Frequency of polymorphisms in the CYP2C9, VKORC1, and CYP4F2 genes related to the metabolism of Warfarin in healthy donors from Cali, Colombia.

Alleles in the VKORC1, CYP2C9, and CYP4F2 genes can influence Warfarin dose requirement. We aimed to determine the frequency of the polymorphisms in these genes in healthy individuals from Cali, Colombia. Observational study where total blood was collected from 107 healthy donors who attended a higher educational institution in Cali, Colombia. Sanger sequencing of exons 2, 3, 5, and 7 of the CYP2C9 gene; the common promoter region of CYP (rs12777823); exon 11 of CPY4F2 and the polymorphism c.-1639G > A in the VKORC1 gene promoter was performed. CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3, CYP2C9*8, CYP2C9*9, CYP2C9*11, CYP4F2*3, rs12777823, and VKORC1*2 were detected. The latter had the highest frequency with 80 (74.8%) participants in a heterozygous or homozygous state. The least frequent allele was CYP2C9*11 with only 1 carrier. Combined haplotypes (VKORC1 *1/*2 or *2/*2 and CYP2C9 *1/*2 or *2/*2) were identified in 14 (13.7%) subjects. Both frequencies found in the VKORC1 and CYP2C9 alleles were similar to the ones reported for Latin Americans of European and Native American Ancestry. VKORC1*2 allele, the main genetic contributor to Warfarin dosing requirement, was the variant with the highest frequency (74.8% subjects, with a frequency of the alternative allele (A) of 50%). Our findings provide researchers with a greater insight regarding the frequency of common polymorphisms that affect anticoagulation treatment in the Cali (Colombia) population.

A Patient with Bone Fragility, Multiple Fractures, Osteosarcoma, and the Variant c.143A>G in the IFITM5 Gene: A Case Report.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a group of genetic skeletal disorders, with a prevalence of 1 in 15,000-20,000 births. OI type V has been described in approximately 150 cases and all patients carry the variant (c.-14C> T) in the IFITM5 gene. However, two other variants, p.S40L and p.N48S have been reported in this gene, leading to clinical phenotypes different from OI type V. Here we described a patient with multiple bone fractures, scoliosis, skull alteration (plagiocephaly), bone deformation, bone rickets, and intramedullary epithelioid osteosarcoma that bears the recently reported heterozygous variant c.143A>G (p.N48S) in the IFITM5 gene. This case supports the pathogenicity of this new variant in the IFITM5 gene and adds information regarding its clinical phenotype.

Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Hypospadias in a Male 46, XY with a Mutation in the NF1 Gene and a Mutation in NR5A1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is one of the most common genetic autosomal dominant disorders described, with a prevalence of 1 in 2000 to 1 in 3000 individuals. It is characterized by skin, nerves, and bone abnormalities. Non-related to NF1, hypospadias is a displacement in the urethral opening which in the majority of patients has an idiopathic cause. Here, we describe a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1, hypospadias, and unilateral cryptorchidism. The heterozygous variants c.6789_6792delTTAC, p.(Tyr2264Thrfs*5) and c.140A>G, p.(Tyr47Cys) were found in the NF1 and NR5A1 genes, respectively. This case contributes to the phenotypical characterization of patients with NF1 but also with hypospadias caused by a mutation in the NR5A1 gene, which usually leads to severe sex disorders.

Mowat-Wilson Syndrome as a Differential Diagnosis in Patients with Congenital Heart Defects and Dysmorphic Facies.

Mowat-Wilson syndrome is a rare, autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by distinctive facial gestalt and intellectual disability that is often associated with microcephaly, seizures and multiple congenital anomalies, mainly heart defects. More than 350 patients and 180 genetic variants in the ZEB2 gene, have been reported with an estimated frequency of 1 per 70,000 births. Here we report a Colombian female patient with facial gestalt, intellectual disability, microcephaly, congenital heart defects, hypothyroidism and middle ear defect associated with the nonsense pathogenic variant c.2761C>T (p.Arg921Ter) in the ZEB2 gene. This case contributes to the understanding of the clinical complications and the natural history of this complex and clinically heterogeneous disorder but also to the awareness that patients with heart congenital defects and dysmorphic facies may present an underlying genetic disorder.

2q37 deletion syndrome in a Colombian patient with macrocephaly: a case report.

BACKGROUND: 2q37 deletion syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by deletions in the 2q37 cytobands leading to developmental delay, intellectual disability, behavioral abnormalities and dysmorphic craniofacial features with more than 115 patients described worldwide. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a Colombian 3-year-old patient with verbal communication delay, umbilical hernia, facial dysmorphic features, hypotonia, and macrocephaly with normal magnetic resonance imaging. Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization revealed a 5.9 Mb deletion in the 2q37.2 and 2q37.3 regions, eliminating 60 protein-coding genes in one of her chromosomes 2 and allowing the diagnosis of 2q37 deletion syndrome in this patient. Therapeutic interventions so far were the surgical correction of the umbilical hernia. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic tests are important tools for the diagnosis of clinically complex and infrequent conditions but also for timely diagnosis that allows appropriate surveillance, interventions, and genetic counseling. This case also provides information for expanding the phenotypical and genetic characterization of 2q37 deletion syndrome.

B Cell Subsets in Colombian Adults with Predominantly Antibody Deficiencies, Bronchiectasis or Recurrent Pneumonia.

AIM: To evaluate and describe lymphocyte populations' and B cell subsets' frequencies in patients presenting with Predominantly antibody deficiencies (PAD) and diagnosed with bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia seen in Cali (Colombian Southwest region). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 16 subjects with PAD, 20 subjects with pulmonary complications (bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia) and 20 healthy donors (HD). Controls and probands between 14 and 64 years old, regardless of gender were included. Lymphocyte populations (T, B and NK cells) and B cell subsets were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using flow cytometry, T/B/NK reagent and the pre-germinal center antibody panel proposed by the EUROflow consortium were used. EUROclass and the classification proposed by Driessen et al. were implemented. RESULTS: CVID patients exhibited increase absolute numbers of CD8+ T cells and reduce NK cells as compare with HD, other PAD cases or pulmonary complications. PAD B cell subsets were disturbed when compared to the age range-matched healthy donors. Among B cell subsets, the memory B cell compartment was the most affected, especially switched memory B cells. Four participants were classified as B- and two CVID as smB-Trnorm and smB-21low groups according to EUROclass classification. The most frequent patterns proposed by Driessen et al. were B cell production and germinal center defect. CONCLUSIONS: B cell subsets, especially memory B cells, are disturbed in PAD patients from Southwestern Colombia. To the best of our knowledge this is the most comprehensive study of B cell subsets in Colombian adults.

A Novel POGZ Variant in a Patient with Intellectual Disability and Obesity.

White-Sutton syndrome is a rare type of autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations, mostly de novo, in the POGZ gene. No more than 120 patients have been described so far in the literature. Common clinical manifestations include intellectual disability, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, other behavioral abnormalities, sleeping problems, hyperactivity and visual problems. We describe a 20-year-old male patient from Colombia who presented with delayed psychomotor development, intellectual disability, obesity, sleep difficulties, hypotonia, hypogonadism, gynecomastia, visual abnormalities and several facial dysmorphisms. Genetic testing showed a novel heterozygous frameshift variant (c.3308del; p.Leu1103Profs*19) in the POGZ gene (NM_015100.3). This is the first report of a diagnosed patient with WHSUS in Colombia.

Case report: Craniofrontonasal syndrome caused by a novel variant in the EFNB1 gene in a Colombian woman.

Craniofrontonasal Syndrome is a very rare dominant X-linked genetic disorder characterized by symptoms such as hypertelorism, craniosynostosis, eye alterations, bifid nose tip, and longitudinal ridging and splitting of nails. Heterozygous females are usually the patients severely affected. To date, clinical or genetic data have not been published for these patients in Colombia. Here we report a female proband with coronal craniosynostosis, hypertelorism, strabismus, rotational nystagmus, high-arched palate, dental crowding, scoliosis, severe pectus excavatum, unilateral breast hypoplasia, and brachydactyly; diagnosed with Craniofrontonasal Syndrome with the novel heterozygous variant c.374A>C (p.Glu125Ala) in the EFNB1 gene. So far, she has been treated with physical therapy and surgical correction of the bifid nose and an umbilical hernia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a patient with this rare genetic disorder in Colombia, expanding its mutational spectrum and highlighting the importance of genetic evaluation of patients with craniosynostosis and facial dysmorphism.

Molecular characterization of Epstein-Barr virus variants detected in the oral cavity of adolescents in Cali, Colombia / [Caracterización molecular de las variantes del virus de Epstein-Barr detectadas en la cavidad oral de adolescentes de Cali, Colombia].

Introduction: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an ubiquitous and oncogenic virus associated with the development of diseases such as infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and other neoplasms. Currently, two types are recognized: EBV-1 and EBV-2, which have genetic differences with their EBNA nuclear antigens. Likewise, due to the high degree of heterogeneity and variability found in the LMP1 protein of the virus, variants associated with pathogenesis or specific geographic regions have been described. Objective: To identify and characterize molecularly EBV variants detected in the oral cavity of 84 adolescents in Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods: Conventional PCR amplification, purification, and sequencing of the gen EBNA3C were carried out to typify the virus and the C-ter domain of the LMP1 protein to identify variants. We also conducted a phylogenetic and nucleotide variant analysis of the obtained sequences versus pathogenic or geographic variants reported in GenBank-NCBI. Results: The predominant viral subtype was EBV-1 (79%); 72.6% was grouped with the pathogenic variant Raji, derived from B lymphocytes of a patient with Burkitt>s lymphoma, 13.7% was related to a variant of Mediterranean origin, and 13.7% was not grouped with any of the reference variants. Conclusions: This is the first time that variants of LMP1-EBV have been identified in Cali, Colombia. Additional studies are necessary to characterize the unidentified variant and to determine if it is pathogenic or if it is just an isolate present in the city of Cali.

Introducción. El virus de Epstein-Barr (EBV) es un virus ubicuo y oncogénico, asociado con el desarrollo de enfermedades como la mononucleosis infecciosa, el linfoma de Burkitt, el carcinoma nasofaríngeo y otras neoplasias. Actualmente, se reconocen dos subtipos: EBV-1 y EBV- 2, que tienen diferencias genéticas con sus antígenos nucleares (Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigens, EBNA). Debido a la gran heterogeneidad y variabilidad encontradas en la proteína LMP1 del virus, se han descrito variantes asociadas con ciertas enfermedades o con regiones geográficas específicas. Objetivo. Identificar y caracterizar molecularmente las variantes del EBV detectadas en la cavidad oral de 84 adolescentes de Cali, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo la amplificación por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR) convencional, así como la purificación y la secuenciación del gen EBNA3C se realizó para subtipificar el virus y del dominio C-ter de la proteína LMP1 para identificar variantes. Además, se llevó a cabo un análisis filogenético y de variantes nucleotídicas de las secuencias obtenidas comparadas con variantes patogénicas y geográficas reportadas en el GenBank (National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI). Resultados. El subtipo viral predominante fue el EBV-1 (79 %); el 72,6 % se agrupó con la variante patogénica Raji, derivada de linfocitos B de un paciente con linfoma de Burkitt; el 13,7 % se relacionó con una variante de origen geográfico del Mediterráneo y otro 13,7 % no se agrupó con ninguna de las variantes de referencia. Conclusiones. Este es el primer estudio que reporta variantes del gen LMP1-EBV en Cali, Colombia. Se requieren nuevos estudios para caracterizar la variante sin identificar y determinar si es patogénica o si es una variante geográfica presente exclusivamente en la ciudad.

Caracterización molecular de las variantes del virus de Epstein-Barr detectadas en la cavidad oral de adolescentes de Cali, Colombia / Molecular characterization of Epstein-Barr virus variants detected in the oral cavity of adolescents in Cali, Colombia

Introducción. El virus de Epstein-Barr (EBV) es un virus ubicuo y oncogénico, asociado con el desarrollo de enfermedades como la mononucleosis infecciosa, el linfoma de Burkitt, el carcinoma nasofaríngeo y otras neoplasias. Actualmente, se reconocen dos subtipos: EBV-1 y EBV- 2, que tienen diferencias genéticas con sus antígenos nucleares (Epstein-Barr Nuclear Antigens, EBNA). Debido a la gran heterogeneidad y variabilidad encontradas en la proteína LMP1 del virus, se han descrito variantes asociadas con ciertas enfermedades o con regiones geográficas específicas. Objetivo. Identificar y caracterizar molecularmente las variantes del EBV detectadas en la cavidad oral de 84 adolescentes de Cali, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo la amplificación por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR) convencional, así como la purificación y la secuenciación del gen EBNA3C se realizó para subtipificar el virus y del dominio C-ter de la proteína LMP1 para identificar variantes. Además, se llevó a cabo un análisis filogenético y de variantes nucleotídicas de las secuencias obtenidas comparadas con variantes patogénicas y geográficas reportadas en el GenBank (National Center for Biotechnology Information, NCBI). Resultados. El subtipo viral predominante fue el EBV-1 (79 %); el 72,6 % se agrupó con la variante patogénica Raji, derivada de linfocitos B de un paciente con linfoma de Burkitt; el 13,7 % se relacionó con una variante de origen geográfico del Mediterráneo y otro 13,7 % no se agrupó con ninguna de las variantes de referencia. Conclusiones. Este es el primer estudio que reporta variantes del gen LMP1-EBV en Cali, Colombia. Se requieren nuevos estudios para caracterizar la variante sin identificar y determinar si es patogénica o si es una variante geográfica presente exclusivamente en la ciudad.

Introduction: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an ubiquitous and oncogenic virus associated with the development of diseases such as infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and other neoplasms. Currently, two types are recognized: EBV-1 and EBV-2, which have genetic differences with their EBNA nuclear antigens. Likewise, due to the high degree of heterogeneity and variability found in the LMP1 protein of the virus, variants associated with pathogenesis or specific geographic regions have been described. Objective: To identify and characterize molecularly EBV variants detected in the oral cavity of 84 adolescents in Cali, Colombia. Materials and methods: Conventional PCR amplification, purification, and sequencing of the gen EBNA3C were carried out to typify the virus and the C-ter domain of the LMP1 protein to identify variants. We also conducted a phylogenetic and nucleotide variant analysis of the obtained sequences versus pathogenic or geographic variants reported in GenBank-NCBI. Results: The predominant viral subtype was EBV-1 (79%); 72.6% was grouped with the pathogenic variant Raji, derived from B lymphocytes of a patient with Burkitt>s lymphoma, 13.7% was related to a variant of Mediterranean origin, and 13.7% was not grouped with any of the reference variants. Conclusions: This is the first time that variants of LMP1-EBV have been identified in Cali, Colombia. Additional studies are necessary to characterize the unidentified variant and to determine if it is pathogenic or if it is just an isolate present in the city of Cali.

Detección del virus Epstein Barr en escolares adolescentes en la ciudad de Cali, Colombia / Detection of epstein barr virus in adolescent students in the city of cali, colombia

Objetivo: Detectar el virus Epstein-Barr en estudiantes de secundaria entre los 14 y 17 años de la ciudad de Cali, Colombia y su posible asociación con la edad, sexo y grado escolar. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de corte transversal en donde se analizaron 374 muestras de saliva, tomadas entre el año 2015 y 2016, mediante PCR convencional y PCR en Tiempo real. Se evalúo la asociación entre la detección del ADN viral y las características demográficas, además de un análisis de razón de oportunidades para evaluar la medida de la asociación. Resultados: El ADN viral fue detectado en el 45% (167/374) de las muestras orales, encontrándose una presencia viral mayor en los escolares de los grados octavo y noveno (p=0,004); en donde los estudiantes de 14 años presentaron un riesgo de 2,4 veces mayor para la detección del virus (IC 95%:1,12-4,9) en comparación con los estudias de más edad. Conclusión: En el presente estudio se evidencio la exposición del VEB en la cavidad oral de estudiantes de secundaria, lo cual hace necesario que se tomen acciones de vigilancia que permitan monitorear las implicaciones de estos hallazgos en la salud de los escolares.

Objective: To detect the Epstein Barr virus in adolescent students between 14 and 17 years old in the city of Cali, Colombia and its possible association with age, gender and school grade. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study where 374 mouthwash samples collected between the years 2015 and 2016 was analyzed through conventional and real-time PCR. Association between viral DNA detection and sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated. The odds ratio analysis was used to assess the extent of this association. Results: The viral DNA was present in 45% (167/374) of the samples, with a higher DNA detection in the students of eighth and ninth grades (p=0.004); where the 14 years old students present a 2.4 times higher risk of detecting the virus (IC 95%: 1,12-4.9) in comparison with older students. Conclusion: In the present study, the Epstein Barr virus exposition in the oral cavity was evidenced, which make necessary to take actions on surveillance that allow monitoring the implications of these fndings in the teenage student's health.