Menopause is the period during which the level of estrogen secreted by the ovaries gradually declines and patients of menopausal syndrome may experience osteoporosis, cognitive decline, hot flush, mood disorder, night sweat, depression, nervous tension and insomnia. The report published by the World Health Organization in 1990 stated that the total population of postmenopausal women in the world was 476 million. By 2030, the predicted population will reach 1200 million. The current way to relieve menopausal syndrome is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) which restores the endogenous estrogen level by administration of supplementary exogenous estrogen or estrogen plus progestin. However, various studies showed that HRT might increase the incidence of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. There is a potential risk of using HRT for menopausal syndrome. The novel protein DO isolated in this study could be a potential alternative of HRT for the treatment of menopausal syndrome. DO isolated from Chinese yam Dioscorea opposite Thunb. had adistinctive N-terminal sequence Gly-Ile-Gly-Lys-Ile-Thr-Thr- Tyr-Trp-Gly-Gln-Tyr-Ser-Asp-Glu-Pro-Ser-Leu-Thr-Glu-Ala, indicating that DO might be a novel protein.DO was an acid stable and thermal stable protein. As determined by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) detection, DO could stimulate estradiol biosynthesis in rat granulosa cells in vitro as well as inducing both estradiol and progesterone secretion in female aging Sprague Darley (SD)-rat model in vivo. From the results of real-time PCR and Western blot, the possible mechanism might be through up-regulating the expression of ovarian follicle stimulating hormone receptor(FSHR)and aromatase. DO also exerted a beneficial effect on the cognitive function through elevating the translational level of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)and TrkB gp 145 receptor in the prefrontal cortex of female aging SD-rat model. Though further pharmacological studies are required, the results in this study suggested that DO could be a safer potential alternative for HRT in the treatment of menopausal syndrome with beneficial effects on hormone levels and cognitive function. / published_or_final_version / Chinese Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

The distribution of anthocyanin pigments and polyphenolics of sweet (Prunus avium) and sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) were determined by Ultraviolet- Visible (UV-Visible) spectrophotometry and High Performance Liquid Chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Their antioxidant properties were determined by Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP). The effect of frozen storage, canning, and brining on those properties was measured. Experiments were conducted on three sweet cherry cultivars; Bing, Rainier, Royal Ann and one sour cherry cultivar; Montmorency. Cherries were separated into skins, flesh, pits, and pitted cherries for subsequent analyses. Bing had the highest anthocyanin pigments (60.6 mg/lOOg fw) while Montmorency had both the highest total phenolic content (5.6 mg GAE/g fw) and the highest antioxidant activities (ORAC 51.02 μmoles Trolox equivalent (TE) /g fw, FRAP 47.96 μmoles TE/g fw). Hydroxycinnamates predominated in sweet cherries (70-80%) while flavanols were the major class of polyphenolics in sour cherries (70%). The major anthocyanins in sweet and sour cherries were cyanidin-3-rutinoside and cyanidin-3- glucosylrutinoside, respectively. Skins contained the highest amount of anthocyanins, polyphenolics, and antioxidant activities. Anthocyanins and flavonol glycosides predominated in cherry skins. Bing cherries were different from the others in that it had substantial anthocyanins in flesh and pits. The proportion of flavanols increased from skins to pits. Pitted Bing cherries were frozen and stored at -23 and -70°C for 3 and 6 months. Pitted Bing cherries were also canned in light syrup and stored at 2 and 22°C for 5 months. Both Bing and Royal Ann cherries were brined in bisulfite for one year. In all processing experiments, polyphenolics were more stable than anthocyanins. Degradation of hydroxycinnamates occurred during frozen storage and canning while flavonol glycosides were relatively stable. With both canning and brining, anthocyanins and polyphenolics leached into syrup and brine. With brining, hydroxycinnamates and flavonol glycosides disappeared, and unidentified compounds with UV-Visible spectra similar to flavanols were formed. Unidentified compounds possessed antioxidant activity. Cherry skins are high in anthocyanins, polyphenolics and antioxidant properties. Cherry pits and spent brine solution may be a potential source for natural colorants, nutraceuticals, and natural antioxidants. / Graduation date: 2004

Thesis (D.Sc.)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2012.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Johannesburg, 2016. / Primary microRNA (pri-miRNA) mimics have been shown to mediate effective gene silencing and are well-suited for therapeutic applications. Pri-miRNA mimics, like natural pri-miRNA, are processed in the endogenous microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis pathway. Elements of the secondary RNA structure are crucial for processing by the Drosha-DGCR8 microprocessor, including a basal stem of - 11 bp. However, structural variation is common and the exact determinants of pri-miRNA processing have been elusive. The aim of this project were to explore the use of natural pri-miRNAs with exceptional basal stem in the design of correspondingmimics and to identify optimal stem features.[Abbreviated Abstract. Open document to view full version] / LG2017

The 37kDa/67kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR) is thought to play a major role in the adhesion to laminin and consequently invasion resulting in the metastasis of tumor cells. This receptor is reported to be over-expressed in several neoplastic cell lines and is believed to increase tumor aggressiveness. This research aims at determining whether the application of anti-LRP/LR specific antibody (IgG1-iS18) on neoplastic cell lines would result in a decrease in invasion and adhesion. All neoplastic cell lines had significantly increased cell surface LRP/LR levels compared to NIH/3T3 cells, with the most notable increase seen in SW480 cells (10.98%). Due to a positive correlation between the cell surface LRP/LR levels and invasion potential we propose that an increased LRP/LR level correlates to an increased ability to invade. A significantly decreased adhesion potential was noted in all neoplastic cell lines except the non-invasive MCF-7 cell line, upon application of IgG1-iS18, 21% decrease in HT-1080 cells, 14% in HeLa, 20% in LNCaP, 48% and 74% in A549 and SW480 cells, respectively. Incubation with the anti-LRP/LR antibody IgG1-iS18 resulted in a significant reduction of the invasive potential of HT-1080 (44%), A549 (33%), HeLa (69%), SW480 (91%) and LNCaP cells (38%). Furthermore, a high Pearson’s correlation coefficient between adhesion potential and invasive potential was seen, confirming that adhesion is indeed a pre-requisite for invasion. The significant reduction in invasion and adhesion of HT-1080, A549, HeLa, SW480 and LNCaP cells upon application of the IgG1-iS18 antibody suggests that this macromolecule might act as a promising therapeutic tool for the treatment of various metastatic cancer types.

Thesis (MTech (Horticulture))--Peninsula Technikon, 2004 / The term "horticultural therapy" is unfamiliar to most South Africans. However it is well accepted in South Africa that horticulture plays an important role in human well being both physically and psychological. It is generally believed that people who engage in gardening tend to benefit. The research study investigates whether plant related activities integrated into rehabilitation programme, actually benefit participants. It shows how patients at a chosen healthcare institution respond upon exposure to various horticulture activities in order to identify activities appropriate for the inclusion and design in a horticultural therapy programme. The study identifies factors necessary for the design of a business plan for a horticulturist engaging in a horticultural therapy programme under local conditions. The methodology adopted was mainly quantitative. The study is also descriptive in nature. It seeks to develop a model from a range of activities that would best meet the needs of specific groups subjects, through the careful and deliberate observation and evaluation of patients as they engage with the activities. The measuring instruments have been designed for experimentation research purpose. It involved setting up an experiment (patients engaged in a designed horticulture activity) and collecting the data. Information regarding the participant response to designed activities was also gathered on the basis of observations and interviews. The population consisted of patients admitted at a public (State) psychiatric institution in the Western Cape. The sample consisted of 12 patients, four patients from each of the following categories: Forensics, Intellectually Challenged, and Psychiatric. The designed activities consisted of 10 activities, and were centered around the following activities: Growing of herbs, learning to take cuttings, planting cuttings, planting seeds for outdoor garden, preparing a garden site, vegetable gardening, weeding, watering, and planting flowering annuals. The first objective of the study was to determine whether the response of different categories of patients to specific horticulture activities differ, in order to select the appropriate activity for each category. Forensic patients responded positively to all ten activities and recorded a high level (70%) of task accomplishment. Intellectually challenged patients had a medium level (46% to 69%) of task accomplishment for the majority of the activities. Psychiatric patients had a high level (70%) for 50 percent of the activities and a medium level (46% to 69%) of task accomplishment for the remainder of the activities. The second objective of the study was to evaluate the degree of effect of the different horticulture activities on each category of patients, in order to determine the relative importance of each activity in the programme in meeting the patients needs. The general findings are that the various categories responded differently to the subsections as shown in the results. Individual patients within the categories also differed in their response to various activities. The results of the study indicate that certain horticultural activities have an impact on patient's deficiencies and encourage their specific needs in the areas of a vocational/educational, interpersonal/social, and responsibility/development The study identified factors necessary for the design of a business plan for a horticulturist to engage in a horticultural therapy programme under local conditions. The business plan provides an outline to develop, market, and implement a horticultural therapy service. The business plan helps identify important ramifications of setting up a business and practicing as a contract worker. The research process has highlighted valuable aspects, which may be easily incorporated into a future horticulture therapy programme. It has shown that certain plant related activities, when successfully integrated into a rehabilitation programme, will benefit participants. The findings and recommendations provide guidelines for the formulation of a structured horticultural therapy programme. It encourages the concept of utilizing gardening in a structured/organized manner to benefit the well being of individuals. / TABEISA, SANTAM

No description available.

Abstract not available

Graduation date: 1993

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