[A successfully treated case of respiratory failure caused by eating Nassariidaes].

Food poisoning caused by Nassariidaes has occurred frequently in coastal areas of China, especially in summer and autumn. Nassariidaes poisoning can be manifested as lip and tongue paralysis, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting, arrhythmia and even respiratory failure. We admitted a case of respiratory failure caused by eating Nassariidaes. After timely respiratory support, hemoperfusion and other active treatment, the patient was recovered and was discharged. This paper summarized clinical characteristics and treatment of Nassariidaes poisoning, in order to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of similar cases.

Heralded Three-Photon Entanglement from a Single-Photon Source on a Photonic Chip.

In the quest to build general-purpose photonic quantum computers, fusion-based quantum computation has risen to prominence as a promising strategy. This model allows a ballistic construction of large cluster states which are universal for quantum computation, in a scalable and loss-tolerant way without feed forward, by fusing many small n-photon entangled resource states. However, a key obstacle to this architecture lies in efficiently generating the required essential resource states on photonic chips. One such critical seed state that has not yet been achieved is the heralded three-photon Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (3-GHZ) state. Here, we address this elementary resource gap, by reporting the first experimental realization of a heralded 3-GHZ state. Our implementation employs a low-loss and fully programmable photonic chip that manipulates six indistinguishable single photons of wavelengths in the telecommunication regime. Conditional on the heralding detection, we obtain the desired 3-GHZ state with a fidelity 0.573±0.024. Our Letter marks an important step for the future fault-tolerant photonic quantum computing, leading to the acceleration of building a large-scale optical quantum computer.

[The mechanism of berberine on Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in vitro].

Objective: To explore the impact of traditional Chinese medicine berberine (BBR) on membrane integrity and permeability of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the change of bacterial cell wall structure, laying a foundation for the clinical application of berberine in antibacterial. Methods: This study used a non-randomized concurrent controlled trial. The 3 MRSA strains were isolated and cultured from lower respiratory tract samples of geriatric patients from Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital between 2019 and 2020.The Meirier VETEK MS fully automated rapid microbial mass spectrometry detection system and VETEK 2 Compact fully automated microbial identification instrument were used to identify bacterial drug sensitivity experiments to detect bacterial species and drug sensitivity. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of BBR on MRSA strains was determined by broth microdilution. This study used conductivity tests to assess the changes in membrane permeability in response to different concentration of BBR on MRSA, while also investigating the changes in MRSA morphology by transmission electron microscopy. GraphPad Prism5 was used to analyze the differences in the electrical conductivity experimental results. Results: The MIC of BBR on MRSA was 64 µg/ml. After co-culturing MRSA with BBR for 4 h at 8 µg/ml, 16 µg/ml, 32 µg/ml, 64 µg/ml and 128 µg/ml, respectively, the electrical conductivity increased, compared with the control group, by 24.49%,34.59%,208.92%,196.40% and 208.68%, respectively. By transmission electron microscopy, This study found that low concentration of BBR (8 µg/ml,1/8 MIC) caused no significant damage to MRSA, and the bacterial structure of MRSA remained intact. The cell wall of MRSA became thinner after treatment with berberine at medium concentration (64 µg/ml,1 MIC), while high concentration of BBR (512 µg/ml,8 MIC) induced the destruction and dissolution of MRSA cell wall structure and the leakage of bacterial contents, leading to bacterial lysis. Conclusion: Berberine can kill bacteria by altering the permeability of MRSA cell membrane and destroying and dissolving the structure of the cell wall.

[Analysis on infection risk in secondary close contacts of COVID-19 patients].

Objective: To study the infection rate of secondary close contacts of COVID-19 patients, and assess the infection risk in the contacts. Methods: COVID-19 patients' close contacts (with a clear exposure time to index case) with negative nucleic acid test results and secondary close contacts were surveyed in continuous isolation and medical observation in this prospective study. The dynamic nucleic acid test results of the close contacts and secondary contacts of COVID-19 patients were collected to assess their risk of infection. Results: A total of 4 533 close contacts were surveyed, in whom 14 were confirmed as COVID-19 patients with overall secondary attack rate of 0.31%, and 4 201 secondary contacts were tracked, in whom no subsequent infections occurred. Conclusion: Close contacts of COVID-19 patients entered in centralized isolation for medical observation with negative nucleic acid tese results,the secondary close contacts of COVID-19 patients have no risk of infection.

[Analysis on infectivity of COVID-19 patients before and after last negative nucleic acid test].

Objective: To investigate the infection rate in close contacts of COVID-19 patients before and after the last negative nucleic acid test, evaluate the effect of dynamic nucleic acid test in determining the infectivity of COVID-19 patients. Methods: Dynamic nucleic acid test results of COVID-19 cases were collected in a retrospective cohort study. COVID-19 cases with negative nucleic acid test results before their first positive nucleic acid tests were selected as study subjects. Close contacts of the index cases and the secondary close contacts were kept isolation for medical observation to assess their risk of infection. Results: This study included 89 confirmed cases from two local COVID-19 epidemics in Ningbo. A total of 5 609 close contacts were surveyed, the overall infection rate was 0.20%. No close contacts of the COVID-19 cases before the last negative nucleic acid test were infected, and the infection rate in the close contacts of the COVID-19 cases after the last negative nucleic acid test was 1.33%, all of these close contacts lived together with the index cases. No secondary close contacts were infected. Conclusion: COVID-19 patient becomes infectious after the last nucleic acid is negative, and has no infectivity before the last nucleic acid negative.

[Comparison of clinical efficacy of robotic, laparoscopic and open surgery in the treatment of severe rectal prolapse].

Objective: To analyze and compare the efficacy of robotic, laparoscopic and open dorsal mesh rectopexy in the treatment of severe rectal prolapse. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Patients who had a full-thickness rectum pulled out of the anus before surgery and the length was greater than 8 cm, and underwent transabdominal dorsal mesh rectopexy were enrolled in the study. Those who had urinary or sexual dysfunction before surgery, could not perform sexual function scores due to lack of a fixed sexual partner or sexual activity after surgery, underwent laparotomy again during the perioperative period, were transferred to laparotomy during robotic or laparoscopic surgery, or had no complete information, were excluded. A total of 61 patients with severe rectal prolapse in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2014 to 2018 were enrolled and divided into robotic group (20 cases), laparoscopic group (20 cases) and open group (21 cases) according to the operative procedure based on patients' will. Perioperative parameters were compared among the 3 groups. The International Prostatic Symptoms Score Scale (IPSS, higher score indicates more severe urinary dysfunction), the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-15, lower score indicates more severe male sexual dysfunction) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-19, lower score indicates more severe female sexual dysfunction) were used to evaluate and compare the urinary and sexual function before and after operation. Results: There were no significant differences in baseline data among the 3 groups (all P>0.05). In the robotic, laparoscopic and open groups respectively, the operative time was (176.3±13.8) minutes, (160.2±12.1) minutes and (134.2±12.1) minutes; intraoperative blood loss was (58.5±18.9) ml, (67.9±15.7) ml and (114.2±8.4) ml; the first time to ambulation was (19.9±6.8) hours, (24.0±8.9) hours and (37.7±11.4) hours; the first time to gas passage was (31.8±6.8) hours, (35.7±8.9) hours and (49.2±11.2) hours; the hospitalization time was (11.0±1.4) days, (11.4±1.4) days and (13.3±2.1) days; whose differences among 3 groups were all significant (all P<0.001). While no significant differences in morbidity of complication and recurrence among 3 groups were observed (all P>0.05). In the robotic, laparoscopic and open groups respectively, the preoperative IPSS score was (4.2±1.7), (4.4±1.3), and (4.7±1.8); the IPSS score at postoperative 3-month was (8.5±2.5), (9.9±1.7), and (12.2±3.1); IPSS score at postoperative 12-month was (4.3±1.6), (5.8±1.3), and (6.3±1.5), respectively. Compared to preoperative score, postoperative IPSS score increased obviously, then decreased gradually (P<0.001). Preoperative male IIEE score was (22.8±1.8), (22.1±2.1), and (22.6±1.5). In the robotic, laparoscopic and open groups respectively, male IIEE score at postoperative 6-month was (19.6±2.1), (17.1±2.1), and (15.0±2.1); male IIEE score at postoperative 12-month was (22.4±1.6), (19.9±1.5), (17.9±1.8), respectively. Preoperative female FSFI score was (26.4±3.4), (26.6±3.2), and (26.6±3.0); female FSFI score at postoperative 6-month was (21.5±3.3), (18.9±2.9), (17.0±2.6); female FSFI score at postoperative 12-month was (26.1±2.7), (22.7±3.2), and (21.2±2.3), respectively. Postoperative male IIEE score and female FSFI score decreased significantly and then increased gradually with time, whose differences were all significant (all P<0.05). Postoperative IPSS, IIEE, and FSFI scores in the robotic group were superior to those in the laparoscopic and open groups (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Robotic surgery is safe and effective in the treatment of severe rectal prolapse, and is more advantageous in preserving urinary function and sexual function.

[Epidemic dynamic model based evaluation of effectiveness of prevention and control strategies for COVID-19 in Ningbo].

Objective: To evaluate effectiveness of prevention and control strategies for COVID-19 in Ningbo by using an epidemic dynamic model. Methods: The incidence data and epidemic information of COVID-19 reported in Ningbo as of 9 March, 2020 were collected, and based on the implementation of prevention and control strategies, we developed a SEIR epidemic dynamics model. The basic and real-time reproduction numbers were calculated to evaluate effectiveness of prevention and control. Results: A total of 157 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, without death, in Ningbo. The proportion of severe cases was 12.1%. The mean incubation period was estimated to be (5.7±2.9) days. The mean interval from illness onset to diagnosis was (5.4±3.7) days. The mean duration from diagnosis to hospital discharge was (16.6±6.5) days. A total of 105 339 contacts had been under medical observation. The infection rates in contacts with home quarantine and centralized quarantine were 0.1% and 0.3%, respectively. In the confirmed cases, those who had been under medical observation before diagnoses accounted for 63.1%. The basic reproduction number was estimated to be 4.8. With the strengthening of prevention and control measures, real-time reproduction number showed a gradual downward trend, dropping to below 1.0 on 4 February, and then continued to drop to 0.2 in mid-February. Conclusion: The effectiveness of the prevention and control measures for COVID-19 in Ningbo can be evaluated by using epidemic dynamic model to provide scientific evidence for the development of the prevention and control strategies.

[Effects of bronchial thermoplasty on airway remodeling, asthma control and quality of life in patients with severe asthma].

Objective: To investigate the effects of bronchial thermoplasty (BT) on airway remodeling, asthma control and quality of life in patients with severe asthma. Methods: From January to September 2019, 11 patients with severe asthma were recruited from China Japan Friendship Hospital to receive BT treatment. The treatment was performed over three sessions separated by 3-week intervals. The right lower lobe, the left lower lobe and the bilateral upper lobes were treated respectively. In this study, patients' self-control method was used. The timepoint before the first BT treatment was defined as pre-treatment group, and the timepoint before the third treatment was defined as post-treatment group. Histological staining was used to detect the airway remodeling of the left lower lobe in two groups, including the mass of airway smooth muscle (ASM) and collagen in airway wall, and the thickness of basement membrane. The cell classification of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from the left lower lobe and peripheral blood, total serum IgE, asthma control test (ACT), mini asthma quality of life questionnaire (miniAQLQ) and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second expressed as percent predicted (FEV(1)%pred) were evaluated in the two groups. The correlation was analyzed between airway remodeling and asthma control and quality of life. Results: Effects of BT in post-treatment group, compared with pre-treatment group: the mass of ASM and collagen in airway wall was significantly decreased [(9.8±2.5)% vs (25.8±7.7)%, (12.9±4.0)% vs (17.4±5.6)%] (both P<0.05), while basement membrane thickness was not significantly different (P>0.05); the percentage of eosinophils in BALF and peripheral blood, and total serum IgE were not significantly different (all P>0.05); ACT score and miniAQLQ score were significantly increased [(23.1±1.8) vs (13.8±6.2) points, (5.3±1.3) vs (3.6±1.5) points] (both P<0.05), while FEV(1)% pred was not statistically different (P>0.05). The mass of ASM was negatively correlated with ACT score (r=-0.712), miniAQLQ score (r=-0.557) and FEV(1)%pred (r=-0.477), while the mass of collagen was negatively correlated with ACT score (r=-0.549) and miniAQLQ score (r=-0.639) (all P<0.05). Conclusion: BT treatment could improve airway remodeling, asthma control and quality of life in patients with severe asthma; besides, the reduction of remodeling is related to the improvements of asthma control and quality of life.

[Relations between high risk sexual behavior and HIV infection among men who have sex with men in ways of meeting male partners].

Objective: To understand the relations between high risk sexual behavior and HIV infection among MSM in ways of finding male partners in Ningbo. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ningbo between April and November in 2018. Data related to socio-demographics, ways of finding male partners, adoption of gay apps and sexual behaviors were collected by snowball method. Blood samples were drawn for HIV antibody testing. Classified data was evaluated by chi-square test. Related factors on HIV infection were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 735 participants were included in this study. Ways of finding male partners would through gay apps (60.8%, 447/735), QQ/Wechat (32.3%, 237/735) and gay-places (6.9%, 51/735). Related information on high risk sexual behavior and HIV infection among gay apps users were found as: 16.8%(75) had sexual behavior once per week in the past 6 months, 41.8% (187/447) had multiple sexual partners, 12.1% (54/447) had unprotected anal intercourse in the last time, 52.3% (234/447) having had unprotected anal intercourse in the past 6 months. The overall HIV prevalence rate was 12.1%(54/447). Among the HIV cases who got infected within the two years, 68.6%(24/35) of them had used gay apps for less than two years. Results from the, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that gay apps users were more susceptible to infected HIV than those who used the QQ/Wechat (OR=3.03, 95%CI: 1.30-7.07). Conclusions: Gay apps was popularly known among the Ningbo MSM, and was associated with the high risk sexual behaviors and HIV infection. HIV control and prevention programs should be strengthened in the MSM population who used the gay apps. Related surveillance and intervention programs for MSM, who use the gay apps, need to be further reinforced.

[Research progress in the pathogenic mechanisms of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae].

FimA has been characterized as an important virulence factor for Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg). These structures play a major role in the mechanisms of adhesion and invasion of Pg to host cells, and can induce cellular activation and cytokines release. FimA can also promote biofilm formation and induce immuno-inflammatory response of host cells. Many studies have characterized FimA to be associated with periodontitis and cardiovascular disease. Pg strains are classified into six types based on divergent nucleotide sequences of the fimA gene (types Ⅰ、Ⅰb、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ andⅤ). The expression of fimbriae is regulated by the fimA gene, which may be the key factor that leads to virulence diversities of Pg, At present, the research on the pathogenesis of FimA mainly focuses on periodontitis and atherosclerosis, which is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of diseases. This paper reviewed the pathogenic effect of FimA in the development of above mentioned two diseases and its application in the prevention.

[Influencing factors for keratinized differentiation of keratinocytes].

Keratinized mucosa in oral cavity plays an important role in periodontal health. The defect of keratinized mucosa may increase the risks of complication of oral implant surgery and restoration. Graft of keratinized tissue and connective tissue are still the gold standard for treating keratinized mucosa defect now. The current research focus on how to modulate non-keratinized mucosa to highly-efficient and minimally-invasive keratinized mucosa. Keratinocytes are critical components of oral mucosa and its final differentiation into keratinized mucosa is controlled by the connective tissue microenvironment involving a variety of molecules and ions. To fully understand keratinized differentiation of keratinocyte, this review focuses on its influence factors and possible mechanisms under the differentiation.

[The role of HuR in mediating snail expression in human small airway epithelium induced by cigarette smoke extract].

Objective: To investigate the abundance of human antigen R (HuR) in small airway epithelial cells stimulated by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) as well as the role of HuR in mediating snail which is recognized as a key transcription factor in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods: Human small airway epithelial cells (HSAEpiC) cultured in vitro were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) to model COPD status. Real-time PCR and western blotting analysis were used in detecting HuR protein and mRNA expression in cells with CSE which were divided into 5 groups: a control group, a 1%-24 h group, a 3%-24 h group, a 1%-48 h group and a 3%-48 h group. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was used to decrease HuR abundance. HuR expression at both mRNA and protein levels was detected using Real-time PCR and Western blotting analysis respectively, and the experiment was divided into 3 groups: a control group, a transfection control group and a transfection group. Snail, E-cadherin and vimentin levels were determined using Western blotting test in cells with both CSE exposure and HuR siRNA transfection which were divided into three groups: control group, CSE group and CSE + transfection group. Results: After CSE stimulation, HuR expression was increased at both mRNA and protein levels [mRNA 1%-24 h group (1.12±0.04), 3%-24 h group (1.41±0.06), 1%-48 h group (1.26±0.05), 3%-48 h group (1.49±0.06), protein 3%-24 h group (1.35±0.08), 1%-48 h group (1.17±0.06), 3%-48h group (1.42±0.06) all P<0.05]. Compared with the control siRNA, after HuR siRNA transfection, HuR mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced [mRNA level (0.33±0.06) vs (1.02±0.10), protein level (0.46±0.07) vs (0.97±0.06), all P<0.01]. Control siRNA transfection had no effect on HuR expression [mRNA level (1.02±0.10), protein level (0.97±0.06), all P>0.05]. After 48 h stimulation with 3% CSE, the expression of HuR (1.47±0.11), snail (1.46±0.05) and vimentin (1.56±0.05) increased and the expression of E-cadherin (0.49±0.05) decreased. After transfection and CSE stimulation, the expression of HuR (0.84±0.06), snail (1.22±0.06) and vimentin (1.11±0.09) decreased and the expression of E-cadherin (0.73±0.06) increased. (All P>0.05). Conclusions: CSE promoted the expression of HuR in human small airway epithelial cells. HuR participated in the regulation process of EMT key transcription factor snail and might regulate EMT process by this action.

Retraction RETRACTION of "Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene -308G>A polymorphism association with the risk of esophageal cancer in a Han Chinese population" by H. Zhao, H.W. Zhang, T. Zhang and X.M. Gu - Genet. Mol. Res. 15 (2): gmr.15025866 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4238/gmr.15025866.

The retracted article is: Zhao H, Zhang HW, Zhang T and Gu XM (2016). Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene -308G>A polymorphism association with the risk of esophageal cancer in a Han Chinese population. Genet. Mol. Res. 15: gmr.15025866. Two major concerns were found in this article. Firstly, it was found to be substantially equal to the article "Tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene -308G > A polymorphism alters the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in a Han Chinese population" published in the Diagnostic Pathology Diagnostic Pathology (2014) 9: 199, by Feng et al.; licensee BioMed Central. 2014 - DOI: 10.1186/s13000-014-0199-3. Secondly, the authors do not discuss limitations of their approaches in the discussion. The discussion is largely an elaboration of the literature in the introduction part. However, even in that context, the discussion does not appropriately review the literature and there are frequent references to conclusions that are not supported by the cited literature. The GMR editorial staff was alerted and after a thorough investigation, there is strong reason to believe that the peer review process was failure. Also, after review and contacting the authors, the editors of Genetics and Molecular Research decided to retract this article in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The authors and their institutions were advised of this serious breach of ethics.

[Human antigen R regulates TGF-ß1 expression in airway smooth muscle cells under the stimulation of platelet-derived growth factor].

Objective: To study the role of human antigen R (HuR) regulated transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) expression in airway smooth muscle cells under the stimulation of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). Methods: Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells were cultured at 37 ℃ and 5% CO2 in dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM) cell medium. Cells at passages between 4 and 11 were divided into different groups according to the different compounds added. For control group, no compounds were administrated. For PDGF group, cells were stimulated with PDGF (20 µg/L) and cultured for an additional time. Cells were harvested and real-time PCR was used to measure mRNA level and Western blotting to detect protein level of HuR and TGF-ß1 in ASM cells for different groups. Cells were divided into HuR siRNA group and control group. RNA-interference was used to determine whether lowering HuR expression could decrease PDGF-induced TGF-ß1 expression in HuR siRNA group and control group after the stimulation of PDGF for indicated times. Western blotting analysis was used to test the expression of TGF-ß1 after interrupting HuR expression. The concentration of TGF-ß1 in the cultured serum of HuR siRNA group and control group for 0, 6, 12 h under the stimulation of PDGF was measured by enzyme-link immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cells were divided into control group, control+ PDGF 6 h group, HuR siRNA group and HuR siRNA+ PDGF 6 h group, then the half-life of TGF-ß1 mRNA in different groups was determined by treating ASM cells with the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D (10 mg/L) for 0, 4, 8 and 12 h. Results: PDGF treatment for 0, 6, 12 and 24 h significantly promoted HuR mRNA and protein expression and the relative levels were 1.00±0.00, 1.35±0.14, 1.73±0.17, 2.07±0.10; 0.51±0.10, 0.67±0.05, 0.83±0.07, 0.95±0.02 (all P<0.05). Similar alterations could also be demonstrated at TGF-ß1 mRNA and protein. The relative expression was 1.00±0.00, 1.27±0.06, 1.60±0.10, 1.87±0.10; 0.72±0.09, 0.87±0.07, 1.13±0.12, 1.33±0.05 (6 h versus 12 h and 12 h versus 24 h, P<0.05). HuR expression decreased 21.9% in HuR siRNA group compared with control group under the stimulation of PDGF for 12 h. HuR silencing also decreased PDGF-induced TGF-ß1 over-expression in ASM cells. In the control group, the relative protein levels of PDGF treatment for 0, 6 and 12 h were 0.70±0.05, 0.89±0.06, 1.06±0.05 and the protein levels in HuR siRNA group were 0.67±0.09, 0.77±0.03, 0.89±0.05 (all P<0.05). The concentration of TGF-ß1 in the cultured serum was measured by ELISA and the outcomes were (773.33±16.32, 877.97±16.03, 3 060.34±82.53) ng/L in control group for 0, 6 and 12 h. Under the same condition, the outcomes of HuR siRNA group were (277.33±9.93, 407.77±7.14, 828.05±11.67) ng/L (both P<0.05). Actinomycin D disturbed the process of transcription and the half-life of TGF-ß1 mRNA in HuR siRNA group showed no significant change compared with the HuR siRNA+ PDGF 6 h group (P>0.05). However, compared with control group and control + PDGF 6 h group, the half-life of TGF-ß1 mRNA in HuR siRNA group showed significant change (P<0.05). Conclusions: PDGF can elevate TGF-ß1 expression in ASM cells. HuR regulates TGF-ß1 expression by promoting its mRNA stability.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene -308G>A polymorphism association with the risk of esophageal cancer in a Han Chinese population.

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between the TNF-α-308G>A polymorphism and the risk of esophageal cancer in a Han Chinese population. The case group included 342 patients with esophageal cancer and the control group comprised 300 healthy individuals. The TNF-α-308G>A polymorphism was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Conditional logistic regression was performed to analyze the associations between TNF-α-308 G>A polymorphism variation and the risk of esophageal cancer, which were estimated by ORs and their 95%CIs. The results indicated that the genotypic frequencies in the patients were not similar to those of the controls, and that the differences were statistically significant (P = 0.014). Using the GG genotype as the reference genotype, the AA genotype was found to be significantly associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer (adjusted OR = 8.91, 95%CI = 4.72-17.89, P = 0.007). Similarly, the AG+AA genotypes showed 7.82-fold increased esophageal cancer risk in a dominant model. Furthermore, we found that the A allele was significantly associated with a higher risk of esophageal cancer than the G allele (OR = 6.26, 95%CI = 2.73-10.35, P = 0.013). The results of this study therefore suggested that the presence of the high producer -308A allele in the TNF-α gene appeared to be associated with an increased risk for the development of esophageal cancer in the Han Chinese population.

Successful treatment of pituitary abscess with intravenous antibiotics: a case report and literature review.

Pituitary abscess is a rare intrasellar infectious disease. It is usually treated with a combination of surgical drainage and intravenous antibiotics. We describe the case of a 38-year-old man with headache, fever, left earache, subsequent diabetes insipidus, and anterior pituitary insufficiency due to pituitary abscess, which was confirmed on the basis of clinical symptoms, laboratory examination results, and magnetic resonance imaging features. He was treated nonsurgically with intravenous antibiotics, with complete resolution of the pituitary abscess and recovery of pituitary function. Nonsurgical treatment may be an option for pituitary abscess.

Differentiation of colonic polyps by confocal laser endomicroscopy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: The real-time identification and removal of adenomas is a cost-effective strategy to improve the prognosis of colorectal cancer. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) could provide real-time histological-level observation. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of CLE diagnosis using a simple classification system that differentiates adenomas from non-neoplastic polyps with intravenous fluorescein staining alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An endoscope integrated confocal laser microscopy system was used in this study. CLE images of 35 colonic polyps, including 15 hyperplastic polyps and 20 adenomas confirmed by histology, were first evaluated to develop criteria for diagnosis of neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps. The diagnostic criteria included goblet cell depletion, villous architecture, and microvascular alterations. We then performed a prospective study of colonic polyps found during CLE and classified them according to the established criteria. A total of 115 patients with 115 colonic polyps were included. The real-time CLE diagnosis was compared with that from histology. The stored CLE images were evaluated later by a blinded observer. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of real-time CLE in identifying colonic adenomas were 93.9 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 85.4 - 97.6), 95.9 % (95 % CI 86.2 - 98.9), 96.9 % (95 % CI 89 - 99), and 92.2 % (95 % CI 81 - 97), respectively, compared with histological results. Interobserver agreement between real-time and post-CLE still-image evaluation was excellent (kappa = 0.929). Goblet cell depletion alone had a sensitivity of 84.9 % (95 % CI 73 - 92) and a specificity of 87.8 % (95 % CI 75 - 95), as well as excellent interobserver agreement (kappa = 0.824). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscope integrated CLE with fluorescein staining may reliably assist in the real-time identification of colonic adenomas. Among three diagnostic categories, goblet cell depletion can be used to distinguish adenomas and hyperplastic polyps.

PTCH germline mutations in Chinese nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome patients.

OBJECTIVES: PTCH, the human homologue of the Drosophila segment polarity gene, patched, has been identified as the gene responsible for nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. The aim of this study was to investigate PTCH gene mutation in Chinese patients with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA was isolated from both odontogenic keratocyst tissue and peripheral blood of five patients with syndrome and one patient with only multiple odontogenic keratocysts, and mutational analysis of the PTCH gene performed by direct sequencing after amplification of all 23 exons by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: A previously reported germline mutation (c.2619C>A) was identified in two familial cases involving the mother and the daughter, with the mother also carrying a novel somatic mutation (c.361_362insGAGC). Three novel germline PTCH mutations (c.1338_1339insGCG, c.331delG and c.1939A>T) were detected in three unrelated patients with syndrome. The patient with multiple odontogenic keratocysts who failed to fulfill the diagnostic criteria of the syndrome also carried a novel germline mutation (c.317T>G). CONCLUSION: The frequent germline PTCH mutations detected in our series provide further evidence for the crucial role of PTCH in the pathogenesis of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome in Chinese.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the long-fingered bat Miniopterus fuliginosus.

We isolated and characterized 10 microsatellite loci in the long-fingered bat Miniopterus fuliginosus. These loci were tested on 48 individuals from Anhui Province of China, and all loci were highly polymorphic. The mean number of observed alleles per locus was 13.6 (range from six to 27). Observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.364 to 0.957, and from 0.676 to 0.951, respectively. After Bonferroni correction, four loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No pairs of loci were in linkage disequilibrium. These polymorphic markers will be used to examine population structure and genetic diversity in this species.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the western long-fingered bat, Miniopterus magnater.

We isolated and characterized 10 microsatellite loci in the western long-fingered bat, Miniopterus magnater. These loci were tested on 48 individuals from Anhui Province of China, and all loci were highly polymorphic. The mean number of observed alleles per locus was 13.6 (range from six to 27). Observed and expected heterozygosity values ranged from 0.364 to 0.957, and from 0.676 to 0.951, respectively. After Bonferroni correction, four loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No pairs of loci were in linkage disequilibrium. These polymorphic markers will be used to examine population structure and genetic diversity in this species.