Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a cost-effective technology capable of screening several genes simultaneously; however, its application in a clinical context requires an established workflow to acquire reliable sequencing results. Here, we report an optimized NGS workflow analyzing 22 lung cancer-related genes to sequence critical samples such as DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks and circulating free DNA (cfDNA). Snap frozen and matched FFPE gDNA from 12 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, whose gDNA fragmentation status was previously evaluated using a multiplex PCR-based quality control, were successfully sequenced with Ion Torrent PGM™. The robust bioinformatic pipeline allowed us to correctly call both Single Nucleotide Variants (SNVs) and indels with a detection limit of 5%, achieving 100% specificity and 96% sensitivity. This workflow was also validated in 13 FFPE NSCLC biopsies. Furthermore, a specific protocol for low input gDNA capable of producing good sequencing data with high coverage, high uniformity, and a low error rate was also optimized. In conclusion, we demonstrate the feasibility of obtaining gDNA from FFPE samples suitable for NGS by performing appropriate quality controls. The optimized workflow, capable of screening low input gDNA, highlights NGS as a potential tool in the detection, disease monitoring, and treatment of NSCLC. 相似文献
An innovative process based on ozone-enhanced biological degradation, carried out in an aerobic granular biomass system (SBBGR - Sequencing Batch Biofilter Granular Reactor), was tested at pilot scale for tannery wastewater treatment chosen as representative of industrial recalcitrant wastewater. The results have shown that the process was able to meet the current discharge limits when the biologically treated wastewater was recirculated through an adjacent reactor where a specific ozone dose of 120 mg O3/Linfluent was used. The benefits produced by using ozone were appreciable even visually since the final effluent of the process looked like tap water. In comparison with the conventional treatment, the proposed process was able to reduce the sludge production by 25-30 times and to save 60% of operating costs.Molecular in situ detection methods were employed in combination with the traditional measurements (oxygen uptake rate, total protein content, extracellular polymeric substances and hydrophobicity) to evaluate microbial activity and composition, and the structure of the biomass. A stable presence of active bacterial populations was observed in the biomass with the simultaneous occurrence of distinctive functional microbial groups involved in carbon, nitrogen and sulphate removal under different reaction environments established within the large microbial aggregates. The structure and activity of the biomass were not affected by the use of ozone. 相似文献
Assessment of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in human body is important for human health because they have weak estrogenic or antiestrogenic effects and are considered endocrine disrupters. We used colostrum of women as indicator for levels of OCPs in human body for mothers with normal and preterm labor from eastern part of Romania. Sixty- three samples of colostrum were extracted by solid-phase extraction. Analyses were carried out using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). OCPs have been detected in all samples, with p,p’-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p’-DDE) and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH) being at the highest concentrations. Of the organochlorines measured in clostrum samples from women in preterm labor, median levels of DDTs (470 ng/g) and HCHs (99 ng/g) were higher than for the same compounds from women in normal labor (median of DDTs = 268 ng/g and median of HCHs = 96 ng/g). Normal labor had higher median concentrations of HCB (19.5 ng/g) versus preterm labor (14 ng/g). Statistical data show high Spearman correlation coefficients between various OCPs. We found a good correlation between α-, γ-, β- and δ- HCH isomers (p < 0.001) for both normal and preterm labor. The most abundant target compound was p,p’-DDE (median value 96 ng/g, and 137 ng/g for mother with normal and preterm labor, respectively) in all colostrum samples. The estimated daily intakes of HCHs by infants exceeded corresponding Health Canada guidelines. 相似文献
Spherical silica nanoparticles containing fluorescent trimethine indocyanine dyes (λabs = 547 nm, λem = 570 nm) were prepared using a water-in-oil microemulsion method. The nanoparticles were of 50 nm diameter and were almost monodispersed in aqueous solution at pH 5.5. Entrapment of dye molecules in the silica matrix stabilised photoemission over several hours of continuous irradiation. The photoemission intensity of the indocyanine was increased 13-fold over that recorded in solution. As each nanoparticle contained 110 dye molecules, the photoemission brightness of each particle was enhanced by three orders of magnitude. The fluorescent nanoparticles have been tested as imaging tools in in vitro tests. As an example of non-macrophagic cells, a highly differentiated neuronal cell line (GT1-7) was used and the results showed that the prepared nanoparticles can be incorporated into these cells with no apparent toxicity for up to three days. 相似文献
Novel thiophene-based oligomer, 2,2′-bis(2,2′-bithiophene-5-yl)-3,3′-bithianaphthene (TX), was designed and synthesized, and its electrochemical and spectral properties characterised. TX was readily polymerised electrochemically to form well organized conducting homopolymer films on various solid electrode substrates. Moreover, it was successfully used for deposition by electropolymerisation of electrochemically active thin films of co-polymers with three different monomers of functionalised bis(2,2′-bithienyl)methane derivatives. It appeared that TX was an effective crosslinker and 3D promoter in these electropolymerisations involving co-monomers intrinsically showing limited aptitude for the electropolymerisation or forming polymer films of low conductivity. This attractive TX ability stems from combination of its (i) high conjugation efficiency in each of the two planar moieties, (ii) intrinsic 3D structure on account of the presence of the central node, and (iii) intrinsic regioselectivity in electropolymerisation on account of the positions of the two available free α-thiophene sites. 相似文献
The effectiveness of electrospinning as a simple approach to disperse POSS into a polymer matrix at a nm‐level has been assessed. Electrospun and cast films were prepared by dissolving CA and epoxycyclohexylisobutyl POSS in the solvent mixture acetone/DMAc. The membranes were characterized by SEM, TEM and WAXD. Whereas films produced by casting showed µm‐sized POSS crystals, thus suggesting a small affinity between the polymer matrix and the POSS molecules, those prepared by electrospinning were characterized by a nanometric POSS distribution. This is explained by considering the peculiar solvent evaporation mechanism, occurring during the electrospinning process, which allows to produce nanofibers characterized by a silsesquioxane dispersion similar to that present in solution.
The instability of the hydroxylactone E ring represents a critical drawback of camptothecins, because the lactone ring is recognized to be essential for stabilization of topoisomerase I‐mediated DNA cleavage. In an attempt to investigate the effect of the thiopyridone pharmacophofore on the molecular and pharmacological features of the drug, we prepared a series of novel 16 a‐thiocamptothecin analogues. Due to the sulfur atom, a destabilization of the hydrogen bond between the hydroxy group in position 17 of the opened E ring and the carbonyl of the pyridone moiety is predicted, thus shifting the equilibrium toward the closed lactone form and increasing the lipophilic properties of the compounds. This feature was associated with superior antiproliferative potency, with reduced interaction with the human serum albumin and with substantial increase of the persistence of the topoisomerase I–DNA cleavable complex. These effects were prominent for thio‐SN38, the most active compound of the series. The favorable interactions at the molecular and cellular level of the reported thiocamptothecins confer promising features, and these compounds warrant preclinical development. 相似文献
Nowadays, the efficient management of water has become the focus of vast debate, both in the academic literature and in the practical and regulatory field. Due to the growing importance and scarcity of water resources, it has become crucial to better understand how to improve the organizational efficiency of water utilities. By adopting an accounting perspective and using statistical methods, this paper analyzes whether and to what extent investment and financial strategies differ among clusters of water utilities with different ownership structures. The paper focuses on the Italian water industry, a context considered particularly appropriate due to the coexistence of utilities with different ownership structures. The main results of the paper show that ownership affects the level of investment as well as the financial structure and costs of water utilities. The evidence provided by this study should encourage national governments and regulatory authorities to select water utilities with the greatest investment potential measured in terms of financial efficiency and effectiveness. 相似文献