NUTRIM Dissertations
We are happy to provide an overview of the latest dissertations of NUTRIM PhD's with a short summary of the research and dissertations.
Dr. Dionne Braeken
“Respiratory infections, exacerbations and the microbiome in COPD”
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterised by acute events as respiratory infections and exacerbations. Little is known about the effect of COPD on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This dissertation showed that patients with COPD have a 4.5 times higher risk to develop CAP, independent smoking status. Besides, patients with COPD had on average more severe CAP, by different bacterial pathogens, with higher mortality rates. Analysis of the respiratory microbiome (all micro-organisms in the lungs) is a promising technique to overcome pressing questions regarding COPD and its acute events. Our results indicate that the respiratory microbiome and its composition depends on the location the sample is taken. On the contrary, samples from different locations of one patient were more alike each other than samples from the same location of different patients. Analysing the respiratory microbiome is complex and needs to be further analysed.
Dr. Tom Houben
"Lysosomes ‘in control’: where lipids meet inflammation in metabolic syndrome"
Metabolic syndrome is a term that is created to identify obese patients at increased risk to develop cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. However, next to cardiovascular diseases the syndrome is also closely linked to disturbances in metabolic organs such as the liver and the intestine. Both of these organs contribute to damage to the cardiovascular system. This thesis focused primarily at the liver component of metabolic syndrome, being NASH or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Specifically, this thesis provides translational insight into the underlying mechanisms of NASH. These findings have led to the discovery of a new diagnostic and two new treatment options for NASH. Additionally, the role of the gut microbiota on lipid metabolism and the impact on NASH is also investigated in more detail. At this moment, it is being investigated how the findings presented in this thesis can be translated into application in clinical practice.