Objective To study the protein conformational change of placenta tissue by using Raman spectrum.Methods By using Raman spectroanalysis,we detected the placenta protein conformational change of GDM and control groups.Results(1)In the placenta of GDM,the absorption bands of tryptophan and phenylalanine were increased obviously.(2)In the placenta of GDM,the secondary structure of protein was composed of α-helix,random coil and β-sheet.Conclusions In the placenta of GDM,the orderly conformations of main chains in protein are decreased.Side chains of amino acids,especially tryptophan and phenyl-alanine,are changed greatly.The structure variation of protein may be correlated to the diabetic complications.

Serum levels of testosterone (T), free testosterone (T_f), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin were measured in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome (PIH). Results showed that the levels of T and T_f and mean arterial pressure were significantly higher in the PIH group than those in the control group (all P

Objective:To study the relationship between serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), placenta growth factor(PLGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1(VEGFR1, Flt-1), soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1(sVEGFR1, sFlt-1) mRNA expression in placenta tissue of preeclampsia(PE). Methods: The serum level of sICAM-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and gene expression of placenta tissue was detected by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Results:(1)The average serum level of sICAM-1 was(218.45±29.93) μg/L in PE group compared with (168.84±19.39) μg/L in controls(P < 0.01).(2)The mRNA expressions of VEGF, PLGF, Flt-1 and sFlt-1 were increased in placenta of PE than those in controls (P < 0.01).(3)There was a positive correlation between the serum level of sICAM-1 and the sFlt-1 mRNA expression in placenta tissue(r = 0.90, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The serum level of sICAM was increased in the patients with PE. The expressions of VEGF, PLGF, Flt-1 and sFlt-1mRNA were increased remarkably in the placenta tissue of palients with PE,especial for sFlt-1. The remarkable increase for expression of sFlt-1mRNA may contribute to endothelial dysfunction, hypertension and proteinuria.

Objective Design short stature panel with gene curration strategy.Methods The gene curation process was introduced in detail.The strength of a gene-disease relationship was evaluated based on publicly available genetic and experimental evidence.This process in short stature panel design and its effect on gene selection was further demonstrated.Results After gene curation, the number of gene in list was effectively decreased from 1 276 to 705.The panel sequencing reached a diagnosis rate of 19.7% among a cohort of 371 nation-wide ascertained short stature patients.The gene curation process reduced the risk of false positive findings and decreased diagnostic cost and working hours without affecting the diagnosis rate.Conclusion Gene curation is an important step for NGS-based test and should be widely exercised.

Objective To analysis the clinical and gene mutation characteristics of hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI). Methods The clinical features and the results of gene testing in the child with HFI and her parents were analyzed retrospectively. Gene sequencing was carried out by high-throughput sequencing and validated by Sanger sequencing. Results The 4-year-3-month old girl had recurrent hypoglycemia episodes and growth retardation. When the condition was stable, the levels of lactic acid and urine micro protein were slightly higher, and the levels of thyroid hormone, cortisol, glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin and C peptide were normal.EEG showed epileptiform activity.Gene sequencing revealed the presence of aldolase B gene(ALDOB) compound heterozygous mutations, a novel splicing mutations (c.325-1G>A) in intron 3 and a frameshift mutation (c. 865delC;p.L289fs*10) in exon 8. Her father carries a frameshift mutation, and her mother carries a splicing mutation. Conclusion The diagnosis of HFI caused by ALDOB mutation can be confirmed by high-throughput sequencing technology.

OBJECTIVETo analyze two Chinese pediatric patients with multiple malformations and growth and development delay.

METHODSBoth patients were subjected to targeted gene sequencing, and the results were analyzed with Ingenuity Variant Analysis software. Suspected pathogenic variations were verified by Sanger sequencing.

RESULTSHigh-throughput sequencing showed that both patients have carried heterozygous variants of the CHD7 gene. Patient 1 carried a nonsense mutation in exon 36 (c.7957C>T, p.Arg2653*), while patient 2 carried a nonsense mutation of exon 2 (c.718C>T, p.Gln240*). Sanger sequencing confirmed the above mutations in both patients, while their parents were of wild-type for the corresponding sites, indicating that the two mutations have happened de novo.

CONCLUSIONTwo patients were diagnosed with CHARGE syndrome by high-throughput sequencing.

CHARGE Syndrome ; genetics ; DNA Helicases ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation

Objective: To analyze and summarize the clinical and molecular characteristics of the patients with multiple congenital anomalies- hypotonia-seizures syndrome 1 (MCAHS 1). Method: Clinical data and test results were collected from a patient who was diagnosed with confirmed genetic basis of MCAHS 1 in Shanghai Children′s Medical Center since December 2015. The patient and his parents were examined by the next generation sequencing (NGS) technology using peripheral blood genomic DNA, and the relevant mutations identified by NGS were verified with Sanger sequencing. Related literature was searched from PubMed and Embase databases (from their establishment to January 2017) by using "PIGN gene" as a keyword, the retrieved articles were further reviewed for the clinical manifestations, results and prognosis of PIGN related variants. Result: A nearly 4-month-old Chinese boy was presented with epilepsy, hypotonia, developmental delay, accompanied by nearly normal laboratory test results. The NGS analysis revealed a compound heterozygous variations in the PIGN gene, included a known splice site mutation (c.963G>A) which was inherited from his father, and a novel nonsense mutation (c.2773A>T, p.Lys925*) which was inherited from his mother. Nine associated articles were retrieved. Including our patient, a total of 22 cases were identified as the PIGN variants. The most common clinical manifestations were developmental delay, hypotonia, and epilepsy.Missense varients were most frequently found. Prognosis was poor. Eight cases died, while survived cased suffered from refractory epilepsy, profound mental retardation, muscle weakness, etc. Conclusion MCAHS1 is characterized by epilepsy, severe developmental delay, hypotonia, and may be accompanied by multiple malformations of other systems. Homozygous or compound heterozygous variants in PIGN gene are the cause of the disease.

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of ruptured sinus of Valsava aneurysm(RSVA). Methods: A total of 33 RSVA patients underwent transcatheter closure from January 2006 to March 2017 in our hospital were included in this retrospective study. The RSVA was diagnosed by echocardiography.Different type of occluders were applied for transcatheter closure based on the aortography results. All the patients were followed up after the procedure. Results: The patients were (37.6±12.1) years old,and the male patients accounted for 78.8%(26 cases).RSVA from right coronary sinus was found in 25 patients,and draining chamber was right atrium in 13 cases, right ventricle in 12 cases. RSVA from noncoronary sinus was diagnosed in 8 patients,and the draining chamber was right atrium. Aortography defined the narrowest diameter at the rupture site was (6.4±1.7)mm. The ratio of Qp/Qs was 2.2±0.5,and the mean pressure of pulmonary artery was 24.0(21.2,33.7)mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). One patient developed serious occluder related aortic regurgitation and underwent surgery, transcatheter closure was successfully performed in 32 patients. The success rate of transcatheter closure was 97.0%. Two types of device were used in the study including small-waist double-disk ventricular septal defect(VSD) occluders in 20 cases and patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) occluders in 12 cases. During a median follow-up of 73.5(28.3,89.5) months, there were no infective endocarditis, residual shunt, thrombosis, device displacement,serious aortic regurgitation, serious arrhythmia or death.At the last follow-up, the left atrial diameter((37.4±6.5) mm vs. (41.5±5.3)mm,P<0.01),right atrial diameter((42.4±3.0) mm vs. (48.5±6.0)mm,P<0.01), right ventricular diameter((22.2±3.8) mm vs. (27.7±7.2)mm,P<0.01) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter((51.3±4.9) mm vs.(55.0±4.3)mm,P<0.01)measured by echocardiography were all smaller than pre-procedural level. Conclusion Transcatheter closure of RVSA is a safe and effective strategy and associated with a good long-term outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for 7 patients with Alström syndrome. METHODS: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the patients and their parents. Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the patients. Suspected variant was verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. RESULTS: Genetic testing revealed 12 variants of the ALMS1 gene among the 7 patients, including 7 nonsense and 5 frameshift variants, which included c.5418delC (p.Tyr1807Thrfs*23), c.10549C>T (p.Gln3517*), c.9145dupC (p.Thr3049Asnfs*12), c.10819C>T (p.Arg3607*), c.5701_5704delGAGA (p.Glu1901Argfs*18), c.9154_9155delCT (p.Cys3053Serfs*9), c.9460delG (p.Val3154*), c.9379C>T (p.Gln3127*), c.12115C>T (p.Gln4039*), c.1468dupA (p.Thr490Asnfs*15), c.10825C>T (p.Arg3609*) and c.3902C>A (p.Ser1301*). Among these, c.9154_ 9155delCT, c.9460delG, c.9379C>T, and c.1468dupA were unreported previously. Based on the standards and guidelines of American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the c.9379C>T and c.12115C>T variants of the ALMS1 gene were predicted to be likely pathogenic (PVS1+PM2), whilst the other 10 variants were predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1+ PM2+ PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION ALMS1 variants probably underlay the Alström syndrome in the 7 patients, and genetic testing can provide a basis for the clinical diagnosis of this syndrome. The discovery of four novel variants has expanded the mutational spectrum of Alström syndrome.
Alstrom Syndrome/genetics* ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Whole Exome Sequencing