School of Health Sciences

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Bioavailability studies on various dosage forms of the anorectic, diethylpropion hydrochloride.
(1984) Dangor, Cassim Mahomed.; Veltman, A. M.
The stereo-chemistry, structure activity relationships and the metabolism of the anorectic drug, diethylpropion hydrochloride, have been reviewed briefly, together with the analytical methods for the determination of this drug and its metabolites in biological fluids. In addition, the physico-chemical properties, mode of action, pharmacology and uses of the metabolites have been presented. A comprehensive review on general principles of salivary excretion of drugs and their therapeutic drug monitoring in saliva with relevant published data on saliva/plasma drug concentration relationships has been outlined. Sensitive and specific assay procedures, based on gas-liquid chromatography for the identification, separation and determination of diethylpropion and its two major metabolites i.e. ethylaminopropiophenone (11) and diethylnorpseudoephedrine (IV) in aqueous and biological fluids, have been developed. These methods were used to study the urinary excreUon as well as saliva and plasma levels of the two major metabolites and, where possible, the unchanged drug, in man. Sustained release pellets with diffusion rate-controlled membranes were employed to control the rate of input into the body by oral or rectal route of administration. Urinary excretion data and plasma levels of metabolites 11 and IV in volunteers, where the urine was controlled at an acidic pH, were used for the evaluation of the bioavailabilities of different dosage forms of diethylpropion hydrochloride. The concentrations of metabolites 11 and IV were also measured in saliva and in plasma after administration of the drug in different doses and dosage forms: relationships between saliva and plasma concentrations (S/P) and between urinary excretion rates and plasma concentrations (U/P) were developed for each of the two metabolites during plateau levels after oral administration of the sustained release pellets (Lot R 7773). The potential use of salivary excretion of the metabolites as an index to monitor their plasma levels and bioavailabilities, was examined. The distinct advantage of using a subdivided controlled release system (i. .e. sustained release pellets) to a single unit sustained release tablet (erosion-core type) in relation to influence of the physical presence of food on the rate and extent of absorption has been demons t rated . It was found that the route of administration (oral or rectal) did not significantly affect the bioavailability of the sustained release pellets. The study also involved the investigation of the release of the drug from the pellets. Because the release control step was diffusion, no significant influences on dissolution rates were observed with the use of different dissolution test models and agitation intensities. The influence of the concentration and composition (presence of cations viz. Na+ and K+ i~r anions viz . phosphate and borate) of the dissolution medium on the release of the drug from sustained release pellets, was also studied. Any potential changes in the dissolution pattern on storage of the pellets under different conditions (4°C, room temperature and 37°C) ovrr, a period of at least one year, were investigated. The in vitro and in vivo correlations of two lots of sustained release pellets, each exhibiting different dissolution profiles, and administered rectally and orally, were developed: the in vitro data on the free drug were related to the sum of the urinary excretion data of metabolites II and IV. An attempt to use an empirical approach to predict urinary excretion rate profiles of metabolite II after oral administration of the sustained release pellets, was promising; the calculated profiles were reasonably comparable with those of in vivo studies. However, the complete validity of such equations needs further investigations.
An investigation into the effects and possible mechanisms of action of cimetidine and ranitidine on the sexual behaviour of male rats.
(1985) Badri, Roopram.; Du Preez, A. L.; Du Preez, Marie J.
The development of a new class of antihistamines, the H2-receptor antagonists, introduced a new era in the treatment of peptic ulcer diseases. Cimetidine, the first clinically effective H2-blocker, was introduced in 1976. Recently ranitidine, a second member approved for clinical use, has been found to be as effective as cimetidine in the management of peptic ulcer diseases. Soon after the introduction of cimetidine several reports of loss of libido, impotence and gynaecomastia were described in male patients who were on normal or high therapeutic doses of cimetidine. A few unsubstantiated reports of loss of libido and gynaecomastia attributed to ranitidine therapy have also appeared in literature. This study was undertaken to examine in detail the effects of acute and subchronic treatment with cimetidine and ranitidine on mating behaviour in sexually active male rats. Motor activity counts were recorded immediately before sexual behaviour observations. The animals were tested on every third day and observations were terminated after the first intromission of the next series of copulations. In the single dose study, mating behaviour tests were commenced 2 hours after treatment; mating tests during the subchronic dose studies were done 4 to 7 hours after the 6hOO dose. The following measures were used in the analysis of data: mount latency, intromission latency, mount frequency, intromission frequency, ejaculation latency, and the postejaculatory intromission latency. At the termination of the subchronic dose studies blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and the animals were subsequently autopsied. Cauda epididymal sperm counts and motility were determined, testes and accessory sex organs were weighed, and one testis was processed for histological examination. Cimetidine in the low dose, 128.6 mg/kg, significantly shortened the ejaculatory latency and to a lesser extent the postejaculatory intromission latency. At the higher dose, 257.1 mg/kg, cimetidine markedly prolonged the postejaculatory intromission latency and to a lesser extent increased the ejaculation latency. The inhibitory effect of cimetidine on copulatory behaviour at the higher dose level was accompanied by significant depression in motor activity. At the conclusion of the subchronic dose studies marked reductions in serum testosterone levels and decreased testes and accessory organ weights were observed in the cimetidine group. No significant changes in sperm counts were observed, although the sperm counts in the cimetidine group were lower than the control values. Histological examination of testes showed apparently normal spermatogenesis in all three treatment groups. However, in spite of the reduced testosterone levels and decreased testes and accessory sex organ weights in the cimetidine group, no impairment in mating behaviour was observed. In both the acute and the subchronic dose studies, similar to placebo, treatment with ranitidine showed no effect on mating behaviour. On final analysis of the results it is concluded that cimetidine, and not ranitidine, disrupts sexual behaviour in male rats. Furthermore, it is concluded that the effect of cimetidine on sexual behaviour is not related to H2-receptor blockade as equipotent doses of ranitidine did not produce similar effects. The mechanism of cimetidine-induced impairment of sexual performance in the male rat may possibly be attributed to some non-specific, direct or indirect action of cimetidine on some neurotransmitter system responsible for the control of sexual behaviour. It is further suggested that the effect may possibly be mediated by a blockade of central dopamine receptors. However, it must be stressed that further experimentation is necessary to elucidate the mechanism of action of cimetidine on sexual behaviour.
The syntactic features of South African Indian English among students in Natal, with regard to use and attitudes towards usage.
(1987) Crossley, Susan L.; Brimer, Alan.; Mesthrie, Rajend.
Two tests were developed and administered to 122 South African students of Indian descent and 70 South African students of European descent. One test elicited use of certain syntactic constructions through requesting subjects to make specified grammatical changes to verbally presented sentences. The other test elicited attitudes regarding acceptability and beliefs about own and others' use of nonstandard syntactic forms. In both cases, test items were based on non-standard syntactic forms reported to occur in the speech of Indian South Africans. Results were analysed statistically and on the basis of significant group differences, fourteen syntactic features of South African Indian English were identified. These results, as well as those concerning language attitudes and beliefs, are discussed in terms of the literature and implications for clinical application and further research. Sex differences in use and attitudes were also investigated but were found to be of little significance.
The incidence and distribution of ametropia in blacks in Umlazi.
(1988) Rasengane, Tuwani A.; Simpson, T. L.; Turnbull, Duncan Kenneth.
Age, sex, race, heredity, environment and nutrition have been found to influence ametropia. In this study, the distribution of refractive errors has been investigated in relation to age, sex, race, education and near work, and lighting conditions. Visual awareness and vision screening in pre-school and schoolchildren were also investigated. Data were collected using the Nikon auto-refractor, retinoscope, Snellen V.A chart, and subjective techniques. 777 people were refracted, whose ages ranged between four and eighty years. Measurements were made in different sections of Umlazi township, therefore people of different socio-economic sectors were refracted. Four year-old children were found to be hyperopic. Hyperopia decreased and refraction shifted towards emmetropia. Myopia started to appear at the age of ten. Myopia increased until the age of twenty, and thereafter decreased slowly until the age of thirty three, where the average refraction was emmetropia. From age forty onwards, hyperopia was predominant. The incidence of high astigmatism, high hyperopia and high myopia is low in this community. Most people fall in the spherical refractive error region of between -1.000 and +1.000. The curve is leptokurtotic with highest peak around +0.250. The cylindrical error is between -0.500 and -1.000. No significant difference between sexes was found except at the fourth age group (40-51), where females are more hyperopic than males. The other sex difference is at ages ten to twelve, where females develop myopia earlier than males. Illumination plays no important role in the development of refractive errors in this community. Education and near work seem to account very little to the development of myopia. The influence of heredity on the development of ametropia was not investigated in depth. However, there is no evidence of heredity influencing the development of ametropia. There is a lack of vision screening and visual awareness.
The effect of alcohol, isoniazid, rifampicin, paracetamol and hexane on hepatic gluconeogenesis and bromosulphthalein clearance.
(1988) Khedun, Shaun Mahabeer.; Leary, W. P. P.
The first workers to use the isolated perfused rat liver for the study of gluconeogenesis were Corey and Britton (1941). Subsequently, other investigators found the modified method of Miller et al (1951) to be more suitable. This technique, with modifications introduced by Mortimore (1961) and Hems et al (1966) was used in the present study. The isolated liver is perfused through the portal vein with saline, supplemented by bovine serum albumin and washed human erythrocytes, under a pressure of about 20cm of water, maintained by a reservoir of adjustable height. The perfusate which passes through the liver enters the inferior vena cava and passes, via a cannula, to a collecting vessel from which it is pumped to the top of a multiple bulb oxygenator and then returned to the liver for re-perfusion. This technique has proved to be a satisfactory means of assessing changes in the metabolic status of hepatic cells in response to starvation and exposure to halothane. The study described here was performed to determine whether the isolated liver perfusion technique can be used to measure the effects on liver perfusion of therapeutic and supratherapeutic doses of various drugs, some of which have been reported to affect liver metabolism adversely in the intact animal. Liver function was assessed by studying gluconeogenesis and bromosulphthalein clearance. Alcohol and hexane were administered in toxic doses, rifampicin and isoniazid in high doses and paracetamol in therapeutic doses. Inbred male Wistar rats were used for these studies. Hexane was injected subcutaneously, while the other drugs were given per os on 7 consecutive days each week for a period of 90 days; with the exception of the control group in the hexane study, all the control groups were untreated. Pyruvate, a precursor for gluconeogenesis (synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources) is an excellent substrate for the formation of oxaloacetate, which is probably an obligatory intermediate in the pathway to glucose synthesis. It has been used over a number of years by different investigators who have .studied gluconeogenesis using the isolated liver perfusion technique. It was used for the same purpose in the present study. Methylene blue, a redox dye, capable of oxidising NADH to NAD+, was used to determine whether an altered NADH : NAD+ ratio would have any effect on the output of glucose in the ethanol, paracetamol and hexane studies. Fructose, a non-NAD+ dependent precursor of glucose. was also used for this purpose in the ethanol study. All the drugs studied were found to inhibit gluconeogenesis. This was shown by a decrease in glucose levels and an increase in lactate : pyruvate ratios in the perfusion medium of experimental livers. The decreased glucose production by the experimental livers, which occurred pari passu with an increased pyruvate utilization, indicates that in these animals pyruvate was used for the production of other compounds such as lactate. In contrast. glucose production and pyruvate utilization were increased in the control group indicating that pyruvate was used mainly for the production of glucose. In the ethanol group, impaired gluconeogenesis was probably due to a change in the NADH : NAD+ ratio; when methylene blue was introduced into the perfusion medium of this group the output of glucose was high. Impaired gluconeogenesis in the paracetamol and hexane-treated groups was probably related to the non-availability of oxaloacetate or impairment of the activity of key enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis; when methylene blue was added to the perfusion medium of these animals the glucose output remained low. Except for the rifampicin study. bromosulphthalein clearance was impaired in all the experimental groups. Histological examination of liver tissue obtained from the hexane-treated animals demonstrated severe fatty change. In conclusion, these studies have demonstrated that the isolated liver perfusion technique is a suitable method of evaluating the effect of therapeutic and supra-therapeutic doses of some drugs which affect hepatic function. Ethanol, isoniazid, rifampicin, paracetamol (in therapeutic doses) and hexane were found to alter liver function as evidenced by impaired gluconeogenesis and bromosulphthalein clearance. In addition, histological evidence of liver damage was noted in rats treated with hexane.
The oxygen performance of a contact lens on the human eye.
(1989) Postum, Krishnachand.; Turnbull, Duncan Kenneth.; Govinden, H. S.
There is considerable evidence to indicate that most gas permeable contact lenses do not transmit sufficient oxygen to supply all the corneal oxygen requirement. This problem is further exacerbated by non-valid methods of characterizing the oxygen performance of such lenses. The current methods of using oxygen permeability (Dk) and oxygen transmissibility (Dk/L) as indices of oxygen performance of contact lenses is completely erroneous. Dk and Dk/L pertain to contact lens materials in flat sheet form having uniform thickness and equal diffusion path at all points on the surface. Finished contact lenses, of necessity, are curved surfaces and of varying thickness. Consequently the concept of Dk and Dk/L cannot be applied to contact lenses. To date there are no studies to determine the absolute oxygen tension under gas permeable contact lenses on the human eye. All attempts to quantify the oxygen tension under a lens have been by indirect methods or by predicting the p02 from Dk values, using mathematical equations. These results do not match the clinical findings. This study was done to show that oxygen flux through a contact lens, measured in vitro, is a better determinant of the in vivo oxygen performance of gas permeable contact lenses. A special cell was designed to measure the oxygen flux, in vitro under standardised conditions. Contact lens microelectrodes were designed to measure the oxygen tension in vivo. The data obtainedwas used to develop a model for the oxygen performance of rigid gas permeable lenses on the human eye.
The influence of the application of pharmacokinetics on the effects of theophylline utilisation upon members of the Indian population.
(1989) Pillai, Goonaseelan.; Miller, Raymond Martin.
Theophylline is a dimethylated xanthine similar in structure to caffeine which is commonly found in tea, coffee and cola beverages (Hendeles and Weinberger, 1983; Rall, 1985). Clinically, its most important pharmacological action is the ability to relax bronchial smooth muscle throughout the bronchial tree (Persson, 1986). This effect has found extensive use in the treatment of asthma with the drug being recommended as the first line agent for chronic asthma (la/rate et ai, 1986). The observation that both beneficial effects as well as toxicity correlate with serum concentrations and that the drug displays a narrow therapeutic window (Finn et al, 1981; Hendeles and Matthay, 1986) has resulted in the recommendation that theophylline dosing be guided by serum concentration measurements (Hendeles and Weinberger, 1980; Whiting et al, 1984; Fitzpatrick and Moss-Barclay, 1985; Barlow et. al, 1988). However, this recommendation appears to have been largely ignored locally. In 1986, one of the first local Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Clinics for theophylline was established at R K Khan Provincial Hospital in Chatsworth, Durban. Preliminary results from this clinic confirmed the widespread use of standard theophylline dosing regimens and revealed that 68% (n = 44) of patients given these regimens had serum theophylline concentrations below the generally accepted therapeutic range (Pillai and Miller, 1988). Previous studies have assessed the influence of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring programmes in terms of the attainment of 'therapeutic' serum concentrations (Whiting et aI, 1984; Fitzpatrick and Moss-Barclay, 1985). This approach has been criticised and it has been recommended that clinical assessment should be the criterion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of serum concentration monitoring on theophylline utilisation at the R K Khan Hospital in terms of clinical control of asthma symptoms. A secondary purpose of this study was to determine population pharmacokinetic parameters in Indian patients. In order to interpret the serum concentrations and make recommendations on dosage design for individual patients, the Bayesian technique of drug dose optimisation is used (Sheiner et aI, 1972). This technique has been shown to be accurate, precise and easy to use (Sheiner and Beal, 1982; Hurley and McNeil, 1988) particularly with currently available computer software. It has been emphasised, however, that for satisfactory performance of this technique, good initial estimates of the population parameter distributions are important (Whiting et al, 1986). Since this information is not available for the Indian population this study was undertaken. A knowledge of population pharmacokinetics can help one to choose initial dosage, to modify dosage appropriately in response to observed drug levels, to make rational decisions regarding drug regulatory requirements and toinvestigate and elucidate certain research questions in pharmacokinetics (Sheiner, 1984). The NONMEM approach (Sheiner et aI, 1972; 1977), currently the mostsatisfactory method of population pharmacokinetic data analysis is utilised in this study.
An investigation into the effects of sex difference and contralateral masking on the monaural brainstem auditory evoked response (Baer) obtained in a group of normal hearing Indian undergraduate university students.
(1989) Govender, Cyril Devadas.; Fernandes, Carlos M. C.; Lazarus, Theophilus.
The objectives of the investigation were to establish diagnostic reference data; and to examine and report on the effects of sex difference and contralateral masking on the normal BAER. BAERs were elicited from the target (R) ear using clicks presented at 70dBnHL both in the absence and presence of three (50, 6O and 70dBHL) levels of contralateral broadband masking noise. Relevant latency and amplitude data were obtained from 60 selected normal hearing Indian undergraduate female (N=30; X age = 20.33 years) and male (N=30; X age = 21.33 years) students aged between 18 and 25 years (X age = 20.73 years). Diagnostic reference data were established for the absolute latencies of peaks I to VI; relative latencies of peaks I-III; III-V and I-V; absolute amplitudes of peaks I and V and the relative amplitude ratio of peaks V:I. The application of the MANOVA revealed an overall significant (p < 0,05) sex difference effect while no significant differences were observed between the masked and non-masked normal BAER. Furthermore, there were no significant overall interactional effects of sex difference and masking on the BAER. These results are discussed in terms of the literature and implications for clinical application and further research.
The pharmacokinetics of phenobarbitone in fasting and non-fasting dogs.
(1990) Thurman, Graham Duncan.; Miller, Raymond Martin.; McFadyen, Margaret Lynn.
Practicing clinical veterinarians in large companion animal practices are often faced with the phenomena of epileptic seizures which occur commonly in dogs. The high incidence of non-responsive cases is often frustrating, and the literature offers incomplete, conflicting and often inaccurate information. The concept of therapeutic anti-epileptic drug concentration monitoring, as applied in man as an aid to treatment, appears attractive in order to provide an improved service to the patient and client. An investigation into the pharmacokinetics of phenobarbitone, particularly at steady state, became necessary in order to interpret the application of drug serum concentration monitoring. The trend of veterinarians to extrapolate human kinetics to dogs is common and unsound. This study was an attempt to identify the similarities and dissimilarities between the pharmacokinetics of dogs and humans. No literature was available, both for man or animal, on the effect of food on the absorption of phenobarbitone. As dog owners frequently have to administer oral medication in food, this was an important factor to examine. The kinetics of the drug was determined in a group of epileptic dogs in order to provide a possible base-line therapeutic regime on commencement of treatment, and the practical application of therapeutic drug monitoring in order to individualize and improve response to treatment was explored.
A study of the relationship between the pharmacokinetics and the pharmacodynamics of atenolol in black and white subjects using an effect modelling technique.
(1991) McFadyen, Margaret Lynn.; Miller, Roger.; Miller, Roger.
Abstract is available in PDF file.
Pharmaceutical availability on newly formulated oral sustained release pellets containing the antihistamine, chlorpheniramine maleate.
(1991) Mathir, Zohra Mohamed.; Dangor, Cassim Mahomed.; Veltman, A. M.
The main objective of the present study was to determine the feasibility of obtaining aqueous polymer-coated pellet formulations using EudragitR NE 30 D dispersion and chlorpheniramine maleate as the model drug. Many factors influence the rate of drug release from coated beads including, the substrate, the coating formulation and the coating process. A drug release profile that was comparable to that of the reference standard, DykatussR Capsules was obtained with a formulation employing 8.3% EudragitR NE 30 D, 0.5% talc and 1% polyethylene glycol. In vitro dissolution tests on this formulation showed drug release to be predictable, reproducible and independent of the dissolution methods or media. Short term storage confirmed the stability at room temperature (20°C) and low temperature (5C). Scanning electron micrographs of pellets stored at elevated temperatures i.e. 37°C with 80% relative humidity and 40°C illustrated the phenomenon of 'further gradual coalescence' which corresponded to the decrease in release of drug from the pellets.
An evaluation of a school based vision screening programme.
(1992) Shaik, Rieaz.; Bhagwanjee, Anil Mohanlal.; Turnbull, Duncan Kenneth.
The effectiveness of a vision screening programme in government schools in the Durban Functional Region under the jurisdiction of the House of Representatives was evaluated. For the purpose of the study a Comprehensive Vision Screening Programme (CVSP) was developed based on the Modified Clinical Technique (MCT) used in the Orinda Study. Of the represetative sample of 419 children assessed, the CVSP classified 85 (20.3%) as referrals. In comparison, the school health nurses referred 35 (9.6%) of the children for a complete ocular examination, 40 per cent of which were unwarranted. Analysis of the usable records showed that the school vision screening programme (SVSP) correctly categorised 307 (83.9%) of the children and incorrectly categorised 59 (16.1%) of them. The latter consisted of 3.8% over-referrals and 12.3% under-referrals. The school vision screening programme did not detect with a reasonable degree of accuracy those children with visual disorders. The effectiveness of the SVSP, as determined by the phi coefficient, was 0.35. Approximately two thirds of the children with visual disorders were not detected by the SVSP. One in every eight children classified as having no visual problem by the SVSP was an under-referral and two in every five children referred by the SVSP were over-referred. The high incorrect referral rates was attributed to the use of inappropriate screening techniques. The prevalence of visual disorders in the children was 20.3%; in boys 18.7% and 21.9% in girls. The relative risk of visual disorders in girls compared to boys was 1.2 (95% CI = 0.8 - 1.7). The prevalence of eye co-ordination disorders was 11.2%, refractive error problems 10.3%, visual acuity 4.5%, perceptual status (colour vision and stereopsis) 4.0% and organic disorders 1.2%. The binocular disorders were characterised as convergence insufficiencies and the disorders of accommodation were described as accommodative insufficiencies. Referable myopia (6.7%) was more prevalent than referable hyperopia (2.1%). Myopia was more prevalent in girls and hyperopia was more prevalent in boys. The clinical findings of the refractive error was compared to that measured by an autorefractor. The findings were remarkably similar and the study concluded that the difference between the two measures was not clinically significant. The study recommended that the MCT be used as the method of choice in school vision screening protocols.
Perceived psychological benefits of participation in leisure activities.
(1992) Hudgson, Norma May.; Butler-Adam, Joann Camille Ellis.; Andrews, Barry Craig.
Central auditory processing perforance of male and female stutterers and nonstutterers.
(1992) Kathard, Harsha Mothilall.; Govender, Cyril Devadas.
Central auditory processing performance of male and female stutterers and nonstutterers was compared on a battery of central auditory tests. Thirty stutterers (15 male and 15 female) with a mean age of 23.10 years (17.2-31 years) comprised the experimental group, and 30 nonstutterers (15 male and 15 female) with a mean age of 22.2 years(17-32 years) comprised the control group. The test battery included dichotic (DCV test, ssw test, eST) and monotic (SSI-ICM test, ARLT) tests. Stutterers performed significantly poorer than nonstutterers on various parameters of individual tests. The stutterers' performance on the test battery was varied : 8(26.6%) stutterers passed all tests in the battery; 7(23.3%) failed dichotic tests only; 15(50%) failed dichotic and monotic tests of which 2(6.6%) failed monotic tests. Pass/fail rates indicated that although 15 (50%) nonstutterers failed the battery 22(73.2%) stutterers failed. This result confirmed that stutterers performed significantly differently from nonstutterers on the test battery( X?= 19.87 , df=l; p<0.05). Male/famale comparisons for nonstutterers indicated no significant differences (p>0.05) on individual tests except on the ARLT where males obtained longer latencies than females. Pass /fail rates on the test battery confirmed no statistically significant (X~= 0.133 , df=l; p> 0.05) performance differences between male and female nonstutterers. For stutterers, although male performance was poorer than female performance on various parameters of individual tests ,the performance differences were not significant (p>0.05). However, pass/fail performance on the test battery indicated that significantly more males (13) than females (9) failed the test battery ( X2 = 8.66 df=l, p<0.05). The results are discussed in terms of the literature and theoretical and clinical implications are presented and discussed.
Test translation in a South African context using the peabody picture vocabulary test-revised.
(1994) Naidoo, Premanithee.; Jager, G. W.
This study explored the feasibility of using test translation to adapt a standard English vocabulary test for Zulu speakers. It was motivated by the difficulties associated with assessing speakers of the African languages, in the absence of Zulu speech-language therapists and Zulu assessment tools. The adaptation process in the present study began with a direct translation of the PPVT-R into Zulu by twenty Zulu university students. Based on the degree of consensus on translations and judgements of cultural appropriacy (using the committee approach), items were selected for the purposes of pilot testing of the translations on 107 Zulu pupils from six to eleven years, in the study area. The results of the first pilot study revealed that it was not feasible to standardise the first translated version of the test, as only seventeen percent of the items were found suitable for inclusion in a normative study. Further test development using translations from twenty educators, their judgements of cultural appropriacy of stimuli as well as application of the back translation test to determine semantic equivalence of translations resulted in the development of a revised translated version of the PPVT-R, consisting of mUltiple translations for some items. This was administered to 544, six to eleven year old Zulu children. The results of the second pilot study revealed that only 31.2% of the translations administered were appropriate for the purposes of developing norms, across all the age groups tested, with 80% of these translations applicable for six and seven year old Zulu children only. Therefore, the translated version of the PPVT-R, despite modifications, showed significantly reduced applicability for Zulu speakers. Using the information derived from the present study a test comprising thirty six Zulu words has been compiled for the purposes of screening the receptive vocabulary skills of six and seven year old Zulu children in the study area. The findings of the study confirmed the difficulties in using test translation as a procedural option in adapting a test for Zulu children; implications, further modifications and investigations are suggested in this regard.
The effects of exercise and diet on selected physiological and biochemical parameters in a sedentary Indian male cohort.
(1995) Coopoo, Yoganathan.; Andrews, Barry Craig.
In common with other expatriate Indian Populations, the Indian community of South Africa has a high incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). Little information is available on the effects of exercise and diet on risk factors in this group. The present study is directed at the functional changes occurring as a result of a moderate aerobic physical activity programme, comprising 30 minutes of supervised exercise, three times per week for 15 weeks. Healthy male volunteers were recruited from the staff of the University of Durban-Westville, who were not on any lipid lowering medication and were not involved in any programme of physical activity for at least 12 weeks before the start of the project. The 41 subjects were assigned into one of three groups: exercise only (E) (15 subjects); exercise and diet (ED) (14 subjects) and a control (C) (12 subjects) group on no intervention. Besides laboratory investigations all participants were subjected to standardized fitness and anthropomorphological evaluation, a brief family history for coronary artery disease and a detailed dietary history was compiled. Baseline lipid results indicate that only 7 of the 41 subjects had normal lipid profiles using as cut-off points 5.2 mmol/l for cholesterol, 1.5 mml!l for triglyceride and 0.9 mmol/l for HDL-C. Obesity was moderately prevalent before intervention, with a mean decrease of 25% in body fat in both E and BD groups(p~0.05). The experimental subjects became leaner. After the intervention programme an average 20 percent increase was evident in physical working capacity as measured by peak V~ in both experimental groups (p~0.01). The controls showed little variation over the 15 weeks. The indices of muscular endurance and flexibility showed statistically significant changes (P~ 0.05) in both experimental groups after intervention. This certainly indicates elevated levels of fitness after the intervention. The lipid profiles show little alteration in total cholesterol, with a 7.3% decrease in triglyceride levels in the E group (which was not statistically significant) compared with a 14.7% increase in the controls. HDL-C showed an increase in both experimental groups (p~0.01). The total cholesterol to HDL-C ratio had an average fall of 11.9% in the experimental groups (P~0.05) compared with a 5.6% decrease in the control group. These data support the claim that regular, moderate exercise reduces the risk of heart disease through its effects on coronary risk factors in a high risk South African population.
Attitudes towards physical education in KwaZulu-Natal.
(1996) Thomson, Janet Elizabeth.; Andrews, Barry Craig.
This study investigated the attitudes towards Physical Education in KwaZulu and the determinants of those attitudes. The focus was on the teaching of the subject in schools and colleges of education in the KwaZulu Department of Education and Culture. The purpose of the study was to establish whether Physical Education was being limited by a lack of resources and/or the perceived low status of Physical Education. Questionnaires were developed for four different groups, namely, teachers, principals, college lecturers and the pupils and students themselves. The analysis of the responses indicated that all four groups held strong beliefs about the benefits of the subject. The benefits which the pupils regarded as the most positive were in the areas of physical fitness and social development. In contrast to their western counterparts, pupils and students did not view Physical Education as a "light relief' subject nor did they regard enjoyment as a requisite. Negative determinants of attitude were found to be related primarily to the lack of facilities and the consequent lack of diversity in the Physical Education curriculum. Respondents from the teachers' and principals' groups revealed that the teaching of Physical Education in KwaZulu was important but severely inhibited by a combination of factors. Allocation of resources in the form of physical facilities and equipment was found to be deficient. There was an absence of qualified staff, which resulted in the subject either being omitted from the curriculum or being taught by teachers with no knowledge of its objectives nor of the correct teaching methods. In some cases the subject was confused with sport and coaching school teams and in most cases the subject played a subservient role to that of examination subjects. The promotion prospects of the Physical Education teachers were not perceived to be limited compared to their academic counterparts because all of them were teaching academic subjects. Those with specialised training in Physical Education were not in evidence because they were not teaching Physical Education. College lecturers were specialist trained and indicated a much greater degree of success in the implementation of Physical Education programmes. Colleges had superior facilities and equipment although insufficient use of funds was apparent. College lecturers did not feel that they successfully achieved the educational objectives of the subject. In agreement with their western counterparts, they perceived their promotion prospects to be limited. The failure to implement successful programmes of Physical Education in the schools led to the recommendation that preservice specialised training was vitally important but not sufficient and that in-service courses in the form of practical workshops for staff and principals were essential in order to support the preservice initiatives.
Role of massage and stretching in recovery from exercise and in delayed onset muscle soreness.
(1997) Viranna, N. V.; Mars, Maurice.
Adequate recovery from intense exercise is essential to optimise performance and reduce the associated symptoms of tiredness, fatigue and lethargy. The purpose of the study was to :- i. investigate the effects of massage and stretching in delaying the development of fatigue during repeated bouts of dynamic activity and, ii. to investigate the relative effects of massage and stretching on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Eighteen volunteer males participated in this study. They were randomly allocated into one of six groups of an Orthogonal Latin square design. Subjects performed five repetitions of as many heel raises as possible in 45 seconds. Each repetition was followed by a recovery technique of three minutes duration. This was repeated weekly until each group has had all three recovery techniques. A fatigue index % was calculated from the decline in the number of repetitions from stage 1 to stage 5. Muscle soreness ratings were retrospectively assessed at 12-36 hour after each session. An analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the fatigue indices. Post hoc intergroup comparison using paired T-tests with the Bonferroni adjustment showed a significant difference between rest and massage (p=0.0001) and rest and stretching (p=0.0006). The differences between massage and stretching were not significant. Fourteen (77.8%) and Fifteen (83.3%) subjects showed an improvement in performance following massage and stretching respectively. Massage is associated with significantly less muscle soreness than stretching (p<0,001). DOMS was most frequently found in the stretching group while the lowest incidence and lowest mean ratings of muscle soreness associated with DOMS was found in the massage group. The difference between massage and stretching was marginal (p=046I) and showed a trend that massage is associated with less DOMS than stretching. This suggests that rest is the least beneficial recovery technique, and that massage may be superior to stretching as there is less muscle soreness.
Formulation, evaluation and characterization of an oral modified realease naproxen sodium preparation.
(1997) Moopanar, Kevindren Ramachandran.; Dangor, Cassim Mahomed.
The motivation for the present study is systematically presented and the aims and objectives of the study are clearly defined. A comprehensive review on modified release drug delivery has been presented to provide the basis for the meltable aqueous dispersion technique as an approach to the formulation of a multiple-unit oral modified release drug delivery system. In addition, a brief discussion on the theory of dissolution testing and the mechanisms and interpretation of the dissolution process has been presented. Naproxen sodium, a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with analgesic and antipyretic activity employed in the study, has been briefly discussed. In the present study, the coacervation phase separation technique utilizing ethylcellulose was initially investigated but proved unsuccessful in producing a formulation displaying suitable drug release characteristics. Subsequently, the meltable aqueous dispersion technique utilizing cetostearyl alcohol was successfully employed to formulate a multipleunit modified release naproxen sodium preparation containing 550 mg of naproxen sodium. The use of cetosteary!alcohol, as·a·retarding material, generated modified ·drug release characteristics as a function of its content. Magnesium stearate (anti-tackiness agent) and Span 20 and Tween 60· (surfactants) were incorporated in the formulation to optimize particle size and sphericity. The influence. of various formulation variables on drug release characteristics were investigated: An optimized formulation displaying a desirable modified release profile of naproxen sodium was achieved employing a 1:1 ratio of naproxen sodium:cetostearyl alcohol, 2% m/m .. .. magnesium stearate, and 1%m/m Span 20 dispersed in a liquid manufacturing vehicle of pH 0.6 containing 2% m/m Tween 60. In vitro dissolution studies on the selected formulation showed drug release to be predictable and reproducible, dependent on the dissolution method, agitation rate, and the pH of the dissolution media (i.e. pH-dependent drug release). The density of the microspheres was shown to decrease as the concentration of cetostearyl alcohol increased whilst the mean specific surface area increased with increasing concentrations of cetostearyl alcohol. Differential scanning calorimetric studies reveals a change in the thermograms which is suggestive of eutectic formation. Scanning electron microscopy proved useful in evaluating the integrity and surface morphology of the microspheres as well as in elucidating the drug release characteristics of the formulation. Energy dispersive x-ray microprobe analysis revealed the elemental composition of the microspheres to be a composite of the pure ingredients. X-ray mapping and the line scan depicted the homogenous distribution of drug within the microspheres and confirmed that the formulation is a matrix-type modified release I' preparation. Stability studies were performed on the selected formulation at room temperature (21 :t 1°C), 40°C, 37°C with 80% relative humidity, and at low temperature (5 :t 1°C). The shelf-life of the selected formulation was determined to be 1.29 years. Applying the data to five different kinetic models to investigate the drug release mechanisms showed that first order and cube-root release characteristics were exhibited by the microspheres.
Anthropometric characteristics and physiological performance variables of male and female junior hockey players in KwaZulu Natal.
(1997) Amra, Mohamed.
Anthropometric measures, physiological variables and skills tests were performed on subjects selected from the provincial KwaZulu Natai Junior Hockey teams in South Africa. The main purpose of this study was to establish a data base of norms for boy and girls in the UB, U14, U16, UI8 and the U2I age groups. The tests were done at the beginning and at the end of season. The anthropometric measures included height, weight, percentage body fat and lean body mass; physiological variables included sit-ups, push-ups, sit-and-reach (flexibility), broad jump, winder and bleep tests , and the skills tests comprised a wide range of ball skill tests. As expected, anthropometric changes were observed across the age groups, due to growth. Amongst the older age groups the girls had reached height and weight values comparable to elite female players , but only the boys in the U2I had reached their adult height and were slightly taller than the elite male players. There was no significant difference in the profile between the attack and defence players in the boys, but amongst the girls the defence players tended to be heavier and taller than the attack players. In the physiological and skills tests there was no difference between positional players. In the comparison between pre and end season to determine the effectiveness of the training programmes, there was a change in the anthropometric characteristics because of growth. However, the physiological and skill tests revealed no consistent pattern of improvement in the test results from pre season to end season. This study provides the first set of norms for male and female junior hockey players in South Africa. Further studies are required to expand upon and update the data in the current study.

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