Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.Osteoarthritis causes cartilage — the hard, slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones where they form a joint — to break down. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that first targets the lining of joints (synovium).

Asthma is a disease that affects the lower airway, causing symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and a tight chest. According to Dr Corli Lodder (Gravett), who manages an asthma and allergy clinic in Gauteng, 80% of asthmatic patients also suffer from allergic rhinitis (AR) - a condition often referred to as hayfever, which causes itching, swelling and mucus in the upper airway. Although they affect different parts of the airway, these two afflictions are considered part of the same disease process. 

The latest research in the archaeology of the Holy Land, discuss every single book in all the various canons of all the Bibles, presenting the history in each book, and how each book is located in history. I will also explore the current state of Biblical criticism, and investigate what we know about the ancient Israelite religion. The finds at the ancient city of Ugarit in Syria provided us with our knowledge of the religion of Canaan, the land conquered by the Israelites. Some of this religion, such as the god El and the monsters Leviathon and Bohemoth found their way into the ancient religion of Israel and into the Bible. I also discuss the most common names of god found in the Bible (Yahweh, El, Elohim, Adonai), and what they mean.

Doctors typically prescribe several drugs to patients with mental health conditions in order to treat the various symptoms. For example, a person with bipolar disorder may be prescribed one drug to treat mania and another to treat depression. But there’s limited evidence on how combinations of drugs interact, or how diet and nutrition influence their effects. Elizabeth Tunbridge, Associate professor and Royal Society Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford said a study on the effects of combinations of psychiatric drugs and a common dietary supplement had surprising results – results that show just how poorly understood and under-researched this area is.

Numismatics the study of coinage, and is a wonderfully useful tool in the archaeologist’s and historian’s toolbox. One of the best things for an archaeologist to find while digging is a coin. The reason is simple; it can instantly provide some date for the layer they are digging. Additionally, coins provide information for trade, economy, social organisation, mythology, ideologies, personages, leadership, military, important events, and the list goes on.

The largest study of its kind proves there’s no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ diet because everyone’s bodily response to food is different. Weizmann Institute of Science researchers continuously monitored blood sugar levels in 800 people for a week, and discovered that the body’s response to all foods seems to be highly individual. Our resident, clinical dietician, Nicci Robertson unpacked this seemly strange study for us.

Roger Layton, a guru in mathematics joined Azania on the first edition of Master Class. Roger explained to Azania and the listeners just exactly how mathematics works, the differences between mathematics and mathematics literacy and more importantly how everyone can enjoy and be good at mathematics. 

Professor Helen Rees, Chairperson of The Medicines Control Council joined us for this week’s health feature on clinical trials. Clinical trials are research studies that test how well new medical approaches work in people. Each study answers scientific questions and tries to find better ways to prevent, screen for, diagnose, or treat a disease. Clinical trials may also compare a new treatment to a treatment that is already available. Following the death of a clinical trial volunteer, Prof. Rees talked to Azania and the listeners about everything you need to know about clinical trials and more importantly what questions you should ask should you wish to volunteer for one.

Transactional sex is when money or gifts are exchanged for a sexual relationship. The gifts can be cash, handbags or even trips. Often, thin gs such as rent, phones and airtime/ cellphone contracts, groceries and clothing are thrown in as incentives for transactional relationships. The distinction between prostitution and transactional sex is that there is no predetermined amount for the latter, and transactional sex is often framed in the form of an actual relationship. Dr. Mupotsa spoke to Azania about the varying forms of transactional sex which aren’t always ‘taboo’ as per societies norms

Azania is joined by Iain Shippey, to assess the research findings that; the unemployed should not be eager to accept just any job they come across, they should wait for the right job for them…