Imprinting disorders: a group of congenital disorders with overlapping patterns of molecular changes affecting imprinted loci.

Congenital imprinting disorders (IDs) are characterised by molecular changes affecting imprinted chromosomal regions and genes, i.e. genes that are expressed in a parent-of-origin specific manner. Recent years have seen a great expansion in the range of alterations in regulation, dosage or DNA sequence shown to disturb imprinted gene expression, and the correspondingly broad range of resultant clinical syndromes. At the same time, however, it has become clear that this diversity of IDs has common underlying principles, not only in shared molecular mechanisms, but also in interrelated clinical impacts upon growth, development and metabolism. Thus, detailed and systematic analysis of IDs can not only identify unifying principles of molecular epigenetics in health and disease, but also support personalisation of diagnosis and management for individual patients and families.All authors are members of the EUCID.net network, funded by COST (BM1208). TE is funded by the German Ministry of research and education (01GM1513B). GPdN is funded by I3SNS Program of the Spanish Ministry of Health (CP03/0064; SIVI 1395/09), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI13/00467) and Basque Department of Health (GV2014/111017).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from BioMed Central via http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13148-015-0143-

The comparative responsiveness of Hospital Universitario Princesa Index and other composite indices for assessing rheumatoid arthritis activity

Objective To evaluate the responsiveness in terms of correlation of the Hospital Universitario La Princesa Index (HUPI) comparatively to the traditional composite indices used to assess disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to compare the performance of HUPI-based response criteria with that of the EULAR response criteria. Methods Secondary data analysis from the following studies: ACT-RAY (clinical trial), PROAR (early RA cohort) and EMECAR (pre-biologic era long term RA cohort). Responsiveness was evaluated by: 1) comparing change from baseline (Delta) of HUPI with Delta in other scores by calculating correlation coefficients; 2) calculating standardised effect sizes. The accuracy of response by HUPI and by EULAR criteria was analyzed using linear regressions in which the dependent variable was change in global assessment by physician (Delta GDA-Phy). Results Delta HUPI correlation with change in all other indices ranged from 0.387 to 0.791); HUPI's standardized effect size was larger than those from the other indices in each database used. In ACT-RAY, depending on visit, between 65 and 80% of patients were equally classified by HUPI and EULAR response criteria. However, HUPI criteria were slightly more stringent, with higher percentage of patients classified as non-responder, especially at early visits. HUPI response criteria showed a slightly higher accuracy than EULAR response criteria when using Delta GDA-Phy as gold standard. Conclusion HUPI shows good responsiveness in terms of correlation in each studied scenario (clinical trial, early RA cohort, and established RA cohort). Response criteria by HUPI seem more stringent than EULAR''s

SGPL1 Deficiency: A Rare Cause of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency.

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism following peer review. The version of record Settas, N., et al. (2018). "SGPL1 Deficiency: A Rare Cause of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency." The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism: jc.2018-02238-jc.02018-02238. is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2018-02238Context Multiple autosomal recessive genes have been etiologically linked to Primary Adrenal Insufficiency (PAI). Recently, SGPL1 gene mutations were recognized as causes of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome type 14 (NPHS14), a sphingolipidosis with multisystemic manifestations including PAI. Interestingly, this is the only monogenetic form of nephrotic syndrome (NS) and the sole sphingolipidosis causing adrenal disease. Objective To understand if SGPL1 mutations are involved in the pathogenesis of PAI in patients who do not exhibit NS. Methods Sequencing of the SGPL1 gene in 21 patients with familial glucocorticoid disease or triple A syndrome. Results We identified two missense SGPL1 variants in four patients, two being first-cousins. We describe in detail the proband, a boy born to Saudi Arabian consanguineous parents with a homozygous c.665G>A, p.R222Q SGPL1 variant. The patient presented with hypoglycemia and seizures at age two years and was ultimately diagnosed with PAI (isolated glucocorticoid deficiency). A brain MRI showed abnormalities in the basal ganglia consistent with a degenerative process albeit the patient had no neurological symptoms. Conclusions New genetic causes of PAI continue to be identified. We suggest that screening for SGPL1 mutations should not be reserved only for patients with nephrotic syndrome but may also include patients with PAI that lack other clinical manifestations of NPHS14 since, in certain cases, kidney disease and accompanying features might develop later on. Timely diagnosis of this specific sphingolipidosis, while the kidneys still function normally, can lead to prompt initiation of therapy and improve outcome especially, if a targeted NPHS14-treatment is available in the future.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, National Institutes of Health (project number Z1A HD008920)National Institute of Child Health and Human Development http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100000071, Z1A HD008920, Constantine A. Strataki

Medullary thyroid cancer, leukemia, mesothelioma and meningioma associated with germline APC and RASAL1 variants: A new syndrome?

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a neuroendocrine tumor hereditary in 35% of cases. The most common syndromic form is in the context of the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) syndromes in association with other tumors and due to germline RET mutations. We describe a 57-year-old female patient diagnosed with sporadic MTC. The patient had a history of other neoplasias, such as acute myeloid leukemia, for which she had received chemotherapy, and two other solid tumors, peritoneal mesothelioma and meningioma. Genetic analyses were carried out including whole exome and Sanger sequencing (WES and SS) and loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) testing for the respective loci. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used for the detection of proteins of interest. WES showed two germline variants in the APC and RASAL1 genes confirmed by SS. In MTC tissue only there was a RET variant identified by SS; germline studies did not show any RET sequence changes. The pattern of tumors in this patient is unusual for either one of the APC- or RASAL1-associated neoplasms and her non-MEN 2-associated MTC contained a RET variant like other sporadic MTCs. As in other patients with more than one genetic variant predisposing to tumors, it is possible that this case represents a unique association. © 2018, Hellenic Endocrine Society. All rights reserved

CYP21A2 mutations in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

The question of the contribution of CYP21A2 heterozygosity to the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has repeatedly been raised in the literature. The available data, however, do not offer a satisfactory answer. The discrepancy must be attributed, primarily, to the small number of subjects in the various studies, the type of selected phenotype, and the number of searched mutations. The aim of the study was to define the contribution of CYP21A2 heterozygous mutations to the pathogenesis of PCOS. We searched for 14 molecular defects of the CYP21A2 gene in 197 PCOS women, employing allele specific PCR. Androgen levels were determined at baseline by appropriate methodology in the follicular phase. PCOS women with 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) basal values >2 ng/ml and/or post-ACTH >10 ng/ml were excluded. Appropriate controls were included. The frequency of the CYP21A2 heterozygous mutations in PCOS women and in controls was 7.6% and 5.9%, respectively [p-value (PCOS vs. controls): 0.663]. Homozygosity for CYP21A2 gene defects was not detected. In conclusion, the contribution of CYP21A2 heterozygous mutations to the pathogenesis of PCOS is not substantiated by our data. Moreover, 17-hydroxyprogesterone values of < 10 ng/ml post-ACTH exclude homozygosity of CYP21A2 mutations. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

A novel FOXL2 gene mutation and BMP15 variants in a woman with primary ovarian insufficiency and blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome

Objective: This study aims to search for mutations in relevant genes in a woman with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES). Methods: This study reports on the case of a woman with POI, BPES, and autoimmune endocrine disorder. Bidirectional sequencing of the coding regions and intron/exon boundaries of FOXL2 and BMP15 genes and hormonal assays for the measurement of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol, testosterone, δ4-Androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were employed. Results: A novel de novo heterozygous deletion (p.K150Rfs∗121) in the FOXL2 gene was identified to coexist with two BMP15 gene variants located in the same allele (c.-9C<G; p.N103S). Conclusions: The novel, de novo FOXL2 gene mutation (p.K150Rfs-121) expands the spectrum of molecular defects identified in women with BPES. Coexisting gene variants in POI-related genes, such as BMP15, may act synergistically and explain the observed phenotypic variability in women with BPES (ie, BPES with or without POI). The concept of digenic inheritance suggested herein has been previously introduced for other nosologies such as hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. Endocrine autoimmunity might also contribute to the POI phenotype. © 2015 by The North American Menopause Society