The midline mandibular lingual canal : importance in implant surgery

PURPOSE : To determine the position and occurrence of the midline mandibular canal (MLC) in the various age, sex, population and dentition groups. The average distances from the MLC to a planned mandibular midline implant and the inferior mandibular border were measured. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was used to scan 122 mandibles (31 black males; 28 black females; 32 white males and 31 white females). Midsagittal sections in the reconstructed images of edentulous mandibles or sagittal sections through the socket of the 41 tooth (FDI nomenclature) in dentate mandibles were made. A measurement of 6 mm across buccolingually (BL) was delineated with the caliper tool indicating the minimum dimensions for placement of an implant. In dentate cases where the BL distance was in excess of 6 mm, the caliper was placed across the deepest part of the socket as a marker to determine the bone dimension available below the socket for implant placement. From these markers a vertical line was dropped to the MLC to measure the available bone. RESULTS : The MLC was a consistent finding within the anterior mandible. A statistical significant difference in bone availability amongst the sexes and with dentition pattern was found indicating that edentulous female patients were particularly at risk of injury to the vessels of the midline lingual canal during implants in that area. CONCLUSION : Immediate implants in the position of lower central incisors are regarded as a safe procedure as is the placement of interforaminal implants in the anterior mandible. Clinicians should however take note of the position of the midline mandibular lingual canal and approach this area with caution, especially if the alveolar ridge is to be reduced before implant placement.Research committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1708-82082016-02-27hb201

Risk factors for Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) death in a population cohort study from the Western Cape province, South Africa

Risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) death in sub-Saharan Africa and the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis on COVID-19 outcomes are unknown. We conducted a population cohort study using linked data from adults attending public-sector health facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa. We used Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for age, sex, location, and comorbidities, to examine the associations between HIV, tuberculosis, and COVID-19 death from 1 March to 9 June 2020 among (1) public-sector “active patients” (≥1 visit in the 3 years before March 2020); (2) laboratory-diagnosed COVID-19 cases; and (3) hospitalized COVID-19 cases. We calculated the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for COVID-19, comparing adults living with and without HIV using modeled population estimates.Among 3 460 932 patients (16% living with HIV), 22 308 were diagnosed with COVID-19, of whom 625 died. COVID19 death was associated with male sex, increasing age, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. HIV was associated with COVID-19 mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70–2.70), with similar risks across strata of viral loads and immunosuppression. Current and previous diagnoses of tuberculosis were associated with COVID-19 death (aHR, 2.70 [95% CI, 1.81–4.04] and 1.51 [95% CI, 1.18–1.93], respectively). The SMR for COVID-19 death associated with HIV was 2.39 (95% CI, 1.96–2.86); population attributable fraction 8.5% (95% CI, 6.1–11.1)

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance.

Investment in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing in Africa over the past year has led to a major increase in the number of sequences that have been generated and used to track the pandemic on the continent, a number that now exceeds 100,000 genomes. Our results show an increase in the number of African countries that are able to sequence domestically and highlight that local sequencing enables faster turnaround times and more-regular routine surveillance. Despite limitations of low testing proportions, findings from this genomic surveillance study underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic and illuminate the distinct dispersal dynamics of variants of concern-particularly Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron-on the continent. Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve while the continent faces many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Stellenbosch Media Forum 2006

Stellenbosch Media Forum is an annual publication written and produced by the BPhil (Journalism) class of that specific year in the Department of Journalism, Stellenbosch University.Die versoeking was groot om hierdie uitgawe van SMF aan Jacob Zuma op te dra. Die ironiese waarheid is immers dat vanjaar se tema, Seks en die Media, grootliks deur hom en sy sekskapades geïnspireer is. Aangesien hy egter in sy toespraak as Nasionale Persklub se nuusmaker van die jaar gesê het hy sal enige iets doen sodat die media hom kan uitlos, het ek daarteen besluit. Dié man het immers twee keer in ses maande in die hof geseëvier, wie weet waartoe hy nog in staat is? En ek is eintlik ’n Thabo-fan. Vanjaar se SMF kyk na hoe seks die media beïnvloed en deur die media hanteer word. “Seks” is immers nie net die voortplantingsdaad nie. Dis ook geslag, gender, seksualiteit en sexy-geit. The In die Nuus section focuses on people and events that the media associated with sex during the past year. In Naked Truth pornography and page three girls enjoy the limelight. People and topics that seldom have a voice in the media speak up in the Hush-Hush section. The influence of the law on the media is highlighted in Media & Law, whereafter Identiteit focuses on how the media often dictate gender roles. Pop Culture entertains with the role of sex in other types of media – music, movies, radio and television. Die Akkers en Aikônas op bladsy 80 is SMF se Oscars en Raspberries (Zumies?). Daar is pluimpies vir diegene wat volgens die redaksie goeie werk in die media gedoen het en teregwysings vir dié wat volgende keer langer moet dink voor hulle doen, praat of skryf. SMF was ’n spanpoging, die produk van ’n jaar se saamwerk en dikwels teen mekaar stry om te wys wat óns kan doen. Hopelik sal dit ook elke leser laat nadink oor die rol en plek van seks in die media. Dalk beland ’n kopie selfs op Jacob Zuma se lessenaar

LIP Woordfeeskoerant 2006

The LIP Woordfeeskoerant is an independent Woordfees festival newspaper produced by the BPhil (Journalism) class of that specific year in the Department of Journalism, Stellenbosch University.The LIP Woordfeeskoerant is an independent Woordfees festival newspaper produced by the BPhil (Journalism) class of that specific year in the Department of Journalism, Stellenbosch University