Cysteamine-Anchored MOF through Post-Synthetic Modification Strategy for the Effective Removal of Mercury from Water.

The introduction of cysteamine functionality, referred to as Q-ZIF-67-SH, was successfully achieved through postsynthetic modification while maintaining the structural and thermal stability of the quasi metal-organic framework Q-ZIF-67. By subjecting ZIF-67 to controlled partial deligandation at 310 °C under an air atmosphere, a substantial number of unsaturated cobalt sites were generated within the quasi ZIF-67 (Q-ZIF-67) structure. These unsaturated cobalt sites facilitated effective coordination with cysteamine, resulting in the development of the thiol-functionalized framework Q-ZIF-67-SH. The potential of these metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for the adsorptive removal of hazardous Hg(II) was investigated. Various factors, such as the type of sorbent, pH, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of Hg(II), and presence of coexisting ions, were thoroughly examined and comprehensively explained. Thiol-anchored MOF significantly enhanced the efficiency of Hg(II) removal, achieving an impressive removal rate of up to 99.2%. Furthermore, it demonstrated a maximum adsorption capacity of 994 mg g-1 and a distribution coefficient of 2.5 × 106 mL g-1. A good correspondence with pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Langmuir model was observed through the fitting of adsorption kinetics and the isotherm model. The thermodynamic data strongly indicate that the adsorptive removal of Hg(II) is characterized by endothermicity and spontaneity. This signifies that the process is energetically favorable and has potential for efficient Hg(II) removal. Therefore, the Q-ZIF-67-SH sorbent emerges as a promising and advantageous option for the removal of Hg(II) from water.

Characterization of the plasma metabolome and lipidome in response to sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass surgeries reveals molecular patterns of surgical weight loss.

OBJECTIVES: Bariatric surgery improves metabolic health, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We analyzed the effects of two types of bariatric surgery, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), on the plasma metabolome and lipidome. METHODS: We characterized the plasma metabolome (1268 metabolites) and lipidome (953 lipids) pre-operatively and at 3 and 12 months post-operatively in 104 obese adults who were previously recruited to a prospective cohort of bariatric surgery. The metabolomic and lipidomic responses to bariatric surgery over time were analyzed using multivariable linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: There were significant changes in multiple metabolites and lipids, including rapid early changes in amino acid and peptide metabolites, including decreases in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), aromatic AAs, alanine and aspartate, and increases in glycine, serine, arginine and citrulline. There were also significant decreases in many triglyceride species, with increases in phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines. There were significant changes in metabolites related to energy metabolism that were apparent only after 12 months. We observed differences by bariatric surgery type in the changes in a small number of primary and secondary bile acids, including glycohyocholate and glyco-beta-muricholate. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the comprehensive changes in metabolites and lipids that occur over the 12 months following bariatric surgery. While both SG and RYGB caused profound changes in the metabolome and lipidome, RYGB was characterized by greater increases in bile acids following surgery.

Genotype-based "virtual" metabolomics in a clinical biobank identifies novel metabolite-disease associations.

Introduction: Circulating metabolites act as biomarkers of dysregulated metabolism and may inform disease pathophysiology. A portion of the inter-individual variability in circulating metabolites is influenced by common genetic variation. We evaluated whether a genetics-based "virtual" metabolomics approach can identify novel metabolite-disease associations. Methods: We examined the association between polygenic scores for 724 metabolites with 1,247 clinical phenotypes in the BioVU DNA biobank, comprising 57,735 European ancestry and 15,754 African ancestry participants. We applied Mendelian randomization (MR) to probe significant relationships and validated significant MR associations using independent GWAS of candidate phenotypes. Results and Discussion: We found significant associations between 336 metabolites and 168 phenotypes in European ancestry and 107 metabolites and 56 phenotypes in African ancestry. Of these metabolite-disease pairs, MR analyses confirmed associations between 73 metabolites and 53 phenotypes in European ancestry. Of 22 metabolitephenotype pairs evaluated for replication in independent GWAS, 16 were significant (false discovery rate p < 0.05). These included associations between bilirubin and X-21796 with cholelithiasis, phosphatidylcholine (16:0/22:5n3,18:1/20:4) and arachidonate with inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease, and campesterol with coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. These associations may represent biomarkers or potentially targetable mediators of disease risk.

Branched-chain amino acids and type 2 diabetes: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Genetic studies have suggested that the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) valine, leucine, and isoleucine have a causal association with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, inferences are based on a limited number of genetic loci associated with BCAAs. METHODS: Instrumental variables (IVs) for each BCAA were constructed and validated using large well-powered data sets and their association with T2D was tested using a two-sample inverse-variance weighted Mendelian randomization approach. Sensitivity analyses were performed to ensure the accuracy of the findings. A reverse association was assessed using instrumental variables for T2D. RESULTS: Estimated effect sizes between BCAA IVs and T2D, excluding outliers, were as follows: valine (ß = 0.14 change in log-odds per SD change in valine, 95% CI: -0.06 to 0.33, p = 0.17), leucine (ß = 0.15, 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.32, p = 0.09), and isoleucine (ß = 0.13, 95% CI: -0.08 to 0.34, p = 0.24). In contrast, T2D IVs were positively associated with each BCAA, i.e., valine (ß = 0.08 per SD change in levels per log-odds change in T2D, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.10, p = 1.8 × 10-9 ), leucine (ß = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.09, p = 4.5 × 10-8 ), and isoleucine (ß = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.08, p = 2.8 × 10-8 ). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the BCAAs are not mediators of T2D risk but are biomarkers of diabetes.

Identification of Clinical Drivers of Left Atrial Enlargement Through Genomics of Left Atrial Size.

BACKGROUND: Greater left atrial size is associated with a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality, but the full spectrum of diagnoses associated with left atrial enlargement in sex-stratified clinical populations is not well known. Our study sought to identify genetic risk mechanisms affecting left atrial diameter (LAD) in a clinical cohort. METHODS: Using Vanderbilt deidentified electronic health record, we studied 6163 females and 5993 males of European ancestry who had at least 1 LAD measure and available genotyping. A sex-stratified polygenic score was constructed for LAD variation and tested for association against 1680 International Classification of Diseases code-based phenotypes. Two-sample univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization approaches were used to assess etiologic relationships between candidate associations and LAD. RESULTS: A phenome-wide association study identified 25 International Classification of Diseases code-based diagnoses in females and 11 in males associated with a polygenic score of LAD (false discovery rate q<0.01), 5 of which were further evaluated by Mendelian randomization (waist circumference [WC], atrial fibrillation, heart failure, systolic blood pressure, and coronary artery disease). Sex-stratified differences in the genetic associations between risk factors and a polygenic score for LAD were observed (WC for females; heart failure, systolic blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and WC for males). By multivariable Mendelian randomization, higher WC remained significantly associated with larger LAD in females, whereas coronary artery disease, WC, and atrial fibrillation remained significantly associated with larger LAD in males. CONCLUSIONS: In a clinical population, we identified, by genomic approaches, potential etiologic risk factors for larger LAD. Further studies are needed to confirm the extent to which these risk factors may be modified to prevent or reverse adverse left atrial remodeling and the extent to which sex modifies these risk factors.

The effect of weight reduction on antioxidant enzymes and their association with dietary intake of vitamins A, C and E / Efeito da redução de peso sobre as enzimas antioxidantes e associação destas com a ingestão de vitaminas A, C e E

Objective Our goal was to assess the effects of weight loss on antioxidant enzymes of red blood cells and it’s relation with vitamins A, E and C intake in 30 obese women. Subjects and methods General information, anthropometric measurements, 3-day food recall, and fasting blood samples were collected from 30 obese women at the beginning of the study and after 3 months intervention. Weight loss was set at about 10% of their weight before the intervention. Results Glutathione reductase and catalase activities showed a significant increase (P < 0.01) after weight reduction, but no significant changes were seen in the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. There was a positive linear correlation between daily vitamin C intake with superoxide dismutase enzyme after intervention (P = 0.004, r = 0.507). There was a negative linear correlation between vitamin E intake and glutathione peroxidase activity before intervention (P = 0.005, r = -0.5). A negative correlation was found between daily vitamin A intake and glutathione reductase enzyme before and after intervention (r = -0.385, r = -0.397, P < 0.05) respectively. No significant correlation was observed between vitamins A, C, E amounts and catalase activity. Conclusions Ten percent weight reduction can have a significant role in increasing antioxidant enzymes activities, especially glutathione reductase, and catalase enzymes in obese women. However, it is important to take into consideration a balanced amount of certain nutrients while administering a diet with limited energy. .

Objetivo Nosso objetivo foi avaliar os efeitos da perda de peso sobre as enzimas antioxidantes de eritrócitos, e a relação destas com a ingestão das vitaminas A, E e C. Sujeitos e métodos Foram coletadas informações gerais e medidas antropométricas, registro alimentar de três dias e amostras de sangue em jejum de 30 mulheres obesas no início do estudo e depois de três meses da intervenção. A perda de peso determinada antes da intervenção foi de 10% do peso. Resultados As atividades da glutationa redutase e da catalase mostraram aumento significativo (P < 0,01) depois da perda de peso, mas não houve mudanças significativas nas atividades da superóxido dismutase e da glutationa peroxidase. Foi observada uma correlação linear positiva entre a ingestão diária de vitamina C e a enzima superóxido dismutase após a intervenção (P = 0,004, r = 0,507). Houve uma correlação linear negativa entre a ingestão de vitamina E e a atividade da glutationa peroxidase antes da intervenção (P = 0,005, r = -0,5). Foi observada uma correlação negativa entre a ingestão diária de vitamina A e a enzima glutationa redutase antes e depois da intervenção (r = -0,385, r = -0,397, P < 0,05), respectivamente. Não foram observadas correlações significativas entre as vitaminas A, C, E e os níveis e a atividade da catalase. Conclusões Uma redução de 10% no peso pode ter um papel significativo no aumento da atividade das enzimas antioxidantes, especialmente na glutationa redutase e catalase em mulheres obesas. Entretanto, é importante levar em consideração uma ingestão equilibrada de certos nutrientes ao se recomendar uma dieta com níveis de energia restritos. .