10 research outputs found
Association of angiotensin converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism with essential hypertension in south Indian population
No full textAbstractGenetic, environmental and demographic factors contribute to the development of essential hypertension. Genetic polymorphism of Rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) has been extensively studied to determine the genetic susceptibility to hypertension. The insertion/deletion (I/D) angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphism has been established as a cardiovascular risk factor in some population, but its association with essential hypertension is controversial. This study sought to determine the association of I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene in south Indian essential hypertensive subjects. A total of 208 clinically diagnosed essential hypertensive patients without any associated diseases and 220 healthy control subjects were included in this study. Distribution and allelic frequency of Insertion (I) and Deletion (D) polymorphism at the 287 base pair Alu repeat sequence in the intron 16 of ACE gene were analyzed. The distribution of II, ID, DD genotypes of ACE gene was 28.3%, 32.6% and 38.9% respectively in essential hypertensive patients and to 53.6%, 26.3% and 20% in controls. The allele frequency for D allele is 0.58 in essential hypertension as compared to 0.34 of control subjects. The genotype and allele frequency of ACE gene polymorphism is significantly differed in patients when compared to controls. In conclusion, the I/D polymorphism of ACE gene is associated with Indian essential hypertension
Trans-eQTLs Reveal That Independent Genetic Variants Associated with a Complex Phenotype Converge on Intermediate Genes, with a Major Role for the HLA
Get PDFThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Current Status and Global Research Trend Patterns of Insect Meal in Aquaculture From Scientometric Perspective: (2013–2022)
Get PDFIn the past decade, insect meal has gained popularity in the animal feed industry, particularly in aquafeed, due to rising costs and decreased availability of fish meal (FM) and fish oil. Initially met with skepticism, insect meal is now seen as a promising ingredient because of its high nutrient profile. Research worldwide is exploring its potential as a FM replacement. Insects are abundant, nutritious, and environmentally friendly, as they can be reared on organic waste, minimizing the need for land, water, and energy. This research aims at obtaining a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the current status and research trend patterns in this research field. To achieve this goal, this study conducts a mini systematic review and scientometric analysis of the global research published from 2013 to 2022 on the usage of insect meal in aquaculture. In the scientometric analysis, a total of 354 papers published by 1800 authors in 124 different journals from the Web of Science (WoS) core collection were analyzed, evaluating the number of publications, most relevant authors, organizations, top cited countries, most globally cited publications, and trending research themes in this field. The result showed that the University of Turin was the leading organization in insect meal research, whereas aquaculture was the leading journal, and author Laura Gasco was the prominent researcher in this field in the studied time frame (2013–2022). Italy was the leading country in Europe, while China dominated Asia in terms of the number of publications. The annual growth rate in insect meal research was found to be positive (23.11%), with 36.95 average citations per document. This study helps practitioners and scholars understand the current state of insect meal in aquaculture and identifies research requirements that can benefit both academia and industry
Interactions of dietary whole-grain intake with fasting glucose-and insulin-related genetic loci in individuals of European descent: a meta-analysis of 14 cohort studies
Get PDFObjective: Whole grain foods are touted for multiple health benefits, including enhancing insulin sensitivity and reducing type 2 diabetes risk. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with fasting glucose and insulin concentrations in individuals free of diabetes. We tested the hypothesis that whole grain food intake and genetic variation interact to influence concentrations of fasting glucose and insulin. Research Design & Methods: Via meta-analysis of data from 14 cohorts comprising approximately 48,000 participants of European descent, we studied interactions of whole grain intake with loci previously associated in GWAS with fasting glucose (16 loci) and/or insulin (2 loci) concentrations. For tests of interaction, we considered a p-value <0.0028 (0.05/18 tests) as statistically significant. Results: Greater whole grain food intake was associated with lower fasting glucose and insulin concentrations independent of demographics, other dietary and lifestyle factors, and BMI (? [95% CI] per 1-serving greater whole grain intake: ?0.009 mmol/L glucose [?0.013, ?0.005], p <0.0001 and ?0.011 pmol/L (ln) insulin [?0.015, ?0.007], p =0.0003). No interactions met our multiple testing-adjusted statistical significance threshold. The strongest SNP interaction with whole grain intake was rs780094 (GCKR) for fasting insulin (p = 0.006), where greater whole grain intake was associated with a smaller reduction in fasting insulin concentrations in those with the insulin-raising allele. Conclusions: Our results support the favorable association of whole grain intake with fasting glucose and insulin and suggest potential interaction between variation in GCKR and whole grain intake in influencing fasting insulin concentrations. <br/
Labor Market Effects of Trade and FDI: Recent Advances and Research Gaps
Get PDFThis paper pursues three aims. First, we provide a review of current theoretical advances which pertain to the relationship between trade, FDI and labor markets. We do so under the following (not mutually exclusive) headings: (1) slicing-up the value added chain and the turn to a task-based approach, (2) firm heterogeneity and labor markets, (3) complex offshoring (integration) and sourcing strategies and (4) location of firms and labor markets. Second, we overview existing empirical work covering the labor market effects of trade and FDI. Finally, we identify and summarize the existing research gaps and thereby we highlight promising avenues for future research.offshoring, outsourcing, FDI, trade, labor markets, agglomeration
MicroRNA-29 is an essential regulator of brain maturation through regulation of CH methylation
Get PDFAcknowledgments We thank the members of the Deshmukh Lab for critical review of this manuscript. We also acknowledge Dr. Natallia Riddick, Viktoriya Nikolova, and Dr. Kara Agster at the UNC Mouse Behavioral Phenotyping Laboratory, for their technical assistance. We thank Mervi Eeva, Ying Li, and Bentley Midkiff at the UNC Translational Pathology Laboratory for expert technical assistance. We also appreciate the technical assistance provided by Janice Weaver and Carolyn Suitt at the UNC Animal Histopathology and the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease (CGIBD), respectively. The graphical abstract was created partly with BioRender.com. This work was supported by NIH, United States (GM118331 and AG055304 to M.D.). H.S. is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellow of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, United States (DRG-2194-14). J.M.S. and T.S.P. were supported by The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U54HD079124) and NINDS (P30NS045892) of United States. The UNC Mouse Behavioral Phenotyping Laboratory is supported by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), United States (U54-HD079124). The UNC Translational Pathology Laboratory is supported in part by grants from the NCI (5P30CA016086-42), NIH (U54-CA156733), NIEHS (5 P30 ES010126-17), UCRF, and NCBT (2015-IDG-1007) of United States. Author contributions V.S., A.N., and E.H. conducted most of the experiments with help as described here. H.S. and M.E.G. performed the whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and its analyses. J.M.S. and T.S.P. analyzed all RNA-seq data. C.L.K., M.K., P.S., and S.M.H. performed small RNA-seq and miRHub analysis. C.P., J.G., and E.A. helped with imaging and analysis of immunohistochemical stains. C.F. and M.B. helped manage the mouse colony. J.L. and Y.-W.H. generated the miR-29-floxed mice. S.M. conducted and analyzed many of the neurobehavioral assessments. V.S., M.E.G., and M.D. outlined the project. M.D. supervised the project. V.S., A.N., E.H., and M.D. produced the final version of the manuscript.Peer reviewe
Efficacy and safety of baricitinib in hospitalized adults with severe or critical COVID-19 (Bari-SolidAct): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial
No full textBackground: Baricitinib has shown efficacy in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but no placebo-controlled trials have focused specifically on severe/critical COVID, including vaccinated participants. Methods: Bari-SolidAct is a phase-3, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, enrolling participants from June 3, 2021 to March 7, 2022, stopped prematurely for external evidence. Patients with severe/critical COVID-19 were randomised to Baricitinib 4 mg once daily or placebo, added to standard of care. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality within 60 days. Participants were remotely followed to day 90 for safety and patient related outcome measures. Results: Two hundred ninety-nine patients were screened, 284 randomised, and 275 received study drug or placebo and were included in the modified intent-to-treat analyses (139 receiving baricitinib and 136 placebo). Median age was 60 (IQR 49–69) years, 77% were male and 35% had received at least one dose of SARS-CoV2 vaccine. There were 21 deaths at day 60 in each group, 15.1% in the baricitinib group and 15.4% in the placebo group (adjusted absolute difference and 95% CI − 0.1% [− 8·3 to 8·0]). In sensitivity analysis censoring observations after drug discontinuation or rescue therapy (tocilizumab/increased steroid dose), proportions of death were 5.8% versus 8.8% (− 3.2% [− 9.0 to 2.7]), respectively. There were 148 serious adverse events in 46 participants (33.1%) receiving baricitinib and 155 in 51 participants (37.5%) receiving placebo. In subgroup analyses, there was a potential interaction between vaccination status and treatment allocation on 60-day mortality. In a subsequent post hoc analysis there was a significant interaction between vaccination status and treatment allocation on the occurrence of serious adverse events, with more respiratory complications and severe infections in vaccinated participants treated with baricitinib. Vaccinated participants were on average 11 years older, with more comorbidities. Conclusion: This clinical trial was prematurely stopped for external evidence and therefore underpowered to conclude on a potential survival benefit of baricitinib in severe/critical COVID-19. We observed a possible safety signal in vaccinated participants, who were older with more comorbidities. Although based on a post-hoc analysis, these findings warrant further investigation in other trials and real-world studies. Trial registration Bari-SolidAct is registered at NCT04891133 (registered May 18, 2021) and EUClinicalTrials.eu (2022-500385-99-00). © 2023, The Author(s)
Gene expression studies of lytic infection and chromosomal integration of human herpesvirus 6.
No full textHuman herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) was discovered in 1986 in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases and it has a predominant tropism for CD4+ T cells in vitro and in vivo. The virus can be divided into two variants: HHV-6A and 6B, based on the differences in biological properties and DNA sequences. HHV-6B has been shown to be the causative agent of exanthem subitum while HHV-6A has no clear association with any disease yet. The genome for both variants has been defined and each encodes just over 100 open readings frames (ORFs). However, there is limited knowledge regarding the functions and transcription kinetics of most ORFs. This thesis discusses the development of DNA microarrays for HHV-6 and the application of the arrays to characterise HHV-6B gene expression in the SupT1 cell line. The expression pattern of individual viral genes over a 60h time course (<1 replication cycle) was profiled. Viral genes were further classified into three kinetic groups: immediately-early (IE), early (E), and late (L), according to their transcriptional activity in the absence of de novo protein synthesis or DNA replication. In addition, HHV-6 presents an atypical stage in the herpesvirus life cycle in which the viral genome is integrated into host chromosomes. The prevalence of HHV-6 integration was estimated to be between 0.21% to 3%. An individual harbouring integrated HHV-6 was previously identified. The molecular biology and gene expression of this integrated HHV-6 DNA were characterised. Expression of viral genes belonging to all three kinetic classes (IE, E, and L) was detected in vitro and ex vivo. The data strongly suggest that the chromosomal HHV-6 sequence is transcriptionally active and the implications of this are discussed
Genetic risk variants in intestinal inflammatory disorders
No full textPhDThis thesis includes work on the genetics of intestinal inflammatory disorders, concentrating
on coeliac disease and Crohn’s disease. It explores how common genetic variants influence
risk of complex phenotypes including immunological intolerance to gluten (coeliac disease)
and intolerance to therapeutic agents (azathioprine and mercaptopurine) used in the
treatment of intestinal inflammatory diseases. Finally it presents work aiming to move from
genetic associations with complex phenotypes to understanding of how these variants
modulate immunological processes.
Results of a large genome wide association study that identified more than 13 new genetic risk
regions influencing susceptibility to coeliac disease are presented. Results of a genome wide
association study of azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine-induced pancreatitis in inflammatory
bowel disease-affected individuals are presented. Finally, a cell cytokine release assay for the
prostaglandin EP4 receptor was developed, with a view to investigating how SNPs associated
with Crohn’s disease in the 5p13.1 region influence EP4 receptor signalling and contribute to
disease pathogenesis. This work highlights some of the challenges in moving from SNP-disease
associations identified in GWASs to understanding how genetic variants change biological
processes
Estudio de la interacción entre los oligómeros de la fracción pesada del bioaceite de pirólisis rápida y un catalizador en el proceso de hidrotratamiento
No full textilustraciones, diagramasBiomass fast pyrolysis bio-oil is a promising alternative to be used as a source of fuels and chemicals. It hosts a wide variety of compounds and comes from renewable sources. Pyrolysis oil is formed by water, light organics (GC/MS detectable compounds), Oligomeric fractions derived from lignin and holocellulose. This dissertation focusses on the identification of oligomeric molecules in the pyrolytic lignin fraction and its catalytic hydrodeoxygenation. This fraction can potentially be used to produce fuels and chemicals via hydrodeoxygenation. The chemical structure of pyrolytic lignin oligomeric molecules is poorly known. In this study, quantum mechanical simulation was used to propose the structures based on calculations of the electronic structure. The DFT calculations were used to identify the thermodynamically most probable chemical structures of pyrolytic lignin molecules resulting from lignin pyrolysis followed by demethylation. The structure of new molecules of dimer, trimer and tetramer oligomers from pyrolytic lignin were proposed. The pyrolytic lignin fraction was further fractionated by solid-liquid extraction and the resulting subfraction thoroughly characterized using FTIR, UV-fluorescence and HSQC-NMR. Ethyl acetate subfractions was characterized by phenolic compounds with methoxyl substituents while acetone and isopropanol subfractions showed more aliphatic characteristics. Pyrolytic lignin fraction from BTG was hydrotreated with a sulfided NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst. Hydrotreating experiments were carried out with mixtures of pyrolytic lignin and yellow grease to obtain liquid fuels. All blends induced coke formation values between 0.7 and 2.5 wt. %, indicating that pyrolytic lignin has potential to reduce coke formation during the process. The results obtained in this thesis will allow the definition of strategies for the design of biorefineries including pyrolytic lignin to obtain products.El bioaceite de pirólisis rápida de biomasa es una alternativa prometedora para ser utilizada como fuente de combustibles y productos químicos. Alberga una amplia variedad de compuestos y proviene de fuentes renovables. El aceite de pirólisis está formado por agua, compuestos orgánicos ligeros (compuestos detectables por GC/MS), fracciones oligoméricas derivadas de la lignina y holocelulosa. Esta tesis se centra en la identificación de moléculas oligoméricas en la fracción pirolítica de lignina y su hidrodesoxigenación catalítica. Esta fracción se puede utilizar potencialmente para la producción de combustibles y productos químicos a través de la hidrodesoxigenación. La estructura química de las moléculas oligoméricas de lignina pirolítica es poco conocida. En este estudio, se utilizó simulación mecánica cuántica para proponer las estructuras basadas en cálculos de la estructura electrónica. Los cálculos DFT se utilizaron para identificar las estructuras químicas termodinámicamente más probables de las moléculas de lignina pirolítica resultantes de la pirólisis de lignina seguida de desmetilación. Se propuso la estructura de nuevas moléculas de oligómeros dímeros, trímeros y tetrámeros a partir de lignina pirolítica. La fracción de lignina pirolítica se fraccionó adicionalmente mediante extracción sólido-líquido y la subfracción resultante se caracterizó minuciosamente usando FTIR, UV-fluorescencia, HSQC-NMR. Las subfracciones de acetato de etilo se caracterizaron por compuestos fenólicos con sustituyentes metoxilo, mientras que la subfracción de acetona e isopropanol mostró características más alifáticas. Se realizó el hidrotratmiento de la fracción de lignina pirolítica de BTG con un catalizador de NiMo/Al2O3 sulfurado. Se realizaron experimentos de hidrotratamiento con mezclas de lignina pirolítica y grasa amarilla para obtener combustibles líquidos. Todas las mezclas obtuvieron valores de formación de coque entre 0,7 y 2,5 en peso. %, lo que indica que la lignina pirolítica tiene potencial para reducir la formación de coque durante el proceso. Los resultados obtenidos en esta tesis permitirán definir estrategias para el diseño de biorrefinerías que incluyan lignina pirolítica para la obtención de productos. (Texto tomado de la fuente)World BankDoctoradoDoctor en IngenieríaValorization of the pyrolytic ligninValorización de la lignina pirolíticaÁrea curricular de Ingeniería Química e Ingeniería de Petróleo
