[Application of Next Generation Sequencing in Genetic Diagnosis of Hereditary Platelet Disorders - Review].

Hereditary platelet disorders are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal number or function of platelets, sometimes even involving other systems apart from blood abnormalities. The great clinical and genetic heterogeneity makes the diagnosis and treatment of hereditary platelet disorders as a huge challenge for clinicians. At present, only a small number of patients have received a clear molecular diagnosis of hereditary platelet diseases, and a lot of pathogenic genetic variations still remain unknown.

Ergostane steroids from the ethanol extract of Dysoxylum mollissimum.

Three new ergostane steroids, 7α-acetoxyl-ergosta-5,24(28)-diene-3β,4β,20S-triol (1), 7α-acetoxyl-ergosta-5,24(28)-diene-3β,4β-diol (2), and 7α-acetoxyl-ergosta-5,24(28)-3β-ol (3) were isolated from the ethanol extract of stem bark of Dysoxylum mollissimum BI. Structural elucidation of all the compounds was performed by spectral methods such as 1D and 2D (H-H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy, in addition to high resolution mass spectrometry. All the isolated steroids were in vitro evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity against COX-1 and COX-2.

[Clinical characterization and mutation identification for multiple sulfatase deficiency patients in China].

Objective: Multiple sulfatase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessively inherited lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the accumulation of sulfated lipids and acid mucopolysaccharides. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical manifestations, enzyme activities and SUMF1 gene mutations in two Chinese patients with multiple sulfatase deficiency.

Method: One boy and one girl from two families were studied.

Single- or mixed-sex Schistosoma japonicum infections of intermediate host snails in hilly areas of Anhui, China.

Schistosomiasis japonicum is one of the most serious communicable diseases, and the transmission of the parasite is dependent of its complex life cycle on which many factors can have an impact. Multiple infections comprising both male and female schistosome within snail intermediate hosts, for example, would facilitate parasite transmission. However, no research on Schistosoma japonicum communities in field-collected Oncomelania hupensis hupensis in relation to schistosome sex has been reported.

Niemann-Pick disease type C: analysis of 7 patients.

Background: Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C), derived from mutation of the NPC1 or NPC2 gene, is one of the recessive lysosomal lipid storage disorders that are difficult to diagnose and treat. Since NP-C has been rarely reported in China, we reviewed 7 patients with NP-C.

Methods: The 7 patients had been diagnosed with NP-C from 2007 to 2010 at our department and their laboratory and clinical data were analyzed.

[Mutation analysis and prenatal diagnosis of 2 cases with mucopolysaccharidosis type I].

Objective: Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I; MIM# 252800) is an autosomal recessive disease that results from the deficiency in the lysosomal enzyme α-L-iduronidase(IDUA). IDUA is one of the enzymes involved in degradation of glycosaminoglycans heparan sulphate and dermatan sulphate. The deficiency of IDUA leads to widespread accumulation of partially degraded mucopolysaccharides inside lysosomes, resulting in progressive cellular and multiorgan dysfunction.

[Two novel EIF2AK3 mutations in a Chinese boy with Wolcott-Rallison syndrome].

Objective: Wolcott-Rallison syndrome (WRS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the association of permanent neonatal or early-infancy insulin-dependent diabetes, multiple epiphyseal dysplasia and growth retardation, and other variable multisystem clinical manifestations. Here we describe a Chinese boy affected by WRS. Genetic testing of his EIF2AK3 gene was performed in order to elucidate molecular variations and subsequently to provide credible genetic counseling for prenatal diagnosis in his family.

[Mutation analysis of 11 Chinese patients with attenuated mucopolysaccharidosis type].

Objective: Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) is an autosomal recessive disease resulting from the deficiency in the lysosomal enzyme alpha-L-iduronidase (IDUA). The present study was conducted to identify IDUA gene mutations in attenuated (MPS I H/S and MPS I S) patients with MPS I in northern China.

Methods: Fourteen exons with adjacent intronic sequences of the IDUA gene in 11 MPS I patients were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the PCR products were sequenced directly and origin analysis was conducted.

[Mutation analysis of PTPN11 gene in Noonan syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the mutations in protein tyrosine phosphatase, nonreceptor-type 11 (PTPN11) gene in patients with Noonan syndrome (NS).

Methods: Three sporadic patients with NS were studied. Genomic DNAs were extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes.

[Clinical manifestations and mutation study in 16 Chinese patients with Fabry disease].

Objective: To investigate the clinical manifestations and to characterize mutations of the GLA gene in Chinese patients with Fabry disease so to enhance the diagnosis of Fabry disease.

Methods: Sixteen Chinese affected males (from 16 unrelated families) with the classic phenotype of Fabry disease were investigated. The patients were diagnosed by a deficiency of alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-Gal A) activity.

[An analysis of mutations causing Gaucher disease in Chinese population].

Objective: To review and investigate the relationship of genotype and phenotype in Chinese patients with Gaucher disease (GD).

Methods: The samples were first screened for known mutations as reported previously in Chinese population. Long chain PCR and nested PCR were employed to amplify the segments of glucocerebrosidase functional gene in patients with unknown mutant alleles.

[Postnatal and prenatal diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type III (Sanfilippo syndrome)].

Objective: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) types IIIA, B, C, D are a group of autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorders caused by mutations in one of four genes which encode enzyme activities required for the lysosomal degradation of heparan sulfate. MPSIIIA and MPSIIIB involve deficiencies of heparan N-sulfatase (SGSH) and alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGLU). MPS IIIA and MPS IIIB are more common than MPS IIIC and IIID.

[A Chinese girl with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva caused by a de novo mutation R206H in ACVR1 gene].

Objective: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare autosomal dominant inherited disease caused by mutations of ACVR1 gene and can be inherited from either mother or father. FOP is characterized by the presence of malformations of the big toes and of progressive extra-skeletal ossification. Direct sequence analyses of genomic DNA have demonstrated that there is an identical single nucleotide substitution (c617G-->A, R206H) in the glycine-serine (GS) activation domain of ACVR1 gene, responsible for all affected individuals reported so far.

[Clinical and molecular genetic study on two patients of the juvenile form of Pompe disease in China].

Objective: Glycogen-storage disease type II (GSD II, Pompe's disease) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a functional deficiency of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) that leads to glycogen accumulation within lysosomes in most tissues. The GAA gene is located to human chromosome 17q25 and contains 20 exons, 19 of which are coding. Clinically, patients with the severe infantile form of GSD II have muscle weakness and cardiomyopathy eventually leading to death before the age of two years.

[A retrospective study on enzyme replacement therapy in patients with Gaucher disease].

Objective: Gaucher disease is the most common lysosomal storage disorder. A deficiency of beta-glucocerebrosidase causes accumulation of the glucocerebroside in macrophages throughout the body. This study summarizes the effects of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with Imiglucerase in children with Gaucher disease.

[Postnatal and prenatal diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter syndrome)].

Objective: Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II, Hunter syndrome, OMIM 309900) is an X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disease resulting from a deficiency of iduronte-2-sulphate sulphatase (IDS). The present study aimed to establish an enzyme assay method for IDS activity for carrying out postnatal and prenatal diagnosis of MPS II by means of IDS activity assay on plasma, uncultured chorionic villi (CV) and cultured amniotic fluid cells (AF cell) using a new synthesized substrate.

Methods: A fluorigenic substrate (4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-iduronate-2-sulphate, MU-alpha-Idu-2S) was used for the assay of IDS activity.

Gaucher disease among Chinese patients: review on genotype/phenotype correlation from 29 patients and identification of novel and rare alleles.

Gaucher disease, the most prevalent lysosomal storage disease, results from an inherited deficiency in the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Three clinical forms of Gaucher disease have been described: Type 1 non-neuronopathic, Type 2 acute neuronopathic, and Type 3 subacute neuronopathic. Although Gaucher disease is panethnic, its presentation reveals some ethnic-specific characteristics.

[Analysis of ARSA mutations in a Chinese family with metachromatic leukodystrophy].

Objective: To identify arylsulftase A gene (ARSA) mutations in a Chinese family with MLD.

Methods: There were two MLD patients in the investigated family. The proband, an 11-year-old girl, was well until the age of 5 years, when she began to experience difficult walking and mental regression.