Thesis (M.Tech.: Biomedical Technology)-Dept. of Biomedical Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2007 xxiii, 244 leaves / In 2004, it was reported that KwaZulu-Natal had the greatest number of HIV infected people, approximately 1.8 million people, of whom an estimated 450 000 were in need of antiretroviral drug therapy based on their Cluster of Differentiation 4 (CD4) counts and clinical status. Studies on the success of antiretroviral drugs in improving the quality of life in HIV infected individuals have been extensively performed and published. However, there are no published data on the effect that immune boosters have in improving the quality of life in such persons. Considering the side effects, toxicity, multi-drug regimens and drug resistance problems associated with antiretroviral therapy, alternative or supplementary therapies may play an important role in improving the quality of life in HIV infected people. Such therapy might help in situations where some patients who qualify for antiretroviral treatment are unable to access them because of several reasons such as long waiting lists, travelling costs, unwilling to take antiretroviral drugs, etc. Some patients have reservations in taking antiretroviral drugs. The stigma associated with the disease may be a major factor. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in the immune status of HIV infected patients that were on the Inochi New Medicine immune booster, as well as, to assess the safety and efficacy of this immune booster in improving the patients’ quality of life.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of homoeopathic simillimum in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) in schoolgoing children aged 6-11 years. AD/HD affects approximately 3-5% of children worldwide. It is thus a highly prevalent childhood disorder characterised by hyperactivity, impulsivity and restlessness. There are 3 subtypes of the condition, namely combined type, predominantly inattentive type and predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (DSM-IV-TR, 2000 pg 90). OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of homoeopathic simillimum in the treatment of this disorder, and thus promote homoeopathy as a safe alternative to conventional AD/HD treatments. METHODOLOGY The study was conducted as a double-blind placebo-controlled study. The sample group consisted of 30 participants. There was an experimental group of 16, which was compared to a placebo control group of 14. Participants were recruited from the greater Durban area. They had to satisfy clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants and parents/guardians were required to attend 3 consultations with the researcher at The Homoeopathic Day Clinic over a 2-month period. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV Home and School Versions (Appendices B and C) had to be completed by the participant’s parent/guardian and teacher respectively. One was filled in at the initial consultation to serve as a baseline reading, and thereafter, every month. Remedies were dispensed at the first 2 consultations and these remedies were decided upon after thorough case-taking, use of Radar 9.0 Homoeopathic Software and discussion with 1 of 2 selected clinicians. Those on placebo were given free treatment at the end of the study. RESULTS Statistical analysis was conducted on the ADHD Rating Scales-IV Home and School Versions (Appendices B and C), completed by the parent/guardian and teacher respectively. Improvement was based on a decrease in the rating scale score. On analysis, the results (Table 4.8, 4.9 and 4.10) showed no statistically significant effect of treatment (i.e. no difference between treatment and placebo group), but across the whole trial and within each group (particularly the treatment group) subjects had significant reductions in symptoms (i.e. the reductions in symptoms were large enough that there was less than 5% chance that they were random fluctuations/effects). This was seen in both the treatment and placebo groups, as indicated by Table 4.11, 4.12 and 4.13, but more significant reductions were seen in the treatment group, indicated by Table 4.14. As discussed in Chapter 5, this by no means rules out the efficacy of homoeopathic simillimum for the treatment of AD/HD. CONCLUSIONS A large number of parents, teachers and doctors are seeking a safe, effective way to treat this highly prevalent disorder (Soreff & Chang, 2008) and, although the study did not satisfy the hypothesis that homoeopathic simillimum is an effective treatment for AD/HD in schoolgoing children, it did aid in creating awareness of the use of homoeopathy as a treatment option for this condition and highlighted the need for more extensive research to be undertaken for this treatment option. It is the researcher’s opinion that larger, longer duration studies, employing quantitative analysis, as well as qualitative analysis would yield more significant results.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of homoeopathic simillimum in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) in schoolgoing children aged 6-11 years. AD/HD affects approximately 3-5% of children worldwide. It is thus a highly prevalent childhood disorder characterised by hyperactivity, impulsivity and restlessness. There are 3 subtypes of the condition, namely combined type, predominantly inattentive type and predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type (DSM-IV-TR, 2000 pg 90). OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of homoeopathic simillimum in the treatment of this disorder, and thus promote homoeopathy as a safe alternative to conventional AD/HD treatments. METHODOLOGY The study was conducted as a double-blind placebo-controlled study. The sample group consisted of 30 participants. There was an experimental group of 16, which was compared to a placebo control group of 14. Participants were recruited from the greater Durban area. They had to satisfy clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participants and parents/guardians were required to attend 3 consultations with the researcher at The Homoeopathic Day Clinic over a 2-month period. The ADHD Rating Scale-IV Home and School Versions (Appendices B and C) had to be completed by the participant’s parent/guardian and teacher respectively. One was filled in at the initial consultation to serve as a baseline reading, and thereafter, every month. Remedies were dispensed at the first 2 consultations and these remedies were decided upon after thorough case-taking, use of Radar 9.0 Homoeopathic Software and discussion with 1 of 2 selected clinicians. Those on placebo were given free treatment at the end of the study. RESULTS Statistical analysis was conducted on the ADHD Rating Scales-IV Home and School Versions (Appendices B and C), completed by the parent/guardian and teacher respectively. Improvement was based on a decrease in the rating scale score. On analysis, the results (Table 4.8, 4.9 and 4.10) showed no statistically significant effect of treatment (i.e. no difference between treatment and placebo group), but across the whole trial and within each group (particularly the treatment group) subjects had significant reductions in symptoms (i.e. the reductions in symptoms were large enough that there was less than 5% chance that they were random fluctuations/effects). This was seen in both the treatment and placebo groups, as indicated by Table 4.11, 4.12 and 4.13, but more significant reductions were seen in the treatment group, indicated by Table 4.14. As discussed in Chapter 5, this by no means rules out the efficacy of homoeopathic simillimum for the treatment of AD/HD. CONCLUSIONS A large number of parents, teachers and doctors are seeking a safe, effective way to treat this highly prevalent disorder (Soreff & Chang, 2008) and, although the study did not satisfy the hypothesis that homoeopathic simillimum is an effective treatment for AD/HD in schoolgoing children, it did aid in creating awareness of the use of homoeopathy as a treatment option for this condition and highlighted the need for more extensive research to be undertaken for this treatment option. It is the researcher’s opinion that larger, longer duration studies, employing quantitative analysis, as well as qualitative analysis would yield more significant results. / M

M.Ed. ( Educational Psychology) / This research study shows that young HIV sufferers undergo disturbances involving the mind, body and spirit causing a variety of future adjustment difficulties, problems and coping abilities. This is attributed to fear, loss, grief, guilt, denial, anger, anxiety, depression, stress, physiological changes, pain and hypochondria. This study indicates that they are particularly fearful about being isolated and rejected. They are overwhelmed by thoughts of loss of everything, accompanied by profound feelings of grief. Guilt and self-reproach affect their health further, having an effect on them both physically and mentally. The uncertainty of their future having contracted HIV intensifies anger with themselves as well as others. This also brings about anxiety due to lack of information and appropriate support systems in Soweto...

Chan, Wai Kiu. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 233-256). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract and appendix also in Chinese.

Kwan, Yee Mei. / Thesis (D.Nurs.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-171). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese; appendixes includes Chinese.

Thesis (M. A. (Clinical Psychology)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Studies by the World Health Organisation have shown that mental illness is an international health concern across the globe, with one in four people (25%) suffering from mental disorders in both developed and developing countries. In many African countries traditional health practitioners are the health care providers of choice for individuals, families and communities. The aim of this study was to explore methods used by Shona speaking traditional health practitioners in the prevention of mental illness in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. A qualitative research design was used in the present study. Ten Shona speaking traditional health practitioners (male=9; female=1) were selected through purposive sampling and requested to participate in the study. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed through thematic content analysis. It was found that traditional healers tend to commonly understand and conceptualise mental illness in terms of the causes instead attaching nosological labels to these conditions. The findings of the study also show that most of the traditional health practitioners interviewed had similar methods of preventing mental illness both in families and individuals. Culture was found to be central in shaping how the traditional health practitioners understand and prevent mental illness. Ancestors were found to be pivotal in specifically determining the methods to prevent mental illness for each client. The study is concluded by recommending closer collaboration between the dominant Western health care system and traditional healing in order to improve mental health care provision in Zimbabwe.

Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / Diabetes mellitus is one of the fast growing chronic metabolic disorders throughout the world. It has become a life threatening disease and health burden. So far it can only be managed with commercial therapeutic agents, proper diet and exercise. People particularly from developing countries use medicinal plants to treat this condition. According to WHO, about 80% of the population in developing countries are dependable on medicinal plants. This prompted many researchers to explore the effectiveness and safety of these plants. In the current study ten medicinal plants were randomly chosen, screened for antidiabetic activity by testing their ability to inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The plants were tested using in vitro assays. The finely powdered leaves of each plant were extracted with hexane, chloroform, acetone and ethyl acetate. Phytoconstituents of each plant extracts were analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. All plant extracts tested positive for phenols, flavonoids and all negative for starch. Their compounds were better separated in the TEA mobile system on the TLC plates. All plant extracts had more of total phenolics ranging between 0.1-400 GAE/mg than total flavonoids and condensed tannins. Antioxidant activity of the plant extracts was tested quantitatively at various concentrations using DPPH. Most plant extracts were able to scavenge the radicals produced by DPPH at highest concentration of 2.5 mg/mℓ. Not all plant extracts with the highest number of total phenolics had the highest antioxidant activity. For antidiabetic in vitro assays, plant extracts inhibited various percentages of both α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity at concentrations ranging between 0.019- 2.5 mg/mℓ. The best overall activity against both enzymes was observed in acetone and ethyl acetate plant extracts. Cassia abbreviata and Helinus integrifolius were even more active than acarbose which was used as positive control. These plant extracts inhibited both the enzymes in a dose dependent and non-competitive manner. Seeing that both extracts of C. abbreviata and H. integrifolius were consistent when inhibiting both enzymes, they were further evaluated for their effect on glucose uptake by the C2C12 muscle and H-II-4-E liver cells. All the plant extracts tested were able to increase glucose uptake in the muscle cells. However optimal increase was seen in the liver cells when treated with 250 µg/mℓ of acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of C. abbreviata. The cytotoxicity effects of both acetone and ethyl acetate of C. abbreviata and H. integrifolius was tested using the xCelligence system on RAW 264.7 cells. Different cell indexes were obtained after treating the cells with different concentrations (0.05,0.1 and 0.25 mg/mℓ) of each plant extracts respectively. The system was run for three days but the toxic effects of plant extracts were analyzed for the first ten hours. The results obtained shows that cell index decreased as the concentration of the plant extracts was increased. All the plant extracts were less toxic as compared to positive control, Actinomycin D. The leaves of H. integrifolius were further exhaustively extracted with hexane, dichloromethane, acetone, ethyl acetate and methanol respectively. Since the DCM extracts yielded the highest mass in quantity, it was further used for isolation of active compounds. Column chromatography and bioassay guided fraction led to isolation of a mixture of triterpenes identified as α and β-amyrin. The structure was elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The inhibitory capability of the isolated compound against α-amylase enzyme was less than the crude extract which inhibited more than 50% of the activity at a concentration of 1 mg/mℓ.Based on the enzymes assays and cell culture work it can be concluded that C. abbreviata and H. integrifolius species are the best inhibitors of carbohydrate digesting enzymes, and therefore be used to manage postprandial hyperglycemia in the people with type 2 diabetes. However more work still need to be conducted for further isolation of more active compounds.

The apparent reversal of trend from modern drugs to herbal medicine is partly due to the fact that synthetic drugs have always shown adverse reactions and other undesirable side effects. Hence, the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes is very common especially in the rural areas. Majority of these plants are used based on the experience and indigenous knowledge without identification of the therapeutic agents. There is enormous wealth of medicinal plants in the world yet many of them have not been discovered or studied scientifically to substantiate their ethno-medicinal usages. Ethnobotanical study has been the method often used to search for locally important plant species for the discovery of crude drugs with low side effects. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted on the medicinal plants commonly used for the management of diabetes mellitus in Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape of South Africa. Information was obtained through structured questionnaire administered to traditional healers and herbalists in the region. The study revealed 15 species of plants belonging to 13 families. Strychnos henningsii and Leonotis leonorus among others were repeatedly mentioned by the traditional healers as the two mostly used plants for the management of diabetes mellitus. The infusion and decoction of the roots, leaves and barks of these plants are the methods of preparation. The antioxidant potential of aqueous bark extract of S. henningsii was investigated both in vivo and in vitro using spectroscopic method. The antioxidant activity of the extract against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), 2,2′-azinobis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline6-sulfonic acid] diammonium salt (ABTS), as well as reducing power was concentration dependent. The extract exhibited lower and average scavenging activities against 1,1diphenyl2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals with IC50 value of 0.739 and 0.49 mg/ml respectively. The administration of the plant extract at 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg significantly increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes in the hepatotoxic rats induced with carbon tetrachloride. On the other hand, the stem bark extract had lower effect on lipid peroxidation level except at the dose of 250 mg/kg. The effect of oral administration of S. henningsii extract was evaluated in normal Wistar rats for 28 days. The observed result indicated non- toxic effect of sub-acute administration of plant extract to the animals except at certain doses. This is because, there was no apparent damage to some haematological and biochemical parameters used in assessing organ specific toxicity. However, the alterations observed on platelet, white blood cells and its differentials imply parameter and dose selective toxicity when repeatedly consumed on daily basis at the doses investigated. This study also investigated the antidiabetic activities of the extract at the doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight in diabetic rats induced with streptozotocin -nicotinamide for 15 days. The extract appreciably (P <0.05) reduced the blood glucose level, feed and water intake while the best result was obtained at 250 mg/kg. Similarly, the level of triacylglycerol at the three doses investigated was significantly decreased. In addition, the glucose tolerance was reduced to near normal level after 90 min at certain doses. The clinical significance of the extract on some biochemical and haematological parameters lessen both hepatic and renal damages. Anaemic condition in diabetic animals was also improved after plant extract administration. However, no significant effect was observed in white blood cells and some of its differentials. The extract demonstrated strong glucose utilization in 3T3-L1 cells with a response of 278.63 percent of the control at 12.5μg/ml while that of Chang liver cells was 103.54 percent. The cytotoxicity result revealed non toxic effects of the extract to both cell lines. Treatment of 3T3 L1 cells with the extract did not reduce lipid accumulation. The extract inhibited the activity of α- glucosidase and α- amylase in a concentration dependent manner with IC50 values of 38 μg/ml and 60.9 μg/ml respectively. The percentage protein antiglycation of S. henningsii was 18.4, 38.2 and 61.2 perceent for 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/ml respectively while aminoguanidine a known inhibitor of protein glycation was 87.2 percent at 1 mg/ml. The FRAP assay values of the extract was 357.05 μmol Fe (II)/g. The findings from this study support the folkloric usage of this plant for the management of diabetes mellitus in the region.

Submitted by Katiane Souza (katyane.souza@gmail.com) on 2016-04-07T00:51:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2392997 bytes, checksum: 355a730c7ae831b7b38ada4cc21f44bb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-07T00:51:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2392997 bytes, checksum: 355a730c7ae831b7b38ada4cc21f44bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-04-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This work, carried out in two experiments, had as objective to evaluate the quality of organic ‘Tommy Atkins’ mango, for exportation, from Fazenda Pernambucanas, located at the Municipal District of São Mamede, Sertão Paraibano region, harvested with (WGP) and without (WOGP) Good Agricultural Practices, in the commercial maturity stage, whose skin color was characterized by shades of green, red, and yellow. Fruits WGP and WOGP were combined with anise (A) extract at 3% (WGP+A, WOGP+A), with anise (A) extract + cassava (C) starch at 1,5% (WGP+A+C, WOGP+A+C), and fruits without anise extract and without cassava starch (WGP, WOGP), control, kept at 10oC, and evaluated each 3 days, during 15 days. For the first experiment it was evaluated the maturation physiology, and for the second, it was evaluated the postharvest conservation of treated fruits. The results were submitted to variance analyzes, when verified significant interaction by the F test at 5% of probability it was submitted to polynomial regression. For the first experiment, anise extract applied direct to the fruit anticipated the respiratory peak, increasing its intensity, mainly for fruits harvested without Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). The use of GAP reduced the rate of starch degradation and the consumption of soluble sugars, reduced the chlorophyll degradation, and kept the carotenoids higher. For the second experiment, anise (A) extract applied directly to the skin at 3%, negatively interfered in the appearance of organic ‘Tommy Atkins’ mango, effect that was minimized when A was applied in combination with cassava starch solution at 1.5%, mainly when associated to GAP. Fruits WOGP presented red-yellowish color as the storage period advanced and in higher intensity as compared with WGP. The use of GAP was determinant in maintaining the good appearance of organic ‘Tommy Atkins’ mango. Fruits harvested with GAP, without combination with treatments, were the most accepted by the judges. / Esse trabalho, realizado em dois experimentos, teve como objetivo de avaliar a qualidade de manga ‘Tommy Atkins’ orgânica destinada à exportação, proveniente da Fazenda Pernambucanas, localizada no Município de São Mamede, região do Sertão Paraibano, colhida com (CBP) e sem (SBP) Boas Práticas Agrícolas, no estádio de maturação comercial, cuja coloração da casca era caracterizada por tons verdes, vermelhos e amarelos. Frutos CBP e SBP foram combinados com extrato de erva-doce (ED) a 3% (CBP+ED, SBP+ED), com extrato de erva-doce (ED) + fécula (F) de mandioca a 1,5% (CBP+ED+F, SBP+ED+F), e frutos sem extrato de erva-doce e sem fécula de mandioca (CBP, SBP), controle, mantidos a 10 oC e avaliados a cada três dias, durante 15 dias. No primeiro experimento foi avaliada a fisiologia da maturação e no segundo, a conservação pós-colheita de frutos submetidos aos tratamentos. Os resultados foram submetidos a analise de variância, verificado significância da interação pelo teste ‘F’, a pelo menos 5% de probabilidade submetidos a regressão polinomial. Para o primeiro experimento, a aplicação de extrato de erva-doce diretamente no fruto antecipou o pico respiratório, aumentando a sua intensidade, principalmente para frutos colhidos sem Boas Práticas Agrícolas (BPA). O emprego de BPA reduziu a taxa de degradação de amido e o consumo de açúcares solúveis, reduziu a degradação da clorofila e manteve os carotenóides mais elevados. Para o segundo experimento, a aplicação de extrato de erva-doce (ED) a 3 % diretamente na casca interferiu negativamente na aparência de manga ‘Tommy Atkins’ orgânica, efeito que foi minimizado quando o ED foi aplicado associado à solução de fécula de mandioca a 1,5%, principalmente quando associado a BPA. Frutos SBP apresentavam coloração vermelha amarelada à medida que o armazenamento avançava e em maior intensidade quando comparados aos CBP. A utilização de BPA foi determinante na manutenção da boa aparência de manga ‘Tommy Atkins’ orgânica. Frutos colhidos CBP, sem a combinação com os tratamentos, apresentaram-se mais aceitáveis aos avaliadores.