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Objective:To assess the ultrasonographic features and potential diseases of fetal abnormal sylvian fissure(SF), and to explore the value of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in prenatal detection.Methods:A total of 28 fetuses with a sonographic diagnosis of abnormal SF in Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University between October 2018 and October 2020 were prospectively included. The fetal brain was evaluated by neuroultrasound and intrauterine MRI in detail. Amniotic fluid/cord blood obtained by amniocentesis or tissue samples from umbilical cord after birth were collected for WGS. Pregnancy outcomes and postnatal MRI were recorded, and neurodevelopment of live-born infants was followed up for more than 24 months after delivery.Results:During the study period, 28 fetuses with abnormal SF were identified, with a gestational age of 21.3-30.0 (24.8±2.0) weeks. Abnormal SF presented in MCD ( n=15, 53.6%), chromosomal anomalies ( n=3, 10.7%) or single-gene genetic syndromes ( n=3, 10.7%) with the affected fetuses showing developmental delay, hydrocephalus or leukomalacia ( n=4, 14.2%), corpus callosal agenesis with large interhemispheric cysts ( n=1, 3.6%), benign subarachnoid space enlargement with arachnoid cysts ( n=1, 3.6%), and multiple malformations ( n=1, 3.6%). Among the 15 cases with MCD, the most common pathology was lissencephaly/pachygyria, followed by schizencephaly, severe microcephaly, hemimegalencephaly with paraventricular heterotopia, and polymicrogyria. Abnormal SF presented bilaterally in 23 fetuses and unilaterally in 5. All cases were categorized into six types depending on SF morphology in the transthalamic section: no plateau-like or a small insula, linear type, irregular corrugated SF, Z-shaped, and cyst occupying type. In addition to abnormal SF, associated anomalies or mild variations were identified in all fetuses. There were 17 cases underwent intrauterine MRI, and 13 cases underwent postnatal MRI examination.And 25 pregnancies were terminated; 3 were born alive, and 2 had typical syndromic changes with poor neurodevelopmental prognosis. A related pathogenic genetic variant was detected in 57.1% (16/28) fetus, and the incidence of single nucleotide variants(SNVs) was 42.9% (12/28), among which de novo SNVs accounted for 91.7% (11/12). Conclusions:Fetal abnormal SF could be classified based on the ultrasonographic features of transthalamic section. Fetal abnormal SF may indicate MCD, some chromosomal abnormalities or single-gene genetic syndromes that may lead to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes, and may be affected by extra-cortical factors. It is suggested to carry out targeted prenatal genetic diagnosis for fetuses with abnormal SF.
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Objective:To assess the significance of counting the number of caudal vertebral ossification centers (OCN) below fetal terminal conus medullaris in the screening for closed spina bifida and tethered cord syndrome (TCS).Methods:The OCN was counted in 961 normal fetuses(normal group) between 17 and 41 gestational weeks and in 140 fetuses with closed spina bifida or tethered cord syndrome(abnormal group) from Jan.2013 to Dec.2020 in Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Women and Children′s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University and Maternity and Child Health Care of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The OCN was counted in the dorsal mid-sagittal section of fetal caudal spine.The reliability and agreement test were evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients in another 50 normal fetuses. The OCN was compared between two groups. ROC curve and the cut-off value were constructed and calculated.Results:In normal group, the N increased with the growing of gestational age.In the subgroup of 17-20 weeks, the OCN ranged from 5 to 7 in most fetuses. In the others subgroups, the OCN was equal to or greater than 6 in 99.9% cases and more than 6 in 97.1% cases. In abnormal group, OCN was less than 7 in 93.0% fetuses and less than 6 in 82.8% cases. There were statistical differences between the two groups except for the subgroup of 17-20 gestational weeks( P<0.05). With the cut-off value of 6.5, the specificity and sensitivity were 93.0% and 94.3% respectively for predicting the presence of closed spinal dysraphism or TCS. Conclusions:OCN is a simple way to evaluate the position of conus medullaris and to screen for the skin-covered spine dysraphism or TSC. OCN is more than 6 in most normal fetuses. Further evaluation of spine is required in fetuses with N less than or equal to 6.
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Objective:To observe the morphological changes of the sylvian fissure on the transthalamic section of fetal brain at 20-32 weeks, and grade the fetal sylvian fissure development by means of a simple scoring system and explore its clinical feasibility.Methods:From September 2018 to June 2020, 487 normal single fetuses of 20-32 weeks were examined in Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University. The sylvian fissure maturation was analyzed on the transthalamic section of fetal brain at 20-32 weeks and was graded from 0 to 5: un-visualized (grade 0), shallow arc (grade 1), obtuse-angled platform (grade 2), right-angled platform (grade 3), acute-angled platform (grade 4), and closed operculum (grade 5). The pregnancy outcomes and gestational age were recorded.Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 20.0 software using box plot, Mann-Whitney U test, Weighted Kappa coefficient. Results:Left sylvian fissuer grades were obtained in 280 fetuses and right sylvian fissure grades were obtained in 247 fetuses. The fetal sylvian fissure maturation at 20-32 weeks was graded from 0 to 5, which increased with advancing gestation. Grade 0 only appeared in 3 fetuses at 20 weeks, and 99.4% fetuses at 20 weeks had grade ≥1. Grade 1 appeared in 20-22 weeks, grade 2 in 20-25 weeks, grade 3 in 22-26 weeks, grade 4 in 25-32 weeks, and grade 5 in 27-32 weeks. Box-plot and Mann-Whitney U test showed that gestational week distribution of sylvian fissure at all grades was symmetric on both sides ( P>0.05). The Weighted Kappa coefficients were 0.857(95% CI=0.750-0.957) and 0.939 (95% CI=0.859-1.000), respectively, with strong consistency regarding inter- and intra-observer agreements. Conclusions:Fetal sylvian fissure maturation at 20-32 weeks can be evaluated by means of a simple scoring system with symmetrical grading of both sides.
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The mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is considered an immune privileged system as it is separated from the periphery by the blood brain barrier (BBB). Yet, immune functions have been postulated to heavily influence the functional state of the CNS, especially after injury or during neurodegeneration. There is controversy regarding whether adaptive immune responses are beneficial or detrimental to CNS injury repair. In this study, we utilized immunocompromised SCID mice and subjected them to spinal cord injury (SCI). We analyzed motor function, electrophysiology, histochemistry, and performed unbiased RNA-sequencing. SCID mice displayed improved CNS functional recovery compared to WT mice after SCI. Weighted gene-coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) of spinal cord transcriptomes revealed that SCID mice had reduced expression of immune function-related genes and heightened expression of neural transmission-related genes after SCI, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis and was consistent with better functional recovery. Transcriptomic analyses also indicated heightened expression of neurotransmission-related genes before injury in SCID mice, suggesting that a steady state of immune-deficiency potentially led to CNS hyper-connectivity. Consequently, SCID mice without injury demonstrated worse performance in Morris water maze test. Taken together, not only reduced inflammation after injury but also dampened steady-state immune function without injury heightened the neurotransmission program, resulting in better or worse behavioral outcomes respectively. This study revealed the intricate relationship between immune and nervous systems, raising the possibility for therapeutic manipulation of neural function via immune modulation.
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Objective To evaluate the position of the fetal conus medullaris during pregnancy and its value in detecting tethered cord syndrome(TCS). Methods Nine hundred and seventy-four normal fetuses and 46 fetuses with TCS between 15 and 41 weeks gestation were involved in the study.Parameters D 1 (the distance between the end of the conus medullaris and the caudal edge of last vertebral body ossification center) and D2 (the distance from the end of the conus medullaris to the caudal skin namely the intersection point of the extending line of D1 and the skin) were measured in the caudal midsagittal plane of the spine. Sixty normal fetuses were chosed randomly for interobserver variability.Correlation analysis between these two parameters and gestational age(GA) were conducted and the normal reference value of these parameters were calculated in normal group. The ratios of growth parameters ( Biparietal diameter, Head circumference,Abdominal circumference,Femur length) to D1 and D2 were calculated separately to observe the difference of the ratios between two groups. All the parameters and ratios of normal fetuses were compared with that of TCS cases.Results There was no significant difference in D1 and D2 between two observers.A significant linear correlation between the parameters and GA was found in normal group,linear regression equations were D1=0.251 GA -2.265 cm (R2=0.926,P <0.01) and D2=0.267 GA -1.812 cm(R2=0.928,P <0.01),respectively.D1 and D2 were much lower in normal group than in abnormal group (all P <0.01). The ratios of the growth parameters to D1 and D2 were relatively stable and had statistically differences between two groups in different gestational age. Conclusions The methods that determination of D1 and D2 are simple and feasible,and could help to the prenatal diagnosis of TCS.
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Objective To evaluate the development of cerebral sulci and gyrus in fetuses with conotruncal defect(CTD) at the second and third trimester by ultrasound,and to improve clinician′s understanding of the cerebral cortical development in fetuses with CTD.Methods The study was conducted at Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medicial University from December 2015 to January 2017,enrolled 180 women with single fetus,among whom 60 fetuses with CTD and gestational age between 20 weeks to 33+6 weeks were diagnosed by echocardiographic examination.CTD included persistent truncus arteriosous,tetralogy of fallot,transpofition of the great arteries and double outlet of right ventricle.Evaluation indexes of cerebral sulci and gyrus included depth and angle of parietooccipital sulcus,width and depth of sylvian fissure,uncovered width of insular,uncovered insular ratio,depth of calcarine sulcus,head circumference;evaluation indexes of hemodynamics included umbilical artery resistance index,umbilical artery pulsation index,middle cerebral artery resistance index,middle cerebral artery pulsation index,the cerebral-to-placental resistance ratio and the cerebroplacental pulsation ratio.Above indexes were measured for statistical analysis.Results At the whole gestational age in the study,depth of parietooccipital sulcus and width of sylvian fissure in CTD fetuses were smaller than those in the control group,uncovered insular ratio was larger than that in the normal group(P<0.05);middle cerebral artery resistance index,middle cerebral artery pulsation index and the cerebroplacental pulsation ratio in CTD fetuses were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05).Conclusions The change of hemodynamics in fetuses with CTD may be one of the reasons that fetuses with CTD have cerebral cortical hypoevolutism.
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Objective To obtain a thyroid cancer cell line integrated with luciferase and fluorescence,and to establish a metastatic nude mouse model of papillary thyroid cancer monitored with in vivo imaging system. Methods Lentivirus carrying recombinant plasmid containing luciferase gene and mCherry gene infected high malignant papillary thyroid cancer cell line (BHP10-3SCmice). The stable thyroid cancer cell line (BHP10-3mluc) labeled with luciferase and mCherry selected by hygromycin, analyzed for fluorescence with fluorescence microscopy and bioluminescence with in vitro analysis and in vivo imaging. 0.25 ml(5×106/ml)BHP10-3mluc cell suspension were injected into the left thigh intramuscular tissue of 5-week-old nude mice to establish BALB/C nude mice metastatic tumor model. The growth and metastasis of the tumors were monitored weekly with in vivo imaging system. The nude mice were sacrificed on the 42th day and the tissues with metastatic tumors were analyzed by fluorescent imaging ex vivo. The ectopic implanted tumors and metastatic lesions were verified by tissue sections with Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. Results BHP10-3mluc cells showed similar growth characteristics to the original BHP10-3SCmice cells and stably expressed luciferase and mCherry. At the end of the first week after ectopic implantation,the xenograft tumors were found and in the 6th week,the tumors were found to metastasized to adjacent lymph nodes and lungs,which was consistent with the results of pathology.The growth and metastasis of tumors can be accurately monitored with in vivo imaging system. Conclusions A PTC cell line stably expressing bioluciferase and fluorescence was successfully established.The nude mouse model of PTC metastatic tumor generated by intramuscular inoculation of those cells can be well monitored with in vivo imaging system, which provides ideal models for researches on tumor growth, metastasis,and drug treatment.
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Objective To study the value of MR diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) in the staging of chronic kidney disease(CKD).Method MR diffusion tensor imaging was used on 26 CKD patients.All patients were diagnosed as CKD according to the criteria of clinical diagnostic.All MR images achieved diagnostic requirements.Diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid(99mTc-DTPA) renal dynamic imaging was used to determine the unilateral renal function.CKD patients were determined as mildly renal impairment group and moderately to severely renal impairment group based on the glomerular filtration rate(GFR).Twenty healthy volunteers underwent DTI at the same time.The cortical and medullary ADC value and FA value were measured in all subjects who underwent conventional MRI and DTI.The paired Student's t test was used to compare the cortico-medullary difference of the mean ADC and FA values in all subjects.The oneway analysis of variance(ANOVA) was carried out to assess the difference among the medullary and cortical diffusion parameters(ADC,FA) of all the three groups,and LSD was used to assess multiple comparisons.The correlation of GFR and ADC value of the patients,and FA value of the patients were tested by Pearson correlation analysis.Results The cortical and medullary ADC values of 46 subjects were(2.25±0.25) × 10-3 and(2.10±0.20) × 10-3 mm2/s respectively,FA of them were(3.48±0.61) and(4.27±0.75) respectively(t =6.754,10.043 respectively; P＜0.01).The cortical ADC values of volunteers,mild renal impairment group,severely renal impairment group were(2.25±0.22) ×10-3,(2.31±0.19) ×103,(2.18±0.32) ×10-3mm2/s respectively.The medullary ADC value of the three groups were(2.09±0.19) × 10-3,(2.17±0.17) × 10-3,(2.06±0.24) × 10-3mm2/s respectively(F=0.968,0.882 respectively; P＞0.05).The cortical FA values of the three groups were 3.85± 0.47,3.18±0.62,3.20±0.52 respectively.The medullary FA of the three groups were 4.92±0.38,3.93±0.57,3.62 ± 0.53(F=8.725,33.705 respectively; P＜0.01).There was no correlation between cortical ADC,medullary ADC,cortical FA of the patients and GFR [(30.14±15.79) ml· min-1 · 1.73 m-2](r =0.243,0.197,0.196 respectively; P＞0.05).There was a positive correlation between medullary FA of the patients and GFR (r=0.556,P=0.003).Conclusion FA value has certain value in evaluating CKD early diagnosis and renal function.
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Objective To determine the reliability of hand-held electronic dynamometer (HHD) tests for lower limb muscle strength measurement in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Methods Twenty-eight children ( 15 boys and 13 girls; mean age 5 years 8 months) with different types of CP (2 with spastic quadriplegia,8 spastic diplegia, 6 hemiplegia, 1 triplegia and 1 monoplegia) , and at different functional levels ( 19 graded at gross motor function classification system level Ⅰ, 6 level Ⅱ, 2 level Ⅲ and 1 level Ⅳ ) were recruited from the Rehabilitation Center of the Children's Hospital of Fudan University. Standardized HHD protocols were used to measure the strength of their hip, knee and ankle muscles. The HHD test was performed by the same examiner twice with an interval of 10 min in between. The HDD test was also performed with 15 randomly selected CP children by 2 examiners with an interval of 10 min in between. The test-retest and inter-rater reliabilities of the HDD readings were determined by calculating the intra- and inter-class correlation coefficients. Results The HHD measurements showed fine testretest reliability ( ICC = 0.74-0.97 ) and inter-rater reliability ( ICC = 0.63-0.97 ) in measuring lower-limb muscle strength of children with spastic CP, with the highest test-retest reliability for the hip flexion, foot plantar flexion and knee extension muscle groups. The highest inter-rater reliability was achieved with the hip flexion and foot dorsiflexion muscle groups. Conclusions Standardized HHD testing of lower-limb muscle strength in children with spastic CP shows fine test-retest and inter-rater reliability. The HHD can reliably assess the lower-limb muscle strength of children with spastic CP.
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@#Objective To compare the isometric muscle strength of muscle groups in the lower extremities of children with spastic hemiplegia among sides or ages. Methods17 spastic hemiplegic children were measured the muscle strength of hip, knee and ankle muscle groups with hand-held dynamometry (HHD). ResultsMuscle strength was weaker in the involved side than in the other side. In younger children, it was weaker of overall extremity, while in the older it was of the distal end mainly. ConclusionWhen applying strength training to spastic hemiplegic children, it is important to notice strength of all groups in lower extremity in younger children and the distal groups in older ones.