[Objective] To resolve the ambiguities of HLA genotyping generated by next generation sequencing (NGS) using nanopore sequencing technology. [Methods] A total of 38 samples with ambiguous HLA genotyping by NGS in our laboratory were collected, and HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DRB3/4/5, -DQA1, -DQB1, -DPA1 and -DPB1 loci in these samples were amplified using primers in the same commercial NGS HLA genotyping kit, then subjected to third-generation library construction, and sequenced on the nanopore sequencer. The sequencing data were converted into Fastq files and analyzed by software, and the genotypes of 11 HLA loci were obtained. The ambiguities were counted directly. [Results] The high-resolution genotyping at the second domain of 11 HLA loci of 38 samples using the third generation sequencing (TGS) were consistent with the results of the NGS method at a rate of 100%. The genotypes for the HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB3, -DRB4, -DQA1 and -DPA1 loci by TGS were all only one result, and the discrimination rate for ambiguities of the HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DQA1 loci (all caused by the difficulty in phasing due to the short NGS read length) was 100%. Among the HLA-DRB1, -DRB5, -DQB1 and -DPB1 loci, the discrimination rate of TGS for the ambiguities caused by non-amplification of exon 1 was 0% and by the short NGS read length was 100%. [Conclusion] Nanopore technology was used to identify the ambiguities of 11 HLA loci in this study, and the ambiguities caused by the short read length disadvantage of the NGS method could be solved effectively and the accuracy of HLA genotyping would be improved.

Objective: To summarize the laboratory findings of a case of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) caused by Rh system anti-c antibodies and to review the literature, so as to explore the characteristics of anti-c HDFN. Methods: The ABO blood type, Rh blood type, direct antiglobulin test (DAT) results, and the presence of unexpected antibodies and their titers were determined by serological methods. The cases of anti-c HDFN in our laboratory in China and abroad were statistically analyzed, and the incidence of severe HDFN caused by anti-c, anti-D and anti-E was compared. Results: The blood type of the child was B (Rh CcDee) with a positive DAT. Anti-c antibody was detected in both serum and eluate, with a serum antibody titer of 4. The mother’s blood type was AB (Rh CCDee) with a negative DAT, and anti-c antibody was detected in the serum with a titer of 128. Among 20 cases of anti-c HDFN, 17 were DAT positive, and 9 (45%, 9/20) underwent blood transfusion or exchange transfusion. The incidence of severe HDFN was 47.60% (10/21) for anti-c, 47.60% (10/21) for anti-D and 31.30% (5/16) for anti-E. Conclusion: Maternal pregnancy and/or blood transfusion are the main reasons for the production of Rh alloantibodies such as anti-c. The prevention and management of anti-c should be similar to that of anti-D. Rh antigen-matched (five antigens of Rh blood group) transfusion is necessary for women of childbearing age to avoid antibody production, and Rh typing and antibody screening during prenatal examination is recommended to ensure early detection, intervention and treatment.

Intelligence encompasses various abilities, including logical reasoning, comprehension, self-awareness, learning, planning, creativity, and problem-solving. Extensive research and practical experience suggest that there are sex differences in intellectual development, with females typically maturing earlier than males. However, the key genes and molecular network mechanisms underlying these sex differences in intellectual development remain unclear. To date, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have identified 507 genes that are significantly associated with intelligence. This study first analyzed RNA sequencing data from different stages of brain development (from BrainSpan), revealing that during the late embryonic stage, the average expression levels of intelligence-related genes are higher in males than in females, while the opposite is observed during puberty. This study further constructed interaction networks of intelligence-related genes with sex-differential expression in the brain, including the prenatal male network (HELP-M: intelligence genes with higher expression levels in prenatal males) and the pubertal female network (HELP-F: intelligence genes with higher expression levels in pubertal females). The findings indicate that the key genes in both networks are Ep300 and Ctnnb1. Specifically, Ep300 regulates the transcription of 53 genes in both HELP-M and HELP-F, while Ctnnb1 regulates the transcription of 45 genes. Ctnnb1 plays a more prominent role in HELP-M, while Ep300 is more crucial in HELP-F. Finally, this study conducted sequencing validation on rats at different developmental stages, and the results indicated that in the prefrontal cortex of female rats during adolescence, the expression levels of the intelligence genes in HELP-F, as well as key genes Ep300 and Ctnnb1, were higher than those in male rats. These genes were also involved in neurodevelopment-related biological processes. The findings reveal a sex-differentiated intelligence gene network and its key genes, which exhibit varying expression levels during the neurodevelopmental process.
Female ; Intelligence/physiology* ; Male ; Sex Characteristics ; Animals ; Brain/growth & development* ; E1A-Associated p300 Protein/physiology* ; beta Catenin/physiology* ; Transcriptome ; Rats ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome-Wide Association Study

Polygonati Rhizoma demonstrates significant potential for addressing both chronic and hidden hunger. The supply of high-quality seedlings is a primary factor influencing the development of the Polygonati Rhizoma industry. Warm water soaking is often used in agriculture to promote the rapid germination of seeds, while its application and molecular mechanism in Polygonati Rhizoma have not been reported. To rapidly obtain high-quality seedlings, this study treated Polygonatum kingianum var. grandifolium seeds with sand storage at low temperatures, warm water soaking, and cultivation temperature gradients. The results showed that the culture at 25 ℃ or sand storage at 4 ℃ for 2 months rapidly broke the seed dormancy of P. kingianum var. grandifolium, while the culture at 20 ℃ or sand storage at 4 ℃ for 1 month failed to break the seed dormancy. Soaking seeds in 60 ℃ warm water further increased the germination rate, germination potential, and germination index. Specifically, the seeds soaked at 60 ℃ and cultured at 25 ℃ without sand storage treatment(Aa25) achieved a germination rate of 78. 67%±1. 53% on day 42 and 83. 40%±4. 63% on day 77. The seeds pretreated with sand storage at 4 ℃ for 2 months, soaked in 60 ℃ water, and then cultured at 25 ℃ achieved a germination rate comparable to that of Aa25 on day 77. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that warm water soaking might promote germination by triggering reactive oxygen species( ROS), inducing the expression of heat shock factors( HSFs) and heat shock proteins( HSPs), which accelerated DNA replication, transcript maturation, translation, and processing, thereby facilitating the accumulation and turnover of genetic materials. According to the results of indoor controlled experiments and field practices, maintaining a germination and seedling cultivation environment at approximately 25 ℃ was crucial for the one-year seedling cultivation of P. kingianum var. grandifolium.
Germination ; Seedlings/genetics* ; Water/metabolism* ; Seeds/metabolism* ; Polygonatum/genetics* ; Temperature ; Plant Proteins/genetics* ; Plant Dormancy

This study aims to systematically characterize the targeted effects of Quanduzhong Capsules on cartilage lesions in knee osteoarthritis by integrating spatial transcriptomics data mining and animal experiments validation, thereby elucidating the related molecular mechanisms. A knee osteoarthritis model was established using Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats, via a modified Hulth method. Hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining was employed to detect knee osteoarthritis-associated pathological changes in knee cartilage. Candidate targets of Quanduzhong Capsules were collected from the HIT 2.0 database, followed by bioinformatics analysis of spatial transcriptomics datasets(GSE254844) from cartilage tissues in clinical knee osteoarthritis patients to identify spatially specific disease genes. Furthermore, a "formula candidate targets-spatially specific genes in cartilage lesions" interaction network was constructed to explore the effects and major mechanisms of Quanduzhong Capsules in distinct cartilage regions. Experimental validation was conducted through immunohistochemistry using animal-derived biospecimens. The results indicated that Quanduzhong Capsules effectively inhibited the degenerative changes in the cartilage of affected joints in rats, which was associated with the regulation of Quanduzhong Capsules on the thioredoxin-interacting protein(TXNIP)-NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)-bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2(BMPR2)-fibronectin 1(FN1)-matrix metallopeptidase 2(MMP2) signal axis in the articular cartilage surface and superficial zones, subsequently inhibiting cartilage matrix degradation leading to oxidative stress and inflammatory diffusion. In summary, this study clarifies the spatially specific targeted effects and protective mechanisms of Quanduzhong Capsules within pathological cartilage regions in knee osteoarthritis, providing theoretical and experimental support for the clinical application of this drug in the targeted therapy on the inflamed cartilage.
Animals ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; Male ; Humans ; Capsules ; Female ; Disease Models, Animal

Cervical spine health issues not only seriously affect patients' quality of life but also impose a heavy burden on the social healthcare system. Existing guidelines lack sufficient clinical guidance on lifestyle and work habits, such as exercise, posture, daily routine, and diet, making it difficult to meet practical needs. To address this, relying on the China Association of Chinese Medicine, Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences took the lead and joined hands with more than ten institutions to form a multidisciplinary guideline development group. For the first time, the group developed the Guidelines for Cervical Spine Health Intervention based on evidence-based medicine methods, strictly following the standardized procedures outlined in the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development and the Guiding Principles for the Formulation/Revision of Clinical Practice Guidelines in China (2022 Edition). This proposal systematically explains the methods and steps for developing the guideline, aiming to make the guideline development process scientific, standardized, and transparent.
Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic/standards* ; Cervical Vertebrae ; China

Male factors contribute to 50% of infertility cases, with 20%-30% of cases being solely attributed to male infertility. Helicase for meiosis 1 ( HFM1 ) plays a crucial role in ensuring proper crossover formation and synapsis of homologous chromosomes during meiosis, an essential process in gametogenesis. HFM1 gene mutations are associated with male infertility, particularly in cases of non-obstructive azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia. However, the effects of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in HFM1 -related infertility cases remain inadequately explored. This study identified novel biallelic HFM1 variants through whole-exome sequencing (WES) in a Chinese patient with severe oligozoospermia, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of these variants was assessed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunoblotting, which revealed a significant reduction in HFM1 mRNA and protein levels in spermatozoa compared to those in a healthy control. Transmission electron microscopy revealed morphological abnormalities in sperm cells, including defects in the head and flagellum. Despite these abnormalities, ICSI treatment resulted in a favorable fertility outcome for the patient, indicating that assisted reproductive techniques (ART) can be effective in managing HFM1 -related male infertility. These findings offer valuable insights into the management of such cases.
Humans ; Male ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Oligospermia/therapy* ; Adult ; Spermatozoa/ultrastructure* ; Exome Sequencing ; Mutation

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with extranasal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL). METHODS: The clinical data of 138 patients with NKTCL diagnosed in 10 medical centers of Huaihai Lymphoma Working Group from June 2015 to April 2021 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The differences in clinicopathological characteristics of patients with different involvement and efficacy of pegaspargase regimen were compared, as well as perform survival analysis. RESULTS: A total of 138 extranasal NKTCL patients were included, with a median age of 46 years, and the ratio of males to females was approximately 2∶1. There were 39 patients with gastrointestinal involvement, 32 patients with oropharyngeal involvement, 17 patients with skin involvement, 11 patients with lymph node involvement, 11 patients with orbital involvement, and 28 patients with other parts involvement. Patients with skin involvement had a higher proportion of advanced disease and a lower proportion of CD56 positive rate compared to those with oropharyngeal involvement. Among the patients with gastrointestinal involvement, the survival rate of patients who received pegaspargase regimen was significantly higher than those who were treated without pegaspargase (P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that serum creatinine was an independent prognostic factor for patients with skin involvement ( HR =1.027, 95%CI : 1.001-1.054, P =0.040), ECOG PS and EBV DNA were independent prognostic factors for patients with gastrointestinal involvement ( HR =2.635, 95%CI : 1.096-6.338, P =0.030; HR =4.772, 95% CI : 1.092-20.854, P =0.038), and ECOG PS and CA stage were independent prognostic factors for patients with oropharyngeal involvement ( HR =13.875, 95%CI : 2.517-76.496, P =0.002; HR =20.261, 95%CI : 2.466-166.470, P =0.005). CONCLUSION The clinicopathological characteristics of extranasal NKTCL patients with different sites of involvement are vary, and effective individualized treatment need to be further explored.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Asparaginase/therapeutic use* ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell/pathology* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Polyethylene Glycols