The aim of this diploma thesis realized as a comparative study was the study of regulation of carotenoid and ergosterol production in several carotenogenic yeast strains. Yeasts were exposed to exogenous stress factors. Salt stress and oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide) were reached by addition of NaCl and hydrogen peroxide into production media. Complex changes on metabolome (e.g. pigment and ergosterol production, RP-HPLC), proteome and genome were followed. Proteome changes were analyzed by PAGE-SDS and 2D electrophoresis. To isolation and analysis of chromosome DNA pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used. Six yeast strains were enrolled into the comparative study; three strains of the genus Rhodotorula and three strains of the genus Sporobolomyces. While yeasts Rhodotorula sp. were characterized by enhanced biomass as well as carotenoid production in normal and stress conditions, production of biomass by Sporobolomyces sp. was substantially lower. Carotenoid production in Sporobolomyces sp. was higher than in Rhodotorula sp.; the highest increase of was beta-carotene production was observed in Sporobolomyces salmonicolor cells stressed by salt (4x higher than in control) or peroxide (5x higher). Proteins were isolated from yeast cells by combination of mechanical and chemical disruption by glass beads and NaOh or SDS. Better yields were obtained by NaOH. Two staining methods were tested in PAGE-SDS protein analysis. Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining exhibited lower sensitivity, silver staining led to better visualisation of minor protein fractions too. 1D protein profiles was difficult to evaluate, therefore, 2D electrophoresis of selected strains (R.glutinis, R.rubra) was done. In yeast genome analysis by PFGE at minimum 7 DNA fractions were observed. These results probably are not final, further study will be needed for detailed characterization of red yeast genome.

Epilepsy is the most common, chronic, serious neurological disease in the world, with an estimated 65 million people affected worldwide. Recent studies on people diagnosed with epilepsy suggest that stress might trigger epileptic seizures. Interventions aimed at lowering stress might be able to reduce the risk for epileptic seizures among epileptics. In an attempt to explore this possibility, I conducted a systematic review addressing the efficacy of behavioral interventions targeted at lowering stress on seizure frequency among an epileptic population. This article also investigated the efficacy of these interventions on lowering self-perceived stress in the same population. Three databases were searched for obtaining 54 references. After a systematic filtering process, a set of 2 studies was retained after the full search procedure. The results suggest stress-reducing behavioral interventions do not have any statistically significant effects on lowering seizure frequency but have a statistically significant effect on lowering self-perceived stress ratings among an epileptic population. The small but promising results from trials and systematic reviews not included in this review warrant further research into the topic. Limitations regarding search procedure included studies and consideration for further research and reading for the presented topics are discussed.

Inledning: Anknytningssystemet har en beprövad inverkan på hur vi söker stöd i pressade situationer och kan reglera stress. Studien syftar till att belysa anknytningens betydelse för ledar-och medarbetarskap och upplevelser av arbete och hälsa.  Frågeställningar: 1. Har otrygg anknytningsstil (avfärdande/upptagen/rädd) samband med mer negativa upplevelser av arbete och hälsa? 2. Har medarbetare till chefer med trygg anknytningsstil mer positiva upplevelser av arbete och hälsa? Metod: 432 tjänstemän i svenska företag besvarade ett frågeformulär bestående av Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), Salutogenic Health Indicator (SHIS), Work Experience Scale (WEMS).  Resultat: Medarbetare med upptagen eller rädd anknytningsstil hade sämre upplevelser av vissa aspekter av arbete. Tryggt anknutna medarbetare upplever arbetet mer positivt. Chefens anknytningsstil påverkar medarbetarens uppfattning av vissa aspekter av arbete och hälsa.  Diskussion: Otrygg anknytning hos medarbetaren medför en mer negativ upplevelse av arbete vilket kan tolkas som en konsekvens av mindre effektiv stressreduktion. Fysiska aspekter av hälsa, självbestämmande och uppfattning om ledarskap påverkas negativt hos medarbetare med otryggt anknutna chefer vilket kan ses som en följd av ledarens brist på stöd till följd av dennes anknytningsstil. Betydelsen av struktur och trygghet, som arbetsrättslig lagstiftning medför, bör fortsatt diskuteras. / Introduction: The attachment system has proven influence on both how we seek security and safety and on the HPA-axis, the stress regulation system. The study aims to investigate the influence of attachment style among leaders and employees and on their experiences of work and health. Research question: 1. Does insecure attachment (dismissive/preoccupied/fearful) have a negative influence on experiences of work and health? 2. Do employees of managers with secure attachment have more positive experiences of work and health? Method: 432 officials in Swedish companies answered a web form consisting of the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), Salutogenic Health Indicator (SHIS), Work Experience Scale (WEMS). Results: Employees with preoccupied or fearful attachment had worse experiences of some aspects of work. Employees with secure attachment experienced work more positively. The managers´ attachment style did affect the subordinates´ perception of some aspects of work and health.  Discussion: Insecure attachment has a negative correlation with work experience which could indicate less effective stress regulation. Negative experiences among subordinates concerning physical health, self-determination and leadership are associated with insecure attached managers and could be a consequence of ineffective caring orientation of these managers. The importance of structure and security, which Swedish labor law provides, should be further discussed.

Ce mémoire débute avec deux chapitres portant sur les problèmes des conduites et la régulation du stress, notamment sur l’axe hypothalamique-pituitaire-surrénal (HPS). Ensuite, la littérature est résumée et nous voyons que les études qui cherchent à établir un lien entre les problèmes des conduites et l’axe HPS ont trouvé des résultats différents et parfois contradictoires. Le chapitre suivant illustre les problèmes méthodologiques qui pourraient expliquer ces résultats différents. Vient ensuite l’étude présentée dans ce mémoire qui cherche à établir un lien entre la réponse cortisolaire à l’éveil (RCE), considérée comme un bon indice du fonctionnent de l’axe HPS, et les problèmes de conduites chez l’enfant. De plus, les émotions négatives ont été associées avec les problèmes des conduites ainsi qu’aux dysfonctions de l’axe HPS, notamment le RCE. L’étude présentée dans ce mémoire cherche aussi à établir si les émotions négatives pourrait être une variable médiatrice dans la relation potentielle entre la RCE et les problèmes des conduites. L’étude révèle que pour les garçons mais pas pour les filles, une RCE réduite est associée avec les émotions négatives, ce qui est successivement associé avec les problèmes des conduites. Le dernier chapitre du mémoire examine les implications théoriques de cette médiatisation et propose également des pistes psychobiologiques pour expliquer les différences sexuelles observées. / This thesis begins with two chapters which discuss conduct problems and stress regulation, with a focus on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Subsequently, the literature is reviewed and we see that with regards to the relationship between conduct problems and HPA axis activity, the findings are inconsistent. It is possible that methodological considerations underlie the inconsistency found in the literature and the following chapter is concerned with methodology. This is followed by the featured study presented in this thesis which examines the link between the cortisol awakening response (CAR), which is considered a good indicator of HPA axis functioning, and conduct problems in children. Further, negative affect has been linked to both conduct problems and the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR). Thus it was hypothesized that negative affect acts as a mediator in the cortisol-conduct problems relationship. The featured study found that a reduced CAR was associated with both negative affect and conduct problems, however only in boys and not in girls. Further, the mediation hypothesis was supported in boys. The last chapter in this thesis discusses the implications of this mediation finding for theories of conduct problems as well as proposing some psychobiological mechanisms to explain the sex differences found.

Ce mémoire débute avec deux chapitres portant sur les problèmes des conduites et la régulation du stress, notamment sur l’axe hypothalamique-pituitaire-surrénal (HPS). Ensuite, la littérature est résumée et nous voyons que les études qui cherchent à établir un lien entre les problèmes des conduites et l’axe HPS ont trouvé des résultats différents et parfois contradictoires. Le chapitre suivant illustre les problèmes méthodologiques qui pourraient expliquer ces résultats différents. Vient ensuite l’étude présentée dans ce mémoire qui cherche à établir un lien entre la réponse cortisolaire à l’éveil (RCE), considérée comme un bon indice du fonctionnent de l’axe HPS, et les problèmes de conduites chez l’enfant. De plus, les émotions négatives ont été associées avec les problèmes des conduites ainsi qu’aux dysfonctions de l’axe HPS, notamment le RCE. L’étude présentée dans ce mémoire cherche aussi à établir si les émotions négatives pourrait être une variable médiatrice dans la relation potentielle entre la RCE et les problèmes des conduites. L’étude révèle que pour les garçons mais pas pour les filles, une RCE réduite est associée avec les émotions négatives, ce qui est successivement associé avec les problèmes des conduites. Le dernier chapitre du mémoire examine les implications théoriques de cette médiatisation et propose également des pistes psychobiologiques pour expliquer les différences sexuelles observées. / This thesis begins with two chapters which discuss conduct problems and stress regulation, with a focus on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Subsequently, the literature is reviewed and we see that with regards to the relationship between conduct problems and HPA axis activity, the findings are inconsistent. It is possible that methodological considerations underlie the inconsistency found in the literature and the following chapter is concerned with methodology. This is followed by the featured study presented in this thesis which examines the link between the cortisol awakening response (CAR), which is considered a good indicator of HPA axis functioning, and conduct problems in children. Further, negative affect has been linked to both conduct problems and the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR). Thus it was hypothesized that negative affect acts as a mediator in the cortisol-conduct problems relationship. The featured study found that a reduced CAR was associated with both negative affect and conduct problems, however only in boys and not in girls. Further, the mediation hypothesis was supported in boys. The last chapter in this thesis discusses the implications of this mediation finding for theories of conduct problems as well as proposing some psychobiological mechanisms to explain the sex differences found.