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1.
Am J Med Genet A ; 194(6): e63549, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38314656

ABSTRACT

Choanal atresia and stenosis are common causes of congenital nasal obstruction, but their epidemiology is poorly understood. Compared to bilateral choanal atresia/stenosis, unilateral choanal atresia/stenosis is generally diagnosed later and might be under-ascertained in birth defect registries. Data from the population-based Texas Birth Defects Registry and Texas vital records, 1999-2018, were used to assess the prevalence of choanal atresia/stenosis. Poisson regression models were used to evaluate associations with infant and maternal characteristics in two analytic groups: isolated choanal atresia/stenosis (n = 286) and isolated, bilateral choanal atresia/stenosis (n = 105). The overall prevalence of choanal atresia/stenosis was 0.92/10,000, and the prevalence of isolated choanal atresia/stenosis was 0.37/10,000 livebirths. Variables associated with choanal atresia/stenosis in one or both analytic groups included infant sex, pregnancy plurality, maternal race/ethnicity, maternal age, and maternal residence on the Texas-Mexico border. In general, adjusted prevalence ratios estimated from the two analytic groups were in the same direction but tended to be stronger in the analyses restricted to isolated, bilateral defects. Epidemiologic studies of isolated choanal atresia/stenosis should consider focusing on cases with bilateral defects, and prioritizing analyses of environmental, social, and structural factors that could account for the association with maternal residence on the Texas-Mexico border.


Subject(s)
Choanal Atresia , Registries , Humans , Choanal Atresia/epidemiology , Choanal Atresia/genetics , Texas/epidemiology , Female , Male , Prevalence , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Adult , Pregnancy
2.
Am J Med Genet A ; : e63714, 2024 May 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38770996

ABSTRACT

Epidemiologic studies of birth defects often conduct separate analyses for cases that have isolated defects (e.g., spina bifida only) and cases that have multiple defects (e.g., spina bifida and a congenital heart defect). However, in some instances, cases with additional defects (e.g., spina bifida and clubfoot) may be more appropriately considered as isolated because the co-occurring defect (clubfoot) is believed to be developmentally related to the defect of interest. Determining which combinations should be considered isolated can be challenging and potentially resource intensive for registries. Thus, we developed automated classification procedures for differentiating between isolated versus multiple defects, while accounting for developmentally related defects, and applied the approach to data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (1999-2018 deliveries). Among 235,544 nonsyndromic cases in Texas, 89% of cases were classified as having isolated defects, with proportions ranging from 25% to 92% across 43 specific defects analyzed. A large proportion of isolated cases with spina bifida (44%), lower limb reduction defects (44%), and holoprosencephaly (32%) had developmentally related defects. Overall, our findings strongly support the need to account for isolated versus multiple defects in risk factor association analyses and to account for developmentally related defects when doing so, which has implications for interpreting prior studies.

3.
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf ; 33(6): e5801, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38798093

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Antiretrovirals (ARVs) are life-saving drugs used for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection and antiviral drugs (AVs) for the treatment of chronic HBV infection. ARVs have proven highly effective in reducing perinatal HIV transmission, however the risk of birth defects from prenatal exposure to ARVs/AVs is an ongoing concern. The Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry (APR), an international, prospective exposure-registration cohort study, monitors ARV and AV use in pregnancy for early signals of teratogenicity. This communication reports results of 30-years' experience of ARV/AV exposure during pregnancy and lessons learned through continuous quality improvement. METHODS AND RESULTS: Birth defect prevalence is estimated and compared to internal and external groups. Statistical inference is based on exact methods for binomial proportions. Between 2006 and 2023, cumulative enrollment more than tripled from 6893 to 25 960 pregnancies and ARVs/AVs monitored increased from 29 to 222. Through January 2023, there were 21 636 live births and 631 outcomes with birth defects, for overall prevalence of 2.9/100 live births (95% CI 2.7, 3.2). The birth defect prevalence was 3.0% (95% CI 2.7%, 3.3%) among first trimester exposures and 2.8% (95% CI 2.5%, 3.2%) among second/third trimester exposures (prevalence ratio 1.04 [95% CI 0.89, 1.21]). CONCLUSIONS: Birth defect prevalence is not statistically significantly different between first trimester ARV/AV pregnancy exposures compared to second/third trimester exposures and is also not different from two population-based surveillance systems: 2.72/100 live births reported in the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP); and 4.17/100 live births from the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR).


Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Drug-Induced , HIV Infections , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious , Registries , Humans , Pregnancy , Female , Prospective Studies , Abnormalities, Drug-Induced/epidemiology , Abnormalities, Drug-Induced/etiology , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/drug therapy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Adult , Prevalence , Infant, Newborn , Anti-Retroviral Agents/therapeutic use , Anti-HIV Agents/adverse effects , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Antiviral Agents/adverse effects , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Young Adult , Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology , Cohort Studies
4.
Am J Med Genet A ; 191(1): 190-204, 2023 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36286533

ABSTRACT

Structural birth defects that occur in infants with syndromes may be etiologically distinct from those that occur in infants in whom there is not a recognized pattern of malformations; however, population-based registries often lack the resources to classify syndromic status via case reviews. We developed criteria to systematically identify infants with suspected syndromes, grouped by syndrome type and level of effort required for syndrome classification (e.g., text search). We applied this algorithm to the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR) to describe the proportion of infants with syndromes delivered during 1999-2014. We also developed a bias analysis tool to estimate the potential percent bias resulting from including infants with syndromes in studies of risk factors. Among 207,880 cases with birth defects in the TBDR, 15% had suspected syndromes and 85% were assumed to be nonsyndromic, with a range across defect types from 28.5% (atrioventricular septal defects) to 98.9% (pyloric stenosis). Across hypothetical scenarios varying expected parameters (e.g., nonsyndromic proportion), the inclusion of syndromic cases in analyses resulted in up to 50.0% bias in prevalence ratios. In summary, we present a framework for identifying infants with syndromic conditions; implementation might harmonize syndromic classification across registries and reduce bias in association estimates.


Subject(s)
Congenital Abnormalities , Heart Septal Defects , Infant , Humans , Syndrome , Prevalence , Registries , Texas/epidemiology , Congenital Abnormalities/diagnosis , Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology , Congenital Abnormalities/genetics
5.
Am J Med Genet A ; 191(9): 2324-2328, 2023 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37272762

ABSTRACT

NudC-like protein 2 (NUDCD2) is a 4-exon protein-coding gene at 5q34. The protein appears to act in concert with other genes regulating cell migration and microtubule extension. Early studies in model organisms show associations with LIS1, HERC2, and cohesin subunits via a co-chaperone function with Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). It is a candidate gene for human pathology. We present two unrelated patients with biallelic variants in NUDCD2. Their phenotypes comprise similar dysmorphic facies, midline brain hypoplasia, hypothyroidism, pulmonary and aortic valve stenosis, severe dysfunction of the liver and kidneys, profound hypotonia, and early death. The cellular analysis demonstrates the absence of the NUDCD2 protein in fibroblasts of one patient with biallelic loss-of-function variants. The data suggest that NUDCD2 deficiency causes this recognizable syndrome that has features of a ciliopathy with additional complications.


Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple , Cholestasis , Renal Insufficiency , Humans , Molecular Chaperones , Cholestasis/complications , Cholestasis/diagnosis , Cholestasis/genetics , HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins , Abnormalities, Multiple/diagnosis , Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Renal Insufficiency/complications , Renal Insufficiency/diagnosis , Renal Insufficiency/genetics
6.
Am J Med Genet A ; 191(3): 805-812, 2023 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36541232

ABSTRACT

Many infants with anotia or microtia (A/M) have co-occurring birth defects, although few receive syndromic diagnoses in the perinatal period. Evaluation of co-occurring birth defects in children with A/M could identify patterns indicative of undiagnosed/unrecognized syndromes. We obtained information on co-occurring birth defects among infants with A/M for delivery years 1999-2014 from the Texas Birth Defects Registry. We calculated observed-to-expected ratios (OER) to identify birth defect combinations that occurred more often than expected by chance. We excluded children diagnosed with genetic or chromosomal syndromes from analyses. Birth defects and syndromes/associations diagnosed ≤1 year of age were considered. We identified 1310 infants with non-syndromic A/M, of whom 38% (N = 492) were diagnosed with co-occurring major defects. Top combinations included: hydrocephalus, ventricular septal defect, and spinal anomalies (OER 58.4); microphthalmia and anomalies of the aorta (OER 55.4); and cleft lip with or without cleft palate and rib or sternum anomalies (OER 32.8). Some combinations observed in our study may represent undiagnosed/atypical presentations of known A/M associations or syndromes, or novel syndromes yet to be described in the literature. Careful evaluation of infants with multiple birth defects including A/M is warranted to identify individuals with potential genetic or chromosomal syndromes.


Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple , Cleft Lip , Cleft Palate , Congenital Abnormalities , Congenital Microtia , Infant , Female , Pregnancy , Humans , Congenital Microtia/epidemiology , Congenital Microtia/genetics , Abnormalities, Multiple/diagnosis , Abnormalities, Multiple/epidemiology , Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Texas/epidemiology , Congenital Abnormalities/diagnosis , Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology , Congenital Abnormalities/genetics
7.
Pediatr Res ; 91(5): 1278-1285, 2022 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34193968

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The population-level landscape of co-occurring birth defects among infants without a syndromic diagnosis is not well understood. METHODS: We analyzed data from 40,771 infants with two or more major birth defects in the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR; 1999-2014). We calculated adjusted observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios for all two, three, four, and five-way combinations of 138 major defects. RESULTS: Among 530 patterns with the highest adjusted O/E ratios (top 5% of 10,595 patterns), 66% included only defects co-occurring within one organ system and 28% were suggestive of known patterns (e.g., midline developmental defects). Of the remaining patterns, the combination of defects with the highest O/E ratio (193.8) encompassed the diaphragm, spine, spleen, and heart defects. Fourteen patterns involved heart and spine defects with or without rib defects. Ten additional patterns primarily involved two hallmark components of VACTERL association (specifically, vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, renal, or limb defects, but not tracheoesophageal fistula). CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses provide a description of the birth defect co-occurrence patterns in a multi-ethnic, population-based sample, and revealed several patterns of interest. This work complements prior work that has suggested etiologic connections between select defects (e.g., diaphragmatic hernia and heart and spleen anomalies; heart and spine defects). IMPACT: In this large-scale, population-based study of birth defect co-occurrence patterns, we found several birth defect combinations of potential interest that warrant further investigation: congenital diaphragmatic hernia, heart, spine, and spleen defects and scimitar syndrome with vertebral defects. The majority of patterns of co-occurring defects observed more frequently than expected involved multiple defects within the same system and combinations suggestive of known associations. Nearly all of the top patterns (beyond the same system and those suggestive of known associations) involved organ systems that are components of the VACTERL association, with heart, spine, and rib defect patterns being the most common.


Subject(s)
Heart Defects, Congenital , Limb Deformities, Congenital , Anal Canal/abnormalities , Esophagus/abnormalities , Heart Defects, Congenital/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Kidney/abnormalities , Registries , Spine/abnormalities , Texas/epidemiology , Trachea/abnormalities
8.
Cleft Palate Craniofac J ; 59(4): 417-426, 2022 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33906455

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate 2- to 5-way patterns of defects co-occurring with orofacial clefts using data from a population-based registry. DESIGN: We used data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry for deliveries between 1999 and 2014 to Texas residents, including 1884 cases with cleft palate (CP) and 5289 cases with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL±P) without a known syndrome. We identified patterns of defects co-occurring with CP and with CL±P observed more frequently than would be expected if these defects occurred independently. We calculated adjusted observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios to account for the known tendency of birth defects to cluster nonspecifically. RESULTS: Among infants without a syndrome, 23% with CP and 21% with CL±P had at least 1 additional congenital anomaly. Several combinations of defects were observed much more often than expected. For example, the combination of CL±P, congenital hydrocephaly, anophthalmia, and other nose anomalies had an O/E ratio of 605. For both CP and CL±P, co-occurrence patterns with the highest O/E ratios involved craniofacial and brain abnormalities, and many included the skeletal, cardiovascular, and renal systems. CONCLUSIONS: The patterns of defects we observed co-occurring with clefts more often than expected may help improve our understanding of the relationships between multiple defects. Further work to better understand some of the top defect combinations could reveal new phenotypic subgroups and increase our knowledge of the developmental mechanisms that underlie the respective defects.


Subject(s)
Cleft Lip , Cleft Palate , Mouth Abnormalities , Cleft Lip/epidemiology , Cleft Palate/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Syndrome
9.
Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet ; 187(2): 278-282, 2021 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33982860

ABSTRACT

In humans, physically attractive faces are measurably, though subtly, asymmetric. As asymmetry increases, it has a negative impact. Medically, asymmetry can be congenital or acquired. Symbolically, it has varied connotations from playfulness and complexity to despair and corruption. In Chinese opera, stylized make-up exaggerates the features, and aspects of the "mask" indicate qualities of the character. The asymmetric faces belong to characters who are corrupt, devious, or evil. In the Dan culture of western Africa, performance masks channel spirits in the community. A spirit with asymmetric facial mask exemplifies ugliness and moral failing. The Nasca culture of South America made generic figures of farmers, deities, and so on, but not of individuals. However, there is evidence of mutual influence between the Nasca and the Wari, with whom they traded. A clay figure apparently representing an individual, or at least a very specific recognized persona, is a ball player with facial asymmetry presumably due to injury. Here the message is one of fierceness and strength. The relative rarity of asymmetric facial depictions compared to symmetric ones is cross-cultural. This implies that asymmetry is special somehow, in all connotations of that term.


Subject(s)
Facial Asymmetry , Humans
10.
Am J Hum Genet ; 103(4): 602-611, 2018 10 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30269814

ABSTRACT

Inherited GPI deficiencies (IGDs) are a subset of congenital disorders of glycosylation that are increasingly recognized as a result of advances in whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). IGDs cause a series of overlapping phenotypes consisting of seizures, dysmorphic features, multiple congenital malformations, and severe intellectual disability. We present a study of six individuals from three unrelated families in which WES or WGS identified bi-allelic phosphatidylinositol glycan class S (PIGS) biosynthesis mutations. Phenotypes included severe global developmental delay, seizures (partly responding to pyridoxine), hypotonia, weakness, ataxia, and dysmorphic facial features. Two of them had compound-heterozygous variants c.108G>A (p.Trp36∗) and c.101T>C (p.Leu34Pro), and two siblings of another family were homozygous for a deletion and insertion leading to p.Thr439_Lys451delinsArgLeuLeu. The third family had two fetuses with multiple joint contractures consistent with fetal akinesia. They were compound heterozygous for c.923A>G (p.Glu308Gly) and c.468+1G>C, a splicing mutation. Flow-cytometry analyses demonstrated that the individuals with PIGS mutations show a GPI-AP deficiency profile. Expression of the p.Trp36∗ variant in PIGS-deficient HEK293 cells revealed only partial restoration of cell-surface GPI-APs. In terms of both biochemistry and phenotype, loss of function of PIGS shares features with PIGT deficiency and other IGDs. This study contributes to the understanding of the GPI-AP biosynthesis pathway by describing the consequences of PIGS disruption in humans and extending the family of IGDs.


Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Acyltransferases/genetics , Arthrogryposis/genetics , Cerebellar Ataxia/genetics , Epilepsy, Generalized/genetics , Cell Line , Child , Child, Preschool , Developmental Disabilities/genetics , Female , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Intellectual Disability/genetics , Male , Muscle Hypotonia/genetics , Mutation , Nervous System Malformations/genetics , Pedigree , Seizures/genetics , Syndrome , Exome Sequencing/methods
11.
Am J Med Genet A ; 185(6): 1787-1793, 2021 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33749998

ABSTRACT

Few population-based studies have analyzed patterns of co-occurring birth defects among those with trisomy 13. We evaluated the frequency of all possible combinations of any one, two, three, or four additional co-occurring birth defects among 736 individuals with trisomy 13 using data from the Texas Birth Defects Registry for deliveries during 1999-2014. We calculated the observed-to-expected ratio for each combination, adjusting for the known tendency for birth defects to cluster non-specifically. To address potential ascertainment differences among live births and non-live births, we repeated analyses specifically among live births. The combination of defects with the largest observed-to-expected ratio was microcephalus, reduction deformities of brain (e.g., holoprosencephaly), anomalies of nose, and polydactyly. As expected, most of the highest 30 observed-to-expected ratios involved combinations with documented features of trisomy 13, including defects of the scalp (e.g., aplasia cutis) and heart. Results were similar among sensitivity analyses restricted to live births. Our findings may help further delineate the phenotypic spectrum for trisomy 13 and may inform future research related to improving screening and counseling for the condition.


Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Heart Defects, Congenital/genetics , Holoprosencephaly/genetics , Trisomy 13 Syndrome/genetics , Abnormalities, Multiple/epidemiology , Abnormalities, Multiple/pathology , Adolescent , Adult , Brain/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology , Congenital Abnormalities/genetics , Congenital Abnormalities/pathology , Female , Genetic Counseling , Heart Defects, Congenital/pathology , Holoprosencephaly/pathology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Live Birth/epidemiology , Live Birth/genetics , Male , Pregnancy , Texas , Trisomy 13 Syndrome/epidemiology , Trisomy 13 Syndrome/pathology , Young Adult
12.
J Allergy Clin Immunol ; 145(2): 528-536.e1, 2020 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31145939

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The Observational Study of the Use and Safety of Xolair (omalizumab) during Pregnancy (EXPECT) pregnancy registry was a prospective observational study established in 2006 to evaluate perinatal outcomes in pregnant women exposed to omalizumab and their infants. OBJECTIVE: This analysis compares EXPECT outcomes with those from a disease-matched population of pregnant women not treated with omalizumab. Data from a substudy of platelet counts among newborns are also presented. METHODS: The EXPECT study enrolled 250 women with asthma exposed to omalizumab during pregnancy. The disease-matched external comparator cohort of women with moderate-to-severe asthma (n = 1153), termed the Quebec External Comparator Cohort (QECC), was created by using data from health care databases in Quebec, Canada. Outcome estimates were age adjusted based on the maternal age distribution of the EXPECT study. RESULTS: Among singleton infants in the EXPECT study, the prevalence of major congenital anomalies was 8.1%, which was similar to the 8.9% seen in the QECC. In the EXPECT study 99.1% of pregnancies resulted in live births, which was similar to 99.3% in the QECC. Premature birth was identified in 15.0% of EXPECT infants and 11.3% in the QECC. Small for gestational age was identified in 9.7% of EXPECT infants and 15.8% in the QECC. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of an increased risk of major congenital anomalies among pregnant women exposed to omalizumab compared with a disease-matched unexposed cohort. Given the observational nature of this registry, however, an absence of increased risk with omalizumab cannot be definitively established.


Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Drug-Induced/epidemiology , Anti-Asthmatic Agents/adverse effects , Asthma/drug therapy , Omalizumab/adverse effects , Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology , Adult , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy , Registries
13.
Hum Mutat ; 41(11): 1999-2011, 2020 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32906212

ABSTRACT

Clinical and genetic features of five unrelated patients with de novo pathogenic variants in the synaptic vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) reveal common features of global developmental delay, autistic tendencies, behavioral disturbances, and a higher propensity to develop epilepsy. For one patient, a cognitively impaired adolescent with a de novo stop-gain VAMP2 mutation, we tested a potential treatment strategy, enhancing neurotransmission by prolonging action potentials with the aminopyridine family of potassium channel blockers, 4-aminopyridine and 3,4-diaminopyridine, in vitro and in vivo. Synaptic vesicle recycling and neurotransmission were assayed in neurons expressing three VAMP2 variants by live-cell imaging and electrophysiology. In cellular models, two variants decrease both the rate of exocytosis and the number of synaptic vesicles released from the recycling pool, compared with wild-type. Aminopyridine treatment increases the rate and extent of exocytosis and total synaptic charge transfer and desynchronizes GABA release. The clinical response of the patient to 2 years of off-label aminopyridine treatment includes improved emotional and behavioral regulation by parental report, and objective improvement in standardized cognitive measures. Aminopyridine treatment may extend to patients with pathogenic variants in VAMP2 and other genes influencing presynaptic function or GABAergic tone, and tested in vitro before treatment.


Subject(s)
4-Aminopyridine/pharmacology , Mutation/genetics , Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 2/genetics , Adult , Electrophysiology , Exocytosis/drug effects , Female , Humans , Male , Synaptic Transmission/drug effects , Synaptic Vesicles/drug effects , Synaptic Vesicles/metabolism
15.
Clin Chem ; 66(1): 199-206, 2020 01 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32609854

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Exome sequencing has become a commonly used clinical diagnostic test. Multiple studies have examined the diagnostic utility and individual laboratory performance of exome testing; however, no previous study has surveyed and compared the data quality from multiple clinical laboratories. METHODS: We examined sequencing data from 36 clinical exome tests from 3 clinical laboratories. Exome data were compared in terms of overall characteristics and coverage of specific genes and nucleotide positions. The sets of genes examined included genes in Consensus Coding Sequence (CCDS) (n = 17723), a subset of genes clinically relevant to epilepsy (n = 108), and genes that are recommended for reporting of secondary findings (n = 57; excludes X-linked genes). RESULTS: The average exome nucleotide coverage (≥20×) of each laboratory varied at 96.49% (CV = 3%), 96.54% (CV = 1%), and 91.68% (CV = 4%), for laboratories A, B, and C, respectively. For CCDS genes, the average number of completely covered genes varied at 12184 (CV = 29%), 11687 (CV = 13%), and 5989 (CV = 37%), for laboratories A, B, and C, respectively. With smaller subsets of genes related to epilepsy and secondary findings, the CV revealed low consistency, with a maximum CV seen in laboratory C for both epilepsy genes (CV = 60%) and secondary findings genes (CV = 71%). CONCLUSIONS: Poor consistency in complete gene coverage was seen in the clinical exome laboratories surveyed. The degree of consistency varied widely between the laboratories.


Subject(s)
Exome/genetics , BRCA1 Protein/genetics , Epilepsy/genetics , Epilepsy/pathology , Exons , Guidelines as Topic , Humans , Laboratories, Hospital/standards , MutL Protein Homolog 1/genetics , Exome Sequencing
16.
BMC Med Genet ; 21(1): 38, 2020 02 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32085749

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Prune belly syndrome (PBS) is a rare, multi-system congenital myopathy primarily affecting males that is poorly described genetically. Phenotypically, its morbidity spans from mild to lethal, however, all isolated PBS cases manifest three cardinal pathological features: 1) wrinkled flaccid ventral abdominal wall with skeletal muscle deficiency, 2) urinary tract dilation with poorly contractile smooth muscle, and 3) intra-abdominal undescended testes. Despite evidence for a genetic basis, previously reported PBS autosomal candidate genes only account for one consanguineous family and single cases. METHODS: We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) of two maternal adult half-brothers with syndromic PBS (PBS + Otopalatodigital spectrum disorder [OPDSD]) and two unrelated sporadic individuals with isolated PBS and further functionally validated the identified mutations. RESULTS: We identified three unreported hemizygous missense point mutations in the X-chromosome gene Filamin A (FLNA) (c.4952 C > T (p.A1448V), c.6727C > T (p.C2160R), c.5966 G > A (p.G2236E)) in two related cases and two unrelated sporadic individuals. Two of the three PBS mutations map to the highly regulatory, stretch-sensing Ig19-21 region of FLNA and enhance binding to intracellular tails of the transmembrane receptor ß-integrin 1 (ITGß1). CONCLUSIONS: FLNA is a regulatory actin-crosslinking protein that functions in smooth muscle cells as a mechanosensing molecular scaffold, transmitting force signals from the actin-myosin motor units and cytoskeleton via binding partners to the extracellular matrix. This is the first evidence for an X-linked cause of PBS in multiple unrelated individuals and expands the phenotypic spectrum associated with FLNA in males surviving even into adulthood.


Subject(s)
Filamins/genetics , Genes, X-Linked/genetics , Genetic Diseases, X-Linked/genetics , Prune Belly Syndrome/genetics , Adult , Genetic Diseases, X-Linked/physiopathology , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Hemizygote , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation, Missense/genetics , Pedigree , Phenotype , Prune Belly Syndrome/physiopathology , Exome Sequencing
17.
Am J Med Genet A ; 182(10): 2399-2402, 2020 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32783369

ABSTRACT

Néstor-Guillermo progeria syndrome (NGPS; OMIM 614008) is characterized by early onset and slow progression of symptoms including poor growth, lipoatrophy, pseudosenile facial appearance, and normal cognitive development. In contrast to other progeria syndromes, NGPS is associated with a longer lifespan and higher risk for developing severe skeletal abnormalities. It is an autosomal recessive condition caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in BANF1. There are two previously reported patients with NGPS, both Spanish with molecular diagnoses made in adulthood and having the same homozygous pathogenic variant c.34G > A; p.Ala12Thr. Presented here is a 2 year, 8 month old girl with short stature, poor weight gain, sparse hair, and dysmorphic facial features reminiscent of premature aging. Whole exome sequencing identified the same c.34G > A homozygous pathogenic variant in BANF1 as reported in the previous patients. This is the first reported case of a child and is supporting evidence for this recurrent loss of function variant.


Subject(s)
Aging, Premature/genetics , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Progeria/genetics , Adult , Aging, Premature/diagnosis , Aging, Premature/diagnostic imaging , Aging, Premature/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Mutation/genetics , Phenotype , Progeria/diagnosis , Progeria/diagnostic imaging , Progeria/pathology , Exome Sequencing
18.
Am J Med Genet A ; 182(11): 2581-2593, 2020 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32885608

ABSTRACT

Gastroschisis and omphalocele are the two most common abdominal wall birth defects, and epidemiologic characteristics and frequency of occurrence as part of a syndromic condition suggest distinct etiologies between the two defects. We assessed complex patterns of defect co-occurrence with these defects separately using the Texas Birth Defects Registry. We used co-occurring defect analysis (CODA) to compute adjusted observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios for all observed birth defect patterns. There were 2,998 non-syndromic (i.e., no documented syndrome diagnosis identified) cases with gastroschisis and 789 (26%) of these had additional co-occurring defects. There were 720 non-syndromic cases with omphalocele, and 404 (56%) had additional co-occurring defects. Among the top 30 adjusted O/E ratios for gastroschisis, most of the co-occurring defects were related to the gastrointestinal system, though cardiovascular and kidney anomalies were also present. Several of the top 30 combinations co-occurring with omphalocele appeared suggestive of OEIS (omphalocele, exstrophy of cloaca, imperforate anus, spinal defects) complex. After the exclusion of additional cases with features suggestive of OEIS in a post-hoc sensitivity analysis, the top combinations involving defects associated with OEIS (e.g., spina bifida) were no longer present. The remaining top combinations involving omphalocele included cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and urogenital defects. In summary, we identified complex patterns of defects that co-occurred more frequently than expected with gastroschisis and omphalocele using a novel software platform. Better understanding differences in the patterns between gastroschisis and omphalocele could lead to additional etiologic insights.


Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple/epidemiology , Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology , Gastroschisis/epidemiology , Hernia, Umbilical/epidemiology , Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Adult , Anus, Imperforate/complications , Anus, Imperforate/genetics , Cloaca/abnormalities , Congenital Abnormalities/genetics , Female , Gastroschisis/complications , Gastroschisis/genetics , Hernia, Umbilical/complications , Hernia, Umbilical/genetics , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Maternal Age , Pregnancy , Registries , Software , Spine/abnormalities , Texas/epidemiology , Young Adult
19.
Genet Med ; 21(12): 2755-2764, 2019 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31263215

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Haploinsufficiency of DYRK1A causes a recognizable clinical syndrome. The goal of this paper is to investigate congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) and genital defects (GD) in patients with DYRK1A variants. METHODS: A large database of clinical exome sequencing (ES) was queried for de novo DYRK1A variants and CAKUT/GD phenotypes were characterized. Xenopus laevis (frog) was chosen as a model organism to assess Dyrk1a's role in renal development. RESULTS: Phenotypic details and variants of 19 patients were compiled after an initial observation that one patient with a de novo pathogenic variant in DYRK1A had GD. CAKUT/GD data were available from 15 patients, 11 of whom presented with CAKUT/GD. Studies in Xenopus embryos demonstrated that knockdown of Dyrk1a, which is expressed in forming nephrons, disrupts the development of segments of embryonic nephrons, which ultimately give rise to the entire genitourinary (GU) tract. These defects could be rescued by coinjecting wild-type human DYRK1A RNA, but not with DYRK1AR205* or DYRK1AL245R RNA. CONCLUSION: Evidence supports routine GU screening of all individuals with de novo DYRK1A pathogenic variants to ensure optimized clinical management. Collectively, the reported clinical data and loss-of-function studies in Xenopus substantiate a novel role for DYRK1A in GU development.


Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability/genetics , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics , Urogenital Abnormalities/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Databases, Genetic , Disease Models, Animal , Exome/genetics , Female , Haploinsufficiency/genetics , Humans , Intellectual Disability/complications , Kidney/abnormalities , Kidney/embryology , Male , Nephrons/metabolism , Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism , Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism , Urinary Tract/embryology , Urinary Tract/metabolism , Exome Sequencing/methods , Xenopus laevis/genetics , Xenopus laevis/metabolism , Young Adult , Dyrk Kinases
20.
Am J Med Genet A ; 179(8): 1415-1419, 2019 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31119873

ABSTRACT

Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP; MIM 308300) is an X-linked dominant genodermatosis caused by pathogenic variant in IKBKG. The phenotype in adults is poorly described compared to that in children. Questionnaire survey of 99 affected women showed an age at diagnosis from newborn to 41 years, with 53 diagnosed by 6 months of age and 30 as adults. Stage I, II, and III lesions persisted in 16%, 17%, and 71%, respectively, of those who had ever had them. IP is allelic to two forms of ectodermal dysplasia. Many survey respondents reported hypohidrosis and/or heat intolerance and most had Stage IV findings. This suggests that "Stage IV" may be congenitally dysplastic skin that becomes more noticeable with maturity. Fifty-one had dentures or implants with 26 having more invasive jaw or dental surgery. Half had wiry or uncombable hair. Seventy-three reported abnormal nails with 27 having long-term problems. Cataracts and retinal detachment were the reported causes of vision loss. Four had microphthalmia. Respondents without genetic confirmation of IP volunteered information suggesting more involved phenotype or possibly misassigned diagnosis. Ascertainment bias likely accounts for the low prevalence of neurocognitive problems in the respondents.


Subject(s)
Cataract/genetics , Ectodermal Dysplasia/genetics , I-kappa B Kinase/genetics , Incontinentia Pigmenti/genetics , Mutation , Retinal Detachment/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Cataract/diagnosis , Cataract/metabolism , Cataract/pathology , Dental Implants , Dentures , Ectodermal Dysplasia/diagnosis , Ectodermal Dysplasia/metabolism , Ectodermal Dysplasia/pathology , Female , Gene Expression , Hair/metabolism , Hair/pathology , Humans , I-kappa B Kinase/deficiency , Incontinentia Pigmenti/diagnosis , Incontinentia Pigmenti/metabolism , Incontinentia Pigmenti/pathology , Middle Aged , Nails/metabolism , Nails/pathology , Phenotype , Retinal Detachment/diagnosis , Retinal Detachment/metabolism , Retinal Detachment/pathology , Severity of Illness Index , Skin/metabolism , Skin/pathology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tooth/metabolism , Tooth/pathology
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