activities was compared with changes in protein expression patterns during seed imbibition. Using chemiluminescent immunodetection after Western blotting, we identified changes in /3-tubulin expression during germination and priming of tomato seeds. Tubulin was found to be synthesized 8 h after the start of imbibition both in water and in PEG. The start of tubulin synthesis considerably preceded DNA replication, cell division and germination. The induction of cell cycle activities may be an early indicator of the initiation of cell division and the start of germination