Carbohydrates are known to play a large number of significant roles in various biological and pathological processes such as cancer metastasis and cellular communication. This is because of their ability to bind a wide range of hosts within the human body such as proteins and viruses. Due to these important interactions, carbohydrate sensing has long been a main focus of research. These research strategies have included the use of aptamers, non-covalent interactions, and boronic acid-based receptors. Boronic acid-based sensors are of particular interest due to their selectivity for 1,2- or 1,3-diols. Within these boronic acid-based studies, a large variety of techniques were employed for detection including different fluorescent, electrochemical, polymeric, and colorimetric studies, as well as various surface bound sensors. One type of technique that has rarely been applied is Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy or SERS. This strategy would be beneficial as it provides information about functional groups, which would aid in the identification of the bound sugar. In this thesis, we present work based on the development of a boronic acid-based carbohydrate receptor that will be used to study carbohydrate binding through SERS. The receptor design includes an aryl boronic acid for carbohydrate recognition, a nitrogen atom in close proximity to the boron center to enhance binding, and a terminal thiol for attachment to a metal surface for SERS. This sensor will be used to study the binding of different saccharides for sensing applications.

Not available / text

Not available / text

The elderly are increasingly retaining natural teeth into old age and many require regular long-term medication for chronic medical problems. If these medicines contain sugars and have a prolonged clearance time from the mouth, they may threaten dental health. The extent of regular and long-term use of these medicines in the elderly was the subject of this study comprising five surveys. A general medical practice survey identified 2002 elderly patients aged ≥60 years taking 143 prescribed medicines with prolonged oral clearance (POC) long-term representing a prevalence of use of 9.8%, with females aged ≥75 years more likely to be taking POC medicines long-term (p<0.001). The main medical problems reported were cardiovascular and musculoskeletal, however antacids, laxatives and minor analgesics were the most commonly prescribed POC medicines. The prevalence of over-the-counter POC medicine use long-term was 1.1%. Analysis of prescription numbers and quantities of medicines dispensed in primary care identified 613 POC medicines representing 13% of the 457 million items dispensed in England in 1994, of which 30.4 million items (51%) were for medicines potentially used regularly and longterm by the elderly. POC medicines prescribed in primary care represented the main area of use; secondary care accounted for only 1% of the overall quantities prescribed in the Northern Region and the contribution of OTC medicines to overall consumption of POC medicines was also low (<1 %). The influence of generic prescribing and dose form on the sugar content of the medicines dispensed was substantial; over 80% of generic liquid oral medicines were sugars-containing compared with 7% of proprietary liquid oral medicines. Efforts should be made to draw the attention of government, manufacturers, prescribers and dispensers as well as consumers to the major influences of dose form and specificity of prescribing on the sugars content of medicines. This is crucial in those increasing number of dentate individuals whose dental health is at risk through regular and long-term use of POC medication.

Background: There are a number of biological pathways that affect our ingestive behaviours, including energy homeostasis, food reward, and taste. Given that carbohydrates such as sugars, provide energy and a sweet taste, examining candidate genes in each pathway may help explain differences in carbohydrate consumption behaviours. Objective: To determine whether variations in genes encoding a glucose transporter (GLUT2), a dopamine receptor (DRD2), and sweet taste receptor (TAS1R2) are associated with differences in sugar consumption in two distinct populations. Methods: Population 1 included diabetes-free young adults where dietary intake was assessed using a one month 196-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Population 2 consisted of individuals with type 2 diabetes. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day food records administered 2 weeks apart; food record 1 (FR1) and 2 (FR2). Subjects were genotyped for the Thr110Ile variation in GLUT2 (n1=587; n2=100), the C957T variation in DRD2 (n1=313; n2=100), and the Ser9Cys and Ile191Val variations in TAS1R2 (n1=1037; n2=100) using real-time PCR. Results: In comparison to individuals homozygous for the GLUT2 Thr allele, consumption of sugars was higher among Ile carriers in population 1 (133 ± 5 vs 118 ± 3 g/d, p=0.006) and population 2 on two separate food records (FR1: 112 ± 9 vs 87 ± 5 g/d, p=0.02; FR2: 105 ± 8 vs 78 ± 4 g/d, p=0.002). For the C957T variation in population 1, we detected a significant DRD2xSex interaction with the consumption of sucrose decreasing with each T allele among men (p=0.03) and a heterosis mode of inheritance among women where heterozygotes consumed the most (p=0.01). For TAS1R2, we detected a significant TAS1R2xBMI interaction and among overweight individuals, carriers of the Val allele consumed less sugars than those with the Ile/Ile genotype (103 ± 6 vs122 ± 6 g/d, p=0.01). In population 2, carriers of the Val allele consumed less sugars than individuals with the Ile/Ile genotype (83 ± 6 vs 99 ± 6 g/d, p=0.04) on FR2. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that genetic variation in GLUT2, DRD2 and TAS1R2 affect habitual sugar consumption and suggest that selection of dietary sugars can be influenced by different biological pathways.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available via World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Hung-wen Liu. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI company.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xxiv, 173 p.; also includes graphics (some col.). Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-173). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

Thesis (M.S.)--Youngstown State University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-71). Also available via the World Wide Web in PDF format.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.