Sequencing chromosomal abnormalities reveals neurodevelopmental loci that confer risk across diagnostic boundaries.

Balanced chromosomal abnormalities (BCAs) represent a relatively untapped reservoir of single-gene disruptions in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). We sequenced BCAs in patients with autism or related NDDs, revealing disruption of 33 loci in four general categories: (1) genes previously associated with abnormal neurodevelopment (e.g., AUTS2, FOXP1, and CDKL5), (2) single-gene contributors to microdeletion syndromes (MBD5, SATB2, EHMT1, and SNURF-SNRPN), (3) novel risk loci (e.g., CHD8, KIRREL3, and ZNF507), and (4) genes associated with later-onset psychiatric disorders (e.g., TCF4, ZNF804A, PDE10A, GRIN2B, and ANK3). We also discovered among neurodevelopmental cases a profoundly increased burden of copy-number variants from these 33 loci and a significant enrichment of polygenic risk alleles from genome-wide association studies of autism and schizophrenia. Our findings suggest a polygenic risk model of autism and reveal that some neurodevelopmental genes are sensitive to perturbation by multiple mutational mechanisms, leading to variable phenotypic outcomes that manifest at different life stages.

Haplotype-specific MAPK3 expression in 16p11.2 deletion contributes to variable neurodevelopment.

Recurrent proximal 16p11.2 deletion (16p11.2del) is a risk factor for diverse neurodevelopmental disorders with incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. Although investigation with human induced pluripotent stem cell models has confirmed disruption of neuronal development in 16p11.2del neuronal cells, which genes are responsible for abnormal cellular phenotypes and what determines the penetrance of neurodevelopmental abnormalities are unknown. We performed haplotype phasing of the 16p11.2 region in a 16p11.2del neurodevelopmental disorders cohort and generated human induced pluripotent stem cells for two 16p11.2del families with distinct residual haplotypes and variable neurodevelopmental disorder phenotypes. Using transcriptomic profiles and cellular phenotypes of the human induced pluripotent stem cell-differentiated cortex neuronal cells, we revealed MAPK3 to be a contributor to dysfunction in multiple pathways related to early neuronal development, with altered soma and electrophysiological properties in mature neuronal cells. Notably, MAPK3 expression in 16p11.2del neuronal cells varied on the basis of a 132 kb 58 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) residual haplotype, with the version composed entirely of minor alleles associated with reduced MAPK3 expression. Ten SNPs on the residual haplotype were mapped to enhancers of MAPK3. We functionally validated six of these SNPs by luciferase assay, implicating them in the residual haplotype-specific differences in MAPK3 expression via cis-regulation. Finally, the analysis of three different cohorts of 16p11.2del subjects showed that this minor residual haplotype is associated with neurodevelopmental disorder phenotypes in 16p11.2del carriers.

Oxygen atom activated ZIF-67/carbon cloth in plasma system for CO2 reduction.

ZIF-67 was grown in situ on carbon cloth (CC) using a simple one-step method. The prepared ZIF-67/CC electrodes exhibited excellent CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) performance in a dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor. The highest concentrations of produced formic acid and formaldehyde were 9.16 and 0.068 mmol L-1 at a reaction time of 1 h, respectively. The high performance is related to the unique high aspect ratio structure and pad-like cavity of ZIF-67, which results not only in an increase in the specific surface area for CO2 adsorption but also in the hydrophobicity of the electrode. Unexpectedly, the superoxide radical (·O2-) greatly affects the reduction performance of the electrode. In addition, the ZIF-67/CC electrode maintained good CO2RR performance in the presence of different pollutants, and the production of formic acid and formaldehyde increased to 10.81 and 0.11 mmol L-1 at 1 h with the addition of 10 mg L-1 phenol. This research provides new directions in the field of plasma catalysis.

Whole-exome sequencing identifies FANC heterozygous germline mutation as an adverse factor for immunosuppressive therapy in Chinese aplastic anemia patients aged 40 or younger: a single-center retrospective study.

Acquired aplastic anemia (AA) is a bone marrow failure disorder characterized by pancytopenia, and immunosuppressive therapy (IST) is the optional first-line management. Several studies identified the influencing factors on IST response; however, there are still a considerable number of patients suffering from poor prognoses. In this study, we enrolled 61 AA patients aged ≤ 40 years old, and whole-exome sequencing (WES) found unexpected high FANC heterozygous germline mutations (28/61, 45.9%). Patients with FANC mutations have a significantly lower absolute reticulocyte count and CD34+ % in the bone marrow and also lower 3-, 6-, and 9-month IST response than that without mutation, which were 0% vs. 25% (P = 0.017), 26.3% vs. 42.1% (P = 0.495), and 29.4% vs. 72.2% (P = 0.011), especially in anti-thymocyte globulin combined with the cyclosporin A (ATG + CsA) group, which were 0% vs.33.4% (P = 0.143), 25% vs.83.3% (P = 0.103), and 25% vs. 100% (P = 0.003), respectively. The event-free survival in the FANCwt group was also better than that in the FANCmut group (P = 0.016) and also showed in patients who received ATG + CsA treatment (P = 0.045). In addition, all the adverse effects of FANC germline mutation were not significant in stem cell-transplanted group. Our result indicated that the WES-based detection of FANC heterozygous germline mutations may have a great meaning in predicting IST response of acquired AA. This study was registered at chictr.org.cn (# ChiCTR2100054992).

Unlabelled LRET biosensor based on double-stranded DNA for the detection of anthraquinone anticancer drugs.

Based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) as energy donor and herring sperm DNA (hsDNA) as molecular recognition element, an unlabelled upconversion luminescence (UCL) affinity biosensor was constructed for the detection of anthraquinone (AQ) anticancer drugs in biological fluids. AQ anticancer drugs can insert into the double helix structure of hsDNA on the surface of UCNPs, thereby shortening the distance from UCNPs. Therefore, the luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) phenomenon is effectively triggered between UCNPs and AQ anticancer drugs. Hence, AQ anticancer drugs can be quantitatively detected according to the UCL quenching rate. The biosensor showed good sensitivity and stability for the detection of daunorubicin (DNR) and doxorubicin (ADM). For the detection of DNR, the linear range is 1-100 µg·mL-1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.60 µg·mL-1, and for ADM, the linear range is 0.5-100 µg·mL-1 with a LOD of 0.38 µg·mL-1. The proposed biosensor provides a convenient method for monitoring AQ anticancer drugs in clinical biological fluids in the future.

The Partial Reconstruction Symplectic Geometry Mode Decomposition and Its Application in Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis.

Extracting the fault characteristic information of rolling bearings from intense noise disturbance has been a heated research issue. Symplectic geometry mode decomposition (SGMD) has already been adopted for bearing fault diagnosis due to its advantages of no subjective customization of parameters and the ability to reconstruct existing modes. However, SGMD suffers from rapidly decreasing calculation efficiency as the amount of data increases, in addition to invalid symplectic geometry components affecting decomposition accuracy. The regularized composite multiscale fuzzy entropy (RCMFE) operator is constructed to evaluate the complexity of each initial single component and minimize the residual energy. Combined with the partial reconstruction threshold indicator to filter out specific significant initial single components, the raw signal can be decomposed into multiple physically meaningful symplectic geometric mode components. Therefore, the decomposition efficiency and accuracy can be enhanced. Thus, a rolling bearing fault diagnosis method is proposed based on partial reconstruction symplectic geometry mode decomposition (PRSGMD). Both simulated and experimental analysis results show that PRSGMD can improve the speed of SGMD analysis while increasing the decomposition accuracy, thereby augmenting the robustness and effectiveness of the algorithm.

Genome sequencing demonstrates high diagnostic yield in children with undiagnosed global developmental delay/intellectual disability: A prospective study.

Genome sequencing (GS) has been used in the diagnosis of global developmental delay (GDD)/intellectual disability (ID). However, the performance of GS in patients with inconclusive results from chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and exome sequencing (ES) is unknown. We recruited 100 pediatric GDD/ID patients from multiple sites in China from February 2018 to August 2020 for GS. Patients have received at least one genomic diagnostic test before enrollment. Reanalysis of their CMA/ES data was performed. The yield of GS was calculated and explanations for missed diagnoses by CMA/ES were investigated. Clinical utility was assessed by interviewing the parents by phone. The overall diagnostic yield of GS was 21%. Seven cases could have been solved with reanalysis of ES data. Thirteen families were missed by previous CMA/ES due to improper methodology. Two remained unsolved after ES reanalysis due to complex variants missed by ES, and a CNV in untranslated regions. Follow-up of the diagnosed families revealed that nine families experienced changes in clinical management, including identification of targeted treatments, cessation of unnecessary treatment, and considerations for family planning. GS demonstrated high diagnostic yield and clinical utility in this undiagnosed GDD/ID cohort, detecting a wide range of variant types of different sizes in a single workflow.

Circadian gene CSNK1D promoted the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by activating Wnt/ß-catenin pathway via stabilizing Dishevelled Segment Polarity Protein 3.

PURPOSE: A variety of studies have connected circadian rhythm to the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The purpose of this study was to figure out about the circadian genes' profile characteristics, prognostic significance, and targeted values in HCC. METHODS: The expression profiles and prognostic significance of circadian genes in the cancer genome atlas liver hepatocellular carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) database were investigated using bioinformatics analysis. The expression features of Casein Kinase 1 Delta (CSNK1D), a robust signature gene, was further detected by immunohistochemistry, western blotting and Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) in a local HCC cohort. The effect of CSNK1D on corresponding phenotypes of HCC cells was evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), flowcytometry, clone assay, Transwell assay, and xenograft assay. In addition, the underlying mechanisms of CSNK1D in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling were validated by multiple molecular experiments. RESULTS: Abnormal expression of the Circadian genome was associated with the malignant clinicopathological characteristics of HCC patients. A 10 circadian gene-based signature with substantial prognostic significance was developed using Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis. Of them, CSNK1D, significantly elevated in a local HCC cohort, was chosen for further investigation. Silencing or overexpression of CSNK1D significantly reduced or increased proliferation, invasion, sorafenib resistance, xenograft development, and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of HCC cells, respectively. Mechanically, CSNK1D exacerbated the aggressiveness of HCC cells by activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling through interacting with Dishevelled Segment Polarity Protein 3 (DVL3). CONCLUSIONS: The Circadian gene CSNK1D was found to contribute to HCC progression by boosting the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, hinting that it could be a prospective therapeutic target for HCC.

Effect of avatrombopag in the management of severe and refractory chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) in patients with solid tumors.

Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) is a common complication in cancer patients, especially after multiple cycles of chemotherapy, which leads to the delayed treatment or reduced dosage. The treatment of CIT is limited for refractory and severe cases. Herein we reported a single-center study of avatrombopag, a type of thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA), for the treatment of severe and refractory (S/R) CIT who failed from multi-line treatments. A total of 13 cancer patients with S/R CIT were enrolled at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University from September 2020 to February 2021. All the patients were administered oral avatrombopag at an initial dose of 60 mg/day, which could be decreased as needed, over a period of 8 weeks. Eight (8/13, 61.5%) patients responded to avatrombopag (with a platelet count ≥50 × 109/L and transfusion independent), with a median response time of 27.5 (11-50) days, and the median cumulative day of platelet response was 79 (20-167). Ten of 13 patients (76.9%) no longer required platelet transfusion at the study endpoint. The predictor of response was the level of hemoglobin (HB) at study entry, patients with an HB over 90 g/L achieved a response rate of 88.9%. In addition, platelet count showed 87.5% sensitivity and 100% specificity to predict the treatment response at a cutoff value of 25.5× 109/L at the end of the third week management. No drug-related side effects were noticed during administration. Our study showed that avatrombopag could be a novel and effective drug for the treatment of severe and refractory CIT, especially for those with hemoglobin above 90 g/L. This study was registered at chictr.org.cn as # ChiCTR2100050646.

Apolipoprotein-A is a potential prognostic biomarker for severe aplastic anemia patients treated with ATG-based immunosuppressive therapy: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Anti-thymoglobulin (ATG)-based immunosuppressive treatment (IST) is the standard first-line management for patients with severe AA/very severe AA (SAA/VSAA) and is not suitable for allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The response predictor was not fully investigated. OBJECTIVE: The present study attempted to explore other characteristics, such as serum lipid changes, during ATG-based IST and analyzed their significance in predicting IST response and survival. METHODS: A total of 61 newly diagnosed SAA/VSAA patients who received ATG-based IST were enrolled from January 2011 to June 2019. The blood lipid levels, immunoglobulins, and peripheral T lymphocytes were retrospectively collected, and their correlations with IST response, estimated 8.5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall response (OR)/complete remission (CR) at 3, 6, and 9 months was 24.6%/6.6%, 52.5%/14.8%, and 65.6%/23.0%, respectively. Based on the 9-month response effect, patients were divided into IST-response (IST-R) and IST-nonresponse (IST-NR) groups. The subgroup baseline characteristics showed that the disease severity grade, absolute neutrophil granulocyte count (ANC), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and apolipoprotein-A (Apo-A) differed between the IST-R and IST-NR groups. Patients with lower Apo-A (< 1.205 g/L) level pretreatment had a better event-free survival (EFS), and a moderate negative correlation was established between the pretreatment Apo-A and 9-month response (P = 0.004). In addition, the T-cell subset and immunoglobulin analyses showed that the responsive patients had a low serum IgA level, which decreased further after therapy. Additionally, a moderate negative correlation was established between the 3-month IgA and 9-month response (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Serum Apo-A is a prognostic biomarker for newly diagnosed < 60-year-old SAA/VSAA patients who received ATG-based IST (registered at chictr.org.cn as # ChiCTR2100052979).

Upconversion luminescence-based aptasensor for the detection of thyroid-stimulating hormone in serum.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) plays a crucial physiological and pathological role in humans, and a timely and sensitive detection of TSH is critical for early diagnosis and prevention of thyroid-related diseases. Herein, we developed a simple wash-free biological aptasensor based on luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) between NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) for the detection of TSH with high sensitivity. In this LRET system, UCNPs as donors and TAMRA as receptors were modified with nucleic acid aptamers Apt-1 and Apt-2, respectively. When TSH was present, the two aptamer strands both specifically recognized TSH to form a hairpin-like structure, thereby shortening the space between UCNPs and TAMRA. The LRET occurred under radiation of 980-nm light. By detecting the change of upconversion luminescence (UCL) intensity (I545nm), the activity of TSH was quantified. The resulting detection dynamic range and the limit of detection were 0.1-5.0 mIU·L-1 and 0.065 mIU·L-1, respectively. The aptasensor using UCNPs as LRET donors was capable of effectively eliminating the background interference of a complicated biological environment, and showed good specificity because of the excellent recognition function of aptamers. Due to high sensitivity, easiness of fabrication, operational convenience, and selectivity, the UCL-based aptasensor is a promising candidate for clinical TSH determination. Based on nucleic acid aptamer and the mechanism of luminescence resonance energy transfer (LRET) between upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) donor and tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) receptor, an aptasensor was constructed for the quantitative analysis of TSH activity in serum by testing the change of I545nm.

[Standards for the interpretation of constitutional copy number gain: Recommendation from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen)].

Copy number variants (CNVs) are common causes of human genetic diseases. CNVs detection has become a routine component of genetic testing, especially for pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders, multiple congenital abnormalities, prenatal evaluation of fetuses with structural anomalies detected by ultrasound. Although the technologies for CNVs detection are continuously improving, the interpretation is still challenging, with significant discordance across different laboratories. In 2020, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) developed a guideline for the interpreting and reporting of constitutional copy number variants, which introduced a quantitative, evidence-based scoring framework. Here, we detailed the key points of interpreting the copy number gain based on the guideline, used six examples of different categories to illuminate the scoring process and principles. We encourage a professional understanding and application of this guideline for the detected copy number gains in China in order to further improve the clinical evaluation accuracy and consistency across different laboratories.

[A large-scale retrospective analysis of copy number variations in single center using ACMG-ClinGen latest guidelines].

OBJECTIVE: Through a retrospective large sample analysis of copy number variants in single center, we explored the technical standards for the interpretation and reporting of constitutional copy-number variants (CNVs) jointly proposed by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and the Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) in 2019, analyzing its impact on CNVs ratings and the improvement in the consistency of the classification of CNVs in clinical laboratories. METHODS: 236 CNVs that assessed as pathogenic, uncertain significant (including likely pathogenic, uncertain and likely benign) by the 2011 ACMG guidelines between August 2018 and December 2019 in our center were re-analyzed. Four working group members of the center reclassified and evaluated 235 CNVs according to 2019 ACMG guidelines. RESULTS: The consistency of clinical significance classification of CNVs was 91% and the α test coefficient was 0.98 among four working group members. Compared with the 2011 and 2019 ACMG technical standards for the CNVs classification, evaluation of pathogenicity and uncertain significant is basically consistent. 90% (45/50) of likely pathogenic and likely benign CNVs were Re-evaluated as variants of uncertain significance, and the difference is significant. CONCLUSION: The new version ACMG/ClinGen guidelines for the evaluation of CNVs developed semi-quantitative point-based scoring system and help to improve the consistency in clinical classifications. It can also make the interpretation of CNVs more standardized and transparent.

The portrayal of people with dwarfism in Chinese art.

Dwarfism has been depicted in various Chinese art forms including literature, sculpture, and painting. This article examines several representative Chinese works of art from different ages of Chinese history, in order to glimpse the living situations of people with dwarfism, their professions and social status, as well as the social attitude toward them in China. We highlight "" (Shan Hai Jing, translated as the Classic of Mountains and Seas), a remarkable collection of myths and illustrations which documented the existence of dwarf communities where the residents were capable of producing high-quality grains. Representations from sculptures and paintings frequently captured the images of individuals with dwarfism in royal courts, which showed their remarkable performance skills and social ability. There are also works of art associating dwarfism with rituals. In addition to portraying ordinary individuals with humble social status, there was one particular individual with dwarfism named Yan Zi () who was highly regarded as a figure of wisdom. Throughout the long Chinese history, dwarfism had been portrayed in art as either positive, neutral or derogatory, which reflected the fact that people with dwarfism, while short in stature, are usually intellectually normal, generally skillful, and often talented, in short, like the general population.

CNV profiles of Chinese pediatric patients with developmental disorders.

PURPOSE: To examine the overall genomic copy-number variant (CNV) landscape of Chinese pediatric patients with developmental disorders. METHODS: De-identified chromosomal microarray (CMA) data from 10,026 pediatric patients with developmental disorders were collected for re-evaluating the pathogenic CNV (pCNV) yields of different medical conditions and for comparing the frequency and phenotypic variability of genomic disorders between the Chinese and Western patient populations. RESULTS: The overall yield of pCNVs in the Chinese pediatric patient cohort was 21.37%, with variable yields for different disorders. Yields of pCNVs were positively associated with phenotypic complexity and intellectual disability/developmental delay (ID/DD) comorbidity for most disorders. The genomic burden and pCNV yield in neurodevelopmental disorders supported a female protective effect. However, the stratification analysis revealed that it was seen only in nonsyndromic ID/DD, not in nonsyndromic autism spectrum disorders or seizure. Furthermore, 15 known genomic disorders showed significantly different frequencies in Chinese and Western patient cohorts, and profiles of referred clinical features for 15 known genomic disorders were also significantly different in the two cohorts. CONCLUSION: We defined the pCNV yields and profiles of the Chinese pediatric patients with different medical conditions and uncovered differences in the frequency and phenotypic diversity of genomic disorders between Chinese and Western patients.

Constant-wavelength synchronous fluorescence spectrometry for simultaneous and rapid determination of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon residues in dairy products.

A new method for simultaneously determining five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (fluorene, benzofluorene, pyrene, benzo(a)pyrene, and perylene) in dairy products using constant-wavelength synchronous fluorescence spectrometry (CWSFS) was established in this study. Acetonitrile was chosen as the extraction solvent to extract the five PAHs from the dairy products, and an ultrasound extraction method was adopted. The supernatants were filtered using a 0.45-µm microporous filter membrane and concentrated to dryness with a nitrogen dryer. The extracts were then re-dissolved in cyclohexane for analysis. To overcome interference from the background matrix and between PAHs, the difference in wavelength (Δλ) at 40 nm was chosen for CWSFS scanning. With only one single scan, the five PAHs in dairy products could be distinguished and determined using the standard curve method without the need for previous chromatographic separation of the analyte solution. Detection limits of fluorene, benzofluorene, pyrene, benzo(a)pyrene, and perylene were 0.0051 µg·L-1 , 0.016 µg·L-1 , 0.021 µg·L-1 , 0.0056 µg·L-1 , and 0.0062 µg·L-1 , respectively. Recoveries were between 85.60% and 98.42%. These five PAHs in dairy products were determined with good results and therefore expected to be a routine detection method for PAHs in dairy products.

[Experience and lessons on guiding and governing clinical applications of chromosome microarray analysis in the United States].

Chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) has become the first-tier testing for chromosomal abnormalities and copy number variations (CNV). This review described the clinical validation of CMA, the development and updating of technical standards and guidelines and their diagnostic impacts. The main focuses were on the development and updating of expert consensus, practice resources, and a series of technical standards and guidelines through systematic review of case series with CMA application in the literature. Expert consensus and practice resource supported the use of CMA as the first-tier testing for detecting chromosomal abnormalities and CNV in developmental and intellectual disabilities, multiple congenital anomalies and autism. The standards and guidelines have been applied to pre- and postnatal testing for constitutional CNV and tumor testing for acquired CNV. CMA has significantly improved the diagnostic yields but still needs to overcome its technical limitations and face challenges of new technologies. Guiding and governing CMA through expert consensus, practice resource, standards and guidelines in the United States has provided effective and safe diagnostic services to patients and their families, reliable diagnosis on related genetic diseases for clinical database and basic research, and references for clinical translation of new technologies.

De novo variants in the Helicase-C domain of CHD8 are associated with severe phenotypes including autism, language disability and overgrowth.

CHD8, which encodes Chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8, is one of a few well-established Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) genes. Over 60 mutations have been reported in subjects with variable phenotypes, but little is known concerning genotype-phenotype correlations. We have identified four novel de novo mutations in Chinese subjects: two nonsense variants (c.3562C>T/p.Arg1188X, c.2065C>A/p.Glu689X), a splice site variant (c.4818-1G>A) and a missense variant (c.3502T>A/p.Tyr1168Asn). Three of these were identified from a 445-member ASD cohort by ASD gene panel sequencing of the 96 subjects who remained negative after molecular testing for copy number variation, Rett syndrome, FragileX and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The fourth (p.Glu689X) was detected separately by diagnostic trio exome sequencing. We used diagnostic instruments and a comprehensive review of phenotypes, including prenatal and postnatal growth parameters, developmental milestones, and dysmorphic features to compare these four subjects. In addition to autism, they also presented with prenatal onset macrocephaly, intellectual disability, overgrowth during puberty, sleep disorder, and dysmorphic features, including broad forehead with prominent supraorbital ridges, flat nasal bridge, telecanthus and large ears. For further comparison, we compiled a comprehensive list of CHD8 variants from the literature and databases, which revealed constitutive and somatic truncating variants in the HELIC (Helicase-C) domain in ASD and in cancer patients, respectively, but not in the general population. Furthermore, HELIC domain mutations were associated with a severe phenotype defined by a greater number of clinical features, lower verbal IQ, and a prominent, consistent pattern of overgrowth as measured by weight, height and head circumference. Overall, this study adds to the ASD-associated loss-of-function mutations in CHD8 and highlights the clinical importance of the HELIC domain of CHD8.

A novel pathogenic frameshift variant unmasked by a large de novo deletion at 13q21.33-q31.1 in a Chinese patient with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 5.

BACKGROUND: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 5 (CLN5) is a rare form of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) which are a group of inherited neurodegenerative diseases characterized by progressive intellectual and motor deterioration, visual failure, seizures, behavioral changes and premature death. CLN5 was initially named Finnish variant late infantile NCL, it is now known to be present in other ethnic populations and with variable age of onset. Few CLN5 patients had been reported in Chinese population. CASE PRESENTATION: In this paper, we report the symptoms of a Chinese patient who suffer from developmental regression and grand mal epilepsy for several years. The DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of proband and both parents, and then whole exome sequencing was performed using genomic DNA. Both sequence variants and copy number variants (CNVs) were analyzed and classified according to guidelines. As the result, a novel frameshift mutation c.718_719delAT/p.Met240fs in CLN5 and a de novo large deletion at 13q21.33-q31.1 which unmasked the frameshift mutation were identified in the proband. Despite the large de novo deletion, which can be classified as a pathogenic copy number variant (CNV), the patient's clinical presentation is mostly consistent with that of CLN5, except for early developmental delay which is believed due to the large deletion. Both variants were detected simultaneously by exome sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of whole gene deletion in combination with a novel pathogenic sequence variant in a CLN5 patient. The two mutations detected with whole exome sequencing simultaneously proved the advantage of the sequencing technology for genetic diagnostics.

A novel variant of IHH in a Chinese family with brachydactyly type 1.

BACKGROUND: Brachydactyly type A1(BDA-1) is an autosomal dominant disorder which is caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants in a specific region of the N-terminal active fragment of Indian Hedgehog (IHH). The disorder is mainly characterized by shortening or missing of the middle phalanges. In this study, Our purpose is to identify the pathogenic variations associated with BDA-1 involved in a five-generation Chinese family. METHODS: A BDA-1 family with 8 affected and 14 unaffected family members was recruited. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed to identify the pathogenic variant in the proband, and which was later confirmed and segregated by Sanger sequencing. The significance of variants were assessed using several molecular and bioinformatics analysis methods. RESULTS: We uncovered a novel heterozygous missense variant c.299A > G (p.D100G) at the mutational hotspot of IHH gene following whole-exome sequencing of a Chinese family with BDA-1. The variant co-segregated with BDA-1 in the pedigree, showed 100% penetrance for phalange phenotype with variable expressivity. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study reports a five-generation Chinese family with BDA-1 due to a novel pathogenic variant (c.299A > G (p.D100G)) of IHH and expands the clinical and genetic spectrum of BDA-1.