Enhancement in Flux and Antifouling Properties of Polyvinylidene Fluoride/Polycarbonate Blend Membranes for Water Environmental Improvement.

In this work, to overcome the fouling phenomenon of hydrophobic polymer membranes, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was blended with hydrophilic polycarbonate (PC) to prepare ultrafiltration membranes via the nonsolvent-induced phase separation method. The effects of PC content on membrane morphology, pore size distribution, and surface porosity were characterized and investigated by FE-SEM and image analyzer software. Solubility parameters calculated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation showed that PVDF and PC are compatible and the results were confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry and wide angle X-ray diffractometry. The long-term chemical stability against NaOH and mechanical property before and after the abrasion test of the prepared membranes were also characterized by dynamic thermomechanical analysis. It was found that the hydrophilicity, water flux, abrasion resistance, and antifouling properties as the performance criteria of polymeric membranes were improved because of the presence of PC, and the separation efficiency of PVDF/PC membranes is much higher than that of the pristine PVDF membrane. The exemplary water filtration performances of these polymer membranes are harnessed here in this work to purify raw water polluted by natural organic matters, addressing the key environmental issue of water contamination.

Increased secreted frizzled-related protein 4 and ficolin-3 levels in gestational diabetes mellitus women.

By biochemical and epidemiological similarity with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has some overlap between prediction markers and risk factors of T2DM. The present study aimed to establish that secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) and ficolin-3 levels, which have been linked to insulin resistance and the development of T2DM, are elevated in GDM women. A longitudinal prospective cohort study of 86 GDM and 273 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) pregnant women was performed. The clinical parameters, lipid profiles, and serum SFRP4 and ficolin-3 levels were tested during the early and late second-trimester and third-trimester of pregnancy. Both SFRP4 and ficolin-3 levels were significantly higher in GDM women as compared to the NGT participants at three test points (p < 0.01). Spearman's correlation analysis showed that serum SFRP4 levels were significantly positively correlated with ficolin-3 during the early and late second-trimester and third-trimester of pregnancy. The elevated SFRP4 and ficolin-3 concentrations at 16-18 weeks gestation significantly associated with GDM were conformed using binary logistic regression analysis after controlling for other variables [odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for SFRP4: 2.84 (1.78-4.53), p < 0.01; for ficolin-3: 2.45 (1.55-3.88), p < 0.01]. In Conclusions, increased SFRP4 and ficolin-3 levels are significantly associated with GDM development and might be important risk factors for this pregnancy complication.

Ficolin-3/adiponectin ratio for the prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To establish that the ficolin-3/adiponectin ratio is a predictor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and is eligible for screening tests for GDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 86 pregnant women who developed GDM and 273 normal glucose tolerance participants was carried out. Maternal serum ficolin-3, adiponectin levels were investigated at 16-18 weeks of gestation using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared with the normal glucose tolerance group, the GDM group showed significantly higher levels of ficolin-3 and the ratio of ficolin-3/adiponectin; and decreased levels of adiponectin between 16-18 weeks of gestation (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The cut-off values for the ratio of ficolin-3/adiponectin (≥1.06; sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 96.5%) to discriminate the pregnant women who developed GDM from the non-diabetic cases were identified using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Using binary logistic regression analysis, ficolin-3, retinol-binding protein-4 and adiponectin, but not C-reactive protein, triglyceride and free fatty acids were shown as predictive factors for GDM. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of ficolin-3/adiponectin at 16-18 weeks of gestation was changed in pregnant women who subsequently developed GDM, and might provide effective early predicting and screening for GDM.

RPS8--a new informative DNA marker for phylogeny of Babesia and Theileria parasites in China.

Piroplasmosis is a serious debilitating and sometimes fatal disease. Phylogenetic relationships within piroplasmida are complex and remain unclear. We compared the intron-exon structure and DNA sequences of the RPS8 gene from Babesia and Theileria spp. isolates in China. Similar to 18S rDNA, the 40S ribosomal protein S8 gene, RPS8, including both coding and non-coding regions is a useful and novel genetic marker for defining species boundaries and for inferring phylogenies because it tends to have little intra-specific variation but considerable inter-specific difference. However, more samples are needed to verify the usefulness of the RPS8 (coding and non-coding regions) gene as a marker for the phylogenetic position and detection of most Babesia and Theileria species, particularly for some closely related species.

[Transformation of schistosomulae by electroporation and transient expression of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the possibility of heterogeneous gene to express in juvenile Schistosoma japonicum and the application of electroporation in transformation of schistosomulae. METHODS: The plasmids of pEGFP-C1 were introduced into mechanically transformed schistosomula with electroporation. The presence, transcription and translation of the transgene in electroporated schistosomula were confirmed by PCR, RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis respectively using the genomic DNA, total RNA and protein extracted and isolated from schistosomula cultured in vitro for 48 hours. Meanwhile, localization of EGFP within electroporated schistosomula was performed with confocal laser scanning micro scope. RESULTS: 760 bp and 276 bp amplified products by PCR and RT-PCR were found coincident with the expected size and expression of EGFP gene in electroporated schistosomula was confirmed by Western blotting. Fluorescence of EGFP was localized in tegument and subtegument of the electroporated schistosomula with confocal microscopy, especially in the anterior part of the worm. CONCLUSION: The heterogeneous gene of EGFP has been successfully introduced into juvenile S. japonicum by electroporation and the expression of transgene was confirmed with molecular and microscopical methods.

Schistosoma japonicum: a method for transformation by electroporation.

Despite of our knowledge of genetic make up of schistosomes, a number of genes have not been characterized largely due to lack of effective transformation protocols. Here we present electroporation as a strategy for effective introduction of plasmids DNA into schistosomula and adults. Using plasmids of pEGFP-C1 as an expression vector, we first verified that the CMV promoter could direct EGFP to express in primary culture cells from Schistosoma japonicum. Subsequently, the plasmids were introduced into schistosomula and adults by electroporation and EGFP expression was demonstrated using molecular and microscopical methods. Our findings indicate that electroporation is an effective method for transformation of S. japonicum.