[Application of oral fluid in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and antibody detection].

This study aimed to explore the application value of new biological specimen oral fluid in SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid and antibody detection. Oral fluid and paired respiratory and blood specimens from 7 confirmed cases of two COVID-19 cluster epidemic were collected in Beijing from October to November 2021. SARS-CoV-2 virus and IgG antibody were detected by real time PCR kits and serum antibody detection reagents, and SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in oral fluids was detected by a new established method of magnetic particle chemiluminescence. The results showed that the nucleic acid amplification test of SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swabs, throat swabs and oral fluid specimens from 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19 was positive, among which the Ct value for ORF1a/b and N gene of oral fluid samples in 2 cases was close to that of throat swab, and the Ct value of oral fluid sample for 1 case was higher than that of throat swab. The complete genome sequence of one oral fluid specimen was obtained, which belonged to the VOC/Delta variant strain. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies of the paired oral fluid and serum were all positive, and the S/CO values of oral fluid were all lower than those of serum. The series of oral fluid results showed that SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody level increased from 11 to 32 days after the onset of the disease.

[Thoughts and practice on the treatment of severe and critical new coronavirus pneumonia].

Severe and critical coronavirus pneumonia 2019 (COVID-19) often occurs in elder patients with multiple comorbidities, and severe hypoxemia events constitute a key factor for the deterioration of some cases. The critical type of COVID-19 could progress into acute respiratory distress syndrome and multi-organ dysfunction, which are the major causes of death. Early non-invasive ventilation (NIV) treatment of possible pathophysiological abnormalities is helpful to improve prognosis. Close monitoring of oxygenation, reducing patients' oxygen consumption, active psychological intervention, and rapid handling of severe hypoxemia events are the key factors for successful NIV treatment. In addition, active adjuvant therapies such as correcting coagulation dysfunction, providing proper nutritional support, accurate volume control, and safe individualized blood glucose monitoring are of great significance.

Long term survival of radiotherapy for esophageal cancer: analysis of 1136 patients surviving for more than 5 years.

One thousand one hundred and thirty-six patients surviving for more than five years after radiotherapy were studied. The important prognostic factors are: lesion less than 5 cm in length, lesion located in the upper-third segment and lesion that is radiosensitive. The radiation dose given to long term survivors varies greatly, i.e., 2700 to 9300 rad. Yet, for the sensitive type of lesion, doses lower than 5000 rad could also effect a cure. The delivery of an optimum dose determined by serial examinations during radiotherapy could improve the result of treatment. For local recurrent lesions, the value of a second course of radiation is extremely limited and surgery is the only means to offer a cure. For metastasis in the lymph nodes, radiation offers some hope of cure, although the long term outcome may not be satisfactory. For second primary cancer of the esophagus, aggressive radiation still gives encouraging results.

[Isolation and identification of two new secoiridoids of water-soluble chemical constituents from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum Ait].

Two new secoiridoids named as specnuezhenide (I) and nuezhengalaside (II) were isolated from the water-soluble part of dry fruits of Ligustrum lucidum Ait. Their structures were established on the basis of chemical analysis and spectral data (UV, IR, 1H-NMR, NOEDS, HOMO-DEC, 13C-NMR, DEPT and MS).

[Detection of point mutation of p53 gene by non-isotopic PCR-SSCP in paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissue].

Non-isotopic PCR-SSCP method was used to detect point mutation of p53 gene in paraffin-embedded breast cancers. The abnormal shifting of the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) was identified in 14 out of 60 cases. The point mutations of four cases were found in exons 5-6, three in exon 7 and seven in exon 8. The mutant p53 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry. The positive nuclear staining was observed in 13 cases, among which 11 cases showed abnormal shifting of ssDNA in SSCP analysis. The point mutations of the other two cases might occur in the regions which were not examined in this study. The point mutations of p53 were found in 5 cases in the absence of detectable protein. This probably resulted from the reduction or loss of antigenicity of p53 in some of the routinely processed tissues. Our results indicate that detection of point mutations of p53 gene by PCR-SSCP method is more accurate and reliable than that by immunohistochemistry and non-isotopic PCR-SSCP is especially useful in the screening of point mutations during handling a large number of samples.

An applied anatomical study of the superior laryngeal nerve loop.

The aim of this study was to provide some specific information about the morphology and topography of the superior laryngeal n., its branches, and its anastomoses with the cervical sympathetic chain, as well as its relations with the thyroid gland. Sixty adult cadavers, i.e. 120 superior laryngeal nn., were dissected and analysed. An anastomotic loop connecting the cervical sympathetic chain and the distal laryngeal n. was present in 111 of the 120 cases. The morphology of this loop made it possible to define 5 different groups. This study supplies information valuable in thyroid surgery.