Search results for "testing."

Late onset and pregnancy-induced congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

2014

SummaryWe report on our patient (case 2) who experienced a first acute episode of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) at the age of 19 years during her first pregnancy in 1976 which ended in a spontaneous abortion in the 30th gestational week. Treatment with red blood cell concentrates was implemented and splenectomy was performed. After having suffered from several TTP episodes in 1977, possibly mitigated by acetylsalicylic acid therapy, an interruption and sterilization were performed in 1980 in her second pregnancy thereby avoiding another disease flare-up. Her elder sister (case 1) had been diagnosed with TTP in 1974, also during her first pregnancy. She died in 1977 during her se…

Founder mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes

2007

BRCA1 and BRCA2 germline mutations contribute to a significant number of familial and hereditary breast and/or ovarian cancers. The proportion of high-risk families with breast and/or ovarian cancer cases due to mutations in these tumor suppressor genes varies widely among populations. In some population, a wide spectrum of different mutations in both genes are present, whereas in other groups specific mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 have been reported with high frequency. Most of these mutations are prevalent in restricted populations as consequence of a founder effect. The comparison of haplotypes between families with the same mutation can distinguish whether high-frequency alleles derive f…

Involvement of large rearrangements in MSH6 and PMS2 genes in southern Italian patients with lynch syndrome

2018

Background and aim of the work: The Lynch Syndrome (LS) is associated with germline mutations in one of the MisMatch Repair (MMR) genes. Most of germline mutations are point variants, followed by large rearrangements that account to 15-55% of all pathogenic mutations. Many study reporting the frequency of large rearrangements in the MLH1 and MSH2 genes were performed, while, little is known about the contribution of large rearrangements in other MMR genes, as PMS2 and MSH6. Therefore, in this study we investigated the involvment of large rearrangements in MSH6 and PMS2 genes in a well-characterized series of 20 LS southern Italian patients. Methods: These large rearrangements are not usuall…

Who has to undergo cancer genetic testing? A perspective

2017

Genetic testing is a medical tool employed to screen changes in genes linked to cancer and other genetic diseases. Genetic tests are available for breast, ovarian, colon, thyroid, and some other cancers and they represent the main tool for early identification of the “risk” subjects. The choice to undergo genetic testing by a healthy or affected cancer patient with family history of the cancer has to be the fruit of a careful and prudent assessment of the advantages and disadvantages discussed during oncogenetic counselling. The latter, in turn, in the case of a patient’s positive and informed choice, must constantly affiliate the genetic testing, in order to preserve the prediction and inf…

Addressing the gap between genetics knowledge and clinical practice: a pilot study to implement genetics education among physicians in Italy

2012

As a result of large investments in basic science, the genomic discoveries have brought outstanding advances in understanding the molecular basis of human health. Hundreds of genes whose variations contribute to human diseases, or patients’ responses to drug treatments or even to vaccination have been discovered, laying the foundation for a paradigm shift in healthcare...

A novel nonsense mutation in exon 2 of the factor IX gene resulting in severe haemophilia B

2006

Mutations in Myosin VIIA (MYO7A) and Usherin (USH2A) in Spanish patients with usher syndrome types I and II, respectively

2002

Usher syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital hearing impairment and retinitis pigmentosa. Three clinical types are known (USH1, USH2 and USH3), and there is an extensive genetic heterogeneity, with at least ten genes implicated. The most frequently mutated genes are MYO7A, which causes USH1B, and usherin, which causes USH2A. We carried out a mutation analysis of these two genes in the Spanish population. Analysis of the MYO7A gene in patients from 30 USH1 families and sporadic cases identified 32% of disease alleles, with mutation Q821X being the most frequent. Most of the remaining variants are private mutations. With regard to USH2, mutation 2299delG was d…

Novel mutations including deletions of the entire OFD1 gene in 30 families with type 1 orofaciodigital syndrome : a study of the extensive clinical v…

2012

OFD1, now recognized as a ciliopathy, is characterized by malformations of the face, oral cavity and digits, and is transmitted as an X-linked condition with lethality in males. Mutations in OFD1 also cause X-linked Joubert syndrome (JBTS10) and Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome type 2 (SGBS2). We have studied 55 sporadic and six familial cases of suspected OFD1. Comprehensive mutation analysis in OFD1 revealed mutations in 37 female patients from 30 families; 22 mutations have not been previously described including two heterozygous deletions spanning OFD1 and neighbouring genes. Analysis of clinical findings in patients with mutations revealed that oral features are the most reliable diagnos…

Analysis of sequence variations in the LDL receptor gene in Spain: general gene screening or search for specific alterations?

2006

Abstract Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a frequent form of autosomal-dominant hypercholesterolemia that predisposes to premature coronary atherosclerosis. FH is caused by sequence variations in the gene coding for the LDL receptor (LDLR). This gene has a wide spectrum of sequence variations, and genetic diagnosis can be performed by 2 strategies. Methods: Point variations and large rearrangements were screened along all the LDLR gene (promoter, exons, and flanking intron sequences). Results: We screened a sample of 129 FH probands from the Valencian Community, Spain, and identified 54 different LDLR sequence variations. The most frequent (10% of cases) was 111insA, and 60…

A total of 220 patients with autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia do not display mutations in the SLC33A1 gene (SPG42).

2010

The most frequent causes of autosomal dominant (AD) hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) (ADHSP) are mutations in the SPAST gene (SPG4 locus). However, roughly 60% of patients are negative for SPAST mutations, despite their family history being compatible with AD inheritance. A mutation in the gene for an acetyl-CoA transporter (SLC33A1) has recently been reported in one Chinese family to cause ADHSP-type SPG42. In this study, we screened 220 independent SPAST mutation-negative ADHSP samples for mutations in the SLC33A1 gene by high-resolution melting curve analysis. Conspicuous samples were validated by direct sequencing. Moreover, copy number variations affecting SLC33A1 were screened by …