Endosomes are organelles in intracellular trafficking, signal transduction, and metabolic regulation. Their dysfunctions are closely related to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e., autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia) and neurodegenerative diseases (i.e., Alzheimer′s disease, Parkinson′s disease, and Huntington′s disease). This review systematically summarizes advances in understanding endosomal dysfunction across these two categories of diseases. In neurodevelopmental disorders, dysregulated endosome-mediated sorting and recycling of membrane receptors may disrupt synaptic plasticity and neuronal network development. In neurodegenerative diseases, impaired endosomal acidification, trafficking dysfunction, and disrupted crosstalk with the lysosomal system exacerbate the pathological accumulation of toxic proteins, such as β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau. Emerging evidence further suggests that genetic mutations or aberrant expression of endosome-related genes may represent a shared molecular mechanism underlying both disease categories. Future research should focus on deciphering the spatiotemporally dynamic regulatory networks of endosomes and elucidating their heterogeneous roles in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative contexts, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for developing diagnostic biomarkers and targeted therapeutic strategies.

Endosomes are organelles in intracellular trafficking, signal transduction, and metabolic regulation. Their dysfunctions are closely related to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders (i.e., autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia) and neurodegenerative diseases (i.e., Alzheimer′s disease, Parkinson′s disease, and Huntington′s disease). This review systematically summarizes advances in understanding endosomal dysfunction across these two categories of diseases. In neurodevelopmental disorders, dysregulated endosome-mediated sorting and recycling of membrane receptors may disrupt synaptic plasticity and neuronal network development. In neurodegenerative diseases, impaired endosomal acidification, trafficking dysfunction, and disrupted crosstalk with the lysosomal system exacerbate the pathological accumulation of toxic proteins, such as β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau. Emerging evidence further suggests that genetic mutations or aberrant expression of endosome-related genes may represent a shared molecular mechanism underlying both disease categories. Future research should focus on deciphering the spatiotemporally dynamic regulatory networks of endosomes and elucidating their heterogeneous roles in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative contexts, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for developing diagnostic biomarkers and targeted therapeutic strategies.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features, molecular etiology, and treatment of a family with Treacher Collins Syndrome 2 (TCS2).Methods:Information of the proband (female, 8 years old) including medical history and family history was collected. Physical examination and examinations concerning laboratory, audiology, and radiology were performed on the proband. Physical examination was also performed on the family members. Genomic DNA of proband was extracted for whole exome sequencing, and then the genomic DNA of family members was extracted for Sanger sequencing. POLR1D and TCS2 related literatures published before August 31,2023 were searched and sifted in PubMed and CKNI databases. The clinical characteristics of TCS2 were summarized. Results:The proband had poor hearing since childhood, with pure tone audiometry indicating conductive hearing loss. She had a smaller jaw, bilateral preauricular fistulas and cup-shaped ear deformities. Temporal bone CT scan revealed deformities in the left external ear canal, bilateral middle ear and inner ear. A bone-conduction hearing aid device was surgically implanted, resulting in restoration of almost normal hearing levels. The proband′s mother also had a slightly smaller jaw. Genetic analysis revealed a novel heterozygous variant NM_015972.4:c.38_47del in the POLR1D gene in the proband, which was inherited from her mother. A review of the literature revealed no clear evidence of genotype-phenotype correlation in TCS2. Conclusions:Molecular diagnosis plays a vital role in the diagnosis of TCS2. Patients with normal facial phenotype may be carriers of pathogenic variants in the POLR1D gene and have the risk of passing it to the offsprings with complete penetrance. Proper bone conductive hearing devices can improve the quality of life of TCS2 patients.

Objective:To investigate the molecular etiology of Perrault syndrome by analyzing the clinical phenotype and pathogenic gene variants of 2 male patients with bilateral severe sensorineural deafness.Methods:Two male patients with Perrault syndrome characterized by severe sensonrineual deafness adimitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between February 2021 and March 2022 were selected, and the clinical phenotype and pathogenic gene variants of them and their family members were summarized. The whole exome sequencing technology was used to screen the pathogenic variants of the probands, and the candidate variants were determined by combining with clinical phenotype. The probands and their family members were verified by the Sanger sequencing method.Results:The whole exome sequencing results showed that the proband of family 1 had a compound heterozygous variants of the LARS2 (NM_015340.4) gene c.1565C>A (p.Thr522Asn) and c.1079T>C (p.Ile360Thr). The reported pathogenic variant c.1565C>A came from the mother, and the novel variant c.1079T>C came from the father. The second proband harbored compound heterozygous variants of HARS2 gene (NM_012208.4) c.1273C>T (p.Arg425Trp) and c.1403G>C (p.Gly468Ala), with the former from the proband′s mother, the latter from the father. The c.1273C>T was novel and c.1403G>C was the reported pathogenic variant. All above variants were respectively classified as pathogenic, uncertain significance, uncertain significance and likely pathogenic based on the ACMG guidelines. Conclusion:This study expands the mutational spectrum of LARS2 and HARS2 genes, which highlights that genetic testing plays an important role in the early diagnosis of syndromic deafness.

Restricted and repetitive behaviors is the characteristic clinical manifestation of many neuropsychiatric diseases, which seriously affects the work, study and daily communication of patients, and brings huge mental and economic burden to the family and society.Its causes are complex and its manifestations are diverse.Current studies have shown that microglia is closely related to the occurrence of restricted and repetitive behaviors, and the in-depth study of microglia has become a research hotspot to explore the mechanism of restricted and repetitive behaviors.In recent years, studies have found that restricted and repetitive behaviors of various neuropsychiatric diseases (such as frontotemporal dementia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder) are related to microglia.However, reliable evidence for the exact mechanism of microglia involved in restricted and repetitive behaviors remains lacking.This article reviews the recent research progress of microglia involved in restricted and repetitive behaviors.It is expected to provide a new theoretical basis and therapeutic targeting cell for the development and treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases related to restricted and repetitive behaviors in the future.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for four Chinese pedigrees affected with Waardenburg syndrome (WS). METHODS: Four WS probands and their pedigree members who had presented at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between July 2021 and March 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Proband 1, a 2-year-and-11-month female, had blurred speech for over 2 years. Proband 2, a 10-year-old female, had bilateral hearing loss for 8 years. Proband 3, a 28-year-old male, had right side hearing loss for over 10 years. Proband 4, a 2-year-old male, had left side hearing loss for one year. Clinical data of the four probands and their pedigree members were collected, and auxiliary examinations were carried out. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and subjected to whole exome sequencing. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Proband 1, with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, blue iris and dystopia canthorum, was found to have harbored a heterozygous c.667C>T (p.Arg223Ter) nonsense variant of the PAX3 gene, which was inherited from her father. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PP4), and the proband was diagnosed with WS type I. Proband 2, with moderate sensorineural hearing loss on the right side and severe sensorineural hearing loss on the left side, has harbored a heterozygous frameshifting c.1018_1022del (p.Val340SerfsTer60) variant of the SOX10 gene. Neither of her parents has harbored the same variant. Based on the ACMG guidelines, it was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PP4+PM6), and the proband was diagnosed with WS type II. Proband 3, with profound sensorineural hearing loss on the right side, has harbored a heterozygous c.23delC (p.Ser8TrpfsTer5) frameshifting variant of the SOX10 gene. Based on the ACMG guidelines, it was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PP4), and the proband was diagnosed with WS type II. Proband 4, with profound sensorineural hearing loss on the left side, has harbored a heterozygous c.7G>T (p.Glu3Ter) nonsense variant of the MITF gene which was inherited from his mother. Based on the ACMG guidelines, the variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PP4), and the proband was diagnosed with WS type II. CONCLUSION By genetic testing, the four probands were all diagnosed with WS. Above finding has facilitated molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling for their pedigrees.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Deafness ; East Asian People ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/genetics* ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Waardenburg Syndrome/diagnosis*

Objective:To observe the clinical and imaging characteristics of radiation optic neuropathy (RION).Methods:A retrospective clinical study. A total of 43 patients (69 eyes) who were diagnosed with RION at the Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2010 to 2021 were included in this study. There were 23 males (36 eyes) and 20 females (33 eyes). The age of patients at the time of radiation therapy was 49.54±13.14 years. The main dose of radiotherapy for lesions was 59.83±14.12 Gy. Sixteen patients were treated with combined chemotherapeutic agents. The clinical details of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and color photography of the fundus were collected. Forty-six eyes underwent optical coherence tomography (OCT), visual field were examined in 30 eyes, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed in 40 eyes. The BCVA examination was performed using Snellen visual acuity chart, which was converted to minimum resolution angle logarithm (logMAR) visual acuity during recording. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) was performed in 10 patients (13 eyes), 9 patients (12 eyes) were treated with intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP), 12 patients (23 eyes) were treated with HBOT combined with IVMP and control group of 12 patients (21 eyes) were only treated with basal treatment. And grouped accordingly. To observe the changes in onset, recovery, and final BCVA of the affected eye as well as thickness changes of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) of the optic disc and inner limiting membrane-retinal pigment epithelium (ILM-RPE) layer of the macular area, and final outcome of BCVA with different treatment modalities in affected eyes. The RNFL and ILM-RPE layer thicknesses were compared between patients with different disease duration as well as between treatment regimens using independent samples t-test. Results:Of the 43 cases, vision loss was monocular in 17 patients (39.53%, 17/43) and binocular in 26 patients (60.47%, 26/43). The latency from radiotherapy to onset of visual loss was 36.33±30.48 months. The duration of RION ranged from 1 week to 10 years, in which the disease duration of 37 eyes ≤2 months. Subacute visual acuity loss was present in 41 eyes. logMAR BCVA<1.0, 1.0-0.3, >0.3 were 45, 15, and 9 eyes, respectively. Optic disc pallor and optic disc edema were found in 10 (27.03%, 10/37), 3 (8.11%, 3/37) eyes, respectively, within 2 months. The superior RNFL [95% confidence interval ( CI) 2.08-66.56, P=0.038] and the outer circle of the inner limiting membrane to retinal pigment epithelium (ILM-RPE) (95% CI 4.37-45.39, P=0.021) layer thinned significantly during the first month. The center of the ILM-RPE layer thickened (95% CI-32.95--4.20, P=0.015) significantly during the first two months. The inner circle temporal quadrant of the ILM-RPE layer thickened (95% CI -42.22--3.83, P=0.022) significantly from the third to sixth month, and the RNFL except for the temporal quadrants and the average RNFL, inner circle superior quadrant and outer circle of the ILM-RPE layer thinned significantly after 6 months ( P<0.05). Among the 40 eyes that underwent MRI examination, 33 eyes (82.50%, 33/40) were affected by T1 enhancement of optic nerve, including 23 eyes (69.70%, 23/33) in intracranial segment; 12 eyes with thickening and long T2 signal (36.36%, 12/33). After treatment, BCVA was restored in 17 eyes (24.6%, 17/69) and final BCVA improved in 9 eyes (13.0%, 9/69). There was no significant difference between HBOT, IVMP and HBOT combined with IVMP therapy in improving BCVA recovery or final BCVA compared with the control group, respectively ( t=-1.04, 0.61, 1.31,-1.47, -0.42, 0.46; P>0.05). Conclusions:The structural damage of the RNFL and ILM-RPE layer occurred during the first month, the RNFL showed progressive thinning during the follow-up period, while the ILM-RPE layer showed thinning-thickening-thinning. MRI shows T1 enhancement of the optic chiasma and segments of the optic nerve, and the enhanced segments are usually accompanied by thickening and long T2. HBOT and IVMP have no obvious effect on RION.

Objective To investigate the epidemiology of viral encephalitis&meningoencephalitis and its clinical characteristics during influenza epidemics in Taiyuan city (between November 2017 and February 2018). Methods A total of 112 patients of viral encephalitis & meningoencephalitis from Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital between October 2016 to March 2018 were recruited. Patients were divided into influenza season (n=46)and non－influenza season (n=66). The clinical characteristics of 46 patients with viral meningititis in the influenza season (IS group) were compared with those in the control group of 66 cases in the non－influenza season (NI group). The Logistic regression analysis was used to study the difference between the clinical features of the IS group and the NI group. Results The incidence of hospitalized patients with viral meningititis was significantly higher in epidemic season than in the non－epidemic season. The regression analysis demonstrated that in the IS group the adolescents were 3.879 times older than other age groups, and the symptoms of mental disorder were 2.843 times that of the symptoms without mental disorder, and the duration less than 2 weeks was 3.001 times the duration greater than 2 weeks. Conclusion Although the incidence of hospitalization in patients with viral encephalitis&meningoencephalitis is increased during the influenza season, there is no outbreak of viral meningititis. In this influenza season, adolescents are susceptible to the viral encephalitis &meningoencephalitis and more prone to mental disorder. However, the prognosis of the disease is relatively good.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, along with repetitive and restrictive patterns of behaviors or interests. Normal brain development is crucial to behavior and cognition in adulthood. Abnormal brain development, such as synaptic and myelin dysfunction, is involved in the pathogenesis of ASD. Microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are important in regulating the processes of brain development, including neuron production and synaptic formation, as well as myelination. Increasing evidence suggests that the level of MAPs are changed in autistic patients and mouse models of ASD. Here, we discuss the roles of MAPs.
Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Autistic Disorder ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Social Behavior

Several of the genetic models and environmental risk factor models were used in the animal model study in autism.The BTBR T+ Itpr3tf(BTBR) mice are an inbred strain and have emerged as strong candidates to serve as models of a range of autism-relevant behaviors, showing deficiencies in social behaviors and reduced or unusual ultrasonic vocalizations as well as increased repetitive self-grooming.There are increasing investigations targeted to ameliorating the behavioral phenotypes of autism in BTBR mice.This review briefly summarizes the advance in the research on the BTBR mice model of autism.