Objective:To investigate the clinial phenotype and genetic characteristics of a child with cerebral dysgenesis, neuropathy, ichthyosis, and palmoplantar keratoderma (CEDNIK) syndrome and to improve the clinicians′ understanding of this disease.Methods:Clinical data of the child with CEDNIK syndrome diagnosed in Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Xi′an Children′s Hospital in June 2020 were collected. Whole exome sequencing was carried out to identify the potential variants of SNAP29 gene. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing of family numbers. The literature about the cases of CEDNIK syndrome were reviewed.Results:The proband is a boy, who was aged 1 year and 4 months, had the manifestations of psychomotor retardation, microcephaly, feeding difficulties, severe malnutrition, recurrent respiratory tract infection, binocular esotropia, sensorineural deafness, cutaneous ichthyosis and keratosis, left cryptorchidism. Brain magnetic resonance imaging indicated congenital dysplasia. Whole exome sequencing identified a homozygous variant of c.383dupT (p.E129Rfs *5) in the SNAP29 gene of the proband, and the heterozygous variation was observed at the same locus in his parents, which conformed to the autosomal recessive inheritance. This mutataion was determined as a pathogenic mutation according to the guidelines of American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. Literature retrieval showed currently a total of 29 cases of CEDNIK syndrome were reported, containing 8 types of SNAP29 gene mutation. However, there was no Chinese case reported. And the c.383dupT (p.E129Rfs *5) mutation found in this study was a novel one which had not been reported yet. Conclusion:The phenotype of the proband is generally consistent with the CEDNIK syndrome and the novel c.383dupT (p.E129Rfs *5) mutation of SNAP29 gene is the genetic cause.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic basis of a child with 5α-reductase type 2 deficiency. METHODS: Clinical data of the child was retrospectively analyzed. Targeted capture-next generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing were carried out to detect potential variants. RESULTS: The patient's main features included micropenis and hypospadia. He was found to harbor compound heterozygous c.680G>A (p.R227Q) and c.3G>T (p.M1I) variants of the SRD5A2 gene. Among these, c.680G>A (p.R227Q) was inherited from his father and was a known pathogenic mutation, while c.3G>T (p.M1I) was inherited from his mother and was unreported previously. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of the SRD5A2 gene probably underlay the disease in this child, who was eventually diagnosed with 5α-reductase 2 deficiency.
3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; Child ; Disorder of Sex Development, 46,XY ; Female ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; Male ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Mutation ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; Steroids

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for an infant with permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (PNDM). METHODS: Clinical data of the child was collected. Targeted capture-next generation sequencing was carried out to identify the potential variants. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing of her family members. RESULTS: The child was a 4-month-and-26-day female featuring onset of ketoacidosis accompanied with fasting blood glucose of 24.4 mmol/L, positive urine glucose, decreased serum C-peptide, HbA1c of 9.58%, and negative diabetes autoantibody. Genetic testing revealed that she has carried a heterozygous c.314T>G (p.L105R) variant of the INS gene. Sanger sequencing verified that neither of her parents has carried the same variant, which was also unreported in the literature. The variant was classified as likely pathogenic based on the ACMG guidelines. CONCLUSION The c.314T>G (P.L105R) variant of the INS gene probably underlay the genetic etiology in this child. Genetic testing should be conducted for children with suspected PNDM for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Humans ; Infant ; Child ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Mutation ; Insulin/genetics* ; Diabetes Mellitus/genetics* ; Genetic Testing

Objective:To provide molecular evidence for clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling by analyzing the clinical characteristics and identifying the pathogenic genes in a SPONASTRIME-type spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia(SEMDSP)family.Methods:Clinical data of the family members was collected and analyzed. Case 2 was identified as the proband for whole-exome sequencing and variant analysis. Suspected variants were validated across family numbers using Sanger sequencing.Results:The two affected individuals in this family, a brother and a sister, both presented as short stature. The initial diagnosis for the sister(case 1)was made at the age of 4 years and 2 months(height: 88.6 cm), and for the brother(case 2)at 4 years and 4 months(height: 81.6 cm). Both individuals exhibited distinctive facial features, including frontal bossing, midface hypoplasia with depressed nasal bridge, upturned nostrils, ocular hypertelorism, and epicanthus, thick hair, short lingual frenulum, stubby fingers and palms, and absence of scoliosis. The parents displayed normal phenotypes. Laboratory tests indicated growth hormone deficiency in both affected individuals. Imaging studies revealed significant bone age delay in case 2, while case 1 showed longitudinal striations at the distal radius but with bone age matching their actual age(5 years and 11 months). Despite receiving recombinant human growth hormone treatment, both patients had inadequate responses. Genetic testing identified compound heterozygous mutations in the TONSL gene shared by the two siblings. These mutations included a paternally inherited c. 1291-14_1291-11delCCTC and a maternally inherited c. 1909_1920delACGCTGCAGCAG. Notably, SEMDSP families have not been reported in China, and the c. 1909_1920delACGCTGCAGCAG mutation is a novel variant.Conclusion:Two patients were diagnosed as spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, SPONASTRIME type, and the compound heterozygous variant was the genetic cause of this family.

Objective:To explore the clinical and molecular genetic characteristics of patients with maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2(MODY2).Methods:Clinical data and laboratory results were collected from five MODY2 patients and their family members diagnosed in the Department of Endocrinology, Genetics, and Metabolism of Xi ′an Children′s Hospital in the recent two years. Whole exome sequencing was carried out on every proband to identify potential variants, then the suspected variants were verified with Sanger sequencing in family numbers.Results:Among the 5 probands, except for proband 4 who presented with polydipsia and polyuria, hyperglycemia in the rest of the children was accidentally identified. Urine routine, urinary protein, and blood lipid of the five probands were all normal, and HbA 1C was between 5.96% and 8.15%. Moreover, an important discovery in this study was that proband 5 had insulin resistance(IRS), which was different from previous studies. It was confirmed by genetic analysis that a glucokinase(GCK) gene variant existed in every MODY2 pedigree. There were four GCK variants in this study, including c. 146C>T(p.T49I), c. 1237T>G(p.Y413D), c. 683C>T(p.T228M) and c. 952G>T(p.G318W), among which the C. 1237T>G(P.y413d) and C. 952G>T(P.G318W) had not been reported till now. All probands received lifestyle intervention, and the blood glucose control was relatively stable. Conclusion:There is MODY2 patient complicated with IRS. MODY2 patients can be controlled well by lifestyle interventions. In addition, we discovered two novel variants of GCK, which extend the mutation spectrum of this gene.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of stellate ganglion block on nighttime sleep quality in the patients with primary sleep disorders.Methods:Sixty patients of both sexes with primary sleep disorders, of American Society of Anesthesiology physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ, aged 18-64 yr, weighing 40-75 kg, were randomized to 2 groups ( n=30 each): control group (group C) and stellate ganglion block group (group S). In group S, 0.2% ropivacaine 5 ml was injected into the surface of the right longus colli muscle where the the stellate ganglion was located under ultrasound guidance once a day for 7 consecutive days starting from 1 h before bedtime.While the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C. Patients′ Subjective Sleep Quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire before treatment (T 0) and 1-7 days after treatment.The objective sleep quality was evaluated with polysomnography.A bispectral index(BIS)monitor and a cerebral and regional blood oxygen monitoring system were used to monitor the BIS value and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO 2) during sleep, which were recorded once every 30 min, and the 7-day average was calculated.The patients′ daytime advanced cognitive function was assessed for 3 consecutive days after the end of treatment (T 8-10), including the Continuous Attention Test and the Behavioral Test for Performing Defect Syndrome, and the 3-day average value was calculated.Venous blood samples were collected at T 0 and T 8 to measure the plasma noradrenaline, cortisol, and serotonin concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results:Compared with group C, the individual and total scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were significantly decreased, the sleep latency, awakening time and fast wave sleep latency were shortened, the number of awakening was increased, the total sleep time was prolonged, the sleep efficiency and proportion of fast wave sleep were increased, S 1-S 2 ratio in slow-wave sleep was decreased, S 3-S 4 ratio was increased, BIS value was decreased, rSO 2 was increased, each parameter of Continuous Attention Test was decreased and each parameter of Behavioral Test for Performing Defect Syndrome was increased after treatment, and plasma noradrenaline level was decreased at T 8 in group S ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Stellate ganglion block can improve nighttime sleep quality in patients with primary sleep disorders.