Major Issues and The Place of Traditional Religion Essay

Major Issues and The Place of Traditional Religion - Essay Example n has mostly been undertaken by foreign observers who unfortunately have been less analytical due to their lack of knowledge of African languages, which are normally rich in cultural expression and linguistic (Olupona, 1991). Olupona examines the reasons that made the study of African religion study to suffer serious setbacks in the initial efforts by scholars to get a unit of study from it. According to Olupona, the impact of Christianity and particularly its emphasis of particularity did much damage to the overall study of the African traditional religion and the rightful recognition of its experience. This is essentially what has contributed to the many difficulties bedeviling the study of Africa religion to date, among them being the problem of sources and what could be referred as the goal of Africa religion study. Other problems that have been besetting this study that Olupona has pointed is the size of the Africa as a continent and derogatory appellations like â€Å"dark continent, not to mention the multitude and complexity of each and every quality of Africa’s various language, climate, culture and such like. Another issue that Olupona has examined in depth in this chapter is the problem of the consequences of the European settlements that have wiped out whole cultures and obliterated lots and lots of racial memories, consequently establishing what has been referred to as â€Å"a bit of whiteness† syndrome in the African continent. He also explores the unrepairable blow that has been caused to the Africa traditional religion by the western education, mercantile or civil services crisscrossing the Africa continent (Olupona, 1991). In this chapter Olupona look at the effect of traditional religion to today’s South Africa. According to him it is difficult to talk of a single world view in Africa because of the cultural heterogeneity that predominate Africa. He proceeds to interrogate the issue of whether worldview can be differentiated in the late 20th

The Utilization of Incretin Mimetics and DPPIV Inhibitors in the Essay

The Utilization of Incretin Mimetics and DPPIV Inhibitors in the Management of Type II Diabetes Mellitus - Essay Example The initial results obtained from clinical trials with these new agents indicate a very high promise of achieving better blood glucose control by adding them to the therapeutic arsenal for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Incretin mimetics are a new class of antidiabetic agents with multiple blood sugar lowering actions that mimic the actions of incretin hormones. Incretins are peptide hormones that originate in the gastrointestinal tract. The two major incretins in humans are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP). These hormones are released during nutrient absorption, when they serve to potentiate the secretion of insulin(Nielsen) Although both GLP-1 and GIP act as incretin hormones in normal subjects, only GLP-1 can be used to treat DM2 because diabetes is often associated with a blunted or absent response to GIP. It has been shown that whereas GLP-1 levels are significantly decreased in DM2, GIP values are normal, suggesting that DM2 patients are resistant to the biological effects of GIP, rendering it relatively ineffective (2A)In mammals, GLP-1 is derived from the proglucagon peptide in mucosal L-cells of the small intestine(Drucker "Glucagon-Like Peptides") D Dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-IV) extends the bioavailability of many peptides by suppressing their break-down. Several incretin mimetics and DPP-IV inhibitors are undergoing late-stage clinical trials for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and results so far have shown some promises. Their mechanisms of action include enhancement of glucose-dependent insulin secretion; suppression of inappropriately elevated glucagon secretion; slowing of gastric emptying; and appetite suppression(Nielsen). Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the emergence of postprandial (post meal) and, subsequently, fasting hyperglycemia (fasting plasma glucose >125 mg/dl) (Nielsen; Drucker "Glucagon-Like Peptides"). Hyperglycemia results from pancreatic -cells secreting inadequate insulin to compensate for insulin-resistance in peripheral tissues(Porte and Sherwin; Weyer). Only about 33 percent of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in the United States are able to achieve the 7% HbA1c recommended by the American Diabetes Association. However, after the administration of incretin mimetics and DPP-IV inhibitors on some of these patients, there is a significant improvement in their glycemic profile. Their after-meal blood glucose level, and subsequently their HbA1c were better(Freeman). Despite exercise, diet control and some pharmacological intervention in patients with DM 2, control of blood sugar has become increasingly difficult, especially in patients who had been on long term therapy. The progressive deterioration of the beta-cells of the pancreas, which in turn causes deficient insulin (as well as increased glucagon production) is responsible for this failure of treatment. The incretin mimetics and DPP IV inhibitors are thought to offer hope in improving the glycemic profile of patients because they act primarily to both increase