OBJECTIVETo delineate the mutation spectrum of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene among patients affected with phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency (PAHD) in Henan Province of China, and to explore the correlation between the genotype and the phenotype.

METHODSA total of 155 affected children were recruited. Potential mutation of the PAH gene were analyzed by direct sequencing. The genotype-phenotype correlation was analyzed by matching the expected and observed phenotypes.

RESULTSOver 72 mutations and 108 genotypes have been identified. There were 7 homozygous mutations, including 1 case with EX6-96A>G/EX6-96A>G, 1 with R241C/R241C, 1 with R413P/R413P, and 4 with R243Q/R243Q. Among these, 6 patients have presented classic PKU phenotypes, except for a R241C/R241C genotype which has led to mild PKU. In 104 patients carrying compound PAH mutations, 52 were classic, 34 were mild and 39 had mild HPA. Patients who were heterozygous for EX6-96A>G/R241C, R243Q/A434D, EX6-96A>G/R413P and EX6-96A>G/ R241C were found with both the classic PKU and mild PKU phenotypes. Common mutations associated with mild HPA have included R53H, R243Q, V399V and H107R. The common mutations associated with mild PKU included R243Q, R241C, EX6-96A>G, and IVS4-1G>A. The prevalent mutations in classic PKU were R243Q, EX6-96A>G and V399V. The consistency between prediction of the biochemical genotype and observed phenotype was 77.78%, especially in classic PKU, the consistency was up to 82.14%. Significant correlations were disclosed between pretreatment levels of phenylalanine and AV sum (r=-0.6729, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe mutation spectrum of PAH gene in Henan seems to differ from that of other regions. Independent assortment of mutant alleles may result in a complex genotype-phenotype correlation, but the genotypes of PAHD patients have correlated with the phenotype.

Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Phenylketonurias ; genetics

Objective: To study the prevalence, clinical and genetic characteristics of primary carnitine deficiency (PCD). Methods: From January 2013 to December 2017, 720 667 newborns and their mothers were tested for PCD by tandem mass spectrometry. Potential mutations of carnitine transporter gene SLC22A5 among suspected PCD patients were analyzed. Dietary guidance and L-carnitine supplementation were provided to the parents. Growth and intelligence development were surveyed during follow-up. Results: In total 21 neonates and 6 mothers were diagnosed with PCD, which yielded an incidence of 1 in 34 317. Eighteen SLC22A5 mutations were detected, which included 4 novel mutations, namely c. 1484T>C, c. 394-1G>T, c. 431T>C and c. 265-266insGGCTCGCCACC. Eighteen patients were found to carry compound heterozygous mutations and 3 have carried homozygous SLC22A5 mutations. Three mothers carried compound heterozygous mutations and 2 carried homozygous mutations. Common mutations included c. 1400C>G (42.3%), c. 760C>T (11.5%) and c. 51C>G (7.7%). During the 8 ~ 42 month follow-up, neonates with PCD showed no clinical symptoms but normal growth. Blood level of free carnitine was raised in all mothers after the treatment. Conclusion The incidence of neonatal PCD in Henan is 1 in 34 317, with the most common mutation being c. 1400C>G. Above finding has enriched the spectrum of SLC22A5 gene mutations.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of health information-seeking behavior in stroke patients and analyze its influencing path.Methods:A total of 280 stroke patients in Xuzhou Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University from February to July 2022 were selected as research objects by convenience sampling method. General Data Questionnaire, Stroke Self-Efficacy Scale, Medical Social Support Scale, Electronic Health Literacy Scale and Health Information-Seeking Behavior Questionnaire were used to investigate patients. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the influencing factors of health information seeking behavior in stroke patients. Amos 26.0 was used to establish the structural equation model and analyze the path. A total of 280 questionnaires were distributed in this study, and 268 were effectively collected, with an effective recovery rate of 95.71% (268/280) .Results:The score of health information-seeking behavior in stroke patients was (108.53±28.34). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that education, residence, number of hospitalizations due to stroke, self-efficacy and social support were the influencing factors of health information searching behavior of stroke patients ( P<0.05), which could explain 88.3% of the total variation. The structural equation model results showed that self-efficacy of stroke patients had a complete mediating effect between social support and health information searching behavior, and the indirect effect accounted for 80.29% of the total effect. Conclusions:The health information-seeking behavior of stroke patients is at a moderate level. Medical staff should formulate targeted intervention measures according to its influencing factors, and give full play to the mediating role of self-efficacy between social support and patients' health information-seeking behavior.

Objective:To explore the genetic basis for a child featuring tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency and global developmental delay.Methods:Clinical and laboratory examinations were carried out for the child. Genomic DNA of the patient was subjected to high-throughput sequencing to identify genetic variants associated with hyperphenylalaninemia. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing.Results:The result of blood tandem mass spectrometry showed that the Phenylalanine in the blood was 642.7 μmol/l, and the ratio of Phenylalanine/Tyrosine was 5.42. Analysis of urinary pterin: neopterin 0.09 mmol/mol Cr, biopterin 0.04 mmol/mol Cr, biopterin% 77%, which suggested tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency. The parents of the proband were first cousins. DNA sequencing revealed that the proband has harbored homozygous c. 353A>T variants in exon 2 of the GCH1 gene, for which his great grandmother, grandfather, mother, uncle, father and elder brother were heterozygous carriers with normal phenotype and no clinical symptoms associated with dopa responsive dystonia. Conclusion:The homozygous c. 353A>T variant of the GCH1 gene probably underlay the tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency in this pedigree of consanguineous marriage.

Objective:To explore the prevalence, clinical features, genetic characteristics and prognosis of Citrin deficiency in Henan province of China.Methods:A total of 986 565 neonates screened by tandem mass spectrometry at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Analysis of SLC25A13 gene variants and parental verification were carried out for neonates suspected for Citrin deficiency by next-generation sequencing. The clinical, biochemical and genetic characteristics of Citrin deficiency patients were integrated to guide the diet treatment and follow up the growth and development. Paired- t test was used to compare the amino acid levels in the peripheral blood samples before and after the treatment. Results:Nine cases of Citrin deficiency were diagnosed among the 986 565 neonates. Specific elevation of citrulline was observed in all of the 9 cases. Six variants were detected by genetic sequencing, among which c. 852_855delTATG, c. 615+ 5G>A, c. 550C>T and IVS16ins3kb were known pathogenic variants, whilst c. 1111_1112delAT and c. 837T>A were unreported previously. The detection rate for c. 852_855delTATG was the highest (61.6%, 11/18), followed by IVS16ins3kb (16.7%, 3/18). The clinical symptoms of all patients were relieved after the treatment, and the blood amino acid profile and biochemical parameters were significantly improved by gradually falling within the normal range. By June 2022, all patients had shown a good prognosis.Conclusion:The prevalence of Citrin deficiency among neonates from Henan Province by tandem mass spectrometry is 1/109 618, and the carrier rate for the pathogenic variants of the SLC25A13 gene was 1/166. The c. 852_855delTATG may be a hot spot variant among the patients. Discovery of the novel variants has enriched the mutational spectrum of the SLC25A13 gene. Above results have provided a basis for the early diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and genetic counseling for the affected families.

At present, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most common chronic liver diseases in the world. Recent studies have shown that varying degrees of central nervous system dysfunction can occur during the progression of NAFLD, including cognitive impairment and emotional imbalance. This article summarizes the main risk factors for NAFLD-related cognitive impairment at different stages, so as to provide a basis and ideas for the early prevention and clinical treatment of this disease.

Co-delivery of chemotherapeutics and immunostimulant or chemoimmunotherapy is an emerging strategy in cancer therapy. The precise control of the targeting and release of agents is critical in this methodology. This article proposes the asynchronous release of the chemotherapeutic agents and immunostimulants to realize the synergistic effect between chemotherapy and immunotherapy. To obtain a proof-of-concept, a co-delivery system was prepared