The process mechanism and current application status of boron removal in reverse osmosis(RO)desalination were introduced.The characteristic and proper application range of eachboron removal process was summarized.Also,the running conditions of two practical desalination cases were analyzed and compared.Eventually,the future of application and the research direction of boron removal process in RO desalination were prospected.

AIM:To explore the expression level of tristetraprolin(TTP)in rats after subarachnoid hemor-rhage(SAH)as well as the potential role of TTP in the early brain injury(EBI)after SAH in rats.METHODS:In the first experiment setting,total 56 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into sham group and SAH group.The SAH mod-el was performed by endovascular perforation.The brain tissues were taken out after SAH at 5 different time points(0,12, 24,48,72 h and 1 week).The expression of TTP in the brain tissues was detected by Western blot.In the second experi-ment,a total of 60 SD rats were divided into 4 groups: sham group, SAH group, SAH +vector group and SAH +TPP group.Neurological score,brain water content and blood-brain barrier were evaluated at 48 h after SAH.TUNEL staining was performed to detect cell apoptosis in the rat brain tissue.ELISA method was used for quantitative detection of interleu-kin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).The protein levels of TTP,Bax,Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 in the rat brain tissue were detected by Western blot.RESULTS:The protein expression of TTP in the brain was downregulated markedly from 12 h after SAH,reached the lowest level at 48 h,and then had an upward trend.After modeling for 48 h, Garcia neurological score was significantly reduced,and brain water content and Evans blue(EB)content of the brain tis-sue of the rats in SAH group were significantly higher than those in sham group(P<0.05).SAH induced significant in-creases in IL-6 and TNF-αlevels in the brain tissue(P<0.05).The number of TUNEL-stained cells was increased in the subcortical brain region after SAH compared with sham group.In addition,a lower level of Bcl-2 and higher levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in the rat brains were observed at 48 h after SAH.However,the neurological deficit score was signif-icantly increased,and the brain water content and EB content in the rat brains were significantly reduced in SAH +TTP group in comparison with SAH +vector group(P<0.05).Over-expression of TTP dramatically suppressed the levels of IL-6 and TNF-αin the rat brains,and reduced the number of TUNEL positive cells.Furthermore,upregulation of TTP signifi-cantly decreased the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and evidently enhanced the expression of Bcl-2(P<0.01). CONCLUSION:The expression of TTP is significantly decreased in early period after SAH, and enhancing the level of TTP effectively inhibits EBI following SAH in rats.

Objective To study the genotypes of 102 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)collected consecutively in 2002 in our hospital Method Multiplex PCR was used to genotype Staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec(SCCmec)element and its variants.Results Among 102 strains of MRSA,the genotypes were as follows:SCCmec-Ⅲ(94 strains),SCCmec-ⅢA(4 strains), SCCmec-Ⅳ(2 stains),SCCmec-Ⅰ(2 stains).Conclusion The predominant genotype of MRSA circulating in this hospital in 2002 was SCCmec-Ⅲ by multiplex PCR.

Objective To establish a quantitative RT-PCR method with self-quenched fluorogenic probe for detection of bcr/abl mRNA in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia for providing a useful tool for diagnosis of CML,evaluation of therapeutic effect and monitoring of minimal residual disease(MRD). Methods bcr/abl gene from cultured K562 cells was amplified by conventional RT-PCR.The standard quantitative plasmid was constructed by A-T clone method.The self-quenched fluorogenic quantitative RT- PCR method(FQ-RT-PCR)for determination of bcr/abl mRNA was established successfully using the ABI PRISM 7000 PCR Detector.The linear range,sensitivity,stability,and repetitiveness of the method were determined.The marrow samples from 25 CML patients and 3 ALL patients were assessed.Results The sensitivity of the FQ-RT-PCR was 10 copies/?l recombined plasmid,and bcr/abl mRNA can be detected from 1 K562 cell in 10~5 normal cells.The linear range was 10~2-10~9 copies/?l recombined plasmid.The coefficient variation(CV)value was 2.1% in intra-assay and 6.1% in inter-assay.The median ber/abl mRNA expression level was 4.50?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(0.45-89.00)?10~4],5.45?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(2.95-19.30)?10~4 ],13.00?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(4.10-89.00)?10~4] and 2.35?10~4 copies/?g RNA [(0.45-5.12)?10~4] in 25 CML patients,11 patients in the incipient chronic phase,6 patients in blastic crisis,8 patients in chronic period after treatment,respectively.The bcr/abl mRNA level in blastic crisis was significantly higher than that in chronic phase(q= 3.41,P

Objective To assay serum apelin level in obesity and newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and investigate the relationship between serum apelin level and body fat parameter,glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin resistance index,etc.Methods Sixty-two patients with type 2 DM and 72 subjects with normal glucose regulation (NGR) were selected and each group was divided into obese and non-obese subgroups according to body mass index (BMI)≥25 kg/m~2 or

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) pretreatment on beta amyloid protein (Abeta) induced impairment of in vivo hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of rats.

METHODSThirty-six adult male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 6): control, Abeta25-35, BDNF, (0.02 microg, 0.1 microg, 0.5 microg) BDNF + Abeta25-35. A self-made hippocampal local drug delivery catheter and a parallel bound stimulating/recording electrode were used to deliver drugs/stimulation and record field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats. High-frequency stimulation (HFS) was used to induce in vivo LTP.

RESULTS(1) Abeta25-35 (2 nmol) injection into CA1 region of rats did not affect the baseline fEPSPs, but inhibited the HFS-induced LTP significantly (P < 0.01). (2) Hippocampal CA1 injection of BDNF (0.1 microg) alone did not affect the baseline fEPSPs and HFS-induced LTP. (3) Compared with Abeta25-35 alone group, the averaged amplitude of LTP in BDNF (0.1 microg and 0.5 microg) plus Abeta25-35 groups significantly increased at 0 min, 30 min, and 60 min after HFS (P < 0.01), indicating that pretreatment with BDNF effectively protected against the Abeta,25-35 induced depression of LTP in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONIntrahippocampal injection of BDNF can protect against the Abeta25-35-induced LTP impairment, suggesting that the up-regulation of BDNF in the brain could maintain the normal hippocampal synaptic plasticity and may contribute to the improvement of learning and memory in Alzheimer's (AD) disease patients.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; pharmacology ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; physiology ; Long-Term Potentiation ; physiology ; Male ; Peptide Fragments ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Female ; Humans ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures ; surgery ; Ulna Fractures ; surgery ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; surgery

Objective A resistin binding peptide (RBP) was selected by phage display in our previous work. Studies had shown that RBP could antagonize the role of resistin on the lipid metabolism and endocrine function of adipose tissue, but whether RBP affects the insulin secretion of pancreatic cells is still unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of RBP on basal insulin secretion in RINm5F insulinoma cells. Methods The cell viability was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethyhhiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetra-zolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assay. The supernatants were assayed for insulin content by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Reverse transcriptase-PCR assay and Western blotting were used to determine the expression of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) involved in insulin secretion. Cytosolic Ca2+, the trigger of insulin exocytosis, was analyzed with the fluorescent probe FURA-3/AM. Results RBP did no effect on the cell viability with a concentration of 10-8-10-12mol/L of 2 hours intervention. But it stimulated basal insulin secretion of RINm5F cells, accompanied by up-regulated increased expression of GLUT2 and elevated concentration of cytosolic Ca2+. Conclusion RBP could stimulate basal insulin secretion without affecting the cell viability.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 (PPARγ2) Pro12Ala polymorphism and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Chinese Han population.

METHODSPubMed, Chinese Biomedicine Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang database were searched for all relevant articles investigating the association between PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism and T2DM that were available from January, 1990 to June, 2011. A total of 29 relevant articles were selected. A Meta-analysis was performed to estimate heterogeneity and the pooled odds ratio (OR) to evaluate the relationship between PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism and T2DM. The sensitivity analysis was also assessed.

RESULTSA total of 21 qualified articles including 3870 patients with T2DM and 3333 healthy controls were analyzed in the study. The frequencies of the allele Ala12 in T2DM and control groups were 4.13% (320/7740) and 4.56% (304/6666), respectively. There were not heterogeneity (χ(2) = 25.96, P = 0.17) among the 21 qualified articles. The pooled OR (95%CI) value of the frequencies of the PPARγ2 genotype (PA + AA)/PP calculated by fixed effects model was 0.96 (0.81 - 1.14) (P = 0.64). There was not heterogeneity among the remaining articles after excluding the article with the largest weight and the article with larger frequencies of the allele Ala12 respectively (χ(2) values were 24.23, 16.87 respectively, both P values > 0.05). The pooled OR (95%CI) value of the frequencies of the PPARγ2 genotype (PA + AA)/PP of the remaining articles were 1.01 (0.84 - 1.21) and 1.07 (0.89 - 1.28) after excluding the article with the largest weight and the article with larger frequencies of the allele Ala12 (both P values > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism was not associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese Han population.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate mutations of ABCD1 gene in X- linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) patients in China.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction and DNA direct sequencing were employed to analyze the 10 exons of ABCD1 gene in 25 ALD patients.

RESULTSSeventeen mutations in different exons (except exons 4, 9 and 10) were identified in 18 of 25 patients. Most of the mutations were missense mutations, including R182P, G266R, H283D, S404P, N509I, R518G, L520Q, Q556R, S606L and R617C, four (H283D, S40 4P, N509I, R518G) of 10 missense mutations were novel. Also identified were 3 nonsense mutations (W132X, W242X, W595X), 1 dinucleotides deletion mutation (1414 del AG) resulting in frameshift, and 1 base pair deletion at splice acceptor site (IVS5-6 del C). Two synonymous mutations (L516L and V349V) appeared simultaneously in 2 unrelated patients, and no other mutations could be found with them in all 10 exons screened.

CONCLUSIONThere were no hot spot mutations in ABCD1 gene in China. Mutations in gene were found over 70% of patients with ALD in China. The ABCD1 gene mutations identified revealed no obvious correlation between the type of mutation and phenotype.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family D, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Adrenoleukodystrophy ; genetics ; pathology ; Age of Onset ; Base Sequence ; China ; Codon, Nonsense ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense