ABSTRACT
In developing countries the cost of treating disease is much more than prevention and so there is now a lot of interest in understanding nutrition. In this pilot study we selected a cohort of pre-clinical students studying at the College of Health Sciences in the University of Zimbabwe. This study was carried to investigate the gender-based weekly consumption of different food categories amongst University of Zimbabwe students. Semi-structured questionnaires distributed to 100 undergraduate students (male= 47; female= 52). The proportion of male and female respondents; age and body weight did not differ significantly. Principal foods consumed by males included sadza and cerevita; naartjies; bananas and avocado pears; tomatoes; onions; covo and spinach; beef; and condensed milk and powdered milk occupied the larger proportions. Females frequently ate a lot of bread; cerevita; sadza and cereal; lemons and avocado pears; onions; tomatoes; rape and covo; beef and soya meat; creamer; powdered milk and milk. This study suggests that females consumed a greater variety of food; including the infrequent types by comparison with men
Subject(s)
Eating , Nutritional Sciences/education , StudentsABSTRACT
Chloroquine (CHQ) is a cheap, relatively well tolerated drug initially developed for the treatment of malaria in the 1930s. CHQ has, however, since accrued a plethora of uses in the treatment and amelioration of several other diseases and conditions because of its lysosomotropic properties. It also has characteristic physiological and systemic effects. This review gives an overview of the history and pharmacology of CHQ, and progresses to consider some of the mechanisms that may underlie its biochemical and physiological effects. Additionally, an overview of some of the novel uses of CHQ in the treatment of viral infections and cancer are presented. The antimalarial mechanisms of CHQ were not discussed in this review. The message is that CHQ, despite its welldocumented toxicity and adverse side effects may have important future uses that are associated with its lysosomotropic and immunomodulatory mechanisms. The possibility exists therefore that CHQ might be re-introduced into regular malaria treatment.
Subject(s)
Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Chloroquine/therapeutic use , Humans , Malaria/drug therapy , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Virus Diseases/drug therapyABSTRACT
Nitric oxide (NO) is formed by different cell types in response to a variety of physiological and patho-physiological stimuli. The intake of nicotine and/or alcohol has patho-physiological effects on organ function, and the progression of alcohol-/tobacco-related diseases seem to be directly influenced by NO-mediated mechanisms. Nicotine has an adverse influence on blood vessel functionality, repair and maintenance. Chronic nicotine exposure augments atherosclerosis by enhancing the production of proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages which then activate atherogenic NF-kB target genes in aortic lesions. Alcohol produces NO which speeds up the apoptosis of neutrophils. Alcohol sensitizes the liver to endotoxemic shock. Nitrosative stress and increased basal levels of NO contribute to tumour growth. The progression of disease seems to be directed via a definite NO-mediated mechanism. This review gives an insight into how intake of tobacco and alcohol may affect quality of life.
Subject(s)
Animals , Central Nervous System Depressants/toxicity , Drug Interactions , Ethanol/toxicity , Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/drug effects , Humans , Neoplasms/etiology , Nicotine/toxicity , Nicotinic Agonists/toxicity , Nitric Oxide/physiology , Nitric Oxide Synthase/genetics , Oxidative Stress/drug effectsSubject(s)
Abortion, Spontaneous/chemically induced , Adolescent , Antimalarials/poisoning , Chloroquine/poisoning , Female , Humans , Drug Overdose , PregnancyABSTRACT
Chloroquine (CHQ); an antimalarial; is also used as an anti-inflammatory drug for systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) reduces the frequency of organ involvement and disease flares; and relieves skin and joint symptoms. CHQ reduces the immunologically-mediated inflammation of the joints. HCQ and combination therapies have a significant benefit on synovitis; pain and physical disability on RA. We advocate the investment of resistance Plasmodium prevalence determina-tions in countries beset by malaria; and to match thereafter the quantity of persons administered CHQ. Follow-up investigations are essential to diagnose and prevent visual damage