http://hdl.handle.net/11189/1926 Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:52:33 GMT 2026-08-12T10:52:33Z http://hdl.handle.net/11189/9604 Title: Medicinal plants for strong immune system and traditional skin therapy in South Africa an overview Authors: Kambizi, Learnmore; Bvenura, Callistus Abstract: Without a doubt, skin care/therapy is one of the leading global markets and contributes significantly to economies today. The global value is estimated at 128.38 billion USD and is expected to rise to 189.3 billion USD by 2025 (Statista 2020a). The South African market, which was valued at 581.7 million USD in 2017, will have an estimated value of 839.2 million USD by the year 2023 (Statista 2020b). In fact, South Africa holds the largest share of the market in Africa. The major divisions of this market include anti-ageing, antipigmentation, antidehydration, and sun protection, with applications in beauty salons, medical institutions, and retail stores, among others. These figures are reflective of the role of the skin in the human body. The skin is indeed the human body’s largest organ and acts as a gateway to the rest of the body. It is the body’s first line of defence against pathogens and water loss, regulating temperature and sensation, and providing insulation among its myriad functions. Nevertheless, the skin is also home to millions of complex communities of fungi, viruses, and bacteria, with most of the bacteria playing a beneficial role to the body and immune system. The communities of fungi, viruses, and bacteria are informed by a host of factors, which depend largely on environmental conditions and the ecology of the skin surface itself (Grice and Segre 2011). More specifically, Chen and Tsao (2013) reported that skin moisture content, temperature, skin physiology, including sebaceous gland density, and host genetics, as well as exogenous environmental factors are the major determinants of the composition of these communities. Furthermore, adaptive and cutaneous immune responses can moderate microbial communities, while they also inform the immune system (Grice and Segre 2011). An understanding of the skin microbiota would therefore open a window into the microbiota–skin interactions which lead to diseases and abnormalities, so that researchers can develop appropriate treatment approaches. Since the dawn of time, visible alterations of the skin surface have been recognized, with some being treated and others not. Fri, 01 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11189/9604 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11189/9189 Title: The rise of the isolation society and the loss of human interaction: South African educators’ pers Authors: Naidoo, Kathleen; Koch, Gerhardus George Visser Abstract: Lost in the midst of a pandemic, I started up my computer and the keyboard was as cold as ice. No truer description of how I felt inside. I want to say it was a normal winter’s morning, but something felt amiss. Looking at me square in the eyes, was a lifeless computer screen with a black background. White blocks filled the screen and a prolonged, deafening silence filled the room. I took a deep breath in, unmuted myself, and so began another day of online teaching. It was the dawn of a brand-new academic year. A proactive tone was set for 2020. Learner guides, lecture schedules and assessment guidelines were distributed at the beginning of the academic year. Feelings of excitement and innovation circled the air. We remember sitting in the tearoom discussing the news about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak overseas and being completely shocked by what was happening in other countries. Little did we know that on Thursday, 26 March 2020, South Africa (SA) would enter into a national, hard lockdown, in the hope to contain the spread of COVID-19. What does this even mean and what do we do now? Before we knew it, we lost the power of touch. Most of our teaching philosophies and learning plans were forced out the window. With only a moment’s notice, teaching and learning, as we once knew it, dissolved into an era of the unknown. This was not like a fire drill whereby we knew what steps we needed to take. It was like nothing we had ever experienced before: complete online learning. No time for planning, no time for supporting students with the transition, no time for acquiring resources and absolutely no time at all for comprehending what was happening to the world at large. Feelings of uncertainty and anxiety began to take over, leaving both ourselves and our students’ mental health exposed and at risk. Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11189/9189 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11189/8135 Title: Computed Tomography Authors: Speelman, Aladdin Abstract: This chapter will highlight the importance of patient care and will provide some practical aspects of patient care in the computed tomography (CT) department. Effective patient care encompasses all aspects of healthcare. Radiography is a people-orientated profession and requires proficiency in a wide variety of communication techniques, which is a key component of good patient care. The most skilled and proficient practitioner will become inept if effective communication, which accentuates patient care is not provided. Description: Book Chapter Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11189/8135 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11189/8123 Title: The role of fruit and vegetable consumption in human health and disease prevention Authors: Oguntibeju, Oluwafemi Omoniyi; Truter, Ernest J; Esterhuyse, Adriaan J Abstract: Several reports have shown that adequate intake of fruits and vegetables form an important part of a healthy diet and low fruit and vegetable intake constitute a risk factor for chronic diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and cataract formation (Van Duyn & Pivonka, 2000). Scientific evidence indicates that frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables can prevent oesophageal, stomach, pancreatic, bladder and cervical cancers and that a diet high in fruits and vegetables could prevent 20% of most types of cancers (Crawford et al., 1994). According to reports, fruit and vegetable consumption is influenced by gender, age, income, education and family origin (Wardle et al., 2000; Giskes et al., 2002). Other studies suggest that education may influence nutritional knowledge about fruits and vegetables and consequently also influence their intake. Empirical findings also indicate that family origin and socioeconomic status affect the purchasing power of food, food choice, food preparation and food availability which in turn affects consumption. Studies have shown that preferences of fruit and vegetable consumption differ in males and females (Wardle et al., 2000; Wang et al., 2002). A study carried out by Sylvestre et al (2006) revealed that mothers consumed 2 1/2 vegetable servings and 2 1/2 fruit servings on average daily and that the reported daily average of fruit and vegetable servings was slightly below the basic recommendation of 5 servings per day (Sylvestre et al., 2006). The same study suggested that children of mothers who consume high fruit and vegetable consumption are more likely to consume fruits and vegetables frequently than children of mothers with low fruit consumption. If the mothers with high fruit and vegetable consumption eat fruits and vegetables at home during meals which are shared with children, then their findings could underpin the importance of fruit and vegetable availability at home. However, it may be important to verify whether the relationship is simply a reflection of the control mothers have over food availability at home or it relates to shared nutritional knowledge about the benefits of fruits and vegetables. Description: Book Chapter Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/11189/8123 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z