FMR1 allele frequencies in 51,000 newborns: a large-scale population study in China.

Background: Fragile X syndrome (FXS), caused by CGG-repeat expansion in FMR1 promoter, is one of the most common causes of mental retardation. Individuals with full mutation and premutation alleles have a high risk of psychophysiological disorder and of having affected offspring. Frequencies of FMR1 alleles in general newborns have been reported in Caucasians but have not been investigated in the large-scale population in  the mainland of China.

AlCl exposure regulates neuronal development by modulating DNA modification.

Background: As the third most abundant element, aluminum is widespread in the environment. Previous studies have shown that aluminum has a neurotoxic effect and its exposure can impair neuronal development and cognitive function.

Aim: To study the effects of aluminum on epigenetic modification in neural stem cells and neurons.

Autism spectrum disorders: autistic phenotypes and complicated mechanisms.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a pervasive developmental neurological disorder, is characterized by impairments in social interaction and communication, and stereotyped, repetitive patterns of interests or behaviors. The mechanism of ASDs is complex, and genetic components and epigenetic modifications play important roles. In this review, we summarized the recent progresses of ASDs focusing on the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms.

An epigenetic view of developmental diseases: new targets, new therapies.

Background: Function of epigenetic modifications is one of the most competitive fields in life science. Over the past several decades, it has been revealed that epigenetic modifications play essential roles in development and diseases including developmental diseases. In the present review, we summarize the recent progress about the function of epigenetic regulation, especially DNA and RNA modifications in developmental diseases.

Study of the anomalous sorption behavior of CO2 into poly(methyl methacrylate) films in the vicinity of the critical pressure and temperature using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM).

The anomalous solubility maximum of CO2 in polymer thin films in the vicinity of the critical temperature and pressure has not yet been clearly understood when the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique has been used to determine the micromass change. In this study, the adsorption of CO2 on the surface of bare polished and unpolished crystals at different pressures and temperatures was investigated using the QCM technique to illustrate why a plot of the true frequency shift as a function of temperature and pressure can intuitively exhibit the adsorption behavior of CO2 on bare crystals. The sorption of CO2 into a PMMA film at different temperatures, pressures, and PMMA film thicknesses was also investigated.

[The experimental study of rAAV2 transfecting neural stem cells-derived neurospheres].

Aim: To investigate the abilities of recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 (rAAV2) transfecting neurospheres.

Methods: The rAAV2 conjugated with FITC (rAAV2-FITC) was added into the culture medium of neurospheres and 30 minutes later the neurospheres were detected with a fluorescence microscopy to determine if the AAV can combine with neurospheres. The rAAV2 containing GFP reporter gene (rAAV2-GFP) was incubated with the neurospheres for a month and then detected the ability of transfecting neurospheres.

Survival and differentiation of transplanted neural stem cells in mice brain with MPTP-induced Parkinson disease.

Aim: To determine survival and differentiation of cultured neural stem cells (NSCs) into viable and functional neurons upon transplantation into mice brain of MPTP-induced Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: Mouse model of PD was established with two subcutaneous (sc) injections of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP, 40 mg/kg) twice, 16 h apart. NSCs isolated from rat embryo midbrain were cultured in clonal density.