Effects of dietary phytoestrogens on plasma testosterone and triiodothyronine (T3) levels in male goat kids

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exposure to xenoestrogens in humans and animals has gained increasing attention due to the effects of these compounds on reproduction. The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of low-dose dietary phytoestrogen exposure, i.e. a mixture of genistein, daidzein, biochanin A and formononetin, on the establishment of testosterone production during puberty in male goat kids.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Goat kids at the age of 3 months received either a standard diet or a diet supplemented with phytoestrogens (3 - 4 mg/kg/day) for ~3 months. Plasma testosterone and total and free triiodothyronine (T₃) concentrations were determined weekly. Testicular levels of testosterone and cAMP were measured at the end of the experiment. Repeated measurement analysis of variance using the MIXED procedure on the generated averages, according to the Statistical Analysis System program package (Release 6.12, 1996, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) was carried out.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No significant difference in plasma testosterone concentration between the groups was detected during the first 7 weeks. However, at the age of 5 months (i.e. October 1, week 8) phytoestrogen-treated animals showed significantly higher testosterone concentrations than control animals (37.5 nmol/l vs 19.1 nmol/l). This elevation was preceded by a rise in plasma total T₃that occurred on September 17 (week 6). A slightly higher concentration of free T₃was detected in the phytoestrogen group at the same time point, but it was not until October 8 and 15 (week 9 and 10) that a significant difference was found between the groups. At the termination of the experiment, testicular cAMP levels were significantly lower in goats fed a phytoestrogen-supplemented diet. Phytoestrogen-fed animals also had lower plasma and testicular testosterone concentrations, but these differences were not statistically significant.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings suggest that phytoestrogens can stimulate testosterone synthesis during puberty in male goats by increasing the secretion of T₃; a hormone known to stimulate Leydig cell steroidogenesis. It is possible that feedback signalling underlies the tendency towards decreased steroid production at the end of the experiment.</p

Increased serum miR-193a-5p during non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression: diagnostic and mechanistic relevance

Background & Aims: Serum microRNAs (miRNAs) levels are known to change in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and may serve as useful biomarkers. This study aimed to profile miRNAs comprehensively at all NAFLD stages.Methods: We profiled 2,083 serum miRNAs in a discovery cohort (183 NAFLD cases representing the complete NAFLD spectrum and 10 population controls). MiRNA libraries generated by HTG EdgeSeq were sequenced by Illumina NextSeq. Selected serum miRNAs were profiled in 372 additional NAFLD cases and 15 population controls by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.Results: Levels of 275 miRNAs differed between cases and population controls. Fewer differences were seen within individual NAFLD stages but miR-193a-5p consistently the showed increased levels in all comparisons. Relative to NAFL/NASH with mild fibrosis (stage 0/1), three miRNAs (miR-193a-5p, miR-378d and miR378d) were increased in cases with NASH and clinically significant fibrosis (stage 2-4), seven (miR193a-5p, miR-378d, miR-378e, miR-320b, c, d & e) increased in cases with NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) 5-8 compared with lower NAS, and three (miR-193a-5p, miR-378d, miR-378e) increased but one (miR-19b-3p) decreased in steatosis, activity, and fibrosis "activity" (SAF-A) score 2-4 compared with lower SAF-A. The significant findings for miR-193a-5p were replicated in the additional NAFLD cohort. Studies in Hep G2 cells showed that following palmitic acid treatment, miR-193a-5p expression decreased significantly. Gene targets for miR-193a-5p were investigated in liver RNAseq data for a case subgroup (n=80); liver GPX8 levels correlated positively with serum miR-193a-5p. Conclusions: Serum miR-193a-5p levels correlate strongly with NAFLD activity grade and fibrosis stage. MiR-193a-5p may have a role in the hepatic response to oxidative stress and is a potential clinically tractable circulating biomarker for progressive NAFLD

Localization of carbonic anhydrase in reproductive organs

This thesis is a comparative study on localization of carbonic anhydrase (CA) in male and female reproductive organs. CA functions in pH and bicarbonate homeostasis and catalyzes the reaction CO₂ + H₂O ↔ HCO₃⁻ + H⁺. At present 15 different isozymes (CA I-XIV) have been characterized, three of them without catalytic activity. Only active isozymes are of physiological interest and a method demonstrating CA activity in tissues was used. Furthermore, a study on knockout mice deficient in CA II has been undertaken since these are used as model animals for the inherited human CA II deficiency syndrome. Tissues from testis and epididymis were taken from sexually mature pig, rabbit and mouse males; and from the ovary, oviduct and uterus from females of the same species and also cat. Corresponding tissues were taken from CA II-deficient mice. Tissues from other species were included when available from other studies. The tissues were fixed and processed for histochemical demonstration of CA activity and on mouse tissue also for immunohistochemical localization for CA II and CA IV. Spermatozoa were collected from testis, caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis and labelled for CA IV for scanning electron microscopy. Testis: The seminiferous epithelium was unstained except for the Sertoli cells in pig and acrosomes in hamster and lemming. The Leydig cells were CA positive in rat and pig. The capillaries were stained for CA activity in the testis of all species. Epididymis: The apical cells in caput showed CA activity in all species. The principal cells had basolateral membrane staining in cauda. The stereocilia/microvilli were stained in some regions in the species but not in pig. The membrane-bound CA IV was found to be transferred to the spermatozoa during passage through the duct. The capillaries were unstained. Ovary: The oocyte was unstained except for the rabbit cell membrane. The granulosa cells were stained only in the mouse and the theca interna was negative in all species. The luteal cells of corpus luteum were always unstained. The capillaries were variably stained for CA activity and unstained in mouse. Uterus: The surface epithelium was stained during at least some stage of the oestrus cycle in all species except pig. CA disappeared from the epithelium during the non-luteal phase in rabbit, while the glands were negative during the entire cycle. In the other species the glands were stained for CA activity. Stained capillaries were present in all species, except during the luteal phase in rabbit. CA II-deficient mouse: Membrane-bound CAs were more predominant than CA II in males, which may explain why the CA II-deficiency does not affect male fertility in the mouse. In the control females CA II was present in the uterine epithelium and glands as well as membrane-bound CA. The deficient females, however, often produce stillborn pups, which might be related to the lack of CA II in the uterine mucosa. Conclusions: The CA present in the epididymis is thought to be involved in the gradual acidification and bicarbonate resorption taking place in the duct. The envi4 ronment in cauda must have a low pH to keep the spermatozoa immotile during storage. The CA in the female is thought to have a function in the micro milieu in the oviduct and uterus during transport of spermatozoa and ovum and later for embryonic implantation in the uterus. However, the cyclic variation affects CA activity, which together with a significant species variation warrant further studies

Belöningar – Hur man attraherar och behåller ekonomer som arbetskraft

Syfte: Beskriva och analysera vilka belöningar som har betydelse vid rekrytering och fortsatt anställning för ekonomistudenter, samt analysera om dessa belöningar stödjer företagets strategiska mål. Metod: Vi valde att använda oss av dels sekundärdata och dels av att inhämta egen primärinformation genom en enkät. För att teoretiskt fördjupa oss i ämnet belöningssystem genomförde vi litteratursökning, delvis på Lunds universitetsbibliotek och delvis på stadsbiblioteken i Helsingborg och Malmö. Vi studerade också tidigare skrivna avhandlingar och uppsatser samt artiklar för att få tips på litteratur som skulle vara relevant för vår undersökning. Urvalet för enkäten har bestått av en population på 100 studenter vid Ekonomihögskolan i Lund. För att uppfylla syftena valde vi dels en explorativ- och dels en förklarande ansats. Vi har valt en explorativ ansats för att undersöka vilka belöningar som kommer att krävas för att locka framtida arbetskraft och en förklarande ansats för att analysera huruvida ekonomernas ställda krav kan kopplas till ett företags strategiska mål. För att uppfylla uppsatsens explorativa och förklarande syfte använder vi oss av en fallanalys och en surveyundersökning. Slutsatser: Det finns en mängd olika styrmedel som syftar till att styra medarbetarna för att uppnå strategiska mål och önskat resultat. Det viktigaste för ekonomistudenterna på sin framtida arbetsplats är inte belöningar utan engagemang från arbetsgivarens sida. De viktigaste kriterierna och faktorerna som motiverar att söka ett visst arbete är möjlighet till utveckling och fortbildning samt möjlighet till att göra karriär. Det som ger mest arbetstillfredsställelse på arbetsplatsen är ansvar och befogenheter samt uppskattning från arbetskamrater och chef. Ekonomistudenterna vill ha sina finansiella belöningar individuellt. De ickefinansiella belöningarna vill hälften ha individuellt och hälften kollektivt, där kvinnor förträdesvis föredrar kollektiva ickefinansiella belöningar, och männen företrädesvis föredrar individuella ickefinansiella belöningar. De mest attraktiva belöningarna på framtida arbetsplatsen är för kvinnor, pengar, betald ledighet och fortbildning (i nämnd ordning) och för männen, pengar, betald ledighet och resor (i nämnd ordning). Ikanobanken ser nyttan i mångfald, respekterar olikheter, där man som anställd har närhet till besluten och möjligheter att påverka, och de erbjuder en arbetsplats där gemenskapen och den hela människan är centrala värden. Resultatet av enkätundersökningen visar att ekonomistudenterna stödjer denna personalidé/strategi attitydmässigt. Däremot visar enkätresultat kopplat till Ikanobankens belöningssystem att finansiella belöningar inte bör delas ut kollektivt, dessutom finns det faktiskt de som föredrar ickefinansiella belöningar individuellt. Dessutom kan man fråga sig hur man följer upp belöningarna för att maximera nyttan för både arbetstagaren och arbetsgivaren. Vi föreslår därför ett prestationsmätningssystem, som ger möjlighet att följa upp belöningarnas verkan såväl på personal, kunder som företag

The Effect of Credit Rating Announcements

The purpose of this study is to further deepen the knowledge surrounding credit rating announcements and their impact on companies’ stock prices. Furthermore, the authors want to investigate whether the potential impacts differ between the US market and the European market, as well as previous to the financial crisis compared to post the financial crisis of 2007- 2009. The methodology used is an event study and multivariate regression analysis. In order to formulate the hypotheses, the following theories have been used: Information content hypothesis, Efficient market hypothesis, Incentive signalling approach and the Economic rationality theory. To test the hypotheses, a sample consisting of 3691 credit rating changes between 2003-2019 for the European market and the US market has been examined. The study concludes that the US market reacts stronger to downgrades compared to the European market, while there is no difference for upgrades. The market also reacts stronger to downgrades after the financial crisis compared to before, with no correlation for upgrades before and after the crisis

Är det insidan som räknas? - En studie om insynshandeln på Stockholmsbörsen

Examensarbetets titel: Är det insidan som räknas? En studie om insynshandel på Stockholmsbörsen Seminariedatum: 2018-01-11 Kurs: FEKH89, Examensarbete i finansiering på kandidatnivå, 15 högskolepoäng Författare: Ellinor Atterling, Elisabeth Ekstedt, Alice Olofsson Handledare: Maria Gårdängen Fem nyckelord: Insynshandel, abnorm avkastning, eventstudie, befattning, regressionsanalys Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att undersöka om abnorm avkastning förekommer vid insynshandel och om det råder någon signifikant skillnad mellan ledningens och styrelsens abnorma avkastning. Studien undersöker även vilka faktorer som påverkar den abnorma avkastningen. Metod: Med hjälp av kvantitativ sekundärdata från Finansinspektionen och Thomson Reuters Datastream har en eventstudie gjorts, och med hjälp av marknadsmodellen har den abnorma avkastningen beräknats. För att kontrollera att resultatet är statistiskt säkerställt har t-test utförts. En regressionsanalys har även utförts för att kunna testa vilka variabler som förklarar den abnorma avkastningen. Teoretiska perspektiv: Effektiva marknadshypotesen, informationsasymmetri och signaleringshypotesen. Resultat: Studien fastslog att personer i ledande ställning kan generera abnorm avkastning och att styrelsen genererar en högre abnorm avkastning än vad ledningen gör. Regressionsanalysen visade att variablerna marknadsvärde och utgivare av en transaktion med statistisk signifikans förklarar den abnorma avkastningen

Операционные системы

Приведена история развития и классификация операционных систем, краткие теоретические и практические сведения, необходимые для освоения командного режима работы в операционных системах семейства Windows и Linux/Unix. Для студентов специальности 1-40 01 02 «Информационные системы и технологии (по направлениям)»

High prevalence of autoantibodies to C-reactive protein in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: association with liver fibrosis and portal inflammation

The presence of autoantibodies against C-reactive protein (anti-CRP) has been reported in association with autoimmunity and histopathology in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Resistin could play a role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis, although results on HCV infection are ambiguous. Here we retrospectively analyzed anti-CRP and resistin levels in the sera of 38 untreated and well-characterized HCV patients at the time of their first liver biopsy. HCV activity and general health were assessed by a physician at least yearly until follow-up ended. Anti-CRP and resistin were also measured in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Anti-CRP antibodies were registered in all HCV patients, whereas only a few AIH (11%) and NAFLD (12%) sera were positive. Anti-CRP levels were related to histopathological severity and were highest in patients with cirrhosis at baseline. Resistin levels were similar in HCV, AIH, and NAFLD patients, but high levels of resistin were associated with early mortality in HCV patients. Neither anti-CRP nor resistin predicted a response to interferon-based therapy or cirrhosis development or was associated with liver-related mortality. We conclude that anti-CRP antibodies are frequently observed in chronic HCV infection and could be a useful marker of advanced fibrosis and portal inflammation.Funding Agencies|Swedish Society for Medical Research||Professor Nanna Svartz Foundation||King Gustaf V 80-Year Foundation||Sweden-America Foundation||County Council of Ostergotland||Clas Groschinsky||byggmastare Olle Engkvist||apotekare Hedberg|