ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and gastric-renal shunt （GRS）. MethodsThe patients who attended Beijing Ditan Hospital， Capital Medical University， due to liver cirrhosis and gastric varices from February to June 2023 were enrolled， and all patients were confirmed to have GRS and received endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips. The primary evaluation index was alleviation or disappearance of varicose veins after surgery， and the secondary evaluation indices were surgical completion and complications. ResultsA total of 11 patients were enrolled in this study， among whom there were 7 male patients and 4 female patients， with a median age of 55 years. Of all patients， 1 had Child class A liver function， 7 had Child class B liver function， and 3 had Child class C liver function. The maximum （median） diameter of the shunt was 8 mm， and the minimum （median） diameter of the shunt was 4 mm. The median blood flow velocity of the target vessel was 11 cm/s before treatment and 5 cm/s after occlusion with metal clips. The median amount of tissue adhesive injected was 2 mL， and the amount of lauromacrogol used was 1 mL. Disappearance of blood flow signals was observed in all patients after surgery （100%）， and the success rate of surgery was 100%. No patient experienced rebleeding after follow-up for 6 weeks. Gastroscopy at 1 month after surgery showed that gastric varices were eradicated or almost disappeared in 9 patients and were alleviated in 2 patients. ConclusionEndoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips is a feasible， safe， and effective treatment method for cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and GRS.

Objective To investigate the rebleeding rate after endoscopic selective variceal devascularization (ESVD) and the predictive factors for rebleeding in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB). Methods The patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and EVB who attended Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, from October 2010 to December 2019 and underwent ESVD for the first time were enrolled, and a total of 442 patients were screened out based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Routine clinical indices, laboratory markers, imaging findings, and endoscopic findings were compared between patients, and the patients were followed up to observe rebleeding. The t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to describe rebleeding and survival status, and a Cox regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for variceal rebleeding. Results The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year cumulative rebleeding rates after first ESVD treatment were 25.11%, 33.94%, 39.82%, 42.08%, and 45.02%, respectively. The univariate analysis showed that age, systolic pressure, duration of antiviral therapy ≥1 year, ascites, white blood cell count, neutrophil, and direct bilirubin were associated with rebleeding (all P < 0.05), and the multivariate analysis showed that duration of antiviral therapy ≥1 year (hazard ratio [ HR ]=0.504, 95% confidence interval [ CI ]: 0.357-0.711, P < 0.001) and ascites ( HR =1.424, 95% CI : 1.184-1.714, P < 0.001) were independent influencing factors for variceal rebleeding. Conclusion ESVD has a low rebleeding rate in the treatment of hepatitis B cirrhosis with EVB, and presence of ascites and a short duration of antiviral therapy are independent risk factors for rebleeding after treatment.

Objective:To investigate the association between choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and the LIPC gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in a Chinese Han population from Shantou. Methods:A case-control study was designed.Two hundred and twenty-one patients with CNV who visited Shantou International Eye Center from January 2010 to December 2016 were enrolled and served as the CNV group, and 430 healthy volunteers matched in age and gender were enrolled and served as the normal control group.Each of 5 ml fasting peripheral blood of the subjects was extracted, and peripheral blood DNA was extracted after anticoagulation.PCR amplification was conducted on SNP loci of LIPC gene including rs10468017, rs920915 and rs2070895.After purification, genotyping was performed on the above SNP loci using the single base extension (SNaPshot) method.Hardy-weinberg equilibrium (HWE) test was used to determine the genotype frequency of the three SNPs of LIPC gene.The gene frequency and genotype frequency of the 3 loci between the CNV group and normal control group were compared.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to entering the study cohort.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Joint Shantou International Eye Center of Shantou University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (No.11-004). Results:The genotype frequency distribution of rs10468017, rs920915 and rs2070895 of the three SNPs of LIPC gene reached genetic balance in the total samples ( P>0.05). The genotype frequencies of rs10468017 TT genotype, rs920915 CC genotype and rs2070895 AA genotype in CNV group were 3.62%, 5.43% and 12.22%, respectively, while those of normal control group were 2.56%, 5.58% and 14.19%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (all at P>0.05). The minimum allele (T) frequency of rs10468017 was 18.1% and 17.2%, the minimum allele (C) frequency of rs920915 was 21.7% and 23.1%, and the minimum allele (A) frequency of rs2070895 was 33.7% and 38.7% in the CNV group and the normal control group, respectively (all at P>0.05). The odd ratio ( OR) values (95%confidence interval [ CI]) of rs10468017, rs920915 and rs2070895 in the CNV group and the normal control group were 1.06 (0.79-1.44), 0.92 (0.70-1.21) and 0.80 (0.63-1.02), respectively. Conclusions:The results from the present study do not indicate the association of LIPC SNPs (rsl0468017, rs920915 and rs2070895) with CNV in the Shantou Han population.

On January 22, 2020, China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB) released the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Resource (2019nCoVR), an open-access information resource for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). 2019nCoVR features a comprehensive integra-tion of sequence and clinical information for all publicly available SARS-CoV-2 isolates, which are manually curated with value-added annotations and quality evaluated by an automated in-house pipeline. Of particular note, 2019nCoVR offers systematic analyses to generate a dynamic landscape of SARS-CoV-2 genomic variations at a global scale. It provides all identified variants and their detailed statistics for each virus isolate, and congregates the quality score, functional annotation,and population frequency for each variant. Spatiotemporal change for each variant can be visualized and historical viral haplotype network maps for the course of the outbreak are also generated based on all complete and high-quality genomes available. Moreover, 2019nCoVR provides a full collection of SARS-CoV-2 relevant literature on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including published papers from PubMed as well as preprints from services such as bioRxiv and medRxiv through Europe PMC. Furthermore, by linking with relevant databases in CNCB, 2019nCoVR offers data submission services for raw sequence reads and assembled genomes, and data sharing with NCBI. Collectively, SARS-CoV-2 is updated daily to collect the latest information on genome sequences, variants, hap-lotypes, and literature for a timely reflection, making 2019nCoVR a valuable resource for the global research community. 2019nCoVR is accessible at https://bigd.big.ac.cn/ncov/.

OBJECTIVETo detect potential mutations of fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene in a child with Marfan syndrome (MFS) and explore its molecular pathogenesis.

METHODSThe 66 exons of the FBN1 gene were analyzed by direct sequencing. SIFT and PolyPhen-2 were used to predict the structural and functional changes at the protein level.

RESULTSA novel heterozygous mutation c.3998 G>A (p.Cys1333Tyr) was found in exon 32 in the child. The same mutation was not found among his unaffected family members and 683 healthy controls. Multiple sequence alignment showed that this novel mutation was located in a highly conserved region of the FBN1 protein across various species and may induce structural change to a functional domain.

CONCLUSIONThe novel c.3998G>A (p.Cys1333Tyr) mutation of the FBN1 gene probably predisposed the MFS in the child. Above finding has enriched the spectrum of FBN1 mutations.

Objective To investigate the application value of 16S rDNA-based detection technique in the rapid screening for and confirmation of gonococcemia. Methods A 41-year-old male patient was hospitalized for recurrent regular fever and chills for 1 month. Several days before the admission, he developed urgent micturition, frequent micturition and pain in urination, anemia with emaciation appearance, slightly pale-looking skin and mucous membranes. No petechia, skin eruption or superficial lymphadenectasis was observed, but routine blood test and urine test results were abnormal. No abnormality was found in stool test or hepatic and renal function. DNA was extracted from the blood of the patient and subjected to PCR for the amplification of 16S rDNA followed by sequence analysis and homology analysis. At the same time, bacterial culture of blood and drug sensitivity test for the bacterial isolate were performed. Results Homology analysis indicated that the amplicon sequence was consistent with the known sequence of 16S rDNA of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in GeneBank, which agreed well with the culture result of peripheral blood. Conclusion The detection of 16s rDNA with PCR from peripheral blood is highly efficient, specific, sensitive, rapid and accurate for the screening for and confirmation of gonococcemia.

AIM: To observe the neuroprotective effect of combined treatment with taurine and diazepam against focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats. METHODS: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: sham-operation group, vehicle group, taurine group (200 mg/kg, ip), diazepam group (10 mg/kg, ip) and combined treatment group (taurine 100 mg/kg+diazepam 5 mg/kg). Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by the method of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats, and reperfusion was emerged by removing the thread 2 h later. The drugs were administered respectively at the time of reperfusion, and subsequently repeated once 12 h later. The animals in vehicle group were intraperitoneally injected with isodose normal saline. The neurological deficit score, the brain water content and cerebral infarction were measured 48 h after MCAO. Other 5 group animals of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (n=16 in each group) were set up as mentioned above and accepted treatments 10 h after reperfusion, likewise repeated once 12 h later. Twelve animals in each group were adopted the same management as the previous 5 groups at 48 h after MCAO. The remained 4 animals in each group were sacrificed until two weeks after MCAO to observe the histopathological changes by nissl staining. RESULTS: Compared to vehicle group, the animals in combined treatment group at 2 h or 12 h after MCAO both decreased the neurological deficit score, reduced the brain water content and infarct volume (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The combined treatment significantly alleviated the neurological necrosis as well. The neuroprotective effect of the combined treatment was superior to that of using taurine or diazepam alone. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that combination of taurine and diazepam treatment has a coordinate neuroprotective effect on both the acute and chronic brain damage of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

Objective To study the effects of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and sertraline on the cognition functions in acute stressed rats.Methods Y-type maze were used to test the cognitive function of Male SD (Sprague-Dawley) rats.They were exposed to the forced-swimming stress test,which was to make acute stress model of depression.Except control group,rats were pretreated with different doses of GABA and/or sertraline,then the time of immobility in the forced-swimming test and latency in the maze were observed individual.Results Compared with the model group[(1404.33±129.46)s] ,GABA could decrease the immobility time obviously in the forced-swimming test [(432.33±187.64) s ＞ (332.50±217.23) s,P ＜ 0.01].Otherwise the immobility time was prolonged with 0.50 g/kg GABA + 10 mg/kg sertraline (1086.17±411.80) s (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group(105.00±32.18)s,the latency in the maze was prolonged remarkably in the model group (179.17±8.54) s(P＜ 0.05).Pretreatment with 10 mg/kg sertraline(100.30±21.01) s or GABA and sertraline groups (69.83±16.89) s,(86.83±13.11) s (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01) could decrease the latency.Conclusion GABA could play its role of antagonizing acute depression.Meanwhile,pretreatment with appropriate doses of GABA and sertraline not ordy could decrease doses of two drugs but also improve the cognitive function in the acute stress rats.

Middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) can be used to establish the standard model of focal cerebral ischemia.The method for establishing focal cerebral ischemia model has been improved continuously,from simple behavior score,measurement of infarcted brain area,and morphological observation in the past to functional study,neurobiochemistry,molecular biology,etc.The research of MCAO provides a basis for further study of the pathological characteristics,mechanism and prevention of human cerebral ischemia.This article reviews the recent advancement in the study of MCAO model and cerebral(ischemia.)

Objective To investigate the feature and general trend of the contingent negative variation (CNV) in the aged with memory impairment (AMI) and dementia tendency in the course towards advanced dementia. Methods CNV in 69 AMI subjects (serving as the study group) and 22 healthy elderly subjects selected from well age matched (serving as the control group) were examined. Hasegawa's dementia scale for the aged (HDS) in all AMI were also examined. 2 3 years later, 22 from the study group were examined again. The wave forms and relevant indexes of CNV were observed and analyzed. Results Reaction time(RT)〔(284.3?170.6) ms vs (149.8?101.7) ms, P