Developmental pathways inferred from modularity, morphological integration and fluctuating asymmetry patterns in the human face.

Facial asymmetries are usually measured and interpreted as proxies to developmental noise. However, analyses focused on its developmental and genetic architecture are scarce. To advance on this topic, studies based on a comprehensive and simultaneous analysis of modularity, morphological integration and facial asymmetries including both phenotypic and genomic information are needed. Here we explore several modularity hypotheses on a sample of Latin American mestizos, in order to test if modularity and integration patterns differ across several genomic ancestry backgrounds. To do so, 4104 individuals were analyzed using 3D photogrammetry reconstructions and a set of 34 facial landmarks placed on each individual. We found a pattern of modularity and integration that is conserved across sub-samples differing in their genomic ancestry background. Specifically, a signal of modularity based on functional demands and organization of the face is regularly observed across the whole sample. Our results shed more light on previous evidence obtained from Genome Wide Association Studies performed on the same samples, indicating the action of different genomic regions contributing to the expression of the nose and mouth facial phenotypes. Our results also indicate that large samples including phenotypic and genomic metadata enable a better understanding of the developmental and genetic architecture of craniofacial phenotypes.

Implications of the admixture process in skin color molecular assessment.

The understanding of the complex genotype-phenotype architecture of human pigmentation has clear implications for the evolutionary history of humans, as well as for medical and forensic practices. Although dozens of genes have previously been associated with human skin color, knowledge about this trait remains incomplete. In particular, studies focusing on populations outside the European-North American axis are rare, and, until now, admixed populations have seldom been considered. The present study was designed to help fill this gap. Our objective was to evaluate possible associations of 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), located within nine genes, and one pseudogene with the Melanin Index (MI) in two admixed Brazilian populations (Gaucho, N = 352; Baiano, N = 148) with different histories of geographic and ethnic colonization. Of the total sample, four markers were found to be significantly associated with skin color, but only two (SLC24A5 rs1426654, and SLC45A2 rs16891982) were consistently associated with MI in both samples (Gaucho and Baiano). Therefore, only these 2 SNPs should be preliminarily considered to have forensic significance because they consistently showed the association independently of the admixture level of the populations studied. We do not discard that the other two markers (HERC2 rs1129038 and TYR rs1126809) might be also relevant to admixed samples, but additional studies are necessary to confirm the real importance of these markers for skin pigmentation. Finally, our study shows associations of some SNPs with MI in a modern Brazilian admixed sample, with possible applications in forensic genetics. Some classical genetic markers in Euro-North American populations are not associated with MI in our sample. Our results point out the relevance of considering population differences in selecting an appropriate set of SNPs as phenotype predictors in forensic practice.

Eficácia e segurança da terapia com idursulfase em pacientes com mucopolissacaridose tipo II, com e sem comparação com placebo: revisão sistemática e metanálise / Efficacy and safety of idursulfase therapy in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type II with and without comparison to placebo: systematic review and meta-analysis / Eficacia y seguridad del tratamiento con idursulfasa en pacientes con mucopolisacaridosis tipo II con y sin comparación con el placebo: revisión sistemática y metaanálisis

A mucopolissacaridose tipo II (MPS II) é uma doença genética de amplo espectro clínico, caracterizada por deficiência da enzima iduronato-2sulfatase. Revisão sistemática avaliou a eficácia e segurança da terapia de reposição enzimática (TRE) com idursulfase (IDS) na MPS II. As bases de dados PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS e Biblioteca Cochrane foram pesquisados até 30 de novembro de 2012. Apenas cinco estudos preencheram os critérios de inclusão (ensaios clínicos randomizados - ECRs, ECRs abertos ou séries de caso prospectivas, incluindo cinco ou mais pacientes e avaliando desfechos relevantes). Metanálise foi realizada para capacidade vital forçada (CVF; valores absolutos e em %) e para a distância percorrida no teste da caminhada dos seis minutos, com mudanças significativas em ambas as variáveis; também foi encontrado risco aumentado de reações leves relacionadas à infusão e de desenvolvimento de anticorpos IgG à IDS. Em face dos dados apresentados neste estudo, conclui-se que a TRE com IDS é segura e tem benefício potencial em MPS II, mas estudos adicionais são necessários.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) is a genetic disease of broad clinical spectrum, characterized by a deficiency of the enzyme iduronate2-sulfatase. The aim of this study was to assess whether enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with idursulfase (IDS) for MPS II is effective and safe. PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, and Cochrane Library were searched until November 30, 2012. Only five articles met the inclusion criteria (randomized controlled trials - RCTs, or open-label trials/prospective case series including > 5 patients and evaluating relevant outcomes). A meta-analysis was performed for forced vital capacity (FVC; absolute and %) and for distance walked on the 6-minute walking test (6MWT). There was a statistically significant increase, but not clinically relevant, in both variables; an increased risk for development of mild infusion-related reactions and IgG antibodies to IDS were also found. The data suggest that ERT with IDS is safe and has a potential benefit for MPS II patients, but further studies are required.

La mucopolisacaridosis tipo II (MPS II) es una enfermedad genética de amplio espectro clínico, caracterizada por una deficiencia de la enzima iduronato-2-sulfatasa. El objetivo fue evaluar la seguridad y eficacia de la Terapia de Reemplazo Enzimático (TRE) con idursulfasa (IDS) en la MPS II. En las bases PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS y Cochrane Library se inició la búsqueda hasta el 30 de noviembre de 2012. Sólo cinco estudios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión (ensayos controlados aleatorios -ECA, o ECA abiertos o series de casos prospectivo incluyendo > 5 pacientes y evaluación de los resultados pertinentes). El metaanálisis se realizó para la capacidad vital forzada (FVC; absoluta y %) y la distancia caminada en 6 minutos, con cambios significativos en ambas variables; el riesgo también se encuentra aumentado por reacciones leves y anticuerpos IgG, relacionados con la infusión con IDS. El TRE con IDS es seguro y tiene un beneficio potencial en la MPS II, pero se necesitan estudios adicionales.