OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of 46 Chinese pedigrees affected with Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) and provide genetic counseling and reproductive intervention. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were carried out on 87 patients from the 46 pedigrees to analyze the variants of EXT1 and EXT2 genes. Pathogenicity of the variants was assessed based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP). Prenatal diagnosis and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) were provided for couples with identified pathogenic mutations. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the hospital (Ethics No.: LL-SC-SG-2014-010). RESULTS: In total 17 and 22 pathogenic variants were respectively identified in the EXT1 and EXT2 genes, among which 5 EXT1 and 12 EXT2 variants were unreported previously. Three patients with no family history were found to harbor de novo variants of the EXT1 gene. Twenty nine couples had opted for PGT or underwent prenatal diagnosis following natural conception, and 17 healthy babies were born. CONCLUSION This study has clarified the genetic etiology of 45 HME pedigrees and identified 17 novel variants, which has enriched the mutational spectrum of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes. Reproductive intervention through PGT and prenatal diagnosis have prevented the recurrence of HME in these families.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Pedigree ; Exostoses, Multiple Hereditary/diagnosis* ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics* ; Adult ; Exostosin 1 ; Asian People/genetics* ; Genetic Testing ; Exostosin 2 ; Mutation ; China ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Pregnancy ; Genetic Counseling ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; Exome Sequencing ; East Asian People

Objective:To construct patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, to explore the effect of immune reconstitution timing on the PDX modeling and immune microenvironment in humanized immune system mice (huHSC-NCG-hIL15), and to provide a reliable animal model for research on the mechanisms of head and neck squamous carcinoma and for studies on immune therapy drug interventions.Methods:This study enrolled 28 HNSCC patients (25 laryngeal carcinomas, 3 hypopharyngeal carcinomas). PDX models were established in Balb/c nude (nu) mice, NSG mice, and humanized immune system-reconstituted huHSC-NCG-hIL15 mice. Fresh HNSCC samples were transplanted into Balb/c nu and NSG mice to generate PDX models, with subsequent analysis of success-associated factors. One successfully established PDX tumor was subsequently implanted into humanized immune system-reconstituted huHSC-NCG-hIL15 mice. Tumor transplantation was performed at distinct immune reconstruction timepoints (2 vs. 7 weeks post-reconstitution), and tumor growth patterns were monitored. Flow cytometry and multiplex immunohistochemical staining were utilized to characterize immunological profiles in peripheral lymphoid organs and tumor microenvironments. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to assess histomorphological concordance between primary patient tumors and PDX model tissues. Results:HNSCC PDX models were successfully established. NSG mice exhibited a higher and more stable tumor take rate compared to Balb/c nu mice (pilot study: 4/10 vs. 3/10 cases; mean take rate 60%-80% vs. 20%-60 %). The PDX success rate in NSG mice was 46.4% (13/28). In the huHSC-NCG-hIL15 mice model with immune reconstitution at 7 weeks, tumors grew significantly faster, and the PDX modeling process was shorter (617 mm3 at day 70 in 7-week cohort vs.280 mm3 in 2-week cohort). Flow cytometry analysis of the immune microenvironment showed that at 7 weeks of immune reconstitution, the proportions of B cells in the spleen and tumor tissues(2-week vs. 7-week: spleen 16.2% vs. 61.7%, tumor 26.0% vs. 38.8%) and myeloid cells in the spleen (2-week vs. 7-week: spleen 47.2% vs. 88.1 %) were significantly higher, while mice at 2 weeks post-reconstitution showed a higher proportion of T cells (2-week vs. 7-week: spleen 13.2% vs. 9.3%, tumor 4.8% vs. 2.5%). HE results demonstrated that the tumor tissues in PDX models maintained a high degree of morphological similarity to the primary tumors in both NSG and huHSC-NCG-hIL15 mouse models. Conclusion:The HNSCC PDX modeling protocol demonstrates operational feasibility and high reproducibility, establishing this model as a robust platform for mechanistic and immunotherapeutic studies.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Dihuang Yinzi on the cognitive function in the mouse model of learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine （SCOP） and explore the treatment mechanism. MethodsA mouse model of learning and memory impairment was induced by intraperitoneal injection of SCOP. Sixty male C57BL/6J mice were randomized into six groups： control （0.9% NaCl， n=10）， model （SCOP 1 mg·kg^-1·d^-1， n=10）， low-， medium-， and high-dose Dihuang Yinzi （SCOP 1 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 + Dihuang Yinzi 5.5， 11.0， and 22.0 g·kg^-1·d^-1， n=10）， and donepezil （SCOP 1 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 + donepezil 0.84 mg·kg^-1·d^-1， n=10）. Mice were administrated with corresponding drugs for 6 weeks. Modeling started in the 4th week， and mice in other groups except the control group were injected with SCOP intraperitoneally 40 min after daily gavage. Behavioral testing began in the 5th week， 30 min after modeling each day. The Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests were carried out to evaluate the spatial learning and memory function of mice. Nissl staining was employed to observe the survival of neurons and Nissl bodies in the hippocampal CA1 region. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of silent information regulator 2 （SIRT2）， α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid （AMPA） receptor 1 （GluA1）， protein kinase A （PKA）， cAMP response element-binding protein （CREB）， phosphorylated-CREB （p-CREB）， postsynaptic density protein 95 （PSD95）， growth-associated protein-43 （GAP-43）， and synaptophysin （SYN） in the hippocampus. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of doublecortin （DCX） in the hippocampal dentate gyrus （DG） region. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group showed impaired learning and memory （P<0.01）， obvious neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 region， a reduction in neuron survival （P<0.01）， a decrease in DCX expression in the hippocampal DG region （P<0.01）， down-regulated proteins levels of GluA1， PKA， p-CREB/CREB， PSD95， SYN， and GAP-43 in the hippocampal tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and an up-regulated protein level of SIRT2 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the medium- and high-dose Dihuang Yinzi groups and the donepezil group showed improvements in learning and memory （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the low-， medium-， and high-dose Dihuang Yinzi groups and the donepezil group had increased neuron survival （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The medium-dose Dihuang Yinzi group and the donepezil group showed increased DCX expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The medium- and high-dose Dihuang Yinzi groups and the donepezil group showed up-regulation in the protein levels of GluA1， PKA， p-CREB/CREB， PSD95， SYN， and GAP-43 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and down-regulation in the protein level of SIRT2 （P<0.01）. ConclusionDihuang Yinzi can improve the cognitive function in the mouse model of learning and memory impairments induced by SCOP by inhibiting the upregulation of SIRT2， activating the PKA/CREB signaling pathway， improving synaptic plasticity， and reducing hippocampal neuronal damage.

Objective To investigate the cause，pathogenesis，clinical manifestations，treatment，and prognosis of secondary hemichorea based on related clinical features and examinations by summarizing the medical records of 25 patients with secondary hemichorea-hemiballism. Methods An analysis was performed for 25 patients with hemichorea-hemiballism who were admitted and treated from July 2018 to April 2024，including general status，clinical features，laboratory examinations，MRI or CT examination，treatment methods，and prognosis. Results Of all 25 patients，11 （44.0%） had acute cerebrovascular diseases [including 7 cases （28.0%） of cerebral infarction，3 cases （12.0%） of cerebral hemorrhage，and 1 case （4.0%） of moyamoya disease]，13 （44.0%） had hyperglycemia，and 1 had unknown causes. Of all 25 patients with hemichorea-hemiballism after treatment of the primary disease and symptomatic treatment，18 patients had significant improvements in hemichorea symptoms，and 7 had disappearance of hemichorea symptoms. One patient experienced recurrence after half a year due to self-withdrawal of medication，and the other patients took medication regularly，with no recurrence at follow-up half a year later.Conclusion Hemichorea-hemiballism is more common in the elderly，and acute cerebrovascular disease is the most common cause of hemichorea-hemiballism，followed by hyperglycemia，with the basal ganglia as the main lesion site. In addition to the treatment of the primary disease，symptomatic treatment with haloperidol，clonazepam，or risperidone can significantly improve clinical symptoms and help to achieve a good prognosis.
Hyperglycemia

This article reports the first case of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale(PFO)using a biodegradable occluder under echocardiography guidance.The patient is a 43-year-old female diagnosed with PFO-related stroke.The procedure was successfully completed under echocardiography guidance without complications.During the 48-month follow-up period,the patient experienced no recurrent strokes,and the occluder was fully degraded.

This article reports the first case of percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale(PFO)using a biodegradable occluder under echocardiography guidance.The patient is a 43-year-old female diagnosed with PFO-related stroke.The procedure was successfully completed under echocardiography guidance without complications.During the 48-month follow-up period,the patient experienced no recurrent strokes,and the occluder was fully degraded.

Objective To investigate the correlation between changes in the inner retinal irregularity index(IRII)af-ter macular epiretinal membrane(ERM)stripping and visual function in patients with idiopathic macular epiretinal mem-brane(IMEM).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 134 patients(162 eyes)with IMEM who visited our hospital from March 2022 to December 2024.Based on fundus color photography and OCT findings,the patients were divided into the cellophane macular reflex(CMR)group and the preretinal macular fibrosis(PMF)group.Differences in central macular thickness(CMT),best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),inner retinal thickness(IRT),and IRII were analyzed between the two groups.The diagnostic efficacy of these indicators for IMEM at admission was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.The differences in visual function indicators and IRII before and 3 months after ERM stripping were compared in IMEM patients.The correlation between IRII levels and visual function parameters at 3 months postoperatively was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results Among the 134 patients(162 eyes)with IMEM,93 patients(103 eyes)were in the CMR group and 41 patients(59 eyes)were in the PMF group.The CMT,IRT,and IRII were significantly lower in the CMR group than in the PMF group(all P＜0.05).The areas under the curve(AUC)for CMT,IRT,and IRII were 0.616,0.609,and 0.862,respectively(all P＜0.05).Among the 134 patients(162 eyes)with IMEM,79 patients(86 eyes,53.86％)underwent surgical treatment,and 55 patients(76 eyes,46.91％)received non-surgical treatment.Three months after surgery,the CMT,IRT,and IRII in IMEM patients were sig-nificantly lower than those before surgery(all P＜0.05).At 3 months postoperatively,CMT and IRT were significantly pos-itively correlated with IRII in IMEM patients(all P＜0.05).Conclusion CMT,IRT,and IRII all have good diagnostic ef-ficacy for IMEM staging.Moreover,IRII changes in IMEM patients who underwent macular ERM stripping are positively correlated with visual function.

Objective:To construct patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, to explore the effect of immune reconstitution timing on the PDX modeling and immune microenvironment in humanized immune system mice (huHSC-NCG-hIL15), and to provide a reliable animal model for research on the mechanisms of head and neck squamous carcinoma and for studies on immune therapy drug interventions.Methods:This study enrolled 28 HNSCC patients (25 laryngeal carcinomas, 3 hypopharyngeal carcinomas). PDX models were established in Balb/c nude (nu) mice, NSG mice, and humanized immune system-reconstituted huHSC-NCG-hIL15 mice. Fresh HNSCC samples were transplanted into Balb/c nu and NSG mice to generate PDX models, with subsequent analysis of success-associated factors. One successfully established PDX tumor was subsequently implanted into humanized immune system-reconstituted huHSC-NCG-hIL15 mice. Tumor transplantation was performed at distinct immune reconstruction timepoints (2 vs. 7 weeks post-reconstitution), and tumor growth patterns were monitored. Flow cytometry and multiplex immunohistochemical staining were utilized to characterize immunological profiles in peripheral lymphoid organs and tumor microenvironments. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to assess histomorphological concordance between primary patient tumors and PDX model tissues. Results:HNSCC PDX models were successfully established. NSG mice exhibited a higher and more stable tumor take rate compared to Balb/c nu mice (pilot study: 4/10 vs. 3/10 cases; mean take rate 60%-80% vs. 20%-60 %). The PDX success rate in NSG mice was 46.4% (13/28). In the huHSC-NCG-hIL15 mice model with immune reconstitution at 7 weeks, tumors grew significantly faster, and the PDX modeling process was shorter (617 mm3 at day 70 in 7-week cohort vs.280 mm3 in 2-week cohort). Flow cytometry analysis of the immune microenvironment showed that at 7 weeks of immune reconstitution, the proportions of B cells in the spleen and tumor tissues(2-week vs. 7-week: spleen 16.2% vs. 61.7%, tumor 26.0% vs. 38.8%) and myeloid cells in the spleen (2-week vs. 7-week: spleen 47.2% vs. 88.1 %) were significantly higher, while mice at 2 weeks post-reconstitution showed a higher proportion of T cells (2-week vs. 7-week: spleen 13.2% vs. 9.3%, tumor 4.8% vs. 2.5%). HE results demonstrated that the tumor tissues in PDX models maintained a high degree of morphological similarity to the primary tumors in both NSG and huHSC-NCG-hIL15 mouse models. Conclusion:The HNSCC PDX modeling protocol demonstrates operational feasibility and high reproducibility, establishing this model as a robust platform for mechanistic and immunotherapeutic studies.

Objective To investigate the correlation between changes in the inner retinal irregularity index(IRII)af-ter macular epiretinal membrane(ERM)stripping and visual function in patients with idiopathic macular epiretinal mem-brane(IMEM).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 134 patients(162 eyes)with IMEM who visited our hospital from March 2022 to December 2024.Based on fundus color photography and OCT findings,the patients were divided into the cellophane macular reflex(CMR)group and the preretinal macular fibrosis(PMF)group.Differences in central macular thickness(CMT),best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),inner retinal thickness(IRT),and IRII were analyzed between the two groups.The diagnostic efficacy of these indicators for IMEM at admission was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.The differences in visual function indicators and IRII before and 3 months after ERM stripping were compared in IMEM patients.The correlation between IRII levels and visual function parameters at 3 months postoperatively was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results Among the 134 patients(162 eyes)with IMEM,93 patients(103 eyes)were in the CMR group and 41 patients(59 eyes)were in the PMF group.The CMT,IRT,and IRII were significantly lower in the CMR group than in the PMF group(all P＜0.05).The areas under the curve(AUC)for CMT,IRT,and IRII were 0.616,0.609,and 0.862,respectively(all P＜0.05).Among the 134 patients(162 eyes)with IMEM,79 patients(86 eyes,53.86％)underwent surgical treatment,and 55 patients(76 eyes,46.91％)received non-surgical treatment.Three months after surgery,the CMT,IRT,and IRII in IMEM patients were sig-nificantly lower than those before surgery(all P＜0.05).At 3 months postoperatively,CMT and IRT were significantly pos-itively correlated with IRII in IMEM patients(all P＜0.05).Conclusion CMT,IRT,and IRII all have good diagnostic ef-ficacy for IMEM staging.Moreover,IRII changes in IMEM patients who underwent macular ERM stripping are positively correlated with visual function.

Objective To analysis the effectiveness and cost of Internet-based anticoagulation clinic versus traditional anticoagulation clinic treatment at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods We reviewed and analyzed the clinical data of patients receiving anticoagulation management through Internet-based outpatient care and traditional outpatient care in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital,from June 1,2020 to June 30,2021.Variability in time in therapeutic range(TTR)and international normalized ratio(INR)were calculated for enrolled patients.Patients meeting TTR≥60%and INR variability<0.65 were considered optimal anticoagulation quality.Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from the patients'perspective,with results expressed using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio(ICER).Results In the"Internet-based anticoagulation outpatient care"and"traditional face-to-face anticoagulation outpatient care"groups,19 individuals(67.86%)and 67 individuals(76.14%)met the criteria for optimal anticoagulation quality,respectively.The mean TTR was(71.83±19.17)%in the Internet-based group and(71.74±23.41)%in the traditional face-to-face group,indicating similar levels of warfarin anticoagulation quality between the two groups.The ICER was calculated as 327.17 yuan,less than the per capita gross domestic product(GDP)of 2021.Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic,Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital's Internet-based anticoagulation outpatient care effectively complemented the government's epidemic control policies.It ensured equivalent anticoagulation outcomes and significantly reduced patients'financial burdens.This approach offers new insights and guidance for optimizing healthcare services in the post-pandemic era.