Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients. Methods: Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Results: Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher. Conclusion MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients. Methods: Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Results: Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher. Conclusion MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients. Methods: Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Results: Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher. Conclusion MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients. Methods: Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Results: Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher. Conclusion MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in promoting platelet engraftment after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in children, compared with recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 53 pediatric patients who underwent allo-HSCT at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from April 2023 to August 2024. Based on medications used during the periengraftment period, patients were divided into two groups: the avatrombopag group (n=15) and the rhTPO group (n=38). RESULTS: At days 14, 30, and 60 post-transplant, platelet engraftment was achieved in 20% (3/15), 60% (9/15), and 93% (14/15) of patients in the avatrombopag group, and in 39% (15/38), 82% (31/38), and 97% (37/38) in the rhTPO group, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in platelet engraftment rates at each time point, cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment, overall survival, and relapse-free survival (all P>0.05). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that acute graft-versus-host disease was an independent risk factor for delayed platelet engraftment (P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS In children undergoing allo-HSCT, avatrombopag effectively promotes platelet engraftment, with efficacy and safety comparable to rhTPO, and represents a viable therapeutic option.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Adolescent ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Blood Platelets/drug effects* ; Thiazoles/therapeutic use* ; Thrombopoietin/therapeutic use* ; Thiophenes

Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation（CI） serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system（Favorable, Marginal, Poor）. The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss（such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1） and syndromic hereditary hearing loss（such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome）, which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Prognosis ; Hearing Loss/surgery* ; Consensus ; Connexin 26 ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Connexins/genetics*

Azvudine and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) are recommended for COVID-19 treatment in China, but their safety and efficacy in the elderly population are not fully known. In this multicenter, retrospective, cohort study, we identified 5131 elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients from 32,864 COVID-19 patients admitted to nine hospitals in Henan Province, China, from December 5, 2022, to January 31, 2023. The primary outcome was all-cause death, and the secondary outcome was composite disease progression. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to control for confounding factors, including demographics, vaccination status, comorbidities, and laboratory tests. After 2:1 PSM, 1786 elderly patients receiving azvudine and 893 elderly patients receiving Paxlovid were included. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses revealed that compared with Paxlovid group, azvudine could significantly reduce the risk of all-cause death (log-rank P = 0.002; HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.573-0.883, P = 0.002), but there was no difference in composite disease progression (log-rank P = 0.52; HR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.877-1.260, P = 0.588). Four sensitivity analyses verified the robustness of above results. Subgroup analysis suggested that a greater benefit of azvudine over Paxlovid was observed in elderly patients with primary malignant tumors (P for interaction = 0.005, HR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.18-0.57) compared to patients without primary malignant tumors. Safety analysis revealed that azvudine treatment had a lower incidence of adverse events and higher lymphocyte levels than Paxlovid treatment. In conclusion, azvudine treatment is not inferior to Paxlovid treatment in terms of all-cause death, composite disease progression and adverse events in elderly hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Humans ; Vascular Stiffness ; Coal Mining ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Coal ; Miners

Objective To investigate the toxicokinetic differences of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine(MDMA)and its metabolite 4,5-methylene dioxy amphetamine(MDA)in rats af-ter single and continuous administration of MDMA,providing reference data for the forensic identifica-tion of MDMA.Methods A total of 24 rats in the single administration group were randomly divided into 5,10 and 20 mg/kg experimental groups and the control group,with 6 rats in each group.The ex-perimental group was given intraperitoneal injection of MDMA,and the control group was given intraperi-toneal injection of the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group.The amount of 0.5 mL blood was collected from the medial canthus 5 min,30 min,1 h,1.5 h,2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h,10 h,12 h after administration.In the continuous administration group,24 rats were randomly divided into the experi-mental group(18 rats)and the control group(6 rats).The experimental group was given MDMA 7 d by continuous intraperitoneal injection in increments of 5,7,9,11,13,15,17 mg/kg per day,respectively,while the control group was given the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group by in-traperitoneal injection.On the eighth day,the experimental rats were randomly divided into 5,10 and 20 mg/kg dose groups,with 6 rats in each group.MDMA was injected intraperitoneally,and the con-trol group was injected intraperitoneally with the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group.On the eighth day,0.5 mL of blood was taken from the medial canthus 5 min,30 min,1 h,1.5 h,2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h,10 h,12 h after administration.Liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect MDMA and MDA levels,and statistical software was employed for data analysis.Results In the single-administration group,peak concentrations of MDMA and MDA were reached at 5 min and 1 h after administration,respectively,with the largest detection time limit of 12 h.In the continuous administration group,peak concentrations were reached at 30 min and 1.5 h af-ter administration,respectively,with the largest detection time limit of 10 h.Nonlinear fitting equations for the concentration ratio of MDMA and MDA in plasma and administration time in the single-administration group and continuous administration group were as follows:T=10.362C-1.183,R2=0.974 6;T=7.397 3C-0.694,R2=0.961 5(T:injection time;C:concentration ratio of MDMA to MDA in plasma).Conclusions The toxicokinetic data of MDMA and its metabolite MDA in rats,obtained through single and continuous administration,including peak concentration,peak time,detection time limit,and the relationship between concentration ratio and administration time,provide a theoretical and data foundation for relevant forensic identification.

Obiective Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by a variety of risk factors. There are various pathological changes, but apoptosis of the neurological meridian cells is one of the most important pathological bases. Hyperlipidemia is a high-risk factor for the development of AD, which can lead to increased levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in brain tissues. PCSK9 is a protease closely related to lipid metabolism, but studies have shown that it may be related to the development of AD. LRP1 is abundantly expressed in neuronal cells, and it is an important transporter for the clearance of Aβ. There is now a large amount of literature confirming that PCSK9 can induce the degradation of LRP1. PI3K/AKT is an important signaling pathway in vivo, which plays an important role in apoptosis, and there is now a large amount of literature confirming that LRP1 activates the PI3K/AKT pathway, which has an anti-apoptotic effect. So can PCSK9 affect the PI3K/AKT pathway through LRP1 and thus regulate neuronal apoptosis? This deserves further investigation.The aim of this study was to explore the role of PCSK9 in mediating ox-LDL pro-apoptotic neuronal cell death and its mechanism, and then further elaborate the mechanism of hyperlipidemia leading to neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. MethodsFirstly, PC12 cells were treated with different concentrations of ox-LDL (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/L) for 24 h. Oil red O staining was used to detect lipid accumulation in PC12 cells, Hoechst33258 staining and flow cytometry to detect apoptosis in PC12 cells, ELISA to detect the content of Aβ secreted by PC12, Western blot to detect expression of SREBP2, PCSK9 and LRP1. Then PC12 cells were treated with 75 mg/L ox-LDL for different times (0, 6, 12, 24, 48 h), and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of SREBP2, PCSK9 and LRP1. Finally, after transfecting 100 nmol/L PCSK9 siRNA into PC12 cells for 48 h, PC12 cells were treated with 75 mg/L ox-LDL for 24 h, Hoechst33258 staining and flow cytometry to detect apoptosis rate of PC12 cells, and Western blot to detect PCSK9, LRP1, PI3K, AKT, P-PI3K , P-AKT, NF-κB, Bcl-2, Bax, Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 expression, and ELISA detected Aβ content secreted by PC12 cells. Resultsox-LDL increased lipid accumulation and promoted apoptosis and Aβ secretion in PC12 cells, as well as increasing the expression of SREBP2 and PCSK9 and decreasing the expression of LRP1 in PC12 cells. pCsk9 siRNA could be inhibited through the PI3K/AKT pathway and the NF-κB-Bcl-2/Bax-Caspase-9/3 pathway to inhibit ox-LDL-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells while increasing Aβ secretion in PC12 cells. Conclusionox-LDL plays a bidirectional regulatory role in ox-LDL-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells by inducing an increase in PCSK9 expression and a decrease in LRP1 expression in PC12 cells, which in turn affects different signaling pathways downstream.