The mechanism of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi-alleviated manganese toxicity in plants: A review.

The development of the mining industry and the overuse of inorganic fertilizers have led to an excess of manganese (Mn) in the soil, thereby, contaminating the soil environment and people's health. On heavy metal-contaminated soils, the combined arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-phytoremediation technique becomes a hotspot because of its environmentally friendly, in situ remediation. AMF inoculation often leads to a decrease in host Mn acquisition, which provides a basis for its application in phytoremediation of contaminated soils. Moreover, the utilization value of native AMF is greater than that of exotic AMF, because native AMF can adapt better to Mn-contaminated soils. In addition to the fact that AMF enhance plant Mn tolerance responses such as regionalization, organic matter chelation, limiting uptake and efflux, and so on, AMF also develop plant-independent fungal pathways such as direct biosorption of Mn by mycorrhizal hyphae, fungal Mn transporter genes, and sequestration of Mn by mycorrhizal hyphae, glomalin, and arbuscule-containing root cortical cells, which together mitigate excessive Mn toxicity to plants. Clarifying AMF-plant interactions under Mn stress will provide support for utilizing AMF as a phytoremediation in Mn-contaminated soils. The review reveals in detail how AMF develop its own mechanisms for responding to excess Mn and how AMF enhance plant Mn tolerance, accompanied by perspectives for future research.

Optimization of immunosuppression strategies for the establishment of chronic hepatitis E virus infection in rabbits.

Chronic hepatitis E mostly occurs in organ transplant recipients and can lead to rapid liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Previous studies found that the development of chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is linked to the type of immunosuppressant used. Animal models are crucial for the study of pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis E. We previously established a stable chronic HEV infection rabbit model using cyclosporine A (CsA), a calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppressant. However, the immunosuppression strategy and timing may be optimized, and how different types of immunosuppressants affect the establishment of chronic HEV infection in this model is still unknown. Here, we showed that chronic HEV infection can be established in 100% of rabbits when CsA treatment was started at HEV challenge or even 4 weeks after. Tacrolimus or prednisolone treatment alone also contributed to chronic HEV infection, resulting in 100% and 77.8% chronicity rates, respectively, while mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) only led to a 28.6% chronicity rate. Chronic HEV infection was accompanied with a persistent activation of innate immune response evidenced by transcriptome analysis. The suppressed adaptive immune response evidenced by low expression of genes related to cytotoxicity (like perforin and FasL) and low anti-HEV seroconversion rates may play important roles in causing chronic HEV infection. By analyzing HEV antigen concentrations with different infection outcomes, we also found that HEV antigen levels could indicate chronic HEV infection development. This study optimized the immunosuppression strategies for establishing chronic HEV infection in rabbits and highlighted the potential association between the development of chronic HEV infection and immunosuppressants.IMPORTANCEOrgan transplant recipients are at high risk of chronic hepatitis E and generally receive a CNI-based immunosuppression regimen containing CNI (tacrolimus or CsA), MMF, and/or corticosteroids. Previously, we established stable chronic HEV infection in a rabbit model by using CsA before HEV challenge. In this study, we further optimized the immunosuppression strategies for establishing chronic HEV infection in rabbits. Chronic HEV infection can also be established when CsA treatment was started at the same time or even 4 weeks after HEV challenge, clearly indicating the risk of progression to chronic infection under these circumstances and the necessity of HEV screening for both the recipient and the donor preoperatively. CsA, tacrolimus, or prednisolone instead of MMF significantly contributed to chronic HEV infection. HEV antigen in acute infection phase indicates the development of chronic infection. Our results have important implications for understanding the potential association between chronic HEV infection and immunosuppressants.

Exosomes derived from pulmonary metastatic sites enhance osteosarcoma lung metastasis by transferring the miR-194/215 cluster targeting MARCKS.

Osteosarcoma, a prevalent primary malignant bone tumor, often presents with lung metastases, severely impacting patient survival rates. Extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes, play a pivotal role in the formation and progression of osteosarcoma-related pulmonary lesions. However, the communication between primary osteosarcoma and exosome-mediated pulmonary lesions remains obscure, with the potential impact of pulmonary metastatic foci on osteosarcoma progression largely unknown. This study unveils an innovative mechanism by which exosomes originating from osteosarcoma pulmonary metastatic sites transport the miR-194/215 cluster to the primary tumor site. This transportation enhances lung metastatic capability by downregulating myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) expression. Addressing this phenomenon, in this study we employ cationic bovine serum albumin (CBSA) to form nanoparticles (CBSA-anta-194/215) via electrostatic interaction with antagomir-miR-194/215. These nanoparticles are loaded into nucleic acid-depleted exosomal membrane vesicles (anta-194/215@Exo) targeting osteosarcoma lung metastatic sites. Intervention with bioengineered exosome mimetics (anta-194/215@Exo) not only impedes osteosarcoma progression but also significantly prolongs the lifespan of tumor-bearing mice. These findings suggest that pulmonary metastatic foci-derived exosomes initiate primary osteosarcoma lung metastasis by transferring the miR-194/215 cluster targeting MARCKS, making the miR-194/215 cluster a promising therapeutic target for inhibiting the progression of patients with osteosarcoma lung metastases.

Creatine Kinase-MM/Proto-oncogene Tyrosine-Protein Kinase Receptor as a Sensitive Indicator for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Carriers.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a lethal X-linked recessive genetic disease, is characterized by progressive muscle wasting which will lead to premature death by cardiorespiratory complications in their late twenties. And 2.5-19% DMD carriers that also suffer from skeletal muscle damage or dilated cardiomyopathy when diagnosed as soon as possible is meaningful for prenatal diagnosis and advance warning for self-health. The current DMD carrier screening mainly relies on detecting serum creatine kinase activity, covering only 50-70% DMD carriers which will cause many false negatives and require the discovery of highly effective biomarker and simple detection procedure for DMD carriers. In this article, we have compiled a comprehensive summary of all documented biomarkers associated with DMD and categorized them based on their expression patterns. We specifically pinpointed novel DMD biomarkers, previously unreported in DMD carriers, and conducted further investigations to explore their potential. Compared to creatine kinase activity alone in DMD carriers, creatine kinase-MM can improve the specificity from 73 to 81%. And our investigation revealed another promising protein: proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase receptor (RET). When combined with creatine kinase-MM (creatine kinase-MM/RET ratio), it significantly enhances the specificity (from 81 to 83%) and sensitivity (from 71.4 to 93%) of detecting DMD carriers in serum. Moreover, we successfully devised an efficient method for extracting RET from dried blood spots. This breakthrough allowed us to detect both creatine kinase-MM and RET using dried blood spots without compromising the detection rate.

Treating cancer through modulating exosomal protein loading and function: The prospects of natural products and traditional Chinese medicine.

Exosomes, small yet vital extracellular vesicles, play an integral role in intercellular communication. They transport critical components, such as proteins, lipid bilayers, DNA, RNA, and glycans, to target cells. These vesicles are crucial in modulating the extracellular matrix and orchestrating signal transduction processes. In oncology, exosomes are pivotal in tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and immune modulation within the tumor microenvironment. Exosomal proteins, noted for their stability and specificity, have garnered widespread attention. This review delves into the mechanisms of exosomal protein loading and their impact on tumor development, with a focus on the regulatory effects of natural products and traditional Chinese medicine on exosomal protein loading and function. These insights not only offer new strategies and methodologies for cancer treatment but also provide scientific bases and directions for future clinical applications.

The incorporation of acetylated LAP-TGF-ß1 proteins into exosomes promotes TNBC cell dissemination in lung micro-metastasis.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) stands as the breast cancer subtype with the highest recurrence and mortality rates, with the lungs being the common site of metastasis. The pulmonary microenvironment plays a pivotal role in the colonization of disseminated tumor cells. Herein, this study highlights the crucial role of exosomal LAP-TGF-ß1, the principal form of exosomal TGF-ß1, in reshaping the pulmonary vascular niche, thereby facilitating TNBC lung metastasis. Although various strategies have been developed to block TGF-ß signaling and have advanced clinically, their significant side effects have limited their therapeutic application. This study demonstrates that in lung metastatic sites, LAP-TGF-ß1 within exosomes can remarkably reconfigure the pulmonary vascular niche at lower doses, bolstering the extravasation and colonization of TNBC cells in the lungs. Mechanistically, under the aegis of the acetyltransferase TIP60, a non-canonical KFERQ-like sequence in LAP-TGF-ß1 undergoes acetylation at the K304 site, promoting its interaction with HSP90A and subsequent transport into exosomes. Concurrent inhibition of both HSP90A and TIP60 significantly diminishes the exosomal burden of LAP-TGF-ß1, presenting a promising therapeutic avenue for TNBC lung metastasis. This study not only offers fresh insights into the molecular underpinnings of TNBC lung metastasis but also lays a foundation for innovative therapeutic strategies.

Study on mechanical properties of dual-channel cryogenic 3D printing scaffold for mandibular defect repair.

Mandibular defect repair has always been a clinical challenge, facing technical bottleneck. The new materials directly affect technological breakthroughs in mandibular defect repair field. Our aim is to fabricate a scaffold of advanced biomaterials for repairing of small mandibular defect. Therefore, a novel dual-channel scaffold consisting of silk fibroin/collagen type-I/hydroxyapatite (SCH) and polycaprolactone/hydroxyapatite (PCL/HA) was fabricated by cryogenic 3D printing technology with double nozzles. The mechanical properties and behaviors of the dual-channel scaffold were investigated by performing uniaxial compression, creep, stress relaxation, and ratcheting experiments respectively. The experiments indicated that the dual-channel scaffold was typical non-linear viscoelastic consistent with cancellous tissue; the Young's modulus of this scaffold was 60.1 kPa. Finite element analysis (FEA) was employed performing a numerical simulation to evaluate the implantation effect in mandible. The stress distribution of the contact area between scaffold and defect was uniform, the maximum Mises stress of cortical bone and cancellous bone in defect area were 54.520 MPa and 3.196 MPa, and the maximum displacement of cortical bone and cancellous bone in defect area were 0.1575 mm and 0.1555 mm respectively, which distributed in the incisor region. The peak maximum Mises stress experienced by the implanted scaffold was 3.128 × 10-3 MPa, and the maximum displacement was 6.453 × 10-2 mm distributed near incisor area. The displacement distribution of the scaffold was consistent with that of cortical and cancellous bone. The scaffold recovered well when the force applied on it disappeared. Above all, the dual-channel scaffold had excellent bio-mechanical properties in implanting mandible, which provides a new idea for the reconstruction of irregular bone defects in the mandible and has good clinical development prospects.

Optical Genome Mapping for Chromosomal Aberrations Detection-False-Negative Results and Contributing Factors.

Optical genome mapping (OGM) has been known as an all-in-one technology for chromosomal aberration detection. However, there are also aberrations beyond the detection range of OGM. This study aimed to report the aberrations missed by OGM and analyze the contributing factors. OGM was performed by taking both GRCh37 and GRCh38 as reference genomes. The OGM results were analyzed in blinded fashion and compared to standard assays. Quality control (QC) metrics, sample types, reference genome, effective coverage and classes and locations of aberrations were then analyzed. In total, 154 clinically reported variations from 123 samples were investigated. OGM failed to detect 10 (6.5%, 10/154) aberrations with GRCh37 assembly, including five copy number variations (CNVs), two submicroscopic balanced translocations, two pericentric inversion and one isochromosome (mosaicism). All the samples passed pre-analytical and analytical QC. With GRCh38 assembly, the false-negative rate of OGM fell to 4.5% (7/154). The breakpoints of the CNVs, balanced translocations and inversions undetected by OGM were located in segmental duplication (SD) regions or regions with no DLE-1 label. In conclusion, besides variations with centromeric breakpoints, structural variations (SVs) with breakpoints located in large repetitive sequences may also be missed by OGM. GRCh38 is recommended as the reference genome when OGM is performed. Our results highlight the necessity of fully understanding the detection range and limitation of OGM in clinical practice.

Transvaginal cerclage for prevention of preterm birth in twin pregnancies with cervical dilatation or shortening: A prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of transvaginal cerclage in twin pregnancies with cervical shortening, and to narrow the threshold cervical length for transvaginal cerclage. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study and 177 twin pregnancies with asymptomatic cervical dilatation or cervical length of 15 mm or less between 16+0 and 25+6 weeks of pregnancy were included. Patients independently chose either transvaginal cerclage (n = 129) or no cerclage treatment (n = 48) after being consulted on the risk and potential benefit of transvaginal cerclage. The primary outcome measures were gestational age at delivery and neonatal survival rate. RESULTS: Compared with the no cerclage group, the cerclage group exhibited a higher gestational age at delivery (32.1 ± 4.5 vs 28.3 ± 6.2 weeks, P < 0.001) and a higher neonatal survival rate (86.4% vs 47.9%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that in twin pregnancies with cervical dilatation or cervical length less than 10 mm, the cerclage group had significantly higher gestational age at delivery (31.3 ± 4.6 vs 23.4 ± 4.3 weeks, P < 0.001) and a higher neonatal survival rate (123 [85.4%] vs 4 [9.1%], P < 0.001) than the no cerclage group, but in twins when cervical length was 10-15 mm, the two measures were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Transvaginal cerclage may provide benefits for twins when cervical dilatation or cervical length is less than 10 mm, but its efficacy might not extend to twins when the cervical length is 10-15 mm. Further evidence is needed to confirm the efficacy of transvaginal cerclage for twin pregnancies with a short cervix.

Reproductive outcomes in couples with recurrent pregnancy loss after embryonic chromosomal microarray analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) has been widely applied to explore the genetic etiology in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). However, the reproductive prognosis in RPL couples with different types of chromosomally abnormal miscarriage remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproductive prognosis among RPL couples after genetic testing in products of conception (POCs) by CMA. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective study, 1101 RPL couples referred for genetic testing in POCs by CMA. A total of 830 couples who met the inclusion criteria were followed up for at least 24 months after the index miscarriage. The rates of live birth and adverse pregnancy events in subsequent pregnancy and cumulative pregnancies were examined. RESULTS: For couples with three or more miscarriage, compared with those with chromosomally normal miscarriage, a significantly higher subsequent live birth rate was found in couples with chromosomally abnormal miscarriage (66.9% vs 71.6%, P = .040). However, differences in cumulative live birth rate among couples with chromosomally abnormal miscarriage and normal miscarriage were nonsignificant (82.7% vs 80.2%, P = .131). Women with advanced maternal age showed a significant decrease in the live birth rate (P < 0.01) and an increase in the miscarriage rate (P < 0.01) than those aged < 35 years old, regardless of whether the miscarriage was chromosomally normal or abnormal. RPL couples with chromosomally normal miscarriage showed a significant decrease in live birth rates in subsequent pregnancy and cumulative pregnancies, when they had experienced a large number of previous miscarriages; however, no significant difference was observed in those with chromosomally abnormal miscarriage. CONCLUSION: For women with three or more previous miscarriages, RPL couples with chromosomally normal miscarriage manifested a poorer reproductive prognosis than those with chromosomally abnormal miscarriage in subsequent pregnancy, while the cumulative live birth rate was similar. Advanced maternal age was a predictor of adverse pregnancy events, regardless of embryonic chromosomal results. Furthermore, among RPL women with large numbers of previous miscarriages, the supportive care and counselling regarding individual risk is necessary for those with chromosomally normal miscarriage.

Perinatal outcomes in patients undergoing repeat cerclage: A retrospective case series study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the pregnancy outcomes of a case series of patients with probable cerclage failure who received repeat cerclage (RC) with potential indications. METHODS: We retrospectively collected a case series of 55 singleton pregnancies with RC from 2019 to 2022 in Shanghai, China. All included women provided written informed consent, and the study was approved by the ethics committees of the two hospitals. We compared pregnancy outcomes between pregnancies with RC for different indications. RESULTS: Among the case series, nine patients underwent RC for the indication of protruding membranes below the previous suture loop (group A), and the other 46 patients for painless cervix dilation (group B). Gestational age at delivery was shorter in group B than in group A (30.7 vs 37.6 weeks, P = 0.009). Rates of preterm birth <32 weeks (63.0% vs 22.2%, P = 0.033) and < 37 weeks (76.1% vs 33.3%, P = 0.002) were significantly higher in group B than in group A. Of the 46 patients who underwent RC for painless cervical dilation, 28 had cervical dilation of 1 to 2 cm (group C) and the other 18 had cervical dilation of 3 to 6 cm (group D). The gestational age at delivery was shorter in group D than in group C (27.4 vs 31.5 weeks, P = 0.037). However, rates of preterm birth <32 or <37 weeks were similar between the groups. CONCLUSION: RC may constitute a rescue strategy for patients with probable cerclage failure. Protrusion of membranes below the cerclage loop or cervical dilation <3 cm may be an indicator of better pregnancy outcome.

Residual risk of clinically significant copy number variations in fetuses with nasal bone absence or hypoplasia after excluding non-invasive prenatal screening-detectable findings.

BACKGROUND: It remains controversial whether prenatal screening or diagnostic testing should be offered to fetuses with nasal bone (NB) absence or hypoplasia, and there are no studies comparing the yield of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) to non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the residual risk of clinically significant copy number variations (CNVs) in fetuses with NB absence or hypoplasia after excluding theoretically NIPS-detectable abnormalities, and to assess their clinical outcomes. METHODS: This prospective study encompassed 400 fetuses with NB absence or hypoplasia undergoing CMA testing between 2015 and 2022. Clinically significant CMA findings were categorized into three subgroups, including three-NIPS-detectable (trisomies 21, 18 and 13), five-NIPS-detectable (trisomies 21, 18 and 13 and sex chromosome aneuploidies) and genome-wide NIPS-detectable (variants over 7 Mb). We calculated the theoretical residual risk and compared it with the results of a control cohort of low-risk pregnancies. We further evaluated their clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The overall diagnostic yield in our cohort was 7.8% (31/400). The detection rate of clinically significant CMA findings in fetuses with non-isolated NB absence or hypoplasia was significantly higher than that in fetuses with isolated NB absence or hypoplasia (20.0% vs. 6.6%, P =.005). The theoretical residual risks in all NIPS models were significantly higher when compared with the control cohort. The normal infant rate in fetuses with normal CMA results was 97.9% (323/330), and a significant higher incidence was observed in fetuses with isolated NB absence or hypoplasia compared with non-isolated NB absence or hypoplasia (98.4% vs. 91.7%, P =.028). CONCLUSIONS: The residual risk of clinically significant CNVs in fetuses with NB absence or hypoplasia following the exclusion of theoretically NIPS-detectable findings was higher than that in low-risk pregnancies. This risk should be considered in genetic counseling to make a more comprehensive and precise choice regarding prenatal genetic testing.

Factors affecting the early establishment of neonatal intestinal flora and its intervention measures.

In recent years, it has become evident that early-life intestinal flora plays a pivotal role in determining human health. Consequently, it is imperative to explore the establishment of neonatal intestinal flora and its influencing factors. Early neonatal intestinal flora is influenced by a multitude of factors, including maternal and infant-related factors, as well as external environment. This review summarizes the colonization mechanism of intestinal flora in the early life of newborns and discussed their influence on the establishment of neonatal intestinal flora, taking into account factors such as delivery mode, gestational age and feeding mode. Additionally, this review delves into the natural or artificial reconstruction of intestinal flora colonization defects in infants born via cesarean section and premature infants, with the goal of establishing a theoretical foundation for preventing and treating issues related to neonatal intestinal flora colonization and associated diseases.

Systematic analysis of copy number variants of uncertain significance partially overlapping with the haploinsufficient or triplosensitive genes in clinical testing.

Background: Copy number variants of uncertain significance (VUS) has brought much distress for patients and great counselling challenges for clinicians. Of these, a special type of VUS (HT-VUS), harbouring one or both breakpoints within the established haploinsufficient or triplosensitive genes, were considered to be more likely to cause clinical effects compared with other types of VUS.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the properties and clinical significance of those HT-VUS samples in clinical testing for chromosome microarray analysis (CMA).Results: A total of 7150 samples were selected for HT-VUS screening, and 75 (1.05%) subjects with 75 HT-VUS were found. The majority of these HT-VUS were heterozygous duplications and chromosome X had the most HT-VUS. The prevalence of HT-VUS was 0.90% (28/3116) for prenatal low-risk samples, 1.18% (26/2196) for prenatal high-risk samples, 1.37% (10/728) for postnatal samples and 0.99% (11/1110) for early pregnancy loss samples. However, the incidence of HT-VUS was not statistically different between different groups.Conclusions: HT-VUS (deletions or duplications) involving introns and HT-VUS (duplications) including terminal coding exons (either the first or last exons) might be clinically neutral. Our study will be helpful for both interpretation and genetic counselling in the future.

This study assessed the clinical impact and features of a special type of copy number variants of uncertain significance (HT-VUS) in samples from CMA retrospectively.Out of 7150 samples screened, 75 (1.05%) subjects had HT-VUS. Most HT-VUS were heterozygous duplications and chromosome X had the highest frequency of HT-VUS.HT-VUS (deletions or duplications) involving introns and HT-VUS (duplications) including terminal coding exons might be clinically neutral. This study would be helpful for future interpretation and genetic counselling.

11q13.3q13.4 deletion plus 9q21.13q21.33 duplication in an affected girl arising from a familial four-way balanced chromosomal translocation.

BACKGROUND: We describe a 13-year-old girl with a 11q13.3q13.4 deletion encompassing the SHANK2 gene and a 9q21.13q21.33 duplication. She presented with pre- and postnatal growth retardation, global developmental delay, severe language delay, cardiac abnormalities, and dysmorphisms. Her maternal family members all had histories of reproductive problems. METHODS: Maternal family members with histories of reproductive problems were studied using G-banded karyotyping and optical genome mapping (OGM). Long-range PCR (LR-PCR) and Sanger sequencing were used to confirm the precise break point sequences obtained by OGM. RESULTS: G-banded karyotyping characterized the cytogenetic results as 46,XX,der(9)?del(9)(q21q22)t(9;14)(q22;q24),der(11)ins(11;?9)(q13;?q21q22),der(14)t(9;14). Using OGM, we determined that asymptomatic female family members with reproductive problems were carriers of a four-way balanced chromosome translocation. Their karyotype results were further refined as 46,XX,der(9)del(9)(q21.13q21.33)t(9;14)(q21.33;q22.31),der(11)del(11)(q13.3q13.4)ins(11;9)(q13.3;q21.33q21.13),der(14)t(9:14)ins(14;11)(q23.1;q13.4q13.3). Thus, we confirmed that the affected girl inherited the maternally derived chromosome 11. Furthermore, using LR-PCR, we showed that three disease-related genes (TMC1, NTRK2, and KIAA0586) were disrupted by the breakpoints. CONCLUSIONS: Our case highlights the importance of timely parental origin testing for patients with rare copy number variations, as well as the accurate characterization of balanced chromosomal rearrangements in families with reproductive problems. In addition, our case demonstrates that OGM is a useful clinical application for analyzing complex structural variations within the human genome.

Optical genome mapping for detection of chromosomal aberrations in prenatal diagnosis.

INTRODUCTION: Chromosomal aberrations are the most important etiological factors for birth defects. Optical genome mapping is a novel cytogenetic tool for detecting a broad range of chromosomal aberrations in a single assay, but relevant clinical feasibility studies of optical genome mapping in prenatal diagnosis are limited. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively performed optical genome mapping analysis of amniotic fluid samples from 34 fetuses with various clinical indications and chromosomal aberrations detected through standard-of-care technologies, including karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and/or chromosomal microarray analysis. RESULTS: In total, we analyzed 46 chromosomal aberrations from 34 amniotic fluid samples, including 5 aneuploidies, 10 large copy number variations, 27 microdeletions/microduplications, 2 translocations, 1 isochromosome, and 1 region of homozygosity. Overall, 45 chromosomal aberrations could be confirmed by our customized analysis strategy. Optical genome mapping reached 97.8% concordant clinical diagnosis with standard-of-care methods for all chromosomal aberrations in a blinded fashion. Compared with the widely used chromosomal microarray analysis, optical genome mapping additionally determined the relative orientation and position of repetitive segments for seven cases with duplications or triplications. The additional information provided by optical genome mapping will be conducive to characterizing complex chromosomal rearrangements and allowing us to propose mechanisms to explain rearrangements and predict the genetic recurrence risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights that optical genome mapping can provide comprehensive and accurate information on chromosomal aberrations in a single test, suggesting that optical genome mapping has the potential to become a promising cytogenetic tool for prenatal diagnosis.

Reproductive outcomes in couples with sporadic miscarriage after embryonic chromosomal microarray analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) has been widely applied to genetic diagnosis in miscarriages in clinical practice. However, the prognostic value of CMA testing of products of conception (POCs) after the first clinical miscarriage remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive outcomes after embryonic genetic testing by CMA in SM couples. METHODS: In this retrospective study, a total of 1142 SM couples referred for embryonic genetic testing by CMA, and 1022 couples were successfully followed up after CMA. RESULTS: Among 1130 cases without significant maternal cell contamination, pathogenic chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 680 cases (60.2%). The subsequent live birth rate did not differ significantly between couples with chromosomally abnormal and normal miscarriage (88.6% vs. 91.1%, p = .240), as well as the cumulative live birth rate (94.5% vs. 96.7%, p = .131). Couples with partial aneuploid miscarriage had a higher likelihood of spontaneous abortion both in the subsequent pregnancy (19.0% vs. 6.5%, p = .037) and cumulative pregnancies (19.0% vs. 6.8%, p = .044) when compared with couples with chromosomally normal miscarriage. CONCLUSIONS: SM couples with chromosomally abnormal miscarriage manifested with a similar reproductive prognosis to couples with chromosomally normal miscarriage. Key messagesCMA testing of POCs could provide an accurate genetic diagnosis for couples with SM.The live birth rate of couples with partial aneuploid miscarriage was as high as couples with chromosomally normal miscarriage, despite a higher risk of adverse pregnancy event.Among couples with the most common single aneuploid miscarriage, the cumulative live birth rates of couples with trisomy 16, sex chromosomal abnormalities and trisomy 22 were 94.1%, 95.8% and 84.0%, respectively.

Whole genome sequencing vs chromosomal microarray analysis in prenatal diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Emerging studies suggest that whole genome sequencing provides additional diagnostic yield of genomic variants when compared with chromosomal microarray analysis in the etiologic diagnosis of infants and children with suspected genetic diseases. However, the application and evaluation of whole genome sequencing in prenatal diagnosis remain limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy, efficacy, and incremental yield of whole genome sequencing in comparison with chromosomal microarray analysis for routine prenatal diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective study, a total of 185 unselected singleton fetuses with ultrasound-detected structural anomalies were enrolled. In parallel, each sample was subjected to whole genome sequencing and chromosomal microarray analysis. Aneuploidies and copy number variations were detected and analyzed in a blinded fashion. Single nucleotide variations and insertions and deletions were confirmed by Sanger sequencing, and trinucleotide repeats expansion variants were verified using polymerase chain reaction plus fragment-length analysis. RESULTS: Overall, genetic diagnoses using whole genome sequencing were obtained for 28 (15.1%) cases. Whole genome sequencing not only detected all these aneuploidies and copy number variations in the 20 (10.8%) diagnosed cases identified by chromosomal microarray analysis, but also detected 1 case with an exonic deletion of COL4A2 and 7 (3.8%) cases with single nucleotide variations or insertions and deletions. In addition, 3 incidental findings were detected including an expansion of the trinucleotide repeat in ATXN3, a splice-sites variant in ATRX, and an ANXA11 missense mutation in a case of trisomy 21. CONCLUSION: Compared with chromosomal microarray analysis, whole genome sequencing increased the additional detection rate by 5.9% (11/185). Using whole genome sequencing, we detected not only aneuploidies and copy number variations, but also single nucleotide variations and insertions and deletions, trinucleotide repeat expansions, and exonic copy number variations with high accuracy in an acceptable turnaround time (3-4 weeks). Our results suggest that whole genome sequencing has the potential to be a new promising prenatal diagnostic test for fetal structural anomalies.

Effects of prenatal exposure to THC on hippocampal neural development in offspring.

Cannabis use is a worldwide issue with the development of legalization. Prenatal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of cannabis, is related to affect fetal nervous system development. In our present study, we administered THC to pregnant mice from gestational day 5.5-12.5. Differences in neuronal cell composition and organization between the two groups were found by staining sections of the offspring hippocampus at PND21. In addition, RNA-seq of hippocampal tissue also suggested differences in gene expression due to THC treatment, especially significant enrichment to neurogenesis and neural differentiation. Subsequently, the effect of THC treatment on the proliferation and differentiation capacity of neural stem cells (NSCs) was confirmed. Based on the RNA-seq results, we selected the differentially expressed transcription factor MEF2C for validation. The effect of THC treatment on NSCs differentiation was found to be regulated by knocking down the expression of MEF2C in NSCs. Considering that THC is an agonist of cannabinoid receptor (CB1R), the differentiation outcome of NSC after THC treatment was significantly rescued, by pretreating with the CB1R inhibitor Rimonabant. Notably, pretreatment with Rimonabant restored the expression of MEF2C. Taken together, the present results suggested that THC regulated the MEF2C pathway through CB1R and had an impact on hippocampal neurodevelopment.