El número de pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica que inician diálisis (IRT) ha ido aumentando con los años. Por ello es preciso identificar las causas de IRT que se pueden prevenir. Los analgésicos y AINE potencialmente pueden producir efectos indeseables renales (principalmente por) derivados de su mecanismo de acción. El objetivo principal del presente trabajo de investigación ha sido realizar un análisis comparativo de dos estudios de casos y de controles (estudio de 1983 -Morlans, 1990-; y estudio de 1997 -Ibáñez, 2005) realizados en la misma área geográfica y en períodos de tiempo distintos para clarificar el papel de los analgésicos y AINE en la IRT (en el área de estudio) y también, para proporcionar información que mejore el diseño de los futuros estudios epidemiológicos que investiguen esta posible asociación.El estudio de 1997 comparado con el estudio de 1983, se ha perfeccionado principalmente con la selección de todos los casos que iniciaban tratamiento renal sustitutivo con diálisis, en lugar de una muestra de los pacientes con IRT que estaban recibiendo dicho tratamiento, de este modo se ha evitado un probable sesgo de selección de los pacientes asociado a su supervivencia y que es propio de los estudios de prevalencia. También, se ha disminuido el sesgo de memoria con la utilización de un catálogo en color de especialidades farmacéuticas. Asimismo, se ha obtenido un mejor emparejamiento de los casos con los controles según el hospital de origen. Ambos estudios han tenido en común dos aspectos del diseño que los distinguen de otros estudios epidemiológicos. Uno de ellos ha sido la definición del día índice y otro que se han ejecutado en la misma área geográfica. En la mayoría de los estudios de casos y de controles ha existido un sesgo protopático importante, pues la definición del día índice ha sido la fecha del inicio del estudio o del diagnóstico de la insuficiencia renal terminal, mientras que en los estudios de 1983 y 1997, el día índice se ha determinado como la fecha de la primera manifestación renal. De la comparación de ambos estudios, se han podido objetivar diversos cambios en los pacientes que han entrado en un programa de diálisis durante el período de 1983-1997, pues la población incluida en el estudio de 1997 ha presentado una edad más avanzada y una mayor morbilidad y sobre todo, una distribución diferente de diagnósticos de IRC. Por ello, una de las observaciones que se desprenden de la comparación de ambos estudios es que el diseño, pero también otros condicionantes externos sociosanitarios, difícilmente controlables, han podido influir en las diferencias de resultados.En el estudio de 1997, los controles presentaron un importante grado de exposición a analgésicos y AINE, similar a la de los casos. Debido a ello, no se observó un riesgo entre el uso de analgésicos y/o AINE y la IRT. Posiblemente, la mayor exposición de los controles del estudio de 1997 con respecto a la de los controles del estudio de 1983, se debió a que tenían una edad más avanzada, una mayor morbilidad y a que se utilizó un catálogo en color de especialidades farmacéuticas que pudo facilitar en mayor grado el recuerdo de los medicamentos.Ambos estudios han coincidido en el aumento del riesgo de IRT con la exposición crónica a AAS. En el estudio de 1997 se comprobó que dicho riesgo fue dependiente de la dosis y la duración de la exposición de AAS. Además, el estudio de 1997 halló un riesgo mayor en los pacientes con nefropatía vascular y con antecedentes de diabetes. Tanto algunas de las causas que originan la nefropatía vascular como la diabetes se asocian frecuentemente al uso de AAS en la profilaxis de eventos cardiovasculares, por ello estos resultados procedentes de un análisis de subgrupos, se han de interpretar con precaución e investigar en futuros estudios a fin de confirmar dicho riesgo. ReferenciasIbáñez L, Morlans M, Vidal X, Martínez MJ, Laporte JR. Case-control study of regular analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory use and end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2005; 67: 2313-2398.Morlans M. Laporte JR, Vidal X, Cabeza D, Stolley PD. End-stage renal disease and non-narcotic analgesics: A case-control study. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1990; 30: 717-723. / The number of patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), forced to dialysis, is growing yearly. Therefore, it is necessary to identify all preventable causes. Analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) may cause kidney adverse effects principally due to their action as prostaglandin inhibitors and their renal elimination. Two case-control studies were performed at different time periods in the same geographic area to study the association of analgesics (1983 study -Morlans 1990) and NSAIDs with ESRD (1997 study -Ibañez 2005-). The objective of the present investigation was to compare methodological aspects and the results of both case-control studies (1983 study and 1997 study) in order to clarify the roll of analgesics and NSAIDs in the pathogenesis of ESRD, and to inform the design of future epidemiological studies in this field.With respect to the 1983 study the 1997 study improved by selecting all cases beginning renal treatment with dialysis. Therefore, it may avoid a probable patient selection bias as it is often the case in most prevalence studies. The 1997 study also may have reduced memory bias with the use of a series of colour pictures including the top selling analgesics/NSAIDs medicines of the study period. (photographic pictures) Likewise, the pair matched case-control was better, according to hospital and interviewer.Both studies agreed in two aspect of the design that differs from other epidemiological studies: the definition of the index day and the performance in the same geographical area. In most of case-control studies an important protopatic bias exists, because the index day definition is usually the date when the study begins or the ESRD was diagnosed. In the 1983 and 1997 studies, the index day was determined as the date of the first manifestation of renal disease.The results from both studies point at the development of several changes in the characteristics of the patients that begin dialysis during the 1983-1997 period compared to those of 1997 that included and older population with a higher morbidity, and even more important, a different distribution of the diagnoses leading to ESRD. This illustrates that not just the design, but social and health issues could have influenced the different results of both studies.In the 1997 study, the control group presented an important degree of exposure to analgesics and NSAIDs, very similar to that of the cases, and this could explain the lack of risk of the exposure to this drugs and the ESRD. This high degree of exposure could be due to the older age and higher morbidity compared to the previous control group, and the use of a series of colour pictures including the top selling analgesics/NSAIDs medicines of the study period that may have helped patients to remember a past exposure.Both studies report an association of acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA) and ESRD. The 1997 study showed that the risk increased with dose and length of the exposure. Moreover, this study found a higher risk in the subgroup of patients with vascular nephropathy and diabetes. Some of the causes of vascular nephropathy and diabetes are frequently associated with the prophylactic use of ASA for cardiovascular events. Therefore, these results should be interpreted cautiously and future studies should further investigate this potential association. ReferencesIbáñez L, Morlans M, Vidal X, Martínez MJ, Laporte JR. Case-control study of regular analgesic and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory use and end-stage renal disease. Kidney Int. 2005; 67: 2313-2398.Morlans M. Laporte JR, Vidal X, Cabeza D, Stolley PD. End-stage renal disease and non-narcotic analgesics: A case-control study. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1990; 30: 717-723.

No description available.

No description available.

O sulindaco é um antiinflamatório não esteroidal (AINE) classificado quimicamente como ácido carboxílico, da classe dos acetatos, que inibe de forma não seletiva a cicloxigenase 1 e 2. Terapeuticamente, é utilizado como agente analgésico e antiinflamatório para o tratamento de sintomas da artrite reumatóide aguda e crônica, osteoartrite e espondilite anquilosante, no entanto, seu uso não está restringido somente a estas patologias, pois apresenta atividade quimiopreventiva, sendo atualmente também utilizado para este fim, apesar de inúmeros relatos de toxicidade gastrointestinal e hepática terem sido relatados na literatura. Ele é ingerido como um pró-fármaco, e por reações de biotransformação hepática origina um metabólito reduzido (sulindaco sulfeto, ativo farmacologicamente) e outro oxidado (sulindaco sulfona, inativo). Para avaliar os efeitos do sulindaco e seus metabólitos, foram realizados estudos in vitro em mitocôndrias isoladas de fígado de rato, para explorar aspectos mecanísticos de toxicidade mitocondrial, e ensaios com linhagem celular de hepatoma humano HepG2, para avaliar seus efeitos após metabolização, uma vez que estas células mantém enzimas responsáveis pelas reações de biotransformação de fase I e II. Nossos resultados demonstram que o sulindaco sulfeto estimula a respiração de estado 4 e promove a liberação de cálcio pré-acumulado pela organela de maneira concentração-dependente, sendo evidente o efeito desacoplador sobre a fosforilação oxidativa, refletidos na diminuição da viabilidade celular em associação com a diminuição do conteúdo de ATP, provocado pela dissipação do potencial de membrana mitocondrial, sugerindo um mecanismo protonoforético de desacoplamento, responsável pela toxicidade deste antiinflamatório. Além disso, foi observado o inchamento das mitocôndrias em meio energizado, condição que ocorre independente de cálcio presente no meio reacional. Este evento foi parcialmente sensível a ciclosporina A e Mg2+, teve prevenção total com a adição de BHT e insensibilidade a outros moduladores, como ADP, ATP, DTT e NEM. Os resultados não condizem com a transição de permeabilidade mitocondrial clássica, uma vez que é dependente de cálcio, e o mecanismo de prevenção deste efeito obtida com a adição de BHT é desconhecido, pois não foi observada a indução de formação de radicais livres nos dois modelos experimentais utilizados. No entanto, a indução de intumescimento mitocondrial pode contribuir para seus efeitos tóxicos. O sulindaco e o sulindaco sulfona não apresentaram quaisquer efeitos descritos para o sulindaco sulfeto, indicando que somente o metabólito farmacologicamente ativo é responsável pelos efeitos tóxicos observados. A biotransformação por reações de Fase I e II podem contribuir para a toxicidade in vivo, por originarem o metabólito reduzido, e como o sulindaco é utilizado em terapias que envolvem uso por tempo prolongado, é prudente realizar um monitoramento da função hepática antes e durante o período de tratamento, no sentido de prevenir complicações do uso na terapia convencional / Sulindac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) known to inhibit non-selectively ciclooxygenases (COX) 1 and 2. Sulindac is therapeutically used as anti-inflammatory and analgesic in the symptomatic treatment of acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylits. In addition to this property, a role in the prevention/regression of colonic carcinogenesis, has been described for both sulindac and metabolites. Nevertheless, its therapeutic use has been limited because of its toxicity to the gastrointestinal tract and liver, reported in the literature. Sulindac is a prodrug that is ?in vivo? metabolized to its pharmacological active metabolite, sulindac sulfide and its pharmacological inactive one, sulindac sulfone. In order to assess the effects of sulindac and its metabolites, we used ?in vitro? studies with isolated rat liver mitochondria, to evaluate the aspects of its toxicity in mitochondria; and studies with human hepatoma cell line (HepG2), to evaluate its affects after biotransformation. The present study shows that sulindac sulfide, but not sulindac sulfone or sulindac itself, cause mitochondrial uncoupling, releasing pre-accumulated Ca2+ from the organelle, and decrease Hep-G2 cell viability in an apparent association with cellular ATP depletion resulted from mitochondrial uncoupling-associated membrane potential dissipation. We therefore propose mitochondrial uncoupling by sulindac sulfide as a potential mechanism for the well established toxicity of sulindac, at least to the liver in humans. It was also observed a mitochondrial swelling in energized media that can occur without dependence on the calcium present in the media. This event was partial inhibited by CsA and Mg2+, and completely inhibited with the addition of BHT. It did not show any inhibition with the addition of ADP, ATP, DTT or NEM. These results can not be associated to the classical mitochondrial permeability transition that is dependent to calcium, and the mechanism of inhibition observed with BHT is not known, since it was not observed any production of free radicals in our models, but the swelling observed can also contribute to the toxic effects observed. The sulindac itself and the sulfone metabolite did not show any toxic effect observed for the sulfide form, indicating that just the pharmacological active metabolite is responsible for the toxic effects. The biotransformation (phase I and II reactions) can contribute to sulindac toxicity, because they generate the reduced form. Sulindac is also used in long term treatment, so it is necessary the monitoring of the hepatic function is necessary before and during the treatment, in order to prevent any further complication.

O sulindaco é um antiinflamatório não esteroidal (AINE) classificado quimicamente como ácido carboxílico, da classe dos acetatos, que inibe de forma não seletiva a cicloxigenase 1 e 2. Terapeuticamente, é utilizado como agente analgésico e antiinflamatório para o tratamento de sintomas da artrite reumatóide aguda e crônica, osteoartrite e espondilite anquilosante, no entanto, seu uso não está restringido somente a estas patologias, pois apresenta atividade quimiopreventiva, sendo atualmente também utilizado para este fim, apesar de inúmeros relatos de toxicidade gastrointestinal e hepática terem sido relatados na literatura. Ele é ingerido como um pró-fármaco, e por reações de biotransformação hepática origina um metabólito reduzido (sulindaco sulfeto, ativo farmacologicamente) e outro oxidado (sulindaco sulfona, inativo). Para avaliar os efeitos do sulindaco e seus metabólitos, foram realizados estudos in vitro em mitocôndrias isoladas de fígado de rato, para explorar aspectos mecanísticos de toxicidade mitocondrial, e ensaios com linhagem celular de hepatoma humano HepG2, para avaliar seus efeitos após metabolização, uma vez que estas células mantém enzimas responsáveis pelas reações de biotransformação de fase I e II. Nossos resultados demonstram que o sulindaco sulfeto estimula a respiração de estado 4 e promove a liberação de cálcio pré-acumulado pela organela de maneira concentração-dependente, sendo evidente o efeito desacoplador sobre a fosforilação oxidativa, refletidos na diminuição da viabilidade celular em associação com a diminuição do conteúdo de ATP, provocado pela dissipação do potencial de membrana mitocondrial, sugerindo um mecanismo protonoforético de desacoplamento, responsável pela toxicidade deste antiinflamatório. Além disso, foi observado o inchamento das mitocôndrias em meio energizado, condição que ocorre independente de cálcio presente no meio reacional. Este evento foi parcialmente sensível a ciclosporina A e Mg2+, teve prevenção total com a adição de BHT e insensibilidade a outros moduladores, como ADP, ATP, DTT e NEM. Os resultados não condizem com a transição de permeabilidade mitocondrial clássica, uma vez que é dependente de cálcio, e o mecanismo de prevenção deste efeito obtida com a adição de BHT é desconhecido, pois não foi observada a indução de formação de radicais livres nos dois modelos experimentais utilizados. No entanto, a indução de intumescimento mitocondrial pode contribuir para seus efeitos tóxicos. O sulindaco e o sulindaco sulfona não apresentaram quaisquer efeitos descritos para o sulindaco sulfeto, indicando que somente o metabólito farmacologicamente ativo é responsável pelos efeitos tóxicos observados. A biotransformação por reações de Fase I e II podem contribuir para a toxicidade in vivo, por originarem o metabólito reduzido, e como o sulindaco é utilizado em terapias que envolvem uso por tempo prolongado, é prudente realizar um monitoramento da função hepática antes e durante o período de tratamento, no sentido de prevenir complicações do uso na terapia convencional / Sulindac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) known to inhibit non-selectively ciclooxygenases (COX) 1 and 2. Sulindac is therapeutically used as anti-inflammatory and analgesic in the symptomatic treatment of acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylits. In addition to this property, a role in the prevention/regression of colonic carcinogenesis, has been described for both sulindac and metabolites. Nevertheless, its therapeutic use has been limited because of its toxicity to the gastrointestinal tract and liver, reported in the literature. Sulindac is a prodrug that is ?in vivo? metabolized to its pharmacological active metabolite, sulindac sulfide and its pharmacological inactive one, sulindac sulfone. In order to assess the effects of sulindac and its metabolites, we used ?in vitro? studies with isolated rat liver mitochondria, to evaluate the aspects of its toxicity in mitochondria; and studies with human hepatoma cell line (HepG2), to evaluate its affects after biotransformation. The present study shows that sulindac sulfide, but not sulindac sulfone or sulindac itself, cause mitochondrial uncoupling, releasing pre-accumulated Ca2+ from the organelle, and decrease Hep-G2 cell viability in an apparent association with cellular ATP depletion resulted from mitochondrial uncoupling-associated membrane potential dissipation. We therefore propose mitochondrial uncoupling by sulindac sulfide as a potential mechanism for the well established toxicity of sulindac, at least to the liver in humans. It was also observed a mitochondrial swelling in energized media that can occur without dependence on the calcium present in the media. This event was partial inhibited by CsA and Mg2+, and completely inhibited with the addition of BHT. It did not show any inhibition with the addition of ADP, ATP, DTT or NEM. These results can not be associated to the classical mitochondrial permeability transition that is dependent to calcium, and the mechanism of inhibition observed with BHT is not known, since it was not observed any production of free radicals in our models, but the swelling observed can also contribute to the toxic effects observed. The sulindac itself and the sulfone metabolite did not show any toxic effect observed for the sulfide form, indicating that just the pharmacological active metabolite is responsible for the toxic effects. The biotransformation (phase I and II reactions) can contribute to sulindac toxicity, because they generate the reduced form. Sulindac is also used in long term treatment, so it is necessary the monitoring of the hepatic function is necessary before and during the treatment, in order to prevent any further complication.

Abstract The SOM in boreal forests contains non-living heterogeneous components resulting from microbial and chemical transformations of organic debris from plant litter. The major components in the plant biomass all decompose at different rates and therefore, contribute variably to the stable storages of soil C. The aims of the current thesis were 1) to explore how climate, soil fertility and initial litter quality affect the decomposition rate of litter, 2) to study how the different carbon fractions found in the plant litter relate to the quality and quantity of SOM in forest soils, 3) to determine whether the recalcitrant fraction of litter is derived from lignin and other polyphenols or from lipophilic compounds and carbohydrates, and 4) to determine whether the litter originating from different plant growth forms affects SOM formation in a similar way. The study was conducted in six north boreal and six south boreal study sites, half of which were mesic and half were sub-xeric. The overall initial litter quality and decomposition rate of carbon fractions did not differ between the two fertility levels and climate regimes. Litter with high initial water-soluble extractives (WSE) and nitrogen (N) decomposed at a faster rate than litter with lower initial WSE and N concentration irrespective of the soil fertility or climate conditions. Although decomposition rate varies among litter types, decomposition rate cannot explain differences in SOM quality or quantity between the northern and southern boreal forests. The organic matter accumulation and relative proportion of acid-insoluble residue (AIR) in SOM was higher in south boreal sites both in sub-xeric and mesic sites. Detailed characterization of the AIR fraction using pyrolysis-GC demonstrated that in the litter layer the concentration of AIR contains lignin and other insoluble polyphenols, but in the F and H layers, lignin-derived and chemically modified polyphenolics and decomposition products of resin acids. Although the concentration of the AIR fraction varies among litter types, its composition varied very little among the litter types, and between a sub-xeric and a mesic site. The results of this study suggest that the differences in plant community structure and quantitative differences in the litter input by various growth forms has more impact on OM accumulation than decomposition conditions in coniferous soils. / Tiivistelmä Metsämaan orgaaninen aines koostuu eriasteisesti hajonneesta karikkeesta sekä pitkälle maatuneesta, hajottajien muokkaamasta humuksesta. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin 1) kuinka ilmasto, maaperän ravinteisuus ja karikkeen kemialliset ominaisuudet vaikuttavat karikkeen hajoamisnopeuteen, 2) kuinka kasvien sisältämät erilaiset hiilifraktiot vaikuttavat maaperän orgaanisen aineen laatuun ja määrään, 3) millaiset hiiliyhdisteet muodostavat vaikeimmin hajoavan hiilifraktion karikkeessa ja pidemmälle maatuneessa orgaanisessa aineessa ja 4) onko erilaisten kasvien vaikutus orgaanisen aineksen muodostumiseen samanlainen kuusikoissa ja männiköissä pohjois- ja eteläboreaalisella havumetsävyöhykkeellä. Tutkimuksessa havaittiin, että karikkeen maatumisnopeudessa ei ollut eroja pohjois- ja eteläboreaalisella kasvuvyöhykkeellä eikä kuusikoiden ja männiköiden väillä. Karike, joka sisälsi runsaasti vesiliukoisia yhdisteitä ja typpeä maatui nopeammin kuin vähän vesiliukoisia yhdisteitä tai typpeä sisältävä karike. Karikkeen maatumisnopeus ei kuitenkaan kyennyt selittämään eroja pidemmälle maatuneen orgaanisen aineksen määrässä ja laadussa pohjois- ja eteläboreaalisella kasvuvyöhykkeellä. Orgaanisen aineksen määrä oli suurempi eteläboreaalisella kasvuvyöhykkeellä verrattuna pohjoisboreaaliseen. Lisäksi vaikeasti hajoavia hiiliyhdisteitä (AIR-fraktio) kertyi eteläboreaaliseen metsämaahan enemmän kuin pohjoiseen. Karikekerroksessa ligniini ja polyfenolit muodostivat suuren osan AIR-fraktiosta. Maatumisen edetessä AIR-fraktion muodostavat lähinnä ligniinin hajoamisesta peräisin olevat ja muut modifioituneet polyfenolit sekä pihkahappojen hajoamistuotteet. Vaikka AIR-fraktion konsentraatio vaihteli kariketyypeittäin, sen kemiallinen koostumus oli hyvin samanlainen karikelajista riippumatta. Tutkimuksen perusteella vallitseva kasvillisuus ja sen tuottaman karikkeen määrä ja laatu vaikuttavat enemmän metsämaahan kertyvän orgaanisen aineen määrään kuin maatumisolosuhteet.

Abstract Microbial infection in dental root canal induces an inflammatory reaction called apical periodontitis. In post-treament disease, Enterococcus faecalis is the most commonly found organism, which may survive well in root canal despite calcium hydroxide paste medication. In these cases, effective irrigation or repeated chlorhexidine medication are recommended. New medications with long-lasting antimicrobial activity are needed for the treatment of persistent root canal infections. 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid (HICA) is a protein fermentation product of lactobacilli and few other bacterial or fungal species express enzymes required for its metabolism. However, mammalian cells can metabolise it and use it for protein production. It is known to be well-tolerated by humans and have anti-inflammatory properties as well. Therefore, the hypothesis was that it affects microbe-specific metabolic pathways and have potential as a novel antimicrobial agent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal spectrum of HICA using in vitro microdilution methods for susceptibility testing and an ex vivo extracted tooth root canal infection-model. The impact of dentine on the antimicrobial activity of HICA was also evaluated. The results showed that HICA has broad-spectrum bactericidal activity for gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. It is also fungicidal for several fungal species and it is only marginally inactivated by clinically-relevant concentrations of dentine. It is at least as active against E. faecalis as presently-used interappointment medications in infected root canals after a seven-day incubation ex vivo. Since HICA has a broad-spectrum and long-term antimicrobial activity as well as an anti-inflammatory effect, it may be a useful new agent for clinical endodontology. However, controlled clinical studies are needed for evaluation of the efficacy of HICA in clinical conditions. / Tiivistelmä Hampaan juurikanavan mikrobi-infektio aiheuttaa apikaalisen parodontiitin eli tulehdusreaktion juuren kärjen läheisyydessä oleviin kudoksiin. Silloin, kun infektio ei parane hoidon jälkeen, Enterococcus faecalis on yleisin löydös. Jos kalsiumhydroksidilääkitys ei ole tehokas, hoitoon suositellaan huolellista desinfektiohuuhtelua ja uusittavaa lyhytkestoista klooriheksidiinilääkitystä. Juurikanavainfektioiden hoitoon tarvitaan uusia antimikrobiaineita, joilla on pitkäaikainen vaikutus. Lactobacillus-bakteerit tuottavat proteiiniaineenvaihdunnassa 2-hydroksi-isokapronihappoa eli HICAa, jonka metaboloimiseen tarvittavia entsyymejä tunnetaan vain muutamilla muilla bakteereilla. Ihmissolut metaboloivat ja käyttävät sitä proteiinituotantoon. Se on hyvin siedetty aine ja se lieventää tulehdusreaktiota. Tutkimuksen hypoteesina oli, että HICA vaikuttaa mikrobien aineenvaihduntaan ja se voisi olla mahdollinen uusi antimikrobiaine. Tässä tutkimuksessa HICAn antimikrobitehoa tutkittiin bakteereita ja sienilajeja vastaan pienerälaimennusmenetelmällä tehdyissä herkkyystesteissä. Sen soveltuvuutta hampaiden juurikanavainfektioiden hoitoon arvioitiin dentiinin läsnäollessa sekä potilailta poistetuissa ja kokeellisesti infektoiduissa hampaissa. Tulokset osoittavat, että HICA tappaa laajakirjoisesti gram-positiivisia ja gram-negatiivisia bakteereita sekä hiivoja ja muita sienilajeja. Dentiinin vaikutus HICAn antimikrobitehoon on vähäinen. Sen vaikutus E. faecalista vastaan poistettujen hampaiden juurikanavissa on viikon jälkeen yhtä hyvä tai parempi kuin nykyisten lääkeaineiden vaikutus. Laajakirjoisen, pitkäkestoisen antimikrobitehon ja anti-inflammatorisuuden vuoksi HICA voisi olla uusi vaihtoehto juurikanavainfektioiden hoitoon. HICAn kliinisen tehokkuuden arviointiin tarvitaan kontrolloituja kliinisiä tutkimuksia.

Abstract Biodegradation is an aerobic or anaerobic degradation reaction where bacteria use organic materials as an energy source. In the aerobic biodegradation reaction, bacteria need oxygen as an electron acceptor, whereas an anaerobic reaction takes place in the absence of oxygen. Compounds degrade totally or partially, and produce simple inorganic species, such as CO2, CH4, NH3, NO3−, and H2O, as well as by-products that may be non-biodegradable and/or toxic. In this thesis, the biodegradability of recycled vegetable oils, surface-active agents, and condensing waters from the process of wood drying were studied using the manometric respirometric BOD OxiTop method. The biodegradation of organic compounds was measured under the standard conditions (OECD 301F), and also in other matrices, such as different waters and soils. These are very different environments with respect to the biodegradation reaction in nature. The main differences in waters and soils are their organic and inorganic nutrient contents, bacteria strains, and temperatures. The BOD OxiTop method is based on automatic pressure detection in a closed reactor vessel. Oxygen is consumed and carbon dioxide is formed in the aerobic reaction. The pressure decrease is detected after the carbon dioxide is adsorbed into a NaOH pellet or solution. The pressure change is dependent on oxygen consumption. The degree of biodegradation is calculated from the BOD value of the sample. The studied recycled vegetable oils were found to be 60–83% biodegradable, and the added surface-active agent did not affect their biodegradation. Biodegradation of tall oil soaps was also examined in sand, topsoil, groundwater, and surface water, as well as under OECD 301F standard conditions. Tall oil soaps were proven to be 50–85% biodegradable. Concrete solvent agent (CSA) was also proven to be 78–83% biodegradable under standard conditions. Another detergent, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), was found to be toxic, whereas Triton X-100 biodegraded by only 6% in solution. Biodegradation of the soil matrix was found to be enhanced with added surface-active agents. This can be explained by better wetting of small pores with surface-active agents, as compared to the behavior of pure water. The biodegradation of the matrix occurred even with toxic surface-active agents. Organic pollutants of wastewaters from the process of wood drying were 25–61% biodegradable during a 28-day period, and were proven to be quite pure when considering the carbon content of the samples. Based on these results, the disposal into drainage of condensing waters from wood drying may be regarded as safe, which from an economical viewpoint is a very important conclusion. / Tiivistelmä Biohajoavuus on luonnollinen aerobinen tai anaerobinen hajoamisprosessi, jossa bakteerit käyttävät orgaanista materiaalia energian lähteenä. Aerobisessa reaktiossa bakteerit tarvitsevat happea elektronien vastaanottajaksi, kun taas anaerobinen reaktio tapahtuu hapettomissa olosuhteissa. Yhdisteet hajoavat joko täysin tai osittain sekä tuottavat yksinkertaisia epäorgaanisia yhdisteitä, kuten CO2, CH4, NH3, NO3− tai H2O. Reaktiossa voi myös muodostua sivutuotteita, jotka voivat olla biohajoamattomia ja/tai toksisia. Tässä työssä on tutkittu kierrätettyjen kasviöljyjen, pinta-aktiivisten aineiden sekä jätevesien sisältämien orgaanisen aineksien biohajoavuuksia käyttäen manometristä respirometristä BOD OxiTop-menetelmää. Biohajoavuutta mitattiin standardiolosuhteiden (OECD 301F) lisäksi muissakin olosuhteissa, kuten erilaisissa maissa ja vesissä. Nämä ovat kaikki hyvin erilaisia ympäristöjä luonnossa tapahtuville biohajoavuusreaktioille. Pääasialliset erot ovat sekä orgaanisten että epäorgaanisten ravinteiden määrässä, bakteerikannoissa ja lämpötilassa. BOD OxiTop-menetelmä perustuu automaattiseen paineen muutoksen havainnointiin suljetussa astiassa. Aerobisessa reaktiossa kuluu happea ja muodostuu hiilidioksidia, joka imeytetään NaOH-pelletteihin tai -liuokseen ja tästä muodostuu alipaine. Paineen muutokset muunnetaan hapenkulutuksen arvoiksi, joista lasketaan biohajoavuusaste. Tutkittujen kierrätettyjen kasviöljyjen biohajoavuusasteet vaihtelivat välillä 60–83 %, eikä lisätty pinta-aktiivinen aine vaikuttanut kyseisten ekoöljyjen biohajoavuuteen. Mäntysaippuoiden biohajoavuus tutkittiin standardiolosuhteiden lisäksi hiekassa, mullassa, pohjavedessä sekä pintavedessä. Niiden biohajoavuusasteet vaihtelivat välillä 50–85 %. Betoninpesuaineen biohajoavuusaste standardiolosuhteissa oli 78–83 %. Kahdesta tutkituista pinta-aktiivisista aineista setrimoniumbromidi (CTAB) oli myrkyllinen liuosolosuhteissa eikä täten biohajonnut ja Triton X-100 biohajosi vain 6 %. Pinta-aktiivisen aineen lisääminen maahan aiheutti matriisina käytetyn maan biohajoamisen. Tämä voitiin selittää siten, että pintajännityksen laskemisen jälkeen neste voi paremmin tunkeutua maan pieniin huokosiin ja näin tuoda hajoamatonta orgaanista ainesta ja uusia bakteereita biohajoavuuskäyttöön. Tämä ilmiö havaittiin myös myrkyllisen pinta-aktiivisen aineen lisäyksen jälkeen. Jätevesien sisältämät orgaaniset ainekset hajosivat 25–61 % 28 päivän aikana ja niiden havaittiin olevan hiilen määrän huomioon ottaen hyvin puhtaita. Tässä tutkimuksessa saatujen tulosten perusteella tutkitut puunkuivauksen kondenssivedet voidaan laskea viemäriin, mikä on erittäin tärkeä tulos ekologiselta ja taloudelliselta kannalta katsottuna.

Abstract Oily wastewaters are heterogeneous, containing various types of oils, surfactants from detergents, metals etc. Oily wastewaters are produced from a wide range of industries such as metalworking, petroleum refineries, the petrochemical industry, transportation as well as the textile and food industries. Oily wastewaters, especially those containing stable oil-in-water emulsions, require advanced treatment as conventional treatment methods have their limitations to meet ever-stricter environmental regulations. Ultrafiltration is a widely accepted and commonly used treatment method for oily wastewaters. The first aim of this thesis was to increase knowledge concerning the performance of an industrial-scaled ultrafiltration-based process treating concentrated real oily wastewaters. The demand for a more effective pre-treatment method for ultrafiltration to enhance performance and decrease fouling of membrane was observed. The second aim of the thesis was to investigate the suitability and efficiency of different methods for treating concentrated model oil-in-water emulsions and real oily wastewaters. The treatment methods studied were electrocoagulation (electrolytic dissolution of anodic metal), conventional coagulation-flocculation followed by either sedimentation or dissolved air flotation, and dissolved air flotation utilising cationic air bubbles. Electrocoagulation was discovered to be a promising treatment method for various types of oil-in-water emulsions. Dissolved air flotation with cationic modified air bubbles was proven to be an efficient method with even higher treatment results with smaller chemical doses when compared to conventional coagulation-flocculation followed by dissolved air flotation. The biodegradation of various components is an important measure of their impact on the environment in case of spillage. The third aim of the thesis was to explore the biodegradability of different types of oils and surfactants in solution conditions and soils. It was discovered that the biodegradation of light fuel oil continued during a three-month time period, reaching a biodegradation degree of over 60% in mineral-rich soil. For surfactants, their distinct effect on the biodegradation of organic material in soil was observed, and it masked the biodegradation of the surfactants themselves. / Tiivistelmä Öljyiset jätevedet ovat heterogeenisiä, sisältäen mm. erityyppisiä öljyjä, metalleja ja pesuaineiden pinta-aktiivisia aineita. Öljyisiä jätevesiä muodostuu laajalti eri teollisuuksista, kuten metallintyöstöstä, öljyn jalostuksesta, petrokemian teollisuudesta, ruoka- ja tekstiiliteollisuudesta sekä liikenteestä. Öljyiset jätevedet, varsinkin stabiileja öljyemulsioita sisältävät, vaativat tehokkaan käsittelymenetelmän, jotta ympäristölainsäädännön ja luvituksen ehdot täyttyvät. Ultrasuodatus on yleisesti käytössä oleva öljyisten jätevesien käsittelymenetelmä. Tämän väitöstyön ensimmäinen tavoite oli lisätä tietoutta teollisen mittakaavan konsentroituneiden öljyisten jätevesien ultrasuodatusprosessien tehokkuudesta. Prosessien strategisista kohdista kerättyjen öljyisten jätevesien karakterisointitulosten perusteella havaittiin, että ennen ultrasuodatusta tarvitaan tehokas esikäsittelyvaihe prosessin tehostamiseksi ja ultrasuodattimen tukkeutumisen vähentämiseksi. Täten toinen väitöstyön tavoite oli selvittää eri menetelmien soveltuvuutta ja tehokkuutta konsentroituneiden malliaineina käytettyjen öljyemulsioiden ja öljyisten jätevesien käsittelyssä. Tutkitut käsittelymenetelmät olivat elektrokoagulaatio (sähkökemiallinen flokkaavien metalli-ionien liuottaminen anodilta), koagulaatio-flokkulaatio ja laskeutus/korkeapaineflotaatio sekä korkeapaineflotaatiomenetelmä, joka hyödyntää kationisia ilmakuplia. Elektrokoagulaation todettiin olevan erittäin tehokas käsittelymenetelmä, jolla saavutettiin korkeat puhdistustulokset erityyppisille öljyemulsioille. Korkeapaineflotaatiolla, joka hyödyntää kationisia ilmakuplia, saavutettiin hyvät puhdistustulokset jopa pienemmillä kemikaalimäärillä verrattuna perinteiseen koagulaatio-flokkulaatioon ja korkepaineflotaation. Erilaisten komponenttien biohajoavuus on tärkeä suure arvioitaessa niiden ympäristövaikutuksia. Väitöstyön kolmas tavoite oli selvittää erilaisten öljyjen ja pinta-aktiivisten aineiden biohajoavuutta erilaisissa liuosolosuhteissa ja maa-aineksissa. Tärkeimmät biohajoavuustutkimustulokset olivat, että kevyt polttoöljy saavutti kolmen kuukauden mittauksen aikana yli 60 % biohajoavuusasteen mineraalirikkaassa maa-aineksessa. Pinta-aktiivisten aineiden havaittiin lisäävän huomattavasti maan orgaanisen aineksen biohajoamista, ja tämä vaikeutti itse pinta-aktiivisten aineiden biohajoamisen arviointia.

Abstract Recognition of individuals at highest risk for psychosis is challenging and no definitive biomarkers are yet available. Physical illnesses associated with a sedentary lifestyle are common in patients with severe mental illness. Both, bodyweight and risk for psychosis are associated with brain white matter (WM) abnormalities. There are several dysregulated pathways which are common in psychiatric illnesses and weight-related processes, but it is not known how weight and vulnerability for psychosis interact in the brain. The present study examines brain WM microstructure and its association to body mass index (BMI) in young adults with a familial risk for psychosis (FR). In addition, the level of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals vulnerable to psychosis was examined. Participants of the present study are members of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. Two separate clinical substudies were conducted. The first having been done when the participants were at age 15–16. At that time, physical activity was defined by postal questionnaire (n=6,987) and cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by a submaximal cycle ergometer test (n=4,803). Risk for psychosis was viewed from three perspectives, with possible overlap between groups: having familial risk for psychosis, existing prodromal symptoms at age 15–16, and development of hospital treated psychosis between the ages of 16 and 20 years. The latter substudy was conducted when the participants were aged between 20 and 25 years. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed on 108 participants. Our study showed that there was no difference in WM microstructure between FR and control groups suggesting that WM abnormalities are not a genetic feature for risk of psychosis in all populations. However, the association between BMI and WM microstructure differed significantly between the FR and control groups. We also demonstrated that the level of physical activity was lower before the onset of psychotic illness. Therefore, these results imply that it would be of great importance to consider weight and physical activity levels in subjects at risk for psychosis, in order to avoid the detrimental effects of a sedentary lifestyle on overall health. / Tiivistelmä Korkeimmassa psykoosiriskissä olevien tunnistaminen on haastavaa, eikä kunnollisia biomarkkereita ole käytettävissä. Vähäiseen liikunta-aktiivisuuteen liitetyt fyysiset sairaudet ovat yleisiä vakavaa mielenterveyshäiriötä sairastavilla. Sekä kehonpaino että psykoosialttius on yhdistetty aivojen valkean aineen rakenteen poikkeavuuksiin. Useat kehon säätelymekanismien poikkeavuudet liittyvät sekä psykiatrisiin sairauksiin että painoon liittyviin prosesseihin, mutta ei ole olemassa tutkimustietoa siitä, miten paino ja psykoosialttius vaikuttavat yhdessä aivojen rakenteeseen. Tässä osajulkaisuväitöskirjassa tutkitaan aivojen valkean aineen mikrorakennetta nuorilla aikuisilla, jotka ovat sukuriskissä sairastua psykoosiin, sekä painon vaikutusta valkean aineen rakenteeseen psykoosiriskissä. Lisäksi tutkitaan psykoosialttiiden nuorten liikunta-aktiivisuutta ja kuntoa. Tutkittavat kuuluvat Pohjois-Suomen vuoden 1986 syntymäkohorttiin. Kaksi osatutkimusta toteutettiin, joista aikaisempi kliininen tutkimus tutkittavien ollessa 15–16-vuotiaita. Tuolloin selvitettiin liikunta-aktiivisuus postikyselyn avulla (n=6,987) ja aerobinen kunto mittaamalla hapenottokyky polkupyöräergometrilla (n=4,803). Psykoosialttiutta tarkasteltiin kolmella tavalla, ja ryhmien välillä esiintyi osittaista päällekkäisyyttä: sukurasitus, 15–16 v. iässä raportoidut psykoosinkaltaiset oireet ja sairaalahoitoon johtanut psykoosi 16–20 v. iässä. Toinen kliininen osatutkimus toteutettiin tutkittavien ollessa 20–25-vuotiaita. Tutkimuksen yhteydessä tehtiin aivojen diffuusiotensorikuvaus 108 osallistuneelle. Aivojen valkean aineen mikrorakenteessa ei havaittu eroa sukuriskissä olevien ja kontrollien välillä viitaten siihen, että poikkeavuudet valkean aineen rakenteessa eivät olisi psykoosiriskin geneettinen piirre kaikissa populaatioissa. Havaitsimme kuitenkin, että assosiaatio painoindeksin ja valkean aineen rakenteen välillä oli erilainen sukuriski- ja kontrolliryhmissä. Tutkimus osoitti myös, että liikunta-aktiivisuus on alentunut jo ennen psykoosisairauden puhkeamista. Psykoosiriskissä olevien liikuntatottumuksiin ja painoon tulisi kiinnittää erityistä huomiota jo varhaisessa vaiheessa elimellisten sairauksien ehkäisemiseksi.