Hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma with tendon contractures, myopathy, and pulmonary fibrosis (POIKTMP) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder. It may also involve many other organ systems, leading to complications such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, liver dysfunction, lymphedema, and developmental delay. The FAM111B has been determined as the pathogenic gene associated with POIKTMP syndrome, whose protein product plays a critical role in regulating essential cellular processes including DNA repair and replication, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, nuclear transport, and telomere length maintenance. This article has provided a comprehensive review for the genetic basis of POIKTMP syndrome and its correlation with various phenotypes, which may offer insights for basic research and clinical diagnosis of this disease.
Humans ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/genetics* ; Skin Diseases, Genetic/genetics*

Dent disease is a rare X-linked recessive inherited renal tubular disorder characterized by low molecular weight proteinuria (LMWP), hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis, and other clinical features, and can lead to progressive renal failure. It is primarily caused by mutations in the CLCN5 gene. This article reports the case of a 10-year-old male patient of Chinese descent who was incidentally found to have asymptomatic proteinuria during a routine health examination. Comprehensive biochemical testing and clinical evaluation revealed significant LMWP and hypercalciuria, while renal biopsy showed mesangial cell and matrix proliferation. Whole exome sequencing identified a novel deletion mutation in the CLCN5 gene (NM_001127899.4, c.1158delC, p.F387Lfs*42) causing a frameshift and premature termination, which is likely to disrupt its role in chloride/hydrogen ion exchange and endosomal acidification. Bioinformatic analysis indicated the variant is pathogenic. Genetic testing plays an important role in diagnosing rare kidney diseases. Early identification of pathogenic mutations is essential for facilitating timely intervention and appropriate management, potentially enhancing patient outcomes. This report expands the CLCN5 mutation spectrum and contributes to understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms of Dent disease.
Humans ; Chloride Channels/genetics* ; Dent Disease/genetics* ; Male ; Child ; Computational Biology ; Mutation ; Proteinuria/genetics* ; Hypercalciuria/genetics*

Objective:To explore the acupoint selection law in acupuncture and moxibustion in treating postpartum incontinence by using data mining technology.Methods:The clinical research literature on acupuncture and moxibustion treatment for postpartum incontinence was retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP, CBM, China Medical Journal Full-text Database, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science from the establishment of the databases to February 1, 2023. The acupoint prescription database was established using Excel 2016 and conducting frequency statistics of acupoints, meridians and specific acupoints. Clustering analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics 25.0, and association rule analysis was performed using SPSS Modeler 18.0.Results:A total of 70 articles were included, involving 70 acupuncture prescriptions and including 31 acupoints with a total frequency of 384 times. The top five acupoints were Sanyinjiao (SP6, 46 times), Guanyuan (CV4, 45 times), Zusanli (ST36, 43 times), Zhongji (RN3, 41 times), and Qihai (CV6, 38 times). The commonly used meridians were Conception Vessel, bladder meridian and spleen meridian. The involved acupoints were mostly located in the lower limbs and belly, and most of them were Jiaohui, Mu and Wushu acupoints. Five effective clustering groups were obtained by clustering analysis of high frequency acupoints. The core acupoint combination of association rules was Sanyinjiao (SP6)-Zusanli (ST36)-Guanyuan (CV4)-Qihai (CV6)-Zhongji (RN3).Conclusions:The pathogenesis of postpartum urinary incontinence is mainly characterized by qi deficiency. Acupuncture and moxibustion treatment of postpartum urinary incontinence follows the principles of invigorating qi and tonifying spleen, nourishing lung and tonifying kidney, paying attention to the use of acupoints in abdomen and lower limbs, and using the methods of upper and lower acupoints, anterior and posterior acupoints.

Char syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by patent ductus arteriosus, facial dysmorphism, and dysplasia of fingers/toes. It may also be associated with multiple papillae, dental dysplasia, and sleep disorders. TFAP2B has proven to be a pathogenic gene for neural crest derivation and development, and several variants of this gene have been identified. Bone morphogenetic protein signaling plays an important role in embryonic development by participating in limb growth and patterning, and regulation of neural crest cell development. TFAP2B is an upstream regulatory gene for bone morphogenetic proteins 2 and 4. Variants of the TFAP2B gene may lead to abnormal proliferation of neural crest cells by affecting the expression of bone morphogenetic proteins, resulting in multiple organ dysplasia syndrome. In addition, TFAP2B variants may only lead to patent ductus arteriosus instead of typical Char syndrome.

Objective:To screen mutations of the adenosine triphosphate(ATP)-binding cassette transporter A3(ABCA3)gene in elderly Chinese individuals with lung interstitial diseases(ILDs)and to analyze the clinical characteristics of ILDs in elderly patients.Methods:A prospective study, After further image analysis of patients diagnosed with interstitial lung diseases between September 2015 and December 2018 at the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 103 patients were willing to provide peripheral blood samples and signed informed consent.DNA samples were extracted and whole exome sequencing was performed to screen ABCA3 gene mutations.Clinical data of patients were summarized and analyzed.Results:Seven rare variants of the ABCA3 gene were identified in 6 patients, with a mean age of 67 years(69-73 years)and an equal sex distribution, and 33.3%(2/6)were smokers.The most notable presentation was diffuse lung lesions.Patients' final diagnoses included idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF, 3/6), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia(NSIP, 1/6), and IgG4-related lung disease(2/6). Meanwhile, compound heterozygous mutations of the ABCA3 gene responsible for IPF were identified in patient No.39, including p. Asp1465Asn, p.Leu3Vval and p. Val93Ile3, a new finding in patients with ILDs.Conclusions:ABCA3 mutation-related lung interstitial diseases exhibit variable characteristics, with differences in the age of onset, clinical manifestations, imaging features and prognosis between patients.ABCA3 mutations responsible for early-onset ILDs are mostly homozygous or compound heterozygous and usually highly pathogenic nonsense mutations.In contrast, ABCA3 mutations identified in elderly patients with ILDs are often missense mutations, a possible explanation for the variability of ILDs in the elderly.Since patients with ILDs caused by ABCA3 variants respond poorly to currently available treatment options, early genetic diagnosis may benefit patients by enhancing disease awareness.

Objective To investigate the correlations between lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2),platelet aggregation rate(PAG),the ratio of mean platelet volume to platelet count(MPV/PLT)and major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in elderly patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods The clinical data of 162 elderly patients with CHD admitted to Jianhu Hospital affiliated to Nantong University from August 2020 to September 2021 were collected retrospectively.All the patients were treated with aspirin orally and followed up for 1 year.The development of MACE within 1 year was recorded.MACE occurred in 30 patients(development group)and the other 132 patients without MACE were assigned to non-development group.Serum Lp-PLA2,PAG,and MPV/PLT were compared between the 2 groups at admission.Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between these parameters and MACE in elderly CHD patients.Receiver operating character(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the value of serum Lp-PLA2,PAG,MPV/PLT alone and jointly at admission in predicting MACE within 1 year.Results The proportions of patients with age≥75 years and hypertension in the development group were significantly higher than those in the non-development group(P<0.05).Serum Lp-PLA2,PAG,MPV/PLT in the development group were also significantly higher than those in the non-development group(P<0.05).Binary logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension,Lp-PLA2,PAG,and MPV/PLT were influence factors of MACE in elderly CHD patients(P<0.05).ROC curve results showed that the area under curve(AUC)values of Lp-PLA2,PAG,MPV/PLT alone or jointly were 0.832,0.817,0.841 and 0.939 in predicting MACE in elderly CHD patients.Conclusion Overexpression of Lp-PLA2,PAG and MPV/PLT are closely related to the development of MACE in elderly CHD patients.During hospitalization,the risk of MACE can be assessed by detecting Lp-PLA2,PAG,and MPV/PLT,and timely clinical intervention can be carried out.

Objective: To examine the effects of obesity and central obesity on hypertension, so as to provide insights into the prevention and control measures of hypertension. Methods: From September to December 2018, residents at ages of 35 to 75 years were sampled using the multi-stage random sampling method in Baiyin District, Baiyin City, Gansu Province, and subjected to questionnaire surveys and physical examinations. The interaction between obesity/central obesity and hypertension was evaluated using logistic regression analysis. The synergy index ( SI ), relative excess risk due to interaction ( RERI ) and attributable proportion due to interaction ( AP ) were calculated using Excel compiled by Andersson et al. Results: A total of 6 246 questionnaires were allocated and 6 169 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 98.77%. The respondents included 3 038 men ( 49.25% ) and 3 131 women (50.75%), with a mean age of ( 52.05±8.78 ) years. There were 832 respondents with obesity ( 13.49% ) and 2 278 with central obesity ( 36.93% ). The crude and standardized prevalence rates of hypertension were 35.89% and 33.05%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that obesity ( OR=2.020, 95%CI: 1.705-2.393 ) and central obesity ( OR=1.622, 95%CI: 1.433-1.836 ) were statistically associated with hypertension. There was no multiplicative interaction between obesity or central obesity and hypertension ( OR=1.011, 95%CI: 0.655-1.560 ), and no additive interaction was detected between obesity or central obesityand hypertension ( SI=1.405, 95%CI: 0.815-2.424; RERI=0.658, 95%CI: -0.298 to 1.614; AP=0.201, 95%CI: -0.075 to 0.476 ). Conclusions Obesity and central obesity increase the risk of hypertension; however, no interaction is detected between obesity or central obesity and hypertension.

Clinical data of 26 patients with proton pump inhibitor dependent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who underwent anti-reflux mucosectomy (ARMS) in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from July 2017 to December 2020 were reviewed, and the GERD questionnaire (GERD-Q) score, the short-form reflux-qual (RQS) score, esophageal motility and 24 h esophageal pH parameters before and after ARMS were compared. With a median follow-up period of 18.4 months (6-27 months), 23 (88.5%) patients reported symptomatic improvement and 15 (57.7%) patients discontinued the use of proton pump inhibitors. After ARMS, the mean scores of GERD-Q (6.23 VS 13.19, P=0.004) and RQS (26.67 VS 10.98, P<0.001) were significantly improved, the mean DeMeester score (10.69 VS 53.15, P<0.001), the mean acid exposure time percentage (3.56% VS 9.92%, P<0.001) and the mean number of acid reflux episodes (36.9 VS 139.9, P=0.001) were lower, and the mean rest pressure at lower esophageal sphincter (LES) (25.19 mmHg VS 13.63 mmHg, P<0.001) and the mean distal contractile integral (1 819.15 mmHg·s·cm VS 1 007.67 mmHg·s·cm, P<0.001) were significantly increased compared with those before surgery. ARMS has significant short-term efficacy in the treatment of proton pump inhibitor dependent GERD, which can effectively improve reflux symptoms and life quality of patients, and strengthen the rest pressure of LES and peristalsis of the esophageal body.

Objective : To investigate the interaction between intracellular chloride ion protein 1(CLIC1) and activated protein kinase C receptor 1 ( RACK1) . Methods : Plasmids pcDNA3. 1⁃RACK1⁃HA and/or pcDNA3. 1 ⁃CLIC1⁃FLAG were transfected into HEK 293T cells, and pcDNA3. 1⁃RACK1⁃HA and/or pcDNA3. 1⁃CLIC1⁃FLAG were transfected into COS7. GST⁃pulldown and immunoprecipitation assays were performed to determine the interaction between CLIC1 and RACK1 in vivo and in vitro. The co⁃localization of CLIC1 and RACK1 was observed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Results : Western blot confirmed that CLIC1 and RACK1 could be highly expressed in HEK 293T cells. GST⁃pulldown showed that RACK1 bound CLIC1 in vitro, and immunoprecipitation showed that CLIC1 and RACK1 interacted in vivo. Furthermore, indirect immunofluorescence assay showed CLIC1 co⁃localized with RACK1 . Conclusion Human CLIC1 protein interacts with RACK1 in vitro and in vivo.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease with unknown etiology and limited therapeutic options. Activation of fibroblasts is a prominent feature of pulmonary fibrosis. Here we report that lncRNA DACH1 (dachshund homolog 1) is downregulated in the lungs of IPF patients and in an experimental mouse model of lung fibrosis. LncDACH1 knockout mice develop spontaneous pulmonary fibrosis, whereas overexpression of LncDACH1 attenuated TGF-β1-induced aberrant activation, collagen deposition and differentiation of mouse lung fibroblasts. Similarly, forced expression of LncDACH1 not only prevented bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis, but also reversed established lung fibrosis in a BLM model. Mechanistically, LncDACH1 binding to the serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) protein decreases its activity and inhibits the accumulation of Ctnnb1. Enhanced expression of SRSF1 blocked the anti-fibrotic effect of LncDACH1 in lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, loss of LncDACH1 promoted proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in mouse lung fibroblasts, whereas such effects were abolished by silencing of Ctnnb1. In addition, a conserved fragment of LncDACH1 alleviated hyperproliferation, ECM deposition and differentiation of MRC-5 cells driven by TGF-β1. Collectively, LncDACH1 inhibits lung fibrosis by interacting with SRSF1 to suppress CTNNB1 accumulation, suggesting that LncDACH1 might be a potential therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis.