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 compare the efficacy of low-frequency and high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)in patients with tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease.Methods A total of 88 tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease patients who visited Suqian Hospital of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group from January 2021 to June 2024 were randomly assigned to low-frequency rTMS group(treated by 1 Hz stimulation)and high-frequency rTMS group(treated by 5 Hz stimulation),with 44 patients in each group.Treatment was administered once a day,five times a week,for 4 weeks.Another 50 patients were enrolled as the control group.During the rTMS treatment,regular medications were continuously administrated.Before and after treatment,the following assessments were conducted:unified parkinson's disease rating scale part Ⅲ(UPDRS-Ⅲ),Parkinson's disease questionnaire-39(PDQ-39),timed up and go(TUG)test,tremor amplitude,tremor peak frequency,and cortical excitability(resting motion threshold[rMT]and active motion threshold[aMT]).Results After treatment,there were significant differences in the UPDRS-Ⅲ score,TUG time,PDQ-39 score,rMT and aMT values,and tremor amplitude between the two groups(P<0.05),and the high-frequency rTMS group was lower/shorter than the other two group.There was no significant difference in tremor peak frequency between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Both low-frequency and high-frequency rTMS can significantly improve motor function and quality of life in tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease patients.High-frequency rTMS demonstrates better efficacy in improving various symptoms and provides a more effective treatment option for tremor-dominant Parkinson's disease.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)infection among pediatric inpatients with respiratory tract infections(RTIs)at Children's Hospital of Hebei Province,providing evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 79 546 children hospitalized for RTIs between January 2016 and February 2024.Nasopharyngeal aspirates or deep sputum samples were collected,and polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was used to detect nucleic acids of 13 respiratory pathogens,including MP and adenovirus.The epidemiological trends across different years,seasons,genders,and age groups were analyzed.Results Among the 79 546 enrolled cases(male:47 437,59.6%;female:32 109,40.4%),the MP-positive rate was 17.7%(14 106/79 546),peaking in 2023(28.8%)and reaching the lowest in 2021(7.0%).Except for the period from July 2020 to March 2021 with exceptionally low MP positivity,epidemic peaks consistently occurred between August and February or March of the following year.Seasonal analysis revealed significantly higher MP positivity in autumn and winter compared to spring(P<0.001).Female children exhibited a higher MP-positive rate(20.1%,6444/32 109)than males(16.2%,7662/47 437)(P<0.001).The MP-positive rate increased with age:infancy(3.2%,849/26 741),toddlerhood(9.3%,1935/20 763),preschool(21.2%,3918/18 448),and school-age(54.5%,7404/13 594)(P<0.001).Co-infections with other respiratory pathogens were observed in 37.3%(5264/14 106)of MP-positive cases,with human rhinovirus(HRV)being the most frequent co-pathogen(43.3%,2279/5264 of mixed infections).Conclusion MP is a major pathogen of RTIs in hospitalized children at Children's Hospital of Hebei Province.Infections occur year-round but predominantly in autumn,with higher susceptibility in females and school-age children.Targeted preventive measures should be implemented during peak seasons to mitigate transmission risks.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mediating role of sleep duration in the relationship between depression symptoms and myopia among middle school students. METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional research conducted using a stratified cluster random sampling method. A total of 1 728 middle school students were selected from two junior high schools and two senior high schools in certain urban areas and farms of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Questionnaire surveys and vision tests were conducted among the students. Spearman analysis was used to analyze the correlation between depression symptoms, sleep duration, and myopia. The Bootstrap method was employed to investigate the mediating effect of sleep duration between depression symptoms and myopia. RESULTS: The prevalence of myopia in the overall population was 74.02% (1 279/1 728), with an average sleep duration of (7.6±1.0) hours. The rate of insufficient sleep was 83.62% (1 445/1 728), and the proportion of students exhibiting depression symptoms was 25.29% (437/1 728). Correlation analysis showed significant negative correlations between visual acuity in both eyes and sleep duration with depressive emotions as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (with correlation coefficients of -0.064, -0.084, and -0.199 respectively; P<0.01), as well as with somatic symptoms and activities (with correlation coefficients of -0.104, -0.124, and -0.233 respectively; P<0.01) and interpersonal relationships (with correlation coefficients of -0.052, -0.059, and -0.071 respectively; P<0.05). The correlation coefficients for left and right eye visual acuity and sleep duration were 0.206 and 0.211 respectively (P<0.001). Sleep duration exhibited a mediating effect between depression symptoms and myopia (indirect effect=0.056, 95%CI: 0.029-0.088), with the mediating effect value for females (indirect effect=0.066, 95%CI: 0.024-0.119) being higher than that for males (indirect effect=0.042, 95%CI: 0.011-0.081). CONCLUSIONS Sleep duration serves as a partial mediator between depression symptoms and myopia in middle school students.
Humans ; Myopia/etiology* ; Male ; Female ; Depression/physiopathology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Sleep ; Adolescent ; Students ; Child ; Time Factors ; Sleep Duration

Objective: To observed the effect of a curcumin-based vaginal gel combined with electroporation for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) caused by Candida albicans. Methods: Temperature-sensitive in situ gels (ISG) were prepared using poloxamers 407 and 188 as matrices. The mass ratio of poloxamer 407 and poloxamer 188 was 7:1 with a gelation temperature of approximately 29°C and gelation time of 2.5 min. Results: Electroporation increased the transmucosal permeability of the model drug, doxorubicin and improved the antifungal effects of curcumin. In vitro antifungal experiments showed that the number of fungal colonies in curcumin ISG combined with electroporation was lower than that in pure curcumin ISG. In vivo pharmacodynamic experiments showed that, compared to the model group, curcumin ISG with electroporation inhibited the growth of C. albicans, alleviated vaginal mucosal edema, and reduced the inflammatory response. Conclusion Curcumin ISG combined with electroporation has substantial potential for the efficient clinical treatment of VVC.

The bottom-up construction of artificial cells to mimic signal transduction is of great significance for a deep understanding of the communication networks of complex living systems.The dynamic coupling of signal secretion and response among artificial cells poses an important challenge.In this work,two types of artificial cells were constructed through a bio-artificial hybrid strategy.One was an artificial cell as an AI-2 signal sender(sender),which contained bacteria capable of autonomously synthesizing AI-2 signaling molecules.The other was an artificial cell as an AI-2 signal receiver(receiver),which contained bacteria expressing green fluorescent protein in response to the corresponding AI-2 signal.When the ratio of senders to receivers was 4∶1,the fluorescent signal of the receivers gradually increased over time and reached a plateau at 240 minutes.The artificial cells capable of sending and receiving quorum sensing signaling molecules constructed in this work laid a foundation for the study of complex signal communication within artificial cell populations.

Objective To investigate whether Liuwei Dihuang Pills enhances the antigen cross-presenting ability of dendritic cell(DC)by increasing gap junctional intercellular communication(GJIC),and to explore the mechanisms involved.Methods Western Blot and immunofluorescence were used to observe the effects of Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum on the expression and membrane localisation of gap junction protein connexin43(Cx43)in mouse melanoma cells(B16);Calcein-AM/DiI fluorescence tracer assay was used to observe the effects of Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum on the function of GJIC in B16 cells;flow cytometry was used to observe the role of GJIC in the enhancement of DC antigen presenting ability by Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum;and propidium iodide(PI)/Hoechst staining assay was used to observe the immunocidal effect of CD8+ T-lymphocytes.Results Western Blot and immunofluorescence experiments showed that Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum led to the up-regulation of Cx43 expression;fluorescence tracer experiments proved that the GJIC function of B16 cells was significantly enhanced by Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum;flow cytometry analyses showed that the DC antigen-presenting ability was enhanced by Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum;and the results of PI/Hoechst staining showed that the immuno-killing effect of CD8+T-cells was more significant after the intervention of Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum in B16-OVA.Conclusion Liuwei Dihuang Pills improve the GJIC function by up-regulating the Cx43 expression of melanoma cells,and then enhance the cross-presenting ability of DCs thus activating stronger CD8+ T-cell immunocidal responses.

Objective:To explore and analyze the clinical features of patients with immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related hepatobiliary-pancreatic disease and the independent factors affecting the prognosis of IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC).Methods:The clinical data of 179 adult cases diagnosed with IgG4-related hepato-pancreato-biliary disease in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2011 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into three groups: isolated IgG4-SC, IgG4-SC/type 1 autoimmune pancreatitis(type 1 AIP), and isolated AIP according to the clinical manifestations. Demographic characteristics, baseline biochemical immunological indexes, and imaging manifestations were analyzed. The treatment response rate and survival rate were compared. The COX proportional hazards model was used to analyze the independent factors related to prognosis.Results:The mean age of diagnosis of patients with IgG4-related hepatobiliary-pancreatic disease was 60.3±12.0 years. Males accounted for 74.9%, and the median follow-up time was 38 months. The 1-year clinical response rate of patients with isolated IgG4-SC was lower than that of IgG4-SC/AIP (67.9% vs. 91.7%, P=0.019), and the primary endpoint-free 5-year survival rate was significantly reduced (64.9% vs. 95.9%, P<0.001). COX regression analysis showed that having cirrhosis before treatment ( HR=6.708, P=0.004) and poor response after half a year of treatment ( HR=11.488, P=0.002) were independent risk factors associated with the occurrence of adverse events in hepatobiliary diseases among patients with IgG4-SC. Conclusions:The clinical response rate and survival rate of patients with isolated IgG4-SC are lower than those of patients with IgG4-SC/AIP. Patients with IgG4-SC who do not respond well at six months of treatment and who have progressed to cirrhosis before treatment are at significantly increased risk of adverse events.

Objective To investigate the capability for distinguishing between the morphology of Oncomelania hupensis and Tricula snails and its influencing factors among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province, so as to evaluate the interference of Tricula snails with O. hupensis surveys. Methods O. hupensis and Tricula snails were sampled from 9 schistosomiasis-endemic counties (districts) in Yunnan Province. The capability for distinguishing between O. hupensis and Tricula snails was evaluated using online questionnaire surveys and field blind tests among schistosomiasis control professionals, and the proportions of correct judgment, misjudgment and missed judgment were calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were created using the software SPSS 25.0, and factors affecting the proportion of correct judgments of O. hupensis snails were identified among schistosomiasis control professionals. Results Questionnaire surveys and field blind tests showed that the overall proportions of correct judgments of O. hupensis snails were 56.77% (2 305/4 060) and 68.28% (1 556/2 279) among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis of online questionnaire surveys identified gender [odds ratio (OR) = 1.244, 95% confidential interval (CI): (1.073, 1.441), P < 0.05], professional title [OR = 0.628, 1.741, 95% CI: (0.453, 0.871), (1.109, 2.734), both P < 0.05], working duration [OR = 0.979, 95% CI: (0.971, 0.987), P < 0.05] and classification of schistosomiasis epidemics in endemic foci [OR = 1.410, 0.293, 0.523, 95% CI: (1.103, 1.804), (0.237, 0.361), (0.416, 0.657), all P < 0.05] as factors affecting the proportion of correct judgments of O. hupensis snails among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province, and multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustments showed that the proportion of O. hupensis snail misjudgments was 1.179 times higher among male schistosomiasis control professionals than among females [OR = 1.179, 95% CI: (1.006, 1.382), P < 0.05], and 1.474 times higher among schistosomiasis control professionals in schistosomiasis-elimination areas with snails than in areas without snails [OR = 1.474, 95% CI: (1.145, 1.898), P < 0.05], and the proportions of missed judgments of O. hupensis snails were 0.284 [OR = 0.284, 95% CI: (0.225, 0.359), P < 0.05] and 0.523 times [OR = 0.523, 95% CI: (0.412, 0.664), P < 0.05] higher among schistosomiasis control professionals in transmission-interruption areas with snails and schistosomiasis-elimination areas with snails than in schistosomiasis-elimination areas without snails. Univariate logistic regression analysis of field blind tests showed age [OR = 2.381, 95% CI: (1.677, 3.381), P < 0.05], professional title [OR = 1.688, 95% CI: (1.103, 2.582), P < 0.05］, working duration [OR = 0.970, 95% CI: (0.956, 0.984), P < 0.05] and classification of schistosomiasis epidemics in endemic foci [OR = 0.262, 0.593, 95% CI: (0.188, 0.364), (0.420, 0.837), both P < 0.05] as factors affecting the proportion of correct judgments of O. hupensis snails among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province, and multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustments showed the proportions of missed judgments of O. hupensis snails were 0.263 [OR = 0.263, 95% CI: (0.176, 0.394), P < 0.05] and 0.604 times [OR = 0.604, 95% CI: (0.416, 0.875), P < 0.05] higher among schistosomiasis control professionals in transmission-interruption areas with snails and schistosomiasis-elimination areas with snails than in schistosomiasis-elimination areas without snails. Conclusions Schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province have a low accuracy rate for distinguishing between the morphology of O. hupensis and Tricula snails, and gender and classification of schistosomiasis epidemics in endemic foci are factors that affect their ability to distinguish. The presence of Tricula snails causes a high degree of interference with O. hupensis surveys in O. hupensis snail-infested areas of Yunnan Province. Reinforced training for distinguishing between O. hupensis and Tricula snails is required among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province.