Zugl.: Düsseldorf, Univ., Diss., 2006

Health benefits of the polysaccharide (1→3)-β-D-glucan, reported to induce immunobiological, hypocholesterolemic, and hypoglycemic, effects in humans and animals, have made the isolation, characterization, and assay of a viable glucan product critical. A new analytical method, based on internal standard proton NMR analysis, for the assay of solvent-wet samples containing (1→3)-β-D-glucan is presented. The method enables glucan identification, provides a solvent-free assay, and improves upon the previous multistep extraction and lyophilization procedure by reducing the 1-2 day analysis time to 1-2 h. NMR offers a rapid method for quantifying the glucan in commercial samples, such as nutraceuticals, as well as industrial samples enabling better evaluation of the efficacy, of these carbohydrates in health-related applications.

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of heterogenous disorders that share common cellular consequences resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction: (i) decreased ATP production; (ii) increased reliance on alternative anaerobic energy sources; and (iii) increased production of reactive oxygen species. Objective: We evaluated the effect of a combination (COMB) therapy comprising creatine monohydrate, coenzyme Q1 and lipoic acid to target the above mentioned consequences using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study design in patients with mitochondrial cytopathies. Results: Compared with placebo, the COMB therapy resulted in lower resting plasma lactate concentrations, lower urinary 8-isoprostane excretion and attenuated the decline of peak dorsiflexion strength in all patient groups. Improved body composition was only observed in patients in the MELAS group. Interpretation: These results suggest that combination therapies targeting multiple final common pathways of mitochondrial dysfunction favorably influence surrogate markers of cellular energy dysfunction. Future therapies should be designed to target specific mitochondrial diseases to provide the greatest therapeutic benefits for those patients. In addition, future studies employing larger sample sizes in homogeneous groups of patients will be required to determine whether such combination therapies will influence function and quality of life. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

Abstract Balance Score Card (BSC) has been adopted broadly in organization performance evaluation as well as strategy development and evaluation, especially when the business environment is growingly competitive. The effectiveness of BSC has been shown through its practice in many large-size companies by enhancing cross divisional communications. However, for 90% of companies in Taiwan are small and medium sized and these companies contributed over 70% of job opportunities, it is important to investigate whether BSC can provide such effectiveness for these Taiwanese firms. Thus, this research develops a case study of an emerging company. By observing the decision and introduction of BSC to the company, this research has found below conclusions: 1. Small and medium sized firms are simpler, thus easier to focus and result to shorter introduction time of BSC. 2. BSC has provided effective design of indicators to connect strategy and actions and further provide good means for management team to evaluate performance and report to the board. 3. In the development phase of SMEs, the financial phase of BSC reminds the firms to emphasize the growth of revenue. With the help of BSC, management team can balance the focus of customer value, internal process and organizational learning.

Zugl.: Jena, Univ., Diss., 2006

In total, four experiments were conducted to determine the therapeutic and safety effects of the nutraceutical, turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin on canine and equine. Two studies were conducted on client-owned, moderately arthritic canines, studying the therapeutic and safety effect of curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties. In Exp. 1, two different dosages, 500 mg, SID of 95% curcumin and 250 mg, BID of 95% liposomal-curcumin, were evaluated in ten moderately arthritic dogs over five months. The dogs in the 95% curcumin group had an overall greater significance in pain reduction by Day 60. Exp. 2, was a follow-up experiment to Exp. 1. In Exp. 2, two different dosages, 500 mg, SID or 100 mg, SID of 95% curcumin, were evaluated in ten moderately arthritic dogs over five months. Findings showed that dogs in the 500 mg, SID group had an overall greater significance in pain reduction by Day 60. Experiment 3 and 4 were a two-part project looking at the anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, curcumin, and liposomal-curcumin in cecally-cannulated equine. Exp. 3, was a two-part in vitro study, the first part looked at the anti-microbial effects of turmeric, curcumin, and liposomal-curcumin in reducing opportunistic bacteria found in the equine hindgut, including Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex (SBEC) (P = 0.0056), E. coli K-12 (P = 0.5114), Escherichia coli general (P = 0.1083), Clostridium difficile (P < 0.001), and Clostridium perfringens (P = 0.2439). Treatment D, 95% liposomal-curcumin, numerically reduced the concentration of all five opportunistic strains, and was therefore selected for use in the follow-up in vitro experiment. The second in vitro studied the effects of four different dosages, 15 g, 20 g, 25g, and 30 g of 500 mg/g of 95% liposomal-curcumin at reducing the concentration of SBEC (P < 0.0001), E. coli K-12 (P = 0.0124), E.coli general (P = 0.032), C. difficile (P = 0.5608), and C. perfringens (P = 0.4214). In Exp. 4, 500 mg/g of 95% liposomal-curcumin at 15 g, 25 g, and 35 g, were tested in vivo for anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial therapeutic effects. In total, four experiments were conducted to determine the therapeutic and safety effects of the nutraceutical, turmeric, and its active ingredient curcumin on canines and equines. Two studies were conducted on client-owned, moderately arthritic canines, studying the therapeutic and safety effect of curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties. In Exp. 1, two different dosages, 500 mg, SID of 95% curcumin and 250 mg, BID of 95% liposomal-curcumin, were evaluated in ten moderately arthritic dogs over five months. The dogs in the 95% curcumin group, overall, had a greater reduction in pain by Day 60. Exp. 2, was a follow-up experiment to Exp. 1. In Exp. 2, two different dosages, 500 mg, SID or 100 mg, SID of 95% curcumin, were evaluated in ten moderately arthritic dogs over five months. We observed that dogs in the 500 mg, SID group had an overall greater significance in pain reduction by Day 60. Experiment 3 and 4 were conducted as a two-part project looking at the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, curcumin, and liposomal-curcumin. The purpose of these studies were to investigate both form and dose of turmeric and its active ingredient, curcumin, on reducing opportunistic bacteria found in the equine hindgut. The bacterial strains of interest included Streptococcus bovis/equinus complex (SBEC), Escherichia coli K-12, Escherichia coli general, Clostridium difficile, and Clostridium perfringens. Exp. 3, was a two-part in vitro study; the first part looked at the antimicrobial effects of turmeric, curcumin, and liposomal-curcumin (LIPC) on reducing opportunistic bacteria found in the equine hindgut, including SBEC (P = 0.006), E. coli K-12 (P = 0.50), E. coli general (P = 0.11), C. difficile (P < 0.0001), and C. perfringens (P = 0.24). The follow-up in vitro 24 h batch culture examined four different dosages (15 g, 20 g, 25 g, and 30 g) of 500 mg/g of LIPC, at reducing the concentration of opportunistic bacteria. These results were utilized to determine the dosing rate in vivo. Exp. 3, in vitro, evaluated the efficacy of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of LIPC dosed at 15, 20, 25, and 35 g. These results were utilized to determine the dosing rate in vivo. Exp. 4, in vivo, evaluated the efficacy of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of LIPC dosed at 15, 25, and 35 g compared to a control. In vivo, LIPC’s antimicrobial properties, at 15 g, significantly decreased (P = 0.02) SBEC compared to other treatments. In addition, C. perfringens tended (P = 0.12) to decrease as LIPC dose increased. Non-significant results in digestion, blood parameters, and range of motion suggest there were no adverse side effects from oral dosing increasing doses of curcumin. Valerate decreased (P = 0.005) linearly as LIPC dose increased. As LIPC dose increased, butyrate and iso-valerate decreased (P ≤ 0.03) linearly. However, acetate tended (P = 0.10) to increase linearly as the dose of LIPC increased. Treatment did not affect (P ≥ 0.19) any of the other individual VFAs measured, but increasing doses of LIPC tended (P = 0.10) to increase total VFA concentrations. Additionally, LIPC tended (P = 0.11) to increase total VFA concentrations when compared to control. In the future, further work should be conducted examining liposomal-curcumin’s antimicrobial properties in canine and anti-inflammatory properties in equine over a longer period of time

Objectives: 1) To describe the state of the evidence for interventions in pediatric migraine, 2) to survey experts regarding non-inferiority margins in migraine research and 3) to design a clinical trial in this area of research. Methods: A systematic review was carried out to identify randomized, placebo-controlled trials of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical interventions used to prevent migraine in children and adolescents, using Cochrane methods. Secondly, neurologists with expertise in Headache Medicine were invited to participate in a survey regarding their opinions on non-inferiority margins for outcomes used in clinical trials of migraine interventions. Thirdly, a protocol was written for a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized trial comparing the efficacy and safety of topiramate, levetiracetam and placebo for the prophylaxis of pediatric migraine. Results: The systematic review identified 19 articles of 12 interventions for pediatric migraine. The quality of the evidence was poor and few conclusions could be made. Ninety-nine eligible respondents completed the survey and non-inferiority margins for six outcomes were determined. A randomized controlled trial protocol was developed to determine if topiramate and levetiracetam are superior to placebo, and if levetiracetam is non-inferior to topiramate for the prevention of migraines in children and adolescents. Conclusions: It is hoped that the results of this thesis can be applied to further the evidence in this area of clinical research.

University, Diss., 2004--Bonn.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2004--Leipzig.

Os teleósteos submetidos a estresse ocorre aumento dos níveis de glicocorticoides, desencadeando uma reorganização metabólica, que resulta na imunossupressão dos animais, deixando-os mais suscetível a potenciais patógenos. Os antibióticos são comumente utilizados no controle das enfermidades bacterianas, porém, o uso indiscriminado pode provocar a seleção de cepas resistentes. Uma alternativa é a prevenção, através do uso de aditivos dietários imunoestimulantes. Os flavonoides e o ácido ascórbico (AA) são conhecidos por suas atividades anti-inflamatória, antioxidante e antiestresse. Assim, o estudo em questão visou avaliar a sua influência no desempenho; no intestino e nos parâmetros de imunidade inata de trutas arco-íris, em condições ideais e após aplicação de glicocorticoide exógeno (dexametasona). Foram realizados dois experimentos: 1 - grupos controle (GC) e o aditivo (GA), tratados por noventa dias; 2 - grupos controle (GC), aditivo (GA), dexametasona (GD) e aditivo + dexametasona (GAD), por trinta dias. No primeiro experimento o aditivo proporcionou o aumento da altura do epitélio no início do intestino, além da diminuição da densidade de células de muco nos cecos pilóricos, e o aumento no início do intestino. No segundo experimento, o aditivo causou a diminuição da altura do epitélio nos cecos pilóricos e início do intestino. O glicocorticoide exógeno causou perda de peso dos animais e a diminuição da altura do epitélio em todas as porções intestinais. Ainda, resultados positivos foram vistos em relação ao numero de leucócitos, do GAD, assim o aditivo foi diferencial e pareceu compensar as ações do glicocorticoide. Os resultados indicam que o uso de ácido ascórbico e flavonoides apresenta vantagens em situações de estresse. / Teleosts subjected to stress show increase in glucocorticoids levels, this triggers a metabolic reorganization, resulting in the animal immunosuppression, this let animals susceptible to potential pathogens. The antibiotics are commonly used to control bacterial diseases, but their indiscriminate use can lead to selection of resistant pathogenic strains. A viable alternative is to work on prevention, through the use of immunostimulant dietary additives. Flavonoids and ascorbic acid (AA) are known for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-stress activity. For this reason, the present study aimed to evaluate their influence in the growth performance; the gut; the innate immunity parameters of rainbow trouts in ideal conditions and after an exogenous glucocorticoid application (dexamethasone). For this, two experiments were performed: 1- groups control (GC) and the additive (GA) for ninety days. 2 - with four groups control (GC), additive (GA), dexamethasone (GD) and additive + dexamethasone (GAD) lasting thirty ninety days. In the first experiment, the additive increased epithelial height at the initial intestine, in addition to decreased mucus cell density of the pyloric caeca, and the increase in the initial intestine. In the second experiment, the additive decreased epithelial height in pyloric caeca and initial intestine. The exogenous glucocorticoid caused animal weight loss, and epithelial height decrease in all intestinal portions. Positive results was observed on GAD leukocytes number, so the additive was differential and seemed to compensate the glucocorticoids actions. The results indicate that the use of ascorbic acid and flavonoids has advantages in stress situations.