A 1-year and 9-month-old male proband presented with clustered rice grain-sized flat smooth red papules on the face, trunk and limbs for 1.5 years, without fever, joint swelling, or pain. The proband′s sister aged 7 years ever experienced swelling and pain in the finger joints of both hands at the age of 2 years, and had intermittent fever and papules all over the body at the same time, and the papules gradually regressed with the subsidence of fever. The proband′s mother aged 27 years suffered from swelling and pain in the finger joints of both hands when she was young, gradually leading to finger deformities, and experienced intermittent knee swelling and pain at the age of 12 years without obvious skin lesions on the body. No abnormality was found in ophthalmological and systemic physical examinations of the 3 patients. Whole-exome sequencing showed that the proband, his sister and mother all had a heterozygous missense mutation c.1001G>A (p.R334Q) in exon 4 of the NOD2 gene. A diagnosis of Blau syndrome was made. The proband was treated with topical moisturizing cream all over the body; during the 52-week follow-up, no joint swelling and pain or eye symptoms were found in the proband, while erythema and depressed scars were observed on the face, trunk and limbs. The proband′s sister and mother were treated with subcutaneous injections of adalimumab at initial doses of 40 mg and 80 mg respectively, followed 1 week later by injections at 20 mg and 40 mg respectively, and then treated with injections at 20 mg and 40 mg respectively every 2 weeks; after 12-week treatment, the joint swelling and pain were markedly relieved in the proband′s sister and mother, and most skin lesions subsided in the proband′s sister; at week 52 during the follow-up, there was no joint swelling, pain or skin lesions in the proband′s sister, and there was no swelling or pain in the knee joints of the proband′s mother, while no improvement was observed in her finger deformities. During the treatment, no eye symptoms or adverse reactions were observed neither in the proband′s sister nor in his mother.

Objective:To investigate changes in disease status and their influencing factors in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with biologics during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Methods:Through printed or electronic questionnaires during February 10 th - 20 th, 2023, data were collected from patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with biologics in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from June 2019 to January 2023, and changes in the disease condition during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated. The t test or chi-square test was used for comparisons between groups, univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were conducted to investigate the factors contributing to the exacerbation of psoriasis, and stratified analysis was employed to evaluate the disease progression among the patients receiving different biologic therapies following treatment delays. Results:A total of 177 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were collected, including 115 males and 62 females; they were aged 6 - 83 (38.69 ± 14.18) years, with disease duration of 1 - 50 (13.48 ± 9.70) years. Among the patients, 74 (41.81%) experienced psoriasis exacerbation, 154 (87.01%) developed COVID-19, and 90 (50.85%) experienced delays in psoriasis treatment due to the pandemic. The results of univariate analysis indicated significant associations of psoriasis exacerbation with treatment delays, irregular treatment before the pandemic, and incomplete clearance of skin lesions ( P < 0.001 or 0.05), while no correlations were observed between psoriasis exacerbation and COVID-19 or gender (both P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that psoriasis exacerbation was associated with treatment delays due to COVID-19 ( OR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.35 - 8.22, P = 0.009) and incomplete clearance of skin lesions ( OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.28 - 7.50, P = 0.012), but not associated with irregular treatment before the pandemic ( P = 0.130). Among the patients treated with adalimumab, secukinumab, ustekinumab, and ixekizumab, those experiencing treatment delays exhibited higher rates of psoriasis exacerbation than those without treatment delays (all P < 0.05) . Conclusion:Patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis undergoing biologic therapy are prone to disease exacerbation when treatment is delayed due to COVID-19, especially those with incomplete lesion clearance.

Objective:To identify pathogenic genes in 3 cases of piebaldism, and to explore the genotype-phenotype relationships in piebaldism.Methods:Clinical data were collected from 3 patients with piebaldism and their parents at the Department of Dermatology, Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from them and 100 unrelated healthy controls, and DNA was extracted. Whole-exome sequencing technology was used to screen genetic variation sites, and then Sanger sequencing was performed for verification. The deleteriousness of genetic variants was evaluated by using pathogenicity analysis software tools.Results:Case 1: a 23-year-old male patient presented with white patches on the forehead, chest, and abdomen for 23 years, and his parents had no similar symptoms; case 2: a 1-year- and 5-month-old male infant presented with white patches on the forehead and abdomen for 1 year, and his parents had no similar symptoms; case 3: a 6-year-old male child presented with white patches on the forehead and limbs for 6 years, and his parents had no similar clinical manifestations. Genetic testing showed that a missense mutation c.2033T>C (p.L678P) in exon 14 of the KIT gene, a splice site mutation c.2485-1G>C in exon 18 of the KIT gene, and a heterozygous missense mutation c.2346C>G (p.F782L) in exon 16 of the KIT gene were identified in the case 1, 2, 3 respectively, but no above mutations were identified in the patients′ parents or 100 unrelated healthy controls. The 3 genetic variants were all novel pathogenic mutations, and all were deleterious mutations.Conclusions:Three novel pathogenic mutations in the KIT gene were identified in the 3 cases of piebaldism, namely c.2033T>C (p.L678P), c.2485-1G>C, and c.2346C>G (p.F782L). It was further verified that the severity of piebaldism was closely related to the type and location of KIT gene mutations.

A 10-day-old male infant presented with skin erythema and blisters for 6 days. Skin examination showed scattered or confluent erythema all over the body, tense blisters of varying sizes on the normal skin or an erythematous base, and some blisters were ulcerated and erosive; bloody bullae and erythematous erosive patches could be seen on the oral mucosa. Histopathological examination revealed subepidermal blisters, and there were some neutrophils and a few eosinophils in the blisters. Direct immunofluorescence assay showed homogeneous linear IgA and granular C3 deposits along the basement membrane zone, without IgG deposits. The diagnosis of neonatal linear IgA bullous dermatosis was confirmed. After comprehensive treatments including nutritional support and anti-infection treatment, skin erythema and blisters subsided, and the mucosal damage was attenuated. The telephone follow-up 16 months after discharge showed that the infant was in good general condition with normal growth and development, and the oral mucosal lesions had subsided and healed, without new skin lesions.

A 60-year-old female proband presented with recurrent erythema, blisters and erosions all over the body for 30 years, which had been aggravated 10 days prior to the presentation. Skin examination showed erythematous swelling of the bilateral eyelids with scattered dark red crusts, scattered erythema and erosions on the nasolabial folds and chin, large areas of erythema and erosions on the neck, bilateral axillae, left cubital fossa, perineum and perianal area, accompanied by bright red granulation tissues and positive Nikolsky′s sign. The proband had two sons, both of whom occasionally presented with erythema and erosions on the axillae and groin, and had not been diagnosed or treated. Blood samples were collected from the proband and her two sons, and genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to whole-exome sequencing. A heterozygous deletion mutation c.955_957del (p.A319del) was identified in the ATP2C1 gene in the proband and her two sons, which had not been previously reported. The patient was finally diagnosed with generalized familial benign chronic pemphigus.

Objective To investigate the effect of pathologically elevated-cyclic stretch induced by hypertension on mitochondrial biogenesis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and the role of PGC1α in this process. Methods The Flexcell-5000T stretch loading system in vitro was applied to VSMCs with a frequency of 1. 25 Hz and an amplitude of 5% or 15% to simulate the mechanical environment under normal physiological or hypertensive pathological conditions respectively. Western blotting and qPCR were used to detect the expression of PGC1α, citrate synthase and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in VSMCs under normal physiological or hypertensive pathological conditions. VSMCs were treated with PGC1α specific activator ZLN005 to promote PGC1α expression or specific interfering fragment siRNA to inhibit PGC1α expression in order to detect the effect on citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number. Results Compared with 5% physiological cyclic stretch, 15% pathologically elevated-cyclic stretch significantly suppressed the expression of PGC1α, citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number in VSMCs. Compared with control group, the protein expression of PGC1α was significantly decreased and increased respectively. When VSMCs transfected with PGC1α siRNA or incubated PGC1α activator ZLN005, the expression of citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number were also significantly down regulated and up-regulated in VSMCs accordingly. Under physiological cyclic stretch conditions, the protein level of PGC1α was significantly down-regulated by PGC1α siRNA, which also significantly down-regulated citrate synthase expression and mtDNA copy number. The protein expression of PGC1α was significantly up-regulated by ZLN005, which also enhanced the expression of citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number. Conclusions The pathological cyclic stretch induced by hypertension significantly down-regulated the expression of citrate synthase and mtDNA copy number via suppressing the expression of PGC1α, resulting in mitochondrial dysfunction of VSMCs. PGC1α may be a potential therapeutic target molecule to alleviate the progression of hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To perform gene mutation analysis in a Chinese pedigree with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa pruriginosa (DEB-Pr), and explore phetotype, genotype, and genotypes-phenotypes relationship of DEB-Pr. METHODS: Potential variants of the COL7A1 gene were detected by skin targeted sequencing panel and verified by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of the variation was analyzed. RESULTS: Compound heterozygous variants, c.4128delT and c.8234G>A, were detected in the COL7A1 gene of the two patients. The c.4128delT(p.Pro1376fs) variant was derived from their mother and unreported previously. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics Standards and Guidelines, it was suggested to be a pathogenic mutation. The c.8234G>A(p.Arg2745Gln) variant was derived from their father, and possibly is a pathogenic variation. CONCLUSION In this study, the compound heterozygous variants of c.4128delT(p.Pro1376fs) and c.8234G>A(p.Arg2745Gln) of the COL7A1 gene probably underlies the disease in this patient and his sister. And our study expands the database on mutations of DEB-Pr.
Collagen Type VII/genetics* ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica/genetics* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

Objective:To investigate two Chinese pedigrees with dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria (DSH) , and to analyze gene mutations in the pedigrees.Methods:Clinical data were collected from two probands with DSH and other family members in their pedigrees. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the two probands, their parents and 100 unrelated healthy controls. Gene mutations were detected by using a skin-targeted sequencing panel, and then verified by Sanger sequencing.Results:Case 1, an 18-year-old male patient, presented with millet-sized hyperpigmented and hypopigmented macules scattered on the dorsum of both hands and feet at the age of 5 years, and his mother had similar manifestations. A novel heterozygous frameshift mutation c.1970dupT (p.F657fs) was identified in exon 5 of the ADAR gene in case 1 and his mother, but not found in his father. Case 2, an 8-year-old male patient, presented with mottled rice- to soybean-sized brown hyperpigmented macules and hypopigmented macules on the face and neck, lower back, buttocks, lower limbs, as well as hands and feet, and his father presented with similar manifestations. A known heterozygous frameshift mutation c.2433_2434delAG (p.T811fs) was identified in exon 7 of the ADAR gene in case 2 and his father, but not found in his mother. Neither of the two mutations was identified in the 100 unrelated healthy controls.Conclusion:In this study, a novel mutation c.1970dupT (p.F657fs) in the ADAR gene was identified in a patient with DSH.

Objective:To identify causative genes for autosomal recessive woolly hair (ARWH) in a family.Methods:Clinical data were collected from two patients and other family members in a Chinese pedigree of Han nationality with ARWH. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the two patients, their unaffected parents and 100 unrelated healthy individuals, and DNA was extracted from the blood samples. A next-generation skin-targeted sequencing panel was used to detect gene mutations in the patients, and Sanger sequencing was performed to verify the sequencing results. The function of protein encoded by the mutant gene was predicted.Results:Two missense mutations c.530T>G (p.Leu177Arg) and c.736T>A (p.Cys246Ser) were both identified in the LIPH gene of the two patients, which were inherited from their father and mother respectively. Neither of the two mutations was identified in the 100 unrelated healthy controls. Interspecies sequence alignment showed that leucine at amino acid position 177 and cysteine at amino acid position 246 of the protein encoded by the LIPH gene were highly evolutionarily conserved. As SIFT and Polyphen-2 softwares showed, the mutations c.530T>G (p.Leu177Arg) and c.736T>A (p.Cys246Ser) were both predicted to be detrimental variations.Conclusion:Two missense mutations c.530T>G (p.Leu177Arg) and c.736T>A (p.Cys246Ser) in the LIPH gene may contribute to the clinical phenotype of the two patients with ARWH in this family.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out genetic testing for a Chinese patient with X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XLHED) and explore its genotype-phenotype correlation. METHODS: Clinical data of the patient was collected. Peripheral blood samples were taken from the patient, his parents and 100 unrelated healthy controls. Genetic variants were detected by using next-generation sequencing using a skin-disease panel through targeted capture and next generation sequencing. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. All literature related to genetic testing of XLHED patients in China was searched in the database, and the genotypes and phenotypes of patients in the literature and the correlation between them were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A novel splice site variant c.655_689del was detected in the patient but not among his parents and the 100 unrelated healthy controls. So far 61 variants of the EDA gene have been identified among Chinese patients with XLHED, which suggested certain degree of genotype-phenotype correlation. CONCLUSION A novel c.655_689del variant has been identified in the EDA gene, which has expanded the spectrum of EDA gene variant and facilitated delineation of the genotype-phenotype correlation of XLHED.
Child ; China ; Ectodermal Dysplasia 1, Anhidrotic/genetics* ; Ectodysplasins/genetics* ; Genetic Testing ; Genotype ; Humans ; Phenotype