Objective To investigate the distribution of abnormal karyotypes and their associations with clinical manifestations of the infertile patients in southern Sichuan Province.Methods A total of 4 157 infertile patients who attended the Reproductive Medicine Center of our hospital from July 2018 to June 2021 were included.The chromosome karyotype in peripheral blood was detected by G-banding,and their semen analysis results,uterine development and other clinical data were collected.Results Among the 4 157 patients,chromosomal polymorphisms were found in 239 cases(5.75％),and abnormal karyotypes wee found 137 cases(3.30％).The abnormal karyotypes included 57 cases(41.61％)of sex chromosome aneuploidy,6 cases(4.38％)of Robertsonian transloca-tions,32 cases(23.36％)of balanced translocations,21 cases(15.33％)of chromosomal inversions,9 cases(6.57％)of mosai-cism,8 cases(5.84％)of marker chromosomes,3 cases(2.19％)of sex reversal and 1 case(0.73％)of sex chromosome deletion.In male patients with abnormal karyotypes,91.58％showed abnormal semen parameters,while in those with polymorphic karyotypes,55％had abnormal semen parameters.The patients with Turner syndrome had significantly smaller uterine dimensions(longitudinal,transverse,and anteroposterior)compared to the normal control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion Chromosomal abnormalities should be the important cause of infertility.Conducting karyotype analysis combining with clinical manifestations is crucial examination for the di-agnosis and reproductive guidance of infertile patients.

Objective To observe the effectiveness of ultrasound wide beam(WB)-based harmonic motion imaging(HMI)(WB-HMI)for locating irradiation focus of high intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)for in vitro tissue.Methods WB-HMI technology was developed with acoustic radiation force and ultrasound imaging as the key technology.For in vitro porcine tenderloin and bovine liver tissue,different amplitude modulation(AM)frequencies(25-100 Hz)and excitation acoustic power(0.7-28 W)were used to achieve WB-HMI localization of HIFU irradiation focus,and the differences of WB-HMI localization of HIFU irradiation focus under different parameter combinations were observed.Taken the actual focus position on ultrasonic image after HIFU as the standard and the focus positioning error＜1 mm as the effective standard of WB-HMI locating irradiation focus,the locating success rate was calculated.Results The larger the acoustic power,the larger the displacement amplitude of irradiation focus by WB-HMI at the same AM frequency,while the smaller the AM frequency,the larger the displacement amplitude of irradiation focus located by WB-HMI under the same acoustic power.Under different AM frequencies,for in vitro porcine tenderloin,the success rate of WB-HMI for locating HIFU radiation focus was higher than 90.00％when acoustic power was 15 W or 22 W,whereas the success rate showed a decreasing trend when the acoustic power was 28 W.For in vitro bovine liver tissue,the success rate of WB-HMI localization was 100％when acoustic power was ≥7.0 W.Conclusion WB-HMI could be used to effectively locate HIFU irradiation focus for isolated tissue.

Objective:To investigate the impact of exogenous lactate on the replication of dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) in Raw264.7 cells, mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and THP-1 cells and explore its association with cell activation.Methods:BMDMs from BALB/c mouse bone marrow were prepared and evaluated by flow cytometry to detect the proportion of F4/80 + CD11b + cells. Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), and monocarboxylate transporters 4 (MCT4) expression at mRNA level in BMDMs at different time points after DENV-2 infection were measured by qRT-PCR. The content of lactate in the culture supernatants was quantified via colorimetric assay. CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the impacts of different concentrations of lactate on the viability of Raw264.7 cells, BMDMs, and THP-1 cells. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of DENV-2 E gene, TGF-β, CD86, retinoic acid-inducible gene Ⅰ (RIG-Ⅰ), IFN-β, interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), and ISG56 at mRNA level in cells infected with DENV-2 at different MOIs in the presence of different concentrations of lactate. Meanwhile, flow cytometry was used to analyze the expression of CD86 and CD206. Results:The percentage of BMDMs was (87.53±1.66)%. GLUT1 expression at mRNA level exhibited a decrease in BMDMs at 24 h after DENV-2 (MOI=3) infection following a transient increase at 12 h ( P<0.05), while HK2 expression at mRNA level was higher that than in blank control and inactivated DENV-2 infection groups at 12, 24, and 36 h ( P<0.01). Besides, there was an increase in both MCT4 mRNA level and the content of lactate in culture supernatants at 24 h after DENV-2 (MOI=1.5) infection ( P<0.05). The viability of the three types of cells remained above 80% when the concentration of lactate was 31.25 mmol/L. Lactate at the concentration of 35 mmol/L increased the expression of the DENV E gene at mRNA level in DENV-2-infected BMDMs at MOI=1 or MOI=2 ( P<0.05). Besides, it promoted the expression of DENV E gene at mRNA level in Raw264.7 and THP-1 cells ( P<0.001) as well as the expression of CD163, TGF-β, RIG-Ⅰ, IFN-β, ISG15 and ISG56 at mRNA level in BMDMs at MOI=1.5, but inhibited the expression of CD86 at mRNA level in BMDMs ( P<0.05). It also up-regulated CD206 protein expression ( P<0.01) and down-regulated CD86 protein expression ( P>0.05) in BMDMs. Conclusions:Exogenous lactate enhances DENV-2 replication in both human- and murine-derived macrophages and that might correlate with M2 macrophage polarization.

AIM:To investigate the effects of astragalin(AST)on activation status of astrocytes and the ex-pression level of autophagy-related proteins in the cortex of the anterior cingulate cortex of mice with a complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA)-induced inflammatory pain model.METHODS:Twenty-four 6-month-old male C57BL/6 mice were ran-domly divided into four groups:control group,saline group,CFA model group and CFA+60 mg/kg AST administration group,and six mice in each group.Mice in the AST administration group received 60 mg/kg AST by intraperitoneal injec-tion on a body weight basis for 21 d.The paw withdrawal threshold in each group of mice was evaluated by the von Frey test.The expression levels of autophagy-related factors LC3,p62,ATG12 and beclin-1,and astrocyte activation were de-tected by multiplex immunofluorescence staining in the anterior cingulate cortex of mice in each group.Western blot was used to measure the levels of autophagy-related proteins LC3,p62,ATG12 and beclin-1 in the anterior cingulate cortex of mice in each group.RESULTS:Behavioural tests showed that AST significantly increased mechanical pain thresholds in CFA mice(P＜0.05).The results from multiple immunofluorescent staining showed that AST significantly increased the fluorescence intensity of LC3(P＜0.01),ATG12(P＜0.01)and beclin-1(P＜0.05),attenuated the fluorescence intensi-ty of p62(P＜0.05),and inhibited the activation of astrocytes in the anterior cingulate cortex of CFA mice.Western blot results further confirmed that AST significantly increased the expressions of LC3(P＜0.01),ATG12(P＜0.01),beclin-1(P＜0.01),and decreased the expression of p62(P＜0.05)in the anterior cingulate cortex of CFA mice.CONCLU-SION:AST relieves CFA-induced inflammatory pain of mice,and its analgesic mechanism may be related to the inhibi-tion of activation of cortical astrocytes in the anterior cingulate cortex and the promotion of autophagy in CFA mice.

OBJECTIVE: To provide prenatal diagnosis, pedigree analysis and genetic counseling for a pregnant woman who had given birth to a child featuring global developmental delay. METHODS: A pregnant woman who underwent prenatal diagnosis at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University in August 2021 was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the woman, her husband and child, in addition with amniotic fluid sample during mid-pregnancy. Genetic variants were detected by G-banded karyotyping analysis and copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq). Pathogenicity of the variant was predicted based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Candidate variant was traced in the pedigree to assess the recurrence risk. RESULTS: The karyotypes of the pregnant woman, her fetus, and affected child were 46,XX,ins(18)(p11.2q21q22), 46,X?,rec(18)dup(18)(q21q22)ins(18)(p11.2q21q22)mat and 46,XY,rec(18)del(18)(q21q22)ins(18)(p11.2q21q22)mat, respectively. Her husband was found to have a normal karyotype. CNV-seq has revealed a 19.73 Mb duplication at 18q21.2-q22.3 in the fetus and a 19.77 Mb deletion at 18q21.2-q22.3 in her child. The duplication and deletion fragments were identical to the insertional fragment in the pregnant woman. Based on the ACMG guidelines, the duplication and deletion fragments were both predicted to be pathogenic. CONCLUSION The intrachromosomal insertion of 18q21.2-q22.3 carried by the pregnant woman had probably given rise to the 18q21.2-q22.3 duplication and deletion in the two offspring. Above finding has provided a basis for genetic counseling for this pedigree.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; East Asian People ; Pedigree ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18/genetics* ; Male ; Fetus ; INDEL Mutation

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. It is highly contagious and can cause death in severe cases. As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 6:36 pm Central European Summer Time (CEST), 12 August 2022, there had been 585 950 285 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6 425 422 deaths (WHO, 2022).
Humans ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Mental Health ; Cohort Studies ; Quality of Life ; China/epidemiology* ; Health Personnel ; Hospitals ; Lung

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics, laboratory characteristics and genetic diagnosis of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency (AADCD), and to improve the understanding of this disease.Methods:Four children diagnosed with AADCD from the Department of Neurology, Beijing Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from August 2016 to June 2020 were collected, and their clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging data, and genetic test results were retrospectively analyzed.Results:All the 4 cases were diagnosed in early infancy, with the first symptom of feeding difficulties. They developed paroxysmal dyspraxia accompanied by eye movement crisis, movement regression, hypotonia, growth retardation, sleep disorders and autonomic nervous symptoms such as ptosis, excessive sweating and nasal congestion at the age of 2-4 months, respectively. The 4 children were siblings from 2 families with healthy parents. The dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase ( DDC) gene mutations in cases 1 and 2 were derived from the maternal missense mutation c.1040G>A(P.RG347gln), and from the paternal deletion of exons 11 and 12, respectively. The DDC gene mutation in case 3 was derived from the maternal mutation c.419G>A(p.G140E) and the paternal mutation c.1375C>T(p.H459Y), respectively. Case 4 did not undergo genetic testing. Blood amino acid and acylcarnitine profiles and urine organic acid analyses were performed in 3 cases, and no specific abnormalities were found. In case 3, the results of 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD) screening by blood dry filter paper increased significantly. Cerebrospinal fluid neurotransmitter detection results showed that the concentrations of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyldiol, vanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were significantly decreased, while the levels of 5-hydroxytryptophan and 3-OMD were increased in case 3. Blood aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) activity decreased significantly in case 3. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalogram (EEG) examinations were performed in cases 1, 3, and 4, among which the cranial MRI in case 1 was normal, while the cranial MRI in cases 3 and 4 suggested that myelination was slightly backward. The EEG was normal in all the 3 cases. Cases 1 and 2 died of pneumonia and respiratory failure at the age of 1 year and 10 months. Case 3 was given clonazepam, benxel hydrochloride tablets and vitamin B6 tablets orally after diagnosis at the age of 4 months, and then treated with selegiline hydrochloride tablets and pramexol hydrochloride tablets. At the follow-up of 1 year and 6 months, the frequency of eye movement crisis and movement disorder was reduced, sleep was improved and autonomic nervous symptoms were alleviated, but there was no improvement in developmental delay. Case 4 was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, but failed various antiepileptic drugs and rehabilitation training, and died at the age of 10 due to heart failure and kidney failure. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of AADCD are complicated and the misdiagnosis rate is high. Infants with early-onset hypotonia, developmental retardation, eye movement crisis, and movement disorders should be screened with dry filter paper as soon as possible for 3-OMD level, and suspicious cases should be diagnosed by cerebrospinal fluid neurotransmitter detection, plasma AADC activity determination, and gene examination. Early diagnosis of AADCD in children and gene mutation carriers can guide treatment and provide genetic counseling to reduce the incidence of the offspring.

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the leading cause of drug-induced liver injury, and its prognosis depends on the balance between hepatocyte death and regeneration. Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) has been reported to protect against oxidative stress-associated DNA damage. But whether SIRT6 regulates APAP-induced hepatotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, the protein expression of nuclear and total SIRT6 was up-regulated in mice liver at 6 and 48 h following APAP treatment, respectively.

It is known that LINC01018 and CDK6 are associated with the occurrence, progression and recurrence of malignant tumor. Our preliminary data showed that the expression of LINC01018 was down-regulated and that of CDK6 was up-regulated, which were related with the malignancy grade. Bioinformatics suggested that E2F1 binding site exist in the CDK6 promoter region, and LINC01018 might interact with E2F1. Thus we speculate that the expression of LINC01018 in malignant tumor is decreased. The interaction between LINC01018 and E2F1 activates E2F1, promotes the transcription activation of CDK6, and affects tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. All these are expected to reveal the effect and mechanisms of LINC01018 in the development and regulation of malignant tumor, and provide new ideas and evidences for its treatment.