Publications by authors named "Zuntini R"

Hereditary congenital facial palsy (HCFP) is a medical condition caused by dysfunction of the seventh cranial nerve. HCFP is characterized by feeding difficulties and dysmorphic features in the orofacial region. In some cases hearing loss, strabismus, limb malformations, and musculoskeletal defects may be associated.

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Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MOWS) is a rare congenital disease caused by haploinsufficiency of ZEB2, encoding a transcription factor required for neurodevelopment. MOWS is characterized by intellectual disability, epilepsy, typical facial phenotype and other anomalies, such as short stature, Hirschsprung disease, brain and heart defects. Despite some recognizable features, MOWS rarity and phenotypic variability may complicate its diagnosis, particularly in the neonatal period.

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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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Article Synopsis
  • SOX2 disorders can lead to serious congenital conditions like anophthalmia-esophageal-genital syndrome and microphthalmia, with this study focusing on a specific case involving a chromosomal deletion in a 15-week fetus.* -
  • The autopsy revealed multiple abnormalities including bilateral microphthalmia, facial deformities, brain swelling, and lung issues, indicating a complex interplay of malformations stemming from the genetic deletion.* -
  • The findings suggest that the deletion affects the SOX2 gene, crucial for the development of the nervous system and organs, resulting in a range of abnormalities not previously documented in other cases.*
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We report a 7-year-old boy born with epidermal nevi (EN) arranged according to Blaschko's lines involving the face and head, right upper limb, chest, and left lower limb, who developed a left paratesticular embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma at 18 months of age. Parallel sequencing identified a gain-of-function variant (c.37G>C, p.

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Background: KBG syndrome is caused by haploinsufficiency of and is characterised by macrodontia of upper central incisors, distinctive facial features, short stature, skeletal anomalies, developmental delay, brain malformations and seizures. The central nervous system (CNS) and skeletal features remain poorly defined.

Methods: CNS and/or skeletal imaging were collected from molecularly confirmed individuals with KBG syndrome through an international network.

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Objective: We aimed to report on previously unappreciated clinical features associated with -related intellectual disability (ID) syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by global developmental delay, intellectual disability, and language delay, with or without autistic features.

Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) to molecularly characterize an individual presenting with ID, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, behavioral problems, and facial dysmorphisms as major features.

Results: WES allowed us to identify a previously unreported splice site variant, c.

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Introduction: Raynaud-Claes syndrome is a very rare X-linked condition, characterized by intellectual disability, impaired language development, brain abnormalities, facial dysmorphisms and drug-resistant epilepsy. It is caused by loss-of-function variants in the CLCN4 gene, which encodes the 2Cl-/H + exchanger ClC-4, prominently expressed in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Different genotypic variants have been described, each exhibiting specific phenotypic characteristics.

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Article Synopsis
  • The blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulates the central nervous system and is linked to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), especially in infants with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).
  • Researchers identified a rare disease trait in 13 individuals from 8 families due to a genetic variant in the ESAM gene, affecting endothelial cell function and leading to developmental issues.
  • The study highlights the connection between endothelial dysfunction and NDDs, suggesting the emergence of a new category of diseases called "tightjunctionopathies."
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Pathogenic variants in are typically associated with a clinical condition called "capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation" (CM-AVM) syndrome, an autosomal dominant genetic disease characterized by a broad phenotypic variability, even within families. In CM-AVM syndrome, multifocal capillary and arteriovenous malformations are mainly localized in the central nervous system, spine and skin. Although CM-AVM syndrome has been widely described in the literature, only 21 cases with prenatal onset of clinical features have been reported thus far.

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BRCA testing is recommended in all Ovarian Cancer (OC) patients, but the optimal approach is debated. The landscape of alterations was explored in 30 consecutive OC patients: 6 (20.0%) carried germline pathogenic variants, 1 (3.

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PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), is a spectrum of disorders caused by mutations of PTEN, in which non-cancerous growths, called hamartomas, develop in different areas of the body, often including the oral mucosa. PHTS also implies a recognized increased risk of malignancies, as PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene capable of inhibiting progression of several cancers. One of the main and most common clinical manifestation of PHTS are gingival overgrowths presenting as warty lumps.

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Objective: This study delineates the clinical and molecular spectrum of ANKLE2-related microcephaly (MIC), as well as highlights shared pathological mechanisms between ANKLE2 and the Zika virus.

Methods: We identified 12 individuals with MIC and variants in ANKLE2 with a broad range of features. Probands underwent thorough phenotypic evaluations, developmental assessments, and anthropometric measurements.

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Microcephaly primary hereditary (MCPH) is a congenital disease characterized by nonsyndromic reduction in brain size due to impaired neurogenesis, often associated with a variable degree of intellectual disability (ID). The genetic etiology of MCPH is heterogeneous and comprises more than 20 loci, nearly all following a recessive inheritance pattern. The first causative gene identified, or , encodes a centrosomal protein that modulates chromosome condensation and cell cycle progression.

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Lissencephaly describes a group of conditions characterized by the absence of normal cerebral convolutions and abnormalities of cortical development. To date, at least 20 genes have been identified as involved in the pathogenesis of this condition. Variants in , encoding a protein involved in the regulation of neuronal migration, have been recently described as causative of lissencephaly with a posterior-prevalent involvement of the cerebral cortex and an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.

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Germline pathogenic variants cause a spectrum of disorders collectively labeled Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) and featured by hamartomas, developmental anomalies and increased cancer risk. Studies on experimental models provided evidence that is a "haploinsufficient" tumor-suppressor gene, however, mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of clinical manifestations in PHTS patients remain elusive. Beyond analyzing clinical and molecular features of a series of 20 Italian PHTS patients, we performed molecular investigations to explore the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of -associated manifestations, with special focus on mucocutaneous manifestations.

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We report on two siblings suffering from different pathogenic conditions, born to consanguineous parents. A multigene panel for brain malformations and microcephaly identified the homozygous splicing variant NM_005886.3:c.

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The NBN gene has been included in breast cancer (BC) multigene panels based on early studies suggesting an increased BC risk for carriers, though not confirmed by recent research. To evaluate the impact of NBN analysis, we assessed the results of NBN sequencing in 116 BRCA-negative BC patients and reviewed the literature. Three patients (2.

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Cowden Syndrome (CS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by hamartomatous growth in several organs and by an increased risk of malignancies, which makes its recognition essential to undertake risk reduction measures. Although the involvement of gastrointestinal tract is extremely common, awareness of this entity among gastroenterologists appears limited. We report on two unrelated patients: a 46-year-old male and a 38-year-old woman, who were referred to the Genetic Clinic because of the endoscopic finding of multiple colorectal polyps.

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BRCA1 associated protein-1 (BAP1) germline mutations define a novel hereditary cancer syndrome, namely BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome (BAP1-TPDS), characterized by an increased susceptibility to develop different cancer types, including mesothelioma, uveal and cutaneous melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, and basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. Currently, the role of BAP1 germline mutations in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) pathogenesis is less known. Here we report the first clinical case of a female patient who developed an iCCA when she was 47-years-old and was found to carry a novel germline mutation at a splicing site of exon 4 in BAP1 gene (NM_004656.

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We report a patient with developmental delay, brachydactyly type E, short stature, and tetralogy of Fallot. Brachydactyly-mental retardation syndrome (BDMR) was suspected based on the phenotype; however, array CGH excluded a 2q37 deletion, but identified a deletion encompassing the SHOX gene. BDMR is characterized by cognitive impairment, skeletal abnormalities involving hands and feet, short stature, and overweight.

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Detection of variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes poses relevant challenges for counseling and managing patients. VUS carriers should be managed similarly to probands with no BRCA1/2 variants detected, and predictive genetic testing in relatives is discouraged. However, miscomprehension of VUSs is common and can lead to inaccurate risk perception and biased decisions about prophylactic surgery.

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Infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as meningitis/encephalitis (ME) require rapid identification of causative pathogens for effective treatment. This study evaluated the analytical performance and clinical utility of a fully automated multiplex PCR test to improve the microbiological diagnostic workup of ME. Seventy-seven cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 77 patients with suspected ME were studied.

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Germline variants in the APC gene cause familial adenomatous polyposis. Inherited variants in MutYH, POLE, POLD1, NTHL1, and MSH3 genes and somatic APC mosaicism have been reported as alternative causes of polyposis. However, ~30-50% of cases of polyposis remain genetically unsolved.

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