Objective:To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of a child featuring Dias-Logan syndrome.Methods:A child with speech disorders and delayed psychomotor development from childhood who was admitted to the Rehabilitation Medicine Department of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in July 2022 was selected as the research subject. Clinical data of the child was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the child and his parents. Potential variant was screened by whole exome sequencing, and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. This study was approved by the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University (Ethics No. 2023-K-011).Results:The child has presented with global developmental delay, microcephaly, special facial features and behavioral problems. Genetic testing revealed a de novo variant of the BCL11A gene, namely c. 561_567delACACGCA(p.Q187fs*7), which was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+ PS2+ PM2_Supporting). Conclusion:The heterozygous variant of BCL11A gene probably underlay the Dias-Logan syndrome in this child. Above finding has enriched the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of the BCL11A gene and provides a basis for genetic counseling and clinical decision-making.

Objective:To explore the effects of the compound ICG-001 on autism-like behaviors and the morphological development of dendritic spines in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of rats.Methods:Healthy Wistar rats were mated.The offspring were divided into the saline-treated group, ICG-001 control group, Sodium valproate (VPA) group and ICG-001 treatment group by using the random number table method.Each group had 12 rats.Social interaction, repetitive, compulsive and anxiety-like behaviors in rodents were assessed by three-chambered social approach, marble burying, open-field and elevated plus maze tests.The number of neuronal nuclei (NeuN)-positive neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region was calculated by the immunofluorescence method.Golgi staining was carried out to detect the density and morphological changes of dendritic spines in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of rats.The expression of phosphorylated LIM kinase 1(LIMK1), phosphorylated actin binding protein(Cofilin), fibros actin (F-actin) and developmentally-regulated brain protein A (Drebrin A) was examined by Western blot.The univariate analysis was made to examine whether the difference was statistically significant, and the data between groups were compared by the Tukey method. Results:(1) In the three-chambered social approach test, the rats in the saline-treated group, ICG-001 control group, VPA group and ICG-001 treatment group spent (219.42±5.38) s, (218.67±10.12) s, (126.58±5.02) s, and (218.58±6.63) s in the chamber, respectively.The corresponding preference score of the said 4 groups were 0.43±0.05, 0.43±0.04, 0.22±0.01 and 0.42±0.04, respectively.Compared with the VPA group, the ICG-001 treatment group spent longer time in the chamber and had a higher preference score (all P<0.05). (2) In the marble burying experiment, the number of marbles buried in said 4 groups were 9.13±0.52, 9.08±0.64, 15.13±0.82 and 9.42±0.86, respectively.ICG-001-treated rats buried markedly less marbles than VPA-exposed rats ( P<0.05). (3) In the open-field test, the rats in the said 4 groups spent (82.33±1.83) s, (81.32±4.19) s, (45.51±3.02) s and (81.44±3.19) s in the center area, respectively.Administration of ICG-001 significantly increased the time that VPA-exposed rats spent in the center area ( P<0.05). (4)In the elevated plus maze trial, the rats in the said 4 groups spent (107.75±7.23) s, (106.08±7.50) s, (63.42±1.91) s and (106.67±7.07) s in open arms, respectively.ICG-001 treatment notably increased the time that VPA-exposed rats spent in open arms ( P<0.05). (5) Immunofluorescence analysis results revealed that the number of NeuN-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region of said 4 groups was (41.83±1.17)×10 4/μm 2, (41.00±0.77)×10 4/μm 2, (27.17±0.95)×10 4/μm 2 and (40.00±0.90)×10 4/μm 2, respectively.ICG-001 treatment normalized the alteration in the number of NeuN-containing neurons in VPA-exposed rats ( P<0.05). (6) Golgi staining showed that the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons of said 4 groups was (0.74±0.04)/μm, (0.73±0.03)/μm, (0.49±0.03)/μm and (0.70±0.02) /μm, respectively.Of all types of dendritic spines, mushroom spines accounted for (0.49±0.02)%, (0.49±0.02)%, (0.33±0.02)% and (0.43±0.02) % in said 4 groups.Thin spines accounted for (0.27±0.02)%, (0.26±0.02)%, (0.34±0.01)% and (0.26±0.01) % in said 4 groups, respectively.Compared with the VPA group, the ICG-001 treatment group showed a significant increase in the density of dendritic spines in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons ( P<0.05). After ICG-001 treatment, the number of mushroom spines greatly increased and the number of thin spines sharply decreased in VPA-exposed rats (all P<0.05). (7) According to Western blot test results, the phosphorylated LIMK1/LIMK1 ratio of the hippocampus in said 4 groups were 100.33±2.30, 99.34±2.28, 57.76±4.10 and 99.13±1.90, respectively.The phosphorylated Cofilin /Cofilin ratio were 100.18±2.43, 100.18±1.70, 57.12±1.88 and 99.53±1.69, respectively.The F-actin/globular actin(G-actin) ratio were 100.07±0.86, 99.99±1.72, 51.19±1.23 and 99.28±3.17, respectively.The expression level of Drebrin A were 100.79±1.19, 100.12±2.04, 52.86±3.26 and 99.97±2.44, respectively.Administration of ICG-001 effectively prevented the decrease of phosphorylated LIMK1, phosphorylated Cofilin, F-actin and Drebrin A in the hippocampus of VPA-exposed rats (all P<0.05). Conclusions:ICG-001 regulates the LIMK1/Cofilin signaling pathway, promotes the generation of F-actin, increases the expression of Drebrin A, and thereby alleviates autistic-associated symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out Sanger sequencing for MMACHC gene variants among 65 Chinese pedigrees affected with combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocysteinemia, and summarize their genetic and clinical characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: Clinical characteristics of the 65 children identified with Methylmalonic acidemia and homocysteinemia at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University (Zhengzhou Children's Hospital) from April 2017 to April 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Potential variants of the MMACHC gene were detected by direct sequencing of the PCR products. RESULTS: The median age of the 65 children was 3 months (14 days to 17 years old). These included 28 cases (43.08%) from neonatal screening, 11 cases (16.92%) with a history of jaundice, and 9 cases (13.85%) with various degrees of anemia. The main clinical symptoms included development delay, slow growth, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, lethargy, feeding difficulty, regression or decline in motor ability, recurrent respiratory infections, anemia, jaundice, respiratory and heart failures, hydrocephalus, limb weakness, and hypertension. Blood and urine tandem mass spectrometry screening has revealed increase of methylmalonic acid, propionyl carnitine, propionyl carnitine/acetylcarnitine ratio, and propionyl carnitine/free carnitine ratio to various extents, and blood homocysteine was increased in all patients. The detection rate of genetic variants was 98.46% (128/130), and in total 22 types of MMACHC gene variants were detected. The most common ones have included c.609G>A (W203X) (58/128), c.658-660del (K220del) (19/128), and c.80A>G (Q27A) (16/128). Two novel variants have been identified, namely c.565C>T (p.R189C) and c.624_ 625delTG (p.A208Afs), which were respectively predicted as likely pathogenic (PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP2+PP3) and pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP2) based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Exon 4 had the highest frequency for the detection. CONCLUSION Identification of MMACHC gene variants has confirmed the diagnosis in the children, among which the c.609G>A variant has the highest frequency. Discovery of the new variants has enriched the mutational spectrum of the MMACHC gene.
Humans ; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/genetics* ; Hydrocephalus ; Oxidoreductases

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic variant in a child with Raynaud-Claes syndrome (RCS). METHODS: A child who was diagnosed with RCS at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University for delayed language and motor development in August 2022 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child were collected, and potential genetic variant was detected by next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of the candidate variant was analyzed. RESULTS: The child, a 4-year-and-4-month-old male, has manifested global developmental delay, speech disorders, special facial features and behavioral abnormalities. Genetic testing revealed that he has harbored a hemizygous c.1174C>T (p.Gln392Ter) variant of the CLCN4 gene, which was not detected in either of his parents. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was rated as pathogenic (PVS1+PS2+PM2_Supporting). CONCLUSION The c.1174C>T (p.Gln392Ter) variant of the CLCN4 gene probably underlay the PCS in this child. Above finding has expanded the mutational spectrum of the CLCN4 gene and enabled genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for his family.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Chloride Channels/genetics* ; Genetic Counseling ; Genetic Testing ; Genomics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Mutation ; Child, Preschool

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic variants in two children with Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). METHODS: Two children who had presented at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University respectively in June 2020 and July 2021 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the children were collected, and potential pathogenic variants were screened by whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing of their family members. RESULTS: Child 1 was a 7-month-and-29-day-old male, and child 2 was a 2-year-and-6-month-old male. Both children had shown symptoms of epileptic seizures and multiple hypomelanotic macules. Genetic testing revealed that both children had harbored de novo variants of the TSC2 gene, namely c.3239_3240insA and c.3330delC, which were unreported previously. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), both variants were rated as pathogenic (PVS1+PS2+PM2_Supporting). CONCLUSION This study has uncovered the genetic etiology for two children with TSC. Above findings have also enriched the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of TSC in the Chinese population.
Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Family ; Genetic Testing ; Genomics ; Mutation ; Tuberous Sclerosis/genetics* ; Child, Preschool ; East Asian People

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the clinical data of Christianson syndrome caused by SLC9A6 gene mutation and related literatures.Methods:The clinical data of one Christianson syndrome patient caused by SLC9A6 gene variation in Children′s Hospital of Zhengzhou University were collected, meanwhile the relevant literature was reviewed. The examination of video electroencephalogram, auditory brainstem response, and cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. Whole exon sequencing and mitochondrial gene detection were performed for 3 persons in the family, and the suspected mutation sites were verified by Sanger sequencing.Results:A boy, 7 years old, presented with epilepsy, language retardation and mental retardation. Now he can only say overlapping words, execute simple instructions, denying family history of genetic disease and genetic metabolic disease. The patient′s uncle had the history of febrile convulsions in childhood. At present, speech and intelligence are impaired, and the left limb movement is slightly limited. The patient′s mother was mildly retarded, without epilepsy. The video- electroencephalogram of the patient was shown below (April 2021): abnormal electroencephalogram; background activity was slightly slow; the bilateral frontotemporal region was dominated by multi-focal spiky wave, spiky slow wave and slow wave in each waking and sleeping stage, which can be generalized and extensive; in the sleeping stage, the discharge index in non-rapid eye movement stage was about 75%. The auditory brainstem response was shown below (October 2021): the left 70 dB Ⅰwave latency was prolonged; the Ⅰwave Ⅴ wave shape was poor; the threshold was 20 dB (the high frequency threshold was normal); the right 70 dB Ⅰwave latency was prolonged; the wave form was poor; the amplitude was lower than that of the contralateral side; Ⅲ wave Ⅴ wave shape was poor; the threshold was 30 dB (the high frequency threshold slightly increased). Brain MRI thin-section scan was shown below (January 2021): subarachnoid space of bilateral temporal poles widened, and no obvious abnormal signal was found in brain parenchyma; sinusitis. Whole exome sequencing of 3 persons in the family indicated that the proband had a hemizygous variant c.616C>T (p.R206 *) in the SLC9A6 gene. Using the SLC9A6 gene and Christianson syndrome as the key words, 94 foreign literatures from January 1989 to January 2022 were researched. Totally, 81 Christianson syndrome patients caused by SLC9A6 gene mutation were reported. The age of onset ranged from neonatal period to adulthood, and the clinical manifestations were heterogeneous. The symptoms of male patients mainly included epilepsy, severe cognitive impairment, ataxia, cerebellar atrophy, and psychomotor retardation. Conclusions:The hemizygous variant of SLC9A6 gene (c.616C>T) is the etiology of this patient. The possibility of Christianson syndrome shall be considered for recurrent epilepsy with poor efficacy of antiepileptic drugs, status epilepticus during slow-wave sleep, and delayed development of motor intelligence. Genetic testing is helpful for definite diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of clinical manifestation, auxiliary examination and gene mutation of 3-hydroxy-isobutyryl-coenzyme A hydrolase (HIBCH) deficiency to better understand this disease.Methods:The clinical manifestations and genetic results of a patient with HIBCH deficiency were analyzed. The clinical features and genetic characteristics of HIBCH deficiency were summarized based on the literature review.Results:The proband, female, one year and four months old, was admitted to Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University for “vomiting and diarrhea for 15 days, dyspnea and intermittent convulsions for 13 days after digestive tract infection”. The intelligence was normal, however, the motor development was slightly delayed before onset. Physical examination showed light coma, poor response and insensitivity to light. She also had shortness of breath, weak positive three concave signs and coarse breath sound in both lungs with sputum purrs. In addition, the muscle tension of extremities was increased. Bilateral Brudzinski′s sign, Babinski′s sign and Kernig′s sign were negative. Serum hydroxybutyryl carnitine (C4OH) was increased. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed atrophy in bilateral cerebral hemispheres and abnormal symmetry signals in bilateral globus pallidus and cerebral peduncle. Novel compound heterozygous variants of HIBCH, c.489T>A (p. C163*) and c.740A>G (p. Y247C), were found in the patient, which respectively inherited from her healthy parents. Her symptoms were relieved after“cocktail”therapy and symptomatic treatment. Literature related to HIBCH deficiency published all around the world was reviewed. As a result, 17 articles, including 24 cases, had been reported. The majority of patients presented with poor feeding, dystonia and progressive motor developmental delay in early infancy. Cranial MRI showed lesions in bilateral basal ganglia. Serum C4OH concentration was elevated. And compound heterozygous or homozygous variants of HIBCH gene were found in patients with HIBCH deficiency.Conclusions:The detection of serum amino acids and acylcarnitine profiles on HIBCH deficiency was relatively specific and it was helpful to make a clear diagnosis by combining with cranial MRI and genetic tests. In this study, a case of HIBCH deficiency was confirmed, which expanded the mutation spectrum of HIBCH gene. Meanwhile, summarizing the clinical and genetic characteristics of cases reported improved understanding of HIBCH deficiency.

We present a case of severe COVID-19 in a male newborn. A 22-day infant was transferred to Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University due to "intermittent fever for 18 days". The parents of the infant had been living in Wuhan and returned to Xinyang 9 days before delivery. Suspecting COVID-19 infection, a cesarean section was performed at 38 gestational weeks. The diagnosis of COVID-19 in the mother was confirmed at 2 days postpartum, as well as the father and the grandparents-in-law within 5 days postpartum. The baby developed fever and cough 5 days after birth, and a positive result for the new coronavirus nucleic acid test in the pharyngeal swab was shown 6 days after birth. The fever continued intermittently for 18 days, whilst nasal catheter oxygen inhalation treatment was administered. The percutaneous oxygen saturation decreased to 79% after cessation of oxygen, and the baby was transferred to the hospital for further treatment. After admission, the infant presented with cough, occasional choke, shortness of breath despite nasal catheter oxygen inhalation, increased heart rate, low urine volume, and an enlarged liver 2 cm below the right costal margin. The baby was diagnosed with severe COVID-19 accompanied by anemia, hyperkalemia, pneumonia, and atrial septal defect seen on the echocardiogram. After isolation in an incubator, oxygen inhalation, cardiotonic intervention, blood transfusion and antiviral treatment, the patient made a good recovery, with good breastfeeding, significant resorption of the lung inflammation and no fever or respiratory symptoms. The baby was discharged 14 days after hospitalization, with negative results for nucleic acid test of pharyngeal swab for 2 consecutive times.

To analyze the types of dietary patterns of women during pregnancy in Shaanxi and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods Data were derived from a cross?sectional program named "The prevalence and risk factors of birth defects in Shaanxi Province" from July to November in 2013. A multi?stage stratified random sampling method was used to extract 15 980 women of childbearing age who met the inclusion exclusion criteria from Shaanxi Province. The questionnaire obtained information such as the pregnancy outcome and the food intake of the study subjects during pregnancy. The dietary pattern was extracted by factor analysis, and the each dietary pattern of subjects were divided into T1-T3 groups according to the factor score. The effects of each dietary pattern on major adverse pregnancy outcomes were estimated by unconditional logistic regression model. Results Four dietary patterns were established: vegetarian pattern, balanced pattern, traditional pattern, and processing pattern. The multivariate logistic regression model results showed that compared with the vegetarian pattern T2 group, the T1 group had lower risk of low birth weight (OR=0.56, 95%CI : 0.41-0.83), and the T 3 group had higher risk of low birth weight in offspring ( OR=2.32, 95%CI : 1.59-3.89); compared with the traditional pattern T2 group, the T3 group had higher risk of premature (OR=2.62, 95%CI :1.58-5.01); compared with the balanced pattern T2 group, the T3 group had a lower risk of spontaneous abortion (OR=0.73, 95%CI: 0.36-0.89); compared with the processing pattern T2 group, the T3 group had a higher risk of spontaneous abortion ( OR=1.97, 95%CI : 1.36-3.34) and higher risk of stillbirth ( OR=2.96, 95%CI : 1.49-6.26), and the T 1 group had a lower risk of stillbirths in offspring ( OR=0.52, 95%CI :0.33-0.83). Conclusion The women of childbearing age in Shaanxi have different dietary patterns, and there may be a correlation between dietary patterns and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Objective To investigate the clinical features,diagnosis and treatment of infantile diabetes.Methods The clinical data of 27 infants with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) admitted to our hospital from Apr.2014 to Jun.2016 were retrospectively analyzed.SPSS16.0 statistical software was used to carry out t test and chisquare test on relevant data.Results The onset age of diabetes in infants and young children was 1 year to 3 years and 7 months.There were 15 males and 12 females.The onset season was mainly in winter and spring.The fasting blood glucose in cesarean section was significantly higher than that in natural production group (P＜0.05).12 cases(44.44％) were complicated with respiratory infections before the onset of the disease,including 6 cases of pathogenic detection of viruses,mainly Coxsackie virus.Among them,14 cases were admitted to hospital with polydipsia and polyuria,6 cases had fever,cough and mental retardation,7 cases had elevated blood glucose,16 cases (62.50％) and 6 cases of women with diabetic ketoacidosis (37.50％).The incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis in male diabetic patients was higher than that in females (62.50％ vs 37.50％,x2=6.49,P＜0.05).With abnormal liver function and dyslipidemia in 2 cases;myocardial enzyme abnormality in 7 cases;abnormal thyroid function in 10 cases;26 cases of electrolyte abnormality,mainly hyponatremia;2 cases of positive anti-insulin antibody and 5 cases of positive glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody.Before admission,13 (35.14％) cases were misdiagnosed,6 cases were misdiagnosed as bronchopneumonia,3 cases were misdiagnosed as central nervous system infection,3 cases were sepsis and 1 case was myocarditis.All patients were treated with insulin.After 7 to 10 days of treatment,the patient's condition improved and continued to be treated at home.Conclusions The clinical manifestations of infantile T1DM onset are not typical,and it is easy to be associated with ketoacidosis.Infection may be one of the important causes of diabetic ketoacidosis.When the child has an infection and the blood sugar level is high,attention should be paid to the occurrence of diabetic ketoacidosis,to avoid misdiagnosis.