Introdução: A Doença Hepática Gordurosa Não Alcoólica (DHGNA) tem como causa principal a obesidade. Atualmente não existe tratamento medicamentoso específico para DHGNA. A cirurgia bariátrica surge como uma alternativa de tratamento em pacientes morbidamente obesos. Objetivos: Analisar, através de biópsia hepática intra-operatória, o grau de comprometimento hepático em obesos submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica, correlacionando os achados histopatológicos com o estado glicêmico dos pacientes. Métodos: Estudo de coorte prospectivo incluindo 521 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica de julho de 2001 até dezembro de 2016. Os pacientes foram classificados em três grupos de acordo com o status glicêmico basal: 167(32,05%) diabéticos tipo 2 (G1), 132 (25,33%) pré-diabéticos (G2) e 222 (42,61%) obesos normoglicêmicos (G3). Foram obtidas biópsias hepáticas transoperatórias, as quais foram classificadas conforme os critérios de Brunt e do NASH-CRN. As variáveis clínicas e bioquímicas e histológicas foram comparadas antes da cirurgia e durante o seguimento pós-operatório. Resultados: A prevalência de DHGNA nesta coorte foi de 95%. Não houve diferença quanto ao gênero e IMC entre os grupos. Observaram-se taxas mais altas de fibrose (56,4% G1 vs 29,2% G2 vs 28,6% G3 p<0,001) e Esteatohepatite Não Alcoólica (EHNA) (59,4% G1vs 49,2% G2 vs 36% G3 p <0,001) nos pacientes diabéticos. Apenas 1,5 %, dos diabéticos apresentaram histologia normal (vs 7,76% G2 vs 15,7% G3). / Introduction: Obesity is the main cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), for which there is currently no specific medical treatment. Bariatric surgery is a treatment alternative for morbidly obese patients. Objectives: Use an intraoperative liver biopsy to analyze the degree of liver damage in obese patients submitted to bariatric surgery and correlates the histopathological findings with glucose status. Methods: Prospective cohort study of 521 morbid obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery from July 2001 to December 2016, classified into three groups according to their baseline glucose status: 167 (32.05%) type 2 diabetes (G1), 132 (25.33%) pre-diabetic (G2) and 222 (42.61%) normoglycemic obese (G3). Patients using potentially hepatotoxic medications and a history of ethanol consumption or viral hepatitis were excluded. Intraoperative liver biopsies were obtained and classified in accordance with Brunt and NASH-CRN criteria. Clinical, biochemical and histopathological variables were compared before surgery and during postoperative follow-up. Results: The prevalence NAFLD was 95%. There was no intergroup difference for sex and BMI. Higher rates of fibrosis (56.4% G1 vs. 29.2% G2 vs. 28.6% G3 p<0.001) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (59.4% G1vs 49.2% G2 vs. 36% G3 p <0.001) were observed in the diabetic patients. Only 1.5 % of diabetics showed normal histology (vs. 7.76% G2 and 15.7% G3).

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar se o Bezafibrato, um agonista PAN-PPAR, é capaz de aliviar a doença não alcoólica do fígado gorduroso (NAFLD) na prole de machos de mães C57BL/6 obesas. Fêmeas virgens foram alimentadas com uma dieta HL (hiperlipídica, 49% de lipídios) ou uma dieta C (controle, 10% de lipídios) por oito semanas antes do acasalamento e durante os períodos de gestação e lactação. A prole de machos foi subdividida em quatro grupos: C (dieta controle para as mães e filhotes); C/BZ (dieta controle para as mães e filhotes com tratamento com Bezafibrato[100mg/Kg]); HL (dieta HL para as mães e dieta controle para os filhotes); e HL/BZ (dieta HL para as mães e dieta controle para os filhotes com tratamento com Bezafibrato [100mg/Kg]). O tratamento com Bezafibrato começou na 12 semana e se manteve por três semanas. Análise do metabolismo, bioquímica, estereológica e por western-blotting foram realizadas. A dieta HL causou um fenótipo de sobrepeso nas mães e acarretou em uma intolerância oral à glicose com aumento da glicemia de jejum. A prole HL apresentou hiperfagia, ganho de massa corporal, altos níveis de triglicerídeo hepático e plasmático, esteatose hepática e aumento da expressão de proteínas lipogênicas concomitante com diminuição do receptor ativador de proliferação peroxissomal alfa (PPAR&#945;), que é responsável pela &#946;-oxidação e aumento do receptor ativador de proliferação peroxissomal gama (PPAR&#947;) e do elemento regulador de esterol ligante da proteína 1 (SREBP-1c) proteínas envolvidas na lipogênese hepática. Por outro lado, o tratamento com o Bezafibrato reverteu o quadro da programação metabólica no fígado, com uma melhora dos parâmetros morfológicos, bioquímicos e moleculares do fígado dos animais, com um aumento da ativação de PPAR&#945; em associação a uma diminuição do PPAR&#947; e não alterando a expressão de SREBP-1c. Em conclusão, nós demonstramos que o tratamento com Bezafibrato melhora a NAFLD causada pela obesidade materna. / The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether Bezafibrate , a PAN-PPAR agonist, could attenuate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) of male offspring from obese C57BL/6 dams. Dams were fed on a HF (high-fat, 49% lipids) diet or SC (standard chow; 10% lipids) diet for 8 weeks before mating and during gestation and lactation periods. Male offspring were subdivided into 4 groups: SC (standard-chow for dams and offspring); SC/BZ [standard-chow for dams and offspring with treatment with BZ (100mg/Kg)]; HF (high-fat diet for dams and standard-chow for offspring); HF/BZ [high-fat diet for dams and standard-show for offspring with treatment with Bezafibrate (100mg/Kg)]. Treatment with Bezafibrate started at 12th week and was maintained for 3 weeks. Metabolic measurements, biochemical analysis, stereological tools and western-blotting were performed. The HF diet yielded an overweight phenotype and an increase in oral glucose tolerance and fasting glucose of dams. The HF offspring presented hyperphagia, body mass gain, high levels of plasmatic and hepatic triglycerides, impairment of glucose metabolism, hepatic steatosis and high expression of lipogenic proteins concomitant to decreased expression of PPAR&#945;, which is responsible for &#946;-oxidation. On the other hand, treatment with Bezafibrate reverted hepatic outcomes of metabolic programming, with an improvement of morphological, biochemical and molecular parameters of animals livers, with an increase of PPAR&#945; activation in association with a decrease of PPAR&#947; expression and no changes in SREBP-1c expression. In conclusion, we demonstrated that treatment with Bezafibrate improved NAFLD caused by maternal obesity.

Introdução: A Doença Hepática Gordurosa Não Alcoólica (DHGNA) tem como causa principal a obesidade. Atualmente não existe tratamento medicamentoso específico para DHGNA. A cirurgia bariátrica surge como uma alternativa de tratamento em pacientes morbidamente obesos. Objetivos: Analisar, através de biópsia hepática intra-operatória, o grau de comprometimento hepático em obesos submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica, correlacionando os achados histopatológicos com o estado glicêmico dos pacientes. Métodos: Estudo de coorte prospectivo incluindo 521 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica de julho de 2001 até dezembro de 2016. Os pacientes foram classificados em três grupos de acordo com o status glicêmico basal: 167(32,05%) diabéticos tipo 2 (G1), 132 (25,33%) pré-diabéticos (G2) e 222 (42,61%) obesos normoglicêmicos (G3). Foram obtidas biópsias hepáticas transoperatórias, as quais foram classificadas conforme os critérios de Brunt e do NASH-CRN. As variáveis clínicas e bioquímicas e histológicas foram comparadas antes da cirurgia e durante o seguimento pós-operatório. Resultados: A prevalência de DHGNA nesta coorte foi de 95%. Não houve diferença quanto ao gênero e IMC entre os grupos. Observaram-se taxas mais altas de fibrose (56,4% G1 vs 29,2% G2 vs 28,6% G3 p<0,001) e Esteatohepatite Não Alcoólica (EHNA) (59,4% G1vs 49,2% G2 vs 36% G3 p <0,001) nos pacientes diabéticos. Apenas 1,5 %, dos diabéticos apresentaram histologia normal (vs 7,76% G2 vs 15,7% G3). / Introduction: Obesity is the main cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), for which there is currently no specific medical treatment. Bariatric surgery is a treatment alternative for morbidly obese patients. Objectives: Use an intraoperative liver biopsy to analyze the degree of liver damage in obese patients submitted to bariatric surgery and correlates the histopathological findings with glucose status. Methods: Prospective cohort study of 521 morbid obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery from July 2001 to December 2016, classified into three groups according to their baseline glucose status: 167 (32.05%) type 2 diabetes (G1), 132 (25.33%) pre-diabetic (G2) and 222 (42.61%) normoglycemic obese (G3). Patients using potentially hepatotoxic medications and a history of ethanol consumption or viral hepatitis were excluded. Intraoperative liver biopsies were obtained and classified in accordance with Brunt and NASH-CRN criteria. Clinical, biochemical and histopathological variables were compared before surgery and during postoperative follow-up. Results: The prevalence NAFLD was 95%. There was no intergroup difference for sex and BMI. Higher rates of fibrosis (56.4% G1 vs. 29.2% G2 vs. 28.6% G3 p<0.001) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (59.4% G1vs 49.2% G2 vs. 36% G3 p <0.001) were observed in the diabetic patients. Only 1.5 % of diabetics showed normal histology (vs. 7.76% G2 and 15.7% G3).

Le tractus digestif et le foie interagissent continuellement, non seulement à travers les connexions anatomiques, mais également par des liens physiologiques/fonctionnels. Le déséquilibre de l’axe intestin-foie apparait de plus en plus comme un facteur primordial dans les désordres cardiométaboliques, à savoir l’obésité, le syndrome métabolique, le diabète de type 2 et la stéatose hépatique non alcoolique (NAFLD), pour lesquels la prévalence demeure alarmante, les mécanismes moléculaires encore méconnus, et les traitements peu efficaces. L’hypothèse centrale du présent projet de recherche est que la combinaison d’anomalies génétiques et nutritionnelles affecte la sensibilité de l’insuline intestinale, ce qui conduit à une surproduction des chylomicrons, à une dyslipidémie, une insulinorésistance systémique et des répercussions sur le foie. Dans cet agencement, le foie développe une NAFLD progressive, impliquant plusieurs sentiers métaboliques intrinsèques et des mécanismes comprenant le stress oxydatif, l’inflammation et l’insulinorésistance. En revanche, des nutriments, comme les acides gras polyinsaturés (AGPI) n-3, peuvent présenter des effets bénéfiques en ciblant plusieurs circuits pathogéniques. L’objectif central de cette thèse consiste à : (i) Démontrer que des gènes codant pour les protéines intestinales clés associées au transport des lipides, comme c’est le cas du Sar1b GTPase, peuvent interagir avec l’environnement nutritionnel pour produire l’obésité et des dérangements cardiométaboliques, incluant la NAFLD ; (ii) Explorer les mécanismes hépatiques sous-jacents à la NAFLD; et (iii) Identifier les effets et les cibles thérapeutiques des AGPI n-3 sur la NAFLD. Ces objectifs seront soutenus par une prospection de la littérature scientifique disponible dans les champs du syndrome métabolique et de la NAFLD afin d’en disséquer les forces et les faiblesses au bénéfice de la communauté scientifique. À ces fins, nous avons utilisé des modèles animaux et cellulaires manipulés génétiquement, des animaux exposés de façon chronique à des diètes riches en lipides, des spécimens de tissus hépatiques obtenus durant la chirurgie bariatrique d’obèses morbides, et une cohorte d’adolescents obèses souffrant de NAFLD et qui seront traités avec les AGPI n-3. L’ensemble de nos expériences ont soutenu nos hypothèses et ont mis en évidence les concepts et mécanismes suivants : (i) L’abondance d’un gène crucial (notamment Sar1b GTPase) au niveau de l’intestin, en synergie avec une alimentation obésogène, perturbe l’homéostasie locale et mène à des dérangements cardiométaboliques, défiant même l’axe intestin-foie ; (ii) Les causes développementales de la NAFLD comprennent les dérangements du métabolisme des acides gras, du statut redox et inflammatoire, de la sensibilité à l’insuline, des sentiers métaboliques (lipogenèse, β-oxydation, gluconéogenèse) et de l’expression des facteurs de transcription; et (iii) Les AGPI n-3 représentent un robuste arsenal thérapeutique des dérangements cardiométaboliques, notamment la NAFLD, en agissant sur plusieurs cibles pathogéniques. Globalement, nos résultats montrent le rôle indéniable de l’intestin comme organe insulino-sensible interagissant de près avec les aliments et capable de déclencher des troubles métaboliques. Plusieurs mécanismes gouvernant les désordres métaboliques ont été dévoilés par nos travaux. En outre, nos études cliniques ont pointé la force thérapeutique des AGPI n-3 qui interviennent dans de nombreux processus de régulation métaboliques et notamment dans le stress oxydatif et l’inflammation. / The digestive tract and liver interact continuously, not only through anatomical connections, but also through physiological / functional links. The imbalance of the intestine-liver axis is increasingly emerging as a key factor in cardiometabolic disorders (CMD), namely obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), for which prevalence remains alarmingly high, molecular mechanisms are poorly understood, and treatments are largely inefficient. The central hypothesis of this research project is that the combination of genetic and nutritional abnormalities affect intestinal insulin sensitivity, leading to overproduction of chylomicrons, dyslipidemia, systemic insulin resistance and dysregulated intestine-liver axis. In this situation, the liver develops progressive NAFLD, implicating several intrinsic metabolic pathways and mechanisms, including oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance. In contrast, functional foods, such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA), may have beneficial effects by targeting several pathogenic pathways. The central objective of this thesis is to: (i) Demonstrate that genes coding for key intestinal proteins associated with lipid transport, as is the case with Sar1b GTPase, can interact with the nutritional environment to produce obesity and CMD, including hepatic steatosis; (ii) explore the mechanisms underlying NAFLD; and (iii) identify the effects and therapeutic targets of n-3 PUFA. These objectives will be supported by a critical review on metabolic syndrome and NAFLD in order to dissect their strengths and weaknesses for the benefit of the scientific community. For these purposes, we used genetically engineered animal and cell models, chronic exposure of animals to high-fat diets, liver tissue specimens obtained during bariatric surgery of morbidly obese patients, and treatment of obese NAFLD adolescents with n-3 PUFA. All of our experiments supported our hypotheses and highlighted the following concepts and mechanisms: (i) The abundance of a crucial gene (notably Sar1b GTPase) in the intestine, in synergy with an obesogenic diet, disrupts local homeostasis and leads to CMD, challenging even the intestine-liver axis; (ii) Developmental causes of NAFLD include disturbances of fatty acid metabolism, redox and inflammatory status, insulin sensitivity, metabolic pathways (lipogenesis, β-oxidation, gluconeogenesis), and expression of transcription factors; and (iii) n-3 PUFA represent a robust therapeutic arsenal of CMD, including NAFLD, by acting on several pathogenic targets. Overall, our results show the undeniable role of the intestine, as an insulin-sensitive organ, interacting closely with obesogenic food, and capable of triggering CMD, including perturbations of the intestine-liver axis. Several mechanisms governing metabolic disorders have been unveiled by our work. In addition, our clinical studies have pointed to the therapeutic potential of n-3 PUFA involved in many regulatory processes, including oxidative stress and inflammation.

Pour le diagnostic et la stratification de la fibrose hépatique, la rigidité du foie est un biomarqueur quantitatif estimé par des méthodes d'élastographie. L'élastographie par ondes de cisaillement (« shear wave », SW) utilise des ultrasons médicaux non invasifs pour évaluer les propriétés mécaniques du foie sur la base des propriétés de propagation des ondes de cisaillement. La vitesse des ondes de cisaillement (« shear wave speed », SWS) et l'atténuation des ondes de cisaillement (« shear wave attenuation », SWA) peuvent fournir une estimation de la viscoélasticité des tissus. Les tissus biologiques sont intrinsèquement viscoélastiques et un modèle mathématique complexe est généralement nécessaire pour calculer la viscoélasticité en imagerie SW. Le calcul précis de l'atténuation est essentiel, en particulier pour une estimation précise du module de perte et de la viscosité. Des études récentes ont tenté d'augmenter la précision de l'estimation du SWA, mais elles présentent encore certaines limites. Comme premier objectif de cette thèse, une méthode de décalage de fréquence revisitée a été développée pour améliorer les estimations fournies par la méthode originale de décalage en fréquence [Bernard et al 2017]. Dans la nouvelle méthode, l'hypothèse d'un paramètre de forme décrivant les caractéristiques spectrales des ondes de cisaillement, et assumé initialement constant pour tous les emplacements latéraux, a été abandonnée permettant un meilleur ajustement de la fonction gamma du spectre d'amplitude. En second lieu, un algorithme de consensus d'échantillons aléatoires adaptatifs (« adaptive random sample consensus », A-RANSAC) a été mis en œuvre pour estimer la pente du paramètre de taux variable de la distribution gamma afin d’améliorer la précision de la méthode. Pour valider ces changements algorithmiques, la méthode proposée a été comparée à trois méthodes récentes permettant d’estimer également l’atténuation des ondes de cisaillements (méthodes de décalage en fréquence, de décalage en fréquence en deux points et une méthode ayant comme acronyme anglophone AMUSE) à l'aide de données de simulations ou fantômes numériques. Également, des fantômes de gels homogènes in vitro et des données in vivo acquises sur le foie de canards ont été traités. Comme deuxième objectif, cette thèse porte également sur le diagnostic précoce de la stéatose hépatique non alcoolique (NAFLD) qui est nécessaire pour prévenir sa progression et réduire la mortalité globale. À cet effet, la méthode de décalage en fréquence revisitée a été testée sur des foies humains in vivo. La performance diagnostique de la nouvelle méthode a été étudiée sur des foies humains sains et atteints de la maladie du foie gras non alcoolique. Pour minimiser les sources de variabilité, une méthode d'analyse automatisée faisant la moyenne des mesures prises sous plusieurs angles a été mise au point. Les résultats de cette méthode ont été comparés à la fraction de graisse à densité de protons obtenue de l'imagerie par résonance magnétique (« magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction », MRI-PDFF) et à la biopsie du foie. En outre, l’imagerie SWA a été utilisée pour classer la stéatose et des seuils de décision ont été établis pour la dichotomisation des différents grades de stéatose. Finalement, le dernier objectif de la thèse consiste en une étude de reproductibilité de six paramètres basés sur la technologie SW (vitesse, atténuation, dispersion, module de Young, viscosité et module de cisaillement). Cette étude a été réalisée chez des volontaires sains et des patients atteints de NAFLD à partir de données acquises lors de deux visites distinctes. En conclusion, une méthode robuste de calcul du SWA du foie a été développée et validée pour fournir une méthode de diagnostic de la NAFLD. / For diagnosis and staging of liver fibrosis, liver stiffness is a quantitative biomarker estimated by elastography methods. Ultrasound shear wave (SW) elastography utilizes noninvasive medical ultrasound to assess the mechanical properties of the liver based on the monitoring of the SW propagation. SW speed (SWS) and SW attenuation (SWA) can provide an estimation of tissue viscoelasticity. Biological tissues are inherently viscoelastic in nature and a complex mathematical model is usually required to compute viscoelasticity in SW imaging. Accurate computation of attenuation is critical, especially for accurate loss modulus and viscosity estimation. Recent studies have made attempts to increase the precision of SWA estimation, but they still face some limitations. As a first objective of this thesis, a revisited frequency-shift method was developed to improve the estimates provided by the original implementation of the frequency-shift method [Bernard et al 2017]. In the new method, the assumption of a constant shape parameter of the gamma function describing the SW magnitude spectrum has been dropped for all lateral locations, allowing a better gamma fitting. Secondly, an adaptive random sample consensus algorithm (A-RANSAC) was implemented to estimate the slope of the varying rate parameter of the gamma distribution to improve the accuracy of the method. For the validation of these algorithmic changes, the proposed method was compared with three recent methods proposed to estimate SWA (frequency-shift, two-point frequency-shift and AMUSE methods) using simulation data or numerical phantoms. In addition, in vitro homogenous gel phantoms and in vivo animal (duck) liver data were processed. As a second objective, this thesis also aimed at improving the early diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is necessary to prevent its progression and decrease the overall mortality. For this purpose, the revisited frequency-shift method was tested on in vivo human livers. The new method's diagnosis performance was investigated with healthy and NAFLD human livers. To minimize sources of variability, an automated analysis method averaging measurements from several angles has been developed. The results of this method were compared to the magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF) and to liver biopsy. SWA imaging was used for grading steatosis and cut-off decision thresholds were established for dichotomization of different steatosis grades. As a third objective, this thesis is proposing a reproducibility study of six SW-based parameters (speed, attenuation, dispersion, Young’s modulus, viscosity and shear modulus). The assessment was performed in healthy volunteers and NAFLD patients using data acquired at two separate visits. In conclusion, a robust method for computing the liver’s SWA was developed and validated to provide a diagnostic method for NAFLD.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are organic synthetic compounds used in several industries because of their unique properties and thermal and chemical stability. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctaonic acid (PFOA) are two of the most prominent PFAS that are undegradable and accumulate in nature. To study the impact of PFOS and PFOA on the liver in a controlled environment, organoids can be used. A sensitive and selective LC-MS/MS method for individual and simultaneous analysis of PFOS and PFOA in liver organoid media and equipment used in organoid analyses was developed. For detection of low concentrations, ability to analyse complex organoid samples, and limit background contamination, a solid phase extraction (SPE) column, automatic filter (AFFL) and a trap column was included. The AFFL-SPE-LC-MS/MS was optimised efficiently through Design of Experiment (DoE) regarding the loading phase in the LC and six MS parameters for PFOS and PFOA. Validation was controlled against Eurachem’s guideline showing high sensitivity, detecting LOD at 6 pg/mL. The method demonstrated high repeatability with an RSD below 8 % for most samples. Simultaneous analysis of PFOS and PFOA demonstrated high selectivity. Nevertheless, the method showed low intermediate precision and varying reliability, as well as persistent background contamination limiting detection of lower concentrations. The method was fit for purpose and allowed rapid analysis of PFOS and PFOA in organoid media and equipment used in organoid analyses. Result from studies of PFAS in liver organoids through analysis with this method can aid in understanding the connection between PFAS and metabolic diseases. / Populärvetenskaplig sammanfattning Per- och polyfluorerade alkylsubstanser (PFAS) är en grupp av människoskapta, syntetiska ämnen med unika egenskaper. Dessa egenskaper gör att de är olja- och vattenavvisande, och har många applikationsområden. De finns i textiler, livsmedelsförpackningar, brandsläckningsskum och andra industriprodukter. De är väldigt termiskt och kemisk stabila, vilket gör att de inte bryts ner och därmed ackumulerar i miljön. Flera studier har också visat koppling mellan PFAS och många kroniska sjukdomar, som hormonstörningar, cancer, immunsuppression och metabolt associerad fettlever (MAFLD, tidigare nonalkoholisk fettlever (NAFLD)). Kopplingen mellan MAFLD och PFAS har fått mycket uppmärksamhet då levern har visats sig vara ett målorgan för PFAS. Eftersom PFAS är ihärdiga, har ett komplicerat spridningsbeteende och ackumulerar i naturen är det svårt att studera kopplingen mellan MAFLD och PFAS i en kontrollerad miljö. För att studera effekten av PFAS kan man använda organoider, laboratorieodlade 3D modeller gjord från stamceller för att imitera ett äkta organ.    Någon av de mest omtalade PFAS ämnen är perfluoroktansyra (PFOA) och perfluoroktansulfonat (PFOS), vilket är fokus för detta arbete. Leverorganoiderna kan utsättas för PFOS och PFOA, och mediet de ligger i kan extraheras och studeras med konventionella analytiska metoder för att få en bild av hur PFAS påverkar levern. I detta arbete vill analysen ske via vätskekromatografi med masspektrometri som detektion (LC-MS/MS). Med LC-MS/MS separeras den studerade molekylen, analyten från lösningen baserat på dess kemiska egenskaper. Analyten detekteras baserat på dess massa, mer bestämd massa/laddning-fördelningen (m/z). För att anpassa LC-MS metoden till injektion av komplexa organoidprover inkluderades ett automatiskt filter (AFFL) samt ett extra automatiskt separationssteg med en kolonn med fastfasextraktion (SPE). I övrigt ger SPE möjligheten att små mängder PFAS kan uppkoncentreras och fokuseras på kolonnen, vilket ger en sensitiv metod som kan detektera låga koncentrationer. SPE och AFFL implementerades båda för att bättre kunna separera och detektera PFOS och PFOA från andra ämnen, samt filtrera bort föroreningar och stora molekyler som kan skada LC-MS/MS instrumentet i längden. Då PFAS hopar upp sig i vår omgivning, visade det sig att kontamination av PFAS från systemet blev en utmaning under metodutvecklingen. Därför implementerades PFAS fritt utstyr, samt en extra kolonn för att fånga PFAS från systemet och på så sätt minska bakgrundskontaminationen som detekterades.    AFFL-SPE-LC-MS/MS metoden optimerades via en maskininlärningsbaserad optimeringsmetod baserad på parametrar i LC och MS. Metoden baserar sig på att, med tre värden för varje parameter, uppger programmet ett antal experiment som måste utföras för att kunna beräkna ett optimalt värde för varje parameter. Med resultatet från experimenten kan modellen matematiskt, genom en Bayes baserat Gaussian modell, uppskatta optimala värden för metoden. På så sätt kunde metoden optimeras systematiskt och tidseffektivt.    Innan rutinanvändning måste den optimerade metoden valideras. Validering blev gjord genom at följa Eurachem’s riktlinjer. Metoden visade hög repeterbarhet, selektivitet och riktighet. Den har hög sensitivitet, och kan detektera låga mängder, men bakgrundskontaminationen kunde inte elimineras totalt, och gör att man måste korrigera för detta i rutinanalyser. Komplexiteten av AFFL-SPE-LC-MS/MS med flera kolonner och filter gjorde att metoden visade låg robusthet och behövde justeras ofta. AFFL-SPE-LC-MS/MS metoden gör det möjligt att snabbt studera PFOS och PFOA i leverorganoider och utstyr använt i organoidanalyser, och kan bidra i forskningen för att bättre förstå hur PFAS påverkar levern. / Health Effects of Persistent Organic Pollutants

This study explores the possible efficacy of a low carbohydrate and high fat nutritional intervention (LCHF) as a treatment possibility aiming to improve the ability of self-control and regulation in the context of carbohydrate-addiction. The study first outlines why increased simple carbohydrate consumption has been implicated as a risk-factor in numerous chronic conditions, and then explores the possibility that a reduction of such consumption could lower general medical expenditure in the healthcare sector of already overburdened institutions, especially in developing countries like South Africa. Since the neurobiological evidence for food addiction is compelling, this study investigates the impact of a low carbohydrate and high fat eating (LCHF) regimen by measuring the change in the severity of addictive behaviour in relation to a reduced carbohydrate consumption. Results indicate that a LCHF nutritional intervention lessened addictive behaviour after just 30 days, resulting in a statistically significant decrease in addiction symptoms from day 1 to day 30. The weight and BMI values of the participants recorded at the end of the study showed a reduction from those obtained during the pre- treatment stage, and the self-perceived ‘feeling in control’ also improved in all participants after the intervention. The introduction of a LCHF nutritional intervention presents a relatively cost-effective treatment and preventative measure to combat carbohydrate over-consumption and its numerous health complications, and it is therefore hoped that the positive findings of this study will foster further research, using larger samples, into this type of nutritional intervention against addictive eating behaviour. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)