Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CNS) and Gilbert syndrome (GS; OMIM: 143500) are rare autosomal recessive diseases that cause unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to decreased UGT1A1 enzyme activity. Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2 (CNS2; OMIM: 606785) increases the risk of gallbladder stone formation and cholecystitis, while GS seldom causes health issues. We found a 28-year-old male patient with recurring right upper abdomen pain who experienced persistent jaundice from birth. CNS2 with gallbladder stones and cholecystitis was diagnosed after genetic testing revealed rare double homozygous mutations A(TA)₇TAA (rs3064744) and P229Q (rs35350960) in the UGT1A1 gene. After pedigree investigation, we found that the patient's parents with modestly increased bilirubin had compound heterozygous mutations A(TA)₇TAA and P229Q, which were GS. Bioinformatics analysis showed that A(TA)₇TAA is in the TATA-box region of the gene UGT1A1 promoter, affecting gene transcriptional initiation, whereas P229Q modifies protein three-dimensional structure and may be harmful. In this pedigree, double homozygous mutations have a more severe phenotype than compound heterozygous mutations. Inherited causes of hyperbilirubinemia should be suspected after ruling out biliary obstruction, and early bilirubin reduction (< 103 µmol/L (6 mg/dL)) may reduce the risk of complications like cholecystitis in CNS2 patients, though further studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm this observation.
Humans ; Male ; Glucuronosyltransferase/genetics* ; Adult ; Crigler-Najjar Syndrome/complications* ; Cholecystitis/etiology* ; Homozygote ; Mutation ; Pedigree

Transaminases are a class of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of amino between amino acids and keto acids, playing an important role in the biosynthesis of organic amines and the corresponding derivatives. However, natural enzymes often have low catalytic efficiency against non-natural substrates, which limits their widespread applications. Enzyme engineering serves as an effective approach to improve the catalytic properties and thereby expand the application scope of transaminases. In this study, a high-throughput screening method for transaminases was established based on the fluorescent color reaction between methoxy-2-aminobenzoxime (PMA) and ketones. According to the changes in fluorescence intensity, the concentration changes of ketones could be easily monitored. The efficiency, sensitivity, and accuracy of the screening method were improved by optimization of the system. With 4-hydroxy-2-butanone as the substrate, the mutant library of the transaminase from Actinobacteria sp. was established and a mutant with increased activity was successfully obtained, which improved the production efficiency of (R)-3-aminobutanol by enzyme-catalyzed synthesis. This study laid an important foundation for efficient screening, modification, and application of transaminase.
Transaminases/metabolism* ; Fluorescent Dyes/chemistry* ; High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods* ; Ketones/metabolism* ; Actinobacteria/enzymology*

Gastric cancer has high mortality and case fatality rate worldwide,especially in East Asia.Che-moresistance or chemotherapeutic resistance remains an important issue affecting the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.Mutations in the AT-rich interactive domain 1A(ARID1A)gene,an important member of the chromatin remodeling complex,are common in gastric cancer and are closely related to the clinical manifesta-tions of patients as well as the response to chemotherapy.Deletion or mutation of the ARID1A gene may lead to increased resistance of gastric cancer cells to platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents.In this paper,the bi-ological role of ARID1A gene,the alteration of DNA damage repair and metabolic remodeling in cisplatin re-sistance,and the possible mechanism of ARID1A gene involved in chemoresistance in gastric cancer are re-viewed.

Objective:To investigate the distribution rules of artemisia pollen and the clinical sensitization characteristics of allergic rhinitis (AR) induced by artemisia pollen in three urban and rural areas of Inner Mongolia.Methods:From March to October 2019, in 3 central cities (Chifeng, Hohhot, Ordos) and rural areas of Inner Mongolia, an epidemiological investigation method combining multi-stage stratified random sampling and face-to-face questionnaire survey was adopted to screen suspected AR patients, and skin prick test (SPT) was applied for diagnosis. At the same time, pollen monitoring was carried out in 3 areas to analyze the distribution and clinical sensitization characteristics of artemisia pollen.SPSS26.0 statistical software was used to process all the data. Chi-square test was used to compare rates among different age, sex, region and nationality, Spearman test was used to describe correlation analysis, and pairwise comparison of positive rates among multiple samples was used Bonferroni method.Results:Among the 6 393 subjects, 1 093 cases were diagnosed with AR, and the prevalence of AR was 17.10% (1 093/6 393). Among them, pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, the prevalence of PiAR was 10.97% (701/6 393), accounting for 64.14%(701/1 093).The highest incidence was in the youth group (20-39 years old), accounting for 46.94% (329/701).The diagnosed prevalence was higher in females than in males (11.35% vs. 10.64%, χ2 value 12.304, P<0.001).The prevalence rate of ethnic minority was higher than that of Han nationality (13.01% vs. 10.65%, χ2 value 6.296, P=0.008).The prevalence in urban areas was also significantly higher than that in rural areas (18.40% vs. 5.50%, χ2 value 10.497, P<0.001).There was significant difference in prevalence rate among the three regions in Inner Mongolia (6.06% in Chifeng, 13.46% in Hohhot, 16.39% in Ordos, χ2 value 70.054, P<0.001).The main clinical symptoms of artemisia PiAR were sneezing (95.58%), nasal congestion (91.73%) and nasal itching (89.30%).Allergic conjunctivitis accounted for 79.60% (558/701), chronic sinusitis for 55.63% (390/701), asthma for 23.25% (163/701).The pattern of artemisia pollen sensitization was mainly multiple sensitization, and the frequency of clinical symptoms and clinical diseases induced by hypersensitization with other allergens accounted for more than that caused by single artemisia pollen. The spread period of Artemisia pollen in the three regions was from June to October, and the peak state was in August in summer. The peak time of clinical symptoms in artemisia PiAR patients was about 2 weeks earlier than the peak time of pollen concentration, and the two were significantly positively correlated ( R=0.7671, P<0.001). Conclusion:Artemisia pollens are the dominant pollens in late summer and early autumn in Inner Mongolia, and the prevalence of artemisia PiAR is high. Controlling the spread of Artemisia pollens is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of AR.

Objective:To prepare seven standard strains of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), including wild type (WT) strain, Beta variant, Delta variant, Omicron variants (BA.2, BA.5, BQ.1, XBB.1 branches), which could be used to apply for national standard strains.Methods:According to cytopathic effect (CPE), virus titer, whole-virus-genome-sequencing and detection of mycoplasma, the basic biological characteristics of clonal isolation were determined through plaque purification technology.Results:The CPE was mainly characterized by cell shrinkage and exfoliation in Vero cells after infection with seven 2019-nCoV clonal isolations (WT, Beta, Delta, Omicron, BA.2, BA.5, BQ.1 and XBB.1 branches). The result of mycoplasma detection were negative and titers of the clonal isolation from 2nd to 5th generations were stable at 10 5-10 8 TCID 50/ml; the electron microscope showed that the virions were all round or elliptical, with a diameter between 60 nm and 140 nm. The subtypes of 7 strains were identified by whole-virus-genome-sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, with genomic stability after the fifth successive generations of clonal isolation. Conclusions:The series clonal isolation of 2019-nCoV with typical CPE of coronavirus, clear morphological structure, good viral activity and stable genetic characteristics were prepared, and they could be used to apply for national standard strains.

Objective To study the correlation between expression levels of serum microRNA(miRNA)-21 and miRNA-27b and the prognosis in colorectal cancer patients.Methods A total of 60 colorectal cancer pa-tients who were treated in the hospital from January to May 2021 were selected as the observation group.An-other 60 healthy volunteers who underwent the physical examination in the hospital during the same period were selected as the control group.The expression levels of serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-27b in the two groups,the expression levels of serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-27b levels in patients with different pathologi-cal features were detected and compared,and the survival prognosis of patients with different expression levels of serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-27b were compared.Results The expression levels of serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-27b in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The expression levels of serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-27b were lower in patients with TNM stage Ⅲ-Ⅳand with lymph node metastasis than those in stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ and without lymph node metastasis respectively(P＜0.05).With follow-up of 2 years,the mean survival time in the miRNA-21 high expression group was(15.36±2.32)months,and the mean survival time in the low miRNA-21 expression group was(21.54±2.46)months.The mean survival time in the miRNA-27b high expression group was(16.11±3.20)months,and the mean survival time in the miRNA-27b low expression group was mean(21.37±2.55)months.The 1 and 2-year survival rates in the miRNA-21 high expression group and miRNA-27b high expression group were significantly lower than those in the miRNA-21 low expression group and miRNA-27b low expression group,respectively(P＜0.05).Serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-27b levels were negatively correlated with the survival prognosis of patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum miRNA-21 and miRNA-27b are highly expressed in pa-tients with colorectal cancer,and the expression levels of both are negatively correlated with the prognosis of patients,and they could be used for clinical monitoring of patients'condition and prognosis status,which de-serves attention.

Objective:To investigate whether long non-coding RNA(lncRNA) AW112010 can improve insulin resistance in aging adipocytes through the miR-204/POU2F2 signaling pathway.Methods:In vivo experiment: C57BL/6 mice were divided into young control group(4 months old) and aging model group(18 months old) based on body weight. The expression levels of AW112010, miR-204-5p, POU2F2, aging related indicators(p16, p21), and insulin signaling pathway genes [insulin receptor(INSR), insulin receptor substrate 1(IRS1), phosphatidylinositol kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B(AKT)] in epididymal adipose tissue were detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR) and Western blotting. In vitro experiment: Using adriamycin(ADR) to induce 3T3-L1 aging adipocyte model, β-gal staining was used to observe cellular senescence, and miR-204 inhibitor and miR-204 mimic small interfering RNA were successfully constructed and transfected into 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Results:RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that compared with the young group, the expression of AW112010 in the adipose tissue of aging mice was increased, while the expression of miR-204-5p was decreased. The expressions of POU2F2, p16, and p21 in the adipose tissue of aging mice were increased, while the expressions of INSR, IRS1, PI3K, GLUT4 mRNA and protein were decreased. The β-gal stainging results showed that the number of 3T3-L1 senescent adipocytes induced by ADR was significantly increased, and the expression levels of AW112010, POU2F2, p16, and p21 in ADR-induced senescent adipocytes were increased compared with the control group, while the expression levels of miR-204-5p, INSR, IRS1, PI3K, GLUT4 were decreased, and remaining glucose in the culture medium was increased. Compared with control, overexpression of miR-204 resulted in decreased expressions of aging indicators p16, p21, and target gene POU2F2 while the expressions of INSR and GLUT4 were increased.Conclusion:Upregulation of lncRNA AW112010 in adipocytes of aging mice may induce insulin resistance by targeting miR-204-5p/POU2F2/IRS1.

Insulin autoimmune syndrome(IAS),also known as autoimmune hypoglycemia,is one of the rare causes of hypoglycemia.Here,we described a case of a 57-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus who experienced recurrent and irregular severe hypoglycemic events after using lipoic acid.His insulin autoantibodies changed from negative to positive,and no pathogenic variation or suspected pathogenic variation related to the clinical feature of the subject was detected by gene test.Eventually,the patient was diagnosed as IAS.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of oral testosterone therapy in individuals diagnosed with androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS).Methods:A self-controlled study design was utilized, focusing on individuals with AIS who were genetically diagnosed at the Department of Endocrinology, Genetics, and Metabolism of Beijing Children′s Hospital between 2009 and 2021. These patients underwent treatment involving the administration of testosterone. The primary observed indexes include the measurement of penis length, which should meet the minimal surgical standard (penis length≥2.5 cm) or greater than or equal to -2.5 s (lower limit of normal). Secondary observed indexes include penile length standard deviation score (PL-SDS), an increase in penis longitude (ΔPL), medication dosage, the course of therapy, and safety indicators, among others. There were 4 courses of treatment. After each course, patients were evaluated to determine whether termination of treatment was appropriate. Patients who exhibited inadequate post-treatment penile length growth were advised to continue with further treatment. The statistical methodology included t-test, and a Wilcoxon rank sum test to describe efficacy and safety. The patients were followed up until 2023. Results:The study comprised a total of 51 individuals with AIS, comprising 33 males and 18 females (gender of registered permanent residence). Among these patients, 10 were diagnosed with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) and 41 were diagnosed with partial androgen insensitive syndrome (PAIS). There were 2 children with CAIS were diagnosed by doctors and prescribed testosterone undecanoate, but the children did not really take medicine.The penile length of CAIS patients could not be measured (penile length<0.5 cm) before and after treatment. For PAIS patients, baseline penile length and PL-SDS were (2.3±0.6) cm and -3.7±1.3, respectively. The measurements for penile length and PL-SDS after each treatment course were recorded as follows: (2.7±0.8), (2.8±0.6), (2.6±0.4), (2.6±0.4) cm and -2.8±1.6, 2.5±1.6, 2.9±1.2, -3.2±0.9, respectively. Both penile length and PL-SDS interventions showed statistically significant gains when compared to the baseline performance of the 4 courses ( t=4.05、3.56、2.55、2.23 and 3.88、3.50、2.50、2.19, all P<0.05). Before treatment, 13 PAIS patients (32%) reached 2.5 cm and seven (17%) reached greater than or equal to -2.5 s. Following the initial, subsequent, third, and fourth therapeutic interventions, 18 cases (44%), 24 cases (59%), 25 cases (61%), and 26 cases (63%) reached 2.5 cm, respectively. Additionally, A total of 12 cases (29%), 15 cases (37%), 20 cases (49%), and 21 cases (51%), respectively, were found to reach greater than or equal to -2.5 s. The study involved the longitudinal monitoring of patients with the highest recorded age being 13.7 years. The weight, height, body mass index, bone age/age, cholesterol, hemoglobin and so on were all within the normal range and the difference were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). All 49 patients were no abnormalities in blood electrolyte, liver and kidney function and thyroid function and no changes in precocious puberty, pubic hair growth, aggressive behavior, vulvar skin darkening, diarrhea or other conditions. Conclusions:Testosterone undecanote in children with CAIS was no effective. The initial course of treatment for patients with PAIS demonstrates observable enhancements in penile length and PL-SDS. For patients with inadequate penile length growth, continued treatment in subsequent courses (such as the second, third, and fourth courses) is recommended toenhance outcomes gradually. Testosterone undecanoate was safe and effective for the majority of individuals with PAIS patients, with few adverse effects and good treatment tolerance.

OBJECTIVE To establish a rapid and accurate PCR method for detecting 24 strains of Burkholderia cepacia complex(Bcc) by comparing three detection methods of loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP), SYTO 9 dye method based on polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and TaqMan probe real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR method( TaqMan probe method). METHODS According to the molecular biological information of 24 strains of Bcc in the NCBI database, multiple candidate sequence fragments unique to Bcc were screened out, and specific primer and probe that could simultaneously detect 24 strains of Bcc were designed. At the same time, the detection methods of LAMP, SYTO 9 dye method based on PCR and Taqman probe were explored, and the optimal annealing temperature was optimized and screened. The 39 experimental strains were used to verify the Bcc detection method. RESULTS LAMP method could not effectively detect Bcc, SYTO 9 dye method and TaqMan probe method could effectively detect more than 20 strains of Bcc, while TaqMan probe method had higher amplification effect, better detection sensitivity, repeatability and stability, which could meet the requirements of this study. CONCLUSION In this study, a TaqMan probe method for rapid detection of Bcc was established. Compared with LAMP method and SYTO 9 dye method, this method has the advantages of fast, simple and high sensitivity, and provides technical support for the rapid detectionof Bcc.