Publications by authors named "Bertini V"

: Dominant mutations in are known to cause vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) by impairing extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis. This disruption leads to the fragility of soft connective tissues and a significantly increased risk of life-threatening arterial and organ ruptures. Currently, treatments for vEDS are primarily symptomatic, largely due to a limited understanding of its underlying pathobiology and molecular mechanisms.

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Diagnosing hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), common overlapping multisystemic conditions featuring symptomatic joint hypermobility, is challenging due to lack of established causes and diagnostic tools. Currently, the 2017 diagnostic criteria for hEDS are used, with non-qualifying cases classified as HSD, although the distinction remains debated. We previously showed extracellular matrix (ECM) disorganization in both hEDS and HSD dermal fibroblasts involving fibronectin (FN), type I collagen (COLLI), and tenascin (TN), with matrix metalloproteinase-generated fragments in conditioned media.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study examines how the TAS2R38 gene, linked to bitter taste perception, affects nasal nitric oxide (nNO) levels and respiratory infections in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).
  • Researchers tracked 119 PCD patients over 10 years, comparing different TAS2R38 haplotypes and their correlation with nNO and lung function outcomes.
  • Findings indicate that the PAV/PAV haplotype leads to higher nNO levels and better lung function in those with certain PCD mutations, suggesting TAS2R38 may influence the severity of mild PCD and guide future treatment strategies.
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Background: International guidelines disagree on how best to diagnose primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), not least because many tests rely on pattern recognition. We hypothesized that quantitative distribution of ciliary ultrastructural and motion abnormalities would detect most frequent PCD-causing groups of genes by soft computing analysis.

Methods: Archived data on transmission electron microscopy and high-speed video analysis from 212 PCD patients were re-examined to quantitate distribution of ultrastructural (10 parameters) and functional ciliary features (4 beat pattern and 2 frequency parameters).

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The clinical expression of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2 DS) is extremely variable, as patients can present with recurrent or severe infections, immune dysregulation, atopic diseases, or extra-immunological manifestations.

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by multifactorial etiology and high heritability but can be challenging to be diagnosed, especially in cases presenting subthreshold symptoms with no cognitive or language impairment, which may not be identified until adulthood but may occur in family members of subjects with ASD. This study explores the possible correlation between a genomic imbalance and clinical phenotypes in a family case of a proband with ASD, with subjects presenting full-blown or subthreshold ASD and/or mood disorders. Clinical assessments were carried out by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) disorders, Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R), Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Module 2 (ADOS-2), and Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum).

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Disorders of sexual development (DSDs) encompass a group of congenital conditions associated with atypical development of internal and external genital structures. Among those with DSDs are 46,XX males, whose condition mainly arises due to the translocation of onto an X chromosome or an autosome. In the few -negative 46,XX males, overexpression of other pro-testis genes or failure of pro-ovarian/anti-testis genes may be involved, even if a non-negligible number of cases remain unexplained.

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Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a severe connective tissue disorder caused by dominant mutations in the COL3A1 gene encoding type III collagen (COLLIII). COLLIII is primarily found in blood vessels and hollow organs, and its deficiency leads to soft connective tissues fragility, resulting in life-threatening arterial and organ ruptures. There are no current targeted therapies available.

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Somatic copy number alterations (SCNA) involving either a whole chromosome or just one of the arms, or even smaller parts, have been described in about 88% of human tumors. This study investigated the SCNA profile in 40 well-characterized sporadic medullary thyroid carcinomas by comparative genomic hybridization array. We found that 26/40 (65%) cases had at least one SCNA.

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: Otoferlin is a multi-C2 domain protein implicated in neurotransmitter-containing vesicle release and replenishment of the cochlear inner hair cell (IHC) synapses. Mutations in the OTOF gene have been associated with two different clinical phenotypes: a prelingual severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss (ANSD-DFNB9); and the peculiar temperature-sensitive auditory neuropathy (TS-ANSD), characterized by a baseline mild-to-moderate hearing threshold that worsens to severe-to-profound when the body temperature rises that returns to a baseline a few hours after the temperature has fallen again. The latter clinical phenotype has been described only with a few OTOF variants with an autosomal recessive biallelic pattern of inheritance.

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Regular physical activity (PA) is protective and reduces disease burden but remains a challenge for pregnant women (PW). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, PW without contraindications should practice 150 min of moderate PA per week. Nonetheless, PA levels are concerningly low among PW.

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The (nuclear factor I/A) gene encodes for a transcription factor belonging to the nuclear factor I family and has key roles in various embryonic differentiation pathways. In humans, is the major contributor to the phenotypic traits of "Chromosome 1p32p31 deletion syndrome". We report on two new cases with deletions involving without any other pathogenic protein-coding gene alterations.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are connective tissue disorders that currently lack clear causes, diagnostic tools, and effective treatments.
  • - This study analyzed dermal fibroblasts from hEDS and HSD patients, revealing a shared phenotype characterized by issues in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and altered gene expression.
  • - The findings suggest that disrupted ECM remodeling leads to a cycle of worsening symptoms and potential new avenues for research into diagnostics and therapies for these disorders.
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Objectives: To establish the positive predictive values (PPV) of cfDNA testing based on data from a nationwide survey of independent clinical cytogenetics laboratories.

Methods: Prenatal diagnostic test results obtained by Italian laboratories between 2013 and March 2020 were compiled for women with positive non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT), without an NIPT result, and cases where there was sex discordancy between the NIPT and ultrasound. PPV and other summary data were reviewed.

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Background: We hypothesized that differences in nasal nitric oxide (nNO) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) relate to prognosis in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).

Research Question: What is the relationship between baseline values and longitudinal evolution of nNO and Feno and ultrastructure, genotype, and respiratory infections in PCD?

Study Design And Methods: Prospective, longitudinal, single-center study in adults and children evaluated biannually for up to 10 years. We compared cross-sectional and longitudinal values of nNO and Feno in ultrastructural (inner dynein arm [IDA] and microtubular disorganization [MTD]) and genetic (CCDC39 and CCDC40) groups known to have worse pulmonary function with patients within the ultrastructural and genetic groups with a better prognosis.

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Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are considered synaptopathies, as they are due to anomalies in neuronal connectivity during development. is a gene involved insynaptic function; the phenotypic effect of itsalterations in NDDs has been underestimated since few cases have been thoroughly described.We report on eight patients with 11q14.

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Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by a broad and heterogeneous clinical presentation associated with various degrees of T-cell deficiency.

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Article Synopsis
  • Poirier-Bienvenu Neurodevelopmental Syndrome (POBINDS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by early-onset epilepsy and intellectual disabilities, linked to mutations in a specific gene related to neuronal growth and communication.
  • A study involving nine patients with POBINDS utilized advanced genetic sequencing to analyze their clinical data, revealing various symptoms including epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, and other abnormalities, along with discovering six new gene mutations not previously documented.
  • While the study couldn’t establish a direct correlation between the type of mutations and specific symptoms, it contributed to a better understanding of the diverse ways POBINDS can manifest.
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Background: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a highly heterogeneous genetic disorder caused by defects in motile cilia. The hallmark features of PCD are the chronic infections of the respiratory tract, moreover, clinical manifestations include also laterality defects and risk of male infertility. Clinical phenotypes of PCD are the result of mutations in genes encoding components of axonema or factors involved in axonemal assembly.

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Background: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) characterized by multiple chronic involuntary motor and vocal tics with onset during childhood or adolescence. Most TS patients present with additional comorbidities, typically attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). Both TS and ID are genetically complex disorders that likely occur as a result of the effects of multiple genes interacting with other environmental factors.

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22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is characterized by a heterogeneous phenotype, including alterations in phospho-calcium metabolism and immunodeficiency.

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Multiple small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMCs) are among the rarest cytogenetic abnormalities as they represent roughly 1.4% of cases with sSMCs. We report on a prenatal case presenting de novo multiple sSMCs; these sSMCs were characterized by array CGH and FISH and resulted deriving from three different chromosomes: a der(13), a der(15) and a der(20).

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Article Synopsis
  • Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common and progressive heart condition influenced by genetic factors, complicating its understanding and treatment.
  • A study focused on three siblings with severe persistent AF revealed several mutated genes and used induced pluripotent stem cells to create heart cells for testing.
  • The patient-derived cardiac cells showed increased beating rates and specific electrical currents, suggesting their genetic makeup predisposes them to arrhythmias, especially under stress.
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Progressive Myoclonus Epilepsies (PMEs) are a group of uncommon clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders characterised by myoclonus, generalized epilepsy, and neurological deterioration, including dementia and ataxia. PMEs may have infancy, childhood, juvenile or adult onset, but usually present in late childhood or adolescence, at variance from epileptic encephalopathies, which start with polymorphic seizures in early infancy. Neurophysiologic recordings are suited to describe faithfully the time course of the shock-like muscle contractions which characterize myoclonus.

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