Future directions in managing aniridia-associated keratopathy

Congenital aniridia is a panocular disorder that is typically characterized by iris hypoplasia and aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK). AAK results in the progressive loss of corneal transparency and thereby loss of vision. Currently, there is no approved therapy to delay or prevent its progression, and clinical management is challenging because of phenotypic variability and high risk of complications after interventions; however, new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of AAK may help improve its management. Here, we review the current understanding about the pathogenesis and management of AAK. We highlight the biological mechanisms involved in AAK development with the aim to develop future treatment options, including surgical, pharmacological, cell therapies, and gene therapies.     

p53基因突变与骨髓增殖性肿瘤临床特征及预后关系

探究p53 基因突变与骨髓增殖性肿瘤（MPN）临床特征及预后的关系。方法 选取2017年1月～2020年1月本院收治的MPN患者126例，二代测序法检测患者p53 基因突变情况。对患者进行随访，统计患者总生存（OS）时间和累计生存率；分析p53 基因突变对患者临床特征、预后的影响。结果 126例MPN患者中12例（9.52%）检出p53基因突变，突变主要位于4~8号外显子上，不同类型患者的p53 基因突变检出率比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。p53突变组患者年龄大于p53 非突变组，WBC水平低于p53 非突变组（P＜0.05），两组患者的染色体核型、IPSS预后分层比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）；p53 非突变组患者的OS时间、累计生存率均明显高于p53突变组患者（P＜0.05）。结论 MPN患者p53 基因突变发生率较高，与患者年龄、WBC水平、异常核型及IPSS预后分层相关，p53 基因突变会影响患者的预后，可作为临床筛查预后不良高风险人群的客观指标。     

Left ventricular noncompaction associated with a pathogenic mutation in the MYH7 gene: Known mutation,different phenotype

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a genetically heterogeneous cardiomyopathy, with familial and sporadic forms, but genetic testing only identifies a pathogenic mutation in a minority of cases. The main complications are heart failure, embolism and dysrhythmias. Herein we report a familial case of LVNC associated with a mutation in the MYH7 gene and review the literature regarding controversies in LVNC. A 50-year-old woman was referred to the cardiology clinic for palpitations. She underwent echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging that revealed mild left ventricular systolic dysfunction and LVNC criteria. She had several episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia and received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Genetic testing revealed the c.1003G>C (p.Ala335Pro) mutation in the MYH7 gene. Familial screening showed clear genotype-phenotype cosegregation, which provided strong evidence for the pathogenic role of this mutation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of LVNC associated with the p.Ala335Pro mutation in the MYH7 gene. This mutation has been described in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, suggesting that the same pathogenic sarcomere mutation may be associated with different cardiomyopathies. This case also highlights the current difficulties regarding decisions on ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in LVNC.     

菊花脑芳樟醇合酶基因CnTPS1的克隆与原核表达分析＊

目的 克隆菊花脑芳樟醇合酶基因CnTPS1的全长编码序列，利用原核系统表达融合蛋白，为进一步研究该基因在菊花脑萜类合成中的功能提供理论依据。方法 以菊花脑基因组数据为基础，设计特异性引物，PCR扩增CnTPS1的全长编码序列，利用生物信息学分析软件分析序列特征。利用qRT-PCR技术分析CnTPS1基因在不同组织中的基因表达量。构建原核表达载体，体外诱导目的蛋白表达。结果 CnTPS1编码序列全长1749bp，编码582个氨基酸；基因表达模式分析表明该基因在茎和管状花中表达量较高；原核表达系统能诱导出67.58kDa大小的蛋白。结论 首次从菊花脑中克隆得到一个芳樟醇合酶基因CnTPS1，运用生物信息学方法对其编码蛋白的理化性质、结构特征等进行了分析预测，分析了该基因的组织表达模式，并在原核表达系统中成功诱导表达出目标蛋白，这些结果将为菊花脑萜类合酶基因的功能以及萜类物质生物合成途径的解析提供理论依据。     

The Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts the Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Luminal B Breast Cancer

Objective: Tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer (BC) patients is a predictor foroverall survival. The aim of our study was to determine a relationship between the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR) prior to NAC, BC subtypes and the probability of a pathologic complete response (pCR). Materials andMethods: Medical records were collected retrospectively from Centro de Cancer at Red Salud UC-Christus. Clinicaldata collected included peripheral blood cell counts, BC subtype at diagnosis and the pathology report of surgeryafter chemotherapy. Results: A total of 88 patients were analyzed. Approximately, a 25% had a pCR, and displayed asignificant correlation between BC subtype and pCR (p= 0.0138 Chi2); this was more frequent in epidermal growthfactor receptor type 2 (HER2) enriched subtype patients (54%). Luminal B BC patients with a pCR had significantlylower NLR levels (t test, p= 0.0181). Conclusions: HER2-enriched tumors had a higher probability of pCR. In LuminalB tumors, NLR had a statistically significant relationship with the probability of pCR. In this subtype, NLR could bea useful biomarker to predict tumor response to NAC. Further studies including other clinical parameters for systemicinflammation such as platelet counts, intratumoral NLR or body mass index could help identify patients that wouldget the most benefit from NAC.