Objective:To analyze the genetic evolution characteristics of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) of influenza B virus in Tongling during 2019-2022 surveillance years.Methods:Twenty-two strains of Victoria influenza B virus isolated from our laboratory during 2019-2022 were selected for whole genome sequencing. The sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis were conducted by using bioinformatic analysis software.Results:During 2019-2022, seasonal influenza in Tongling City was predominantly caused by influenza B Victoria lineage viruses, which fell within the V1A.3 branch. Among these, 14 strains isolated in the 2021-2022 season were further classified into the V1A.3a.2 sub-branch. Compared with vaccine strains, multiple amino acid mutation sites were detected in both HA and NA proteins of the 22 influenza B Victoria lineage viruses. Notably, all four major antigenic sites (120-loop, 150-loop, 160-helix, and 190-helix regions) in the HA protein exhibited variations. Although no mutations were detected at resistance sites on the NA protein, a change occurred in the glycosylation site at position 197 NETQ in the HA protein.Conclusions:The main amino acid sites of the HA protein of the influenza B Victoria lineage viruses in Tongling City from 2019 to 2022 have undergone significant variation, which may lead to antigenic drift. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the monitoring of influenza virus mutations.

The application of pesticides(mostly insecticides and fungicides)during the tea-planting process will undoubtedly increase the dietary risk associated with drinking tea.Thus,it is necessary to ascertain whether pesticide residues in tea products exceed the maximum residue limits.However,the complex matrices present in tea samples comprise a major challenge in the analytical detection of pesticide residues.In this study,nine types of lateral flow immunochromatographic strips(LFICSs)were developed to detect the pesticides of interest(fenpropathrin,chlorpyrifos,imidacloprid,thiamethoxam,acet-amiprid,carbendazim,chlorothalonil,pyraclostrobin,and iprodione).To reduce the interference of tea substrates on the assay sensitivity,the pretreatment conditions for tea samples,including the extraction solvent,extraction time,and purification agent,were optimized for the simultaneous detection of these pesticides.The entire testing procedure(including pretreatment and detection)could be completed within 30 min.The detected results of authentic tea samples were confirmed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS),which suggest that the LFICS coupled with sample rapid pretreatment can be used for on-site rapid screening of the target pesticide in tea products prior to their market release.

Objective To explore the construction and practice of an intelligent prevention and treatment system for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in grassroots hospitals. Methods Based on relevant guidelines and expert consensuses on VTE prevention and treatment, domestic and foreign literature was reviewed. A research and development team composed of clinical experts in VTE prevention and treatment, medical and nursing quality management experts, and information engineers conducted investigations and research in surrounding grassroots hospitals. Through evidence-based research and surveys, the team identified relevant business needs, user needs, and functional requirements of grassroots hospitals, and finally formulated a detailed design plan. The main program of system was written in Java. The interface obtained data from the hospital's data platform through Webservice and view interfaces. To prevent issues of repeated data extraction when multiple applications perform time tasks to assess the same patient during later server usage and expansion, the XXL-JOB distributed task scheduling platform was adopted to handle VTE assessments by medical staff. Results After the clinical application of the intelligent VTE prevention and treatment system, the bleeding risk assessment rate increased from 26.20% at the initial system launch in January 2023 to 83.04% by the end of 2023. In January 2023, the implementation rates of mechanical prevention, pharmacological prevention, and combined prevention for medium-to-high-risk VTE patients were 21.39%, 16.39%, and 5.26%, respectively, which increased to 51.75%, 25.50%, and 25.65% in December 2023. Conclusion The VTE prevention and treatment software system developed by grassroots hospitals can improve development efficiency, enhance the clinical practicality of the system, reduce the workload of medical staff, promote standardization and normalization in VTE prevention and treatment, strengthen closed-loop management of medical quality for VTE as a single disease, and effectively improve the prevention and treatment capabilities and levels of VTE within hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical features and spectrum of genetic variants in 12 patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS), and to explore the correlation between the type of genetic variants and clinical phenotypes. METHODS: Twelve patients suspected for LDS at Beijing Anzhen Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2015 to January 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the patients were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and subjected to genetic testing. Pathogenicity of candidate variants was analyzed. RESULTS: The clinical phenotypes of the 12 patients have mainly included cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, craniofacial, skin, ocular and other systemic signs. Four patients (patients 5-1, 5-2, 6, 7) have carried heterozygous missense variants of the TGFBR1 gene, 5 patients (patients 1-1, 1-2, 2, 3, 4) have carried heterozygous variants of the TGFBR2 gene, and 2 patients (patients 8-1, 8-2) had carried heterozygous frameshift variants of the TGFB3 gene. One patient (patient 9) had carried a heterozygous missense variant of the SMAD3 gene. Among these, TGFBR1 c.603T>G (p.1201M) and TGFB3 c.536delA (p.H179FS35) had not been reported previously. CONCLUSION Variants of the TGFBR1, TGFBR2, SMAD3, TGFB2, TGFB3 and SMAD2 genes are mainly associated with LDS. The severity of the disease phenotype caused by the same variant may vary, whilst the clinical phenotype caused by different variant sites may be specific.
Humans ; Loeys-Dietz Syndrome/genetics* ; Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I/genetics* ; Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II/genetics* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 ; Face

Objective:To investigate the genetic etiology of fetal conotruncal heart defects (CTDs) and to evaluate the performance of copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) and whole exome sequencing (WES) in identifying the genetic etiology.Methods:This retrospective study involved 196 fetuses diagnosed with CTDs by fetal echocardiography in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University from June 2017 to December 2021. CNV-seq was performed to screen for chromosomal abnormalities [aneuploidy and copy number variations (CNVs)] in the fetuses and their parents, and then WES was performed if CNV-seq was negative. The diagnostic yields of genetic abnormalities [aneuploidy+CNVs+single nucleotide variations (SNVs)] for different types of CTDs were compared using Chi-square test. Results:CNV-seq revealed 54 cases (27.6%, 54/196) with chromosomal abnormalities, including 14 (7.1%, 14/196) aneuploidies, 39 (19.9%, 39/196) CNVs and one aneuploidy complicated by CNVs. Together with another 13 fetuses with pathogenic or likely pathogenic SNVs detected by WES among the rest 142 cases whose CNV-seq results were negative, the total detection rate of genetic abnormalities was 34.2% (67/196). WES increased the diagnostic yield for CTDs by 9.2% (13/142). There was significant difference in the diagnostic yields for different types of CTDs ( χ2=20.31, P=0.002). The diagnostic yield was relatively high for interrupted aortic arch of type B, absent of the pulmonary valve -type of tetralogy of Fallot (9/10 and 8/12), but low for transposition of the great arteries (12.5%, 5/40). Conclusions:CNVs are the common genetic abnormalities in fetal CTDs, and SNVs are also detected in some cases. It is recommended that all fetuses with CTDs should undergo genetic testing. CNV-seq should be used in combination with WES if possible to improve the identification of genetic etiology and provide reference for genetic counseling.

Based on single-cell sequencing of the hippocampi of 5x familiar Alzheimer's disease(5x FAD)and wild type mice at 2-,12-,and 24-month of age,we found an increased percentage of microglia in aging and Alzheimer's disease(AD)mice.Blood brain barrier injury may also have contributed to this increase.Immune regulation by microglia plays a major role in the progression of aging and AD,according to the functions of 41 intersecting differentially expressed genes in microglia.Signaling crosstalk between C-C motif chemokine ligand(CCL)and major histocompatibility complex-1 bridges intercellular communi-cation in the hippocampus during aging and AD.The amyloid precursor protein(APP)and colony stimulating factor(CSF)signals drive 5x FAD to deviate from aging track to AD occurrence among intercellular communication in hippocampus.Microglia are involved in the progression of aging and AD can be divided into 10 functional types.The strength of the interaction among microglial subtypes weakened with aging,and the CCL and CSF signaling pathways were the fundamental bridge of communication among microglial subtypes.

Objective:To investigate the differences of umbilical vein diameter(D), time average peak velocity(TAmax) and blood flow between congenital heart disease and normal fetus.Methods:The umbilical vein diameter and time average peak velocity of 69 fetuses with congenital heart disease (disease group) from 22 to 27 weeks were prospectively studied in Maternal-Fetal Medical Center in Fetal Heart Disease of Beijing Anzhen Hospital from May 2021 to September 2021. Q 1 (umbilical venous blood flow) was calculated according to the formular [Q=0.5TAmax·π·(D/2) 2)], and Q 2 (Q 2=Q 1/weight) was calculated according to the fetal weight. At the same time, 111 normal fetuses with matched gestational age were selected as control group. The differences of fetal umbilical vein D, TAmax, Q 1 and Q 2 between the two groups were analyzed. Results:The inner diameter of umbilical vein D, TAmax, Q 1 and Q 2 in the congenital heart disease group were lower than those in the control group(all P<0.05). In the control group, the inner diameter of umbilical vein D, TAmax and Q 1 increased with the increase of gestational age and showed a positive linear correlation( r=0.608, 0.320, 0.626; all P≤0.001), while there was no obvious linear correlation between Q 2 and gestational age( r=0.189, P=0.047). Conclusions:The decrease of umbilical vein D, TAmax, Q 1 and Q 2 in the fetus with congenital heart disease indicates the decrease of effective blood flow in placenta-fetus circulation, which indirectly reflects the decrease of placental function in the fetus with congenital heart disease.

Objective:To summarize the etiological mechanism, echocardiographic and clinical features of fetal cardiomyopathies (FCMs).Methods:According to the data of echocardiography in Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center in Fetal Heart Disease of Beijing Anzhen Hospital during 2015 January to 2020 December, 70 cases with FCMs were retrospectively reviewed, and the clinical, ultrasonic, pathological and clinical outcome data were collected. Whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing were used to identify the genetic changes.Results:Primary FCMs were diagnosed in 55 cases (78.6%, 55/70), including 39 fetuses with non-compaction of the ventricular myocardium (NVM), 10 with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 5 with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and 1 with restricted cardiomyopathy (RCM). Secondary FCMs were diagnosed in 15 cases (21.4%, 15/70), including 7 fetuses with maternal anti-Ro/La antibodies (presenting with DCM), 4 with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (2 with DCM and 2 with HCM), 2 with fetal anemia (presenting with DCM), 1 with maternal diabetes (presenting with HCM) and 1 with chorioangioma of the placenta (presenting with DCM). In all cases, 9 cases were born, 3 cases died in perinatal period, and 58 pregnancies were terminated due to ineffective treatment or the decisions of pregnant women. Thirty cases with primary FCMs were performed with genetic tests, and 13 of them were identified with positive genetic changes related to FCMs, including 12 cases with NVM and 1 with HCM.Conclusions:Primary FCMs are more common than secondary FCMs in fetal period. The genetic disorders have a high proportion in fetal NVM. Fetal DCM and HCM have a large spectrum of intrinsic and extrinsic causes.

Objective:To explore the changes of biparietal diameter, head circumference and cerebrovascular hemodynamics in fetuses with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) during middle pregnancy.Methods:The biparietal diameter, head circumference, middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA-PI), umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA-PI) and MCA-PI/UA-PI (CPR) of 41 fetuses with HLHS(HLHS group) were retrospectively analyzed from January 2015 to December 2019 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, and were compared with those of 82 normal fetuses matched for gestational age at the same period (control group).Results:The Z-scores of head circumference, MCA-PI and CPR in with HLHS group were lower than in control group(all P<0.05); Head circumference in HLHS group were weakly and positively correlated with the MCA-PI and CPR ( r=0.385, 0.416; all P<0.05). Conclusions:There are some changes in the head circumference and cerebral hemodynamics in fetuses with HLHS during mid-gestational age, and the head circumference is weakly and positively correlated with MCA-PI and CPR, which has clinical significance.

Objective:To analyze the anti-drug resistance, molecular epidemiology and virulence gene distribution of non-A-F group serotype isolates of Salmonella enterica enteric subspecis, so as to provide epidemiological basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:Serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility test and whole genome sequencing were performed on 11 isolates of non-A-F group serotype isolates of Salmonella enterica enteric subspecies that were isolated from The Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine between 2017 and 2020. The serotype, multilocus sequence typing and virulence gene of the whole genome sequencing results were analyzed. Results:In our hospital, the detection rate of non-A-F group serotype isolates of Salmonella enterica enteric subspecies was low (1.13%). Among the 11 strains, there were 3 strains belong to Jangwani serotype, 2 strains of Hvittingfoss serotype, and Wandsworth, Pomona, Kedougou, Urbana, Poona and Kumasi serotypes have 1 strain each. Except for the two multi-drug resistant strains, the other strains were sensitive to most antibiotics, and the MICs were at low levels. A total of 9 ST types were detected in the 11 strains, the 3 Jangwani serotype strains were ST3918, and the other isolates were of different ST types. The phylogenetic tree shown that the three strains of Jangwani serotype were closely related. A total of 103 virulence genes were detected in the 11 strains, including 78 genes related to secretion system, 21 genes related to adherence, 2 genes related to magnesium uptake, 1 gene related to resistance to antimicrobial peptides and 1 gene related to typhoid toxin. Conclusions:The detection rate of the non-A-F group serotype isolates of Salmonella enterica enteric subspecies was low, and the sensitivity of the isolates to common antibiotics was high. The ST types and genetic relationship showed diversity. Clinical laboratory should pay attention to the detection of the non-A-F group serotype isolates of Salmonella enterica enteric subspecies, and the changes in drug resistance and virulence genes of the isolates should be closely monitored.