To compare the performance of ArcCheck and film verification for volumetric intensity modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and to study the feasibility of ArcCheck in VMAT dosimetric verification. Five patients of nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with VMAT were enrolled in this study. Dose verification was carried out by ArcCheck and film respectively. The result showed that there were no significant differences between ArcCheck and film verification. ArcCheck software can obtain three dimensional dose distribution directly with simple operation. It is convenient for ArcCheck to be used for VMAT dosimetric verification.
Carcinoma ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Software

OBJECTIVETo establish a Real-time Taqman probe technique system to detect the mtDNA 1555A > G mutation in deaf population.

METHODSPrimers and Taqman probes for mtDNA 1555A > G mutation were designed and synthesized. The technique system for detecting mtDNA 1555A > G mutation using Real-time Taqman probes was established. Then the reliability of the technique was tested in 132 patients with severe to profound hearing loss who were detected for the mtDNA 1555A > G mutation by sequencing, Kit method and Real-time Taqman probe technique at the same time. Finally, the results by the above three ways were compared.

RESULTSThirty-two cases with mtDNA 1555A > G mutation were found by the technique of Real-time Taqman probe. These findings coincided with the results from sequencing and Kit method completely. Both the false positive rate and the false negative rate were zero.

CONCLUSIONSThe technique possesses the merits of accuracy, convenience, high sensitivity, high specificity and intuitionistic results, etc. Importantly, the Real-time Taqman probe technique only needs 1.5 hours to detect the 1555A > G mutation and it saves 4.5 hours for one reaction compared with the Kit method popularly used nowadays. The technique system of detecting mtDNA 1555A > G mutation is reliable. It's suitable for large-scale detecting and preventive diagnosis of mtDNA 1555A > G mutation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Hearing Loss ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze the molecular pathogenesis of deaf couples by means of genetic testing. To provide accurate genetic counseling and instruction for deaf couples with different etiology based upon results of genetic testing.

METHODSFour deaf families from July 2005 to May 2006. Each subject was with moderate to profound hearing loss. Genomic and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of each subject were extracted from whole blood. Genetic testing of GJB2, SLC26A4 (PDS) and mtDNA A1555G mutation were offered to each individuals.

RESULTSThe husband from family 1 didn't carry GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation while his wife was confirmed to carry compound SLC26A4 mutations. The possibility of their offspring's to be SLC26A4 single mutation carrier was 100%. The couple from family 2 both didn't carry GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation. The possibility of their offspring's having hereditary deafness caused by GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation was excluded. The husband from family 3 was confirmed to carry homozygous GJB2 mutations and a single SLC26A4 mutation while his wife who was diagnosed with enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVAS) by CT scan was proven to carry a single SLC26A4 mutation. The risk of their offspring's suffering EVAS was 50%. The husband from family 4 was mtDNA A1555G positive while his wife who was diagnosed with cochlear malformation by CT scan didn't carry GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation. The risk of their offspring's having hereditary deafness caused by GJB2, SLC26A4 and mtDNA A1555G mutation was excluded.

CONCLUSIONSGenetic testing could be applied to offer the more accurate genetic counseling and instruction to deaf couples.

Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; analysis ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Female ; Genetic Counseling ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the polymorphisms of myeloid differentiation-2 (MD-2) gene promoters, and to explore whether such polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and sepsis in Chinese Han population.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, the authors detected the single nucleotide polymorphisms of the promoter region of MD-2 gene at position - 1625C/G in 105 severe trauma patients (42 with sepsis). The organ function was scored.

RESULTSThe frequency of CC genotype in MD-2 gene promoter region at position - 1625 was 0.5 (21/42) in septic patients and 0.7 (44/63) in non-septic patients. The frequency of CG genotype was 0.38 (16/42) in septic patients and 0.27 (17/63) in non-septic patients. The frequency of GG genotype was 0.12 (5/42) in septic patients and 0.03 (2/63) in non-septic patients. The MODS scores in trauma patients carrying G allele at position - 1625 were significantly higher than those carrying C allele (P<0.001 for dominant effect, and P>0.05 for recessive effect). Moreover, trauma patients carrying G allele appeared to have higher risk of sepsis comparing to those carrying C allele (OR 0.477, 95% CI 0.266-0.855, P<0.05). Sepsis morbidity was significantly different between subjects with C and G alleles (P<0.05 for dominant effect, P>0.05 for recessive effect).

CONCLUSIONSThe polymorphisms of the promoter region of MD-2 gene at position - 1625 C/G is correlated with MODS and sepsis after severe trauma in Chinese Han population. The people with - 1625 G allele in the promoter region of MD-2 gene may be a risk factor of severe complications.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Antigen 96 ; genetics ; Multiple Organ Failure ; etiology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Sepsis ; etiology ; genetics ; Wounds and Injuries ; complications ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo carry out molecular epidemiology study of SLC26A4 IVS7-2 A > G mutation in large Chinese deaf population and to provide evidence for fast screening and gene diagnosis of enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome (EVAS).

METHODSA total of 1979 patients with non-syndromic hearing loss(NSHL) underwent questionnaire and PCR for IVSA > G mutation detection of SLC26A4 gene.

RESULTSAll 245 patients (12.38%) with homozygotes and heterozygotes IVS7-2 A > G mutation were found among the 1979 NSHL It showed statistically significant difference among north and northeast, northwest, east and southeast, southwest and central area in China. (chi2 = 34.4899, P < 0.05). Carrier frequency of the central area (27.52%) was notably higher than southwest area (6.69%). The IVS7-2 A > G mutation was most frequently found in Han deaf groups (13.88%). Tibetan, Hui, and other western minorities were lower than Han deaf population (chi2 = 35.4456, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA high SLC26A4 IVS7-2 A > G mutation frequency for deafness in Chinese patients was found. Detection of the pathogenic mutations was bringing the possibility to detect EVAS at an early stage. Moreover, it might help to establish diverse diagnostic strategies toward differently ethical deaf population in different region of China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Ethnic Groups ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Humans ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and establish a nomogram model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 613 cases of neonatal asphyxia treated in 20 cooperative hospitals in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture from January to December 2019 as the asphyxia group, and 988 randomly selected non-asphyxia neonates born and admitted to the neonatology department of these hospitals during the same period as the control group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for neonatal asphyxia. R software (4.2.2) was used to establish a nomogram model. Receiver operator characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis were used to assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, respectively. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that minority (Tujia), male sex, premature birth, congenital malformations, abnormal fetal position, intrauterine distress, maternal occupation as a farmer, education level below high school, fewer than 9 prenatal check-ups, threatened abortion, abnormal umbilical cord, abnormal amniotic fluid, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, emergency caesarean section, and assisted delivery were independent risk factors for neonatal asphyxia (P<0.05). The area under the curve of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia based on these risk factors was 0.748 (95%CI: 0.723-0.772). The calibration curve indicated high accuracy of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. The decision curve analysis showed that the model could provide a higher net benefit for neonates at risk of asphyxia. CONCLUSIONS The risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture are multifactorial, and the nomogram model based on these factors has good value in predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, which can help clinicians identify neonates at high risk of asphyxia early, and reduce the incidence of neonatal asphyxia.
Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Nomograms ; Retrospective Studies ; Cesarean Section ; Risk Factors ; Asphyxia Neonatorum/etiology*

To screen the harmful substance 5-hydroxymethyl furfural content in commercially available traditional Chinese medicine injection which are commonly used, and to preliminarily evaluate the quality of these injections, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural was taken as an index. The contents of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural in 56 samples which consist of 23 kinds of traditional Chinese medicine injections and glucose injection were determined using LC-MS/MS, and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural was detected in 52 of these samples. The minimal content was 0.0038 microg x L(-1) and the maximum content was 1420 microg x mL(-1). The contents of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural were significantly different in traditional Chinese medicine injection which came from different kinds, manufacturers or batches. The results showed the quality difference of commercially available traditional Chinese medicine injection is significant taking 5-hydroxymethyl furfural content as assessment index. More attention should be paid to the safety of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural in traditional Chinese medicine injection, and unified limitation standard should be set to improve medication safety of traditional Chinese medicine injection.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Eleutherococcus ; chemistry ; Furaldehyde ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Glucose ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Injections ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry