OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical significance of a hemizygous c.1042-10G>C variant of the SLC9A7 gene NM_001257291.2) previously identified in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, and to provide an evidence-based guidance for prenatal genetic counseling. METHODS: Four families presented at the Medical Genetics Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital between December 2022 and July 2024 were included in this study. Phenotypic information and biological samples were collected from family members. Genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to whole-exome sequencing and copy number variation analysis to identify candidate pathogenic variants. Sanger sequencing was performed for familial co-segregation analysis. Reverse-transcription PCR was used to assess the RNA splicing pattern of the variant in peripheral blood samples. Quantitative PCR was employed to analyze the expression profiles of various SLC9A7 transcripts in fetal brain tissue and peripheral blood samples. Pathogenicity of the variant was classified based on guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial People's Hospital (Ethics No.: 2021-171). RESULTS: Six hemizygous males carrying the SLC9A7 c.1042-10G>C variant were identified among the four families, which included three adult males and two male infants with normal phenotypes. Only one affected male from family 3 exhibited global developmental delay, short neck, webbed neck, ocular dysplasia, and congenital corneal leukoma. He also had a history of perinatal asphyxia and carried an additional hemizygous variant HUWE1 c.12283C>G. Reverse-transcription PCR showed no aberrant splicing in heterozygous or hemizygous carriers compared to healthy controls, suggesting that the variant does not affect RNA splicing. Quantitative PCR revealed that NM_001257291.2 is the predominant transcript expressed in fetal brain tissue and peripheral blood. CONCLUSION The SLC9A7 c.1042-10G>C variant does not alter RNA splicing and is present in multiple phenotypically normal males, which supported its classification as a benign variant.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Genetic Counseling ; Pedigree ; Adult ; DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics* ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of an infertile woman carrying a novel PADI6 gene variant. METHODS: An infertile woman who visited the Medical Genetics Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital on April 29, 2024 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the proband and her family members were collected. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the proband and her husband for genomic DNA extraction. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed. Candidate variant was verified among the family members by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of candidate variant was classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants. Relevant literature on the pathogenic variants of the PADI6 gene was reviewed for genotype-phenotype correlation analysis. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial People's Hospital (Ethics No.: 2021-171). RESULTS: The proband was a 35-year-old woman who underwent two oocyte retrieval cycles, yielding a total of five oocytes, with all embryos arrested at day 3 post-fertilization. WES identified a homozygous PADI6 variant, c.367+4_367+7del. In vitro splicing assay confirmed that this variant can cause skipping of exon 3, leading to a frameshift and alterations in the protein structure or premature termination of translation. Literature review identified 12 relevant publications, and the PADI6 c.367+4_367+7del was determined to be a novel variant. CONCLUSION The homozygous PADI6 c.367+4_367+7del variant probably underlay the pathogenesis of infertility in the proband.
Humans ; Female ; Infertility, Female/genetics* ; Adult ; Protein-Arginine Deiminase Type 6/genetics* ; Pedigree ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation

Objective To explore the safety of Yttrium-90 resin microsphere selective internal radiation therapy (⁹⁰Y-SIRT) on malignant liver tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 64 patients with malignant liver tumors who underwent ⁹⁰Y-SIRT from February 2023 to November 2024 at Weifang People’s Hospital. The clinical characteristics of the patients and the occurrence of adverse reactions after treatment were analyzed to assess the safety of ⁹⁰Y-SIRT. Results Among the 64 patients, there were 52 males (81.25%) and 12 females (18.75%); the average age was (56.29±11.08) years. Seven patients (10.94%) had tumors with maximum diameter of less than 5 cm, 38 patients (59.38%) had tumors with maximum diameter of 5-10 cm, and 19 patients (29.68%) had tumors with maximum diameter of greater than 10 cm. There were 47 cases (73.44%) of solitary lesions and 17 cases (26.56%) of multiple lesions; 53 cases (82.81%) were primary liver cancers and 11 cases (17.19%) were metastatic liver cancers. Of the 64 patients, 63 successfully completed the Technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin (^99mTc-MAA) perfusion test and received the ⁹⁰Y-SIRT; one patient received ⁹⁰Y-SIRT after the second ^99mTc-MAA perfusion test due to a work error. The most common adverse reactions included grade 1 alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation in 26 cases (40.62%) and grade 2 in 2 cases (9.37%), grade 1 aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevation in 27 cases (42.18%) and grade 2 in 7 cases (10.93%); grade 1 nausea in 17 cases (26.56%) and grade 2 in 6 cases (9.37%); grade 1 abdominal pain in 12 cases (18.75%), grade 2 in 5 cases (7.81%), and grade 3 in 1 case (1.56%); grade 1 vomiting in 11 cases (17.18%), grade 2 in 5 cases (7.81%), and grade 3 in 1 case (1.56%). Conclusion The adverse reactions of ⁹⁰Y-SIRT for treating malignant liver tumors are mild, indicating good safety.

Objective The pathophysiological process of acute high-altitude hypoxia-induced lung injury affects protein expression levels,which are mainly evaluated by Western blot.No systematic study has investigated changes in internal control proteins as calibration loading amounts.Methods Lung injury at an altitude of 6000 m was induced in a low-pressure,low-oxygen chamber for 8,24,and 72 h using C57BL/6J mice.Establishment of the model was confirmed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Expression levels of various internal control proteins,including vinculin,α-tubulin,eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5(EIF5),β-actin,and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH)were detected by Western blot,and total protein expression was detected by Coomassie blue staining.Furthermore,the lung injury model in vitro was establised by using,Bronchial epithelial cell(BZAS-2B)andhunman umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECS)confirmed by TUNEL staining.Expression levels of internal control proteins were detected by Western blot,and total protein expression was detected by Coomassie Blue staining.Results Acute 8,24,and 72 h hypoxic models were successfully established in lung tissue,demonstrating consistent total protein expression and stable levels of the internal reference proteins vinculin,α-tubulin,EIF5,andβ-actin.GAPDH expression was elevated in the HH8 h,HH24 h,and HH72 h groups compared with the normoxia(Nor)group,but only the increase at HH72 h groups was significant.Similarly,8,24,and 48 h hypoxic models were successfully established in BEAS-2B cells and HUVECs,with consistent total protein expression.In BEAS-2B cells,expression levels of the internal reference proteins β-actin and GAPDH were consistent with the normoxic control(NC)group,while vinculin,α-tubulin,and EIF5 expression levels were significantly reduced under hypoxic conditions for up to 24 h.In HUVECs,vinculin and α-tubulin expression levels were also consistent with the NC group,while EIF5,β-actin,and GAPDH expression levels were significantly reduced at 8 h and increased at 48 h.Conclusions Acute hypoxia induces lung tissue injury,and protein expression levels of the internal reference proteins vinculin,α-tubulin,EIF5,and β-actin are stable,making them suitable internal references for Western blot.Additionally,Western blot detected differential expression levels of the internal reference proteins vinculin,α-tubulin,EIF5,β-actin,and GAPDH in BEAS-2B cells and HUVECs,as the most important in vitro lung tissue models of hypoxia-induced injury.

The impact of vaccines on public health and their effectiveness in controlling infectious diseases partly depends on their coverage rate, which refers to the proportion of individuals vaccinated within a specific population. Vaccination coverage is foundational data for vaccine immunization programs, a key parameter for evaluating and monitoring the implementation of vaccination plans, and an important data point in real-world post-market studies of vaccines. Additionally, research on vaccination coverage is becoming increasingly prevalent in vaccine evaluation, primarily used to establish the risk of disease incidence in populations with different vaccination coverage rates in order to assess the protective effectiveness of vaccines. This paper reviews the research methods used to assess vaccine coverage both domestically and internationally, as well as their applications in evaluating vaccine effectiveness. It also analyzes and compares the advantages and disadvantages of different research methods for measuring vaccination coverage and discusses the significance of monitoring and improving vaccine coverage rates. The goal is to promote research and application of vaccination coverage rates in China, providing a scientific basis for post-market vaccine studies and for local administrative departments to formulate immunization policies.

Objective The myocardial injury was induced by hypobaric hypoxia through regulating the expression of various proteins.The expression of proteins was mainly detected by western blot,but the selection of internal reference proteins and their variations have not been systematically studied.Methods Myocardial injury was induced in a low-pressure,low-oxygen chamber simulating an altitude of 6000 m,for 24 and 72 h.Establishment of the myocardial injury model was confirmed by hematoxylin eosin(HE)staining.Expression levels of internal control proteins,including vinculin,α-tubulin,eukaryotic translation initiation factor-5(EIF5),β-actin,glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH),cyclophilin B,and cofilin,were detected by Western Blot and total protein expression was detected by Ponceau S and Coomassie Blue staining.An adult mouse cardiomyocytes(AMCMs)injury model was induced by hypoxia for 12 and 24 h and confirmed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL staining).Internal control proteins were detected by Western Blot,as in the in vivo model,and total protein expression was detected by Ponceau S and Coomassie Blue staining.Results A myocardial injury model was established by hypobaric hypoxia for 24 and 72 h,the total protein expression levels remained consistent.The expression of internal control proteins including vinculin,EIF5,β-actin,cyclophilin B,and cofilin was consistent between the control and model groups.Expression levels of α-tubulin were similar in the plain control and 24 h hypobaric hypoxia group,but were significantly lower in the 72 h hypobaric hypoxia group compared with the plain control group.GAPDH expression was significantly higher in the 24 and 72 h hypobaric hypoxia groups than in the plain control group.An AMCM injury model was established by hypoxia for 12 and 24 h.Total protein levels and expression levels of the internal control proteins EIF5 and β-actin were consistent,but vinculin,α-tubulin,GAPDH,cyclophilin B,and cofilin expression levels were higher in both hypoxia groups compared with the normoxic control group.Conclusions EIF5 and β-actin may be the suitable loading control proteins for studies of hypobaric hypoxia-induced myocardial injury using Western Blot.Total protein is also a good choice for hypobaric hypoxia studies.

Sinopodophyllum hexandruma is a traditional Chinese medicine in China,which is mostly distributed in Gansu,Shaanxi,Sichuan,Qinghai,Yunnan and Xizang,etc.In recent years,with the gradual deepening of the research on the chemical composition and pharmacology-toxicology of Sinopodophyllum hexandruma,its antitumour and antiviral pharmacodynamic evaluation has increasingly become a research hotspot in the industry.Based on the chemical structure,pharmacological properties and the theoretical basis of quality markers(Q-markers),this paper presents an in-depth literature review and analysis of the chemical composition,pharmacological activities and Q-markers of Sinopodophyllum hexandruma,and systematically explores and predicts the Q-markers of Sinopodophyllum hexandruma.It is proposed that Podophyllotoxin,picropodophyllotoxin,podophyllotoxinone,quercetin,kaempferol,quercetin-3-O-β-glucoside can be used as the Q-marker of Sinopodophyllum hexandruma.In the later stage,these index components can be selected to control the whole quality of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum,and provide some data support and theoretical reference for the quality evaluation of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum.

The impact of vaccines on public health and their effectiveness in controlling infectious diseases partly depends on their coverage rate, which refers to the proportion of individuals vaccinated within a specific population. Vaccination coverage is foundational data for vaccine immunization programs, a key parameter for evaluating and monitoring the implementation of vaccination plans, and an important data point in real-world post-market studies of vaccines. Additionally, research on vaccination coverage is becoming increasingly prevalent in vaccine evaluation, primarily used to establish the risk of disease incidence in populations with different vaccination coverage rates in order to assess the protective effectiveness of vaccines. This paper reviews the research methods used to assess vaccine coverage both domestically and internationally, as well as their applications in evaluating vaccine effectiveness. It also analyzes and compares the advantages and disadvantages of different research methods for measuring vaccination coverage and discusses the significance of monitoring and improving vaccine coverage rates. The goal is to promote research and application of vaccination coverage rates in China, providing a scientific basis for post-market vaccine studies and for local administrative departments to formulate immunization policies.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the bactericidal effect of levulinic acid-sodium dodecyl sulfate(LVA-SDS)on the strains of Mycobacterium abscessus,Mycobacterium chelonae and Mycobacterium fortuitum,and to provide a new method for the prevention of common pathogenic rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria(NTM)dis-ease.METHODS The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)and minimal bactericidal concentration(MBC)of LVA-SDS were detected by microculture method and suspension quantitative bactericidal test,respectively.Using 1000 mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant(sodium hypochlorite)as the control,the killing effect of LVA-SDS at different times and concentrations on M.abscessus,M.chelonae and M.fortuitum were detected.RESULTS The MIC values of LVA-SDS against M.abscessus,M.chelonae and M.fortuitum were 0.0625%LVA+0.00625%SDS,0.03125%LVA+0.003125%SDS and 0.125%LVA+0.0125%SDS,respectively.The MBC values were 0.25%LVA+0.025%SDS,0.25%LVA+0.025%SDS,and 1%LVA+0.1%SDS,repectively.Within a cer-tain range,with the increase in LVA-SDS concentration and the extension of time(1-30 min),the bactericidal effect on M.abscessus,M.chelonae and M.fortuitum gradually enhanced.The killing rates of the 18%LVA+1.8%SDS for 5 minutes and the 6%LVA+0.6%SDS for 20 minutes to M.abscessus reached 100.00%;the kill-ing rates of the 18%LVA+1.8%SDS for 10 minutes and the 10%LVA+1%SDS for 25 minutes to M.chelo-nae reached 100.00%;while the killing rates of the 18%LVA+1.8%SDS for 5 minutes and the 6%LVA+0.6%SDS for 30 minutes to M.fortuitum reached 100.00%.Compared with 1000 mg/L chlorine-containing disin-fectant(sodium hypochlorite),LVA-SDS has equivalent bactericidal effects against M.abscessus and M.chelo-nae,and a better bactericidal effect against M.fortuitum.CONCLUSION LVA-SDS has a good bactericidal effect on M.abscessus,M.chelonae and M.fortuitum,and may be used in the disinfection of NTM in the future.

Objective:To detect the expression levels of long non-coding RNAs(lncRNA)in elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB)and those with non-tuberculous lung diseases(non-TB), and to assess the performance of these lncRNA in the differential diagnosis of PTB.Methods:A total of 300 elderly patients with suspected PTB were recruited from Beijing Chest Hospital between January 2024 and September 2024, and were further divided into the PTB group and the non-TB lung disease group based on the results of mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB)pathogenicity testing.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated using a lymphocyte separation solution, and RNA was extracted using the TRIzol method.Nine lncRNAs, previously identified as differentially expressed in PTB through our group's microarray analysis, were selected and detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the expression levels of these lncRNAs between the PTB and non-TB lung disease groups.The overall patients were randomly divided into training and validation sets in a 7∶3 ratio.Lasso regression was employed to select the characteristic variables, and a random forest algorithm was then used to construct the lncRNA diagnostic portfolio.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were generated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of individual lncRNAs and the combined panel in differentiating elderly patients with PTB from those with other non-TB lung diseases.Results:A total of 201 cases were included, with 105 confirmed elderly patients diagnosed with PTB(52.2%)and 96 elderly patients suffering from non-TB lung disease(47.8%).Compared to the elderly patients with non-TB lung disease, the expression levels of ENST00000417346.1, ENST00000620744.1, lncRNA PWP1, ENST00000583184.1, lncRNA ABHD17B, ENST00000607464.1, ENST00000516057.1, and NR_003000 were significantly downregulated in the PTB patients, whereas the expression level of lncRNA BCL2L10 was significantly upregulated in the PTB patients.ROC analysis revealed that the area under the curve(AUC)for each lncRNA ranged from 0.659 to 0.848.The diagnostic panel, which included NR_003000, ENST00000607464.1, ENST00000583184.1, and ENST00000620744.1 as determined by Lasso analysis, exhibited AUC values of 0.917 and 0.906 in the training and validation sets, respectively.The performance of this panel was superior to that of each individual lncRNA.Conclusions:The random forest model, which incorporates NR_003000, ENST00000607464.1, ENST00000583184.1, and ENST00000620744.1, demonstrates potential in differentiating between PTB and non-TB lung diseases.