Rapid genetic screening of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A and hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies patients

We used the allele-specific PCR-double digestion method on peripheral myelin protein 22 （PMP22） to determine duplication and deletion mutations in the proband and family members of one family with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 and one family with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies. The proband and one subclinical family member from the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 family had a PMP22 gene duplication; one patient from the hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies family had a PMP22 gene deletion. Electron microscopic analysis of ultrathin sections of the superficial peroneal nerve from the two probands demonstrated demyelination and myelin sheath hyperplasia, as well as an ＇onion-like＇ structure in the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A patient. We observed an irregular thickened myelin sheath and ＇mouse-nibbled＇-Iike changes in the patient with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies. In the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A patient, nerve electrophysiological examination revealed moderate-to-severe reductions in the motor and sensory conduction velocities of the bilateral median nerve, ulnar nerve, tibial nerve, and sural nerve. Moreover, the compound muscle action potential amplitude was decreased. In the patient with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies, the nerve conduction velocity of the bilateral tibial nerve and sural nerve was moderately reduced, and the nerve conduction velocity of the median nerve and ulnar nerve of both upper extremities was slightly reduced.

Topotactically constructed nickel-iron(oxy)hydroxide with abundant in-situ produced high-valent iron species for efficient water oxidation

The low efficiency of oxygen evolution reaction(OER) is regarded as one of the major roadblocks for metal-air batteries and water electrolysis.Herein,a high-performance OER catalyst of NiFe_(0.2)(oxy)hydroxide(NiFe_(0.2)-O_(x)H_(y)) was developed through topotactic transformation of a Prussian blue analogue in an alkaline solution,which exhibits a low overpotential of only 263 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA cm^(-2) and a small Tafel slope of 35 mV dec-1.Ex-situ/operando Raman spectroscopy results indicated that the phase structure of NiFe_(0.2)-O_(x)H_(y) was irreversibly transformed from the type of α-Ni(OH)_(2) to γ-NiOOH with applying an anodic potential,while ex-situ/operando 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopic studies evidenced the in-situ production of abundant high-valent iron species under OER conditions,which effectively promoted the OER catalysis.Our work elucidates that the amount of high-valent iron species in-situ produced in the NiFe(oxy)hydroxide has a positive correlation with its water oxidation reaction performance,which further deepens the understanding of the mechanism of NiFe-based electrocatalysts.

A novel transgenic mouse model of Chinese CharcotMarie-Tooth disease type 2L

We previously found that the K141N mutation in heat shock protein B8 （HSPB8） was responsible for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2L in a large Chinese family. The objective of the present study was to generate a transgenic mouse model bearing the K141N mutation in the human HSPB8 gene, and to determine whether this K141NHSPB8 transgenic mouse model would manifest the clinical phenotype of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2L, and consequently be suitable for use in studies of disease pathogenesis. Transgenic mice overexpressing K141N HSPB8 were generated using K141N mutant HSPB8 cDNA cloned into a pCAGGS plasmid driven by a human cytomegalovirus expression system. PCR and western blot analysis confirmed integration of the KI41NHSPB8 gene and widespread expression in tissues of the transgenic mice. The K141N HSPB8 transgenic mice exhibited decreased muscle strength in the hind limbs and impaired motor coordination, but no obvious sensory disturbance at 6 months of age by behavioral assessment. Electrophysiological analysis showed that the compound motor action potential amplitude in the sciatic nerve was significantly decreased, but motor nerve conduction velocity remained normal at 6 months of age. Pathological analysis of the sciatic nerve showed reduced myelinated fiber density, notable axonal edema and vacuolar degeneration in K141N HSPB8 transgenic mice, suggesting axonal involvement in the peripheral nerve damage in these animals. These findings indicate that the KI4mHSPB8 transgenic mouse successfully models Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2L and can be used to study the pathogenesis of the disease.

Structural reconstruction of Sn-based metal-organic frameworks for efficient electrochemical CO_(2) reduction to formate

MOF-based materials have been widely explored in electrochemical CO_(2)reduction reactions for the production of valuable chemicals.Understanding the reconstruction of those catalysts under working conditions is crucial for the identification of active sites and clarification of reaction mechanism.Herein,a series of six N coordinated Sn-based metal-organic frameworks(Sn-N6-MOFs)are newly developed for electrochemical CO_(2)reduction(CO_(2)RR).2%Sn-N6-MOF achieves the optimal catalytic performance with a formate Faradaic efficiency of~85%and a current density of 23 mA·cm^(-2) at-1.23 V vs.RHE.In-situ Raman results combined with ex-situ ^(119)Sn Mössbauer measurements reveal the structural reconstruction of Sn-N6-MOFs during CO_(2)RR,generating tin nanoclusters as the real active sites for CO_(2)electroreduction to HCOOH.

Experimental Research about Denitrification by Box Filler Enhancing MBR Process

[Objective] The reseamh aimed to study removal effects of the organic matter and N by box filler enhancing MBR process. [ Method] By adding box filler into reaction pool of the MBR to treat domestic sewage, removal effects of the organic matter and N by box filler enhancing MBR process were studied. [ Result] COD means in effluent were respectively 26.8 and 24.7 mg/L without and with adding filler. Average removal rates of the NH3-N were respectively 98.44% and 96.37% with and without dosing filler, while average removal rates of the TN were 24.03% and 16.43%, respectively. COD and NH3-N concentrations in effluent were lower than Level-one A cdteda of Discharge Standard of the Pollutant for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant （ GB18918 -2002）. NO3^ -N was main existence form of the TN in effluent and occupied 98.06%, while NH3- N and NO2^--N only accounted for.1.22% and 0.72%. Further suggestion for denitrification study was as below. Firstly, the proportion of box filler on volume of the reaction cell should increase to 4% -5%. Secondly, single smaller filler with larger amount of internal fiber ought to be replaced. Thirdly, aeration amount needed to be decreased to right value, making that DO of the MBR reaction cell reduced to 1.5 -3.0 mg/L. [ Conclusion] The research provided theoretical basis for future engineering practice.