Publications by authors named "Margot H"

Background: loss of function manifests across a broad spectrum of phenotypes, ranging from severe prenatal onset to asymptomatic cases. Bilateral periventricular nodular heterotopia (BPNH) consistently occurs in affected individuals. This retrospective study involving French patients with BPNH evaluates the prevalence of gene dosage anomalies and investigates genotype-phenotype correlations in a large cohort of French patients with BPNH.

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  • PTEN hamartoma tumour syndrome (PHTS) includes syndromes like Cowden syndrome, with missense variants making up 30% of PHTS cases, yet their classification is complex.
  • A study from the Bergonie Institute identified 76 non-truncating variants in 166 patients, developing a new classification method using criteria like functional analysis, phenotypic features, and familial patterns.
  • The new approach successfully reclassifies 25 variants, revealing the need to update current classification standards based on multiple factors, and it requires further validation in future research.
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  • * A new case of NKH was identified involving a child with a unique genetic variant in the GLRX5 gene that led to significant neurological problems, confirmed through MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
  • * The child, who experienced a rapid decline in health, passed away at four months old, demonstrating that this case was more severe than previously documented instances of GLRX5-related NKH, emphasizing the importance of genetic factors in the disorder's severity and symptoms.
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  • The research links the TUBA4A gene to familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) and fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), identifying pathogenic variants in patients with these conditions.* -
  • A study of 448 patients with cerebellar ataxia revealed ultra-rare, likely harmful TUBA4A variants not found in public databases, indicating a potential genetic cause for this condition.* -
  • Analysis showed a significant presence of TUBA4A mutations in inherited ataxia cases compared to controls, with experiments on patient-derived fibroblasts revealing disruptions in microtubule organization linked to the mutations.*
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Intracellular trafficking involves an intricate machinery of motor complexes including the dynein complex to shuttle cargo for autophagolysosomal degradation. Deficiency in dynein axonemal chains as well as cytoplasmic light and intermediate chains have been linked with ciliary dyskinesia and skeletal dysplasia. The cytoplasmic dynein 1 heavy chain protein (DYNC1H1) serves as a core complex for retrograde trafficking in neuronal axons.

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  • KBG syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by neurodevelopmental issues, intellectual disability, behavioral problems, epilepsy, and distinct physical features.
  • This study aimed to analyze the diagnostic pathway for individuals with KBG syndrome, focusing on the healthcare professionals involved and the reasons for referrals.
  • Results indicated that pediatricians were the primary referrers for genetic consultation, mainly due to concerns about learning delays or intellectual disabilities in children.
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Marfanoid habitus and intellectual disability (MHID) co-occur in multiple neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Among those, Lujan-Fryns, an X-linked genetic disorder associated with variants in MED12 was the first such syndrome identified. Accurate molecular diagnosis for these MHID syndromes remains a challenge due to significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity.

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  • - Kabuki syndrome (KS) is now categorized as a rare disease linked to genetic variants in KMT2D and KDM6A, primarily characterized by intellectual disability and unique facial features, often seen in patients with autoimmune cytopenia (AIC).
  • - A study involving 11 patients with KS and AIC revealed that all had chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura, with many also experiencing Evans syndrome and low immunoglobulin levels, highlighting a median of 8 KS-related symptoms per patient.
  • - Despite ongoing treatment needs, with eight patients receiving second-line therapies like rituximab, the research advocates for prompt identification of KS by pediatricians to ensure effective clinical management and long-term care strategies.
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  • The DIP2 gene, first found in fruit flies, is crucial for neuron branching and regeneration, with vertebrate versions (DIP2A, DIP2B, and DIP2C) being highly conserved in the central nervous system.
  • Research showed that mutations in DIP2C are linked to developmental delays in expressive language and speech articulation in 23 affected individuals.
  • Alongside developmental issues, some individuals with DIP2C variants also presented with various cardiac defects and minor facial anomalies, highlighting a connection between the gene's loss-of-function and neurocognitive and physical phenotypes.
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Purpose: BCL11B-related disorder (BCL11B-RD) arises from rare genetic variants within the BCL11B gene, resulting in a distinctive clinical spectrum encompassing syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder, with or without intellectual disability, associated with facial features and impaired immune function. This study presents an in-depth clinico-biological analysis of 20 newly reported individuals with BCL11B-RD, coupled with a characterization of genome-wide DNA methylation patterns of this genetic condition.

Methods: Through an international collaboration, clinical and molecular data from 20 individuals were systematically gathered, and a comparative analysis was conducted between this series and existing literature.

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  • - Nucleoporin (NUP) 85 is essential for various cellular processes, and mutations in its gene are linked to multiple human diseases, including steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS).
  • - Recent findings expand the range of disorders associated with NUP85 by identifying variants in individuals with primary autosomal recessive microcephaly (MCPH) and Seckel syndrome (SCKS), revealing a broader impact of NUP85 mutations.
  • - The study demonstrates that certain missense variants diminish cell viability in fibroblasts and may disrupt the structural integrity and interactions of NUP85, highlighting its importance in brain development and function.
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  • The study reports on seven patients with Marbach-Schaaf neurodevelopmental syndrome, all sharing the same genetic variant in the PRKAR1B gene, which affects their neurological development.
  • Key symptoms include global developmental delay, reduced pain sensitivity, and some behavioral issues, with only one patient formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), suggesting a lower prevalence of ASD in this syndrome than previously thought.
  • The findings indicate that PRKAR1B plays a significant role in neuron function and highlights the need to explore molecular mechanisms to better understand the disorder's diverse clinical presentations.
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TRPM3 encodes a transient receptor potential cation channel of the melastatin family, expressed in the central nervous system and in peripheral sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia. The recurrent substitution in TRPM3: c.2509G>A, p.

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Up to 80% of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic variants remain of uncertain clinical significance (VUSs). Only variants classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic can guide breast and ovarian cancer prevention measures and treatment by PARP inhibitors. We report the first results of the ongoing French national COVAR (cosegregation variant) study, the aim of which is to classify BRCA1/2 VUSs.

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Despite survival improvements achieved over the last two decades, prostate cancer remains lethal at the metastatic castration-resistant stage (mCRPC) and new therapeutic approaches are needed. Germinal and/or somatic alterations of DNA-damage response pathway genes are found in a substantial number of patients with advanced prostate cancers, mainly of poor prognosis. Such alterations induce a dependency for single strand break reparation through the poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) system, providing the rationale to develop PARP inhibitors.

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  • Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic disorder marked by distinctive facial features, intellectual disability, and various physical malformations.
  • In a study involving 177 individuals with KS, significant percentages displayed immunopathological issues: 44.1% had infection susceptibility, 58.2% had low immunoglobulin levels, and there were notable occurrences of autoimmune diseases.
  • The findings underscore the critical need for regular screening and preventive care for these potentially serious health issues in KS patients.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate if there is a link between muscular strength (MS) and markers of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among older adults. The cross-sectional analysis based on 1041 men and women, aged 65-94 years, who participated in the KORA-Age study. Participants underwent an interview and extensive examinations including anthropometric measurements, diseases and drug intake registration, determination of health-related behaviors, collection of blood samples for measurements of cystatin C and maximal muscle strength evaluation.

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Background: Fresh sprouted seeds have been associated with a number of large outbreaks caused by Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. However, the high number of commensal bacteria found on sprouted seeds hampers the detection of these pathogens.

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The variability of stress resistance and lag time of single cells can have a big impact on their growth and therefore on the probability of their detection in food. In this study, six strains of Cronobacter spp. were subjected to heat, acid and desiccation stress and single cell lag times were determined using optical density measurements.

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Sprouted seeds have been implicated in a number of serious outbreaks caused by Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Sprouts pose a very complex challenge to bacterial pathogen enrichment and detection since they naturally contain high levels of background microflora including members of the Enterobacteriaceae. As such, the currently used method cannot ensure reliable detection of STEC in sprouts.

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This study evaluated the effects of changing the composition of the pre-enrichment medium buffered peptone water (BPW) on the growth of stressed and unstressed Gram-negative foodborne pathogens in a one-broth enrichment strategy. BPW supplemented with an available iron source and sodium pyruvate, along with low levels of 8-hydroxyquinoline and sodium deoxycholate (BPW-S) improved the recovery of desiccated Cronobacter spp. from powdered infant formula.

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The traditional cultural detection of Salmonella spp. is both time- and labour-intensive. Salmonella is often a release criterion for the food industry and time to result is therefore an important factor.

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