Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
Department of Physiology
Selected Highlights from Research Findings
The Department of Physiology is conducting in vitro research on novel in silico-designed and synthesized estradiol analogues with potential anticancer activity. Since several anticancer drugs of clinical importance specifically target tubulin and thereby interfere with microtubule dynamics, the microtubule cytoskeleton represents one of the most highly validated cancer targets identified to date. Postgraduates presented their research at the 22nd Congress of the South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in January 2010 in Bloemfontein. They will also have the opportunity to present their data at the first South African Cell Death Society conference anticipated in Cape Town in January 2011. Results on anticancer activity of the above-mentioned analogues conducted on cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells were featured on national television on Carte Blanche Medical on the 30th of August 2010 as part of an interview on a new book by Rebecca Skloots on Henrietta Lacks from whom these cells originate. Four postgraduate students won prizes for their contribution at UP’s Medical Faculty Day and two of them received research awards for ‘best publication’ and ‘runner-up’ in the ‘Basic Sciences’ category at UP’s Faculty of Health Sciences’s Gala evening. Six publications from this group appeared in 2010. In addition, the influence of selected fatty acids on osteoclast formation and bone resorption are currently under investigation. Clinical studies have shown that long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids could have a bone protective effect. One review article resulted from this group. Christo Boeyens (MSc student) paid a research visit (March to May 2010) to the laboratories of Prof MC Kruger (Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand) in order to acquire osteoclast-related research techniques such as generation of osteoclasts from precursor cells, specialised staining and microscopy techniques, bone resorption assays, etc. A pilot study on the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on osteoclast formation in RAW 264.7 cells was conducted.
Research relating to the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease with special reference to cardiomyopathy is one of the department’s focus points. The possibility of a new cause of sudden death that may be due to dysrhythmias, caused by papillary muscle anomalies and other endoventricular structural alterations are being addressed. These aspects include the use of post-mortem echocardiography as a guide to cardiac autopsy in sudden infant death syndrome, right ventricular accessory papillary muscles as a cause of in-situ right ventricular thrombi with resultant pulmonary embolism and the subaortic tendon as a mimic of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Eleven articles originated from this research.
Sport Physiology addresses Organisational Wellness assisting employees and their families in making voluntary behavioural changes that reduce their health risks and enhance their individual productivity and well-being. To have an effect on health outcomes at the worksite, wellness strategies need to enable healthy lifestyles for all, including staff members at risk for chronic diseases (e.g. heart disease, cancer, and diabetes), as well as those with a lower risk for chronic disease and those who are already convinced that they need to make healthy lifestyle choices. The Sport Physiology section also forms part of the Sport Institute Team for Health Screening. Two articles were published in 2010, two oral presentations and three posters were presented at UP’s Medical Faculty Day. Dr du Toit won UP’s Education and Innovation Award this year. One Hons student won a prize for the best poster presented at the Biological Science Congress in Pretoria. Three SAPS healthdays (Durban, Hammanskraal, Pretoria Central) were held. Sports Vision Testing was conducted for the Investec Rugby Academy.
The physiological effects of stress, in particular autonomic dysfunction, and the modulation of insulin sensitivity in visceral fat tissue important in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus are being investigated. Dr Soma presented a lecture at the PAIN, INTERVENTIONS and REGIONAL ANALGESIA congress this year. In 2010, the University’s Neuroscience Research Group was established and several contributions were made at the first Neuroscience day at UP. Data collection was also completed for two projects, ‘Breast cancer: Health beliefs amongst Hindu women’ and ‘The attitudes of students towards physiology at university level’ Collaboration with Kalafong Hospital (Immunology and Internal Medicine) and with the SANBS are currently being conducted. Seven publications addressing the above-mentioned appeared this year.
Contact person: Prof DH van Papendorp.
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