OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for fetus with bilateral lateral ventriculomegaly. METHODS: Fetus umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood samples of its parents were collected. The fetus was subjected to chromosomal karyotyping, whilst the fetus and its parents were subjected to array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). The candidate copy number variation (CNV) were verified by qPCR, Application goldeneye DNA identification system was used to confirm the parental relationship. RESULTS: The fetus was found to have a normal karyotype. aCGH analysis indicated that it has carried a 1.16 Mb deletion at 17p13.3, which partially overlapped with the critical region of Miller-Dieker syndrome (MDS), in addition with a 1.33 Mb deletion at 17p12 region, which is associated with hereditary stress-susceptible peripheral neuropathy (HNPP). Its mother was also found to harbor the 1.33 Mb deletion at 17p12. qPCR analysis confirmed that the expression levels of genes from the 17p13.3 and 17p12 regions were about the half of that in the normal control, as well as the maternal peripheral blood sample. Parental relationship was confirmed between the fetus and its parents. Following genetic counseling, the parents has chosen to continue with the pregnancy. CONCLUSION The fetus was diagnosed with Miller-Dieker syndrome due to the de novo deletion at 17p13.3. Ventriculomegaly may be an important indicator for prenatal ultrasonography in fetuses with MDS.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Classical Lissencephalies and Subcortical Band Heterotopias ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Fetus ; Hydrocephalus ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Chromosome Deletion

OBJECTIVE: To carry out carrier screening for Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in reproductive-aged individuals from Dongguan region and determine the carrier frequency of SMN1 gene mutations. METHODS: Reproductive-aged individuals who underwent SMN1 genetic screening at the Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from March 2020 to August 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Deletions of exon 7 and 8 (E7/E8) of the SMN1 gene were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR), and prenatal diagnosis was provided for carrier couples by multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). RESULTS: Among the 35 145 subjects, 635 were found to be carriers of SMN1 E7 deletion (586 with heterozygous E7/E8 deletion, 2 with heterozygous E7 deletion and homozygous E8 deletion, and 47 with sole heterozygous E7 deletion). The carrier frequency was 1.81% (635/35 145), with 1.59% (29/1 821) in males and 1.82% (606/33 324) in females. There was no significant difference between the two genders (χ² = 0.497, P = 0.481). A 29-year-old woman was found to harbor homozygous deletion of SMN1 E7/E8, and was verified to have a SMN1∶SMN2 ratio of [0∶4], none of her three family members with a [0∶4] genotype had clinical symptoms. Eleven carrier couples had accepted prenatal diagnosis, and one fetus was found to have a [0∶4] genotype, and the pregnancy was terminated. CONCLUSION This study has determined the SMA carrier frequency in Dongguan region for the first time and provided prenatal diagnosis for carrier couples. The data can provide a reference for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis, which has important clinical implications for the prevention and control of birth defects associated with SMA.
Humans ; Child ; Pregnancy ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Homozygote ; Sequence Deletion ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Genetic Testing ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/genetics* ; Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein/genetics* ; Genetic Carrier Screening

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree with 6q26q27 microduplication and 15q26.3 microdeletion. METHODS: A fetus with a 6q26q27 microduplication and a 15q26.3 microdeletion diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in January 2021 and members of its pedigree were selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the fetus was collected. The fetus and its parents were analyzed by G-banding karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and its maternal grandparents were also subjected to G-banding karyotype analysis. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasound had indicated intrauterine growth retardation of the fetus, though no karyotypic abnormality was found with the amniotic fluid sample and blood samples from its pedigree members. CMA revealed that the fetus has carried a 6.6 Mb microduplication in 6q26q27 and a 1.9 Mb microdeletion in 15q26.3, and his mother also carried a 6.49 duplication and a 1.867 deletion in the same region. No anomaly was found with its father. CONCLUSION The 6q26q27 microduplication and 15q26.3 microdeletion probably underlay the intrauterine growth retardation in this fetus.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; East Asian People ; Fetal Growth Retardation/genetics* ; Karyotype ; Pedigree ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sequence Deletion ; Chromosome Duplication

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of a fetus with 17q12 microdeletion syndrome. METHODS: A fetus with 17q12 microdeletion syndrome who was diagnosed at Huzhou Maternal & Child Health Care Hospital in June 2020 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the fetus was collected. The fetus was subjected to chromosomal karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). To determine the origin of fetal chromosomal abnormality, its parents were also subjected to CMA assay. The postnatal phenotype of the fetus was also investigated. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasound revealed polyhydramnios and fetal renal dysplasia. The fetus was found to have a normal chromosomal karyotype. CMA has detected a 1.9 Mb deletion in the 17q12 region, which has encompassed five OMIM genes including HNF1B, ACACA, ZNHIT3, CCL3L1 and PIGW. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the 17q12 microdeletion was predicted as pathogenic copy number variation (CNV). CMA analysis has detected no pathogenic CNV in both parents. After birth, the child was found to have renal cysts and abnormal brain structure. Combined with the prenatal findings, the child was diagnosed with 17q12 microdeletion syndrome. CONCLUSION The fetus has 17q12 microdeletion syndrome presenting as abnormalities of the kidney and central nervous system, which are strongly correlated with functional defects of the deletion region involving the HNF1B and other pathogenic genes.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Chromosome Deletion ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Chromosome Disorders/genetics* ; Kidney ; Fetus ; Microarray Analysis ; Prenatal Diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of two children with Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS). METHODS: Two children who had presented at the Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University respectively on January 26 and March 18, 2021 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data and results of genetic testing of the two patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Both children had featured developmental delay, characteristic facies and cardiovascular malformation. Child 1 also had subclinical hypothyroidism, whilst child 2 had occurrence of epilepsy. Genetic testing revealed that child 1 has harbored a 1.54 Mb deletion in the 7q11.23 region, whilst child 2 has a 1.53 Mb deletion in the same region, in addition with a c.158G>A variant of the ATP1A1 gene and a c.12181A>G variant of the KMT2C gene. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the c.158G>A and c.12181A>G variants were rated as variants of unknown significance (PM1+PM2_Supporting+PP2+PP3；PM2_Supporting). CONCLUSION Both children had characteristic features of WBS, for which deletions of the 7q11.23 region may be accountable. For children manifesting developmental delay, facial dysmorphism and cardiovascular malformations, the diagnosis of WBS should be suspected, and genetic testing should be recommended to confirm the diagnosis.
Child ; Humans ; Williams Syndrome/diagnosis* ; Genetic Testing ; Facies ; Epilepsy/genetics* ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7/genetics* ; Chromosome Deletion

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of two patients with developmental delay and intellectual disability. METHODS: Two children who were respectively admitted to Henan Provincial People's Hospital on August 29, 2021 and August 5, 2019 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data were collected, and array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was carried out on the children and their parents for the detection of chromosomal microduplication/microdeletions. RESULTS: Patient 1 was a 2-year-and-10-month female and patient 2 was a 3-year-old female. Both children had featured developmental delay, intellectual disability, and abnormal findings on cranial MRI. aCGH revealed that patient 1 has harbored arr[hg19] 6q14.2q15(84621837_90815662)×1, a 6.19 Mb deletion at 6q14.2q15, which encompassed ZNF292, the pathogenic gene for Autosomal dominant intellectual developmental disorder 64. Patient 2 has harbored arr[hg19] 22q13.31q13.33(46294326_51178264)×1, a 4.88 Mb deletion at 22q13.31q13.33 encompassing the SHANK3 gene, haploinsufficiency of which can lead to Phelan-McDermid syndrome. Both deletions were classified as pathogenic CNVs based on the guidelines of American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and were not found in their parents. CONCLUSION The 6q14.2q15 deletion and 22q13-31q13.33 deletion probably underlay the developmental delay and intellectual disability in the two children, respectively. Haploinsufficiency of the ZNF292 gene may account for the key clinical features of the 6q14.2q15 deletion.
Humans ; Child ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Chromosome Disorders/genetics* ; Chromosome Deletion ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Developmental Disabilities/genetics* ; Carrier Proteins/genetics* ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics*

Humans ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosome Duplication

OBJECTIVE: To construct a modABC gene knockout strain of Proteus mirabilis and explore the effect of modABC gene deletion on biological characteristics of Proteus mirabilis. METHODS: Fusion PCR was used to obtain the fusion gene of modABC and the kanamycin-resistant gene Kn, which was ligated with the suicide vector pCVD442 and transduced into Proteus mirabilis. The modABC gene knockout strain of Proteus mirabilis was obtained after homologous recombination with the suicide vector. PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to identify genomic deletion of modABC gene in the genetically modified strain. The concentration of molybdate in the wild-type and gene knockout strains was determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and their survival ability in LB medium was compared under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. RESULTS: PCR and sanger sequencing confirmed genomic deletion of modABC gene in the obtained Proteus mirabilis strain. The concentration of intracellular molybdenum in the modABC gene knockout strain was 1.22 mg/kg, significantly lower than that in the wild-type strain (1.46 mg/kg, P < 0.001). Under the aerobic condition, the modABC gene knockout strain grown in LB medium showed no significant changes in survival ability compared with the wild-type strain, but its proliferation rate decreased significantly under the anaerobic condition and also when cultured in nitrate-containing LB medium under anaerobic condition. CONCLUSION Homologous recombination with the suicide vector can be used for modABC gene knockout in Proteus mirabilis. modABC gene participates in molybdate uptake and is associated with anaerobic growth of Proteus mirabilis in the presence of nitrate.
Humans ; Gene Deletion ; Nitrates ; Proteus mirabilis/genetics* ; Gene Knockout Techniques

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of pharmacogenetic testing for improving the efficacy and safety of treatment with cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and cyclophosphamide (CTX) for PLA2R-related membranous nephropathy and for determing individualized and precise treatment plans for the patients. METHODS: A total of 63 patients with PLA2R-related membranous nephropathy hospitalized in the Department of Nephrology at our hospital from January, 2019 to October, 2021 were enrolled in this study. Thirty-three of the patients underwent pharmacogenetic testing before taking the immunosuppressive drugs selected based on the results of genetic screening for sensitive targets, and the other 30 patients were empirically given immunosuppressive drugs according to the guidelines (control group). The clinical efficacy and adverse effects of the immunosuppressive drugs were analyzed for all the patients. The two groups of patients were compared for demographic and biochemical parameters including 24-h urine protein, serum albumin, renal function, and serum anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody both before and at 3 months after the beginning of the treatment. RESULTS: Among the 33 patients undergoing pharmacogenetic testing, 51.5% showed a GG genotype for cyclosporine, and 61.6% had an AG genotype for tacrolimus; for CTX, 51.5% of the patients showed a homozygous deletion and 63.6% had an AA genotype. After treatment for 3 months, serum anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody, 24-h urine protein, and serum albumin levels were significantly improved in pharmacogenetic testing group as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Individualized and precise administration of immunosuppressive drugs based on pharmacogenetic testing better controls proteinuria and serum antiphospholipase A2 receptor antibodies and increases serum albumin level in patients with PLA2R-related membranous nephropathy.
Humans ; Autoantibodies ; Cyclosporine/therapeutic use* ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous/diagnosis* ; Homozygote ; Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Pharmacogenomic Testing ; Receptors, Phospholipase A2 ; Sequence Deletion ; Serum Albumin ; Tacrolimus/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the incidence of azoospermia factor c (AZFc) microdeletion among patients with azoospermia or severe oligospermia, its association with sex hormone/chromosomal karyotype, and its effect on the outcome of pregnancy following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. METHODS: A total of 1 364 males with azoospermia or severe oligospermia who presented at the Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Jiaxing College between 2013 and 2020 were subjected to AZF microdeletion and chromosome karyotyping analysis. The level of reproductive hormones in patients with AZFc deletions was compared with those of control groups A (with normal sperm indices) and B (azoospermia or severe oligospermia without AZFc microdeletion). The outcome of pregnancies for the AZFc-ICSI couples was compared with that of the control groups in regard to fertilization rate, superior embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate. RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were found to harbor AZFc microdeletion, which yielded a detection rate of 3.74%. Seven patients also had chromosomal aberrations. Compared with control group A, patients with AZFc deletion had higher levels of PRL, FSH and LH (P < 0.05), whilst compared with control group B, only the PRL and FSH were increased (P < 0.05). Twenty two AZFc couples underwent ICSI treatment, and no significant difference was found in the rate of superior embryos and clinical pregnancy between the AZFc-ICSI couples and the control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION The incidence of AZFc microdeletion was 3.74% among patients with azoospermia or severe oligospermia. AZFc microdeletion was associated with chromosomal aberrations and increased levels of PRL, FSH and LH, but did not affect the clinical pregnancy rate after ICSI treatment.
Child ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Oligospermia/genetics* ; Incidence ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; Semen ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/genetics*