Analysis of ASPM in an ethnically diverse cohort of 400 patient samples: perspectives of the molecular diagnostic laboratory

Primary Autosomal Recessive Microcephaly (MCPH) is characterized by congenital microcephaly usually without additional clinical findings. The most common gene implicated in MCPH is ASPM and a large percentage of mutations described have been homozygous and in consanguineous families primarily of East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. ASPM sequencing was performed on 400 patients between the years 2009 and 2012. Seventy of the patient samples were also analyzed for copy number changes in the ASPM gene. Forty protein truncating mutations, including 29 novel mutations, were identified in 39 patients with MCPH. Approximately one third of patients were compound heterozygotes, indicative of non‐consanguinity in these patients. In addition, 46 non‐synonymous variants were identified and interpreted as variants of uncertain significance. No deletion/duplication in ASPM was identified in the patients analyzed. A wide ethnic distribution was observed, including the first reported patients with ASPM‐related MCPH of Hispanic descent. Clinical information was collected for 26 of the ASPM‐positive patients and 41 of the ASPM‐negative patients. As more individuals are identified with MCPH, we anticipate that we will continue to identify ASPM mutation‐positive patients from all ethnic origins supporting the occurrence of this genetic condition beyond that of consanguineous families of certain ethnic populations.     

A systematic review of cancer GWAS and candidate gene meta-analyses reveals limited overlap but similar effect sizes

Candidate gene and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) represent two complementary approaches to uncovering genetic contributions to common diseases. We systematically reviewed the contributions of these approaches to our knowledge of genetic associations with cancer risk by analyzing the data in the Cancer Genome-wide Association and Meta Analyses database (Cancer GAMAdb). The database catalogs studies published since January 1, 2000, by study and cancer type. In all, we found that meta-analyses and pooled analyses of candidate genes reported 349 statistically significant associations and GWAS reported 269, for a total of 577 unique associations. Only 41 (7.1%) associations were reported in both candidate gene meta-analyses and GWAS, usually with similar effect sizes. When considering only noteworthy associations (defined as those with false-positive report probabilities ≤0.2) and accounting for indirect overlap, we found 202 associations, with 27 of those appearing in both meta-analyses and GWAS. Our findings suggest that meta-analyses of well-conducted candidate gene studies may continue to add to our understanding of the genetic associations in the post-GWAS era.     

Evaluation of PCR-based preimplantation genetic diagnosis applied to monogenic diseases: a collaborative ESHRE PGD consortium study

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for monogenic disorders currently involves polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods, which must be robust, sensitive and highly accurate, precluding misdiagnosis. Twelve adverse misdiagnoses reported to the ESHRE PGD-Consortium are likely an underestimate. This retrospective study, involving six PGD centres, assessed the validity of PCR-based PGD through reanalysis of untransferred embryos from monogenic-PGD cycles. Data were collected on the genotype concordance at PGD and follow-up from 940 untransferred embryos, including details on the parameters of PGD cycles: category of monogenic disease, embryo morphology, embryo biopsy and genotype assay strategy. To determine the validity of PCR-based PGD, the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and diagnostic accuracy were calculated. Stratified analyses were also conducted to assess the influence of the parameters above on the validity of PCR-based PGD. The analysis of overall data showed that 93.7% of embryos had been correctly classified at the time of PGD, with Se of 99.2% and Sp of 80.9%. The stratified analyses found that diagnostic accuracy is statistically significantly higher when PGD is performed on two cells versus one cell (P=0.001). Se was significantly higher when multiplex protocols versus singleplex protocols were applied (P=0.005), as well as for PGD applied on cells from good compared with poor morphology embryos (P=0.032). Morphology, however, did not affect diagnostic accuracy. Multiplex PCR-based methods on one cell, are as robust as those on two cells regarding false negative rate, which is the most important criteria for clinical PGD applications. Overall, this study demonstrates the validity, robustness and high diagnostic value of PCR-based PGD.     

兔肝脏及附属管道的应用解剖学研究

目的　对兔肝脏及其附属管道进行应用解剖学研究。 方法　对20只日本大耳兔分别进行活体和离体形态学观察,制作门静脉和肝静脉管道铸型标本观察其分支与走行,测定各肝叶质量及其所占肝脏百分比。 结果　兔肝肝裂明显,依据肝叶形态、肝裂走行和门静脉主干分支形式将兔肝脏分为五叶,分别为尾状叶、左外叶、左中叶、右中叶、右外叶,各肝叶质量分别为(g)：3.93±1.13、15.93±3.50、14.83±3.31、15.08±4.34、12.08±3.55。左中叶和右中叶根部肝组织融合,其余各肝叶相对独立,尾状叶包括相对独立的乳头突和尾状突两部分。各肝叶有相对独立的Glisson系统和肝静脉走行于肝蒂内。 结论　兔肝解剖学特点与多数哺乳类实验动物肝脏解剖相似,同时又具有其自身特点,适合于肝脏外科疾病动物模型的制作。     

Minimal progesterone support required for the maintenance of pregnancy in mice

A study of the degree of progesterone support required for the maintenance of various stages of pregnancy was undertaken in mice. Mated females were ovariectomized at various stages of pregnancy and progesterone and oestradiol support provided by s.c. Silastic implants with known release characteristics. In the earliest stages of pregnancy (days 1-5), very low concentrations of progesterone (<25% of normal physiological values) were sufficient to maintain pre-implantation stages and allow implantation. In the immediate post-implantation period (days 5-9), the development of implantation sites and decidualization required considerably higher progesterone support. In mid-pregnancy (days 11-14), progesterone alone could not maintain pregnancy unless present in very high amounts; however, the presence of oestradiol during this period lowered the progesterone requirements to well within the physiological range. This effect of oestradiol started on day 11 but required the level of oestradiol support to be kept within strictly defined limits, with high concentrations inducing abortion. Progesterone alone was able to maintain pregnancy from day 15. These results indicate that the minimal progesterone support required for pregnancy in mice varies considerably at different stages of pregnancy and is at least partly modulated by oestradiol.      

Elastin point mutations cause an obstructive vascular disease, supravalvular aortic stenosis

Supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) is an inherited obstructive vascular disease that affects the aorta, carotid, coronary and pulmonary arteries. Previous molecular genetic data have led to the hypothesis that SVAS results from mutations in the elastin gene, ELN. In these studies, the disease phenotype was linked to gross DNA rearrangements (35 and 85 kb deletions and a translocation) in three SVAS families. However, gross rearrangements of ELN have not been identified in most cases of autosomal dominant SVAS. To define the spectrum of ELN mutations responsible for this disorder, we refined the genomic structure of human ELN and used this information in mutational analyses. ELN point mutations co-segregate with the disease in four familial cases and are associated with SVAS in three sporadic cases. Two of the mutations are nonsense, one is a single base pair deletion and four are splice site mutations. In one sporadic case, the mutation arose de novo. These data demonstrate that point mutations of ELN cause autosomal dominant SVAS.      

Anxiety during pregnancy and fetal attachment after in-vitro fertilization conception

The aim of this study was to compare 70 couples who had conceived by in- vitro fertilization (IVF) with 63 matched controls for the prevalence of anxiety and quality of attachment to the baby during pregnancy. Results for mothers showed no group differences using a global measure of anxiety, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. However, pregnancy-specific measures revealed significantly higher levels of anxiety in IVF mothers about the survival and normality of their unborn babies, about damage to their babies during childbirth and about separating from their babies after birth. When IVF mothers were differentiated according to the number of treatment cycles, more differences in anxiety level were revealed, with most increases occurring in mothers who had experienced two or more treatment cycles. IVF fathers did not differ from controls on the global anxiety measure. No data on pregnancy-specific anxiety were available for fathers. Neither IVF mothers nor IVF fathers differed from controls on measures of attachment to the baby during pregnancy. Results are discussed in the context of the need for researchers to employ differentiated and issue-specific measures to identify concerns that may be unique to IVF couples. Clinical implications regarding the need for psychological support during pregnancy are also discussed.      

Analysts on heart rate variability and deceleration capacity of heart rate in preschoolers with viral myocarditis

目的 探讨病毒性心肌炎患儿心率变异性(HRV)与心率减速力(DC)各项指标变化的临床意义.方法 对56例病毒性心肌炎患儿与58例正常对照儿童进行24h动态心电图检查,应用美国DMS公司的动态心电分析系统软件,对HRV及DC各项参数进行分析对比;并分析DC与其他各项指标之间的相关性.结果 与正常对照儿童比较,病毒性心肌炎患儿时域分析的各项参数包括正常窦性RR间期的标准差(SDNN)、每5 min时段内平均正常窦性RR间期的标准差(SDANN)、全程RR间期差的均方根(RMSSD)及频域分析的低频功率(LF)的差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05),而高频功率(HF)显著减低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),且DC显著减低,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).相关性分析中,DC与SDNN、LF、HF均成正相关,其中与HF的相关性最强(r=0.51,P＜0.01).结论病毒性心肌炎患儿存在迷走神经功能受损,心率变异性中的HF与DC反映迷走神经功能的指标均显著降低,且两者具有很大相关性.     

Lower material stiffness in rupture-repaired Achilles tendon during walking: transmission-mode ultrasound for post-surgical tendon evaluation

Purpose

This cross-sectional study used transmission-mode ultrasound to evaluate dynamic tendon properties during walking in surgically repaired and contralateral Achilles tendon (AT), with a median (range) post-operative period of 22 (4–58) months. It was hypothesised that the axial transmission speed of ultrasound (TSOU) during walking would be slower, indicating lower material stiffness in repaired compared with contralateral AT.

Methods

Ten patients [median (range) age 47 (37–69) years; height 180 (170–189) cm; weight 93 (62–119) kg], who had undergone open surgical repair of the AT and were clinically recovered according to their treating clinicians, walked barefoot on a treadmill at self-selected speed (1.0 ± 0.2 m/s). Synchronous measures of TSOU, sagittal ankle motion, vertical ground reaction force (GRF), and spatiotemporal gait parameters were recorded during 20 s of steady-state walking. Paired t tests were used to evaluate potential between-limb differences in TSOU, GRF, ankle motion, and spatiotemporal gait parameters.

Results

TSOU was significantly lower (≈175 m/s) in the repaired than in the contralateral AT over the entire gait cycle (P < 0.05). Sagittal ankle motion was significantly greater (≈3°) in the repaired than in the contralateral limb (P = 0.036). There were no significant differences in GRF or spatiotemporal parameters between limbs.

Conclusions

Repaired AT was characterised by a lower TSOU, reflecting a lower material stiffness in the repaired tendon than in the contralateral tendon. A lower material stiffness may underpin greater ankle joint motion of the repaired limb during walking and long-term deficits in the muscle-tendon unit reported with AT repair. Treatment and rehabilitation approaches that focus on increasing the material stiffness of the repaired AT may be clinically beneficial. Transmission-mode ultrasound would seem useful for quantifying tendon properties post AT rupture repair and may have the potential to individually guide rehabilitation programmes, thereby aiding safer return to physical activity.

Level of evidence

II.