1.Implication of newborn Short-chain Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency screening and follow-up in Hainan Province for newborn screening strategies.
Peizhen ZHAO ; Zhendong ZHAO ; Haizhu XU
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2026;43(4):248-252
OBJECTIVE:
To elucidate the epidemiological characteristics and genetic variant profile of Short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (SCADD) among newborns from Hainan Province and evaluate its significance within the local neonatal disease screening panel.
METHODS:
A total of 84 184 newborns born in Hainan Province from February to December 2024 were included. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was employed to detect butyrylcarnitine (C4) and propionylcarnitine (C3) levels in dried blood spots. Screening thresholds were set at C4 > 0.43 μ mol/L and C4/C3 ratio > 0.28. Suspected cases underwent confirmatory testing via urinary ethylmalonic acid analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and whole-exome sequencing for ACADS gene variants. This study was approved by the Medial Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethics No.: HNWCMC-2024-55).
RESULTS:
Six SCADD cases (male-to-female ratio = 1:1) were diagnosed, with all carrying compound heterozygous variants at two loci, yielding a prevalence of 7.13 per 100,000 live births. Four known ACADS gene variants were identified, with both c.322G>A and c.625G>A detected at a frequency of 41.7%. Regular follow-up (as of January 2026) revealed that all diagnosed cases have remained asymptomatic with normal growth and development.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of SCADD among newborns in Hainan Province is relatively high, with c.322G>A and c.625G>A as the hotspot variants in the region. Given the absence of clinical phenotypes in all screen-detected cases during long-term follow-up, it is recommended to remove this condition from the routine neonatal screening program for this region to reduce unnecessary anxiety and medical cost.
Humans
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Neonatal Screening/methods*
;
Female
;
Male
;
Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/epidemiology*
;
Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase/genetics*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Follow-Up Studies
2.Newborn screening, clinical characteristics and genetic variant analysis of Glutaric acidemia type I in Henan Province.
Xinyun ZHU ; Dehua ZHAO ; Yizhuo XU ; Jie ZHANG ; Xiaole LI ; Suna LIU ; Min NI ; Yihui REN ; Chong ZHANG ; Yaqing GUO ; Junqi LI ; Shubo LYU ; Chenlu JIA ; Ying SHI
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(6):641-647
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the incidence, clinical features, genetic variant characteristics and prognosis of Glutaric acidemia type I (GA1) among neonates from Henan Province.
METHODS:
A total of 814 625 neonates undergoing screening for inherited metabolic diseases by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to December 2022 were selected as the study subjects. A retrospective method was adopted to collect the clinical data of the patients. Whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect GCDH gene variants in individuals with positive results by GA1 newborn screening, and Sanger sequencing was used to verify the candidate variants. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the pathogenicity of candidate variants was rated. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics Number: 2019 Medical Ethics Review No. 67).
RESULTS:
Eight cases of GA1 were diagnosed among the 814 625 neonates. Blood glutaryl carnitine (C5DC) and urine glutaric acid (GA) levels of the 8 children were higher than the normal reference values. In total 12 variants were detected, all of which were missense variants. c.1064G>A (p.Arg355His) was the most common one, accounting for 21.4% (3/14). Three GCDH gene variants, including 1297G>C (p.Ala433Pro), c.467G>A (p.Gly156Asp) and c.1125T>G (p.Cys375Trp), were previously unreported. REVEL software analysis predicted that all of the three variants were harmful. 3D protein structure modeling indicated that the three variants may cause amino acid residue alterations, and c.1297G>C (p.Ala433Pro) and c.1125T>G (p.Cys375Trp) may result in increase in hydrogen bonds and affect the function of GCDH protein. By December 2023, one of the eight children had deceased, and another child had severe clinical symptoms with poor prognosis. Six children had a good prognosis, of which two had mild motor development delay and four had normal development without clinical symptoms.
CONCLUSION
The incidence of GA1 in newborns screened by MS/MS in Henan Province is 1/101 828, and the carrier rate of pathogenic GCDH variants is 1/160. The c.1064G>A (p.Arg355His) may be the hotspot variant of the GCDH gene among children with GA1 in Henan. Discovery of the three novel variants has enriched the mutational spectrum of the GCDH gene and provide a basis for the early diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and genetic counseling of this disease.
Humans
;
Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/epidemiology*
;
Glutaryl-CoA Dehydrogenase/chemistry*
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Female
;
Neonatal Screening/methods*
;
Male
;
Brain Diseases, Metabolic/epidemiology*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Mutation
;
Genetic Variation
;
Glutarates
3.An atrial fibrillation prediction model based on quantitative features of electrocardiogram during sinus rhythm in the Chinese population.
Xiaoqing ZHU ; Yajun SHI ; Juan SHEN ; Qingsong WANG ; Tingting SONG ; Jiancheng XIU ; Tao CHEN ; Jun GUO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(2):223-228
OBJECTIVES:
To develop an early atrial fibrillation (AF) risk prediction model based on large-scale electrocardiogram (ECG) data from the Chinese population.
METHODS:
The data of multiple ECG records of 30 383 patients admitted in the Chinese PLA General Hospital between 2009 and 2023 were randomly divided into the training set and the internal testing set in a 7:3 ratio. The predictive factors were selected based on the training set using univariate analysis, LASSO regression, and the Boruta algorithm. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to establish the ECG model and the composite model incorporating age, gender, and ECG model score. The discrimination power, calibration, and clinical net benefits of the models were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), calibration curves, and decision curves.
RESULTS:
The cohort included 51.1% male patients with a median age of the patients of 51 (36, 62) years and an AF incidence of 4.5% (1370/30 383). In the ECG model, the parameters related to the P wave and QRS complex were identified as significant predictors. In the testing set, the AUROC of the ECG model for predicting 5-year AF risk was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.74-0.80), which was increased to 0.81 (95% CI: 0.78-0.83) after incorporating age and gender, with a net reclassification improvement of 0.123 and an integrated discrimination improvement of 0.04 (P<0.05). The calibration curve of the model was close to the diagonal line. Decision curve analysis showed that the clinical net benefit of the composite model was higher than that of the ECG model across the majority of threshold probability.
CONCLUSIONS
The composite model incorporating quantitative ECG features during sinus rhythm, along with age and gender, can effectively predict AF risk in the Chinese population, thus providing a low-cost screening tool for early AF risk assessment and management.
Humans
;
Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology*
;
Electrocardiography
;
Middle Aged
;
Male
;
Female
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Adult
;
Risk Factors
;
Risk Assessment
;
East Asian People
4.Epidemiological survey of osteoporosis in Beijing over the past decade: a single-center analysis of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans from 30 599 individuals.
Ying ZHOU ; Danyang ZHANG ; Lifan WU ; Guishan WANG ; Jiedan MU ; Chengwen CUI ; Xiuxiu SHI ; Jige DONG ; Yu WANG ; Wangli XU ; Xiao LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(3):443-452
OBJECTIVES:
To analyze bone mass distribution and the factors affecting bone mass in a general Chinese Han cohort undergoing physical examinations at our center.
METHODS:
We retrospectively collected the data of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements from 30 599 healthy Han Chinese adults (age≥20 years) who underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans at our hospital from July, 2013 to July, 2023. Basic parameters including height, body weight, and gender were recorded, and descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed using R software.
RESULTS:
In this cohort, the male individuals had a mean peak BMD of 1.00±0.12 g/cm2 in the lumbar vertebrae, 0.94±0.14 g/cm2 in the femoral neck, and 0.99±0.13 g/cm2 in the total hip, significantly higher than the values in the female individuals [0.99±0.12 g/cm2 in the lumbar vertebrae (P=0.022), 0.79±0.11 g/cm2 in the femoral neck (P<0.001), and 0.88±0.11 g/cm2 in the total hip (P<0.001)]. In the overall cohort, the BMD values of the lumbar spine and femur decreased with age after reaching their peak levels. There was a positive correlation between BMD value and body mass index (BMI) in both male and female individuals. The 2013-2014 period recorded the lowest BMD values in the lumbar, hip, and femoral neck, which tended to increase steadily in the following years (2015-2023).
CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the BMD values vary among different populations, and future multi-center studies using more accurate BMD detection technology are warranted to capture the variation patterns of BMD with demographic characteristics of specific populations.
Humans
;
Bone Density
;
Absorptiometry, Photon
;
Male
;
Female
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Osteoporosis/diagnostic imaging*
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Femur Neck/diagnostic imaging*
;
Aged
;
Beijing/epidemiology*
;
Young Adult
5.Risk factors for overall postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries: a multicenter observational study.
Xuecai LÜ ; Yanhong LIU ; Shiyi HAN ; Haoyun ZHANG ; Aisheng HOU ; Zhikang ZHOU ; Likai SHI ; Jie GAO ; Jiangbei CAO ; Hong ZHANG ; Weidong MI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(4):736-743
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the risk factors of overall postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries.
METHODS:
This study was conducted among a total of 1388 elderly patients, who underwent elective gastrointestinal surgeries at 17 centers across China between April, 2020 and April, 2022. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative complications within 30 days, including procedure-related, neuropsychiatric, respiratory, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal complications as well as acute kidney injury. Baseline characteristics, preoperative psychological and functional status, intraoperative anesthesia and surgical factors, intraoperative medication, use of nerve block, and postoperative analgesia methods were compared between the patients experiencing one or more postoperative complications and those without complications. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the independent risk factors for postoperative complications. The relationship between postoperative acute pain and each type of complication were explored.
RESULTS:
The incidence of overall postoperative complications was 50.8% (705/1388) in these patients. Multivariate analysis showed that age (OR: 1.026; 95% CI: 1.006-1.046), prognostic nutritional index (OR: 0.998; 95% CI: 0.997-1.000), preoperative EuroQol-5 dimensions score (OR: 0.094; 95% CI: 0.018-0.500), blood loss (OR: 1.002; 95% CI: 1.001-1.003), and acute postoperative pain (OR: 1.308; 95% CI: 1.033-1.657) were significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications. Specifically, patients experiencing severe postoperative pain had a significantly higher incidence of neuropsychiatric (27.2% vs 19.8%), procedure-related (17.3% vs 10.2%), and cardiovascular complications (3.6% vs 1.7%).
CONCLUSIONS
An advanced age, a low preoperative nutritional index, a poor quality of life score, a greater volume of intraoperative blood loss, and acute postoperative pain are independent risk factors for postoperative complications in elderly patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries. There is a significant association between acute postoperative pain and multi-system complications.
Humans
;
Postoperative Complications/etiology*
;
Aged
;
Risk Factors
;
Digestive System Surgical Procedures/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Female
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Pain, Postoperative/epidemiology*
;
Incidence
;
Aged, 80 and over
6.Epidemiology of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter and its risk factors from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis and Mendelian randomization study based on the China and Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.
Huihua MA ; Kuipo YAN ; Gang LIU ; Yazhou XU ; Lei ZHANG ; Yizhuo LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(10):2182-2190
OBJECTIVES:
To analyze the changes in disease burden and risk factors of atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter (AF/AFL) in China and globally from 1990 to 2021 to provide epidemiological evidence for developing effective preventive measures for AF/AFL in China.
METHODS:
Based on data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, we analyzed sex- and age-specific AF/AFL burden metrics across 204 countries or territories. Age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), prevalence, mortality rate (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) rate (ASDR) were calculated. Joinpoint regression was employed to compute average annual percentage changes (AAPC) in trends. The risk factors were systematically evaluated and further validated using Mendelian randomization analysis.
RESULTS:
From 1990 to 2021, China experienced an increase in ASIR of AF/AFL (from 42.63 to 44.93 per 100 000), contrasting with the global decline. While China's ASMR decreased (from 4.93 to 4.33 per 100 000), global ASMR rose slightly (from 4.24 to 4.36 per 100 000). China's ASDR remained stable at 93.29 per 100 000, whereas global ASDR increased marginally (100.81 to 101.40 per 100 000). Significant sex disparities were observed: males showed higher ASIR and ASDR, while females exhibited greater ASMR and ASDR. China had higher incidence and prevalence but lower mortality and DALY rates compared to global averages. In 2021, the key risk factors for AF/AFL included elevated systolic blood pressure, high BMI, smoking, alcohol use, high-sodium diet, and low temperature. Gender-specific patterns emerged: smoking was predominant in males, whereas high BMI disproportionately affected females.
CONCLUSIONS
AF/AFL incidence and prevalence keep increasing in China, and its large population base and demographic aging pose significant public health challenges. Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, including smoking cessation, alcohol moderation, and a low-sodium diet can help to lower AF/AFL incidence, and regular screenings is crucial for its early detection and treatment.
Humans
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Risk Factors
;
Atrial Flutter/epidemiology*
;
Atrial Fibrillation/epidemiology*
;
Mendelian Randomization Analysis
;
Male
;
Female
;
Global Burden of Disease
;
Incidence
;
Prevalence
;
Middle Aged
;
Disability-Adjusted Life Years
;
Aged
7.Prevalence and associated risk factors of carotid plaque and artery stenosis in China: a population-based study.
Qingjia ZENG ; Chongyang ZHANG ; Xinyao LIU ; Shengmin YANG ; Muyuan MA ; Jia TANG ; Tianlu YIN ; Shanshan ZHAO ; Wenjun TU ; Hongpu HU
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(1):64-78
Stroke is a critical health issue in China, and carotid artery stenosis and plaque play key roles in its prevalence. Despite the acknowledged significance of this condition, detailed information regarding the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque across the Chinese population has been scarce. This study analyzed data from the China Stroke High-risk Population Screening and Intervention Program for 2020-2021, focusing on 194 878 Chinese adults aged 40 years and above. It assessed the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque and identified their associated risk factors. Results revealed a standardized prevalence of 0.40% for carotid artery stenosis and 36.27% for carotid plaque. Notably, the highest rates of stenosis were observed in north and south China at 0.61%, while southwestern China exhibited the highest plaque prevalence at 43.17%. Key risk factors included older age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, smoking, and atrial fibrillation. This study highlights significant geographical and demographic disparities in the prevalence of these conditions, underlining the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms. These measures are essential for reducing the incidence of stroke and improving patient outcomes, addressing this significant health challenge in China.
Humans
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Prevalence
;
Middle Aged
;
Carotid Stenosis/epidemiology*
;
Risk Factors
;
Aged
;
Adult
;
Plaque, Atherosclerotic/epidemiology*
;
Stroke/epidemiology*
;
Aged, 80 and over
8.Developing a polygenic risk score for pelvic organ prolapse: a combined risk assessment approach in Chinese women.
Xi CHENG ; Lei LI ; Xijuan LIN ; Na CHEN ; Xudong LIU ; Yaqian LI ; Zhaoai LI ; Jian GONG ; Qing LIU ; Yuling WANG ; Juntao WANG ; Zhijun XIA ; Yongxian LU ; Hangmei JIN ; Xiaowei ZHANG ; Luwen WANG ; Juan CHEN ; Guorong FAN ; Shan DENG ; Sen ZHAO ; Lan ZHU
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(4):665-674
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), whose etiology is influenced by genetic and clinical risk factors, considerably impacts women's quality of life. However, the genetic underpinnings in non-European populations and comprehensive risk models integrating genetic and clinical factors remain underexplored. This study constructed the first polygenic risk score (PRS) for POP in the Chinese population by utilizing 20 disease-associated variants from the largest existing genome-wide association study. We analyzed a discovery cohort of 576 cases and 623 controls and a validation cohort of 264 cases and 200 controls. Results showed that the case group exhibited a significantly higher PRS than the control group. Moreover, the odds ratio of the top 10% risk group was 2.6 times higher than that of the bottom 10%. A high PRS was significantly correlated with POP occurrence in women older than 50 years old and in those with one or no childbirths. As far as we know, the integrated prediction model, which combined PRS and clinical risk factors, demonstrated better predictive accuracy than other existing PRS models. This combined risk assessment model serves as a robust tool for POP risk prediction and stratification, thereby offering insights into individualized preventive measures and treatment strategies in future clinical practice.
Humans
;
Female
;
Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology*
;
Middle Aged
;
Risk Assessment/methods*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Multifactorial Inheritance
;
Aged
;
Risk Factors
;
Genome-Wide Association Study
;
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
;
Case-Control Studies
;
Adult
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
;
Genetic Risk Score
;
East Asian People
9.Premature mortality projection for diabetes to 2030: a subnational evaluation towards the Healthy China 2030 Goals.
Hongrui ZHAO ; Zhenping ZHAO ; Xuan YANG ; Yuchang ZHOU ; Ainan JIA ; Jiangmei LIU ; Peng YIN ; Yamin BAI ; Zhenxing YANG ; Maigeng ZHOU ; Xiujuan ZHANG
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(4):626-635
The Healthy China 2030 Plan set the goal of reducing premature deaths from diabetes by 30% by 2030. However, there has been a lack of assessment of premature mortality for diabetes since the action plan was issued. This study used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, calculated the premature deaths for diabetes by sex, provinces, and subtypes from 1990 to 2021. We explored the temporal trend of premature mortality using the average annual percent change (AAPC) for different sexes, provinces, and subtypes from 1990 to 2021. Furthermore, we predicted premature mortality for diabetes through 2030 for China and its provinces according to the average annual change rate from 2010 to 2021. There was a first slow upward trend in premature mortality for diabetes from 0.5% in 1990 to 0.6% in 2004, and then a decline until 2021 with premature mortality of 0.4%. By 2030, only Fujian (30.3%) will achieve the desired level of reduction, with only seven provinces meeting the target for females and none for males. There is a large range in the degree of decline between inland and coastal regions, showing obvious geographic differences, and there should be a focus on balancing medical resources.
Humans
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Female
;
Male
;
Mortality, Premature/trends*
;
Diabetes Mellitus/mortality*
;
Goals
;
Middle Aged
;
Adult
10.Particulate matter exposure and end-stage renal disease risk in IgA nephropathy.
Yilin CHEN ; Huan ZHOU ; Siqing WANG ; Lingqiu DONG ; Yi TANG ; Wei QIN
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(5):855-864
Long-term exposure to particulate matter has been increasingly implicated in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, its impact on IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), remains unclear. A total of 1768 IgAN patients, confirmed by renal biopsy were included in this cohort study. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 was assessed using high-resolution satellite-based data from the China High Air Pollutants (CHAP) dataset. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the associations between PM2.5 or PM10 and ESRD risk, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and biochemical covariates. Over a median follow-up of 3.63 years, 209 participants progressed to ESRD. Higher exposure to both PM2.5 and PM10 was significantly associated with an increased risk, with hazard ratios of 1.62 and 1.36 per 10 µg/m3 increase, respectively. A nonlinear dose-response relationship was observed, with risk increasing markedly beyond threshold levels. Trajectory modeling of prebaseline exposure identified a subgroup with persistently high and fluctuating particulate matter exposure that showed the highest risk. This study provides strong evidence that prolonged exposure to ambient particulate matter contributes to renal disease progression in individuals with IgAN.
Humans
;
Glomerulonephritis, IGA/pathology*
;
Particulate Matter/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Kidney Failure, Chronic/epidemiology*
;
Adult
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Disease Progression
;
Environmental Exposure/adverse effects*
;
Middle Aged
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Risk Factors
;
Air Pollutants/adverse effects*
;
Cohort Studies

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