Publications by authors named "Mencarelli M"

Article Synopsis
  • ARID1A and ARID1B duplications are linked to Coffin-Siris syndrome, but ARID1B duplications have not been previously associated with a specific clinical phenotype until now.
  • A study analyzed 16 cases of ARID1A and 13 cases of ARID1B duplications, revealing that ARID1A duplications resulted in more severe symptoms, including intellectual disabilities and growth delays, while both groups displayed similar features.
  • The research identified unique DNA methylation patterns in ARID1A duplication patients, which differ from those with loss-of-function variants, suggesting the presence of a distinct clinical phenotype for both ARID1A and ARID1B duplications, indicating a new type of
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Since 2008, FOXG1 haploinsufficiency has been linked to a severe neurodevelopmental phenotype resembling Rett syndrome but with earlier onset. Most patients are unable to sit, walk, or speak. For years, FOXG1 sequencing was only prescribed in such severe cases, limiting insight into the full clinical spectrum associated with this gene.

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Purpose: Miller-Dieker syndrome is caused by a multiple gene deletion, including PAFAH1B1 and YWHAE. Although deletion of PAFAH1B1 causes lissencephaly unambiguously, deletion of YWHAE alone has not clearly been linked to a human disorder.

Methods: Cases with YWHAE variants were collected through international data sharing networks.

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Purpose: Within the Solve-RD project (https://solve-rd.eu/), the European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies aimed to investigate whether a reanalysis of exomes from unsolved cases based on ClinVar annotations could establish additional diagnoses. We present the results of the "ClinVar low-hanging fruit" reanalysis, reasons for the failure of previous analyses, and lessons learned.

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Objective: The present manuscript aims to describe an international, electronic-based, user-friendly and interoperable patient registry for monogenic autoinflammatory diseases (mAIDs), developed in the contest of the Autoinflammatory Diseases Alliance (AIDA) Network.

Methods: This is an electronic platform, based on the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) tool, used for real-world data collection of demographics, clinical, laboratory, instrumental and socioeconomic data of mAIDs patients. The instrument has flexibility, may change over time based on new scientific acquisitions, and communicate potentially with other similar registries; security, data quality and data governance are corner stones of the platform.

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  • The study identifies a new autosomal dominant disorder linked to loss-of-function variants in the CAPRIN1 gene, which plays a role in neuronal mRNA transport and translation, affecting cognitive and developmental functions.
  • Out of 12 cases studied, patients exhibited a range of neurodevelopmental issues, including language impairments, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, and autism, along with various physical health problems.
  • Using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, the researchers created CAPRIN1 deficient stem cells, finding that the loss of this gene leads to disrupted neuronal organization, reduced neuronal function, and impaired calcium signaling, suggesting significant impacts on brain development and function.
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  • - KBG syndrome (KBGS) is marked by unique facial features, short stature, and varied clinical symptoms, with a significant portion of individuals experiencing intellectual disability and epilepsy.
  • - A recent European study examined 49 KBGS patients using advanced genetic testing to understand the syndrome better, revealing common traits like dental anomalies and skeletal issues alongside neurological concerns.
  • - The findings suggest that clinicians should be aware of a broader range of symptoms, especially dental and palatal abnormalities, and include specific genetic testing for more accurate diagnosis and management of KBGS.
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Whole exome sequencing has provided significant opportunities to discover novel candidate genes for intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. Variants in the spectrin genes , and have been associated with neurological disorders; however, gene-variants have not been associated with any human disorder. This is the first report that associates gene variants (ENSG00000137877: c.

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Genetic defects in the SHANK2 gene, encoding for synaptic scaffolding protein, are associated with a variety of neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorders and mild to moderate intellectual disability. Until now, limited patient clinical descriptions have been published. Only 13 unrelated patients with SHANK2 pathogenic variations or microdeletions have been reported worldwide.

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Intellectual disability (ID) is characterized by impairments in the cognitive processes and in the tasks of daily life. It encompasses a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders often associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social and communication abilities are strongly compromised in ASD.

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Spondyloocular syndrome (SOS) is a skeletal disorder caused by pathogenic variants in gene encoding a xylotransferase involved in the biosynthesis of proteoglycans. This condition, with autosomal recessive inheritance, has a high phenotypic variability. It is characterized by bone abnormalities (osteoporosis, fractures), eye and cardiac defects, hearing impairment, and varying degrees of developmental delay.

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Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by a deficit in social interaction and communication. Many genetic variants are associated with ASD, including duplication of 7q11.23 encompassing 26-28 genes.

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Background: Chromosome 4q deletions are rare disorders phenotypically characterized by several features. The most commonly described ocular abnormalities include unilateral microphthalmia with bilateral colobomata, blue sclerae with pigmented retinal clumps, hypermetropia, and a divergent squint.

Purpose: To report a case of 4q12 deletion with a singular retinal feature.

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Intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) belong to neurodevelopmental disorders and occur in ~1% of the general population. Due to disease heterogeneity, identifying the etiology of ID and ASD remains challenging. Exome sequencing (ES) offers the opportunity to rapidly identify variants associated with these two entities that often co-exist.

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Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome is a condition in which the risk of breast and ovarian cancer is higher than in the general population. The prevalent pathogenesis is attributable to inactivating variants of the highly penetrant genes, however, other cancer susceptibility genes may also be involved. By Exome Sequencing (WES) we analyzed a series of 200 individuals selected for genetic testing in genes according to the updated National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines.

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IQSEC2 mutations are associated with IQSEC2-related intellectual disability (ID). Phenotypic spectrum has been better defined in the last few years by the increasing number of reported cases although the genotype-phenotype relationship for IQSEC2 remains overall complex. As for IQSEC2-related ID a wide phenotypic diversity has been described in Rett syndrome (RTT).

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Article Synopsis
  • - MEN1 is a rare genetic condition where individuals inherit a tendency to develop tumors in endocrine glands, primarily affecting the parathyroid, pituitary, and neuroendocrine tissues.
  • - Analysis of genetic mutations linked to aggressive forms of MEN1 has been inconclusive, but certain mutations, like frameshift and nonsense mutations, are associated with more severe tumors, especially in the pancreas.
  • - A new mutation was identified in a patient with MEN1 who experienced multiple tumor manifestations, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring of patients with aggressive disease features despite the uncertainty in genotype-phenotype relationships.
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Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCTs) are neoplasms of the ovary, of which, due to their rarity and heterogeneity, few is reported about genetic background and development. Here, we report a 18-years old patient diagnosed with an ovarian mixed germ cell tumor, without any previous history of malignancies, who has been treated with surgery and chemotherapy and died 4 years later due to peritoneal metastasis complications. Patient's blood DNA was screened for a panel of 52 cancer-related genes in order to identify predisposing aberrations to this rare cancer.

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  • When parents reproduce successfully, they are more likely to divorce and seek new mates rather than stay together, contrary to traditional evolutionary expectations.
  • Data from plover populations show that successful nesting leads to divorce, while failed nests result in parents sticking together for future breeding.
  • Divorcing parents often produce more offspring in a season than those who remain with their partner, highlighting divorce as an adaptive strategy to enhance reproductive success, influenced by factors like temperature.
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This study explores demographic, clinical, and therapeutic features of tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS) in a cohort of 80 patients recruited from 19 Italian referral Centers. Patients' data were collected retrospectively and then analyzed according to age groups (disease onset before or after 16 years) and genotype (high penetrance (HP) and low penetrance (LP) gene variants). Pediatric- and adult-onset were reported, respectively, in 44 and 36 patients; HP and LP variants were found, respectively, in 32 and 44 cases.

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