Functions of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and beta in skin homeostasis, epithelial repair, and morphogenesis.

The three peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR alpha, PPAR beta, and PPAR gamma) are ligand-activated transcription factors belonging to the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. They are regarded as being sensors of physiological levels of fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives. In the adult mouse skin, they are found in hair follicle keratinocytes but not in interfollicular epidermis keratinocytes. Skin injury stimulates the expression of PPAR alpha and PPAR beta at the site of the wound. Here, we review the spatiotemporal program that triggers PPAR beta expression immediately after an injury, and then gradually represses it during epithelial repair. The opposing effects of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta-1 signalling pathways on the activity of the PPAR beta promoter are the key elements of this regulation. We then compare the involvement of PPAR beta in the skin in response to an injury and during hair morphogenesis, and underscore the similarity of its action on cell survival in both situations.

Simultaneous determination of gross alpha, gross beta and Ra-226 in natural water by liquid scintillation counting.

The determination of gross alpha, gross beta and 226Ra activity in natural waters is useful in a wide range of environmental studies. Furthermore, gross alpha and gross beta parameters are included in international legislation on the quality of drinking water [Council Directive 98/83/EC].1 In this work, a low-background liquid scintillation counter (Wallac, Quantulus 1220) was used to simultaneously determine gross alpha, gross beta and 226Ra activity in natural water samples. Sample preparation involved evaporation to remove 222Rn and its short-lived decay daughters. The evaporation process concentrated the sample ten-fold. Afterwards, a sample aliquot of 8 mL was mixed with 12 mL of Ultima Gold AB scintillation cocktail in low-diffusion vials. In this study, a theoretical mathematical model based on secular equilibrium conditions between 226Ra and its short-lived decay daughters is presented. The proposed model makes it possible to determine 226Ra activity from two measurements. These measurements also allow determining gross alpha and gross beta simultaneously. To validate the proposed model, spiked samples with different activity levels for each parameter were analysed. Additionally, to evaluate the model's applicability in natural water, eight natural water samples from different parts of Spain were analysed. The eight natural water samples were also characterised by alpha spectrometry for the naturally occurring isotopes of uranium (234U, 235U and 238U), radium (224Ra and 226Ra), 210Po and 232Th. The results for gross alpha and 226Ra activity were compared with alpha spectrometry characterization, and an acceptable concordance was obtained.

Use of constant denaturant capillary electrophoresis of pooled blood samples to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes (Scnn1a and Scnn1b) encoding the alpha and beta subunits of the epithelial sodium channel.

BACKGROUND: The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is composed of three homologous subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. Mutations in the Scnn1b and Scnn1g genes, which encode the beta and the gamma subunits of ENaC, cause a severe form of hypertension (Liddle syndrome). The contribution of genetic variants within the Scnn1a gene, which codes for the alpha subunit, has not been investigated. METHODS: We screened for mutations in the COOH termini of the alpha and beta subunits of ENaC. Blood from 184 individuals from 31 families participating in a study on the genetics of hypertension were analyzed. Exons 13 of Scnn1a and Scnn1b, which encode the second transmembrane segment and the COOH termini of alpha- and beta-ENaC, respectively, were amplified from pooled DNA samples of members of each family by PCR. Constant denaturant capillary electrophoresis (CDCE) was used to detect mutations in PCR products of the pooled DNA samples. RESULTS: The detection limit of CDCE for ENaC variants was 1%, indicating that all members of any family or up to 100 individuals can be analyzed in one CDCE run. CDCE profiles of the COOH terminus of alpha-ENaC in pooled family members showed that the 31 families belonged to four groups and identified families with genetic variants. Using this approach, we analyzed 31 rather than 184 samples. Individual CDCE analysis of members from families with different pooled CDCE profiles revealed five genotypes containing 1853G-->T and 1987A-->G polymorphisms. The presence of the mutations was confirmed by DNA sequencing. For the COOH terminus of beta-ENaC, only one family showed a different CDCE profile. Two members of this family (n = 5) were heterozygous at 1781C-->T (T594M). CONCLUSION: CDCE rapidly detects point mutations in these candidate disease genes.

Simultaneous determination of gross alpha, gross beta and Ra-226 in natural water by liquid scintillation counting.

The determination of gross alpha, gross beta and 226Ra activity in natural waters is useful in a wide range of environmental studies. Furthermore, gross alpha and gross beta parameters are included in international legislation on the quality of drinking water [Council Directive 98/83/EC].1 In this work, a low-background liquid scintillation counter (Wallac, Quantulus 1220) was used to simultaneously determine gross alpha, gross beta and 226Ra activity in natural water samples. Sample preparation involved evaporation to remove 222Rn and its short-lived decay daughters. The evaporation process concentrated the sample ten-fold. Afterwards, a sample aliquot of 8 mL was mixed with 12 mL of Ultima Gold AB scintillation cocktail in low-diffusion vials. In this study, a theoretical mathematical model based on secular equilibrium conditions between 226Ra and its short-lived decay daughters is presented. The proposed model makes it possible to determine 226Ra activity from two measurements. These measurements also allow determining gross alpha and gross beta simultaneously. To validate the proposed model, spiked samples with different activity levels for each parameter were analysed. Additionally, to evaluate the model's applicability in natural water, eight natural water samples from different parts of Spain were analysed. The eight natural water samples were also characterised by alpha spectrometry for the naturally occurring isotopes of uranium (234U, 235U and 238U), radium (224Ra and 226Ra), 210Po and 232Th. The results for gross alpha and 226Ra activity were compared with alpha spectrometry characterization, and an acceptable concordance was obtained.

Síntese e atividade antibacteriana de imidas cíclicas: 3,4-dicloromaleimidas e 3-cloro-4-substituída-maleimidas

In the present study, new N-aryl and N-alkylarylcyclic imides were synthesized and their antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated by using the diffusion method. All compounds were obtained in good yield (54 - 95%) and characterized by spectral data (¹H-NMR, MS, IR) and elemental analysis (CHN). The biological results indicated that some compounds exert significative antibacterial effects, confirming previous studies on biological activities of cyclic imides.

Utilização de um eletrodo de grafite-epóxi recoberto com [Zn(FEN)3][tetratris(4-clorofenil) borato]2 sensível a zinco(II) em meio 1,10-fenantrolina como eletrodo indicador em titulações potenciométricas de precipitação

The construction and analytical evaluation of a coated graphite-epoxy electrode sensitive to the zinc-1,10-phenantroline complex based on the [Zn(fen)3][tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate]2 incorporated into a poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) matrix are described. A thin membrane film of this ion-pair, dibutylphthalate (DBPh) and PVC were deposited directly onto an electrically conductive graphite-epoxy support located inside a Perspex® tube. The best PVC polymeric membrane contains 65% (m/m) DBPh, 30% (m/m) PVC and 5% (m/m) of the ion-pair. This electrode shows a response of 19.5 mV dec-1 over the zinc(II) concentration range of 1.0 x 10-5 to 1.0 x 10-3 mol L-1 in 1,10-phenantroline medium, at pH 6.0. The response time was less than 20 seconds and the lifetime of this electrode was more than four months (over 1200 determinations by each polymeric membrane). It was successfully used as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric precipitation titration of zinc(II) ions.

Desenvolvimento de abordagem objetivando a síntese da 3-desidroxi-4-metoxi-tubastrina

We report the synthesis of amino(2-hydroxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethylamino)methaniminium (14) as a direct precursor of a tubastrine derivative (3-dehydroxy-4-methoxytubastrine). The synthetic steps involved functional group interconversions starting from 1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone to obtain the guanidine-protected derivative 13. Tentative dehydration of 13 with SiOH-adsorbed CuSO4 resulted in guanidine deprotection only. This was an unexpected result, since there are no reports of CuSO4.SiOH as Boc-deprotecting of guanidines. The product 14 was obtained in five steps and 5.4 % overall yield, and constitutes a direct precursor of 3-dehydroxy-4-methoxytubastrine.

Influence of the synthesis conditions on the characteristics and metal adsorption properties of the 3-(1,4-phenylenediamine)propylsilica xerogel

The hybrid 3-(1,4-phenylenediamine)propylsilica xerogel was obtained starting from two different organic precursor quantity (5 and 8 mmol) to 22 mmol of TEOS, in the synthesis. The xerogel samples were characterized by using CHN elemental analysis, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, infrared thermal analysis. The xerogel was used as metal sorbent for Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ in aqueous solution with concentration range of 10-3 to 10-5 mmol l-1. The quantity of organic precursor added in the synthesis influences the characteristics of the xerogel as morphology and thermal stability, as well as the metal adsorption capacity.

Ohjelma kansallisiin vapaaurheilu- ja pyöräilykilpailuihin Mikkelissä, Kilpa-ajoradalla heinäkuun 3 ja 4 p:nä 1915

14 x 21 cm

Höstregattan den 3 och 4 september 1910

11 x 18 cm

Studies on membrane properties of cholesterol and 3-beta modified sterol analogs

Cholesterol (Chol) is an important lipid in cellular membranes functioning both as a membrane fluidity regulator, permeability regulator and co-factor for some membrane proteins, e.g. G-protein coupled receptors. It also participates in the formation of signaling platforms and gives the membrane more mechanical strenght to prevent osmotic lysis of the cell. The sterol structure is very conserved and already minor structural modifications can completely abolish its membrane functions. The right interaction with adjacent lipids and the preference of certain lipid structures over others are also key factors in determining the membrane properties of cholesterol. Because of the many important properties of cholesterol it is of value to understand the forces and structural properties that govern the membrane behavior of this sterol. In this thesis we have used established fluorescence spectroscopy methods to study the membrane behavior of both cholesterol and some of its 3β-modified analogs. Using several fluorescent probes we have established how the acyl chain order of the two main lipid species, sphingomyelin (SM) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) affect sterol partitioning as well as characterized the membrane properties of 3β-aminocholesterol and cholesteryl phosphocholine. We concluded that cholesterol prefers SM over PC at equal acyl chain order, indicating that other structural properties besides the acyl chain order are important for sphingomyelin-sterol interactions. A positive charge at the 3β position only caused minor changes in the sterol membrane behavior compared to cholesterol. A large phosphocholine head group caused a disruption in membrane packing together with other membrane lipids with large head groups, but was also able to form stable fluid bilayers together with ceramide and cholesterol. The Ability of the large head group sterol to form bilayers together with ceramide was further explored in the last paper where cholesteryl phosphocholine/ceramide (Chol-PC/Cer) complexes were successfully used to transfer ceramide into cultured cells.

Evaluation of total carotenoids, alpha- and beta-carotene in carrots (Daucus carota L.) during home processing

This study aims to analyze the influence of dehydration and different preparation methods during home processing related toalpha-carotene, beta-carotene and total carotenoids stability in carrots. Vitamin A values were evaluated after different treatments. Thus, carrots were submitted to steam cooking, water cooking with and without pressure, moist/dry cooking and conventional dehydration. Determination of alpha- and beta-carotenes was made by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) (conditions were developed by us) using spectrophotometric detection visible-UV at 470 nm; a RP-18 column and methanol: acetonitrile: ethyl acetate (80: 10: 10) as mobile phase. Total carotenoids quantification was made by 449 nm spectrophotometer. The retention of the analyzed carotenoids ranged from 60.13 to 85.64%. Water cooking without pressure promoted higher retention levels of alpha- and beta-carotene and vitamin A values, while water cooking with pressure promoted higher retention levels of total carotenoids. Dehydration promoted the highest carotenoid losses. The results showed that, among the routinely utilized methods under domestic condition, cooking without pressure, if performed under controlled time and temperature, is the best method as it reduces losses in the amount of alpha- and beta-carotene, the main carotenoids present in the carrots. Despite the significant carotenoid losses, carrots prepared through domestic methods, remain a rich source of provitamin A.

Puheen sujuvuus 3- ja 4-vuotiailla suomenkielisillä lapsilla

Tämän pro gradu -tutkielman tarkoituksena oli selvittää suomenkielisten sujuvasti puhuvien 3- ja 4-vuotiaiden lasten puheen sujuvuutta sekä sitä, miten puheen sujuvuuden piirteet muuttuvat kolmen ja neljän ikävuoden välillä. Puheen sujumattomuuksia tutkittiin niiden tyyppien, määrien ja kestojen perusteella. Tutkielman aineisto koostui seitsemän tytön ja seitsemän pojan kolme- ja neljävuotiaana nauhoitetuista videonäytteistä, jotka saatiin Maarit Silvénin pitkittäistutkimuksena kerätystä aineistosta. Videonäytteistä saaduista puhenäytteistä litteroitiin ortografisesti lapsen 50 ilmaisua vähintään kahdesta erilaisesta tilanteesta. Sujumattomuudet tunnistettiin kuulonvaraisesti. Litteroiduista puhenäytteistä laskettiin sujumattomuuksien määrät sekä puhenäytteen sisältämien tavujen ja sanojen määrät. Lapsen tuottamat 50 ilmaisua vietiin Praat-tietokoneohjelmaan, jonka avulla laskettiin ilmausten kokonaispuheaikaa, sujuvan ja sujumattoman puheen osuuksia kokonaispuheajasta sekä sujumattomuuksien kestoja. Tilastolliset analyysit toteutettiin SPSS Statistics-ohjelman versiolla 22. Tutkielman tulokset antoivat viitteitä siitä, että suomenkieliset lapset olisivat hieman englanninkielisiä kolme- ja neljävuotiaita lapsia sujumattomampia sekä änkytyksenkaltaisten ja muiden sujumattomuuksien osalta että sujumattomuuksien kokonaismäärältä. Änkytyksenkaltaiset sujumattomuudet vähentyivät iän myötä muiden sujumattomuuksien ja sujumattomuuksien kokonaismäärän lisääntyessä. Määrällisesti kummassakin ikäryhmässä esiintyi eniten väli- ja täytesanoja, täyttämättömiä taukoja ja uudelleenmuotoiluja. Näiden sujumattomuustyyppien määrä myös lisääntyi iän myötä, ja ne olivat kestollisesti pisimpiä sujumattomuuksia. Rikkoontuneiden sanojen määrä oli suuri vielä kolmevuotiailla, mutta väheni neljään ikävuoteen mennessä. Tutkielman tulokset perustuvat pieneen aineistoon, joten tuloksia ei voida yleistää. Tulokset antoivat kuitenkin alustavia viitteitä siitä, että suomenkielisten lasten puheen sujuvuus ei etene kaikilta osin samalla tavoin kuin englanninkielisillä lapsilla, joiden puheen sujuvuuteen suurin osa puheen sujuvuustutkimusten tuloksista perustuu. Suomenkieliseen aineistoon perustuvaan puheen sujuvuustutkimukseen suuremmilla aineistolla on siis aihetta, jotta saadaan tietoa suomenkielisten lasten puheen sujuvuuden kehittymisestä ja suomenkieliseen aineistoon sopivia puheen sujuvuuden mittareita, joilla tyypillinen puheen sujumattomuus voidaan erottaa änkytyksestä sen varhaisessa vaiheessa.