A clinical and genetic study of 56 Saudi Wilson disease patients: identification of Saudi-specific mutations

Wilson disease (WD) is a hereditary disorder, with recessive transmission and genetic heterogeneity. Several mutations of ATP7B, the gene underlying WD, were reported in many ethnic groups. In this study, mutation screening in ATP7B of 56 Saudi Arabian WD patients was undertaken. The clinical data of all patients were recorded. The entire ATP7B coding sequence, including intron-exon boundaries were screened for mutation by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based mutation detection technique and DNA sequencing. Thirty-nine patients were symptomatic at presentation and 17 subjects were pre-symptomatic siblings of affected patients. Fourteen patients had neurological, 11 patients had mixed (hepatic and neurological), and 14 patients had hepatic presentations. Family history suggestive of WD was present in 72% of cases and 68% had consanguineous parents. Genetic analysis showed disease-causing mutations in three exons (exons 8, 19 and 21) of the ATP7B gene in 28 patients (50%). Mutations in exons 21 (18 cases) and 19 (one case) were unique for Saudis. This large series of Saudi patients with WD has shown wide variability in the genomic substrate of WD. There is no correlation between genotype and clinical presentation.     

荧光偏振检测HBV DNA C区BCP双突变

目的：建立简便、灵敏的HBV DNA序列中BCP双突变点的检测方法．方法：采用终点终止法和偏振光检测技术进行点突变的检测．首先对HBV C区基因进行PCR扩增，然后用特异探针与扩增产物中待测核苷酸的下游序列杂交，使探针的3’端可以在DNA聚合酶的催化下，依据其互补链上的待测核苷酸连接上一个标有特定荧光素的ddNTP，然后检测该3’端带有荧光素的探针，根据检测到的荧光素种类和偏振光的强度可以判定待测点是何种核苷酸．结果：该方法可以检测出HBV基因序列中BCP双突变核苷酸类型以及检测1个拷贝的模板，并且可以从BCP野性株DNA序列中检出5％BCP双突变DNA序列．结论：该技术可以检测血清中HBV DNA C区BCP双突变．     

G2019S LRRK2 mutation in familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease in Russia.

Among mutations associated with autosomal dominant and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) the G2019S substitution in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene is the most frequently identified. To estimate its frequency in Russia, we analyzed 208 patients with PD from the Northwestern region of Russia. Of these, 51 patients were probands from families with PD compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance. The control group represented 161 subjects without neurological disorders settled in the same region. The frequency of the G2019S mutation was greater in familial PD (2 [3.9%] of 51) than in sporadic PD (1 [0.6%] of 157). In addition, this mutation was found in the proband's father, who also had PD, in 1 PD family, and in 1 carrier without signs of PD at age 40 in another PD family. All carriers were heterozygous for the G2019S mutation and reported the Ashkenazi Jewish origin. The mutation was not found in the control group.     

Construction and validation of a Parkinson's disease mutation genotyping array for the Parkin gene.

Parkin mutations account for the majority of familial and sporadic early onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) cases with a known genetic association. More than 100 mutations have been described in the Parkin gene that includes homozygous, compound heterozygous, and single heterozygous mutations. We have designed a Parkin mutation genotyping array (gene chip) that includes published Parkin sequence variants and allows their simultaneous detection. The chip was validated by screening 85 PD cases and 47 controls previously tested for Parkin mutations. Similar genotyping microarrays have been developed for other genetically heterogeneous diseases including age-related macular degeneration. Here, we show the utility of a genotyping array for Parkinson's disease by analysis of 60 subjects from the Genetic Epidemiology of Parkinson Disease (GEPD) study that includes 15 early-onset PD case probands and 45 relatives.     

肝移植后单一拉米夫定干预下HBV再感染及其相关因素分析

目的　探讨在单一拉米夫定 (LMV)干预下乙型肝炎相关性肝病肝移植后HBV再感染的发生 ,并分析其发生的易感因素。方法　随访 1999～ 2 0 0 3年接受肝移植并采用单一LMV防治HBV再感染的 6 3例乙肝相关性肝病患者 ,术后定期进行乙肝标志物、肝功能及HBVDNA定量检测 ,调查HBV再感染发生率并采用Logistic回归分析方法就术前诊断、病毒学资料及抗病毒治疗等分析其可能的易感因素。结果　在不同时期共出现HBV再感染 17例 ;各时间段HBV再感染率分别是 :6个月内9.5 % (6 / 6 3,其中 5例术后HBV标志物一直未阴转 ) ,6个月～ 1年 13.2 % (7/ 5 3) ,1～ 2年 2 7.8% (10 /36 ) ,2～ 3年 4 1.2 % (7/ 17) ,3年以上 6 0 .0 % (3/ 5 ) ;患者术前HBVDNA阳性及长期服用LMV与术后再感染呈正相关 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,而术前诊断、性别、年龄及血清HBsAg和HBeAg状态与HBV再感染则未发现显著相关性。结论　单一LMV预防HBV再感染对大多数肝移植者仍有效 ,但随术后存活时间的延长HBV再感染率呈现上升 ;术前使HBVDNA阴转及建立针对LMV耐药性变异的监测对防治再感染是必要的。     

Screening for SNCA and LRRK2 mutations in Greek sporadic and autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease: identification of two novel LRRK2 variants

Mutations in SNCA and LRRK2 genes, encoding alpha-synuclein and leucine-rich repeat kinase 2, respectively, cause autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease (AdPD). The LRRK2 G2019S (c.6055G > A) and R1441G (c.4321C > G) mutations have also been identified in sporadic PD (sPD). We studied 55 unrelated patients with AdPD, 235 patients with sPD, and 235 healthy age- and gender-matched controls all of Greek origin. Patients with AdPD were screened for SNCA and LRRK2 mutations by direct sequencing. SNCA gene dosage analysis was also performed for AdPD using quantitative duplex polymerase chain reaction of genomic DNA. In addition, we investigated the frequency of the LRRK2 G2019S mutation in sPD. We found no missense mutations or multiplications in the SNCA gene. Here we report two novel variants, A211V (c.632C > T) and K544E (c.1630A > G) in LRRK2 gene in two patients with AdPD that was not present in controls. We identified only one patient with sPD (1/235; 0.4%) carrying the G2019S mutation. LRRK2 mutations are present in AdPD and sPD patients of Greek origin.     

HFE codon 63/282 (H63D/C282Y) dimorphism in German patients with genetic hemochromatosis

Abstract: Genetic hemochromatosis (GH) is closely associated with genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on chromosome 6. Recently, a candidate gene for GH, with structural similarities to MHC class I genes, designated HLA-H and presently named HFE, has been cloned. The HFE gene is localized telomeric to the MHC and several reports have indicated that the HFE gene is mutated in GH patients. In the present study we have analyzed the relationship of HFE gene variants and disease manifestation in GH patients and family members. Fifty-seven patients with GH, 73 family members and 153 healthy blood donors were studied for the amino acid dimorphism at codon 63 (His63Asp=H63D) and codon 282 (Cys282Tyr= C282Y) of the HFE gene. The codon 63 and 282 dimorphism were defined by PCR amplification of genomic DNA samples and restriction enzyme digestion using RsaI/SnaBI for C282Y and Bcll/Mbo 1 for H63D. Ferritin, transferrin serum levels and total iron-binding capacity were determined prior to therapeutic intervention. The Tyr-282 substitution occurred in 53 (93%) of patients compared with 8 (5.2%) of controls (OR=169, P >0.0001). Fifty-one (90%) patients were Tyr-282 homozygous. In contrast, the Asp-63 substitution was present in 5 (8.8%) of the patients compared with 34 (22%) of controls (OR=0.39, P =NS) with none of the patients being homozygous. In Tyr-282 homozygous GH patients serum ferritin levels, transferrin saturation, liver iron and liver iron index were elevated significantly compared to Tyr-282-negative patients, whereas no difference was observed between Tyr/Cys-282 heterozygous and Tyr-282-negative patients.     

Mutations in the androgen receptor gene of seven Chinese patients with complete androgen insensitivity syndromes

Androgenplaysanimportantroleinthenormaldevelopmentofmalephenotypeandtheregulationofvirilization.Theseactionsofandrogenaremediatedbytheintracellularandrogenreceptor(AR)containingN--terminal,DNAuandsteroidbindingdomains.MutationsintheARgenecancausevariousdegreesofandrogenInsensitivitysyndromes(AlS)inpatientswith46,XYkaryotype.ThephenotypeofpatientswithAlSrangesfromcompletefemaleexternalgenitalia(completeAlS,CAIS)overgenitalambiguity(partialAlS,PAlS)totheinfertilewithnormalmaleornearlys…