Two methods of different RNA extractions from Conus venom tube and toxin gland of seven cone snail species were performed. ThermoScript~ TM RNase H~ - Transcriptase and AMV Transcriptase were used to synthesize cDNA separately. The cDNAs were used as templates to amplify conotoxin genes by PCR.The optimized RNA isolation and cDNA synthesis methods were obtained according to RT-PCR results, which would be the basis for cloning of new conotoxin genes.

Objective: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a polygenic neurodevelopmental disorder with significant gender differences. The sexual dimorphism of ADHD may be associated with estrogen acting through estrogen receptors (ESR). This study investigates the impact of ESR gene polymorphism and its interactions with neurodevelopmental genes on ADHD susceptibility. Methods: The study compared genotyping data of single nucleotide polymorphisms in ESR1 and ESR2 in 1,035 ADHD cases and 962 controls. The gene-gene interactions between ESR genes and three neurodevelopmental genes (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa gene [SNAP25], and cadherin-13 [CDH13]) in ADHD were investigated using generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction and verified by logistic regression analysis. Results: The G allele of rs960070/ESR2 (empirical p=0.0076) and the A allele of rs8017441/ESR2 (empirical p=0.0426) were found significantly higher in ADHD cases than in the controls but not in male or female subgroups. Though no difference was found in all subjects or females, the A allele of rs9340817/ESR1 (empirical p=0.0344) was found significantly higher in ADHD cases than controls in males. We also found genetic interaction models between ESR2 gene, neurodevelopmental genes and ADHD susceptibility in males (ESR2 rs960070/BDNF rs6265/BDNF rs2049046/SNAP25 rs362987/CDH13 rs6565113) and females (ESR2 rs960070/BDNF rs6265/BDNF rs2049046) separately, though it was negative in overall subjects. Conclusion The ESR gene polymorphism associates with ADHD among Chinese Han children, with interactions between ESR genes and neurodevelopmental genes potentially influencing the susceptibility of ADHD.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of helmet therapy in cranial remodeling of infants with deformational plagiocephaly.Methods:A total of 114 infants with plagiocephaly received helmet therapy at the age of 4 to 12 months over the period from 2016 to 2018 and the results were analyzed retrospectively. Seventy-four were male and forty female. The average ages were (7.49±1.91) and (7.54±2.10) months, respectively. A Spectra scanner was used to quantify each head′s radial symmetry index (RSI), cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) and cranial vault asymmetry index (CVAI) before and after 100 days of treatment, and those data were related with age (4-6 months, 7-9 months and 10-12 months), gender and severity of deformity (levels III-V).Results:The average RSI, CVA and CVAI improved significantly for all of the infants studied. The average RSI, CVA and CVAI improved the most for those 4-6 months old. Those with level-IV deformity showed significantly better improvement than those with level III or V deformity.Conclusions:Helmet therapy is an effective way to improve deformities due to plagiocephaly among infants. The best age for treatment is 4-6 months. Patients with less malformation are more easily corrected.

Objective:To investigate the post-traumatic stress response in women with unintended pregnancy termination and analyze its related factors.Methods:Totally 388 women with unintended pregnancy termination from two public hospitals in Fujian were selected as the research subjects.They were assessed with the Impact of E-vent Scale-Revised(IES-R),Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS),Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale(CD-RISC)and Perinatal Grief Scale(PGS).The total score of IES-R ≥35 was positive for post-traumatic stress disorder screening.Results:The total score of IES-R was(20.6±12.4),and the positive rate of post-traumatic stress disorder screening was 16.5％.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the IES-R total scores were higher in those who thought pregnancy timing was appropriate than those who thought pregnancy timing was wrong(β=0.13),and lower in women with moderate pain during termination than in those with severe pain(β=-0.09).The IES-R total scores were positively correlated with gestational weeks,depression scores of the HADS and grief scores of the PGS(β=0.18,0.27,0.16),and negatively correlated with optimism scores of the CD-RISC(β=-0.12).Conclusion:The post-traumatic stress response of unintended termination of pregnancy is at a moder-ate level.Post-traumatic stress symptoms are more likely to occur in women who thought pregnancy timing is ap-propriate,and those with severe pain during pregnancy termination,large gestational weeks,high level of depression during pregnancy,and high level of grief after pregnancy termination.