The majority of therapeutic pharmaceutical formulations are presented in the solid form. Moisture is able to play an important role in the functional performance of pharmaceutical solids. Moisture profiling is able to provide novel information with regards to the behaviour of moisture within materials using equilibrium relative humidity as a measurement. The hypothesis investigated explores the changes in equilibrium relative humidity of pharmaceutical material induced by physical, chemical or storage conditions, these are able to be monitored using the innovative moisture profiler system. The aims within this were to primarily validate the moisture profiler and secondly evaluate the effects of moisture on physical forms and with respect to effects of compaction, finally this was compared to conventional characterisation methods. Preliminary explorations were conducted in order to assess the validity of the moisture profiler, from this lactose was selected as a suitable pharmaceutical material for further work. Processing effects were then examined, firstly storage at elevated relative humidity of different forms of lactose were explored, and this was carried out with supplementary analysis. Secondly the effects of tabletting were explored, different compaction forces were investigated to observe if this had any notable effects on equilibrium relative humidity of the different lactose forms. Finally subsequent storage of the compacts were examined in order to explore if there were any changes in the equilibrium relative humidity.

A criopreservaÃÃo à a metodologia de escolha em muitos bancos de microrganismos pois conduz a uma situaÃÃo de dormÃncia metabÃlica e em conseqÃÃncia as culturas mantÃm-se estÃveis por longos perÃodos. Ao reduzir a temperatura pode todavia ocorrer a formaÃÃo de cristais de gelo que tendem a promover lesÃo celular A lesÃo celular por sua vez pode ser evitada pelo processo de vitrificaÃÃo que ocorre, combinando uma soluÃÃo concentrada com o congelamento rÃpido A literatura relata o uso de carboidratos como agentes vitrificadores e crioprotetores TambÃm informa que a tÃcnica de imobilizaÃÃo de cÃlulas em alginato de sÃdio permite o fracionamento da cultura e favorece a preservaÃÃo de microrganismos O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em avaliar a viabilidade dos fungos dos gÃneros Malassezia spp e do grupo dos Zigomicetos imobilizados em alginato de sÃdio utilizando glicose e lactose como crioprotetores Doze cepas de espÃcies de Malassezia spp (9 M furfur 2 M globosa 1 M simpodialis) e doze cepas de Zigomicetos (7 Mucor s e 5 Rhizopus sp) pertencentes à micoteca do Centro Especializado em Micologia MÃdica da Universidade Federal do Cearà O gÃnero Malassezia abrange leveduras lipodependentes associadas a vÃrias enfermidades dermatolÃgicas compreendem na atualidade 13 espÃcies Zigomicetos, por sua vez sÃo fungos saprÃfitas e ubÃquos cujas hifas por apresentarem elevado tamanho e reduzido conteÃdo protÃico estÃo mais vulnerÃveis a danos mecÃnicos Dessa forma constituem grupos fÃngicos de preservaÃÃo difÃcil em estoque portanto uma metodologia que mantenham a viabilidade de Malassezia spp e Zigomicetos tambÃm poderia ser empregada com eficiÃncia para a estocagem de outros fungos As estruturas fÃngicas foram removidas e transferidas para duas soluÃÃes de estoque, formadas por 3% de caldo Sabouraud 15% de alginato de sÃdio e diferenciadas nas concentraÃÃes de glicose e lactose de 9% ou 23% Em seguida, foram adicionadas esferas plÃsticas, medindo 07cm de diÃmetro com orifÃcio central e 0,5cm de comprimento ApÃs a gelificaÃÃo iÃnica com cloreto de cÃlcio, cada cepa foi estocada à temperatura de -20 ÂC e -80 ÂC distribuÃdas em cinco tubos criogÃnicos de 15mL contendo cinco esferas cada uma sendo avaliados em cinco perÃodos ApÃs nove meses foi verificado que nÃo houve recuperaÃÃo de nenhuma cepa de Malassezia spp Com relaÃÃo Ãs espÃcies de Zigomicetos observou-se que apÃs nove meses de estoque quatro cepas mostraram viÃveis a -80 ÂC empregando glicose a 9%, seis cepas foram preservadas a -80 ÂC, utilizando glicose a 23% finalmente seis e sete exemplares foram recuperados a -80 ÂC utilizando lactose a 9% e 23% respectivamente. Dessa forma, o uso de carboidratos como crioprotetores em conjunto com a tÃcnica de imobilizaÃÃo de cÃlulas em alginato de sÃdio constitui alternativa à manutenÃÃo de algumas espÃcies fÃngicas / Cryopreservation is the method of choice in many banks of microorganisms because it leads to a situation of metabolic dormancy and consequently cultures are stable for long periods. By reducing the temperature may however be formed of ice crystals which tend to cause cell damage to cell damage in turn can be avoided by vitrification process which takes place by combining a solution with the quick freezing the literature reports the use of carbohydrates vitrificadores cryoprotectants agents and also advises that the technique of immobilization of cells in sodium alginate allows the fractionation of culture and promotes the preservation of microorganisms The objective of this study is to assess the viability of the fungi of the genus Malassezia spp and the Zygomycetes group of assets in sodium alginate and lactose using glucose as cryoprotectants Twelve strains of species of Malassezia spp (9 M furfur 1 M 2 M globosa simpodialis) and twelve strains of zygomycetes (seven Mucor Rhizopus sp is 5) belonging to the mycology collection of the Specialized Center for Medical Mycology Federal University of Cearà The genus Malassezia comprises yeasts lipodependent associated with various dermatologic diseases currently comprise 13 Zygomycetes species, in turn, are ubiquitous and saprophytic fungi whose hyphae because they have high protein content and reduced size are more vulnerable to mechanical damage this way are groups of fungi in stock so hard to preserve a methodology to maintain the viability of Malassezia spp and Zygomycetes could also be used effectively for the storage of other fungi fungal structures were removed and transferred to two stock solutions, formed by 3% broth Sabouraud 15% sodium alginate and different concentrations of glucose and 9% lactose and 23% were then added plastic spheres, measuring 07cm in diameter and 0.5 cm center hole length After ionic gelation with calcium chloride Each strain was stored at -20  C and -80  C cryogenic distributed in five tubes containing 15 mL each of five levels being evaluated in five periods after nine months it was found that there was no recovery of any strain of Malassezia spp Regarding Zygomycetes species showed that after nine months of inventory four strains were viable at -80  C using glucose 9%, six strains were preserved at -80  C, using 23% glucose last six seven specimens were recovered at -80  C using a 9% lactose and 23% respectively. Thus, the use of cryoprotectants such as carbohydrates in conjunction with the technique of immobilization of cells in sodium alginate is an alternative to maintaining some fungal species

<p><b>Purpose.</b> The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a low fat, low lactose diet on acute and late gastrointestinal side effects of pelvic radiotherapy. We also wanted to evaluate if such a treatment would influence the patients health related quality of life (HRQOL) in any way.</p><p><b>Background</b>. Cancer therapies and their side effects may cause nutritional problems and malnutrition. Pelvic radiotherapy, a common treatment modality for patients with carcinoma of the endometrium or cervix, is associated with both acute and late side effects that may affect nutritional status. Acute injury may lead to impaired absorption of nutrients and fluid. The patients experience diarrhoea, weight loss, nausea and vomiting. Bile salt malabsorption may be a factor in the pathogenesis of the diarrhoea. In cases of bile salt malabsorption a low fat diet will cause decreased bile salt excretion and thereby relief of symptoms. This assumption was evaluated in a small, non-randomised study in 1985. The results indicated that a low fat diet may reduce the frequency of diarrhoea and use of anti-diarrhoeal agents during radiotherapy. These findings were regarded as promising and since nutrition management guidelines for radiation enteritis were lacking in the literature, a clinical trial was planned.</p><p><b>Methods</b>. The study was designed as an open randomised clinical trial and conducted at the Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH). The intervention diet (low fat, low lactose) was to be followed during and six weeks after radiotherapy. Measurements were performed at basement, the 3rd and last week of radiotherapy, six week after and then every 8th week. The entire period was one year. In November 1993 the surviving patients were approached again and asked to complete a questionnaire package similar to the one completed during the clinical trial. The study population was recruited from the department of gynaecology at NRH. The main selection criteria were pelvic radiotherapy (dose above 40 Gy) age = 75 years and a WHO functional status = 2. Patients were consecutive included from May 1988 through May 1990 and 143 women were included. Seventy-one were assigned to the intervention diet and 72 to the control group. In November 1993, 94 women were alive without any known relapse and 79 (84%) accepted participation. The women registered use of Loperamid and the daily number and consistency of bowel movements. The data on bowel movements was categorised and used to evaluate if diarrhoea was present or not. Nutritional status was evaluated by the means of weight development, arm muscle circumference (AMC), serum transferring (STF) and serum albumin (s-Alb). Dietary intake was assessed by 48-hour recall prior to radiotherapy, 4-days unweighed dietary record during radiotherapy and 7-days weighed dietary records during follow-up. 24-hour urinary nitrogen was used to validate the food records. HRQOL was defined as the patients' self-reported subjective physical and psychosocial situation as a consequence of disease and treatment. It was measured with the EORTC Core Quality of Life Questionnaire 36-item version (EORTC QLQ-C36).</p><p><b>Results</b>. During the last week of radiotherapy 14 patients (23%) in the intervention group and 32 (48%) in the control group reported diarrhoea (p< 0.01). The intervention group also used less anti-diarrhoea medication than the control group, 0.6 tablets per day versus 1.1 (p<0.01). Six weeks after end of radiotherapy, no group differences were found with regard to bowel movements or medication. The intervention group had a lower energy intake than the control group during radiotherapy, 5.7 MJ versus 6.5 MJ (p<0.05). The mean daily fat intake was respectively 34.3 g and 60.1 g (p<0.001). The intervention group received a significant lower part of the energy from milk products, meats, fats and sugar than the control group, and consumed more energy from vegetables and fruits, cereals and fish. Weight loss was more pronounced in the intervention group (mean reduction of 2.6 kg versus 1.7 kg) than in the control group (ns) during treatment. Mean values of AMC, s-Alb and STF were within the reference range in both groups during the entire observation period. During the last week of radiotherapy six patients (9%) in the intervention group and 4 (6%) in the control group were mildly depleted (ns). At 12 weeks and after one year none of the patients could be categorised as malnourished. No major differences in HRQOL were found between the two groups during radiotherapy and one-year follow up. Within the control group an association between diarrhoea and deteriorated role functioning, physical functioning and fatigue was found during the last week of radiotherapy that was not found in the intervention group. Regarding late effects of radiotherapy (3-4 years after radiotherapy) both groups had more diarrhoea than in the general population, 23.8 versus 9.5 (p<0.01). There was however a tendency to more pronounced diarrhoea in the control group (29.6 (SD=27.3)) than in the intervention group (19.4 (SD=25.4)) though not statistical significant. Substantial diarrhoea was associated deteriorated SF and fatigue. </p><p><b>Conclusions</b>. The intervention group had less diarrhoea and used less Loperamide during radiotherapy than the control group. This finding did not affect nutritional status since no differences in nutritional status were found between the two groups. Both groups had a reduced energy intake and weight loss during radiotherapy. In the control group diarrhoea increased fatigue and had negative effects on physical functioning and role functioning. The intervention did not lead to differences in late radiation injury and chronic diarrhoea 3-4 years after treatment but diarrhoea was most prominent in the control group. Diarrhoea as a late effect increased fatigue and had a negative influence on social well being.</p>

<b>Purpose.</b> The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a low fat, low lactose diet on acute and late gastrointestinal side effects of pelvic radiotherapy. We also wanted to evaluate if such a treatment would influence the patients health related quality of life (HRQOL) in any way. <b>Background</b>. Cancer therapies and their side effects may cause nutritional problems and malnutrition. Pelvic radiotherapy, a common treatment modality for patients with carcinoma of the endometrium or cervix, is associated with both acute and late side effects that may affect nutritional status. Acute injury may lead to impaired absorption of nutrients and fluid. The patients experience diarrhoea, weight loss, nausea and vomiting. Bile salt malabsorption may be a factor in the pathogenesis of the diarrhoea. In cases of bile salt malabsorption a low fat diet will cause decreased bile salt excretion and thereby relief of symptoms. This assumption was evaluated in a small, non-randomised study in 1985. The results indicated that a low fat diet may reduce the frequency of diarrhoea and use of anti-diarrhoeal agents during radiotherapy. These findings were regarded as promising and since nutrition management guidelines for radiation enteritis were lacking in the literature, a clinical trial was planned. <b>Methods</b>. The study was designed as an open randomised clinical trial and conducted at the Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH). The intervention diet (low fat, low lactose) was to be followed during and six weeks after radiotherapy. Measurements were performed at basement, the 3rd and last week of radiotherapy, six week after and then every 8th week. The entire period was one year. In November 1993 the surviving patients were approached again and asked to complete a questionnaire package similar to the one completed during the clinical trial. The study population was recruited from the department of gynaecology at NRH. The main selection criteria were pelvic radiotherapy (dose above 40 Gy) age = 75 years and a WHO functional status = 2. Patients were consecutive included from May 1988 through May 1990 and 143 women were included. Seventy-one were assigned to the intervention diet and 72 to the control group. In November 1993, 94 women were alive without any known relapse and 79 (84%) accepted participation. The women registered use of Loperamid and the daily number and consistency of bowel movements. The data on bowel movements was categorised and used to evaluate if diarrhoea was present or not. Nutritional status was evaluated by the means of weight development, arm muscle circumference (AMC), serum transferring (STF) and serum albumin (s-Alb). Dietary intake was assessed by 48-hour recall prior to radiotherapy, 4-days unweighed dietary record during radiotherapy and 7-days weighed dietary records during follow-up. 24-hour urinary nitrogen was used to validate the food records. HRQOL was defined as the patients' self-reported subjective physical and psychosocial situation as a consequence of disease and treatment. It was measured with the EORTC Core Quality of Life Questionnaire 36-item version (EORTC QLQ-C36). <b>Results</b>. During the last week of radiotherapy 14 patients (23%) in the intervention group and 32 (48%) in the control group reported diarrhoea (p&lt; 0.01). The intervention group also used less anti-diarrhoea medication than the control group, 0.6 tablets per day versus 1.1 (p&lt;0.01). Six weeks after end of radiotherapy, no group differences were found with regard to bowel movements or medication. The intervention group had a lower energy intake than the control group during radiotherapy, 5.7 MJ versus 6.5 MJ (p&lt;0.05). The mean daily fat intake was respectively 34.3 g and 60.1 g (p&lt;0.001). The intervention group received a significant lower part of the energy from milk products, meats, fats and sugar than the control group, and consumed more energy from vegetables and fruits, cereals and fish. Weight loss was more pronounced in the intervention group (mean reduction of 2.6 kg versus 1.7 kg) than in the control group (ns) during treatment. Mean values of AMC, s-Alb and STF were within the reference range in both groups during the entire observation period. During the last week of radiotherapy six patients (9%) in the intervention group and 4 (6%) in the control group were mildly depleted (ns). At 12 weeks and after one year none of the patients could be categorised as malnourished. No major differences in HRQOL were found between the two groups during radiotherapy and one-year follow up. Within the control group an association between diarrhoea and deteriorated role functioning, physical functioning and fatigue was found during the last week of radiotherapy that was not found in the intervention group. Regarding late effects of radiotherapy (3-4 years after radiotherapy) both groups had more diarrhoea than in the general population, 23.8 versus 9.5 (p&lt;0.01). There was however a tendency to more pronounced diarrhoea in the control group (29.6 (SD=27.3)) than in the intervention group (19.4 (SD=25.4)) though not statistical significant. Substantial diarrhoea was associated deteriorated SF and fatigue. <b>Conclusions</b>. The intervention group had less diarrhoea and used less Loperamide during radiotherapy than the control group. This finding did not affect nutritional status since no differences in nutritional status were found between the two groups. Both groups had a reduced energy intake and weight loss during radiotherapy. In the control group diarrhoea increased fatigue and had negative effects on physical functioning and role functioning. The intervention did not lead to differences in late radiation injury and chronic diarrhoea 3-4 years after treatment but diarrhoea was most prominent in the control group. Diarrhoea as a late effect increased fatigue and had a negative influence on social well being.

The current energy crisis is exponentially growing and widening the chasm between demand and supply. Biofuels such as ethanol not only provide greener alternatives to fossil fuels but have been shown to reduce emissions from vehicles, improving air etc. Biofuel production from sources such as cellulose is believed to be more sustainable due to its low cost, vast availability in nature and sources such as industrial plant waste can be put to good use. However, due to the absence of a low-cost technology to overcome its recalcitrance, a concept called Consolidated Bioprocessing (CBP) has been put forward which proposes to integrate the production of saccharolytic enzymes, hydrolysis of the carbohydrate components to sugar molecules, and the fermentation of hexose and pentose sugars to biofuels into a single process. The present study involves development of cellulolytic E. coli strains towards cellodextrin assimilation by employing an energy-saving strategy in cellulose metabolism through the phosphorolytic cleavage of cellodextrin mixture produced as cellulosic degradation products.

From a public health perspective pain from low back and/or pelvis was studied in relation to pregnancy. Two interventions, water gymnastics or Friskis and Svettis ́ gymnastics for pregnant women, were evaluated regarding effects on symptoms and need for sick leave due to low back or pelvic pain. In an intervention study with 390 randomised women, 266 participated in physical activity during 60 minutes once a week during just about half their pregnancies. No one was sick-listed due to low back pain in the water gymnastic group compared to 6 women in the land-based exercise group (p=0.03). Some doubts may be raised regarding recommendations to pregnant women with a history of low back pain to participate in gymnastics. On the contrary, water gymnastics seems to be beneficial regarding low back pain. Methods to prevent pelvic pain in relation to pregnancy are not known. Furthermore, a possible relation between longstanding pelvic pain after pregnancy was investigated. Such a relation has never been described before. Fifteen subjects, women with defined posterior pelvic pain during and after pregnancy and as many controls without anamnesis of such pain were tested for lactose intolerance, using the BH2-test. A correlation was found, p=0.05 but results need to be confirmed in larger studies. The possible link towards explaining such a relation goes through the fact that lactose intolerance and “irritable bowel syndrome”, IBS, often overlap and lactose intolerance test is recommended to be included in investigation of IBS. Can low back/pelvic pain in relation to pregnancy sometimes be correlated to lactose intolerance? / Med utgångspunkt från ett folkhälsoperspektiv studerades smärta från ländrygg och eller bäcken hos gravida kvinnor. Två interventioner, vattengymnastik respektive Friskis och Svettis ́ Vänta-barn-gympa, utvärderades avseende symtom på smärta från ländrygg och bäcken samt sjukskrivning härför i samband med graviditet. I en interventionsstudie med 390 randomiserade kvinnor deltog 266 kvinnor i fysisk aktivitet under en timma per vecka under drygt halva graviditeten. Ingen var sjukskriven för ländryggsmärta i vattengymnastikgruppen jämfört med 6 kvinnor i gymnastikgruppen (p=0.03). Viss försiktighet föreslås när det gäller att rekommendera vanlig gymnastik till kvinnor med anamnes på ryggsmärta under graviditet medan vattengymnastik förefaller ha god effekt för just ländryggsmärta. Någon metod för att förebygga bäckensmärta finns inte beskriven. Vidare studeras ett eventuellt samband mellan laktosintolerans och kvarstående bäckensmärta, något som inte tidigare undersökts. När det gäller sambandet graviditet – laktosintolerans gjordes en pilotstudie med 15 deltagare och lika många kontroller. Ett visst samband kunde konstateras, p=0.05, men resultaten måste verifieras i större studier. Den tänkbara förklaringsmekanismen bakom sambandet med laktosintolerans går via ”irritable bowel syndrome”, IBS. Symtom från IBS och från laktosintolerans överlappar varandra och det rekommenderas att laktosbelastning skall ingå i utredning av oklara buksmärtor. Kan även bäckensmärtor i samband med graviditet i vissa fall ha samband med laktosintolernas?

Lactose represents approximately one third of the total solids in bovine milk. In the dairy industry, lactose is recovered from whey and whey permeates using a crystallisation process that involves both evaporation and a cooling stage. A good understanding of the lactose crystallisation kinetics enables both these processes to be operated at conditions that maximise the yield and minimise capital and processing costs. This study has looked at the nucleation and growth kinetics of the lactose crystallisation process. A model has been produced that can accurately predict the changing concentration profile as lactose is removed, via growth, from an industrial solution. This model incorporated the available literature information and expanded on it where required. The primary nucleation of alpha lactose monohydrate was investigated on the laboratory scale. The work identified the changing relationship, which occurs with increasing supersaturation, as lactose nucleation moves from being dominated by the heterogeneous mechanism to the homogenous mechanism. The absolute supersaturation at which the mechanism changes was found not to be affected by the solution temperature and agitation rate; however the presence of impurities lowered the supersaturation required for homogeneous nucleation. The effect of mixing on the primary nucleation rate was studied in a Rushton turbine agitated vessel and through a Venturi. Increasing the agitation rate increased the frequency of activated molecular collisions but the critical nucleus size remained constant. A strong correlation was found, for both mixing systems, between the nucleation rate and the frequency of vortex shedding.

Thèse (M.Ress.Renouv.)-- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 2002. / Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

In this era of increasing standard of living and rapid growth of civil engineering construction, environmental issues pertaining to natural resources depletion, global warming, energy crisis, waste pollution and greenhouse gas emission have been major issues of concern throughout the world and most especially in the construction industry. This research was conducted to investigate the applicability of recycled wastepaper as lightweight building materials with focus on contributing to sustainability in the creation of the built environment. The major aim was to develop an eco-friendly lightweight non-loadbearing block from recycled wastepaper without the use of cement as binder. This study specifically addressed the drawback of low strength development that usually occur with increasing wastepaper content in the existing cement-based-wastepaper blocks. It also indirectly addresses; the environmental impacts associated with the construction industry (including; high consumption of natural resources, greenhouse gas emission, high energy consumption and so on), the environmental pollution resulting from unsustainable waste generation, and the generic drawback of high water absorption that plagues wastepaper-based blocks. To achieve this, research methods including; laboratory experimentation and simulation modelling were employed. The research outcome is an eco-friendly block unit designated as Cement-less Wastepaper-based Lightweight Block (CWLB) which contains 75% waste content and exhibiting properties that satisfy the requirements for application as non-loadbearing lightweight blocks in building construction. CWLB displayed compressive strength that far outweighs those recorded for the existing cement-based wastepaper blocks available in the literature. The properties recorded for the optimal CWLB includes; 2.71 MPa average compressive strength, 901.5 kg/m3 average density, 0.19 W/m.k thermal conductivity, 989.9 m/s ultrasonic pulse velocity, 0.0026 g/m2.S0.5 average coefficient of capillary water absorption and 883.38 MPa estimated elastic modulus. The approximate compressive strength of 2.38 MPa and 1.58 MPa were respectively predicted and recorded for the solid and hollow finite element model samples of CWLB. The impressive satisfactory properties of CWLB for the intended application and its eco-friendliness in terms of natural resources conservation and improved compressive strength suggests that CWLB shall indeed serve as a more sustainable alternative to the reigning/existing cement-based-wastepaper blocks and to the conventional masonry blocks of the same category. Amongst other things, future work will address the validation of the approximate compressive strength predicted for the solid and hollow CWLB insitu samples in order to take further the subject matter.

This master thesis deals with the using of microcalorimetry in the study of hydration of biopolymers. Lactose has been selected together with the other biopolymers although it is not among biopolymers but disaccharides. Selected biopolymers are alginate, dextrane, chitosan and hyaluronan of two molecular weights. Lactose has been selected for these purposes mainly because it is a model example to determine whether or not the reaction to moisture between the other samples and the saturated salt solution occurs. The biopolymer hydration study, as opposed to the commonly used perfusion calorimetry method using the possibility of measuring with adjustable moisture has been used an isothermal microcalorimetry method where at two constant temperatures the reaction of the sample to the different moisture released by the saturated salt solution was monitored.