Dystonia is a common movement disorder characterized by abnormal gestures and involuntary movement as a result of incoordinate contraction of agonistic and antagonistic muscles.The underlying pathogenesis is very complicated and there are various clinical manifestations.The recent findings in genetics and clinical features of primary dystonia,dystonia-plus syndrome and heredodegenerative dystonia are introduced in this paper.

Aim: Clone and characterize of the 5′- flanking region of the nitrate reductase (NR) gene derived from Dunaliella salina(D. salina). Methods : The genomic DNA from D. salina was respectively digested with BamHI, EcoRI, HindIII, Pst I, Sal I and Xba I. A genomic walking cassette was ligated to the ends of the digested DNA fragments, and then genomic walking libraries comprising BL, EL, HL, PL, SL and XL were constsucted. The 5′- flanking region of the NR gene from genomic walking libraries of D. salina was amplified by LA-PCR. The DNA sequences were analyzed with the software - Promoter Predictions. Isolated 5′-flanking regions fused to the GUS gene were tested for transient expression in the alga. Results: A single specific PCR product of about 1200bp in length from the HL library was generated. Also, several conserved motifs, such as CAAT-box, GAGA-box were found, which are related to regulation of transcription, and the putative binding sites of transcriptional factors such as EBP, EFII, NF-E1 and LV. BLAST showed that the DNA sequences shared high homology with 5′-upstream region of the NR gene from Dunaliella viridis. The isolated 5′-flanking regions were able to strongly drive GUS reporter gene expression, suggesting that it contains the promoter elements necessary for the transcription of the NR gene. The expression pattern of the GUS gene and the NR gene were similar, both ware induced by nitrate and repressed by ammonium. Conclusion: The cloned 5′- flanking sequences of NR gene derived from D. salina might be a specific promoter with the ability to“switch on or off” an expression of the heterologous gene in transgenic D. salina.

Objective To investigate the effects of F protein of hepatitis C virus subtype lb on the apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinom HepG2 cells. Methods HepG2 cells were transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.0-F-EGFP and pcDNA3.0-F-EGFP-HepG2 strain was exposed to Act-D and tumor necrosis factor a (TNFα) treatment in order to induce cell apoptosis with positive control pcDNA3.0-C-EGFP-HepG2, negative control pcDNA3.0-C-EGFP-HepG2 and blank control HepG2.Annexin V-FITC/PI of flow cytometry was performed to determine the number of apoptotic cells. DNA Ladder was used to observe the isolation of apoptotic DNA fragments in the apoptotie cells. Results pcDNA3.0-F-EGFP- HepG2 cell strain showed a much delayed apoptosis as well as obviously lowering the apoptotic rate when compared with the pcDNA3.0-HepG2 strain and HepG2 strain (P<0.001).Conclusion The introduction and expression of extraneous gene (the F gene of hepatitis C virus subtype 1b) could significantly inhibit the apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

Objective To explore the relationship between the incidence of hypoglycemia in infants of diabetic mothers and brain injury.Methods The incidence of 86 infants of diabetic mothers combined with hypoglycemia as well as the relationship time of persistent hypoglycemia of infants were studied.And the association of the incidence and degree of brain injury with the time of persistent hypoglycemia,complication of other diseases and symptomatic hypoglycemia was also investigated.Results Seventy-five cases of temporary hypoglycemia(87.2%),and 11 cases of frequent hypolycemia(12.8%)were observed in the study.In the group of unsatisfactory maternal blood glucose control cases,the incidence of frequent hypoglycemia was 19.4%;in the group of satisfactory maternal blood glucose control cases,the incidence of frequent hypoglycemia was 8%.The overall incidence of the brain injury and the incidence of severe brain injury in the group of frequent hypoglycemic cases were higher than those in the group of temporary hypoglycemic cases.The incidence of brain injury in cases complicated with other diseases(77.4%) and in those with clinical symptoms(81.2%) were significantly higher than those in without other diseases(48.5%) and clinical symptoms(57.4%)(Pa

Abstract: To explore the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of imported severe malaria and COVID-19 co-infection cases, and to provide scientific basis for epidemic prevention and control measures. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatment process and prognosis of 4 cases of severe malaria and COVID-19 co-infection with confirmed diagnosis were analyzed retrospectively. Four cases of severe malaria were African returnees of the same batch, male, aged 40-54 years old, with the same journey track. They all had African work and life history and acute onset. The main clinical manifestations were fever (4/4), chills (3/4), chills (3/4), nausea and vomiting (3/4), diarrhea (4/4), fatigue and anorexia (4/4). Two cases had headache and dizziness, confusion, muscle aches, two cases had cough, one cases had sputum, sore throat and runny urine. All 4 cases were confirmed by positive nucleic acid detection of the new coronavirus (2019-nCOV) in throat swabs. Plasmodium falciparum was found by microscopic examination of peripheral blood smears of all patients, and all of them were consistent with high altitude helminthiasis. All cases were accompanied by abnormal liver function and severe hypoproteinemia, two cases were hyperbilirubinemia, three cases were dyslipidemia, three cases were involved in abnormal tertiary hemogram with different degrees of elevation of procalcitonin, two cases were lactic acid poisoning, and one case was hypoglycemia. One case showed viral pneumonia on chest CT. All cases were treated individually according to the different conditions and were discharged after improvement, and were rechecked for 2019-nCOV nucleic acid and microscopic examination of blood smear negative for Plasmodium.During the global COVID-19 epidemic, the emergence of coinfection cases of con-infection of imported malaria parasites and severe acuterespiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) makes the clinical diagnosis and treatment more complicated. It is important to establish the awareness of simultaneous prevention and diagnosis of COVID-19 and malaria for local prevention and control and early warning of severe cases, and timely and effective formulation of treatment plan to improve the comprehensive treatment efficiency.

The chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel is liquid at room temperature but gels rapidly when heated to body temperature. This hydrogel are wildly used for cell encapsulation, drug delivery or tissue-engineered scaffolds. The system can sustain the release of macromolecules over a period of several hours to a few days. However, with low-molecular-weight compounds, the release is generally completed within 24 h. To prepare a functional chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel for slow release both broad-spectrum antibiotic chlorhexidine and growth factor recombined human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2), The beta-cyclodextrin was used to prepare an inclusion complex with chlorhexidine, and then the latter was incorporated into the chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel system. Simultaneously, rhBMP-2 was added into the hydrogel system. By HAAKE viscosity measuring instrument, we contrasted the viscoelastic properties of system with or without objective factors. And the in vitro release kinetics of chlorhexidine and rhBMP-2 was investigated by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) respectively. The results showed that the addition of chlorhexidine/beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex to the thermosensitive solution did not change the gelling behavior of the thermosensitive system. Further, the in vitro release profiles demonstrated that the release rate of chlorhexidine and rhBMP-2 from hydrogel became slower, controlled delivery over at least 1 month. By first preparing chlorhexidine/beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complex, and then mixing the IC and rhBMP-2 into the chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel, a functional chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel system with ability of slow release both rhBMP-2 and chlorhexidine is successfully made.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Chlorhexidine ; administration & dosage ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemical synthesis ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Hydrogels ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Temperature ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of intercostal video-mediastinoscopy (VMS) in treatment for mediastinal masses, malignant pleural effusion and palmar hyperhidrosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 701 patients received intercostal VMS from November 2001 to June 2007 were summarized retrospectively. Forty-eight patients with mediastinal masses and 46 patients with suspected malignant pleural effusion underwent intercostal VMS pleural biopsy (39 cases with talc pleurodesis) and 607 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis underwent bilateral intercostals VMS thoracic sympathectomy.

RESULTSNo mortality and morbidity were reported in this group. Definitive pathologic diagnosis had been made through VMS mediastinal masses biopsy in mediastinal masses and pleural biopsy in pleura effusion. The efficiency of talc pleurodesis was 100% for 39 cases. The symptoms of sweating of hands in 607 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis disappeared completely, all patients' hands became dry with a 1.5 degrees C to 3.0 degrees C increase of the skin temperature immediately after operation. No recurrence occurred during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONVMS is a simple, convenient and alternative procedure for the treatment of mediastinal masses, malignant pleural effusion and palmar hyperhidrosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis ; surgery ; Male ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Mediastinoscopy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Pleurodesis ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sympathectomy ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a most common inflammatory joint disease with direct invasion of joint synovial membrane, cartilage and bone. Currently, although the RA mitigation drugs are being improved continously, but these drugs only can delay the development of joint dysfunction. Total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty(THA or TKA) has become the only choices for patients with advanced RA, and the joint function and deformity of the patients after surgical treatment can be improved to some extent. However, the progression of RA has a direct effect on the long-term clinical effect of the surgery, and how to improve perioperative management, and combine the joint replacement surgery and drug therapy effectively, have become the focus of attention in clinical doctors. This article intends to summarize the current situation of domestic and foreign management of usage of pre-operative drugs, operation skills, prosthesis selection, postoperative treatment, rehabilitation and complications, so as to improve the long-term efficacy of joint replacement.

OBJECTIVEFrom the 1970s, group B streptococci (GBS) have been widely recognized as an important pathogen in neonatal infectious disease, and it emerged as the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the Western world. However, there are few data on the prevalence of neonatal GBS infections in China. The aim of this retrospective study was to estimate whether GBS is an important pathogen in severe neonatal pneumonia, and to develop a method for detection of GBS infections in fatal neonatal pneumonia.

METHODSA total of 234 neonatal cases (0 - 28 days) died in Beijing Children's Hospital from 1953 to 2004 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into two groups. Two hundred cases diagnosed as neonatal pneumonia were assigned to study group and the remaining 34 cases died of neonatal hemolysis or surgical operation without any confirmed infectious diseases were designated as control group. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded lung tissues were used as source for total genomic DNA extraction. PCR and Southern blot analyses were applied to detect GBS specific cfb gene target sequence. And the clinical data of these cases were reviewed as well.

RESULTSIn the study group, 52 cases were detected positive for GBS DNA by PCR (26%), 130 cases were positive by Southern blot (65%). In the control group, 1 case was detected positive GBS DNA by PCR (3%), and 6 cases were positive by Southern blot (18%). The positive rate was significantly lower in the control group than that in the study group (PCR, chi(2) = 8.82, P < 0.01; Southern blot, chi(2) = 26.77, P < 0.01). The positive rate in the neonates younger than 7 days (early-onset) was significantly higher than that in neonates older than 7 days (late-onset) (PCR: 37% vs. 13%, chi(2) = 15.537, P < 0.01; Southern blot: 72% vs. 52%, chi(2) = 4.37, P < 0.05). In the positive early-onset cases, 39% of whom were born prematurely (29/74). Out of the 200 cases, 75 had complete clinical data. Neither blood nor lung culture for GBS was performed in any of these cases. But risk factors were identified for 35 cases, such as premature delivery, low birth weight, premature rupture of the membrane and abnormal amniotic fluid. GBS was positive in all these cases. Severe apnea appeared to be a common symptom and was present in most of the early-onset GBS-positive cases, while cough and wheezing were found in most of the late-onset GBS-positive cases. In the control group, one PCR positive case was suffered from malignant teratoma. The other 5 positive cases confirmed by Southern blot were diagnosed as kernicterus, hepatoma, aproctia complicating with cysti-urethral fistula, neonatal physio logical bleeding and aproctia complicated with archo-perineal fistula.

CONCLUSIONGroup B Streptococcus is an important pathogen in fatal neonatal pneumonia, especially in early-onset cases. southern blot may be a sensitive method to detect GBS infection in archival tissues. In the clinical work, more attention should be paid to the neonates with GBS risk factors. And GBS detection and prevention in neonates should be put into clinical practice.

China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pneumonia, Staphylococcal ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; isolation & purification