Objective To understand the clinical and molecular characteristics of children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) in South China.Methods Clinical and molecular data of children diagnosed as PWS by Methylation-specific PCR(MS-PCR) and/or Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization(Array-CGH)in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from November 2012 to November 2014 were analyzed.Results A total of 27 children diagnosed as PWS were included in this study,including 21 cases diagnosed by Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (Array-CGH) and 13 cases diagnosed by methylation-specific PC R (MS-PCR).Within the 27 cases,13 cases were male(48.1％) and 14 cases were female(51.9％).The age on diagnosis was from 16 days to 16 years old.MS-PCR was performed in 13 cases,7 cases of them also performed Array-CGH,both of them showed a 174 bp fragment from the methylated allele and a 100 bp fragment from the unmethylated allele.Array-CGH analysis was performed in 21 cases,paternal deletion in 18 cases and mean interstitial deletions measure (5.48 ± 0.51) Mb in size,paternal duplication in 2 cases,loss of heterozygosity measure approximately 79.58 Mb in 1 case.Eighteen simple chromosome deletion cases were divided into 6 Del Ⅰ and 12 Del Ⅱ according to the location of Array-CGH and query the database to DECIPHER(Database of Chromosomal Imbalance and Phenotype in Humans Using Ensembl Resources).The major phenotype included central hypotonia and feeding difficulty in all cases (100.0％),hypogonadism in 25 cases (92.6％),weak crying in 22 cases(81.5％),and hypopigmentation in 22 cases(81.5％).Fourteen cases beyond 1 year old had varied degrees of development disability and behavioral and psychiatric disturbance:speech articulation defects in 13 cases(92.9％),hyperphagia and weight gain too fast in 13 cases(92.9％) when they were between 1 to 6 years old[(2.80 ± 1.32) years old],and obesity in 12 cases (85.7％).Conclusions For PWS children in South China,there is no statistically significant difference in the clinical manifestation between Del Ⅰ and Del Ⅱ.PWS children in South China have typical clinical characteristics,which can be used as a further screening indication to implement molecular diagnostics.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and adverse events of methimazole ( MMI ) treatment for children with hyperthyroidism, and to identify the predictors of remission and relapse. Methods A total of379children(260girlsand119boys)diagnosedwithhyperthyroidismandtreatedbyMMIinGuangzhouWomenand Children's Medical Center from March, 2004 to July, 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The average age at diagnosiswas(9.3±2.3)years(range2.0~15.9years). Results AftertreatmentwithMMIfor3and6months, the thyroid functions of 96. 3%(365/379) and 98. 9%(375/379) patients returned to normal, respectively. By the end of this study, 256(67. 5%) patients continued to use MMI treatment and 44 patients(11. 6%) dropped out. 79 patients(20. 8%) achieved remission, 35 patients (44. 3%) of whom experienced a later relapse. Children who achieved constant remission had significantly lower FT3 and FT4 levels at diagnosis compared with the relapsed children(P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). It was more likely to remain long-term remission for children turned to be euthyroid within 3 months after initiating MMI treatment(P<0. 05). The relieved patients with family history of thyroid diseases weremorelikelytoberelapsed(P<0.05). Therewerenosignificantdifferencesinage,gender,exophthalmos, initial goiter size, thyroid peroxidase autoantibody, and thyroglobulin antibody levels between the relieved and relapsed patients. The overall incidence of adverse events associated with MMI was 27. 7%, mainly elevated alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, and neutropenia. Most(66. 7%) of adverse events occurred within the first three months of MMI treatment. Conclusion MMI has a good effect on pediatric hyperthyroidism, with low remission and high relapse rate. The low thyroid hormone concentrations at diagnosis and normalization of thyroid function within three months seem to be useful predictors of remission. Vigilance is needed concerning MMI-associated adverse events throughout the MMI treatment period, especially during the first trimester of MMI initiation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology for a Chinese pedigree affected with Alazami syndrome. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted for 2 patients and 2 unaffected members from the pedigree. Whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect potential variant in the proband, and the result was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The proband and her sister were both found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of LARP7 gene, namely c.94A>T (p.Lys32*) and c.1141A>G (p.Lys381Glu), which were inherited from their father and mother, respectively. Both variants were predicted to be pathogenic based on bioinformatic analysis. CONCLUSION The two variants of the LARP7 gene, both were unreported previously, probably underlay the Alazami syndrome in this pedigree. Above finding has expanded the mutational spectrum of the LARP7 gene.
China ; Dwarfism ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Ribonucleoproteins/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing

Objective To observe the role of clinical pathway method of teaching in the new nurses pre-job standardization training, and provide evidence for the exploration of scientific teaching methods. Methods Make training manual for new nurses on the basis of clinical path model. New nurses were assigned randomly to clinical pathway group (29 cases) and control group (28 cases). The clinical pathway and effective quality supervision were adopted in clinical pathway group, and the traditional teaching method were adopted in control group. The level of theory, basic skills, professional skills were evaluated, and satisfaction of teaching method and self-assessment were collected and analyzed. Results The results of theory, basic skills, and professional skills in clinical pathway group were (89.41 ± 5.07), (95.28 ± 2.96), (93.10 ± 2.86) points, and those in control group were (80.92 ± 7.64), (89.82 ± 3.77), (85.57 ± 5.33) points, the differences were significant (t=4.792, 6.083, 6.682, P=0.000).The number of satisfaction of teaching method was 28 cases in clinical pathway group and 22 cases in control group, the difference was significant (Z=38.316, P=0.000). Learning motivation, the ability of autonomous learning, communication, problem analyzing and solving, critical thinking, and the nursing behavior standardization in the self-assessment part in clinical pathway group were all better than those in the control group, the differences were significant (Z=-3.938~-2.143, P<0.01 or 0.05). Conclusions The application of clinical pathway method in new nurses pre-job training could effectively improve the level of theory, basic skills and professional skills, increase their satisfaction of teaching method and self-assessment.

Purpose: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a rare genetic autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in ATP8B1, ABCB11 or ABCB4. Mutational analysis of these genes is a reliable approach to identify the disorder. Methods: We collected and analyzed relevant data related to clinical diagnosis, biological investigation, and molecular determination in nine children carrying these gene mutations, who were from unrelated families in South China. Results: Of the nine patients (five males, four females) with PFIC, one case of PFIC1, four cases of PFIC2, and four cases of PFIC3 were diagnosed. Except in patient no. 8, jaundice and severe pruritus were the major clinical signs in all forms. γ-glutamyl transpeptidase was low in patients with PFIC1/PFIC2, and remained mildly elevated in patients with PFIC3. We identified 15 different mutations, including nine novel mutations (p.R470HfsX8, p.Q794X and p.I1170T of ABCB11 gene mutations, p.G319R, p.A1047P, p.G1074R, p.T830NfsX11, p.A1047PfsX8 and p.N1048TfsX of ABCB4 gene mutations) and six known mutations (p.G446R and p.F529del of ATP8B1 gene mutations, p.A588V, p.G1004D and p.R1057X of ABCB11 gene mutations, p.P479L of ABCB4 gene mutations). The results showed that compared with other regions, these three types of PFIC genes had different mutational spectrum in China. Conclusion The study expands the genotypic spectrum of PFIC. We identified nine novel mutations of PFIC and our findings could help in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Objective To explore the characterization of thyroid stimulating hormone receptor(TSHR) gene mutational spectrum in children with hyperthyroidism from Guangzhou. Methods Ninety children were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism from July 2009 to July 2014 in our institute. Their median age at diagnosis was(7.5± 3.4) years, and there were 28 males and 62 females. Mutational analysis were performed by performing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA direct sequencing of exon 10 of TSHR gene. TSHR gene mutations from 50 unrelated healthy children were served as controls. The correlation between TSHR gene and hyperthyroidism in children was explored. Results A total of 3 mutations were identified in ninety children who were diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, one synonymous mutations(p.V614V), and two missense mutations( p. R707W and p. D727E). Mutation of p. V614V do not change amino acid and do not influence the structure and function of TSHR, no pathogenicity. p.R707W is a SNP associated with human cancers. The frequency of C allele of the D727E in children with hyperthyroidism was 86.7%, while 55.0% in the controls, significant different between the children with hyperthyroidism and the controls( P＜0. 01). In this study, a very high association between the D727E SNP and hyperthyroidism ( OR=18. 86, P＜0. 01) was found. Conclusion Three different mutations of TSHR gene exon 10 were identified in 90 children with hyperthyroidism, (c.1842A＞G,p.V614V、c.2119C＞T,p.R707W、c.2181G＞C,p.D727E), there were association between p.D727E and hyperthyroidism, nor p. V614V and p. R707W. Finally, p. D727E may be correlated with hyperthyroidism in children.

OBJECTIVEMucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI) or Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of arylsulfatase B(ARSB), which is required in the degradation of dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. The deficiency of ARSB leads to an accumulation of dermatan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate in lysosomes and gross excretion in the urine.Few articles about clinical study and ARSB gene mutation analysis of Chinese MPS VI patients were published. This study aimed to explore the clinical features and characteristics of ARSB gene in Chinese children with MPS VI.

METHODThirteen children were diagnosed as MPS VI by ARSB enzyme activity determination during the period from 2009 to 2013. Their clinical features, radiological findings and urine glycosaminoglycan (GAG) levels were retrospectively reviewed. Direct sequencing was used to identify any mutation in the ARSB gene.

RESULTThirteen children were diagnosed at the average age of (3.9 ± 2.2) years with 6 male and 7 female. All of these children presented with severe form and onset at an early age of (1.5 ± 0.8) years.Other clinical features included coarse facies, short stature, skeleton deformity, corneal clouding, hepatosplenomegaly with normal intelligence. The radiological findings in all children were characteristic of dysostosis multiplex, like abnormal development of vertebral bodies of the spine, campylorrhachia and paddle-shaped widened ribs. The MRI in case 2 showed cervical cord compression and multiple cysts degeneration in the corona radiate, cella lateralis and callosum.High urine GAG levels were detected, (307.10 ± 112.14) mg/L (Normally below 70 mg/L) and (722.28 ± 245.68) µg/mg creatinine. The ARSB enzyme activity in leukocytes was low, (13.29 ± 6.22) nmol/(mg×h) [Normal range (47-169) nmol/(mg×h)] by fluorogenic assay and (0.24 ± 0.18) U/g [Normal range (1.01-11.47) U/g] by colorimetric assay. A total of 11 mutations were identified by molecular analysis, including seven previously reported mutations (p.L72R, p.G167R, p.G303E, p.F399L, p. T442M, p.Y255X and p.R327X) and four novel mutations (p.Y175D, p.S403X, p.S464X and large deletion including ex. 2, 3). The c.1197C>G (p.F399L) mutation was the most common mutation in this study (31%).

CONCLUSIONThe severe form of MPS VI is characterized by early onset and rapid illness progression. Both the radiological findings and increased urine GAG are important clues to diagnose MPS VI.Large decrease or absence of ARSB activity is diagnostic for MPS VI.Four novel mutations of ARSB gene were identified. The reported mutation c.1197C>G (p.F399L) was the hot-spot mutation in this study.

Bone and Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Brain ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; urine ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mucopolysaccharidosis VI ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; genetics ; Mutation ; N-Acetylgalactosamine-4-Sulfatase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Objective:To analyze the risk factors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in very preterm infants(VPI), and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of BPD in VPI.Methods:A prospective multicenter study was designed to collect the clinical data of VPI in department of neonatology of 28 hospitals in 7 regions from September 2019 to December 2020.According to the continuous oxygen dependence at 28 days after birth, VPI were divided into non BPD group and BPD group, and the risk factors of BPD in VPI were analyzed.Results:A total of 2 514 cases of VPI including 1 364 cases without BPD and 1 150 cases with BPD were enrolled.The incidence of BPD was 45.7%.The smaller the gestational age and weight, the higher the incidence of BPD( P<0.001). Compared with non BPD group, the average birth age, weight and cesarean section rate in BPD group were lower, and the incidence of male infants, small for gestational age and 5-minute apgar score≤7 were higher( P<0.01). In BPD group, the incidences of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS), hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity, feeding intolerance, extrauterine growth restriction, grade Ⅲ~Ⅳ intracranial hemorrhage, anemia, early-onset and late-onset sepsis, nosocomial infection, parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis were higher( P<0.05), the use of pulmonary surfactant(PS), postnatal hormone exposure, anemia and blood transfusion were also higher, and the time of invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, oxygen use and total hospital stay were longer( P<0.001). The time of starting enteral nutrition, cumulative fasting days, days of reaching total enteral nutrition, days of continuous parenteral nutrition, days of reaching 110 kcal/(kg·d) total calorie, days of reaching 110 kcal/(kg·d) oral calorie were longer and the breastfeeding rate was lower in BPD group than those in non BPD group( P<0.001). The cumulative doses of amino acid and fat emulsion during the first week of hospitalization were higher in BPD group( P<0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that NRDS, invasive mechanical ventilation, age of reaching total enteral nutrition, anemia and blood transfusion were the independent risk factors for BPD in VPI, and older gestational age was the protective factor for BPD. Conclusion:Strengthening perinatal management, avoiding premature delivery and severe NRDS, shortening the time of invasive mechanical ventilation, paying attention to enteral nutrition management, reaching whole intestinal feeding as soon as possible, and strictly mastering the indications of blood transfusion are very important to reduce the incidence of BPD in VPI.