Effect of patient decision aids on choice between sugammadex and neostigmine in surgeries under general anesthesia: a multicenter randomized controlled trial / 대한마취과학회지

Background@#Shared decision making using patient decision aids (PtDAs) was established over a decade ago, but few studies have evaluated its efficacy in Asian countries. We therefore evaluated the application of PtDAs in a decision conflict between two muscle relaxant reversal agents, neostigmine and sugammadex, and sequentially analyzed the regional differences and operating room turnover rates. @*Methods@#This multicenter, outcome-assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial included 3,132 surgical patients from two medical centers admitted between March 2020 and August 2020. The patients were randomly divided into the classical and PtDA groups for pre-anesthesia consultations. Their clinicodemographic characteristics were analyzed to identify variables influencing the choice of reversal agent. On the day of the pre-anesthesia consultation, the patients completed the four SURE scale (sure of myself, understand information, risk-benefit ratio, encouragement) screening items. The operating turnover rates were also evaluated using anesthesia records. @*Results@#Compared with the classical group, the PtDA group felt more confident about receiving sufficient medical information (P < 0.001), felt better informed about the advantages and disadvantages of the medications (P < 0.001), exhibited a superior understanding of the benefits and risks of their options (P < 0.001), and felt surer about their choice (P < 0.001). Moreover, the PtDA group had a significantly greater tendency to choose sugammadex over neostigmine (P < 0.001). @*Conclusions@#PtDA interventions in pre-anesthesia consultations provided surgical patients with clear knowledge and better support. PtDAs should be made available in other medical fields to enhance shared clinical decision-making.

Distribution of gene mutation sites affecting artemisinin metabolism in the Kazak population in Xinjiang / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To detect the distribution of CYP2A6∗2, CYP2A6∗10, CYP2A6∗17, CYP2B6∗4, CYP2B6∗6, and CYP2B6∗18 loci affecting the metabolism of artemisinins in Kazak population in Xinjiang. To explore the pharmacogenetic background of the Kazak population in Xinjiang for artemisinin drugs and provide clinical decision support for the treatment and prevention of malaria based on artemisinin drugs. Methods　Six SNPs including CYP2A6∗2, CYP2A6∗10, CYP2A6∗17, CYP2B6∗4, CYP2B6∗6, and CYP2B6∗18 were selected for the sequencing experiment. 330 whole blood samples were collected from the Kazak population in Xinjiang. After extracting the whole blood DNA genome, multiplex PCR and high-throughput sequencing were used for genotyping. The allele frequencies were analyzed using the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Results　In this study all SNPs follow the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05), there was no significant difference in the distribution of SNPs between different genders (P>0.05). The number of successfully sequenced samples of CYP2A6∗2, CYP2A6∗10, CYP2A6∗17, CYP2B6∗4, CYP2B6∗6, and CYP2B6∗18 were 326, 319, 328, 318, 322 and 328 respectively. The frequencies of variant alleles of CYP2A6∗2, CYP2A6∗10, CYP2A6∗17, CYP2B6∗4, CYP2B6∗6, and CYP2B6∗18 in Kazak population are: 0.61%, 0%, 0%, 30.97%, 22.98%, 0%. Conclusions　Mutation alleles affecting the metabolism of artemisinins exist in the Kazak population in Xinjiang. When using artemisinins, the relationship between the drug effect and individual pharmacogenetic background should be further explored.

Microleakage of chairside moulded, 3D-printed and milled provisional restorations using a curve-fit approach

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate and measure the microleakage inhibiting quality of provisional restorations manufactured using computer-aided manufacturing, 3D printing, and chairside molded provisional restorative materials. Fifteen provisional restorations each from 3D printed, milled, and chairside molded were manufactured. All restorations were cemented onto sintered zirconia abutment dies and adhered with zinc-oxide non-eugenol temporary cement. Artificial aging was conducted by thermocycling for 800 cycles to simulate 1 month of clinical use. All specimens were submerged in 2% (w/w) methylene blue for 24 hours at 37°C, sectioned, and analyzed digitally for the distance of dye penetration through image analysis. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn-Bonferroni post-hoc. Significant differences in dye penetration depth were observed between all groups except milled vs chairside molded. Light microscopy revealed differences in mean cement thickness for 3D printed, milled, and chairside molded of 83.6 µm (1σ = 31.9 µm), 149.1 µm (1σ = 88.7 µm) and 137.9 µm (1σ = 67.2 µm) respectively. Conclusion: 3D printed provisional restorations were found to have the least amount of microleakage compared to milled and chairside molded provisional restorations.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e medir a qualidade de inibição de microinfiltração de restaurações provisórias fabricadas usando manufatura assistida por computador, impressão 3D e materiais de restauração provisória moldados no consultório. Foram fabricadas 15 restaurações provisórias impressas em 3D, fresadas e moldadas em consultório. Todas as restaurações foram cimentadas em matrizes de pilar de zircônia sinterizada e aderidas com cimento temporário de óxido de zinco sem eugenol. O envelhecimento artificial foi conduzido por termociclagem por 800 ciclos para simular 1 mês de uso clínico. Todos os espécimes foram submersos em azul de metileno a 2% (p/p) por 24 horas a 37°C, seccionados e analisados digitalmente quanto à distância de penetração do corante por meio de análise de imagem. Os dados foram analisados usando o teste de Kruskal-Wallis com post-hoc de Dunn-Bonferroni. Foram observadas diferenças significativas na profundidade de penetração do corante entre todos os grupos, exceto entre fresado e moldado na cadeira. A microscopia óptica revelou diferenças na espessura média do cimento para as restaurações impressas em 3D, fresadas e moldadas em cadeira de 83,6 µm (1σ = 31,9 µm), 149,1 µm (1σ = 88,7 µm) e 137,9 µm (1σ = 67,2 µm), respectivamente. Conclusão: As restaurações provisórias impressas em 3D apresentaram a menor quantidade de microinfiltração em comparação com as restaurações provisórias fresadas e moldadas no consultório.

Living fossils unearthed by blasting human chromosomes with Neanderthal mtDNA / 数字中医药（英文）

@#The successful retrieval of ancient mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from Neanderthals provides powerful experimental evidence that clarifies the arguments between the out-of-Africa and multiregional models of evolution. However, the lack of nuclear DNA from Neanderthal fossils and mtDNA of early modern human fossils dating back to approximately the same time in the Pleistocene constitutes a limitation that may compromise the significance of mtDNA phylogenetic analysis. In this report, we introduce a mitochromic analysis using Neanderthal mtDNA as a foreign transgene and humans as a naturally occurring transgenic species. Forty Neanderthal mtDNA retrievable nuclear fragments were identified by blasting human genome data with Neanderthal mtDNA. Five of the 40 fragments exhibited higher correlation with Neanderthal mtDNA than those with modern human mtDNA. Furthermore, these five nuclear fragments harbor Neanderthal mtDNA-unique haplotypes. Based on the 98%+ identity between Neanderthal and modern human mtDNA when compared by groups, we suggest that some of the modern human nuclear fragments retrieved using Neanderthal mtDNA may aid in decoding Neanderthal genetic information, and also may simultaneously demonstrate a close genetic evolutionary relationship between modern humans and Neanderthals.

Cloning of transcription factor PcFBA-1 in Pogostemon cabin and its interaction with FPPS promoter / 中国中药杂志

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase(FPPS) is a key enzyme at the branch point of the sesquiterpene biosynthetic pathway, but there are no reports on the transcriptional regulation of FPPS promoter in Pogostemon cabin. In the early stage of this study, we obtained the binding protein PcFBA-1 of FPPS gene promoter in P. cabin. In order to explore the possible mechanism of PcFBA-1 involved in the regulation of patchouli alcohol biosynthesis, this study performed PCR-based cloning and sequencing analysis of PcFBA-1, analyzed the expression patterns of PcFBA-1 in different tissues by fluorescence quantitative PCR and its subcellular localization using the protoplast transformation system, detected the binding of PcFBA-1 protein to the FPPS promoter in vitro with the yeast one-hybrid system, and verified its transcriptional regulatory function by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. The findings demonstrated that the cloned PcFBA-1 had an open reading frame(ORF) of 1 131 bp, encoding a protein of 376 amino acids, containing two conserved domains named F-box-like superfamily and FBA-1 superfamily, and belonging to the F-box family. Moreover, neither signal peptide nor transmembrane domain was contained, implying that it was an unstable hydrophilic protein. In addition, as revealed by fluorescence quantitative PCR results, PcFBA-1 had the highest expression in leaves, and there was no significant difference in expression in roots or stems. PcFBA-1 protein was proved mainly located in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid screening and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay showed that PcFBA-1 was able to bind to FPPS promoter both in vitro and in vivo to enhance the activity of FPPS promoter. In summary, this study identifies a new transcription factor PcFBA-1 in P. cabin, which directly binds to the FPPS gene promoter to enhance the promoter activity. This had laid a foundation for the biosynthesis of patchouli alcohol and other active ingre-dients and provided a basis for metabolic engineering and genetic improvement of P. cabin.

Establishment of enzalutamide-resistant human prostate cancer cell lines and screening of lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To establish enzalutamide-resistant human prostate cancer cell lines and screen out the lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles associated with enzalutamide resistance.@*METHODS@#Human prostate cancer cell lines LNCAP and C4-2B were cultured with 10 μmol/L enzalutamide for 6 months in vitro for the establishment of enzalutamide-resistant subclones LNCAP-ENZA and C4-2B-ENZA. The IC50 value and enzalutamide resistance index of each cell line were examined by MTT assay, the expressions of enzalutamide-related genes FL-AR, AR-V7 and HnRNPA1 were determined by Western blot, and the lncRNA and mRNA differential expressions of C4-2B and C4-2B-ENZA were detected by high-throughout lncRNA microarray.@*RESULTS@#Compared with LNCAP and C4-2B, the IC50 values of enzalutamide-resistant subclones LNCAP-ENZA (60.83 μmol/L) and C4-2B-ENZA (88.32 μmol/L) were increased significantly (P < 0.05) and the enzalutamide-resistance indexes of the LNCAP-ENZA and C4-2B-ENZA cells were 4.94 and 4.67, respectively. The expressions of AR-V7 and HnRNPA1 were markedly up-regulated in the LNCAP-ENZA and C4-2B-ENZA cells as compared with those in the LNCAP and C4-2B cells, but that of FL-AR showed no significant change. A total of 1 440 lncRNAs and 1 236 mRNAs were identified as differentially expressed in the C4-2B-ENZA cells.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Enzalutamide -resistant human prostate cancer cell subclones LNCAP-ENZA and C4-2B-ENZA were successfully established and enzalutamide resistance-associated lncRNA and mRNA were identified, which may provide some molecular evidence for the management of enzalutamide-resistant human prostate cancer.

Relief of Acute Herpetic Pain by Intravenous Vitamin C: The Dosage May Make a Difference

No abstract available.

Effects of continuous positive airway pressure on blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review and meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials / Efeitos da pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas na pressão arterial em pacientes com hipertensão resistente e apneia obstrutiva do sono: revisão sistemática e meta-análise de seis ensaios clínicos controlados aleatórios

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate systematically the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the Web of Science were searched for studies investigating the effects of CPAP on blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension and OSA. The selected studies underwent quality assessment and meta-analysis, as well as being tested for heterogeneity. Results: Six randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled estimates of the changes in mean systolic blood pressure and mean diastolic blood pressure (as assessed by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring) were −5.40 mmHg (95% CI: −9.17 to −1.64; p = 0.001; I2 = 74%) and −3.86 mmHg (95% CI: −6.41 to −1.30; p = 0.00001; I2 = 79%), respectively. Conclusions: CPAP therapy can significantly reduce blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension and OSA.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar sistematicamente os efeitos da continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP, pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas) na pressão arterial em pacientes com hipertensão resistente e apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS). Métodos: Estudos que investigassem os efeitos da CPAP na pressão arterial em pacientes com hipertensão resistente e AOS foram buscados nos seguintes bancos de dados eletrônicos: Cochrane Library; PubMed; ScienceDirect e Web of Science. Os estudos selecionados foram submetidos a avaliação de qualidade, meta-análise e teste de heterogeneidade. Resultados: Foram incluídos na meta-análise seis ensaios clínicos controlados aleatórios. As estimativas combinadas das alterações das médias de pressão arterial sistólica e pressão arterial diastólica (medidas por meio de monitoração ambulatorial da pressão arterial durante 24 h) foram de −5,40 mmHg (IC95%: −9,17 a −1,64; p = 0,001; I2 = 74%) e −3,86 mmHg (IC95%: −6,41 a −1,30; p = 0,00001; I2 = 79%), respectivamente. Conclusões: O tratamento com CPAP é capaz de reduzir significativamente a pressão arterial em pacientes com hipertensão resistente e AOS.

Strategy of constructing post-market integral evaluation system of traditional Chinese medicine injection / 中国中药杂志

As an important representative of modern Chinese medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injzection has become an indispensable part of the Chinese medicine industry. However, its development is now restricted by the bottleneck of insufficient core competitiveness, low-level research and production, even injection quality and the safe use are not guaranteed. Thus, it is urgent to reevaluate post-marketing TCM injection generally and to make secondary development. Under current circumstances, taking major brands which have good clinical and market foundation, as well as research value, as the main subject of cultivation and evaluation is an important approach to innovative development of TCM injection industry. Unlike oral proprietary Chinese medicine, the cultivatation of major brands of TCM injection needs higher technical support, quality standards and more timely feedback. Therefore, a post-market integral evaluation system adaptive to TCM injection is required. This article discussed some key points on the construction of a post-market integral evaluation system of TCM injection in three levels： optimizing evaluation methods, building synergistic innovation platforms which combine the medical research institutions and pharmaceutical enterprises, and finally constructing the integral evaluation system. A "five to one" structure has been proposed to enhance TCM injection effectiveness, safety and adaptability on the whole, which are from the following aspects： mechanism research, clinical evidence validation, literature information mining, sustainable development of resources and industrialization operation.

The mid-long term results of application research of artificial Gore-Tex chordate in mitral valvuloplasty in patients with infective endocarditis / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To evaluate the mid-long term results of application research of artificial Gore-Tex chordate in mitral valvuloplasty in patients with mitral insufficiency caused by endocarditis. Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 28 consecutive infective endocarditis(IE) patients who received mitral valve repair with Gore-Tex in our hospital between January 2012 and December 2015. There were 17 males and 11 females. The age of these patients ranged from 18 to 69 (52.0±15.4) years. Echocardiography before operation showed the degree of mitral regurgitation (MR) was severe in 19 patients, moderate in 9 patients. Six patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class Ⅱ, 14 in class Ⅲ, 8 in class Ⅳ. There were 26 selective surgeries and 2 emergent surgeries. One patient had concomitant coronary artery bypass graft. Six patients had aortic valve replacement. Five patients had aortic valve repair. Twenty patients had tricuspid valve repair. Five patients had Maze procedure. Results    Follow-up was done to all the patients for 6 months to 55 (30.5±6.4) months. During the follow-up, the echocardiography showed that postoperative left atrium diameter (36.64±8.50 mm vs. 51.78±17.50 mm, P<0.05) and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (49.30±5.05 mm vs. 57.70±7.49 mm, P<0.05) were significantly smaller than those before operation. The left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) increased from 53.86%±8.16% to 59.14%±4.23% (P<0.05). No MR was found in 16 patients, mild MR in 8 patients, mild to moderate MR in 2 patients, moderate MR in 1 patient. One patient required reoperation for   recurrent infection. No death or complications related to thrombosis and embolism occurred after operation. Conclusion    Application research of artificial Gore-Tex chordate in mitral valve repair is feasible for treating mitral valve lesions caused by endocarditis, and may provide a long-term outcome to the patients.

The effects of traditional Chinese medicine intervention among community-dwelling elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment / 中华护理杂志

Objective To explore the effects of health management intervention with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) characteristics among community-dwelling elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment(MCI).Methods A quasi-experimental study design was adopted,and 40 elderly patients with MCI were randomly selected from 2 communities in Zhang-jia-wan Neighborhood in Wuhan.A phased,step-by-step health management for communitydwelling elderly patients with MCI was implemented,which lasted four months.The content of health management intervention included guidance of basic disease knowledge,cognitive training,acupoint massage,exercise of TCM,emotion of TCM and lifestyle of TCM.Knowledge-Attitude-Practice scale and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale were used before and after intervention.The results were analyzed by descriptive analysis,paired t test,x2 test and other statistical methods.Results There were significant differences in MoCA total score and scores of language,abstract and delayed recall dimensions(P＜0.05);differences of KAP total score,and scores of knowledge dimension and attitude dimension were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Conclusion Health management intervention with TCM characteristics can increase cognitive ability and KAP level among community-dwelling elderly patients with MCI.

Antiangiogenic drugs enhance the ability of invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells under serum starvation and hypoxia / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the ability of invasion and migration of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells under serum starvation and hypoxia, and the effect of antiangiogenic drugs, rh-endostatin and bevacizumab, on the ability of invasion and migration of breast cancer cells under serum starvation and/or hypoxia, in order to explore the potential risk of antiangiogenic therapy in clinics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cells were randomized into 4 groups, i.e., group A: 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) group; group B: hypoxia + 10% FBS group; group C: serum starvation group; group D: hypoxia + serum starvation group; each group was further divided into three subgroups as blank control, treated with rh-endostatin and bevacizumab, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to assess the inhibition rate of cell growth induced by endostatin and bevacizumab, in order to determine the proper working concentration and time of the two drugs. Transwell assay was conducted to detect the cell invasion and migration in vitro. The expressions of c-Met and MMP-9 were detected by Western blot. The cells treated with rh-endostatin or bevacizumab under serum starvation were tested by hybridization using Exiqon miBase 18.0 microarray. The miRNAs which exibited significant differences (P < 0.05) in miRNA hybridization were verified by real-time PCR assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CCK-8 assay showed that the inhibition rates of MDA-MB-231 cells cultured with 800 mg/L rh-endostatin for 48 h and 24 h were (32.2 ± 2.5)% and (27.0 ± 1.3)%, respectively, showing a significant difference (P = 0.023). The inhibition rates of MDA-MB-231 cells cultured with 80 mg/L bevacizumab for 48 h and 24 h were (30.5 ± 1.4) % and (26.1 ± 2.4) %, respectively, showing also a significant difference (P = 0.015). The Transwell assay showed that in the starvation blank group, the number of invaded and penetrated cells were 28.8 ± 2.2 and 31.4 ± 1.5, respectively, significantly different from that in the rh-endostatin and bevacizumab groups (P < 0.05). The relative expressions of c-Met and MMP-9 were 0.213 ± 0.017 and 0.542 ± 0.048, respectively, with a significant difference from those of the groups treated with each drug (P < 0.05 for both). The numbers of penetrated cells in the Transwell assay treated with rh-endostatin in hypoxia were 17.5 ± 2.1 and 16.5 ± 2.8, respectively, and the numbers of penetrated cells in the Transwell assay treated with bevacizumab were 16.3 ± 3.5 and 17.5 ± 2.4, respectively, showing no significant difference among them (P > 0.05 for both). The ability of migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells and the expression of c-Met and MMP-9 were not impacted by hypoxia (P > 0.05). Real-time PCR assay showed that only the levels of miR-2355 and miR375 were significantly and stably decreased in the cells which had increased ability of invasion and migration. The relative expression levels of miR375 and miR-2355 in the serum starvation blank group were 0.550 ± 0.036 and 0.852 ± 0.121, respectively, significantly lower than that in the groups treated with rh-endostatin or bevacizumab (P<0.05). In the serum starvation group, the expression levels of miR375 and miR-2355 of cells treated with rh-endostatin were 0.295 ± 0.012 and 0.253 ± 0.011, and the expression levels of cells treated with bevacizumab were 0.234 ± 0.020 and 0.309 ± 0.022, respectively, (P > 0.05 for all). Compared with the serum starvation blank group, the expression levels of miR2355 and miR375 were significantly decreased when cells were treated with rh-endostatin/bevacizumab under serum starvation, but no significant difference was found between the two drugs (P > 0.05). However, hypoxia did not affect the expressions of miR2355 and miR375 (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results of this study suggest that serum starvation can increase the ability of invasion and migration of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, both rh-endostatin and bevacizumab may enhance their invasion and penetration ability under serum starvation condition.</p>

Determination of Entrapment Efficiency of Loratadine Binary Ethosomes by Sephadex Microcolumn Com-bined with HPLC / 中国药师

Objective:To establish a method to determine the entrapment efficiency of loratadine binary ethosomes. Methods:The gel microcolumn centrifugation method was employed to separate the free drug from loratadine binary ethosomes. The content of lorata-dine was determined by HPLC to calculate the entrapment efficiency. Results: A calibration linear curve of loratadine concentration was within the range of 10. 2-102. 0 μg·ml-1(r=0. 999 5). The average entrapment efficiencies of three batches of loratadine binary ethosomes were 86. 75%, 87. 26% and 86. 00%, respectively. Conclusion:The method is simple and rapid, and can be used to de-termine the entrapment efficiency of loratadine binary ethosomes accurately.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the DGKK gene and hypospadias in Chinese children / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the gene of diacylglycerol kinase κ (DGKK) in hypospadias in Chinese children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed direct sequencing on 2 hypospadias-related candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms of the DGKK gene (rs1934179 and rs7063116, never previously reported in the Chinese population) from 300 children with sporadic hypospadias and 200 healthy controls, and compared the results between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mutation frequencies of rs1934179 and rs7063116 were 5.0% (15/300) and 5.67% (17/300) respectively in the hypospadias patients, significantly higher than 1.5% (3/200) and 2.0% (4/200) in the normal controls (P <0.05). The mutation frequencies of rs1934179 and rs7063116 in the cases of distal and middle hypospadias were also remarkably higher (6.5%, [13/200] and 7.5% [15/200], P <0.05), but those in the proximal cases (both 2.0% [2/100]) showed no statistically significant difference from the control (P >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The polymorphisms of the DGKK gene may be associated with hypospadias, particularly distal and middle hypospadias, in Chinese children.</p>

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of MAMLD1 and hypospadias in Chinese / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of the MAMLD1 gene mutation in the pathogenesis of hypospadias in the Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected peripheral venous blood from 150 Chinese children with hypospadias (the case group) and another 120 normal healthy ones (the control group), aged 0.5 to 6 years. We obtained their DNA samples and performed DNA sequencing on the single-nucleotide polymorphisms of MAMLD1, followed by comparative analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A known missense mutation polymorphism p. N589S was identified in 12 (8.0%) of the hypospadias patients and 4 (3.0%) of the normal controls, and a novel missense mutation polymorphism p. N567S was identified in 4 (2.7%) of the patients and 3 (2.5%) of the controls, neither with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results re-emphasized the importance of replication in genetic association approaches, and might reveal a real difference in susceptibility genes among different populations. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms of MAMLD1 bear no obvious correlation with hypospadias, and MAMLD1 is not a candidate gene in its pathogenesis in the Chinese population.</p>

Prognostic Factors for Patients after Curative Resection for Proximal Gastric Cancer / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The factors influencing the long-term survival of patients with proximal gastric cancer(PGC)after curative resection were investigated.Data from 171 patients who underwent curative resection for PGC were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were grouped according to the clinicopathological factors and operative procedures.The tumor depth(T stage)and lymph node metastasis(pN stage)were graded according to the fifth edition of TNM Staging System published by UICC in1997.The metastatic lymph node ratio(MLR)was divided into four levels: 0%,<10%,10%-30%and >30%.The data of survival rate were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method(log-rank test)and Cox regression model.The 5-year overall survival rate of 171 patients was 37.32%.The univariate analysis demonstrated that the survival time of the postoperative patients with PGC was related to tumor size(;(2=4.57,P=-0.0325),gross type(χ2=21.38,P<0.001),T stage(χ2=27.91,P<0.001),pN stage(χ2=44.72,P<0.001),MLR(χ2=61.12,P<0.001),TNM stage(χ2=44.91,P<0.001),and range of gastrectomy (χ2=4.36,P=0.0368).Multivariate analysis showed that MLR(χ2=10.972,P=0.001),pN stage(χ2=6.640,P=0.010),TNM stage(χ2=7.081,P=0.007),T stage(χ2=7.687,P=0.006)and gross type(χ2=6.252,P=0.012)were the independent prognostic factors.In addition,the prognosis of patients who underwent total gastrectomy(TG)was superior to that of patients who underwent proximal gastrectomy(PG)for the cases of tumor ≥5 cm(χ2=6.31,P=0.0120),Borrmann Ⅲ/Ⅳ(χ2=7.96,P=0.0050),T4(χ2=4.57,P=0.0325),pN2(χ2=5.52,P=0.0188),MLR 10%-30%(χ2=4.46,P=0.0347),MLR >30%(χ2=13.34,P=0.0003),TNM Ⅲ(χ2=14.05,P=0.0002)or TNM Ⅳ stage(χ2=4.37,P=0.0366);and combining splenectomy was beneficial to the cases of T3(χ2=5.68,P=0.0171)or MLR >30%(χ2=6.11,P=0.0134).It was concluded that MLR,pN stage,TNM stage,T stage,and gross type had advantages in providing a precise prognostic evaluation for patients undergoing curative resection for PGC,in which MLR was the most valuable index.TG and combining splenectomy were useful to improve the prognosis to patients with PGC of TNM Ⅲ/Ⅳ stage,serosa invasion,or extensive regional lymph node metastasis.

Polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase gene in Han Chinese patients with psoriasis vulgaris

Psoriasis vulgaris is defined by a series of linked cellular changes in the skin: hyperplasia of epidermal keratinocytes, vascular hyperplasia and ectasia, and infiltration of T lymphocytes, neutrophils and other types of leukocytes in the affected skin. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) 158 polymorphism can reduce the activity of the COMT enzyme that may trigger defective differentiation of keratinocytes in psoriasis. Immunocytes can degrade and inactivate catecholamines via monamine oxidase (MAO) and COMT in the cells. We hypothesized that the COMT-158G > A polymorphism was associated with the risk of psoriasis vulgaris in Han Chinese people. In a hospital-based case-control study, 524 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 549 psoriasis-free controls were studied. COMT-158 G > A polymorphism was genotyped using the PCR sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) technique. We found no statistically significant association between the COMT-158 allele A and the risk of psoriasis vulgaris (p = 0.739 adjusted OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.81-1.31). This suggests that the COMT-158 G > A polymorphism may not contribute to the etiology of psoriasis vulgaris in the Han Chinese population.

An in vitro investigation of wear resistance and hardness of three kinds of new composite resins / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate wear resistance and hardness of three kinds of new composite resins.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three kinds of new composite resins, Solidex, Spectrum, Filtek Z350, were tested. Enamel as control group. A refited MG-200 wear machine was used in this study. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the friction surface of each tested material. Hardness of each tested material was determined by Vickers indentation technique. The data of wear and hardness were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test and 1-way ANOVA. The relationship between the hardness of the composites and the amount of wear of them was determined by a regression analysis method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Filtek Z350 showed the lowest volumetric wear and highest Vickers hardness in the composites (P < 0.05). No significant differences in wear and hardness were observed between Solidex and Spectrum (P > 0.05). Significant relationships were observed between the hardness of the composites and the amount of wear of them (r = 0.968 6) (P < 0.05). Different wear characters of the friction surface of the tested materials were observed by SEM.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Nanofilled composite was superior to the hybrid composite in wear resistance and hardness.</p>

Clinical evaluation of two types of fixed partial denture impressions / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinic effects of alginate impression and agar/alginate combined impression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>237 patients of fixed partial denture were collected and divided into group A and group B. Group A was taken impression by aglinate impression, including 81 patients (207 abutments). Group B was taken impression by agar/alginate combined impression, include 156 patients (392 abutments). The impressions were observed by megaloscope, and the number of abutment, the types and number of defect were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the aglinate impressions, 57.0 percent of abutment had some defect. But in the agar/alginate combined impressions, 36.0 percent of abutment had some defect. There were significant difference between group A and group B in the abutment, air bubbles in cervical margin, unsharpness of the gingival sulcus and shoulders (P<0.05). There were no significant difference between group A and group B in the split and defect of the impressions on the cervical margin.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There were less defects in the agar/alginate combined impression than in the alginate impression.</p>