1.Analysis of a family with inherited generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus caused by the KCNT2 mutation and literature review
Yang TIAN ; Xiaojing LI ; Xiuying WANG ; Yiru ZENG ; Chi HOU ; Bingwei PENG ; Wenxiong CHEN ; Huici LIANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2021;36(2):136-139
Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment of a family with inherited generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS + ) caused by the KCNT2 gene mutation and review the literature. Methods:Clinical data of a child with GEFS + and his family members who visited Department of Pediatric Neurology, Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center in May 2019 were collected.DNA samples were collected from the peripheral blood of the proband, his parents, his elder brother, and his maternal grandparents, and genetic analysis and verification were performed using the next-generation sequencing technique.Using " KCNT2" as the key word, literature was retrieved from PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang databases (up to August 2019). Results:The proband was a 3-year-old boy who was admitted to Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center because of frequent epileptic seizures in the past 5 months.He presented with a binocular gaze and experienced 3 to 8 times of extremities myoclonic-spastic epileptic attacks every day.He had a history of 3 times of febrile seizures at the age of 2 years old.His seizures were refractory to Sodium valproate, Topiramate, Nitrazepam and Levetiracetam.His elder brother and mother had a history of childhood febrile seizures.Other members in the family had no history of convulsion.Ictal electroencephalogram showed general 1 Hz high voltage spike-slow waves.A heterozygous nonsense mutation of KCNT2 gene c. 574C>T(p.Q192X) that was never reported previously was detected in the proband, his brother, mother and maternal grandmother.Furthermore, no other family members carried the mutation at the c. 574 locus of the KCNT2 gene.No article in Chinese was found, and 2 articles in a language other than Chinese provided the complete data of 3 sporadic cases.Together with 4 cases in the family studied in this article, there were 7 cases and 4 mutation sites in KCNT2 gene.Of these mutations, there were 3 missense mutations and 1 nonsense mutation.Three sporadic patients presented with early infantile epileptic encephalopathy.The family of this study was characterized with febrile seizures and febrile seizures plus. Conclusions:A de novo mutation and phenotype of the KCNT2 gene is found in a family with GEFS + .It would expand the gene mutation spectrum and provide basis for family genetic counseling. KCNT2 mutation induced GEFS + is refractory to antiepileptic drugs.
2.Vitamin D metabolism and rheumatic autoimmune diseases
Wenlin WU ; Yiru ZENG ; Huasong ZENG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2018;33(21):1673-1676
1,25 (OH)2D,the active form of vitamin D,plays several roles in the body,influencing bone health as well as serum calcium and phosphate levels.Further,1,25(OH) 2D plays an important role in modifying immune function including improving innate immunity and suppressing autoimmune diseases by regulating adaptive immunity.For now,there is already some understanding of the links between 1,25 (OH)2D and rheumatic autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and system lupus erythematosus and its regulatory mechanisms involved in these diseases.However,supplement vitamin D in these patients is still in the exploratory stage.The purpose of this article is to summary the recent advances in the links between the metabolism of vitamin D and rheumatic autoimmune diseases.
3.Clinical characteristics and genetic analysis of a child with infantile Sandhoff disease and eosinophilia.
Haixia ZHU ; Wenlin WU ; Wenxiong CHEN ; Yiru ZENG ; Yuan ZHAO ; Xiuying WANG ; Xiaojing LI
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2022;39(10):1124-1128
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the genetic basis for a girl featuring epilepsy, developmental delay and regression.
METHODS:
Clinical data of the patient was collected. Activities of hexosaminidase A (Hex A) and hexosaminidase A&B (Hex A&B) in blood leukocytes were determined by using a fluorometric assay. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the proband and six members from her pedigree. Following extraction of genomic DNA, whole exome sequencing was carried out. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing.
RESULTS:
Enzymatic studies of the proband have shown reduced plasma Hex A and Hex A&B activities. Genetic testing revealed that she has carried c.1260_1263del and c.1601G>C heterozygous compound variants of the HEXB gene. Her mother, brother and sister were heterozygous carriers of c.1260_1263del, while her father, mother, three brothers and sister did not carry the c.1601G>C variant, suggesting that it has a de novo origin. Increased eosinophils were discovered upon cytological examination of peripheral blood and bone marrow samples.
CONCLUSION
The compound heterozygous variants of c.1260_1263del and c.1601G>C of the HEXB gene probably underlay the Sandhoff disease in this child. Eosinophilia may be noted in infantile Sandhoff disease.
Child
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Eosinophilia/genetics*
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Female
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Genetic Testing
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Hexosaminidase A/genetics*
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Hexosaminidase B/genetics*
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Humans
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Male
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Mutation
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Pedigree
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Sandhoff Disease/genetics*
4.A Maternal Health Care System Based on Mobile Health Care.
Xin DU ; Weijie ZENG ; Chengwei LI ; Junwei XUE ; Xiuyong WU ; Yinjia LIU ; Yuxin WAN ; Yiru ZHANG ; Yurong JI ; Lei WU ; Yongzhe YANG ; Yue ZHANG ; Bin ZHU ; Yueshan HUANG ; Kai WU
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2016;33(1):2-7
Wearable devices are used in the new design of the maternal health care system to detect electrocardiogram and oxygen saturation signal while smart terminals are used to achieve assessments and input maternal clinical information. All the results combined with biochemical analysis from hospital are uploaded to cloud server by mobile Internet. Machine learning algorithms are used for data mining of all information of subjects. This system can achieve the assessment and care of maternal physical health as well as mental health. Moreover, the system can send the results and health guidance to smart terminals.
Algorithms
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Clothing
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Electrocardiography
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Equipment Design
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Female
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Humans
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Internet
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Machine Learning
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Maternal Health
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Monitoring, Ambulatory
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instrumentation
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Telemedicine
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instrumentation
5.The variation and significance of T, B, NK lymphocyte subgroup in children with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis
Yang TIAN ; Yinting LIAO ; Chi HOU ; Xiaojing LI ; Yiru ZENG ; Wenxiong CHEN ; Haixia ZHU
International Journal of Pediatrics 2020;47(6):436-440
Objective:To investigate the variation of T, B, NK lymphocyte subgroup in children with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor(NMDAR)encephalitis and their clinical significance.Methods:This was a prospective and control study.Forty children primarily diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in the department of neurology in Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center from January 2017 to August 2019 served as patient group, 20 healthy children served as control group.Absolute counts and percentages of T, B and NK lymphocytes in whole blood were detected before and 1 month after treatment in patient group.Serum immunoglobulin G(IgG), IgA and IgM were measured before treatment.The blood levels of T, B, NK lymphocyte subgroup were detected with flow cytometer.NMDAR antibody titers of serum and cerebrospinal fluid were detected in patient group.The differences between patient group at different time points and control group were compared.The patients were divided into two groups according to the response to treatment after 2 weeks and the absolute counts of T, B and NK lymphocytes before treatment were compared between groups.Results:Compared with control group, the blood absolute count of B lymphocyte in patient group were significantly higher before and after treatment( P<0.05). There was no significant difference of B lymphocyte in patient group between before and after treatment.After treatment, T cells(including T inhibitory cells and T helper cells)were significantly increased compared with those before treatment and those in control group( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between patient group and control group before treatment.These with poor response to treatment after 2 weeks had higher level of B, T lymphocyte subgroup compared to those with good response( P<0.05). The level of IgG, IgA, IgM in patient group showed no significant difference with control group.There was no significant correlation between B lymphocyte count in blood and NMDAR antibody titer in cerebrospinal fluid( r=0.282, P>0.05). Conclusion:B lymphocytes increase greatly in children with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, and the level of B lymphocyte subgroup before treatment are associated with treatment response, and T lymphocytes increase greatly after treatment.There is no significant correlation between the titer of NMDAR antibody in cerebrospinal fluid and B lymphocyte level.
6. Clinical analysis of relapsed demyelinating disease associated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody in children
Chi HOU ; Xiaojing LI ; Ya′ni ZHANG ; Kelu ZHENG ; Yiru ZENG ; Huici LIANG ; Lianfeng CHEN ; Haixia ZHU ; Yang TIAN ; Wenxiong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2019;34(23):1807-1811
Objective:
To investigate the clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of relapsed demyeli-nating disease (RDD) associated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG abs) children in southern China.
Methods:
Children with RDD associated with MOG abs at Department of Neurology in Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center from January 2015 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The annualized relapse rates (ARRs) and expand disability status scale (EDSS) were used to assess the recurrence frequency and neurological dysfunction respectively.
Results:
Ten children were included with the age of (6.4±3.6) years old, and male to female ratio was 4∶6.(1)Clinical phenotype: all children had 24 episodes during follow-up, with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)(7/10 cases) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD)(3/10 cases) on the first episode.Among 14 recurrent episodes, ADEM (9/14 times) was the most common, followed by optic neuritis(ON)(3/14 times)and brainstem encephalitis (2/14 times). By the final follow-up, the final diagnosis was multiphasic disseminated encephalomyelitis(MDEM)(6/10 cases), NMOSD(3/10 cases), ADEM-ON(1/10 case), respectively.(2)Laboratory examination: all the children had positive serum MOG abs in the acute stage.The serum MOG abs titer high group(≥1∶640)(6 cases)on the first episode complicated ON (3 cases) and long segment myelitis (3 cases) more common than those of low group(1∶320)(4 cases). (3)Imaging changes: 25 times of bain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in the acute stage, MRI changes mostly involved the cortex and subcortical white matter.Four cases had abnormal spinal cord MRI.(4)Treatment and prognosis: intravenous methylprednone (IVMP) combined with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) were administrated in acute stage.Rituximab (2/10 cases), mycophenolate mofetil (4/10 cases), IVIG (2/10 cases) monthly and low dose prednisone orally (2/10 cases) were given respectively in maintains stage.ARRs decreased from 1.4 to 0 and EDSS score improved significantly after these treatments above.Seven cases had residual neurological dysfunction with 3 cases of NMOSD, 3 cases of MDEM and 1 case of ADEM-ON, including motor dysfunction, learning disability and inattention, symptomatic epilepsy and visual impairment.
Conclusions
ADEM is the most common form of RDD associated with MOG abs in children.Those with high serum MOG abs titer on the first episode are prone to have ON or long segment myelitis.Immunomodification therapy is effective in the relapsed patients, residual neurological sequelae were related to the type of repeated demyelination.
7.Clinical characteristics and significance of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in cerebrospinal fluid of children with bacterial meningitis
Lianfeng CHEN ; Wenxiong CHEN ; Haixia ZHU ; Bingwei PENG ; Chi HOU ; Yiru ZENG ; Yinting LIAO ; Wenlin WU ; Xiaojing LI
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2024;39(8):584-588
Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with bacterial meningitis (BM) and provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of BM.Methods:The clinical data of BM children hospitalized in Women and Children′s Medical Center Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University from December 2019 to March 2022 were collected and retrospectively analyzed in this case series study.Cytokines in CSF of these children were detected at least twice during the treatment. t test, Mann-Whitney test or analysis of variance were carried out for statistical analysis. Results:There were 40 patients included in this study.The age of onset was 2(1, 8) months, ranging from 2 days to 8 years, and the length of time from onset to hospitalization was (15±17) days, ranging from 1 day to 69 days.The main symptoms at the onset were fever (40 cases, 100%), poor mental state (16 cases, 35.0%), convulsion (9 cases, 22.5%), and vomiting (9 cases, 22.5%).According to pathogens, the patients were divided into the Streptococcus agalactia group (GBS group, 9 cases), Streptococcus pneumoniae group (SP group, 9 cases), other bacteria group (9 cases), and unknown bacteria group (13 cases).The levels of cytokines in the CSF of BM children were increased, along with significantly elevated levels of IL-6 and IL-8 within 1 st week of BM, followed by the peak at 2 nd-3 rd weeks, and then levels of IL-6 and IL-8 presented an overall decreasing trend with the progression of BM.The level of IL-6 in CSF of 10 cases significantly decreased in the 4 th week of BM [within 2 weeks: 773.5(164.1, 1 781.2) ng/L vs. 4 th week: 10.8(2.2, 21.1) ng/L, P=0.005].Such statistical differences didn′t occur to the level of IL-8 [within 2 weeks 182.9(33.6, 657.7) ng/L vs. 4 th week: 92.9(22.6, 226.6) ng/L, P=0.303].After effective antibiotic therapy, 6 patients had elevated white blood cell count in CSF during the 4 th-20 th weeks, with or without repeating intermittent fever.Among them, 4 cases of GBS and 1 case of SP were negative for pathogens in CSF during the retest after treatment, and the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 [(149.1-4 218.6) ng/L and (124.2-1 890.3) ng/L, respectively] in CSF were elevated.Low-dose glucocorticoid was administered for anti-inflammatory treatment, with additional gamma globulin for 1 case and Ibuprofen instead for 1 case.Subsequently, the fever completely subsided.The white blood cell count in CSF decreased significantly ( P=0.024). Conclusions:The levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in CSF increase significantly in the acute phase of BM and generally decrease with the progression of BM.If they are still significantly elevated in the later course of BM, it should be noted that an intracranial hyperinflammatory response may occur, especially when the pathogenic bacteria are GBS or SP.