Objective:To investigate the different expression levels of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) in non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC) of distribution characteristics of TCM constitutions and prognosis.Methods:The clinical data of 355 NSCLC patients who had been treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) from January 2019 to June 2023 in the Cancer Medical Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine were retrospectively analyzed, and their TCM constitutions were determined. According to the expression level of PD-L1, they were divided into three groups: low expression group (TPS≤1%), medium expression group (1% < TPS < 49%) and high expression group (TPS≥50%). Overall survival (OS) of patients was followed up, and the median OS were compared. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw survival curves, and Log-rank test was used to compare the difference of survival curves. The independent risk factors of OS were analyzed by COX regression.Results:The distribution of different TCM constitutions showed statistical significance across the three groups ( P<0.05). The median OS for the medium and high expression groups were 21.082 months and 25.714 months, respectively, both significantly higher than the 14.437 months for the low expression group ( P<0.05). The survival curve of TCM constitutions showed that the constitutions significantly correlated with the prognosis of ICIs treatment were qi deficiency, phlegm dampness, and blood stasis ( P<0.05 or P<0.01). The median OS from high to low was 44.971 months for phlegm-dampness constitution, 23.297 months for qi-deficiency constitution, and 11.763 months for blood-stasis constitution. COX regression analysis indicated that medium PD-L1 expression ( HR=0.622, 95% CI=0.459,0.844, P=0.002), high PD-L1 expression ( HR=0.509, 95% CI=0.361,0.718, P<0.001), phlegm-dampness constitution ( HR=0.556, 95% CI=0.335,0.924, P=0.024), and blood-stasis constitution ( HR=2.952, 95% CI=1.929,4.518, P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors. Conclusions:The higher the expression level of PD-L1 in NSCLC patients, the better the prognosis of ICIs treatment. The prognosis of ICIs treatment is better for people with phlegm-dampness constitution and poor for those with blood stasis constitution.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a child with Cortical dysplasia, complex, with other brain malformations 4 (CDCBM4) and epilepsy due to a TUBG1 gene variant. METHODS: A child diagnosed with CDCBM4 and epilepsy at the Children's Medical Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University in May 2024 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the child and her parents for genomic DNA extraction. Trio-based whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed, and candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. According to the Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants established by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), candidate variants were classified for pathogenicity. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University (Ethics No.: PJ2021-097). RESULTS: The child, a 4-month-old female infant, had no special facial features, normal limb muscle strength, and increased muscle tone of infantile onset, with generalized tonic-clonic seizures as the main manifestation. During seizures, she exhibited head retroflexion, tightly closed eyes, and tonic convulsions of the limbs, occurring approximately 2-3 times per day. Electroencephalogram suggested bilateral anterior predominant medium-to-high amplitude 7-8 Hz mixed rhythm discharges. Head MRI revealed ventricular system dilatation and pachygyria. Trio-WES results indicated that the child has harbored a TUBG1 gene variant of c.776C>T (p.Ser259Leu). Sanger sequencing verification showed that neither of her parents had carried the same variant, confirming it as de novo in origin. According to the ACMG guidelines, the variant was rated as pathogenic (PS2+PS3+PM2_Supporting+PP3). Combining the child's clinical phenotype, the child was diagnosed as CDCBM4 with epilepsy. CONCLUSION Children with CDCBM4 and epilepsy due to TUBG1 gene variants may show pachygyria or agyria and commonly present with intellectual and motor developmental delays and seizure disorders of variable severity. The heterozygous TUBG1 c.776C>T (p.Ser259Leu) variant is likely the genetic etiology underlying this disorder. The results of this study has expanded the mutational spectrum of the TUBG1 gene associated with CDCBM4 and epilepsy.
Humans ; Female ; Epilepsy/genetics* ; Malformations of Cortical Development/genetics* ; Infant ; Phenotype ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical phenotype and genetic etiology of a child with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, spondylodysplastic type 2 (EDSSPD2). METHODS: A child who was admitted to the Children's Medical Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University in July 2024 for "delayed motor development for 1 and a half year" was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child was collected, including medical history, family history, and results of auxiliary examinations. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the child and his two brothers and both parents. Genomic DNA was extracted from the child and his family members and subjected to whole-exome sequencing (WES) and copy number variation (CNV) analysis. Sanger sequencing was used to verify the parental origin of the candidate variants. Multiple protein function prediction software tools, including SIFT, PolyPhen-2, and REVEL, were used to assess the impact of candidate variants on the protein function. Based on protein database information from UniProt, a two dimensional structural schematic of the target protein was generated. The pathogenicity of the variants was classified based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Relevant literature on the B3GALT6 gene variants leading to EDSSPD2 was retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and PubMed databases. The procedures followed in this study were reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University (Ethics No.：PJ2021-097). RESULTS: The proband was a 2-year-old male with an onset in infancy. The main clinical manifestations included loose skin, scoliosis and kyphosis, generalized hypermobility of joints, and motor developmental delay. WES has revealed two compound heterozygous variants of the B3GALT6 gene (NM_080605.4): c.766C>T (p.Arg256Trp) and c.962G>A (p.Cys321Tyr). Sanger sequencing verification showed that the c.766C>T and c.962G>A variants were respectively derived from his phenotypically normal father and mother. Bioinformatics analysis showed that for the c.766C>T (p.Arg256Trp) variant, the Arg256 site is located within the galactosyltransferase catalytic domain (GalT domain) of the β3GalT6 protein. According to the ACMG guidelines, the c.766C>T variant was classified as a likely pathogenic (PS3+PM2_supporting+PM3+PP3), and the c.962G>A was classified as a variant of unknown significance (PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP3). By following the pre-set literature retrieval strategy, a total of 12 articles related to B3GALT6 gene variants were identified (11 English and 1 Chinese), which involved a total of 71 patients. Among these, 4 reports (involving 20 patients) involved B3GALT6 gene variants leading to EDSSPD2. Among the 18 live-born EDSSPD2 patients (including the proband in this study), common clinical manifestations have included scoliosis (88.9%, 16/18), generalized hypotonia (83.3%, 15/18), and soft and lax skin (66.7%, 12/18). Some patients already showed skeletal abnormalities on prenatal ultrasound scan (22.2%, 4/18), while a few presented with cervical instability (16.7%, 3/18). One child had deceased at 18 months of age due to hypoxia caused by tracheomalacia and tracheal compression due to scoliosis. Among the 23 reported EDSSPD2 related B3GALT6 variant sites, missense variants were the most common (78.3%, 18/23), followed by nonsense variants (21.7%, 5/23). CONCLUSION Above finding has enriched the clinical and mutational spectra of EDSSPD2. Early genetic testing has important clinical value for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and genetic counseling of this disease.
Humans ; Male ; Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/genetics* ; Pedigree ; N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferases/genetics* ; Asian People/genetics* ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Exome Sequencing ; Female ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Phenotype ; Mutation ; China ; East Asian People ; Galactosyltransferases

OBJECTIVES: Hyperhomocysteinaemia (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. MicroRNA (miR)-18a-5p is closely related to cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the effects of miR-18a-5p on homocysteine (Hcy)-induced myocardial cells injury. METHODS: H9c2 cells were transfected with miR-18a-5p mimic/miR-18a-5p mimic negative control (NC) or combined with Hcy for intervention, and untreated cells were set as a control group. The transfection efficiency was verified by real-time RT-PCR, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to determine cell viability. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Western blotting was performed to measure the protein levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-I, LC3-II, Beclin1, p62, Bax, Bcl-2, and Notch2. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the interaction of miR-18a-5p with Notch2. RESULTS: Compared with the control, treatment with Hcy or transfection with miR-18a-5p mimic alone, or combined treatment with Hcy and miR-18a-5p mimic/miR-18a-5p mimic NC significantly reduced the H9c2 cell viability, promoted apoptosis and ROS production, up-regulated the expressions of Bax and Beclin, down-regulated the expressions of Bcl-2, p62, and Notch2, and increased the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I (all P<0.05). Compared with the combined intervention of miR-18a-5p mimic NC and Hcy group, the above indexes were more significantly changed in the combined intervention of miR-18a-5p mimic and Hcy group, and the difference between the 2 groups was statistically significant (all P<0.05). There is a targeted binding between Notch2 and miR-18a-5p. CONCLUSIONS MiR-18a-5p could induce autophagy and apoptosis via increasing ROS production in cardiomyocytes, and aggravate Hcy-induced myocardial injury. Notch2 is a target of miR-18a-5p.
Apoptosis/genetics* ; Autophagy/genetics* ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Rats ; Animals ; Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects* ; Homocysteine/adverse effects* ; Hyperhomocysteinemia

Objective:To analyze the correlation between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cognitive dysfunction.Methods:This is a case-control study. From February 2022 to October 2022, 32 COPD patients (inpatient and outpatient) from the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and Rehabilitation Medical Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and 32 healthy subjects were recruited. All participants underwent a thorough evaluation, which included Montreal Assessment of Cognitive Function (MoCA), visuospatial n-back task included accuracy (ACC) and mean response time (RT), the pulmonary functions including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV 1), one-second rate (FEV 1/FVC) and maximum volume per minute (MVV), Health Survey Short Form (SF-36), and St. George′s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The correlation between cognitive dysfunction and lung function, SF-36 and SGRQ in COPD patients were analyzed. Results:The prevalence of smoking, hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the two groups were significantly different (all P<0.05). MoCA score, 1-back ACC and 2-back ACC in COPD group were significantly lower than those in healthy control group [(23.86±4.50) vs (27.55±1.29) points, (76.82%±16.60%) vs (90.61%±7.40%), (67.93%±10.10%) vs (78.74%±10.38%), all P<0.001]; 2-back RT was significantly higher than that of healthy group [(316.43±108.17) vs (254.09±101.62) ms, P<0.05]; and the Physiological function (PF), physiological function (RP), emotional function (RE), energy (VT), social function (SF), physical pain (BP) in SF-36 were significantly worse than the healthy control group (all P<0.05). The MoCA score of COPD group was positively correlated with FEV 1/FVC ( r=0.501, P=0.018). The 1-back ACC was positively correlated with FEV 1 and FEV 1/FVC ( r=0.568, 0.634; both P<0.05). The 1-back RT was negatively correlated with FEV 1/FVC and MVV ( r=-0.452, -0.534; both P<0.05). The 2-back ACC was positively correlated with FEV 1/FVC ( r=0.426, P=0.048). The 2-back RT was negatively correlated with MVV ( r=-0.571, P=0.006). In COPD group, MoCA score was negatively correlated with activity, influence and total score in SGRQ ( r=-0.533, -0.466, -0.521; all P<0.05). The 1-back ACC was negatively correlated with activity, influence and total score ( r=-0.552, -0.517, -0.584; all P<0.05). The 1-back RT was positively correlated with activity, influence and total score ( r=0.430, 0.379, 0.417; all P<0.05). The 2-back ACC was negatively correlated with impact and total score ( r=-0.398, -0.412; both P<0.05). Conclusion:COPD patients have impaired cognitive function, which is mainly manifested by the decline of working memory and executive function, and is correlated with the lung function, general health condition and quality of life.

One hundred and seventy six consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who received intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator ( rt-PA ) in 4.5 hours from symptom onset during February 2009 to July 2013 were included in the study.Modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate the recovery of neurological functions.Patients were divided into good ( 0 -1 ) or poor ( 2 -6 ) outcome groups according modified Rankin Scale score.Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine the differences of clinical data between the two groups.The age of patients with good outcome was significantly lower than that of poor outcome group [ ( 61.4 ±11.5 ) vs.( 69.0 ± 13.2) years,P =0.000].Compared to patients with poor outcomes, patients with good outcome group showed lower rate of diabetes [ 13%( 12/93 ) vs.29%( 24/83 ) , P =0.009 ] , lower blood glucose level [(5.05 ±0.97) vs.(5.83 ±1.72) mmol/L,P=0.020], higher uric acid level[(404.4 ±151.7) vs.(345.6 ±107.5) μmol/L,P=0.028],shorter onset to treatment time [(1.92 ±0.94) vs.(2.30 ±1.01) h, P=0.019],lower baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score [(14.0 ±5.2) vs.(16.0 ± 6.2),P=0.025],lower systolic blood pressure level at 2 h[(140.8 ±18.3) vs.(149.0 ±18.9) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),P=0.005]and 24 h [(137.6 ±21.9) vs.(147.1 ±17.4) mmHg,P=0.009] after thrombolysis.Logistic regression analysis showed that uric acid levels were not related to hemorrhagic transformation independently (P =0.172,OR =0.965,95%CI:0.917 -1.016), but were related to outcome independently (P=0.047,OR=0.957,95%CI:0.916-0.999).

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of TSSC1 in glioma patients and its influence on cell biologi-cal behavior of glioma U87 cells. Methods RT-PCR and Western blot were used to examine the expression of TSSC1 in glioma samples, including 80 normal paraneoplastic tissues and 80 primary tumors. MTT and transwell were used to analyze the effect of TSSC1 knockout on proliferation, migration, and invasion in U87 cells. Results TSSC1 is down-regulated in glioma compared to its paraneoplastic counterparts and negatively related to higher grade. Furthermore, knockdown of TSSC1 expression results in increased proliferation, migration and invasion in U87 cells in vitro. Conclusion Our results may worked as a marker for early diagnosis and prognosis of glioma.

Objective To investigate clinical value of the anti-nuclear antibody (ANA ) ,anti-double strand DNA (dsDNA ) anti-body and anti-extractable nuclear antigen(ENA) antibody repertoire in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis .Methods 158 SLE patients were served as SLE group and another 50 healthy people as the control group .Indirect immunofluorescence(IIF) and immunoblotting test(IBT ) were employed to detect ANA ,anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-ENA antibody repertoire .Results Positive rates of ANA ,anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-ENA antibody repertoire in SLE diagnosis were 81 .65% ,68 .35% and 87 .34% ,respectively ,which were all lower than that of their combined detection (93 .04% ) ,with statistically significant difference (P<0 .05 ) .Among anti-ENA antibody repertoire ,the positive rate of anti-U1-nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1-Nrnp ) antibody (52 .53% ) was the highest .Conclusion Combined detection of ANA ,anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-ENA antibodies repertoire has some clinical value of early diagnosis of SLE .

Objective To obtain information on viral molecular structure and genome via full-length genomic analysis on the norovirus strain GZ20133135 isolated from Guangzhou.Methods Primers were designed according to the Sydney2012 full sequence.The full genome of the strain GZ20133135 was amplified by RT-PCR.The whole genome sequence was analyzed after cloned and sequenced.Results The genome of G Ⅱ-4 norovirus strain GZ20133135 consisted of 7566 bp,and it was revealed that there were three ORFs composites ORF1 (5100 bp),ORF2 (1623 bp),ORF3 (807 bp) respectively; ORF1 and ORF2 had 19 nt overlap.It was found by evolutionary comparative analysis that GZ20133135 genomic nucleotide sequences,compared with reference strains of G Ⅱ-4 Sydney2012 strains,the highest homology with a total length of homology was 99.07％.Phylogenetic analyses showed GZ20133135 belonged to G Ⅱ-4Sydney 2012 variant.Data of 541 amino acid analyses showed that Sydney 2012 variant strains of popular sites were aa294V or A or P→T,aa296S or T→S,aa297H or Q→R,aa298D or N or T→N,aa368T or N or S or A→E,aa372 N or S→D,aa393 N or D or S,aa394 T or G or S→T,aa395T or A→T,aa407 N or D→S,aa412T or D→N,aa413G or I→T.Conclusion Norovirus GZ20133135 belonged to the G Ⅱ-4 Sydney2012 variant.In This study,GZ20133135 full sequence information can be used not only as a full-length NoV variant sequence standard for future comparison studies,but also as useful material for the public health by enabling the diagnosis,vaccine development,and prediction of new emerging variants.

Objective To investigate the application and effect of aerobic exercise of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods Ninety-four hospitalized patients with COPD from June 2011 to June 2012 were enrolled.The clinical curative effect and safety of aerobic exercise of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD were observed and compared.Results After 3 months treatment,first second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were increased compared with those before treatment [(3.25 ± 0.49) L vs.(2.59 ± 0.55) L,(1.95 ± 0.41) L vs.(1.44 ± 0.48) L],and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in FEV1/FVC before and after treatment (P ＞ 0.05).After 3 months treatment,arterial partial pressure of oxygen and arterial oxygen saturation were increased compared with those before treatment [(87.61 ± 8.56) mm Hg(1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa) vs.(63.88 ± 8.79) mm Hg,0.9648 ±0.0449 vs.0.7632 ± 0.0477],partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide was decreased compared with that before treatment [(30.57 ± 9.47) mm Hg vs.(49.23 ± 9.54) mm Hg],and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).There was no signifi.cant difference in blood pressure and heart rate before and after treatment (P＞ 0.05).No obvious adverse reactions were observed.Conclusions The aerobic exercise of pulmonary rehabilitation can improve significantly lung function.It is safe and rehable,and has less adverse reaction in patients with COPD.It is worthy of promotion and use.