Zika Virus: A Neurotropic Warrior against High-Grade Gliomas-Unveiling Its Potential for Oncolytic Virotherapy.

Gliomas account for approximately 75-80% of all malignant primary tumors in the central nervous system (CNS), with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) considered the deadliest. Despite aggressive treatment involving a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical intervention, patients with GBM have limited survival rates of 2 to 5 years, accompanied by a significant decline in their quality of life. In recent years, novel management strategies have emerged, such as immunotherapy, which includes the development of vaccines or T cells with chimeric antigen receptors, and oncolytic virotherapy (OVT), wherein wild type (WT) or genetically modified viruses are utilized to selectively lyse tumor cells. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the Zika virus (ZIKV) can infect glioma cells and induce a robust oncolytic activity. Consequently, interest in exploring this virus as a potential oncolytic virus (OV) for high-grade gliomas has surged. Given that ZIKV actively circulates in Colombia, evaluating its neurotropic and oncolytic capabilities holds considerable national and international importance, as it may emerge as an alternative for treating highly complex gliomas. Therefore, this literature review outlines the generalities of GBM, the factors determining ZIKV's specific tropism for nervous tissue, and its oncolytic capacity. Additionally, we briefly present the progress in preclinical studies supporting the use of ZIKV as an OVT for gliomas.

Late-Onset Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome in a Costa Rican Woman.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a primary immune regulatory disorder (PIRD). This disease usually develops during childhood. However, atypically, some cases may have their onset in adulthood. We report the case of a 44-year-old woman with a history of autoimmune hemolytic anemia at 33 years old. The patient presented due to asthenia and a large, painful lymph node in the left axillary region for the last four months. Enlargement of the axillary and inguinal lymph nodes was found by mammography, breast, and abdominal ultrasounds. An excisional biopsy of the axillary lymph node conglomerate did not document immunophenotypical alterations of T or B lymphocytes but showed progressive transformation of germinal centers with reactive follicular hyperplasia. The lymph node cytometry did not show a malignant phenotype. The immunological work-up documented IgG and IgA hypergammaglobulinemia and slightly decreased IgM; the B cell immunophenotype documented a slight increase in CD21low B cells and decreased memory B cells. The blood count was normal. The T cell compartment evidenced 27% CD3+/αß+/γδ-/CD4-/CD8- of the total T CD3+ cells and 15% of the total lymphocytes. A pathogenic heterozygous variant in the FAS gene, exon 9, c.785T>A (p.Ile262Asn), was documented. This variant has not been previously described. This case highlights the importance of considering the diagnosis of ALPS even in adulthood. Genetic conditions such as incomplete penetrance or variable expressivity that depend on factors that are not entirely clear in ALPS, such as epigenetics and environmental factors, among others, could generate the onset of this disease in adulthood in a smaller number of patients.

Clinical and mutational spectrum of Colombian patients with Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease.

CASE PRESENTATION: Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease (PMD) is an X-linked developmental defect of myelination that causes childhood chronic spastic encephalopathy. Its genetic etiology can be either a duplication (or other gene dosage alterations) or a punctual mutation at the PLP1 locus. Clinically, it presents with developmental delay, nystagmus and, spasticity, supported by neuroimaging in which the defect of myelination is evident. We present a series of seven Colombian patients diagnosed with this leucodystrophy, describing their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics and heterogeneity. CLINICAL FINDINGS: All patients included were male, 6 months to 16 years of age. Mean age at onset of symptoms was 8 months. Mean age at diagnosis was 5 years 5 months, being classic PMD most frequently diagnosed, as compared to the connatal phenotype. All cases had a primary diagnosis of developmental delay on 100%, and in 28.7% of cases, early onset nystagmus was described. 85.7% of patients had spasticity, 71.4% cerebellar signs, 57.0% hypotonia, and 28.5% had an abnormal movement disorder. Only three patients were able to achieve gait, though altered. In the two patients who had a diagnosis of connatal PMD maturational ages in danger zones according to the WHO Abbreviated Scale of Psychosocial Development were documented. All cases had abnormalities in neuroimages. MOLECULAR ANALYSIS AND RESULTS: Molecular studies were used in the majority of the cases to confirm the diagnosis (85.7 %). For two cases molecular confirmation was not considered necessary given their affected male brothers had already been tested. PLP1 gene dosage alterations (duplications) were found in 28.5 % of the patients (two siblings), whereas three different single nucleotide variants were detected. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: According to these findings, as authors we propose the diagnostic algorithm in Colombian population to begin on a high clinical suspicion, followed by paraclinical extension, moving on to the molecular confirmation by using approaches to simultaneously sequence the PLP1 gene in order to detect point mutations and in/dels and performing a copy number variation analysis for the detection of gene dosage alterations.

DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CASO: La enfermedad de Pelizaeus Merzbacher es una leucodistrofia ligada al X que causa encefalopatía espástica crónica en la infancia. Su etiología es genética, por duplicaciones u otros trastornos de la dosis génica o mutaciones puntuales del gen PLP1, lo que condiciona la formación anormal de las vainas de mielina principalmente en el sistema nervioso central. Clínicamente se caracteriza por un cuadro de retardo del neurodesarrollo, nistagmus y espasticidad, con neuroimágenes que evidencian la dismielinización. Presentamos una serie de siete casos colombianos con esta leucodistrofica en la que describimos fenotípica y genotípicamente la heterogeneidad de esta enfermedad en nuestra población. HALLAZGOS CLÍNICOS: Todos los pacientes analizados fueron de sexo masculino, con edad promedio de inicio de síntomas hacia los ocho meses de vida. La edad media al diagnóstico fue de 5 años 5 meses, siendo más frecuente el diagnóstico de PMD clásica que el tipo connatal. Se describe retardo del desarrollo motor en el 100% de los casos, acompañado de nistagmus en el 28.7%. 85.7% de los casos tenía algún grado de espasticidad, 71.4 % signos cerebelosos, 57.0% hipotonía, y hasta en 28.5% se evidenciaron movimientos anormales. Solo tres pacientes lograron marcha, aunque patológica. En los dos pacientes con la forma connatal se documentó una edad maduracional motora en el rango de Alerta, de acuerdo a la escala abreviada del desarrollo de la OMS. En todos los casos se detectó algún tipo de anormalidad en el estudio imagenológico cerebral. ESTUDIOS MOLECULARES Y RESULTADOS: El diagnóstico molecular se empleó en la mayoría de los casos (85.7%), encontrando alteraciones en la dosis génica en el 28.5% y tres diferentes mutaciones puntuales. RELEVANCIA CLÍNICA: Dados los hallazgos en los resultados del estudio molecular, sugerimos que en el abordaje diagnóstico confirmatorio para la población colombiana se debería contemplar en un mismo tiempo tanto la secuenciación como el estudio de variantes del número de copias del gen afectado, contrario a lo sugerido en literatura mundial en la que se inicia con estudio para duplicación / deleción.

Consenso colombiano de la enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal pediátrica

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Introduction: Pediatric ulcerative colitis (CUP), pediatric Crohn's disease (PCD), and pediatric inflammatory bowel disease not classifiable (PIDNCID) have clinical and psychosocial particularities that differentiate them from those of adults and may condition different therapeutic approaches due to possible nutritional, growth and developmental repercussions, representing a challenge for the pediatrician and gastroenterologist. Objective: Develop expert consensus evidence-based recommendations for the timely and safe diagnosis and treatment of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (PID) in children under 18 years of age for professionals caring for these patients and healthcare payers. Methodology: Through a panel of experts from the Colombian College of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (COLGAHNP) and a multidisciplinary group, 35 questions were asked regarding the clinical picture, diagnosis, and treatment of PID. Through a critical review and analysis of the literature with particular emphasis on the main clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and meta-analyses of the last ten years, from which the experts made 77 recommendations that responded to each of the research questions with their respective practical points. Subsequently, each of the statements was voted on within the developer group, including the statements that achieved > 80%. Results: All statements scored > 80%. PID has greater extension, severity, and evolution towards stenosis, perianal disease, extraintestinal manifestations, and growth retardation compared to adult patients, so its management should be performed by multidisciplinary groups led by pediatric gastroenterologists and prepare them for a transition to adulthood. Porto's criteria allow a practical classification of PID. In CPE, we should use the Paris classification and perform ileocolonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy, since 50% have upper involvement, using the SES-CD (UCEIS/Mayo in CUP) and taking multiple biopsies. Initial labs should include inflammatory markers and fecal calprotectin and rule out intestinal infections. Treatment, induction, and maintenance of PID should be individualized and decided according to risk stratification. Follow-up should use PCDAI and PUCAI for the last 48 hours. Immunologists and geneticists should evaluate patients with early and infantile PID. Conclusion: A consensus guideline is provided with evidence-based recommendations on timely and safe diagnosis and treatments in patients with ILD.

Basic aspects of the pathogenesis and prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer in solid organ transplant recipients: a review.

INTRODUCTION: As numbers of transplant recipients and survival rates increase, the vulnerability of this population to several malignancies also rises. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) carries the highest rates of morbidity and mortality in this population. To avoid these malignancies, it is necessary to identify particular risk factors in transplant recipients and to follow preventive protocols. METHODS: The MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were reviewed using as keywords the medical subject headings (MeSH) "transplantation", "skin neoplasm" and "prevention". The search was limited to clinical trials, randomized clinical trials and case-control studies conducted during the previous 20 years. RESULTS: The most important risk factors for the development of NMSCs in the transplant recipient population are cumulative ultraviolet radiation exposure, use of immunosuppressive agents (especially azathioprine as a photosensitizing agent) and infections by human papillomaviruses. The use of sun protection and retinoids were identified as possible protective factors. Other potential therapies, such as antioxidants, difluormethylornithine and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, require further study. CONCLUSIONS: Patient risk factors for the development of NMSC should be reviewed during the transplant consultation. Individuals found to be at increased risk should undergo closer follow-up and preventive care counseling. This article proposes an algorithm for the prevention of NMSC.

[Detection of subtelomeric rearrangements due to MLPA in paediatric patients with refractory epilepsy in Colombia: the role of the CHL1 gene in pharmacoresistance]. / Detección de rearreglos subteloméricos por MLPA en pacientes pediátricos con epilepsia refractaria en Colombia: papel del gen CHL1 en la farmacorresistencia.

INTRODUCTION. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by a predisposition to the recurrence of seizures of distinct causation and with variable clinical manifestations. Up to 40% of patients do not manage to control their seizures with the first anticonvulsive drug and the addition of a second pharmaceutical affords control in only another 11%. Given the aetiological heterogeneity of pharmacoresistance, it has been suggested that the presence of genomic disorders in patients with refractoriness could be elements worthy of analysis when it comes to estimating the alteration in the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic profiles of these patients. AIM. To detect the presence of subtelomeric rearrangements in Colombian paediatric patients with refractory epilepsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS. The multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technique was used to evaluate the presence of cytogenetically non-visible chromosome aberrations in subtelomeric regions of 113 patients diagnosed with refractory epilepsy from three national referral centres in Colombia. RESULTS. Subtelomeric chromosome aberrations were detected in 0.9% of patients corresponding to a duplication of locus 3p26.3 in gene CHL1. CONCLUSIONS. This study suggests the use of the MLPA methodology to detect subtelomeric rearrangements that may be associated with phenotypes of refractoriness in epileptic patients.

TITLE: Deteccion de rearreglos subtelomericos por MLPA en pacientes pediatricos con epilepsia refractaria en Colombia: papel del gen CHL1 en la farmacorresistencia.Introduccion. La epilepsia es un trastorno neurologico caracterizado por una predisposicion a la recurrencia de crisis convulsivas de etiologia diversa y con manifestaciones clinicas variables. Hasta un 40% de los pacientes no logra el control de las crisis con el primer tratamiento anticonvulsionante y la adicion de un segundo farmaco logra el control de solo un 11% adicional. Dada la heterogeneidad etiologica de la farmacorresistencia se ha propuesto que la presencia de trastornos genomicos en pacientes con refractariedad podrian ser elementos de analisis a la hora de estimar la alteracion en los perfiles farmacocineticos o farmacodinamicos de estos pacientes. Objetivo. Detectar la presencia de rearreglos subtelomericos en pacientes pediatricos colombianos con epilepsia refractaria. Pacientes y metodos. Se utilizo la tecnica de amplificacion multiple de sondas dependiente de ligamiento (MLPA) para evaluar la presencia de aberraciones cromosomicas no visibles citogeneticamente en las regiones subtelomericas de 113 pacientes diagnosticados con epilepsia refractaria provenientes de tres centros de referencia nacional en Colombia. Resultados. Se detectaron aberraciones cromosomicas subtelomericas en el 0,9% de los pacientes correspondientes a una duplicacion del locus 3p26.3 en el gen CHL1. Conclusion. Este estudio plantea el uso de la metodologia de MLPA para la deteccion de rearreglos subtelomericos que puedan asociarse con fenotipos de refractariedad en pacientes epilepticos.

Clinical and mutational spectrum of Colombian patients with Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease / Heterogeneidad clínica y mutacional en pacientes colombianos con Pelizaeus Merzbacher

Abstract Case Presentation: Pelizaeus Merzbacher Disease (PMD) is an X-linked developmental defect of myelination that causes childhood chronic spastic encephalopathy. Its genetic etiology can be either a duplication (or other gene dosage alterations) or a punctual mutation at the PLP1 locus. Clinically, it presents with developmental delay, nystagmus and, spasticity, supported by neuroimaging in which the defect of myelination is evident. We present a series of seven Colombian patients diagnosed with this leucodystrophy, describing their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics and heterogeneity. Clinical Findings: All patients included were male, 6 months to 16 years of age. Mean age at onset of symptoms was 8 months. Mean age at diagnosis was 5 years 5 months, being classic PMD most frequently diagnosed, as compared to the connatal phenotype. All cases had a primary diagnosis of developmental delay on 100%, and in 28.7% of cases, early onset nystagmus was described. 85.7% of patients had spasticity, 71.4% cerebellar signs, 57.0% hypotonia, and 28.5% had an abnormal movement disorder. Only three patients were able to achieve gait, though altered. In the two patients who had a diagnosis of connatal PMD maturational ages in danger zones according to the WHO Abbreviated Scale of Psychosocial Development were documented. All cases had abnormalities in neuroimages. Molecular Analysis and Results: Molecular studies were used in the majority of the cases to confirm the diagnosis (85.7 %). For two cases molecular confirmation was not considered necessary given their affected male brothers had already been tested. PLP1 gene dosage alterations (duplications) were found in 28.5 % of the patients (two siblings), whereas three different single nucleotide variants were detected. Clinical Relevance: According to these findings, as authors we propose the diagnostic algorithm in Colombian population to begin on a high clinical suspicion, followed by paraclinical extension, moving on to the molecular confirmation by using approaches to simultaneously sequence the PLP1 gene in order to detect point mutations and in/dels and performing a copy number variation analysis for the detection of gene dosage alterations.

Resumen Descripción del caso: La enfermedad de Pelizaeus Merzbacher es una leucodistrofia ligada al X que causa encefalopatía espástica crónica en la infancia. Su etiología es genética, por duplicaciones u otros trastornos de la dosis génica o mutaciones puntuales del gen PLP1, lo que condiciona la formación anormal de las vainas de mielina principalmente en el sistema nervioso central. Clínicamente se caracteriza por un cuadro de retardo del neurodesarrollo, nistagmus y espasticidad, con neuroimágenes que evidencian la dismielinización. Presentamos una serie de siete casos colombianos con esta leucodistrofica en la que describimos fenotípica y genotípicamente la heterogeneidad de esta enfermedad en nuestra población. Hallazgos clínicos: Todos los pacientes analizados fueron de sexo masculino, con edad promedio de inicio de síntomas hacia los ocho meses de vida. La edad media al diagnóstico fue de 5 años 5 meses, siendo más frecuente el diagnóstico de PMD clásica que el tipo connatal. Se describe retardo del desarrollo motor en el 100% de los casos, acompañado de nistagmus en el 28.7%. 85.7% de los casos tenía algún grado de espasticidad, 71.4 % signos cerebelosos, 57.0% hipotonía, y hasta en 28.5% se evidenciaron movimientos anormales. Solo tres pacientes lograron marcha, aunque patológica. En los dos pacientes con la forma connatal se documentó una edad maduracional motora en el rango de Alerta, de acuerdo a la escala abreviada del desarrollo de la OMS. En todos los casos se detectó algún tipo de anormalidad en el estudio imagenológico cerebral. Estudios Moleculares y Resultados: El diagnóstico molecular se empleó en la mayoría de los casos (85.7%), encontrando alteraciones en la dosis génica en el 28.5% y tres diferentes mutaciones puntuales. Relevancia clínica: Dados los hallazgos en los resultados del estudio molecular, sugerimos que en el abordaje diagnóstico confirmatorio para la población colombiana se debería contemplar en un mismo tiempo tanto la secuenciación como el estudio de variantes del número de copias del gen afectado, contrario a lo sugerido en literatura mundial en la que se inicia con estudio para duplicación / deleción.

Metachondromatosis: Clinical and radiological diagnosis and differential diagnosis / Metacondromatosis: diagnóstico clínico, radiológico y diagnóstico diferencial

The clinical case of a 9-year-old patient derived from Orthopedics to the Institute of Genetics at Universidad Nacional de Colombia due to a longstanding medical history of multiple bony outgrowths that required surgical management without etiologic diagnosis is presented in this paper. A possible diagnosis of metachondromatosis is suggested based on the clinical course, the family history, and the findings of the biopsy and regular growth parameters. On the other hand, differential diagnoses were compared taking into account the most common enchondromatosis type, based on data obtained during physical examination, radiological signs and other variables. This comparison was grounded on the review of existing literature on this type of entities.

En el presente artículo se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente de 9 años de edad remitida al Instituto de Genética de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia desde el servicio de Ortopedia por cuadro clínico de larga data, consistente en múltiples excrecencias óseas que han requerido manejo quirúrgico sin diagnóstico etiológico. Se Plantea la posibilidad de metacondromatosis como diagnóstico, basándose en el curso clínico, la historia familiar, los hallazgos en biopsia y los parámetros normales de crecimiento; también se compararon los diagnósticos diferenciales dentro de las encondromatosis más frecuentes teniendo en cuenta datos tomados del examen físico, signos radiológicos y otras variables, esta comparación se basó en la revisión bibliográfica de la literatura existente actualmente sobre este tipo de entidades.