Primordial dwarfism (PD) refers to a group of monogenic genetic disorders characterized by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and severe, persistent postnatal growth retardation. These diseases have been associated with variants of multiple genes whose products are mainly involved in critical cellular biological processes such as maintenance of genomic stability, DNA damage repair, mRNA splicing regulation, and centrosome function. Variants of such genes can directly impair cell proliferation and developmental potential. With the widespread application of molecular genetic technologies such as high-throughput sequencing, significant progress has been made in the research of PD. This article focuses on the major subtypes of PD, including Seckel syndrome, Microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism (MOPD) types I/III, MOPD type II, and Meier-Gorlin syndrome. It has systematically summarized the advances in their clinical phenotypic characteristics, pathogenic genes, and molecular mechanisms, with an aim to deepen the understanding of the essence of growth disorders associated with PD.
Humans ; Dwarfism/genetics* ; Microcephaly/genetics* ; Phenotype ; Fetal Growth Retardation/genetics* ; Osteochondrodysplasias/genetics* ; Growth Disorders ; Micrognathism ; Patella/abnormalities* ; Congenital Microtia

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) poses a significant risk of neural damage during pregnancy. As the most prevalent intrauterine infectious agent in low- and middle-income countries, HCMV disrupts the development of neural stem cells, leading to fetal malformations and abnormal structural and physiological functions in the fetal brain. This review summarizes the current understanding of how HCMV infection dysregulates the Wnt signaling pathway to induce fetal malformations and discusses current management strategies.
Humans ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/virology* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Cytomegalovirus/physiology* ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology* ; Congenital Abnormalities/virology* ; Animals

Objective:To discuss the clinical efficacy of low-temperature radiofrequency ablation assisted by endoscopy combined with resection and drainage of cervical abscess for the treatment of congenital pyriform sinus fistula （CPSF） in the acute inflammatory period of children. Methods:Clinical data of 30 patients with CPSF in the acute inflammatory period who received low-temperature radiofrequency ablation assisted by endoscopy under laryngoscope, combined with resection and drainage of cervical abscess, from January 2018 to December 2023 were reviewed. After the operation, patients were followed up closely at different stages. All patients underwent color Doppler ultrasound and electronic laryngoscopy, and the results were analyzed. Results:All 30 children successfully completed the surgery without pharyngeal fistula, dysphagia, perifistula, or distal fistula infection, and the incision in the neck healed well. The follow-up survey ranged from 6 months to 2 years, and no recurrences were observed. Conclusion:Low-temperature radiofrequency ablation assisted by endoscopy combined with resection and drainage of cervical abscess is a promising method for treating CPSF in the acute inflammatory period. It is less traumatic, simple, safe, has a significant curative effect, and a low recurrence rate. This approach can be used as a supplementary operation for CPSF in children and provides a new way for clinical treatment.
Humans ; Pyriform Sinus/abnormalities* ; Abscess/surgery* ; Drainage ; Fistula/congenital* ; Female ; Male ; Child ; Radiofrequency Ablation ; Treatment Outcome ; Postoperative Period ; Endoscopy ; Laryngoscopy ; Inflammation ; Child, Preschool

OBJECTIVES: To study the incidence and disease burden of congenital birth defects in children under five in China from 1990 to 2021 and to predict the incidence of congenital birth defects in this population from 2022 to 2036, providing a reference for the prevention of congenital birth defects in children. METHODS: Using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) database, the incidence and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) were employed to describe the disease burden. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trends in incidence and DALY rates of congenital birth defects in children under five. A grey prediction model GM(1,1) was applied to fit the trend of incidence rates of congenital birth defects in this age group and to predict the incidence from 2022 to 2036. RESULTS: In 2021, the incidence rate of congenital birth defects among children under five in China was 737.28 per 100 000. Among these, congenital musculoskeletal and limb deformities had the highest incidence rate at 307.15 per 100 000, followed by congenital heart defects (223.53 per 100 000), congenital urinary and genital tract malformations (74.99 per 100 000), and congenital gastrointestinal malformations (62.61 per 100 000). From 1990 to 2021, the incidence rate and DALY rate of congenital birth defects in children under five in China decreased at an average annual rate of 1.73% and 5.42%, respectively. The prediction analysis indicated a decreasing trend in the incidence of congenital birth defects among children under five in China from 2022 to 2036, with the incidence rate dropping from 892.36 per 100 000 in 2022 to 783.35 per 100 000 in 2036. CONCLUSIONS The incidence and disease burden of congenital birth defects in children under five in China showed a significant declining trend from 1990 to 2021. It is predicted that this incidence will continue to decrease until 2036.
Humans ; Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Male ; Forecasting ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years

Patient 1, a 3-year-6-month-old male, presented with feeding difficulties and delayed motor development. He exhibited poor responsiveness at birth, weak crying, intellectual and motor delays, low immunity, recurrent respiratory infections, hypotonia of the limbs, and distinctive facial features (low-set ears, double chin, and high arched palate), as well as a single transverse palmar crease on the right hand. Genetic testing revealed a c.1096C>T heterozygous variant in the SMARCB1 gene. Patient 2, a 3-year-old male, presented with developmental delay and distinctive facial features. Genetic testing identified the same pathogenic mutation as in Patient 1. The two patients are unrelated, and clinical phenotyping and genetic testing confirmed both cases as Coffin-Siris syndrome type 3. Coffin-Siris syndrome is a rare genetic disorder, and early genetic testing can aid in diagnosis.
Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Male ; Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics* ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/genetics* ; Ear/abnormalities* ; Face/abnormalities* ; Hand Deformities, Congenital/genetics* ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Micrognathism/genetics* ; Mutation ; Neck/abnormalities*

OBJECTIVES: To study genotype-phenotype correlations in children with FGFR3 variants and to improve clinical recognition of related disorders. METHODS: Clinical data of 95 patients aged 0-18 years harboring FGFR3 variants, confirmed by whole‑exome sequencing at Shanghai Children's Medical Center from January 2012 to December 2023, were retrospectively reviewed. Detailed phenotypic characterization was performed for 22 patients with achondroplasia (ACH) and 10 with hypochondroplasia (HCH). RESULTS: Among the 95 patients, 52 (55%) had ACH, 24 (25%) had HCH, 9 (9%) had thanatophoric dysplasia, 3 (3%) had syndromic skeletal dysplasia, 2 (2%) had severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans, and 5 (5%) remained unclassified. A previously unreported FGFR3 variant, c.1663G>T, was identified. All 22 ACH patients presented with disproportionate short stature accompanied by limb dysplasia, commonly with macrocephaly, a depressed nasal bridge, bowed legs, and frontal bossing; complications were present in 17 (77%). The 10 HCH patients predominantly exhibited disproportionate short stature with limb dysplasia and depressed nasal bridge. CONCLUSIONS ACH is the most frequent phenotype associated with FGFR3 variants, and missense variants constitute the predominant variant type. The degree of FGFR3 activation appears to correlate with the clinical severity of skeletal dysplasia.
Humans ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3/genetics* ; Child ; Male ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Infant ; Adolescent ; Dwarfism/genetics* ; Achondroplasia/genetics* ; Lordosis/genetics* ; Infant, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies ; Genetic Association Studies ; Bone and Bones/abnormalities* ; Phenotype ; Limb Deformities, Congenital

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features, genetic characteristics in a child with Miller-McKusick-Malvaux syndrome (3MS) type 1 caused by CUL7 gene variant. METHODS: A child diagnosed with 3MS type 1 at the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in February 2021 was selected as the subject of this study. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and her parents for genomic DNA extraction. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the child, and Sanger sequencing was used to validate the candidate variants and analyze their pathogenicity. A literature search was conducted using the keywords "3M syndrome" in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and PubMed databases from inception to December 2024. The clinical data of Chinese children with 3MS reported in the literature were summarized. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University (Ethics No. 2024-K-020). RESULTS: The child was a 6-year-old and 2-month-old female with facial dysmorphism, skeletal abnormalities, and growth and developmental delay. WES revealed compound heterozygous variants in the CUL7 gene: c.2686G>T (p.E896*) and c.1200delT (p.R401Gfs66). Sanger sequencing confirmed that these two variants were inherited from the child's father and mother, respectively. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants, c.2686G>T (p.E896) was classified as a pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting+PM3), and c.1200delT (p.R401Gfs*66) was classified as a likely pathogenic (PVS1+PM2_Supporting). Based on the literature search strategy, 18 relevant articles were identified, including a total of 32 Chinese cases of 3MS, of which 8 were fetuses. A total of 32 Chinese 3MS cases were included in the literature review, of which 8 were fetuses. The majority of these cases carried variants in the CUL7 gene (20/32, 62.5%) and OBSL1 gene (12/32, 37.5%). The main clinical manifestations included intrauterine or postnatal growth and developmental delay (32/32, 100.0%), triangular facies (27/32, 84.3%), and skeletal abnormalities (21/32, 65.6%). CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants c.2686G>T (p.E896*) and c.1200delT (p.R401Gfs*66) in the CUL7 gene are likely the genetic cause of 3MS type 1 in the child. For children presenting with facial dysmorphism, skeletal abnormalities, and intrauterine or postnatal growth and developmental delay, 3MS should be considered as a differential diagnosis.
Humans ; Cullin Proteins/genetics* ; Female ; Child ; Limb Deformities, Congenital/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation ; Child, Preschool ; Dwarfism ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Spine/abnormalities*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic characteristics of a fetus affected with Structural heart defects and renal anomalies syndrome (SHDRA). METHODS: A pedigree with SHDRA (fetus and the parents) who had visited the Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University in April 2023 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the family were collected. A total of 10 mL of amniotic fluid cells from the fetus and 5 mL of peripheral blood samples from the parents were collected for genomic DNA extraction. Trio whole-exome sequencing (Trio-WES) was performed, and Sanger sequencing was used to validate candidate variants in the family. The identified variants were classified according to the Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants established by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) (hereinafter referred to as the "ACMG Guidelines). Relevant research literature on SHDRA in domestic and international databases were searched for literature review. This study was approved by the Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University (Ethics No. EC2023-094). RESULTS: In this family, prenatal ultrasound at 18 weeks of gestation revealed left renal multicystic dysplasia in the fetus. After birth, the infant exhibited an ostium secundum atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and left renal multicystic dysplasia. Trio-WES revealed that the fetus had carried c.344dup (p.L116Afs*32) and c.90_104dup (p.Ala31_Ala35dup) compound heterozygous variants in the TMEM260 gene, which were respectively inherited from its father and mother. According to the ACMG guidelines, the c.344dup (p.L116Afs*32) and c.90_104dup (p.Ala31_Ala35dup) variants were classified as pathogenic (PM2_Supporting+PVS1+PP4) and likely pathogenic (PM2_Supporting+PM4+PM3+PP4), respectively. According to the literature search strategy set for this study, a total of 6 literature was retrieved, involving 25 SHDRA patients from 20 families. Together with the patients in this study, there were 14 TMEM260 gene variants, most of which were frameshift variants (7 types) and had located in exons 3, 11 and 13. The main clinical features of SHDRA were congenital heart malformation, renal abnormality and neurodevelopmental abnormality, and there was a lack of genotype-phenotype correlation. CONCLUSION The c.344dup (p.L116Afs*32) and c.90_104dup (p.Ala31_Ala35dup) variants of the TMEM260 gene probably underlay the SHDRA in this family. Above finding has provided a basis for clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling for the family.
Humans ; Female ; Pedigree ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Male ; Heart Defects, Congenital/genetics* ; Kidney/abnormalities* ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Kidney Diseases/congenital* ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation ; Genetic Testing

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of whole exome sequencing (WES) for fetuses undergone induced abortion due to structural abnormalities. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 43 aborted fetuses with negative results for copy number variation (CNV) testing from January 2023 to June 2024 at Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital. Trio-WES was carried out on the tissues from the aborted fetuses. This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No. 21-036). RESULTS: Among the 43 abortic fetuses, WES has detected pathogenic variants in 15 cases, with a total of 9 pathogenic variants, 5 suspected pathogenic variants, and 5 variants of uncertain significance. No definite pathogenic variants were detected in the remaining 28 cases. CONCLUSION For fetuses with structural abnormalities and negative results from CNV testing, WES can increase the diagnostic rate and facilitate etiological diagnosis and genetic counseling.
Humans ; Female ; Exome Sequencing/methods* ; Pregnancy ; DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Abortion, Induced ; Fetus/abnormalities* ; Congenital Abnormalities/diagnosis* ; Genetic Testing ; Aborted Fetus/abnormalities*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of a Chinese boy affected with Oculo-facio-cardio-dental syndrome (OFCD). METHODS: A child diagnosed with OFCD at West China Hospital of Sichuan University on September 21, 2024 was selected as the study subject. Clinical phenotype of the child was collected through ophthalmologic examination, cardiac ultrasonography, and X-ray imaging. Potential pathogenic variants were detected by trio-whole exome sequencing (Trio-WES). Candidate variant was validated with TA-cloning followed by Sanger sequencing. Mosaic variant was analyzed by ultra-deep sequencing (10,000-fold) and quantitative PCR. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the West China Hospital of Sichuan University (Ethics No.: 2019-772 ). RESULTS: The proband had presented with congenital cataracts, mitosis, atrial and ventricular septal defects, dental abnormalities, and right radioulnar synostosis. His mother also exhibited congenital cataracts and dental anomalies, suggesting a diagnosis of OFCD. Trio-WES revealed an novel heterozygous 14-bp deletion (c.4724_4737del) in exon 12 of the BCOR gene in the proband. Deep sequencing identified a mosaic BCOR c.4724_4737del mutation in approximately 3.4% of peripheral leukocytes from his mother. Quantitative PCR analysis also confirmed the presence of this low-level mosaicism. The 14-bp deletion was predicted to cause a frame shift and premature termination (p.Met1575AsnfsTer6). Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1+PM2+PP1). CONCLUSION Above findings have expanded the spectrum of BCOR mutations associated with OFCD, which highlighted the role of low-level mosaicism with maternal transmission and provided a basis for genetic counseling and reproductive guidance for the family.
Humans ; Male ; Repressor Proteins/genetics* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics* ; Tooth Abnormalities/genetics* ; Eye Abnormalities/genetics* ; Microphthalmos/genetics* ; Child ; Sequence Deletion ; Female ; Cataract/congenital* ; Heart Septal Defects