Clinically relevant updates of the HbVar database of human hemoglobin variants and thalassemia mutations

HbVar (http://globin.bx.psu.edu/hbvar) is a widely-used locus-specific database (LSDB) launched 20 years ago by a multi-center academic effort to provide timely information on the numerous genomic variants leading to hemoglobin variants and all types of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies. Here, we report several advances for the database. We made clinically relevant updates of HbVar, implemented as additional querying options in the HbVar query page, allowing the user to explore the clinical phenotype of compound heterozygous patients. We also made significant improvements to the HbVar front page, making comparative data querying, analysis and output more user-friendly. We continued to expand and enrich the regular data content, involving 1820 variants, 230 of which are new entries. We also increased the querying potential and expanded the usefulness of HbVar database in the clinical setting. These several additions, expansions and updates should improve the utility of HbVar both for the globin research community and in a clinical setting

Clinically relevant updates of the HbVar database of human hemoglobin variants and thalassemia mutations

HbVar (http://globin.bx.psu.edu/hbvar) is a widely-used locus-specific database (LSDB) launched 20 years ago by a multi-center academic effort to provide timely information on the numerous genomic variants leading to hemoglobin variants and all types of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies. Here, we report several advances for the database. We made clinically relevant updates of HbVar, implemented as additional querying options in the HbVar query page, allowing the user to explore the clinical phenotype of compound heterozygous patients. We also made significant improvements to the HbVar front page, making comparative data querying, analysis and output more user-friendly. We continued to expand and enrich the regular data content, involving 1820 variants, 230 of which are new entries. We also increased the querying potential and expanded the usefulness of HbVar database in the clinical setting. These several additions, expansions and updates should improve the utility of HbVar both for the globin research community and in a clinical setting

A method for non-destructive determination of cocoa bean fermentation levels based on Terahertz hyperspectral imaging

Fermentation of cocoa is a key process to obtain aromatic chocolate products from raw cocoa beans. Hitherto, the levels of fermentation in cocoa are determined using destructive techniques, for example by a cut-test to manually observe the colour inside the beans, or by quantifying ammonia nitrogen (NH3) in the cocoa powder. In this paper, we present the use of Terahertz hyperspectral imaging as a new way to non-destructively analyse and detect fermented cocoa beans. The study analysed two sets of twenty-two cocoa bean samples with different levels of fermentation from two producers in Brazil. A correlation between fermentation conditions and the outcome results of their THz measurements was observe

A dyserythropoietic anemia associated with homozygous Hb Plasencia [α125(H8)Leu→Arg (α2)] (HBA2:c.377T>G), a variant with an unstable α chain.

A female patient of Portuguese origin, who was born to consanguineous parents, presented with moderate anemia, mild jaundice and splenomegaly. Bone marrow aspiration showed an erythroid hyperplasia and binucleate erythroblasts, evoking a congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, type II (CDA II). Although microcytosis cast some doubt on the diagnosis, investigation was pursued along this line. The CDA II was finally ruled out as underglycosylation of band 3, remnants of endoplasmic reticulum cisternae and mutations in the SEC23B gene were all missing. On the other hand, analysis of the α-globin genes showed a base substitution at codon 125 (CTG→CGG) of the α2-globin gene, ascertaining a homozygosity for Hb Plasencia (HBA2:c.377T>G). This variant has an unstable α chain. In the absence of a thorough work-up, dyserythropoietic anemia associated with hemoglobin (Hb) variants having a moderately unstable α chain, may be mistaken for CDA II