Search

Third molar development of 705 White and 563 Black South African individuals aged between 15 and 25 years was assessed from panoramic radiographs obtained from the School of Dentistry, University of Pretoria, South Africa. The maxillary and mandibular left third molars were scored according to a ten-stage scoring system. Ancestry and sex differences in dental maturity were assessed, and the likelihood of an individual being 18 years of age was determined for each developmental stage. Statistically significant differences were noted among ancestry groups for most developmental stages, with South African Black individuals consistently maturing earlier than the White individuals. Statistically significant differences were noted among sex groups for some of the stages, mostly those near the final stages of root development. The results indicate that male third molars completed their development faster than that of females. The likelihood of an individual being 18 years of age based on the third molar development stage for the maxilla and mandible on its own was also determined. Combined likelihood results, for the maxillary and mandibular left third molars for stage H, increased the likelihood of being 18 years to 95% for all the studied ancestry and sex groups.

Although guidelines for facial approximations, including those for the eye, are in use in South Africa, limited data on African populations exist to confirm its validity. As precise placement of the eyes in facial approximations is of importance for facial recognition, this study tested established guidelines by measuring specific instrumental dimensions. Forty-nine cadavers from the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University and the University of Pretoria were dissected to determine the position of the canthi and the size and position of the eyeball in the orbit. Thirty cone beam computer tomography scans and 30 computer tomography scans from the Oral and Dental and Steve Biko Hospitals respectively were used to determine the size of the eyeball. Results from this study were compared to the published guidelines. The most prominent discrepancies included a more rectangular shape of the orbit, an oval shaped eyeball and a different position of the canthi. In African faces, the medial canthus was found to be located higher than the lateral canthus. The distance between the endocanthion and superior orbital margin was 17.7mm and the exocanthion and superior orbital margin 19.5mm. Inter-population differences may have an effect on facial approximations and its accuracy as is often demonstrated in practice. The findings of this study should be taken into consideration when designing population specific guidelines for reconstruction of the eye in South Africans of African ancestry., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Anthropologists are constantly seeking to improve methods for age estimation in the human skeleton. A new method was introduced about a decade ago that assesses the morphological changes that take place in the acetabulum as an individual ages. The pelvis is usually well preserved in forensic cases, which makes this method potentially valuable as an adult age indicator. This method employs seven variables, each with its own set of phases. To test the accuracy and reliability of this method, 100 black South African male acetabula from the Pretoria Bone Collection were assessed based on the criteria described in the original study. Box plots and transition curves were constructed to establish whether progression with age was visible and how it could possibly be modelled. Inter-observer reliability was also assessed by making use of Fleiss's Kappa statistic. Five specimens were used as out-of-sample examples for which maximum likelihood (point) estimates were calculated. The results demonstrated that middle and older individuals' age estimates were vastly underestimated. Inter-observer repeatability was poor, which suggested that the classification system most likely needs to be modified. A discussion and recommendation is given for improvement of reliability and repeatability of this method.

Aims: Preliminary data suggest that right heart failure (RHF) may be more common in urban Africans than first suspected. We examined the characteristics and pathways to RHF in the Heart of Soweto cohort., Methods and Results: A clinical registry captured data from 5328 de novo presentations of heart disease to the Cardiology Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa during 2006-08. Of 2505 cases of HF (47% of total cohort), 697 (28%) were diagnosed with RHF (50% primary diagnosis). Despite more females than males (379 vs. 318 cases), proportionately more men presented with RHF [15 vs. 12% of cases; odds ratios (OR) 1.27, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.08-1.49] and Africans predominated overall (n= 642, 92%). Apart from concurrent left-sided heart disease (213 cases, 31%) there were many pathways to RHF including chronic lung disease (179 cases, 26% including COPD and tuberculosis) and 141 cases (20%) of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). On an adjusted basis, women were almost two-fold more likely to present with PAH (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.17-2.55; P= 0.006) while those with low levels of education (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.47-1.01; P= 0.054) and originating from Soweto (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42-0.96; P= 0.029) were less likely to present with PAH compared with the rest of the cohort., Conclusion: These data suggest cases of RHF and related PAH are relatively common among urban Africans presenting with de novo heart disease.

Objective: To identify biochemical and dietary factors which may play a role in the low incidence of stone formation in the black South African population., Subjects and Methods: The study included 31 semiurbanized black and 29 urbanized white subjects. The protocol and modern laboratory techniques used to assess recurrent stone formers were followed. Urinary sodium, potassium, creatinine, calcium, phosphate and urate levels were measured, and urinary citrate, oxalate and cystine assessed., Results: Black subjects ate a diet significantly higher in sodium (P < 0.04); there was no difference in serum levels but urinary sodium was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in black than in white subjects. Urinary potassium, calcium, citrate, phosphate and cystine were all significantly lower in black than in white subjects (P < 0.001 for the first four and P < 0.03 for cystine)., Conclusion: Certain intrinsic factors in South African black subjects may account for their lower frequency of stone formation than in white subjects. Of these, the very low urinary calcium, decreased urinary cystine and different interactions between sodium and calcium/cystine are probably important.

The use of advanced statistical methods, such as transition analysis, has transformed adult age estimation into a systematically and statistically appropriate practice. The method developed by Boldsen and colleagues (2002) uses 36 features from the cranial sutures, pubic symphysis and auricular surface to calculate maximum likelihood point estimates and 95% confidence intervals, using the ADBOU computer software. However, when using the method in a geographically and contextually distinct sample, such as South Africa, accuracy and precision is of concern. This study aimed to test the repeatability, accuracy and precision of the transition analysis method, using the ADBOU computer software, on a South African sample. Age estimations were generated, for 149 black individuals from the Pretoria Bone Collection, using three individual components as well as different combinations of components and prior distributions (uniform and informative). The informative prior distributions represented both an archaeological and a forensic context. Cohen's kappa statistic uncovered some failings in the scoring procedure. While the accuracy compared favourably with existing methods, the method lacked satisfactory precision. Although combining the components improved accuracy and precision, removing the cranium from the combination was beneficial in some instances. The influence of population variation was observed in the scoring procedure, reference sample and the prior distributions. Validity may be improved for a South African sample by adding age-related components that have been developed on a relevant population. A prior distribution based on South African mortality rates might also be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]