Objective To explore the biomechanical characteristics of the pharynx in patients with aspiration after radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods Clinical data on NPC patients with dysphagia admitted between July 2011 and June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.Twenty-three patients were found who had received videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSSs) and whose pharyngeal pressure and upper esophageal sphincter (UES) relaxing were tested using high-resolution solid-state manometry (HRM).The cases were divided into an aspiration group and a non-aspiration group according to the VFSS results.Differences in biomechanical parameters between the 2 groups when taking food of different viscosity were compared.Results Patients with aspiration had significantly higher UES residual pressure when taking thick liquids (20.1± 14.3 mmHg) and paste (18.0± 14.3 mmHg) than patients not aspirating (9.3±9.2 mmHg and 7.2±8.9 mmHg for thick liquid and paste respectively).But no significant difference in average pharyngeal pressure between the two groups was observed.Conclusion Aspiration after radiotherapy may be correlated with increased UES residual pressure.

A target molecule affinity-ultrafiltration liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (LC-ESI-MSn) method was established for rapid screening acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors from total alkaloids of fibraurea recisa Pierre.A total of 12 potential inhibitors were screened from Fibraurea recisa Pierre.and 6 compounds were identified including palmatine,berberine,jatrorrhizine,palmatrubine,7,8-dihydro-8-hydroxyberberine and groenlandicine.The AChE inhibitory activity of these 6 compounds was validated in vitro.Palmatine showed the strongest inhibitory activity for AChE,which was stronger than that of donepezil hydrochloride,demonstrating the potential of palmatine as anti-Alzheimer's drug.This method is simple,rapid,and accurate for directly screening active ingredients which can inhibit AChE from complex extract of traditional Chinese medicines.

Photoaffinity labeling is widely applied to demonstrate targets of small molecule ligands. In this paper, biotin photoaffinity labeled molecule with propargyl group 1 has been designed and synthesized, followed it's labeling of N2-acetyl-2'-O-propargyl guanosine 9 by "click chemistry". This technology presents delight development potential in labeling of second messenger cyclic nucleotide, antisense oligonucleotide or siRNA.
Biotin ; chemistry ; Click Chemistry ; Guanosine ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Ligands ; Photoaffinity Labels

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the curative effect of combined transplantation of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of same sibling in children with β-thalassemia major.METHODS: Eight thalassemia major patients undergoing combined transplantation of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of same sibling aged from 4.0 to 7.5 years, 5 boys and 3 girls, were recruited at the Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital,Southem Medical University from January 2005 to March 2009. The patients were classified into three classes according to Pesarothalassamia classification, class Ⅰ to class Ⅱ 7 cases and class Ⅲ 1 case. Donors ranged 1-4 years received 10 μg/kg per day of subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for 5 consecutive days. Bone marrow was harvested on the fifth day. Bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of the same sibling then were transfused into the patient.RESULTS: Recovery of hematopoiesis was gained in all patients 4 weeks following transplantation. Seven patients suffered from infection of different degree. Four patients developed mild venous occlusive disease. Two patients developed grade Ⅰ acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and one developed grade Ⅰ chronic GVHD. Seven patients were alive and one died of pulmonary infection and heart failure 32 days following transplantation.CONCLUSION: Combined transplantation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor primed bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of same sibling in children with β-thalassemia major is safe and effective with promising results. However, complications should be paid high attention following transplantation.

Objective To compare the safety and clinical efficiency between minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy(MPCNL)in supine position and flexible ureteroscopy(FURS)in management of proximal ureteral calculi.Methods From Oct.2010 to May.2012,76 patients with single proximal ureteral calculus between 10-20 mm failed in SWL or other conservative therapy accepted MPCNL (32 cases)or FURS(44 cases).There was no significant difference between the groups in base-line parameters.Stone sizes were(15.6±2.5)mm and(14.9±2.3)mm,P＞0.05.Procedural time,post-operative hospitalization stay,complication rates(Clavien degree Ⅱ or over)and stone free rates were compared.Results In these two groups,procedural time was(49.3± 11.7)and(67.2± 17.3)min,P＜0.05,postoperative hospitalization stay were(4.2±1.1)and(1.8±0.8)days,P＜0.05,complication rates were 12.5％ and 6.8％,P＞0.05 and stone free rates(residual fragments≤3 mm)were 93.7％ and 84.1％,P＞0.05.Conclusions For patients with surgically indicated proximal ureteral calculi,both minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy in supine position and flexible ureteroscopy are effective and safe therapeutic modalities.Patients treated with flexible ureteroscopy have faster postoperative recovery.

Objective:To explore and optimize the teaching content of clinical case discussion course based on clinical pathophysiology and therapy (CPPT), and to improve the teaching quality of this course.Methods:Self-compiled evaluation form was sent to all the students who participated in this course in 2016-2017 school year, and the teaching satisfaction and teaching characteristics were evaluated. The differences of evaluation results from students with different educational programs or teachers with different seniority were compared, and the correlation between evaluation results and teachers' seniority was analyzed.Results:The students had a high evaluation on the course, but students from different programs had significant different comments on thinking inspiring, speech encouraging, questions guiding, process holding and effective feedback, as well as the self-evaluation of mastery degree. For teachers with different seniority, there were significant differences in scores in all aspects except speech encouraging, but no differences in mastery degree. Spearman analysis showed that there was a certain correlation between scores and teachers' seniority.Conclusion:The overall situation of the CPPT case discussion course in our school is worthy of recognition, but it needs to be improved in many aspects.

Objective To study the clinical characteristics of autism in febrile seizures plus (FS+) and the relationship between autism and SCN1A mutation. Methods Clinical data of 103 patients with FS+ treated in epilepsy centre of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University were collected and analyzed. According to the international criteria, generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+), partial seizures with febrile seizures plus (PEFS+), Dravet syndrome (DS) and autism were diagnosed. Genomic DNA was obtained from blood samples. SCN1A were PCR amplified and mutations were detected by DHPLC and sequencing. Result Mental retardation was found in 53.8%of patients with GEFS+, 69.2%of patients with PEFS+, and all patients with DS, respectively. One in GEFS+, one in PEFS+and nine in DS patients were accompanied with autism (P<0.01). Among FS+patients with autism, one SCN1A mutation was found in PEFS+patients, while six SCN1A mutations were found in DS patients. Conclusions Majority of GEFS+and PEFS+patients showed mental retardation, while all the DS patients were accompanied with retardation. The occurrence of autism with DS is higher than GEFS+and PEFS+. No definite relationship between autism and SCN1A mutation was indicated.

This article was aimed to study immunomodulatory effect of chemical split fractions ofMori Cortex, in order to initially explain effective parts that played a role in immunomodulatory effect ofMori Cortex. The carbon clearance test, serum hemolysin test, E-rosette test, and lymphocyte transformation test were carried out to explore influence of these chemical split fractions ofMori Cortex on immune organs, nonspecific immunity, humoral immunity and cellular immunity. The results showed that in the carbon clearance test, 50% ethanol fraction markedly reduced the thymus index (P<0.01) and the correction indexα (P<0.05). In hemolysin test, the half value hemolysis (HC50) was improved by 30% ethanol fraction and fatty oil fraction (P<0.05). Besides, in the E-rosette test, the E-rosette ration was increased in the 30% ethanol fraction group (P<0.05). In the lymphocyte transformation test, the 30% ethanol fraction can promote the thymus and spleen lymphocytes proliferation (P<0.05 orP<0.01), while the 50% ethanol fraction inhibited the proliferation (P<0.05 orP<0.01). It was concluded that the 30% ethanol fraction can boost both the humoral immunity and cellular immunity; the 50% ethanol fraction can induce the growth of thymus with a suppressive effect on nonspecific immunity and cellular immunity; the fatty oil fraction can improve humoral immunity.

OBJECTIVETo determine the causative gene mutation in a Chinese family with split hand/split foot malformation (SHFM) and explore the genotype-phenotype relationship.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the patients and their family members. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify all the exons of P63 gene and HOXD13 gene. Then the PCR products were sequenced bidirectionally to screen mutations.

RESULTSA heterozygous 956G>A transversion in exon 7 of P63 gene was identified in all patients, which resulted in the substitution of histidine residue for arginine at position 280 of P63 protein (R280H). This mutation was not found in the unaffected family members.

CONCLUSIONPatients in this pedigree are characterized by symmetrical split hand and split foot with syndactyly. This condition is caused by the R280H mutation in P63 gene.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; genetics ; Genotype ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Limb Deformities, Congenital ; genetics ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Syndactyly ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

ObjectiveToinvestigatethecorrelationbetweenbloodpressurevariabilityandcognitive impairment in ischemic stroke. Methods The inpatients with acute ischemic stroke were enroled. The demographic and clinical data were colected. The coefficient of variation of blood pressure within 7 days after onset w as calculated. Montreal Cognitive Assessment w as used to evaluate the cognitive function at three month after onset. Multivariate logistic regression analysis w as used to identify the relationship betw een the coefficient of variation of blood pressure w ithin 7 days and the cognitive impairment at 3 months after onset. Results A total of 708 patients w ith acute ischemic stroke w ere enrol ed in the study. At 3-month folow-up, 510 patients (72.0%) had cognitive impairment and 198 (28.0%) had normal cognitive function. The coefficient of variation for systolic blood pressure ( 8.3 ±1.2 vs.8.7 ±1.4; t= -3.299, P=0.001) and coefficient of variation for diastolic blood pressure ( 7.8 ±1.3 vs.8.0 ±1.5; t= -2.529, P=0.012) in the cognitive impairment group w ere significantly higher than those in the normal cognitive function group. With the first quintile as a reference, after adjusting other confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis show ed that cognitive impairment at 3 months after onset w as significantly associated w ith coefficient of variation for systolic blood pressure. The odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals for the 2-5 quantile groups w ere 2.33 (1.18-4.6), 2.31 (1.15-4.66), 2.70 (1.29-5.65), and 4.82 (1.92-12.1), respectively ( al P<0.05 ). Conclusion Systolic blood pressure variability in the acute phase of ischemic stroke is associated w ith cognitive impairment.