PALB2 germline mutations in a multi-gene panel testing cohort of 1905 breast-ovarian cancer patients in Argentina.

PURPOSE: PALB2 variants have been scarcely described in Argentinian and Latin-American reports. In this study, we describe molecular and clinical characteristics of PALB2 mutations found in multi-gene panels (MP) from breast-ovarian cancer (BOC) families in different institutions from Argentina. METHODS: We retrospectively identified PALB2 pathogenic (PV) and likely pathogenic (LPV) variants from a cohort of 1905 MP results, provided by one local lab (Heritas) and SITHER (Hereditary Tumor Information System) public database. All patients met hereditary BOC clinical criteria for testing, according to current guidelines. RESULTS: The frequency of PALB2 mutations is 2.78% (53/1905). Forty-eight (90.5%) are PV and five (9.5%) are LPV. Most of the 18 different mutations (89%) are nonsense and frameshift types and 2 variants are novel. One high-rate recurrent PV (Y551*) is present in 43% (23/53) of the unrelated index cases. From the 53 affected carriers, 94% have BC diagnosis with 14% of bilateral cases. BC phenotype is mainly invasive ductal (78%) with 62% of hormone-receptor positive and 22% of triple negative tumors. Self-reported ethnic background of the cohort is West European (66%) and native Latin-American (20%) which is representative of Buenos Aires and other big urban areas of the country. CONCLUSION: This is the first report describing molecular and clinical characteristics of PALB2 carriers in Argentina. Frequency of PALB2 PV in Argentinian HBOC families is higher than in other reported populations. Y551* is a recurrent mutation that seems to be responsible for almost 50% of PALB2 cases.

A frame-shift deletion in the PURA gene associates with a new clinical finding: Hypoglycorrhachia. Is GLUT1 a new PURA target?

PURA is a DNA/RNA-binding protein known to have an important role as a transcriptional and translational regulator. Mutations in the PURA gene have been documented to cause mainly a neurologic phenotype including hypotonia, epilepsy, development delay and respiratory alterations. We report here a patient with a frame-shift deletion in the PURA gene that apart from the classical PURA deficiency phenotype had marked hypoglycorrhachia, overlapping the clinical findings with a GLUT1 deficiency syndrome. SLC2A1 (GLUT1) mutations were discarded, so we hypothesized that GLUT1 could be downregulated in this PURA deficient scenario. We confirmed reduced GLUT1 expression in the patient's peripheral blood cells compared to controls predicting that this could also be happening in the blood-brain barrier and in this way explain the hypoglycorrhachia. Based on PURA's known functions as a transcriptional and translational regulator, we propose GLUT1 as a new PURA target. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to confirm this and to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Double heterozygous pathogenic variants in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in a patient with bilateral metachronous breast cancer.

Double heterozygosity pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are a very rare finding, particularly in non-Ashkenazi individuals. We described the first case of double heterozygosity variants in a non-Ashkenazi Argentinean woman with metachronous bilateral breast cancer. The proband is a 65-year-old female diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in the left breast at 45 years old and invasive carcinoma in the right breast at 65 years old. She underwent a multi-gene panel testing indicating the presence of two concurrent heterozygous germline deleterious variants NM_007300.4(BRCA1):c.4201C>T (p.Gln1401Ter), and NM_000059.3(BRCA2):c.5146_5149del (p.Tyr1716fs). . The patient's son (40 years-old) was found to have the inherited pathogenic variant in BRCA2 gene. There are few reports of double heterozygosity variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in Latin America. The two pathogenic variants identified in our patient have not been described together so far.

[Numeric alterations in the dys gene and their association with clinical features]. / Detección de alteraciones numéricas en el gen dys y su asociación con rasgos clínicos.

The Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy is a hereditary miopathy with a recessive sex-linked pattern. The related gene is called DYS and the coded protein plays a crucial role in the anchorage between the cytoskeleton and the cellular membrane in muscle cells. Different clinical manifestations are observed depending on the impact of the genetic alteration on the protein. The global register of mutations reveals an enhanced frequency for deletions/duplications of one or more exons affecting the DYS gene. In the present work, numeric alterations have been studied in the 79 exons of the DYS gene. The study has been performed on 59 individuals, including 31 independent cases and 28 cases with a familial link. The applied methodology was Multiplex Ligation Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA). In the 31 independent cases clinical data were established: i.e. the clinical score, the Raven test percentiles, and the creatininphosphokinase (CPK) blood values. Our results reveal a 61.3% frequency of numeric alterations affecting the DYS gene in our population, provoking all of them a reading frame shift. The rate for de novo mutations was identified as 35.2%. Alterations involving a specific region of one exon were observed with high frequency, affecting a specific region. A significant association was found between numeric alterations and a low percentile for the Raven test. These data contribute to the local knowledge of genetic alterations and their phenotypic impact for the Duchenne/Becker disease.

PURA-Related Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy: Phenotypic and Genotypic Spectrum.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Purine-rich element-binding protein A (PURA) gene encodes Pur-α, a conserved protein essential for normal postnatal brain development. Recently, a PURA syndrome characterized by intellectual disability, hypotonia, epilepsy, and dysmorphic features was suggested. The aim of this study was to define and expand the phenotypic spectrum of PURA syndrome by collecting data, including EEG, from a large cohort of affected patients. METHODS: Data on unpublished and published cases were collected through the PURA Syndrome Foundation and the literature. Data on clinical, genetic, neuroimaging, and neurophysiologic features were obtained. RESULTS: A cohort of 142 patients was included. Characteristics of the PURA syndrome included neonatal hypotonia, feeding difficulties, and respiratory distress. Sixty percent of the patients developed epilepsy with myoclonic, generalized tonic-clonic, focal seizures, and/or epileptic spasms. EEG showed generalized, multifocal, or focal epileptic abnormalities. Lennox-Gastaut was the most common epilepsy syndrome. Drug refractoriness was common: 33.3% achieved seizure freedom. We found 97 pathogenic variants in PURA without any clear genotype-phenotype associations. DISCUSSION: The PURA syndrome presents with a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy with characteristics recognizable from neonatal age, which should prompt genetic screening. Sixty percent have drug-resistant epilepsy with focal or generalized seizures. We collected more than 90 pathogenic variants without observing overt genotype-phenotype associations.

A snapshot of current genetic testing practice in Lynch syndrome: The results of a representative survey of 33 Latin American existing centres/registries.

We aimed to assess the current genetics practice to manage patients with Lynch syndrome (LS) across Latin America. A Latin American LS survey was sent out to 52 centres/registries, comprising a total of 12 countries from the region. Overall, 33 centres completed the survey, of which the oldest LS registry was established in 1992 in Sao Paulo (Brazil), and the youngest this year in San Jose (Costa Rica). In total, 87% (26/30) of the participating centres/registries belonging to the nine countries are performing genetic testing. Overall, 1352 suspected families were sequenced. Pathogenic variants were identified in 34% of the families, with slightly differing distribution of variants between females and males. Path_MLH1 variants were identified in 39% of females and 50% of males (p = 0.023), while path_MSH2 were identified in 37% of females and males, followed by path_PMS2 in 11% of females and 8% of males, path_MSH6 in 13% of females and 3% of males (p < 0.001) and path_EPCAM in 0.3% of females and 2% of males. In Latin America, 9 of 12 (75%) participating countries had implemented healthcare for LS. LS screening is inconsistently applied within Latin America healthcare systems because of structural differences in the healthcare systems between the countries.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutations Other Than the Founder Alleles Among Ashkenazi Jewish in the Population of Argentina.

In Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) high risk families 3 mutations [2 in BRCA1 (c. 68_69del and c.5266dup) and 1 in BRCA2 (c.5946del)] account for the majority of high risk breast and ovarian cancer cases in that ethnic group. Few studies with limited number of genotyped individuals have expanded the spectrum of mutations in both BRCA genes beyond the 3 mutation panel. In this study, 279 high risk individual AJ were counseled at CEMIC (Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas), and were genotyped first for the 3 recurrent mutation panel followed by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of BRCA1 BRCA2 in 76 individuals who tested negative for the first genotyping step. Of 279 probands (259 women), 55 (50 women) harbored one of the 3 mutations (19.7%); Of 76 fully sequenced cases (73 women), 6 (5 women) (7.9%) carried a pathogenic mutation: in BRCA1, c.2728C>T - p.(Gln910*); c.5407-?_(*1_?)del and c.5445G>A - p.(Trp1815*); in BRCA2, c.5351dup - p.(Asn1784Lysfs*3); c.7308del - p.(Asn2436Lysfs*33) and c.9026_9030del - p.(Tyr3009Serfs*7). Of 61 mutation carriers the distribution was as follows: 11 cancer free at the time of genotyping, 34 female breast cancer cases with age range 28-72 years (41.6 ± 9.3), 3 male breast cancer cases with age range 59-75 years (65 ± 7.3), 6 breast and ovarian cancer cases with age range 35-60 years (breast 40.4 ± 5.2; ovary 47.8 ± 7.2) and 7 ovarian cancer cases with age range 41-77 years (60.6 ± 13.3). This information proved highly useful for counseling, treatment, and prevention for the patient and the family. In conclusion comprehensive BRCA1/2 testing in AJ high risk breast ovarian cancer cases adds valuable clinically relevant information in a subset of cases estimated up to 7% and is therefore recommended.

Un modelo para educar y evaluar habilidades de comunicación en estudiantes de medicina / A model to educate and evaluate communicative abilties of medical students

Las habilidades de comunicación constituyen una competencia fundamental en profesionales de la salud. Educarlas fomenta el profesionalismo en estudiantes y graduados. El objetivo del presente trabajo es describir un curso diseñado para optimizar la comunicación con pacientes y colegas en estudiantes de sexto año de medicina que han recibido formación en comunicación desde primer año. Es un curso optativo de 5 semanas que se realiza parcialmente online, con sesiones presenciales semanales y una evaluación final. Como metodología para el aprendizaje y evaluación se utiliza la técnica de role play y se desarrolla un feedback grupal: del alumno involucrado, pares y docentes. En esta primera entrega se describe el curso, los temas troncales y la metodología de role play utilizada, además de una breve encuesta realizada al concluir. Se incluyen las condiciones fundamentales para dar feedback. Como conclusión inicial, este curso aportaría a la formación integral de los estudiantes, al jerarquizar habilidades indispensables. Tanto el role play como el feedback grupal son altamente valorados por estudiantes y docentes.

Communication skills are recognized as an essential competency in health professionals. Nowadays, it is important to develop them in order to instil professionalism in medicine students and graduates. In the present paper, we describe a course designed to optimize communication with patients and colleges, for medicine students on the sixth year of their University studies, who also received a related doctor-patient course during the first year. It is a five-weeks optional course, partially online and with five face-to-face sessions, and a final evaluation. The subjects and the role-play methodology used in the group sessions are described here. For the continuous and final evaluation, a multi-feedback is developed, based on the reflexive opinion from each student involved, the peers and faculty members. Essential conditions to give feedback are outlined and a brief survey at the end of our course is included. As an initial conclusion, the course would contribute to the integral education of our students enhancing these essential skills. The role-play method as well as the multi-feedback are highly valued by students and faculty members.

Cantu syndrome and lymphoedema.

Three female patients with Cantu syndrome were studied, two of whom were adults presenting with the complication of lymphoedema, as described earlier in a male patient with this syndrome. The aim of this study is to report the clinical characteristics of these three new cases and to emphasize that lymphoedema, as observed in two of the patients described here, has been observed in 11.5% of patients with Cantu syndrome and that heterochromia iridis, observed in one patient, is probably a new feature of this condition.

A snapshot of current genetic testing practice in Lynch syndrome: The results of a representative survey of 33 Latin American existing centres/registries

We aimed to assess the current genetics practice to manage patients with Lynch syndrome (LS) across Latin America. A Latin American LS survey was sent out to 52 centres/registries, comprising a total of 12 countries from the region. Overall, 33 centres completed the survey, of which the oldest LS registry was established in 1992 in Sao Paulo (Brazil), and the youngest this year in San Jose (Costa Rica). In total, 87% (26/30) of the participating centres/registries belonging to the nine countries are performing genetic testing. Overall, 1352 suspected families were sequenced. Pathogenic variants were identified in 34% of the families, with slightly differing distribution of variants between females and males. Path_MLH1 variants were identified in 39% of females and 50% of males (p = 0.023), while path_MSH2 were identified in 37% of females and males, followed by path_PMS2 in 11% of females and 8% of males, path_MSH6 in 13% of females and 3% of males (p < 0.001) and path_EPCAM in 0.3% of females and 2% of males. In Latin America, 9 of 12 (75%) participating countries had implemented healthcare for LS. LS screening is inconsistently applied within Latin America healthcare systems because of structural differences in the healthcare systems between the countries(AU)

Asymptomatic Becker muscular dystrophy in a family with a multiexon deletion.

We report a Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) family with one 5-year-old affected patient and a 69-year-old asymptomatic grandfather. Dystrophin gene multiplex polymerase chain reaction and multiplex ligation-dependant probe amplification analysis showed that both males carried an in-frame deletion of exons 45-55. Segregation analysis revealed two additional asymptomatic boys in this family. Our finding supports previous predictions that exons 45-55 are the optimal multiexon skipping target in antisense gene therapy to transform the severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy into the milder BMD, or even asymptomatic, phenotype.

Detección de alteraciones numéricas en el gen dys y su asociación con rasgos clínicos / Numeric alterations in the dys gene and their association with clinical features

La distrofia muscular de Duchenne/Becker (DMD/B) es una miopatía hereditaria grave y progresiva. Se relaciona con alteraciones en el gen DYS, ubicado en el cromosoma X, que codifica para la proteína distrofina. Distintas manifestaciones pueden observarse según el impacto de la alteración genética sobre la proteína. Los registros internacionales de mutaciones refieren una elevada frecuencia (65-70%) de deleciones/duplicaciones de uno o más exones del gen DYS. En este trabajo presentamos el estudio de alteraciones numéricas en los 79 exones del gen DYS. El estudio fue realizado en 59 individuos pertenecientes a 31 familias no relacionadas. La metodología utilizada fue Multiplex Ligation Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA). En los 31 casos independientes se estableció además el score clínico, se realizó el test de Raven y se determinaron los valores de creatininfosfoquinasa (CPK) en sangre. Nuestros datos revelan una frecuencia de alteraciones numéricas en el gen DYS del 61.3%, provocando un corrimiento del marco de lectura en el 100% de los casos. Se observó una región con mayor tendencia a presentar alteraciones que involucran un solo exón. La tasa de mutación de novo identificada fue del 35.2%. Se halló, a su vez, una asociación significativa entre afectados con alteraciones numéricas y valores del test de Raven de bajo rendimiento. Estos resultados aportan datos a los conocimientos regionales sobre las alteraciones genéticas y su impacto fenotípico en la enfermedad de Duchenne/Becker.

The Duchen ne/Becker muscular dystrophy is a hereditary miopathy with a recessive sex-linked pattern. The related gene is called DYS and the coded protein plays a crucial role in the anchorage between the cytoskeleton and the cellular membrane in muscle cells. Different clinical manifestations are observed depending on the impact of the genetic alteration on the protein. The global register of mutations reveals an enhanced frequency for deletions/duplications of one or more exons affecting the DYS gene. In the present work, numeric alterations have been studied in the 79 exons of the DYS gene. The study has been performed on 59 individuals, including 31 independent cases and 28 cases with a familial link. The applied methodology was Multiplex Ligation Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA). In the 31 independent cases clinical data were established: i.e. the clinical score, the Raven test percentiles, and the creatininphosphokinase (CPK) blood values. Our results reveal a 61.3% frequency of numeric alterations affecting the DYS gene in our population, provoking all of them a reading frame shift. The rate for de novo mutations was identified as 35.2%. Alterations involving a specific region of one exon were observed with high frequency, affecting a specific region. A significant association was found between numeric alterations and a low percentile for the Raven test. These data contribute to the local knowledge of genetic alterations and their phenotypic impact for the Duchenne/Becker disease.

Allopregnanolone increase in striatal N-methyl-D-aspartic acid evoked [3H]dopamine release is estrogen and progesterone dependent.

1. The neurosteroids are compounds derived from steroid hormones and synthesized in the nervous system. They can modulate different neurotransmitter pathways. In previous work we demonstrated that progesterone modulates dopamine release induced by the glutamatergic agonist N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA). 2. The aim of this work was to evaluate a possible modulatory role of the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone on NMDA-evoked [3H]dopamine release from corpus striatum slices obtained from cycling and ovariectomized female rats. 3. We used a dynamic superfusion method to evaluate the release of [3H]dopamine. Allopregnanolone at 50-600 nM was added to the superfusion buffer (Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate-glucose. pH 7.4. with constant O2/CO2 gassing). The results are expressed as a percentage over basal [3H]dopamine loaded by the tissue. 4. Allopregnanolone (50 and 100 nM) increased the NMDA-evoked [3H]dopamine release from estrus rats. The remaining doses did not show significant changes in the pattern of release. This effect was not observed in diestrus rats. The ovariectomy abolished the facilitatory effect of allopregnanolone on NMDA-evoked 2 [3H]dopamine release. 5. Subcutaneous administration of exogenous estrogen (25 mg/rat) and progesterone (1 mg/rat) restored the facilitatory effect on dopaminergic input. 6. These results suggest that allopregnanolone is a neurosteroid able to modulate dopamine release in an ovarian-hormone-fluctuation-dependent manner and provide further support for a role of allopregnanolone as a modulator of glutamatergic-dopaminergic interaction in the corpus striatum.