| 1. |
- Lange, Leslie A, et al.
(author)
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Whole-Exome Sequencing Identifies Rare and Low-Frequency Coding Variants Associated with LDL Cholesterol.
- 2014
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In: American Journal of Human Genetics. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9297. ; 94:2, s. 233-245
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a treatable, heritable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified 157 variants associated with lipid levels but are not well suited to assess the impact of rare and low-frequency variants. To determine whether rare or low-frequency coding variants are associated with LDL-C, we exome sequenced 2,005 individuals, including 554 individuals selected for extreme LDL-C (>98(th) or <2(nd) percentile). Follow-up analyses included sequencing of 1,302 additional individuals and genotype-based analysis of 52,221 individuals. We observed significant evidence of association between LDL-C and the burden of rare or low-frequency variants in PNPLA5, encoding a phospholipase-domain-containing protein, and both known and previously unidentified variants in PCSK9, LDLR and APOB, three known lipid-related genes. The effect sizes for the burden of rare variants for each associated gene were substantially higher than those observed for individual SNPs identified from GWASs. We replicated the PNPLA5 signal in an independent large-scale sequencing study of 2,084 individuals. In conclusion, this large whole-exome-sequencing study for LDL-C identified a gene not known to be implicated in LDL-C and provides unique insight into the design and analysis of similar experiments.
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| 2. |
- Hong, Feng, et al.
(author)
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Bacterial cellulose production from cotton-based waste textiles : enzymatic saccharification enhanced by ionic liquid pretreatment
- 2012
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In: Bioresource Technology. - Oxford : Elsevier. - 0960-8524 .- 1873-2976. ; 104, s. 503-508
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cotton-based waste textiles were explored as alternative feedstock for production of bacterial cellulose (BC) by Gluconacetobacter xylinus. The cellulosic fabrics were treated with the ionic liquid (IL) 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([AMIM]Cl). [AMIM]Cl caused 25% inactivation of cellulase activity at a concentration as low as of 0.02 g/mL and decreased BC production during fermentation when present in concentrations higher than 0.0005 g/mL. Therefore, removal of residual IL by washing with hot water was highly beneficial to enzymatic saccharification as well as BC production. IL-treated fabrics exhibited a 5-7-fold higher enzymatic hydrolysis rate and gave a seven times larger yield of fermentable sugars than untreated fabrics. BC from cotton cloth hydrolysate was obtained at an yield of 10.8 g/L which was 83% higher than that from the culture grown on glucose-based medium. The BC from G. xylinus grown on IL-treated fabric hydrolysate had a 79% higher tensile strength than BC from glucose-based culture medium which suggests that waste cotton pretreated with [AMIM]Cl has potential to serve as a high-quality carbon source for BC production.
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| 3. |
- Li, Shanghua, et al.
(author)
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Novel Solution Route Synthesis of Low Thermal Conductivity Nanocrystalline Bismuth Telluride
- 2010
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In: Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. - : American Scientific Publishers. - 1533-4880 .- 1533-4899. ; 10:11, s. 7658-7662
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A novel synthesis approach based on a solution route has been developed for the fabrication of nanocrystalline bismuth telluride. The method consists of dissolving both bismuth and tellurium into the same organic solvent with the assistance of complexing agents and one-step coprecipitation of bismuth telluride. The synthesized nanocrystalline bismuth telluride powders possess rhombohedral crystal structure and are nanosheet/nanorod-like with an average size of between 30 and 40 nm. The thermal conductivity of the hot-pressed compact consolidated from the as-synthesized nanopowders is 0.39-0.45 Wm(-1)K(-1) in the temperature range of 323 to 523 K, which is at most one third of that of bulk bismuth telluride-based materials reported in the literature. Such low thermal conductivity of the investigated bismuth telluride is mainly attributed to substantially high concentration of grain boundaries provided by nanostructuring to scatter phonons intensively.
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| 4. |
- Shen, Yang-mei, et al.
(author)
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Novel gene hBiot2 is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer patients
- 2012
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In: Oncology Reports. - : Spandidos Publications. - 1021-335X .- 1791-2431. ; 27:2, s. 376-382
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present study investigated the expression of the novel gene hBiot2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its relationships with clinicopathological variables in CRC patients. The expression of hBiot2 in 163 primary CRCs together with the corresponding normal mucosa, 36 liver metastases and 5 colon cancer cell lines was examined using real-time PCR. In situ hybridization (ISH) was performed to evaluate the localization of hBiot2 expression in CRC and normal mucosa. hBiot2 expression at the RNA level was localized in the nucleus of tumor cells and normal epithelial cells. The mean expression of hBiot2 in the CRCs (243.571 +/- 564.569) was higher compared to the normal mucosa (107.252 +/- 413.635, Pandlt;0.0001) and liver metastasis samples (42.002 +/- 40.809, P=0.0002). hBiot2 expression was increased from stages I + II to III (P=0.047), and no difference in the expression was found in stages III and IV (P=0.452). A high value of hBiot2 was associated with a poorer prognosis compared with a low value independently of gender, age, tumor site, stage and differentiation (P=0.007, RR 7.519, 95% Cl 1.729-32.704). Liver metastasis, smaller tumors, non-local recurrence and primary liver surgery alone were associated with a higher value of hBiot2 compared to larger tumors, local recurrence and repeated liver surgery (P=0.003, 0.044 and 0.026, respectively). An inverse relationship was found between hBiot2 expression and the metastatic potential of the colon cancer cell lines. Thus, increased expression of hBiot2 may be an early and interim event in the development of CRC. A higher expression of hBiot2 in primary CRC patients independently indicates a poorer prognosis.
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| 5. |
- Zhang, Shuo, et al.
(author)
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A monoclinic polymorph of theophylline
- 2011
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In: Acta Crystallographica Section E. - 1600-5368. ; 67:12, s. O3357-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A monoclinic polymorph of theophylline, C(7)H(8)N(4)O(2), has been obtained from a chloroform/methanol mixture by evaporation under ambient conditions. The new polymorph crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The structure features intermolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonds, resulting in the formation of dimers between two crystallographically different molecules; each molecule acts as both donor and acceptor.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Zhang, Shuo, et al.
(author)
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Effects of aromatic compounds on the production of bacterial nanocellulose by Gluconacetobacter xylinus
- 2014
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In: Microbial Cell Factories. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1475-2859 .- 1475-2859. ; 13, s. 62-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background:Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a polymeric nanostructured fibrillar network produced by certain microorganisms, principally Gluconacetobacter xylinus. BC has a great potential of application in many fields. Lignocellulosic biomass has been investigated as a cost-effective feedstock for BC production through pretreatment and hydrolysis. It is well known that detoxification of lignocellulosic hydrolysates may be required to achieve efficient production of BC. Recent results suggest that phenolic compounds contribute to the inhibition of G. xylinus. However, very little is known about the effect on G. xylinus of specific lignocellulose-derived inhibitors. In this study, the inhibitory effects of four phenolic model compounds (coniferyl aldehyde, ferulic acid, vanillin and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid) on the growth of G. xylinus, the pH of the culture medium, and the production of BC were investigated in detail. The stability of the phenolics in the bacterial cultures was investigated and the main bioconversion products were identified and quantified.Results:Coniferyl aldehyde was the most potent inhibitor, followed by vanillin, ferulic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. There was no BC produced even with coniferyl aldehyde concentrations as low as 2 mM. Vanillin displayed a negative effect on the bacteria and when the vanillin concentration was raised to 2.5 mM the volumetric yield of BC decreased to similar to 40% of that obtained in control medium without inhibitors. The phenolic acids, ferulic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, showed almost no toxic effects when less than 2.5 mM. The bacterial cultures oxidized coniferyl aldehyde to ferulic acid with a yield of up to 81%. Vanillin was reduced to vanillyl alcohol with a yield of up to 80%.Conclusions:This is the first investigation of the effect of specific phenolics on the production of BC by G. xylinus, and is also the first demonstration of the ability of G. xylinus to convert phenolic compounds. This study gives a better understanding of how phenolic compounds and G. xylinus cultures are affected by each other. Investigations in this area are useful for elucidating the mechanism behind inhibition of G. xylinus in lignocellulosic hydrolysates and for understanding how production of BC using lignocellulosic feedstocks can be performed in an efficient way.
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| 8. |
- Zhang, Shuo, 1983-
(author)
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Physical properties and crystallization of theophylline co-crystals
- 2010
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This work focuses on the physical properties and crystallization of theophyline co-crystals. Co-crystals of theophylline with oxalic acid, glutaric acid and maleic acid have been investigated. The DSC curves of these co-crystals show that their first endothermic peaks are all lower than the melting temperature of theophylline. The decomposition temperature of theophylline – oxalic acid co-crystal is at about 230 °C, determined by DSC together with TGA. After decomposition, the remaining theophylline melts at about 279 °C, which is higher than the known melting temperature of theophylline, suggesting a structure difference, ie. a new polymorph may have been formed. The formation of hydrogen bonds in theophylline – oxalic acid co-crystal was investigated by FTIR. Changes of FTIR peaks around 3120 cm-1 reflects the hydrogen bond of basic N of theophylline and hydroxyl H of oxalic acid. The solubility of theophylline – oxalic acid co-crystal and theophylline – glutaric acid co-crystal was determined in 4:1 chlroform – methanol and in pure chloroform respectively. At equilibrium with the solid theophylline – oxalic acid co-crystal, the theophylline concentration is only 60 % of the corresponding value for the pure solid theophylline. At equilibrium with the solid theophylline – glutaric acid co-crystal, the theophylline concentration is at least 5 times higher than the corresponding value for the pure solid theophylline. Two phases of theophylline were found during the solubility determination. In the chloroform – methanol mixture (4:1 in volume ratio) the solubility of the stable polymorph of theophylline is found to be about 14 % lower than that of the metastable phase. Various aspects of the phase diagram of theophylline – oxalic acid co-crystal was explored. Theophylline – oxalic acid co-crystal has been successfully prepared via primary nucleation from a stoichiometric solution mixture of the two components in chloroform – methanol mixture. By slurry conversion crystallization, the co-crystal can be prepared in several solvents, and yield and productivity can be significantly increased. Theophylline – glutaric acid can be successfully prepared via both co-grinding of the two components and slow evaporation with seeding.
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| 9. |
- Zhang, Shuo, et al.
(author)
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The theophylline-oxalic acid co-crystal system : solid phases, thermodynamics and crystallisation
- 2012
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In: CrystEngComm. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1466-8033 .- 1466-8033. ; 14:14, s. 4644-4655
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The solid phases in the theophylline-oxalic acid co-crystal system have been investigated by thermal analysis techniques, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and solubility measurements. The work includes the 2 : 1 co-crystal of theophylline and oxalic acid, polymorphs of theophylline, the theophylline monohydrate and solid oxalic acid. The DSC curve of the co-crystal presents two endothermic peaks, one at about 230 degrees C where the oxalic acid in the co-crystal decomposes and carbon dioxide is liberated, and another one at 279 degrees C where the remaining theophylline melts. At equilibrium with the solid co-crystal, the theophylline concentration is only 60% of the corresponding value for the pure solid theophylline. Using the solubility data, the standard Gibbs free energy of formation of the co-crystal from the pure solid phases is estimated to be approximately -6.0 kJ mole(-1). In a chloroform/methanol mixture (4 : 1 v : v) the commercial form of pure theophylline (Form II) has been observed to transform into a more stable non-solvated form (Form I). The data suggest that the polymorphs are enantiotropically related with an approximate transition temperature of 70 degrees C. The 2 : 1 theophylline-oxalic acid co-crystal can be successfully produced by cooling crystallisation in chloroform/methanol mixture (4 : 1 v : v) and by slurry conversion crystallisation also in more benign solvents.
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| 10. |
- Zhang, Shuo, et al.
(author)
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Thermodynamics and Crystallization of the Theophylline-Glutaric Acid Cocrystal
- 2013
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In: Crystal Growth & Design. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1528-7483 .- 1528-7505. ; 13:3, s. 1153-1161
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This work investigates the thermodynamics and crystallization of the theophylline glutaric acid 1:1 cocrystal. It is found that the cocrystal physically decomposes at 120 degrees C (i.e., in the range between the melting points of the two pure compounds). The solubility of the cocrystal and pure compounds has been determined in chloroform and acetonitrile. In chloroform, the theophylline concentration of the saturated solution over the cocrystal is clearly higher than that in the saturated solution over pure theophylline I/II, while for glutaric acid the situation is the opposite. With the solubility data, the Gibbs free energy of the formation of the cocrystal from solid theophylline II and solid beta-glutaric acid at 30 degrees C can be estimated to -0.39 kJ mol(-1). The work reveals that polymorphism in the pure components of a cocrystal can dramatically influence the phase diagram and shift an incongruently dissolving case into a kinetically stabilized congruent case. In chloroform, the cocrystal dissolves incongruently with respect to the stable form I of theophylline but congruently with respect to the metastable theophylline II. However, the cocrystal is stable in a stoichiometric solution for more than 2 weeks. Given sufficient time, the system should transform into a solid phase being a mixture of cocrystal and stable theophylline I, in equilibrium with a solution that has the composition of the corresponding invariant point. In acetonitrile, where the glutaric acid solubility is much higher than that of theophylline II, the cocrystal dissolves, clearly incongruently. The region where the cocrystal is the only solid stable phase is clearly shifted toward the glutaric acid side and is fairly narrow. In both solvents the cocrystal can readily be produced by isothermal slurry conversion crystallization to a reasonable level of productivity, as long as the process is operated in a region of the phase diagram where the cocrystal is the only stable (or reasonably metastable) solid phase.
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