Objective To examine the significance of susceptible gene detection for hereditary cancer syndrome (HCS) among general population. Methods A total of 2 928 individuals undergoing routine health examinations in Healthcare Center of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, from September 2021 to April 2024 were enrolled retrospectively. Next generation sequencing was employed to identify susceptible genes for HCS. American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guideline was used to analyze the pathogenicity of variants. Clinical data, imagings, follow-up data were also collected. Results The overall mutation rate of HCS panel was 3.59% (105/2 928), with 0.61% (18/2 928) for MutY DNA glycosylase (MUTYH), 0.27% (8/2 928) for breast cancer susceptibility gene 1/2 (BRCA1/2) and 0.23% (7/2 928) for mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Conclusions Healthy individuals carrying tumor susceptible genes usually lack the relevant clinical phenotypes. Whether comprehensive testing needs to be carried out among healthy people remains to be further explored.

Objective:The aim of this study was to develop and validate a new liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay for the quantification of melatonin in human serum.Methods:We describe the performance and validation of melatonin by LC-MS/MS. 182 serum samples from the patients diagnosed with Sleep disturbance who visited the Department of Psychiatry at Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University from February 2022 to March 2023(56 males,162 females,mean age [45.51±16.31]years), as well as 182 healthy individuals were included(87 males,95 females,mean age [48.55±11.93]years). The two groups were used to assess the application of serum melatonin levels as a diagnostic indicator for sleep disorders (SDs). The liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system with an chromatography column (2.1×100 mm, 1.8 μm) was used for separation. The column temperature was set at 35 ℃, as well as the mobile phase consisting of a 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution and pure acetonitrile. The flowing rate was set at 0.4 ml/min for gradient elution. The LC-MS/MS method was validated according to guidance documents, including the following parameters: specificity, selectivity, matrix effect, carryover contamination and reproducibility, lower limit of measuring interval, linearity, precision, recovery rate, dilution consistency, and serum sample stability. Then, it was subsequently employed to profile melatonin changes in Sleep disturbance.Results:The lower limit of quantification for melatonin was 1 pg/ml, and the linear range of detection was 1 pg/ml to 500 pg/ml ( r=0.999). The intra-day and intra-batch precision, expressed as the coefficient of variation ( CV), was within the range from 3.07% to 6.86%, which met the requirement of less than 15%. The recovery rate of the spiked samples ranged from 105.91% to 116.30%. The level of serum melatonin in the sleep disturbance group was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group ([2.00(1.00,3.28)] vs [8.35(4.28,14.80)] pg/ml, P<0.001). Conclusions:The LC-MS/MS method we developed for the quantification of melatonin is clinical practicable.

Objective Infertility affects approximately one-sixth of the people of childbearing age worldwide,causing not only economic burdens of treatment for families with fertility problems but also psychological stress for patients and presenting challenges to societal and economic development.Premature ovarian insufficiency(POI)refers to the loss of ovarian function in women before the age of 40 due to the depletion of follicles or decreased quality of remaining follicles,constituting a significant cause of female infertility.In recent years,with the help of the rapid development in genetic sequencing technology,it has been demonstrated that genetic factors play a crucial role in the onset of POI.Among the population suffering from POI,genetic studies have revealed that genes involved in processes such as meiosis,DNA damage repair,and mitosis account for approximately 37.4% of all pathogenic and potentially pathogenic genes identified.FA complementation group M(FANCM)is a group of genes involved in the damage repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks(ICLs),including FANCA-FANCW.Abnormalities in the FANCM genes are associated with female infertility and FANCM gene knockout mice also exhibit phenotypes similar to those of POI.During the genetic screening of POI patients,this study identified a suspicious variant in FANCM.This study aims to explore the pathogenic mechanisms of the FANCM genes of the FA pathway and their variants in the development of POI.We hope to help shed light on potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the affected individuals.Methods One POI patient was included in the study.The inclusion criteria for POI patients were as follows:women under 40 years old exhibiting two or more instances of basal serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels>25 IU/L(with a minimum interval of 4 weeks inbetween tests),alongside clinical symptoms of menstrual disorders,normal chromosomal karyotype analysis results,and exclusion of other known diseases that can lead to ovarian dysfunction.We conducted whole-exome sequencing for the POI patient and identified pathogenic genes by classifying variants according to the standards and guidelines established by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics(ACMG).Subsequently,the identified variants were validated through Sanger sequencing and subjected to bioinformatics analysis.Plasmids containing wild-type and mutant FANCM genes were constructed and introduced into 293T cells.The 293T cells transfected with wild-type and mutant human FANCM plasmids and pEGFP-C1 empty vector plasmids were designated as the EGFP FANCM-WT group,the EGFP FANCM-MUT group,and the EGFP group,respectively.To validate the production of truncated proteins,cell proteins were extracted 48 hours post-transfection from the three groups and confirmed using GFP antibody.In order to investigate the impact on DNA damage repair,immunofluorescence experiments were conducted 48 hours post-transfection in the EGFP FANCM-WT group and the EGFP FANCM-MUT group to examine whether the variant affected FANCM's ability to localize on chromatin.Mitomycin C was used to induce ICLs damage in vitro in both the EGFP FANCM-WT group and the EGFP FANCM-MUT group,which was followed by verification of its effect on ICLs damage repair using γ-H2AX antibody.Results In a POI patient from a consanguineous family,we identified a homozygous variant in the FANCM gene,c.1152-1155del:p.Leu386Valfs*10.The patient presented with primary infertility,experiencing irregular menstruation since menarche at the age of 16.Hormonal evaluation revealed an FSH level of 26.79 IU/L and an anti-Müllerian hormone(AMH)level of 0.07 ng/mL.Vaginal ultrasound indicated unsatisfactory visualization of the ovaries on both sides and uterine dysplasia.The patient's parents were a consanguineous couple,with the mother having regular menstrual cycles.The patient had two sisters,one of whom passed away due to osteosarcoma,while the other exhibited irregular menstruation,had been diagnosed with ovarian insufficiency,and remained childless.Bioinformatics analysis revealed a deletion of four nucleotides(c.1152-1155del)in the exon 6 of the patient's FANCM gene.This variant resulted in a frameshift at codon 386,introducing a premature stop codon at codon 396,which ultimately led to the production of a truncated protein consisting of 395 amino acids.In vitro experiments demonstrated that this variant led to the production of a truncated FANCM protein of approximately 43 kDa and caused a defect in its nuclear localization,with the protein being present only in the cytoplasm.Following treatment with mitomycin C,there was a significant increase in γ-H2AX levels in 293T cells transfected with the mutant plasmid(P<0.01),indicating a statistically significant impairment of DNA damage repair capability caused by this variant.Conclusions The homozygous variant in the FANCM gene,c.1152-1155del:p.Leu386Valfs*10,results in the production of a truncated FANCM protein.This truncation leads to the loss of its interaction site with the MHF1-MHF2 complex,preventing its entry into the nucleus and the subsequent recognition of DNA damage.Consequently,the localization of the FA core complex on chromatin is disrupted,impeding the normal activation of the FA pathway and reducing the cell's ability to repair damaged ICLs.By disrupting the rapid proliferation and meiotic division processes of primordial germ cells,the reserve of oocytes is depleted,thereby triggering premature ovarian insufficiency in females.

Objective:To explore the risk stratification and prognostic significance of loss of chromosome Y (LOY) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:The clinical data of 193 male patients with newly diagnosed MM admitted to Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2018 to January 2020 were analyzed retrospectively and divided into a normal karyotype group(178) and a LOY karyotype group (15) according to the results of their primary conventional cytogenetics. Rank sum test, 2×2 chi-square test and independent sample t-test were used to compare laboratory findings, such as liver and kidney function, immunohistochemistry and cytogenetics, treatment efficacy and survival prognosis, between the two groups. The clinical prognostic significance of LOY was summarized through survival analysis and Cox regression. Results:Among the newly diagnosed male MM patients, 8%(15/178) were confirmed with LOY cases. The proportion of patients with Revised International Staging System(R-ISS) stage Ⅲ was significantly higher in the LOY group (8/15) than that in the normal karyotype group (40/178)(χ 2=7.052, P<0.01). A higher proportion of 1q21 amplification also occurred in the LOY group (10/13 vs 77/162)(χ 2=4.159, P<0.05). The proportion of complete response(CR)/stringent complete response(sCR) in the normal karyotype group after the fourth chemotherapy (63/171) was significantly higher than that in the LOY group (1/15)(χ 2=5.564, P<0.05). The proportion of progressive disease (PD) was lower in the normal karyotype group (16/171 vs 4/15) (χ 2=4.306, P<0.05). The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) of MM patients for the LOY group was significantly shorter compared to that for the normal karyotype group ( Z=?3.201, P<0.01). Univariate survival analysis showed that PFS was significantly shorter in newly diagnosed MM patients with Creatinine(Cr)≥93 μmol/L, β 2-microglobulin (β 2-MG)≥4.0 mg/L, serum free light chain(sFLC)<0.06, bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC)≥30%, R-ISS stage Ⅲ, failure to achieve CR/sCR after the fourth chemotherapy, with LOY, 1q21 amplification, P53 deletion and t(4;14) ( P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that Cr≥93 μmol/L( HR=4.460, 95% CI 1.615-12.314, P=0.004), sFLC<0.06( HR=2.873, 95% CI 1.206-6.849, P=0.017), failure to achieve CR/sCR after the fourth chemotherapy( HR=3.522, 95% CI 1.437-8.634, P=0.006)and with LOY( HR=3.485, 95% CI 1.473-8.249, P=0.006)were independent risk factors for PFS in newly diagnosed MM patients. Conclusions:LOY is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis. It is important for the clinical outcome and prognosis of patients with newly diagnosed MM, and may become a novel clinical assessment indicator.

Objective:This work aims to evaluate the clinical values of comprehensive genomic profiling examination based on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in advanced lung cancer patients.Methods:This is a single-center, retrospective study that collected peripheral blood samples from patients with advanced lung cancer and performed gene mutation analysis using the TruSight Oncology 500 ctDNA assay kits. Between February 2022 and March 2023, a total of 82 patients were enrolled in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, and 76 patients were included in the final analysis.According to the AMP/ASCO/CAP guidelines, mutations of targeted genes were divided into four levels (Tier I-IV), and the effectiveness of targeted therapy guided by ctDNA was evaluated. Descriptive statistics were used for basic characteristics, and the analysis of factors related to tumor mutational burden (TMB) was performed using the rank-sum test.Results:The ctDNA detection success rate was 92.7%(76/82).The median turnaround time for ctDNA testing was 10.5 days (9,13 days). At least one actionable mutation (Tier I or Ⅱ) was detected in 82.9%(63/76) of patients, and 28.6% (18/63) of patients received matched therapy, achieving a disease control rate of 18/18 and an objective response rate of 12/18.Conclusion:Comprehensive genomic profiling based on ctDNA can effectively identify actionable alterations in patients with advanced lung cancer and provide valuable information for matched therapy.

The global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has infected over 109 million people, leading to over 2 million deaths up to date and still lacking of effective drugs for patient treatment. Here, we screened about 1.8 million small molecules against the main protease (M^pro) and papain like protease (PL^pro), two major proteases in severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 genome, and identified 1851M^pro inhibitors and 205 PL^pro inhibitors with low nmol/l activity of the best hits. Among these inhibitors, eight small molecules showed dual inhibition effects on both M^pro and PL^pro, exhibiting potential as better candidates for COVID-19 treatment. The best inhibitors of each protease were tested in antiviral assay, with over 40% of M^pro inhibitors and over 20% of PL^pro inhibitors showing high potency in viral inhibition with low cytotoxicity. The X-ray crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro in complex with its potent inhibitor 4a was determined at 1.8 Å resolution. Together with docking assays, our results provide a comprehensive resource for future research on anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development.
Humans ; Antiviral Agents/chemistry* ; COVID-19 ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Protease Inhibitors/chemistry* ; SARS-CoV-2/enzymology* ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins

Objective : To investigate whether the application of melatonin (MT) in embryo culture in vitro can improve the treatment effect of in vitro fertilization embryo transfer(IVF⁃ET) in patients with decreasing ovarian reserve (DOR) . Methods : 128 DOR patients receiving assisted reproductive therapy were collected. All patients were treated with an antagonist scheme of super⁃ovulation. Patients were divided into melatonin group (n = 56) and control group (n = 72) according to whether melatonin ( melatonin concentration 10 - 9 mol/L) was added into embryo culture medium. Results : There was no statistically significant difference in oocytes fertilization rate and cleavage rate between the two groups during later embryo culture , but blastocyst formation rate ( 65. 22% vs 56. 16% ) and high⁃quality blastocyst rate (52. 96% vs 40. 94% ) in the melatonin group were higher than those in the control group , and the differences were statistically significant ( P < 0. 05 ) . There were no significant differences in the implantation rate (50. 00% vs 38. 67% ) and clinical pregnancy rate (48. 39% vs 46. 00% ) of blastocysts after freezing⁃thawing between the two groups , but the cycle number of high⁃quality blastocysts obtained in the melatonin group was higher than that in the control group (85. 71% vs 69. 44% ) , and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion In a way , the application of melatonin in the in vitro culture of early embryos can promote the development of oocytes in patients with DOR , improve the quality of embryos , and finally substantially improve the therapeutic effect of such patients.

Cell Cycle Checkpoints/genetics* ; Checkpoint Kinase 1/metabolism* ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mitosis/genetics* ; Mutation ; Zygote/metabolism*

Objective:To verify the performance of the next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform and evaluate the application of NGS, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) and super amplification refractory mutation system (super-ARMS) in the detection of circulating free DNA (cfDNA) mutations in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods:A total of 75 patients with NSCLC in the respiratory department of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University were enrolled. The standards, cfDNA from 25 patients with newly diagnosed and untreated NSCLC, and self-made mixed samples mixed with hemoglobin (1 000 mg /dl), bilirubin (500 mg/l), fat emulsion (2%), enterococcus gDNA and Escherichia coli gDNA were used to verify the blank limit, analytical sensitivity, precision, accuracy and specificity of NGS platform. The cfDNA mutations of 75 NSCLC patients were detected by ddPCR and NGS, and the mutation positive rates of the two platforms were compared. The linear relationship between the two platforms was compared by Pearson correlation test. 12 patients were selected by simple random sampling for the detection of plasma super-ARMS platform. The performance of three platforms in the detection of plasma cfDNA mutation in patients with NSCLC was compared.Results:The blank limit of NGS platform was set to 0.00%, the analytical sensitivity was 0.2%, the intra-assay precision and inter-assay precision were 100%. The test results were not affected by endogenous hemoglobin, bilirubin or fat emulsion in plasma or exogenous DNA interference, and the analysis specificity was good. The mutation positive rates of plasma cfDNA in 75 NSCLC patients detected by ddPCR and NGS were 61.33% and 60.00%, respectively. The complete coincidence rate was 89.33%, which suggests there was a positive correlation between the mutation abundance of NGS and ddPCR ( r=0.984, P=0.001). Among the plasma of 12 NSCLC patients, the results of NGS, ddPCR and super-ARMS were completely consistent in 7 cases, including 2 wild-types and 5 mutants. Conclusion:The NGS platform was verified to be useful for cfDNA mutation detection in patients with NSCLC. The ddPCR, NGS and super-ARMS have their own advantages in detecting cfDNA mutations in patients with NSCLC.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia with BCR-ABL p210 fusion gene-positive.Methods:The clinical characteristics of a patient diagnosed in the Second Hospital of Jiaxing were analyzed and the related literature was reviewed.Results:BCR-ABL p210 fusion gene and Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Imatinib associated with multi-drug intravenous chemotherapy resulted in poor efficacy.Conclusions:Patient with Ph +/BCR-ABL + acute myeloid leukemia is rare with a very poor prognosis. There is no unified standard treatment and the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors is unclear. Intravenous chemotherapy combined with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is expected to change the prognosis.