Doctoral Degrees (Physiological Sciences)
Recent Submissions
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The role of Serum Amyloid A in NLRP3 inflammasome signalling in breast and colon cancer
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Cancer is a complex disease with multiple interactions targeting the organism on cellular, tissue and systemic levels. The main research focus for the past decades has been on the genome ... -
Molecular regulation of autophagy and metastasis in breast cancer: new insights into the role of serum amyloid A
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Cytokines, growth factors and acute phase proteins present in the tumour microenvironment regulate inflammatory responses and alter crosstalk between various signalling pathways involved ... -
Intercellular communication between macrophages, myoblasts and fibroblasts in the context of rheumatoid arthritis-associated skeletal muscle wasting
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Approximately 1% of the global population is afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), of which over a third experience rheumatoid cachexia, a RA-specific form of skeletal muscle wasting. Current patient ... -
Investigating aberrant DNA methylation patterns in LOXL2 as a potential predictor of diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with 17.9 million deaths annually. CVD pathophysiology is often characterized by increased stiffening of the heart muscle ... -
An investigation into the role of Serum amyloid A in breast cancer
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cancer remains a global challenge that affects many lives. To this extent, much research has gone into understanding this disease and the factors that contribute to it. Over the past 40 years, an ... -
An investigation into the role of Serum amyloid A in breast cancer
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cancer remains a global challenge that affects many lives. To this extent, much research has gone into understanding this disease and the factors that contribute to it. Over the past 40 years, an ... -
Identification of potential biomarkers of cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin therapy in a tumour bearing model by targeting specific micro-RNAs
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, a major side effect of chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin (DOX), has been a priority within the field of cardio-oncology for a number of decades. ... -
Chronic stress-associated accelerated ageing: inflammation and oxidative stress treatment
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years, the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) normally associated with advanced age has begun presenting in younger populations. This has resulted in a growing burden on global healthcare ... -
Investigating the diversity of extracellular vesicle microRNA in response to exercise-induced muscle micro-damage: comparison of targeted plasma microRNA to targeted and in-depth analysis of extracellular vesicle microRNA
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Skeletal muscle (SkM) damage occurs routinely in sport and is present in acquired and inherited myopathies. Damage is confirmed by invasive muscle biopsy. Molecular events that occur during ... -
Influence of maternal inflammation on immune modulation
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Perturbations within intrauterine microenvironment, due to maternal stressors such as chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction and psychological stress, can result in lifelong detrimental consequences ... -
The role of DHEA in the aetiology of modern chronic disease
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an androgenic steroid predominantly viewed as the main precursor to androgen and estrogen hormones in the human body. DHEA exists as a sulphated ester known as DHEAS, which ... -
Manipulation of macrophage phagocytosis - development of an endogenous delivery system
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The need to administer more potent antimicrobial drugs is supported by the ever-increasing incidence of multidrug resistance. Given the (necessary) higher toxicity of these drugs, administration into host ... -
Chemoresistance in a breast cancer animal model: the role of obesity and inflammation
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Globally an increase in obesity incidence represent a major health concern amongst a rising incidence of impaired treatment outcomes of breast cancer patients. Adipose tissue and/or adipocytes, ... -
Fibroblast growth factors, A potential game plan for regeneration of skeletal muscle
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Adult mammalian tissue regeneration recruits progenitor stem cells. In skeletal muscle, these are primary satellite cells. Primary satellite cells can be harvested from muscle tissue to ... -
The effect of melatonin treatment on doxorubicin-induced skeletal muscle atrophy within a cancer model
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background and Aim: Skeletal muscle atrophy is a major concern in patients suffering with malignancy. Chemotherapeutic agents, such as doxorubicin (DOX), can further exacerbate this loss of skeletal ... -
The effects of nutrient deprivation on macroautophagic flux and chaperone-mediated autophagy in a model of alzheimer's disease
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive impairment, particularly in brain regions crucial for learning and memory. These ... -
Metabolic reprograming and cancer resistance : an investigation into the metabolic control of cancer-associated fibroblasts on breast cancer cell survival and metastasis
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) constitute the most abundant mesenchymal cell type present within the tumour microenvironment. Recent evidence suggests that nutrient deprived cancer ... -
Immune activation in HIV-positive patients on combined anti-retroviral treatment (cART) as a high risk group for the development of cardiovascular diseases
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although roll-out of combined anti-retroviral treatment (cART) has blunted HIV-AIDS onset, studies show increased development of cardio-metabolic complications in HIV-infected individuals. For this study ... -
An investigation into the potential cardioprotective effects of ghrelin in a rat model of chronic Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-12)ENGLISH SUMMARY: Introduction Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline that has significantly improved the outcome of cancer patients since its discovery. However, its clinical success remains limited due to the dose-dependent ... -
Mitochondrial catastrophe during doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity : An evaluation of the protective role of melatonin.
(Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: Anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin (DXR), are among the most valuable treatments for various cancers, but their clinical use is limited due to detrimental side-effects such as cardiotoxicity. ...