Publications by authors named "S P Smeekens"

While next generation sequencing has expanded the scientific understanding of Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI), the clinical use and re-use of exome sequencing is still emerging. We revisited clinical exome data from 1300 IEI patients using an updated in silico IEI gene panel. Variants were classified and curated through expert review.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Plants must cope with ever-changing temperature conditions in their environment. In many plant species, suboptimal high and low temperatures can induce adaptive mechanisms that allow optimal performance. Thermomorphogenesis is the acclimation to high ambient temperature, whereas cold acclimation refers to the acquisition of cold tolerance following a period of low temperatures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Maternal cell contamination (MCC) in prenatal samples poses a risk for misdiagnosis, and therefore, testing for contamination is necessary during genetic analysis of prenatal specimens. MCC testing is currently performed as a method separate from the diagnostic method. With the increasing application of whole exome sequencing (WES) in prenatal diagnosis, we sought to develop a method to estimate the level of contamination from WES data, aiming to eliminate the need for a separate MCC test.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Maternal cell contamination (MCC) can mislead prenatal genetic tests, and its impact is less recognized in tests using umbilical cord (CB) blood and samples.
  • A study analyzed samples from 1995 to 2021 and found a 4% MCC rate in umbilical CB samples while only one case was noted in cord samples, highlighting risks with sensitive tests that can yield false positives.
  • The research suggests that while umbilical samples can be safely used for genetic testing, routine MCC testing is crucial for both healthcare providers and genetic labs to avoid misdiagnosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A paradox of testosterone effects is seen in adolescents versus adults in social emotional approach-avoidance behavior. During adolescence, high testosterone levels are associated with increased anterior prefrontal (aPFC) involvement in emotion control, whereas during adulthood this neuro-endocrine relation is reversed. Rodent work shows that, during puberty, testosterone transitions from a neuro-developmental to a social-sexual activating hormone.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF