Association of the ESR1 (rs9340799), OLR1 (rs3736234), LIPC (rs2070895), VDR (rs2228570), and CETP (rs708272) Polymorphisms With Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Iranian Patients.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a devastating illness and a leading cause of death worldwide, primarily caused by atherosclerosis resulting from a genetic-environmental interaction. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the ESR1 (rs9340799), OLR1 (rs3736234), LIPC (rs2070895), VDR (rs2228570), and CETP (rs708272) polymorphisms, lipid profile parameters, and CAD risk in a southeast Iranian population. METHODS: A total of 400 subjects (200 CAD patients with hyperlipidemia and 200 healthy controls) were enrolled in this case-control study. Five selected polymorphisms were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. RESULTS: For all single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the population under study was in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The T-risk allele frequency of rs2228570 was associated with an increased risk of CAD. The TT and CT genotypes of rs2228570 had also been associated with the risk of CAD. Additionally, the TT genotype was associated with higher serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels. The GG genotype of the rs3736234 was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride (TG) levels, and the AA genotype of the rs708272 was associated with higher HDL-c levels. Based on these findings, we propose that the VDR (rs2228570) polymorphism was associated with serum HDL-c and LDL-c levels and may serve as potential risk factors for CAD within the Iranian population. Moreover, rs3736234 and rs708272 influence the concentrations of TG and HDL-c, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings provided insights into the complex interplay between genetic variations, cardiovascular risk, and lipid metabolism.

Expression analysis of vitamin D receptor-associated long noncoding RNAs in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is a neuroactive steroid that carries out its biological functions through the vitamin D receptor (VDR). The VDR gene interacts with certain long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). The present study is aimed at evaluating the expression levels of the VDR gene as well as those of HOTAIR, H19, MALAT1, and P21 lncRNAs in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). METHODS: This research was conducted on 38 RRMS patients and 38 healthy individuals. The expression levels of VDR and selected lncRNAs in peripheral blood as well as those of vitamin D in the plasma were measured. RESULTS: The results revealed a significant increase in the expression of lncRNA H19 in the RRMS group compared to the control group. The analysis of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for H19 gene expression demonstrated a diagnostic value of 0.699 (95% CI: 0.575-0.823). Positive correlations were detected between VDR and lncRNA HOTAIR (r = 0.446, p = 0.008), H19 (r = 0.351, p = 0.042), MALAT1 (r = 0.464, p = 0.006), and P21 (r = 0.512, p = 0.002) in MS patients. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that lncRNA H19 could serve as a potential biomarker for MS diagnosis (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 34).

CDKN2B-AS (rs2891168), SOD2 (rs4880), and PON1 (rs662) polymorphisms and susceptibility to coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Iranian patients: A case-control study.

Background and Aims: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a devastating illness and primary cause of death worldwide that arises from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Several large-scale studies found that 9p21.3, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) polymorphisms increase type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and/or coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Our research aimed to investigate whether the SNPs of the 9p21.3 locus (rs28911698), SOD2 (rs4880), and PON1 (rs662) genes were associated with the risk of T2DM and/or CAD in the Iranian population. Methods: In this case-control study four group subjects including patients with CAD non-T2DM, with CAD and T2DM, non-CAD with T2DM, and non-CAD non-T2DM were recruited to the study from 2019 to 2020. Molecular analysis was carried out by allele specific-polymerase chain reaction (AS-PCR) technique for rs4880, Taqman genotyping assay for rs2891168, and PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique for rs662. Results: The rs2891168 polymorphism presented an elevated risk of CAD in non-T2DM with CAD and with T2DM CAD groups compared to the non-T2DM non-CAD group with GG genotype and dominant model after adjustment (p < 0.05). G-allele in PON1 rs662 polymorphism associated with increased risk of T2DM in T2DM non-CAD, and T2DM CAD groups compared to non-T2DM non-CAD group with dominant model, GG and AG genotypes (p < 0.05). However, SOD2 rs4880 polymorphism presented no significant association with the development of diabetes or CAD. Conclusion: These results provide a prime witness that rs2891168 and rs662 gene variants might have a possible increased risk of CAD and T2DM occurrence, respectively. To obtain more definitive and accurate results in this area, further research is required.

El-Hattab-Alkuraya syndrome caused by biallelic WDR45B pathogenic variants: Further delineation of the phenotype and genotype.

Homozygous pathogenic variants in WDR45B were first identified in six subjects from three unrelated families with global development delay, refractory seizures, spastic quadriplegia, and brain malformations. Since the initial report in 2018, no further cases have been described. In this report, we present 12 additional individuals from seven unrelated families and their clinical, radiological, and molecular findings. Six different variants in WDR45B were identified, five of which are novel. Microcephaly and global developmental delay were observed in all subjects, and seizures and spastic quadriplegia in most. Common findings on brain imaging include cerebral atrophy, ex vacuo ventricular dilatation, brainstem volume loss, and symmetric under-opercularization. El-Hattab-Alkuraya syndrome is associated with a consistent phenotype characterized by early onset cerebral atrophy resulting in microcephaly, developmental delay, spastic quadriplegia, and seizures. The phenotype appears to be more severe among individuals with loss-of-function variants whereas those with missense variants were less severely affected suggesting a potential genotype-phenotype correlation in this disorder. A brain imaging pattern emerges which is consistent among individuals with loss-of-function variants and could potentially alert the neuroradiologists or clinician to consider WDR45B-related El-Hattab-Alkuraya syndrome.

A Study of Associations Between rs9349379 (PHACTR1), rs2891168 (CDKN2B-AS), rs11838776 (COL4A2) and rs4880 (SOD2) Polymorphic Variants and Coronary Artery Disease in Iranian Population.

Recent genome-wide association studies reported the association of polymorphic alleles of PHACTR1 (rs9349379 (G)), CDDKN2B-AS1 (rs2891168 (G)), COL4A2 (rs11838776 (A)) and SOD2 (rs4880 (T)) with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of our study was to assess the association of genetic variants with risk of CAD and its severity and in Southeast Iranian population. This study was examined in 250 CAD-suspected patients (mean age 53.49 ± 6.9 years) and 250 healthy individuals (mean age 52.96 ± 5.9 years). The Taqman SNP genotyping assay was used for genotyping of rs9349379 and rs2891168 variants. Tetra-primer Amplified refractory mutation system-PCR (Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR) was employed for rs11838776 and rs4880. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that the G allele of rs9349379 and rs2891168 were associated with increased risk of CAD. The GG homozygous genotype of rs9349379 and rs2891168 had also been associated with risk of CAD. Additionally, the AG genotype of rs2891168 was associated with CAD. The significance of association of rs2891168 (G, GG, AG) increases with severity of CAD; but the rs9349379 (G, GG) have shown reverse association with severity of CAD. The genetic variants of COL4A2 (rs11838776) and SOD2 (rs4880) reflected no association with CAD in Southeast Iranian population. The findings of this study revealed that the PHACTR1 (rs9349379) and CDKN2B-AS1 (rs2891168) genetic variants might serve as genetic risk factor in CAD.

Bi-allelic variants in OGDHL cause a neurodevelopmental spectrum disease featuring epilepsy, hearing loss, visual impairment, and ataxia.

The 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase-like (OGDHL) protein is a rate-limiting enzyme in the Krebs cycle that plays a pivotal role in mitochondrial metabolism. OGDHL expression is restricted mainly to the brain in humans. Here, we report nine individuals from eight unrelated families carrying bi-allelic variants in OGDHL with a range of neurological and neurodevelopmental phenotypes including epilepsy, hearing loss, visual impairment, gait ataxia, microcephaly, and hypoplastic corpus callosum. The variants include three homozygous missense variants (p.Pro852Ala, p.Arg244Trp, and p.Arg299Gly), three compound heterozygous single-nucleotide variants (p.Arg673Gln/p.Val488Val, p.Phe734Ser/p.Ala327Val, and p.Trp220Cys/p.Asp491Val), one homozygous frameshift variant (p.Cys553Leufs∗16), and one homozygous stop-gain variant (p.Arg440Ter). To support the pathogenicity of the variants, we developed a novel CRISPR-Cas9-mediated tissue-specific knockout with cDNA rescue system for dOgdh, the Drosophila ortholog of human OGDHL. Pan-neuronal knockout of dOgdh led to developmental lethality as well as defects in Krebs cycle metabolism, which was fully rescued by expression of wild-type dOgdh. Studies using the Drosophila system indicate that p.Arg673Gln, p.Phe734Ser, and p.Arg299Gly are severe loss-of-function alleles, leading to developmental lethality, whereas p.Pro852Ala, p.Ala327Val, p.Trp220Cys, p.Asp491Val, and p.Arg244Trp are hypomorphic alleles, causing behavioral defects. Transcript analysis from fibroblasts obtained from the individual carrying the synonymous variant (c.1464T>C [p.Val488Val]) in family 2 showed that the synonymous variant affects splicing of exon 11 in OGDHL. Human neuronal cells with OGDHL knockout exhibited defects in mitochondrial respiration, indicating the essential role of OGDHL in mitochondrial metabolism in humans. Together, our data establish that the bi-allelic variants in OGDHL are pathogenic, leading to a Mendelian neurodevelopmental disease in humans.

Biallelic variants in KARS1 are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and hearing loss recapitulated by the knockout zebrafish.

PURPOSE: Pathogenic variants in Lysyl-tRNA synthetase 1 (KARS1) have increasingly been recognized as a cause of early-onset complex neurological phenotypes. To advance the timely diagnosis of KARS1-related disorders, we sought to delineate its phenotype and generate a disease model to understand its function in vivo. METHODS: Through international collaboration, we identified 22 affected individuals from 16 unrelated families harboring biallelic likely pathogenic or pathogenic in KARS1 variants. Sequencing approaches ranged from disease-specific panels to genome sequencing. We generated loss-of-function alleles in zebrafish. RESULTS: We identify ten new and four known biallelic missense variants in KARS1 presenting with a moderate-to-severe developmental delay, progressive neurological and neurosensory abnormalities, and variable white matter involvement. We describe novel KARS1-associated signs such as autism, hyperactive behavior, pontine hypoplasia, and cerebellar atrophy with prevalent vermian involvement. Loss of kars1 leads to upregulation of p53, tissue-specific apoptosis, and downregulation of neurodevelopmental related genes, recapitulating key tissue-specific disease phenotypes of patients. Inhibition of p53 rescued several defects of kars1-/- knockouts. CONCLUSION: Our work delineates the clinical spectrum associated with KARS1 defects and provides a novel animal model for KARS1-related human diseases revealing p53 signaling components as potential therapeutic targets.

A Novel VPS13B Mutation Identified by Whole-Exome Sequencing in Iranian Patients with Cohen Syndrome.

Cohen syndrome is caused by homozygous mutation in the vacuolar protein sorting 13 homolog B (VPS13B, also referred to as COH1) gene on chromosome 8q22.2. The VPS13B protein is involved in transmembrane transport, Golgi integrity, and neuritogenesis. Clinical manifestations of Cohen syndrome are mainly intellectual disability, developmental delay, facial abnormalities, and eye disorders. This study aimed to identify the causative variant in two unrelated families with Cohen syndrome. To this end, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed to identify the pathogenic variants. A homozygous nonsense variant (NM_017890:c.10369C > T; NP_060360.3: p.Q3457X) in the VPS13B gene was identified and co-segregated with all affected individuals in both families. In silico analysis highly suggested this variant as damaging for protein function. The present study increases the mutation spectrum of the VPS13B gene and could be useful in genetic diagnosis and genetic counseling in Cohen syndrome patients.

Screening Consanguineous Families for Hearing Loss Using the MiamiOtoGenes Panel.

Background: Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most common and genetically heterogeneous sensory disorders in humans. Genetic causes underlie 50-60% of all HL and the majority of these cases exhibit an autosomal recessive model of inheritance. Methods: In our study, we used our targeted custom MiamiOtoGenes panel of 180 HL-associated genes to screen 23 unrelated consanguineous Iranian families with at least two affected children to identify potential causal variants for HL. Results: We identified pathogenic variants in seven genes (MYO7A, CDH23, GIPC3, USH1C, CAPB2, LOXHD1, and STRC) in nine unrelated families with varying HL profiles. These include five reported and four novel mutations. Conclusion: For small consanguineous families that were unsuitable for conventional linkage analysis the employment of the MiamiOtoGenes panel helped identify the genetic cause of HL in a cost-effective and timely manner. This rapid methodology provides for diagnoses of a significant fraction of HL patients, and identifies those who will need more extensive genetic analyses such as whole exome/genome sequencing.

Haplotype Analysis in Carriers of ß-Globin Gene Mutation Facilitates Genetic Counseling in ß-Thalassemia: A Cross-Sectional Study in Kerman Province, Iran.

BACKGROUND: ß-thalassemia is characterized by reduced synthesis of the hemoglobin beta chain that results in microcytic hypochromic anemia and reduced amounts of hemoglobin A (HbA) on hemoglobin analysis. ß-thalassemias are caused by mutations in the ß-globin gene, inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Determining molecular defects in couples carrying ß-thalassemia is a prerequisite for prenatal diagnosis of the disease. In this regards, database of ß-globin gene haplotypes facilitates mutation detection of the gene and helps genetic counselors to reach the goals of ß-thalassemia prevention program. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 255 couples attended genetic counseling between December 2017 and January 2019 in Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Scinces, Kerman, Iran as suspicious of ß-thalassemia carriers. Furthermore, they were investigated using amplification refractory mutations system-polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods for mutation screening and haplotype analysis of polymorphic sites in ß-globin gene cluster, respectively. RESULTS: We identified 20 different types of ß-globin gene mutation in 449 ß-thalassemia carriers. Analysis of the pattern of Hind III/Gγ, Hinf I/5'ß, Hinc II/3'Ψß, Rsa I/5'ß, AvaII/ß and Hind III/Aγ polymorphic sites in 257 alleles of informative families revealed 17 different haplotypes. Haplotype 1 (77.24%) showed strong linkage with the most common mutation IVSI-5 while haplotype 5 (66.67%) was associated with the second frequent mutation IVSII-1. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, these ß-globin haplotypes are reported for the first time which are different with those found in other parts of Iran. The current haplotypes pattern data makes the counseling of ß-thalassemia carriers more straightforward and the process of mutation screening faster and more accurate.

Quantification of circulating miR-517c-3p and miR-210-3p levels in preeclampsia.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are small regulatory non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression by incomplete complementary attachment to the 3'UTR, 5'UTR, ORF and promoter regions of target mRNAs. We compared plasma levels of miR-210-3p and miR-517c-3p as cell-free microRNAs (cfmiRNAs) in preeclamptic (n = 20) and healthy women (n = 20). These miRs are responsible for cell growth and proliferation, placental hypoxia, immune response and apoptosis. We found higher expression levels of miR-210 and miR-517c in preeclamptic cases (+3.34 and +2.27 fold change, respectively). This is the first study that evaluates the plasma levels of miR-517c in preeclamptic cases by real time PCR (RT-PCR) technique. This study can lead to new opportunities for research about the roles of miRNAs in preeclampsia etiology or new biomarkers.

MAB21L1 loss of function causes a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder with distinctive cerebellar, ocular, craniofacial and genital features (COFG syndrome).

BACKGROUND: Putative nucleotidyltransferase MAB21L1 is a member of an evolutionarily well-conserved family of the male abnormal 21 (MAB21)-like proteins. Little is known about the biochemical function of the protein; however, prior studies have shown essential roles for several aspects of embryonic development including the eye, midbrain, neural tube and reproductive organs. OBJECTIVE: A homozygous truncating variant in MAB21L1 has recently been described in a male affected by intellectual disability, scrotal agenesis, ophthalmological anomalies, cerebellar hypoplasia and facial dysmorphism. We employed a combination of exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping to identify the underlying genetic cause in subjects with similar phenotypic features descending from five unrelated consanguineous families. RESULTS: We identified four homozygous MAB21L1 loss of function variants (p.Glu281fs*20, p.Arg287Glufs*14 p.Tyr280* and p.Ser93Serfs*48) and one missense variant (p.Gln233Pro) in 10 affected individuals from 5 consanguineous families with a distinctive autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental syndrome. Cardinal features of this syndrome include a characteristic facial gestalt, corneal dystrophy, hairy nipples, underdeveloped labioscrotal folds and scrotum/scrotal agenesis as well as cerebellar hypoplasia with ataxia and variable microcephaly. CONCLUSION: This report defines an ultrarare but clinically recognisable Cerebello-Oculo-Facio-Genital syndrome associated with recessive MAB21L1 variants. Additionally, our findings further support the critical role of MAB21L1 in cerebellum, lens, genitalia and as craniofacial morphogenesis.

Various strategies to improve efficacy of stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosis: Focus on mesenchymal stem cells and neuroprotection.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which predominantly affect young adults and undergo heavy socioeconomic burdens. Conventional therapeutic modalities for MS mostly downregulate aggressive immune responses and are almost insufficient for management of progressive course of the disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), due to both immunomodulatory and neuroprotective properties have been known as practical cells for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like MS. However, clinical translation of MSCs is associated with some limitations such as short-life engraftment duration, little in vivo trans-differentiation and restricted accessibility into damaged sites. Therefore, laboratory manipulation of MSCs can improve efficacy of MSCs transplantation in MS patients. In this review, we discuss several novel approaches, which can potentially enhance MSCs capabilities for treating MS.

A Novel Splice Site Mutation of the ATM Gene Associated with Ataxia Telangiectasia.

OBJECTIVES: Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutation in the Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene. This disorder is characterized by progressive cerebellar ataxia, telangiectasia, immunodeficiency and a predisposition to leukemia/lymphoma. In this study, we investigated a family with a new mutation in ATM, confirmed by molecular genetic test. MATERIALS&METHODS: Four members of a family including a symptomatic AT patient, his parents and sibling were examined for ATM gene defects at Kerman University Hospital, Kerman, Iran in 2016. DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes and the coding regions and exon-intron boundaries of ATM gene were amplified by next-generation sequencing technique. The identified mutation was tested in all members of the family. RESULTS: Molecular analyses identified a homozygous T to G substitution in c.7308-6 position resulting in a novel acceptor splice site in intron 49 of the ATM gene in the index patient. Parents and sibling of the proband were heterozygous for the same mutation. CONCLUSION: The variant c.7308-6T>G is predicted to be pathogenic due to impaired splice site causing exon skipping. This newly found frameshift mutation cosegregated as an autosomal recessive trait as expected for Ataxia telangiectasia syndrome.

A novel homozygous frameshift mutation in the FUCA1 gene causes both severe and mild fucosidosis.

AIMS: Fucosidosis is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by α-L-fucosidase deficiency as a result of FUCA1 gene mutations. Here, we studied clinical features and the molecular basis of fucosidosis in a family from Iran, including two probands and nine family members. METHODS: DNA sample of two probands were screened for gene defects using a next generation sequencing technique. The sequencing processes were performed on an Illumina Hiseq 4000 platform. Sequence reads were analysed using BWA-GATK. RESULTS: Next generation sequencing revealed a frameshift mutation caused by 2 bp deletion (c.837_838 delTG; p.Cys279) in the FUCA1 gene. The identified mutation was tested in all participants. Homozygous patients had almost all the complications associated with fucosidosis, while heterozygous carriers were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: The variant c.837_838 delTG; p.Cys279 has not been reported previously and is predicted to be pathogenic due to a premature stop codon.

Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing of a Deafness Gene Panel (MiamiOtoGenes) Analysis in Families Unsuitable for Linkage Analysis.

Hearing loss (HL) is a common sensory disorder in humans with high genetic heterogeneity. To date, over 145 loci have been identified to cause nonsyndromic deafness. Furthermore, there are countless families unsuitable for the conventional linkage analysis. In the present study, we used a custom capture panel (MiamiOtoGenes) to target sequence 180 deafness-associated genes in 5 GJB2 negative deaf probands with autosomal recessive nonsyndromic HL from Iran. In these 5 families, we detected one reported and six novel mutations in 5 different deafness autosomal recessive (DFNB) genes (TRIOBP, LHFPL5, CDH23, PCDH15, and MYO7A). The custom capture panel in our study provided an efficient and comprehensive diagnosis for known deafness genes in small families.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms: Current molecular biology and genetics.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are clonal disorders characterized by increased production of mature blood cells. Philadelphia chromosome-negative MPNs (Ph-MPNs) consist of polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). A number of stem cell derived mutations have been identified in the past 10 years. These findings showed that JAK2V617F, as a diagnostic marker involving JAK2 exon 14 with a high frequency, is the best molecular characterization of Ph-MPNs. Somatic mutations in an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, named calreticulin (CALR), is the second most common mutation in patients with ET and PMF after JAK2 V617F mutation. Discovery of CALR mutations led to the increased molecular diagnostic of ET and PMF up to 90%. It has been shown that JAK2V617F is not the unique event in disease pathogenesis. Some other genes' location such as TET oncogene family member 2 (TET2), additional sex combs-like 1 (ASXL1), casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene (CBL), isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/IDH2), IKAROS family zinc finger 1 (IKZF1), DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS), enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), tumor protein p53 (TP53), runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) and high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) have also identified to be involved in MPNs phenotypes. Here, current molecular biology and genetic mechanisms involved in MNPs with a focus on the aforementioned factors is presented.

Genotype-phenotype correlation in Pompe disease, a step forward.

BACKGROUND: Pompe's disease is a progressive myopathy caused by mutations in the lysosomal enzyme acid alphaglucosidase gene (GAA). A wide clinical variability occurs also in patients sharing the same GAA mutations, even within the same family. METHODS: For a large series of GSDII patients we collected some clinical data as age of onset of the disease, presence or absence of muscular pain, Walton score, 6-Minute Walking Test, Vital Capacity, and Creatine Kinase. DNA was extracted and tested for GAA mutations and some genetic polymorphisms able to influence muscle properties (ACE, ACTN3, AGT and PPARα genes).We compared the polymorphisms analyzed in groups of patients with Pompe disease clustered for their homogeneous genotype. RESULTS: We have been able to identify four subgroups of patients completely homogeneous for their genotype, and two groups homogeneous as far as the second mutation is defined "very severe" or "potentially less severe". When disease free life was studied we observed a high significant difference between groups. The DD genotype in the ACE gene and the XX genotype in the ACTN3 gene were significantly associated to an earlier age of onset of the disease. The ACE DD genotype was also associated to the presence of muscle pain. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that ACE and ACTN3 polymorphisms are genetic factors able to modulate the clinical phenotype of patients affected with Pompe disease.

Recent progress in migraine pathophysiology: role of cortical spreading depression and magnetic resonance imaging.

Migraine is characterised by debilitating pain, which affects the quality of life in affected patients in both the western and the eastern worlds. The purpose of this article is to give a detailed outline of the pathophysiology of migraine pain, which is one of the most confounding pathologies among pain disorders in clinical conditions. We critically evaluate the scientific basis of various theories concerning migraine pathophysiology, and draw insights from brain imaging approaches that have unraveled the prevalence of cortical spreading depression (CSD) in migraine. The findings supporting the role of CSD as a physiological substrate in clinical pain are discussed. We also give an exhaustive overview of brain imaging approaches that have been employed to solve the genesis of migraine pain, and its possible links to the brainstem, the neocortex, genetic endophenotypes, and pathogenetic factors (such as dopaminergic hypersensitivity). Furthermore, a roadmap is proposed to provide a better understanding of pain pathophysiology in migraine, to enable the development of strategies using leads from brain imaging studies for the identification of early biomarkers, efficient prognosis, and treatment planning, which eventually may help in alleviating some of the devastating impact of pain morbidity in patients afflicted with migraine.

Alzheimer's disease: pathophysiology and applications of magnetic nanoparticles as MRI theranostic agents.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. During the recent decade, nanotechnology has been widely considered, as a promising tool, for theranosis (diagnosis and therapy) of AD. Here we first discuss pathophysiology and characteristics of AD with a focus on the amyloid cascade hypothesis. Then magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and recent works on their applications in AD, focusing on the superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs), are reviewed. Furthermore, the amyloid-nanoparticle interaction is highlighted, with the scope to be highly considered by the scientists aiming for diagnostics and/or treatment of AD employing nanoparticles. Furthermore, recent findings on the "ignored" parameters (e.g., effect of protein "corona" at the surface of nanoparticles on amyloid-ß (Aß) fibrillation process) are discussed.