Publications by authors named "Elena Martin Hernandez"

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is the most common disorder of the urea cycle and is caused by a mutation of the gene, located on chromosome X. Its prevalence is estimated at 1 in 80,000 to 56,500 births, but this X-chromosomal inheritance results in males being more affected than females. In neonates affected with this disorder, hyperammonemia after birth can lead to neurological and liver damage that can be fatal.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are rare diseases present in 1 in every 1000 newborns, and next-generation sequencing is improving diagnosis rates, but it’s not always 100% accurate.
  • - This study utilized a personalized multi-omics approach (metabolomic, genomic, transcriptomic) and functional genomics to help diagnose six unresolved IEM cases, including disorders like galactosemia and maple syrup urine disease.
  • - Researchers identified eight novel genetic variants that affect gene splicing and expression, demonstrating that combining different omics technologies can effectively resolve complex clinical cases.
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Objectives: We present the results of our experience in the diagnosis and follow up of the positive cases for propionic, methylmalonic acidemias and cobalamin deficiencies (PA/MMA/MMAHC) since the Expanded Newborn Screening was implemented in Madrid Region.

Methods: Dried blood samples were collected 48 h after birth. Amino acids and acylcarnitines were quantitated by MS/MS.

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Background and objectives: Glycerol phenylbutyrate (GPB) has demonstrated safety and efficacy in patients with urea cycle disorders (UCDs) by means of its clinical trial program, but there are limited data in clinical practice. In order to analyze the efficacy and safety of GPB in clinical practice, here we present a national Spanish experience after direct switching from another nitrogen scavenger to GPB. Methods: This observational, retrospective, multicenter study was performed in 48 UCD patients (age 11.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hyperammonaemia is a serious metabolic issue that can lead to brain damage and death, often seen in small children due to genetic disorders but more commonly in adults as a result of liver disease, medications, or dehydration.
  • The protocol aims to guide healthcare professionals on how to treat this condition effectively by emphasizing close monitoring, nutritional support, and timely use of medications and treatments.
  • It recommends starting haemodialysis for ammonia levels above certain thresholds: >200−350 µmol/L for children under 18 months and >150−200 µmol/L for older patients.
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We report the clinical and genetic features of a Caucasian girl who presented a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with drug-resistant epilepsy, hypotonia, severe gastro-esophageal reflux and brain magnetic resonance imaging anomalies. WES uncovered a novel variant in homozygosis (g.197092814_197092824delinsC) in HECW2 gene that encodes the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase HECW2.

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Objectives: Identify the efficacy variables collected in the literature for therapies used in lysosomal storage diseases (LDS), evaluate the quality of this evidence, and know the effectiveness and safety of these treatments.

Material And Methods: Retrospective observational study that included patients with LDS treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) or substrate reduction therapy (SRT). Published clinical trials (CT) and LDS treatment guidelines were reviewed to select efficacy variables.

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The determination of acylcarnitines (AC) in dried blood spots (DBS) by tandem mass spectrometry in newborn screening (NBS) programs has enabled medium-chain acyl-coA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) to be identified in presymptomatic newborns. Nevertheless, different confirmatory tests must be performed to confirm the diagnosis. In this work, we have collected and analyzed the NBS results and confirmatory test results (plasma AC, molecular findings, and lymphocyte MCAD activity) of forty individuals, correlating them with clinical outcomes and treatment, with the aim of obtaining useful diagnostic information that could be applied in the follow-up of the patients.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzes the outcomes of diagnosing inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) in newborns following the implementation of Expanded Newborn Screening from 2011 to 2019, where over 592,000 children were screened.
  • Among those screened, 902 had abnormal results, and 222 confirmed cases of IEM were identified, including various conditions like aminoacidopathies, fatty acid oxidation (FAO) defects, and organic acidurias.
  • Only 8.5% of the affected infants showed symptoms at the time of the newborn screening, and genetic testing confirmed the diagnosis in all except two cases of hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA).
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Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IVA or Morquio A syndrome is a progressive and disabling disease characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulphate sulphatase. Its clinical presentation is very heterogeneous and poorly understood in adults. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical manifestations of MPS IVA in adult patients in Spain and to assess their health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

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Striated muscle needs to maintain cellular homeostasis in adaptation to increases in physiological and metabolic demands. Failure to do so can result in rhabdomyolysis. The identification of novel genetic conditions associated with rhabdomyolysis helps to shed light on hitherto unrecognized homeostatic mechanisms.

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We report the clinical, biochemical and genetic findings from a Spanish boy of Caucasian origin who presented with fever-dependent RALF (recurrent acute liver failure) and osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) uncovered two compound heterozygous variants in NBAS (c.[1265 T > C];[1549C > T]:p.

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Atypical microcytic anemias are rare diseases of iron/heme metabolism that can be diagnostically challenging. We report the case of a 2-year-old twin boy with neurodevelopmental delay and persistent microcytosis in whom atypical microcytic anemias was initially suspected. He had low blood iron and transferrin saturation with normal/high ferritin despite iron therapy.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has been used since 2011 in the Community of Madrid for newborn screening, detecting metabolic disorders from dried blood samples, covering 13 conditions related to amino acids and fatty acids.
  • Over 592,000 newborns were screened between 2011 and 2019, resulting in 901 positive cases, with 230 diagnosed with 30 different inborn errors of metabolism, leading to an overall positive predictive value of 25.6%.
  • The screening program was successful in identifying 93% of cases in the presymptomatic stage, demonstrating its effectiveness as a public health initiative.
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Background: Urea cycle disorders are congenital metabolism errors that affect ammonia elimination. Clinical signs and prognosis are strongly influenced by peak ammonia levels. Numerous triggers associated with metabolic decompensation have been described with many of them, including fasting or stress, being related to the perioperative period.

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We report the case of a Caucasian Spanish origin female who showed severe psychomotor developmental delay, hypotonia, strabismus, epilepsy, short stature, and poor verbal language development. Brain magnetic resonance imaging scans showed thickened corpus callosum, cortical malformations, and dilated and abnormal configuration of the lateral ventricles without hydrocephalus. Whole-exome sequence uncovered a de novo variant in the microtubule associated serine/threonine kinase 1 gene (MAST1; NM_014975.

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We report the case of a Caucasian Spanish boy, who showed profound neonatal hypotonia, feeding difficulties, apnea, severe developmental delay, epilepsy, bilateral convergent strabismus, poor verbal language development and a large brainstem. Whole-exome sequence uncovered a novel mutation in the purine-rich element binding protein A gene (; NM_005859.4:c.

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Congenital lactic acidosis (CLA) is a rare condition in most instances due to a range of inborn errors of metabolism that result in defective mitochondrial function. Even though the implementation of next generation sequencing has been rapid, the diagnosis rate for this highly heterogeneous allelic condition remains low. The present work reports our group's experience of using a clinical/biochemical analysis system in conjunction with genetic findings that facilitates the taking of timely clinical decisions with minimum need for invasive procedures.

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Treatment with nitisinone (NTBC) has brought about a drastic improvement in the treatment and prognosis of hereditary tyrosinemia type I (HT1). We conducted a retrospective observational multicentric study in Spanish HT1 patients treated with NTBC to assess clinical and biochemical long-term evolution.We evaluated 52 patients, 7 adults and 45 children, treated with NTBC considering: age at diagnosis, diagnosis by clinical symptoms, or by newborn screening (NBS); phenotype (acute/subacute/chronic), mutational analysis; symptoms at diagnosis and clinical course; biochemical markers; doses of NTBC; treatment adherence; anthropometric evolution; and neurocognitive outcome.

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Purpose: Salts of phenylacetic acid (PAA) and phenylbutyric acid (PBA) have been used for nitrogen elimination as a treatment for hyperammonaemia caused by urea cycle disorders (UCD). A new analytical method for PBA measurement in urine which helps to evaluate the drug adherence has been implemented.

Methods: Urine specimens from UCD patients receiving PBA were analysed by tandem mass spectrometry to measure urine phenylacetylglutamine (PAGln).

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Objective: Thymidine kinase 2, encoded by the nuclear gene TK2, is required for mitochondrial DNA maintenance. Autosomal recessive TK2 mutations cause depletion and multiple deletions of mtDNA that manifest predominantly as a myopathy usually beginning in childhood and progressing relentlessly. We investigated the safety and efficacy of deoxynucleoside monophosphate and deoxynucleoside therapies.

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We report the clinical, biochemical and genetic findings from a Spanish girl of Caucasian origin who presented with macrocephaly, dysmorphic facial features, developmental delay, hypotonia, combined oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) deficiency, epilepsy and anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) uncovered a heterozygous variant in the MTOR gene (NM_004958.3: c.

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VAMP2 encodes the vesicular SNARE protein VAMP2 (also called synaptobrevin-2). Together with its partners syntaxin-1A and synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25), VAMP2 mediates fusion of synaptic vesicles to release neurotransmitters. VAMP2 is essential for vesicular exocytosis and activity-dependent neurotransmitter release.

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Introduction: Population ageing requires that health and social systems focus their attention on identifying frailty in the elderly. In the Canary Islands, there are no studies to determine the prevalence of frailty among its population. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and profile of frailty in the island of La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain.

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The congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are defects in glycoprotein and glycolipid glycan synthesis and attachment. They affect multiple organ/systems, but non-specific symptoms render the diagnosis of the different CDG very challenging. Phosphomannomutase 2 (PMM2)-CDG is the most common CDG, but advances in genetic analysis have shown others to occur more commonly than previously thought.

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