OBJECTIVES: To investigate the molecular epidemiology of children with phenylketonuria (PKU) in Gansu, China, providing foundational data for intervention strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 159 PKU families who attended Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital from January 2012 to December 2024. Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, whole exome sequencing, and deep intronic variant analysis were used to analyze the <i>PAHi> gene. RESULTS: For the 1 159 children with PKU, 2 295 variants were identified in 2 318 alleles, resulting in a detection rate of 99.01%. The detection rates were 100% (914/914) in 457 classic PKU families, 99.45% (907/912) in 456 mild PKU families, and 96.34% (474/492) in 246 mild hyperphenylalaninemia families. The 2 295 variants detected comprised 208 distinct mutation types, among which c.728G>A (14.95%, 343/2 295) had the highest frequency, followed by c.611A>G (4.88%, 112/2 295) and c.721C>T (4.79%, 110/2 295). The cumulative frequency of the top 23 hotspot variants reached 70.28% (1 613/2 295), and most variant alleles were detected in exon 7 (29.19%, 670/2 295). CONCLUSIONS Deep intronic variant analysis of the <i>PAHi> gene can improve the genetic diagnostic rate of PKU. The development of targeted detection kits for <i>PAHi> hotspot variants may enable precision screening programs and enhance preventive strategies for PKU.
Humans ; Phenylketonurias/epidemiology* ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase/genetics* ; Mutation ; Child, Preschool ; China/epidemiology* ; Child ; Infant

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the growth parameters of children with phenylketonuria and assess the impact of a phenylalanine-restricted diet on their physical development. METHODS: The study involved 39 children diagnosed with phenylketonuria through newborn screening at the Central Child Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Data were collected during scheduled monthly check-ups, including phenylalanine levels, diet compliance, and anthropometric measurements. The children were divided into two groups based on their phenylalanine levels during the 3-year follow-up period: well-controlled group (average phenylalanine level of less than 360 μmol/L, with no single reading exceeding 600 μmol/L; <i>ni>=14) and poorly-controlled group (one or more phenylalanine readings above 600 μmol/L during the follow-up period; <i>ni>=25). RESULTS: The mean height readings for all time points (at birth and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 and 36 months of age) were higher in the well-controlled group than the poorly-controlled group, however, only at 3 months of age the difference was statistically significant. Height Z-scores revealed a clearer pattern: although the poorly-controlled group had higher height Z-scores at birth (<i>Pi>=0.001), the well-controlled group showed significantly higher height Z-scores at 3, 6, 12, 15, 18, 24, and 36 months (<i>Pi><0.05). The well-controlled group exhibited significantly higher mean weight measurements compared to the poorly-controlled group at 3, 6, 9, 15, 18 months and 21 months (<i>Pi><0.05). From 6 to 36 months, the well-controlled group consistently had significantly higher weight Z-scores than the poorly-controlled group (<i>Pi><0.05). The well-controlled group showed more favorable height and weight Z-score distributions at 36 months of age compared to the poorly-controlled group, but the differences were not statistically significant (<i>Pi>>0.05). Both groups had height and weight Z-scores within the normal range at 36 months of age. CONCLUSIONS The children with phenylketonuria who receive good dietary control show better improvements in growth parameters compared to those with poor dietary control, however, both groups maintain height and weight Z-scores within the normal range, indicating generally adequate physical development across the cohort.
Humans ; Phenylketonurias/diet therapy* ; Male ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Body Height ; Infant, Newborn ; Child Development ; Phenylalanine/blood*

Fabry disease, a rare genetic disorder affecting multiple organs, has understudied correlations among enzyme activity, genotype, and clinical manifestations in patients of different sexes with classical and late-onset phenotypes. In this study, clinical data, α-Gal A activity, and GLA gene test results of 311 patients, who were categorized by classical and late-onset phenotypes, ⩽5% and > 5% of the normal mean value of enzyme activity, and truncated and nontruncated mutation groups, were collected. The common clinical manifestations of Fabry disease included acroparesthesia, hypohidrosis/anhidrosis, neuropsychiatric system, and renal and cardiovascular involvement. Multiorgan involvement was higher in males and classical phenotype patients. In both sexes, classical patients commonly presented with acroparesthesia and multiorgan involvement, whereas late-onset patients showed renal, neuropsychiatric, and cardiovascular involvement. Male and classical patients had lower enzyme activity than female and late-onset patients, respectively. Classical males with enzyme activity of ⩽5% of the normal mean level showed higher multiorgan involvement frequency than those with enzyme activity of > 5%, whereas no significant difference was observed among females. Ninety-five gene mutation sites were detected, with significant phenotype heterogeneity in patients with the same mutation. No significant difference in enzyme activity or clinical manifestations was observed between truncated and nontruncated mutations. Overall, male patients with Fabry disease, regardless of classical or late-onset phenotype, have a higher frequency of multiple-organ involvement and lower α-Gal A activity than female patients. α-Gal A activity was closely correlated with clinical symptoms in males but weakly correlated with clinical manifestations in females. The clinical manifestations of patients with the same mutation are heterogeneous, and the correlation between gene mutation and enzyme activity or clinical manifestation is weak.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Age of Onset ; alpha-Galactosidase/metabolism* ; China ; Fabry Disease/enzymology* ; Genotype ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Sex Factors ; East Asian People/genetics*

Humans ; Fabry Disease/therapy* ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential

Humans ; Fabry Disease/therapy* ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential

BACKGROUND

Newborns screened positive for Galactosemia through Expanded Newborn Screening (ENBS) with borderline levels undergo lactose challenge that requires interruption of breastfeeding temporarily then shifting to soy-based formula.

To determine the percentage of Classical Galactosemia (CGal), Non-classical Galactosemia (NCGal), probable mild variant form, and negative Galactosemia among newborns screened positive for Galactosemia who underwent lactose challenge.

This is a retrospective study. NBS records were reviewed and data were collected from January 2015 to December 2020.

Out of the 117 newborns screened positive for Galactosemia, 58 underwent lactose challenge. Majority were male, term with a birth weight of 2500-4000g and received a final disposition in 4-6 months. Fifteen patients underwent 1-week lactose challenge wherein six reached a resolution on first challenge. Majority, 35 (60.3%) were negative for Galactosemia, six (10.3%) probable mild variant Galactosemia, three (5.2%) NCGal, and no CGal were observed. Fourteen suspected cases (24.1%) are pending final disposition.

This study describes the demographics of newborns flagged for Galactosemia who underwent lactose challenge. A 1-week lactose challenge may be recommended to further detect patients who are negative for Galactosemia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic basis for a child with acute form of tyrosinemia type I (TYRSN1). METHODS: A child with TYRSN1 who presented at the Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital in October 2020 was selected as the subject. The child was subjected to tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) and urine gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the detection of inherited metabolic disorders, in addition with whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The child's clinical features included abdominal distension, hepatomegaly, anemia and tendency of bleeding. By mass spectrometry analysis, her serum and urine tyrosine and succinylacetone levels have both exceeded the normal ranges. WES and Sanger sequencing revealed that she has harbored c.1062+5G>A and c.943T>C (p.Cys315Arg) compound heterozygous variants of the FAH gene, which were inherited from her father and mother, respectively. Among these, the c.943T>C was unreported previously. CONCLUSION Considering her clinical phenotype and result of genetic testing, the child was diagnosed with TYRSN1 (acute type). The compound heterozygous variants of the FAH gene probably underlay the disease in this child. Above finding has further expanded the spectrum of FAH gene variants, and provided a basis for accurate treatment, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for her family.
Female ; Humans ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Genetic Testing ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Tyrosinemias/genetics* ; Child

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and genetic characteristics of a child with restricted cardiomyopathy (RCM) and phenylketonuria (PKU), and summarize the clinical characteristics and genetic diversity of RCM in children through a literature review. METHODS: A child with RCM in conjunct with PKU who was admitted to the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in June 2020 due to edema of eyelids and lower limbs for 1 year and aggravation for over 1 month was selected as the study subject. Relevant clinical data were collected. Peripheral blood samples of the child and his parents were collected for whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Childhood, TNNI3 gene and restricted cardiomyopathy were used as the keywords to search the Wanfang data knowledge service platform, Chinese Journal Full-text database and PubMed database, and the search period was limited to from the time of establishment till August 2022. Clinical manifestations and characteristics of the TNNI3 gene variants were summarized. RESULTS: The child, a 2-year-old-and-4-month-old male, had normal intelligence, facial features and normal hair and skin color, but his motor and physical development was delayed, in addition with edema of bilateral eyelids and lower limbs. The results of WES and Sanger sequencing revealed that he has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the PAH gene, namely c.331C>T (p.R111X) and c.940C>A (p.P341T), which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. In addition, he has also harbored a de novo heterozygous variant of c.508C>T (p.R170W) of the TNNI3 gene. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the TNNI3: c.508C>T (p.R170W) was classified as a pathogenic variant (PS2+PS4+PM2_Supporting+PM5), PAH: c.331C>T (p.R111X) as a pathogenic variant (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP4), and c.940C>A (p.P341T) as a likely pathogenic variant (PM2_Supporting+PM3+PM5+PP4). In total 30 children with RCM caused by TNNI3 gene variants were retrieved, with a male-to-female ratio of 1 : 1.55 and manifestations including heart failure, sinus rhythm, bi-atrial enlargement, ST-T wave change, ventricular restricted filling, and decreased ventricular diastolic function. In total 16 variants of the TNNI3 gene were identified, among which c.575G>A was the most common, and all cases had conformed to an autosomal dominant inheritance. CONCLUSION Phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency and RCM are rare diseases with complex clinical manifestations. The PAH: c.331C>T (p.R111X)/c.940C>A (p.P341T) and TNNI3: c.508C>T (p.R170W) variants probably underlay the RCM and PKU in this child.
Humans ; Male ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Computational Biology ; Diastole ; Mutation ; Phenylketonurias ; Child, Preschool

Humans ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type II/therapy*

Humans ; Stroke ; MELAS Syndrome