Etiological involvement of KCND1 variants in an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder with variable expressivity.

Utilizing trio whole-exome sequencing and a gene matching approach, we identified a cohort of 18 male individuals from 17 families with hemizygous variants in KCND1, including two de novo missense variants, three maternally inherited protein-truncating variants, and 12 maternally inherited missense variants. Affected subjects present with a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by diverse neurological abnormalities, mostly delays in different developmental domains, but also distinct neuropsychiatric signs and epilepsy. Heterozygous carrier mothers are clinically unaffected. KCND1 encodes the α-subunit of Kv4.1 voltage-gated potassium channels. All variant-associated amino acid substitutions affect either the cytoplasmic N- or C-terminus of the channel protein except for two occurring in transmembrane segments 1 and 4. Kv4.1 channels were functionally characterized in the absence and presence of auxiliary ß subunits. Variant-specific alterations of biophysical channel properties were diverse and varied in magnitude. Genetic data analysis in combination with our functional assessment shows that Kv4.1 channel dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder frequently associated with a variable neuropsychiatric clinical phenotype.

Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome: Novel pathogenic variants and new neuroimaging findings.

Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome (TBRS) or DNMT3A-overgrowth syndrome is characterized by overgrowth and intellectual disability associated with minor dysmorphic features, obesity, and behavioral problems. It is caused by variants of the DNMT3A gene. We report four patients with this syndrome due to de novo DNMT3A pathogenic variants, contributing to a deeper understanding of the genetic basis and pathophysiology of this autosomal dominant syndrome. Clinical and magnetic resonance imaging assessments were also performed. All patients showed corpus callosum anomalies, small posterior fossa, and a deep left Sylvian fissure; as well as asymmetry of the uncinate and arcuate fascicles and marked increased cortical thickness. These results suggest that structural neuroimaging anomalies have been previously overlooked, where corpus callosum and brain tract alterations might be unrecognized neuroimaging traits of TBRS syndrome caused by DNMT3A variants.

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in Andalusian families: a genetic population study.

BACKGROUND: The BRCA1/2 mutation profile varies in Spain according to the geographical area studied. The mutational profile of BRCA1/2 in families at risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer has not so far been reported in Andalusia (southern Spain). METHODS: We analysed BRCA1/2 germline mutations in 562 high-risk cases with breast and/or ovarian cancer from Andalusian families from 2010 to 2015. RESULTS: Among the 562 cases, 120 (21.4%) carried a germline pathogenic mutation in BRCA1/2; 50 in BRCA1 (41.7%) and 70 in BRCA2 (58.3%). We detected 67 distinct mutations (29 in BRCA1 and 38 in BRCA2), of which 3 in BRCA1 (c.845C > A, c.1222_1223delAC, c.2527delA) and 5 in BRCA2 (c.293 T > G, c.5558_5559delGT, c.6034delT, c.6650_6654delAAGAT, c.6652delG) had not been previously described. The most frequent mutations in BRCA1 were c.5078_5080delCTG (10%) and c.5123C > A (10%), and in BRCA2 they were c.9018C > A (14%) and c.5720_5723delCTCT (8%). We identified 5 variants of unknown significance (VUS), all in BRCA2 (c.5836 T > C, c.6323G > T, c.9501 + 3A > T, c.8022_8030delGATAATGGA, c.10186A > C). We detected 76 polymorphisms (31 in BRCA1, 45 in BRCA2) not associated with breast cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study reporting the mutational profile of BRCA1/2 in Andalusia. We identified 21.4% of patients harbouring BRCA1/2 mutations, 58.3% of them in BRCA2. We also characterized the clinical data, mutational profile, VUS and haplotype profile.

Reproductive development, GnRHa-induced spawning and egg quality of wild meagre (Argyrosomus regius) acclimatised to captivity.

The objective of the study was to acclimatise wild-caught meagre (Argyrosomus regius) to captivity to produce viable eggs for aquaculture production. Twelve meagre (3 males and 9 females, mean weight = 20 ± 7 kg) were caught and transported to a land-based facility on 26 October 2006. During, March to June 2007, all three males were spermiating and five of the nine females were in vitellogenesis with mean maximum oocyte diameter ≥550 µm. No spontaneous spawning was observed. Two hormone treatments, either a single injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa, 20 µg kg(-1) for females and 10 µg kg(-1) for males) or a slow-release implant loaded with the same GnRHa (50 µg kg(-1) for females and 25 µg kg(-1) for males), were used to induce spawning on three different dates on 26 March 2007, 4 May 2007 and 18 April 2008. From each spawning event, the following parameters were determined: fecundity, number of floating eggs, egg size, fertilisation and hatching success, unfed larval survival, and proximal composition and fatty acid profile of the eggs. In 2007, two females that were injected on 26 March and 4 May spawned a total of 5 times producing 9,019,300 floating eggs and a relative fecundity of 198,200 eggs kg(-1) and two different females that were implanted on the same dates spawned 14 times producing 12,430,000 floating eggs and a relative fecundity of 276,200 eggs kg(-1). In 2008, a pair that was implanted spawned five times producing a total of 10,211,900 floating eggs and a relative fecundity of 527,380 eggs kg(-1). The latency period was 48-72 h. Parameters were compared between hormone treatments, date of hormone induction and parents determined by microsatellites. Percentage hatch and egg size were 70 ± 0.3% and 0.99 ± 0.02 mm, respectively, for GnRHa-implanted fish and were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to 30 ± 0.3% and 0.95 ± 0.03 mm, respectively, for injected fish. Few differences were observed in proximal composition and fatty acid profile and for all spawns mean (% dry weight) lipid content was 17.3 ± 3.0%, carbohydrate was 4.4 ± 1.9% and protein was 31.5 ± 6.4% and the essential fatty acids: Arachidonic acid (ARA, 20:4n-6) ranged between 0.9 and 1% (of total fatty acids), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA 20:5n-3) 7.7-10.4% and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA 22:6n-3), 28.6-35.4%. All good quality spawns were obtained in the second and/or third spawn after GnRHa treatment, whereas all bad quality spawns were obtained either on the first spawn or after the fifth spawn. Both spawning protocols gave commercially viable (1,000,000+) numbers of good quality eggs that could form the basis of a hatchery production.

[When education in asthma is crucial. About a case]. / Cuando la educación en asma es crucial. A propósito de un caso.

BACKGROUND: Childhood asthma causes frequent hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room because of exacerbations that could be avoided if the disease is managed properly. CLINICAL CASE: A 6-year-old girl who has had asthma since her first 16 months of life. She had been taken 130 times to the emergency room; she had been hospitalized 22 times, and she had received numerous medical consultations for asthma. She had never received structured health education, therefore, she was misusing the inhalation devices, and the controller treatment for bronchial inflammation was clearly below the dose according to the level of severity of the disease. There was an intervention focused on health education, an increase in the dose of anti-inflammatory drugs to treat bronchial asthma, and instruction in the proper use of inhaled medications. Since the intervention was made, the patient achieved better control without requiring visits to the emergency room, hospital admissions, or systemic corticosteroids after two years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: The lack of health education about asthma causes insufficient control of the disease. In the therapeutic approach to patients with severe uncontrolled asthma, it is essential to apply structured procedures of health education.

Antecedentes: El asma infantil ocasiona frecuentes hospitalizaciones y visitas a urgencias por exacerbaciones que podrían ser evitadas con el manejo apropiado de la enfermedad. Caso clínico: Niña de seis años con asma desde los 16 meses de vida. Fue llevada 130 veces al servicio de urgencia, 22 veces fue hospitalizada y recibió otras numerosas consultas médicas por asma. Nunca había recibido educación sanitaria estructuradamente, de manera que utilizaba los dispositivos de inhalación inadecuadamente y el tratamiento controlador de la inflamación bronquial estaba claramente por debajo de la dosis correspondiente al grado de gravedad de su asma. Se realizó una intervención centrada en la educación sanitaria, incremento de la dosis de medicamentos antiinflamatorios bronquiales e instrucción en el uso adecuado de la medicación inhalada. A partir de la intervención, la paciente alcanzó un mejor control sin requerir nuevamente visitas a urgencias, ingresos hospitalarios ni corticoides sistémicos, tras dos años de seguimiento. Conclusiones: La falta de educación sanitaria en asma ocasiona control insuficiente de la enfermedad. En el acercamiento terapéutico al paciente con asma grave no controlada resulta imprescindible aplicar procedimientos estructurados de educación sanitaria.

The piscine SAF-1 cell line: genetic stability and labeling.

Fish cell lines are increasingly important research tools. The SAF-1 cell line, fibroblast-like culture derived from the marine fish gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), has proved useful in many applications, especially in viral research. For cell lines intended as in vitro models, characterization of their properties and authentication are essential for deeper understanding of their performance and thus more precise experimental design and applicability. In this study we characterized the SAF-1 cell line in terms of genetic stability through time and genetic labeling. Methods for determining stability include telomerase activity, karyotyping, mapping of ribosomal RNA regions, and DNA content. For genetic labeling 12 microsatellite loci were used. The results indicate that telomerase has been activated in the course of SAF-1 development, and the highest levels of telomerase activity correlate with an increase in cell proliferation, thus supporting a permanent cell line. This stability is in agreement with the normal situation presented by the cytogenetic traits and DNA content values, and the genotypic profile allows SAF-1 authentication at the single individual level. This study increases the value of SAF-1 as an in vitro system, which is now one of the few well-characterized cell lines from a marine fish.

c-Lysozyme from Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis): cDNA cloning and expression pattern.

Lysozymes are key molecules of innate immunity and proved high bactericidal activity in fish, thus becoming attractive as tools for enhancing fish defences. In this study, a full-length c-type lysozyme cDNA from Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) has been cloned and characterized. The cDNA sequence was inferred from two overlapping fragments obtained by RACE-PCR and consisting on 631bp coding for 143 aminoacids. Catalytic and other conserved residues required for lysozyme activity were identified. Pair wise alignments showed the higher identities with c-type lysozyme from other flatfish. Expression patterns under various conditions showed a basal level and a clear upregulation mostly in hematopoietic organs after stimulation with LPS or infection with Photobacterium damselae. This study represents a first step on the genetics and function of the c-lysozyme of Senegalese sole, though disclosing g-DNA structure, allelic variability and antibacterial activity must be requirements prior its immunological properties might have biotechnological applications.

Cloning and expression analysis of Mx cDNA from Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis).

Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is a promising fish species of growing interest in European aquaculture. In fish farming, viral infections are a constant threat therefore, understanding fish defence mechanisms is a main priority to avoid economic losses. Mx proteins are involved in the innate antiviral response of fish. They are induced by type I interferons (alpha and beta) and are essential to investigate viral defence mechanisms in fish, due to the difficulty in tracking interferon activity in these species. In this study a full-length Senegalese sole Mx cDNA has been RT-PCR cloned, resulting in 2322bp coding for 623 amino acids. The sequence accounts for the main characteristics of Mx proteins but lacking nuclear localisation signal (NLS), which suggests cytoplasmic localisation. The alignments of Senegalese sole Mx sequence showed the highest identity with the flatfish species, 80.1% identity with flounder and 78.9% with halibut. The spatial and temporal expression pattern has been analysed in control and challenged fish by RT-PCR. In control fish a constitutive level of sole Mx expression has been obtained and a clear induction was observed after treatment with Poly[I:C], which supports a putative role for the Mx in Senegalese sole viral defence. These findings contribute to increasing the knowledge of the role of interferon pathway in fish innate immunity and to develop new tools to fight virus infections in the culture of this species.