Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis of Gougerot-Carteaud in a North African patient

Confluent and reticulated papillomatosis (CRP) is a rare skin condition of uncertain etiology. The anti-bacterial and most importantly the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of some antibiotics seem to explain the effectiveness of these medications. Other measures such as reducing weight and treating an underlying endocrine disorder may be helpful.

African religions, spirituality, and mental health healing practices

Traditional African religions are diverse with each having its own rituals and symbolisms and often defining an ethnic and language group. Even though most subscribe to the notion of a supreme deity, a common feature of these religions is their polythetic philosophy in which there are many layers of deities and ancestral spirits. The African gods are not jealous, making religious fundamentalism alien to the adherents of traditional religions. African traditional healing practices, rooted in African religious beliefs, are commonly sought because they are thought to get at the root causes of illness and not just to provide relief from symptoms. In the face of globalization as well as pervasive influence of Western cultures, the Abrahamic religions of Christianity and Islam now jostle for dominance and for the sole occupation of the spiritual space. However, even when the average African subscribes to an Abrahamic faith, it is common for them to retain a world view steeped in traditional spirituality. An appreciation of this dualism is important when addressing the mental health condition of the African patient.

Guiding Maxillary Left Central Incisor to Occlusion and Late Formation of a Supernumerary Tooth in the Upper Left Premolar Region

Hyperdontia or supernumerary teeth are the erupted or impacted teeth, which develop in addition to the regular dental series and might cause many occlusal problems. This article sheds light on a case of impacted maxillary left central incisor (21) due to a mesiodens supernumerary tooth and a late development of another supernumerary tooth in the upper left premolar area at the end of orthodontic treatment. O.A. is an 11-year, eight-month-old male, African patient presented to the orthodontic clinic with a chief complaint “My upper front tooth did not erupt although the dentist attached a wire to pull it with the help of a neighbouring tooth.” Clinically, he is medically fit and healthy, presented with class II division I malocclusion on skeletal II base; mild space discrepancy in the upper and lower dental arches; impacted 21; increased overjet; reduced overbite; localized bilateral posterior crossbite in relation to tooth number 16, 15, 25, and 26; and lower centreline shift to the left. Radiographically, lateral cephalometric radiograph confirms the skeletal relationship, whereas dental panoramic tomography (DPT) shows impacted 21 and the presence of all permanent teeth. The treatment plan consists of comprehensive orthodontic treatment using preadjusted edgewise metallic bracket, Roth prescription 0.022 ″ × 0.028 ″ slot and an active transpalatal arch (TPA) with palatal arms. Retention regimen comprises of upper and lower bonded retainers from canine to canine and vacuum-formed retainers (VFRs) for both dental arches.

A retrospective clinico-pathologic analysis of cemento-osseous dysplasia in a South African patient population

Background: Cemento-osseous dysplasia (COD) is a fibro-osseous jaw bone lesion. The affected bone in COD progressively becomes sclerotic, poorly vascularized and susceptible to secondary osteomyelitis. Objective: To provide a clinico-pathologic appraisal of COD in a South African patient population. Methods: Archived records of 133 patients diagnosed with COD were reviewed for patient demographics, COD location,COD type, osteomyelitis or simple bone cyst secondary to COD. Results: The mean age was 53.4 ± 13.5 years with a 94.7% female predilection. COD mainly affected the mandible (57.1%),followed by involvement of both jaws (38.3%) and maxilla (4.5%). Florid COD was the most prevalent (69.9%), followed byfocal COD (18%) and periapical COD (12%). Florid COD showed a clear trend of increasing with age, peaking in the sixthdecade and decreasing thereafter. Osteomyelitis and simple bone cyst presented as complications of COD in 74.4% and 5.3%of cases respectively, while 21.8% of all cases of jaw osteomyelitis during the study period were secondary to COD. Conclusion: A higher frequency of jaw osteomyelitis secondary to COD was found compared to previous studies. No significantassociation was shown between any of the COD types and secondary osteomyelitis. Keywords: Cemento-osseous dysplasia; South Africa; patient population.

Genome Sequencing of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Isolate Obtained from a South African Patient with Coronavirus Disease 2019

ABSTRACT As a contribution to the global efforts to track and trace the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, here we present the sequence, phylogenetic analysis, and modeling of nonsynonymous mutations for a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome that was detected in a South African patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).