Short stature before puberty: which children should be screened for SHOX deficiency?

Objective: We studied the prevalence of deficiency in the short stature homeobox containing gene (SHOX) in prepubertal short-statured children and analyzed the clinical and radiological signs.

Methods: Screening for SHOX deficiency was performed in 449 prepubertal short-statured children (54% females, aged 4-10 years) by direct sequencing and multiplex ligation probe-dependent amplification. Children with SHOX deficiency were compared to 1:2 age- and gender-matched prepubertal children without SHOX deficiency with respect to left-hand radiographs and anthropometrics including different ratios to height and proposed scores.

Guidelines for the genetic diagnosis of hereditary recurrent fevers.

Hereditary recurrent fevers (HRFs) are a group of monogenic autoinflammatory diseases characterised by recurrent bouts of fever and serosal inflammation that are caused by pathogenic variants in genes important for the regulation of innate immunity. Discovery of the molecular defects responsible for these diseases has initiated genetic diagnostics in many countries around the world, including the Middle East, Europe, USA, Japan and Australia. However, diverse testing methods and reporting practices are employed and there is a clear need for consensus guidelines for HRF genetic testing.

Definable somatic disorders in overweight children and adolescents.

Objective: To analyze the frequencies and clinical presentation of definable somatic disorders in children who are overweight.

Study Design: We assessed prospectively 1405 children aged 4 to 16 years who were overweight and came to our specialized clinic for endocrinology and obesity with a standardized diagnostic procedure. In a subgroup of 223 children, we sought mutations in the melanocortin-4-receptor gene (MC4R).

Prognostic value of genomic alterations in minimal residual cancer cells purified from the blood of breast cancer patients.

The prognostic value of disseminated tumour cells derived from 353 breast cancer patients was evaluated. Disseminated tumour cells were purified from blood using a newly established method and nucleic acids were subsequently isolated. We investigated genomic imbalances (GI) such as mutation, amplification and loss of heterozygosity of 13 tumour suppressor genes and 2 proto-oncogenes using DNA from isolated minimal residual cancer cells.

Activation induces rapid and profound alterations in the trafficking of T cells.

Activation and differentiation of lymphocytes have profound effects on their trafficking. Whereas naive T cells recirculate through lymphoid organs, activated cells localize predominantly in other compartments. Here, we report that changes in migratory properties of T cells occur immediately upon activation via the TCR.