Multidissiplinêre beskouinge op veroudering vanuit ‘n pastorale perspektief

Multiprofessional aspects of ageing seen from a pastoral perspectiveThis article describes existing research on gerontology, and explores the role of pastoral care. When focusing on gerontology from a pastoral care point of view, certain multiprofessional aspects need to be considered. The article aims to highlight insights on the subject from the fi eld of sociology,and to enable pastors to engage meaningfully with elderly persons. Refl ection on the changing social environment emphasises the diffi culties that retirement and the resulting loss of authenticity pose to the older person. The article considers how pastoral care as part of a multidisciplinary teamcould fulfi l a positive role in gerontology

Review: Water quality in non-perennial rivers

More than half the river-lengths of rivers in southern Africa dry up occasionally or – more commonly – seasonally. Here we review the literature on water quality (WQ) in non-perennial rivers (N-PRs), with emphasis on river management and southern African systems. Hydrological regimes cover a spectrum from relatively predictable and unvarying in perennial rivers, to unpredictable and highly variable in non-perennial rivers, which are complex, continually shifting mosaics of flowing water, standing-water pools and terrestrial habitats. N-PRs are uncommonly difficult to manage because they represent a limited source of water that is renewed unpredictably and is competed for by local people as well as being required by wildlife. Groundwater, and therefore its chemical and physical features, contributes significantly to base flow and to the maintenance of pools remaining in the bed when the river is not flowing. Water chemistry reflects catchment geology except in polluted systems. Salinity varies temporally, and spatially over three dimensions, and is the variable controlling the composition of the biotas of many N-PRs. Hydrological regimes are seldom predictable with any certainty; WQ varies naturally over time and space; groundwater often determines the WQ of surface water, especially in pools; and WQ in non-perennial rivers and pools may be affected by activities far upstream in the catchment. As yet we have no more than a sketchy understanding of the extent to which data on any one system can be applied to any other. Until we have a better understanding of these systems, the following basic principles should guide the management of WQ in N-PRs: (i) Rivers need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. (ii) Understanding of the groundwater regime, including its chemistry, is crucial. (iii) Effluents need to be controlled by conservative effluent standards set for both ground and surface waters. (iv) Flows may need to be augmented at certain times of the year.Keywords: non-perennial, rivers, water quality, review, water management, southern Afric

Erratum

Original article: Day JA, Malan HL, Malijani E and Abegunde AP (2019) Water quality in non-perennial rivers. Water SA 45 (3) 487–500. https://doi.org/10.17159/ wsa/2019.v45.i3.6746 How to cite: Erratum: Water quality in non-perennial rivers. [Water SA 45 (3) 487–500]. Water SA 46 (2) 330–344. https://doi.org/10.17159/wsa.2020.v46i2.825

The social, family and medical backgrounds of children with kwashiorkor presenting at a teaching hospital

The social, fanilly and medical backgrounds of 53 children hospitalised with kwashiorkor were Compared with those of 106 children hospitalised for non-nutritional diseases to determine risk factors for severe nutritional disease in children presenting to a teaching hospital. The control children were matched for age, sex, race and the nonnutritional illness complicating the course of the children with kwashiorkor; in 80% of cases the reason for admission was either gastro-enteritis or pneumonia. A major difference between the groups was the educational status of the mothers. Only 57% of the mothers of the children with kwashiorkor were literate compared with 93% of the controls; 25% as opposed to 47% were married, and 36% as opposed to 72% received support from the father. There were no differences in the mothers' ages or use of contraception, or in the number of children they had. In all except 1 instance the child with kwashiorkor was the youngest or only child in the family, and the average sibling interval was 53 months. The types of dwellings occupied by the families were similar, but overcrowding was worse in the kwashiorkor group. Family income was below the household subsistence level in the vast majority of both groups, but significantly more of the kwashiorkor group had minimal cash income. Significantly fewer of the children with kwashiorkor had been breast-fed or adequately immunised, and 60% had previously been hospitalised for dehydrating diarrhoea. This study demonstrates that in an urban environInent the traditional factors of large families and displacement by a younger sibling are not associated with kwashiorkor. However, children likely to develop kwashiorkor can readily be identified for inclusion in nutritional prograInInes

Changes in plasma progesterone and LH concentrations during the progesterone synchronised oestrus in sheep

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The confession of Belhar : a spirituality of reception in the local church

The General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church took the following decision during October 2011: 'The General Synod decides to make the Confession of Belhar part of its confessional foundation, that is, in terms of its church ordinances, and commission the Moderamen to prepare the necessary processes regarding ecclesiastical law.' This article deals with the perception of, the reception of and resistance against Belhar as confession in a local congregation, Elardus Park. The research also describes how this obstructs the development of missional focus. The main contribution of this article is to argue that the ecumenical concept's full reception should be assessed within the broader framework of building up a missional local church where a spirituality of reception is fully developed in terms of a missional positioning in Africa.L.E.W. (Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk Elardus Park) se M-skripsie ‘Die Opbou van ’n Missionale Gemeente en die Resepsie van die Belydenis van Belhar in die NG Gemeente Elarduspark’ is in 2012 voltooi onder leiding van M.N. (Universiteit van Pretoria).http://www.ve.org.zaam201

Jeremiah 26-29 : a not so Deuteronomistic composition

This article addresses the issue of so-called Deuteronomistic influence on the book of Jeremiah. The article posits that in the case of Jer 26-29 it would be far more prudent to concentrate on the implicit definition of prophecy found in the text rather than to analyse the linguistic and compositional features used to create the definition. In this essay it will be argued that once the presumed Deuteronomistic influence that has often directed scholar’s opinions is removed, it becomes clear that even at the times when the texts seem to be linked to the Deuteronomistic works, it is by way of contrast and not by way of allusion. The unit Jer 26-29 differs both from the only legal treatment of prophecy in Deuteronomy in Deut 13:1-5 and 18:18-22, as well as from the narrative in the Deuteronomistic History 1 Kgs 22:1-38, which perfectly fits the criteria of the legal treatment with regard to its theology surrounding true and false prophecy.http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_oldtest.htmltm201

Progression of cardiovascular risk factors in black Africans: 3 year follow up of the SABPA cohort study

Recent work identified a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among urban black South Africans. The aim was to track the progression of CVD risk factors in a multiethnic sample of South Africans. Participants were 173 black (aged 47.5 ± 7.8 yrs) and 186 white teachers (aged 49.6 ± 9.9 yrs) that were examined at baseline and 3 years follow-up. Blacks demonstrated a substantially higher prevalence of composite CVD burden (defined as history of physician diagnosed heart disease, use of anti-hypertensives, anti-diabetic, or statin medications at either time point) compared to whites (49.1 vs. 32.0%, p ¼ 0.012) respectively. After controlling for baseline, the black participants demonstrated greater increases in 24 h systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting glucose, fibrinogen, D-dimer, and waist circumference in comparison with whites. In summary, an adverse progression of CVD risk factors was observed in the whole sample, although to a larger degree in black participants. Aggressive treatment strategies for controlling risk factors in black Africans are needed to reduce the increasing burden of CVD in South Africa

Safety and immunogenicity of TetractHib (a vaccine combining DTP vaccine and Haemophilus influenza type b conjugate vaccine) administered to infants at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age

The safety and immunogenicity of TETRActHIB (a vaccine combining diphtheria and tetanus toxoids-pertussis vaccine (DTP) with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine (polyribosyl ribitol phosphate conjugated to tetanus protein) (PRP-T)) was assessed in 131 Cape Town infants immunised at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age. Serological responses to all component antigens were measured before the first dose and at 18 weeks of age. In addition, anti-PRP antibodies were measured at 9 and 18 months of age to determine long-term immunogenicity. The vaccine was well tolerated by infants and no significant side-effects were reported. Responses to Hib at 18 weeks of age were good in that most infants achieved a level of anti-PRP antibodies <". 0.15 μg/ml, indicative of short-term protection, and 70% achieved a level<". 1 μg/ml, indicative of long-term protection. The proportions of children with protective levels<". 0.15 μg/ml and<". 1 μg/ml were similar at 9 and 18 months of age, i.e. approximately 75% and 45%, respectively. Responses to tetanus and diphtheria toxoids were excellent and all infants achieved protective serological levels. Responses to pertussis were moderate in that approximately 65% achieved 'protective' serum levels of pertussis agglutinins, i.e. titres <". 320. In conclusion, this study has shown that the DTP /PRP-T vaccine is safe, immunogenic and well tolerated in infants immunised at 6, 10 and 14 weeks of age. TETRActHIB is therefore suitable for inclusion in the World Health Organisation Expanded Programme on Immunisation (WHO EPI) schedule

Computational drug repurposing strategy predicted peptide-based drugs that can potentially inhibit the interaction of SARS-CoV 2 spike protein with its target (humanACE2

Drug repurposing for COVID-19 has several potential benefits including shorter development time, reduced costs and regulatory support for faster time to market for treatment that can alleviate the current pandemic. The current study used molecular docking, molecular dynamics and protein-protein interaction simulations to predict drugs from the Drug Bank that can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacting surface on the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) receptor. The study predicted a number of peptide-based drugs, including Sar9 Met (O2)11-Substance P and BV2, that might bind sufficiently to the hACE2 receptor to modulate the protein-protein interaction required for infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Such drugs could be validated in vitro or in vivo as potential inhibitors of the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) in the airway