Hair Analysis for Alcohol Biomarkers PDF
Preview Hair Analysis for Alcohol Biomarkers
UNIVERSIDADE DA BEIRA INTERIOR Ciências Hair Analysis for Alcohol Biomarkers: Assessing Excessive Consumption in a Student Population David Jerónimo Oppolzer Tese para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Bioquímica (3ºCiclo de estudos) Orientador: Profª. Doutora Maria Eugenia Gallardo Alba Co-orientador: Doutor Mário Jorge Dinis Barroso Co-orientador: Prof. Doutor Luís António Paulino Passarinha Covilhã, Junho de 2016 This project was financed by the Programa de investigação de saúde de 2012 (reference 125895) from the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. V VI Thesis overview This thesis is structured into five main chapters: Chapter I consists of a general introduction on the problematic of alcohol consumption, consumption monitoring approaches, and proposed objectives. In this part a review article is presented (manuscript 1), including a literature review of alcohol biomarkers used for the assessment of alcohol consumption. Chapter II presents the experimental results obtained during the PhD, and includes information presented in the format of research articles: Manuscript 2 - Determination of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in hair samples. Manuscript 3 - Determination of ethyl glucuronide in hair to assess excessive alcohol consumption in a student population. Manuscript 4 - Alcohol consumption assessment in a student population through combined hair analysis of ethyl glucuronide and fatty acid ethyl esters. Chapter III consists of a general discussion of the presented results, also complementing the information presented in the manuscripts. In chapter IV the main conclusions of the doctoral work are summarized. Finally, in chapter V future perspectives are presented. VII VIII Acknowledgements One of the most crucial parts in this project was the collection of hair samples from the numerous students. This was a specially challenging task, which required a lot of patience, effort, explanations and persistence to finally reach the required number of samples. This would have not been possible without the help of my laboratory colleagues. Too all of them, a cheerful thank you! I’d like to thank to my supervisor Eugenia Gallardo, for the opportunity and share of knowledge about several aspects during the entire PhD, as well as the valuable discussions, corrections and help on the various obstacles. To my co-supervisor Mário Barroso, for his prompt availability at every encountered problem, correction of manuscripts, share of opinions and for the entire knowledge and opinions provided on hair testing. To my co-supervisor Luís Passarinha, for his availability and opportunities for collaboration in other research projects. To my friends and colleagues, David and Fabiana thank you for all your help, not only during sample collection, but also in the laboratory. Particularly to David for his efficient abilities in persuading students to participate in the study, and not giving up even after days of collection, even after reaching eminent frustration. And Fabiana for her amazing speed at cutting hair, and constant will to help. To both of you, thank you also for the great times spent in the laboratory, and motivation by the good mood that became routine during the long days of work. Without you, all this could have not been the same. To my parents, Manne and Hedy, and my brother Jolle, I’d like to thank for their continuous support and believe on my academic work, even if it meant that due to the workload we couldn’t meet often for several weeks. Your support and believe meant a lot and gave me much help and motivation during this entire time. To you Hedy, thank you also for all the help in Coimbra. To Catarina, I own you more than any gratitude I could write in these lines. You’ve been my best friend and accompanied me day and night at every step of this project. You were present at every challenge, victory and defeat during this entire time, and were there for every decision that had to be taken and every problem to be solved. Despite to say that every opinion you gave and discussion about all kinds of obstacles were of great value to me, and I can’t recall how many times that helped me to keep on track with the work that had to be done. I should IX also not forget the patience you had during all this time, every part of this project over the past years was made in a constant hurry, running against time. And even with the stress this brought to our lives, the fact that you remained patient and supportive, especially all those times when everything seemed to be going down the drain, is to be praised and shows the fabulous person you are. Thank you for everything, and most importantly, thank you for being yourself! 3 Years ago I would have never guessed that I would be writing the following lines. In fact, I would have never imagined that during this project something as surprising and wonderful, as you Lisa, would happen. Long before you were born you already took part in this project, you were present when hair was collected from students, during the entire time we spend working in the laboratory, and, from birth until now, during the entire writing process. You can’t imagine in how many ways you helped me during my work, you were the motivation that kept your mother and me working hard and spending excessive hours in the laboratory. And then after birth, every step of growth was an explosion of happiness to your parents’ eyes. You wouldn’t believe how much inspiring and motivating every babble and every smile you make is to us, and how often it made my day and made me realize how lucky I am. Thank you for being a part of my life! X
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