Thesis (MTech (Biomedical Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010 / Consumption of sucrose with a meal containing oxidised and oxidisable lipids cause an increase in oxidative stress which is referred to as postprandial oxidative stress. The modulating effect on postprandial oxidative stress by an antioxidant-rich beverage, fermented rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) was compared to that of a commercial soft drink (soda). Both study beverages contained sucrose and were consumed with a standardised fat meal. The study consisted of two parts, a pilot study (Phase One) where participants consumed either a standardised fat meal with water (control group n = 5) or a standardised fat meal with a sucrose-containing commercial soda (treatment group n = 8) using a parallel design, and the experimental study (Phase Two) where participants (n = 14) consumed the standardised fat meal with the commercial soda (control group) or the rooibos beverage (treatment group) using a crossover design. Specific analytical techniques and methods for determination of plasma glucose, serum insulin, lipid profile, an inflammatory indicator (high sensitive C-reactive protein), plasma antioxidant capacity, whole blood redox status and plasma lipid oxidation biomarkers were used. Results from the pilot study indicated significantly (P<0.05) higher postprandial levels of glucose in the control group at 4 hr and 6hr postprandially. The inflammatory biomarker and triglyceride levels were significantly (P<0.05) elevated in both groups when compared to their respective baselines. Results also showed the total antioxidant capacity and total glutathione levels in the plasma of both groups to be significantly (P<0.05) lowered when compared to the baseline values. The level of lipid oxidation biomarkers in the plasma was significantly (P<0.05) higher at 2 hr, 4 hr and 6 hr post time intervals for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and 4 hr post time interval for conjugated dienes in the participants consuming the standardised fat meal with soda when compared to the baseline value, while this was reflected only at 2 hr post time interval for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, with the conjugated dienes levels being significantly (P<0.05) lowered at 6 hr post time interval in the control group. No differences were shown on inter group level for the pilot study. On inter group level, results from Phase Two showed significant (P<0.05) lower levels of plasma glucose at 6 hr post time interval in the treatment group when compared to the control group, with insulin levels being significantly (P<0.05) higher in the control group at 4 hr post time interval.

Orientador: Luiz Antonio Corrêa / Resumo: Nos últimos anos, foram desenvolvidas diversas modalidades alternativas para o tratamento da HPB. Entre elas, incluem-se terapêuticas medicamentosas e aquelas que se convencionou denominar de "minimamente invasivas". Estas últimas fundamentam-se na aplicação de calor (hipertermia e termoterapia), de laser, de radiofreqüência, de ultrasom, na dilatação uretral com balões, na colocação de endopróteses uretrais e na incisão transuretral da próstata. Entre os métodos que utilizam o calor para tratamento da HPB, encontra-se a termoterapia induzida pela água ou WIT (water induced thermotherapy). Com o objetivo de se estudar os efeitos do calor sobre a próstata, foi realizado este trabalho experimental, que utilizou o equipamento ThermoflexTM (Argomed Ltda.), o qual, de modo controlado, produz aquecimento da água que circula de um reservatório até a extremidade de uma sonda tipo Foley, onde existe um balão insuflável termotransmissor, que deve ser posicionado na uretra prostática. Utilizou-se, no experimento, 27 cães, sem raça definida, com peso variando de 11,5 a 32,0kg, distribuídos em três subgrupos controles (n=9) e três experimentais (n=18). Os animais foram sacrificados 12, 72 horas e duas semanas (momentos M1, M2 e M3) após o procedimento. Nessa ocasião, as próstatas foram removidas e seus volumes foram aferidos por gravimetria, volume de água deslocado em bureta, peso do volume de água deslocado e, indiretamente, pelas medidas dos eixos cranio-caudal, dorsoventral e latero-lateral, com um paquímetro. Durante todo o período de experimentação, foram realizados exames ultra-sonográficos... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Over the past years, several alternative treatments for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) have been developed including drug therapies and the so called "minimally invasive" therapies. These latter are based on the application of heat (hyperthermia and thermotherapy), laser, radiofrequency, ultrasound; balloon urethral dilation; placement of urethral endoprotheses and transurethral incision of the prostate. One of the methods that use heat to treat BPH is water-induced thermotherapy (WIT). The present experimental work was undertaken with the purpose of studying the effects of heat on the prostate using ThermoflexTM (Argomed Ltda.), a device that heats the water that circulates from a reservoir to the tip of a Foley-like catheter, which has an inflatable thermotransmitting balloon that is placed in the prostatic urethra. Twenty-seven mongrel dogs, weighing 11.5-32.0 kg, were divided into three control (N=9) and three experimental (N=18) subgroups. The animals were sacrificed 12 hrs., 72 hrs. and two weeks (moments M1, M2 and M3, respectively) after heat application. Their prostates were removed and prostatic volume was estimated by gravimetry, the amount of water displaced from a burette, weight of the displaced water volume and, indirectly, by measuring the cranio-caudal, dorso-ventral and latero-lateral axes with a pachymeter. Throughout the experiment, transabdominal ultrasonographic examinations were performed to determine prostatic volume, considering prostatic shape... (Complete abstract click electronic address below) / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-08-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:20:19Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 cidade_dg_me_botfm.pdf: 368558 bytes, checksum: 1d1fed8b52f56286485cb9248fcf21d2 (MD5) / Fundação de Ensino e Pesquisa em Ciências da Saúde (FEPECS) / O objetivo desta revisão foi apresentar informações atuais sobre a prevalência do sobrepeso e da obesidade e discutir as evidências acerca do impacto desses estados nutricionais na saúde da mãe e do concepto. A busca pelos artigos foi realizada através de pesquisa nos bancos de dados MEDLINE/PUBMED e SCIELO abrangendo os últimos 5 anos e através da revisão das referências bibliográficas dos artigos selecionados. Diante de assuntos com resultados discordantes ou sem informações satisfatórias, procedemos a uma terceira etapa de busca, usando ampla variedade de termos. Os artigos encontrados foram selecionados por avaliação subjetiva, considerando metodologia, tamanho da amostra, coerência nas conclusões e o ano de publicação. Informações atuais sustentam uma prevalência elevada e crescente do sobrepeso e da obesidade. Fortes evidências associam esses estados nutricionais no período pré-gestacional ao desenvolvimento de hipertensão específica da gestação, diabete gestacional, gestação com 41 semanas ou mais, tromboembolismo, realização de cesariana, infecção puerperal, macrossomia, malformações fetais e mortes fetal e neonatal. O excesso de peso no período pré-gestacional é um dos mais importantes fatores de risco à saúde da mãe e do concepto, cuja importância aumenta por se tratar de fator de risco modificável. A gestante obesa deve ser considerada de alto risco e é recomendável que as mulheres estejam com o peso o mais próximo possível do normal antes da concepção / The goal of this review was to present up-to-date information on the prevalence of overweight and obesity and to discuss the evidence regarding the impact of these nutrition-related conditions on the health of mother and fetus. We conducted a search for articles in the MEDLINE, PUBMED and SCIELO databases covering the past 5 years, and reviewed the bibliographical references contained in the articles selected. After reviewing cases with discordant results or lacking satisfactory data, we proceeded to a third step using a wide variety of TORs. Articles were selected by subjective evaluation in terms of methodology, sample size and year of publication. We found strong evidence linking excess weight before pregnancy with the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, pregnancy at 41 weeks or over, thromboembolism, cesarean section, puerperal infection, macrosomia, birth defects and fetal and neonatal deaths. Excess weight during pre-pregnancy is one of the major risk factors affecting the health of mother and fetus. It is especially important to realize that this is a modifiable risk factor. Since obese pregnant women must be considered at high risk it is recommended that they should focus on attaining a normal weight before conceiving

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Tratou-se de estudo com abordagem quantitativa, transversal, do tipo levantamento, que teve como objetivo geral investigar sobre a prÃtica do aborto provocado e sua relaÃÃo com a gravidez nÃo planejada, comparativamente com o aborto espontÃneo e como objetivos especÃficos analisar aspectos demogrÃficos, socioeconÃmicos e reprodutivos comparativamente ao aborto provocado e espontÃneo; verificar o conhecimento e a prÃtica anticoncepcional prÃvia a gestaÃÃo interrompida por aborto provocado e por aborto espontÃneo e conhecer os meios utilizados na prÃtica do aborto provocado e os motivos determinantes. Foi realizado no Hospital Distrital Gonzaga Mota da Barra do Cearà e no Hospital Geral Dr. Cesar Cals (HGCC), de junho a dezembro de 2011. A populaÃÃo correspondeu Ãs mulheres em abortamento com idade maior ou igual a 18 anos atendidas nos respectivos hospitais no perÃodo da coleta de dados. A entrevista seguiu um formulÃrio estruturado, que foi prÃ-testado. Finalizou-se o estudo com 70 participantes, sendo 33 (47,1%) mulheres que tiveram aborto provocado e 37 (52,9%) aborto espontÃneo. Os dados receberam tratamento estatÃstico descritivo e as comparaÃÃes das mÃdias dessas variÃveis e o tipo de aborto foram realizados por meio do teste t de Student para dados independentes e com variÃncia desiguais (analisadas pelo teste de Levene). Compararam-se, somente para aborto provocado, as porcentagens das variÃveis dicotÃmicas por meio do teste z para proporÃÃes. As anÃlises de associaÃÃes entre tipo de abortamento e as variÃveis nominais foram realizadas por meio do &#61539;2 e de razÃo de verossimilhanÃa. Calcularam-se as razÃes de chances (RC) com seus respectivos IC95% entre tipo de abortamento e essas variÃveis. Consideraram-se como estatisticamente significantes as analises com p<0,05. Dentre as variÃveis demogrÃficas e socioeconÃmicas, somente a mÃdia do nÃmero de pessoas na famÃlia apresentou associaÃÃo com o tipo de aborto (p= 0,042). Com relaÃÃo Ãs variÃveis reprodutivas e condiÃÃo de uniÃo, houve associaÃÃo entre planejamento da gravidez e tipo de aborto (p<0,001) (RC=2,4; IC95%: 1,7-3,3). Isto evidencia que a gravidez nÃo planejada foi um fator de risco para o aborto provocado. A mÃdia do tempo de uniÃo das que tiveram aborto espontÃneo foi maior do que aquelas de aborto provocado (p= 0,041). ParticipaÃÃo masculina na decisÃo pelo aborto mostrou-se como fator de risco para o aborto provocado (p=0,002). Nenhuma variÃvel relacionada à informaÃÃo e acesso ao MAC em uso prÃvio ao aborto foi significativa para o tipo de aborto. Houve associaÃÃo entre uso de AOC e tipo de aborto, sendo o uso de AOC fator protetor ao aborto provocado (p=0,040). Pensamento mÃgico de acreditar que a gravidez nÃo ocorreria consigo foi significante com o tipo de aborto (p=0,003). ChÃs e misoprostol foram os meios mais referidos pelas mulheres para provocar o aborto, sendo os motivos para provocÃ-lo a baixa condiÃÃo financeira, seguida do relacionamento instÃvel e do despreparo para cuidar da crianÃa. Concluiu-se que promover aÃÃes efetivas de planejamento familiar, com prioridade para as populaÃÃes mais carentes e com estratÃgias que garantam a participaÃÃo masculina representam meios para reduzir o aborto provocado. / This is a research study with quantitative and transversal approach aiming to investigate the induction of abortion and its relationship with an unplanned pregnancy, in comparison with natural abortion. It also aimed to analyse the demographic, socioeconomic and reproductive aspects of both methods of abortion; verify the knowledge and use of contraceptive methods prior to the interrupted pregnancy through induced and natural abortion and know which methods are used for induced abortion and it motifs. The study took place at the District Hospital Gonzaga Mota in Barra do Cearà and General Hospital Dr. Cesar Cals (HGCC), from June until December of 2011. The population consisted of women in abortion and over 18 years of age who were being assisted at the hospitals during data collection. The interview followed a structured questionnaire that was previously tested. The study consisted in the end with 70 participants, being 33 (47,1%) women who induced abortion and 37 (52,9%) with natural abortion. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics and the comparison of the means of these variables and the type of abortion were done with the Student t test for independent data and with unequal variance (analysed with Leveneâs test). It was compared only for induced abortion, the percentage of dichotomous variables with the z test for proportions. The association analysis between the type of abortion and the nominal variables were conducted with &#61539;2 and likelihood ratio. It was calculated the chance ratios (CR) with its respective IC95% between the type of abortion and these variables. It was considered as statistically significant, analysis with p<0,05. Amongst the demographic and socioeconomic variables, only the average number of people in the family presented association with the type of abortion (p= 0,042). Regarding reproductive variables and marital status, there was an association between planning of a pregnancy and abortion (p<0,001) (RC=2,4; IC95%: 1,7-3,3). This shows that an unplanned pregnancy was a risk factor for induced abortion. The average time of union with their partner was higher in women with natural abortion than in those with induced abortion (p= 0,041). It was shown that the male participation in the decision of an abortion is a risk factor for induced abortion (p= 0,002). Variables regarding information and access to contraceptive methods prior to the abortion were not significant to the type of abortion. There was an association between the use of AOC and type of abortion, being the use of AOC a protective factor to induced abortion (p= 0,040). The belief that a pregnancy would not occur with themselves was significant with the type of abortion (p= 0,003). Herbal teas and misoprostol were the most frequent methods mentioned by the women to induce an abortion, being their low economical situation, followed by an unstable relationship and unpreparedness to take care of a child the main reasons to render towards these methods. It was concluded that promoting effective methods of family planning, prioritizing poorer populations, with strategies that assures male participation represent means to reduce induced abortions.

No description available.

This thesis outlines a study carried out to understand the effects of coal dissolution variables. Several parameters that are thought to have a direct influence on the degree of coal dissolution in organic solvents were investigated by means of a series of experiments. The work done constitutes part of the research being carried out for the PBMR Company, whose aim is to synthesise nuclear-grade graphite from coal based materials. To enhance the efficiency of the process, it was necessary to gain a clear-cut understanding of the parameters that affect the process. The work carried in this project was divided into two sections. The first section involved the solubilisation of coal in polar aprotic organic solvents with the addition of a small amount of alkali. In this section as well, many parameters that influence the process were investigated. The second section involved the use of various analytical techniques to obtain information on the composition of coal extracts. The conclusions reached were as follows: <ul> <li>An alkali is required for the solubilisation of coal to occur in polar organic solvents. This also gives an overall high extraction percentage of ~ 92%. In pure dimethylformamide (DMF), the sodium hyroxide (NaOH) does not go into solution but on the addition of coal, the NaOH goes into solution.</li> The characteristic smell of the Refcoal solution confirms the presence of dimethylamine, although the titration results show otherwise. <ul> <li>The texture of the alkali used in the extraction affects the rate and degree of extraction. Finely ground alkali gives a faster dissolution rate, as well as a high extraction percentage.</li> <li>There is no hydrolysis of solvent during the extraction of coal.</li> <li>The concentration of the alkali used in the extraction process affects the degree to which coal can be extracted.</li> <li>The use of a strong alkali increases the rate at which coal can be dissolved in the solvent.</li> <li>Temperature does not affect the degree of extraction, as shown by the closeness of the extractions done at different temperatures. Also, external factors, such as oxidation and weathering of coal, have little effect on the extent of extraction.</li> <li>Coal characterization techniques provide information about the composition of coal extracts. The coals used in this process consisted of aliphatic and aromatic compounds. </li> / Dissertation (MSc (Chemistry))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Chemistry / unrestricted

A wound- and insect-inducible expression system for transgenic plants was developed. Specifically, I demonstrate wound- and insect-inducible, localized gene expression driven by the potato proteinase inhibitor II (pinII)-promoter in transformed Arabidopsis, tobacco and white spruce. As reporter and target genes driven by the pinII-promoter, I used the GUS gene and a terpenoid synthase gene, respectively. In addition, I found that the pinII-promoter drives trichome-specific, systemically-induced gene expression in tobacco and Arabidopsis. Finally, I demonstrate that the pinII–promoter, when transformed into Arabidopsis, is extremely sensitive to subtle, low-impact stress treatment. This latter finding prompted me to use, in the second part of my thesis, the pinII-promoter in conjunction with GUS reporter gene expression to test if intact Arabidopsis plants can respond to exposure to monoterpene volatiles. My experiments using the pinII–promoter GUS reporter system clearly established that Arabidopsis plants respond to the exposure of the monoterpene volatiles tested. It is thought that monoterpenes and other volatiles can act as airborne signals between plants under stress or between distant parts of the same plant. At the outset of my thesis research, and to some extent still today, the concept of plant-plant signalling with volatiles has been met with scepticism. After establishing that Arabidopsis plants do respond in a laboratory setting to certain monoterpene volatiles, I further tested the extent of the response at the transcriptome level using a 30 K microarray platform. The gene expression analysis revealed several hundred transcripts that respond with a change of abundance in response to treatment of intact Arabidopsis plants with the monoterpenes ocimene or myrcene. Many of these transcripts were annotated as stress and defense genes including genes involved in octadecanoid signaling. Real-time PCR analyses of octadecanoid mutants confirmed a role for octadecanoid signaling in the response to the monoterpene ocimene. In addition, treatment with ocimene or myrcene caused increased levels of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in Arabidopsis rosette leaves. However, plants treated with monoterpene prior to wounding or feeding by cabbage looper did not reveal any significant priming effect for these pre-treatments. / Science, Faculty of / Botany, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

Purpose: Solution-induced corneal staining (SICS) has been the subject of much debate in the clinical literature. While it has been suggested that this form of staining indicates toxicity of the cornea, microscopy studies have suggested that cells treated with multi-purpose solutions (MPS) known to produce SICS in vivo are undamaged. There is further debate in the literature as to whether or not sodium fluorescein (‘fluorescein’) actually enters epithelial cells or not. The aim of this work was to investigate the cellular mechanisms involved in SICS by developing an in vitro cell culture model to mimic the clinical presentation of this phenomenon. Methods: An in vitro model of SICS was developed using cultured cells that were exposed overnight to ReNu MultiPlus® (Bausch + Lomb) MPS. After addition of fluorescein, cells were imaged using an automated fluorescence microscope. Hyperfluorescent cells were identified using predetermined threshold of intensity in fluorescence microscope, and confocal microscopy was used to investigate where fluorescein was situated within the cells. The extent of cell toxicity was assessed using propidium iodide and Annexin V. In order to examine the contribution of passive and active transport mechanisms in fluorescein uptake and release, levels of hyperfluorescent staining were measured at 37°C and 4°C. In all described experiments, fluorescein staining was expressed by the proportion of hyperfluorescent cells in the total cells. Results: All cultured cells readily took up fluorescein at room temperature, however a sub-population of cells stained more intensely with fluorescein. These cells were termed ‘hyperfluorescent’ cells. Exposure to ReNu MultiPlus® resulted in a significant increase in the proportion of hyperfluorescent cells compared with control cells. In addition, the staining profiles of individual cells showed no correlation between cell death and hyperfluorescence. The data also showed that hyperfluorescence did not occur extensively in deliberately lysed cells.Addition of fluorescein to the cells at 4°C resulted in very low levels of hyperfluorescence compared to high levels at 37°C. Fluorescein was rapidly released from cells at 37°C but not from those at 4°C. Conclusion: In this work, an effective in vitro model of SICS was developed in order to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in fluorescein staining. This work suggests that corneal fluorescein staining may reflect a simple cellular uptake of fluorescein. Levels of staining in the cells appear to be unrelated to cellular toxicity or cell damage. Staining appears to occur in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of the cells. Finally, fluorescein uptake and release are likely to occur through active transports mechanisms.

It began with the loss of the use of her forearm, then the use of her other arm, and then her legs. Headaches became severe migraines; seizures occurred. Her body wasted away and she became needle-thin. A neurologist, a psychiatrist, her family physician could not determine what was wrong. A local specialist, however, recognized the symptoms as those he had seen in others over several years. Concerned that the symptoms might be related to environmental toxins, he alerted the local health authorities. His concerns and those of his patients were not taken seriously, not, that is, until he and his patients coined a name for the symptoms: Somatic Chemically Induced Dysfunction Syndrome, or SCIDS. What was expected to be simply a name for a set of symptoms suddenly became contested. A social problem was defined, and experts from Agriculture, Health, and the Environment Ministries entered the fray. Unrelated at first, degradation of the local aquifer, death of wildlife, and a noticeable decrease in small mammals in the area had been noted. Questions were raised about the links between the two; between the environment and health. Somatic Chemically Induced Dysfunction Syndrome (SCIDS) suggested a causal link with chemicals, moreover with chemicals in the environment. This raised doubts in people's minds about the responsibility and accountability of government, and the authority of experts and the role of science was thrown into question. A private trouble became a public issue. The ensuing conflict revolved around naming and owning a social problem. Both experts and persons with SCIDS invoked science to make their case. Sides were drawn and the conflict was played out to the wider public through the media. It has been commented that research about illnesses of the environment have a bias towards the stories of the sufferers. This dissertation focuses mainly, though not exclusively, on the stories of the various experts involved. Set within the wider frame of social constructionism, I address the ways in which private troubles become public issues and are defined as a social problem. The frames used in this contest to wrest both ownership and thus management of the problem are investigated. The impact of this on a local social movement is examined. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate