Objective To explore the epidemic trend of influenza and pandemic virus variation in Maanshan, and to provide scientific basis for the prevention of influenza. Methods The ILI data of monitor hospitals and some ILI nasopharyngeal specimens were collected, then influenza virus was isolated by MDCK cells, and influenza serotypes were identified by HI. Results 15 904 cases of ILI were reported from 2006 to 2007. The detectable rate of influenza like illness in outpatients was 6.63%. 2 656 nasopharyngeal specimens of ILI were collected, and 358 strains of influenza virus were isolated, with isolation rate of 13.48%, of which 142 were H1N1 subset influenza A virus, 49 were H3N2, 72 were Victoria subset influenza B virus, and 96 were Yamagata. Conclusions During 2006 and 2007 two peaks of influenza-like illness in outpatients was in winter-spring and summer seasons of each year. More attention meeds to be paid to the monitoring of influenza.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological factors predictive of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in undifferentiat-ed early gastric cancer (EGC) and to expand the possibility of endoscopic therapy for treating undifferentiated EGC.Methods:The re-searchers collected the data of 90 undifferentiated EGC patients who had undergone surgery at the Xingtai People's Hospital, Xingtai, China. The relationship between LNM and clinicopathological factors was retrospectively analyzed using univariate and multivariate lo-gistic regression analyses. Results:Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, lymphatic vessel involvement (LVI), and cancer inva-sion depth were the significant and independent risk factors for LNM. The LNM rate was 57.1%in patients with the three clinicopatho-logical risk factors. LNM was not found in patients without the three risk factors. Conclusion:Tumor size, LVI, and invasion depth are independently associated with the presence of LNM in undifferentiated EGC. Endoscopic therapy can be used to treat the patients with-out risk factors.

OBJECTIVETo detect potential mutation of TCOF1 gene in a Chinese family affected with Treacher-Collins syndrome.

METHODSClinical data of the patient was collected. The analysis included history taking, clinical examination and genetic testing. All coding regions of the TCOF1 gene were subjected to PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing.

RESULTSA novel mutation c.2261ins G (p.E95X) of the TCOF1 gene was discovered in the patient. The same mutation was not found in his parents and 100 healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe c.2261insG (p.E95X) mutation of the TCOF1 gene probably underlies the disease in the patient. Genetic testing can facilitate diagnosis and genetic counseling for families affected with TCS.