Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references. / Moderate and chronic consumption of red wine confers cardioprotection. Melatonin, present in wine, may contribute to this cardioprotective effect. Melatonin confers cardioprotection via the activation of tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-α) and the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3(STAT-3), via mechanisms that still remain to be delineated. We therefore hypothesise that South African red and white wines confer a cardioprotective effect in relation to their melatonin content. Furthermore, we propose that the cardioprotective effect of melatonin (at a concentration found in red wine) is dependent on the activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) to activate TNF-α/STAT-3.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references. / Years of research have demonstrated that prenatal exposure to alcohol contributes to a range of effects in exposed children. These include problems in attention and hyperactivity, deficits in memory and learning, and problems with social, as well as emotional development. Past research has demonstrated that the cerebellum is a significant target of the teratogenic effects of alcohol. The aim of this study was to determine whether prenatal exposure to alcohol has specific effects on the volumes of specific lobules of the cerebellum. Lobule tracing was performed manually, with Multitracer, using a refined methodology. Lobule volumes (normalized for total cerebellar cortical volume) were analysed as functions of diagnosis as well as alcohol exposure. Lobules IX and X were affected when analysing normalized volumes as a function of diagnosis, with the fetal alcohol syndrome diagnostic group being most specifically affected. Significant differences between sex groups were found only for right lobules I-V and left lobule VIII, and hemisphere differences were found in lobule X. When analysing normalized lobule volume as a function of alcohol exposure, in the left hemisphere, lobules I-V showed positive correlations with alcohol exposure, suggesting that this region is relatively spared. Lobule IX and the vermis of the right hemisphere showed negative correlations with alcohol exposure. The strongest negative correlations were found for measures of absolute alcohol per day averaged across the period of pregnancy as opposed to at time of conception. Overall findings suggest that prenatal alcohol exposure causes disproportionate reductions in volume in specific lobules of the cerebellums of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.

This diploma thesis is focused on rheology of honey. The theoretical part deals with the types of honey, its obtaining, chemical composition, and primarily its physical quality, from which it focuses especially on rheology. Rheology is in more detail analysed in the thesis, especially with regard to its relation to every particular type of honey. It deals with basic types of rheological substances, with a focus on liquids and devices capable of analysing individual types of rheological liquids. The practical part deals with specific experiment, which was measured on rotary rheometer Anton Paar MCR 102. There were tested specific thixotropic qualities, in relation to its analysis and possible recovery after mechanical stress. Furthermore, there was monitored the presence of thixotropy in lime honey, which was diluted with heather in a dilution series of 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 %. In the thesis was also monitored the presence of thixotropy in honey of wild garlic.

Diss. Linköping : Univ.

No description available.

Background: Intestinal fibrosis is a serious complication of IBD, with more than a third of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients developing a fibrostenosing phenotype with formation of strictures that will require surgical intervention. Remarkably, SAMP1/YitFc (SAMP) mice, a spontaneous model of CD, develop gut fibrosis; similar to IBD patients, the pathophysiology of SAMP fibrosis is unknown. IL-33 is a member of the IL-1 cytokine family and increased expression is associated with IBD. Emerging evidence suggests its potential role in liver and cutaneous fibrosis, as well as myofibroblast-associated colonic ulcerations . Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of IL-33 as a potential mediator of profibrotic events leading to intestinal fibrosis and possible stricture formation. Methods: A detailed histologic time course study, with collagen-specific Masson trichrome staining and IHC for ST2 (IL-33 receptor), was performed on SAMP and control AKR (parental strain) mice. qRT-PCR was done on full-thickness ilea for the profibrogenic genes, collagen (coll)-1, coll-3, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Exogenous IL-33 (33 μg/kg, i.p.) or vehicle was administered daily for 7d to SAMP and AKR mice (N=6/exp group), and ileal tissues evaluated as above. Finally, microarray analysis was performed on full-thickness ilea from SAMP and AKR mice, and IL-33 stimulated subepithelial myofibroblasts (SEMFs). Results: SAMP mice displayed ileal skip lesions with randomly distributed strictures, preceded by typical pre-stricture dilations of the ileum. Ileal wall was visibly thickened with hypertrophy of the serosa, muscularis mucosa, muscularis propria, within which intense collagen deposition was observed, and inflammatory infiltrates in segments showing strictures. Interestingly, intense ST2 staining was present within the inflamed lamina propria of SAMP, notably localized to SEMFs. Fibrosis was first observed at 20 wks, and reached its peak by 50 wks of age. mRNA expression of coll-1 (4.74±0.69-fold; P=0.001), coll-3 (4.92±1.05-fold; P=0.01), IGF1 (12.9±3.45; P=0.006), and CTGF (3.29±0.69; P=0.004) was dramatically elevated in SAMP vs. AKR ilea. IL-33 treatment of AKR mice induced a marked increase in muscle fiber/myofibroblast cellularity and hypertrophy of the muscularis propria (4.13±0.74-fold; P<0.0001), and mRNA expression of coll-1 (5.16±0.89-fold; P=0.0009), coll-3 (1.97±0.14-fold; P=0.01), IGF-1 (9.32±2.27-fold; P=0.004), and CTGF (1.43±0.31-fold; P=0.006) vs. vehicle controls. Microarray data from SAMP ilea and IL-33-treated SEMFs confirmed these trends, displaying a global increase in profibrogenic gene expression. Conclusion: These data suggest an important role for IL-33 in intestinal fibrosis, and may represent a potential target for the treatment of IBD-associated fibrosis and stricture formation.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Luleå : Luleå tekniska univ., 2003. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Örebro : Örebro universitet, 2006. / Härtill 2 uppsatser.

Diss. Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2006.

Introduzione: Le catene N-linked associate al principale sito di N-glicosilazione (Asn297) delle IgG sono di tipo bi-antennario e presentano una grande microeterogeneità in quanto una o entrambe le antenne possono terminare con uno o due residui di acido sialico, galattosio o N-acetilglucosammina ed essere core-fucosilate. Nell’invecchiamento e in malattie infiammatorie aumenta la percentuale di glicani associati alle catene pesanti delle IgG privi del galattosio terminale (IgG-G0). La glicosilazione enzimatica delle proteine è classicamente un processo intracellulare, sebbene recenti studi abbiano messo in evidenza la possibilità di una glicosilazione ecto-cellulare in quanto le piastrine sono ottimi donatori di nucleotidi-zuccheri. Scopo: Misurare le attività delle glicosiltrasferasi ST6Gal1 e B4GalT plasmatiche (potenzialmente responsabili della glicosilazione di proteine plasmatiche) in soggetti di entrambi i sessi e di età compresa tra 5 e 105 anni e correlarle con lo stato di glicosilazione di IgG circolanti (analizzato mediante lectin-blot) e il GlycoAge test, un noto marcatore di invecchiamento, espresso come il logaritmo del rapporto tra gli N-glicani agalattosilati e di-galattosilati associati a glicoproteine plasmatiche. Risultati e conclusioni: I dati ottenuti indicano che: 1) l’attività B4GalT si propone come nuovo marcatore di invecchiamento perché aumenta linearmente con l’età; 2) la ST6Gal1 è maggiormente espressa solo nei bambini e negli over 80; 3) le attività delle due glicosilatransferasi non risultano correlate in modo significativo né tra loro né con il GlycoAge test, indicando che questi tre marcatori siano espressioni di diversi quadri fisio-patologici legati all’invecchiamento; 4) con l’età si ha una predominanza di glicoforme di IgG pro-infiammatorie, ovvero prive dell’acido sialico, del galattosio terminali e del core fucose; 5) l’attività della ST6Gal1 e B4GalT risultano in controtendenza con il grado di sialilazione e galattosilazione delle IgG, indicando quindi che la loro glicosilazione non avviene a livello extracellulare. / Background: The N-linked chains associated with the main N- glycosylation site (Asn297) of IgG are bi- antennary type and present a great microheterogeneity because one or both antennas may end with one or two residues of sialic acid , galactose or N -acetilglucosammine and can be core – fucosilated. In aging and inflammatory diseases the percentage of glycans associated with heavy chains of IgG that lack terminal galactose (IgG - G0) increases. The enzymatic glycosylation of proteins is classically an intracellular process although recent studies have highlighted the possibility of extracellular glycosylation because the platelets are an excellent source of the sugar nucleotide – donors. Aim of study: To measure the activities of plasma glycosyltransferases ST6Gal1 and B4GalT (potentially responsible for the glycosylation of plasma proteins ) in individuals of both sexes and aged between 5 and 105 years, and correlate them with the state of glycosylation of circulating IgG (determined by lectin immunoblot analysis) and GlycoAge test, a know marker of aging that is the logarithm of the ratio between agalactosylated and di-galactosylated N-linked chains associated to plasma glycoprotein. Results and conclusions: Own results indicated that: 1) B4GalT acitvity is a new marker of aging because it increase linearly with age ; 2) ST6Gal1 activity is mostly expressed only in children and over 80; 3) The activity of the two glycosyltransferases does not relate each other and with the GlycoAge test indicating that all three of these markers are expressions of different physio- pathological frameworks related to aging; 4) during aging there is an abundance of pro-inflammatory glycoforms of IgG; 5) the activity of the ST6Gal1 and B4GalT are in contrast with the degree of sialylation and galactosylation of IgG , indicating that their glycosylation does not occur at the extracellular level .