Genetic signature of hybridization between Chinese spot-billed ducks and domesticated ducks.

In this study, we analyzed 93 whole genomes from Chinese spot-billed ducks (CSB), meat-type ducks (MET), and egg and dual purpose-type ducks (EDT) to characterize the genetic material flowing between the CSB and modern ducks. Using a frequency of shared identical-by-descent method, approximately 10.9 Mb introgression segments containing 140 genes were identified showing the signatures of introgression between CSB and EDT. Meanwhile, nearly 10.6 M introgression regions containing 149 genes were identified between CSB and MET. Based on the haplotypes tree of each segment, we found that the introgression between CSB and domesticated ducks was asymmetric with a high level of gene flow from domestic to CSB and a low level of migration in the opposite direction. Moreover, we identified several genes that were introgressions from CSB and showed the signature of positive selection, which may contribute to the breeding of modern ducks. Our results provide new insight into the evolution and breeding history of domestic ducks and may be useful for the future management of wild and domestic duck populations.

Genetic analysis of surgical margins in oral cavity cancer.

BACKGROUND: A histological, tumour-free surgical margin does not guarantee recurrence-free survival in patients with cancer. This study investigated the association between microsatellite alteration in tumour-free surgical margins and local recurrence in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in this prospective study. Cancerous specimens, corresponding surgical margins and peripheral blood were obtained. Microsatellite alteration was investigated using six dinucleotide microsatellite markers. All samples were amplified by PCR, followed by automatic fragment analysis. RESULTS: Microsatellite alteration was identified in 100 specimens (69·0 per cent) from 145 patients. Among them, 85 specimens carried loss of heterozygosity, whereas 55 had microsatellite instability (MSI). Patients with MSI at the surgical margin had a higher risk of local recurrence on multivariable analysis (odds ratio 7·17, 95 per cent c.i. 3·49 to 14·73). CONCLUSION: Molecular assessment of surgical margins can help identify patients at risk of local recurrence.

Resveratrol alleviates heat stress-induced impairment of intestinal morphology, microflora, and barrier integrity in broilers.

This study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on intestinal morphology, microfloras, and barrier integrity of broilers subjected to heat stress. Two-hundred-seventy 21-day-old Cobb male broilers were randomly allocated to 3 treatment groups, each of which included 6 replicates with 15 birds per replicate. The 3 treatment groups were as follows: the control group, in which birds were exposed to thermoneutral condition (22 ± 1°C), and the heat stress group and heat stress + resveratrol (400 mg/kg) group, in which birds were exposed to cyclic heat stress (33 ± 1°C for 10 h/d from 0800 to 1800 h and 22 ± 1°C for the remaining time. Compared with birds in the control group, birds in the heat stress group exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) final body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, goblet cells numbers, populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and mRNA levels of mucin-2, claudin-1, occludin, zona occludens-1, and E-cadherin, and increased (P < 0.05) crypt depth, serum D-lactic acid and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran contents and diamine oxidase activity, and populations of Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Clostridium. Compared with birds in the heat stress group, birds in the heat stress + resveratrol group exhibited decreased (P < 0.05) crypt depth, serum D-lactic acid and fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran contents, and populations of Escherichia coli, and increased (P < 0.05) final body weight, villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio, goblet cells numbers, populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and mRNA levels of mucin-2, claudin-1, occludin, and E-cadherin. Taken together, these results indicated for the first time that dietary addition of resveratrol was effective in partially ameliorating the adverse effects of heat stress on intestinal barrier function in broilers by restoring the impaired villus-crypt structure, modifying the profiles of intestinal microfloras, and altering the mRNA expression of intestinal tight junctions- and adherence junctions-related genes.

A prospective randomised trial of LigaSure Small Jaw® versus conventional neck dissection in head and neck cancer patients.

OBJECTIVES: We compared the differences between LigaSure Small Jaw®-assisted and conventional neck dissection in patients with head and neck cancer. DESIGN: Prospective randomised study. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients scheduled to undergo neck dissection due to head and neck cancer were eligible for this study. The study group was treated using the LigaSure vessel sealing system (Small Jaw®; Covidien, Colorado, USA) for dissection and hemostasis throughout the whole procedures (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02597582). MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Operation duration, perioperative blood loss, postoperative drainage amount and postoperative pain status. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 21 patients, while the control group had 20 patients. The operation duration was shorter (97.1 versus 116.3 min, P = 0.022) and the average amount of injected analgesics was lower (8.8 versus 17.7 ampules, P = 0.037) in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: The assistance of the LigaSure Small Jaw® during functional neck dissection shortened the operation duration and decreased the amount of injected analgesics needed.

Airway pH monitoring in patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea using the Dx-pH oropharyngeal probe: preliminary report of a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) episodes and pH values in patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) using the Dx-pH oropharyngeal probe. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary medical centre. PARTICIPANTS: Forty patients with complaint of snoring or suspected OSA were prospectively enrolled to receive full nocturnal polysomnography (PSG). The patients were divided into 2 groups: a simple snorers group if the Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) was < 5 and an OSA group if the RDI was ≥ 5. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The patients simultaneously received Dx-pH oropharyngeal probe monitoring for 12 h from about 6 pm to 6 am of the next day. The number of LPR events was recorded if the nadir of rapid pH drops was below pH 5.0 and 5.5. The difference of LPR events between the two groups and the difference of LPR events between awake and sleep periods in each group were analysed, respectively. RESULTS: There were 18 (45%) patients diagnosed as OSA with a mean RDI of 28.7, and 22 patients (55%) diagnosed as simple snorers. Between 2 groups, there were no significant differences in the LPR events and pH values during the awake period, sleep period or overall recording period. Comparison of the LPR events and minimum pH values between the awake period and the sleep period revealed there were no significant differences in either group. CONCLUSION: Using the new sensitive Dx-pH oropharyngeal probe with PSG, we found that OSA does not correlate with a higher incidence of LPR episodes.

Advances in the research of AMPK and its subunit genes.

AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) is a heterotrimeric complex composed of three subunits and is the core energy sensor of the cell. The AMPK activity is important for survival during periods of stress and starvation and also has implications in type II diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, longevity and cancer, etc. The activation of AMPK is triggered through binding of Adenosine Monophosphate Activated Proteins (AMP) to the Bateman domains of the gamma subunit, leading to increased phosphorylation of the threonine 172 on the alpha subunit by inducing allosteric activation and inhibiting dephosphorylation. AMPK and its subunits have been the focuses of many researchers dealing with genetic and metabolic issues. The study makes a comprehensive review on the structure, function, distribution, enzyme activity, the genetic mutation and other aspects of AMPK and its subunit genes, with the aim to outline main aspects of present researches on AMPK and its subunits in animal genetics.

Methodologic assessment after functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) has become the procedure of choice to treat chronic rhinosinusitis. However, no standard method has been suggested to measure FESS outcome. In this study, we used different methods to measure FESS outcome, to determine which method was the most accurate. METHODS: Forty-nine patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who underwent FESS were enrolled in this study. Nasal polyps were present in 27 patients. On the day before FESS and 12 weeks after the procedure, all patients filled out a Chinese-language version of the 31-item Rhinosinusitis Outcome Measure (CRSOM-31) and received acoustic rhinometry to measure the second minimal cross-sectional area (MCA2) of the nasal cavity, as well as an endoscopic examination and a computed tomography (CT) scan. RESULTS: When CRSOM-31, MCA2, endoscopy, and CT scores were analyzed, a good correlation was observed between preoperative endoscopy and CT scores in patients with or without nasal polyposis (r = 0.459, p = 0.016; r = 0.578, p = 0.005, respectively). Postoperatively, a good correlation was observed between CRSOM-31 and CT scores in patients with nasal polyposis (r = 0.405, p = 0.036), as well as between CRSOM-31 and endoscopy scores in patients without nasal polyposis (r = 0.64, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that it is difficult to choose a method with which to measure FESS outcome accurately. However, a longer follow-up time and more patients are needed to justify these short-term postoperative results.

A single nucleotide polymorphism in the parathyroid hormone gene and effects on eggshell quality in chickens.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH), released by the parathyroid gland of animals, plays an important role in regulating the metabolism of calcium and phosphate. As a candidate gene for eggshell quality traits, the SNP was screened and its genetic effects on eggshell qualities and levels of serum calcium, phosphate, and PTH were analyzed in this study. Three hundred Houdan hens, an indigenous breed of chicken in France, were used for genotyping and data recording. Of the 3 sets of primers used to amplify the exons, exon 3 was polymorphic and 3 genotypes were identified. Sequencing revealed a nucleotide transition, A2205G (GenBank accession no. NC_006092), which was a synonymous mutation and caused a codon for lysine to change from AAA to AAG. Eggshell percentage and breaking strength for genotypes GG and AG were greater (P<0.05) than for AA, respectively; the total serum calcium for genotype GG was higher than for genotypes AA and AG by 11.8 and 10.1%, respectively; the serum phosphate for genotype GG was greater than genotype AA and AG by 16.7 and 12%, respectively. All genotypes shared the same calcium:phosphate ratio. For serum PTH, genotype GG was approximately 30% higher than genotype AA. Therefore, the SNP A2205G in PTH affected the eggshell percentage and breaking strength, and it may be associated with the variation of serum calcium and PTH level, indicating that the SNP in PTH has the potential for utilization in a MAS program for eggshell quality in chicken.

Broodiness, egg production, and correlations between broody traits in an indigenous chicken breed.

The influence of broodiness on egg production was evaluated, and correlations between the age of the first broody cycle (AFB), duration of first broody cycle, and interval between the end of the first broody cycle and the re-laying of eggs were calculated in Chinese Qingyuan (Q line) chicken. In addition, age at first egg and individual egg production were recorded. From a single hatch, hens were randomly divided into 2 groups, group A (n=576) and group B (n=576). Group A hens were allowed to go through the entire broody cycle, whereas group B hens were treated so as to interrupt the cycle. Mean incidence of broodiness was approximately 15%, with the average AFB at approximately 40 wk (i.e., about 20 wk after the onset of lay). Nonbroody hens produced more eggs than broody and treated hens. However, a higher laying rate during the nonbroody period partially compensated the egg loss from broodiness. Negative correlations (P<0.01) were found between AFB and duration of first broody cycle or interval between the end of the first broody cycle and the re-laying of eggs, indicating that the age of the first broody cycle can be regarded as a phenotypic marker for intensity of broodiness in hens.

Antibacterial effect of electrolysed acid water on the nasal discharge from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

This study was conducted to determine whether electrolysed acid water (EAW) increased the antibacterial effect of irrigating solution used in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). One hundred CRS patients were recruited from April 2008 to February 2009. Four swab specimens were taken from the ipsilateral middle meatus of each patient and one was placed in a Thanswab tube, while the other three were each placed randomly in one of three glass tubes containing either 5 ml of EAW, distilled water or 70% alcohol. They were immediately sent to the laboratory for aerobic and anaerobic cultures. Bacteria grew from 36 specimens when they were placed in a Thanswab tube, from four when placed in a tube with EAW, 30 when placed in distilled water and two when placed in alcohol. The culture rate was significantly lower when the specimens were placed in a tube with EAW as compared with distilled water or in a Thanswab tube, but was not different compared with alcohol. The bacteria that grew from four specimens after first being processed by EAW were all anaerobes. This study showed that EAW exhibited an increased antibacterial effect on bacteria grown from the nasal discharge of CRS patients.

Ethmoid sinus mycology of chronic rhinosinusitis.

This goal of this study was to demonstrate whether fungi were present in the ethmoid sinus in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Before surgery, swab specimens were collected from the middle meatus for conventional fungal cultures, and lavaged fluid was collected from the nasal cavity for fungal cultures by Ponikau's method. During surgery, tissue specimens were taken from the inferior turbinate and the anterior ethmoid sinus for conventional fungal cultures and detection of fungal DNA by polymerase chain reaction. The ethmoid sinus mucosa with coating mucus was also collected for fungal cultures by Ponikau's method. Among 53 specimens, three middle meatal specimens and 27 lavaged specimens (50.9%) grew fungi. Inferior turbinal mucosa did not grow fungi, but three ethmoid sinus specimens grew fungi by the conventional fungal culture method and by Ponikau's method. Alternaria DNA was detected in 42 inferior turbinal specimens (79.3%) and in 39 ethmoid sinus specimens (73.6%). Our study showed that although fungi were rarely cultured from the ethmoid sinus Alternaria DNA was detected in most of the ethmoid sinus mucosa.

Association of polymorphisms for prolactin and prolactin receptor genes with broody traits in chickens.

Prolactin (PRL) is generally accepted as crucial to the onset and maintenance of broodiness in avian species. The prolactin receptor (PRLR) plays an important role in the PRL signal transduction cascade. Two candidate genes, PRL and PRLR, were screened for polymorphisms in the chicken, and their genetic effects on broodiness were evaluated. Pedigreed hens (n = 155) of the Blue-shell chicken, a Chinese local breed, were observed for phenotypic broody traits including nesting days, broody days, repeats of broody cycles, and duration of broodiness. For polymorphism analysis, White Leghorns, Hy-Line brown egg layers, Avian broilers, and some other Chinese local breeds were included. Fifteen sets of primers were used to amplify the nucleotide sequences of the promotor of PRL and exons of PRLR. The PCR products were screened for polymorphisms using single-stranded conformational polymorphism protocol. Sequencing revealed a 24-bp insertion occurring in the promotor, -377 approximately -354, of PRL (GenBank accession no. AB011434). A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), A9026G (GenBank accession no. AY237377), in exon 3 of PRLR was also detected, which led to a nucleotide transition in the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) of PRLR cDNA. Two SNP, T14771C and G14820A (GenBank accession no. AY237376), were detected in exon 6 of the PRLR. The T14771C transition led to an amino acid variation, Leu340Ser, in PRLR, whereas the G14820A transition was a synonymous mutation. An association analysis showed that the genetic polymorphisms at PRLR3 and PRLR6 were not related to broodiness (P > 0.05), whereas the individuals without the insertion sequence at PRLpro2 were associated with broody traits (P < 0.05) and the incidence (>30%) of typical broody of genotypes +/- and -/- was higher (P < 0.01) than that of +/+. In addition, all White Leghorns were +/+ for PRLpro2, whereas local breeds with very strong broodiness were nearly all -/-. Homozygous insertion of the 24-bp sequence in the PRL promoter may decrease the expression of PRL, leading to nonbroodiness. The results suggested that PRLpro2 could be a genetic marker in breeding against broodiness in chickens.

Outpatient weekly neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: high complete response and low toxicity rates.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a radiosensitive and chemosensitive tumour. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of an outpatient weekly neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NeoCT) plus radiotherapy for advanced NPC. From November 1998 to August 2001, 90 NPC patients meeting the following criteria were treated: (1) neck node >6 cm; (2) supraclavicular node metastasis; (3) skull base destruction/intracranial invasion plus multiple nodes metastasis; (4) multiple neck nodes metastasis with one of nodal size >4 cm; or (5) elevated serum LDH level. The NeoCT consists of cisplatin 60 mg m(-2), alternating with 5-fluorouracil 2500 mg m(-2) plus leucovorin 250 mg m(-2) (P-FL) by an outpatient weekly schedule for a total of 10 weeks. Local radiotherapy > or =70 Gy by conventional fractionation was delivered within 1 week after NeoCT. Patient compliance was rather good. Grade 3-4 toxicity of NeoCT included leucopaenia (7.8%), anaemia (18.9%), thrombocytopaenia (3.3%), nausea/vomiting (4.4%), and weight loss (1.1%). Response evaluated after NeoCT showed 73.3% complete response (CR) rate of primary tumour, 71.1% CR rate of neck nodes, and an overall CR rate of 57.8%. In all, 88 out of 90 patients received rebiopsy of primary tumour and 55 patients (62.5%) revealed pathological CR. After a median follow-up time of 24 months, one persistent disease and 18 relapses were noted. The 2-year nasopharynx disease-free, neck disease-free, distant disease-free, overall, and progression-free survival rates are 98.9, 95.9, 80.0, 92.1, and 77.5%, respectively. Preliminary data of the current study show that P-FL NeoCT plus radiotherapy is a low-toxic regimen with promising results on very advanced NPC patients and merits to be investigated in phase III trials.

Endoscopic optic nerve decompression for the treatment of traumatic optic neuropathy.

Optic nerve decompression has been accomplished by a variety of procedures. Since 1995, endoscopic optic nerve decompression (EOND) has been used to treat traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) patients in our hospital after medical treatment failed. To date, 17 TON patients have received EOND in our hospital and have been followed up for more than half a year. After decompression, vision improved in 9 patients, remained the same in 6, and became worse in 2. The dura was incidentally exposed during the operation in 1 patient. We conclude that it is easier and more precise to perform optic nerve decompression by EOND than by other optic nerve decompression procedures. However, its efficacy still needs further investigation.

Bacteriology of chronic sinusitis after amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium therapy.

The bacteriology of chronic sinusitis was studied after amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium therapy. Patients with chronic sinusitis were randomly divided into 2 groups. In the study group, 90 patients were given a 2-week course of amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium before functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In the control group, 113 patients did not take any antibiotics within 2 weeks before the surgery. Swab specimens were taken from the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses during surgery and sent for aerobic and anaerobic culture. In the study group, the culture rates of maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were 45.6% and 28.9%, respectively. In the control group, the culture rates of maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were 53.1% and 34.5%, respectively. The culture rates between the control group and the study group were not significantly different, either for the maxillary sinus or the ethmoid sinus. This showed that treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium did not change the bacteriology of chronic sinusitis.

Endoscopic sinus surgery for the treatment of chronic sinusitis in geriatric patients.

Although endoscopic sinus surgery is a well-documented procedure for the treatment of chronic sinusitis in children and adults, no study has been conducted to specifically investigate its application in a geriatric population. We undertook to fill this void by analyzing the records of 1,112 patients who had undergone endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis in our department between April 1988 and March 1998. We categorized these patients by age. There were 171 patients (15.4%) in the geriatric group (age: > or = 65 yr), 837 patients (75.3%) in the adult group (age: 17 to 64), and 104 patients (9.4%) in the pediatric group (age: < or = 16 yr). We found that the geriatric group experienced a disproportionately larger share of operative complications, but most of them were minor. Outcomes were similar in all three groups. We conclude that endoscopic sinus surgery is a safe and effective treatment for older patients with chronic sinusitis.

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery in children and adults.

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) has become a popular procedure for the treatment of adults with chronic sinusitis. Recently, it has also been applied in the pediatric population. It has been used to treat chronic sinusitis in our department since April 1988. As of March 1998, 1,112 patients were available for analysis by file and questionnaire review. Of the 1,112 patients, 104 patients (9.4%) who were 16 years of age or younger at the time they first underwent FESS in our department were included in the pediatric endoscopic sinus surgery (PESS) group. The other 1,008 patients (90.6%) were included in the ordinary FESS group. In total, 121 PESS and 1,106 (adult) FESS operations were performed on these patients. Operative complications occurred in 5 PESS operations (4.1%) and 116 FESS operations (10.5%). The postoperative improvement rate was 84% in PESS and 77.1% in FESS. We conclude that PESS can be applied to treat chronic sinusitis effectively in the pediatric population and with less morbidity than FESS.

Endoscopic sinus surgery for ethmoid sinus meningioma.

Meningiomas in the ethmoid sinuses are a challenge to manage. A 50-year-old man suffered from a left olfactory groove meningioma. He underwent a bilateral craniotomy to remove the tumor mass in August, 1997. During the follow-up period, a tumor was found in the right posterior ethmoid sinus. Endoscopic sinus surgery was performed to remove the tumor mass in August, 1998. Pathologic examination of the mass revealed a meningioma. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred, except for an episode of seizure.

Post-functional endoscopic sinus surgery methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sinusitis.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly virulent bacterium that is difficult to eradicate. It has become a common nosocomial pathogen, but it also causes sporadic infections in some outpatients. Among 358 chronic sinusitis patients who received functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for treatment between July 1995 and June 1997 in our department, 18 were infected postoperatively by MRSA by the end of August 1997. One patient was excluded because she received another nasal surgery, partial turbinectomy, and submucous resection of the nasal septum, after FESS. Most of 17 MRSA infected patients presented themselves with mucopurulent nasal discharge and/or nasal crust. The treatment was generally difficult because MRSAs were resistant to multiple antibiotics. When quinolone antibiotics were used to treat most patients, the improvement rate was 76.5%. We conclude that MRSA infections in post-FESS patients might affect the outcome of FESS.

Endoscopic sinus surgery for rhinocerebral mucormycosis.

Rhinocerebral mucormycosis is a fulminant, often fatal, disease. Aggressive surgical debridement has been considered an important part of treatment. Traditionally, an external or transantral approach has been the classic method. Recently, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has been tried on several occasions to reach the goal of radical resection. Since 1991, ESS has been used to treat 9 rhinocerebral mucormycosis patients in our department. Among them, ESS was the only surgical procedure in six patients. The other three patients were treated by ESS combined with a transantral procedure. As a result, eight patients (88.9%) have survived the disease. One patient died 5 days after ESS because of an internal carotid artery occlusion. We conclude that ESS can be used to treat rhinocerebral mucormycosis alone or in combination with the traditional surgical procedures. It has the advantage of less operative morbidity and greater operative accuracy.