Molecular Epidemiology in 591 Italian Probands With Nonsyndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome.

Purpose: To describe the molecular epidemiology of nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and Usher syndrome (US) in Italian patients. Methods: A total of 591 probands (315 with family history and 276 sporadics) were analyzed. For 155 of them, we performed a family segregation study, considering a total of 382 relatives. Probands were analyzed by a customized multigene panel approach. Sanger sequencing was used to validate all genetic variants and to perform family segregation studies. Copy number variants of selected genes were analyzed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Four patients who tested negative to targeted next-generation sequencing analysis underwent clinical exome sequencing. Results: The mean diagnostic yield of molecular testing among patients with a family history of retinal disorders was 55.2% while the diagnostic yield including sporadic cases was 37.4%. We found 468 potentially pathogenic variants, 147 of which were unpublished, in 308 probands and 66 relatives. Mean ages of onset of the different classes of RP were autosomal dominant RP, 19.3 ± 12.6 years; autosomal recessive RP, 23.2 ± 16.6 years; X-linked RP, 13.9 ± 9.9 years; and Usher syndrome, 18.9 ± 9.5 years. We reported potential new genotype-phenotype correlations in three probands, two revealed by TruSight One testing. All three probands showed isolated RP caused by biallelic variants in genes usually associated with syndromes such as PERCHING and Senior-Loken or with retinal dystrophy, iris coloboma, and comedogenic acne syndrome. Conclusions: This is the largest molecular study of Italian patients with RP in the literature, thus reflecting the epidemiology of the disease in Italy with reasonable accuracy.

Comparison between American and European legislation in the therapeutical and alimentary bacteriophage usage.

Bacteriophages, though discovered a century ago, still lag behind in the race of antimicrobials due to scarce information about their biology, pharmacology, safety and suitability as therapeutic agents. Although they possess several capabilities of practical utility in medicine, they are still unable to satisfy the regulatory standards set by the regulatory authorities in both United States (US) and European Union (EU). Bacteriophages and their products (lysins) are considered as drugs, therefore they should follow the same route of the chemical drugs in order to achieve regulatory approvals for commercial production and application. However, lack of definitive guidelines and regulations has rendered bacteriophages less attractive to pharmaceutical companies and funding agencies, making it difficult for clinicians and researchers to set up wide scale clinical trials in order to prove efficacy, safety and stability of bacteriophages and their products. In this review, we will discuss the current regulations for developing phages and phage-based products for therapeutic purposes in the US and EU.

Natural compounds as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 endocytosis: A promising approach against COVID-19.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The recent COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 affected more than six million people and caused thousands of deaths. The lack of effective drugs or vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 further worsened the situation. This review is focused on the identification of molecules that may inhibit viral entry into host cells by endocytosis. METHODS: We performed the literature search for these natural compounds in the articles indexed in PubMed. RESULTS: Natural products against viral infections have been gaining importance in recent years. Specific natural compounds like phytosterols, polyphenols, flavonoids, citrus, galangal, curcuma and hydroxytyrosol are being analyzed to understand whether they could inhibit SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSIONS: We reviewed natural compounds with potential antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 that could be used as a treatment for COVID-19.

A very early diagnosis of AlstrÓ§m syndrome by next generation sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Alström syndrome is a rare recessively inherited disorder caused by variants in the ALMS1 gene. It is characterized by multiple organ dysfunction, including cone-rod retinal dystrophy, dilated cardiomyopathy, hearing loss, obesity, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus and systemic fibrosis. Heterogeneity and age-dependent development of clinical manifestations make it difficult to obtain a clear diagnosis, especially in pediatric patients. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report the case of a girl with Alström syndrome. Genetic examination was proposed at age 22 months when suspected macular degeneration was the only major finding. Next generation sequencing of a panel of genes linked to eye-related pathologies revealed two compound heterozygous variants in the ALMS1 gene. Frameshift variants c.1196_1202del, p.(Thr399Lysfs*11), rs761292021 and c.11310_11313del, (p.Glu3771Trpfs*18), rs747272625 were detected in exons 5 and 16, respectively. Both variants cause frameshifts and generation of a premature stop-codon that probably leads to mRNA nonsense-mediated decay. Validation and segregation of ALMS1 variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic testing makes it possible, even in childhood, to increase the number of correct diagnoses of patients who have ambiguous phenotypes caused by rare genetic variants. The development of high-throughput sequencing technologies offers an exceptionally valuable screening tool for clear genetic diagnoses and ensures early multidisciplinary management and treatment of the emerging symptoms.

Cardiomyopathies.

The most common cardiomyopathies often present to primary care physicians with similar symptoms, despite the fact that they involve a variety of phenotypes and etiologies (1). Many have signs and symptoms common in heart failure, such as reduced ejection fraction, peripheral edema, fatigue, orthopnea, exertion dyspnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, presyncope, syncope and cardiac ischemia (1). In all cardiomyopathies, the cardiac muscle (myocardium) may be structurally and/or functionally impaired. They can be classified as hypertrophic, dilated, left-ventricular non compaction, restrictive and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathies.

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Congenital hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. It occurs in 1:2000-4000 newborns. Common clinical features include decreased activity and increased sleep, feeding difficulty, constipation, prolonged jaundice, myxedematous facies, large fontanels (especially posterior), macroglossia, distended abdomen with umbilical hernia, and hypotonia. Slow linear growth and developmental delay are usually apparent by 4-6 months of age. Without treatment, congenital hypothyroidism leads to severe intellectual deficit and short stature. Congenital hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine, which can accelerate body metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Hyperthyroidism is very rare and its prevalence is unknown. Common clinical features include unintentional weight loss, tachycardia, arrhythmia, palpitations, anxiety, tremor and sweating. Here we summarize the genes involved in congenital hypo- and hyperthyroidism and the tests we use for genetic analysis.