Objective: To classify the ABO blood group phenotypes of 5 cases from a family, and to explore the molecular mechanism for reduced B antigen expression in ABO blood group system. Methods: Serological identification of the ABO blood group was performed using microcolumn gel assay and saline tube method. The soluble antigens in saliva were detected by the agglutination inhibition assay. The full-length sequences and upstream promoter regions of ABO gene were sequenced for genotyping using PacBio SMRT sequencing technology. Results: The results of serological tests indicated the expression of B antigen decreased in 3 out of 5 blood samples. A mixed-field agglutination was observed with anti-B antibody. B antigen was not detected in all 5 saliva samples. The ABO genotype for all samples were ABO B.01/ABO O.01.02, and a novel mutation c. 28+5875C>T within the DNA-binding region of RUNX1 in +5.8-kb site were found in the B allele for 3 samples with reduced expression of B antigen. Conclusion: Results of serological and genetic analyses classify the 3 cases with reduced B antigen expression as B phenotype. The novel mutation c. 28+5875C>T of RUNX1 could be the key reason for reduced B antigen expression in 3 cases with B phenotype.

Background In recent years, the increasingly widespread application of nuclear and medical radiation technologies has resulted in a large number of occupational populations exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR). At present, there is no consistent conclusion on the effects of long-term exposure to LDIR on the metabolic health of the occupational population. Objective To explore the association between long-term exposure to LDIR and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among medical radiologists. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to enroll 6431 medical radiologists who ordered occupational health checkups from January 2022 to December 2023, and basic information such as demographic characteristics, occupational characteristics, lifestyles, and dietary habits was collected through questionnaires. Physical examinations were conducted using a standardized protocol. Individual dose equivalents of occupational external exposure were monitored by dosimeters worn by medical radiologists. Logistic regression model was used for identifying influencing factors of MetS and sensitivity analysis, and restricted cubic spline model was used to explore the dose-response relationship between cumulative effective dose and MetS. Two-stage linear regression was used to evaluate threshold effect of association between cumulative effective dose and MetS. Results The positive rate of MetS was 13.6% (877/6431) among the enrolled 6431 study participants. The logistic regression showed that gender, age, monthly income, body mass index (BMI), cumulative effective dose, and smoking were influencing factors for MetS. The risk of MetS was higher in males (OR=1.511, 95%CI: 1.209, 1.888); using the < 30 years old group as reference, the risk of MetS was higher in the 30-39 years old (OR=1.509, 95%CI: 1.095, 2.079), 40-49 years old (OR=2.214, 95%CI: 1.551, 3.161), and ≥50 years old (OR=3.480, 95%CI: 2.338, 5.181) groups; using the <10000 yuan group as reference, the risk of MetS was lower in the group with a monthly income of 10000-14999 yuan (OR=0.715, 95%CI: 0.582, 0.878); the risk of MetS was higher in the BMI ≥ 24 kg·m⁻² group (OR=7.548, 95%CI: 6.223, 9.156); using the < 0.76 mSv group as reference, the risk of MetS was higher in the cumulative effective dose of 0.76-2.73 mSv group (OR=1.270, 95%CI: 1.017, 1.586); the risk of MetS was higher in the smoking group (OR=1.734, 95%CI: 1.428, 2.107). The results of restricted cubic spline showed that the cumulative effective dose was nonlinearly correlated with MetS (P _{non-linearity}=0.028), with an inflection point of 1.25 mSv. The risk of developing MetS increased by 34.1% for each unit increase in cumulative effective dose up to 1.25 mSv, whereas above 1.25 mSv, the statistical association was not significant. The sensitivity analysis results showed that after excluding the self-reported hypertensive and diabetic patients, the cumulative effective dose 0.76-2.73 mSv group still had an increased risk of developing MetS compared with the < 0.76 mSv group (P < 0.05), and the results were robust. Conclusion Among medical radiologists, male, age, BMI, and smoking are positively correlated with MetS, and monthly income is negatively correlated with MetS; cumulative effective dose is non-linearly correlated with MetS among medical radiologists.

Objective To compare the detection rate of right hemicolonic polyp between indigo carmine staining and white light endoscopy.Methods A total of 1052 patients with colonoscopic examination in Qing-baijiang District People's Hospital of Chengdu City from July 2022 to March 2023 were selected as the study subjects and divided into the indigo carmine staining group and white light endoscopy group,526 cases in each group.The right hemicolon was observed by indigo carmine staining and white light pattern respectively.The difference in the detection rate of right hemicolonic polyp was compared between the two detection methods. Results Compared with the white light endoscopic examination group,the detection rate of the right hemico-lonic polyp (41.6％),detection rate of the right hemicolon adenoma (20.9％),detection rate of wide basal ser-rated lesion (2.1％),detection rate of proliferative polyps (20.3％),detection rate of Paris type 0-Ⅱ (38.0％),detection rate of NICE 1 type (pale lesion,22.2％),detection rate of polyps with a diameter<5 mm (30.5％) and the consistency rate of pathological biopsy (86.4％),specificity (84.7％) and sensitivity (88.2％) in the indigo carmine staining group were higher,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in the duration of mirror withdrawal between the white light endoscopy group and the indigo carmine staining group (t=1.407,P=0.160).Conclusion The endoscopic examination with indigo carmine staining has a higher detection rate for right hemicolonic polyp,and is easier to detect micropolyps and flat polyps with pale color.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between peripheral blood helper T cell 1/helper T cell 2 (Th1/Th2), helper T cell 17/regulatory T cell (Th17/Treg) and efficacy of programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) inhibitor in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) combined with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:The clinical data of 107 patients with advanced NSCLC combined with COPD who were admitted to Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from April 2021 to September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were treated with PD-1 inhibitor, and they were categorized into the disease control group (82 cases) and the disease progression group (25 cases) according to the clinical efficacy. Th1/Th2, Th17/Treg and clinical data of patients before treatment were compared between the two groups, and logistic regression was used to analyze the independent influencing factors of patients' PD-1 inhibitor efficacy.Results:Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg before treatment in the disease control group were higher than those in the disease progression group (12.49±1.14 vs. 7.04±1.06, t = 21.26, P < 0.001; 0.14±0.03 vs. 0.09±0.04, t = 6.72, P < 0.001). The proportions of patients with TNM stage Ⅳ, lymph node metastasis and brain metastasis in the disease progression group were higher than those in the disease control group (all P < 0.01). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pre-treatment Th1/Th2 ( OR = 0.744, 95% CI 0.685-0.799, P < 0.001), pre-treatment Th17/Treg ( OR = 0.514, 95% CI 0.465-0.552, P < 0.001), TNM stage ( OR = 1.258, 95% CI 1.049-1.656, P = 0.048), lymph node metastasis ( OR = 1.790, 95% CI 1.223-2.734, P = 0.005), and brain metastasis ( OR = 1.640, 95% CI 1.184-2.348, P = 0.005) were independent influencing factors of PD-1 inhibitor efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC combined with COPD. Conclusions:Patients with advanced NSCLC combined with COPD who have high Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg before treatment have good outcomes with PD-1 inhibitor therapy.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Xiao Qinglongtang （XQLT） on ovalbumin （OVA）-induced allergic rhinitis （AR） in mice and its effect on the interleukin-33 （IL-33）/suppression of tumorigenicity 2 （ST2） signaling pathway. MethodSeventy-two female BALB/c mice of SPF grade were randomly divided into a control group， a model group， a positive control group （loratadine， 2.05 mg·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （5.005，10.01，20.02 g·kg^-1） XQLT groups. All mice except for those in the control group were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of OVA solution， and the AR model was induced by intranasal drops of OVA solution. Thirty minutes before local intranasal drops， drugs were administered once， and mice in the control group and the model group received phosphate buffered saline （PBS） at 20 mL·kg^-1 for 7 days. After the last intranasal drop of OVA solution， the times of sneezing and nasal rubbing of mice within 10 min was recorded. After drug administration for 7 days， blood samples were collected， and nasal bones of mice were decalcified for the preparation of pathological sections. The content of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E （OVA-sIgE）， interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-5 （IL-5）， and interleukin-13 （IL-13） was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） kits. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， periodic acid-Schiff （PAS） staining， and Giemsa staining were used to observe the pathological changes， goblet cell hyperplasia， and eosinophil infiltration of nasal mucosa， respectively. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of IL-33， ST2， and IL-1 receptor accessory protein （IL-1RAP） in nasal mucosa. ResultCompared with the control group， the model group showed increased times of sneezing and nasal rubbing （P<0.01）， edema and thickening of nasal mucosa， goblet cell hyperplasia and eosinophil infiltration， increased serum levels of OVA-sIgE， IL-4， IL-5 and IL-13 （P<0.01）， and increased protein expression of IL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP in nasal mucosa （P<0.05，P<0.01）. After drug administration， compared with the model group， the high-dose XQLT group showed reduced times of sneezing and nasal rubbing （P<0.01）， improved pathological conditions of nasal mucosa， reduced serum levels of OVA-sIgE， IL-4， IL-5， and IL-13 （P<0.01）， and declining protein expression of IL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP in nasal mucosa （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionXQLT has a therapeutic effect on OVA-sensitized AR mice， and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of the IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway and Th2 inflammatory cytokine to reduce Th2 inflammatory response and alleviate nasal mucosal injury.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of endoscopic ultrasonography for rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (R-NENs) of different origin and its influence on the diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze 56 cases of R-NENs diagnosed by miniprobe endoscopic ultrasonography (MEUS) and/or pathology in the Endoscopy Center of Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2016 to July 2021. The endoscopic ultrasonography characteristics, pathological features, surgical selection and the follow-up of R-NENs originating from deep mucosa and submucosa were compared.Results:Among the 56 patients, 49 were diagnosed as R-NENs.The diagnostic sensitivity, positive predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of MEUS for R-NENs were 93.88% (46/49), 86.79% (46/53) and 82.14% (46/56), respectively. R-NENs were mainly manifested by medium hypoechoic with MEUS [95.92% (47/49)]. Three R-NENs originated from submucosa were missed diagnosis, with 1 case presenting hypoechoic and 2 cases presenting hyperechoic. There were no significant differences in the tumor diameter, echo intensity under endoscopic ultrasonography, echo uniformity and pathological grade composition between deep mucosal origin and submucosal origin R-NENS (all P>0.05), but there was significant differences in the distance from tumor to anus ( χ2=5.011, P=0.025). The proportion of the distance from tumor to anus ≤5 cm of submucosal origin lesions was significantly higher than that of deep mucosal origin [43.75% (14/32) VS 17.65% (3/17)]. Endoscopic submucosal dissection [67.5% (27/40)] and transanal endoscopic microsurgery [25.0% (10/40)] were the major treatment method, but there were no significant differences in endoscopic ultrasonography manifestations and pathological grading of R-NENs between these two surgical procedures. Conclusion:There is no significant difference in endoscopic ultrasonography manifestations and pathological grade of R-NENs between deep mucosal origin and submucosal origin, suggesting that the prognosis is similar between the two types. It is no significant influence of endoscopic ultrasonography manifestations of R-NENs at different levels of origin.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of SPOT (GI Supply, USA), a new carbon-based permanent marker approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the endoscopic marking for gastrointestinal lesions.Methods:A total of 115 patients with gastrointestinal lesions who underwent endoscopic treatment or surgery in Beijing Friendship Hospital or Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital from April 2019 to November 2019 were enrolled in the study. SPOT was used to mark the lesions, and marking points were found during endoscopic treatment or surgery to calculate the effective marking rate by single-group target value method. Adverse events after marking were recorded, and the changes of blood routine test, liver and kidney functions before and after marking were compared.Results:The effective rate of endoscopic marking with SPOT was 99.13% (114/115). The longest marking time was 57 days. There was no puncture of intestinal wall or injection into abdominal cavity during the marking process. One patient developed mild fever after marking. The incidence of adverse events was 23.48% (27/115), which were all unrelated to the test equipment. There was no significant difference in blood routine tests or liver and kidney functions before and after marking ( P>0.05). Conclusion:SPOT produced by GI Supply can effectively mark gastrointestinal lesions without serious adverse events, which meets the requirements of clinical use.

The use of whole exome sequencing (WES) for the detection of disease-causing variants of genetic diseases and for non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) of fetal aneuploidies are two major clinical applications of next generation sequencing (NGS). This article has summarized the official documents developed and updated by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) on governing WES and NIPS. These include the development of expert consensus policies and position statements on an ongoing basis to guide clinical application of NGS technology and variant analysis, establish evidence-based practical resources, as well as standards and guidelines to govern diagnosis and screening. These ACMG documents are valuable references to Chinese geneticists, but direct adoption of these standards and guidelines may not be practical due to the differences in disease-associated variant frequencies in Chinese population, socioeconomic status, and medical practice between the two countries. It is hoped that this review could facilitate the development of NGS and NIPS standards and guidelines that are consistent with international standards and concordant with medical genetics practice in China to provide high-quality, efficient and safe clinical services for patients and their families with genetic diseases.
China ; Consensus ; Female ; Genomics ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Technology ; United States

Objective:To explore the effects of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) on the glycosylation characteristics of cellular prion protein (PrP C) in human Schwann cells (hSC) and the regulation of methylcobalamin (MeB 12). Methods:The hSC were inoculated with VZV at 1.0 multiplicity of infection for 48 hours, then 250 μg/ml of MeB 12 were added and cultured for 48 hours. PrP C from the supernatant and sediment were coated with anti-PrPC antibody (3F4) respectively and subjected to screening for glycans by sandwich lectin-ELISA. Meanwhile, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) from the supernatant were detected by diagnostic reagent kit. Results:The ratio of PrP C glycans in the supernatant to sediment of VZV-infected cells was found to be significantly different compared with those in the VZV-non-infected cells. The overall glycans ratios of the supernatant to the sediment was 1∶2.6 in the uninfected cells, while the ratio was 1∶1.5 in the VZV-infected cells (F=24.18, P<0.001, LSD-t=8.27, P<0.001), suggesting that stability of PrP C decreased after VZV infection, and correspondingly the activity of SOD (4.43±2.05 U/mg) was significantly reduced in the VZV-infected hSCs compared with those(14.23±1.27 U/mg) in the uninfected cells (F=18.19, P=0.001, LSD-t=6.54, P<0.001), the level of MDA (11.17±1.89 nmol/mg) was significantly elevated in the VZV-infected hSCs compared with those (3.73±0.35nmol/mg) in the uninfected cells (F=30.70, P<0.001, LSD-t=8.25, P<0.001). When the VZV-infected cells were added with 250 μg/ml MeB 12, glycans in the sediment of infected cells significantly increased compared with those in the VZV-infected cells without MeB 12, the overall glycans ratio of the supernatant to the sediment was 1∶2.4, suggesting that MeB 12 improved the stability of PrP C. Moreover, SOD activity (11.07±2.07 U/mg) was significantly increased (LSD-t=4.42, P=0.002), MDA level (5.23±0.96 nmol/mg) was significantly decreased (LSD-t=6.58, p<0.001) in the VZV-infected cells added with MeB 12 compared with those in the VZV-infected cells without MeB 12. Conclusions:The glycosylation characteristics of PrP C in hSC could be changed by VZV, while MeB 12 could regulate the glycosylation characteristics to improve the stability of PrP C, thereby increase the antioxidant capacity of hSC.

Specialist training following the standardized residency training in China lacks corresponding regulations as yet, while the fellow training system of the US can serve as a useful reference. Since 2014, the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, has begun a trial of training system of fellows with clear training objectives, detailed training plans, one-to-one guidance from clinical tutors, strict admission and completion criteria, and detailed assessment methods. The 13 doctors completing the training program were surveyed by questionnaires.From the perspective of the number of operations performed and that of papers published, both the clinical and scientific research training of fellows have been fully guaranteed. The self-evaluation results showed that the clinical thinking, clinical ability and clinical self-confidence of them were well improved. The satisfaction with the training system of fellows was high. It was expected to provide a reference for the establishment of the training system of specialist in China.