Carbon dots crosslinked chitosan/cellulose sponge capture of methyl blue by an adsorption process.

For environmental protection, organic dyes and solvents of industrial wastewater must be eliminated. Here, a citric acid-based carbon dots (CA-CDs) crosslinked chitosan/microcrystalline cellulose (CS/MCC/CA-CDs) sponge was synthesized to study its adsorption performance for methyl blue (MB) dye. The morphology of the sponge was a tangled fibre with a bundle formed by hydrogen bonds between CA-CDs and the CS/MCC composite matrix. The abundant amount of tangled fibre bundle units can offer plentiful active adsorption sites to collect the dye molecules. The adsorption capacity of the CS/MCC/CA-CDs sponge toward MB was 306.8 mg/g at pH 10 and a temperature of 298 K. In addition, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model was matched with the adsorption kinetic experimental data, and the adsorption isotherm data can be described by the Langmuir models. This study proposed that the CS/MCC/CA-CDs sponge adsorbent creates tremendous potential application value in wastewater treatment due to its fast kinetics, high adsorption capacity, simple preparation, and eco-friendly properties.

[Analysis of SCA3/MJD3 gene mutation and genetic polymorphism in a guangxi family with spinocerebellar ataxia 3].

Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias (ADCAs) comprise a group of genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders among which spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) represents the most common form of SCAs worldwide. The fragments of SCA3/MJD gene,which is the member of family GXPL1,were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products of SCA3/MJD gene were detected with capillary electrophoresis (CE) and sequencing to evaluate the size of CAG repeats, feature in the transmission and the mutation in the family with SCA3 in Guangxi province. The results showed that the exon 10 of the SCA3/MJD gene contains 64-71 CAG repeats in all of the affected individuals and three asymptomatic carriers of the family. The number of the CAG repeats during transmission in the normal individuals carrying CGG allele remains consistent, suggesting that CGG allele could have no effect on intergenerational stability of CAG repeats in normal individuals. In addition, two novel point mutations were identified: IVS9-113 T > C in the intronic region and a missense mutation 220 G > A (Glu > Gly) in the encoding region. These two novel point mutations have not been reported and the effect of the mutations on the phenotype of SCA3 is not clear.

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is superior to high tibial osteotomy for the treatment of medial unicompartmental osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) and high tibial osteotomy (HTO) are widely used for the treatment of medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the best approach remains controversial. This study aimed to present a systematic review and a meta-analysis to directly compare the clinical outcomes between HTO and UKA. We hypothesized that the clinical outcomes after UKA and HTO would be similar. METHODS: Electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Biosis Preview) were searched for related studies published before November 30, 2021. Retrospective and prospective studies that directly compared the postoperative outcomes between UKA and HTO were included. Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) for complications, revision to total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and weighted mean difference (MD) and 95% CIs in range of motion (ROM), pain, walking speed and function score were evaluated. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of the studies. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore the heterogeneity. RESULTS: Twenty-three retrospective and 6 prospective studies were included. A total of 3004 patients (3084 knees) were evaluated for comparison. Complications (OR, 4.88, 95% CI: 2.92-6.86) were significantly greater in the HTO group than in the UKA group. Postoperative function scores including Lysholm score (MD, -2.78, 95% CI: -5.37 to -0.18) and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score (MD, -2.80, 95% CI: -5.39 to -0.20) were significantly lower in the HTO group than the UKA group. The postoperative ROM was similar between HTO and mobile-bearing UKA (MD, -3.78, 95% CI: -15.78 to 8.22). However, no significant differences were observed between the HTO and UKA group in terms of postoperative pain, walking speed, and revision to TKA. CONCLUSIONS: UKA is superior to HTO in minimizing complications and enhancing postoperative function scores. Mobile-bearing UKA has a similar ROM compared with HTO. Both HTO and UKA provide satisfactory clinical outcomes in terms of walking speed, relieving pain, and revision to TKA. UKA appears to be more suitable for the elderly, and both mobile-bearing UKA and HTO are viable surgical options for younger active individuals.

Mutational Analysis of EXT1in a Chinese Family Affected by Hereditary Multiple Osteochondroma.

OBJECTIVES: To discuss the mutational features and their relationships with disease in a family with hereditary multiple osteochondroma (HMO) from Guangxi Province (GXBB-1 family), China. METHODS: Genomic DNA and total mRNA were extracted from peripheral blood cells of GXBB-1 family members. Whole elements of the EXT1gene and its transcript, including exons, introns, exon-intron boundaries, and coding sequence (CDS) clones, were amplified and sequenced. Allele-specific PCR was used to confirm the position and type of mutation. RESULTS: All patients from the GXBB-1 family harbored the cosegregating heterozygous c.1056+1G>A mutation located in EXT1at an exon-intron boundary. Another three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were also detected in the patients, including IVS2+1G>A in intron 2, c.1844 T>C [p.Pro (CCT) 614Pro (CCC)] in exon 3, and c.2534G>A [p.Glu (GAG) 844Glu (GAA)] in exon 9. The latter two SNPs were synonymous variations. CONCLUSIONS: The heterozygous c.1056+1G>A mutation cosegregated with the phenotype, indicating that it is a pathogenic mutation in the GXBB-1 family. This mutation is reported for the first time in Chinese HMO patients. IVS2+1G>A and c.2534G>A have no relationship with the occurrence of disease. However, c.1844 T>C and c.1056+1G>A are linked, and their interaction needs to be further studied. c.1844T>C is a new SNP that has not been reported internationally.

An oleate-stimulated, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate-independent phospholipase D in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Phospholipase D1 (PLD1) is an important enzyme involved in lipid-mediated signal transduction and membrane dynamics in eukaryotes. PLD1 preferentially hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidic acid. This potent second messenger is involved in cytoskeletal reorganization, secretion, and membrane trafficking in eukaryotic cells. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, PLD1 is involved in polarized growth and morphogenesis during pheromone response and sporulation. The presence of a PLD activity in Schizosaccharomyces pombe is demonstrated. PLD activity was able to hydrolyze a fluorescently labeled analog of phosphatidylcholine and was capable of performing the transphosphatidylation reaction characteristic of PLDs. Schizosaccharomyces pombe PLD activity was unaffected by phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PIP(2)), but was slightly stimulated by oleate. PLD activity was shown to increase when the S. pombe cells underwent mating and sporulation. Here, we also report the molecular cloning of the first phospholipase D isoform from an S. pombe genomic DNA library (EMBL accession no. FN547388). Comparisons of three divergent yeasts, S. pombe, S. cerevisiae, and Candida albicans, with respect to the PLD enzymes revealed differences in regulation by oleate and PIP(2). Even with high homology in the protein sequences between the PLD1 enzymes of S. cerevisiae, C. albicans, and S. pombe, there was variation with the effects of the regulators.

[Multidimensional separations used in pharmaceutical and biological fields].

A review of multidimensional separations such as comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC), comprehensive two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC x HPLC) and their applications in pharmaceutical and biological fields is presented with 71 references. A single CO2 cryo-jet loop modulator was developed for GC x GC and it can be used to modulate compounds higher than C6 effectively. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC x GC/TOF-MS) analyses of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oils such as Pogostemon cablin Benth (Cablin Patchouli), Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl and Zedoary were reported also. As an emerging technology, multidimensional separations hold the promise and play an important role in the future pharmaceutical and biological fields.