Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of a case with RhD-phenotype.Methods:A proband with RhD-phenotype who attended the clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on January 29, 2024 was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the proband (8 mL) and her close relatives (father, mother and brother; 3 mL each) for Rh phenotyping and irregular antibodies testing with gel card and test tube methods. Direct agglutination reaction and absorption-elution test were used to detect the c antigen on the red blood cells of the proband. PCR-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) typing and gene sequencing were used to determine the RHCE gene of the proband and her relatives. The origin of the proband′s variant was traced by pedigree analysis. Three-dimensional structural models of the wild-type RhCE*cE protein and the RhD-phenotype protein were constructed to predict the alterations of the RhD-phenotype protein caused by the variant. The procedures of this study were approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No.: 2023-KY-0870-003). Results:The red blood cells of the proband did not agglutinate with anti-C, anti-c, anti-E, and anti-e. The result of the serum irregular antibody test was negative. The results of direct agglutination reaction and absorption-elution test of the proband were both negative. Her Rh blood group was identified as RhD-. The results of the Rh blood grouping of her close relatives were normal. PCR-SSP detection showed that the RHCE genotypes of the proband and her close relatives were cE/cE and Ce/cE, respectively. Gene sequencing analysis showed that the RHCE genotypes of the proband and her close relatives were RHCE* cE (c.365C>A)/ RHCE* cE (c.365C>A) and RHCE* Ce/ RHCE* cE (c.365C>A), respectively. Pedigree analysis revealed that the variants in the proband were inherited from her father and mother, respectively. Homology modeling of RhCE*cE protein showed that the RhD-type peptide chain with a significantly shortened C-terminal was encoded by only 121 amino acid resides, which was 296 amino acid resides shorter compared to the wild-type RhCE*cE peptide chain encoded by 417 amino acid residues. Conclusion:Above results revealed the molecular biological mechanism of a RhD-phenotype. The c. 365C>A variant in the RHCE gene has rendered the RHCE* cE alleles invalid, which ultimately led to the RhD-phenotype.

BACKGROUND:Traditional surgery for lumbar disc herniation involves extensive excision of tissue surrounding the nerve for decompression and removal of protruding lumbar intervertebral discs,which poses various risks and complications such as nerve damage causing paralysis,lumbar instability,herniation recurrence,intervertebral space infection,and adjacent vertebral diseases. OBJECTIVE:To propose the symmetrically adduction of lumbar decompression induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous technique for lumbar spine symmetrically decompression,showing the induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous phenomenon and early clinical efficacy,and then analyze its decompression mechanism. METHODS:214 patients with lumbar disc herniation at Department of Orthopedics,First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2021 to May 2023 were enrolled in this study.Among them,81 patients received conservative treatment as the control group,and 133 patients received symmetrically adduction of lumbar decompression induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous treatment as the trial group.Before surgery,immediately after surgery(7-14 days),and early after surgery(over 1 year),MRI images were used to measure the volume changes of lumbar disc herniation.CT images were used to measure the posterior displacement distance of the lumbar spinous process ligament complex,as well as the width and height of the lateral recess.Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were used to evaluate the patient's neurological function recovery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Control group:81 patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated conservatively,with a total of 171 herniated lumbar discs.The average follow-up time was(22.7±23.1)months.The first and second MRI measurements of 171 herniated lumbar discs showed herniated lumbar disc volumes of(551.6±257.9)mm3 and(792.2±330.4)mm3,respectively,with an average volume increase rate of(53.2±44.4)%,showing statistically significant differences(P<0.001).Out of 171 herniated lumbar discs,4 experienced natural shrinkage,with an absorption ratio of 2.3%(4/171)and an absorption rate of(24.5±9.9)%.(2)Trial group:133 patients with lumbar disc herniation had a total of 285 herniated lumbar discs.(1)Immediately after surgery:All patients were followed up immediately after surgery.229 out of 285 herniated lumbar discs experienced retraction,with an absorption ratio of 80.3%(229/285)and an average absorption rate of(21.5±20.9)%,with significant and complete absorption accounting for 6.5%.There were a total of 70 herniated lumbar discs in the upper lumbar spine,with an absorption ratio of 85.7%(60/70),an average absorption rate of(23.1±19.5)%,and a maximum absorption rate of 86.6%.There were 215 herniated lumbar discs in the lower lumbar spine,with an absorption ratio of 78.6%(169/215),an average absorption rate of(21.0±21.3)%,and a maximum absorption rate of 83.2%.Significant and complete absorption of the upper and lower lumbar vertebrae accounted for 5.7%and 6.5%,respectively,with no statistically significant difference(P>0.05).The average distance of posterior displacement of the spinous process ligament complex immediately after surgery was(5.2±2.8)mm.There were no significant differences in the width and height of the left and right lateral recess before and immediately after surgery(P>0.05).The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score immediately after surgery increased from(10.1±3.4)before surgery to(17.0±4.8),and the immediate effective rate after surgery reached 95.6%.(2)Early postoperative period:Among them,46 patients completed the early postoperative follow-up.There were 101 herniated lumbar discs,with an absorption ratio of 94%(95/101)and an average absorption rate of(36.9±23.7)%.Significant and complete absorption accounted for 30.6%,with a maximum absorption rate of 100%.Out of 101 herniated lumbar discs,3 remained unchanged in volume,with a volume invariance rate of 2.97%(3/101).Out of 101 herniated lumbar discs,3 had an increased volume of herniated lumbar discs,with an increase ratio of 2.97%(3/101)and an increase rate of(18.5±18.4)%.The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score increased from preoperative(9.3±5.1)to(23.5±4.0),with an excellent and good rate of 93.4%.(3)The early postoperative lumbar disc herniation absorption ratios of the control group and trial group were 2.3%and 85.9%,respectively,with statistically significant differences(P<0.001).(4)Complications:There were two cases of incision exudation and delayed healing in the trial group.After conservative treatment such as dressing change,no nerve injury or death occurred in the incision healing,and no cases underwent a second surgery.(5)It is concluded that symmetrically adduction of lumbar decompression induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous is a new method for treating lumbar disc herniation that can avoid extensive excision of the"ring"nerve and achieve satisfactory early clinical efficacy.It does not damage the lumbar facet joints or alter the basic anatomical structure of the lateral recess,fully preserves the herniated lumbar discs,and can induce significant or even complete induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous.Symmetrically adduction of lumbar decompression induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous provides a new basis and method for the clinical treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

[Objective] To study the molecular biological mechanism for a case of ABO blood group B subtype, and perform three-dimensional modeling of the mutant enzyme. [Methods] The ABO phenotype was identified by the tube method and microcolumn gel method; the ABO gene of the proband was detected by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP), and the exon 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were sequenced and analyzed. Homologous modeling of Bw.03 glycosyltransferase (GT) was carried out by Modeller and analyzed by PyMOL2.5.0 software. [Results] The weakening B antigen was detected in the proband sample by forward typing, and anti-B antibody was detected by reverse typing. PCR-SSP detection showed B, O gene, and the sequencing results showed c.721 C>T mutation in exon 7 of the B gene, resulting in p. Arg 241 Trp. Compared with the wild type, the structure of Bw.03GT was partially changed, and the intermolecular force analysis showed that the original three hydrogen bonds at 241 position disappeared. [Conclusion] Blood group molecular biology examination is helpful for the accurate identification of ambiguous blood group. Homologous modeling more intuitively shows the key site for the weakening of Bw.03 GT activity. The intermolecular force analysis can explain the root cause of enzyme activity weakening.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanism of a case with RhD-- phenotype. METHODS: A proband with RhD-- phenotype who attended the clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on January 29, 2024 was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the proband (8 mL) and her close relatives (father, mother and brother; 3 mL each) for Rh phenotyping and irregular antibodies testing with gel card and test tube methods. Direct agglutination reaction and absorption-elution test were used to detect the c antigen on the red blood cells of the proband. PCR-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) typing and gene sequencing were used to determine the RHCE gene of the proband and her relatives. The origin of the proband's variant was traced by pedigree analysis. Three-dimensional structural models of the wild-type RhCE*cE protein and the RhD-- phenotype protein were constructed to predict the alterations of the RhD-- phenotype protein caused by the variant. The procedures of this study were approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No.: 2023-KY-0870-003). RESULTS: The red blood cells of the proband did not agglutinate with anti-C, anti-c, anti-E, and anti-e. The result of the serum irregular antibody test was negative. The results of direct agglutination reaction and absorption-elution test of the proband were both negative. Her Rh blood group was identified as RhD--. The results of the Rh blood grouping of her close relatives were normal. PCR-SSP detection showed that the RHCE genotypes of the proband and her close relatives were cE/cE and Ce/cE, respectively. Gene sequencing analysis showed that the RHCE genotypes of the proband and her close relatives were RHCE*cE (c.365C>A)/RHCE*cE (c.365C>A) and RHCE*Ce/RHCE*cE (c.365C>A), respectively. Pedigree analysis revealed that the variants in the proband were inherited from her father and mother, respectively. Homology modeling of RhCE*cE protein showed that the RhD-- type peptide chain with a significantly shortened C-terminal was encoded by only 121 amino acid resides, which was 296 amino acid resides shorter compared to the wild-type RhCE*cE peptide chain encoded by 417 amino acid residues. CONCLUSION Above results revealed the molecular biological mechanism of a RhD-- phenotype. The c.365C>A variant in the RHCE gene has rendered the RHCE*cE alleles invalid, which ultimately led to the RhD-- phenotype.
Humans ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System/chemistry* ; Female ; Phenotype ; Male ; Alleles ; Pedigree ; Base Sequence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Adult

Objective: To reveal the molecular basis of the cisAB (p. Met266Leu) glycosyltransferase by studying a proband with cisAB subtype and his family. Methods: A male newborn was selected as the research subject. Tube methods were used to identify ABO blood types of the proband and his family members. PCR-SSP detection, ABO gene sequencing, and cloning analysis were performed on the proband and some family members. The inheritance pattern of the subtype gene in the family was determined through pedigree analysis. Homology modeling was used to analyze the impact of amino acid variations on the structure of the transferase, and molecular docking was used to demonstrate the bifunctional activity of the transferase and the donor-receptor binding conformation. Results: Serological tests showed that the proband and his father had enhanced anti-H agglutination, and the grandmother had a forward and reverse discrepancy. Sequencing of the proband revealed heterozygous variations of c. 297A>G, c. 526C>G, c. 657C>T, c. 703G>A, c. 803G>C, and c. 930G>A compared with A1. 01 (compared with B. 01, lacking the c. 796C>A variation, namely harboring the c. 796A>C variation) and c. 261delG. Combined with cloning analysis, the proband's genotype was determined to be ABO cisAB (c. 796A>C)/ABO O. 01. 01, the father's genotype was ABO cisAB (c. 796A>C)/ABO O. 01. 02, and the grandmother's genotype was ABO cisAB (c. 796A>C)/ABO B102. Pedigree analysis indicated that the cisAB allele in this newborn was inherited from his father and grandmother rather than a natural mutation. Homology modeling showed that the side chain orientation and intermolecular forces of Leu266 in the cisAB (p. Met266Leu) transferase changed, and molecular docking demonstrated that the "binding pocket" of the active center of the variant enzyme could accommodate both UDP-GalNAc and UDP-Gal, indicating that the cisAB enzyme structure has bifunctional activity. Conclusion: The bifunctional activity of this cisAB (p. Met266Leu) enzyme is related to the nucleotide variation of c. 796A>C, and molecular docking indicates that the enzyme has dual affinity for A/B sugar donors.

BACKGROUND:The relationship between pathological changes of lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar bone mineral density is still controversial.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women.METHODS:This study enrolled 208 patients with lumbar disc degeneration,including 64 middle-aged and elderly males and 144 postmenopausal females,with a mean age of(62.10+7.74)years and a mean body mass index of(24.71±3.50)kg/m2,who admitted at the Department of Orthopedics of Zhengdong Hospital,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1,2018 to January 1,2019.The bone mineral density of L1-L4 was measured using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Magnetic resonance imaging was taken to grade the severity of lumbar disc degeneration in each segment.The correlation between lumbar bone mineral density and lumbar disc degeneration was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The lumbar bone mineral density of both middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women increased with the lowering of lumbar spine segments,and the L1-L4 bone mineral density and the average lumbar bone mineral density of middle-aged and elderly men were higher than those of postmenopausal women(P＜0.05).The lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration of both middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women increased with the lowering of lumbar spine segments,and there was no significant difference in the grades of lumbar disc degeneration of the same segments in middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women(P＞0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that there were sex differences in the correlation between the lumbar disc degeneration grade and the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in each segment(L1-L4).The lumbar disc degeneration grade of each segment was positively correlated with the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in postmenopausal women(P＜0.05),and the correlation between the disc degeneration grade and the lower vertebral bone mineral density was higher than that between the disc degeneration grade and the upper vertebral bone mineral density.However,there was no correlation between lumbar disc degeneration grade of each segment and the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly men(P＞0.05).To conclude,the grade of lumbar disc degeneration is positively correlated with adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in postmenopausal women and the correlation coefficient of adjacent lower vertebral body is higher,but no significant correlation is found in middle-aged and elderly men.

BACKGROUND:The relationship between pathological changes of lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar bone mineral density is still controversial.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women.METHODS:This study enrolled 208 patients with lumbar disc degeneration,including 64 middle-aged and elderly males and 144 postmenopausal females,with a mean age of(62.10+7.74)years and a mean body mass index of(24.71±3.50)kg/m2,who admitted at the Department of Orthopedics of Zhengdong Hospital,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1,2018 to January 1,2019.The bone mineral density of L1-L4 was measured using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Magnetic resonance imaging was taken to grade the severity of lumbar disc degeneration in each segment.The correlation between lumbar bone mineral density and lumbar disc degeneration was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The lumbar bone mineral density of both middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women increased with the lowering of lumbar spine segments,and the L1-L4 bone mineral density and the average lumbar bone mineral density of middle-aged and elderly men were higher than those of postmenopausal women(P＜0.05).The lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration of both middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women increased with the lowering of lumbar spine segments,and there was no significant difference in the grades of lumbar disc degeneration of the same segments in middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women(P＞0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that there were sex differences in the correlation between the lumbar disc degeneration grade and the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in each segment(L1-L4).The lumbar disc degeneration grade of each segment was positively correlated with the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in postmenopausal women(P＜0.05),and the correlation between the disc degeneration grade and the lower vertebral bone mineral density was higher than that between the disc degeneration grade and the upper vertebral bone mineral density.However,there was no correlation between lumbar disc degeneration grade of each segment and the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly men(P＞0.05).To conclude,the grade of lumbar disc degeneration is positively correlated with adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in postmenopausal women and the correlation coefficient of adjacent lower vertebral body is higher,but no significant correlation is found in middle-aged and elderly men.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of a case with RhD-phenotype.Methods:A proband with RhD-phenotype who attended the clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on January 29, 2024 was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the proband (8 mL) and her close relatives (father, mother and brother; 3 mL each) for Rh phenotyping and irregular antibodies testing with gel card and test tube methods. Direct agglutination reaction and absorption-elution test were used to detect the c antigen on the red blood cells of the proband. PCR-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) typing and gene sequencing were used to determine the RHCE gene of the proband and her relatives. The origin of the proband′s variant was traced by pedigree analysis. Three-dimensional structural models of the wild-type RhCE*cE protein and the RhD-phenotype protein were constructed to predict the alterations of the RhD-phenotype protein caused by the variant. The procedures of this study were approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No.: 2023-KY-0870-003). Results:The red blood cells of the proband did not agglutinate with anti-C, anti-c, anti-E, and anti-e. The result of the serum irregular antibody test was negative. The results of direct agglutination reaction and absorption-elution test of the proband were both negative. Her Rh blood group was identified as RhD-. The results of the Rh blood grouping of her close relatives were normal. PCR-SSP detection showed that the RHCE genotypes of the proband and her close relatives were cE/cE and Ce/cE, respectively. Gene sequencing analysis showed that the RHCE genotypes of the proband and her close relatives were RHCE* cE (c.365C>A)/ RHCE* cE (c.365C>A) and RHCE* Ce/ RHCE* cE (c.365C>A), respectively. Pedigree analysis revealed that the variants in the proband were inherited from her father and mother, respectively. Homology modeling of RhCE*cE protein showed that the RhD-type peptide chain with a significantly shortened C-terminal was encoded by only 121 amino acid resides, which was 296 amino acid resides shorter compared to the wild-type RhCE*cE peptide chain encoded by 417 amino acid residues. Conclusion:Above results revealed the molecular biological mechanism of a RhD-phenotype. The c. 365C>A variant in the RHCE gene has rendered the RHCE* cE alleles invalid, which ultimately led to the RhD-phenotype.

Objective:To explore the disease characteristics and TCM constitutions of patients with nonunion; To analyze the risk factors of nonunion and its correlation with TCM constitution; To provide research ideas for the prevention and treatment of nonunion with TCM based on the concept of "prevention of disease".Methods:This study was an observational case-control study. 334 orthopedic patients who visited the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2020 to September 2022 were selected. 167 patients were collected according to the diagnostic criteria of nonunion, then 167 patients who met the criteria of fracture healing were included as the control group. General information and the classification of TCM constitutions of the patients were collected. The distribution rules of TCM constitution and patients' risk factors were statistically analyzed, and the correlation between the two was explored.Results:The unbalanced constitution was found in 126 cases (75.45%) in the bone nonunion group and 108 cases (62.87%) in the fracture healing group, with statistical significance ( χ2=4.63, P=0.032). The proportion of TCM constitutional types distributed among the patients with nonunion were in the following order: phlegm-dampness constitution, yang-deficiency constitution, mild constitution, qi-deficiency constitution, yin-deficiency constitution, damp-heat constitution, qi-stagnation constitution, blood-stasis constitution and inherited-special constitution. There was statistical significance between the nonunion group and the fracture healing group in the phlegm-dampness and yang-deficiency in men and yang-deficiency in women ( χ 2 values were 19.12, 4.96, 4.92, respectively, P<0.01 or P<0.05). Diabetes [ OR (95% CI): 2.672(1.067, 6.693), P=0.036], BMI≥24 [ OR (95% CI): 1.903 (1.182,3.063), P=0. 008], phlegm-dampness [ OR (95% CI): 3.099 (1.624,5.913), P=0.001] and yang-deficiency [ OR (95% CI): 2.424 (1.252,4.693), P=0.009] as independent risk factors for the development of nonunion in multifactorial logistic regression analysis. Conclusions:The proportion of unbalanced constitution in patients with nonunion is significantly higher than that in patients with fracture healing. Phlegm-dampness constitution and yang-deficiency constitution are independent risk factors for the development of nonunion. TCM constitutional types can be an important factor in the risk assessment of nonunion and the prevention and treatment of nonunion based on the concept of "prevention of disease" has a sound theoretical basis and wide application prospects.

Objective:To serologically and genotypically analyze the pedigree of a case with a new allele c.175_176insGA of B el subtype and preliminarily explore the molecular mechanism of weak expression of glycosyltransferase B. Method:In the descriptive study,a 23-year-old male voluntary blood donor and his family members were selected for the study. The ABO and Le blood types of the proband and his family members was identified by the test tube method. The agglutination inhibition test was applied to detect the B and H antigens in saliva, and the Sanger sequencing and PacBio (Pacific Bioscience) third-generation haplotype sequencing were performed on the study subjects to identify genotypes. Finally, Expasy software were applied to amino acid translation of DNA sequences and prediction of protein length after gene alteration. ORF finder was applied to predict alternative start codons as well as open reading frames of mRNA, and protein expression mechanisms were analyzed.Results:The proband and her sister were B el subtype, her mother was AB el subtype, her father was normal O type, and all members of the family were Le(a+b+) phenotype. Sanger sequencing results showed that a new allele of c.175_176insGA was found in exon 4 of the proband, her mother, and her sister. Third-generation haplotype sequencing detected the haplotypes of the family members, which revealed that the proband was ABO*O.01.02/ABO*BEL.NEW (c.175_176insGA), the father was ABO*O.01.02/ABO*O.01.02, the mother was ABO*A1.02/ABO*BEL.NEW (c.175_176insGA), and the sister was ABO*O.01.02/ABO*BEL.NEW (c.175_176insGA). Analysis of the protein expression mechanism indicated that although the new allele of ABO*BEL.NEW was presumed to cause a frameshift mutation and result in a premature stop codon p.Asp59Glu*fs20 in exon 5, encoding an inactive glycosyltransferase, an alternative start codon could be utilized to initiate translation of B el subtype functional glycosyltransferase. Conclusion:Expression of the new allele of B el subtype is associated with the translation of B el subtype glycosyltransferase initiated by alternative start codons.