The pathogenic mechanism of syndactyly type V identified in a Hoxd13Q50R knock-in mice.

Syndactyly type V (SDTY5) is an autosomal dominant extremity malformation characterized by fusion of the fourth and fifth metacarpals. In the previous publication, we first identified a heterozygous missense mutation Q50R in homeobox domain (HD) of HOXD13 in a large Chinese family with SDTY5. In order to substantiate the pathogenicity of the variant and elucidate the underlying pathogenic mechanism causing limb malformation, transcription-activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) was employed to generate a Hoxd13Q50R mutant mouse.

Panoramic variation analysis of a family with neurodevelopmental disorders caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in TMEM141, DDHD2, and LHFPL5.

Highly clinical and genetic heterogeneity of neurodevelopmental disorders presents a major challenge in clinical genetics and medicine. Panoramic variation analysis is imperative to analyze the disease phenotypes resulting from multilocus genomic variation. Here, a Pakistani family with parental consanguinity was presented, characterized with severe intellectual disability (ID), spastic paraplegia, and deafness.

Phenotypic Characterization of Intellectual Disability Caused by Mutation in Two Consanguineous Pakistani Families.

A homozygous in-frame deletion (c. 758_778del; p. Glu253_Ala259del) in membrane-bound O-acyltransferase family member 7 (, also known as lysophosphatidylinositol acyltransferase (LPIAT1), was previously reported to be the genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID) in consanguineous families from Pakistan.

A Novel Homozygous Nonsense Mutation p.Cys366* in the WNT10B Gene Underlying Split-Hand/Split Foot Malformation in a Consanguineous Pakistani Family.

Split hand/split foot malformation (SHFM) or ectrodactyly is characterized by a deep median cleft of the hand or foot, hypoplasia or aplasia of the metacarpals, metatarsals, and phalanges. It is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of limb malformations. This study aimed to identify the pathogenic variant in a consanguineous Pakistani family with autosomal recessive SHFM.

Correction to: Homozygous missense variant in the TTN gene causing autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 10.

Please be advised that following publication of the original article [1], the authors have identified the following errors with the scientific content.

Novel Compound Heterozygous Mutations in TTI2 Cause Syndromic Intellectual Disability in a Chinese Family.

Telomere maintenance 2 (TELO2)-interacting protein 2 (TTI2) interacts with TTI1 and TELO2 to form the Triple T complex, which is required for various cellular processes, including the double-strand DNA break response, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, and telomerase assembly. Herein, we identified compound heterozygous mutations in using whole-exome sequencing (WES) in a Chinese family with a recessive inheritance pattern of syndromic intellectual disability. The patients displayed intellectual disability, aggressive and self-injurious behaviors, facial dysmorphic features, microcephaly, and skeletal anomalies.

Homozygous missense variant in the TTN gene causing autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 10.

Background: Limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs) are large group of heterogeneous genetic diseases, having a hallmark feature of muscle weakness. Pathogenic mutations in the gene encoding the giant skeletal muscle protein titin (TTN) are associated with several muscle disorders, including cardiomyopathy, recessive congenital myopathies and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) type10. The phenotypic spectrum of titinopathies is expanding, as next generation sequencing (NGS) technology makes screening of this large gene possible.

Sequence variants in genes causing nonsyndromic hearing loss in a Pakistani cohort.

Background: Hearing loss or hearing impairment is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder. More than 117 genes were discovered to date in hereditary, nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL). Identifying novel gene variants and their frequency in specific populations is valuable for public health and potentially for genetic screening of NSHL.

Rare compound heterozygous mutations in gene cause constitutive mismatch repair deficiency syndrome.

Few studies reported patients who harbored three kinds of primary tumors simultaneously. Here, we present a 9-year-old boy with colon carcinoma, brain medulloblastoma, and lymphoma. Genetic mutation detection was explored with next-generation sequencing, and compound heterozygous mutations in gene c.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of Chinese patients with familial or sporadic pediatric cataract.

Background: Pediatric cataract is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease which is a significant cause of lifelong visual impairment and treatable blindness. Our study aims to investigate the genotype spectrum in a group of Chinese patients with pediatric cataract.

Methods: We enrolled 39 families with pediatric cataract from October 2015 to April 2016.

Identification of a Novel Nonsense ASPM Mutation in a Large Consanguineous Pakistani Family Using Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing.

Aims: To identify the pathogenic mutation underlying microcephaly primary hereditary (MCPH) in a large consanguineous Pakistani family.

Methods: A five-generation family with an autosomal recessive transmission of MCPH was recruited. Targeted next-generation DNA sequencing was carried out to analyze the genomic DNA sample from the proband with MCPH using a previously designed panel targeting 46 known microcephaly-causing genes.

A novel homozygous missense mutation in causes mesoaxial synostotic syndactyly with phalangeal reduction in a Pakistani family.

Mesoaxial synostotic syndactyly with phalangeal reduction (MSSD) is a rare non-syndromic limb malformation with autosomal recessive inheritance. To date, only a few affected families with MSSD who had mutations have been reported. The present report describes a consanguineous Pakistani family with five affected individuals with MSSD who exhibited an autosomal recessive pattern.

Molecular Analysis of Twelve Pakistani Families with Nonsyndromic or Syndromic Hearing Loss.

Aim: To investigate the causative genetic mutations in 12 Pakistani families with nonsyndromic or syndromic hearing loss.

Methods: Mutations in the most common causative gene for hearing loss, GJB2, were evaluated by Sanger sequencing. Targeted next-generation sequencing or whole-exome sequencing was used to analyze the genomic DNA samples from 11 probands with hearing loss.

Molecular analysis of 23 Pakistani families with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly using targeted next-generation sequencing.

Primary microcephaly is genetically heterogeneous, with most cases showing autosomal recessive inheritance. We designed a panel containing 46 primary microcephaly-causing genes and performed mutation screening in 23 Pakistani families with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly. We found mutations that were pathogenic or likely to be pathogenic in 22 families, including 18 families with known mutations in ASPM, three with novel mutations in WDR62 and one with a novel in-frame deletion mutation in CASC5.

Intermittent cold exposure results in visceral adipose tissue "browning" in the plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae).

The plateau pika has developed tolerance to cold and hypoxia in order to adapt to living in the extreme environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. One mammalian mechanism for cold adaptation is thermogenesis by brown adipose tissue (BAT), but the degree to which pika exploits this mechanism or how it may be modified by the additional stresses of high altitude is not known. Intermittent Cold Exposure (ICE) is an approachable method to study cold adaptation in rodents.