The expensive production of bioethanol is because it has not yet reached the 'THREE-HIGH' (High-titer, high-conversion and high-productivity) technical levels of starchy ethanol production. To cope with it, it is necessary to implement a high-gravity mash bioethanol production (HMBP), in which sugar hydrolysates are thick and fermentation-inhibitive compounds are negligible. In this work, HMBP from an atmospheric glycerol autocatalytic organosolv pretreated wheat straw was carried out with different fermentation strategies. Under an optimized condition (15% substrate concentration, 10 g/L (NH4)2SO4, 30 FPU/g dry matter, 10% (V/V) inoculum ratio), HMBP was at 31.2 g/L with a shaking simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) at 37 degrees C for 72 h, and achieved with a conversion of 73% and a productivity of 0.43 g/(L x h). Further by a semi-SFF with pre-hydrolysis time of 24 h, HMBP reached 33.7 g/L, the conversion and productivity of which was 79% and 0.47 g/(L x h), respectively. During the SSF and semi-SSF, more than 90% of the cellulose in both substrates were hydrolyzed into fermentable sugars. Finally, a fed-batch semi-SFF was developed with an initial substrate concentration of 15%, in which dried substrate (= the weight of the initial substrate) was divided into three portions and added into the conical flask once each 8 h during the first 24 h. HMBP achieved at 51.2 g/L for 72 h with a high productivity of 0.71 g/(L x h) while a low cellulose conversion of 62%. Interestingly, the fermentation inhibitive compound was mainly acetic acid, less than 3.0 g/L, and there were no other inhibitors detected, commonly furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural existing in the slurry. The data indicate that the lignocellulosic substrate subjected to the atmospheric glycerol autocatalytic organosolv pretreatment is very applicable for HMBP. The fed-batch semi-SFF is effective and desirable to realize an HMBP.
Biofuels ; Carbohydrates ; chemistry ; Cellulose ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Furaldehyde ; chemistry ; Glycerol ; chemistry ; Hydrolysis ; Triticum

Objective To investigate the association between multi-drug resistant 1 (MDR1) gene C3435T and T129C polymorphism with refractory epilepsy in children. Methods A total of 260 children including 60 refractory epilepsy, 100 drug-responsive epilepsy, and 100 healthy children were enrolled. The genotypes for MDR1 polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.The distribution of genotypes and allele frequencies of the three groups were compared. Results The distribution of TT/TC/CC genotypes and T/C allele frequencies of C3435T showed no signiifcant difference between drug-resistant patients and drug-responsive patients or normal control group (P>0.05). Drug-resistant patients were more likely to have the TC genotype and the C allele at T129C when compared with the drug-responsive patients and the normal control group (P<0.05). Conclusions T129C polymorphism of the MDR1 gene was associated with refractory epilepsy in children.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of a Chinese pedigree affected with hereditary dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI) type II. METHODS: Clinical data of the pedigree members were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and subjected to whole exome sequencing. RESULTS: Clinical characteristics of the affected family members have included amber teeth along with significant attrition, constricted roots and dentine hypertrophy leading to pulpal obliteration, which were suggestive of DGI type II. All of the affected members were found to have harbored a novel heterozygous c.2837delA (p.Asp946Valfs*368) variant of the DSPP gene which was predicted to be likely pathogenic. CONCLUSION The c.2837delA variant of the DSPP gene probably underlay the disease in this pedigree. Above finding has expanded the variant spectrum of DSPP gene and provided a basis for molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling for this pedigree.
Dentinogenesis Imperfecta/genetics* ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phosphoproteins/genetics* ; Sialoglycoproteins/genetics*

Objective: To investigate chromosome abnormality rate and related factors of spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy. Methods: A total of 831 tissue samples of spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy were collected from June 2015 to August 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Chromosomal copy number was analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS). The relationships between chromosome abnormality and maternal age, in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) pregnancy, number of previous spontaneous abortions, history of live birth were analyzed by statistical methods. Results: Among 831 tissue samples of spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy, 461 (55.5%, 461/831) were found to have chromosome abnormalities. Maternal age (OR=1.107, 95%CI: 1.070- 1.145) and history of live birth (OR=1.909, 95%CI: 1.182-3.083) were the positive correlative factors of chromosome abnormality. Times of previous spontaneous abortion (OR=0.807, 95%CI: 0.702-0.928) and IVF-ET pregnancy (OR=0.554, 95%CI: 0.404-0.760) were the negative correlative factors of chromosome abnormality. Conclusions Chromosome abnormality is an important cause of spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy. The rate of chromosome abnormality increases with the increase of maternal age and the history of live birth, and decreases with the increase of number of previous spontaneous abortion and IVF-ET pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of recurrent hydatidiform mole (RHM) and provide accurate guidance for reproduction. METHODS: Peripheral venous blood samples of the probands with RHM and members from 5 unrelated pedigrees were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted by using routine method, and whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect variants of RHM-associated genes including NLRP7 and KHDC3L. Sanger sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were used to validate the candidate variants and delineate their parental origin. RESULTS: Homozygous or compound heterozygous variants of the NLRP7 gene were identified in four patients from three pedigrees, which included a homozygous deletion of exon 1 to 4 of NLRP7 in patient P1 and her elder sister, compound heterozygous variants of NLRP7 c.939delG (p.Q314Sfs*6) pat and c.1533delG (p.N512Tfs*4) mat in patient P2, and compound heterozygous variants of NLRP7 c.2389_2390delTC (p.A798Qfs*6) pat and c.2165A>G (p.D722G) mat in patient P4. All variants were interpreted as pathogenic or likely pathogenic according to the American College of Medical and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Among these, NLRP7 exons 1 to 4 deletion, c.939delG (p.Q314Sfs*6), c.1533delG (p.N512Tfs*4) and c.2389_2390delTC (p.A798Qfs*6) were unreported previously. CONCLUSION Variants of the NLRP7 gene probably underlay autosomal recessive RHM in the three pedigrees, and definitive molecular diagnosis is beneficial for accurate genetic counseling. Above finding has also enriched the spectrum of the NLRP7 variants underlying RHM.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics* ; Aged ; China ; Female ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Hydatidiform Mole/pathology* ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Sequence Deletion

Objective To investigate chromosome abnormality rate and related factors of spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy. Methods A total of 831 tissue samples of spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy were collected from June 2015 to August 2018 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Chromosomal copy number was analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS). The relationships between chromosome abnormality and maternal age, in vitro fertilization?embryo transfer (IVF?ET) pregnancy, number of previous spontaneous abortions, history of live birth were analyzed by statistical methods. Results Among 831 tissue samples of spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy, 461 (55.5%, 461/831) were found to have chromosome abnormalities. Maternal age (OR=1.107, 95%CI: 1.070-1.145) and history of live birth ( OR=1.909, 95%CI : 1.182-3.083) were the positive correlative factors of chromosome abnormality. Times of previous spontaneous abortion (OR=0.807, 95%CI: 0.702-0.928) and IVF?ET pregnancy ( OR=0.554, 95%CI : 0.404-0.760) were the negative correlative factors of chromosome abnormality. Conclusions Chromosome abnormality is an important cause of spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy. The rate of chromosome abnormality increases with the increase of maternal age and the history of live birth, and decreases with the increase of number of previous spontaneous abortion and IVF?ET pregnancy.

Objective:To construct a machine-learning model for predicting the progression of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) based on clinical and CT features, and to evaluate its predictive performance in internal/external testing cohorts.Methods:Baseline clinical and radiological data of 200 PCLs in 177 patients undergoing abdominal thin slice enhanced CT examination at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2014 to December 2022 were retrospectively collected. PCLs were divided into progressive and non-progressive groups according to whether the signs indicated for surgery by the guidelines of the European study group on PCLs were present during three-year follow-up. 200 PCLs were randomly divided into training (150 PCLs) and internal testing cohorts (50 PCLs) at the ratio of 1∶3. 15 PCLs in 14 patients at Jinling Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University from October 2011 to May 2020 were enrolled as external testing cohort. The clinical and CT radiological features were recorded. Multiple feature selection methods and machine-learning models were implemented and combined to identify the optimal machine-learning model based on the 10-fold cross-validation method. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was drawn and area under curve (AUC) was calculated. The model with the highest AUC was determined as the optimal model. The optimal model's predictive performance was evaluated on testing cohort by calculating AUC, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. Permutation importance was used to assess the importance of optimal model features. Calibration curves of the optimal model were established to evaluate the model's clinical applicability by Hosmer-Lemeshow test.Results:In training and internal testing cohorts, the progressive and non-progressive groups were significantly different on history of pancreatitis, lesions size, main pancreatic duct diameter and dilation, thick cyst wall, presence of septation and thick septation (all P value <0.05) In internal testing cohort, the two groups were significantly different on gender, lesion calcification and pancreatic atrophy (all P value <0.05). In external testing cohort, the two groups were significantly different on lesions size and pancreatic duct dilation (both P<0.05). The support vector machine (SVM) model based on five features selected by F test (lesion size, thick cyst wall, history of pancreatitis, main pancreatic duct diameter and dilation) achieved the highest AUC of 0.899 during cross-validation. SVM model for predicting the progression of PCLs demonstrated an AUC of 0.909, sensitivity of 82.4%, specificity of 72.7%, and accuracy of 76.0% in the internal testing cohort, and 0.944, 100%, 77.8%, and 86.7% in the external testing cohort. Calibration curved showed that the predicted probability by the model was comparable to the real progression of PCLs. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test affirmed the model's consistency with actual PCLs progression in testing cohorts. Conclusions:The SVM model based on clinical and CT features can help doctors predict the PCLs progression within three-year follow-up, thus achieving efficient patient management and rational allocation of medical resource.

Objective To investigate whether activation of mitochondrial acetal dehydrogenase 2(ALDH2)alleviates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by regulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old C57 BL/6 mice were randomized into control,hypoxia,and hypoxia+Alda-1(an ALDH2 activator)group(n=10),and the mice in the latter two groups,along with 10 ALDH2 knockout(ALDH2-/-)mice,were exposed to hypoxia(10%O2,90%N2)with or without daily intraperitoneal injection of Alda-1 for 4 weeks.The changes in right ventricular function and pressure(RVSP)of the mice were evaluated by echocardiography and right ventricular catheter test,and pulmonary artery pressure was estimated based on RVSP.Pulmonary vascular remodeling,right ventricular injury,myocardial α-SMA expression,distal pulmonary arteriole muscle normalization,right ventricular cross-sectional area,myocardial cell hypertrophy,and right cardiac hypertrophy index were assessed with HE staining,immunofluorescence staining and WGA staining,and the expressions of ALDH2,SIRT1,PGC-1α,P16INK4A and P21CIP1 were detected.In pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells with hypoxic exposure,the effect of Alda-1 and EX527 on cell senescence and protein expressions was evaluated using β-galactose staining and Western blotting.Results The wild-type mice with hypoxic exposure showed significantly increased RVSP,right ventricular free wall thickness and myocardial expressions of P16INK4A and P21CIP1,which were effectively lowered by treatment with Alda-1 but further increased in ALDH2-/-mice.In cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells,hypoxic exposure significantly increased senescent cell percentage and cellular expressions of P16INK4A and P21CIP1,which were all lowered by treatment with Alda-1,but its effect was obviously attenuated by EX527 treatment.Conclusion ALDH2 alleviates hypoxia-induced senescence of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells by upregulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway to alleviate pulmonary hypertension in mice.

Objective To investigate whether activation of mitochondrial acetal dehydrogenase 2(ALDH2)alleviates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by regulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway.Methods Thirty 8-week-old C57 BL/6 mice were randomized into control,hypoxia,and hypoxia+Alda-1(an ALDH2 activator)group(n=10),and the mice in the latter two groups,along with 10 ALDH2 knockout(ALDH2-/-)mice,were exposed to hypoxia(10%O2,90%N2)with or without daily intraperitoneal injection of Alda-1 for 4 weeks.The changes in right ventricular function and pressure(RVSP)of the mice were evaluated by echocardiography and right ventricular catheter test,and pulmonary artery pressure was estimated based on RVSP.Pulmonary vascular remodeling,right ventricular injury,myocardial α-SMA expression,distal pulmonary arteriole muscle normalization,right ventricular cross-sectional area,myocardial cell hypertrophy,and right cardiac hypertrophy index were assessed with HE staining,immunofluorescence staining and WGA staining,and the expressions of ALDH2,SIRT1,PGC-1α,P16INK4A and P21CIP1 were detected.In pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells with hypoxic exposure,the effect of Alda-1 and EX527 on cell senescence and protein expressions was evaluated using β-galactose staining and Western blotting.Results The wild-type mice with hypoxic exposure showed significantly increased RVSP,right ventricular free wall thickness and myocardial expressions of P16INK4A and P21CIP1,which were effectively lowered by treatment with Alda-1 but further increased in ALDH2-/-mice.In cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells,hypoxic exposure significantly increased senescent cell percentage and cellular expressions of P16INK4A and P21CIP1,which were all lowered by treatment with Alda-1,but its effect was obviously attenuated by EX527 treatment.Conclusion ALDH2 alleviates hypoxia-induced senescence of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells by upregulating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway to alleviate pulmonary hypertension in mice.

Deficient activity of endo-1,4-beta-glucanase II (Cel5A) secreted by Trichoderma reesei is one of the challenges involved in effective cellulase saccharification of cellulosic substrates. Therefore, we expressed Cel5A in Pichia pastoris by constructing a recombinant strain. With the gene optimization based on codon bias, and the construction of expression vector pPIC9K-eg2, the optimized gene was electro-transformed into P. pastoris GS115 to form transformants. Then, a high Cel5A activity producing recombinant, namely P. pastoris GS115-EG Ⅱ, was selected on G-418 resistant plates, followed by shake-flask cultivation. Enzyme characterization showed that the recombinant Cel5A reacted optimally at pH 4.5 and 60 ℃, with 50 kDa of molecular weight, preferentially degrading amorphous cellulose. Recombinant Cel5A was not significantly different from the native T. reesei Cel5A. Moreover, a shake-flask fermentation of the recombinant strain was optimized as below: incubation temperature 28 ℃, initial pH 5.0, inoculum volume 2%, methanol addition (per 24 h) 1.5% (V/V), sorbitol addition (per 24 h) 4 g/L and Tween 80 4 g/L. Under above optimized condition, the recombinant produced 24.0 U/mL of the Cel5A after 192 h fermentation. When incubated in a 5 L fermentation, Cel5A enzyme activity reached 270.9 U/mL at 180 h, with 4.16 g/L of the total protein. The study indicates that the recombinant strain P. pastoris GS115-EG Ⅱ is extremely suitable for heterologous expression of T. reesei cellulase Cel5A. And the recombinant Cel5A can be used as an alternative to the native T. reesei Cel5A in development of a commercially relevant enzyme based biorefinery process.