Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of probands in 3 pedigrees of complex hereditary spastic paraplegia type 5 (HSP5) who developed symptoms during childhood, and the genetic diagnostic methods of HSP5 to improve the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this disease.Methods:The clinical data of 3 HSP5 families admitted to Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from June 2020 to January 2023 were collected. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the patients to analyze phenotype-related single nucleotide variation (SNV) and small fragment insertion/deletion (INDEL) variation. At the same time, the sequencing data were used to analyze the dynamic mutation regions of specific genes.Results:The probands in the 3 families had complex HSP: the proband in family 1 showed weakness of both lower limbs, urgency of urination and ataxia; the proband in family 2 showed slightly lower intelligence, weakness of both lower limbs, dysarthria, and brain magnetic resonance imaging showed white matter lesions; the proband in family 3 showed muscle weakness, spasm, frequent urination and ataxia of both lower limbs. The sequencing results showed that the CYP7B1 gene c.1171G>T (paternal) and c.1249C>T (maternal) compound heterozygous mutations were found in proband 1 and his younger brother. The CYP7B1 gene c.334C>T (paternal) and c.259+2T>C (maternal) compound heterozygous mutations were found in proband 2 and her younger sister. The CYP7B1 gene c.334C>T (paternal) and c.1082G>A (maternal) compound heterozygous mutations were found in proband 3. And c.1171G>T was a new variant that had not been reported before. Dynamic mutation analysis showed that the numbers of CAG repeats of ATXN1/2/3/6/7/8/12, DRPLA, TBP genes were within the normal range. According to the clinical manifestations and genetic examination results of the children in the 3 pedigrees, the diagnosis of HSP5 was clear. Conclusions:The 3 families in the study all had complex HSP5 caused by compound heterozygous mutations of the CYP7B1 gene. WES can analyze SNV, INDEL and dynamic mutations simultaneously to make the maximum clear diagnosis and can be used as an effective detection method for HSP5.

Objective:To explore the value of whole exome sequencing for the inferential analysis of recessive genetic disease carrier status for couples with a child died of Primary immunodeficiency (PID).Methods:Clinical data was collected from four couples with a childbearing history of PID who had sought genetic counseling and undergone genetic testing at Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from February 2017 to December 2021. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on both partners of each couple, and candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and fluorescent quantitative PCR. Prenatal diagnosis was conducted on fetuses of these couples after confirming the variants.Results:A total of six variants were detected in four genes including IL2RG, BTK, CYBB, and DUOX2. Among these, the c.1265G>A and c.3329G>A variants of the DUOX2 gene and the c. 676C>T variant of the IL2RG gene were previously known as pathogenic variants. On the other hand, the Exon5_8del variant of the IL2RG gene, the c. 184_185delAC variant of the BTK gene, and the c. 472A>T variant of the CYBB gene were unreported previously. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the IL2RG: Exon5_8del, BTK: c. 184_185delAC and CYBB: c. 472A>T variants were classified as likely pathogenic (PVS1+ PM2_Supporting+ PP4).Prenatal diagnosis was conducted for three couples during their subsequent pregnancies, and the results revealed that the fetuses had the wild-type genotypes at the c. 184_185 position of the BTK gene, the c. 472 position of the CYBB gene, and the c. 676 position of the IL2RG gene. Follow-up examinations one year after birth has found no abnormality in the infants. Conclusion:WES is an important tool to infer and analyze the carryier status for couples who had given births to children died of PID and improve the positive detection rate.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of radical resection of rectal cancer with different surgical approaches and influencing factors of postoperative complications.Methods:The retrospective study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 3 418 patients who underwent radical resection of rectal cancer in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from July 2011 to September 2020 were collected. There were 2 060 males and 1 358 females, aged (61±11)years. Patients meeting the requirements of radical resection and surgical indications underwent surgeries choosing from open radical colorectal cancer surgery, laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery, and natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES). Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative and postoperative conditions of patients undergoing different surgical approaches; (2) comparison of preoperative clinical characteristics in patients undergoing different surgical approaches; (3) comparison of postoperative histopathological characteristics in patients undergoing different surgical approaches; (4) postoperative complications of patients undergoing different surgical approaches; (5) analysis of influencing factors of postoperative complications. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparisons between groups was analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis rank test. Comparison of ordinal data was analyzed using the non-parameter rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was conducted using the Logistic regression model. Results:(1) Intraoperative and postoperative conditions of patients undergoing different surgical approaches. Of the 3 418 patients, 1 978 cases underwent open radical colorectal cancer sur-gery, 1 028 cases underwent laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery and 412 cases underwent NOSES, respectively. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, cases with permanent stoma, preventive stoma or without fistula, time to postoperative first flatus, time to postoperative liquid food intake, cases transferred to intensive care unit after surgery, duration of postoperative hospital stay were 145(range, 55?460)minutes, 100(range, 30?1 000)mL, 435, 88, 1 455, 72(range, 10?220)hours, 96(range, 16?296)hours, 158, 10(range, 6?60)days, respectively, in patients undergoing open radical colorectal cancer surgery. The above indicators were 175(range, 80?450)minutes, 50(range, 10?800)mL, 172, 112, 744, 48(range, 14?120)hours, 72(range, 38?140)hours, 17, 9(range, 4?40)days, respectively, in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery and 180(range, 80?400)minutes, 30(range, 5?500)mL, 0, 45, 367, 48 (range, 14?144)hours, 72(range, 15?148)hours, 1, 6(range, 3?30)days, respectively, in patients undergoing NOSES. There were significant differences in the above indicators among the patients undergoing different surgical approaches ( H=291.38, 518.56, χ2=153.82, H=408.86, 282.97, χ2=78.66, H=332.30, P<0.05). (2) Com-parison of preoperative clinical characteristics in patients undergoing different surgical approaches. The gender, age, body mass index, cases with diabetes, cases with hypertension, cases with coronary heart disease, cases with anemia, cases with hypoproteinemia, cases with intestinal obstruction, tumor location, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen, preoperative CA19-9 showed significant differences among patients undergoing open radical colorectal cancer surgery, laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery and NOSES ( P<0.05). (3) Comparison of postoperative histopathological characteris-tics in patients undergoing different surgical approaches. Tumor histological type, tumor differentiation degree, tumor diameter, number of lymph node detected, nerve invasion, vascular invasion, lymph node invasion, tumor T staging, tumor N staging, tumor M staging, tumor TNM staging showed significant differences among patients undergoing open radical colorectal cancer surgery, laparos-copic radical colorectal cancer surgery and NOSES ( P<0.05). (4) Postoperative complications of patients undergoing different surgical approaches. Cases with postoperative complications as anastomotic leakage, abdominal infection, intestinal obstruction, anastomotic bleeding, incision complications, pulmonary infection, other complications were 52, 21, 309, 8, 130, 51, 59, respectively, in patients undergoing open radical colorectal cancer surgery. The above indicators were 33, 17, 75, 3, 45, 58, 9, respectively, in patients undergoing laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery and 13, 4, 8, 0, 11, 10, 15, respectively, in patients undergoing NOSES. There were significant differences in the intes-tinal obstruction, incision complications, pulmonary infection, other complications among patients undergoing different surgical approaches ( χ2=122.56, 13.33, 20.44, 15.59, P<0.05) and there was no significant difference in the anastomotic leakage, abdominal infection, anastomotic bleeding among patients undergoing different surgical approaches ( χ2=0.96, 2.21, 3.08, P>0.05). (5) Analysis of influencing factors of postoperative complications. ① Analysis of influencing factors of intestinal obstruction in patients with radical resection of rectal cancer. Age as 20?39 years and 40?59 years, surgical approach as laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery and NOSES were independent protective factors of intestinal obstruction in patients with radical resection of rectal cancer ( odds ratio=0.46, 0.59, 0.43, 0.13, 95% confidence interval as 0.21?1.00, 0.36?0.96, 0.33?0.56, 0.06?0.27, P<0.05). ② Analysis of influencing factors of incision complications in patients with radical resection of rectal cancer. Body mass index as 24.0?26.9 kg/m 2, surgical approach as laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery and NOSES were independent protective factors of incision complications in patients with radical resection of rectal cancer ( odds ratio=0.24, 0.63, 0.46, 95% confidence interval as 0.11?0.51, 0.44?0.89, 0.24?0.87, P<0.05). ③ Analysis of influencing factors of pulmonary infection in patients with radical resection of rectal cancer. The surgical approach as laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery was an independent risk factor of pulmonary infection in patients with radical resection of rectal cancer ( odds ratio=2.15, 95% confidence interval as 1.46?3.18, P<0.05), and tumor TNM staging as 0?Ⅰ stage was an independent protective factor ( odds ratio=0.10, 95% confidence interval as 0.01?0.88, P<0.05). ④ Analysis of influencing factors of other complica-tions in patients with radical resection of rectal cancer. Age as 20?39 years, 40?59 years, 60?79 years, body mass index as <18.5 kg/m 2, 18.5?23.9 kg/m 2, 24.0?26.9 kg/m 2, 27.0?29.9 kg/m 2, surgical approach as laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery were independent protective factors of other complications in patients with radical resection of rectal cancer ( odds ratio=0.10, 0.29, 0.37, 0.08, 0.22, 0.35, 0.32, 0.29, 95% confidence interval as 0.01?0.81, 0.13?0.64, 0.17?0.78, 0.02?0.40, 0.09?0.52, 0.15?0.83, 0.12?0.89, 0.14?0.59, P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared to laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery and NOSES, open radical colorectal cancer surgery has wide indication and short operation time, but less perioperative treatment effect. Laparoscopic radical colorectal cancer surgery and NOSES can achieve better surgical result and less postoperative complication when patients meeting surgical indications.

Objective:To analyze clinical characteristics of and causative genes in two families with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, and to reveal the pathogenesis of the disease and mechanisms underlying phenotypic differences between patients.Methods:DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of members from two families with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, and subjected to high-throughput sequencing and Sanger sequencing.Results:The clinical manifestations of the 2 probands in the 2 families were consistent with the diagnosis of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa, and the symptoms of the proband in family 1 were more serious than those of other patients in the family. Genetic testing showed that all patients in family 1 carried a mutation c.6082G>C (p.G2028R) in the COL7A1 gene, and the proband and her phenotypically normal mother and uncle also carried a splice-site mutation c.7068+2 (IVS91) T>G in the COL7A1 gene, both of which were first reported. The proband in family 2 carried the mutations c.6081_6082 ins C (p.G2028Rfs*71) and c.1892G>A (p.W631X, first reported) in the COL7A1 gene, which were inherited from her father and mother, respectively.Conclusion:The two pathogenic mutations may be the molecular mechanism underlying the severe clinical phenotype in the proband in family 1; the first reported mutations enriched the mutation spectrum of the COL7A1 gene.

Objective:To explore the genetic etiology of fetuses with high suspicion of congenital skeletal malformation detected by prenatal ultrasound.Methods:This retrospective study collected 21 pregnant women with highly suspected fetal skeletal malformation indicated by ultrasound (the couples had no skeletal malformation) at Institute of Medical Genetics, Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2019 to August 2020. Amniotic fluid/umbilical cord blood of the fetus and peripheral blood of the couples were obtained for karyotype analysis, chromosomal microarray analysis, and whole-exome sequencing. Sanger sequencing was performed for the "pathogenic" "suspected pathogenic" "variants of uncertain significance" variants detected by whole exome sequencing. Genetic etiology of the 21 fetuses was described.Results:A total of five chromosomal abnormalities were detected, including four cases of trisomy 21 and one trisomy 18. Chromosome microarray analysis detected one case of abnormal copy number variation, 16 p11.2 microdeletion syndrome. Ten cases of monogenic diseases were found by whole exome sequencing and eight genes were involved ( SGMS2, FGFR3, DYNC2H1, WDR35, TBX5, COL2A1, FGFR2, and ALPL). Totally, 14 variations were detected, among which seven were novel variations (c.8129T>A, c.7126G>A, c.10307_10320del, and c.2641G>T in DYNC2H1 gene; c.3085G>A and c.491G>A in WDR35 gene; c.1070G>T in COL2A1 gene). Conclusions:For fetus, whose parents have no skeletal malformation, highly suspected of congenital malformation of skeletal system by prenatal ultrasound, genetic factor is the primary reason, including chromosomal abnormalities, copy number variations, and monogenic mutations.

Smart wearable devices play an increasingly important role in physiological monitoring and disease prevention because they are portable, real-time, dynamic and continuous.The popularization of smart wearable devices among people under high-altitude environment would be beneficial for the prevention for heart and brain diseases related to high altitude. The current review comprehensively elucidates the effects of high-altitude environment on the heart and brain of different population and experimental subjects, the characteristics and applications of different types of wearable devices, and the limitations and challenges for their application. By emphasizing their application values, this review provides practical reference information for the prevention of high-altitude disease and the protection of life and health.
Altitude ; Brain Diseases ; Heart ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Wearable Electronic Devices

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features and genetic variant in a patient with Usher syndrome. METHODS: Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the patient. Suspected variants were validated by Sanger sequencing of her parents and fetus. RESULTS: The proband was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants c.17_18insA (p.Tyr6Ter*) and c.4095_4096insA (p.Arg1366Lys fs*38) of the PCDH15 gene (NM_033056), which were respectively inherited from her father and mother. The same variants were not detected in 100 healthy controls. Based on the guidelines of the American Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics, both variants were predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1+PM2+PP4). By prenatal diagnosis, her fetus was found to carry the c.4095_4096insA variant. After birth, the child has passed neonatal hearing screening test, and no abnormal auditory and visual function was found after the first year. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants c.17_18insA (p.Tyr6Ter*) and c.4095_4096insA (p.Arg1366Lys fs*38) of the PCDH15 gene probably underlay the Usher syndrome is this proband.
Cadherin Related Proteins ; Cadherins/genetics* ; Child ; China ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Usher Syndromes/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology for a child featuring mental retardation and speech delay. METHODS: Clinical data of the child was collected. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the child and members of his pedigree. Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the child, and candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. Prenatal diagnosis was provided for his mother upon her subsequent pregnancy. RESULTS: The child has mainly featured mental retardation, speech delay, ptosis, strabismus, photophobia, hyperactivity, and irritability. Whole exome sequencing revealed that he has harbored a pathogenic heterozygous variant of the KAT6A gene, namely c.5314dupA (p.Ser1772fs*20), which was not detected in either of his parents. The child was diagnosed with Arboleda-Tham syndrome. The child was also found to harbor a hemizygous c.56T>G (p.Leu19Trp) variant of the AIFM1 gene, for which his mother was heterozygous and his phenotypically normal maternal grandfather was hemizygous. Pathogenicity was excluded. Prenatal diagnosis has excluded the c.5314dupA variant of the KAT6A gene in the fetus. CONCLUSION The heterozygous c.5314dupA (p.Ser1772fs*20) variant of the KAT6A gene probably underlay the Arboleda-Tham syndrome in this child. Above finding has enabled genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for this pedigree.
Child ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Histone Acetyltransferases ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Language Development Disorders ; Pedigree

Background::Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients, especially elderly patients, who undergo cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Studies have indicated a protective role of autophagy in AKI. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulatory effect of autophagy in AKI among patients undergoing cardiac surgeries are poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate autophagy in tubular epithelial cells after AKI.Methods::Plasma exosomal RNA was extracted from young and elderly AKI patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and the miRNAs expression during the perioperative period were analyzed using next-generation sequencing. The screened miRNAs and their target genes were subjected to gene oncology function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome enrichment analyses. Renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2 cells) was cultured and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model was established, which is an in vitro renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) model. We used Western blot analysis, cell viability assay, transfection, luciferase assay to investigate the mechanisms underlying the observed increases in the levels of renal I/R injury-mediated exosomal miRNAs and their roles in regulating HK-2 cells autophagy. Results::miR-590-3p was highly enriched in the plasma exosomes of young AKI patients after cardiac surgery. Increased levels of miR-590-3p led to the increases in the expression of autophagy marker proteins, including Beclin-1 and microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta (LC3II), and prolonged the autophagic response in HK-2 cells after H/R treatment. These effects were achieved mainly via increases in the exosomal miR-590-3p levels, and the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 protein was shown to play a key role in I/R injury-mediated autophagy induction.Conclusion::Exosomes released from HK-2 cells after renal I/R injury regulate autophagy by transferring miR-590-3p in a paracrine manner, which suggests that increasing the miR-590-3p levels in HK-2 cell-derived exosomes may increase autophagy and protect against kidney injury after renal I/R injury.

Objective:To analyze the pathogenic genes and clinical phenotypes of a Chinese Han family with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP).Methods:A pedigree investigation study was conducted, and a Chinese Han RP family that underwent genetic counseling in the Henan Provincial People's Hospital in November 2019 was collected.Twenty members of this family from 4 generations, including 9 patients and 11 phenotypically normal individuals, were enrolled.Visual acuity, peripheral visual field test and fundus examination were performed on some family members.Peripheral blood samples were collected from the family members, and DNA was extracted.Exon-targeted sequencing containing 43 genes associated with RP was performed on the proband using the Ion Torrent PGM sequencing platform.The mutations were verified by polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing.Online software was applied to predict the protein function of the variant.The amino acid sequences of the variant loci were compared using the ClustalW2 multiplex alignment program.The pathogenicity of the variant was analyzed according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) criteria and guidelines for classification of genetic variant.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial People's Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2019[15]).Results:The family was consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance.The proband, a 26-year-old male, had bilateral night blindness since childhood, with visual acuity of 0.25 in the right eye and 0.5 in the left eye.There was osteoblast-like pigmentation in his both retinas, thinned retinal vessels and pale optic disc.Full-field electroretinogram examination showed reduced scotopic a- and b-wave peaks and severely reduced photopic a- and b-wave peaks.The rest of the family began to develop night blindness when 7 to 10 years old, having complete loss of peripheral vision around 50 years of age, and typical RP changes were found in ophthalmic examination.Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous missense variant c. 982delC (p.L328fs) in exon 5 of the family's rhodopsin ( RHO) gene (NM_000539.3). This variant resulted in the change of 21 amino acids after amino acid 328 in the encoded RHO protein, increasing amino acids in the coding region from 348 to 358 and altering the structure of the RHO protein.The analysis of protein homology sequence alignment between several different species showed that the locus was highly conserved.According to the guidelines of the ACMG criteria and guidelines for classification of genetic variants, the variant was a pathogenic mutation because there were six evidences including one very strong evidence of pathogenicity PVS1, two moderate evidences of pathogenicity PM2 and three supporting evidences of pathogenicity, PP1, PP3 and PP4. Conclusions:The c. 982delC variant in the RHO gene is a pathogenic mutation in this pedigree, and this variant is reported for the first time in a Chinese Han family.