Browsing by Author "Levitt, Dinky"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    The aetiopathogenesis, cardiovascular and metabolic complications, and pharmacogenomics of Addison's disease in South Africa
    (2011) Ross, Ian Louis; Levitt, Dinky
    This thesis aimed to address a number of unanswered research questions in Addison's Disease: investigate whether autoimmunity is the predominant cause of Addison's disease in South Africa and if a human leukocyte (HLA) DQ antigen association exists; the extent to which lipids, lipoproteins and biochemical markers of cardiovascular disease are abnormal; the degree to which replacement doses of hydrocortisone are supra-physiological; the impact of glucocorticoid receptor (GCR) polymorphisms on risk factors, markers of cardiovascular disease and replacement doses of hydrocortisone.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Cardiovascular disease risk factors in the urban black population in Cape Town
    (2013) Peer, Nasheeta; Steyn, Krisela; Levitt, Dinky
    Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    The development of a dietary intervention to modify cation content of foods and the evaluation of its effects on blood pressure in hypertensive black South Africans
    (2006) Charlton, Karen Elizabeth; Steyn, Krisela; Levitt, Dinky
    Black South Africans are at high risk of hypertension, stroke and blood pressure-related target-organ damage. In South Africa, the limited resources at primary health care level allocated to the prevention, early diagnosis and management of hypertension necessitate a non-pharmacological population-based approach to curb the escalating burden of cardiovascular disease, for which raised blood pressure is an important major contributory risk factor. The series of five studies included in the thesis provide a systematic approach to developing an appropriate nutritional population-based approach to lowering blood pressure in a high risk population. Firstly, valid, reliable, and updated information was obtained to identify habitual intake of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium in the target population, using the gold standard method of assessing sodium intake, namely 24-hour urinary excretion collections (Chapter 3). This information was necessary to inform the levels of sodium and other cation modification required in order to obtain a physioligically relevant change in blood pressure. As well as quantitative data on levels of sodium intake, the food sources that are the most important contributors to overall non-discretionary salt intake, and the pattern of intake of these foods, is described (Chapter 4). This data allowed identification of commonly consumed foods that could be targeted for modification on their cation content.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Lifestyle modification education in chronic diseases of lifestyle : insight into counselling provided by health professionals at primary health care facilities in the Western Cape, South Africa
    (2008) Parker, Whadi-ah; Steyn, Nelia; Levitt, Dinky
    The aim of this study is to conduct a formative assessment to explore health professionals’ capacity as well as the conditions within primary health care facilities in the Western Cape Metropole that facilitate or impede the provision of lifestyle modification education and counselling to patients with chronic diseases of lifestyle in order to make recommendations for an intervention programme that utilises available resources.