Since the publication of a high-throughput DNA sequencing technology based on PCR reaction was carried out in oil emulsions in 2005, high-throughput DNA sequencing platforms have been evolved to a robust technology in sequencing genomes and diverse DNA libraries. Antibody libraries with vast numbers of members currently serve as a foundation of discovering novel antibody drugs, and high-throughput DNA sequencing technology makes it possible to rapidly identify functional antibody variants with desired properties. Herein we present a review of current applications of high-throughput DNA sequencing technology in the analysis of antibody library diversity, sequencing of CDR3 regions, identification of potent antibodies based on sequence frequency, discovery of functional genes, and combination with various display technologies, so as to provide an alternative approach of discovery and development of antibody drugs.
Animals ; Antibody Diversity ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Complementarity Determining Regions ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Drug Discovery ; methods ; Gene Library ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; methods ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the industrial noise over-limit status of the worksites in Guangzhou factories, so as to promote the prevention and control of occupational noise hazards.

METHODS211 factories in Guangzhou were monitored and investigated. The analysis and assessment were developed for the properties and size of the factories, the districts of the factories being located, the industries of the factories being classified and the date of monitoring.

RESULTSIn this understudied factories, most of them were national-owned and joint-ventures, medium size, located in urban, and mainly involved in the industries of manufacturing of motor vehicle, shipping, electron and electric equipment, and the industries of petroleum and chemicals. The prevalence of noise over-limit was higher in joint-ventures (36.0%) and private-run enterprises (31.2%). The over-limit status mainly presented in industries of textile, food and beverage processing, and leather producing, with getting prevalence of over-limit 46.7%, 43.1% and 41.3% respectively. Subsequence were industries of manufacturing of electron and electric equipment, motor vehicle and shipping, and industries of printing and goods producing for culture and sports, with the prevalence for all > 35%. Factories monitored during spring and summer also had higher prevalence of noise over-limit. The similar results were got after adjustment for each other using multivariable regression. The most common over-limit sites mainly focused on the operation of cutting and sawing, milling and planing, pressing, riveting, drilling, jointing, assembling and quality inspecting in industries of mechanism processing and manufacturing, on quality inspecting and packing in industries of pharmacy and food and beverage manufacture, on spinning and scutching in textile industry, and on cleaning and maintaining as assistant jobs, and patrolling and inspecting air-press machine, ventilation machine, dynamotor and pump.

CONCLUSIONNoise in Guangzhou factories widely exists with different industries and districts. To strengthen noise occupational hazards prevention and control for the high risk districts, industries and worksites should be the key job in the future.

China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Industry ; Noise, Occupational ; prevention & control ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the suitable treatment methods of small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC).

METHODSFrom 2000 to 2004, 849 cases of SHCC (< or = c5 cm) were enrolled and divided into two groups: resection group (n = 406) and minimally invasive treatment (MIT) group (n = 443). The survival rates, recurrence rates, and post-treatment complications were compared retrospectively.

RESULTSThe 3-year survival rate in the resection group was 72.1%. The 3-year survival rates in tumor < or = 3 cm and tumor 3-5 cm of resection group were 73.3% and 70.5% (P = 0.46), respectively. The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year recurrence rates in resection group were 13.5%, 29.9%, and 39.8%, respectively. The 3-year survival rates in MIT group was 73.8%. The 3-year survival rates in tumor < or = 3 cm and tumor 3-5 cm of MIT group were 74.7% and 72.2% (P = 0.45), respectively. The 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year recurrence rates in MIT group were 12.6%, 28.7%, and 40.4%, respectively. The 3-year survival rate was significantly different between these two group in tumor < or = 3 cm (P < 0.05). The post-treatment complication rates of these two group were 30.8% and 6.1% (P < 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSMIT is as effective as the traditional resection in SHCC. However, MIT is superior to the traditional resection in terms of minimal invasion and less post treatment complication rate. The recurrence rate of HCC was still high after treatment. Comprehensive therapies, including MIT, may increase the survival rate and life quality in SHCC patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo study the sialographic changes and to compare the changes with sialoendoscopic and irrigation fluid findings in chronic obstructive parotitis (COP).

METHODSThis study involved 27 patients with a long history of parotid swelling. All patients were examined by X-ray, sialography, and were diagnosed as COP without sialolithiasis. Sialoendoscopy was used to observe the ductal system and irrigation treatment performed. The irrigated liquid was centrifuged and the deposits of fluid were stained and observed under microscopy. The sialographic changes were classified as previous studies and compared with sialoendoscopic and irrigation fluid findings.

RESULTSThe sialographic changes of COP in 27 patients included 9 cases with type I, 5 cases with type II, 9 cases with type III and 3 cases with type IV changes, 1 case was normal. Marked obstructive factors such as stricture of ductal system were revealed in 21 cases on the sialogram. Sialoendoscopic examination showed that the ductal system was filled with fiber-like substances and hyperaemia of ductal wall in all cases. While few and thin fiber-like substances were found in the COP with sialographic type I and type II changes, many thick wadding or mass fiber-like substances were revealed in COP with sialographic type III and IV changes. Microstones were found in 2 COP with sialographic type III changes which were stained and identified by microscopy. Foreign body (drug bar) was found in one COP with sialographic type I changes with sialoendoscopy. Irrigation fluid examination showed fiber-like substance was composed of desquamative duct epithelial cells, neutrophil, lymphocytes, acidophile. Some epithelial cells were found in two microliths.

CONCLUSIONSThe pathological basis of fiber-like substance on sialoendoscopy is desquamative duct epithelial cells. Fiber-like substance in the lumen of ductal system is considered as one of the obstructive factors in COP. Sialoendoscopic findings is related to sialographic changes.

Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parotitis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Sialography ; Therapeutic Irrigation

OBJECTIVETo compare the nutritional status between pancreaticojejunostomy(PJ) and pancreaticogastrostomy(PG) following pancreaticoduodenectomy.

METHODSA retrospective clinical analysis was performed on 37 patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy(PD) for duodenal carcinoma and pancreatic non-epithelial tumor with PG(n=19) and PJ(n=18) in the First Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from April 2006 to December 2010. All the patients had a needle catheter jejunostomy inserted at the conclusion of laparotomy. Postoperative early enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition was performed for all the patients. Nutritional status of two groups was compared in body mass index (BMI), serum nutritional parameters such as albumin, transferrin and prealbumin before surgery and on 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between PG and PJ groups in operative time, blood loss, pancreatic fistula, perioperative death, or postoperative length of hospital stay. One month after surgery, there were no significant differences in BMI [(17.1±7.0) vs. (19.0±4.8) kg/m(2), P>0.05], albumin [(30.1±0.5) vs. (32.1±1.3) g/L, P>0.05], transferrin [(1.89±0.57) vs. (2.01±0.61) g/L, P>0.05] and prealbumin[(0.18±0.05) vs. (0.18±0.09) g/L, P>0.05]. These parameters were decreased at 1 month after surgery, and gradually recovered to baseline or higher than the preoperative levels at 6 months after surgery. However, the differences were still not statistically significant between two groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe influence of PJ and PG on the postoperative nutritional status are comparable.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Gastrostomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Pancreas ; surgery ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; Pancreaticojejunostomy ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo establish a method of ion chromatography for urine iodide determination and evaluate its application in epidemiological studies.

METHODSUrinary iodine was determined using ICS-2500 ion chromatography coupled with IonPac AS7 analytical column (4 mm x 250 mm), silver electrode and direct current amperometry for 467 elderly subjects (above 50 years) with their urinary Tsh and FT4 also determined. The history of thyroid diseases was examined among these subjects.

RESULTSThe peak area of the ion chromatography was linearly correlated with urinary iodine concentration, with the correlation coefficient of 0.9999. The detection limit of iodide was around 3.5 microg/L (S/N=3), with coefficients of variation ranging from 3.16% to 3.45% and mean recovery rate of 95%. The urinary iodine level in the 467 elderly subjects showed a positively skewed distribution with the median level of 224.7 microg/L.

CONCLUSIONIon chromatography for urinary iodine determination has excellent selectivity, sensitivity, reliability, accuracy and stability, and may ensure satisfactory effect for application in epidemiological studies.

China ; epidemiology ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine ; urine ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Thyroid Diseases ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; urine

Objective To evaluate the commonly used consciousness scales according to longitudinal study on small-sample patients with minimally conscious state. Method Eleven patients with minimally consciousness, who were scanned using fMRI, were selected and scored by the commonly used consciousness scales in Wujing Hangzbeu Hospital. The 11 patients were classified into 2 groups according to the scores of CRS-R scale couple with the results of the fMRI study. The One-Way ANOVA method was used to analyze the inter-group difference of the commonly used consciousness scales and their subscales. Results Despite the communicative subscale of the CRS-R scales, other iterms lack of statistic significance in classification of the conscious state. Among the commonly used consciousness scales, the Wessex Head Injury Matrix (WHIM) scale presented the highest diagnostic value in consciousness state, whereas the Chinese Vegetative State Scale (CVSS) presented the lowest diagnostic value. Conclusions It indicated that the total scores of the consciousness scales and the scores of subscales of them presented poor diagnostic value in general, and big discrepancy of diagnostic value existed between the iterms of the scales by using objective tools.

ObjectiveTo investigate the analgesic effect and mechanism of dexmedetomidine （DEX） on dynamic allodynia （DA） in mice with trigeminal neuropathic pain. MethodsWe established the model of trigeminal neuropathic pain in male mice by a chronic constriction injury （CCI） of the infraorbital branch of the trigeminal nerve （ION）. Mice were randomly separated into the following groups： Sham， CCI-ION， CCI-ION+vehicle， CCI-ION+DEX， Sham+DEX （each group contained four to six mice）. For the measurement of DA， the ipsilateral and contralateral skin of the whisker pad within the infraorbital territory （V2） or the lower jaw within the mandibular nerve territory （V3） were stimulated by light-moving brush strokes. We used immunofluorescence staining to evaluate the possible mechanisms. ResultsCompare with the sham group， light-moving brush strokes induced obvious DA in ipsilateral and contralateral skin of V2 territory and V3 territory at 3 d or 7 d after CCI-ION surgery （P=0.004 8； P<0.000 1）， and the number of c-Fos （a marker for neuronal excitability） positive cells in bilateral mPFC increased significantly （P=0.044 1 ， P=0.044 4）. In addition， 15 μg/kg and 30 μg/kg DEX separately alleviated bilateral primary and secondary DA induced by light-moving mechanical facial stimuli in mice with trigeminal neuropathic pain （P<0.000 1）， and decreased the excitability of neurons in bilateral mPFC （P=0.012 5， P=0.048 8）. Furthermore， there was no significant difference in analgesic effect between the two concentrations of DEX （P>0.05）. ConclusionsDEX is a useful therapeutic approach for attenuating DA in trigeminal neuropathic pain disorders. This effect is associated with the inhibition of hyperexcitability of neurons in mPFC induced by light-moving mechanical facial stimuli after trigeminal neuropathic pain.

BACKGROUNDMetabolic syndrome (MS) is a risk factor for stroke and thromboembolism event. Left atrial or LA appendage (LA/LAA) thrombus is a surrogate of potential stroke. The relationship between MS and atrial thrombus remains unclear. In this study, we sought to investigate the effect of MS on risk stratification of LA/LAA thrombus formation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

METHODSThis cross-sectional study enrolled 294 consecutive NVAF patients without prior anticoagulant and lipid-lowering therapies. LA/LAA thrombus was determined by transesophageal echocardiography. Risk assessment of LA/LAA thrombus was performed using the CHADS2 , CHA2DS2 -VASc, MS, CHADS2 -MS, and CHA2DS2 -VASc-MS scores. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine which factors were significantly related to LA/LAA thrombus. Odds ratio (OR) including 95% confidence interval was also calculated. The predictive powers of different scores for the risk of LA/LAA thrombus were represented by C-statistics and compared by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTSLA/LAA thrombi were identified in 56 patients (19.0%). Logistic analysis showed that MS was the strongest risk factor for LA/LAA thrombus in NVAF patients (OR = 14.698, P < 0.001). ROC curve analyses revealed that the C-statistics of CHADS2 -MS and CHA2DS2 -VASc-MS was significantly higher than those of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2 -VASc scores (CHADS2 -MS vs. CHADS2 , 0.807 vs. 0.726, P = 0.0019). Furthermore, MS was helpful for identifying individuals with a high risk of LA/LAA thrombus in the population with a low risk of stroke (CHADS2 or CHA2DS2 -VASc score = 0).

CONCLUSIONSMS is associated with LA/LAA thrombus risk in patients with NVAF. In addition to the CHADS2 and CHA2DS2 -VASc scores, the CHADS2 -MS and CHA2DS2 -VASc-MS scores provide additional information on stroke risk assessment.

Aged ; Atrial Appendage ; pathology ; Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; ROC Curve ; Risk Factors ; Thrombosis ; etiology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of aquaporin 4( APQ4) in rat toxic brain edema induced by subacute 1,2-dichloroethane( 1,2-DCE) exposure. METHODS: Thirty-two specific pathogen free healthy adult female SD rats were randomly divided into control( 8 rats),low-dose( 12 rats) and high-dose( 12 rats) groups. The treatment groups were exposed to 1,2-DCE( low-dose: 600 mg / m3; high-dose: 1 800 mg/m3,nose-only) and the control group was exposed to fresh air by dynamic inhalation for 8 hours per day for consecutive 7 days. After exposure,histopathologic changes were examined in the cerebral cortex. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA relative expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2( MMP2),Na-K-Cl cotransporter-1( NKCC1) and AQP4. The Western blotting was used to detect the expression of AQP4 protein in the cerebral cortex. RESULTS: The pathological results showed that the cerebral cortex tissues were loose around the peripheral vessels and the vessels tissue space appeared widen in low-dose exposure group. The pathological change was more serious in high-dose group than low-dose group,with obvious loosen vessels and vacuole. Compared with those of the control group and the low-dose group,the relative expression level of MMP2 mRNA in the high-dose group increased significantly[( 1. 07 ± 0. 41) vs( 1. 56 ± 0. 55),( 1. 21 ± 0. 59) vs( 1. 56 ± 0. 55),P <0. 05],while the the relative expression level of AQP4 mRNA in the high-dose group significantly decreased [( 1. 03 ±0. 25) vs( 0. 81 ± 0. 12),( 1. 00 ± 0. 20) vs( 0. 81 ± 0. 12),P < 0. 05]. The relative expression levels of NKCC1 mRNA in all groups showed no statistical difference [( 1. 03 ± 0. 31) vs( 1. 14 ± 0. 43) vs( 1. 36 ± 0. 50),P > 0. 05]. The relative expression level of AQP4 protein in the high-dose group was lower than that of the control group [( 0. 80 ± 0. 25) vs( 1. 19 ± 0. 42),P < 0. 05]. CONCLUSION: The brain edema induced by subacute inhalation of 1,2-DCE is of mixed types with vasogenic edema as its main symptom. Its pathogenesis is related to the changes of AQP4 expression.