Complex I-Associated Hydrogen Peroxide Production Is Decreased and Electron Transport Chain Enzyme Activities Are Altered in n-3 Enriched fat-1 Mice

The polyunsaturated nature of n-3 fatty acids makes them prone to oxidative damage. However, it is not clear if n-3 fatty acids are simply a passive site for oxidative attack or if they also modulate mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The present study used fat-1 transgenic mice, that are capable of synthesizing n-3 fatty acids, to investigate the influence of increases in n-3 fatty acids and resultant decreases in the n-6∶n-3 ratio on liver mitochondrial H2O2 production and electron transport chain (ETC) activity. There was an increase in n-3 fatty acids and a decrease in the n-6∶n-3 ratio in liver mitochondria from the fat-1 compared to control mice. This change was largely due to alterations in the fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, with only a small percentage of fatty acids in cardiolipin being altered in the fat-1 animals. The lipid changes in the fat-1 mice were associated with a decrease (p<0.05) in the activity of ETC complex I and increases (p<0.05) in the activities of complexes III and IV. Mitochondrial H2O2 production with either succinate or succinate/glutamate/malate substrates was also decreased (p<0.05) in the fat-1 mice. This change in H2O2 production was due to a decrease in ROS production from ETC complex I in the fat-1 animals. These results indicate that the fatty acid changes in fat-1 liver mitochondria may at least partially oppose oxidative stress by limiting ROS production from ETC complex I

Role identity in a turbulent environment : the case of health visiting

This thesis presents a grounded theory study of UK health visitors practising in an increasingly integrated, collaborative, service user focused healthcare system. Emphasis is placed in policy on a preventative, public health approach to addressing the ongoing health needs of the population. This has provoked a national debate on the healthcare contribution of health visitors. Better use of health visiting capacity and closer alignment of the role with the collaborative public health agenda have been identified as a national priority. The theoretical framework for this study has been developed from the symbolic. interactionist premise, that individuals continually reinterpret their world in the context of their social interaction with others. Data has been collected from direct observation and individual interviews. The process of constant comparative analysis has generated four interrelated data categories: professional role in action; interprofessional working; local micro systems for practice and professional role identity (core category).EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo