Retinoic acid-induced 1 gene haploinsufficiency alters lipid metabolism and causes autophagy defects in Smith-Magenis syndrome.

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by cognitive and behavioral symptoms, obesity, and sleep disturbance, and no therapy has been developed to alleviate its symptoms or delay disease onset. SMS occurs due to haploinsufficiency of the retinoic acid-induced-1 (RAI1) gene caused by either chromosomal deletion (SMS-del) or RAI1 missense/nonsense mutation. The molecular mechanisms underlying SMS are unknown.

Testing single/combined clinical categories on 5110 Italian patients with developmental phenotypes to improve array-based detection rate.

Background: Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) is nowadays widely used in the diagnostic path of patients with clinical phenotypes. However, there is no ascertained evidence to date on how to assemble single/combined clinical categories of developmental phenotypic findings to improve the array-based detection rate.

Methods: The Italian Society of Human Genetics coordinated a retrospective study which included CMA results of 5,110 Italian patients referred to 17 genetics laboratories for variable combined clinical phenotypes.

Delineation of MidXq28-duplication syndrome distal to MECP2 and proximal to RAB39B genes.

Two distinct genomic disorders have been linked to Xq28-gains, namely Xq28-duplications including MECP2 and Int22h1/Int22h2-mediated duplications involving RAB39B. Here, we describe six unrelated patients, five males and one female, with Xq28-gains distal to MECP2 and proximal to the Int22h1/Int22h2 low copy repeats. Comparison with patients carrying overlapping duplications in the literature defined the MidXq28-duplication syndrome featuring intellectual disability, language impairment, structural brain malformations, microcephaly, seizures and minor craniofacial features.

Small 4p16.3 deletions: Three additional patients and review of the literature.

Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome is a well-defined disorder due to 4p16.3 deletion, characterized by distinct facial features, intellectual disability, prenatal and postnatal growth retardation, and seizures. Genotype-phenotype correlations based on differently sized deletions have been attempted, and some candidate genes have been suggested.

Copy number variations in healthy subjects. Case study: iPSC line CSSi005-A (3544) production from an individual with variation in 15q13.3 chromosome duplicating gene CHRNA7.

CHRNA7, encoding the neuronal alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (a7nAChR), is highly expressed in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus. It is situated in the 15q13.3 chromosome region, frequently associated with a Copy Number Variation (CNV), which causes its duplication or deletion.

Identification of i(X)(p10) as the sole molecular abnormality in atypical chronic myeloid leukemia evolved into acute myeloid leukemia.

The World Health Organization classifies atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML) as a myeloproliferative/myelodisplastic hematological disorder. The primary manifestations are leukocytosis with disgranulopoiesis, absence of basophilia and/or monocytosis, splenomegaly and absence of Philadelphia chromosome or BCR/ABL fusion. Overall 50-65% of patients demonstrate karyotypic abnormalities, although no specific cytogenetic alterations have been associated with this disease.

Molecular cytogenetics characterization of seven small supernumerary marker chromosomes derived from chromosome 19: Genotype-phenotype correlation and review of the literature.

Only a few subjects carrying supernumerary marker chromosomes derived from 19 chromosome (sSMC(19)) have been described to date and for a small portion of them the genic content has been defined at the molecular level. We present seven new different sSMCs(19) identified in eight individuals, seven of whom unrelated. The presence of the sSMC is associated with a clinical phenotype in five subjects, while the other three carriers, two of whom related, are normal.

A Small Supernumerary Marker Derived from the Pericentromeric Region of Chromosome 5: Case Report and Delineation of Partial Trisomy 5p Phenotype.

A 17-year-old girl presented with a distinct phenotype mainly featuring craniofacial dysmorphism, including a disproportioned large, round, elongated face; hypertelorism; deep-set eyes with short palpebral fissures; obesity (BMI 37), and a neuropsychiatric disorder with high-functioning autism. Postnatal conventional cytogenetic analyses from peripheral blood revealed a mosaic small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) with a mos 47,XX,+mar[7]/46,XX[43] karyotype. By cenM-FISH technique, the sSMC was identified as a ring derivative of chromosome 5.

First evidence of Smith-Magenis syndrome in mother and daughter due to a novel RAI mutation.

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a complex genetic disorder caused by interstitial 17p11.2 deletions encompassing multiple genes, including the retinoic acid induced 1 gene-RAI1-or mutations in RAI1 itself. The clinical spectrum includes developmental delay, cognitive impairment, and behavioral abnormalities, with distinctive physical features that become more evident with age.

Four Copies of SNCA Responsible for Autosomal Dominant Parkinson's Disease in Two Italian Siblings.

Background. Parkinson's disease (PD) is mostly characterized by alpha-synuclein (SNCA) aggregation and loss of nigrostriatal dopamine-containing neurons. In this study a novel SNCA multiplication is described in two siblings affected by severe parkinsonism featuring early onset dyskinesia, psychiatric symptoms, and cognitive deterioration.

De novo 13q13.3-21.31 deletion involving RB1 gene in a patient with hemangioendothelioma of the liver.

Interstitial deletions of the long arm of chromosome 13 (13q) are related with variable phenotypes, according to the size and the location of the deleted region. The main clinical features are moderate/severe mental and growth retardation, cranio-facial dysmorphism, variable congenital defects and increased susceptibility to tumors. Here we report a 3-year-old girl carrying a de novo 13q13.

Transabdominal coelocentesis as early source of fetal DNA for chromosomal and molecular diagnosis.

This study reports a comparative analysis between results of transabdominal coelocentesis and traditional invasive procedure in order to assess the usefulness of coelocentesis as a source of fetal DNA for molecular and chromosomal analysis. A number of 28 women were included in the study. A successful sampling of coelomic fluid was obtained in 25 women by transabdominal procedure.

Oct-1 recruitment to the nuclear envelope in adult-onset autosomal dominant leukodystrophy.

Adult-onset autosomal dominant leukodystrophy (ADLD) is a slowly progressive neurological disorder characterised by pyramidal, cerebellar, and autonomic disturbances. Duplication of the LMNB1 gene is the genetic cause of ADLD, yet the pathogenetic mechanism is not defined. In this study, we analysed cells and muscle tissue from three patients affected by ADLD, carrying an extra copy of the LMNB1 gene.

De novo mosaic ring chromosome 18 in a child with mental retardation, epilepsy and immunological problems.

Ring chromosome 18 [r(18)] is a disorder in which one or both ends of chromosome 18 are lost and joined forming a ring-shaped figures. R(18) patients can therefore show features of 18q-, 18p- syndrome or a combination of both, depending on the size of the 18p and 18q deleted regions. The phenotype of the r(18) is characterized by developmental delay/mental retardation, typical facial dysmorphisms, major abnormalities and immunological problems.