1.Analysis of a child with Osteo-oto-hepato-enteric syndrome and a literature review.
Dandan WANG ; Qianqian LI ; Hongxiang GUO ; Yongning CHEN ; Qingfei HAO ; Yanlei XU ; Xiuyong CHENG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2026;43(3):204-212
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the phenotype and genotype of a neonate with Osteo-oto-hepato-enteric syndrome (O2HE) and review the literature.
METHODS:
A female neonate diagnosed with O2HE syndrome on December 13, 2024 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University was selected as the study subject, and her clinical characteristics were analyzed, and pathogenic variants were explored by whole exome sequencing (WES). This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No.: 2025-KY-1038).
RESULTS:
The proband, a female infant, was delivered by Cesarean section at 36+1 weeks of gestation. Five days after birth, she had developed severe diarrhea, mild cholestasis, sensorineural hearing loss, and growth retardation. WES revealed that she has harbored novel compound heterozygous variants c.512delA (p.Lys171Serfs*64) and c.698C>A (p.Thr233Asn) of the UNC45A gene, which were inherited from her mother and father, respectively. A total of 8 English papers were retrieved, which involved 16 patients from 14 families. Combined with our case, the 17 patients included 13 (76.5%) females and 4 (23.5%) males. Four patients (23.5%) had consanguineous parents. One case was excluded from further genetic analysis due to co-morbidity with other genetic variants. The primary clinical features included diarrhea (87.5%), cholestasis (81.3%), sensorineural hearing loss (31.3%), bone fragility (37.5%), and developmental delay (50.0%). Bi-allelic compound heterozygous mutations were identified in 12 patients (75.0%), and homozygous variants in 4 (25.0%). These included missense, nonsense, frameshift and deletional variants. The c.710T>C (p.Leu237Pro) variant was identified for 5 times, 3 of which were in homozygote forms.
CONCLUSION
O2HE syndrome should be suspected in cases with diarrhea, cholestasis, and hearing abnormalities during early postnatal period. Genetic testing facilitate early identification, genetic diagnosis and treatment.
Humans
;
Female
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Male
;
Mutation
;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/genetics*
;
Diarrhea, Infantile/genetics*
;
Exome Sequencing
;
Phenotype
;
Fetal Growth Retardation
;
Hair Diseases
;
Facies
2.Progress in research on syndromic deafness associated with variants of CREBBP gene.
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(3):368-374
CREBBP gene encodes the transcriptional co-activator CREB-binding protein. This protein can participate in cell growth, differentiation and development through a variety of signal transduction pathways. Variants in this gene may cause syndromic deafness by affecting signal transduction pathways and development of skeletal and nervous systems. This review has summarized the structure and function of the CREBBP gene and the pathogenetic mechanism of syndromic deafness caused by CREBBP gene variants, with an aim to provide a basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Humans
;
CREB-Binding Protein/chemistry*
;
Deafness/genetics*
;
Mutation
;
Animals
;
Syndrome
;
Signal Transduction
3.Clinical phenotype and genotypic analysis of a four-generation Chinese pedigree affected with Stickler syndrome and a literature review.
Wenjun HE ; Fang TANG ; Fan JIANG ; Ziman CHEN ; Yan LU ; Yutong NI ; Jianying ZHOU ; Dongzhi LI
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(6):684-690
OBJECTIVE:
To carry out genetic testing and clinical phenotypic characterization on a four-generation Chinese pedigree affected with Stickler syndrome type I and explore its genotype-phenotype correlation.
METHODS:
A child presented at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in February 2023 for micrognathia, glossoptosis and cleft palate and his family members were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data were collected from the affected members, and peripheral blood samples were obtained from 17 participants (including 4 patients and 13 asymptomatic individuals). Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. Genotype-phenotype correlation was analyzed by integrating the sequencing data with evidence from existing literature. This study has bee granted by the Ethics Committee of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center (Ethics No.: 2022-406B00).
RESULTS:
The four-generation pedigree has comprised 19 members. In addition to the proband, 5 affected individuals had manifested with high myopia, congenital cataracts, and progressive vision loss. Two deceased members reportedly exhibited similar ocular manifestations. Among the four living patients, two had developed retinal detachment, while two others presented with chronic joint pain onset between 35 ~ 40 years of age. One patient required hip replacement surgery at age 42 secondary to femoral head necrosis. The proband, the youngest affected member, exhibited characteristic phenotypes including congenital micrognathia and cleft palate, consistent with Pierre-Robin syndrome. Genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous nonsense mutation in COL2A1 (NM_001844.5: c.2668C>T; p.Gln890Ter) segregating with the disease in all four symptomatic patients. This variant was absent in asymptomatic family members and unaffected controls. While the mutation is listed in ClinVar, no clinical case report has associated it with this phenotypic spectrum. It was not recorded in population databases (gnomAD v4.1.0, 1000 Genomes Project, or ExAC), supporting its potential pathogenicity.
CONCLUSION
This study has diagnosed a four-generation Chinese pedigree with Stickler syndrome type I attributed to the pathogenic COL2A1 variant c.2668C>T (p.Gln890Ter), which is a rare nonsense mutation associated with ocular predominance and variable skeletal involvement. Notably, this family exhibited marked clinical heterogeneity despite sharing the identical genotype, which highlighted the challenges in phenotype-genotype correlation. The autosomal dominant transmission pattern observed in this pedigree has provided critical insights into COL2A1-related collagenopathies and underscored the necessity of ultrasonographic monitoring for ocular anomalies during prenatal diagnosis. Above findings have advanced our understanding of the pleiotropic effects in type Ⅱ collagen disorders and laid the foundation for precision-based genetic counseling, enabling targeted cascade screening and implementation of tertiary prevention strategies against congenital disabilities for high-risk families.
Adolescent
;
Adult
;
Child
;
Child, Preschool
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Arthritis/genetics*
;
Collagen Type II/genetics*
;
Connective Tissue Diseases/genetics*
;
Exome Sequencing
;
Genetic Association Studies
;
Genotype
;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/genetics*
;
Mutation
;
Pedigree
;
Phenotype
;
Retinal Detachment/genetics*
;
East Asian People/genetics*
4.Analysis of a neonate with Hypoparathyroidism-sensorineural deafness-renal dysplasia syndrome and a literature review.
Dandan WANG ; Qianqian LI ; Hongxiang GUO ; Qingfei HAO ; Yongning CHEN ; Xiuyong CHENG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(6):700-706
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the phenotype and genotype of a neonate with Hypoparathyroidism-sensorineural deafness-renal dysplasia syndrome (HDR).
METHODS:
A female neonate with HDR syndrome and thyroid deficiency detected at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on December 6,2023 was selected as the study subject, Low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (Lc WGS) and whole exome sequencing (WES) were carried out. Using "hypoparathyroidism""sensorineural deafness""renal dysplasia""HDR""Barakat" and"GATA3" as keywords, the CNKI, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform and PubMed database were searched, and the retrieval time was set from the establishment to March 2025.
RESULTS:
A proband, a full-term female infant, had presented with feeding difficulty, micrognathia, and low-set ears. Serological test revealed hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypoparathyroidism, low T3, low T4 and high TSH. Hearing test revealed bilateral sensorineural deafness. Ultrasonic test revealed absence of right kidney and thyroid. WES revealed that the she has harbored a deletion of approximately 6.67 Mb at 10p15.1p13, and Lc WGS confirmed the presence of a 6.70 Mb deletion in the same region, which was verified as a de novo variant. Literature review suggested that HDR was rarely diagnosed among neonates. Among the nine cases diagnosed in neonatal period, 66.6% (6/9) exhibited the typical triad, 77.7% (7/9) had hypoparathyroidism with hypocalcemic convulsion as the initial symptom, 22.2% (2/9) had sensorineural hearing loss or renal malformation, and 66.6% (6/9) had multiple malformations including facial dysmorphism and congenital heart disease. 55.5% (5/9) had a large deletion in the 10p15 region, whilst 33.3% (3/9) had a single gene variant. The range of the deletion had correlated with the diversity of clinical phenotypes in HDR syndrome, but the classic triad of symptoms may presented in any combination, independent of deletion size. Association of HDR with thyroid deficiency has been unreported previously.
CONCLUSION
For neonates presenting with one of the symptoms of HDR triad or in combination with other malformations, genetic testing should be carried out.
Humans
;
Hypoparathyroidism/diagnosis*
;
Female
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/diagnosis*
;
GATA3 Transcription Factor/genetics*
;
Nephrosis/genetics*
;
Phenotype
;
Exome Sequencing
5.The pleiotropic role of X-linked SMPX gene mutations: Exploration of mechanism from deafness to myopathy.
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(7):890-895
The SMPX (small muscle protein X-linked) gene encodes a small-molecular-weight protein that is mainly expressed in skeletal and cardiac muscles and is involved in cytoskeletal dynamics and mechanical stress responses. In recent years, missense variants of the SMPX gene have been identified as the cause of a novel X-linked distal myopathy (Distal myopathy 7). This article has systematically reviewed the molecular functions, variant types, and pathological mechanisms of the SMPX gene by integrating its clinical classification, molecular pathological evidence, and experimental model data, and revealed its pathgenetic mechanism through protein aggregation, dynamic dysregulation of stress granules, abnormal Rac1/p38 signaling pathways, and future research directions.
Humans
;
Mutation
;
Muscle Proteins/metabolism*
;
Deafness/genetics*
;
Animals
;
Muscular Diseases/genetics*
;
Genes, X-Linked
6.Analysis of pathogenic variant carriage for MYO7A, PCDH15, and CDH23 genes among newborns based on high-throughput sequencing technique.
Yahong LI ; Yun SUN ; Xin WANG ; Xianwei GUAN ; Tao JIANG ; Zhengfeng XU
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(9):1025-1032
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the carrier rates and profiles of pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants for hearing loss-related genes MYO7A, PCDH15, and CDH23 among neonates in Nanjing city through targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS).
METHODS:
Heel-prick blood samples were collected from 30 043 newborns delivered at Nanjing Women and Children's Health Care Hospital between March 2022 and April 2024. Dried blood spots were prepared, and genomic DNA was extracted. Targeted NGS was applied to detect variants across the full coding regions of the MYO7A, PCDH15, and CDH23 genes. The carrier rates and profiles of pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants of the three genes were analyzed. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Nanjing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital (Ethics No.: 2021KY-071).
RESULTS:
The carrier rates of pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants (with ≥ 1 variant site) for the MYO7A, PCDH15, and CDH23 genes were 0.340%, 0.226%, and 0.156%, respectively. A total of 65, 49, and 30 variant types were detected in the MYO7A, PCDH15, and CDH23 genes, respectively. For MYO7A, single base variants were predominant, with the most common variant being c.5581C>T, followed by c.1343+1G>A, c.2837T>G, and c.5660C>T, with allelic frequencies of 0.013% (8/60 086), 0.007% (4/60 086), 0.007% (4/60 086), and 0.007% (4/60 086), respectively. PCDH15 variants were mainly deletions, with the most common variant site being c.4699_4715dupAGAGAAAAGATTCAGAG, followed by c.3441delA, c.440T>G, and c.4733_4736delTCAG, with allelic frequencies of 0.015% (9/60 086), 0.005% (3/60 086), 0.005% (3/60 086), and 0.005% (3/60 086), respectively. For CDH23, single base variants were predominant, with c.6604G>A being the most common, followed by c.6085C>T, c.6050+9G>A, and c.6253+1G>A, with allelic frequencies of 0.013% (8/60 086), 0.012% (7/60 086), 0.005% (3/60 086), and 0.005% (3/60 086).
CONCLUSION
This study analyzed the carrier rates and profiles of pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants of the MYO7A, PCDH15, and CDH23 genes, which can provide more evidence for the prevention and management of deafness in the region.
Humans
;
Cadherins/genetics*
;
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods*
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Female
;
Myosin VIIa/genetics*
;
Cadherin Related Proteins
;
Male
;
Hearing Loss/genetics*
;
Myosins/genetics*
;
Heterozygote
7.Audiological characterization of the GJB2 gene c.109G>A (p.V37I) hotspot variant during childhood and comparison between family members.
Zhoushu ZHENG ; Jiangyang XUE ; Lu DING ; Jiewen PAN ; Meihong WANG ; Yinghui ZHANG ; Danyan ZHUANG ; Yihui YANG ; Ming TANG ; Haibo LI
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(9):1061-1068
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the prevalence of GJB2 gene c.109G>A (p.V37I) variant among infants with congenital hearing loss and analyze the initial audiological characteristics of children harboring the variant, compare the audiometric difference among individuals with various genotypes, and explore genetic and audiological manifestations of the affected families.
METHODS:
One hundred twenty six infants diagnosed with congenital hearing loss at the Neonate Screening Center of Ningbo City from June 2021 to December 2024 were selected as the study subjects. The neonates, in addition with members from 16 of their families, had undergone genetic screening for variants of 208 hotspot sites within 24 deafness-associated genes. For cases identified with monoallelic variants and concurrent hearing loss, the full GJB2 gene was sequenced. Meanwhile, a retrospective analysis was carried out on 23 children whom were confirmed to have hearing loss and the c.109G>A variant by whole exome sequencing from March 2022 to December 2024. And 102 children who were excluded to have hearing loss and pathogenic variants by whole exome sequencing were selected as normal controls. Audiological features of individuals harboring the c.109G>A variant were compared. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of The Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital of Ningbo University (Ethics No.: EC2023-009).
RESULTS:
For the 126 infants with congenital hearing loss, prospective screening has identified 58 (46.03%) to harbor the c.109G>A variant. These included 38 homozygotes and 16 compound heterozygotes. Retrospective review of the 23 c.109G>A positive children has identified 15 as homozygotes and 8 as compound heterozygotes. Genetic testing of the 16 pedigrees has identified 7 homozygotes and 1 compound heterozygote. For the homozygotes combined (n = 53), 96.2% exhibited bilateral symmetric hearing loss, with 78.3% showing high-frequency sloping patterns, and 98.1% having a hearing threshold ranging from 20 to 65 dB. For the compound heterozygotes combined (n = 24), 95.8% showed symmetric loss, with 59.4% having high-frequency sloping, and 97.9% had a hearing threshold ranging from 20 to 65 dB. Both groups showed significantly elevated ABR/PTA thresholds compared with the normal controls (P = 0.000). The compound heterozygous group had higher ABR thresholds (43.3 ± 15.0 dB nHL) compared with the homozygous group (39.1 ± 12.0 dB nHL, P = 0.005).
CONCLUSION
Infants harboring the GJB2 c.109G>A variant primarily manifest as mild-to-moderate, symmetric, high-frequency sloping hearing loss. Nearly one-third of affected children have thresholds between 20 to 35 dB nHL, suggesting that ABR > 35 dB nHL alone may underestimate the hearing impairment in this population. Compared with homozygotes, compound heterozygotes with the the GJB2 c.109G>A variant can confer a more severe hearing loss.
Humans
;
Connexin 26/genetics*
;
Female
;
Male
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Infant
;
Hearing Loss/genetics*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child, Preschool
;
Child
;
Genotype
;
Connexins/genetics*
;
Mutation
8.Identification and functional analysis of a novel variant of CHD23 gene in a Chinese pedigree affected with Non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness 12.
Litao QIN ; Zengguo REN ; Meiying WANG ; Tingting SHI ; Xin CHEN ; Qian ZHANG ; Guiyu LOU ; Shixiu LIAO ; Li WANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2025;42(12):1490-1495
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze a Chinese pedigree affected with Non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness type 12 (NFNB12), validate the function of candidate variants, and explore the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS:
A NFNB12 pedigree presented at Henan Provincial People's Hospital in February 2023 was selected as the study subject. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out, and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing of the pedigree members. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the level of mRNA transcription in the peripheral blood samples from the pedigree members, and protein expression was evaluated with Western blotting assay. This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial People's Hospital (Ethics No.: 2019-134).
RESULTS:
WES analysis revealed that the proband has harbored homozygous c.6688delG (p.Ala2230Profs*4) variant of the CDH23 gene, for which both parents were identified as heterozygous carriers. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the sole presence of the variant mRNA in the proband, and both the variant and wild-type mRNAs in both parents. Furthermore, Western blotting analysis indicated that the proband had exclusively expressed the truncated CDH23 protein, while both the normal and truncated forms of the protein were noted in her parents.
CONCLUSION
The c.6688delG (p.Ala2230Profs*4) variant of the CDH23 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of NFNB12 in this pedigree. The loss of function of the CDH23 gene resulting from this variant is not related with nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, but rather production of a truncated protein. Above finding has not only enriched the mutational spectrum of the CDH23 gene and offered a method for investigating the function of its variants using peripheral blood samples, but also delineated the molecular basis for the loss of function, which has provided crucial evidence for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for this family.
Humans
;
Pedigree
;
Male
;
Female
;
Asian People/genetics*
;
Cadherins/genetics*
;
Exome Sequencing
;
Deafness/genetics*
;
Mutation
;
China
;
Adult
;
Cadherin Related Proteins
;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/genetics*
;
East Asian People
9.Hearing loss prevalence and burden of disease in China: Findings from provincial-level analysis.
Yu WANG ; Yang XIE ; Minghao WANG ; Mengdan ZHAO ; Rui GONG ; Ying XIN ; Jia KE ; Ke ZHANG ; Shaoxing ZHANG ; Chen DU ; Qingchuan DUAN ; Fang WANG ; Tao PAN ; Furong MA ; Xiangyang HU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(1):41-48
BACKGROUND:
Without timely and effective rehabilitation, hearing loss may profoundly affect human life quality. China has a large population of hearing-impaired individuals, which imposes a heavy health burden on society. Moreover, this population is projected to increase rapidly owing to China's aging society.
METHODS:
We used data from a population-representative epidemiological investigation of hearing loss and ear diseases in four Chinese provinces. We estimated the national prevalence using multiple linear regression of the age-group proportions and prevalence in 31 provinces with clustering analysis. We used years lived with disability (YLDs) to analyze the disease burden and forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss by 2060 in China.
RESULTS:
An estimated 115 million people had moderate-to-complete hearing loss in 2015 across the 31 provinces of China (8.4% of 1.37 billion people). Of these, 85.7% were older than age 50 years (99 million people) and 2.4% were younger than 20 years old (2.8 million people). Of all YLDs attributable to hearing loss, 68.9% were attributable to moderate-to-complete cases. By 2060, a projected 242 million people in China will have moderate-to-complete hearing loss, a 110.0% increase from 2015.
CONCLUSIONS
The hearing loss prevalence in China is high. Population aging and socioeconomic factors substantially affect the prevalence and severity of hearing loss and the disease burden. The prevalence and severity of hearing loss are unevenly distributed across different provinces. Future public health policies should take these trends and regional variations into account.
Humans
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Hearing Loss/epidemiology*
;
Prevalence
;
Middle Aged
;
Male
;
Female
;
Adult
;
Aged
;
Adolescent
;
Young Adult
;
Child
;
Child, Preschool
;
Infant
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Cost of Illness
10.Giant pleomorphic adenoma in a 64-Year-old woman: A case report.
Mark Laurence B. BARRIOS ; Neil Aldrine I. PENAFLOR
Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;40(Supplement):41-44
OBJECTIVES
To report a case of a giant pleomorphic adenoma in a 64-year-old Filipino woman, its management and surgical outcome.
METHODSDesign:Case Report
Setting:Tertiary Government Training Hospital
Patient: One
RESULTSA 64-year-old woman presented with a 50-year history of a slow growing, painless, left infra-auricular mass, not associated with facial weakness, xerostomia, or hearing loss. Computed tomography revealed a 14 x 15 x 19 cm large lobulated complex enhancing mass with calcifications and septations, with no enlarged lymph nodes identified in the neck. Fine needle aspiration cytomorphology was consistent with pleomorphic adenoma. The patient underwent superficial parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation. The facial nerve was identified using standard landmarks. Final histopathological findings were consistent with pleomorphic adenoma measuring 23.5 cm x 11.5 cm x 15 cm and weighing 2177 grams
CONCLUSIONPleomorphic adenoma can grow to a gigantic size if left untreated. It often presents as a chronic, slow growing and painless swelling. The approach to its diagnosis is mainly clinical and can be confirmed by fine needle aspiration biopsy and computed tomography scan. In our case, the standard landmarks for facial nerve identification were still reliable despite the size of the mass, producing good post-surgical outcomes.
Human ; Female ; Middle Aged: 45-64 Yrs Old ; Adenoma ; Lymph ; Needles ; Diagnosis ; Xerostomia ; Hearing Loss ; Neck ; Research Report ; Tomography ; Facial Nerve


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