BACKGROUND: The molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis have continually been the focus of researchers. Cuproplasia is defined as copper-dependent cell growth and proliferation, including its primary and secondary roles in tumor formation and proliferation through signaling pathways. In this study, we analyzed the differences in the expression of cuproplasia-associated genes (CAGs) in pan-cancerous tissues and investigated their role in immune-regulation and tumor prognostication. METHODS: Raw data from 11,057 cancer samples were acquired from multiple databases. Pan-cancer analysis was conducted to analyze the CAG expression, single-nucleotide variants, copy number variants, methylation signatures, and genomic signatures of micro RNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) interactions. The Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer and the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal databases were used to evaluate drug sensitivity and resistance against CAGs. Using single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) and Immune Cell Abundance Identifier database, immune cell infiltration was analyzed with the ssGSEA score as the standard. RESULTS: Aberrantly expressed CAGs were found in multiple cancers. The frequency of single-nucleotide variations in CAGs ranged from 1% to 54% among different cancers. Furthermore, the correlation between CAG expression in the tumor microenvironment and immune cell infiltration varied among different cancers. ATP7A and ATP7B were negatively correlated with macrophages in 16 tumors including breast invasive carcinoma and esophageal carcinoma, while the converse was true for MT1A and MT2A . In addition, we established cuproplasia scores and demonstrated their strong correlation with patient prognosis, immunotherapy responsiveness, and disease progression ( P  <0.05). Finally, we identified potential candidate drugs by matching gene targets with existing drugs. CONCLUSIONS This study reports the genomic characterization and clinical features of CAGs in pan-cancers. It helps clarify the relationship between CAGs and tumorigenesis, and may be helpful in the development of biomarkers and new therapeutic agents.
Humans ; Female ; Genomics ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinoma ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Nucleotides ; Tumor Microenvironment

Objective:To analyze the genotype of hereditary eye diseases with early-onset high myopia (eoHM) and its relationship with phenotype.Methods:The families with eoHM were collected in Ningxia Eye Hospital from January 2019 to June 2020.The medical records of the probands and their family members were inquired and recorded in detail, and the relevant ocular examinations were performed.Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from patients and their family members, and whole-genome DNA was extracted.Sequence capture sequencing technology was applied to screen for disease-causing gene mutations in probands.The detected suspected pathogenic variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and were analyzed by family cosegregation analysis.According to ACMG guidelines, the pathogenicity of novel variants was evaluated.The original literature about hereditary eye diseases with eoHM was searched to analyze the relationship between mutated genes and clinical phenotype.This study protocol adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.All subjects or their guardians were informed of the purpose and procedure of the study and signed the informed consent form.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the People's Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (No.2016018).Results:A total of 20 eoHM families were collected, among which pathogenic variants associated with inherited eye diseases were detected in 8 families.Of the 8 probands, two were diagnosed with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy, one with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, one with congenital stationary nightblindness, one with Stickler syndrome, one with achromatopsia, one with Leber congenital amaurosis, and one with gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina.The first diagnosis age of the 8 probands was 4-7 years old, and they were all diagnosed as high myopia, with a refractive status ≤-6.00 DS.Genetic tests showed that the 8 probands carried a heterozygous variant c. 313A>G (p.M105Val) in FZD4 gene, a heterozygous variant c. 14_15insAAGA (p.Asp5fs *) in TSPAN12 gene, a heterozygous frameshift variant c. 2234_2237del (p.Arg745fs) in RPGR gene, a compound heterozygous variant of c. 481C>T (p.Gln161Ter *) and c. 355>T (p.Arg119Cys *) in GPR179 gene, a frameshift variant c. 1659_1660insACGGTGACCCTGGCCGTCCTGG (p.Pro554fs *) in COL2A1 gene, a compound heterozygous variant of c. 1811C>T (p.Thr604Ile *) and c. 967G>A (p.Gly323Ser) in PDE6B gene, a compound heterozygous variant of c. 604_619delTCCACGGCACTCAGGG (p.Ser202fs *) and c. 995G>C (p.Arg332Pro) in GUCY2D gene, a homozygous variant c. 772C>T (p.Pro241Leu) in OAT gene.Seven of them were novel variants.Compared with the previous literature, the clinical and gene phenotypes of the 8 families were analyzed in detail in this study, which provided the basis for the diagnosis of hereditary eye diseases with eoHM. Conclusions:EoHM is closely related to some hereditary eye diseases, which may be the reason for the early diagnosis of children and an important clue for clinicians to detect potential hereditary eye diseases.Further clinical evaluations of ocular structure and function as well as genetic screening in children with eoHM are recommended.

Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain charac-terized by abnormal neuron excitability.However,the underlying molecular mechanism of neuron excitability modulation remains elusive.With the help of bioinformatic methods,we have identified receptor-type tyrosine-pro-tein phosphatase-like N(PTPRN)as a critical gene dur-ing epileptogenesis.PTPRN recruits NEDD4L ubiquitin E3 ligase to NaV1.2 sodium channels,facilitating NEDD4L-mediated ubiquitination and endocytosis.Knockout of PTPRN endows hippocampal granule cells with augmented depolarization currents and higher intrinsic excitability,which is reflected by increased seizure susceptibility of transgenic mice.On the contrary,reduced neuron excit-ability and decreased seizure susceptibility are observed after PTPRN overexpression.Meanwhile,we find that a 133 aa fragment recaptures modulation effect of PTPRN full-length,and this fragment shows therapeutic potential towards epilepsy caused by NaV1.2 gain of function vari-ants.In brief,our results demonstrate PTPRN playsa criti-calroleinregulatingneuronexcitability,providing a poten-tial therapeutic approach for epilepsy.

Objective:To observe and analyze the gene mutation and clinical phenotype of patients with cone and rod dystrophy (CORD).Methods:A pedigree investigarion. Two CORD pedigrees including 2 patients and 6 family members were enrolled in Ningxia Eye Hospital of People' Hospital of Ningxia Hui Automous Region for this study. The patients were from 2 unrelated families, all of whom were probands. Take medical history with best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color vision, slit lamp microscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus color photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), autofluorescence (AF), fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA), electroretinogram (ERG). The peripheral venous blood of patients and their parents was collected, whole genome DNA was extracted, Trio whole genome exome sequencing was performed, Sanger verification and pedigree co-segregation were performed for suspected pathogenic mutation sites. According to the law of inheritance, family history was analyzed to establish its genetic type. Mutational loci pathogenicity was analyzed according to the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines and 4 online tools.Results:Two CORD families showed autosomal recessive inheritance. The proband of pedigree 1 was female, 49 years old. Binocular vision loss with photophobia lasted for 9 years and night blindness for 4 years. The BCVA of right eye and left eye were 0.03 and 0.06, respectively. The results of ERG showed that the amplitudes of dark adaptation 0.01 b-wave and dark adaptation 3.0 a-wave and b-wave in both eyes were slightly decreased, and the amplitudes of light adaptation 3.0 a-wave and b-wave were severely decreased. The proband of pedigree 2 was male, 30 years old. Vision loss in both eyes for 4 years. Denying a history of night blindness. The BCVA of right eye and left eye were 0.3 and 0.2, respectively. The results of ERG showed that the amplitudes of dark adaptation 0.01 b-wave and dark adaptation 3.0 a-wave and b-wave in both eyes were slightly decreased, and the amplitudes of light adaptation 3.0 a-wave and b-wave were severely decreased. The color of optic disc in both eyes was light red, the macular area was atrophic, the foveal reflection disappeared, and the peripheral retina was punctate pigmentation. The main fundus changes in 2 patients were macular atrophy. The proband of pedigree 1 carried compound heterozygous variations c.439-2A>G (M1) and c.676delT (p.F226fs) (M2) on CDHR1 gene. Her father and mother carried M2 and M1 heterozygous mutations, respectively. The proband of pedigree 2 carried compound heterozygous variations c.2665dupC (p.L889fs) (M3) and c.878T>C (p.L293P) (M4) on C2orf71 gene. His father and mother carried M4 and M3 heterozygous mutations, respectively. According to ACMG guidelines and on line tools, 4 variations were considered as pathogenic level. Conclusions:M1 and M2 of CDHR1 gene and M3 and M4 of C2orf71 gene are new pathogenic mutations of CORD. All patients presented with the clinical phenotype of decreased visual acuity and macular atrophy.

Objective:To investigate the application values of bone marrow morphology, bone marrow immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and cytogenetic testing in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.Methods:A total of 280 patients with multiple myeloma who were newly diagnosed in Tianjin KingMed Diagnosis Center from September 2018 to August 2019 were collected. The bone marrow biopsy was carried out according to the routine method, and bone marrow morphology, bone marrow immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry immunophenotyping, FISH and cytogenetic testing were performed. The detection results of each method were compared.Results:In 280 patients, the bone marrow immunohistochemistry results showed that the median ratio of plasma cells was higher than those of bone marrow morphology (20 cases, 0.675 vs. 0.300) and flow cytometry (47 cases, 0.650 vs. 0.147), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z = -3.883, P < 0.01; Z = -5.947, P < 0.01). Flow cytometry results showed that the positive rates of CD38, CD138, κ, λ, CD56 and CD19 were 100.0% (280/280), 100.0% (280/280), 57.5% (161/280), 42.5% (119/280), 62.1% (174/280) and 19.3% (54/280); bone marrow immunohistochemistry results showed that the positive rates of CD38, CD138, κ, λ and CD56 were 98.9% (277/280), 98.2% (275/280), 57.5% (161/280), 42.5% (119/280) and 62.1% (174/280); there was no statistical difference between the two detection methods in the detection coincidence rate of the same detection index (all P > 0.05). Among patients who underwent FISH detection, the detection rate of gene abnormalities was 69.9% (93/133); the detection rate of abnormalities by direct fluorescence in situ hybridization (D-FISH) was 42.9% (57/133); the detection rate of abnormalities by CD138 immunomagnetic sorting myeloma cells (MACS)-FISH was 82.7% (110/133). Among patients who underwent G-band karyotyping, the detection rate of abnormal karyotype was 38.5% (85/221). FSIH, especially MACS-FISH, had a higher detection rate of cytogenetic abnormalities than G-band karyotyping, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 65.697, P < 0.05). Conclusion:The comprehensive application of bone marrow morphology, bone marrow immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, FISH (especially MACS-FISH), cytogenetic testing and other detection methods is more helpful for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, and may be useful for prognostic judgment.

Objective:To conduct periodic revalidation of the 15 items and 43 terms autoverification rules of blood analysis after 1 year of application, analyze the application suitability and make the rules improved.Methods:Track the results of 528 010 blood analysis samples of our hospital from August 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020, and analyze the pass rate and interception rate of autoverification; 600 specimens in total were selected randomly for microscope examination, including 300 specimens which touched autoverification rules (1 012 items of autoverification rules) and were intercepted by autoverification and 300 specimens which untouched autoverification rules and were released by autoverification. The abnormal characteristics and unacceptable Delta check of the specimens also need to be concerned at the same time.The false negative rate and false positive rate, true negative rate, true positive rate and pass correct rate of autoverification were verified and compared with the rate of the second phase verification when the autoverification rule was established. The false negative rate, false positive rate, true negative rate and true positive rate of the Delta check rule which 54 716 specimens touched were calculated and compared with the second phase verification rate when the autoverification rule was established.The results of microscopic examination were used as the gold standard for the calculation of the rates, and P<0.05 was considered as a significant difference. The false positive and true positive of 1 012 autoverification rules were analyzed item by item.The false positive and true positive of 108 specimens which touched blast cell autoverification rule were analyzed terms by terms. The mean TAT and median TAT of 528 010 specimens and 193 750 outpatient specimens were calculated respectively, and the report percentages of 528 010 samples that TAT<30, 30-60　and>60 min were calculated respectively. Analyze and evaluate the application suitability of autoverification rules to juge whether they meet the needs of doctors and laboratory. The design process and the rules and application process of autoverification were optimized and improved.Results:The autoverification pass rate was 63.06% (332 971/528 010), the interception rate was 36.94% (195 039/528 010). The false negative rate was 1.00% (1/600), the false positive rate was 12.67% (76/600), the true negative rate was 49% (294/600), the true positive rate was 37.33% (224/600), and the correct rate was 98% (294/300). The pass rate, true negative rate, true positive rate and correct rate of the periodic reverification group were higher than the second phase verification group, the false negative rate and false positive rate were lower than that the second phase verification group. The false negative rate and true positive rate of the Delta check of periodic verification group were lower than that the second phase verification group, the false positive rate and true negative rate were higher than the second phase verification group, there were significant differences in the comparition results. The mean TAT of 528 010 specimens was25 min, and the median TAT was 22 min. The mean TAT of 193 750 outpatient specimens was 23 min, and the median TAT was 20 min. The report percentages of 528 010 samples that TAT<30 min, 30 min-60 min and>60 min were 83.30% (439 819/528 010), 8.00% (42 250/528 010) and 8.70% (45 941/528 010), respectively.Conclusion:The results of periodic revalidation of autoverification after 1 years application show that the 15 items and 43 terms autoverification rules of blood analysis could meet requirements about the accuracy and efficiency of the laboratory, and have a good suitability for application.

Objective To investigate the effects of dorsal hippocampal lesions (DH) or fimbria-fornix transection (FF) on the learning and memory of conditioned fear and the heart rate and blood pressure in rats.Methods Nineteen male adult Wistar rats were used in this experiment.They were implanted telemetry sensors in their abdominal aortas.Two week later,six of the rats were subjected to permanent NMDA-induced neurotoxic lesions to the dorsal hippocampus (DH) and seven for the fimbria-fornix transection (FF)through stereotactic brain surgery,the left six were treated with saline as the control (Sham).All rats were subjected to a conditioned fear experiment.Meanwhile,changes in heart rate and blood pressure were measured.Results There was no significant difference in heart rate and blood pressure among the rats with the hippocampal operation or fimbria-fornix transection.In the acquisition of conditioned fear,there were significant difference in freezing time among the three group in both inter-trial-interval (ITI) and conditioned stimulus (CS) process (all P＜0.05).The freezing time of the FF group showed significantly lower than that of the Sham group (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in heart rate and blood pressure among the three group(P＞0.05).In the test of conditioned contextual fear memory,the freezing time percentage in the FF group ((0.31±0.16) ％) significantly lower than that in the Sham group ((2.78± 1.23) ％) (P＜0.05)at the first 3 min of the test.There was a significant difference in heart rate among the three group.The heart rate of FF group ((436.42± 10.16) times/min) was significantly lower than that of the Sham group ((472.48±4.43) times/min,P＜0.01) and the DH group ((469.94 ±7.36)times/min,P＜0.01).In the test of conditioned tone fear memory.The freezing time percentage in FF group ((18.78±6.29) ％) was significantly lower than that in the Sham ((51.77±9.33)％,P＜0.01) and DH group ((59.19±8.13)％,P＜0.01),but the freezing time percentage between the later two groups had no difference (P=0.52).The synchronous telemetry measurement showed there was no significant difference both in the heart rate and the blood pressure among the groups (all P＞0.05) during the conditioned tone test.Conclusion The dorsal hippocampal lesions and fimbria-fornix transection in rats can significantly reduce the learning and memory ability in conditioned fear and scene fear in rats,and the effect of fimbria-fornix transection is more obvious.The decrease in,fear memory is not synchronously reflected in heart rate and blood pressure in rats.

OBJECTIVETo determine the frequency of spinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31) related mutations among patients from mainland China.

METHODSFor a cohort of molecularly unassigned patients comprised of 295 SCA patients (including 98 probands from families featuring autosomal dominant SCA and 197 sporadic cases) and 81 patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) (including 23 probands from families with autosomal dominant HSP and 58 sporadic cases),TGGAA pentanucleotide expansion insertional mutation of the BEAN/TK2 gene was detected using repeat-primed PCR followed by capillary gel electrophoresis.

RESULTSNo TGGAA pentanucleotide insertion expansion in BEAN/TK2 gene was identified in the above cohort.

CONCLUSIONSCA31 is an extremely rare subtype of SCA and should not be included in routine genetic screening in mainland China.

Objective To examine the antidepressant effects of resveratrol (RSV),and its possible mechanism specialized on improving cognitive function.Methods Thirty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups:Control,Model,Model+RSV and Model+NA+RSV groups.The mice were subjected corticosterone (20 mg/(kg · d)) intraperitoneal injection for 21 consecutive days except the control mice.From the 22nd to 42nd day,the mice in different groups received further treatment with vehicle/ RSV (400 mg/(kg · d),op)/NA (100 mg/(kg · d),ip)+RSV (400 mg/(kg · d),op).The sugar preference test,novel object recognition test,novel location recognition test and water maze test were applied to evaluate the cognitive effects of RSV on mice.Subsequently,the silence information regulation factor 1 (SIRT1),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α),parvalbumin (PV) transcription and translation level were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blotting.Results The sugar preference test showed that the depression model mediated by CORT injection was successfully established(F（1,30） =6,P=0.038).In in the novel object learning test,resveratrol significantly increased the proration on the frequency ((-0.20±0.37) vs (0.16±0.29))and duration((0.10±0.45) vs (0.62±0.29)) and decreased the proration on the distance((0.09±0.36) vs (0.55±0.27)).In the water maze test,resveratrol reduced the time((41±9)s;(26± 8) s) and distance ((295± 70) cm;(224±43) cm) to find the platform.All the results were accompanied with the increased expression of protein SIRT1 (F(3,29) =15.60,P＜0.01),PGC-1α(F(3,29)=7.51,P=0.0006) and PV (F(3,29) =17.87,P=0.0004).While pretreatment with nicotinamide,resveratrol could not rescue the cognitive impairment and could not reverse the iecreased expression level of protein SIRT1,PGC-1 α and PV.Conelusion Resveratrol can reverse the cognitive dysfunction of depressant mice,which may be achieved by activating the SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway and increasing the transcription and protein expression of PV.

OBJECTIVETo generate mice which are specific for peroxisomproliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1(PGC-1α) knockout in the GABAergic interneuron.

METHODSConditional mice specific for PGC-1αwere introduced from the Jackson Laboratory, USA and initially inbred to obtain homozygote PGC-1αmice. The PGC-1αconditional mice were further crossed with Dlx5/6-Cre-IRES-EGFP transgenic mice to achieve specific knockout of PGC-1α in the GABAergic interneuron.

RESULTSThe offspring with specific knockout PGC-1α gene were successful for the generation of GABAergic interneuron, with the resulting genotype being PGC-1α.

CONCLUSIONThe PGC-1αmice were obtained through a proper crossing strategy, which has provided a suitable platform for studying the function of PGC-1α in neuropsychiatric diseases.

Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Interneurons ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; genetics ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; genetics ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism