Objective     To investigate the effects of different types of tricuspid regurgitation, implantation positions, and device models on the treatment outcomes of K-Clip for tricuspid regurgitation using numerical simulations. Methods     Three-dimensional reconstruction of the heart model was performed based on CT images. Two different regurgitation orifices were obtained by modifying the standard parameterized tricuspid valve leaflets and chordae tendineae. The effects of different K-Clip models at different implantation positions (posterior leaflet midpoint, anterior-posterior commissure, anterior leaflet midpoint, posterior septal commissure) were simulated using commercial explicit dynamics software Ls-Dyna. Conclusion     For the two types of regurgitation in this study, clipping at the posterior leaflet midpoint resulted in a better reduction of the regurgitation orifice (up to 75% reduction in area). Higher clamping forces were required for implantation at the anterior leaflet midpoint and posterior septal commissure, which was unfavorable for the smooth closure of the clipping components. There was no statistical difference in the treatment outcomes between the 18T and 16T K-Clip components, and the 16T component required less clamping force. Therefore, the use of the 16T K-Clip component is recommended.

Objective To investigate the effect of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance for patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis during pregnancy. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted to include pregnant women who were diagnosed with moderate to severe mitral stenosis and underwent percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance in Fuwai Hospital from August 2018 to June 2022, and their baseline characteristics, surgical outcomes, echocardiographic results, and follow-up results were analyzed. Results A total of 3 pregnant women aged 30-35 years, with gestational age of 19-26 weeks, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) function class Ⅲ were included. All the procedures were successfully performed. The mitral valve orifice area increased from 0.9 cm2 preoperatively to 2.1 cm2 postoperatively. The mean transvalvular pressure gradient decreased from 15.0 mm Hg preoperatively to 6.7 mm Hg postoperatively. No perioperative adverse events occurred. The follow-up time ranged from 3 to 48 months. All patients delivered uneventfully and returned to normal life, with maternal-fetal safety. Conclusion Percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty under echocardiographic guidance is a feasible and effective procedure for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe mitral stenosis in pregnancy, with satisfactory maternal-fetal outcomes.

Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic etiology of a child with Multiple congenital anomalies-hypotonia-seizures syndrome 1 (MCAHS1).Methods:Clinical data of a 2-year-old boy who had presented at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University in March 2023 for "intermittent limb twitching for 2 years" was collected. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and his parents for whole-exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG).Results:The child had manifested with distinctive facial features, limb deformities, hypotonia, motor and intellectual delays, and epileptic seizures. WES revealed that he has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the PIGN gene, namely c. 963G>A (p.Q321=) and c. 994A>T (p.I332F), which were inherited from his phenotypically normal mother and father, respectively. Based on the ACMG guidelines, the c. 963G>A was classified as a pathogenic variant (PVS1+ PM2_Supporting+ PM3), whilst the c. 994A>T was classified as a variant of uncertain significance (PM2_Supporting+ PP3). Conclusion:Above discovery has expanded the mutational spectrum of the PIGN gene variants associated with MCAHS1, which may facilitate delineation of its genotype-phenotype correlation.

Objective To investigate the role of knockdown of peroxiredoxin-6(PRDX6)in injury and adaptive expression of bile acid transporter in human hepatoellular carcinomas(HepG2)cells induced by rifampicin(RFP).Methods Cells in logarithmic growth phase were uniformly inoculated in six-well plates,and HepG2 cells were transiently transfected with specific PRDX6-siRNA and control-siRNA to construct the knockdown group and control group.After 24 h of induction with 100 μmol/L RFP,Western blot and qRT-PCR were performed to detect the protein and gene expression levels of PRDX6,multidrug resistance protein 1(MDR1),multidrug resist-ance-associated proteins 2,3 and 4(MRP2,MRP3 and MRP4),and Na+/taurine taurocholate cotransporter pro-tein(NTCP).Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining assay was used to detect the apoptosis rate of cells in each group;CCK-8 assay was used to detect the changes of cell proliferation in each group;The relative contents of ala-nine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),total bilirubin(TBIL),indirect bilirubin(IBIL)and total bile acid(TBA)in the supernatant of cell culture medium of each group were detected by kits.Results RFP increased the protein and gene expression levels of MRP2,MRP3,MRP4,MDR1,NTCP and PRDX6 in HepG2 cells(P<0.05),while the protein and gene expression levels of MRP2,MRP3,MRP4,MDR1 and NTCP decreased to different degrees after PRDX6 knockdown(P<0.05).In addition,PRDX6 knockdown re-sulted in increased apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells(P<0.05),decreased cell proliferation ability(P<0.05),and increased levels of cell injury markers(ALT,AST,TBIL,DBIL,TBA)in cell culture supernatants(P<0.05).Conclusion RFP increased the protein and gene expression of bile acid transporter and PRDX6 to increase in HepG2 cells.However,following knockdown of PRDX6 and treatment with RFP,the protein and gene expression levels of the bile acid transporter decreased and cell injury was aggravated,suggesting that PRDX6 played a protec-tive role in RFP-induced adaptive response in HepG2 cells.

According to the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) standards, the Newborn Working Group of the ILAE put forward 6 necessary questions about the management of neonatal anti-seizure medication and gave evidence-based recommendations in 2023. The basic framework is systematic review+expert consensus. The clinical recommendations of ILAE guidelines 2023 and the similarities and differences between ILAE guidelines 2023 and ILAE guidelines 2011 were analyzed and interpreted in this paper, in order to provide reference for colleagues involved in neonatal convulsion management in China.

Objective:To investigate whether endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 ( ERAP1) is a susceptible gene for pre-eclampsia (PE) and the possible mechanism in the pathogenesis. Methods:This retrospective study included 990 PE patients (case group) and 1 240 healthy pregnant women (control group) in six prefecture-level tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province, including the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University and Zaozhuang Maternal and Child Health Hospital, from September 2018 to April 2021. Peripheral blood were collected for DNA extraction. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the ERAP1 gene (rs30187, rs27044, and rs469783 loci) were analyzed by Taqman probe polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Two missense mutant plasmids, rs30187(c.1583A>G) and rs27044(c.2188C>G), were constructed by point mutation induction based on wild-type plasmids. Six groups (knock-down control, knock-down, over-expression control, over-expression, variant 1 and 2 groups) were set up in this study. After transfecting Htr8 cells with different transfection molecules, the expression of ERAP1 at mRNA and protein levels were detected. Besides, the effects of different transfections on cell function were detected using Transwell migration assay, Transwell invasion assay, cell scratch assay, and CCK-8 assay. Statistical analysis was performed using two independent samples t-test, rank sum test, and Chi-square test. Results:(1) There were significant differences in the genetic distribution of rs30187 (Genotype: χ2=29.25, Allele: χ2=4.68) and rs469783 (Genotype: χ2=7.01, Allele: χ2=6.45) as well as the genotype distribution of rs27044 ( χ2=28.95) between the case group and the control group (all P<0.05). Statistical analysis of the genetic model revealed that rs30187 and rs27044, both recessive models, were statistically different between the two groups with a higher frequency of CC genotypes in the case group ( χ2=20.82 and 19.97, both P<0.05), but a lower frequency in CC dominant gene pattern for rs469783 ( χ2=5.82, P=0.016). (2) Compared with the knock-down control group, the knock-down group showed significantly inhibited expression of ERAP1 (mRNA: 0.5±0.1 vs 1.0±0.0, t=7.49; protein: 0.4±0.1 vs 0.7±0.1, t=2.81; both P<0.05), reduced cell migration rate after 48 h of scratching [(16.5%±1.8%) vs (23.8%±2.4%), t=3.33, P=0.031] and decreased number of cells crossing Transwell chambers after 24 h of culture (423.7±21.3 vs 499.0±24.6, t=3.29, P=0.031). Compared with the over-expression group, variant 1 group and variant 2 group showed significantly inhibited expression of ERAP1 at mRNA (both P<0.001) and protein ( P=0.003 and 0.006) levels after transfection, decreased number of cells crossing Transwell chambers ( P=0.001 and 0.032) and down-regulated cell migration rate after 48 h of scratching [variant 1: P=0.004; variant 2: (21.1±4.6)% vs (28.3±1.1)%, t=2.10, P=0.099]. ERAP1 expression at both mRNA ( P<0.001) and protein ( P=0.008) levels, as well as cell proliferation ( P<0.001) and invasion ability ( P<0.001), were all enhanced in the over-expression group than those in the over-expression control group. Moreover, the migration rate of cells after 48 h of scratching ( P=0.002) and the number of cells crossing Transwell chambers after 24 h of culture ( P=0.001) were also increased. Conclusions:The rs30187, rs27044, and rs46978 on ERAP1 gene were all associated with PE susceptibility, with more carriers of the CC genotype in PE patients at rs30187 and rs27044 loci and more carriers of the CC genotype in healthy gravida at rs469783 locus. ERAP1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of PE by affecting the migratory and invasive ability of trophoblast cells.

Objective    To explore the safety and effectiveness of different interventional approaches for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in children. Methods    The children (≤7 years) who underwent interventional treatment for PDA from 2019 to 2020 in our hospital were retrospectively included. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the procedures: a conventional arteriovenous approach group, a simple venous approach group, and a retrograde femoral artery approach group. The clinical efficacy of the patients was compared. Results     A total of 220 patients were included. There were 78 males and 142 females, with an average age of 3.21±1.73 years, weight of 14.99±5.35 kg, and height of 96.19±15.77 cm. The average diameter of the PDA was 3.35±1.34 mm. A total of 85 patients received a conventional arteriovenous approach, 104 patients received a simple venous approach, and 31 patients received a retrograde femoral artery approach. The diameter of PDA in the retrograde femoral artery group was smaller than that in the other two groups (3.44±1.43 mm vs. 1.99±0.55 mm; 3.69±1.17 mm vs. 1.99±0.55 mm, P<0.001); the contrast medium usage [40 (30, 50) mL vs. 20 (20, 30) mL; 35 (25, 50) mL vs. 20 (20, 30) mL, P≤0.001] and operation time [32 (26, 44) min vs. 25 (23, 30) min; 29 (25, 38) min vs. 25 (23, 30) min, P<0.05] in the simple venous approach group were significantly less or shorter than those in the other two groups; the length of hospital stay of the conventional arteriovenous group was longer than that in the other two groups [3 (3, 5) d vs. 4 (3, 6) d; 4 (3, 5) d vs. 4 (3, 6) d, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in postoperative complications. Conclusion    It is safe and effective to close PDA through simple venous approach. The retrograde femoral artery approach has the advantage of simplifying the surgical procedure for PDA with small diameters.

Objective : To investigate the effect of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) on the adaptive expression of bile acid transporter in human hepatoellular carcinomas (HepG2) induced by rifampicin (RFP) ． Methods: The control group cell line (Y07) and the knockdown group cell line (Y25) were constructed by lentiviral stable transfection technology．The Y07 and Y25 cells were treated with RFP of 200 μmol / L for 48 h， and qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the protein and gene expression levels of MANF，bile salt export pump ( BSEP) ，multidrug resistance-related proteins 2 /3 /4 ( MRP2 ，MRP3 ，MRP4) ，multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) ，organic solute transporter a / β ( OSTα/ β) ，organic anion transporter ( OATP2B1) ．The protein and gene expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen ( PCNA) ，proliferating cell marker Ki67 were used to evaluate the proliferation of cells in each group changes in levels．Changes in the protein and gene expression levels of C / EBP homologous protein( CHOP) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 ( Caspase-3) were used to evaluate the apoptosis of cells in each group．The relative contents of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) ，aspartate aminotransferase(AST) ，alkaline phosphatase ( ALP) ，total bilirubin ( TBIL) ，indirect bilirubin ( IBIL) and total bile acid(TBA) in the supernatant of cell culture medium of each group were detected by kits. Results: RFP could induce the protein and gene expression of MANF，BSEP ，MRP2 ，MRP3 ，MRP4 ，MDR1 ，OSTα , OSTβ , OATP2B1 in HepG2 cells (P ＜0. 05 ) ，while the protein and gene expression levels of BSEP ，MRP2 ，MRP3， MRP4，MDR1，OSTα、OSTβ、OATP2B1 decreased after MANF knockdown(P＜0. 05) ．Moreover，under the action of RFP，the protein expression of PCNA and Ki67 in the knockdown group was still higher．The protein and gene levels of CHOP and Caspase-3 significantly increased after MANF knockdown(P＜0. 05) ．The levels of the hepatic cell injury markers in the cell supernatant increased significantly(P＜0. 05) ． Conclusion RFP can induce the expression of bile acid transporter such as BSEP，MRP2，MRP3，MRP4，MDR1，OSTα , OSTβ and OATP2B1 to increase in HepG2 cells(P＜0. 05) ，but the expression of bile acid transporter of HepG2 after MANF knockdown will significantly decrease under the induction of rifampicin(P＜0. 05) ，and cell indury is aggravated，indicating that MANF plays a protective role in RFP-induced adaptive responses by regulating the bile acid transporter.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). METHODS: Clinical data of the patient was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the child and his family members. Potential variant was screened by whole exome sequencing (WES), and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity the variant was analyzed by multiple sequence alignment of the amino acid sequence and three-dimensional model prediction of its protein product. RESULTS: The child was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants c.257G>A (p.R86Q) and c.467del (p.G156Afs*6) of the ARSA gene, among which the c.467del (p.G156Afs*6) frameshift variation was unreported previously. Multiple sequence alignment showed that the site of the c.257G>A (p.R86Q) missense variant is highly conserved. Three-dimensional structure modeling analysis showed that the partial deletion due to the p.G156Afs*6 variant may cause significant alteration of the structure of ARSA protein. CONCLUSION The discovery of novel variant in ARSA has enriched the mutational spectrum of MLD and may facilitate the understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation of MLD.
Cerebroside-Sulfatase/genetics* ; DNA ; Genetic Association Studies ; Humans ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic/genetics* ; Mutation

Objective:To investigate the association between gene polymorphisms in vitamin D receptor(VDR) and Tourette syndrome (TS).Methods:The genetic contributions of VDR FokI (rs2228570), BsmI (rs1544410), and Cdx2 (rs11568820) polymorphisms were genotyped by TaqMan allelic discrimination real-time (RT)-PCR, which evaluated by a case-control analysis in 417 TS patients and 442 healthy controls, and followed by a family-based study in 417 TS trios.Chi-square test and relative risk analysis were conducted by IBM SPSS 23.0 software.Results:FokI (rs2228570) had three genotypes(CC=109, CT=235, TT=73); BsmI (rs1544410) had three genotypes(AA=2, AG=45, GG=370); Cdx2 (rs11568820) had three genotypes(AA=71, AG=200, GG=146). No significant difference in genotype ( χ2=5.516, P=0.063; χ2=3.466, P=0.177; χ2=0.561, P=0.755, respectively) or allele frequencies( χ2=0.840, P=0.359; χ2=3.376, P=0.066; χ2=0.051, P=0.822, respectively)of FokI, BsmI and Cdx2 were identified between TS patients and control groups.No significant over-transmission was identified for these three polymorphisms among 417 TS trios in the family-based study (TDT for FokI: χ2=0.009, P=0.962; for BsmI: χ2=1.220, P=0.320; and for Cdx2: χ2=0.260, P=0.646). Haplotype relative risk (HRR) analysis and haplotype-based haplotype relative risk (HHRR) analysis showed no significant difference in allele frequencies distribution of FokI, BsmI and Cdx2 (all P>0.05). Conclusion:VDR receptor gene polymorphism has no effect on TS susceptibility in the Chinese Han population. However, a potential role of VDR should be explored in more polymorphisms, different populations and larger samples.