abstract: The primary aim of this study was to investigate resilient profiles in low-income Mexican American (MA) mothers. MA mothers are part of an under researched population, the fastest growing ethnic minority group, and have the highest birth rate in the United States, presenting a significant public health concern. The transition to motherhood can be an emotionally and physically complex time for women, particularly in the context of a stressful low-income environment. Although most low-income women navigate this transition well, a significant number of mothers develop moderate to severe depressive symptoms. The proposed research investigated profiles of resilience during the prenatal period using a person-centered approach via latent profile analysis. In alignment with current resilience theories, several domains of resilience were investigated including psychological, social, and cultural adherence (e.g., maintaining specific cultural traditions). Concurrent prenatal depressive symptoms and stress were correlated with the profiles in order to establish validity. Six week postpartum depressive symptoms and physiological processes (e.g., overall cortisol output, heart rate variability, and sleep) were also predicted by the prenatal resilient profiles. The resulting data revealed three separate profiles: low-resource, high-resource Anglo, and high-resource Mexican. These resilience profiles had differential associations with concurrent depressive symptoms and stress, such that women in the high-resource profiles reported less depressive symptoms and stress prenatally. Further, profile differences regarding cortisol output, resting heart rate variability, were also found, but there were no differences in insomnia symptoms. Profile classification also moderated the effects of prenatal economic stress on postpartum depressive symptoms, such that women in the high-resource Mexican profile were at risk for higher postpartum depressive symptoms under high economic stress compared to the high-resource Anglo group, which demonstrated a more resilient response. Overall, the results suggest the presence of multiple clusters of prenatal resilience within a sample of MA mothers facing health disparities, with various effects on perinatal mental health and postpartum physiological processes. The results also highlight the need for multi-dimensional models of resilience and the possible implications for interventions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Psychology 2014

Submitted by João Arthur Martins (joao.arthur@ufpe.br) on 2015-04-08T18:13:13Z No. of bitstreams: 2 TESE-biblioteca EDMUNDO LEAL.pdf: 4976127 bytes, checksum: 2e1af11a6c980870248157b31bf964a6 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-08T18:13:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 TESE-biblioteca EDMUNDO LEAL.pdf: 4976127 bytes, checksum: 2e1af11a6c980870248157b31bf964a6 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-28 / Objetivo – Verificar como se comportam a natremia e os níveis plasmáticos dos principais hormônios reguladores da homeostase hidrossalina, como a aldosterona, o cortisol, a arginina vasopressina, a ocitocina e o peptídeo atrial natriurético, alguns nunca antes avaliados, sob o efeito da carbamazepina. Procurar assinalar a frequência da possível hiponatremia e quais hormônios estariam envolvidos com a sua origem sob a ação da carbamazepina. Sujeitos e Métodos: Dezenove pacientes epilépticos do sexo masculino em uso de carbamazepina foram submetidos à avaliação bioquímica e hormonal e os dados obtidos comparados com aqueles de dezenove homens sãos. Resultados: O nível médio de sódio entre os controles foi de 139,05mEq/L com desvio padrão (SD) de 1,90 e nos pacientes de 140,47mEq/L, com um SD de 3,03, não apresentando diferença significativa (p de 0,116 pelo teste de Mann-Whitney). O nível plasmático da Arginina Vasopressina (AVP) entre os controles foi de 0,71pg/mL com um SD de 0,41 e nos pacientes de 0,82pg/mL com um SD de 0,45, também não apresentando diferença significativa (p de 0,443 pelo teste de Mann Whitney). Os outros hormônios também não mostraram diferença significativa entre os dois grupos. Conclusão: Não encontramos hiponatremia ou qualquer alteração hormonal nos pacientes em uso de carbamazepina comparados aos controles.

Orientador: Maria Beatriz Duarte Gavião / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T03:17:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Strini_PolyanneJunqueiraSilvaAndresen_M.pdf: 2090171 bytes, checksum: bc16ac9ff4ad7dccb59b70063a733f1d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O sistema motor oral inclui ações como mastigação, respiração e deglutição que podem ser comprometidas por alterações localizadas em regiões específicas do corpo, interferindo na saúde geral do indivíduo e consequentemente na qualidade de vida. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a relação entre disfunção orofacial, má oclusão e níveis de cortisol salivar com qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde oral em adultos jovens. A amostra foi composta por 30 indivíduos, com idades entre 18 e 25 anos sendo 15 homens e 15 mulheres (22.93 ± 2.42 anos), os quais foram submetidos a exame clínico intra e extraoral para avaliação das condições orofaciais, incluindo a oclusão morfológica. A presença de disfunção orofacial foi avaliada utilizando o protocolo Nordic Orofacial Test - Screening (NOT-S) e a avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde oral por meio de entrevista estruturada utilizando o instrumento Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-49). Para a quantificação do cortisol salivar, foram obtidas amostras de saliva durante três dias em dois diferentes momentos, ao acordar e 30 min após e a diferença entre as duas respectivas concentrações foi considerada (awakening cortisol response - ACR). Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística por meio do teste Mann-Whitney, correlação de Spearman e análise da regressão linear múltipla, sendo o nível de significância adotado de ?=0,05. As variáveis NOT-S e ACR (?g/dl) foram dicotomizadas considerando os valores da mediana (2.0 e 0.15 respectivamente). Os resultados mostraram valores do NOT-S e ACR similares para os gêneros masculino e feminino (p>0,05). Os indivíduos com má oclusão apresentaram escores do domínio "desconforto psicológico" do OHIP-49 significativamente mais altos dos que os indivíduos com oclusão normal (2,6±3,5 e 0,1±0,4, respectivamente); aqueles com escores do NOT-S acima da mediana apresentaram valores do domínio "dor física" do OHIP-49 significativamente maiores do que os indivíduos com escores menores ou iguais à mediana (6,8±4,4 e 3,5±3,3, respectivamente). Correlação significante foi encontrada entre os domínios do OHIP-49 "dor física" (r=0,43, p=0,016) e "incapacidade física" (r=0,36, p=0,046) com os escores do NOT-S. Na análise de regressão linear múltipla, foram observados valores estatisticamente significantes entre NOT-S e OHIP-49 total (r2=0.137, p=0,018) e cinco de seus domínios, incluindo dor física (p=0,014), inabilidade física (p=0,009), inabilidade psicológica (p=0,034), inabilidade social (p=0,025) e incapacidade (p=0,023), com coeficientes de determinação (r2) variando de 0,09 a 0,15, demonstrando influência da disfunção orofacial na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde oral na faixa de 8 a 15%. Não houve a respectiva associação com os níveis de cortisol salivar. Pode-se concluir que indivíduos com disfunção orofacial (maiores escores de NOT-S) apresentaram comprometimento da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde oral, mas não o suficiente para aumentar os níveis de cortisol salivar. Além disso, as outras variáveis como gênero, idade e má oclusão não apresentaram influências na qualidade de vida para a amostra analisada / Abstract: The oral motor system includes actions such as breathing, swallowing and chewing that can be committed by changes localized in specific regions of the body, interfering with the general health of the individual and consequently in the quality of life related to oral health. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between orofacial dysfunction, malocclusion and salivary cortisol levels with quality of life in young adults. The sample comprised 30 individuals, aged from 18 to 25 years old being 15 male and 15 female (22.93± 2.42 years), who were submitted to intra and extra-oral clinical examination for evaluation of orofacial conditions, including morphological occlusion. The presence of orofacial dysfunction was evaluated using the Nordic Orofacial Test - Screening (NOT-S) protocol and the quality of life related to oral health was assessed by a structured interview for the application of the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-49). For the salivary cortisol analyses, saliva samples were obtained during three days at two different times, at waking up and 30 minutes after and the difference between the two respective concentrations was considered (awakening cortisol response - ACR). The data were submitted to statistical analyses by Mann-Whitney test, Spearman's correlation and multiple linear regression analysis. The significance level adopted was ?=0.05. The variables NOTS and ACR (?g/dl) were dichotomized considering the median values (2.0 and 0.15 respectively). The results showed similar values for NOT-S scores and ACR between males and females (p>0.05). The individuals with malocclusion had scores of "psychological discomfort" domain of OHIP-49 significantly higher than individuals with normocclusion (2.6±3.5 and 0.1±0.4, respectively); those with scores of NOT-S above the median presented values of "physical pain" domain of OHIP-49 significantly higher than the individuals with scores bellow or equal to the median (6.8± 4.4 and 3.5 ± 3.3, respectively). Significant correlations were found between the OHIP-49 domains "physical pain" (r=0.43, p=0.016) and "physical disability" (r=0.36, p=0.046) and NOT-S scores. In multiple linear regression analysis, statistically significant values were observed between NOT-S and OHIP-49 (r2=0.137, p=0.018) and five of their domains, including physical pain (p=0.014), physical disability (p=0.009), psychological disability (p=0.034), social disability (p=0.025) and handicap (p=0.023), with coefficient of determination (r2) ranging from 0.09 to 0.15, demonstrating influence of orofacial dysfunction in the oral health quality of life in the range of 8 to 15%. There was not the same association with the salivary cortisol levels. It can be concluded that individuals with orofacial dysfunction (higher scores of the NOTS) presented impairment in oral health quality of life, but not enough to increase salivary cortisol levels. Furthermore, the other variables, such as gender, age, and malocclusion did not have influence on oral health quality of life in the studied sample / Mestrado / Anatomia / Mestre em Biologia Buco-Dental

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2017-03-16T21:31:14Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Izabela Cruvinel Di Castro - 2017.pdf: 1347539 bytes, checksum: 8e1d1119fb0fa51eacb218ca02174a81 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-03-20T13:34:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Izabela Cruvinel Di Castro - 2017.pdf: 1347539 bytes, checksum: 8e1d1119fb0fa51eacb218ca02174a81 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-20T13:34:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Izabela Cruvinel Di Castro - 2017.pdf: 1347539 bytes, checksum: 8e1d1119fb0fa51eacb218ca02174a81 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Pig production starts on the farms until reaching the final product that is generated in the refrigerator. One of the impasses in the pig termination phase is the best shape and the ideal batch size to be taken to the transport truck for shipment in order to minimize or eliminate animal stress and factors detrimental to carcass and quality Of meat. When driving the pigs to the truck, it is necessary to use management methods that minimize stress. For the conduct of the animals it is necessary to determine the number of animals to be driven at a time since a very large group could be subject to greater stress and agitation which can interfere in the final quality of the meat. The objective was to evaluate the relationship between the size of the group of finished pigs driven to the truck, the influence on meat quality, number of lesions and parameters of animal welfare. The experiment was carried out in five pig growth and finishing farms in the western region of Santa Catarina. Were used 198 finishing pigs of both sexes (females and males), divided in three ways of conduction (lot of three, five and ten animals) were used. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 54 animals from one of the farms (corresponding to three replicates for each treatment) and 36 animals from each farm (representing eight replicates per treatment). The variables analyzed were number of lesions, aspects of meat quality, physiological parameters of stress. Measurements of lesions in the farm, slaughterhouse and slaughterhouse, injuries of the type of fight, density and management, lesions in the loin, palette, leg and total, meat quality parameters in the Longissimus dorsi and Semimembranosus muscle, meat classification in CSR, NFP And RFN, and physiological measures of cortisol and lactate. In all treatments the data were submitted to analysis of variance, through the SAS program, and the means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% of significance. There were no significant differences between batch sizes, for lesions caused on the farm, slaughterhouse, slaughterhouse and totals, as well as between carcass, loin, palette, shank and total cuts. There were differences (p <0.05) in loin lesions, caused by fights where the group of ten animals had a larger number. Density-type lesions were also found in batch treatments of three and five animals when compared to the batch of ten animals. For management-type lesions, there was a statistical difference in the loins of the animals from a group of three animals that had a lower number of lesions when compared to five and ten animals. In the Longissimus dorsi muscle, at 45 minutes post-mortem temperature, there was a significant difference between the treatment of five animals that had a lower temperature than the other treatments. In the Semimembranosus muscle, the temperature 45 minutes post-mortem obtained a difference (p <0.05) in treatments five and ten animals with lower temperatures, when compared to the treatment with three animals. The pH measured 24 hours post mortem in the treatment of five animals is inferior to the other treatments and in the driploss the treatment of five animals obtained greater loss of water. As for the sizes of finishing pig lots driven to the truck, the results indicate that batches of three, five and ten animals can be shipped without impairing the quality of meat and animal welfare. / A produção de suínos inicia-se nas granjas até o alcance do produto final que é gerado no frigorífico. Um dos impasses na fase de terminação de suínos é a melhor forma e qual o tamanho do lote ideal a ser conduzido para o caminhão de transporte para o embarque de modo a minimizar ou eliminar o estresse do animal e os fatores prejudiciais a carcaça e a qualidade de carne. Na condução dos suínos até o caminhão devem-se utilizar formas de manejo que minimizem o estresse. Para a condução dos animais é preciso determinar o número de animais a serem conduzidos por vez já que um grupo muito grande poderia estar sujeito a um maior estresse e agitação o que pode interferir na qualidade final da carne. O objetivo foi avaliar a relação entre o tamanho do grupo de suínos terminados conduzidos ao caminhão, à influência na qualidade de carne, número de lesões e parâmetros de bem-estar animal. O experimento foi conduzido em cinco granjas de crescimento e de terminação de suínos na região do oeste de Santa Catarina. Foram utilizados 198 suínos em fase de terminação de ambos os sexos (fêmeas e machos), divididos em três formas de condução (lote de três, cinco e dez animais). Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, sendo 54 animais de uma das granjas (correspondendo a três repetições para cada tratamento) e 36 animais em cada uma das granjas (representando oito repetições por tratamento). As variáveis analisadas foram número de lesões, aspectos da qualidade de carne, parâmetros fisiológicos do estresse. Foram realizadas medidas de lesões na granja, frigorífico e abate, lesões do tipo briga, densidade e manejo, lesões no lombo, paleta, pernil e total, parâmetros de qualidade de carne no músculo Longissimus dorsi e Semimembranosus, classificação da carne em RSE, PFN e RFN e, medidas fisiológicas de cortisol e lactato. Em todos os tratamentos os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância, por meio do programa SAS, e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de significância. Não se observou diferenças entre os tamanhos de lote de condução, para lesões ocasionadas na granja, frigorífico, abate e totais, bem como entre os cortes da carcaça, lombo, paleta, pernil e total. Foram encontradas diferenças (p<0,05) de lesões no lombo, ocasionadas por brigas onde o grupo de dez animais tiveram maior número. Lesões do tipo densidade foram igualmente mais encontradas nos tratamentos de lotes de três e cinco animais, quando em relação ao lote de dez animais. Para lesões do tipo manejo, houve diferença significativa, no lombo dos animais de grupo de três animais que tiveram menor número de lesões, quando comparado aos de cinco e dez animais. No músculo Longissimus dorsi, a temperatura 45 minutos post-mortem, houve diferença significativa entre o tratamento de cinco animais que teve temperatura inferior aos demais tratamentos. No músculo Semimembranosus, a temperatura 45 minutos post-mortem obteve diferença (p<0,05) nos tratamentos cinco e dez animais com temperaturas menores, quando em relação ao tratamento com três animais. O pH medido 24 horas post- mortem no tratamento de cinco animais é inferior aos demais tratamentos e no driploss o tratamento de cinco animais obteve maior perda de água. Quanto aos tamanhos de lotes de suínos em fase de terminação, conduzidos até o caminhão, os resultados indicam que lotes de três, cinco e dez animais podem ser embarcados sem prejuízos à qualidade de carne e bem-estar dos animais.

The rupture of an aneurysm in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a dramatic event causing a severe impact on the brain and a transient or permanent ischemic condition. Several types of responses to meet the challenges of SAH have been found in the acute phase, including activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system, elevated levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and disturbances in cerebral and systemic metabolism. Cerebral metabolism and the endocrine stress response in the ultra-early phase was investigated in a novel porcine model of SAH in which autologous blood was injected to the anterior skull base. Early activation of the HPA axis was found with rapid elevation of adrenocorticotrophic hormone, cortisol and aldosterone. The peak values of these hormones were early and may be impossible to catch in patients. There were indications of a sympathetic nervous response with excretion of catecholamines in urine as well as plasma chromogranin-A elevation. Cerebral microdialysis suggested immediate substrate failure followed by hypermetabolism of glucose. The animal model seems suited for further studies of aneurysmal SAH. NT-proBNP was investigated in 156 patients with SAH, there was a dynamic course with increasing levels during the first 4 days of the disease. Factors predicting high NT-proBNP load included female sex, high age, high Troponin-I at admission, angiographic finding of an aneurysm and worse clinical condition at admission. High levels of NT-proBNP were correlated to factors indicating a more severe disease, suggesting the initial injury in aneurysmal SAH is an important factor in predicting high NT-proBNP during the acute stage of the disease. Measurements with indirect calorimetry were performed daily during the first week after SAH on 32 patients with SAH. There was a dynamic course with increasing energy expenditure (EE) the first week after SAH. Comparisons with three predictive equations indicated that measured EE generally is higher than predicted, but considerable variation exists within and between patients, indicating that prediction of EE in SAH is difficult. Altogether, the studies demonstrate a complicated response in acute SAH that needs to be further studied to increase possibility of good outcome in SAH patients.

No description available.

The aim of the study was to investigate the association between depression and low bone mineral density (BMD) in premenopausal females. The rationale for the study was that depression is often characterized by cortisol hypersecretion. The role of cortisol includes effects on bone metabolism and the immune system: cortisol is a bone resorption agonist through its support of osteoclastogenesis. The release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, (especially IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha) which induce cortisol secretion, also pushes the balance of bone remodelling in favour of resorption, consequently causing loss of bone mineral density. Significant results have been reported in studies of various groups across the USA, Europe and Asia, indicating a causal role for depression in osteoporosis. However, some studies could not support this association. With both osteoporosis and depression representing growing public health concerns in South Africa, the aim of this study was to examine the association between depression and loss of BMD in a South African sample with varying levels of depression. The study was approached from two starting points: the first used low BMD as the departure point and the second was undertaken from the diagnosis of depression. This was achieved by first investigating women where the primary concern was possible low BMD (referred to as Study 1) and secondly by assessing women whose primary diagnosis was clinically confirmed major depression (Study 2). Study 1 involved investigation of BMD in a volunteer-based sample of 40 premenopausal women drawn from three different sources. All volunteers underwent a DEXA scan, were assessed for depression and supplied saliva for cortisol analysis. Study 2 examined the BMD of five psychiatric patients diagnosed with severe, recurrent major depression and four healthy controls. These volunteers were required to undergo the same testing as subjects in Study 1. In addition, blood and urine samples were taken to examine bone turnover markers (bone specific alkaline phosphate, osteocalcin, urine pyridinoline cross-linked C-telopeptide and deoxypyridinoline). The pro-inflammatory status of the psychiatric patients was compared to reference ranges. The latter served as a small exploratory study and an introduction to further avenues of research. Study 1 revealed no clear general association between depression and bone density on DEXA scores. However, a correlation was found between left femoral neck BMD and depression in those women with low BMD only. Significant differences were found though between subjects with normal and low BMD in terms of body mass index (BMI) and contraception use. Study 2 on the other hand, indicated a trend of association between depression and low BMD: subjects suffering with severe major depression were noted to have lower bone density (on DEXA) and higher bone turnover (as measured by markers of bone turnover) as well as higher cortisol levels than healthy controls. In addition, depressed subjects exhibited elevated IL-1-alpha levels but normal TNF-alpha levels when compared to normative data. In conclusion, the study indicated that the effect of depression on bone density is dependent on the intensity and duration of depression. IL-1-alpha and cortisol may be instrumental in this loss of BMD. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Physiology / unrestricted

Background: Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) is a severe stroke that in 85% of all cases is caused by the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. The median age at onset is 50-55 years and the overall mortality is approximately 45%.Sufficient cortisol levels are important for survival. After SAH hypothalamic/pituitary blood flow may be hampered this could result in inadequate secretion of cortisol. SAH is also associated with a substantial inflammatory response. Asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, mediates vasoconstriction and increased ADMA levels may be involved in inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. Continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring can be used to detect non-convulsive seizures, leading to ischemic insults in sedated SAH patients. Elevated ADMA levels are risk factors for vascular diseases. Vascular disease has been linked to stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. SAH possesses all those clinical features and theoretically SAH could thus induce vascular disease. Aims: 1. Assess cortisol levels after SAH, and evaluate associations between cortisol and clinical parameters. 2. Assess ADMA levels and arginine/ADMA ratios after SAH and evaluate associations between ADMA levels and arginine/ADMA ratios with severity of disease, co-morbidities, sex, age and clinical parameters. 3. Investigate occurrence of subclinical seizures in sedated SAH patients. 4. Evaluate if patients that survive a SAH ≥ one year have an increased risk of vascular causes of death compared to a normal population. Results: Continuous infusion of sedative drugs was the strongest predictor for a low (&lt;200 nmol/L) serum cortisol. The odds ratio for a sedated patient to have a serum cortisol &lt; 200 nmol/L was 18.0 times higher compared to an un-sedated patient (p &lt; 0.001). Compared to admission values, 0-48 hours after SAH, CRP increased significantly already in the time-interval 49-72 hours (p&lt;0.05), peaked in the time-interval 97-120 hours after SAH and thereafter decreased. ADMA started to increase in the time-interval 97-120 hours (p&lt;0.05). ADMA and CRP levels were significantly higher, and arginine/ADMA ratios were significantly lower in patients with a more severe condition (p&lt;0.05). Epileptic seizure activity, in sedated SAH patients, was recorded in 2/28 (7.1%) patients during 5/5468 (0.09%) hours of continuous EEG monitoring. Cerebrovascular disease was significantly more common as a cause of death in patients that had survived a SAH ≥ one year, compared to the population from the same area (p&lt;0.0001). Conclusions: Continuous infusion of sedative drugs was associated with low (&lt;200 nmol/L) cortisol levels. ADMA increased significantly after SAH, after CRP had peaked, indicating that endothelial dysfunction, with ADMA as a marker, is induced by a systemic inflammation. Patients with a more severe condition had significantly higher ADMA and CRP levels, and significantly lower arginine/ADMA ratio. Continuous sedation in sedated SAH patients seems to be beneficial in protecting from subclinical seizures. Cerebrovascular causes of death are more common in SAH survivors. / <p>Funding: The Swedish Society of Medicine, the Faculty of Medicine at Umeå University, The Kempe Foundations and The Stroke Foundation of Northern Sweden supported this study financially.</p>

This dissertation describes the development of a label-free, electrochemical immunosensing platform integrated into a low-cost microfluidic system for the sensitive, selective and accurate detection of cortisol, a steroid hormone co-related with many physiological disorders. Abnormal levels of cortisol is indicative of conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s disease, adrenal insufficiencies and more recently post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Electrochemical detection of immuno-complex formation is utilized for the sensitive detection of Cortisol using Anti-Cortisol antibodies immobilized on sensing electrodes. Electrochemical detection techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) have been utilized for the characterization and sensing of the label-free detection of Cortisol. The utilization of nanomaterial’s as the immobilizing matrix for Anti-cortisol antibodies that leads to improved sensor response has been explored. A hybrid nano-composite of Polyanaline-Ag/AgO film has been fabricated onto Au substrate using electrophoretic deposition for the preparation of electrochemical immunosening of cortisol. Using a conventional 3-electrode electrochemical cell, a linear sensing range of 1pM to 1µM at a sensitivity of 66µA/M and detection limit of 0.64pg/mL has been demonstrated for detection of cortisol. Alternately, a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of dithiobis(succinimidylpropionte) (DTSP) has been fabricated for the modification of sensing electrode to immobilize with Anti-Cortisol antibodies. To increase the sensitivity at lower detection limit and to develop a point-of-care sensing platform, the DTSP-SAM has been fabricated on micromachined interdigitated microelectrodes (µIDE). Detection of cortisol is demonstrated at a sensitivity of 20.7µA/M and detection limit of 10pg/mL for a linear sensing range of 10pM to 200nM using the µIDE’s. A simple, low-cost microfluidic system is designed using low-temperature co-fired ceramics (LTCC) technology for the integration of the electrochemical cortisol immunosensor and automation of the immunoassay. For the first time, the non-specific adsorption of analyte on LTCC has been characterized for microfluidic applications. The design, fabrication technique and fluidic characterization of the immunoassay are presented. The DTSP-SAM based electrochemical immunosensor on µIDE is integrated into the LTCC microfluidic system and cortisol detection is achieved in the microfluidic system in a fully automated assay. The fully automated microfluidic immunosensor hold great promise for accurate, sensitive detection of cortisol in point-of-care applications.

Despite the controversy over environmental sustainability, salmon aquaculture in British Columbia is economically important for many coastal communities and is reported as being the largest agricultural export product for the province. This thesis examined the welfare status of commercially produced Atlantic salmon smolts during transport from freshwater farms to the saltwater net pens using physiology and behaviour to assess transport stress. Smolts were transported first by truck from the freshwater farm to the dock, and then in the flow-through cargo holds of a live-haul vessel to the saltwater net pens. Fish and water were sampled before and after truck transport, and several times aboard the vessel. Assessment of stress was based on measurement of plasma cortisol, glucose, lactate, potassium, sodium and chloride concentrations, as well as behavioural observations made on underwater video footage. Seven transports of fish originating from two different hatcheries were sampled; one was a land-based tank hatchery that required a 30-min drive to the dock, and the other a lake net pen facility that was 90 min to the dock. Analysis of plasma constituents supported previous studies that recovery from the stress accumulated during loading and truck transport can be quite rapid in a live-haul vessel. Underwater video footage, recorded at the freshwater farms and in the cargo holds of the Sterling Carrier, also suggested recovery onboard in that for the most part, behaviour onboard was similar to behaviour at the freshwater farms. There were some significant differences between fish from the two types of hatcheries, particularly in the original hatchery conditions and in their behavioural responses to transport conditions; however, post-transport growth and mortality rates reported by the saltwater farms showed no significant difference. Although fish were subjected to moderately stressful conditions during part of the process, smolt transport as currently carried out by our industry partners reflects good husbandry practices and fish welfare. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate