Research status of ocular changes in beta-thalassemia major / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Beta-thalassemia major(β-TM)is an inherited disease caused by a defect in the synthesis of globin. The disease requires long-term blood transfusion and iron chelator treatment, which can cause various secondary changes in the body and eye tissues. Compared with normal peers, β-TM patients will show changes in the eye such as steeper corneal curvature, shallower anterior chamber, increased lens thickness, shorter axial length, and reduced tear secretion. At the same time, nutritional deficiencies and the use of iron chelator drugs will increase the risk of complicated cataract and retinal degeneration, thus affecting the quality of life of β-TM patients.This article combines relevant domestic and foreign literatures to explore and review the changes in the eye of β-TM patients, with a view to providing valuable insights for clinical practice.

Analysis of DSPP gene mutation in a Chinese pedigree affected with hereditary dentinogenesis imperfecta / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical phenotype of a Chinese pedigree affected with hereditary dentinogenesis imperfecta and mutation of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Affected members underwent intraoral photography, dental film and panoramic radiography. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood samples. Coding regions of the DSPP gene were subjected to PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. Functional effect of the mutation was predicted with SIFT and PolyPhen-2. The tertiary structure of wild type and mutant proteins were predicted by Swiss-Port.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A heterozygous c.50C to T (p.P17L) mutation was identified in exon 2 of the DSPP gene in the proband and her father. The same mutation was not found among 200 unrelated healthy controls. The Pro-17 residues and its surrounding positions in DSPP are highly conserved across various species. The mutation was predicted to be damaging to the structure of DSPP protein.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The c.50C to T (p.P17L) mutation of the DSPP gene probably underlies the disease in this pedigree. Above finding has expanded the spectrum of DSPP gene mutations and provided a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for this family.</p>

Improving the bilingual teaching effect of cell biology by making good use of network resource / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Network resources can exactly make up for it. Making good use of the search engine can expand extracurricular professional English learning for students;provide teachers with lesson plan-ning material and learners with the correct pronunciation of the vocabulary. Network digital repository offer students learning platform and PBL teaching in the QQ group can be tried. Electronic dictionary software helps to read the professional literature and E-mail is a convenient means of communication. These help to create language environment and enhance bilingual teaching effect.