Die soeke na sterk hoë-verrigtingspolimere het gelei tot die idee om ʼn volledig gekonjugeerde polimeer te ontwikkel vir moontlike gebruik in die motorindustrie. Hierdie polimeer moet soortgelyke eienskappe as dié van Kevlar besit, aangesien die beoogde polimeer vir die bakwerk van battery-aangedrewe voertuie gebruik sou kon word. Die selfpolimerisasie van 4,6-diaminobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied is as die gewenste gekonjugeerde polimeer beskou. Tydens die studie is daar gefokus op die sintese van die monomeer 4,6-diaminobenseen- 1,3-dikarbaldehied. Die sintese van monomere wat beide funksionele groepe wat aan die polimerisasie deelneem, op dieselfde molekuul besit, was uitdagend, omdat hierdie monomere baie maklik selfpolimerisasie kan ondergaan. Hierdie studie het ook na groener en korter sinteseroetes om 4,6-diaminobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied of derivate daarvan te sintetiseer gekyk, aangesien die sintese van 4,6-diaminobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied in die verlede met baie lang sinteseroetes en gevaarlike chemikalieë uitgevoer is. Sintese van 1,5-dibromo-2,4-dimetielbenseen (1), 1,5-dibromo-2,4-bis(dibromometiel)- benseen (2), 4,6-dibromobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied (3) en 1,3-bis([1,3]dioksolaan)-4,6- dibromobenseen (5) is suksesvol uitgevoer, maar tydens die koper-gekataliseerde Ullmanntipe reaksies om 4,6-diaminobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied (4) te sintetiseer, het slegs poeiers gevorm wat nie oplosbaar in organiese oplosmiddels is nie. Om die selfpolimerisasie moontlikhede van 4 uit te skakel is 5 gesintetiseer. ʼn Poging om 1,3-bis([1,3]dioksolaan)- 4,6-diaminobenseen (6a) vanaf 5 te sintetiseer het egter tot geen reaksie gelei nie. Molekuulmodellering van die Ullmann-tipe reaksies om 6a en 4,6-dimetielbenseen-1,3- diamien te sintetiseer is gedoen om die reaksie te ondersoek. Daar is gevind dat ʼn 1,3- diketoonligand wat aan die koperkatalisator bind, nodig is om die reaksie te verbeter. Vanuit die resultate van die studie is ook gevind dat ʼn Ullmann-tipe reaksie nie met 5 sal plaasvind nie, aangesien dit energeties nie so voordelig is nie. Spektroskopiese analise van die poeiers wat tydens die sintese van 4 gevorm het, bevestig dat die poeiers polimere is. Dit blyk egter dat dit nie die voorgestelde rigiede polimeer is wat gevorm het nie, maar dat dit eerder ʼn amorfe kinasolientipe produk is. / MSc (Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Die soeke na sterk hoë-verrigtingspolimere het gelei tot die idee om ʼn volledig gekonjugeerde polimeer te ontwikkel vir moontlike gebruik in die motorindustrie. Hierdie polimeer moet soortgelyke eienskappe as dié van Kevlar besit, aangesien die beoogde polimeer vir die bakwerk van battery-aangedrewe voertuie gebruik sou kon word. Die selfpolimerisasie van 4,6-diaminobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied is as die gewenste gekonjugeerde polimeer beskou. Tydens die studie is daar gefokus op die sintese van die monomeer 4,6-diaminobenseen- 1,3-dikarbaldehied. Die sintese van monomere wat beide funksionele groepe wat aan die polimerisasie deelneem, op dieselfde molekuul besit, was uitdagend, omdat hierdie monomere baie maklik selfpolimerisasie kan ondergaan. Hierdie studie het ook na groener en korter sinteseroetes om 4,6-diaminobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied of derivate daarvan te sintetiseer gekyk, aangesien die sintese van 4,6-diaminobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied in die verlede met baie lang sinteseroetes en gevaarlike chemikalieë uitgevoer is. Sintese van 1,5-dibromo-2,4-dimetielbenseen (1), 1,5-dibromo-2,4-bis(dibromometiel)- benseen (2), 4,6-dibromobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied (3) en 1,3-bis([1,3]dioksolaan)-4,6- dibromobenseen (5) is suksesvol uitgevoer, maar tydens die koper-gekataliseerde Ullmanntipe reaksies om 4,6-diaminobenseen-1,3-dikarbaldehied (4) te sintetiseer, het slegs poeiers gevorm wat nie oplosbaar in organiese oplosmiddels is nie. Om die selfpolimerisasie moontlikhede van 4 uit te skakel is 5 gesintetiseer. ʼn Poging om 1,3-bis([1,3]dioksolaan)- 4,6-diaminobenseen (6a) vanaf 5 te sintetiseer het egter tot geen reaksie gelei nie. Molekuulmodellering van die Ullmann-tipe reaksies om 6a en 4,6-dimetielbenseen-1,3- diamien te sintetiseer is gedoen om die reaksie te ondersoek. Daar is gevind dat ʼn 1,3- diketoonligand wat aan die koperkatalisator bind, nodig is om die reaksie te verbeter. Vanuit die resultate van die studie is ook gevind dat ʼn Ullmann-tipe reaksie nie met 5 sal plaasvind nie, aangesien dit energeties nie so voordelig is nie. Spektroskopiese analise van die poeiers wat tydens die sintese van 4 gevorm het, bevestig dat die poeiers polimere is. Dit blyk egter dat dit nie die voorgestelde rigiede polimeer is wat gevorm het nie, maar dat dit eerder ʼn amorfe kinasolientipe produk is. / MSc (Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Background Due to population growth, aging, urbanisation, increasing prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity, diabetes mellitus (DM) has become one of the most important and prevalent chronic diseases. Glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) assessment is currently being used all over to monitor glycaemic control as a cornerstone of diabetes care. It might also be a useful screening tool for non–insulin dependent DM, also known as type 2 DM (T2DM). Elevated HbA1c can be linked with long–term risk of cardiovascular complications. Aim The aim of the study was to determine whether HbA1c can be used as reliable screening tool for early detection of T2DM in an African population. Methods This study was a cross–sectional study and was part of the South African, North–West Province (SANWP) leg of the 12–year Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study. Baseline data was collected from March to December 2005. A total of 2010 volunteers were recruited from randomly selected households. Data was collected on socio–demographic characteristics, physical activity, dietary intakes, blood pressure and anthropometry. HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), liver enzymes and HIV status were determined. Ethical approval for the PURE study was obtained in July 2004. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were also done for a sub–group of 465 subjects. The Statistical Consultation Services of the North–West University were consulted to analyse data with SPSS 17.0 and STATISTICA 9.0. Results The HbA1c values within the diabetic FPG groups were 7.46% for men and 8.08% for women. HbA1c values increased significantly progressively from the normal FPG groups to the groups with impaired FPG and the diabetic FPG groups for both men and women. No significant increases were found in HbA1c between the OGTT groups (normal 2 hour plasma glucose (PG), impaired 2–hour PG and diabetic 2–hour PG). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index and FPG increased significantly and high–density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly with an increase in HbA1c values in men and women. In addition, systolic blood pressure increased significantly in women with increased HbA1c. Thus, with an increase in HbA1c, an increase in the number of risk factors was observed. When using HbA1c and FPG in combination, 43 subjects of the whole population were detected with having a risk of developing T2DM. However, when considering the commonality of subjects identified to be diabetic or at risk by the OGTT, FPG and HbA1c individually, only one subject was identified by all the methods as having diabetes or being at risk to develop diabetes. Discussion and conclusions An increase in HbA1c and FPG was associated with an increase in risk factors and therefore with metabolic syndrome (MS). MS is associated with an increased risk of developing T2DM and therefore it can be concluded that HbA1c was useful for detecting in this population individuals at increased risk of developing T2DM. The use of FPG and HbA1c in combination was considered a better screening tool when compared to HbA1c alone. Factors other than what were measured in this study might be the cause of the unexpected results obtained in the participants with impaired OGTT. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Background Due to population growth, aging, urbanisation, increasing prevalence of obesity and physical inactivity, diabetes mellitus (DM) has become one of the most important and prevalent chronic diseases. Glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) assessment is currently being used all over to monitor glycaemic control as a cornerstone of diabetes care. It might also be a useful screening tool for non–insulin dependent DM, also known as type 2 DM (T2DM). Elevated HbA1c can be linked with long–term risk of cardiovascular complications. Aim The aim of the study was to determine whether HbA1c can be used as reliable screening tool for early detection of T2DM in an African population. Methods This study was a cross–sectional study and was part of the South African, North–West Province (SANWP) leg of the 12–year Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study. Baseline data was collected from March to December 2005. A total of 2010 volunteers were recruited from randomly selected households. Data was collected on socio–demographic characteristics, physical activity, dietary intakes, blood pressure and anthropometry. HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), liver enzymes and HIV status were determined. Ethical approval for the PURE study was obtained in July 2004. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were also done for a sub–group of 465 subjects. The Statistical Consultation Services of the North–West University were consulted to analyse data with SPSS 17.0 and STATISTICA 9.0. Results The HbA1c values within the diabetic FPG groups were 7.46% for men and 8.08% for women. HbA1c values increased significantly progressively from the normal FPG groups to the groups with impaired FPG and the diabetic FPG groups for both men and women. No significant increases were found in HbA1c between the OGTT groups (normal 2 hour plasma glucose (PG), impaired 2–hour PG and diabetic 2–hour PG). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index and FPG increased significantly and high–density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly with an increase in HbA1c values in men and women. In addition, systolic blood pressure increased significantly in women with increased HbA1c. Thus, with an increase in HbA1c, an increase in the number of risk factors was observed. When using HbA1c and FPG in combination, 43 subjects of the whole population were detected with having a risk of developing T2DM. However, when considering the commonality of subjects identified to be diabetic or at risk by the OGTT, FPG and HbA1c individually, only one subject was identified by all the methods as having diabetes or being at risk to develop diabetes. Discussion and conclusions An increase in HbA1c and FPG was associated with an increase in risk factors and therefore with metabolic syndrome (MS). MS is associated with an increased risk of developing T2DM and therefore it can be concluded that HbA1c was useful for detecting in this population individuals at increased risk of developing T2DM. The use of FPG and HbA1c in combination was considered a better screening tool when compared to HbA1c alone. Factors other than what were measured in this study might be the cause of the unexpected results obtained in the participants with impaired OGTT. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Nutrition))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-02-18Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:14:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 borges_la_me_jabo.pdf: 248872 bytes, checksum: bb6dce02b71fa4434990be14d38d0fe8 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / O herpesvírus bovino tipo 1 (BoHV-1), agente etiológico da rinotraqueite infecciosa bovina (IBR)/Vulvovaginite Pustular Bovina (IPV), tem grande importância como agente causador de problemas reprodutivos em vacas por determinar baixas taxas de concepção ou parição, acarretando consideráveis perdas econômicas para o produtor. Assim, o presente estudo conduzido em rebanhos de três fazendas (A, B e C) onde se processa a transferência de embriões (TE) no município de Prata no Estado de Minas Gerais teve como objetivo verificar as condições sorológicas de 209 animais antes do processamento biotécnico, determinar a resposta imune de esquema vacinal pré-definido e analisar a relação entre títulos médios geométricos (TMG) de anticorpos antes e depois da vacinação com os parâmetros reprodutivos de fêmeas receptoras de embriões vacinadas contra o BoHV-1. O título dos anticorpos para BoHV-1 foi determinado por meio do teste de virusneutralização (VN), conforme protocolo definido pelo Organização Mundial de Saúde Animal (OIE) e o quadro reprodutivo foi caracterizado por meio do exame de ultrassonografia transretal. Com isso, verificou-se que as prevalências de 39,7% (27/68) na fazenda A, 27,5% (11/40) na fazenda B e 36,6% (37/101) na fazenda C não foram estatisticamente diferentes; essa situação epidemiológica definiu o aumento de títulos de anticorpos para o BoHV-1 em 72,7% (152/209) dos animais pela vacinação com dose única; o maior sucesso de prenhez (75%) na 1ª TE foi observada nos animais que eram positivos e atingiram títulos acima de 256 após a vacinação; mesmo assim, no contexto estatístico, os índices gerais de gestação não tiveram influência significativa em decorrência da vacinação com dose única / The bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoVH-1), which causes infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) / infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPV), has major importance as an agent that causes reproductive problems by determining low conception or calving rates causing significant economical losses for the producer. The present study, was carried out in the cattle of three farms (A, B and C), where the embryos transfer is processed (ET), at Prata municipality in Minas Gerais State, aiming to verify the serological conditions of 209 animals before biotechnical processing, to determine immune response to a pre defined vaccination schedule and to analyze the relationship between geometric mean titers (TMG) of antibodies before and after vaccination with the reproductive parameters in embryo recipient heifers vaccinated against BoHV-1. The antibodies titers of BoHV-1 were determined by the virusneutralization test (VN), according to the protocol established by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the reproductive performance was characterized by transrectal ultrasonography examination. Thus, it was verified that the prevalence rates of 39.7% (27/68) in farm A, 27.5% (11/40) in farm B and 36.6% (37/101) in farm C had no statistical difference; this epidemiological situation defined the increase of antibody titers for BoHV-1 in 72.7% (152/209) of the animals by vaccination with a single dose; the greater success of pregnancy (75%) in the first ET was observed in animals that were positive and reached titers higher than 256 after vaccination; in the statistical context, the single dose vaccination had no significative influence in the overall rates of pregnancy

Orientador: Samir Issa Samara / Banca: Sandra Possebon Gatti / Banca: Walt Yamasaki / Resumo: O herpesvírus bovino tipo 1 (BoHV-1), agente etiológico da rinotraqueite infecciosa bovina (IBR)/Vulvovaginite Pustular Bovina (IPV), tem grande importância como agente causador de problemas reprodutivos em vacas por determinar baixas taxas de concepção ou parição, acarretando consideráveis perdas econômicas para o produtor. Assim, o presente estudo conduzido em rebanhos de três fazendas (A, B e C) onde se processa a transferência de embriões (TE) no município de Prata no Estado de Minas Gerais teve como objetivo verificar as condições sorológicas de 209 animais antes do processamento biotécnico, determinar a resposta imune de esquema vacinal pré-definido e analisar a relação entre títulos médios geométricos (TMG) de anticorpos antes e depois da vacinação com os parâmetros reprodutivos de fêmeas receptoras de embriões vacinadas contra o BoHV-1. O título dos anticorpos para BoHV-1 foi determinado por meio do teste de virusneutralização (VN), conforme protocolo definido pelo Organização Mundial de Saúde Animal (OIE) e o quadro reprodutivo foi caracterizado por meio do exame de ultrassonografia transretal. Com isso, verificou-se que as prevalências de 39,7% (27/68) na fazenda A, 27,5% (11/40) na fazenda B e 36,6% (37/101) na fazenda C não foram estatisticamente diferentes; essa situação epidemiológica definiu o aumento de títulos de anticorpos para o BoHV-1 em 72,7% (152/209) dos animais pela vacinação com dose única; o maior sucesso de prenhez (75%) na 1ª TE foi observada nos animais que eram positivos e atingiram títulos acima de 256 após a vacinação; mesmo assim, no contexto estatístico, os índices gerais de gestação não tiveram influência significativa em decorrência da vacinação com dose única / Abstract: The bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoVH-1), which causes infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) / infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPV), has major importance as an agent that causes reproductive problems by determining low conception or calving rates causing significant economical losses for the producer. The present study, was carried out in the cattle of three farms (A, B and C), where the embryos transfer is processed (ET), at Prata municipality in Minas Gerais State, aiming to verify the serological conditions of 209 animals before biotechnical processing, to determine immune response to a pre defined vaccination schedule and to analyze the relationship between geometric mean titers (TMG) of antibodies before and after vaccination with the reproductive parameters in embryo recipient heifers vaccinated against BoHV-1. The antibodies titers of BoHV-1 were determined by the virusneutralization test (VN), according to the protocol established by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the reproductive performance was characterized by transrectal ultrasonography examination. Thus, it was verified that the prevalence rates of 39.7% (27/68) in farm A, 27.5% (11/40) in farm B and 36.6% (37/101) in farm C had no statistical difference; this epidemiological situation defined the increase of antibody titers for BoHV-1 in 72.7% (152/209) of the animals by vaccination with a single dose; the greater success of pregnancy (75%) in the first ET was observed in animals that were positive and reached titers higher than 256 after vaccination; in the statistical context, the single dose vaccination had no significative influence in the overall rates of pregnancy / Mestre

Since the development of the ruthenium containing precatalysts Grubbs 1 (1) and Grubbs 2 (2), there was an increase in the development of new precatalysts. The NMR characterization could not cope with this. The NMR characterization mainly consists of 1H, 31P, COSY and rarely 13C. Due to the high natural abundance of 1H and 31P (99.98% and 100%), these experiments could be carried out quickly and easily. The only change that had to be made was to the spectral width, to accommodate the carbene signal (Ru=CH) between δ 20.02 and δ 17.32 ppm. The lack of 13C characterization is attributed to the low natural abundance of these nuclei that is only 1.10% and the lack of published parameters. Furthermore, the broad spectral width of 300 ppm increases the difficulty because the number of scans has to be increased to increase the sensitivity of the spectra and obtain useful data. In this study the precatalyst 1 was used to learn the NMR technique as well as to acquire the NMR parameters. 2 and two other commercial Grubbs-type precatalysts 3 and 4 underwent NMR characterization so that acquired values could be compared with the literature. Six other non-commercial Grubbs-type precatalysts 5-10 were synthesized and characterized. Due to the instability of the precatalysts and taking into account the duration of these experiments, the characterization was done over three steps. The first step was to do the following experiments: 1H, COSY, HSQC and HMBC, which took four hours. The next step was the DEPT135 experiment of three hours, and finally the 13C experiment of seven hours. The maximum amount of information could be obtained in this way. The combined NMR parameters for this study was obtained and used to characterize the Grubbs-type precatalysts 5-10 partially. Due to the large amount of overlapping peaks in the aromatic and alkane areas the resolution was not sufficient for full characterization. / MSc (Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The aim of the study was to evaluate type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) medicine management in Government Clinics in Maseru, Lesotho. A two-dimensional research method was employed, consisting of a literature review and an empirical investigation. The objective of the literature review was to provide information on the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and clinical management of DM. The empirical investigation consisted of a descriptive pharmacoepidemiological study, in which data for analysis was collected retrospectively from patients‘ medical records (―bukanas‖) at dispensing points, a using data collection tool. The selected study sites were Domiciliary Health Center, Mabote, Likotsi, and Qoaling filter clinics in Maseru district of Lesotho. Data on costs of antidiabetic agents was collected from purchase invoices provided by the pharmacy department of Domiciliary Health Center. Results showed that the overall ratio of males to females was 1.3. There were no statistical difference in DM prevalence between males and females in the different clinics (p = 0.48). The mean age of males and females was 57.5 ± 14.2 years and 58.6 ± 11.3 years, respectively (Cohen‘s d = 0.07). DM was more prevalent in patients 59 to 69 years for both males and females, with the exception of Mabote and Qoaling filter clinics, where DM was more prevalent in patients 49 to 59 years. These differences in prevalence were not statically significant. Overall, 20% (n = 69) of the study sample had DM alone, while 80.0% of patients had DM concurrently with hypertension. The odds ratio implicated that women were 1.7 times more likely to have hypertension concurrently with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The mean blood glucose level at 95% confidence interval for females and males were 10.1 ± 5.9 mmol/L (95% CI: 10.1–11.7) and 10.9 ± 6.2 mmol/L (95% CI: 11.0–14.0) respectively. The difference in the mean blood glucose levels of males vs. females was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). In both males and females there were outliers as high as 33.3 mmol/L. Metformin 850 mg given three times, metformin 500 mg three times a day, glibenclamide 10 mg daily and glibenclamide 5 mg twice daily are oral hypoglycaemic agents that were first, second, third and fourth choice treatment of DM at all four study sites at a frequency of 54.2% (n = 160), 27.7% (n = 82), 4% (n = 12) and 2.7% (n = 27), respectively. Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening was prescribed at a frequency of 11.6% (n = 432) in comparison to other Actraphane®-containing regimens. The frequencies of prescribing metformin and Actraphane® as combination therapies represented 10.6% (n = 40), 7.1% (n = 27), and 6.6% (n = 25), respectively, for Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening, plus metformin 500 mg three times per day; Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening plus metformin 850 mg three times per day; and Actraphane® 30 units in the morning and 15 units in the evening plus metformin 850 mg three times per day. The combination therapy of metformin and glibenclamide were prescribed at frequencies of 24.6% (n = 172), 22.9% (n = 160), and 13.4% (n = 94) respectively for glibenclamide 10 mg daily plus metformin 850 mg three times per day, glibenclamide 5 mg daily plus metformin 850 mg three times per day, and glibenclamide 5 mg once a day plus metformin 500 mg three times per day as first, second and third choice treatments at all study sites. The total cost incurred for all the oral drugs prescribed alone within different regimens was M75.6 with the weighted average cost per patient of M0.81 ± 2.06 per day compared to the cost of Actraphane® which was M40 660.52 per month at a weighted average daily cost of M21.43 ± 6.23 per patient. The overall cost of Actraphane® and metformin combination therapy amounted to M50 676.50, at an average cost per patient of M21.77 ± 6.80 per day. The cost of combination therapy consisting of metformin and glibenclamide amounted to M377.10, at a weighted average cost amounting to M0.49 ± 0.16 per patient, per day. Based on the results of this study some conclusions were reached on the prevalence of DM, prescribing patterns and the cost of antidiabetic agents. Recommendations pertaining to the clinics and further research were made. / MPham (Pharmacy Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Since the development of the ruthenium containing precatalysts Grubbs 1 (1) and Grubbs 2 (2), there was an increase in the development of new precatalysts. The NMR characterization could not cope with this. The NMR characterization mainly consists of 1H, 31P, COSY and rarely 13C. Due to the high natural abundance of 1H and 31P (99.98% and 100%), these experiments could be carried out quickly and easily. The only change that had to be made was to the spectral width, to accommodate the carbene signal (Ru=CH) between δ 20.02 and δ 17.32 ppm. The lack of 13C characterization is attributed to the low natural abundance of these nuclei that is only 1.10% and the lack of published parameters. Furthermore, the broad spectral width of 300 ppm increases the difficulty because the number of scans has to be increased to increase the sensitivity of the spectra and obtain useful data. In this study the precatalyst 1 was used to learn the NMR technique as well as to acquire the NMR parameters. 2 and two other commercial Grubbs-type precatalysts 3 and 4 underwent NMR characterization so that acquired values could be compared with the literature. Six other non-commercial Grubbs-type precatalysts 5-10 were synthesized and characterized. Due to the instability of the precatalysts and taking into account the duration of these experiments, the characterization was done over three steps. The first step was to do the following experiments: 1H, COSY, HSQC and HMBC, which took four hours. The next step was the DEPT135 experiment of three hours, and finally the 13C experiment of seven hours. The maximum amount of information could be obtained in this way. The combined NMR parameters for this study was obtained and used to characterize the Grubbs-type precatalysts 5-10 partially. Due to the large amount of overlapping peaks in the aromatic and alkane areas the resolution was not sufficient for full characterization. / MSc (Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The aim of the study was to evaluate type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) medicine management in Government Clinics in Maseru, Lesotho. A two-dimensional research method was employed, consisting of a literature review and an empirical investigation. The objective of the literature review was to provide information on the pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and clinical management of DM. The empirical investigation consisted of a descriptive pharmacoepidemiological study, in which data for analysis was collected retrospectively from patients‘ medical records (―bukanas‖) at dispensing points, a using data collection tool. The selected study sites were Domiciliary Health Center, Mabote, Likotsi, and Qoaling filter clinics in Maseru district of Lesotho. Data on costs of antidiabetic agents was collected from purchase invoices provided by the pharmacy department of Domiciliary Health Center. Results showed that the overall ratio of males to females was 1.3. There were no statistical difference in DM prevalence between males and females in the different clinics (p = 0.48). The mean age of males and females was 57.5 ± 14.2 years and 58.6 ± 11.3 years, respectively (Cohen‘s d = 0.07). DM was more prevalent in patients 59 to 69 years for both males and females, with the exception of Mabote and Qoaling filter clinics, where DM was more prevalent in patients 49 to 59 years. These differences in prevalence were not statically significant. Overall, 20% (n = 69) of the study sample had DM alone, while 80.0% of patients had DM concurrently with hypertension. The odds ratio implicated that women were 1.7 times more likely to have hypertension concurrently with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The mean blood glucose level at 95% confidence interval for females and males were 10.1 ± 5.9 mmol/L (95% CI: 10.1–11.7) and 10.9 ± 6.2 mmol/L (95% CI: 11.0–14.0) respectively. The difference in the mean blood glucose levels of males vs. females was not statistically significant (p = 0.07). In both males and females there were outliers as high as 33.3 mmol/L. Metformin 850 mg given three times, metformin 500 mg three times a day, glibenclamide 10 mg daily and glibenclamide 5 mg twice daily are oral hypoglycaemic agents that were first, second, third and fourth choice treatment of DM at all four study sites at a frequency of 54.2% (n = 160), 27.7% (n = 82), 4% (n = 12) and 2.7% (n = 27), respectively. Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening was prescribed at a frequency of 11.6% (n = 432) in comparison to other Actraphane®-containing regimens. The frequencies of prescribing metformin and Actraphane® as combination therapies represented 10.6% (n = 40), 7.1% (n = 27), and 6.6% (n = 25), respectively, for Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening, plus metformin 500 mg three times per day; Actraphane® 20 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening plus metformin 850 mg three times per day; and Actraphane® 30 units in the morning and 15 units in the evening plus metformin 850 mg three times per day. The combination therapy of metformin and glibenclamide were prescribed at frequencies of 24.6% (n = 172), 22.9% (n = 160), and 13.4% (n = 94) respectively for glibenclamide 10 mg daily plus metformin 850 mg three times per day, glibenclamide 5 mg daily plus metformin 850 mg three times per day, and glibenclamide 5 mg once a day plus metformin 500 mg three times per day as first, second and third choice treatments at all study sites. The total cost incurred for all the oral drugs prescribed alone within different regimens was M75.6 with the weighted average cost per patient of M0.81 ± 2.06 per day compared to the cost of Actraphane® which was M40 660.52 per month at a weighted average daily cost of M21.43 ± 6.23 per patient. The overall cost of Actraphane® and metformin combination therapy amounted to M50 676.50, at an average cost per patient of M21.77 ± 6.80 per day. The cost of combination therapy consisting of metformin and glibenclamide amounted to M377.10, at a weighted average cost amounting to M0.49 ± 0.16 per patient, per day. Based on the results of this study some conclusions were reached on the prevalence of DM, prescribing patterns and the cost of antidiabetic agents. Recommendations pertaining to the clinics and further research were made. / MPham (Pharmacy Practice), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014