The molecular complexity of COL2A1 splicing variants and their significance in phenotype severity.

Pathogenic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) found in the COL2A1 gene are associated with a broad range of skeletal dysplasias due to their impact on the structure and function of the Col2a1 protein. However, the molecular mechanisms of some nucleotide variants detected during diagnostic testing remain unclear. The interpretation of missense and splicing variants caused by SNVs poses a significant challenge for clinicians. In this work, we analyzed 22 splicing variants in the COL2A1 gene which have been found in patients with COL2A1-associated skeletal dysplasias. Using a minigene system, we investigated the impact of these SNVs on splicing and gained insights into their molecular mechanisms and genotype-phenotype correlations for each patient. The results of our study are very useful for improving the accuracy of diagnosis and the management of patients with skeletal dysplasias caused by SNVs in the COL2A1 gene.

Early audiological phenotype in patients with mutations in the USH2A gene.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, due to universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) the number of children with mild-to-moderate hearing loss diagnosed in the first year of life has increased significantly. Aside from that, identification of the genetic cause improves the genetic counselling of the families and allows to reveal possible comorbidities which may need a special approach. OBJECTIVE: To present the characteristics of the early audiologic phenotype in hearing impaired patients with biallelic mutations in the USH2A gene based on systematic analysis of the audiological data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 13 patients with mutations in the USH2A gene underwent audiological examination. Most of them were found among a large group of infants with bilateral nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) examined under 12 months. RESULTS: Eight out of eleven children failed UNHS and were initially diagnosed as having bilateral nonsyndromic SNHL. Seven children underwent an audiological assessment before the age of 9 months. The earliest audiological examination was carried out at 1 and 3 months. The children with pathogenic variants in the USH2A gene in our examined group were identified in the first year of life via UNHS. The hearing threshold levels (HTL) for the USH2A group are compactly distributed between 51.25 dB and 66.25 dB, quartiles are 54 dB and 63.4 dB, with a median of 60 dB. The audiological profile of patients with biallelic USH2A mutations differs from audiograms of patients who had STRC-related hearing loss. We have not found any significant elevation in hearing thresholds in the first decade of life. We also estimated the prevalence of the USH2A and STRC mutations among GJB2-negative infants with bilateral nonsyndromic SNHL examined under 12 months, and it was 7.5% and 16.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to our results, the early hearing phenotype in pediatric patients with biallelic mutations in the USH2A- gene is characterized by nonsyndromic mild-to-moderate SNHL in the first decade of life. Our results indicate that the presence of mutations in the USH2A or STRC genes can be expected in a child with congenital mild-to-moderate nonsyndromic SNHL. This information is of practical importance for parents, as they have to know the prognosis of hearing loss for their child from the very beginning. Post-screening follow-up should include adequate clinical, genetic, and social support for children and their parents.

[Serum adipokines and their receptors in endometrial and colon cancer patients: relationship with tumor invasion and metastasis].

The aim of the study was to investigate the serum adipokine levels and expression of adipokine receptors (AdipoR1, AdipoR2) in patients with endometrial and colon cancer in relation with the main clinical morphological parameters (tumor invasion, lymph node involvement). The study included 60 endometrial cancer patients with I-II Stage and 31 patients with colon cancer (T2-4N0-2M0). Serum adipokine levels, the level of soluble form of the leptin receptor (sOb-R) and AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression were evaluated with ELISA. In endometrial cancer serum leptin and adiponectin levels were associated not only with metabolic disorders but also with cervical invasion. In colon cancer serum leptin level was associated with lymph node involvement. The data obtained showed the potential implication of serum adipokines into tumor invasion and metastasis. In both sites intratumoral levels of AdipoR1 H AdipoR2 were not associated with the presence of metabolic syndrome. The AdipoR1 level was related with myometrial invasion. In colon cancer patients, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expressions were associated with lymph node involvement, and AdipoR1 expression was correlated with tumor size. The obtained results demonstrated involvement of adipose tissue hormones (leptin and adiponectin) and adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) in tumor growth, invasion and lymphogenic metastasis.

[Analysis of results of drug therapy for symptomatic multiple myeloma].

Drug therapy for symptomatic multiple myeloma is comparable for both sexes in its effectiveness and safety. A 3-year event-free survival is comparable in men and women; overall survival in men is lower than in women.