Background Pyrethroid pesticides (PYRs) can cross the placental barrier to cause intrauterine fetal exposure, which may lead to developmental immunotoxicity (DIT). However, the specific effect of maternal PYR exposure during pregnancy on the cellular immune function of 1-year-old children remains unclear. Objective To explore the effect of PYRs exposure throughout the entire pregnancy on peripheral blood lymphocytes in 1-year-old children and potential sensitive window period of PYRs exposure. Methods A birth cohort was established by enrolling pregnant women in their first trimester and following them and their infants until one year of age. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect the levels of PYRs metabolites, including 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA), 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid (4F3PBA), and cis-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid (cis-DBCA), in the urine of pregnant women during the first trimester (gestational weeks 6-12), the second trimester (gestational weeks 21-24), and the third trimester (gestational weeks 33-36). Peripheral blood leukocyte and lymphocyte counts were measured in children at 12 months of age using the Coulter principle combined with flow cytometry. Exposure levels of PYRs metabolites in each trimester were divided into low, moderate, and high exposure groups based on the 25th (P₂₅) and 75th (P₇₅) percentiles. Meanwhile, participants were classified as having repeated high or low exposure if their metabolite levels were > P₇₅ or <P₂₅ in at least two trimesters, respectively, while all others were categorized as having repeated moderate exposure. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the associations between trimester-specific and repeated PYRs metabolite exposure levels and the peripheral blood white blood cell (WBC) and lymphocyte counts in children aged 1 year. Results A total of 336 mother-child pairs were included in this study. For the pregnant women, the total detection rates of maternal urinary 3PBA, 4F3PBA, and cis-DBCA across the three trimesters of pregnancy were 80.5%, 100.0%, and 81.3%, respectively; and median creatinine-corrected concentrations were 0.24, 0.36, and 0.42 μg·g⁻¹, respectively. In children aged 1 year, the mean WBC and lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood were (8.9±2.0)×10⁹·L⁻¹ and (5.7±1.6)×10⁹·L⁻¹, respectively. The results of the generalized linear model analysis indicated that compared to the low exposure group, the high cis-DBCA exposure group during the third trimester of pregnancy had significantly lower peripheral blood WBC count (β=−0.87, 95%CI: −1.51, −0.23) and lymphocyte count (β=−0.64, 95%CI: −1.15, −0.13); and the repeated high-exposure group of cis-DBCA had significantly lower peripheral blood WBC count (β=−1.34, 95%CI: −2.34, −0.34) and lymphocyte count (β=−0.80, 95%CI: −1.60, −0.01) than the repeated low exposure group. Similarly, the repeated moderate-exposure group of cis-DBCA had a significantly lower peripheral blood WBC count (β=−0.83, 95%CI: −1.59, −0.07) than the repeated low exposure group. Conclusion High maternal exposure to PYRs with cis-DBCA as the major metabolite exposure is associated with decreased peripheral leukocyte and lymphocyte counts in children aged 1 year, and repeated high-level exposure throughout gestation appears to exacerbate DIT in offspring. The third trimester of pregnancy maybe a sensitive window for children's DIT induced by exposure to PYRs during pregnancy.

Objective:To explore the effects of imperatorin(IMP)on airway remodeling in the bronchial asthma mice,and to elucidate the possible mechanisms.Methods:Forty SFP male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,low dose of IMP group(IMP-L group),high dose of IMP group(IMP-H group)and dexamethasone group,with 8 mice in each group.Except for contol group,the mice in the other groups were injected with an ovalbumin(OVA)suspension intraperitoneally to induce the asthma models.After one week,the daily asthma symptoms of the mice were observed and scored.After 8 weeks,the enhanced pause(Penh)values of the mice in various groups were detected to evaluate the airway reactivities.The percentages of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)of the mice in various groups were detected by flow cytometry.The levels of serum IgE,interleukin interferon-gamma(IL)-13,IL-5,IL-4 and interferon-gamma(IFN-γ)in BALF of the mice in various groups were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method.HE,PAS and Masson staining were applied to observe the pathomorphology,the number of goblet cells and collagen deposition of the lung tissue of the mice in various groups.Immunohisto chemistry method was applied to detect the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and mouse mammary tumor virus(MMTV)wingless type MMTV intergration site family member 5A(Wnt5A)proteins in lung tissue of the mice in various groups.The expression levels of Wnt5A,cellular myelocytomatosis oncogene(c-Myc),β-catenin and α-SMA in lung tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by Western blotting method.The expression levels of α-SMA protein in lung tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by immunofluorescence method.Results:Compared with control group,the score of asthma symptoms of the mice in model group was increased(P<0.01);the Penh value was significantly increased(P<0.01);the serum IgE levels and the levels of IL-13,IL-5,IL-4 in BALF,as well as the percentage of eosinophils(EOS)in BALF were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the level of IFN-γ was reduced(P<0.05);the expression levels of α-SMA and Wnt5A proteins in lung tissue were markedly increased(P<0.01);the expression levels of proteins associated with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the lung tissue were significantly increased(P<0.01);the immofluorescence method results showed the expression level of α-SMA protein in lung tissue was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with model group,the scores of asthma symphtoms of the mice in IMP-L group,IMP-H group,and dexamethasone group were decereased(P<0.01),and the Penh values of the mice in IMP-H group were decreased(P<0.05);the serum IgE levels and the levels of IL-13,IL-5,IL-4 in BALF,as well as the percentages of EOS in BALF of the mice in IMP-L group,IMP-H group,and dexamethasone group were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the levels of IFN-γ were increased(P<0.05);the expression levels α-SMA and Wnt5A proteins in lung tissue were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);the expression levels of proteins related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in the lung tissue were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);the immunofluorescence method results showed that expression levels of the α-SMA protein in the lung tissue were reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:IMP has an improving effect on airway remodeling in the asthmatic mice and can inhibit the expression levels of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related proteins.

Objective To explore the short-term efficacy and safety of programmed death receptor-1(PD-1)antibody combined with chemoradiotherapy in early high-risk nasal extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma(ENKTCL,Nomogram modified risk index ≥1).Methods This study was a prospective phase Ⅱclinical study.A total of 20 patients with stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ nasal ENKTCL initially treated in the Affiliated Hospi-tal of Guizhou Medical University from June 2021 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects.They were given 3 cycles of PD-1 antibody+P-Gemox(pegaspargase+gemcitabine+oxaliplatin)regimen induced immunochemotherapy and 3 cycles of PD-1 antibody concurrent immunoradiotherapy,14 d/cycle.The com-plete response(CR)rate after 3 cycles of induced immunochemotherapy,CR rate after treatment,objective re-sponse rate(ORR)after 3 cycles of induced immunochemotherapy and ORR after comprehensive treatment,occurrence of adverse reactions and plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA copy number were observed.Results Af-ter 3 cycles of induction immunochemotherapy,the CR rate was 35.0％(7/20)and ORR was 90.0％(18/20).After the concurrent immunoradiotherapy,the CR rate was 95.0％(19/20)and ORR was 100.0％(20/20).The adverse reactions were mainly the grade 1/2.the immune-related adverse reactions included 9 ca-ses of grade 1/2 hypothyroidism(45.0％),4 cases of grade 1 capillary vessel hyperplasia(20.0％),1 case(5.0％)of grade 2 infusion reaction,and no immune myocarditis occurred.All 7 cases of positive EBV DNA turned to negative after 3 cycles of induced immunochemotherapy.Conclusion PD-1 antibody combined with P-Gemox in the radiotherapy of early high-risk ENKTCL has a high short-term remission rate with good tol-erance for treatment.

Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotypic and genetic characteristics of three children with Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) and Self-limited familial infantile epilepsy (SeLIE) caused by PRRT2 gene mutation. Methods:Three children with PKD and SeLIE caused by PRRT2 gene mutation (children 1-3) who were treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from November 2022 to August 2023 were selected as the research subjects. A retrospective study was conducted to collect the clinical and family history data of the three children. 2 mL of peripheral venous blood from children 1-3 and parents of children 1-2 were collected (parents of children refused to undergo genetic testing and no blood samples were collected), genomic DNA was extracted, whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed, and Sanger sequencing method was used for verification. According to the Classification Standards and Guidelines for Genetic Variants formulated by the American Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) (hereinafter referred to as the " ACMG Guidelines" ), the pathogenicity of the variant loci detected in three children was rated, and the detrimental loci of the variant loci were analyzed by multiple bioinformatics software. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No. 2024-KY-0881-002). Results:The clinical data and genetic test results of the three children in this study are as follows. ①Child 1: female, age of onset of 4 months and 10 days, with seizures, manifested as sudden cessation of movements, staring in both eyes, cyanosis of the lips, paleness, and stiffness and shaking of limbs. The results of genetic testing showed that child 1 had maternal PRRT2 gene c. 583_584dup (p. P196Afs*34) frameshift variant, which was rated as a pathogenic variant (PVS1 PM2_Supporting PP4) according to ACMG guidelines. According to the clinical manifestations and genetic test results of child 1, he was diagnosed with SeLIE and took oral sodium valproate [0.5 mL/(kg.d)], and was still taking medication at the follow-up of 2 years old, and did not have seizures again after 5 months of age. ②Child 2: male, age of onset of 10 years old, manifested as dystonia after sudden movement. The results of genetic testing showed that child 2 had PRRT2 gene mutations: paternal c. 649dupC (p.R217Pfs*8) frameshift variant and maternal c. 445C>A (p.Q149K) mutation. Among them, c. 649dupC was a reported pathogenic variant, and according to ACMG guidelines, c. 445C>A variant was rated as a variant of unknown clinical significance (PM2_Supporting), with a high probability of benignness. According to the clinical manifestations and genetic test results of the child 2, he was diagnosed with PKD, and was followed up with oral oxcarbazepine 9 mg/(kg.d) until 12 years and 2 months, and was still on the drug, and there was no recurrence of the seizure of the form of dyskinesia after taking the drug. ③Child 3: male, age of onset of 11 years old, manifested by dystonia after sudden exercise. The results of genetic testing showed that child 3 had a missense variant of PRRT2 gene c. 904G>C (p.D302H), and his parents refused genetic testing, and the source of the mutation was unknown, and the variant was rated as a variant of unknown clinical significance (PM2_Supporting+ PP3_Moderate+ PP4) according to ACMG guidelines. According to the clinical manifestations and genetic test results of child 3, he was diagnosed with PKD, and was treated with oral oxcarbazepine 10 mg/(kg.d) for 1 year and then discontinued on his own, and was followed up at the age of 17, and there was no recurrence of the seizure of the form of movement disorder after taking the drug. Conclusion:One case of SeLIE and two cases of PKD caused by PRRT2 gene mutations responded well to anti-seizure drugs. In this study, four variant loci of PRRT2 gene were found: c. 583_584dup, c. 904G>C, c. 649dupC, c. 445C>A, among which c. 583_584dup were new variants, enriching the variant spectrum of PRRT2 gene.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a child with Christianson syndrome (CS).Methods:A 1-year-and-5-month-old boy with CS diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in April 2021 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the child and his parents, followed by genomic DNA extraction and whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variant was validated by Sanger sequencing. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No. 2024-KY-1103-001).Results:The child has manifested with seizures, microcephaly, and global developmental delay. WES revealed that he has harbored a novel de novo hemizygous nonsense variant of the SLC9A6 gene, namely c. 1014G>A (p.W338*). Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was rated as pathogenic. Conclusion:The hemizygous c. 1014G>A nonsense variant of the SLC9A6 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis in this child. Above discovery has expanded mutational spectrum of the SLC9A6 gene and enabled definite diagnosis of the child.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of azacitidine combined with lenalidomide in MDS patients and explore potential mechanisms of therapeutic response.Methods:Sixteen MDS patients with TP53 mutations received azacitidine plus lenalidomide at ZhongDa Hospital, Southeast University (January 2021–June 2025). Efficacy and safety were assessed, and TP53 mutation status was correlated with treatment response. Whole-transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics were used to explore molecular biomarkers associated with therapeutic efficacy.Results:Sixteen patients (median age 69.5 years, range 52–82; 8 males, 8 females) were enrolled. According to the Molecular International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-M), 1, 2, and 13 patients were classified as median low, high, and very high risk, respectively. Among 16 TP53-mutated patients, 11 had biallelic mutations and 5 had monoallelic mutations. Overall response rate was 56.3% (9/16), composite complete remission rate (CRc) was 31.3% (5/16), and hematology improvement rate was 25% (4/16). Among TP53-mutated patients, the response rate was 56.3% (9/16), with variant allele frequency dropping from 65.6% to 16.5% in responders ( P=0.017). In patients with TP53 mutations and complex karyotype, response rate was 53.8% (7/13), with 57.1% (4/7) showing disappearance of CK post-treatment. The most common grade 3–4 nonhematologic adverse events were infections (9/16, 56.3% ), including pneumonia (4/16, 25.0% ), gastrointestinal infections (3/16, 18.8% ), perianal infections (1/16, 6.3% ) and sepsis (1/16, 6.3% ). High CBX8 expression may be linked to treatment response. Conclusion:Azacitidine plus lenalidomide is an effective and safe therapy for MDS, including patients with TP53 mutations and complex karyotypes. Treatment markedly reduces TP53 variant allele frequency in responders, and high CBX8 expression may predict therapeutic response.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical phenotypic and genetic characteristics of three children with Paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) and Self-limited familial infantile epilepsy (SeLIE) caused by PRRT2 gene mutation. METHODS: Three children with PKD and SeLIE caused by PRRT2 gene mutation (children 1-3) who were treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from November 2022 to August 2023 were selected as the research subjects. A retrospective study was conducted to collect the clinical and family history data of the three children. 2 mL of peripheral venous blood from children 1-3 and parents of children 1-2 were collected (parents of children refused to undergo genetic testing and no blood samples were collected), genomic DNA was extracted, whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed, and Sanger sequencing method was used for verification. According to the Classification Standards and Guidelines for Genetic Variants formulated by the American Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) (hereinafter referred to as the "ACMG Guidelines"), the pathogenicity of the variant loci detected in three children was rated, and the detrimental loci of the variant loci were analyzed by multiple bioinformatics software. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No. 2024-KY-0881-002). RESULTS: The clinical data and genetic test results of the three children in this study are as follows. Child 1: female, age of onset of 4 months and 10 days, with seizures, manifested as sudden cessation of movements, staring in both eyes, cyanosis of the lips, paleness, and stiffness and shaking of limbs. The results of genetic testing showed that child 1 had maternal PRRT2 gene c.583_584dup (p.P196Afs*34) frameshift variant, which was rated as a pathogenic variant (PVS1 PM2_Supporting PP4) according to ACMG guidelines. According to the clinical manifestations and genetic test results of child 1, he was diagnosed with SeLIE and took oral sodium valproate [0.5 mL/(kg.d)], and was still taking medication at the follow-up of 2 years old, and did not have seizures again after 5 months of age. Child 2: male, age of onset of 10 years old, manifested as dystonia after sudden movement. The results of genetic testing showed that child 2 had PRRT2 gene mutations: paternal c.649dupC (p.R217Pfs*8) frameshift variant and maternal c.445C>A (p.Q149K) mutation. Among them, c.649dupC was a reported pathogenic variant, and according to ACMG guidelines, c.445C>A variant was rated as a variant of unknown clinical significance (PM2_Supporting), with a high probability of benignness. According to the clinical manifestations and genetic test results of the child 2, he was diagnosed with PKD, and was followed up with oral oxcarbazepine 9 mg/(kg.d) until 12 years and 2 months, and was still on the drug, and there was no recurrence of the seizure of the form of dyskinesia after taking the drug. Child 3: male, age of onset of 11 years old, manifested by dystonia after sudden exercise. The results of genetic testing showed that child 3 had a missense variant of PRRT2 gene c.904G>C (p.D302H), and his parents refused genetic testing, and the source of the mutation was unknown, and the variant was rated as a variant of unknown clinical significance (PM2_Supporting+PP3_Moderate+PP4) according to ACMG guidelines. According to the clinical manifestations and genetic test results of child 3, he was diagnosed with PKD, and was treated with oral oxcarbazepine 10 mg/(kg.d) for 1 year and then discontinued on his own, and was followed up at the age of 17, and there was no recurrence of the seizure of the form of movement disorder after taking the drug. CONCLUSION One case of SeLIE and two cases of PKD caused by PRRT2 gene mutations responded well to anti-seizure drugs. In this study, four variant loci of PRRT2 gene were found: c.583_584dup, c.904G>C, c.649dupC, c.445C>A, among which c.583_584dup were new variants, enriching the variant spectrum of PRRT2 gene.
Humans ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Female ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Mutation ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Phenotype ; Dystonia/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Child

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a child with Christianson syndrome (CS). METHODS: A 1-year-and-5-month-old boy with CS diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in April 2021 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the child and his parents, followed by genomic DNA extraction and whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variant was validated by Sanger sequencing. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No. 2024-KY-1103-001). RESULTS: The child has manifested with seizures, microcephaly, and global developmental delay. WES revealed that he has harbored a novel de novo hemizygous nonsense variant of the SLC9A6 gene, namely c.1014G>A (p.W338*). Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was rated as pathogenic. CONCLUSION The hemizygous c.1014G>A nonsense variant of the SLC9A6 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis in this child. Above discovery has expanded mutational spectrum of the SLC9A6 gene and enabled definite diagnosis of the child.
Humans ; Male ; Infant ; Microcephaly/genetics* ; Spasms, Infantile/genetics* ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked/genetics* ; Mutation ; Seizures/genetics* ; Ataxia ; Epilepsy ; Ocular Motility Disorders

Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T _NANC), time to symptom improvement (T _SI), and time of hospital stay (T _HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T _NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.

Iron overload is strongly associated with heart disease. Ferroptosis is a new form of regulated cell death indicated in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the specific molecular mechanism of myocardial injury caused by iron overload in the heart is still unclear, and the involvement of ferroptosis in iron overload-induced myocardial injury is not fully understood. In this study, we observed that ferroptosis participated in developing of iron overload and I/R-induced cardiomyopathy. Mechanistically, we discovered that Parkin inhibited iron overload-induced ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes by promoting the ubiquitination of long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4 (ACSL4), a crucial protein involved in ferroptosis-related lipid metabolism pathways. Additionally, we identified p53 as a transcription factor that transcriptionally suppressed Parkin expression in iron-overloaded cardiomyocytes, thereby regulating iron overload-induced ferroptosis. In animal studies, cardiac-specific Parkin knockout mice (Myh6-CreER ^T2 /Parkin ^fl/fl ) fed a high-iron diet presented more severe myocardial damage, and the high iron levels exacerbated myocardial I/R injury. However, the ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 significantly suppressed iron overload-induced ferroptosis and myocardial I/R injury. Moreover, Parkin effectively protected against impaired mitochondrial function and prevented iron overload-induced mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. These findings unveil a novel regulatory pathway involving p53-Parkin-ACSL4 in heart disease by inhibiting of ferroptosis.