Pharmacogenomic Profiling of Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia to Identify Therapeutic Vulnerabilities and Inform Functional Precision Medicine.

Unlabelled: Despite the expanding portfolio of targeted therapies for adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), direct implementation in children is challenging due to inherent differences in underlying genetics. Here we established the pharmacologic profile of pediatric AML by screening myeloblast sensitivity to approved and investigational agents, revealing candidates of immediate clinical relevance. Drug responses ex vivo correlated with patient characteristics, exhibited age-specific alterations, and concorded with activities in xenograft models.

Case Report: Novel Biallelic Variants in the Gene in a Chinese Family With Knobloch Syndrome.

Knobloch syndrome is a rare collagenopathy characterized by severe early onset myopia, retinal detachment, and occipital encephalocele with various additional manifestations due to biallelic changes in the gene. Here we reported a Chinese family with two affected siblings presented with antenatal occipital encephalocele, infantile onset retinal detachment, and pronounced high myopia at early childhood. Quartet whole exome sequencing was performed in this family and identified that both siblings carried novel compound heterozygous variants in the gene (NM_001379500.

In-house multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay for citrin deficiency: analytical validation and novel exonic deletions in SLC25A13.

Citrin deficiency is one of the most common inborn errors of metabolism in East Asians, which may manifest as neonatal cholestasis, failure to thrive and dyslipidaemia, or recurrent hyperammonaemic encephalopathy. Its molecular diagnosis requires confirmation of the presence of biallelic pathogenic variants in SLC25A13 gene by sequencing, and analysis for a common insertion IVS16ins3kb. However, patients with compatible biochemical features but only one monoallelic pathogenic variant have remained a diagnostic challenge.

BRAT1 encephalopathy: a recessive cause of epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures.

Epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS), one of the most severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy syndromes, is characterized by seizures that migrate from one hemisphere to the other. EIMFS is genetically heterogeneous with 33 genes. We report five patients with EIMFS caused by recessive BRAT1 variants, identified via next generation sequencing.

A Hong Kong Chinese kindred with familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia caused by mutation.

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia (FHH) is a genetic disorder of altered calcium homeostasis. Mutations in the , and genes have been reported to cause FHH. We report a Hong Kong Chinese kindred with FHH type 3 (FHH3) caused by mutations in .

NMR-based urinalysis for rapid diagnosis of β-ureidopropionase deficiency in a patient with Dravet syndrome.

Background: Beta-ureidopropionase deficiency is a rare inborn error of metabolism (IEM) affecting pyrimidine metabolism. To-date, about 30 genetically confirmed cases had been reported. The clinical phenotypes of this condition are variable; some patients were asymptomatic while some may present with developmental delay or autistic features.

Online Diagnosis System: a webserver for analysis of Sanger sequencing-based genetic testing data.

Sanger sequencing is a well-established molecular technique for diagnosis of genetic diseases. In these tests, DNA sequencers produce vast amounts of data that need to be examined and annotated within a short period of time. To achieve this goal, an online bioinformatics platform that can automate the process is essential.

Potential effects of NPC1L1 polymorphisms in protecting against clinical disease in a chinese family with sitosterolaemia.

Sitosterolaemia is caused by mutations in either ABCG5 or ABCG8. Chinese and Japanese individuals usually have mutations in ABCG5. We herein report a known and a novel mutation in ABCG8 and their potential interaction with NPC1L1 polymorphisms in a Chinese family with sitosterolaemia.

The first report of a Chinese family with McLeod syndrome.

We report the first case of a Chinese family with McLeod syndrome (MLS). The two affected brothers show significant phenotypic heterogeneity. The index case has peripheral acanthocytosis, choreoathetosis of his feet, a slowly progressive neuropathy and myopathy, and an elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) level.

Isolated persistent elevation of alanine transaminase for early diagnosis of pre-symptomatic Wilson's disease in Chinese children.

Background: Recent studies presented a contradictory approach for the investigation of pediatric patients with an isolated increase in alanine transaminase. While classical teaching advised for a thorough investigation, recent studies suggested the yield on further investigation was low and thus not necessary. Yet the approach to the same clinical problem may need to be different due to variable disease prevalence rates among different ethnic populations.

Non-invasive urinary screening for aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency in high-prevalence areas: a pilot study.

Background: The diagnosis of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, one of the pediatric neurotransmitter disorders, is classically made with plasma enzyme level or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurotransmitter profile, while both are technically demanding and the latter requires the invasive lumbar puncture. So far less than 100 cases have been reported worldwide with 20% from Taiwan. It was postulated that the condition might have been under-diagnosed among Chinese populations and a non-invasive screening tool should be developed in areas with high prevalence.

Fatal viral infection-associated encephalopathy in two Chinese boys: a genetically determined risk factor of thermolabile carnitine palmitoyltransferase II variants.

Influenza-associated encephalopathy (IAE) is a potentially fatal neurological complication of influenza infection usually in the presence of high and persistent fever. Thermolabile carnitine palmitoyltransferase II enzyme (CPT-II) predisposes IAE, so far only described in Japanese. As the genetic origins of Japanese and Chinese are alike, similar genetic risk factors in CPT-II are expected.

Analysis of inborn errors of metabolism: disease spectrum for expanded newborn screening in Hong Kong.

Background: Data of classical inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) of amino acids, organic acids and fatty acid oxidation are largely lacking in Hong Kong, where mass spectrometry-based expanded newborn screening for IEM has not been initiated. The current study aimed to evaluate the approximate incidence, spectrum and other characteristics of classical IEM in Hong Kong, which would be important in developing an expanded newborn screening program for the local area.

Methods: The laboratory records of plasma amino acids, plasma acylcarnitines and urine organic acids analyses from year 2005 to 2009 inclusive in three regional chemical pathology laboratories providing biochemical and genetic diagnostic services for IEM were retrospectively reviewed.

Molecular basis of von Hippel-Lindau syndrome in Chinese patients.

Background: Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is an autosomal dominant familial cancer syndrome predisposing the affected individuals to multiple tumours in various organs. The genetic basis of VHL in Southern Chinese is largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the mutation spectrum of VHL in nine unrelated Southern Chinese families.

Role of postmortem genetic testing demonstrated in a case of glutaric aciduria type II.

Glutaric aciduria type II, or multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, is a rare metabolic disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. The condition can be caused by mutations in at least 3 genes, including ETFA, ETFB, and ETFDH. When this potentially lethal disorder is known for its clinical and biochemical heterogeneity, mutation analysis will be an invaluable part of diagnosis.

Maternally inherited Leigh syndrome: an unusual cause of infantile apnea.

Introduction: Leigh Syndrome is an uncommon cause of infantile apnea.

Case Summary: We report a 5-month-old girl with sudden respiratory arrest followed by episodic hyper- and hypo-ventilation, encephalopathy, and persistent lactic acidosis. Computed tomography of the brain revealed symmetric low densities over the basal ganglia, internal capsule, thalami, and midbrain.

WITHDRAWN: Novel missense mutation (Y24H) in the G6PT1 gene causing glycogen storage disease type 1b.

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Missense mutation Leu72Pro located on the carboxyl terminal amphipathic helix of apolipoprotein C-II causes familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

Background: Chylomicronemia syndrome can be caused by 2 autosomal recessive disorders - lipoprotein lipase (LPL) deficiency and apolipoprotein C-II (apo C-II) deficiency.

Methods: We described 2 siblings with chylomicronemia syndrome of a consanguineous family. To determine the molecular basis of chylomicronemia syndrome in this family, we performed direct DNA sequencing of the LPL and APOC2 genes of the proband.

Novel mutations in the BCHE gene in patients with no butyrylcholinesterase activity.

Background: Butyrylcholinesterase (BCHE) deficiency is characterized by prolonged apnea after the use of certain muscle relaxants with the genetic defect lying in the BCHE gene.

Methods: Two Chinese patients with no serum BCHE activity were studied. The BCHE genes were screened for mutations by polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing.

Novel mutations of the AGXT gene causing primary hyperoxaluria type 1.

Background: Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), an inherited cause of nephrolithiasis, is due to a functional defect of the liver-specific peroxisomal enzyme alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT). A definitive PH1 diagnosis can be established by analyzing AGT activity in liver tissue or mutation analysis of the AGXT gene.

Methods: The molecular basis of PH1 in three Chinese patients, two with adult-onset and one with childhood-onset recurrent nephrolithiasis, was established by analyzing the entire AGXT gene.