Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia(VBD ) can increase the risk of stroke. Significant expansion, elongation and tortuosity of the vertebrobasilar arteries are the main morphology manifestations of VBD. However, there is no consensus on the quantitative imaging assessment of VBD. Many studies showed that some quantitative parameters, such as basilar artery length and bending length, basilar angulation, vertebral tortuosity index can be used for the quantitative imaging assessment of VBD.

Objective: To explore phenotypic and mutational characteristics of a pedigree affected with autosomal dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and nephropathy. Methods: Clinical data of the proband and his family members was collected. Electrophysiology, renal biopsy and next-generation sequencing were carried out for the proband. Results: The proband presented with distal lower limb weakness and proteinuria in childhood. His mother and brother had similar symptoms. Electrophysiological test of the proband revealed demyelination and axonal changes in both motor and sensory nerves. Renal biopsy suggested focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous c. 341G>A (p.G114D) mutation in exon 2 of the INF2 gene. Conclusion The phenotypic feature of the pedigree is autosomal dominant intermediate CMT and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which may be attributed to the c. 341G>A mutation of the INF2 gene.

OBJECTIVE: To explore phenotypic and mutational characteristics of a pedigree affected with autosomal dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and nephropathy. METHODS: Clinical data of the proband and his family members was collected. Electrophysiology, renal biopsy and next-generation sequencing were carried out for the proband. RESULTS: The proband presented with distal lower limb weakness and proteinuria in childhood. His mother and brother had similar symptoms. Electrophysiological test of the proband revealed demyelination and axonal changes in both motor and sensory nerves. Renal biopsy suggested focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous c.341G>A (p.G114D) mutation in exon 2 of the INF2 gene. CONCLUSION The phenotypic feature of the pedigree is autosomal dominant intermediate CMT and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, which may be attributed to the c.341G>A mutation of the INF2 gene.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease ; complications ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; complications ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pedigree

Objective:To investigate the clinical, pathological and genetic characteristics of myopathy-type very long chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCADD).Methods:The detailed clinical data, muscle biopsy pathology and molecular results of 4 patients with genetically confirmed myopathy-type VLCADD admitted to Henan Provincial People′s Hospital and Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2014 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:All of the 4 patients were late-onset myopathy-type VLCADD. The onset age ranged from 13 to 16 years, with a mean age of 14.5 years. The age at diagnosis ranged from 21 to 54 years, with a mean age of 42.5 years. The main clinical manifestation was repeated rhabdomyolysis, including myalgia, weakness and dark urine. Obvious somnolence was observerd in 1 patient. Muscle biopsy pathology revealed mild lipid accumulation, without vacuoles. Six ACADVL variations were detected in the 4 patients, including c.1283G>A (p.R428H), c.1532G>A (p.R511Q), c.833_835delAGA (p.K278del), c.1843C>T (p.R615 *), c.1748C>T (p.S583L) and c.1391C>T (p.T464I),among which c.1391C>T (p.T464I) was a novel variation, predicted to be likely pathogenic. Other 5 variations were reported pathogenic variations. Conclusions:Myopathy-type VLCADD is characterized by paroxysmal rhabdomyolysis and can be associated with somnolence. There is no specificity in muscle pathology. There are ACADVL variations, among which c.1391C>T is a novel variation.

Objective To observe the effects oftelmisartan (TEL) on learning and memory functions of animal models of Alzheimer's disease combined with hypertension.Methods Seventy male spontaneously hypertensive rats were randomly assigned into 7 groups:control group,sham-operated group,model group,low TEL group (1 mg/[kg· d]),high TEL group (10 mg/[kg· d]),low TEL+GW9662 group (Tel 1 mg/[kg·d]+GW 1 mg/[kg·d]),and high TEL+GW9662 group (Tel 10 mg/[kg·d],GW 10 mg/[kg·d],n=10);the lateral cerebral ventricle of rats in the later 5 groups were injected with beta-amyloid peptide 1-42 (Aβ1-42);rats in the sham-operated group were given the same volume of normal saline,and those in the control group did not give any treatment.The learning and memory abilities of these rats were detected by Morris Maze test;microglia level and casepase-3 expression were assessed by immunohistochemical stainning.Results Constant-bearing navigation indicated that as compared with the model group,the high TEL+GW9662 group,control group and sham-operated group had significantly shorten escape latency on the 3rd d of experiment (P＜0.05),and as compared with the model group,the low TEL group,high TEL group and high TEL+GW9662 group had significantly shorten latency (P＜0.05).Spatial probe test showed that the times of crossing the platform,target quadrant residence time in the low TEL group,high TEL group and high TEL+GW9662 group were significantly larger/longer than those in the model group (P＜0.05).The casepase-3 expression and microglia level in the CA1 area of model group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.05);The Ibal and caspase-3 expressions in the low TEL group,high TEL group and high TEL+GW9662 group were significantly weaker than those in the model group (P＜0.05).Conclusion TEL has preventive effect on cognitive decline in rat models of Alzheimer's disease complicated with hypertension,and can be restrained by GW9662,which suggests that these benefits might be partly resulted from PPAR-γ activation and intracranial infection inhibitation.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and genetic features of Pompe disease, and analyze the effect of enzyme replacement therapy on it.Methods:A retrospective study was performed. The clinical data and genetic results of 14 patients with Pompe disease from 12 families, admitted to our hospital from January 2017 to June 2021, were collected. Some patients were followed up after therapies.Results:Twelve of the 14 patients were late onset, with onset age ranged from 1.5 to 37.0 years (mean 15.2 years), and the other 2 patients were infantile onset. The predominant manifestations included proximal lower limb weakness, accompanied by easy fatigue and myalgia; 8 patients presented with dyspnea, of which one had dyspnea as initial presentation. Serum creatine kinase ranged from 172 to 1397 IU/L (mean 878 IU/L). Electromyography revealed myogenic pattern in 6 patients and myotonic discharge in 4 patients. Forced vital capacity decreased in 10 patients, and scoliosis was detected in 5 patients; 13 patients had decreased acid-alpha-glucosidase (GAA) activity; muscle pathology indicated vacuolar myopathy in 8 patients. Genetic test revealed 17 variants in GAA gene, among which c.2331G>C, c.1622C>T, c.1585T>C, and c.1837T>C were 4 novel likely pathogenic variants. The c.2238G>C and c.2662G>T were found in 5 and 3 families, respectively. Muscle strength and lung function got improvement in 1 patient who received enzyme replacement therapy and had regular follow-up, while muscle strength and lung function were worsened in those who did not receive enzyme replacement therapy. Conclusions:Pompe disease is characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and pulmonary dysfunction, and may be associated with spinal deformity; creatine kinase is mildly to moderately elevated, and myotonic discharge can be detected. GAA c.2238G>C and c.2662G>T are hotspot mutations in China; the 4 novel variants enrich the GAA mutational spectrum. Enzyme replacement therapy may improve motor and pulmonary function.

Objective:To investigate the clinical, myopathological and genetic mutation characteristics in two Chinese families with paramyotonia congenita (PMC).Methods:Clinical manifestations, electrophysiology, muscle pathology and gene sequencing of two Chinese families with PMC were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Family 1 involved 12 patients in 4 consecutive generations and family 2 involved only 1 patient in 3 generations. The onset of symptoms in all patients started at early childhood. Both probands presented with myotonia triggered by cold and paroxysmal weakness. However, the other 11 patients in family 1 only manifested cold-induced myotonia. Serum creatine kinase (CK) was slightly elevated between attacks of weakness in the 2 probands, and was even greater than 10 000 U/L during the episodes of weakness in the second proband, whose lower limb MRI revealed edema in bilateral medial gastrocnemius. Electromyography showed diffuse myotonia discharge and myogenic impairment in both probands, and myotonia discharge in the first proband′s mother. Muscle pathology of both probands showed mild myopathic changes, and tube aggregation was occasionally observed in the second one. Genetic testing revealed a maternally inherited heterozygous R1448H mutation of SCN4A gene in the first proband and part of his family. A novel heterozygous R1448G mutation of SCN4A gene was reported in the second proband.Conclusions:Cold-triggered myotonia with or without paroxysmal weakness are the common characteristics of PMC. Myotonic potential and myogenic impairment can be tested in electromyography. The p.R1448G mutation is a new missense mutation.

Objective:To analyze the clinical, imaging and genetic characteristics of 2 pedigrees with hereditary spastic paraplegia type 7 (SPG7).Methods:The clinical data of the probands and related members of 2 families hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from December 2018 to December 2021 were collected. The probands and all family members were subjected to cranial MRI imaging and genetic testing, and the clinical characteristics and genetic variation of SPG7 families were compared with those reported in the literature.Results:Four patients from the 2 families were observed with adult-onset age in this group. The main manifestations were wide-base ataxic gait in 4 cases, and spastic gait in 1 case during follow-up. Pyramidal tract involvement mainly in the lower limbs were found in all cases, and dysarthria in 3 cases. MRI of 3 patients showed varying degrees of cerebellar atrophy. Genetic testing revealed compound heterozygous or homozygous variants of the SPG7 gene in the 4 patients, of which c.2062C>T and c.2176C>T were novel mutations. At present, only 5 SPG7 families have been reported in China. Among the 12 patients in all groups, 12 cases of pyramidal tract involvement, 10 cases of cerebellar ataxia, 7 cases of dysarticulation, 3 cases of cognitive impairment, 11 cases of complex hereditary spastic paraplegia, 1 case of simple hereditary spastic paraplegia, and 9 cases of cerebellar atrophy were reported. Six novel mutations have been reported in 5 families. Conclusions:SPG7 family is rarely reported in China, mainly manifested as pyramidal tract involvement combined with cerebellar ataxia, accompanied by cerebellar atrophy. SPG7 mutation is confirmed by genetic detection, and there are many novel mutations in SPG7 family in China.

Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19