AIM To study the nephrotoxicity of various doses of Guangfangji . METHODS Normal Wistar rats were given 1, 5 and 10 g?kg -1 of Guangfangji respectively. Renal pathology and function were observed. RESULTS Rats given 1 g?kg -1 of Guangfangji for 8 weeks showed normal renal function and histology Rats given 5 g?kg -1 of Guangfangji significantly increased 24 hour urinary protein excretion Tubular degeneration and interstitial edema was observed Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creactinine (Scr) remained in the normal range BUN and Scr increased significantly in the group given 10 g?kg -1 of Guangfangji for 4 weeks The tubulointerstitial abnormalities were more severe in the group given 5 g?kg -1 of Guangfangji CONCLUSION Longterm use of pharmacopoeial dose of Guangfangji shows no harm to the kidney.Renal injury may occur if relatively large dose of Guangfangji is given and the period of treatment using this drug is relatively longer

OBJECTIVE: To identify the pathogenesis in two patients of restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) using high-throughput sequencing. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples from the two patients and their parents were collected and genomic DNAs were extracted to conduct targeted next generation sequencing or whole exome sequencing. Bioinformation analysis was performed to identify the pathogenic variants in genes associated with cardiomyopathy, which were further validated by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: By high throughput sequencing, we detected a de novo heterozygous variant c.549+1G>T in TNNI3 gene in patient 1. The variant has not been reported previously and was predicted to be pathogenic in line with American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines (PVS1+PS2+PM2). Another heterozygous variant c.433C>T (p.Arg145Trp) in TNNI3 gene was identified in patient 2 and his father. The variant had been reported as pathogenic variant in Clinvar and HGMD databases; based on ACMG guidelines, the variant was predicted to be likely pathogenic (PS3+PM1+PP3). CONCLUSION TNNI3 variants may be the causative gene responsible for restrictive cardiomyopathy in the two patients. High throughput sequencing results provide bases for the diagnosis of restrictive cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive/genetics* ; Child ; Genomics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; Whole Exome Sequencing

OBJECTIVETo confirm the genetic diagnosis of two patients with ring chromosome 22 syndrome and investigate the mechanism underlying the formation of r(22) and potential genetic causes for the clinical phenotypes.

METHODSCytogenetic and molecular analyses using standard G-banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization and single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array) were performed.

RESULTSFor case 1, the karyotype was 46,XY,r(22)(p11q13). SNP array has identified a 7.0 Mb heterozygous deletion at 22q13.2q13.33. For case 2, the karyotype was 46,XY,r(22)(p11q13)[84]/45,XY,-22[6]; SNP array has detected a heterozygous microdeletion of 1.6 Mb at 22q13.33.

CONCLUSIONWith combined application of genetic testing, 2 cases of r(22) syndrome were diagnosed, which has improved the understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation of r(22).

Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Banding ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Ring Chromosomes

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a pedigree affected with X-linked mental retardation. METHODS: The proband was subjected to chromosomal karyotyping, FMR1 mutation testing and copy number variation analysis with a single nucleotide polymorphism microarray (SNP array). His family members were subjected to multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) assaying. Expression of genes within the repeated region were analyzed. RESULTS: The proband had a normal chromosomal karyotype and normal number of CGG repeats within the FMR1 gene. SNP array identified a 370 kb duplication in Xq28 (ChrX: 153 027 633-153 398 515), which encompassed 14 genes including MECP2. The patient was diagnosed as Lubs X-linked mental retardation syndrome (MRXSL). MLPA confirmed the presence of copy number variation, its co-segregation with the disease, in addition with the carrier status of females. Genes from the duplicated region showed higher levels of expression (1.79 to 5.38 folds) within peripheral blood nucleated cells of the proband. CONCLUSION The patients were diagnosed with MRXSL. The expression of affected genes was up-regulated due to the duplication. Genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis may be provided based on the results.
DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein ; Humans ; Mental Retardation, X-Linked ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy

Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on the motor function and mitochondrial dynamics of skeletal muscle of SAMP8 mice;To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in improving the motor dysfunction of Alzheimer disease(AD)from the perspective of mitochondrial dynamics.Methods Totally 18 SAMP8 mice were divided into model group and electroacupuncture group,with 9 mice in each group,and the SAMR1 mice with the same age were set as control group."Baihui","Dazhui"and"Shenshu"were selected in the electroacupuncture group,and electroacupuncture was performed daily for 20 min,8 d as a course of treatment.Each course of treatment was separated by 2 d,for a total of 3 courses of treatment.The model group and the control group were not intervened.The motor function of mice was tested by grip strength test,suspension test,hind limb extension test and Morris water maze experiment.The morphology and structure of gastrocnemius were observed by HE staining,ATP content in gastrocnemius was determined by colorimetry,the mRNA expression of optic atrophy 1(OPA1),mitofusin 2(MFN2)and dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1)in gastrocnemius were detected by real-time quantitative PCR,the expressions of OPA1,MFN2 and DRP1 in gastrocnemius were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,the grip strength,the score in suspension test,and the average speed and maximum speed of Morris water maze experiment of mice in model group significantly decreased(P<0.01);the arrangement of fibers in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue was disordered,the gaps become wider,and the distribution of nuclei was uneven;the ATP content in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue was significantly decreased(P<0.01),the mRNA and protein expressions of OPA1 and MFN2 were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the expression of DRP1 mRNA and protein significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the grip strength,the score in suspension test,and the average speed and maximum speed of Morris water maze experiment in electroacupuncture group significantly increased(P<0.01);the arrangement of gastrocnemius muscle tissue was relatively neat,the gaps become narrower,and the distribution of nuclei was more uniform;the ATP content in gastrocnemius muscle tissue significantly increased(P<0.01),while the mRNA and protein expressions of OPA1 and MFN2 significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the expression of DRP1 mRNA and protein significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve the skeletal muscle morphological structure and motor dysfunction of SAMP8 mice,and the mechanism may be related to the correction of skeletal muscle mitochondrial dynamic imbalance and the increase of skeletal muscle ATP content.

Marinesco-Sjögren syndrome(MSS) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disease characterized by cerebellar ataxia, early-onset cataracts, chronic myopathy, and intellectual disability and developmental delay at varied degrees. Some patients may manifest such symptoms as short stature, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, various skeletal abnormalities resulted from the muscular weakness, and others. This article reports the clinical and molecular diagnosis process of two MSS cases with global developmental delay. We found the compound heterozygous variants c.109delG(p.Glu37Serfs*4)and c.353G > C (p.Arg118Thr), c.443delA(p.Lys148Argfs*10)and c.707A > G (p.Asn236Ser) by Trio-whole exome sequencing(Trio-WES)which are evaluated as pathogenic, and uncertain significant, pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants separately.We provided genetic consultation based on the molecular diagnosis and evaluated the risk for the offsprings in the families. By introducing the two cases and literature review, this article aims at improving the understanding of MSS and providing reference to the diagnosis of the disease.

Objective: To explore the molecular basisfor a child featuring short stature, abnormal facial features and developmental delay. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the child and his family members. Next-generation sequencing was carried out to screen the whole exomes of the core family. Detected variants were filtered and analyzed according to the standards and guidelines for the interpretation of sequence variants recommended by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology. Results: Trio-based sequencing has identified a de novo variant c. 3593T>G (p.Val1198Gly) in the SMARCA2gene in the patient. The variant was located in the Helicase C-terminal domain and was classified as pathogenic based on the guidelines. Conclusion The patient was diagnosed with Nicolaides-Baraitser syndrome caused by SMARCA2 gene mutation.