Epilepsy-associated genes: an update.

PURPOSE: To provide an updated list of epilepsy-associated genes based on clinical-genetic evidence. METHODS: Epilepsy-associated genes were systematically searched and cross-checked from the OMIM, HGMD, and PubMed databases up to July 2023. To facilitate the reference for the epilepsy-associated genes that are potentially common in clinical practice, the epilepsy-associated genes were ranked by the mutation number in the HGMD database and by case number in the China Epilepsy Gene 1.0 project, which targeted common epilepsy. RESULTS: Based on the OMIM database, 1506 genes were identified to be associated with epilepsy and were classified into three categories according to their potential association with epilepsy or other abnormal phenotypes, including 168 epilepsy genes that were associated with epilepsies as pure or core symptoms, 364 genes that were associated with neurodevelopmental disorders as the main symptom and epilepsy, and 974 epilepsy-related genes that were associated with gross physical/systemic abnormalities accompanied by epilepsy/seizures. Among the epilepsy genes, 115 genes (68.5%) were associated with epileptic encephalopathy. After cross-checking with the HGMD and PubMed databases, an additional 1440 genes were listed as potential epilepsy-associated genes, of which 278 genes have been repeatedly identified variants in patients with epilepsy. The top 100 frequently reported/identified epilepsy-associated genes from the HGMD database and the China Epilepsy Gene 1.0 project were listed, among which 40 genes were identical in both sources. SIGNIFICANCE: Recognition of epilepsy-associated genes will facilitate genetic screening strategies and be helpful for precise molecular diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy in clinical practice.

[Ion specificity during ion exchange equilibrium in natural clinoptilolite].

Zeolites have been widely applied in soil improvement and environment protection. The study on ion specificity during ion exchange equilibrium is of important significance for better use of zeolites. The maximum adsorption capacities of alkali ions during ion exchange equilibrium in the clinoptilolite showed obvious specificity. For alkali metal ions with equivalent valence, the differences in adsorption capacity increased with the decrease of ionic concentration. These results cannot be well explained by the classical theories including coulomb force, ionic size, hydration, dispersion force, classic induction force and surface complexation. We found that the coupling of polarization effects resulted from the quantum fluctuation of diverse alkali metal ions and electric field near the zeolite surface should be the primary reason for specific ion effect during ion exchange in zeolite. The result of this coupling effect was that the difference in the ion dipole moment increased with the increase of surface potential, which further expanded the difference in the adsorption ability between zeolite surface and ions, resulting in different ion exchange adsorption ability at the solid/liquid interface. Due to the high surface charge density of zeolite, ionic size also played an important role in the distribution of ions in the double diffuse layer, which led to an interesting result that distinct differences in exchange adsorption ability of various alkali metal ions were only detected at high surface potential (the absolute value was greater than 0.2 V), which was different from the ion exchange equilibrium result on the surface with low charge density.

[Organic pollutants biodegradation in micro-polluted water enhanced by ultrasonic].

The effect of ultrasonic on the biotreatment of micro-polluted source water in a membrane bioreactor was studied through contrast experiments between the membrane bioreactor with and without ultrasonic. The results showed that ultrasonic at proper intensity could improve biological activity, increase organic load of the bioreactor, and enhance the removal of organic matters. The study of TTC-DHA of the bacteria and apparent molecular size distribution (AMSD) of organic compounds in the influent and effluent in the contrast experiments further proved that ultrasonic enhanced the bioactivity of the membrane bioreactor. The experiments with ultrasonic at different powers showed that ultrasonic at 10 W enhanced bioactivity most effectively. The effect of ultrasonic changed with running time. It was found that ultrasonic effect could be maintained for 24 hours, so the interval of ultrasonic treatment could be set at 24 hours. The mechanism of biological activity enhancement by ultrasonic was also investigated.