[Progress on the safety and efficacy of bedaquiline for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis in special populations]

Antimicrobial resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a serious threat to global tuberculosis(TB) control. WHO listed bedaquiline as one of the first-choice drugs for the treatment of MDR/RR-TB in 2018. Bedaquiline is marketed for adult patients with MDR-TB and XDR-TB. However, there are few studies of bedaquiline in adolescents, pregnant women, the elderly, and other special populations with drug-resistant TB. This paper aimed to review the effectiveness and safety of bedaquiline in the treatment of special populations of drug-resistant TB for the clinical use.

A Review of Crystalline Multibridged Cyclophane Cages: Synthesis, Their Conformational Behavior, and Properties

This paper reviews the most stable conformation of crystalline three-dimensional cyclophane (CP) achieved by self-assembling based on changing the type of aromatic compound or regulating the type and number of bridging groups. [3_n]cyclophanes (CPs) were reported to form supramolecular compounds with bind organic, inorganic anions, or neutral molecules selectively. [3_n]cyclophanes ([3_n]CPs) have stronger donor capability relative to compound [2_n]cyclophanes ([2_n]CPs), and it is expected to be a new type of electron donor for the progress of fresh electron conductive materials. The synthesis, conformational behavior, and properties of crystalline multi-bridge rings are summarized and discussed.

[Susceptibility of drug-resistant staphylococci isolated from different parts of the ocular anterior segment to common ophthalmic antibiotics]

Objectie To investigate the susceptibility of drug-resistant staphylococci isolated from different parts of the anterior segment to levofloxacin, tobramycin, cefazolin sodium, fusidic acid and clindamycin. Methods: Experimental Study. A total of 67 patients with anterior segment infection (33 cases of conjunctivitis, 6 cases of bacterial keratitis, 7 cases of blepharitis, 9 cases of neonatal dacryocystitis, 9 cases of neonatal dacryocystitis, 1 case of adult dacryocystitis and 11 cases of other infectious eye diseases) were collected from the conjunctival sac, cornea, eyelid margin and lacrimal sac. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRS) strains and β-lactamase-producing (β-Lac) strains by a micro-liquid-based method, according to the M100 standard of the American Institute for Clinical and Laboratory Standardization Susceptibility and resistance determinations were made. Data were statistically analyzed using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Results: Thirty-five MRS, 30 β-Lac and 2 β-Lac MRS isolates were identified from 67 multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus . There were 3, 9, 4, and 19 MRS isolates isolated from the lacrimal sac, cornea, eyelid margin and conjunctival sac, accounting for 3/4, 9/12, 4/8, 19/43 (44.2%) of the isolated sites respectively. There were 1, 3, 3, and 23 β-Lac isolates, accounting for 1/4, 3/12, 3/8 and 23/43 (53.5%) of the isolated sites, respectively. The highest proportion of β-Lac isolates isolated from patients with a diagnosis of conjunctivitis was 17 (25.3%) from the conjunctival sac. Among the MRS strains isolated from the cornea and lacrimal sac, 5 (7.5%) and 3 (4.5%) were from patients diagnosed with bacterial keratitis and neonatal tear, respectively. The number of MRS strains and β-Lac isolates isolated from patients with a diagnosis of blepharitis were both 3 (4.5%) from the lid margin.Among the strains isolated from the eyelid margin and the conjunctival sac, drug-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis was the main strain, the drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was the major isolates in lacrimal sac and cornea. Among the 35 MRS isoaltes, 25, 24, 12, 12, and 11 were sensitive to cefazolin sodium, fusidic acid, levofloxacin, clindamycin and tobramycin, and the sensitivity rates were 71.4%, 68.6%, 34.3%, 34.3% and 31.4%, the difference was statistically significant (χ²=22.756, P<0.001), The sensitivity rates of levofloxacin, tobramycin, cefazolin sodium, fusidic acid and clindamycin against MRS isolates from the anterior segment were both statistically significant differences (χ²=18.493, 11.594, 8.906, 9.841, 16.059; all P<0.05). The susceptibility rates of MRS isolates against five antibiotics was statistically significant differences (χ²=33.080, P<0.001). Among the 30 β-Lac isolates, 27, 22, 19, 16, and 8 were sensitive to cefazolin sodium, fusidic acid, levofloxacin, tobramycin and clindamycin, and the sensitivity rates were 90.0 % , 73.3%, 63.3%, 53.3% and 26.7%, the difference was statistically significant (χ²=28.280, P<0.001). The sensitivity rates of five antibiotics against β-Lac isolates from the anterior segment were both statistically significant differences (χ²=50.971, 24.543, 48.147, 44.899, 18.676; all P<0.001). The susceptibility rates of β-Lac isolates against five antibiotics was statistically significant differences (χ²=23.383, P<0.001). The sensitivity of cefazolin sodium and fusidic acid against β-Lac isolates were higher than MRS isolates. Conclusions: Cefazolin sodium and fusidic acid may be the best choice for the treatment of drug-resistant Staphylococcus isolated from anterior conjunctival sac, cornea, eyelid margin and lacrimal sac, especially for β-Lac-producing drug-resistant Staphylococcus infection.

Facile high yield, excellent catalytic performance of polyoxometalate-based lanthanide phosphine oxide complexes: Syntheses, structures, photocatalysis and THz spectra

Water pollution, which continuously threatens human health and the sustainable development of society, has become a major concern. Photocatalytic degradation is an effective strategy to remove organic dyes from wastewater. For this strategy, it is crucial to select the appropriate catalyst. Using triphenylphosphine oxide (OPPh₃) as the ligand, phosphomolybdic acid as the anion template, three new lanthanide complexes [Ln(OPPh₃)₄(H₂O)₃](PMo₁₂O₄₀)∙4C₂H₅OH (1-3) (Ln = Sm, Gd, Tb) were synthesized. The raw materials for the reaction are cheap and readily available. The convenient synthesis method is environmentally friendly, with high yield (70%-80%). Complexes 1-3 are all seven-coordinated mononuclear structures centered on lanthanide ions, [PMo₁₂O₄₀]^3- anions and solvent molecules are not coordinated with metal ions. These mononuclear structures eventually form complicated 3D supramolecular structures through hydrogen bonds, Mo-O ^… π or C-H ^… π weak interactions. Complexes 1-3 photocatalytic degradation of MB have high removal rates, as catalysts have enough stability to be reused, and can be used as excellent catalysts for the degradation of dye molecules in sewage. Among them, the removal rate of MB by photodegradation of complex 2 was highest (99.50%). In addition, the effects of different initial concentrations of MB solution and different types of organic dyes on the photocatalysis experiment were investigated. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism of complexes 1-3 was also studied. Due to the similar structures of complexes 1-3, they have almost the same THz absorption spectra with different absorption intensity, which may be attributed to the difference of the number of weak interactions. Therefore, terahertz spectroscopy can be used as a sensitive method to distinguish and determine small differences between lanthanide-organic complexes. This is the first time that this spectrum has been used to characterize lanthanide phosphine oxide complexes modified by [PMo₁₂O₄₀]^3-.

Multiple Responsive CPL Switches in an Enantiomeric Pair of Perovskite Confined in Lanthanide MOFs

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) switches have attracted widespread attention due to their potential applications in advanced information technologies. However, the design and fabrication of solid-state multiple-responsive CPL switches remain challenging. Here, through self-assembly of chiral metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and perovskite nanocrystals (NCs), a pair of crystalline enantiomeric (P)-(+)/(M)-(-)-EuMOF⊃MAPbX₃ (MA = CH₃ NH₃ ⁺ , X = Cl^- , Br^- , I^- ) adducts is prepared, where the achiral MAPbBr₃ perovskite NCs embedded into chiral MOFs inherit the chirality of host MOFs by host-guest EuBr and PbO coordination bonds, which is demonstrated by synchrotron-radiation-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The chiral adducts show enhanced photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), good thermal stability of CPL in air, and photoswitchable CPL properties upon altering different UV irradiation. Based on two chiral emission centers and their different characteristics, reversible CPL switches are realized upon a diversity of external stimuli, for example, chemicals (water /CH₃ NH₃ Br solution) or temperatures (room temperature/high temperature). Benefiting from the extraordinary stimuli-responsive and highly reversible switchable CPL, multiple information encryptions and decryptions integrated with CPL, together with a chiroptical logic gate are successfully designed. This work opens a new avenue to generally fabricate solid-state CPL composite materials and develops new applications based on switchable CPL.

Intermolecular interactions, photocatalysis and THz-TDS interrelationships for lanthanide phosphine oxide complexes based on {PW12}

A series of rare earth complexes containing (α-PW₁₂O₄₀)^3- and PO ligand are synthesized by water bath in 70 °C, [Ln(OPPh₃)₄(H₂O)₃](PW₁₂O₄₀)·4CH₃CN (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Ho 1-7) (OPPh₃ = Triphenylphosphine oxide, {PW₁₂} = phosphotungstic acid). The precise structures are confirmed by X-ray single crystal diffraction and the result shows all complexes are isostructural. Complexes 1-7 are fully characterized by PXRD, FT-IR, TGA, UV diffuse reflectance spectra and terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Complex 3 exhibits the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency for methylene blue (MB) in this series of complexes. The experimental results showed that the photodegradation efficiency can remain constant at the level of 95% after five consecutive cycles. The photocatalytic reaction kinetics and mechanism of complexes were investigated. Additionally, complexes also exhibit photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. THz-TDS was used to characterize the complexes and its raw materials, the characteristic peaks of OPPh₃ (broad peak at 1.20 THz) and phosphotungstic acid (sharp peaks at 0.23, 0.32 THz) were obtained.

POM-based metal–organic compounds: Assembly, structures and properties

Four POM-based inorganic-organic hybrid compounds, which are {[(Cu·L1’·H2O)·(α-Mo8O26)0.5]·H2O}n (1), {(Cu·L2’·H2O)·(α-Mo8O26)0.5}n (2), {[(Cu·L3’·H2O)·(β-Mo8O26)0.5]·5H2O}n (3), {(Cu·L4’·H2O)·(β-Mo8O26)}n (4)[L1’ = 1,5-bis (4-carboxylpyridine) pentane dibromide, L2’ = 1,7-bis (4-carboxylpyridine) heptane dibromide, L3’ = 1,2-bis [(4-carboxylpyridine) - N-methylene] benzene dibromide, L4’ = 1,4-bis [(4-carboxylpyridine) - N-methylene] benzene dibromide] have been successfully synthesized under hydrothermal conditions by tuning ligands. Compounds 1–4 were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrum (IR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and thermogravimetric (TG). The transformation of ligands have a momentous effect on the [Mo8O26]4 - structures of this series. In addition, the adsorption and photocatalytic properties of organic dyes for compounds 1–4 have been investigated.

Preparation and application of one new supramolecular molybdenum oxygen cluster with adsorption of organic contaminants in wastewater

In this paper, one supermolecular compound, namely, p-[C20H18N2O4][Mo8O26]0.5·H2O (1) has been synthesized from 1,4-bis[4-nitrile-pyridine)-N-methylene]phenyldibromide (L1) and (NH4)6Mo7- O24·4H2O by hydrothermal method. The structure has been confirmed through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and further characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra. The adsorption property of compound 1 has bee studied, Thus it’s much important to enrich the types of chemicals.

Two supramolecular compounds constructed by polyacid anion clusters: Synthesis, characterization and performance research

In this paper, two novel organic-inorganic hybrid supramolecule compounds {[Cu·L1’·H2O]·(α-Mo8O26)0.5}n 1 and compound {[Cu·L2’·H2O]·(α-Mo8O26)0.5}n 2 have been synthesized [L1’ = 1, 3-bis (4-carboxylpyridine) propane dibromide, L2’ = 1, 4-bis (4-carboxylpyridine) butane dibromide]. Compounds 1 and 2 have been expressly confirmed by PXRD, IR, X-ray single crystal diffraction and TG. Last, the study found that compounds 1 and 2 have obvious adsorption effects on MB and RhB organic dyes, and compound 2 has high adsorption capacity for MB.

Preparation and application of two novel supramolecular polyoxmetalates with adsorption of organic contaminants in wastewater

Two new supramolecular polyoxmetalates were synthesized from 1, 4-bis[4-nitrile-pyridine)-N-methylene]phenyldibromide (L1) and 1, 2-bis[4-nitrile-pyridine)-N-methylene]phenyldibromide (L2) and (NH4)6Mo7–O24·4H2O under hydrothermal conditions. They are named p-[C20H18N2O4][Mo8O26] 0.5·H2O (1) and o-[C20H18N2O4][Mo8O26] ċ 0.5·H2O (2) respectively. The structures have been confirmed through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses and further characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra. The adsorption test of compound 1 and compound 2 in organic dyes were carried out. It was found that compound 1 had a good adsorption effect on methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB). The adsorption effect of compound 2 on MB is stronger than that of compound 1.

Synthesis, characterization, adsorption and catalytic activity of a polyoxometalate supramolecule templated by arylmethylamine

A novel supramolecular compound 1 (C6H3) (CH2NH3)2+ (CH2NH2)]2· (β-Mo8O26)·3H2O was constructed under hydrothermal conditions by (NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O and arylmethylamine cation L1. This compound 1 has been unambiguously characterized by PXRD, IR, and X-ray single crystal diffraction. What’ more, the compound 1 has features of adsorption and catalytic activity.

Synthesis, structures and properties of Cd(II) supramolecular compound based on nitrogen heterocyclic cation

A novel supramolecular compound {(L1) [CdI4]} (L1 = 1-(3-(((1 s,3R,5S)-1,3,5,7,tetraazaadamantan-1-ium-1-yl)methyl)benzyl)-1,3,5,7,-tetraazaadamantan-1-ium) was synthesized from CdI2 and L1 by self-assembly reaction in solution. Its structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction, and X-ray crystallography showed that the crystal was mononuclear. The compound was characterized by UV, TG, photocatalysis and adsorption.

One new copper iodide coordination polymer directed by 4-pyridyl dithioether ligand: Syntheses, structures, and photocatalysis

One new compound consisting of 1,1-bis(4-pyridylthio)methylene ([Bpytm]) ligand, namely [Bpytm]CuI (1), has been prepared and characterized by IR spectroscopy, solid Uv-visible diffuse reflectance spectrum, and X-ray Powder Diffraction (PXRD). Compound 1 is a 2D MOF and ligand [Bpytm] coordinate with metal ions to form tetrahedral configuration. For compound 1: Crystal system: Monoclinic, Space group: C2/c, a = 13.6671(11), b = 11.6075(11), c = 17.1225(12), α= 90°, β= 93.707(3)°, γ= 90°, V = 2710.6(4) Å3, Z = 8, Dcalc = 2.082 g cm–3. The photocatalytic properties and thermal stability have been researched.

Enantiomeric MOF Crystals Using Helical Channels as Palettes with Bright White Circularly Polarized Luminescence

The host-guest chemistry of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has enabled the derivation of numerous new functionalities. However, intrinsically chiral MOFs (CMOFs) with helical channels have not been used to realize crystalline circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials. Herein, enantiomeric pairs of MOF crystals are reported, where achiral fluorophores adhere to the inner surface of helical channels via biology-like H-bonds and hence inherit the helicity of the host MOFs, eventually amplifying the luminescence dissymmetry factor (g_lum ) of the host l/d-CMOF (±1.50 × 10^-3 ) to a maximum of ±0.0115 for the composite l/d-CMOF⊃fluorophores. l/d-CMOF⊃fluorophores in pairs generate bright color-tunable CPL and almost ideal white CPL (0.33, 0.32) with a record-high photoluminescence quantum yield of ≈30%, which are further assembled into a white circularly polarized light-emitting diode. The present strategy opens a new avenue for propagating the chirality of MOFs to realize universal chiroptical materials.

Assembly and Adsorption Properties of Seven Supramolecular Compounds with Heteromacrocycle Imidazolium

Seven supramolecular compounds comprising multivalent imidazolium macrocycles and metal halides, {[MC-IM][Ag₂I₄]} _n (1), {[PC-IM]₂[Ag₇I₁₁]} _n (2), {[ODC-IM][Ag₃I₇]} (3), {[ODC-IM][Bi₂I₁₀]} (4), {[MDC-IM][Bi₂I₁₀]} (5), {[PDC-IM][Bi₂I₁₀]} (6), and {[MDC-IM][HgI₄]} (7), have been synthesized by solvothermal reactions and structurally characterized by IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Notably, the three tetravalent imidazolium macrocycles were introduced for the first time and the extended anion structures are featured with three-dimensional coordination networks, one-dimensional chains, or zero-dimensional oligomers. This new study attempts to not only fill the gap in this supramolecular hybrid area that has been neglected but also enrich the type of imidazolium cyclophane. It is important that good efforts were devoted to study the adsorption properties of supramolecular compounds. Compound 5 exhibited great adsorption performance for organic dyes methylene blue, methyl orange, and rhodamine B (RhB) and can be evaluated as a potential candidate for industrial wastewater treatment.

Hybrid Supramolecules for Azolium-Linked Cyclophane Immobilization and Conformation Study: Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Degradation

In this paper, one imidazole macrocyclic divalent cation with a flexible configuration was chosen with the aim of the immobilization of its conformation. Six novel organic-inorganic hybrid supramolecules {([syn/anti-did](CdI₄)(C₂H₃N)} (1), {([syn/anti-did](HgI₄)(C₂H₃N)} (2), {([syn/syn-did](Pb₂I₈)(PbI₅)} (3), {([syn/syn-did](Bi₂I₈)(BiI₅)} (4), {([syn/syn-did](Ag₄Br₆)} _n (5), and {([syn/anti-did](Ag₂I₄)} (6) [did²⁺ = (1²z, 5²z)-1¹H, 5¹H-1, 5(1, 3)-diimidazol-3-iuma-3, 7(1, 2)-dibenzenacyclooctaphane-1³, 5³-diium] have been synthesized through the self-assembly reaction of did²⁺ with different metals under solvothermal reaction. These compounds have been unambiguously confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction, IR, thermogravimetric and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Crystallographic analysis shows that the anions of compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural with mononuclear anion structure, the anions of compounds 3, 4, and 6 are of binuclear structure, and compound 5 anion is a one-dimensional anionic chain structure. Imidazole cyclophanes of organic cations may exist in a syn/syn-conformation in 3-5 or syn/anti conformation in 1, 2, 6, but tilting angles in compounds 1-6 were different. This article described the photocatalytic degradation of organic dye in waste water and the optical band gap of compounds 1-6. The calculated semiconductor band gap of compounds 1-6 is smaller than that of TiO₂, so compounds 1-6 have semiconductor properties. Compound 1 has the smallest band gap value, and the photocatalytic performance is the best.

SOX2 gene expression and its role in triple negative breast cancer tissues

The aim of this work was to study the expression of SOX2 gene in triple negative breast cancer and its role. One hundred and twenty specimens of paraffin-embedded triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) tissues were collected from Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Heilongjiang, China between January 2014 and March 2018. The expression of SOX2 was detected using immunohistochemistry, and the relationship between the expression of SOX2 and clinical features was analyzed. Breast cancer cell lines (normal group, SOX2 interference group, SOX2 overexpression group) were cultured in vitro to detect the proliferation and cloning ability of the cell lines. The expression of SOX2 was related to lymph node metastasis and stage of breast cancer (P less than 0.05), but was not related to age, menopause or tumor size (P > 0.05); the expression of SOX2 in the overexpression group was significantly greater than that in the normal group after 72 hours, and no significant difference between the overexpression group and the interference group was observed. The number of clone cells with a diameter of 0.5 mm in the interference group was lower compared to the normal group, and that of the overexpression group was higher, but not significant. SOX2 is associated with the high invasiveness of breast cancer and can be used as a therapeutic target to inhibit the metastasis of cancer cells. SOX2 can promote the proliferation of breast cancer cells and affect the size of clone cells in its involvement in clone.

[Treatment of children's pharyngeal stenosis following pharyngeal surgery with coblation]

Objective:Pharyngeal stenosis as a postoperative complication following pharyngeal surgery (tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy) with coblation is rare and may be difficult to treat. This report is to explore the causes of pharyngeal stenosis and presents our successful treatment experience. Method:From Jan 2012 to July 2016, 5 children with pharyngeal stenosis (2 nasopharyngeal stenosis and 3 nasopharyngeal stenosis combined with oropharyngeal stenosis) secondary to pharyngeal surgery (tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy) in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were analyzed. Five cases with severe nasopharyngeal stenosis received surgery of scar resection, horizontal-to-vertical pharyngoplasty and local pharyngeal flap rotation; and three of them received free skin transplantation. After stenosis repair surgery, prolonged nasopharyngeal hollow stents were used for more than 6 months. To evaluate the therapeutic effect, pharyngeal cavities and symptoms of difficulty nasal breathing, mouth breathing, difficulty in blowing nose, hyponasal speech, snoring, restless sleep, anosmia, dysphagia were assessed and compared before and after surgery. Result:With 7-46 months follow-up, all symptoms of the 5 cases are ameliorated and the diameters of nasopharyx are more than 1.5 cm. No velopharyngeal insufficiency complication happened. Conclusion:Improper operation with coblation can cause severe pharyngeal stenosis. Flap rotation, horizontal-to-vertical pharyngoplasty and prolonged use nasopharyngeal hollow stents are reliable methods to correct pharyngeal stenosis following children's pharyngeal surgery.

[Clinical analyses of 263 patients with laryngeal leukoplakia]

Objective: To investigate the etiology, clinical and pathological characteristics of laryngeal leukoplakia and the predictive risk factors of recurrence and malignant transformation. Methods: Clinical data of 263 patients with laryngeal leukoplakia between January 2000 and December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The pathological diagnoses included squamous epithelial hyperplasia (54.4%), mild dysplasia (17.9%), moderate dysplasia (12.2%), severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ (12.5%), and invasive carcinoma (3.0%). Age and the extent of lesion were statistically different among different pathological groups (P<0.05). Gender, smoking and alcohol consumption did not show statistical differences among different pathological groups (P>0.05). Follow-up of 215 patients, excluding 6 cases of invasive carcinoma. The recurrence rate was 20.6%(43/209), and the malignant transformation rate was 5.3%(11/209). Multivariate analysis showed that pathological classification of moderate to severe dysplasia was the independent risk factor for recurrence and malignant transformation of laryngeal leukoplakia (P<0.05). In patients with severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ, the recurrence proportion of conservative treatment, vocal cords (partial) resection and radiotherapy were 8/10, 0/10 and 2/11 respectively. Conclusions: Laryngeal leukoplakia occurs frequently in elderly men with long-term smoking history. Pathological diagnoses are different. The grade of dysplasia is the predictive risk factor for the recurrence and malignant transformation of laryngeal leukoplakia. More aggressive treatment and closer follow-up should be warranted for patients with moderate dysplasia, severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ.

The conformational behavior of multivalent tris(imidazolium)cyclophanes in the hybrids with metal (pseudo)halides or polyoxometalates

Three 3D imidazole or benzimidazole-bearing cages as trivalent cationic templates react with metal (pseudo)halides or polyoxometalates to obtain a series of different organic–inorganic hybrids in which the cages exhibit breathing behavior of expansion and contraction.

[Laryngeal endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy for cricopharyngeal achalasia post stroke]

Objective: To explore the safety and validity of endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy in patients with cricopharyngeal achalasia. Methods: A total of 19 patients with cricopharyngeal achalasia suffered from sustained dysphagia were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into transcervical cricopharyngeal myotomy(CPM) group and endoscopic CPM (ECPM) group. Swallowing function and complications were evaluated.SPSS7.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: The swallowing function improved significantly in seven patients in ECPM group, and 9 patients improved in CPM group.The video fluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS)-swallowing score, VFSS-aspiration score and drinking test score were (3.1±1.1), (3.4±0.8) and (2.0±0.6)in post-ECPM, (3.4±1.4), (3.0±0.9) and (2.2±0.6)in post-CPM. No statistical difference was found in validity between CPM group and ECPM group(t=-0.435, t=1.086, t=-0.607, P>0.05). No statistical difference was observed on the occurrence of complication between two groups. Only one patient had subcutaneous emphysema after operation in ECPM. Conclusions: New surgical instruments and endoscopic surgical technique were safe and effective for cricopharyngeal achalasia. Because these instruments are cheaper, laryngeal endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy is easier to be popularized more easily than microscopic laser assistted CPM.

[Transoral endoscopic minimally invasive surgery for hypopharyngeal postcricoid and upper esophageal lesions]

Objective:To describe the therapeutic effect of transoral endoscopic minimally invasive surgery for hypopharyngeal postcricoidarea and upper esophageal lesions. Method:Transoral endoscopic minimally invastive surgery was carried out in fifteen patients.There were 7 patients with primary tumors on the postcricoid area, including three squamous cell carcinoma（2 cases T2N0M0，1 case T2N2cM0），two cavernous hemangioma, one giant fibrovascular polyp and one recurrent lipofibroma. The transoral endoscopic tumors resection en bloc was performed in all of them. Adjuvant postoperative radiation therapy was applied in cases of cancer, and bilateral neck dissections was performed in the T2N2cM0 case; There were other eight patients with upper esophageal lesions , seven cases dysphagia was caused by stroke and one case was Zenker diverticulum, treated by endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy ordiverticulotomy. Result:The en bloc resection endoscopically was achieved in all of patients with tumors on the postcricoid area. All surgical resection margins were negative.The two cases of postcricoid cancer and four benign tumor were followed up 16-30 months and 2-12 months respectively, and all of the cases were not local recurrence. A recent patient with postcricoid cancer had not finished postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy. The endoscopic cricopharyngeal myotomy was effective in 4 out of 7 patients,nasogastric feeding was no longer required.Significant improvement occurred in Zenker diverticulotomy patient, due to the return of physiological deglutition, and Barium swallow study showing disappearance of the diverticulum after one month.The effects of minimally invasive threatment were satisfactory,such as not need tracheotomy and early oral feeding, shorter hospital stay and less postoperative complications. Conclusion:Transoral endoscopic surgery is minimally invastive, safe and effective treatment alternative for some hypopharyngeal postcricoid area and upper esophageal lesions.

Three cation-templated Cu(i) self-assemblies: synthesis, structures, and photocatalytic properties

Cation-templated self-assembly of three Cu(i) hybrids has been achieved. Their optical band gap and photocatalytic degradation properties were also investigated.

Crystal structures and photocatalytic properties of two novel iodoplumbate hybrids templated by multivalent organic cations

Two novel multivalent organic cation-templated iodoplumbate hybrids with trinuclear or 1D anionic structures and good photocatalytic performances are reported.

2,3,3-Trimethyl-1-[4-(2,3,3-trimethyl-3H-indol-1-ium-1-yl)butyl]-3H-indol-1-ium diiodide

In the crystal of the title salt, C₂₆H₃₄N₂²⁺·2I⁻, the dication lies on a center of inversion that exists along the mid-point of the butyl chain; its five-membered ring is approximately planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.011 Å). In the crystal, the iodide anion is disordered over two positions in a 1:1 ratio.