Obesity: a preliminary report of an introductory service-learning course on the role of pharmacy students in health promotion
- Authors: Srinivas, Sunitha C , Wrench, Wendy W , Karekazi, Catherine W , Radloff, Sarah E , Daya, Santylal
- Date: 2009
- Language: English
- Type: text , Article
- Identifier: vital:6454 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006833
- Description: Lifestyle diseases such as obesity have been neglected in developing countries partly due to a more urgent focus on infectious diseases in these countries. The incidence of obesity is on the increase in developing countries, with a marked rise in childhood obesity. A health promotioning service-learning principles required final year pharmacy students to prepare a pilot-tested computer-based quiz, using a pre- and post-intervention test design, along with other learning material, for participants at the 2007 Sasol National Festival of Science and Technology (SciFest). Interactive models, posters and information leaflets were used in explaining the prevention and control of obesity to learners. The results showed that the pre-existing knowledge of the participants was good. There was a further improvement after the educational intervention. Activities such as this are important in heightening awareness of obesity in learners as it is likely to reduce the incidence of obesity later in life. Furthermore, the activity also served to increase awareness of the role of pharmacists in the prevention of lifestyle diseases such as obesity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2009
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, tolmetin and sulindac, inhibit liver tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase activity and alter brain neurotransmitter levels
- Authors: Dairam, A , Antunes, Edith M , Saravanan, K S , Daya, Santylal
- Date: 2006
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:6358 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006050 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2006.07.028
- Description: Hepatic tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) is one of the rate-limiting enzymes in tryptophan catabolism and plays an important role in regulating the physiological flux of tryptophan into relevant metabolic pathways. In this study, we determined the effect of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, tolmetin and sulindac, on rat liver TDO activity and the subsequent changes in the hippocampal and striatal neurotransmitter levels. The amount of melatonin produced by the pineal gland was also measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Treatment of rats with tolmetin or sulindac (5 mg/kg/bd for 5 days) significantly inhibited liver TDO activity. The results show that whilst tolmetin and sulindac increase serotonin levels in the hippocampus, these agents also significantly reduce dopamine levels in the striatum. Tolmetin, but not sulindac, increased the amount of melatonin produced by the pineal gland. The results of this study suggest that whilst tolmetin and sulindac may be beneficial for patients suffering from depression, these agents also have the potential to induce adverse effects in patients suffering with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2006
Competition for attachment of aquaculture candidate probiotic and pathogenic bacteria on fish intestinal mucus:
- Authors: Vine, Niall G , Leukes, Winston D , Kaiser, Horst , Daya, Santylal , Baxter, Jeremy , Hecht, Thomas
- Date: 2004
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/142819 , vital:38120 , DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2761.2004.00542.x
- Description: Probiotics for aquaculture are generally only selected by their ability to produce antimicrobial metabolites; however, attachment to intestinal mucus is important in order to remain within the gut of its host. Five candidate probiotics (AP1–AP5), isolated from the clownfish, Amphiprion percula (Lacepéde), were examined for their ability to attach to fish intestinal mucus and compete with two pathogens, Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio alginolyticus. Two different radioactive isotopes were used to quantify competition between pathogens and probionts. Attachment of the pathogens was enhanced by the presence of the candidate probiotics. However, the addition of the candidate probiotics after the pathogens resulted in reduced pathogen attachment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
6-Hydroxymelatonin protects against cyanide induced oxidative stress in rat brain homogenates
- Authors: Maharaj, Deepa S , Walker, Roderick B , Glass, Beverley D , Daya, Santylal
- Date: 2003
- Language: English
- Type: Article , text
- Identifier: vital:6405 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006478
- Description: Both 6-hydroxymelatonin and N-acetyl-N-formyl-5-methoxykynurenamine are photodegradants and enzymatic metabolites of melatonin and are known to retain equipotent activity against potassium cyanide-induced superoxide generation compared to melatonin. It is not clear whether one or both of these metabolites is responsible for this effect. The present study therefore investigates the possible manner in which 6-hydroxymelatonin protects against oxidative stress induced by cyanide in rat brain homogenates. We examined the ability of 6-hydroxymelatonin to scavenge KCN-induced superoxide anion generation as well as lipid peroxidation. In addition, we also examined the effect of this indole on lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH) as well as mitochondrial electron transport using dichlorophenol–indophenol as an electron acceptor. The results of this study show that 6-hydroxymelatonin significantly reduces KCN-induced superoxide anion generation, which is accompanied by a commensurate reduction in lipid peroxidation. Partial reversal of the KCN-induced reduction in mitochondrial electron transport is accompanied by a similar reversal of mitochondrial LDH activity blunted by KCN. It can thus be proposed that 6-hydroxymelatonin is potentially neuroprotective against KCN-induced neurotoxicity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2003
The identification of the UV degradants of melatonin and their ability to scavenge free radicals
- Authors: Maharaj, Deepa S , Anoopkumar-Dukie, Shailendra , Glass, Beverley D , Antunes, Edith M , Lack, Barbara A , Walker, Roderick B , Daya, Santylal
- Date: 2002
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184303 , vital:44198 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-079X.2002.01866.x"
- Description: Ultraviolet (UV) light is known to induce the generation of free radicals in biological tissues such as skin. Of these free radicals, the O2–· and particularly the ·OH radical can induce cellular damage including lipid peroxidation. Thus, the use of antioxidants to prevent such damage induced by UV irradiation has received much attention recently. One such antioxidant, which has the potential to be incorporated into sunscreens, is the pineal secretory product melatonin. One of the concerns of using melatonin in sunscreens is its photostability. In the present study, we investigated the photostability of melatonin subjected to UV irradiation. In addition, we used liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to identify the degradants and we also assessed the ability of the degradants to inhibit O2–· generation as well as lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate. The results show that UV irradiation of melatonin (0.1 mg/mL) using a 400-W lamp for 2 hr caused a significant decline of melatonin to 18% of its original concentration after 20 min, with the decline continuing until the melatonin concentration reaches zero at 120 min. The LC-MS results show that the degradants of melatonin are 6-hydroxymelatonin and N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynurenamine (AFMK). These degradants were able to provide equipotent activity against potassium cyanide (KCN)-induced superoxide generation compared to non-irradiated melatonin. Thus, the study shows that although melatonin is rapidly degraded by UV irradiation, the degradants retain antioxidant activity, making melatonin a likely candidate for inclusion in sunscreens.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2002
A sensitive and reliable method for the detection of lipid peroxidation in biological tissues
- Authors: Anoopkumar-Dukie, Shailendra , Walker, Roderick B , Daya, Santylal
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184325 , vital:44208 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1211/0022357011775299"
- Description: A simple, accurate and cost effective method has been designed for the determination of lipid peroxidation in biological tissue samples. The method was a modification and improvement on existing methods available for lipid peroxidation determination. Solid-phase extraction was used to separate the thiobarbituric acid–malondialdehyde complex from thiobarbituric acidreactive substances and HPLC was performed using a C18 (Waters Spherisorb, 5 µm, 250¬4.6 mm i.d.) column to achieve isolation of the complex. The procedure was validated with respect to linearity of calibration (0.998), precision, sensitivity and limits of quantitation (1 nmol mL−1) and detection (0.5 nmol mL−1). Resorcinol was used as an external standard. The method was tested by inducing free radical generation with a known free radical generator, quinolinic acid, in rat brain homogenate. The results showed that the method presented allowed detection of lipid peroxidation products at concentrations in the nanomolar (nM) range compared with the micromolar (µM) range detected by other methods, thus rendering it suitable for use with biological samples. In addition, the modified method allowed for detection of the purified lipid peroxidation products, thus eliminating the possibility of simultaneous detection of impurities that absorb at the same wavelength.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
The effect of variations in pH and temperature on stability of melatonin in aqueous solution
- Authors: Daya, Santylal , Walker, Roderick B , Glass, Beverley D , Anoopkumar-Dukie, Shailendra
- Date: 2001
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184314 , vital:44207 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-079x.2001.310209.x"
- Description: Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has a diverse range of functions, including the control of neuroendocrine events. A number of studies have shown that melatonin may be of potential benefit for the treatment of insomnia, as well as neurodegenerative disorders. At present, there are numerous dosage forms of melatonin, with the oral route of administration being most popular. Presently, there is little information on the stability of melatonin over a pH range. With the changes in pH in the gastro-intestinal tract, as well as in different experimental conditions, information on the stability of melatonin would be important. We used a high-performance liquid chromatography method to determine the stability of melatonin solutions over a pH range (1.2–12) at room temperature and at 37°C over a period of 21 days. The results show that no melatonin degradation occurred in the first 2 days. From days 3 to 21, there was a gradual decline in melatonin at all pHs, with the decline not exceeding 30%. No decline in melatonin levels occurred in the first 2 days at 37°C. From days 3 to 21, melatonin levels declined gradually, with the decline not exceeding 29%.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2001
An investigation into the neuroprotective properties of ibuprofen
- Authors: Lambat, Zaynab Y , Conrad, Natasha , Anoopkumar-Dukie, Shailendra , Walker, Roderick B , Daya, Santylal
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184335 , vital:44209 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011115006856"
- Description: There is increasing evidence suggesting a protective role for anti-inflammatory medications in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). While there has not been any direct evidence for this, a number of clinical studies indicate that those patients who have had a history of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory use, have a lower incidence of AD. Since there is currently no evidence on the mechanism by which these agents offer possible neuroprotection, we investigated the potential neuroprotective properties of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, by examining whether this agent could reduce lipid peroxidation and superoxide radical generation. Quinolinic acid and cyanide, known neurotoxins, were used to induce lipid peroxidation and superoxide anion formation respectively, in rat brain homogenate. The results show that ibuprofen significantly (p more than 0.05) reduced quinolinic acid-induced lipid peroxidation and cyanide-induced superoxide production. The results of the present report therefore suggest a possible mechanism for the neuroprotective effect of ibuprofen.
- Full Text: false
- Date Issued: 2000
Cyanide-induced free radical production and lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate is reduced by aspirin
- Authors: Daya, Santylal , Walker, Roderick B , Anoopkumar-Dukie, Shailendra
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184346 , vital:44210 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02674529"
- Description: The neuroprotective properties of aspirin were investigated using cyanide-induced neurotoxicity as model. Cyanide, a known neurotoxic agent significantly increased lipid peroxidation and superoxide anion levels in rat brain homogenate in a concentration-dependent manner (0.25–1.0 mM). When homogenate, containing 1.0 mM KCN was cotreated with aspirin (1.0 mM) there was a significant decrease in lipid peroxidation. Aspirin (0.5 mM and 1.0 mM) also significantly reduced KCN-induced superoxide anion generation. The results of the present report therefore indicate a neuroprotective role for aspirin.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
Melatonin alters the photodegradation of paracetamol
- Authors: Anoopkumar-Dukie, Shailendra , Glass, Beverley D , Walker, Roderick B , Daya, Santylal
- Date: 2000
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/184357 , vital:44211 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1211/146080800128735755"
- Description: The effects of melatonin, a known free-radical scavenger, on paracetamol in the presence of UV irradiation was studied by use of HPLC. The experiments were performed in air and nitrogen. The results show that the rate of photodegradation of melatonin is faster in air than in nitrogen whereas that of paracetamol is similar in air and nitrogen. When the two drugs were combined, melatonin retarded the degradation of paracetamol for up to 6h in the presence of nitrogen. However, in the presence of air melatonin rapidly enhances the photodegradation of paracetamol. This study shows that a combination of melatonin and paracetamol in the presence of air and UV irradiation can lead to rapid inactivation of both agents, thus raising important concerns about the possible use of melatonin as sunscreen
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2000
The influence of sex steroids on pineal enzymes
- Authors: Daya, Santylal
- Date: 1982 , 2013-03-28
- Subjects: Steroid hormones , Pineal gland , Testosterone , Progesterone
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:3808 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003720 , Steroid hormones , Pineal gland , Testosterone , Progesterone
- Description: The influence of the gonadal sex steroids namely, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone on the two major enzymes responsible for the synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland was investigated. These enzymes are Serotonin-N-acetyltransferase (SNAT) and Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (Hl0MT). Testosterone was found to be the only sex steroid capable of influencing SNAT activity whereas all three of the sex steroids were found to influence Hl0MT activity in a biphasic dose-dependent manner. The influence of these sex steroids on radiolabeled serotonin metabolism by pineals in organ culture was also investigated. Ovariectomy, castration and the sex steroids were all found to alter the pattern of the radiolabeled serotonin metabolism by these pineal glands in organ culture. , KMBT_363 , Adobe Acrobat 9.53 Paper Capture Plug-in
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1982