OBJECTIVE: We used the SD rat's bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) cultured in vitro to observe the effects of Bugu Mixture on the apoptosis and to explore the molecular biologic mechanism of the treatment of osteoporosis with Bugu Mixture. METHODS: BMSCs were separated from the bones of the extremities of SD rats in vitro. The morphologic changes, the apoptosis cell cycles, the mitochondrion membrane potential changes, and the Bcl-2 and Bax gene expression were observed, and the effects of Bugu Mixture on the course of cell apoptosis were evaluated. RESULTS: The earlier use of Bugu Mixture could decrease the cells blocked in G0/G1 phase, and promote their synthesis of DNA in S phase. The expression of Bcl-2 was higher in the Bugu Mixture group than that in the all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) induced group, and the expression of Bax was lower in the Bugu Mixture group than that in the ATRA induced group. The mitochondrion membrane potential descended significantly in the Bugu Mixture group than that in the ATRA induced group. CONCLUSION: The mechanism of the treatment of osteoporosis with Bugu Mixture is that the earlier use of Bugu Mixture can decrease the amount of apoptostic cells induced by ATRA, thus promoting the cell mitosis and restraining the apoptosis. It can also act as a protector to Bcl-2 located on the mitochondrion membrane. By preventing the transferring of the Bax protein from cell-plasma to mitochondrion membrane, it takes the advantage of Bcl-2 in forming Bcl-2/Bax homodimer so as to prevent the opening of the permeability transition pore to avoid the changing of mitochondrion membrane potential and the destruction of biosynthesis caused by the mitochondrion release of apoptosis inducing factors and to reach the objective of restraining apoptosis.

This study was to assess the chronic morbidity and metabolic disordelters in 262 patients with type 2 diabetes.Of all participants,64(24.4%)coexisted with peripheral neuropathy,34(13.0%)combined with peripheral vascular disease.41(15.6%)were diagnosed as diabetic retinopathy,and 46 (17.6%)had concurrent diabetic nephropathy.In comparison with diabetic patients without these complications,those with the chronic conditions generally had higher plasma glucose,blood pressure or body mass index.

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for the prenatal diagnosis of 22q11 microdeletion syndrome.

METHODSBACs-on-Beads (BoBs) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed on a fetus for whom amniotic chromosomal culturing has failed and a pair of twin fetuses suspected for 22q11 deletion syndrome.

RESULTS22q11 microdeletion was detected in all 3 fetuses by prenatal BoBs as well as FISH, with only one red signal detected at the DiGeorge/VCFS N25 site and two green signals on the 22q13.3 ARSA site.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of prenatal BoBs and FISH can provide a method for the prenatal diagnosis of 22q11 microdeletion.

Adult ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; genetics ; DiGeorge Syndrome ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the application value of combined detection of HbA2 and HbF for the screening of thalassemia among a population of childbearing age in Quanzhou, Fujian, and determine the optimal cut-off values for the region. METHODS: Capillary hemoglobin electrophoresis and genetic testing for α and β globin gene mutations were simultaneously carried out on 11 428 patients with suspected thalassemia. Statistical methods were used to analyze the distribution of various types of thalassemia and compare the performance of HbA2 and HbF measurement for the screening of various types of thalassemia. The optimal cut-off values for HbA2 and HbF were determined with the ROC curves. RESULTS: 4591 patients with α, β, and αβ compound thalassemia were identified by genetic testing. The most common genotypes for α and β thalassemia included --SEA/αα and β654/βN, β41-42/βN, and β17/βN. The ROC curves were drawn to compare the performance of HbA2 screening for α-, β-, αβ-compound, static α-, mild α-, and intermediate α-thalassemia, and the maximum area under the curves was 0.674, 0.984, 0.936, 0.499, 0.731, 0.956, and the optimal cut-off values for HbA2 were 2.45%, 3.25%, 3.65%, 2.95%, 2.55%, 1.75%, respectively. CONCLUSION HbA2 is an efficient indicator for identifying intermediate types of α-, β-, and αβ compound thalassemia. The combination of HbA2 and HbF measurement can effectively detect carriers for β-thalassemia mutations.
Genotype ; Hemoglobin A2/genetics* ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mutation ; alpha-Thalassemia ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To determine the origin of supernumerary small marker chromosomes (sSMCs) carried by two fetuses. METHODS: Single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis were carried out on cells cultured from the amniotic fluid samples. RESULTS: SNP-array analysis showed both fetuses to be arr[hg19]22q11.1q11.21(16 888 899-18 649 190)×4, with a duplicated 1.7 Mb region (16 888 899-18 649 190) leading to partial tetrasomy of 22q11.1-22q11.21. FISH confirmed that both fetuses were 47,XN,+mar.ish idic(22)(q11.2) (RP11-958H20 ++),which suggested a diagnosis of Cat-eye syndrome (CES). The appearance of abortuses were consistent with the diagnosis of CES. CONCLUSION Two fetuses with CES were diagnosed by genetic testing. The latter has provided a basis for genetic counseling.
Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Disorders ; diagnosis ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Eye Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the hematological phenotype and genotype of hemoglobin Q-Thailand in Fujian area. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood samples of patients. Suspected samples were screened by hematological parameters analysis and verified with DNA sequencing. RESULTS: In 35 patients suspected with Hb Q-Thailand, 20 were confirmed, which included one case compounded with heterozygous β mutation and one compounded with Hb New York. CONCLUSION Analysis of hematological phenotype and genotype of Hb Q-Thailand can faciliate genetic counseling for patients from Fujian area.
China ; Genotype ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of copy number variations (CNVs) and chromosomal karyotyping analysis for patients with intellectual disability/developmental delay (ID/DD). METHODS: Chromosomal karyotype analysis was applied to 530 children diagnosed with ID/DD. Single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) was further applied for 120 children with unknown etiology. RESULTS: Among the 530 children with ID/DD, 104 (19.62%) were detected with chromosomal abnormalities. For the 120 children analyzed by SNP-array, 44 (36.67%) were detected with CNVs, among which 20 were predicted as pathogenic, 6 as likely pathogenic, 10 as variants of unknown significance, 7 as likely benign,and 1 as loss of heterozygosity. CONCLUSION SNP-array can facilitate delineation of the etiology of patients with ID/DD, which may provide a basis for their prognosis, consultation and clinical intervention.
Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Developmental Disabilities/genetics* ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Karyotyping

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of confined placental mosaicism (CPM) on non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: Copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) and single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) were carried out on placental specimen sampled from eight pregnancies with confirmed false-positive NIPT results. The impact of CPM on NIPT and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed based on the laboratory tests and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Five of the eight cases with false-positive NIPT results were proven to be CPM involving trisomy 9, 13, 21, 22, and X, respectively. The mosaic ratios for different placental regions have varied from 4% to 80%. Two fetuses with confirmed CPM showed fetal growth restriction (FGR) and additional ultrasound abnormalities, 1 fetus showed only FGR. The remaining two fetuses showed normal growth. CONCLUSION NIPT is highly sensitive to CPM, whilst CPM is an important cause for false-positive NIPT result. CPM may be associated with FGR. Investigation of the presence of CPM is important for both pre- and post-test genetic counseling and management of the pregnancy.
DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Humans ; Mosaicism ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Trisomy

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics of congenital neutropenia caused by ELANE gene mutations. METHODS: Clinical manifestations, absolute blood neutrophil count, high-throughput exome sequencing for mutation screening, suspected locus Sanger sequencing verification, processes of diagnosis and treatment of two patients with congenital neutropenia caused by ELANE gene mutation were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: High-throughput sequencing has found that proband 1 has carried a heterozygous c.170C>T (p.Ala57Val) missense mutation in exon 2 of the ELANE gene, which was known to be pathological, and a heterozygous c.251T>G (p.Leu84Arg) mutation in exon 3 of proband 2, which was unreported previously. Sanger sequencing confirmed that neither mutation was inherited from their parents. CONCLUSION ELANE mutation is an important cause for congenital neutropenia. Detection of new pathogenic variants has enriched the mutation spectrum of the ELANE gene.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the intrauterine phenotype and genotype of eight fetuses carrying a 16p11.2 microdeletion. METHODS: 5100 fetuses undergoing routine prenatal diagnosis were subjected to single nucleotide polymorphism-based microarray (SNP-array) analysis. Fetuses harboring a 16p11.2 microdeletion were analyzed for their ultrasonographic characteristics. RESULTS: Eight fetuses were found to harbor a microdeletion in the 16p11.2 region. Among these, six had a typical 500-600 kb deletion, while the remaining two had an atypical 220 kb deletion at the distal part of 16p11.2. Four fetuses showed vertebral malformations, two had mild left ventriculomegaly, one had hydrocephalus, and one had pulmonary valve stenosis with regurgitation. The parents of five fetuses have accepted pedigree verification, and the results confirmed that the 16p11.2 microdeletions carried by fetuses all had a de novo origin. CONCLUSION The intrauterine phenotypes of fetuses carrying a 16p11.2 microdeletion may be variable, and the deletion can be effectively detected with the SNP-array assay.
Chromosome Deletion ; Female ; Fetus ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis