Gene therapy has made considerable strides in recent years. More than 4000 protein-coding genes have been implicated in more than 6000 genetic diseases; next-generation sequencing has dramatically revolutionized the diagnosis of genetic diseases. Most genetic diseases are considered very rare or ultrarare, defined here as having fewer than 1:100,000 cases, but only one of the 12 approved gene therapies (excluding RNA therapies) targets an ultrarare disease. This article explores three gene supplementation therapy approaches suitable for various rare genetic diseases: lentiviral vector-modified autologous CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, systemic delivery of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors to the liver, and local AAV delivery to the cerebrospinal fluid and brain. Together with RNA therapies, we propose a potential business model for these gene therapies.

Objective: To explore the genetic etiology of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mortality cases and summarize their clinical characteristics. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. The study population consisted of 234 children who died within 7 d after admitted to the PICU of Children\'s Hospital of Fudan University from January 2017 to December 2021. The clinical diagnoses, laboratory test results, and genetic testing results were collected. These patients were divided into the pathogenic gene variation positive (PGVP) group and the pathogenic gene variation negative (PGVN) group according to the results of genetic testing. The Mann-Whitney U test and Pearson\'s chi-square test or Fisher\'s exact probability method were used to compare the clinical characteristics between the groups. Results: A total of 234 cases were enrolled, including 139 (59.4%) males and 95 (40.6%) females. The age at death was 1.0 (0.4, 3.7) years old and the length of PICU stay was 16 (6, 33) days. There were 62 cases (26.5%) PGVP, and the mutated pathogenic genes included immune genes (23 cases (37.1%)), metabolic genes (11 cases (17.7%)), neuromuscular genes (11 cases (17.7%)), cardiovascular genes (4 cases (6.5%)), and genes of other systems (13 cases (21.0%)). The age at death in PGVP cases was significantly lower than in PGVN cases (0.6 (0.3, 1.4) vs. 1.3(0.5, 4.3) years old, Z=3.85, P<0.001). Compared with the PGVN group, the PGVP group had a higher incidence of family history and chronic complex conditions (CCC) than the PGVN group (6.5% (4/62) vs. 0.6% (1/172) and 93.5% (58/62) vs. 76.2% (131/172), χ2=8.87, P=0.018 and 0.003, respectively). Children in the PGVP group were admitted with higher incidence of severe infection, decreased consciousness or coma, moderate-to-severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, protracted diarrhea, and abnormalities in muscle strength or tone than those in the PGVN group (74.2%(46/62) vs. 45.9%(79/172), 50.0%(31/62) vs. 35.5%(61/172), 32.3%(20/62) vs. 18.0%(31/172), 21.0%(13/62) vs. 10.5%(18/172), 25.8%(16/62) vs. 4.1%(7/172), 16.1%(10/62) vs. 5.2%(9/172), χ2=14.63, 4.04, 5.41, 4.37, 24.30, 7.25, all P<0.05). Pathogenic genes that occurred more than twice included IL2RG (5 cases), SMN1 (4 cases), and SH2D1A (3 cases, including 2 single gene varients and 1 copy number varient). Conclusions: Among the deceased cases in the PICU, the main genetic causes are immune-related, metabolic, and neuromuscular genetic disorders. Critically ill children with a family history, CCC, and early features such as severe infections, decreased consciousness or coma, moderate to severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, protracted diarrhea, or abnormalities in muscle strength or tone should be closely monitored and undergo early genetic testing.
目的： 探索儿童重症监护病房（PICU）死亡病例的遗传病因并总结其临床特征。 方法： 回顾性队列研究。选择2017年1月至2021年12月复旦大学附属儿科医院PICU怀疑遗传病入院后7 d内死亡的234例患儿为研究对象，收集临床诊断、实验室检查等临床信息和基因检测结果，根据基因检测结果分为致病性基因变异阳性（PGVP）组和致病性基因变异阴性（PGVN）组，采用Mann-Whitney U检验和Pearson χ²检验或Fisher确切概率法比较组间的临床特征差异。 结果： 234例死亡病例中男139例（59.4%）、女95例（40.6%），死亡年龄为1.0（0.4，3.7）岁，住院时长为16（6，33）d。其中PGVP组62例（26.5%），变异的致病性基因包括免疫基因［23例（37.1%）］、代谢基因［11例（17.7%）］、神经肌肉基因［11例（17.7%）］、心血管基因［4例（6.5%）］和其他系统基因［13例（21.0%）］。PGVP组的死亡年龄低于PGVN组［0.6（0.3，1.4）比1.3（0.5，4.3）岁，Z=3.85，P<0.001］；存在家族史和慢性复杂疾病（CCC）的情况均多于PGVN组［6.5%（4/62）比0.6%（1/172）、93.5%（58/62）比76.2%（131/172），χ2=8.87，P=0.018、0.003］。PGVP组患儿入院存在重症感染、精神反应差或昏迷、中重度贫血、血小板减少、迁延性腹泻、肌力或肌张力异常的比例均高于PGVN组［74.2%（46/62）比45.9%（79/172）、50.0%（31/62）比35.5%（61/172）、32.3%（20/62）比18.0%（31/172）、21.0%（13/62）比10.5%（18/172）、25.8%（16/62）比4.1%（7/172）、16.1%（10/62）比5.2%（9/172），χ2=14.63、4.04、5.41、4.37、24.30、7.25，均P<0.05］。出现2次以上的致病基因包括IL2RG（5例）、SMN1（4例）、SH2D1A（3例，包括2例单基因变异和1例拷贝数变异）。 结论： PICU死亡病例的遗传基因主要为免疫、代谢和神经肌肉遗传病基因。对存在家族史、CCC和入院时存在重症感染、精神反应差或昏迷、中重度贫血、血小板减少、迁延性腹泻、肌力或肌张力异常等特征的患儿应重点关注并尽早行基因检测。.

BACKGROUND: Genetic disorders often manifest as abnormal fetal or childhood development. Copy number variations (CNVs) represent a significant genetic mechanism underlying such disorders. Despite their importance, the effectiveness of clinical exome sequencing (CES) in detecting CNVs, particularly small ones, remains incompletely understood. We aimed to evaluate the detection of both large and small CNVs using CES in a substantial clinical cohort, including parent-offspring trios and proband only analysis.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of CES data from 2428 families, collected from 2018 to 2021. Detected CNV were categorized as large or small, and various validation techniques including chromosome microarray (CMA), Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay (MLPA), and/or PCR-based methods, were employed for cross-validation.
RESULTS: Our CNV discovery pipeline identified 171 CNV events in 154 cases, resulting in an overall detection rate of 6.3%. Validation was performed on 113 CNVs from 103 cases to assess CES reliability. The overall concordance rate between CES and other validation methods was 88.49% (100/113). Specifically, CES demonstrated complete consistency in detecting large CNV. However, for small CNVs, consistency rates were 81.08% (30/37) for deletions and 73.91% (17/23) for duplications.
CONCLUSIONS: CES demonstrated high sensitivity and reliability in CNV detection. It emerges as an economical and dependable option for the clinical CNV detection in cases of developmental abnormalities, especially fetal structural abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has enhanced the diagnostic efficacy for monogenic diseases, while presenting challenges in achieving consistent diagnoses.
METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the concordance rate and reasons for the inconsistency between the original diagnostic result from the genetic testing laboratory and the variant validation result from the prenatal diagnostic center. The validation procedure comprised three stages: validation of variant detection, reevaluation of variant classification, and assessment of recurrence risk, which involved verifying the mode of inheritance and parental carriage.
RESULTS: In total, 17 (6%) of the 286 families affected by rare monogenic diseases showed different results during the variant validation procedure. These cases comprised four (23.5%) with variant detection errors, 12 (70.5%) with inconsistent interpretation, and one (6%) with non-Mendelian inheritance patterns. False-positive NGS results confirmed by Sanger sequencing were related to pseudogenes and GC-rich regions. The classification of the 17 variants was altered in the 12 cases owing to various factors. The case with an atypical inheritance pattern was originally considered autosomal recessive inheritance, but was diagnosed as maternal uniparental disomy after additional genetic analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: We underscored the significance of variant validation by prenatal diagnostic centers. Families affected by monogenic diseases with reproductive plans should be referred to prenatal genetic centers as early as possible to avoid different results that may postpone subsequent prenatal diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease, which is often diagnosed in children and young adults. The clinical manifestations of CHF were lack of specificity, mainly including portal hypertension related symptoms and signs, and normal or mildly abnormal liver function. When no obvious varices are indicated under endoscope, it can easily lead to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. We report this case in the hope of raising awareness of this disease.
METHODS: A 31 years old male patient with major clinical manifestations of unexplained thrombocytopenia for 5 years.
METHODS: Results of ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography portal venography (CTV) showed that patient had liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension and liver biopsy revealed CHF.
METHODS: Patient received ursodeoxycholic acid tablets, fuzheng huayu capsule, ganshuang granule, etc for liver protection treatment.
RESULTS: The condition of patient stabilized after symptomatic treatment. Spleen resection will be considered during follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: This case reminds us that in case of patients with negative endoscopic evaluation, ultrasonic, computed tomography (CT) and MRI examination should be performed at the same time to determine whether patients have portal hypertension. When patients with normal or mildly abnormal liver function had unexplained liver cirrhosis complicated with portal hypertension, the possibility of CHF should be considered.

OBJECTIVE: Variants in ZFYVE19 underlie a disorder characterised by progressive portal fibrosis, portal hypertension and eventual liver decompensation. We aim to create an animal model to elucidate the pathogenic mechanism.
METHODS: Zfyve19 knockout (Zfyve19-/- ) mice were generated and exposed to different liver toxins. Their livers were characterised at the tissue, cellular and molecular levels. Findings were compared with those in wild-type mice and in ZFYVE19-deficient patients. ZFYVE19 knockout and knockdown retinal pigment epithelial-1 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts were generated to study cell division and cell death.
RESULTS: The Zfyve19-/- mice were normal overall, particularly with respect to hepatobiliary features. However, when challenged with α-naphthyl isothiocyanate, Zfyve19-/- mice developed changes resembling those in ZFYVE19-deficient patients, including elevated serum liver injury markers, increased numbers of bile duct profiles with abnormal cholangiocyte polarity and biliary fibrosis. Failure of cell division, centriole and cilia abnormalities, and increased cell death were observed in knockdown/knockout cells. Increased cell death and altered mRNA expression of cell death-related signalling pathways was demonstrated in livers from Zfyve19-/- mice and patients. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and Janus kinase-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (JAK-STAT3) signalling pathways were upregulated in vivo, as were chemokines such as C-X-C motif ligands 1, 10 and 12.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that ZFYVE19 deficiency is a ciliopathy with novel histological features. Failure of cell division with ciliary abnormalities and cell death activates macrophages and may thus lead to biliary fibrosis via TGF-β pathway in the disease.

BACKGROUND: Genetic disorders significantly affect patients in neonatal intensive care units, where establishing a diagnosis can be challenging through routine tests and supplementary examinations. Whole-exome sequencing offers a molecular-based approach for diagnosing genetic disorders. This study aimed to assess the importance of whole-exome sequencing for neonates in intensive care through a retrospective observational study within a Chinese cohort.
METHODS: We gathered data from neonatal patients at Tianjin Children\'s Hospital between January 2018 and April 2021. These patients presented with acute illnesses and were suspected of having genetic disorders, which were investigated using whole-exome sequencing. Our retrospective analysis covered clinical data, genetic findings, and the correlation between phenotypes and genetic variations.
RESULTS: The study included 121 neonates. Disorders affected multiple organs or systems, predominantly the metabolic, neurological, and endocrine systems. The detection rate for whole-exome sequencing was 52.9% (64 out of 121 patients), identifying 84 pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants in 64 neonates. These included 13 copy number variations and 71 single-nucleotide variants. The most frequent inheritance pattern was autosomal recessive (57.8%, 37 out of 64), followed by autosomal dominant (29.7%, 19 out of 64). In total, 40 diseases were identified through whole-exome sequencing.
CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the value and clinical utility of whole-exome sequencing as a primary diagnostic tool for neonates in intensive care units with suspected genetic disorders. Whole-exome sequencing not only aids in diagnosis but also offers significant benefits to patients and their families by providing clarity in uncertain diagnostic situations.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to elucidate the clinical features of pituitary immune-related adverse events (irAEs) induced by PD-1 inhibitors in a Chinese cohort and the previous literatures.
UNASSIGNED: We retrospectively analysed the clinical manifestations, laboratory examination findings, imaging features and treatments of 14 patients with pituitary irAEs caused by PD-1 inhibitors in our cohort. In addition, we searched PubMed for all English articles on pituitary irAEs induced by PD-1 inhibitors published from 1950 to 2023. A total of 47 articles were included, and the clinical characteristics of 94 patients with pituitary irAEs induced by PD-1 inhibitors in these literatures were compared to the characteristics of our cohort.
RESULTS: Among the 14 patients in our cohort with pituitary irAEs induced by PD-1 inhibitors, 12 patients (85.71%, 12/14) exhibited isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD), 100.0% (14/14) of the central adrenocortical insufficiency, and 2 patients showed more than one hypothalamic-pituitary axis injury (14.29%, 2/14). Pituitary magnetic resonance imaging in all the 14 patients showed no pituitary enlargement. In previous studies we reviewed, 82.98% of the total (78/94) presented with pituitary irAEs as IAD, 100.0% (94/94) of the central adrenocortical insufficiency, and 78.33% of the patients showed no abnormality of the pituitary gland (47/60). The pituitary irAEs caused by PD-1 inhibitors did not involve typical manifestations of hypophysitis, such as pituitary enlargement, headache, visual field defects, and multiple pituitary function impairments in our cohort and the previous literatures.
CONCLUSIONS: In our study, pituitary immune-related adverse reactions induced by PD-1 inhibitors mainly manifested isolated ACTH deficiency rather than hypophysitis.

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先天性肝纤维化目前仍被认为是一种罕见的常染色体隐性遗传性疾病，该病与胆管板畸形所致的肝内胆管遗传发育障碍有关。现以1例多囊肾/多囊肝病变1基因突变致胆管炎型先天性肝纤维化患者为例，探讨该病发病原因、临床表现、诊断要点以及治疗进展，以期能够在一定程度上提高肝胆科医师对该病的认识，从而有效提高早期诊断率。.