GLPDipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: their role in the management of type 2 diabetes

The production of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), an incretin hormone, has been shown to be abnormally low in patients with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that GLP-1 may be a contributor in the pathogenesis of the disease. New type 2 diabetic medications target incretin hormones in their mechanism of action. The incretin effect is based on the understanding that oral glucose has a greater stimulatory effect on insulin secretion than that of intravenous glucose. Over the past few years, a number of therapeutic agents, acting either as incretin mimetics, e.g. GLP-1 agonists, or inhibitors of the breakdown of GLP- 1, e.g. dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, have become available as treatment options for the management of type 2 diabetes.Keywords: dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), incretin hormones, saxagliptin, vildagliptin, sitagliptin, linagliptin, aloglipti

A review of metformin and its place in the diabetes guidelines

Metformin is considered to be the initial drug of choice for type 2 diabetes mellitus, particularly in overweight patients. This is based on its effectiveness in achieving glycaemic control, its favourable effects on weight, its low risk of causing hypoglycaemia and its reasonable cost. More importantly, metformin has also been consistently shown to have a favourable effect on cardiovascular risk factors, and to improve cardiovascular outcomes. It can be combined with other oral hypoglycaemic agents, as well as insulin, allowing for a beneficial additive effect.This article provides a brief overview on the use of metformin, as  recommended by the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA), in its 2012 guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, metformin, oral hypoglycaemic agents, 2012 SEMDSA guideline

What’s the latest on sulphonylureas in the management of type 2 diabetes?

Sulphonylureas act by binding to sulphonylurea receptors and stimulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. This class of oral hypoglycaemic agents is still widely used in the management of type 2 diabetes in patients where lifestyle changes alone are insufficient. Although the older-generation sulphonylureas no longer have a place in therapy, the newergeneration sulphonylureas are a widely recognised choice, either as monotherapy, or in combination with insulin and/or other oral hypoglycaemic agents.Keywords: sulphonylureas, glibenclamide, gliclazide, glipizide, glimepiride, chlorpropamide, type 2 diabete

The challenges facing small, medium and microsize enterprise in public procurement: a case of Sundays River Valley Municipality

The purpose of this study is to investigate challenges facing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in order to improve the participation of SMMEs in public procurement processes within category B municipalities. A Total Quality Management approach was used to interpret the manner in which to install change within a selection of supplier procedures. The study employed desktop analysis to explain and describe the challenges SMMEs are facing in public procurement in the Sundays River Valley Municipality. Based on the discussions of the participation of SMMEs in public procurement, the challenges which exist within a centralised approach of public procurement were discovered. The findings of the study revealed that SMMEs are challenged by the lack of entrepreneurial coaching by local government, low demand for the commodities, lack of experience, skills and knowledge, limited access to debt finance, poor marketing skills, poor managerial and lack of planning skills, gaps in implementation of preference point system, poor management of core strategies of the preferential system, gaps in implementation of preference point system, poor management of the tender system, improper integration of central supplier database, globalisation and the impact of e-procurement on local government level. Subsequently, the study made recommendations in this regard

The challenges facing small, medium and microsize enterprise in public procurement: a case of Sundays River Valley Municipality

The purpose of this study is to investigate challenges facing Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in order to improve the participation of SMMEs in public procurement processes within category B municipalities. A Total Quality Management approach was used to interpret the manner in which to install change within a selection of supplier procedures. The study employed desktop analysis to explain and describe the challenges SMMEs are facing in public procurement in the Sundays River Valley Municipality. Based on the discussions of the participation of SMMEs in public procurement, the challenges which exist within a centralised approach of public procurement were discovered. The findings of the study revealed that SMMEs are challenged by the lack of entrepreneurial coaching by local government, low demand for the commodities, lack of experience, skills and knowledge, limited access to debt finance, poor marketing skills, poor managerial and lack of planning skills, gaps in implementation of preference point system, poor management of core strategies of the preferential system, gaps in implementation of preference point system, poor management of the tender system, improper integration of central supplier database, globalisation and the impact of e-procurement on local government level. Subsequently, the study made recommendations in this regard

Generation of Bioactive Hydrolysates and Peptides from Bovine Hemoglobin with In Vitro Renin, Angiotensin-I-Converting Enzyme and Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Inhibitory Activities

peer-reviewedBovine hemoglobin was selected for use in the generation of bioactive hydrolysates with potential for use as functional food ingredients for prevention of disorders such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Bovine hemoglobin was isolated and hydrolyzed with papain, which was selected using in silico analysis. The generated hydrolysate was enriched by ultrafiltration and further purified by high performance liquid chromatography. A number of peptides were identified using de novo peptide sequencing and these peptides were chemically synthesized to confirm their bioactivity in vitro. Three multifunctional peptides with both, ACE-I and renin-inhibitory properties and one peptide with ACE-I-inhibiting properties were identified. These included the di-peptide HR with ACE-I and renin IC50 values of 0.19 and 7.09 mM, respectively. The generated papain hydrolysate of bovine hemoglobin not only inhibited the enzymes ACE-I and renin but also the enzyme DPP-IV, which has been linked to type-2 diabetes.Tomas Lafarga is in receipt of a Teagasc Walsh Fellowship. This work forms part of the ReValueProtein Research Project (Grant Award No. 11/F/043) which is supported by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) both funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan 2007–2013

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors: their role in the management of type 2 diabetes

The production of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), an incretin hormone, has been shown to be abnormally low in patients with type 2 diabetes, suggesting that GLP-1 may be a contributor in the pathogenesis of the disease. New type 2 diabetic medications target incretin hormones in their mechanism of action. The incretin effect is based on the understanding that oral glucose has a greater stimulatory effect on insulin secretion than that of intravenous  glucose. Over the past few years, a number of therapeutic agents, acting either as incretin mimetics, e.g. GLP-1 agonists, or inhibitors of the breakdown of GLP-1, e.g. dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, have become available as treatment options for the management of type 2 diabetes

The core-plus curriculum in English for the teaching of commercial subjects

M.Ed.The indirect purpose of this research is to investigate the possibilities of assisting English Second Language speakers in accessing the curriculum more readily through simplifying the language used in the curriculum, and employing teaching methods that are designed specifically for second language speakers. The direct aim of this inquiry is to ascertain the views of a group of role players' on the issue