This study aimed to investigate the activity change of the sludge in a bioreactor after the addition of industrial wastewater and the influence on water quality of nearby waterway after the entrance of the treated effluent. Furthermore, with respect to the industrial effluent¡¦s direct discharge to the near sea, the investigation of water quality was also undertaken to set up the database of water quality for the related receiving waters and further to provide information useful for the future monitoring and assessing the possible water pollution caused by the Tainan Technology Industrial Park (TTIP). At this present study, the TTIP, which was not at the stage of formal operation, was selected as the research object to investigate the possible adverse effects of the effluent from Hi-tech industries on the environment. In the first part of this study, several techniques for sludge diagnosis were used to evaluate the activity of sludge in various types of wastewaters in order to choose appropriate biological indices to represent the performance of a bioreactor. The results showed that dissolved oxygen was proportional to DHA concentration and number of bacteria. In addition, that both suspended solids (SS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) had poor correlation with dissolved oxygen led to their failure to be the biological indices. In the second part of this study, the influence on the water quality after the treated wastewater discharged into the nearby receiving waters was investigated. The results of field investigation showed that the effluent did not cause significant negative effects on the receiving waters but positive effects instead due to its lowering the concentrations of water pollutants. Summarily, the effluent emitted from the TTIP had no significant impact on the nearby receiving waters by now. However, in the future, when most of the factories in the park begin to produce products, further studies are required to make sure whether the effluent will cause adverse impact on the nearby water environments.

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Epidemiological data indicate that the consumption of dietary fiber and fish/marine products favorably modulate colon tumorigenesis. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) from fish oil, and butyrate, a fiber fermentation product generated in colon, protect against colon tumorigenesis in part by inducing apoptosis. We have shown that DHA is incorporated into mitochondrial membrane phospholipids, which enhances oxidative stress and mitochondrial membrane potential (MP) dissipation. To elucidate the subcellular origin of oxidation induced by DHA and butyrate exposure, young adult mouse colonocytes (YAMC) were treated with 0200 ??M DHA, linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) or no fatty acid (control) for 72 h with or without 5 mM butyrate for the final 6-24 h. Real time analysis of cellular membrane lipid oxidation, as indicated by oxidation of a lipophilic vital dye, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT), as characterized by MP dissipation, and cytosolic ROS production, as depicted by hydrophilic ROS reactive fluorophore accumulation, were measured by living cell fluorescence microscopy. After 24 h of butyrate treatment, DHA primed cells showed a 29% increase in lipid oxidation (p<0.01), compared to no butyrate treatment, which could be blocked by a mitochondria targeted antioxidant, MitoQ (p <0.05), whereas LA treatment did not show an effect. In the absence of butyrate, DHA treatment, compared to LA, increased resting MP by 14% (p <0.01). In addition, butyrate-induced MP dissipation was greater (20%) in DHA primed cells as compared to LA (10%). This effect was blocked by pre-incubation with MPT inhibitors, cyclosporin A or bongkrekic acid at 1 ??M. These data suggest an increase in mitochondrial lipid oxidation and the resultant change in MP may contribute to the induction of apoptosis by DHA with butyrate as shown previously.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) are essential for proper neural and retinal development in many mammalian species. One objective of this research was to investigate the effects of dietary &#945;-linolenic acid (ALA) and LCPUFA on the fatty acid composition of canine plasma phospholipids (PL) and milk during the gestation and lactation periods. The fatty acid composition of plasma PL and the retinal development of puppies reared on the same experimental diets as their mothers were also investigated. Enriching the canine gestation/lactation diet with ALA (6.8% DM) does not result in enrichment of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the milk. From this data it can be inferred that peroxisomal elongation and desaturation of LCPUFA does not occur in canine mammary tissue. Dose responses of linoleic acid (LA), ALA and DHA were observed in the plasma of adult dogs during gestation and lactation and in puppies during both the suckling and post-weaning periods. Plasma PL fatty acid data from puppies indicate that canine neonates are capable of synthesizing LCPUFA from ALA, but that plasma enrichment of the newly-synthesized DHA does not compare with that obtained from preformed DHA in the diet. Visual function was assessed via electroretinography (ERG) in 12-wk old canines. One-way ANOVA revealed significantly better visual performance in dogs fed the highest amounts of n-3 LCPUFA. Puppies in this group demonstrated the greatest rod response as measured by the amplitude and implicit time of the a-wave. Neonates reared on the lowest dietary levels of both ALA and n-3 LCPUFA exhibited the poorest visual function. A novel parameter devised in this study was the threshold intensity, which was the initial intensity at which the a-wave was detectable. Again, puppies consuming the greatest concentrations of n-3 LCPUFA responded significantly sooner, i.e. exhibited greater rod sensitivity, than other diet groups. The findings of this research underscore the importance of preformed n-3 LCPUFA in the diet, rather than ALA, as a means of enriching neural tissues in DHA during the developmental period. Moreover, dietary DHA appears to be related to improved visual performance in developing canines.

n-3 fettsyror har en avgörande roll som komponent av plasmamembranets fosfolipider och tillhör gruppen fleromättade fettsyror. n- 3 fettsyrorna har en inverkan på cellstruktur och funktion och viktiga fettsyror är dokosahexaensyra (DHA) och eikosapentaensyra (EPA). DHA och EPA bildas från Alfalinolensyra (ALA) som är essentiell, det vill säga att den måste tillföras via kosten därför att kroppen inte kan tillverka den själv. ALA måste därför tillföras antingen genom fisk-och skaldjursintag och då framförallt fet fisk eller genom kosttillskott. EPA och DHA finns främst i hjärnan som till 60 % består av fett. Förlossningsdepression är en åkomma som drabbar ungefär 10-20 % av barnafödande kvinnor. Det är en komplex åkomma som kan bero på olika miljöfaktorer, genetiska anlag men kan även bero på kosten. Förlossningsdepression kan bli allvarligt både för modern och för barnet. Syftet med den här studien var att genom vetenskapliga artiklar undersöka om n-3 fettsyror kan ha en inverkan vid förlossningsdepression och isåfall genom vilka mekanismer. Det finns idag inget konkret svar på om n-3 fettsyror kan hjälpa vid förlossningsdepression samtidigt som många studier inom området har gjorts. Denna studie hade därför som syfte att eventuellt kunna bidra med ytterligare kunskap om n-3 fettsyror och förlossningsdepression och om fettsyrorna verkligen hjälper. Resultaten från de sex artiklar i studien som undersöktes visade inte på någon tydlig koppling mellan halten av n-3 fettsyror och förlossningsdepression. I tre av de sex studierna kunde dock en liten effekt observeras. En studie visade också att en högre snarare än en lägre nivå av fettsyror kunde öka risken för depression. Det behövs fler studier inom området för att få ett konkret svar.

Major therapeutics against Alzheimer's disease (AD) are targeted towards reducing beta-amyloid in the brain and improving cognitive performance. Transgenic mouse models of AD have become critical in the development of such therapeutics to protect against or treat AD. This dissertation examined the potential protective effects of both active A-beta immunotherapy and dietary omega-3 fatty acid administration to AD transgenic mice. First, immunization with A-beta 1-42 from 2-16 1/2 months of age provided protection against cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 transgenic mice well into older age. At both adult (4 1/2-6 month) and aged (15-16 1/2 month) test points, an extensive 6-week behavioral battery was administered that measured multiple sensorimotor and cognitive domains. A-beta immunotherapy either partially or completely protected APP/PS1 mice from impairment in reference learning/memory, working memory and/or recognition/identification at these test points. However, behavioral protection at the later test point occurred without any reduction in A-beta deposition within the brain. Therefore, the cognitive benefits of A-beta immunotherapy most likely involved neutralization or removal of A-beta oligomers from the brain. In addition to immunotherapy, this dissertation also examined the behavioral and neurochemical effects of a high omega-3 (n-3) or high omega-6 fatty acid (n-6) diet to NT and AD transgenic (Tg+) mice from 2 through 9 months of age. The same 6-week behavioral test battery, as described above, was administered between 7 1/2-9 months of age. In NT mice, dietary n-3 or n-6 fatty acids did not result in any beneficial effects on cognitive performance. In Tg+ mice, a high n-3 diet improved some, but not most, cognitive skills in comparison to standard-fed Tg+ mice; whereas a diet high in n-6 fatty acids did not lead to widespread deficits in learning or memory. In fact, there was no difference in overall performance on any behavioral task between Tg+ mice given a high n-3 or high n-6 diet. Administration of dietary fatty acids did not result in any significant changes in soluble or insoluble A-beta levels within the brains of Tg+ mice and plasma cytokine levels in Tg+ mice were largely unaffected. Notably, neither the high n-3 nor high n-6 diet increased cortical levels of n-3 or n-6 fatty acids, respectively, within Tg+ mice. However, NT mice on a high n-3 or high n-6 diet did show significant elevations in cortical n-3 or n-6 fatty acid levels, respectively, suggesting that Tg+ mice have a deficit in incorporation of dietary fatty acids in the brain. Collectively, these results show that life-long administration of active A-beta immunotherapy provides clear cognitive protection well into older age, whereas long-term dietary omega-3 fatty acid administration does not provide extensive cognitive benefit. Both studies underscore the value of using AD transgenic mice in determining the efficacy of prophylactics against AD.

Continuous culture fermentation (CCF) was used to test the hypotheses that: marine microalgae (MA) and macroalgae (seaweeds) alter rumen microbial metabolism; MA types differ in abilities to provide rumen escape n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA); and algae have the potential to reduce enteric methane emission. The CCF system of Teather and Sauer (1988) was modified to reduce clogging, refrigerate effluent, and allow for determination of gas production. The CCF systems were inoculated with pooled rumen fluid from 4 cows. Total mixed ration was fed at the rate of 30 g DM d-1. Temperature was maintained at 39 oC, and buffered with artificial saliva to maintain pH 6.2. Response variables were measured from effluent digesta (fatty acids, NH4+-N, digestibility), fermentor contents (CCF density, volatile fatty acids), and the gas phase (CO2, CH4). The experimental design for MA testing was a 3**3 factorial. Treatments consisted of heterotrophic and photoautotrophic MA as well as a 1:1 blend with protection levels of zero, 33 and 50 % of encapsulation (w/w), and fluid turnover rates of 5, 7.5, and 10 % h-1. The seaweed treatments consisted of a PEI shoreweed mix containing Laminaria longicruris and Fucus vesiculosus tested as a component of the mix, and Chondrus crispus and Furcellaria fastigiata tested individually. The design for seaweed testing was an unbalanced 5*5 Latin square. The heterotrophic MA destabilized the digesta mat while the autotroph improved stability. Biohydrogenation was extensive for C18 FA in the basal ration (> 90 %) and less for C22:6n3 (75 %) from the heterotroph and C20:5n3 (60 %) from the photoautotroph. The recovery of PUFA was improved by encapsulation, however PUFA in the MA were not greatly affected and digestibility was improved by turnover rate. Seaweeds had no effect on CCF stability, however they reduced CH4 production without reduction in OM digestibility. The heterotroph reduced overall fermentation resulting in diminished density and volatile fatty acids and NH4+-N concentrations. Seaweed supplementation decreased NH4+-N, CO2 and CH4 production, and increased density.

No description available.

Diseases, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), are linked to chronic low levels of inflammation. This inflamed state is the product of risk factors including exposure to environmental pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are correlated with increased risk for CVD and diabetes. In response to this health risk, our research addresses the mechanisms by which coplanar PCBs elicit an inflammatory response and the mitigation of PCB-induced inflammation through dietary intervention using docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 lipid. Investigators from the University of Kentucky Engineering Department are developing remediation technologies that detoxify PCBs through dechlorination. We studied the cellular toxicity of coplanar PCB 77 remediation products in primary vascular endothelial cells. The dechlorination products elicited different toxicological responses, which were less than the parent compound and contributed to the overall inflammatory response. The presence of PCB 77 at any concentration was sufficient to promote an inflammatory response, which was attenuated with complete dechlorination. PCB 77 is a good model for coplanar PCB-induced toxicity, but in environmental and human samples, coplanar PCB 126 is detected more frequently. Using different doses of PCB 126, we determined that acute exposure to 5 μmol PCB 126/kg mouse was sufficient to produce an inflammatory response without inducing a toxic wasting phenotype. PCB-induced inflammation was attenuated in vitro by DHA-derived neuroprostanes. Applying this information, we fed mice a DHA-enriched diet and exposed them to PCB 126. Liver and adipose lipid profiles confirm an increase in omega-3 fatty acid composition and DHA metabolites, and changes in gene expression indicate a heightened anti-oxidant response in the presence of PCB-induced inflammation. These data provide an overview of the in vivo response to a PCB-induced inflammation after DHA dietary feeding. We have demonstrated that PCB-induced endothelial dysfunction is propagated through lipid domains called caveolae. Caveolae are also signaling domains for toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Similar to PCBs, TLR4 signaling is inhibited by DHA. We compared the caveolae-associated signaling response after exposure to coplanar PCB 126 or LPS. The domain localization of caveolae was altered by both PCB 126 and LPS. Our study determined that PCB 126-induced inflammation was not inhibited by a TLR4-specific inhibitor, but caveolae-based signaling was critical to both PCB 126- and LPS-induced inflammation. Environmental pollutants, such as coplanar PCBs, are risk factors in the development of chronic diseases. Here we investigate possible signaling pathways associated with environmental toxicity and apply potential dietary interventions with omega-3 lipids.

Omega-3 enriched eggs serve as an important functional food to boost consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) critical for good health. Because omega-3 eggs have the potential for unpleasant aromas and flavours, this research was designed to assess the fatty acid profile and sensory attributes of eggs procured from hens consuming designer diets. In the first study, the use of hemp in hen diets led to significant increases in omega-3 PUFA content and colour intensity of yolks, but did not have adverse effects on the sensory profiles of cooked eggs. Additionally, the level of docosahexaenoic acid was the same in eggs from both the lowest and highest hempseed oil groups. In order to overcome this plateau, the second study assessed diets varying in linoleic acid (LA) content. Although docosapentaenoic acid in the yolk was significantly increased with an increasing dietary LA content, docosahexaenoic acid remained unaffected by dietary treatment. In the third study, a different approach was used to reduce competition between alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and LA. Diets containing two levels of ALA and varying ratios of saturated fatty acids (SFA): LA + oleic acid (OA) were tested. Increasing dietary SFA: LA + OA resulted in marked increases in all n-3 PUFA. The fourth study was designed to assess the interaction between dietary constituents on sensory attributes of eggs, namely omega-3 PUFA from flaxseed oil (FO), and canola meal (CM), which contains precursors to trimethylamine, which may lead to fishy taint. Oceanic flavour significantly increased with inclusion of FO, while egg, creamy and buttery flavours showed a decrease. The pairing of CM and FO resulted in a significant decrease in egg flavour compared to using FO alone. This research has demonstrated that novel ingredients like hemp can be used in laying hen diets to deposit n-3 PUFA into eggs without fear of affecting sensory outcomes. Increasing the SFA: LA + OA ratio in layer diets is most effective in increasing yolk ALA conversion into long-chain PUFA. Lastly, CM should be added to diets with caution when used in conjunction with omega-3 PUFA ingredients due to a reduction in egg flavour.

Certains composants nutritionnels sont capables de moduler la réaction inflammatoire et la réponse immune. Ils pourraient être très utiles dans l'augmentation de la résistance de l'hôte aux maladies infectieuses, en particulier dans l'infection pulmonaire à P. aeruginosa qui est caractérisée par une réponse inflammatoire excessive et dont la sévérité est associée à une réponse immunitaire de type Th2. Le premier objectif de ce travail a été de tester l'effet anti-inflammatoire d'un régime enrichi acides gras polyinsaturés n-3 (EPA/DHA) au cours d'une infection pulmonaire aigue à P. aeruginosa sur des souris déficientes pour le gène cftr. Des résultats antérieurs suggérant que les souris femelles sont plus sensibles à l'infection que les souris mâles, les bénéfices de cette alimentation ont été analysés selon le sexe des souris. Le second objectif a été d'étudier l'effet des oligosaccharides acides dérivés de la pectine de Citrus (pAOS) au cours d'une infection pulmonaire chronique à P. aeruginosa. L'hypothèse testée était que les pAOS en favorisant le balancement de la réponse Th2 vers une réponse Th1 pourrait améliorer le pronostic de l'infection. Leur effet immunomodulateur a été évalué chez deux fonds génétiques murins différents : des souris BALB/c et C57BL/6 connues pour développer respectivement une réponse immune de type Th2 et Th1. Ces 3 études sont basées sur l'administration endo-trachéale d'une suspension de P. aeruginosa pour l'infection aigue ou de P. aeruginosa inclus dans des billes d'agar pour une infection chronique chez des souris nourries pendant 6 semaines (souris cftr-/-) et 5 semaines (BALB/c et C57BL/6) par une diète contrôle ou d'une diète spécifique. Les paramètres cliniques mesurés sont la survie et la clairance bactérienne pulmonaire, et les paramètres biologiques sont pour la réponse inflammatoire le dénombrement des polynucléaires, des macrophages et le dosage de cytokines pro- et anti-inflammatoires et pour la réponse immune le dosage des cytokines Th1 et Th2, l'expression de marqueurs de différentiation des lymphocytes Th1, Th2 et de polarisation des macrophages M1 et M2. Les souris BALB/c et C57BL/6 survivantes à une première infection ont été réinfectées et leur charge bactérienne pulmonaire a été mesurée.