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Heterogeneous Spectrum (heterogeneous + spectrum)
Selected AbstractsBone marrow cells from myelodysplastic syndromes show altered immunophenotypic profiles that may contribute to the diagnosis and prognostic stratification of the disease: A pilot study on a series of 56 patients,CYTOMETRY, Issue 3 2010Sergio Matarraz Abstract A heterogeneous spectrum of immunophenotypic abnormalities have been reported in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). However, most studies are restricted to the analysis of CD34+ cells and/or other major subsets of CD34, cells, frequently not exploring the diagnostic and prognostic impact of immunophenotyping. Methods: We propose for the first time an immunophenotypic score (IS) based on the altered distribution and immunophenotypic features of maturing/mature compartments of bone marrow (BM) hematopoietic cells in 56 patients with MDS that could contribute to a refined diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of the disease. Results: Although MDS-associated phenotypes were detected in reactive BM, the overall immunophenotypic profile of BM cells allowed an efficient discrimination between MDS and both normal and reactive BM, once the number and degree of severity of the abnormalities detected per patient were simultaneously considered in the proposed IS. Interestingly, increasingly higher IS were found among patients with MDS showing adverse prognostic factors and in low- versus high-grade cases. The most informative prognostic factors included the number of CD34+ cells, presence of aberrant CD34,/CD117+ precursors, decreased mature neutrophils and CD34, erythroid precursors, and increased numbers of CD36,/lo erythroid precursors; in addition, the IS was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival. Conclusions: Assessment of immunophenotypic abnormalities of maturing/mature BM cells allows an efficient discrimination between MDS and both normal and reactive BM, once the number and degree of severity of the abnormalities detected are simultaneously scored. Interestingly, progressively higher IS were found among patients with MDS with adverse prognostic features and shorter overall survival. © 2010 Clinical Cytometry Society [source] Insight into molecular changes of the FIX protein in a series of Italian patients with haemophilia BHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 3 2006M. P. BICOCCHI Summary., Deficiency or dysfunction of factor IX FIX leads to haemophilia B (HB), an X-linked, recessive, bleeding disorder. On a molecular basis, HB is due to a heterogeneous spectrum of mutations spread throughout the F9 gene. In several instances, a cause-effect relation has been elucidated, in others predicted possibilities have been offered by crystallography inspection and by software-constructed models of the protein. The aim of this study was to contribute to the understanding of HB molecular pathology. The F9 missense mutations we identified in 21 unrelated Italian HB patients by direct sequencing of the whole F9 coding regions were inspected for the causative effect they provoked on the ensuing transcript, and on the protein structure. Each alteration was studied in order to: (i) characterize the defect on the basis of the nature of the mutation; (ii) identify the predicted defect that is induced in the gene and (iii) speculate about the potential, detrimental effects which upset the protein functionality through an idealized FIX model. The resulting data may further contribute to the comprehension of the mechanisms underlying the disease. [source] Identification and Characterization of CFTR Gene Mutations in Indian CF PatientsANNALS OF HUMAN GENETICS, Issue 1 2009N. Sharma Summary Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. This study was performed on Indian CF patients (n = 50) to investigate the spectrum of mutations in the CFTR gene and their association with intragenic and extragenic marker haplotypes. We report identification of 14 previously known and eight novel mutations, namely 3986-3987delC, 876-6del4, 1792InsA, L69H, S158N, Q493L, I530L and E1329Q. The frequency of delta F508 was found to be 27%. Absolute linkage between delta F508 and the KM.19-GATT-TUB9-M470V-T854T haplotype (2-2-1-1-1) predicts a relatively recent appearance of delta F508 in Indian CF patients. Low frequency of delta F508 mutation and detection of eight novel and thirteen rare mutations reflect a heterogeneous spectrum of mutations in Indian CF patients. Failure to detect mutations in 34% of alleles indicates the possible presence of gross deletions involving one or more exons or may indicate the location of the molecular defects in either the noncoding parts of the gene or in the promoter region, which warrants analysis of those regions. [source] The clinical and neuroimaging studies in Holmes tremorACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2010A. Gajos Gajos A, Bogucki A, Schinwelski M, So,tan W, Rudzi,ska M, Budrewicz S, Koszewicz M, Majos A, Górska-Chrz,stek M, Bie,kiewicz M, Ku,mierek J, S,awek J. The clinical and neuroimaging studies in Holmes tremor. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 122: 360,366. © 2010 The Authors Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Munksgaard. Aim,,, Holmes tremor (HT) is a combination of rest, postural and action tremor. A parallel dysfunction of cerebello-thalamic and nigrostriatal pathways seems necessary to produce this kind of tremor. We present the clinical and neuroimaging study verifying that hypothesis. Material and methods,,, A total of 10 patients: five male, five female, fulfilling consensus criteria were included. Demographic, clinical and neuroimaging data (MRI = 9; CT = 1, SPECT with the use of 123-I-FP CIT: DaTSCAN in six patients to assess the presynaptic dopaminergic nigrostriatal system involvement, indices of asymmetry for ligand uptake for each striatum were calculated) were analyzed. Results,,, Hemorrhage was the most frequent etiology and thalamus , the most commonly involved structure. Contrary to the previous reports, the visual assessment did not reveal remarkable interhemispheric differences of DaTSCAN uptake. Quantitative measurements showed only minimal differences. Conclusions,,, It is open to debate whether nigrostriatal pathway damage is crucial for the phenomenology of HT. Alternative hypothesis is presented that HT represents the heterogeneous spectrum of tremors with similar phenomenology, but different pathophysiology. [source] Mutations in PHD-like domain of the ATRX gene correlate with severe psychomotor impairment and severe urogenital abnormalities in patients with ATRX syndromeCLINICAL GENETICS, Issue 1 2006C Badens Mutations in ATRX are associated with a wide and clinically heterogeneous spectrum of X-linked mental retardation syndromes. The ATRX protein, involved in chromatin remodelling, belongs to the family of SWI/SNF DNA helicases and contains a plant homeodomain (PHD)-like domain. To date, more than 60 different mutations have been reported in ATRX. One of them is recurrent and accounts for 20% of all the reported mutations, whereas all others are private. Most mutations are clustered in the two major functional domains, the helicase and the PHD-like domain. So far, no clear genotype,phenotype correlation has been established, with exception to the rare truncating mutations located at the C-terminal part of the protein, which are consistently associated with severe urogenital defects. In this study, we report the molecular analysis performed in 16 families positive for ATRX. Our findings indicate that, in addition to the previously described mutation ,hotspot' in the PHD-like domain, two other protein sections emerge as minor ,hotspots' in the helicase region encoded by exons 18,20 and 26,29, respectively, gathering 33% of all described mutations. Additionally, based on the clinical data collected for 22 patients from the 16 families, we observe that mutations in the PHD-like domain produce severe and permanent psychomotor deficiency, usually preventing patients from walking, as well as constant urogenital abnormalities, while mutations in the helicase domain lead to delayed but correct psychomotor acquisitions together with mild or absent urogenital abnormalities. In summary, mutations in the helicase domain are associated with milder phenotypes than mutations in the PHD-like domain. [source] | |||||||||||||