Management of intractable epistaxis in patients who received radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

To report clinical manifestations, bleeding point localization, and outcomes of management in 16 patients with 16 instances of intractable epistaxis after radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Retrospective chart review of 16 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mean age 52.06 ± 14.37 years) with 16 instances of intractable epistaxis during the past 5 years, whose diagnosis was confirmed by angiography (n = 10) or MRI/CT imaging studies and clinical manifestations (n = 6). The mean radiation dose to the affected carotid artery was 101.37 ± 34.85 Gy. Bleeding points were detected in the internal carotid artery (n = 8) or external carotid artery (n = 8). Detachable balloons were used in one affected artery for vascular occlusion; six were treated using an absorbable gelatin sponge (n = 4) or microcoils (diameter 1 mm) (n = 2). Endovascular embolization was successful in seven radiation carotid blowout syndromes with cessation of hemorrhage. One patient underwent external carotid artery ligation and one patient recovered without treatment. The clinical follow-up was 3 months. Therapeutic endovascular embolization of intractable epistaxis is both efficient and safe. It should be considered as the primary treatment modality in intractable epistaxis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Discovery of specific catalytic activity toward IAA/FA by LaSABATHs based on genome-wide phylogenetic and enzymatic analysis of SABATH gene family from Larix kaempferi.

The SABATH methyltransferases catalyze methylation of small-molecule metabolites, which participate in plant growth, development and defense response. Given lack of genome-wide studies on gymnosperms SABATH family, the formation and functional differentiation mechanism of the Larix kaempferi SABATH gene family was systematically and exhaustively explored by analyzing gene sequence characteristics, phylogenetic relationship, expression pattern, and enzyme activities. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 247 SABATH genes from 14 land plants were divided into 4 clades, and lineage-specific gene duplication events were important factors that contributed to the evolution of the SABATH gene family in gymnosperms and angiosperms. Substrate specificity analysis of 18 Larix SABATH proteins showed that LaSABATHs could catalyze O-methylation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and farnesic acid (FA), N-methylation of theobromine, and S-methylation of thiobenzoic acid. Furthermore, only LaSABATH2 and LaSABATH29 could catalyze O-methylation of FA, and only LaSABATH30 could catalyze O-methylation of IAA. Homology modeling and molecular docking studies showed the hydrogen bond formed between the His188 of LaSABATH30 and IAA and the noticeable hydrophobic IAA-binding pocket may be helpful for IAA methylation. In this study, identification of proteins with significant specific catalytic activity toward FA and IAA provided high-quality candidate genes for forest genetics and breeding.

Inherited CHEK2 p.H371Y mutation in solitary rectal ulcer syndrome among familial patients: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is a rare rectal disease with unknown etiology. Data on the genetic background in SRUS is lacking. CASE SUMMARY: Here, we report the first case of SRUS in a mother-son relationship. Gene sequencing was conducted on the whole family, which revealed an inherited CHEK2 p.H371Y mutation. The experiment preliminarily revealed that the CHEK2 mutation did not affect the expression of CHEK2 protein, but affected the function of CHEK2, resulting in the expression level changes of downstream genes such as CDC25A. CONCLUSION: SRUS is a genetic susceptibility disease where CHEK2 p.H371Y mutation may play a crucial role in the development and prognosis of SRUS.

[Management of intractable epistaxis and bleeding points localization of post-therapy nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bleeding points and the management of post-therapy nasopharyngeal carcinoma intractable epistaxis. METHODS: The bleeding points, treatment as well as its effects were studied retrospectively in 16 cases of post-therapy nasopharyngeal carcinoma intractable epistaxis. Among them 7 cases had been treated once, 9 cases recurred and received second treatment. Nasopharynx area had received radiotherapy from 70-160 Gy. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma intractable epistaxis occurred in 1-204 months (median time 13 months) after radiotherapy. RESULTS: The bleeding points were found in the following different sites: internal carotid artery 8 patients, the internal maxillary artery of external carotid artery 7 patients, the arteriae pharyngea ascendens of external carotid artery 1 patient. All patients were tally by oronasal packing or intranasal balloons, 9 cases were carried out emergency tracheotomy. Post-therapy nasopharyngeal carcinoma intractable epistaxis was well controlled by transcatheter internal carotid artery balloon embolization in 1 case, transcatheter maxillary artery embolization in 6 cases, external carotid artery ligation in 1 case. Voluntarily stopping bleeding in 1 case. Seven cases among internal carotid artery 8 patients died, 1 case recovery. Seven patients of the internal maxillary artery of external carotid artery and 1 patient of the arteriae pharyngea ascendens of external carotid artery was recovery. There were no complications during a followed-up for 1-3 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: After determined the points of post-therapy nasopharyngeal carcinoma epistaxis by angiography mainly the key factors in treatment of epistaxis of post-therapy nasopharyngeal carcinoma were vigorous applicated intractable endovascular treatment, nasal packing and tracheostomy. Internal carotid artery bleeding of post-therapy nasopharyngeal carcinoma still have the high mortality rate at present.

Synthesis and biological studies of 4', 7, 8-trihydroxy-isoflavone metal complexes.

A new series of complexes of a ligand 4', 7, 8-trihydroxy-isoflavone with transition metal (zinc, copper, manganese, nickel, cobalt) and selenium have been synthesized and characterized with the aid of elemental analysis, IR, electron ionization mass spectrum (EI-MS) and (1)H NMR spectrometric techniques. The compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activities and antitumor properties. The metal complexes were found to be more active than the free ligand. Investigation on the interaction between the complexes and calf-thymus DNA (CT DNA) showed that the absorbance of CT DNA increased and the maximum peak (λ(max)=260 nm) red-shifted, while the intensity of fluorescence spectra of Epstein-Bart DNA (EB-DNA) gradually weakened, which indicated that all of these metal complexes tightly combined with CT DNA.