Core-shell graphene oxide-polymer hollow fibers as water filters with enhanced performance and selectivity.

Commercial hollow fiber filters for micro- and ultrafiltration are based on size exclusion and do not allow the removal of small molecules such as antibiotics. Here, we demonstrate that a graphene oxide (GO) layer can be firmly immobilized either inside or outside polyethersulfone-polyvinylpyrrolidone hollow fiber (Versatile PES®, hereafter PES) modules and that the resulting core-shell fibers inherits the microfiltration ability of the pristine PES fibers and the adsorption selectivity of GO. GO nanosheets were deposited on the fiber surface by filtration of a GO suspension through a PES cartridge (cut-off 0.

Immobilization of Perylene-3,4,9,10-Tetracarboxylic Dianhydride on Hollow Polysulfone Fibers: Primary Amine Coupling and Fluorescence Reporting.

The fluorescent dye perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PBA) was immobilized onto polysulfone hollow fibers by means of a wet coating procedure. After immobilization, PBA was able to react with primary amines through a double anhydride ring opening reaction. The in situ amine coupling was further revealed by fluorescence analysis.

Early palliative care and quality of life of advanced cancer patients-a multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Background: To compare quality of life (QoL) of patients receiving early palliative care (EPC) vs. standard oncologic care (SOC).

Methods: Pragmatic, multicenter, randomized trial at five University and Community Hospital Cancer Centers in Northern Italy.

Lysosomal lipase deficiency: molecular characterization of eleven patients with Wolman or cholesteryl ester storage disease.

Wolman Disease (WD) and cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) represent two distinct phenotypes of the same recessive disorder caused by the complete or partial deficiency of lysosomal acidic lipase (LAL), respectively. LAL, encoded by the LIPA gene, hydrolyzes cholesteryl esters derived from cell internalization of plasma lipoproteins. WD is a rapidly progressive and lethal disease characterized by intestinal malabsorption, hepatic and adrenal failure.

Multiple abnormally spliced ABCA1 mRNAs caused by a novel splice site mutation of ABCA1 gene in a patient with Tangier disease.

Background: Mutations in ABCA1 gene are the cause of Tangier disease (TD) and familial high density lipoprotein (HDL) deficiency. Splice site mutations of this gene were reported infrequently.

Methods: ABCA1 gene was sequenced in a TD patient and in subjects with low HDL.

Functional lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase is not required for efficient atheroprotection in humans.

Background: Mutations in the LCAT gene cause lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) deficiency, a very rare metabolic disorder with 2 hypoalphalipoproteinemia syndromes: classic familial LCAT deficiency (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man No. 245900), characterized by complete lack of enzyme activity, and fish-eye disease (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man No. 136120), with a partially defective enzyme.

A novel loss of function mutation of PCSK9 gene in white subjects with low-plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Objectives: The PCSK9 gene, encoding a pro-protein convertase involved in posttranslational degradation of low-density lipoprotein receptor, has emerged as a key regulator of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In African-Americans two nonsense mutations resulting in loss of function of PCSK9 are associated with a 30% to 40% reduction of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The aim of this study was to assess whether loss of function mutations of PCSK9 were a cause of familial hypobetalipoproteinemia and a determinant of low-plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in whites.

Effect of ezetimibe coadministered with statins in genotype-confirmed heterozygous FH patients.

We investigated the effect of statins and statins plus ezetimibe in 65 FH heterozygotes carrying LDLR-defective or LDLR-negative mutations as well as the effect of ezetimibe monotherapy in 50 hypercholesterolemic (HCH) patients intolerant to statins. PCSK9 and NPC1L1 genes were analysed to assess the role of genetic variants in response to therapy. In FH patients combined therapy reduced LDL-C by 57%, irrespective of the type of LDLR mutation.

Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography in the detection of ABCA1 gene mutations in familial HDL deficiency.

Mutations in the ABCA1 gene are the cause of familial high density lipoprotein deficiency (FHD). Because these mutations are spread over the entire gene, their detection requires the sequencing of all 50 exons. The aim of this study was to validate denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) in mutation detection as an alternative to systematic sequencing.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against prostate specific antigen produced by genetic immunization.

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the most important marker for prostate cancer. Antibodies against minor variants of PSA may be useful in the development of novel diagnostic tests for prostate cancer, but it has been difficult to produce such antibodies by protein immunization. In this study, we have compared the characteristics of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) obtained by genetic immunization with those obtained by protein immunization.