South African Males Research Articles

Stature estimation from the femur and tibia in Black South African sub-adults

Stature estimation can play a role in the positive identification of unknown individuals and as such it is routinely assessed during the examination of adult remains. Unfortunately, this is not a standard procedure when dealing with sub-adult remains due to the general lack of standard procedures for the estimation of sub-adult stature. The aim of this study was therefore to derive regression equations for the estimation of stature in black South African sub-adults. Fifty nine black South African sub-adult males and females, aged 10–17 years, voluntarily participated in the study by undergoing a full body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan. Living stature was measured with a stadiometer and the maximum and diaphyseal lengths of the femur and tibia were measured from the MRI scans using the image processing software OsiriX. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and linear least square regression analyses were used to assess the correlations between living stature and the measurements and to generate sub-adult stature estimation equations for males, females and a combined sex sample. Measurements of the femur, tibia and the combined measures thereof showed strong statistically significant positive correlations with living stature, while the obtained regression equations were characterized by low standard error of estimates. The strong correlations and low standard error of estimates are comparable to stature estimation models reported for Black South African adults and therefore these variables can be considered good estimators of sub-adult stature which will contribute valuable information to the biological profile of unidentified sub-adult skeletal remains.

Third molar impaction and agenesis: influence on anterior crowding

Background Third molar influence on anterior crowding is controversial, but they are assumed to play a major role in compromising dental arch space.Aim To evaluate the relationship among impaction, agenesis and crowding in black South African males.Subjects and method Mandibles and maxillae of 535 black South African males in the Raymond A. Dart Collection of Human Skeletons, University of the Witwatersrand were examined for anterior crowding and third molar agenesis and impaction. Dental crowding was determined using Little’s irregularity index.Results Individuals with impaction showed more moderate-to-extreme crowding than those with agenesis. Bilateral third molar presence was more frequently associated with ideal-to-minimal crowding. Weak positive but significant correlations between crowding and impaction were found (mandible, ρ = 0.154, p = 0.000; maxilla ρ = 0.130, p = 0.000). The direction was the opposite for bilateral presence of molars (mandible, ρ = −0.135, p = 0.02; maxilla, ρ = −0.111, p = 0.010). Odds of mandibular crowding were greatest in individuals with impaction (OR = 3.22, CI = 1.716–6.05, p < 0.001). Maxillary results were similar.Conclusion Third molar impaction plays a role in anterior crowding. Third molar presence was not associated with anterior crowding, while agenesis did not explain absence of crowding.

Cardiovascular and autonomic response induced by a 20-week military training programme in young healthy South African males

Background. Studies investigating the relationship between exercise and haemodynamic regulation conducted in older caucasian and blackAfrican populations suggest that lifestyle modification is effective in the management of numerous disease processes. There are few longtermstudies in young healthy populations and even less is known about the influence of habitual exercise on autonomic and haemodynamicvariables in young black African subjects.Objective. To investigate the benefit of prolonged exercise on cardiovascular and haemodynamic variables in young healthy black African males.Methods. Fifty-five healthy male volunteers between 18 and 22 years of age participated in this prospective 20-week medium- to highintensityexercise intervention study with a self-control design. The Finometer Pro (Finapres Medical Systems, the Netherlands) was usedfor non-invasive data sampling of a number of cardiovascular and autonomic variables. Results were generated by computer algorithm andwere analysed using non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank tests.Results. Significant (p&lt;0.05) cardiovascular changes included an increase in aerobic capacity, stroke volume, cardiac output and ejectionfraction, and a decrease in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. There was a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance andascending aorta impedance. Systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and arterial compliance remained unchanged, while the decreasein blood pressure variability was not statistically significant (p&gt;0.05).Conclusion. The measured changes suggest a favourable response to exercise and imply that habitual exercise may be an important lifestylemodification for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in young black African males.

Cardiovascular and autonomic response induced by a 20-week military training programme in young healthy South African males

Background. Studies investigating the relationship between exercise and haemodynamic regulation conducted in older caucasian and black African populations suggest that lifestyle modification is effective in the management of numerous disease processes. There are few longterm studies in young healthy populations and even less is known about the influence of habitual exercise on autonomic and haemodynamic variables in young black African subjects. Objective. To investigate the benefit of prolonged exercise on cardiovascular and haemodynamic variables in young healthy black African males. Methods. Fifty-five healthy male volunteers between 18 and 22 years of age participated in this prospective 20-week medium- to highintensity exercise intervention study with a self-control design. The Finometer Pro (Finapres Medical Systems, the Netherlands) was used for non-invasive data sampling of a number of cardiovascular and autonomic variables. Results were generated by computer algorithm and were analysed using non-parametric Wilcoxon signed rank tests. Results. Significant (p 0.05). Conclusion. The measured changes suggest a favourable response to exercise and imply that habitual exercise may be an important lifestyle modification for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in young black African males.

Age estimation from the acetabulum in South African black males

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.

Criminal Behaviour, Substance Abuse and Sexual Practices of South African Adolescent Males

AbstractCrime, alcohol abuse and unhealthy sexual practices among adolescent males have reached alarming proportion. Youth reared by uninvolved and unemployed parents, or nurtured in dysfunctional ...

Cortical area and volumetric density during pubertal growth: longitudinal analysis in black and white South African adolescent males

Cortical area and volumetric density during pubertal growth: longitudinal analysis in black and white South African adolescent males

The induction of cell death by phosphine silver(I) thiocyanate complexes in SNO-esophageal cancer cells.

Esophageal cancer is one of the least studied cancers and is found to be prominent in black South African males. It is mainly diagnosed in the late stages, and patients tend to have a low 5-year survival rate of only 10%. Silver is generally used as an antimicrobial agent, with limited reports on anticancer studies. In this study, dimeric silver(I) thiocyanate complexes were used containing a variation of 4-substitued triphenylphosphines, including [AgSCN(PPh(3))(2)](2) (1), [AgSCN{P(4-MeC(6)H(4))(3)}(2)](2) (2), [AgSCN{P(4-FC(6)H(4))(3)}(2)](2) (3) and [AgSCN{P(4-ClC(6)H(4))(3)}(2)](2) (4). All four complexes, with their respective phosphine ligands, PPh(3) (L1), P(4-MeC(6)H(4))(3) (L2), P(4-FC(6)H(4))(3) (L3) and P(4-ClC(6)H(4))(3) (L4), were subjected to in vitro toxicity studies in SNO-esophageal cancer cells, using an alamarBlue(®) assay. Morphological changes, including blebbing and apoptotic body formation, were observed. Phosphatidylserine externalization, a marker of apoptosis, was quantified by flow cytometry. The phosphine ligands L1-L4, on their own, had minimal effect on the malignant while complexes 1-4 resulted in significant cell death. A 10x decreased concentration of these complexes had similar effects than cisplatin, used as the positive control. These complexes show promise as anticancer agents.

Comparing South African annuity options at retirement

In this study various annuity strategies are compared for South African males who retired during the 30 years from 1960 to 1989. To this end, the present values of the monthly cash flows provided by 47 different annuity strategies are calculated and compared in order to ascertain which strategy would have provided the largest financial benefits. In contrast to previously held general beliefs, the calculations demonstrate that living annuity strategies are superior to composite annuity strategies, which in turn outperform switching annuity strategies, whereas life annuities yield the lowest return.

Diversity of HPV types in cancerous and pre‐cancerous penile lesions of South African men: Implications for future HPV vaccination strategies

This study reports the detection of HPV types from cancerous and pre-cancerous penile lesions that were diagnosed histologically. Sixty-six (22 pre-cancerous and 44 cancerous lesions) tissue biopsies, received between 2004 and 2011 by the Anatomical Pathology Department at Dr. George Mukhari Hospital were selected for this study. Total DNA was extracted and genotyped using type specific real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for 18 HPV types. Of 66 samples, only 51 were included in the analysis. Overall, HPV 11 (50.9%) and HPV 16 (49.1%) showed almost similar incidence in the study patients. In pre-cancerous lesions, HPV 11 was more frequent (80.0%), followed by HPV 31 and HPV 16 at 25.0% each and other HPV types included 35 (15.0%), 59 (15.0%), 53 (10.0%), 33 (10.0%), 18 (5.0%), 51 (5.0%), 52 (5.0%), 56 (5.0%), and 67 (5.0%). For cancerous lesions, HPV 16 was the most detected (62.9%), followed by HPV 11 (34.3%), and other HPV types included 18 (11.4%), 33 (5.7%), 39 (5.7%), 45 (5.7%), 66 (5.7%), 52 (2.9%), 58 (2.9%), 6 (2.9%), and 67 (2.9%). Several lesions demonstrated multiple HPV infections, ranging from two to six different types in one lesion. The study showed high diversity of HPV types in cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions of South African males with the most frequent being HPV types 11 and 16. The data suggest that boys could directly benefit from vaccination as they are exposed to variety of HPV types as early as 10 years of age in Africa.

Lead Exposure in Adult Males in Urban Transvaal Province, South Africa during the Apartheid Era

Human exposure to lead is a substantial public health hazard worldwide and is particularly problematic in the Republic of South Africa given the country’s late cessation of leaded petrol. Lead exposure is associated with a number of serious health issues and diseases including developmental and cognitive deficiency, hypertension and heart disease. Understanding the distribution of lifetime lead burden within a given population is critical for reducing exposure rates. Femoral bone from 101 deceased adult males living in urban Transvaal Province (now Gauteng Province), South Africa between 1960 and 1998 were analyzed for lead concentration by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Of the 72 black and 29 white individuals sampled, chronic lead exposure was apparent in nearly all individuals. White males showed significantly higher median bone lead concentration (ME = 10.04 µg·g−1), than black males (ME = 3.80 µg·g−1) despite higher socioeconomic status. Bone lead concentration covaries significantly, though weakly, with individual age. There was no significant temporal trend in bone lead concentration. These results indicate that long-term low to moderate lead exposure is the historical norm among South African males. Unexpectedly, this research indicates that white males in the sample population were more highly exposed to lead.

INDEL polymorphisms at the DXS10146 flanking region in four racial populations

Insertion/deletion (INDEL) polymorphisms in the 3′ flanking region of the X chromosomal STR DXS10146 were analysed in the following four racial populations: 151 Japanese males, 60 Indonesian males and 90 South African males (32 Caucasians and 58 Africans). A 17-bp INDEL polymorphism in the 3′ flanking region was observed in all populations. In the African population, 4-bp and 7-bp INDEL polymorphisms were newly found 13bp and 25bp downstream of the core repeat unit of DXS10146, respectively. No samples with two or three deletions at these INDELs were observed in this study. In these four populations, all deletion events at the INDEL regions were observed only in alleles with six repeat number polymorphisms in the variable (TTCC) repeat block of the DXS10146 core repeat unit.

Unwanted Early Sexual Experiences Among Male University Students in Belgium and South Africa

This study compared the unwanted early sexual experiences (UESE) of Belgian and South African first-year male university students. A self-report checklist was administered to all consenting students attending an orientation programme at a Belgian and a South African University. Respondents were 1,017 Belgians (M. age = 18.3, SD = 1.63) and 335 South Africans (M. age = 19.3, SD = 3.40). Of the Belgian respondents 12.3% (N = 125) reported UESE compared to 56.4% (N = 189) of South African respondents. Most Belgian and South African respondents reported that the unwanted event occurred once only (66.7% and 56.6%), although some respondents were subjected to UESE for a year or more. Many respondents reported that they were not bothered by the experiences when they occurred (41% of South Africans and 40% of Belgians) and when completing the checklist (53.4% of South Africans and 55.2% of Belgians). These results show a high percentage of South African males being subjected to UESE which is much higher than the child sexual abuse (CSA) rates reported by the few South African studies of male university students. It also confirms the lower self-perceived impact of such experiences for male university students.

New soft tissue correction factors for stature estimation: Results from magnetic resonance imaging

In stature reconstruction using Fully's method, it is essential that a soft tissue correction factor be added to skeletal height in order to obtain an estimate of living stature. While some anthropologists consider Fully's method to be the most reliable for stature estimation, others consider it to be inadequate as it seems to be underestimating living stature, possibly due to an error in the magnitude of Fully's soft tissue factors. A recent study by Raxter and co-workers revised Fully's technique and also presented a new "universally applicable" soft tissue correction factor. The present study examines the reliability of soft tissue correction factors of Fully and Raxter et al. on a living sample of indigenous South African males. The current study is based on data collected from 28 indigenous South African (ISA) male volunteers. Standing height of each subject was measured using a stadiometer. Fully's method was used in the calculation of total skeletal height from a full body MRI scan of each subject. Subsequent analyses of the acquired data revealed that the previously derived soft tissue correction factors are not applicable to the studied sample, and why they are not applicable. The correction factors of Fully and Raxter et al. both significantly underestimate living stature in a living sample of indigenous South African males. Consequently, a new correction factor was calculated based on the prediction of living stature from TSH using regression analysis.

DDT, MALE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND THYROID HOMEOSTASIS OF NON-OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED MEN FROM A MALARIA AREA IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA

Background and Aims: The Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), has been used for malaria vector control in Limpopo Province, South Africa, since 1945. POPs are noted for their toxicity, persistence and bio-accumulative characteristics. The Aim of the study was to investigate the association between DDT, as reflected in plasma concentrations, and seminal parameters, possible adverse effects on human sperm genetic integrity, and thyroid homeostasis, while considering related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study, recruiting 546 young males from three communities in an endemic malaria area where DDT is sprayed annually, was conducted. Blood plasma DDT and its metabolite levels were measured. A semen analyses were performed and sperm chromatin structure assay and Aniline Blue test were used to assess sperm DNA/chromatin integrity in 209 participants. Dietary intake, serum retinol-binding protein (RBP), transthyretin (TTR) and albumin concentrations and liver- and thyroid function were compared between cases with evidence of a body burden of DDT in the circulation and controls. Results: The lipid adjusted DDT mean (+SD) and median concentrations were 109.2 (+106.6) and 83.9 µg/g, respectively; and the lipid adjusted DDE mean (+SD) and median concentrations were 246.2 (+218.5) and 177.8 µg/g, respectively. In additions to effects on seminal parameters, the results point to a weak association between DDT/DDE plasma concentration and the incidence of sperm with chromatin defects. Significantly lower thyroid hormone concentrations were in observed cases (p•0.01). A significant linear trend was observed for S-free T4 and T3 concentrations (p&lt;0.001) and relatively low RBP concentrations were associated with significantly higher DDT and DDE isomer concentrations, and a higher DDE/DDT ratio (p•0.01), which signifies long-term exposure. Conclusions: The results suggest that long-term non-occupational environmental DDT exposure may have a negative impact on seminal parameters, sperm chromatin integrity, and on thyroid function and related parameters of young South African males.

ACTN3 and TNF gene polymorphism association with C-reactive protein, uric acid, lactate and physical characteristics in young African cricket players.

The genotyping of α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) genes of 31 Zulu South African males aged 20 to 27 years (14 cricketers and 17 controls) was performed by PCR amplification followed by restriction digestion. After ANOVA the associations with C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid (UA), lactate (LA) and physical characteristics were examined using Chi2maximum likelihood test and Fisher’s exact test. ACTN3 genotype frequencies for the cohort were 90.3% RR and 9.7% RX. The XX genotype was absent. R allele at high frequency of 100% was associated with CRP <3.0 mg/L in cricketers (p=0.0001) and controls (p=0.0140). High R allele frequencies of 80 to 100% were associated in cricketers with lower uric acid (p=0.0001), lactate (p=0.0003) and with body mass index (BMI) and Fat mass (FM) (p=0.0001). TNF genotyping displayed 42% GG, 45% GA and 13% AA for the cohort. CRP <3.0 mg/L was associated (p=0.0001) with A allele frequency (40% cricketers and 18% controls). Associations (p=0.0001) of A allele frequency (9 to 22%) with BMI, Lean body mass (LBM) and FM were found. The genotyping of cricketers was done for the first time.The study demonstrates a strong ACTN3 R allele association with lower CRP, UA and LA levels. The findings of XX null genotype and TNF 308A allele association with CRP inflammatory marker provide evidence about the genotype distribution of previously unexamined homogeneous cohort of African athletes. Key words: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) genotype, α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) genotype, polymorphism, C-reactive protein, physical characteristics, Zulu South African cricket players

Adrenal-oncocytic tumor: an unusual cause of secondary hypertension in a young South African male

Adrenal-oncocytic tumor: an unusual cause of secondary hypertension in a young South African male

Morphometric variations of the 7th cervical vertebrae of Zulu, White, and Colored South Africans

The 7th cervical vertebrae of 240 cadavers of South African Zulu, White, and Colored population groups were examined to determine morphometric variation. White and Colored females had statistically significant narrower cervical anteroposterior diameters than their male counterparts, whereas no statistically significant difference between sexes of the Zulu population group was observed in this variable. In addition, although Zulu and Colored females had statistically significant narrower cervical transverse diameters than their male counterparts, there was no statistically significant variation between South African white males and females in this respect. The findings indicate that sexual dimorphism is more apparent in the vertebral centrum, across the three population groups, where males had significantly larger dimensions in centrum anteroposterior diameter, height, and width than their female counterparts. The study further reveals that sexual dimorphism is more apparent when one compares aspects of the 7th cervical vertebra between sexes within the same population group. Overall, the dimensions of the various variates of the vertebra are substantially smaller in women than in men. The smaller dimensions, particularly of the centrum, may be the result of lower skeletal mass in women and render them more vulnerable to fractures resulting from compression forces.

Compatibility of codling moths Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from South Africa with codling moths shipped from Canada

AbstractThe sterile insect technique (SIT) has been successfully applied against codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera; Tortricidae) in British Columbia since 1992 where the mass‐rearing facility produces between 15 and 16 million moths per week. Due to the seasonality of this pest, the facility is only fully utilized for part of the year. The time and expense of implementing SIT against codling moth in South Africa may be substantially reduced if moths from Canada were sexually compatible with those from South Africa. In addition, because the pome fruit‐growing season in both countries is opposite, the programme in Canada might benefit by maintaining moth production year‐round and selling moths to South Africa. Semi‐field studies in small cages and release‐recapture studies were conducted in an unsprayed apple orchard in South Africa to assess mating compatibility of laboratory‐reared codling moth from Canada and wild codling moths from South Africa. The results suggest that Canadian codling moth males were equally attracted to calling Canadian and South African females despite the fact that Canadian moths had been transported (from Canada to South Africa) for 48 h as both pupae and adults. The data also suggest that at lower field temperatures Canadian moths were more active than South African moths. Results from the release‐recapture field trials indicated that Canadian and South African males were equally attracted to Canadian and South African females. These results suggest that codling moths from Canada and South Africa are fully compatible and indicate that Canadian moths can be used for SIT studies in South Africa. As these studies were conducted with moths from two very different climatic and time zones, it is proposed that populations of codling moth in other pome fruit production areas may also be compatible with the Canadian moths.

Adrenal-Oncocytic Tumor: An Unusual Cause of Secondary Hypertension in a Young South African Male

Tumors with oncocytic features are characterized histologically by cells with eosinophilic granular cytoplasm and by the ultrastructural presence of numerous closely packed mitochondria. Adrenal oncocytic tumors are very rare. We describe the case of a 36-year old white male who was newly diagnosed with hypertension and referred for evaluation. An abdominal computer tomography scan revealed a right adrenal tumor, which was removed surgically. The final diagnosis was made histologically on the excised tumor specimen. Hypertension in this patient was cured by the removal of the tumor. Adrenal oncocytic tumors are often benign, non-functional tumors that rarely cause hypertension. The diagnosis and assessment of metastatic potential can be made with histology and appropriate immunohistochemical stains. Removal of the tumor is necessary as some may have a malignant potential. Long-term follow-up is important in these patients in view of the difficulty in accurately predicting biological behavior.