Analysis of the faunal remains of Kemp's Caves and an investigation into possible computerized classification of bones

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this documentDissertation (MSc (Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2005.Anatomyunrestricte

Early postnatal administration of oleanolic acid attenuates the development of non- alcoholic fatty liver disease in fructose fed adult female rats

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A skeletal comparison of the demography and health status of pre- and post-European contact African groups from northern Zimbabwe

From the 1650s and corresponding with a trade in African slaves, the livelihood, health and life expectancy of indigenous groups were reported to decline as many Zimbabwean settlements changed their identities due to European influence. In this study, human skeletal remains from three archaeological sites from northern Zimbabwe were investigated to compare the health status of the people that it represents, pre-and post-European contact, to ascertain whether this was indeed the case. The Monk’s Kop (A.D. 1270-1285) and Ashford Farms sites (A.D. 1330-1440) date back to a period prior to European contact, whereas the Dambarare site (A.D. 1630-1693) represents a population consisting of both Africans and the Europeans they were in contact with. This study led to the re-discovery of the Monk’s Kop archaeological site and in particular indicated that the remains most probably resemble the high social status members of the society. In the Monk’s Kop’s skeletal collection (n =43), 14% of individuals presented with signs of skeletal pathology while the corresponding figure was 43% in the Ashford Farms individuals (n=7). The Dambarare sample comprised a total of 40 individuals (both African and European ancestry) of which 43% of the Africans had visible signs of skeletal pathology and included the southernmost case reported for trephination in Africa. Although the pre-European contact populations of Monk’s Kop and Ashford Farms therefore seemed to have suffered less (28% combined average) from pathological conditions in comparison to that of the Dambarare individuals of African ancestry (43%), the difference was not statistically significant. Although most preversus post-contact investigations report that the biological and cultural effects on the native population was catastrophic to their health, it seems that the first Europeans (particularly the Portuguese) that came into contact with the previously isolated indigenous northern Zimbabwean population, had a minor effect on the people that they interacted with during the 17th century. The Europeans from Dambarare, in contrast, showed many skeletal signs that reflect a less healthy population which, most probably, was due to both the poor socio-economic conditions in their home country and the impact of a long voyage to Africa. It should be kept in mind that the skeletons may not have represented all of the once living populations.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2015.tm2015AnatomyPhDUnrestricte

Self-reported outcomes of aural rehabilitation for adult hearing aid users in a developing South African context

Hearing impairment has far reaching consequences for affected individuals, in terms of quality of life indicators. In a developing South African context the hearing impaired population is faced with limited aural rehabilitation services. This study evaluated self-reported outcomes of aural rehabilitation in a group of adults in the public healthcare sector with a standardized outcomes measurement tool (IOI-HA). Sixty-one respondents participated (44% males; 56% females), with a mean age of 69.7 years. Results revealed that the majority of respondents experienced favourable outcomes in all domains of the inventory comprising of: daily use of hearing aids, benefits provided by hearing aids, residual activity limitation, satisfaction with hearing aids, residual participation restriction, impact of hearing difficulties on others, and changes in quality of life. Statistically significant relationships were obtained between the daily use of hearing aids, the degree of hearing loss, and the type of hearing aids fitted, as well as the benefits received from hearing aids in difficult listening environments (p < 0.05). Despite challenges of developing contexts, the mean scores distribution compared positively to similar reports from developed countries. Outcomes of improved quality of life emphasize the importance of providing affordable hearing aids and services to all hearing impaired individuals in South Africa

Self-reported outcomes of aural rehabilitation for adult hearing aid users in a South African context

Hearing impairment has far-reaching consequences for affected individuals, in terms of quality of life indicators. In the public health care sector of South Africa the hearing-impaired population is faced with limited aural rehabilitation services. This study evaluated self-reported outcomes of aural rehabilitation in a group of adults in the public health care sector with a standardised outcomes measurement tool (IOI-HA). Sixty-one participants were included (44% male; sample mean age 69.7 years) through face-to-face or telephonic interviews. Results revealed that the average perceived outcome of participants (5 = best outcome; 1 = poorest outcome) was positive across all domains of the inventory including daily use of hearing aids (4.3); benefits provided by hearing aids (4.3); residual activity limitation (3.9); satisfaction with hearing aids (4.5); residual participation restriction (4.0); impact of hearing difficulties on others (4.6); and changes in quality of life (4.5). Statistically significant relationships for daily use of hearing aids, degree of hearing loss, type of hearing aids fitted, and the perceived benefit from hearing aids in difficult listening environments (p<0.05) were evident. Adult aural rehabilitation for hearing loss in a public health care facility, even without optimal hearing aid fittings, was effective in providing positive perceived outcomes comparable to similar studies in developed countries. The findings advocate for the initiation of affordable and sustainable aural rehabilitation services in developing countries despite apparent resource limitations