Environmental Impacts by Fragments Released from Nanoenabled Products: A Multiassay, Multimaterial Exploration by the SUN Approach.

Nanoenabled products (NEPs) have numerous outdoor uses in construction, transportation or consumer scenarios, and there is evidence that their fragments are released in the environment at low rates. We hypothesized that the lower surface availability of NEPs fragment reduced their environmental effects with respect to pristine nanomaterials. This hypothesis was explored by testing fragments generated by intentional micronisation ("the SUN approach"; Nowack et al. Meeting the Needs for Released Nanomaterials Required for Further Testing: The SUN Approach. Environmental Science & Technology, 2016 (50), 2747). The NEPs were composed of four matrices (epoxy, polyolefin, polyoxymethylene, and cement) with up to 5% content of three nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, iron oxide, and organic pigment). Regardless of the type of nanomaterial or matrix used, it was observed that nanomaterials were only partially exposed at the NEP fragment surface, indicating that mostly the intrinsic and extrinsic properties of the matrix drove the NEP fragment toxicity. Ecotoxicity in multiple assays was done covering relevant media from terrestrial to aquatic, including sewage treatment plant (biological activity), soil worms (Enchytraeus crypticus), and fish (zebrafish embryo and larvae and trout cell lines). We designed the studies to explore the possible modulation of ecotoxicity by nanomaterial additives in plastics/polymer/cement, finding none. The results support NEPs grouping by the matrix material regarding ecotoxicological effect during the use phase. Furthermore, control results on nanomaterial-free polymer fragments representing microplastic had no significant adverse effects up to the highest concentration tested.

Establishment of a human iPSC line, IISHDOi004-A, from a patient with Usher syndrome associated with the mutation c.2276G>T; p.Cys759Phe in the USH2A gene.

A human iPSC line, IISHDOi004-A, from fibroblasts obtained from a patient with Usher syndrome, harboring a homozygous mutation in the USH2A gene (c.2276G>T; p.Cys759Phe) has been generated. Reprogramming factors Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc were delivered using Sendai virus.

Alterations in RAS-MAPK genes in 200 Spanish patients with Noonan and other neuro-cardio-facio-cutaneous syndromes. Genotype and cardiopathy.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Molecular characterization of congenital heart diseases now includes the not infrequent dysmorphic Noonan syndrome. A study of 6 genes of the RAS-MAPK pathway in Spanish patients is presented: the impact of heart disease, clinical expressivity, and diagnostic yield are investigated. METHODS: The study included 643 patients (and 182 family members) diagnosed by dysmorphologists, cardiologists, and pediatric endocrinologists from 74 tertiary hospitals. Bidirectional sequencing analysis of PTPN11, SOS1, RAF1, BRAF, KRAS and HRAS focused on exons carrying recurrent mutations accounting for 80% to 95% of previously described mutations. RESULTS: Mutations were detected in 230 patients (91 women and 139 men) in 200 (31%) families (172 PTPN11+, 14 SOS1+, 9 RAF1+, 5 BRAF+). There was specific reference to the heart defect suffered in 156 index cases: 103 patients had shown pulmonary stenosis, 12 pulmonary stenosis with hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy, 18 hypertrophic cardiomiopathy, and 14 other cardiopathies; heart disease was absent in 9 index cases. Heart disease had not been documented in 23 of 30 family members with positive genotype and compatible clinical signs. Diagnostic yield was higher (P=.016) for samples from some centers (53%; 14/32) and even from certain professionals (64%; 9/14; P=.019). Characterization rate was 18% in patients for whom clinical data were not available. Genotyping led to a more precise diagnosis in 26 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients (94%) with a positive genotype had known congenital heart disease, 79% pulmonary stenosis and 12% hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy. Cardiopathy had not been documented in 76% of family members carrying the mutation. Molecular study is a useful tool in these syndromes but a more rigorous clinical diagnosis should be intended as well.

Alteraciones de los genes de la vía RAS-MAPK en 200 pacientes españoles con síndrome de Noonan y otros síndromes neurocardiofaciocutáneos. Genotipo y cardiopatía / Alterations in RAS-MAPK genes in 200 spanish patients with noonan and other neuro-cardio-facio-cutaneous syndromes. Genotype and cardiopathy

Introducción y objetivos. La caracterización molecular de cardiopatías incluye una entidad congénita no infrecuente, el síndrome de Noonan. Presentamos el estudio de seis genes de la vía RAS-MAPK en pacientes españoles: perfil genotípico, impacto de la cardiopatía y expresividad clínica. Métodos. Compusieron la población en estudio 643 pacientes (y 182 familiares) diagnosticados por dismorfólogos, cardiólogos y endocrinopediatras de 74 hospitales (11 comunidades). Estudio primario de PTPN11 y complementario de SOS1, RAF1, BRAF, KRAS y HRAS, estratificado y orientado por signos clínicos, mediante secuenciación de exones recurrentes (un 80-95% de mutaciones descritas). Resultados. Se documentó mutación en 230 pacientes (91 mujeres, 139 varones) de 200 familias (31%), 172 PTPN11 +, 14 SOS1 +, 9 RAF1 + y 5 BRAF +, con referencia explícita a la cardiopatía padecida en 156 casos índice; 103 presentaban estenosis de la válvula pulmonar; 12, estenosis de la válvula pulmonar y miocardiopatía hipertrófica; 18, miocardiopatía hipertrófica y 14, otra cardiopatía; en sólo 9 casos se encontraba ausente. En 23/30 familiares positivos no había o no constaba cardiopatía. El rendimiento diagnóstico fue superior (p = 0,016) para las muestras de algunos centros (53%; 14/32), y alcanzó el 64% (9/14; p = 0,019) en profesionales concretos. El rendimiento cayó al 18% en los pacientes sin datos clínicos facilitados. El dato genotípico reorientó el diagnóstico clínico en 26 pacientes. Conclusiones. El 94% de los pacientes portadores de mutación presentaban cardiopatía, el 79% estenosis de la válvula pulmonar y el 12% miocardiopatía hipertrófica. En el 76% de los familiares positivos con rasgos clínicos compatibles, no se había documentado la cardiopatía. El estudio molecular es una herramienta útil en estos síndromes, aunque debe progresarse en la objetivación del diagnóstico clínico (AU)

Introduction and objectives. Molecular characterization of congenital heart diseases now includes the not infrequent dysmorphic Noonan syndrome. A study of 6 genes of the RAS-MAPK pathway in Spanish patients is presented: the impact of heart disease, clinical expressivity, and diagnostic yield are investigated. Methods. The study included 643 patients (and 182 family members) diagnosed by dysmorphologists, cardiologists, and pediatric endocrinologists from 74 tertiary hospitals. Bidirectional sequencing analysis of PTPN11, SOS1, RAF1, BRAF, KRAS and HRAS focused on exons carrying recurrent mutations accounting for 80% to 95% of previously described mutations. Results. Mutations were detected in 230 patients (91 women and 139 men) in 200 (31%) families (172 PTPN11+, 14 SOS1+, 9 RAF1+, 5 BRAF+). There was specific reference to the heart defect suffered in 156 index cases: 103 patients had shown pulmonary stenosis, 12 pulmonary stenosis with hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy, 18 hypertrophic cardiomiopathy, and 14 other cardiopathies; heart disease was absent in 9 index cases. Heart disease had not been documented in 23 of 30 family members with positive genotype and compatible clinical signs. Diagnostic yield was higher (P=.016) for samples from some centers (53%; 14/32) and even from certain professionals (64%; 9/14; P=.019). Characterization rate was 18% in patients for whom clinical data were not available. Genotyping led to a more precise diagnosis in 26 patients. Conclusions. Most patients (94%) with a positive genotype had known congenital heart disease, 79% pulmonary stenosis and 12% hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy. Cardiopathy had not been documented in 76% of family members carrying the mutation. Molecular study is a useful tool in these syndromes but a more rigorous clinical diagnosis should be intended as well (AU)