Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis: a descriptive clinical study

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment for the degree of Master of Medicine in the division of Neurology Johannesburg 2017.Background: Transverse myelitis (TM) is a term used to describe inflammation of the spinal cord. A small segment of the spinal cord is usually involved. However, when TM is severe enough to cause T2 weighted hyper-intensities extending across three or more vertebral segments on sagittal spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it is given the term: longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM). LETM is an infrequently encountered condition and the incidence of this syndrome is not well described. Recent studies show that the frequency of LETM ranges from 2 to 10% of patients with TM. The causes of LETM can be broadly divided into demyelinating, autoimmune, infectious and miscellaneous. LETM is the most specific radiological finding of the neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and has been extensively described in this condition. NMOSD has been typically found in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative patients. Furthermore, LETM itself is not well described in HIV positive patients. Aims: Firstly, to describe the clinical characteristics and aetiology of patients with LETM in a South African setting. Secondly, to describe LETM in HIV positive patients. Methods: 22 Adult patients presenting with LETM to the division of Neurology of the University of the Witwatersrand were included in this prospective study. Patients were recruited from Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) and Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH). The study population were recruited over approximately 2 years. Results: The aetiology of LETM in this population was as follows: 15 patients were diagnosed as NMOSD, 4 patients had an infective cause, 1 had an ischaemic myelopathy and 2 had an unknown or idiopathic LETM. In terms of HIV status, 15 subjects were HIV negative and 7 were HIV positive. Of those that were HIV positive, 3 patients had tuberculous myelitis causing LETM and 4 met NMOSD diagnostic criteria. Conclusion: NMOSD is a common cause of LETM and is suggested by cervical involvement compared to a thoracic LETM which suggests non-NMOSD causes. In HIV positive patients with LETM, NMOSD is less likely and alternative diagnoses should be excluded, especially infective causes. Nevertheless, NMOSD occurs in HIV positive patients and may be associated with a high viral load.LG201

An exploratory study into impression management practices of chairman's statements in South African annual reports

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management at the University of the Witwatersrand in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of a Masters in Commerce. March 2016The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a systematic difference in the textual characteristics of information in the chairman’s statement of profitable and unprofitable companies on the JSE main board. This would indicate the existence of impression management in management commentary. The difference of profitable and unprofitable companies was analysed in relation to six pre-determined textual characteristics. The primary conclusion drawn is that impression management does exist in the chairman’s statements of companies listed on the main board of the JSE. Another finding of the study was that ‘extremely unprofitable’ companies are less likely to employ impression management. The findings of this research indicate that users of annual reports should be alert to the existence of reporting bias introduced by management in its commentary. Users of the annual report should carefully consider the usefulness of management commentary in their decision making, discounting these disclosures for the use of impression management techniques employed in corporate reporting strategies. Studies on impression management techniques in narrative disclosures within the annual report have not been piloted in South Africa before. This is the first study of linguistic variation employed in management commentary within the South African context. The study was exploratory in nature and did not set out to identify the causes of impression management being employed within the South African context. Future research may explore this further and may also be extended to determine whether impression management is present in other sections of the annual report and even the integrated report. Key words: Chairman’s statement, impression management, management commentary, reporting biasMT201

AtSRA1 and AtSCAR2: Regulators of ARP2/3 complex - mediated cell morphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana

The actin cytoskeleton plays an important role in cell morphogenesis of plant cells. The ARP2/3 complex is a nucleator of actin filament polymerisation and its 7- subunit composition is conserved in both plants and animals. In this study, the distorted mutant klunker (klk) was characterised on a genetic, molecular and phenotypic level. The gene affected by the (klk) mutation is AtSRA1. An Arabidopsis homolog of a regulator of the ARP2/3 complex, AtSCAR2 was also identified and characterised in this study

Cultural and language maintenance and shift in an immigrant African community of KwaZulu-Natal: the Zanzibaris of Durban

This thesis makes a contribution to the study of cultural and language maintenance and shift among minority communities in South Africa. It explores the contact situation and implications thereof of the Zanzibari speech community in the post-apartheid Rainbow Nation South Africa. It discusses identity, language, culture and religion of the community against the backdrop of the Simunye (We are one) rhetoric. This thesis also contributes to the documentation of the history and creates an awareness of existence of the Makhuwa and Emakhuwa as a minority language in South Africa. The data was collected using the triangulation method to effectively capture the relevant information and to establish whether language shift is taking place within the community and to what extent. A household survey was used to ascertain whether the home or heritage language was passed down from generation to generation in this intimate, family domain. While the Makhuwa believe that a child learns the home language through the mother’s breastmilk, the survey revealed that the socialisation and continuation of the language was limited. It also looked at whether children were passive recipients in the acquisition of the spoken language/s in the household or whether they played a role in the negotiation of the language chosen in the household. The findings revealed that in the pre-1994 period, the community and parents determined the language of choice in the community and the household. The children had to follow the rules decided by their parents and the Elders in the community. However, there was a shift in the period after 1994 with the children playing a role in the language choice of the household. Interviews were used to capture the historical background of the community and provide a “backdrop” for the research and discussion on maintenance and shift in the community. The interview method was used to provide a better understanding of why the case of the Makhuwa community in Durban is unique and adds to the discussion on minority immigrant communities and their situation in terms of cultural and language maintenance. The research found that the process of language shift had taken place over a long period of time in the community. The gradual shift that had taken place was part of the result of the contact situation between Emakhuwa and both minority and majority languages in the KwaZulu Natal region. However, language shift had been more rapid in the last decade, causing alarm amongst the Elders in the community. The research looked at both cultural and language maintenance or shift in the Zanzibari community of Durban. The findings revealed that while language shift is taking place in the community, and even thought the English language is used more often in the household and cultural domain, the Makhuwa culture is maintained

A THERMALLY RESPONSIVE SHORT ELASTIN LIKE POLYPEPTIDE-DRUG CONJUGATE: SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION FOR TARGETED DELIVERY OF ANTICANCER DRUGS

Introduction: Among the several new strategies explored today to avoid the side effects in cancer chemotherapy. The concept of polymer-drug conjugates has shown considerable promise. In this context, genetically engineered long elastin like polypeptides (ELPs) have been examined recently as drug carriers. These ELPs, however, have certain limitations. Objective: It is our hypothesis that short synthetic ELPs can also be used as drug carriers so as to overcome these limitations. The purpose of this investigation was, therefore, to synthesize, characterize and evaluate a thermally responsive short ELP-Doxorubicin conjugate for targeted delivery. Methods: The ELP-Doxorubicin conjugate of molecular weight 1280 Da was synthesized and characterized by ESI-MS, FTIR and NMR studies. Turbidimetry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and circular dichorism (CD) studies were carried out to evaluate its structural transition behavior. Cellular uptake and intracellular localization studies of the conjugate and the free drug were carried out by flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity of the conjugate was evaluated by the MTT assay method and compared with that of the free drug. Results: The results reveal that the short ELP synthesized exhibits structural transition behavior similar to naturally occurring long ELPs and delivers more drug molecules to intracellular space compared to the free drug. This structural transition behavior can also be exploited for targeting drugs to solid tumors using hyperthermia. Conclusion: As hypothesized our investigations clearly demonstrate that short thermally responsive ELPs are good carrier for targeting anticancer drugs to the intracellular space

Review on Women Entrepreneurs and Empowerment of Women in India

An entrepreneur is a vital component of the development process and an integral part of the socioeconomic transformation process. For the development of a society, full participation of all section of population including women is important. Entrepreneurship development among women can be reflected a possible approach to economic empowerment of women. Indian women are striking a balance between traditional and progressive values of the society in transition through playing dual responsibility at home and at the work place. In spite of the increasing number of women entrepreneurs, their participation remains inconsiderable and their share in the growth of national economy is significantly low, reason being the influence of rigid social attitudes and discriminating treatment towards women. Low mobility, high cost of production, low rate of achievement, shortage of finance, insufficient marketing facilities, shortage of raw materials and majorly the fulfilment of dual role at home and work place. Though women entrepreneurs possess good leadership qualities they do face many obstacles influenced by social and financial factors. It is important to promote entrepreneurship among women to improve the economic situation of the women. A proper environment with support from society, primarily their own family, and government can solve many of the issues and as such, government has rolled out several initiatives and schemes to help women entrepreneurs to overcome the barriers

Schnitzler’s Syndrome: A Case Report

Schnitzler’s syndrome is an extremely rare entity that poses a challenge for the clinician not only due to its difficult diagnosis but also due to its management. In this article we report a new case and briefly review the current treatment options

Madura foot

No Abstract. South African Medical Journal Vol. 97 (9) 2007: pp. 834-83