This study aimed to elucidate the gene and lipid profiles of children clinically diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Methods: A total of 21 dyslipidemia-related Mendelian genes, including FH causative genes (LDLR, APOB, and PCSK9) and LDL-altering genes (APOE, LDLRAP1, and ABCG5/8), were sequenced in 33 Japanese children (mean age, 9.7±4.2 years) with FH from 29 families. Results: Fifteen children (45.5%) with pathogenic variants in LDLR (eight different heterozygous variants) and one child (3.0%) with the PCSK9 variant were found. Among 17 patients without FH causative gene variants, 3 children had variants in LDL-altering genes, an APOE variant and two ABCG8 variants. The mean serum total cholesterol (280 vs 246 mg/dL), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C, 217 vs 177 mg/dL), and non-HDL cholesterol (228 vs 188 mg/dL) levels were significantly higher in the pathogenic variant-positive group than in the variantnegative group. In the variant-positive group, 81.3% of patients had LDL-C levels ≥ 180 mg/dL but 35.3% in the variant-negative group. The mean LDL-C level was significantly lower in children with missense variants, especially with the p.Leu568Val variant, than in children with other variants in LDLR, whereas the LDL-altering variants had similar effects on the increase in serum LDL-C to LDLR p.Leu568Val. Conclusion: Approximately half of the children clinically diagnosed with FH had pathogenic variants in FH causative genes. The serum LDL-C levels tend to be high in FH children with pathogenic variations, and the levels are by the types of variants. Genetic analysis is useful; however, further study on FH without any variants is required.the LDL receptor (LDLR) 1) , apolipoprotein B (APOB) 2) , and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) 3) . LDLR is the main causative gene for FH 4) . In Japan, 54%-80% of adult patients with FH have pathogenic variants in LDLR or PCSK9 [5][6][7] .Patients with FH have high serum LDLcholesterol (LDL-C) levels from birth and are at risk of developing atherosclerosis at an earlier age than

Context Pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) type 1 (PHA1) has been treated as a genetic variant of type IV renal tubular acidosis (RTA), leading to the conception that PHA1 develops hyperchloremic acidosis with a normal anion gap (AG). Objective To delineate the acid-base imbalance in PHA1A (dominant type) and PHA1B (recessive type). Design We conducted the following: 1) a retrospective chart review of our patient with PHA1B, and 2) a literature search of PHA1 cases focusing on acid-base balance. Main Outcome Measures The incidence and nature of acidosis, including chloride levels and AG. Results In our patient with PHA1B, seven salt-wasting episodes were analyzed. Acidosis was ascertained each time, and accompanied by hypochloremia except in one episode. AG was elevated in five episodes, while hyperlacticaemia was present in three. In the literature, 41 cases of PHA1A and 65 cases of PHA1B have been identified. During salt-wasting crises, acidosis developed in 85% of PHA1A cases and 87% of PHA1B cases. Hypochloremia was present in 69% of PHA1A cases with available data (n = 13) and 54% of eligible PHA1B cases (n = 13), with mean chloride levels of 96 mEq/L and 95 mEq/L, respectively. Increased AG was less frequently reported (14% in PHA1A and 44% in PHA1B). Conclusions Patients with PHA1 frequently presented with metabolic acidosis. However, hyperchloremia may not be a universal finding, whereas hypochloremia and increased AG may occur in a substantial proportion of the patients.

Pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) type II (PHA2) is a genetic disorder that leads to volume overload and hyperkalemic metabolic acidosis. PHA2 and PHA type I (PHA1) have been considered to be genetic and pediatric counterparts to type IV renal tubular acidosis (RTA). Type IV RTA is frequently found in adults with chronic kidney disease and is characterized by hyperchloremic hyperkalemic acidosis with normal anion gap (AG). However, we recently observed that PHA1 was not always identical to type IV RTA. In this study, we focused on the aid-base balance in PHA2. Through a literature search published between 2008-2020, 46 molecularly diagnosed cases with PHA2 were identified (median age of 14 years). They comprised 11 sets of familial and 16 sporadic cases and the pathology was associated with mutations in WNK 4 (n = 1), KLHL3 (n = 17), and CUL3 (n = 9). The mean potassium (K + ) level was 6.2 ± 0.9 mEq/L (n = 46, range 4.0-8.6 mEq/L), whereas that of chloride (Cl -) was 110 ± 3.5 mEq/L (n = 41, 100-119 mEq/L), with 28 of 41 cases identified as hyperchloremic. More than half of the cases (18/35) presented with metabolic acidosis. Although AG data was obtained only in 16 cases, all but one cases were within normal AG range. Both Cland HCO3levels showed significant correlations with K + levels, which suggested that the degree of hyperchloremia and acidosis reflect the clinical severity, and is closely related to the fundamental pathophysiology of PHA2. In conclusion, our study confirmed that PHA2 is compatible with type IV RTA based on laboratory findings.

Pregnancy is a known risk factor for amebic enteritis, which develops into potentially fatal fulminant amebic enteritis in some cases. We describe a case of a 27-year-old non-immunosuppressed pregnant woman with fulminant amebic enteritis complicated with cytomegalovirus enteritis. She improved with intensive care and intravenous metronidazole and ganciclovir but eventually required subtotal colectomy for intestinal stenosis. It is difficult to diagnose amebic enteritis, especially in a non-endemic area. Amebic enteritis must be considered as a differential diagnosis for refractory diarrhea with bloody stools in women in the perinatal period, even those without immunosuppression.

Highlightsl A female infant developed failure to thrive with hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. l Clinical course and molecular analysis indicated pseudo-Bartter syndrome. l No obvious renal or extrarenal cause was identified.