OBJECTIVE:With the popularity of simulated barefoot running,minimalist shoes have become a new way of foot exercise.As an important muscle group of the foot,the maintenance of foot muscle morphology is important for the execution of foot functions.In this paper,by combing the literature about the effect of minimalist shoes on foot muscle morphology in recent years,we systematically evaluate the effect of minimalist shoes on foot muscle morphology compared with traditional running shoes. METHODS:The relevant articles published from 2012 to 2022 were searched in Chinese and English databases(PubMed,Web of Science,ProQuest,CNKI and WanFang databases)with"minimal shoes,minimal footwear,minimalist shoes,minimalist footwear,foot muscle,feet muscle"as Chinese and English keywords,respectively.Meta-analysis,sensitivity tests were performed on the included literature using Review Manager 5.4.1 and Stata 14 software,the Egger method was used to test for publication bias in the literature,and Meta-regression was used to identify the subgroups with heterogeneity. RESULTS:Compared with traditional running shoes,minimalist shoes increased muscle circumference of the abductor hallucis[standardized mean difference=2.034,95%confidence interval(1.192,2.877),Z=4.73,P＜0.001].And the results were not reversed after clipping and patching,with a more robust combined effect size(P＜0.05).For the toe short flexors,the total combined effect size did not show a difference between traditional running shoes and minimalist shoes[standardized mean difference=0.470,95%confidence interval(-0.45,1.39),Z=1.00,P=0.318]. CONCLUSION:Compared with traditional running shoes,minimalist shoes intervention can effectively improve muscle circumference of the abductor hallucis,but the promoting effect on the flexor digitorum brevis muscle is not obvious.Running in minimalist shoes has positive implications for the maintenance of the medial longitudinal arch,but it is necessary to enrich the research content of minimalist shoes on different foot muscles and different populations in order to further explore the mechanisms by which minimalist shoe interventions promote foot function.

Clinical research coordinator (CRC) can improve the efficiency of clinical research, ensure the accuracy and reliability of the research process, as well as the standardized implementation of research projects and the safety of subjects. However, the CRCs dispatched by the site management organization have problems such as high liquidity, uneven quality, low work initiative, and high management costs. Since 2004, a research hospital in South China had started to employ CRCs by itself, exploring and forming three self-employed CRC management modes: hospital employ-hospital manage, researcher employ hospital manage, and researcher employ-third-party labor dispatch agency manage. The CRCs under hospital employ-hospital manage mode were recruited and selected by the hospital. The hospital established a labor relationship with CRC, and the hospital′s personnel department was responsible for salary distribution and promotion management of professional titles/positions. The relevant labor costs were borne by the hospital′s funds, and the salary standards were also formulated by the hospital. This type of CRC could participate in the promotion of health technology series titles. The CRCs under researcher employ-hospital manage mode were recruited and selected by the researcher. The hospital established a labor relationship with them. The relevant labor costs were borne by the research funding, and the researchers determined the specific salary standards for CRCs based on the salary guidance plan formulated by the hospital. These kind of CRCs could not be promoted to professional titles in hospitals. The CRCs under researcher employ-third-party labor dispatch agency manage mode were recruited and selected by researchers. The third-party labor dispatch agency established an employment relationship with them and provided personnel services. The relevant labor costs were borne by the research funding, and the researchers formulated their own salary standards. Such CRCs could not be promoted to professional titles in hospitals. As of July 2023, the number of self-employed CRCs in the hospital had reached 185, with 75.8% having a bachelor′s degree or above and an average work experience of 4.58 years. Among them, there were 26 people in the hospital hiring-hospital management mode, 45 people in the researcher hiring-hospital management mode, and 114 people in the researcher hiring-third-party labor dispatch agency management mode. These measures had fully released management efficiency, effectively met manpower needs, promoted rapid growth in the number of clinical research projects, and reduced management costs through third-party labor dispatch mode, which could provide references for CRC management in clinical trial institutions of China.

Objective: To summarize the clinical features of leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter disease (VWM) in children. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on 54 genetically diagnosed VWM patients in Peking University First Hospital from January 2007 to March 2019. Paper registration form and electronic medical record system were used to collect the data,and the children were divided into five groups according to the age of disease onset:<1 year, 1-<2 years, 2-<4 years, 4-<8 years and 8-<18 years respectively. The progression of motor function, episodic aggravation, epileptic seizures, survival time, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and genotype features were analyzed and compared. Non-parametric test, χ² test or Fisher′s exact test were used for comparison among groups; Kaplan-Meier survival curve was adopted to delineate the survival status of the children. Results: Fifty-four VWM patients were included in the study, including 34 males and 20 females.The age of disease onset was 2 years and 8 months (ranged from 6 months to 9 years and 7 months). Onset age was less than 1 year in 5 cases; onset age was 1-<2 years in 12 cases; onset age was 2-<4 years in 25 cases; onset age was 4-<8 years, in 10 cases; onset age was 8-<18 years in 2 cases; 94% (51/54) of patients had complaint of motor regression at the first visit; 87% (47/54) of patients suffered from episodic aggravation. Episodic seizures occurred in 43% (23/54) patients. In survivors with disease durations of 1-3 years, in 38% (9/24) patients the disease was classified as grades Ⅳ-Ⅴ by gross motor function classification system (GMFCS). For the onset age 1-<2 years group, 1 patient was classified as GMFCS Ⅳ among 3 survivors with disease durations of 1-3 years. As for the 2-<4 years group, 6 patients were classified as GMFCS Ⅳ-Ⅴ among 15 patients with disease durations of 1-3 years, whereas 1 patient was classified as GMFCS Ⅳ-Ⅴ among 4 patients with disease durations of 1-3 years in the 4-<8 years group. Lesions, liquefaction and diffusion restriction in brain MRI were compared among different groups, and it was revealed that the earlier the age of disease onset was, the more likely the subcortical white matter (frontal lobe P<0.01,temporal and parieto-occipital lobe both P=0.002), internal capsule (anterior limb P<0.01, posterior limb P=0.00) and brain stem (midbrain P=0.001, pons P<0.01) were to be involved. In addition, internal capsule (anterior limb P=0.002, posterior limb P=0.005) and brain stem (midbrain P=0.001, pons P=0.003) showed more diffuse restricted diffusion. Moreover, the subcortical white matter (frontal and parieto-occipital lobe both P<0.01, temporal lobe P=0.005) showed earlier rarefaction. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates of the overall patients were 81% and 75% respectively, while the 15-year survival rate was 45%. EIF2B5 gene variation was the most common, which accounts for 43% (23/54), followed by EIF2B3 (22%, 12/54). Conclusions The majority of VWM patients complained of motor regression at the first visit, episodic aggravation and epileptic seizures are common in the course. Earlier age at onset is associated with more rapid clinical progression, shorter survival time as well as more extensive lesions, liquefaction and diffusion restriction in brain MRI. The most common variant gene is EIF2B5, followed by EIF2B3.

To summarize the clinical features of leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter disease (VWM) in children. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed on 54 genetically diagnosed VWM patients in Peking University First Hospital from January 2007 to March 2019. Paper registration form and electronic medical record system were used to collect the data,and the children were divided into five groups according to the age of disease onset:<1 year, 1-<2 years, 2-<4 years, 4-<8 years and 8-<18 years respectively. The progression of motor function, episodic aggravation, epileptic seizures, survival time, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and genotype features were analyzed and compared. Non?parametric test, χ2 test or Fisher's exact test were used for comparison among groups;Kaplan?Meier survival curve was adopted to delineate the survival status of the children. Results Fifty?four VWM patients were included in the study, including 34 males and 20 females.The age of disease onset was 2 years and 8 months (ranged from 6 months to 9 years and 7 months). Onset age was less than 1 year in 5 cases; onset age was 1-<2 years in 12 cases; onset age was 2-<4 years in 25 cases; onset age was 4-<8 years, in 10 cases; onset age was 8-<18 years in 2 cases; 94% (51/54) of patients had complaint of motor regression at the first visit; 87% (47/54) of patients suffered from episodic aggravation. Episodic seizures occurred in 43% (23/54) patients. In survivors with disease durations of 1-3 years, in 38% (9/24) patients the disease was classified as grades Ⅳ?Ⅴ by gross motor function classification system (GMFCS). For the onset age 1-<2 years group, 1 patient was classified as GMFCSⅣamong 3 survivors with disease durations of 1-3 years. As for the 2-<4 years group, 6 patients were classified as GMFCS Ⅳ-Ⅴamong 15 patients with disease durations of 1-3 years, whereas 1 patient was classified as GMFCS Ⅳ-Ⅴ among 4 patients with disease durations of 1-3 years in the 4-<8 years group. Lesions, liquefaction and diffusion restriction in brain MRI were compared among different groups, and it was revealed that the earlier the age of disease onset was, the more likely the subcortical white matter (frontal lobe P<0.01,temporal and parieto?occipital lobe both P=0.002), internal capsule (anterior limb P<0.01, posterior limb P=0.00) and brain stem (midbrain P=0.001, pons P<0.01) were to be involved. In addition, internal capsule (anterior limb P=0.002, posterior limb P=0.005) and brain stem (midbrain P=0.001, pons P=0.003) showed more diffuse restricted diffusion. Moreover, the subcortical white matter (frontal and parieto?occipital lobe both P<0.01, temporal lobe P=0.005) showed earlier rarefaction. The 1?year and 2?year survival rates of the overall patients were 81% and 75% respectively, while the 15?year survival rate was 45%. EIF2B5 gene variation was the most common, which accounts for 43% (23/54), followed by EIF2B3 (22%, 12/54). Conclusions The majority of VWM patients complained of motor regression at the first visit, episodic aggravation and epileptic seizures are common in the course. Earlier age at onset is associated with more rapid clinical progression, shorter survival time as well as more extensive lesions, liquefaction and diffusion restriction in brain MRI. The most common variant gene is EIF2B5, followed by EIF2B3.

Objective To analyze the clinical and imaging features of hypomyelination with brain stem and spinal cord involvement and leg spasticity (HBSL) due to mutations in DARS,and to identify DARS mutations responsible for HBSL.Methods Data on 2 HBSL patients who were admitted to the pediatric department of Peking University First Hospital from January 2009 through December 2016 were reviewed and the 2 patients were followed up.Targeted next generation sequencing,whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were employed to identify potential genetic variations of the children and their parents.The clinical manifestations,MRI features and genotypic characteristics of two patients were reviewed,and the literature was reviewed.HBSL reported cases were searched with"leukoencephalopathies,DARS" on databases of PubMed,Wanfang,China National Knowledge Infrastructure and VIP from 1975 to 2017.The clinical manifestations and molecular features were analyzed.Results Both patients showed delayed motor development,but had normal cognitive development.At the age of 8 years,case 1 reached the most significant motor development milestone of only standing with help during the last follow-up.At the age of 9,case 2 could walk independently during the last follow-up.On physical examination,both showed leg spastcity,active tendon reflex,positive Babinski sign.Both patients had brain MRI findings of high T2WI signal in bilateral deep cerebral white matter,slightly lower T1WI,and no abnormal DWI signal.Lesions of case 1 were relatively extensive and involved subcortical white matter,corpus callosum and internal capsule.Spinal MRI scans for both patients showed no abnormal signals.Novel mutations in DARS gene-namely,c.1498_1499insTCA (p.500_501insIle) and c.1210A＞G (p.Met404Val),c.1432A＞G (p.Met478Val) and c.1210A＞G (p.Met404Val)were identified in case 1 and case 2 respectively.On the database,2 reports involving 13 foreign patients were retrieved.The age of disease onset was from 4 months to 18 years,and their initial symptoms were development delay or regression.Most of them presented with progressive lower extremity spasm,and the brain magnetic resonance imaging was characterized by hypomyelination in white matter.Clinical phenotypes of different age groups were significantly different.Conclusion We have reported two patients with HBSL in China,and 3 novel mutations in DARS,which is helpful for the diagnosis and genetic counseling of HBSL.

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between 13q33-q34 microdeletion and clinical phenotype.

METHODSRoutine chromosomal banding was performed to analyze the karyotype, while array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH array) and single nucleotide polymorphism array(SNP array) were employed to investigate the genome copy number variations.

RESULTSThe karyotype of patient 1 was 46, XY, 9qh+,13qs. Patient 2 showed 46, XX, der (13). Patient 3 showed 46, XX, r(13) (p11.2q32) [43]/45, XX, 13[4]/46, XX, r(13;13) [2]/47, XX, 2r(13;13) [1]. Patient 4 did not undergo chromosome karyotyping analysis. Array analysis showed that four patients have different microdeletions in 13q33-34 region and had common features of 13q33-q34deletion including intellectual disability, facial dysmorphism, microcephaly, hypotonia, low birth weight and genital abnormality.

CONCLUSIONThe severity of phenotypes showed no correlation with the size of deletion in 13q33-q34. The lower percentage of patients with congenital heart disease suggested a complex pathogenesis of such disease. EFNB2, LIG4 and SOX1 in 13q33-34 region are promising candidates for mental retardation. LIG4 was also a likely candidate for microcephaly.

Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Banding ; methods ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; genetics ; Male

Objectives To provide genetic counseling and prenatal molecular diagnosis for two families with megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC).Methods Two MLC patients (probands 1 and 2) were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital in June 2011 and June 2009,respectively.Peripheral blood was collected and DNA sequencing was performed for genetic analysis for the two MLC patients and their parents.Amniotic fluid and villus of two fetuses (fetus 1 and 2) were collected at 21+4 and 12+3 weeks of gestational age from their mothers when they were pregnant again.The genomic DNA of the two fetuses was extracted and corresponding sites of MLC1 gene were sequenced.Haplotype analysis using a combination of 3 microsatellite markers (AR,DXS6807 and DXS6797) on chromosome X and sex determining region of Y chromosome was performed to detect maternal cell contamination.Verification of the prenatal molecular diagnosis and follow up study after birth were conducted for both fetuses.Results Macrocephaly,motor development delay and typical findings on brain MRI were identified in the two probands,and were clinically diagnosed with MLC.Compound heterozygous mutations were detected in proband 1 [c.353C＞T (p.T118M) and c.803C＞G (p.T268R)] and proband 2 [c.353C＞T (p.T118M) and c.836T＞C(p.L279P)],respectively.MLC was genetically diagnosed.Heterozygous variation in c.353[c.353C＞T (p.T118M)] and wild c.803C were identified in fetus 1,and both wild c.353C and c.836T were found in fetus 2.No maternal cell contamination was detected in both fetuses.Sequencing the corresponding sites after birth confirmed the prenatal diagnosis,and the head circumference and motor development were normal in fetus 1 at 5 months old.No macrocephaly was found and no DNA sequencing was done in fetus 2 at one month old.Conclusions Genetic counseling and prenatal molecular diagnosis for MLC families combined with clinical and genetic diagnosis are important in preventing MLC.Haplotype analysis with a combination of three microsatellite markers on chromosome X and sex determining region of Y chromosome is useful in detecting maternal cell contamination and avoiding its influence on prenatal diagnosis,and confirming the reliability of prenatal diagnosis.

Objective To estimate prenatal diagnoses strategy with abnormal results of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) based on a case of mosaic for trisomy 22.Methods The pregnanct woman was recruited from Department of Prenatal Diagnosis Center of Xinhua Hospital.Ultrasound scans suggested fetal nuchal translucency was 3.5 mm.Peripheral venous blood was drawn from the pregnant woman for NIPT at 12+2 weeks gestation.For further prenatal diagnosis, amniocentesis was conducted at 16+2 weeks gestation, and karyotype analysis combination with chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) was executed to analysis amniocytes.Results NIPT results suggested that chromosome 21, 18 and 13 were normal and supplementary reports suggested that chromosome 22 were slightly above the normal range.Karyotype analyzed 35 cultured cells.Each of them revealed a normal female karyotype.However, CMA results suggested that chromosome 22 gain mosaic and its copy number was 2.26.The fetus was diagnosed as high possibility of mosaic for trisomy 22.Conclusions Combined with the NIPT results, which was slightly gain mosaic of chromosome 22, a prenatal diagnosis strategy were proposed.When NIPT results suggest chromosomal abnormities, karyotype analysis combination with CMA to diagnose were recommended.

Objective: To identify the clinical and genetic characteristics in 43 Chinese children diagnosed with type Ⅰ Alexander disease (AxD). Method: Forty-three type Ⅰ AxD cases identified by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene mutations in Peking University First Hospital from 2005 to 2016 were followed up. The data of medical history, physical examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were collected. All these patients were followed up in December 2010, Febury 2012, June 2014 and January 2016, respectively. Result: Forty-three patients were genetically confirmed as type I AxD and the median age at the last visit was 11.71 years (10.27, 13.15). The characteristic clinical manifestations of these type Ⅰ AxD patients were developmental delay (79%, 34/43), seizures (86%, 37/43), macrocephaly (the median percentile of head circumference is 90%), and paroxysmal deterioration (27%, 13/43). All the 43 patients′ brain MRI satisfied typical MRI features proposed by van der Knaap. According to the analysis of the long-term follow-up, patients with type Ⅰ AxD began to have obvious regression in motor function after 7 years of age, and the social life ability was milally impaired 8(6, 10)scores at the last follow-up. Seventeen heterozygous missense mutations of GFAP were identified in 43 genetically confirmed patients, and 4 mutations were novel. The mutations in 41 patients (95%, 41/43) were de novo. Three hot spots of mutation in Chinese patients were found: p. Arg239(35%, 15/34), p. Arg79 (26%, 11/43) and p. R88 (16%, 7/43). Conclusion The characteristic clinical manifestations of type Ⅰ AxD patients are developmental delay, seizures, macrocephaly and paroxysmal deterioration. Moreover, a few patients may present with brain stem symptoms, mental abnormalities, scoliosis or kyphosis. Patients with type Ⅰ AxD may show significant regression in motor function after 7 years of age.

Objective: To explore the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics in Chinese children with classic pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN). Method: The clinical, radiographic and genetic data of all PKAN patients diagnosed at pediatric department of Peking University First Hospital from November 2006 to December 2016 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Result: Twenty patients with classic PKAN were included in the study. The median age at onset was 3.5 years (ranging from 1.0 to 10.0 years), and the most common initial symptom was gait disturbance (16 cases). At the last evaluation, the clinical features were limbs dystonia (20 cases), dysarthria (16 cases), dysphagia (11 cases), pyramidal sign (7 cases), mental regression (3 cases) and pigmentary retinopathy (5 cases). For those classic PKAN patients, the median time from onset of disease to loss of independent ambulation was 6.9 years (ranging from 2.0 to 12.0 years). Imaging data showed, except "eye of tiger" in MRI (19 cases), globus pallidus calcification in CT was also found in four patients. In gene testing, 26 different mutations in PANK2 gene were identified, and 16 of 26 were novel mutations. Moreover, c. 1502T>C (p.Ile501Asn) was the most common mutation (4 cases). Conclusion Dystonia is the major neurologic feature of classic PKAN. Disease progression is rapid, with loss of independent ambulation within 10 years after onset. Except "eye of tiger" in MRI, globus pallidus calcification in CT may be another imaging feature of PKAN.Sixteen novel mutations of PANK2 gene were identified in the study.