Objective:To investigate genetic variation profiles of δ-globin (HBD gene) and hematological phenotypes in Guangdong population.Methods:Retrospective case analysis was performed in this study. Blood samples of 11 616 couples who participated in free thalassemia screening in Guangzhou from July 2020 to December 2022 were collected which underwent blood routine tests and hemoglobin (Hb) capillary electrophoresis. According to the results, 154 samples were enrolled in this study: (1)group of 35 cases with HbA 2 <2.0% but no HbF band; (2)group of 64 cases with HbA 2 < 2.0% and HbF band; (3)group of 25 cases with HbA 2 <2.0% and suspected HbA 2 variants; (4) group of 25 cases with HbA 2 ≥2.0% and <3.5% and HbF band, as well as abnormal blood routine report [mean corpuscular volume (MCV) <82 fl and/or mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) <27 pg]; (5)group of 5 cases with HbA 2 ≥2.0% and <3.0% accompanied with β thalassemia gene carriers Sanger sequencing was used to detect single nucleotide variants of δ-globin. Results:(1) A total of 22 genetic variations were detected, including 6 de novo variations, and the top 3 genetic variations were respectively c.-127T>C (57.02%, 65/114), c.-80T>C (9.65%, 11/114), c.349C>T (7.89%, 9/114). (2) In group of patients with HbA 2 <2.0% but no HbF band, 22 cases (62.85%, 22/35) had HBD gene variation, including 7 cases with MCV and MCH lower than reference values, 4 cases with α thalassemia; 13 cases had no HBD gene variation, including 12 cases with lower MCV and MCH. Among 19 cases with abnormal blood routine test results, levels of HbA 2 in patients (7 cases) with HBD gene variation were lower compared with those without HBD gene variation (12 cases) ( P<0.01%). (3)In group of patients with HbA 2<2.0% with HbF band, 59 cases (92.18%, 59/64) had HBD gene variations whose mutations all occurred in promoter region, and the HbF were all lower than 5.0%; 5 cases with HbF >5.0% had no HBD gene variation. (4) In group of patients with HbA 2 <2.0% and suspected HbA 2 variants, the detection rate was 100% (25/25) and δ-globin variants <1.0%. (5) In group of patients with HbA 2 ≥2.0% and <3.5% and HbF band accompanied with abnormal blood routine results, no HBD gene variation was found. (6) In group of 5 patients with HbA 2 ≥2.0% and <3.0% with β thalassemia gene carriers, HBD gene variation were found in all cases, and the level of HbA 2 was (2.62±0.17)% and HbF was (3.62±2.22)%. Conclusions:There are various genotypes of HBD gene variation, among which HBD: c.-127T>C is the most common in Guangdong population in China. Mutations in the promoter region may cause decrease in HbA 2 and increase in HbF which is mostly less than 5% but exceeds 5.0% when combined with β thalassemia. Our study enriched the gene mutation profiles of HBD gene in Guangdong population.

In order to optimize the undergraduate teaching methods and improve students' comprehensive competitiveness, this study explored the scientific research training methods of medical laboratory undergraduates during medical internship. On the premise of ensuring that students carry out clinical practice according to the internship plan, the research group leads students to carry out scientific research training in their spare time. The scientific research training was divided into two stages. In the first stage, on the basis of informed consent and independent choice, the students in the control group were trained by self-regulated learning and teachers' question answering, while the students in the experimental group were trained by the way of centralized scientific research lectures and scientific research practice. In the second stage, all the students were in independent research and exploration under the guidance of teachers within 5 months. The results showed that in the process of independent research, the time of topic selection in the experimental group [(3.5±1.1) days] was significantly shorter than that in the control group [( 5.4 ± 1.9) days], and the time of topic design in the experimental group [(12.2±2.5) days] was significantly shorter than that in the control group [(14.6±3.1) days]. It shows that carrying out scientific research training in the medical internship stage of undergraduates is helpful to increase the efficiency of students' later independent research and accelerate the process of independent research.

Objective:To investigate the indications for prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy outcomes of fetal Turner syndrome (TS) with different karyotypes.Methods:Clinical data of TS cases diagnosed by fetal karyotyping in the Prenatal Diagnostic Center of Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center from January 1, 2010, to June 30, 2021, were analyzed retrospectively. According to the karyotyping results, these cases were divided into two groups: monosomy X (45,X) and non-monosomy X groups (including karyotypes of mosaic monosomy X, isochromosome X, X deletion, X rearrangement, pseudodicentric X, and mosaicism with Y or Y deletion). Chi-square test was used to compare the detection rate, indications for prenatal diagnosis, and pregnancy outcomes of the two groups, and the Bonferroni test was conducted for further pairwise comparisons between the subgroups. The Chi-square test (or Fisher's exact test) was used to compare the abnormal ultrasound signs. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the nuchal translucency (NT) thickness of the two groups. Results:(1) Invasive prenatal diagnosis was performed on 27 981 pregnancies, and 205 (0.73%) of them were diagnosed with TS, including 135 cases of monosomy X and 70 cases of non-monosomy X (44 with numerical sex chromosome abnormalities, and 26 with structural sex chromosome abnormalities). (2) Out of the 205 pregnancies, 164 (80.0%) had one indication for prenatal diagnosis, and 41 (20.0%) had multiple indications. The detection rate of fetal ultrasonographic abnormalities [85.2% (115/135)] in monosomy X cases was significantly higher than that of three other indications [positive serological screening for Down's syndrome: 67.3% (35/52); positive non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for sex chromosome abnormality: 60.0% (15/25); and other indications (advanced maternal age, adverse pregnancy history and thalassemia genes carried by both parents): 5.2% (7/135); all P<0.05], and also higher than the figure in non-monosomy X cases [25.7% (18/70), χ 2=71.55, P<0.001]. In non-monosomy X cases, the detection rates of TS among cases with high-risk results from serological screening for Down's syndrome and NIPT for sex chromosome abnormality [54.7% (29/53) and 68.3% (28/41)] were higher than those of the other two indications [fetal ultrasonographic abnormalities: 25.7% (18/70), other indications: 14.3% (10/70); all P<0.05]. (3) Of the 133 pregnancies with fetal ultrasonographic abnormalities as the indication, 65 (48.9%) had one abnormal ultrasound sign, and 68 (51.1%) had multiple signs. Among the 95 cases with ultrasound abnormalities in the first trimester and 38 cases in the second or third trimester, the incidence of cystic hygroma and hydrops was significantly higher in monosomy X cases than in non-monosomy X cases [in the first trimester: 71.8% (61/85) vs 1/10, 34.1% (29/85) vs 0/10; in the second or third trimester: 73.3% (22/30) vs 0/8, 50.0% (15/30) vs 0/8; Fisher's exact test, all P<0.05]. NT thickness in monosomy X cases was greater than that of non-monosomy X cases [7.5 mm (1.0-17.4 mm) vs 1.7 mm (0.8-9.5 mm), Z=－5.25, P<0.001]. (4) Among the 72 pregnancies with indications other than ultrasound abnormalities, 68 underwent Down's syndrome screening and 61 underwent NIPT. The detection rates among the cases with positive results in Down's syndrome screening, NIPT for a sex chromosome abnormality, and other indications (advanced maternal age, adverse pregnancy history, and thalassemia genes carried by both parents) were 54.4% (37/68), 59.0% (36/61) and 22.2% (16/72), respectively ( χ 2=22.40, P<0.001). The detection rates of the cases with high-risk results from Down's syndrome screening and NIPT for sex chromosome abnormality were higher than that of the cases with other indications ( χ 2=18.77 and 15.40, both P<0.001). Of the 72 pregnancies, 19 (26.4%) were monosomy X and 53 (73.6%) were non-monosomy X, including 42 (58.3%) with chromosomal mosaicism. (5) Among the 205 cases of TS, 185 were successfully followed up (123 were monosomy X and 62 were non-monosomy X). There was one live birth in monosomy X cases (0.8%, 1/123) and 17 in non-monosomy X cases (27.4%, 17/62), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=33.22, P<0.001). Sixty-three TS cases with normal ultrasound findings were followed up (18 were monosomy X and 45 were non-monosomy X). In these cases, all 18 pregnancies with monosomy X and 32 (71.1%, 32/45) with non-monosomy X were terminated and the other 13 (28.9%, 13/45) cases of non-monosomy X were delivered. Of the 18 live births, one (non-monosomy X) was delivered at 36 weeks of gestation and the rest were born at term. Eleven cases of them were followed up. The height of one child with monosomy X was lower than the average height of children of the same age and sex by more than 2 standard deviations (－2 SD). The height of 10 children with non-monosomy X were between－1 SD and +3 SD among the children of the same age and gender. The mental and motor development were good in the 11 cases, and no other structural abnormalities were observed. The remaining seven cases refused to be followed up. Conclusions:Ultrasonographic abnormalities are the main indications of fetal TS with monosomy X, while positive Down's syndrome screening and positive NIPT for sex chromosome abnormality are indicators of non-monosomy X. The termination rate for pregnancies with monosomy X is higher than that for non-monosomy X.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a fetus with structural brain abnormalities. METHODS: The karyotypes of the fetus and its parents were analyzed by conventional G-banding. Chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) was carried out to detect chromosomal microdeletion and microduplication. RESULTS: No kartotypic abnormality was detected in the fetus and its parents. CMA has identified a 194 kb microduplication at Xq25 in the fetus, which encompassed exons 4-35 of the STAG2 gene and was derived from its mother. CONCLUSION The Xq25 duplication encompassing part of the STAG2 gene probably underlay the brain malformation in the fetus.
Chromosome Banding ; Female ; Fetus ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how the National Health Commission of China (NHCC)-recommended Chinese medicines (CMs) modulate the major maladjustments of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly the clinically observed complications and comorbidities. METHODS: By focusing on the potent targets in common with the conventional medicines, we investigated the mechanisms of 11 NHCC-recommended CMs in the modulation of the major COVID-19 pathophysiology (hyperinflammations, viral replication), complications (pain, headache) and comorbidities (hypertension, obesity, diabetes). The constituent herbs of these CMs and their chemical ingredients were from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Database. The experimentally-determined targets and the activity values of the chemical ingredients of these CMs were from the Natural Product Activity and Species Source Database. The approved and clinical trial drugs against these targets were searched from the Therapeutic Target Database and DrugBank Database. Pathways of the targets was obtained from Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and additional literature search. RESULTS: Overall, 9 CMs modulated 6 targets discovered by the COVID-19 target discovery studies, 8 and 11 CMs modulated 8 and 6 targets of the approved or clinical trial drugs for the treatment of the major COVID-19 complications and comorbidities, respectively. CONCLUSION The coordinated actions of each NHCC-recommended CM against a few targets of the major COVID-19 pathophysiology, complications and comorbidities, partly have common mechanisms with the conventional medicines.
COVID-19/physiopathology* ; Comorbidity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Medicine ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To analyze the laboratory tests and clinical characteristics of patients with lupus anticoagulant-positive cerebral infarction.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 216 patients with cerebral infarction hospitalized in Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2016 to October 2021 was performed, and the patients were divided into LA-positive cerebral infarction group (168 cases) and LA-negative cerebral infarction group (48 cases) according to the detection of lupus anticoagulant (LA) in cerebral infarction patients, and the laboratory test data between the two groups were compared, and the risk factors related to cerebral infarction, including body mass index (BMI), smoking history, drinking history, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes history, were included for comparative analysis. LA was performed using the silica clotting time (SCT) method and the modified diluted russell viper venom time (dRVVT) method, respectively. The dRVVT method was used to detect LA. The LA-positive cerebral infarction group was divided into three subgroups according to the positive detection, namely, the dRVVT single-positive group (110 cases), the SCT single-positive group (40 cases) and the double-positive group (18 cases), and the comparison of laboratory indices between different subgroups was performed.The measurement data of normal distribution between the two groups were compared by independent sample t-test, and the mean between multiple groups was compared by ANOVA; The rank sum test was used to compare the median between the measurement data groups that did not conform to the normal distribution, and the χ 2 test was used to compare the counting data groups. Results:The levels of antithrombin Ⅲ and protein C of the LA-positive group ((102.85±14.39)% and (108.52±22.62)%) were all lower than those of the LA-negative group ((110.16±11.10)% and (116.34±18.14)%), the difference was statistically significant ( t values were 3.25, 2.20, P values were 0.001, 0.029, respectively). The levels of fibrinogen, homocysteine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cells and neutrophil were (3.43(3.07,4.03) g/L), (17.92(14.07,23.71) μmol/L), (6.97(2.33,11.46) mg/L), (15.00(6.75,29.00) mm/h), (8.61(6.72,10.86)×10 9/L) and (5.81(4.39,7.91)×10 9/L), all were higher than those in the LA-negative group with values of (3.14(2.68, 3.62) g/L), (14.62(12.49, 18.41) μmol/L), (3.18(2.09,4.32) mg/L), (9.50(3.75,19.00) mm/h), (7.20(6.22,8.33)×10 9/L) and (4.47(4.02,5.57)×10 9/L), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z values were 2.77, 2.89, 3.32, 2.45, 3.15 and 3.76, P values were 0.006、0.004、0.001, 0.014, 0.002 and <0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in age, gender, BMI, personal history, past medical history and other laboratory indicators between the two groups (all P>0.05). Comparison among different subgroups in LA positive group showed that D dimer and hs-CRP levels in double-positive group were 0.58(0.50,0.84) mg/L and 7.77(5.94,21.61) mg/L, higher than those in SCT single-positive group with values of 0.45(0.32,0.56) mg/L and 2.98(1.09,6.07) mg/L, and protein S level of double-positive group (97.36±25.45)% was lower than that in SCT single-positive group (114.85±22.74)%, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). D dimer, prothrombin time, hs-CRP and neutrophil levels in dRVVT single-positive group were (0.58(0.50,0.84) mg/L), (11.40(11.10,12.10) s), (6.97(4.07,11.97) mg/L) and (5.83(4.51,8.27)×10 9/L), which were higher than those in SCT single-positive group with values of (0.45(0.32,0.56) mg/L), (11.15(10.70,11.43) s), (2.98(1.09,6.07) mg/L) and (5.08(3.92,6.07)×10 9/L), the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). Protein C and triglyceride levels were ((105.65±20.62)%) and (1.38(1.05, 1.75) mmol/L) in dRVVT single-positive group, which were lower than those in SCT single-positive group with values of ((117.05±20.86)% and 1.60(1.29,2.36) mmol/L), the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion:There were significant differences between LA positive and LA negative cerebral infarction patients in laboratory examination. In LA positive cerebral infarction patients, the levels of fibrinogen, homocysteine, hs-CRP, white blood cells, neutrophil and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were higher, while the levels of anticoagulant protein antithrombin Ⅲ and protein C were lower. It is of great significance to pay close attention to the level and change of laboratory related risk factors in patients with LA positive cerebral infarction and give early intervention and treatment for the prevention of the occurrence and recurrence of cerebral infarction.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors of ischemic stroke in young adults.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 80 ischemic stroke patients (age ≤45 years) admitted to Beijing Tiantan Hospital from March 2019 to October 2019 as the young stroke group, and 117 ischemic stroke patients (age >45 years) hospitalized during the same period as the middle-aged and elderly stroke group. The blood test indexes of the two groups were compared, and the risk factors related to stroke, including smoking history, drinking history, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes history, were compared and analyzed. Two sets of independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test or χ2 test were used to compare the above indicators of patients in the two groups. Results:The activated partial prothrombin time, protein S, uric acid, homocysteine and D-dimer levels in middle-aged and elderly stroke group were (29.73±3.40) s, (105.58±27.23) %, (297.29±85.99) μmol/L, (17.58±14.45) μmol/L and (2.75±3.08) mg/L, respectively. Compared with the middle-aged and elderly stroke group, the young stroke group had higher activated partial thrombin time (31.51±6.75) s, protein S (115.20±26.97) %, uric acid (326.82±93.51) μmol/L, homocysteine (22.63±16.98) μmol/L and lower D dimer level of (1.19±2.88) mg/L compared with the elder group, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t values were 2.17, 2.01, 2.20, 2.14 and 2.13, respectively, P values were 0.032, 0.046, 0.029, 0.039 and 0.034, respectively). The positive rate of lupus anticoagulant in young stroke group was 12.5% (4/32), which was higher than 1.8% (1/57) in middle-aged and elderly stroke group, and there was significant difference between the two groups (χ 2=4.46, P=0.035). The proportions of smoking and drinking in young stroke group were 63.8% (51/80) and 62.5% (50/80), respectively, which were higher than 49.6% (58/117) and 47.9% (56/117) in middle-aged and elderly stroke group, and there was significant difference between the two groups (χ 2 values were 3.86 and 4.09; P values were 0.04 and 0.04). The proportion of hypertension and diabetes in young stroke group was 48.8% (39/80) and 17.5%(14/80), respectively, which were lower than 63.2%(74/117) and 30.8%(36/117) in middle-aged and elderly stroke group, and there was significant difference between the two groups (χ 2 values were 4.08 and 4.56; P values were 0.043 and 0.033). According to the levels of uric acid and homocysteine, young stroke was divided into different subgroups and compared.The creatinine level of high uric acid group (≥416 μmol/L) was (90.08±28.46) mmol/L, which was higher than that of normal uric acid group (<416 μmol/L) of (63.37±22.2) mmol/L. There was significant difference between the two groups ( t value was 2.23, P value was 0.046). The levels of fibrinogen and creatinine in high homocysteine group (≥15 μmol/L) were (3.27±1.09) g/L and (72.13±28.69) mmol/L, respectively which were significantly higher than those in normal homocysteine group (<15 μmol/L) of (2.78±0.67) g/L and (58.92±12.08) mmol/L, There was significant difference between the two groups (the t values were 2.32 and 2.51; P values were 0.023 and 0.014). Conclusions:Compared with middle-aged and elderly stroke, young ischemic stroke has higher levels of prothrombin time, protein S, uric acid and homocysteine, lower levels of D dimer and higher positive rate of lupus anticoagulant. At the same time, the proportion of smoking and drinking was higher in young stroke group, but the proportion of hypertension and diabetes was relatively lower.

Objective:To analyze the prenatal diagnosis results and pregnancy outcomes of conotruncal defects (CTD) fetuses, and to explore the correlation between the CTD and chromosome diseases.Methods:A total of 297 cases of invasive prenatal diagnosis and chromosome analysis were collected at the Prenatal Diagnosis Center of Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center due to CTD from January 1st, 2011 to December 31th, 2019. According to ultrasonic diagnosis, CTD fetuses were divided into 6 subtypes: tetralogy of Fallot (109 cases), pulmonary atresia (30 cases), transposition of the great arteries (77 cases), double outlet right ventricle (53 cases), truncus arteriosus (14 cases) and interrupted aortic arch (14 cases). According to whether they were combined with intracardiac or extracardiac abnormalities, they were divided into simple group (134 cases), combined with other intracardiac abnormalities group (86 cases), combined with extracardiac abnormalities group (20 cases), combined with intracardiac and extracardiac abnormalities group (37 cases) and only combined with ultrasound soft marker group (20 cases), the last 4 groups were referred as non-simple types. The chromosome test results and pregnancy outcomes of each type and group were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Among the 297 CTD fetuses, the chromosome abnormality rate was 17.5% (52/297). There were 21 cases of abnormal chromosome number, 28 cases of pathogenetic copy number variantions and 3 cases of mosaics. All the 19 cases of micropathogenic fragments smaller than 5 Mb were detected by chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). Among all the subtypes of CTD, the chromosomal abnormality rate of truncus arteriosus was the highest, at 7/14; while the rate of transposition of the great arteries was the lowest, at 5.2% (4/77). There were significant differences in the rate of chromosomal abnormalities between simple and non-simple types [10.4% (14/134) vs 23.3% (38/163); χ2 =8.428, P=0.004]. In each group, the chromosomal abnormality rate was the highest in the combined with intracardiac and extracardiac abnormalities group, at 37.8% (14/37), and the lowest in the simple group, at 10.4% (14/134). There was no significant difference in the rate of chromosomal abnormalities in all subtypes of simple group (all P>0.05). Among 112 cases of live birth, 1 case was 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome, 5 cases of postnatal clinical diagnosis and prenatal ultrasound diagnosis were not completely consistent, 5 cases died after birth. Conclusions:The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities is high in fetuses with CTD. CTD fetuses with concurrent extrapardiac malformations are more likely to incorporate chromosomal abnormalities. CMA technology could be used as a first-line genetic detection method for CTD. After excluding chromosomal abnormalities, most of the children with CTD have good prognosis.

Objective:To compare the prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy outcome of increased nuchal translucency (NT) with or without nuchal cystic hygroma (CH) in fetuses with first-trimester NT ≥5 mm.Methods:Data from 131 fetuses with NT ≥5 mm who received invasive prenatal diagnosis at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from July 2017 to December 2020 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Those with a septum in the cyst were grouped as NT with CH group ( n=57), and those without as increased NT without CH group ( n=74). Genetic test results, incidence of structural malformations, survival rate after birth were compared using Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and non-parametric test. Results:There was no significant difference in the incidence of fetal genetic abnormalities[67.6%(50/74) vs 61.4%(35/57), χ 2=0.54, P=0.464], ultrasonic structural malformations [21.6%(16/74) vs 33.3%(19/57), χ 2=2.26, P=0.133], or in the survival rate (12/14 vs 3/8, P=0.053) between increased NT without CH group and NT with CH group. Conclusions:For increased NT with or without CH, although the two groups had different spectrum of disease, they had a high incidence of chromosomal abnormalities and structural malformations, and both groups had a certain healthy survival rate after birth.

Objective:To investigate the prenatal management for pathogenic copy number variation (CNV) by analyzing the parental origin of CNV and pregnancy outcomes in 56 pedigrees.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the information of patients who received interventional prenatal diagnosis and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) at Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from January 2015 to December 2020. The cases with pathogenic CNV indicated by CMA and receiving parental CMA for further verification were finally enrolled. Clinical data including prenatal diagnostic indications, chromosomal distribution of the pathogenic fragments and fragment sizes were collected and analyzed using t test. All cases were followed up by telephone and record review. Results:Fifty-six cases were included in this study. Pathogenic CNV in 13 (23.2%, 13/56) fetuses were inherited from one parent (eight from mothers and five from fathers), and mainly located in chromosomes 22 (3/13), 17 (3/11), 16 (2/7), 1 (2/4), and X (3/6) with fragment sizes all less than 3 Mb. The fragment size of inherited pathogenic CNV was significantly smaller than that of de novo CNV [1.69 (1.36-2.22) vs 7.54 (2.11-12.30) Mb, t=3.47, P=0.001]. Among the 43 cases with de novo pathogenic CNV, seven (16.3%) were lost to follow up and 35 (97.2%) terminated the pregnancy. The other one with a 0.58 Mb microruplication at 16p11.2 indicated at 37 gestational weeks gave birth to a baby weighting 2 900 g at 39 gestational weeks and no abnormalities were reported during an eight-month telephone follow-up. Two out of the 13 cases with inherited pathogenic CNV were lost to follow up and six pregnancies were terminated. The other five pregnancies were continued and babies were delivered with no abnormalities during a median follow-up period of 13 (4-15) months. Conclusion:Pathogenic CNV alone should not be the indication for pregnancy termination.