OBJECTIVETo identify pathogenic mutation in a pedigree affected with craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities featuring an autosomal dominant inheritance.

METHODSClinical data and peripheral venous blood samples of the pedigree were collected. A total of 326 exons of skeletal disease-related genes were screened using Roche NimbleGen probes, and the results were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Suspected variants were analyzed by bioinformatic software.

RESULTSA novel heterozygous mutation c.480C>A (p.160K>N) of HDAC4, the pathogenic gene for brachydactyly mental retardation syndrome, was found in the affected proband, his father and uncle. The proband and his father also carried a novel heterozygous c.880-882delAAG (p.294delK) mutation of TRPS1, the pathogenic gene for tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that both mutations are pathogenic. In addition, three novel genetic variants, namely c.4817G>A (p.1606S>L) of MLL2, c.83A>G (p.28H>R) of TP63, and c.1712G>C (p.571T>S) of ERCC2, were also identified in this family.

CONCLUSIONThe HDAC4 c.480C>A (p.160K>N) mutation probably underlies the disease in this pedigree, while the TRPS1 c.880-882delAAG (p.294delK) mutation may be related with certain features of the affected family members. Genetic analysis has facilitated the diagnosis of this complex disease.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Pedigree

Objective To explore whether serum amyloid A (SAA) can induce the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)in neutrophils in vitro. Methods A stable method for inducing NETs formation in vitro was established, in-cluding isolation of peripheral blood neutrophils, cell culture, and NETs formation and observation. The neutrophils were iso-lated from peripheral blood of healthy volunteers. And cells were cultured in vitro and classified into three groups:negative control (NC) group, SAA group and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group. Following the distinct stimulation in three groups, NETs formation was observed and its percentage was calculated. The concentration of hinstone (h) 3 in supernatant was detected by ELISA. Results The purification and vitality of isolated neutrophils were both more than 95%. The nuclei of neutrophils lost their shape and spread, NETs formation was found. More NETs formation was found in SAA group than that in NC group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the concentration of h3 in supernatant was significantly higher in SAA group than that in NC group (P<0.05). Conclusion SAA can induce the formation of NETs in vitro.

Objective To investigate the role of scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) signaling pathway in serum amyloid A (SAA)-induced angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods The expression and location of SR-B1 in RA and osteoarthritis (OA) synovial tissues were observed by immunohistochemistry.And SR-B1 expression in the resting human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was detected by immunoflourescence.Wound repair assessement and tube formation assessement were employed to evaluate the effect on cell migration and tube formation stimulated by SAA and/or anti-SR-B1 antibody.The t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for statistical analysis.Results ① SR-B1 was significantly highly expressed in RA tissue samples (A=6 788±819) when compared to the minimal expression in OA (A =31 849±6 977,t=3.567,P＜0.01).Positive staining of SR-B1 was observed in RA synovial vascular endothelial cells and perivascular areas.② Strong staining for SR-B1 was observed in all HUVECs tested.③ Significant wound healing induced by SAA (MI=2.50±0.17) was found compared with the untreated controls (MI=1.00±0.09,q=14.38,P＜0.01),and the effects were inhibited in the presence of anti-SR-B1 antibody (MI=1.16±0.14,q=13.02,P＜0.01).④ Compared to the untreated group (branch point number:6.6±0.8),there was an enhanced formation of branched and capillary-hke tube structure followed by SAA stimulation (branch point number:19.0±1.1,q=25.04,P＜0.01) after culturing for 72 h,whereas,tube formation decreased markedly upon pre-treated with anti-SR-B1 antibody (branch point number:7.6±1.3,vs SAA,q =23.32,P＜0.01).Conclusion Our present study suggests that serum amyloid A may induce angiogenesis via SR-B1 signaling pathway in RA.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical phenotypes of a pedigree affected with periodic paralysis and explore its molecular basis.

METHODSClinical data and peripheral blood samples of the pedigree were collected. The proband and his father both complained of periodic paralysis and dysmorphic features. The exome of the proband was screened using Roche NimbleGen probes, and the results were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Suspected mutations were subjected to bioinformatic and gene-disease correlation analysis.

RESULTSA c.653G>A (p.R218Q) mutation of the KCNJ2 gene was detected in both the proband and his father. Bioinformatics analysis suggested it to be pathogenic.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical manifestation of the pedigree was suggestive of Andersen-Tawil syndrome. KCNJ2 c.653G>A (p.R218Q) was the pathogenic mutation in this pedigree.

Objective To observe the effect of excretory/secretory products from Trichinella spiralis adult worms(AES)on cecal ligation and puncture(CLP)?induced sepsis in mice. Methods Forty?eight BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups:a sham operation group(PBS+sham group,Group A),a CLP?induced sepsis group(PBS+CLP group,Group B)and an AES treatment group(AES+ CLP group,Group C). The mice of each group were intraperitoneally injected with 25 μg of AES or PBS only as a control in a total volume of 200μl. Eight mice from each group were selected randomly for survival analy?sis of 96 hours. The other 8 mice in each group were observed for pathological changes in the lung,liver and kidney tissues by HE staining 12 h after CLP,and then determined for the detection of cytokines including TNF?α,IL?1β,IL?6,IL?10 and TGF? βin the sera by ELISA. Results The difference among the survival rates of mice in the 3 groups was statistically significant (χ2=21.16,P<0.05). Compared to Group A(100%),the survival rate of mice in Group B(0)decreased significantly(P<0.05),and also the pathological damage degrees in the lung,liver and kidney tissues of the mice in Group B increased signifi?cantly after CLP. Compared with the mice in group B,the survival rate of those in Group C(70%)increased significantly(P<0.05),and the pathological damage degrees in the lung,liver and kidney tissues of the mice in Group C decreased significantly after the treatment with AES. The differences among the levels of pro?inflammatory cytokines TNF?α(F=27.11,P<0.05),IL?1β(F=18.75,P<0.05)and IL?6(F=100.93,P<0.05)in the sera of the mice in the three groups were statistically signifi?cant. Compared with the mice in Group A,the levels of the 3 cytokines of those in Group B increased significantly(all P <0.05). However,after the treatment with AES,the levels of the pro?inflammatory cytokines of those in Group C decreased signifi?cantly(all P<0.05). The differences among the levels of immunoregulatory cytokines IL?10(F=10.88,P<0.05)and TGF?β(F=11.37,P<0.05)in the sera of the mice in the three groups were also statistically significant. Compared with the mice in Group B,the levels of IL?10 and TGF?β of those in Group C were higher after treatment with AES(both P<0.05). Conclu?sion T. spiralis AES has a therapeutic potential for alleviating sepsis induced by CLP in mice.

OBJECTIVE To conduct the pharmacoeconomic evaluation of empagliflozin in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction （HFrEF），and to provide evidence-based reference for rational drug use and medical and healthy decision-making. METHODS A Markov model was used to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of the regimen of empagliflozin in the treatment of HFrEF ，and to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of standard treatment plan plus empagliflozin （empagliflozin group）vs. standard treatment plan （standard treatment group ）. Clinical parameters were obtained from the EMPEROR-Reduced study；cost and utility data came from the published literatures. The cycle of the model was 1 month and the simulation time was 20 years. Single-factor sensitivity analysis and probability sensitivity analysis were performed to validate the results of cost-effectiveness analysis. RESULTS Compared with the standard treatment group ，each additional quality-adjusted life year in the empagliflozin group cost 37 995.94 yuan more ，which was less than China ’s 1 time GDP per capita in 2020（72 447 yuan）. The results of single factor sensitivity analysis showed that steady-state hospitalization rate of 2 groups was the most important factor affecting the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio . The results of probability sensitivity analysis showed that when the willingness-to-pay threshold （WTP）was 1 time GDP per capita in 2020（72 447 yuan），the probability of empagliflozin group with cost-effectiveness advantage was 58.8％；when the WTP was 3 times GDP per capita in 2020（217 341 yuan），the probability of empagliflozin group with cost-effectiveness advantage was 63.8％. CONCLUSIONS Compared with standard treatment plan alone，standard treatment plan plus empagliflozin is more cost-effective in the treatment of HFrEF. However ，the economic probability is not high.

Immune cell infiltration is of great significance for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. In this study, we collected gene expression data of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and normal tissues included in TCGA database, obtained the proportion of 22 immune cells by CIBERSORT tool, and then evaluated the infiltration of immune cells. Subsequently, based on the proportion of 22 immune cells, a classification model of NSCLC tissues and normal tissues was constructed using machine learning methods. The AUC, sensitivity and specificity of classification model built by random forest algorithm reached 0.987, 0.98 and 0.84, respectively. In addition, the AUC, sensitivity and specificity of classification model of lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous carcinoma tissues constructed by random forest method 0.827, 0.75 and 0.77, respectively. Finally, we constructed a prognosis model of NSCLC by combining the immunocyte score composed of 8 strongly correlated features of 22 immunocyte features screened by LASSO regression with clinical features. After evaluation and verification, C-index reached 0.71 and the calibration curves of three years and five years were well fitted in the prognosis model, which could accurately predict the degree of prognostic risk. This study aims to provide a new strategy for the diagnosis and prognosis of NSCLC based on the classification model and prognosis model established by immune cell infiltration.
Algorithms ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Machine Learning ; Prognosis