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Silicon (Si) and arsenite (iAsIII) share the same pathway of uptake and translocation in rice (Oryza sativaL.), and it has been reported that Si can decrease arsenic (As) uptake by rice in hydroponic culture. Due to the competitive sorption between Si and As for the soil minerals, different extents of effects on As toxicity and uptake by rice as influenced by soil Si application were found. In order to avoid the competitive sorption between Si and As for the soil minerals, foliar applications of Si might be a more efficient alternative to reduce As uptake by rice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Si foliar and soil applications on the growth and As accumulation in rice seedlings. In this study, three application rates of Si (as sodium silicate) were applied to (1) the foliage and (2) the soil, of rice grown in two soils with different Si retention capacities and As contents. The results showed that there were no significant differences in Si concentrations in shoots among different Si foliar applications, and it had no significant effect on the growth and As accumulation in rice seedlings. In contrast, soil applications of Si caused a decrease in As accumulation in shoots grown in the tested soils, resulting from a high Si/As ratio in the soil pore water allowing enough Si to out-compete the As for uptake by roots. These results were further supported by the significant negative correlation found between Si and As in the shoots. However, a growth inhibition of rice plants was also observed due to As toxicity from the addition of excessive treatments of Si into As-contaminated soils. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that foliar applications of Si are not able to decrease As accumulation in rice seedlings, but that the application of moderate amounts of Si into As-contaminated soils could effectively reduce As uptake by rice seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate clinical effects of calcaneal fracture with closed reduction and minimally invasive plate fixation assisted with bidirectional distractor distraction., Methods: From September 2015 to October 2016, 11 male patients(13 feet) with calcaneal fractures treated with bidirectional distractor distraction assisted with minimally invasive plate fixation were retrospectively studied. They were aged from 24 to 57 years old with an average of 36.4 years old;8 feet were type IIand 5 feet were type III according to Sanders classification. Postoperative incision, fracture healing, Böhler angle, Gissane angle were observed and Maryland scoring system was used to evaluate clinical effects., Results: All fractures healed well without incision inflammation and incision disunion. All patients were followed up from 12 to 15 months with an average of 13.5 months. Böhler angle were improved from (9.6±7.3)° before operation to (20.2±4.6) ° at 1 year after operation, and had statistical meaning; Gissane angle increased from (92.7 ±8.5)° before operation to (121.7 ±7.6) ° at 1 year after operation. Maryland score at 1 year after operation was 88.79±8.25, and 11 feet got excellent results and 2 feet moderate., Conclusions: Bidirectional distractor distraction assisted with minimally invasive plate fixation could effectively fix calcaneal fractures, reduce postoperative complications, and get satisfied results of postoperative images and functional recovery. It is one of effective methods for treating Sanders II and III calcaneal fractures., Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose., (Copyright© 2018 by the China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Press.)

Objective: Of this study was to prepare high sensitivity and high specificity of highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype avian influenza virus NS1 protein antibody and a preliminary assessment of its potency., Methods: Construct pET-28a (+) recombinant vector containing the H5N1 subtype of avian influenza virus NS1 sequences of E. coli BL21 (DE3), induced expression of NS1 protein, NS1 recombinant protein was obtained by Ni-NTA column purified by affinity chromatography, and SDS-PAGE and Western Blot analysis. Purified protein antigen to immunize New Zealand white rabbits, obtained rabbit anti-NS1 serum, affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies. Using ELISA and Western Blot analysis of purified antibody titer and specificity., Results: NS1 fusion protein was highly expressed in a purity of greater than 90%, with the fusion protein was used to immunize New Zealand white rabbits anti-NS1 polyclonal antibody titer of 1:80 000, and specific recognition of the H5N1 subtype of avian influenza virus NS1 protein., Conclusions: NS1 polyclonal antibodies to NS1 recombinant protein purified antigen, with better potency and specificity, and to prepare the conditions for the development of the H5N1 subtype of avian influenza virus detection kit.

Objective: To study possible impairment mechanisms of learning and memory abilities from unsaturated fatty acids in hippocampus of mice exposed to lead., Methods: Forty-eight healthy mice were divided into 4 groups: low dose (0.625 g/L), middle dose (1.250 g/L) and high dose (2.500 g/L) of lead solution in diet and control group (distilled water). The mice in treatment groups were fed with lead solution every day while the mice in control group were fed with distilled water for 50 days. After learning and memory abilities were measured, the mice were killed and contents of oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2), linolenic acid (C18:3), arachidonic acid (AA,C20:4), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA,C20:5) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 ) in hippocampus of mice were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)., Results: (1) In the four training days, the mice treated with lead in the middle dose group and high dose group significantly increased the escape latencies compared with the mice treated with distilled water (P<0.05), and on the 4th day, the low dosage mice's escape latencies were delayed (P<0.05). The escape latencies of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th day had significantly positive linear relation with lead dose. Their relative coefficient in turn is r=0.973, 0.985, 0.929 and 0.936, indicating that lead harmed spatial memory of mice in Morris water maze (MWM). (2) The contents of C18:2 and AA were obviously enhanced in hippocampus of middle and high dosage (P<0.05); while there was evident decrease in the contents of C18:3, EPA and DHA (P<0.05); the content of C18:1 was decreased significantly in high dosage group (P<0.01). The mice's escape latencies had significantly negative linear relation with contents of C18:1, C18:3, EPA and DHA, while there was positive linear relation significantly with contents of C18:2 and AA. Their relative coefficient in turn was r=-0.901, -0.914, -0.893, -0.855, 0.936, 0.727., Conclusion: Lead interferes with the metabolism of hippocampus fatty acids and affects membrane function in hippocampus of mice, which might contribute to change of the synthesis, metabolism and release of central neurotransmitter and decrease of the learning and memory abilities.