Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and pathogenic mutations of propionic acidemia.Methods:Clinical data of two patients with propionic acidemia admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2017 to June 2018 were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the patients and their parents. Inherited disease panel based on Ion Torrent semiconductor sequencing technology was performed to detect gene mutations, and those with suspected pathogenic mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing. Descriptive statistical analysis was used for data analysis.Results:Case 1 was suspected of sepsis and admitted to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Nanjing Medical University due to "drowsiness and milk rejection" on the second day after birth. Tandem mass spectrometry suggested the level of propionyl carnitine and its ratios to acetylcarnitine and free carnitine were increased. Urine gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed elevated 3-hydroxypropionic acid and methylcitric acid. Genetic analysis revealed that the infant carried c.331C>T (p.R111X)/c.1228C>T (p.R410W) compound heterozygous mutations in the PCCB gene. The infant was diagnosed with propionic acidemia and treated with a special diet with an L-Carnitine supplement but died of sudden coma and vomiting without precipitating factors at three months of age. Case 2 presented with sudden vomiting, drowsiness, and anergia on the admission at five-months old. Tandem mass spectrometry showed increased propionyl carnitine level and its ratios. Compound heterozygous mutations of c.146delG (p.G49EfsX16)/c.1253C>T (p.A418V) in the PCCB gene were identified in the patient, of which c.146delG (p.G49EfsX16) was a de novo mutation and was evaluated as a pathogenic mutation. The patient was on a special diet with an L-Carnitine supplement, but with disobedience. Followed up to the age of three years and eight months, the child was severely underdeveloped. Conclusions:Neonates with clinically suspected sepsis may have propionic acidemia, and tandem mass spectrometry and genetic testing should be performed as soon as possible to confirm or rule out the diagnosis. Further investigations on the pathogenesis and function of the new mutation are still needed.

Objective To explore the clinical feature and gene types in patients with primary carnitine deficiency. MethodsClinical data of 6 patients with primary carnitine deficiency and 2 patients with maternal carnitine deficiency found in the screening by tandem mass spectrometry technology during December 2013 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The free carnitine levels of 8 patients in initial and recall screening were 5.85±1.65 μmol/L and 5.22±1.02 μmol/L. Two pathogenic alleles were detected in each patient with primary carnitine deficiency by genetic and metabolic disease panel based on Ion Torrent semiconductor sequencing. After treatment with oral L-carnitine, the free carnitine levels of 6 patients with primary carnitine deficiency were 20.24±3.88 μmol/L. The carnitine levels returned to normal after mixed feeding for one week in 2 patients with maternal carnitine deficiency, and no genetic diagnosis was carried out. Conclusion Primary carnitine deficiency can be effectively detected using tandem mass spectrometry technology and next generation sequencing panel and the prognosis is good with early standard treatment.

Objectives To study the mutation spectrum in CYP21A2 gene in patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD), and to analyze the relationship between genotype and phenotype. Methods Eighteen patients with 21-OHD were identified by neonatal screening of 17α-OH progesterone (17α-OHP). The allele specific PCR-DNA sequencing com-bining with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was applied to determine the genotype in the patients and their parents. Results Six mutations of CYP21A2 gene were identified. I2G (44.4%) and del (33.3%) were the most frequent mutations and also were the most common mutations in salt-wasting form. The detection rate of I172N mutation in simple virilizing form was 75%. Patients were classified into three groups according to the degree of 21-hydroxylase enzymatic compromise caused by the mutation. The serum 17α-OHP, ACTH and T levels which reflected the severity of disease were significantly different among three groups (P<0.05). Conclusions The genetic diagnosis of 21-OHD reveals the consistency between genotype and phenotype.

Objective To provide better emergency and patient services in well-equipped comprehensive hospitals, the organization and wisdom therapeutic strategy are of great importance for the recovery of injured patients from the earthquake zone. Method From 12 May 2008, following the 8.0 Magnitude earthquake in Wenchuan county of Sichuan Province, six Chongqing hospitals with third class in grade A were involved in the rescue of the injured patients with great effort. A total of 533 patients were retreated and followed up from quake zone. All the patients were scored with ISS and AIS system. The profiles of the patients examined, operated and clinical infection investigation were documented. Results Of 533 patients, the number of the patients whose ISS is below 16 is 456 (83.6%), the number between 16 and 25 is 65 (12.2%), and the humor above 25 is 12 (2.3%). The patients were classfled based on their fracture parts as follows: head and neck (n = 42), face (n = 7), chest (n = 114), abdominal and cavitas pelvis (n =81), limb and pelvis (n =314), body surface (n =205), with 180 single fracture site, 139 of them being two combined fracture sites, and 114 of them being above three combined fracture sites. Thirty-two of the patients were suffered from amputation. The number of patients suffered from crushing syndrome reached 21, with 281 surgical operations in hospitals. Seventy-nine patients were suffered from infections including 87.3% of pre-hespital infections. The results from bacteria culture and antibiotic susceptibility showed that the infected bacteria mainly involved in Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus anreus, Staphylococcus haemolyticns, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Baumanii, Aerobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, C type chain coccus, Bacillus aerogenes capsulatus. The antibiotic susceptibility to diverse bacteria has no obvious changes and exists partial overlapping, and infected patients should be given the treatment of cephalosporin, macrolide antibiotic and so on. Conclusions For the emergency conditions after the catastrophe, the comprehensive hospitals must be prepared to meet large quantities of severe trauma and infection therapy. The scientific selection of antibiotics in the combinative therapy is of great importance to the enhancement of early specific treatment, prevention of severe trauma complications and rehabilitation of patients.

Child ; Chromosome Duplication ; genetics ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Facies ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Sex Chromosome Disorders ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo detect potential mutations of MAT1A gene in a child suspected with simple hypermethioninemia by MS/MS neonatal screening.

METHODSClinical data of the child was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted by a standard method and subjected to targeted sequencing using an Ion AmpliseqInherited Disease Panel. Detected mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing.

RESULTSThe child showed no clinical features except evaluated methionine. A novel compound mutation of the MAT1A gene, i.e., c.345delA and c.529C>T, was identified in the child. His father and mother were found to be heterozygous for the c.345delA mutation and c.529C>T mutation, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe compound mutation c.345delA and c.529C>T of the MAT1A gene probably underlie the disease in the child. The semi-conductor sequencing has provided an important means for the diagnosis of hereditary diseases.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; genetics ; pathology ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; Family Health ; Fathers ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Glycine N-Methyltransferase ; deficiency ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Methionine Adenosyltransferase ; genetics ; Mothers ; Mutation

Objective:To study the dynamic changes of cellular immune function in peripheral blood of trauma patients and its role in the evaluation of traumatic complications.Methods:A prospective cohort study design was conducted. Patients with blunt trauma admitted to Chongqing Emergency Medical Center from November 2019 to January 2020 were consecutively enrolled. The peripheral blood samples were collected at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after injury. The expressions of CD64, CD274, and CD279 on the surface of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes as well as CD3 +, CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocyte subsets were measured by flow cytometry. The trauma patients were divided into different groups according to the injury severity score (ISS) and sepsis within 28 days after injury, respectively. The dynamic changes of cellular immune function in different time points after injury and differences between different groups were compared. Furthermore, the correlation with acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), and ISS were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis. Results:A total of 42 patients with trauma were finally enrolled, containing 8 severe trauma patients with ISS greater than 25 scores, 17 patients with ISS between 16 and 25 scores, and 17 patients with ISS less than 16 scores. The sepsis morbidity rates were 14.3% (n = 6) within 28 days after injury. CD64 index and CD4 +T lymphocyte subsets were significantly increased at different time points after trauma (H = 15.464, P = 0.004; F = 2.491, P = 0.035). The CD64 index and positive rates of CD279 in neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes were increased with the severity of injury at day 1 and day 3 after injury, respectively. At the first day after injury, CD64 index were 2.81±1.79, 1.77±0.92, 3.49±1.09; positive rate of CD279 in neutrophils were 1.40% (0.32%, 2.04%), 0.95% (0.44%, 2.70%), 12.73% (3.00%, 25.20%); positive rate of CD279 in lymphocytes were 3.77% (3.04%, 5.15%), 4.71% (4.08%, 6.32%), 8.01% (4.59%, 11.59%); positive rate of CD279 in monocytes were 0.57% (0.24%, 1.09%), 0.85% (0.22%, 1.25%), 6.74% (2.61%, 18.94%) from mild to severe injury groups, respectively. The CD64 index in severe injury group was significantly higher than that in moderate group, and the positive rates of CD279 in neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes of severe injury patients were higher than those in other two groups (all P < 0.05). At 3rd day after injury, compared to moderate group, severe injury patients had significantly higher CD64 index and positive rate of CD279 in lymphocytes [4.58±2.41 vs. 2.43±1.68, 7.35% (5.90%, 12.28%) vs. 4.63% (3.26%, 6.06%), both P < 0.05]. Compared with the non-sepsis patients, the sepsis patients had significantly higher CD64 index and positive rate of CD279 in monocytes at day 1 after injury [4.06±1.72 vs. 2.36±1.31, 3.29% (1.14%, 12.84%) vs. 0.67% (0.25%, 1.48%), both P < 0.05], and positive rate of CD279 in lymphocytes significantly higher at 3rd day after injury [8.73% (7.52%, 15.82%) vs. 4.67% (3.82%, 6.21%), P < 0.05]. In addition, correlation analysis showed that positive rate of CD279 in lymphocytes was positively correlated with SOFA and ISS, respectively (r values were 0.533 and 0.394, both P < 0.05), positive rate of CD279 in monocytes was positively correlated with APACHEⅡ, SOFA and ISS scores, respectively (r values were 0.579, 0.452 and 0.490, all P < 0.01), positive rate of CD279 in neutrophils was positively correlated with APACHEⅡ and ISS, respectively (r values were 0.358 and 0.388, both P < 0.05). Conclusions:CD64 index and CD279 expression in neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes are significantly related to the severity and prognosis of trauma. Dynamic monitoring the cellular immune function may be helpful for assessing the prognosis of trauma patients.

OBJECTIVETo detect the pathogenic mutation in a patient with methylmalonic acidemia using IonTorrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) and assess the feasibility of such technology for analyzing complex monogenic diseases.

METHODSPeripheral blood sample was collected from the patient. Genomic DNA was isolated using a standard method and subjected to targeted sequencing using an Ion Ampliseq Inherited Disease Panel. DNA fragment was ligated with a barcoded sequencing adaptor. Template preparation, emulsion PCR, and Ion Sphere Particles enrichment were carried out using the Ion One Touch system. Data from the PGM runs were processed using Ion Torrent Suite 3.2 software to generate sequence reads. All variants were filtered against dbSNPl37. DNA sequences were visualized with an Integrated Genomics Viewer.

RESULTSAfter data analysis and database filtering, a previously reported nonsense mutation, c.586C>T (p.R196X), and a novel mutation c.898C>T (p.R300X) were identified in the MMAA gene in this patient. Both mutations were verified by conventional Sanger sequencing.

CONCLUSIONPathogenic MMAA mutations have been identified in a patient with methylmalonic acidemia. This new-generation targeted sequencing on the PGM sequencers can be applied for genetic diagnosis of hereditary diseases.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; genetics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; methods ; Humans ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo identify pathogenic mutations in a Chinese pedigree affected with methylmalonic academia for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

METHODSMolecular analysis of the MUT, MMACHC, MMAA and MMAB genes was performed for the proband with methylmalonic academia by Ion Torrent semiconductor sequencing. Candidate mutations were validated by Sanger sequencing. The couple was offered prenatal diagnosis via analyzing of the fetal DNA through amniocentesis.

RESULTSThe proband was found to be compound heterozygous for c.609G>A (p.Trp203X) and c.658-660del AAG (p.Lys220del) mutations, which were inherited respectively from each of his parents. Prenatal diagnosis showed that the fetus has inherited two wild-type parental alleles.

CONCLUSIONThe targeted Ion Torrent PGM sequencing has detected pathogenic mutations in the Chinese pedigree affected with methylmalonic academia, which has provided molecular evidence for clinical diagnosis, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the family.

Adult ; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; genetics ; Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; embryology ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; China ; Female ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase ; genetics ; Mitochondrial Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective: To explore the genetic basis for an infant with early-onset argininemia. Methods: Potential variant was detected with an Ion Torrent semiconductor sequencer using a gene panel for inherited diseases. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. Results: Genetic testing indicated that he has carried c. 560+ 2T>C and c. 811T>C compound heterozygous variant of the AGR1 gene, which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. Among these, c. 560+ 2T>C was suspected to be pathogenic, while c. 811T>C was of unknown clinical significance, and both were not reported previously. Conclusion The c. 560+ 2T>C and c. 811T>C compound heterozygous variants of the AGR1 gene probably underlies the argininemia in this child. Above finding has enriched the variant spectrum of the AGR1 gene.