Analysis of SLC40A1 gene at the mRNA level reveals rapidly the causative mutations in patients with hereditary hemochromatosis type IV

Mutations in the SLC40Al gene result in a dominant genetic disorder [ferroportin disease; hereditary hemochromatosis type (HH) IV], characterized by iron overload with two different clinical manifestations, normal transferrin saturation with macrophage iron accumulation (the most prevalent type) or high transferrin saturation with hepatocyte iron accumulation (classical hemochromatosis phenotype). In previous studies, the mutational analysis of SLC40Al gene has been performed at the genomic DNA level by PCR amplification and direct sequencing of all coding regions and flanking intron-exon boundaries (usually in 9 PCR reactions). In this study, we analyzed the SLC40Al gene at the mRNA level, in two RT-PCR reactions, followed by direct sequencing and/or NIRCA (non-isotopic RNase cleavage assay). This protocol turned out to be rapid, sensitive and reliable, facilitating the detection of the SLC40Al gene mutations in two patients with hyperferritineamia, normal transferrin saturation and iron accumulation predominantly in macrophages and Kupffer cells. The first one displayed the well-described alteration V162 Delta and the second a novel mutation (R178G) that was further detected in two relatives in a pedigree analysis. The proposed procedure would facilitate the wide-range molecular analysis of the SLC40Al gene, contributing to better understanding the pathogenesis of the ferroportin disease. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Spinal cystic echinococcosis - a systematic analysis and review of the literature : part 1. Epidemiology and anatomy

Bone involvement in human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is rare, but affects the spine in approximately 50% of cases. Despite significant advances in diagnostic imaging techniques as well as surgical and medical treatment of spinal CE, our basic understanding of the parasite's predilection for the spine remains incomplete. To fill this gap, we systematically reviewed the published literature of the last five decades to summarize and analyze the currently existing data on epidemiological and anatomical aspects of spinal CE