OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of a child with Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 8 (PFIC8). METHODS A child with PFIC diagnosed at Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University in September 2025 was selected as the study subject. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the child and her parents. Following extraction of genomic DNA, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was carried out. Candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of the candidate variants was classified based on the guidelines from American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University (Ethics No.: 2023-E-126-Y). RESULTS: The proband, a 2-month-old female infant, had manifested jaundice of the skin and sclera, and slightly distended abdomen. She had no visible abdominal wall varicose veins, soft abdomen, and no palpable masses. Biliary atresia was ruled out by intraoperative cholangiography. WES revealed that she has harbored compound heterozygous variants of KIF12 gene, namely c.809C>T (p.Ala270Val) and c.1313G>A (p.Arg438Lys), which were verified by Sanger sequencing to have derived from her mother and father, respectively. According to the ACMG guidelines, both variants were classified as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Based on the pre-defined search strategy, 10 articles were retrieved, which involved 25 PFIC cases, including 5 from China. Together with the proband of this study, the 26 PFIC patients have primarily presented with high GGT cholestasis, with the genetic cause in all cases attributed to variants of the KIF12 gene. CONCLUSION The c.809C>T and c.1313G>A compound heterozygous variants of the KIF12 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of cholestatic liver disease in this child. Above findings have enriched the mutational and phenotypic spectra of PFIC8.
Humans ; Kinesins/genetics* ; Female ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic/genetics* ; Infant ; Heterozygote ; Mutation ; Exome Sequencing ; Male

To address the insufficiency of domestic small-dose Chinese herbal granule dispensing equipment,this study introduces the"black box method"design concept and,on this basis,designs a lightweight,compact and highly accurate dispensing device.This device uses a two-phase four-wire brushless motor to drive the slider for displacement,thereby controlling the volume of the medicine falling into the weighing device to complete the weighing of the medicine.Finally,a two-phase hybrid stepping motor is used to drive the weighing device to transfer the medicine.This paper first elaborates in detail on the mechanical structure and weighing dispensing principle of this device.Secondly,the ANSYS finite element software is used to conduct a force analysis test on the weighing device,and it is concluded that the deformation of the weighing device during the working process is 9.98×10-5 mm,and the maximum deformation of the discharge port is 6.65×10-5 mm.Finally,the ADAMS software is used to simulate and analyze the motion process of the mechanism.The results show that,under the premise of ensuring the accuracy of weighing,there are no virtual points or interference in the motion process.On this basis,a prototype test is conducted,and the error accuracy of the dispensing machine is about 0.066 g,which is higher than the traditional dispensing accuracy.This equipment has strong adaptability and high dispensing accuracy,providing a new solution for small-dose precise quantitative equipment.

To address the insufficiency of domestic small-dose Chinese herbal granule dispensing equipment,this study introduces the"black box method"design concept and,on this basis,designs a lightweight,compact and highly accurate dispensing device.This device uses a two-phase four-wire brushless motor to drive the slider for displacement,thereby controlling the volume of the medicine falling into the weighing device to complete the weighing of the medicine.Finally,a two-phase hybrid stepping motor is used to drive the weighing device to transfer the medicine.This paper first elaborates in detail on the mechanical structure and weighing dispensing principle of this device.Secondly,the ANSYS finite element software is used to conduct a force analysis test on the weighing device,and it is concluded that the deformation of the weighing device during the working process is 9.98×10-5 mm,and the maximum deformation of the discharge port is 6.65×10-5 mm.Finally,the ADAMS software is used to simulate and analyze the motion process of the mechanism.The results show that,under the premise of ensuring the accuracy of weighing,there are no virtual points or interference in the motion process.On this basis,a prototype test is conducted,and the error accuracy of the dispensing machine is about 0.066 g,which is higher than the traditional dispensing accuracy.This equipment has strong adaptability and high dispensing accuracy,providing a new solution for small-dose precise quantitative equipment.

Objective:To study the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) and its influencing factors after neonatal abdominal surgery under general anesthesia in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).Methods:From January 2018 to December 2020, neonates received abdominal surgery under general anesthesia and needed endotracheal intubation and MV after surgery in NICU of our hospital were retrospectively studied. According to MV duration, the neonates were assigned into <72 h group and ≥72 h group. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of postoperative MV duration.Results:A total of 113 neonates were enrolled, including 57 male (50.4%) and 56 female (49.6%). The gestational age was (35.7±3.6) weeks, the birth weight was (2 497±933) g, the average operation age was 9.9(3.6, 22.2) d and the average hospital stay was 22.0(12.0,37.0) d. Congenital intestinal obstruction (37/113, 32.7%) was the most common diagnoses on discharge, followed by neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis(28/113,24.8%) and gastrointestinal perforation (18/113,15.0%). The duration of operation was 80.0 (55.8,117.3) min. All neonates needed MV with endotracheal intubation. The duration of postoperative respiratory support was 30.0(7.0,84.5) h. 48 neonates (42.5%) had endotracheal intubation removed within 24 h after surgery. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative respiratory support ( P=0.004), congenital heart disease( P=0.013) and intravenous midazolam ( P=0.032) were independent risk factors for prolonged postoperative MV. Conclusions:The need of preoperative respiratory support, congential heart disease and intravenous midazolam were independent risk factors for the duration of postoperative MV after neonatal abdominal surgery under general anesthesia.

Clinical phenotypes and gene characteristics of a patient diagnosed with Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MWS) with Hirschsprung′s disease (HSCR) and vaginal atresia in the Department of Neonatal Surgery, Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University in March 2021 were analyzed retrospectively.The eight-month-old girl was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of constipation for nine days and abdominal distension for two days.Lower digestive tract radiography and rectal mucosa biopsy results suggested HSCR.The child also had specific facial features and motor development delay.Whole exome test showed a de novo heterozygous mutation, ZEB2 gene c. 2761C>T (p.R921*). After laparoscopic-assisted Soave procedure, the child had normal bowel movements, and no surgery-related compli-cations occurred during the follow-up period.The child′s motor development improved after rehabilitation treatment.According to literature review, 2 female cases show similar clinical manifestations to this girl, but the genotypes were different.This patient expands the clinical phenotype of ZEB2 gene pathogenicity.

Tumor microenvironment is composed by tumor cells,stromal cells,immune-inflammatory cells,extracellular matrix,soluble cytokine and so on.Previous studies focused on the biological behavior,genetic changes and related phenotypic changes of tumor cells,but tumor microenvironment is closely related with the tumor development and treatment resistance.In recent years,new studies have confirmed that tumor microenvironment is an important member of tumor,which play an important role in proliferation,invasion and proliferation of tumor cells.This article mainly introduces the tumor microenvironment features,tumor-associated macrophage and tumor-associated fibroblasts,which led to the radioresistance of tumor.

Choriocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Pregnancy

Objective To study the effects of MF59 in combination with heat-killed BCG ( hBCG) as adjuvant on the immunogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein PstS1-LEP.Methods BALB/c mice were divided into six groups from group 1 through group 6.They were immunized with PstS1-LEP+MF59 ( group 1 ) , PstS1-LEP+MF59/hBCG ( group 2 ) , PstS1-LEP+hBCG ( group 3 ) , MF59 ( group 4 ) , PstS1-LEP (group 5) and hBCG (group 6) for three times at intervals of two weeks , respectively.The mice were sac-rificed two weeks after the last immunization .The serum samples were collected for antibodies detection .The splenic lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages were isolated and cultured with PstS 1-LEP.Indirect ELISA and sandwich ELISA were used to detect PstS 1-LEP-specific antibodies and cytokines in the supernatants of culture , respectively.Results The level of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a in group 1 were higher than those in groups 4, 5 and 6 (P<0.05).The level of IL-2 and IL-4 in group 1 were higher than those in groups 4 and 6 (P<0.05).The level of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-12, IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a in group 2 were higher than those in groups 4, 5 and 6 (P<0.05).The level of IL-2 was higher in group 2 than that in groups 4 and 6 (P<0.05). The level of IL-4 in group 3 was higher than that in group 4 ( P=0.05 ) .The level of IL-1βin group 3 were higher than that in groups 4 and 5 ( P<0.05 ) .The level of IgG was higher in group 3 than that in groups 4 and 6 (P<0.05).IgG1 level in group C was up-regulated in comparison with that in groups 4, 5 and 6 (P<0.05 ) .Conclusion hBCG as PstS1-LEP adjuvant induces a shift towards Th 2-type immune response , while MF59 induces Th1/Th2-type immune response.The combination of MF59 and hBCG inhibits the secretion of IL-4 by spleen lymphocytes , but enhances the secretion of IL-12 by macrophage .

OBJECTIVETo establish red-green dual-color fluorescence glioma model in nude mice and to explore its practical values.

METHODSCM-DiI-stained rat glioma C6 cells (C6-CM- DiI cells) expressing red fluorescence were inoculated into the brain of athymic nude mice expressing green fluorescence protein (NC-C57BL/6J-EGFP). Then the whole-body dual-color fluorescence imaging was detected dynamically. Finally whole brains of the tumor-bearing mice were removed and 5 µm thick serial frozen slices were made. Light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy were performed to observe the transplanted tumor tissue structure and fluorescent cells.

RESULTSTumor mass with red fluorescence increased gradually under continuous in-vivo fluorescence imaging monitoring. Under the fluorescence microscope, cells with red, green and yellow fluorescence were observed in the frozen sections of transplanted tumor tissue and the mutual structural relationship among them could be defined. The tumor cells migration, implantation and cell fusion between transplanted tumor cells and host cells could be observed. It could be distinguished according to the fluorescence, that blood vessels of tumor-origin displayed red fluorescence, blood vessels of host-origin displayed green fluorescence and mosaic blood vessels appeared yellow fluorescence. It was depicted that host innate astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in the microenvironment at the tumor periphery could be activated and dedifferentiated into nestin-positive cells.

CONCLUSIONSIn contrast to traditional animal model, the dual-color fluorescence imaging of nude mouse models of glioma possesses enormous advantages in investigating tumor mass in-vivo fluorescence imaging, tumor cells migration and metastasis, tumor angiogenesis and reactive activation of host innate cells in the microenvironment at tumor periphery, thus, has highly practical application value.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Carbocyanines ; metabolism ; Cell Fusion ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fluorescent Dyes ; metabolism ; Glioma ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Luminescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Nestin ; metabolism ; Oligodendroglia ; metabolism ; Rats

The effects of cyclosporine A on matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)-2 and-9 expressions in the cardiac muscle of streptozocin-induced diabetic rats were investigated.The expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA and proteins in the cardiac muscle of diabetic rats were significantly upregulated,which could be decreasedby cyclosporine A(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The results suggest that cyclosporine A may effectively ameliorate the injuries of diabetic cardiomyopathy.