OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical phenotypes and genetic characteristics of a pedigree with Distal arthrogryposis type 5D (DA5D) caused by compound heterozygous variants in the ECEL1 gene. METHODS: A child (proband) diagnosed with DA5D and his family members (proband's parents and sister) who was admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Henan Children's Hospital in July 2022 due to "multiplex distal arthrogryposis" were enrolled into this study. Clinical data of the proband were collected and peripheral blood samples were obtained from the proband and members of his family about 3 mL. Trio-whole genome sequencing (trio-WGS) was carried out to detected the genetic variations of the proband and his family members. The candidate's pathogenic gene variants were screened and analyzed by Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) and other databases. The screened variants were annotated for clinical phenotypes using databases like the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The pathogenicity of the candidate variants was predicted by bioinformatics tools such as Provean. Based on the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), pathogenicity ratings were conducted for variant sites. The protein conservation and mutation structure prediction of ECEL1 protein among species were carried out though MEGA-X and PyMOL. The research protocol of this study was reviewed by the Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial Children's Hospital (Approval No. 2023-H-H01), and informed consent for clinical research was obtained from the guardians of the probands. RESULTS: The proband had multiplex distal arthrogryposis involving hands, feet, knees, and ankles, and had right ptosis, micrognathia, low auricular position, and upturned nose. The parents and sister both had normal phenotypes. Trio-WGS and Sanger sequencing revealed that the child had compound heterozygous variants of paternal c.1742_c.1743insT and maternal c.2314T>G, for which the father and sister were carriers of the c.1742_c.1743insT heterozygous variant and the mother was carrier of c.2314T>A. Neither mutation site has been reported. According to guidelines of ACMG, the c.1742_c.1743insT variant was classified as likely pathogenic (PSV1+PM2_Supporting), and c.2314T>G was classified as uncertain (PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP3). The results of conserved analysis of amino acid residue sequences of ECEL1 protein showed that the missense mutation of the maternal c.2314T>G (p.Cys772Gly) was highly conserved among humans and other seven species. The protein structure prediction revealed that the c.1742_c.1743insT frameshift mutation led to the protein truncation, and the c.2314T>G missense mutation resulted in the failure of forming 1 disulfide bond. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of ECEL1 gene were considered to be pathogenic for this DA5D patient, which have expanded the mutational spectrum of the ECEL1 gene and provided a reference for clinical diagnosis as well as genetic counseling for this family.
Humans ; Pedigree ; Arthrogryposis/genetics* ; Male ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Phenotype ; Mutation ; Child ; Metalloendopeptidases

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a child with Osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis (OSCS) due to variant of AMER1 gene. METHODS: A child presented at the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou University in July 2024 due to growth and development retardation was selected as the study subject. A retrospective study was conducted to collect the child's clinical data. Peripheral blood samples (2 mL each) were collected from the child and her parents, and genomic DNA was extracted for whole exome sequencing (WES). Sanger sequencing was used for the verification of candidate variants. The pathogenicity of variant was rated according to the guidelines from American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). The study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University (Ethics No.: 2024-108-001). RESULTS: The patient, a 4-year-and-10-month-old girl, presented with global developmental delay, short stature, cleft palate, distinct facial features, and hearing impairment. WES revealed that she has harbored a heterozygous c.790_794dup (p.Cys265Trpfs*19) variant of the AMER1 gene, which was not detected in either parent. Based on the guidelines from ACMG, the gene variant was classified as pathogenic (PVS1 + PS2 + PM2_supporting). As the result of a non-triplet base insertion in the coding region of the AMER1 gene, it has converted a codon originally encoding an amino acid into a stop codon, and led to a truncated protein, causing severe alteration and dysfunction of the protein. CONCLUSION The child was diagnosed with OSCS for clinical features such as global developmental delay, short stature, cleft palate, distinctive facial features, and hearing impairment, for which the de novo heterozygous frameshift variant AMER1: c.790_794dup (p.Cys265Trpfs*19) may be accountable. Above finding has expanded the mutational spectrum of OSCS and provided a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for the family.
Humans ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Osteosclerosis/genetics* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics* ; Mutation ; Exome Sequencing ; Retrospective Studies ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Objective:To determine the expression of transglutaminase 2 (TGM2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), and to analyze its correlation with AD-related inflammatory factors and disease severity.Methods:A total of 29 AD patients and 15 healthy controls were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from July 2020 to January 2021. Ten milliliters of peripheral blood samples were collected from each subject, so was the clinical information, including age, gender, course of disease, eosinophil counts, basophil counts, total IgE levels, Scoring AD index (SCORAD), etc. PBMCs were isolated by density gradient centrifugation. Fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of TGM2 and AD-related inflammatory factors (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17, thymic stromal lymphopoietin [TSLP], P2RX7 [purinergic receptor P2X, ligand-gated ion channel, 7], etc.) in PBMCs from 29 AD patients and 15 healthy controls, and flow cytometry to determine TGM2 protein expression on PBMCs. Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze differences between groups, and Spearman correlation analysis to evaluate the correlation. Results:The relative mRNA expression of TGM2 in PBMCs did not differ between the AD group and control group ( M[ Q1, Q3]: 0.509 [0.325, 0.958] vs. 0.475 [0.328, 1.051], U = 210.50, P = 0.872). Compared with the control group, the AD group showed significantly decreased IL-4 mRNA expression (0.171[0.049, 0.449] vs. 0.824 [0.397, 1.378], P < 0.001), but significantly increased mRNA expression of IL-8 and IL-13 ( P = 0.011, 0.006, respectively). Spearman correlation analysis showed that the mRNA expression level of TGM2 in PBMCs was positively correlated with the mRNA expression levels of IL-4 and P2RX7 in the AD group ( rs = 0.42, 0.40, P = 0.024, 0.034, respectively), while there were no correlations between TGM2 mRNA expression and AD severity-related indicators (all P>0.05), such as age (21[16, 29] years), course of disease (4[1,10] years), eosinophil counts (0.33[0.18, 0.65] × 10 9/L), basophil counts (0.04[0.03, 0.06] × 10 9/L], SCORAD scores (60.5[46.98, 66.13] points), and serum total IgE levels (373 [40, 1 815] IU/ml). The relative protein expression levels of TGM2 on the surface of PBMCs did not differ between the AD group and control group (54.9 [47.6, 62.8] vs. 55.55 [51.5, 60.25], U = 112.00, P = 0.922) ], and no correlations were observed between the protein expression of TGM2 on PBMCs and AD severity-related indicators in the AD group (all P > 0.05) . Conclusion:No significant differences were observed in TGM2 mRNA expression in PBMCs or TGM2 protein expression on the surface of PBMCs between the AD patients and healthy controls, and there were no correlations between the TGM2 mRNA and protein expression and AD severity.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic variant of a child with Snijders Blok-Campeau syndrome (SBCS). METHODS: A child who was diagnosed with SBCS in June 2017 at Henan Children's Hospital was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child was collected. Peripheral blood samples of the child and his parents were collected and the extraction of genomic DNA, which was subjected to trio-whole exome sequencing (trio-WES) and genome copy number variation (CNV) analysis. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing of his pedigree members. RESULTS: The main clinical manifestations of the child have included language delay, intellectual impairment and motor development delay, which were accompanied with facial dysmorphisms (broad forehead, inverted triangular face, sparse eyebrows, widely spaced eyes, narrow palpebral fissures, broad nose bridge, midface hypoplasia, thin upper lip, pointed jaw, low-set ears and posteriorly rotated ears). Trio-WES and Sanger sequencing revealed that the child has harbored a heterozygous splicing variant of the CHD3 gene, namely c.4073-2A>G, for which both of his parents were of wild-type. No pathogenic variant was identified by CNV testing. CONCLUSION The c.4073-2A>G splicing variant of the CHD3 gene probably underlay the SBCS in this patient.
DNA Copy Number Variations ; Heterozygote ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; RNA Splicing ; Mutation

Objective:To explore the safety of laparoscopic antegrade modular pancreatosplenectomy (L-RAMPS) through vascular axis approach in the treatment of pancreatic body and tail adenocarcinoma.Methods:The clinical data of 12 patients with pancreatic body and tail adenocarcinoma undergoing L-RAMPS in Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Anhui No.2 Provincial People's Hospital from April 2021 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including eight males and four females, aged (65.8±11.6) years. Data regarding operative time, intraoperative blood loss, anal exhaust time, postoperative hospital stay, lymph node dissection, pathology, and postoperative complications, and survival were analyzed.Results:The procedures were successfully completed in all 12 patients. Eight patients underwent anterior L-RAMPS, four underwent posterior L-RAMPS. In one patient laparoscopic procedure was almost completed, but eventually conversed to open surgery due to vascular invasion. The operative time was (221.5±21.7) min, the intraoperative blood loss was (224.1±125.3) ml, the anal exhaust time was (3.5±1.0) d, and the postoperative hospital stay was (10.0±3.9) d. All patients underwent R 0 resection, and (15.1±3.7) lymph nodes were dissected. Positive lymph nodes were confirmed in four patients. Six patients had postoperative pancreatic fistula. The patients had been followed up for a median time of 9.5 (3.2-15.0) months, and three patients died. Conclusion:The vascular axis approach could optimize the L-RAMPS surgical approach and improve surgical safety.

Objective:To study the predictive value of combining ultrasound elestography with serological examination on incidences of microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The clinical data of 288 patients with HCC who underwent liver resection at MengChao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2018 to September 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. 104 MVI-negative and 184 MVI-positive patients who were confirmed by postoperative histopathology were divided into the MVI-negative and MVI-positive groups respectively. Serological indicators of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, platelet, albumin, and alpha-fetoprotein were compared between groups. Imaging indexes including elasticity at liver tumor surrounding 1 cm area (S1), elasticity at liver tumor surrounding 2 cm area (S2), S1S2index (S1/S2×10) and longest tumor diameter were compared between groups. Multi-variate analysis was used to screen out independent risk factors in predicting MVI of hepatocellular carcinoma, and then a nomogram model was constructed.Results:Of 288 patients with HCC who met the inclusion criteria of this study, there were 225 males and 63 females, aged (56.3±9.7) years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with HCC who had multiple tumors ( OR=2.47, 95% CI: 1.41-4.33, P=0.002), long tumor diameter ( OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.08-1.36, P=0.031), AFP>400 μg/L ( OR=2.83, 95% CI: 1.54-5.22, P=0.015), a high S1S2index ( OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.17-1.51, P=0.025) had high incidences of MVI. The nomogram model constructed from these risk factors showed the risk of MVI in HCC patients with a mean absolute deviation of compliance between the predicted value and the true value being 0.021. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the area under ROC curve of the nomogram model which predicted MVI of HCC patients was 0.777 (95% CI: 0.720-0.835). Conclusions:Multiple tumors, long tumor diameter, AFP>400 μg/L and a high S1S2 index were independent risk factors for MVI in HCC patients. The nomogram model established by these factors accurately predicted the risk of MVI and provided a reference for better choice of treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree with suspected mitochondrial functional defects through combined next-generation sequencing (NGS), copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq), and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing. METHODS: Clinical data of the proband and his family members were collected. The patient and his parents were subjected to family-trio whole-exome sequencing (WES), CNV-seq and mtDNA variant detection. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Trio-WES revealed that the proband has carried compound heterozygous variants of the NDUFS1 gene, including a paternally derived c.64C>T (p.R22X) nonsense variant and a maternally derived c.845A>G (p.N282S) missense variant. Both variants may cause loss of protein function. No variant that may cause the phenotype was identified by CNV-seq and mtDNA variant analysis. CONCLUSION Children with suspected mitochondrial disorders may have no specific syndromes or laboratory findings. A comprehensive strategy including mtDNA testing may facilitate the diagnosis and early clinical interventions.
Child ; China ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Electron Transport ; Humans ; Mutation ; NADH Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; Pedigree

HBV can interact with alcohol in various ways to cause liver damage. Heavy drinking can accelerate the progression of chronic hepatitis B and lead to a poorer prognosis; meanwhile, it can also affect the outcome and compliance in patients receiving antiviral therapy. The epidemiology of drinking in patients with chronic hepatitis B in China remains unclear, and further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of interaction between alcohol and HBV. Drinking management should be strengthened in patients with chronic hepatitis B in clinical practice, in order to alleviate liver injury induced by alcohol.

Objective: To preliminary analysis of the characteristics of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood among 135 cases of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis patients in Huainan mining area. Methods: The peripheral bloods of 135 cases of coal worker’s pneumoconiosis patients and 112 cases of health examiners were collected. Flow cytometry was used to detect peripheral blood lymphocytes, T cell subsets and CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells. Results: Compared with the control group, CD64 index of granulocytes and lymphocytes was slightly higher. The total T cells (CD3⁺) increased in peripheral blood, CD4⁺ expression was reduced and CD8⁺ expression was increased in infection group, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio was inverted, the differences between the infection group and the control group were statistically significant (P<0.05) . There were significantly fewer NK (nature killer) and B cells, significantly more double negative T cells (DNT, CD3⁺CD4^-CD8^-) than the control group (P<0.05) . There was no statistically significant difference of CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^+low、CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^+hi and the ration of Treg/CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^+hi protein expression in peripheral blood in two groups (P>0.05) . Conclusion The analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte and subgroup is an ideal index to monitor the immune status of coal worker's pneumoconiosis patients. It has theoretical significance for studying the immune mechanism of pneumoconiosis and guiding clinical treatment.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of the cytotoxicity of human NK cells induced by atorvastatin to colon cancer cell lines. Methods:After colon cancer cells (HCT-116,SW-480,Caco-2) were cultured with different concentrations of atorvastatin, CCK-8 assay was used to assess the effect of atorvastatin on growth of colon cancer cells. The amplification of human NK cells was induced by SCGM medium in vitro. Automatic biochemical analyzer was applied to test the cytotoxicity of NK cells to colon cancer cells which cultured with different concentration of atorvastatin. FCM was used to detect the expression rate of MICA/B on the cells. Results:(1) The cultivation of NK cells:The proportion of NK cells attained to 93. 1% from 4. 5% after cultured for 10 days. (2) The effects of atorvastatin on the growth of the colon cancer cells:After cultured with atorvastatin,the inhibition rate of HCT-116 cells was higher than that in control when the density of atorvastatin increased from 5 μmol/L to 40 μmol/L after 48 h and from 1. 25 μmol/L to 40 μmol/L after 96 h ( P<0. 05 ) . Correlation analysis showed that the concentration of atorvastatin and the growth inhibition rate of HCT-116 cells were positively correlated(r[48 h]=0. 13,r[96 h]=0. 22,P<0. 05). (3) The cytotoxicity of NK cells to colon cancer cells effected after atorvastatin: In different atorvastatin concentrations groups,the cytotoxicity of NK cells to three colon cancer cell lines was all higher than that in control ( P<0. 05 ) . The atorvastatin concentration was from 2. 5 μmol/L to 10 μmol/L for HCT-116 cells,from 5 μmol/L to 20μmol/L for SW-480 cells,and from 2. 5μmol/L to 20μmol/L for Caco-2 cells. Among the three cell lines, the cytotoxicity of NK cells to HCT116 was the highest in the same concentration. (4)NK cells by atorvastatin cutting statins 96 h,the concentration of 20 mmol/L and 40 mmol/L inhibition rate was higher than that of control group,more than other groups on NK cell growth without significant effect. ( 5 ) The impact of atorvastatin on MICA/B expression of colon cancer cells: After cultured with different concentrations of atorvastatin,the expression of MICA/B on colon cancer cells was higher than that in control(P<0. 05). The concentration was 2. 5μmol/L and 5μmol/L for HCT-116 cells,10μmol/L and 20μmol/L for SW-480 cells,and from 2. 5μmol/L to 40 μmol/L for Caco-2 cells. Conclusion:Atorvastatin could inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells (HCT-116,SW-480 and Caco-2) in a dose-dependent manner;and it could enhance the cytotoxicity of NK cells to colon cancer cells;it also could promote the expression of MICA/B of colon cancer cells,and improve the immunogenicity of colon cancer cells.