The Tectono-Thermal Events of Taiwan and Their Relationship with SE China

We present a new synthesis of the tectono-thermal events of Taiwan, excluding the Coastal Range, based on existing isotopic, geochemical and geochronological data for granitic, metamorphic, volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Nd model ages (TDM) and the inherited zircon ages consistently yielded Proterozoic ages, suggesting that the source rocks from the exposed rocks in Taiwan were formed in the Proterozoic, starting from about 2 Ga ago. The crustal evolution of Taiwan began in the Late Paleozoic (250 ¡_ 20 Ma). Since then, five tectono-thermal events can be delineated: (I) an Early Jurassic event (200 - 175 Ma) registered in the marble and metapelites of the Tananao metamorphic basement complex of northern Taiwan and crystalline limestone of the basement rocks in western Taiwan; (II) a Late Jurassic event (~153 Ma) revealed by a meta-granite of the Tananao metamorphic basement complex of southern Taiwan; (III) a Late Mesozoic event (97 - 77 Ma) recorded in the rocks of the Tananao metamorphic basement complex and offshore of northern and western Taiwan; (IV) a Cenozoic of pre-Pliocene event (episodic from 56 to 9 Ma) registered in the dikes in the Central Range and the intraplate basalts of mainland Taiwan and offshore of northern and western Taiwan; and (V) an ongoing Late Cenozoic event (since 5 Ma) shown in the recent volcanics of onshore and offshore northern Taiwan and offshore northeastern Taiwan

Expression of aquaporin-1 in human peritoneal mesothelial cells and its upregulation by glucose In vitro

Aquaporin (AQP) is a family of water channels that are highly selective for the passage of water and occasionally glycerol. In previous studies, only AQP1 was found in human peritoneal endothelial cells in both control subjects and patients on peritoneal dialysis. As human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) play an important role in dialysis adequacy and fluid balance in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients, this study examined whether AQP1 is present in HPMC. It was found that AQP1 mRNA and protein are present in HPMC constitutively. The localization of AQP1 protein in peritoneal mesothelial cells was confirmed by double immunohistochemical staining of the mesothelial lining of human peritoneal membrane. More important, the expression of AQP1 in HPMC is not constitutive and the transcription and biosynthesis of AQP1 in HPMC is inducible by osmotic agents such as glucose and mannitol. There was significant enhancement of AQP1 biosynthesis upon exposure to glucose in a time- and dose-dependent manner (P < 0.0001). Similar findings were observed in the AQP1 biosynthesis by an endothelial cell line, EA.hy 926. Of particular interest, the upregulation in AQP1 mRNA or biosynthesis in mesothelial cells was always significantly higher than that of endothelial cells when the experiments were conducted under identical settings (P < 0.001). AQP1 expression in HPMC was demonstrated for the first time. Osmotic agents upregulate both mRNA and protein expression of this aquaporin. The role of AQP1 in HPMC in maintaining the ultrafiltration of the peritoneal membrane is potentially of clinical interest.link_to_subscribed_fulltex