[Comparison of efficacy and safety of transurethral thulium laser vapoenucleation of prostate and transurethral thulium laser enucleation of prostate in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia].

Objective: To compare early outcomes between transurethral thulium laser vapoenucleation of prostate and transurethral thulium laser enucleation of prostate for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 1 638 BPH patients admitted to the Department of Urology of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2018 to December 2021. There were 916 patients underwent transurethral thulium laser vapoenucleation of prostate (ThuVEP group) and 722 patients underwent transurethral thulium laser enucleation of prostate (ThuLEP group). The operation time, eliminated tissue weight, surgical complications, duration of post-operative catheter implantation were compared between the two groups. The improvement of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Quality of Life Index (QoL), maximum uroflow rate (Qmax) and post-void residual urine volume (PVR) at 1 month after operation was compared between the two groups. Results: There were no significant differences in age, preoperative and 1-month postoperative prostate volume, IPSS score, QoL score, Qmax, and PVR between the ThuVEP and ThuLEP group (all P>0.05). There were no significant differences in perioperative indicators such as operation time, cutting or enucleation time, tissue crushing time, tissue weight, hemoglobin change, catheter indwelling time, and postoperative hospital stay between ThuVEP group and ThuLEP group (all P>0.05). The incidence of minor gross hematuria after extubation in the ThuVEP group was 7.8% (56/916), which was lower than 9.4% (65/722) in the ThuLEP group (P=0.026); the incidence of temporary incontinence at 1 month after surgery was 5.2% (38/916) in ThuVEP group, lower than 11.9% (86/722) in ThuLEP group (P<0.001). A total of 3 patients (0.4%) in ThuLEP group required operative intervention for severe post-operation bleeding, but none of ThuVEP group suffered from this kind of surgical complications. Conclusions: ThuVEP has similar efficacy with ThuLEP for the treatment of BPH. ThuVEP can significantly reduce the incidence of post-operation temporary urine incontinence, and has much superiority in stanching bleeding.

[Effects of typical PKC subtypes on the proliferation of mouse pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and the expression of ERK1/2 and Akt induced by hypoxia].

Objective: To study the effects of specific isoforms of classic protein kinase C (cPKCs) on hypoxia-induced proliferation and the expression of ERK1/2 and Akt using drug intervention or virus transfection in vitro. Methods: Dynal MPC-1 magnetic particle concentrator was used to separate iron-containing pulmonary arterioles fragments, and the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were primary cultured and identified. The cells were intervened by PKC agonist (PMA), PKCα inhibitor (safingol), PKCßⅠ inhibitor (Go6976) and PKCßⅡ inhibitor (LY333531) respectively, and the changes in protein expressions of cPKCs, and the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and Akt were observed by immunoblotting under the condition of normal oxygen or hypoxia. The lentiviral vectors of PKCα and PKCß were used to specifically knock-down the activity of target genes by virus transfection techniques, and Western blotting was used to observe the protein expressions of cPKCs, and the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and Akt in hypoxia-induced PASMCs in mice. Results: With Brdu method, the proliferation of PASMCs induced by hypoxia was significantly inhibited by safingol, Go6976 and LY333531 by inhibiting cPKCα, ßⅠ and ßⅡ respectively. Compared with the hypoxic control group, the rates of Brdu positive cells were (7.35±0.26)% vs (11.28±0.43)%, (3.76±0.25)% vs (7.98±0.28)% and (4.12±0.46)% vs (7.78±0.53)%. We also observed that PMA could significantly promote the proliferation of PASMCs under normoxic condition. Compared with the normoxia control group, the Brdu-positive cell rates were (9.65±0.47)% vs (6.34±0.52)%, (9.34±0.38)% vs (5.42±0.21)% and (7.78±0.53)% vs (4.12±0.46)%. In addition, after transfection with PKCα or PKCß lentiviral vector, the proliferation of PASMCs was significantly lower in hypoxia transfection group than in the control group. The rates of Brdu positive cells were (3.58±0.54)% vs (5.97±0.63)%, respectively. Using Western blotting, we also observed that after being inhibited by safingol, Go6976 and LY333531 respectively, the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and Akt in PASMCs induced by hypoxia was significantly lower than the control group. After using safingol, the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and Akt were (0.56±0.07) vs (1.08±0.13) and (0.49±0.04) vs (0.97±0.08). After using Go6976, the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and Akt were (0.41±0.09) vs (0.79±0.10) and (0.48±0.09) vs (0.82±0.16), after using LY333531, the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and Akt were (0.42±0.03) vs (0.87±0.06) and (0.34±0.07) vs (0.78±0.05). While PMA could promote the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and Akt under normoxic condition, 1.25±0.12 vs 0.41±0.07 and 0.98±0.06 vs 0.37±0.08, respectively. Using transfection technique to specifically knock down the expression of cPKCα and ß, we found that under hypoxic conditions, transfection of PASMCs could significantly lower the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, its phosphorylation level was 0.29±0.06 vs 0.76±0.05, with no evident change in the phosphorylation levels of Akt. Conclusions: Hypoxia may lead to phosphorylation of ERK1/2 by promoting the protein expression of cPKCα, cPKCßⅠ and cPKCßⅡ respectively, which eventually induces abnormal proliferation of PASMCs from the distal pulmonary arteries, participating in the development of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) of the mice. Regulation of the expression of cPKCα, cPKCßⅠ and cPKCßⅡ may help to attenuate the formation of pulmonary vascular remodeling. Target therapy based on cPKCs is expected to be a new direction for HPH therapy in the future.

[Comparative study of clinicopathological features, and risk factors of advanced fibrosis between genders with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease].

Objective: To comparatively study the similarities and differences between the clinical, pathological, and risk factors of advanced fibrosis in men and women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: 267 patients with NAFLD diagnosed by liver biopsy were retrospectively included, and were divided into male and female groups. The difference of clinical and pathological indexes were compared between the two groups. The measurement data were in accordance with normal distribution. The comparison between the two groups was performed by independent sample t-test. The non-parametric test was used for non-normal distribution. The classification data were expressed as a percentage, and the chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors. Results: The age of onset of NAFLD was significantly lower in male than female patients (P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between the male and female groups in terms of body mass index and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (P > 0.05). Biochemical index: The levels of alanine aminotransferase, albumin, total bilirubin and uric acid were significantly higher in male than female patients (P < 0.01). Liver pathology: The proportion of ballooning degeneration was significantly lower in male than female patients (P < 0.01). There was not statistically significant difference between the two groups in the proportion of steatohepatitis score, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (52.0% vs. 61.5%, P = 0.283) and advanced liver fibrosis (14.3% vs. 17.8%, P = 0.162). Thrombocytopenia was a common independent risk factor for advanced stage liver fibrosis (OR = 0.984, 0.978~0.989, P < 0.01). Type 2 diabetes was only an independent risk factor for advanced stage liver fibrosis in men (OR = 6.557, 1.667~25.782), P < 0.01). Elevated AST was only an independent risk factor for advanced stage liver fibrosis in women (OR = 1.016, 1.003~1.028, P = 0.012). Conclusion: In NAFLD patients, there are some clinical and pathological differences between genders. Platelets are a common predictor of advanced liver fibrosis in men and women. Type 2 diabetes in men and elevated aspartate aminotransferase in women can be regarded as independent risk factors for advanced liver fibrosis.

[Introduction to the APASL clinical guidelines on the management of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease].

Recently, metabolic-associated fatty liver disease has become the world's highest prevalence of chronic liver disease. Moreover, it is closely related to metabolic syndrome and related diseases, bringing a huge disease burden. Previously, the global expert consensus on renaming for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the diagnostic criteria for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease has increased the certainty of further clinical research and practice. Presently, the research on metabolic-associated fatty liver disease is progressing rapidly, and the opinions and data based on clinical evidence are constantly updated. Hepatology international has published the "Asian Pacific Association for the Study of liver diseases' clinical guidelines on the management of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease" , which aims to promote clinical practice and improve the efficiency of clinical research. Here, we have translated the published recommendations into Chinese language, hoping to help most health professionals make clinical decisions.

Impulse Control and ERP Characteristics of Patients with Mental Disorder Caused by Traumatic Brain Injury.

ABSTRACT: Objective To explore the impulse control and event-related potential （ERP） characteristics of patients with mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury （TBI） in forensic psychiatry identification and to provide objective auxiliary indicators for forensic psychiatry identification. Methods Thirty patients （TBI group） with mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury, who were identified as mild psychiatric impairment by judicial psychiatry, including 24 males and 6 females, as well as the thirty people in the control group participated in the study. All the participants completed Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 （BIS-11） and ERP induced by Go/NoGo tasks. BIS-11 and ERP data were collected and analyzed. Results The results of the BIS-11 showed that the total score and subscale scores of the TBI group were higher compared to the control group （P<0.05）. Moreover, the TBI group exhibited significantly lower NoGo-N2 amplitude and lower NoGo-P3 amplitude than the control group. The NoGo-N2 amplitude was larger than the Go-N2 amplitude, and the NoGo-P3 amplitude was larger than the Go-P3 amplitude in both groups （P<0.05）. Conclusion Traumatic brain injury could impair impulse control of mild psychiatric impairment patients, and the amplitudes of NoGo-N2 and NoGo-P3 could be important parameters to evaluate the impulse control of patients with mental disorders caused by traumatic brain injury.

[Effect of chronic hepatitis B virus DNA negative transformation and HBsAg clearance on the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Achieving HBV DNA negative transformation and HBsAg clearance with effective antiviral therapy can reduce the incidence of HCC, but some patients are still at risk of developing HCC. Therefore, screening high-risk patients for close monitoring is essential to reduce the incidence of HCC. This paper reviews the occurrence of HCC, risk factors and risk prediction models of HBV DNA negative transformation and HBsAg clearance, and provides a basis for screening and follow-up management of high-risk group of HCC with chronic hepatitis B.

Novel mutations and phenotypes of epilepsy-associated genes in epileptic encephalopathies.

Epileptic encephalopathies are severe epilepsy disorders with strong genetic bases. We performed targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 70 patients with epileptic encephalopathies. The likely pathogenicity of variants in candidate genes was evaluated by American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) scoring taken together with the accepted clinical presentation. Thirty-three candidate variants were detected after population filtration and computational prediction. According to ACMG, 21 candidate variants, including 18 de novo variants, were assessed to be pathogenic/likely pathogenic with clinical concordance. Twelve variants were initially assessed as uncertain significance by ACMG, among which 3 were considered causative and 3 others were considered possibly causative after analysis of clinical concordance. In total, 24 variants were identified as putatively causative, among which 19 were novel findings. SCN1A mutations were identified in 50% of patients with Dravet syndrome. TSC1/TSC2 mutations were detected in 66.7% of patients with tuberous sclerosis. STXBP1 mutations were the main findings in patients with West syndrome. Mutations in SCN2A, KCNT1, KCNQ2 and CLCN4 were identified in patients with epileptic infantile with migrating focal seizures; among them, KCNQ2 and CLCN4 were first identified as potential causative genes. Only one CHD2 mutation was detected in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. This study highlighted the utility of targeted NGS in genetic diagnoses of epileptic encephalopathies and a comprehensive evaluation of the pathogenicity of variants based on ACMG scoring and assessment of clinical concordance. Epileptic encephalopathies differ in genetic causes, and the genotype-phenotype correlations would provide insights into the underlying pathogenic mechanisms.

[Acute effect of ambient air pollution on small airway lung functions among school children in Shanghai].

Objective: To study the acute effects of compound ambient air pollution on small airway lung functions among school children in Shanghai. Method: A longitudinal survey on lung functions was conducted among 233 school-children from three schools (A, B and C, located in innerring, mid-ring and outer-ring areas). Lung function test was performed once a week for 3 times respectively, among children in school A and B in Dec. 2013 and in school C in Dec. 2014. The fourth lung function test was tested in Jun. 2014 and May 2015 in the respective schools. Results: from the lung function would include items as: forced mid-expiratory flow at 25% of forced vital capacity (MEF(25%)), mid-expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity (MEF(50%)), mid-expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity (MEF(75%)) and mid-expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FEF(25%-75%)). Data regarding the daily air quality real-time of PM(2.5), PM(10), SO(2) and NO(2) in Dec. 2013, Dec. 2014, Jun. 2014 and May. 2015 from the three environmental monitoring spots and meteorological data from the Shanghai Meteorological Service system which were physically close to the three schools, were collected simultaneously. Linear mixed effect model was used to examine the levels of correlation between lung function indicators and ambient air pollutants. Results When confounding factors on meteorology and individuals were controlled, the lag effects and accumulated lag effects were found to have existed between the internal quarter rang (IQR) concentration of PM(2.5) and PM(10) in lag2 day and lag02 days, IQR concentration of SO(2) in lag02 day and IQR concentration of NO(2) lag0 day, when small airway lung functions like MEF(25%), MEF(50%), MEF(75%) and FEF(25%-75%)(P<0.05) were inspected. Results from the two air pollutants model analysis showed that SO(2) and NO(2) presenting interactive effects with PM(2.5), PM(10) and lag effects more significant than the individual SO(2) and NO(2), respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: Contents on the ambient air pollutants as PM(2.5), PM(10), SO(2) and NO(2) were negatively associated with the lung functions in the small airways of children, in Shanghai.

[Risk factors and therapeutic strategies for primary biliary cholangitis patients with poor prognosis].

With the progress in detection methods and the update of diagnostic and therapeutic concepts, more and more patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) have been diagnosed and treated. A high proportion of PBC patients, however, progress to liver decompensation, with an increased risk of liver transplantation and death and a significant reduction in long-term survival. These patients need early diagnosis and urgent treatment. This article discusses how to identify the PBC patients with poor prognosis early from the aspects of biochemical response, disease features, and biomarkers, and reviews the progress in related complementary therapies and new drugs including Ocaliva, Fibrates, UDCA-derived drugs, and molecular targeted drugs.

Transplantation of RADA16-BDNF peptide scaffold with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells forced with CXCR4 and activated astrocytes for repair of traumatic brain injury.

Due to the poor self-regeneration of brain tissue, stem cell transplantation therapy is purported to enable the replacement of lost neurons after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The main challenge of brain regeneration is whether the transplanted cells can survive and carry out neuronal functions in the lesion area. The brain is a complex neuronal network consisting of various types of cells that significantly influence on each other, and the survival of the implanted stem cells in brain is critically influenced by the surrounding cells. Although stem cell-based therapy is developing rapidly, most previous studies just focus on apply single type of stem cells as cell source. Here, we found that co-culturing human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) directly with the activated astrocytes benefited to the proliferation and neuron differentiation of hUC-MSCs in vitro. In this study, hUC-MSCs and the activated astrocytes were seeded in RADA16-BDNF peptide scaffold (R-B-SPH scaffold), a specifical self-assembling peptide hydrogel, in which the environment promoted the differentiation of typical neuron-like cells with neurites extending in three-dimensional directions. Moreover, the results showed co-culture of hUC-MSCs and activated astrocytes promoted more BDNF secretion which may benefit to both neural differentiation of ectogenic hUC-MSCs and endogenic neurogenesis. In order to promote migration of the transplanted hUC-MSCs to the host brain, the hUC-MSCs were forced with CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4). We found that the moderate-sized lesion cavity, but not the large cavity caused by TBI was repaired via the transplantation of hUC-MSCsCXCR4 and activated astrocytes embedded in R-B-SPH scaffolds. The functional neural repair for TBI demonstrated in this study is mainly due to the transplantation system of double cells, hUC-MSCs and activated astrocytes. We believe that this novel cell transplantation system offers a promising treatment option for cell replacement therapy for TBI. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this reach, we specifically linked RGIDKRHWNSQ, a functional peptide derived from BDNF, to the C-terminal of RADARADARADARADA (RADA16) to structure a functional self-assembling peptide hydrogel scaffold, RADA16-BDNF (R-B-SPH scaffold) for the better transplantation of the double cell unit. Also, the novel scaffold was used as cell-carrier for transplantation double cell unit (hUC-MSCs/astrocyte) for treating traumatic brain injury. The results of this study showing that R-B-SPH scaffold was pliancy and flexibility to fit the brain lesion cavity and promotes the outgrowth of axons and dendrites of the neurons derived from hUC-MSCs in vitro and in vivo, indicating the 3D R-B-SPH scaffold provided a suitable microenvironment for hUC-MSC survival, proliferation and differentiation. Also, our results showing the double-cells transplantation system (hUC-MSCs/astrocyte) may be a novel cell-based therapeutic strategy for neuroregeneration after TBI with potential value for clinical application.

Multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in China.

This study characterized Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C strains in China in order to establish their genetic relatedness and describe the use of multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) to provide useful epidemiological information. A total of 215 N. meningitidis serogroup C strains, obtained from 2003 to 2012 in China, were characterized by MLVA with different published schemes as well as multilocus sequence typing. (i) Based on the MLVA scheme with a combination of five highly variable loci, 203 genotypes were identified; this level of discrimination supports its use for resolving closely related isolates. (ii) Based on a combination of ten low variable loci, clear phylogenetic relationships were established within sequence type complexes. In addition, there was evidence of microevolution of VNTR loci over the decade as strain lineages spread from Anhui to other provinces, the more distant the provinces from Anhui, the higher the genetic variation.

Electrophysiological Differences between the Same Pore Region Mutation in SCN1A and SCN3A.

Mutations in the sodium channel gene, SCN1A (NaV1.1), have been linked to a spectrum of epilepsy syndromes, and many of these mutations occur in the pore region of the channel. Electrophysiological characterization has revealed that most SCN1A mutations in the pore region result in complete loss of function. SCN3A mutations have also been identified in patients with epilepsy; however, mutations in this pore region maintain some degree of electrophysiological function. It is thus speculated that compared to SCN3A disruptions, SCN1A mutations have a more pronounced effect on electrophysiological function. In this study, we identified a novel mutation, N302S, in the SCN3A pore region of a child with epilepsy. To investigate if mutations at the pore regions of SCN3A and SCN1A have different impacts on channel function, we studied the electrophysiological properties of N302S in NaV1.3 and its homologous mutation (with the same amino acid substitution) in NaV1.1 (N301S). Functional analysis demonstrated that SCN1A-N301S had no measurable sodium current, indicating a complete loss of function, while SCN3A-N302S slightly reduced channel activity. This observation indicates that the same pore region mutation affects SCN1A more than SCN3A. Our study further revealed a huge difference in electrophysiological function between SCN1A and SCN3A mutations in the pore region; this might explain the more common SCN1A mutations detected in patients with epilepsy and the more severe phenotypes associated with these mutations.

Fear response failed to return in AAB extinction paradigm accompanied with increased NR2B and GluR1 per845 in hippocampal CA1.

Extinction is a well-known and important behavioral phenomenon that allows an organism to adapt its behavior to its environment. Previous studies have shown that the expression of extinction is highly context dependent, meanwhile, conditioning context, as part of fear memory, might have influence on extinction formation. To this end, we have conducted four different extinction paradigms in this study: extinction conducted in the conditioning context but tested in another, novel context (AAB); conditioning in one context and extinction and testing in the second (ABB); conditioning in context A, extinction training in context B, but test back to context A (ABA); and extinction training in a third context, context C (ACB). Additionally, a low dose of the GABAA agonist muscimol was used to temporarily inactivate CA1 to observe its effect in extinction. Our results showed that rats under the AAB, but not the ACB or ABA condition, showed a similar level of freezing compared with the typical ABB extinction paradigm. Moreover, muscimol infused into CA1 before extinction training resulted in impaired extinction and down-regulation of NR2B activity and phosphorylated GluR1 (at Ser845) in CA1, and the expression levels of NR2B and GluR1 were decreased significantly in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). Thus, CA1 may play an important role in the context-specific expression of fear extinction, and Ser845 may be a phosphorylation site in GluR1 in CA1, triggering the context-specific response of extinction memory.

Novel PRRT2 mutations in paroxysmal dyskinesia patients with variant inheritance and phenotypes.

Paroxysmal dyskinesias (PDs) are a group of episodic movement disorders with marked variability in clinical manifestation and potential association with epilepsy. PRRT2 has been identified as a causative gene for PDs, but the phenotypes and inheritance patterns of PRRT2 mutations need further clarification. In this study, 10 familial and 21 sporadic cases with PDs and PDs-related phenotypes were collected. Genomic DNA was screened for PRRT2 mutations by direct sequencing. Seven PRRT2 mutations were identified in nine (90.0%) familial cases and in six (28.6%) sporadic cases. Five mutations are novel: two missense mutations (c.647C>G/p.Pro216Arg and c.872C>T/p.Ala291Val) and three truncating mutations (c.117delA/p.Val41TyrfsX49, c.510dupT/p.Leu171SerfsX3 and c.579dupA/p.Glu194ArgfsX6). Autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance was observed in most of the familial cases. In the sporadic cases, inheritance was heterogeneous including recessive inheritance with compound heterozygous mutations, inherited mutations with incomplete parental penetrance and de novo mutation. Variant phenotypes associated with PRRT2 mutations, found in 36.0% of the affected cases, included febrile convulsions, epilepsy, infantile non-convulsive seizures (INCS) and nocturnal convulsions (NC). All patients with INCS or NC, not reported previously, displayed abnormalities on electroencephalogram (EEG). No EEG abnormalities were recorded in patients with classical infantile convulsions and paroxysmal choreoathetosis (ICCA)/paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD). Our study further confirms that PRRT2 mutations are the most common cause of familial PDs, displaying both dominant and recessive inheritance. Epilepsy may occasionally occur in ICCA/PKD patients with PRRT2 mutations. Variant phenotypes INCS or NC differ from classical ICCA/PKD clinically and electroencephalographically. They have some similarities with, but not identical to epilepsy, possibly represent an overlap between ICCA/PKD and epilepsy.

Mosaic SCN1A mutations in familial partial epilepsy with antecedent febrile seizures.

SCN1A is the most relevant epilepsy gene. Mutations of SCN1A generate phenotypes ranging from the extremely severe form of Dravet syndrome (DS) to a mild form of generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+). Mosaic SCN1A mutations have been identified in rare familial DS. It is suspected that mosaic mutations of SCN1A may cause other types of familial epilepsies with febrile seizures (FS), which are more common clinically. Thus, we screened SCN1A mutations in 13 families with partial epilepsy with antecedent febrile seizures (PEFS+) using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography and sequencing. The level of mosaicism was further quantified by pyrosequencing. Two missense SCN1A mutations with mosaic origin were identified in two unrelated families, accounting for 15.4% (2/13) of the PEFS+ families tested. One of the mosaic carriers with ~25.0% mutation of c.5768A>G/p.Q1923R had experienced simple FS; another with ~12.5% mutation of c.4847T>C/p.I1616T was asymptomatic. Their heterozygous children had PEFS+. Recurrent transmission occurred in both families, as noted in most of the families with germline mosaicism reported previously. The two mosaic mutations identified in this study are less destructive missense, compared with the more destructive truncating and splice-site mutations identified in the majority of previous studies. This is the first report of mosaic SCN1A mutations in families with probands that do not exhibit DS, but manifest only a milder phenotype. Therefore, such families with mild cases should be approached with caution in genetic counseling and the possibility of mosaicism origin associated with high recurrence risk should be excluded.

Vacuum-cored hollow waveguide for transmission of high-energy, nanosecond Nd:YAG laser pulses and its application to biological tissue ablation.

A vacuum-cored hollow waveguide has been found to transmit 1064-nm, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pulses. With this scheme, laser-induced air breakdown was completely suppressed, and the laser-induced damage threshold of the waveguide's inner coating was significantly increased. With a 1-m-long, 1-mm inner-diameter, cyclic olefin polymer-coated silver hollow waveguide, the maximum transmitted laser energy was as great as 158 mJ/pulse (20.1 J/cm(2)), at a repetition rate of 10 Hz in a 90 degrees -bent waveguide condition. The corresponding transmitted peak laser power was 17.6 MW. With the transmitted laser pulses, deep ablation of myocardium tissues was demonstrated in vitro.

Flexible small-bore hollow fibers with an inner polymer coating.

Flexible hollow-glass fibers with small-bore diameters of 250 and 320 mum have been developed for Er:YAG laser delivery. The fibers consist of a glass capillary tube and an inner coating of silver and polymer thin films that are deposited by use of a simple liquid-phase technique. The 250-mum-bore fiber exhibits a straight loss of 0.8 dB/m and a bending loss of 1.2 dB when it is bent 180 degrees at the output end, with a bending radius of 2 cm. The maximum energy delivered by the fibers is ~100 mJ.