Heterogeneous phenotypes, genotypes, treatment and prevention of 1 003 patients with methylmalonic acidemia in the mainland of China / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#To analyz the current situation of the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of methylmalonic acidemia, the phenotypes, biochemical features and genotypes of the patients in the mainland of China, were investigated.@*Methods@#Tottally 1 003 patients of methylmalonic acidemia from 26 provinces and municipalities of the mainland of China were enrolled. The clinical data, biochemical features and gene mutations were studied. Blood aminoacids and acylcarnitines, urine organic acids, and plasma total homocysteine were determined for the biochemical diagnosis. Gene analyses were performed for the genetic study of 661 patients. The patients were treated with individual intervention and long-term follow up. Prenatal diagnoses were carried out for 165 fetuses of the families.@*Results@#Among 1 003 patients (580 boys and 423 girls), 296 cases (29.5%) had isolated methylmalonic acidemia; 707 cases (70.5%) had combined homocysteinemia; 59 patients (5.9%) were detected by newborn screening; 944 patients (94.1%) had the onset at the ages from several minutes after birth to 25 years and diagnosed at 3 days to 25 years of age. The main clinical presentations were psychomotor retardation and metabolic crisis. Multi-organ damage, including hematological abnormalities, pulmonary hypertension, kidney damage, were found. MMACHC, MUT, MMAA, MMAB, HCFC1, SUCLG1, SUCLA2 mutations were found in 631 patients (96.6%) out of 661 patients who accepted gene analysis. MMACHC mutations were detected in 460 patients (94.7%) out of 486 cases of methylmalonic acidemia combined with homocysteinemia. MUT mutations were found in 158 (90.3%) out of 169 cases of isolated methylmalonic acidemia. The development of 59 patients detected by newborn screening were normal; 918 cases (97.2%) were diagnosed after onset accepted the treatment. Forty-five of them completely recovered with normal development. Twenty-six patients (2.7%) died; 873 (92.5%) patients had mild to severe psychomotor retardation. Methylmalonic acidemia were found in 35 out of 165 fetuses by metabolites assay of amniotic fluid and amniocytes gene analysis.@*Conclusion@#Combined methylmalonic acidemia and homocysteinemia is the common type of methylmalonic acidemia in the mainland of China. CblC defect due to MMACHC mutations is the most common type of methylmalonic acidemia combined with homocysteinemia. MUT gene mutations are frequent in the patients with isolated methylmalonic acidemia. Newborn screening is key for the early diagnosis and the better outcome. Combined diagnosis of biochemical assays and gene analysis are reliable for the prenatal diagnosis of methylmalonic acidemia.

Three siblings with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 7 and 2 novel mutations in their MFSD8 gene / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN are a group of severe lysosomal storage diseases.The patients present with clinically and genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders.This study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and the gene mutations of a rare Chinese family with 3 siblings affected by CLN7.Methods The proband,a 5-year-old girl,visited us because of intermittently seizures and mental retardation for 2 years and a half in December,2015.Clinical investigation,brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),biochemical and the gene analysis were performed for the etiological study.Results The proband had seizures at the age of 2 and a half years,with the progressive motor deterioration,speech disturbance,mental regression and vision loss.Her brain MRI showed diffusive cerebral atrophy.The blood aminoacids,acylcarnitine and urine organic acid profiles were normal.Lysosomal palmitoyl protein thioesterase and tripeptidyl peptidase activities of peripheral leukocytes were normal.A compound heterozygous mutation of c.1351-1G ＞ A and c.300T ＞ G was detected on her MFSD8 gene,supporting the diagnosis of CLN7.Both of the 2 mutations were novel.Each of her parents carried one of the mutations.Two brothers of the proband had similar clinical process.Her elder brother died at the age of 7 due to severe encephalopathy of unknown etiology.The younger brother showed dyskinesia from the age of 2 years and seizures from the age of 4 years.A compound heterozygous mutation on MFSD8 gene,c.1351-1G ＞ A and c.300T ＞ G,was found from the younger brother,as same as the proband.Conclusions CLN7 is a rare disorder of CLN.In this study,the diagnosis of the 3 siblings with similar clinical process were much delayed.Gene analysis was key for the diagnosis.Two novel mutations were found on MFSD8 of the family.There is still no effective treatment for neurol ceroid lipofuscinosis.The prognosis is poor.Based on the mutation diagnosis,prenatal diagnosis for the next sibling is possible to the prevention of the disease.

Clinical and genetic study on 5 children with dopa-responsive dystonia due to tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics,gene mutations,diagnosis and treatment of chil-dren with dopa-responsive dystonia due to tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)deficiency.Methods Five patients(3 boys and 2 girls)with dopa-responsive dystonia due to TH deficiency were diagnosed and followed up from January 2002 to October 2017.The clinical manifestations,laboratory findings,treatment and TH gene mutations associated with TH defi-ciency were analyzed.Results Five patients came from different families.They had the onset at the age of 8 months to 20 months with dystonia,paroxysmal muscular hypertonia and normal intelligence or mild mental retardation.All of them had been misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy.Two cases with floppy limbs presented with fatigue and tremor.One case with floppy limbs presented with seizures. Complex heterozygous mutations were found in TH gene of all patients,which helped to confirm the diagnosis.Eight mutations were identified in TH gene.Six of them were reported.Two novel muta-tions,c.1077C>A(p.C359X)and c.1228C>T(p.R410C)were detected.After the treatment by levodopa[2.2-5.4 mg/(kg·d)],significant improvement was observed.Three patients recovered their intellectual and motor activi-ties.Two patients were dramatically improved but with slightly uncoordinated movements.Conclusion The patients of dopa-responsive dystonia due to TH deficiency usually have the onset around one year of age with almost normal inte-lligence,motor retardation and dystonia.The patients are likely misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy.The treatment with levo-dopa can dramatically improve the symptoms.The etiological diagnosis is very important.

A patient with intractable epilepsy due to ring chromosome 20 syndrome and prenatal diagnosis for his sibling / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical features,karyotype,and the prenatal diagnosis for his sibling of a Chinese patient with rare ring chromosome 20 syndrome induced intractable epilepsy.Methods The clinical data of the patient diagnosed in Peking University People's Hospital were collected.The clinical manifestations,chromosome karyotype were summarized.Results The proband,a boy,started to show intermittent tonic seizures or atypical absence seizures and psychomotor retardation from the age of 11 months.Several anti-epilepsy drugs and globulin had been tried without effect.Common karyotype analysis and epilepsy-related genes analysis revealed no abnormality.However,abnormal karyotype 46,XY,r(20)(p13q13.3) in his peripheral blood lymphocytes was found by high resolution chromosome karyotype analysis with 550 G-banding,and the diagnosis of ring chromosome 20 syndrome,type Ⅱ was confirmed.The mother of the patient underwent amniocentesis at the midterm of the second pregnancy.The cultured amniocytes karyotypes were normal.The second child(a boy) of the family was 1 year old without epilepsy and the psychomotor development was normal.Conclusions Ring chromosome 20 syndrome is a rare human chromosome abnormality.The syndrome is associated with epileptic seizures,behavior disorders and mental retardation.Since karyotype testing is not a routine investigation for the patient with epilepsy,the diagnosis of ring chromosome 20 syndrome is usually delayed or misdiagnosed.The karyotype analysis should be considered for the etiological study of the patients with intractable epilepsy with unknown origin.

Clinical diagnosis and treatment of three cases with hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia-homocitrullinuria syndrome / 中华儿科杂志

Objective@#To study the clinical characteristics, methods of diagnosis and treatment of hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemia- homocitrullinuria (HHH) syndrome.@*Method@#From July 2011 to August 2016, 3 Chinese patients with HHH syndrome were enrolled in this study. The clinical course, biochemical features, brain MRI findings, and gene mutations were analyzed.@*Result@#The three patients′ age at onset of symptoms was 3 months to 7 years, and the age of diagonosis was 3 years and 10 months to 9 years and 10 months. All of them presented with intolerance to protein-rich foods from the infant period, development retardation and abnormal posture. Case 1 and 2 had moderate mental retardation. Serum ammonia 25-276 μmol/L (reference range<60 μmol/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 20-139 IU/L (reference range 9-50 IU/L), ornithine 29.12-99.44 μmol/L(reference range 15-100 μmol/L), urinary orotic acid 1.49-29.75 mmol/mol Cr (reference range 0-7 mmol/mol Cr), uracil 6.09-103.97 mmol/mol Cr (reference range 0-1.5 mmol/mol Cr). The cranial MRI revealed lesions in the basal ganglia, abnormal white matter signal, progressive demyelination and cerebral atrophy. On their SLC25A15 gene, a novel homozygous missense mutation c. 416A>G (p.E139G) was identified in case 1, a known pathogenic homozygous nonsense mutation c. 535C>T was found in case 2 and 3. Liver transplantation had been performed when case 1 was 6 years old. Significant improvements were observed in dietary habit, mental and motor functions, and biochemical parameters. After the dietary intervention with the supplements of arginine, L-carnitine, case 2 was improved, spastic paraplegia of case 3 had no mitigation. Liver transplant was recommended.@*Conclusion@#HHH syndrome has an aversion to protein-rich food, and the patients have recurrent vomiting and progressive neurological dysfunction. Clinical diagnosis of HHH syndrome is difficult and patients may present with incomplete biochemical phenotype. The genetic analysis is key for the diagnosis. Depending on their condition, individuals with HHH syndrome can be treated with a low-protein diet, drugs and liver transplantation.

The clinical and genetic findings of childhood cystinuria / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the clinical features and genetic etiology of children with cystinuria with onset of kidney stone. Methods The clinical data of 3 children with cystinuria with onset of kidney stone and the gene analysis results of SLC3A1 and SLC7A9 by PCR sequencing were retrospectively analyzed.Results Three male children were from three unrelated families, kidney stone were presented in 2 cases at 1 year old and 1 case at 14 years old. The blood amino acid spectrum was normal in all 3 cases, while the free carnitine were decreased. The urinary amino acid spectrum indicated that cystine, ornithine, arginine,and threonine increased.Gene analysis confirmed that 1 case had homozygous mutations of SLC7A9 gene c.325G>A, and his parents were carriers of c.325G>A heterozygous mutation;other 2 cases had heterozygous mutations of SLC3A1 gene, c.1365delG and c.1113C>A heterozygous mutation in one case, and c.1897_1898insTA and c.1093C>T heterozygous mutation in one case, and their parents were heterozygous mutation carriers. After treatment with potassium citrate and L-carnitine, the conditions were improved in all cases. Conclusions Inherited metabolic disease should be considered for children with kidney stone. Urine amino acid analysis and gene detection are important methods for the diagnosis of cystinuria.

Methylmalonic aciduria combined with congenital adrenal hyperplasia:a case report / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the diagnosis and treatment of a rare case of methylmalonic aciduria combined with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Methods The clinical and laboratory data of the first case of methylmalonyl CoA mutase deifcient methylmalonic aciduria combined with 21-hydroxylase deifciency in China were analyzed. Results The male patient with age of onset at 3 months presented with feeding dififculty, diarrhea, metabolic acidosis, and psychomotor retardation after polio vaccination or high protein diet. At one year and 8 months of age, methylmalonic aciduria was diagnosed, and the patient was clinically improved after treatment. At 5 years of age, precocious puberty was noticed, and virilizing form of 21-Hydroxylase deifciency was diagnosed. Genetic testing conifrmed 2 known mutations in MUT gene (c.866G?>?C, c.2179C?>?T) and 2 known mutations in CYP21A2 gene (c.188A?>?T, c.518T?>?A). Conclusions The clinical manifestations of inherited metabolic disorders and endocrine diseases are complex and it is rare that multiple disorders occurred simultaneously in one patient. This male patient has two rare diseases, methylmalonic aciduria and 21-hydroxylase deifciency.

A pedigree of a rare Cb1X type X-linked methylmalonic acidemia due to transcriptional co-regulator HCFC1 ;mutation / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the clinical and genetic features in the pedigree of Cb1X type X-linked methylmalonic aciduria. Methods Clinical data of one child with X-linked methylmalonic aciduria diagnosed by blood and urine analysis were analyzed retrospectively. Targeted next-generation sequencing has been performed to detect the mutation of methylmalonic aciduria-related genes. Results The boy started presenting with seizures and severe mental retardation at 2 months of age. At 5 months of age, he had the manifestations of seizures, severe mental retardation, increased methylmalonic acid in urinary, increased propionylcarnitine in blood and increased plasma homocysteine, and met the requirements for the diagnosis of methylmalonic aciduria complicated with hyperhomocysteinemia. No mutation was detected in his MMA-related autosomal genes. However, a hemizygote mutation c.344C?>?T (p.Ala115Val) was identiifed in exon 3 of HCFC1 in X chromosome, which conifrmed the CblX type methylmalonic aciduria. His parents were healthy. His elder brother also manifested severe psychomotor retardation with intractable epilepsy, and died at 6 months of age with unknown cause. His mother carried the same mutation and had slightly elevated urine methylmalonic acid and plasma total homocysteine. His father did not carry the mutation. Conclusion A pedigree of a rare Cb1X type X-linked methylmalonic acidemia is ifrstly diagnosed in China by the new generation sequencing technology.

CTNS gene mutation leads to cysteine nephropathy combined with corneal crystal in young child / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the diagnosis of cystinosis.Methods The clinical and biochemical information, and gene detection results in a child with cystinosis was retrospective analyzed.Results Four-year-old female presented with photophobia and corneal crystal was found by ophthalmic examination at 2 years old, bilateral kidney stone was found, accompanied by development delay and rickets at 3 years old. Gas chromatography analysis in urine showed that a variety of amino acids were increased, and urine sugar and urinary micro-protein were also increased, which were in accordance with fanconi syndrome. The blood free carnitine was decreased, ester acyl carnitine spectrum was normal, and multi-amino acids such as lysine, valine and arginine were decreased. Gene analysis showed a homozygous mutation of c.696C>G (p.323 N>K) inCTNS gene, which was a known mutation. Both her parents were carrier of heterozygous mutation of c.696C>G inCTNS gene.Conclusion Child with kidney stone, renal damage, combined by multi-system damage such as eyes, bone, and thyroid should be paid attention to identify the cystinosis.

Phenotypes and genotypes of 126 patients with isolated methylmalonic aciduria / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical,biochemical and genetic findings in patients with isolated methylmalonic aciduria. Methods From January 2001 to December 2014,a total of 126 patients with isolated methyl-malonic aciduria from Peking University First Hospital were enrolled in this study. In 60 patients,gene analysis was per-formed. The clinical characteristics,laboratory findings,treatment and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among the 126 patients,only 3 cases(2. 4% )were detected through newborn screening and treated with dietary in-tervention,cobalamin and L - camitine. The age at onset of 123 cases(97. 6% )varied from a few hours after birth to 7 years and 11 months old. The common presentations were recurrent vomiting,mental retardation,poor feeding,lethargy, respiratory distress,coma,seizures,cutaneous lesion and jaundice with 11 patients(8. 73% )dead. Abnormal family his-tory was found in 27(21. 4% )patients. Metabolic acidosis and anemia were frequent laboratory findings. Basal ganglia damage and white matter changes were observed in most patients. Sixty patients got genetic analysis,and 58 cases of them had MUT gene mutations. One case had MMAA defect. One case had MMAB defect. In MUT gene,12 novel muta-tions were identified. After treatment,mild to severe psychomotor retardation was observed in 112 patients with isolated methylmalonic aciduria. Conclusions The clinical manifestation of patients with isolated methylmalonic aciduria is complex,and prone to appear metabolic crisis. MUT defect is the main cause. Early metabolic investigation is very im-portant to reach diagnosis. Newborn screening,early diagnosis and adequate therapy are key points to reduce the morta-lity and handicap.

Acute encephalopathy induced by vaccination in an infant with methylmalonic aciduria cblA / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>We report the first case of acute encephalopathy induced by vaccination in an infant with methylmalonic aciduria cblA in China.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The clinical presentation, blood acylcarnitines analysis, urine organic acids analysis and gene studies of the patient were summarized.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The proband, a boy, was admitted at the age of 15 months because of recurrent vomiting, acidosis and development delay for 8 months. The previously healthy boy presented vomiting and coma just one hour after hepatitis B vaccination at the age of seven months. Moderate dehydration, electrolyte disturbance and metabolic acidosis had been found. Although his acute metabolic crisis had been corrected soon after intravenous transfusion, psychomotor retardation and recurrent vomiting had been observed. When he was 15 months old, vomiting and lethargy occurred again 3 hours after DTaP vaccination. He was weakened as the illness became worse and got coma with dyspnea 7 days later. He was hospitalized with the suspected diagnosis of viral encephalitis. Blood acylcarnitines analysis, urine organic acids analysis and gene study had been performed for the etiologic investigation.His blood propionylcarnitine (16.3 µmol/L vs. normal range 1.0-5.0 µmol/L) and propionylcarnitine/free carnitine ratio (0.27 vs. normal range 0.03 to 0.25) increased. Markedly elevated urinary methylmalonic acid (388.21 mmol/mol creatinine vs. normal range 0.2 to 3.6 mmol/mol creatinine) and normal plasma total homocysteine supported the diagnosis of isolated methylmalonic aciduria. Two mutations, c.650 T>A (p.L217X) and c.742 C>T (p.Q248X), were identified in his MMAA gene, confirmed the diagnosis of cblA. Each parent carried one of the two mutations. Progressive clinical and biochemical improvement has been observed after hydroxylcobalamin injection, protein-restricted diet with the supplements of special formula and L-carnitine. He is currently 2 years and 7 months old with normal development and general condition.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A boy with cblA was firstly detected after the acute encephalopathy induced by vaccination in China. It is important to pay more attention to the patients with metabolic crisis or organ damage after vaccination. Metabolic studies are keys to the diagnosis of potential diseases and improve the outcome.</p>

Seven patients of argininemia with spastic tetraplegia as the first and major symptom and prenatal diagnosis of two fetuses with high risk / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Argininemia is a rare disorder of urea cycle defect. The clinical manifestations of this disorder are similar to those of cerebral palsy so that the diagnosis is usually much delayed. This study aimed to investigate the phenotypes and genotypes of seven Chinese patients suffering from argininemia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Three boys and four girls with spastic tetraplegia were diagnosed as argininemia by blood aminoacids analysis and ARG1 gene study. Patients were given a protein-restricted diet, citrulline, sodium benzoate, and other treatment intervention. The mother of Patient 5 and 6 accepted genetic counseling and underwent prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Seven patients presented with progressive spastic tetraplegia and poor physical growth from the age of 1 month to 4 years. Argininemia was found at the age of 1 year and 10 months to 12 years. Five patients had mental retardations. Three had seizures. Their blood arginine elevated (86.66 to 349.83 µmol/L, normal controls 5 to 25 µmol/L). Liver dysfunction was found in six patients. Five patients had elevated blood ammonia levels. In four patients, cerebral atrophy was observed by cranial magnetic resonance imaging. Nine mutations in the ARG1 gene were identified from 7 patients. Only two mutations, c.703G > A in exon 7 and c.32T > C in exon 1 had been reported. c.34G > T, c.53G > A, c.67delG, c.232dupG, c.374C > T, c.539G > C and c.646-649delCTCA, were novel mutations of ARG1. A homozygous mutation c.703G > A was found in the amniocytes of Patient 5's mother, indicating that the fetus was affected by argininemia. Induced abortion was performed. c.53G > A from Patient 6 was not found in the amniocytes of her mother, indicating that the fetus was not affected by hepatocyte arginase deficiency. The result was confirmed by postnatal mutation analysis of cord blood and the normal blood arginine of the newborn.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Argininemia is one of the few treatable causes of pediatric spastic paralysis. In this study, seven Chinese patients with spastic tetraplegia were detected by blood aminoacids analysis and confirmed by molecular analysis. Seven novel mutations on ARG1 gene were identified. Prenatal diagnosis of the fetus of a family was performed by amniocytes ARG1 gene analysis.</p>

Clinical and laboratory studies on 28 patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical, biochemical and genetic profiles of 28 Chinese patients with glutaric aciduria type 1.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Twenty-eight patients with glutaric aciduria type 1 seen in the Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital from July 2003 to October 2013 were studied. The data of clinical course, laboratory examinations, cranial MRI and GCDH gene mutations of the patients were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) Three cases were detected by newborn screening, and the other patients were diagnosed at the age of 2 months to 17 years. (2) 22 patients (79%) were infant onset cases with psychomotor retardation, dystonia, seizures, athetosis, recurrent vomiting, drowsiness or feeding difficulty. Only two of the 22 patients with infant onset got normal intelligence and movement after treatment. Twenty of them were improved slowly with delayed development, dystonia and other neurological problems. Three patients (11%) had late onset. They had motor regression, headache and seizure at the age of 8, 9 and 17 years, respectively. Rapid improvement was observed after treatment. (3) Cranial MRI has been checked in 23 patients; 22 of them showed characteristic widening of the Sylvian fissure, abnormalities of the basal ganglia, leukoencephalopathy and brain atrophy. Thirty-five mutations in GCDH gene of the patients were identified; c.148T>C (p.W50R) was the most common mutation with the frequency of 7.7%; 6 mutations (c.628A>G, c.700C>T, c.731G>T, c.963G>C, c.1031C>T and c.1109T>C) were novel.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Glutaric aciduria type 1 usually induced neurological deterioration resulting in severe psychomotor retardation and dystonia. Most of our patients were clinically diagnosed. Patients with early onset usually remained having neurological damage. Phenotype and genotype correlation has not been found in the patients. Neonatal screening for organic acidurias should be expanded in China.</p>

The clinical and genetic features of early-onset globoid cell leukodystrophy in one boy / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical, biochemical and genetic features of a Chinese boy with early-onset glo-boid cell leukodystrophy (GLD). Methods The clinical and genetic data of a rare case of early-onset GLD were retrospectively analysed. Results At 2 months after birth, the boy showed progressive psychomotor regression. At 4 months of age when the boy was taken to a doctor, the pyramidal sign was positive. The cranial MRI showed that the body of the lateral cerebral ventri-cles was slightly enlarged and the brain ditch crack of frontal-temporal-parietal lobe was widened and deepened. On his brain CT scan, high signals in bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, cerebellar hemisphere were observed.β-galactosylceramidase (GALC) ac-tivity in the peripheral leucocytes was signiifcantly decreased (3.9 nmol/g protein.h). On his GALC gene, one homozygous novel mutation c.868C>T on exon 8 was found, which resulted in the amino acid change on p.R290C proteins. Conclutions Early-on-set GLD is a rare autosomal-recessive hereditary lysosomal storage disease with a terrible prognosis, in which beta-galactose glu-coside enzyme deifciency is induced by GALC gene mutation. The diagnosis of early-onset GLD is dififcult and should depend on enzyme assay and gene testing.

A Chinese girl with ethylmalonic encephalopathy and a novel mutation on ETHE1 gene / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To introduce a case of ethylmalonic encephalopathy which is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder caused by mutations in the ETHE1 gene. Methods The clinical course and gene mutation in a case of ethylmalonic encephalopathy was retrospectively analysed. Results A previously healthy girl presented with intractable diarrhea from the age of 7 months. Since then, progressive psychomotor regression has been observed. When she was 23 months, her blood butyr-ylcarnitine was signiifcantly increased (4.48μmol/L vs. normal range 0.0~1.0μmol/L), and isovalerylcarnitine (0.70μmol/L vs. normal range 0.0~0.65μmol/L) was also elevated. Her urine levels of ethylmalonic acid and methylsuccinate acid were markedly increased. Cranial MRI revealed bilateral basal ganglia lesions supporting the diagnosis of ethylmalonic encephalopathy. On her ETHE1 gene, a reported mutation (c.488G>A, p.R163Q) and a novel mutation (c.203T>C, p.L68P) were identiifed. After lactose-free dietary treatment and the supplements of L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10, vitamins B1, B2 and C, gradual improvement in general condition, intelligence and motor development has been observed. Conclusions Ethylmalonic aciduria is common in the patients with inborn errors of mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation. In ethylmalonic encephalopathy, elevated blood levels of butyrylcarnitine and isovalerylcarnitine are common and ETHE1 sequencing is helpful in its diagnosis.

Clinical and genetic features of three patients with non-classical isovaleric aciduria / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the clinical, therapeutic and genetic features of IVD gene in late-onset non-classical isovaleric aciduria. Methods One boy and two girls presented with intractable vomiting were admitted. Urine organic acids and blood acylcarnitines proifles were analyzed. Isovaleric aciduria was diagnosed and conifrmed by IVD gene analysis. The patients were treated with leucine-restricted diet and the supplements of L-carnitine and glycine. Results Three patients had recurrent vomiting, drowsiness, odor of sweaty feet and metabolic acidosis from the age of 1 to 2 years. All of them had normal intelligence and leukopenia. One had oligocythemia. The blood isovalerylcarnitines (4.6 to 8.2μmol/L) and urine isovalerylglycines (36.1 to 1783.56 mmol/mmol creatinine) were elevated. Six mutations were found in their IVD gene. Four mutations (c.157C>T, c.214G>A, c.1183C>G and c.1208A>G) were reported. Two (c.1039G>A and c.1076A>G) were novel. The patients completely recovered after treatment with protein-restricted diet and the supplements of L-carnitine and glycine. Currently, they were aged 19 months to 14 years with normal physical and psychomotor development. Conclusions The clinical features of late-onset non-classical isovaleric aciduria are complex. It is onset in infants and young children and characteristic of recurrent vomiting and metabolic acidosis, which can be diagnosed by the blood acylcarnitine spectrum, urine organic acid analysis, and conifrmed by genetic analysis. L-carnitine supplement and diet intervention has signiifcant effects.

Analysis on syphilis antibody detection results of high-risk population in Yangdu district of Yancheng city / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To understand the syphilis infection status of high-risk population in Yangdu district of Yancheng city so as to provide a scientific basis for preventive and intervention measures.Methods Serum anti-TP antibody was detected by the en-zyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA).Treponema pallidum particle agglutination(TPPA)assay was carried out on the posi-tive samples of anti-TP antibody,then rapid plasma regain(RPR)was conducted on the positive ones.Results The syphilis antibody positive rate of high-risk population was 14.30%,among them the positive rate of RPR in the syphilis infected persons was 58.18%;the positive rate of syphilis had statistically significant difference between genders in different crowds and different age groups(P <0.05).Conclusion The syphilis infection rate of high-risk population in Yandu district is high.The infection rates of STD clinic clients and the people subjected to reeducation were higher than those of the person accepting voluntary counseling and testing(VCT);the infection rate of 21-40 years old females is significantly higher than that of males.The high-risk population mo-nitoring should be strengthened and the publicity and education and behavior intervention should be carried out to effectively re-strain the spread of syphilis in crowds.

HEXB gene study and prenatal diagnosis for a family affected by infantile Sandhoff disease / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the phenotype and genotype of a Chinese boy and his family affected by infantile Sandhoff disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The proband, a boy, was the first child born to a non-consanguineous couple. He showed startle reaction after birth and progressive psychomotor regression from the age of 8 months. From the age of 16 months, he presented seizures. When he was admitted at 17 months old, severe mental retardation and weakness were observed. Fundus examination revealed bilateral cherry-red spots in the macula and optic atrophy. Cranial MRI revealed abnormal signals in the thalamus, basal ganglia and white matter. Enzymatic assay and genetic testing were performed for the diagnosis. His mother visited us at 18 weeks of pregnancy seeking for prenatal diagnosis. HEXB gene diagnosis to the fetus was performed by direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant deficient total β-hexosaminidase (A and B) activity in peripheral leucocytes of the patient (0.0 nmol/h/mg compared with normal control, 41.9 to 135.1 nmol/h/mg) supported the diagnosis of Sandhoff disease. On his HEXB gene, two mutations were found. c.1645G-A (p.G549R) was novel. c.IVS7-48T was a reported mutation. Now, the patient was 2 years and 3 months old, with progressive general failure, severe epilepsy, blindness and hypermyotonia. Subsequently, the mother visited us at 18 weeks of pregnancy seeking for prenatal diagnosis. HEXB gene analysis of the amniocytes was performed by direct sequencing. Both of the two mutations were not detected from cultured amniocytes. The result revealed that the fetus was not affected by Sandhoff disease. A healthy girl, the sibling of the proband, was born in term. Postnatal enzyme analysis and genetic analysis of the cord blood cells confirmed the prenatal diagnosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>One novel mutation on HEXB gene was identified. Prenatal diagnosis to the fetus of this family was performed by amniocytes gene analysis.</p>

Outcome of organic acidurias in China

From June 1998 to May 2007, 9566 urine samples were collected from patients with psychomotor deficits, seizures, vomiting and unconsciousness in Peking University First Hospital. Their urine organic acids profiles were analysed using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GCMS), GCMS solution and Inborn Errors of Metabolism Screening System software. In all patients, blood acylcarnitines were analysed using tandem mass spectrometry. One hundred and sixty-eight patients (1.76%) with organic acidurias were detected. Among them, 116 (116/ 168, 69.0%) had methylmalonic aciduria, 63 (54.3%) of these 116 patients had methylmalonic aciduria combined with homocysteinemia. Sixteen (9.5%) of those patients detected with organic acidurias had propionic aciduria, and 15 (8.9%) had multiple carboxylase deficiency. Seven (4.2%) had glutaric aciduria type 1. After dietary treatment, medicine and rehabilitation, clinical improvements were observed in more than half of the patients. Twenty-eight of the 168 patients (16.7%) recovered and led a normal life. The method of urine organic acid analysis by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry and blood acylcarnitines analysis by tandem mass spectrometry have been established and applied successfully in China, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou. The prognoses of Chinese patients with organic acidurias have also improved significantly.