Objective To explore the feasibility of a high-resolution melting(HRM)method for rapid screening of SLC4A1 mutation.Methods Two hereditary spherocytosis(HS)with a c.166A >G heterozygous mutation of SLC4A1 confirmed by DNA sequencing and thirty healthy controls were selected for the study.The HRM primer was designed by Primer Premier 6.0 software.All of these samples were detected by LightCycler?480 and analyzed by HRM.Results The HRM analysis was able to detect the c.166A>G heterozygous mutation of SLC4A1 effectively, and the specificity and sensitivity were both 100%.Conclusions The HRM analysis was appropriate for the detection of c.166A>G in SLC4A1.It was an efficient,accurate and cost-effective molecular diagnosis method.

Objective To explore the characteristics of apolipoprotein E(APOE)gene polymorphism in patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD)and mild cognitive impairment(MCI)due to AD,as well as its corre-lation with baseline levels of ketone bodies.Methods A total of 110 AD patients from the outpatient and neu-rology wards of the hospital from January 2020 to October 2023 were selected as the AD group,105 patients(none of whom had used anti dementia drugs)were selected as the MCI group,and 110 healthy elderly exami-nees in the physical examination center were selected as the control group.APOE gene polymorphism,and the levels of serum β-hydroxybutyrate(HB)and urine ketone bodies were measured.The distribution of APOE genotype among the three groups was analyzed,and the differences of the levels of serum HB and urine ketone bodies were compared among those carried APOE ε4 allele and those did not.Results Among the three groups,the statistical significance was found in the differences of APOE genotype and ε2,ε3,ε4 allele(P<0.05).The proportion of APOE ε4 allele carriers in the AD group and the MCI group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).The levels of serum βHB in the AD group and the MCI group were lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The levels of serum βHB in those carried APOE ε4 in the AD group were significantly lower than that in the control individuals(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant differ-ence in serum βHB levels between individuals carried and not carried APOE ε4 in the three groups(P>0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the levels of urinary ketones among the three groups(P>0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in urine ketone bodies levels between individuals carried and not carried APOE ε4 in the three groups(P>0.05).Conclusion The reduced baseline levels of serum βHB in AD patients are associated with APOE ε4 allele.

BACKGROUND: Intensive phototherapy (IPT) and exchange transfusion (ET) are the main treatments for extreme hyperbilirubinemia. However, there is no reliable evidence on determining the thresholds for these treatments. This multicenter study compared the effectiveness and complications of IPT and ET in the treatment of extreme hyperbilirubinemia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in seven centers from January 2015 to January 2018. Patients with extreme hyperbilirubinemia that met the criteria of ET were included. Patients were divided into three subgroups (low-, medium-, and high- risk) according to gestational week and risk factors. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the data before treatment. Study outcomes included the development of bilirubin encephalopathy, duration of hospitalization, expenses, and complications. Mortality, auditory complications, seizures, enamel dysplasia, ocular motility disorders, athetosis, motor, and language development were evaluated during follow-up at age of 3 years. RESULTS: A total of 1164 patients were included in this study. After PSM, 296 patients in the IPT only group and 296 patients in the IPT plus ET group were further divided into the low-, medium-, and high-risk subgroups with 188, 364, and 40 matched patients, respectively. No significant differences were found between the IPT only and IPT plus ET groups in terms of morbidity, complications, and sequelae. Hospitalization duration and expenses were lower in the low- and medium-risk subgroups in the IPT only group. CONCLUSIONS In this study, our results suggest that IPT is a safe and effective treatment for extreme hyperbilirubinemia. The indication of ET for patients with hyperbilirubinemia could be stricter. However, it is necessary to have a contingency plan for emergency ET as soon as IPT is commenced especially for infants with risk factors. If IPT can be guaranteed and proved to be therapeutic, ET should be avoided as much as possible.
Child, Preschool ; Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal/therapy* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Kernicterus/therapy* ; Phototherapy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies