[Clinical experience of 302 cases with brain abscess].

Objective: To compare the diagnosis and treatment experience of brain abscesses and improve prognosis. Methods: The data of 302 patients of brain abscess at Department of Neurosurgery in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from 1980 to 2014 was analyzed retrospectively. There were 215 male and 87 female patients aged from 11 to 82 years with mean age of (30±8) years. The patients was divided into 1980-2001 group and 2002-2014 group according to different diagnosis and the treatment methods. The therapy methods include operation and conservative treatment. There were 196 cases received operation, including 95 cases of excision, 89 cases of ventriculopuncture, 12 cases of excision after ventriculopuncture, 106 cases received drug conservative therapy. Two groups of information including clinical manifestation, abscess location, therapeutic effect and prognosis were compared by χ(2) test. Results: Compared to 1980-2001 group, adjacent infection incidence declined(χ(2)=8.000, P=0.005). The ratio of single abscess declined and multiple abscess increased(χ(2)=11.060, P=0.001), the infection proportion of frontal lobe and temporal lobe decreased(χ(2)=9.080, P=0.003; χ(2)=15.440, P=0.000). The ratio of headache and vomit and papilledema declined significantly(χ(2)=23.290, P=0.000; χ(2)=21.020, P=0.000; χ(2)=2.290, P=0.001). Total mortality of 302 patients were 23 cases and 5 cases of 1980-2001 group and 2002-2014 group (10.4% vs. 6.3%, χ(2)=1.180, P=0.277). However, there were statistical difference in postoperative mortality between both groups (14.4% vs. 4.0%, χ(2) =3.880, P=0.049). Conclusion: With the application of antibiotics and the development of neurosurgical techniques, the prognosis of brain abscess has been improved.

Intracranial aneurysm risk factor genes: relationship with intracranial aneurysm risk in a Chinese Han population.

Few studies have examined the genes related to risk fac-tors that may contribute to intracranial aneurysms (IAs). This study in Chinese patients aimed to explore the relationship between IA and 28 gene loci, proven to be associated with risk factors for IA. We recruited 119 patients with aneurysms and 257 controls. Single factor and logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of IA and IA rup-ture with risk factors. Twenty-eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 22 genes were genotyped for the patient and control groups. SNP genotypes and allele frequencies were analyzed by the chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis identified hypertension as a factor that increased IA risk (P = 1.0 x 10(-4); OR, 2.500; 95%CI, 1.573-3.972); IA was associated with two SNPs in the TSLC2A9 gene: rs7660895 (P = 0.007; OR, 1.541; 95%CI, 1.126-2.110); and in the TOX gene: rs11777927 (P = 0.013; OR, 1.511; 95%CI, 1.088-2.098). Subsequent removal of the influence of family relationship identified between 12 of 119 patients enhanced the significant association of these SNPs with IA (P = 0.001; OR, 1.691; 95%CI, 1.226-2.332; and P = 0.006; OR, 1.587; 95%CI, 1.137-2.213 for rs7660895 and rs11777927, respectively). Fur-thermore, the minor allele of rs7660895 (A) was also associated with IA rupture (P = 0.007; OR, 2.196; 95%CI, 1.230-3.921). Therefore, hypertension is an independent risk factor for IA. Importantly, the TSL-C2A9 (rs7660895) and TOX (rs11777927) gene polymorphisms may be associated with formation of IAs, and rs7660895 may be associated with IA rupture.

Characterization and development of RGD-peptide-modified poly(lactic acid-co-lysine) as an interactive, resorbable biomaterial.

The design of biomaterials containing specific ligands on the surface offers the possibility of creating materials that can interact with and potentially control mammalian cell behavior. Biodegradable materials further provide the significant advantage that the polymer will disappear in vivo, obviating long-term negative tissue responses as well as the need for retrieval. In earlier studies we synthesized and characterized arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide-modified poly(lactic acid-co-lysine) (PLAL). In this study, both bulk properties and surface features have been characterized, with a focus on surface analysis as a means of interpreting observed changes in cell behavior. Bulk peptide attachments were performed using 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI). Amino groups were measured using colorimetric assays and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Peptides were measured by incorporating iodine into the peptide as a distinct elemental marker for use with XPS. Typical samples contained 13 +/- 4 pmol/cm2 of amino groups and 4 +/- 0.2 pmol/ cm2 of peptides, as calculated from XPS measurements of nitrogen and iodine. The wettability and crystallinity of the samples were determined by contact angles and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. Wettability and crystallinity were not altered by the incorporation of lysine or peptides. After incubating bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells for 4 h on surfaces with RGD-containing peptides, the mean spread cell area increased from 77 +/- 2 microns2 to 405 +/- 29 microns2 compared to 116 +/- 11 microns2 on poly(lactic acid), 87 +/- 4 microns2 on PLAL, and 105 +/- 4 microns2 on surfaces with RDG-containing (control) peptides. The significance of this work is that the first synthetic interactive, resorbable biomaterial has been developed, and use of this material to control cell behavior has been demonstrated.

van der Woude syndrome in two families in China.

We report on two unrelated families from the Beijing area in which the autosomal dominant gene for van der Woude syndrome (VWS) is segregating. The clinical features include paramedian lower lip pits (fistula labii inferioris congenita), cleft palate, and cleft lip with or without cleft palate. All three of the clinical features may occur together in an affected individual, or any two together, or any one as a single feature of an individual who carries the gene. The probands in each of our families also have ankyloglossia. This is the first report of VWS from China.