Estudio epidemiológico y parasitológico de caracoles gigantes africanos (Lissachatina fulica) en Misiones, Argentina

El caracol L.fulica, está incluido en la lista de las 100 especies exóticas invasoras más dañinas del mundo. Siendo hermafrodita, crece y se reproduce a gran velocidad, presentando alta resistencia a variables ambientales, adaptabilidad a diferentes regiones, dieta polífaga y ausencia o desconocimiento de depredadores naturales. También puede producir daños importantes en cultivos agrícolas, hortícolas y ecosistemas nativos, así como actuar de transmisor de parásitos capaz de afectar a la salud pública. Con el fin de conocer y contribuir al estado actual del caracol L.fulica, se planteó evaluar su situación epidemiológica y parasitaria, así como sus implicancias en la salud pública de Misiones, Argentina. El trabajo se realizó entre los meses de diciembre de 2018 y diciembre de 2019, procediendo a la colecta, identificación morfológica y recolección de las conchillas de moluscos de la especie L.fulica y su materia fecal, para el posterior análisis parasitológico. Todos los moluscos colectados eran de Puerto Iguazú, Misiones. De un total de 201 moluscos se identificaron por género y especie tres grupos: Grupo 1 (G1): L.fulica (n=199); Grupo 2: Helix aspera (n=1) y Grupo 3: Bulimus sp (n=1). A todos los individuos del G1 se los clasificó según categorías de tamaños definidas como: Clase 1 (individuos recién eclosionados, hasta 10 mm, n=6); Clase 2 (juveniles de 10 a 40 mm, n=149), Clase 3 (adultos jóvenes de 40 a 70 mm, n=35) y Clase 4 (adultos >70 mm, n= 9). Del análisis parasitológico efectuado a los poo- les de materia fecal de L.fulica, se encontraron taxones parasitarios predominando larvas del orden Strongylida y larvas de vida libre sin especificar, como también se observaron huevos de nematodes del genero Ancylostoma sp. Se observaron protozoos correspondientes a quistes de Ameba sp, Giardia sp y ooquistes de Cystoisospora sp. Por su parte en el análisis de baba de 9 ejemplares adultos de L. fulica se encontraron taxones parasitarios de los órdenes Strongylida y Ascaridea, así como del genero Toxocara sp. También se observaron cristales de oxalato de calcio en muestras de baba. Por otra parte, en once localidades fronterizas de la Provincia Misiones, se realizaron 92 encuestas con el fin de evaluar el grado de conocimiento de la población, constatándose un desconocimiento de la problemática en un 67,4% de los casos encuestados. Teniendo en cuenta que los factores antrópicos son la principal causa de los saltos de dispersión de esta especie, es fundamental realizar trabajos de educación sanitaria para concientizar y prevenir futuras invasiones que conlleven a perjuicios sanitarios al ecosistema y a la agricultura. En ese contexto, a cada encuestado se le entregó material informativo y las recomendaciones brindadas por el parte del Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria de Argentina

The V471A polymorphism in autophagy-related gene ATG7 modifies age at onset specifically in Italian Huntington disease patients

The cause of Huntington disease (HD) is a polyglutamine repeat expansion of more than 36 units in the huntingtin protein, which is inversely correlated with the age at onset of the disease. However, additional genetic factors are believed to modify the course and the age at onset of HD. Recently, we identified the V471A polymorphism in the autophagy-related gene ATG7, a key component of the autophagy pathway that plays an important role in HD pathogenesis, to be associated with the age at onset in a large group of European Huntington disease patients. To confirm this association in a second independent patient cohort, we analysed the ATG7 V471A polymorphism in additional 1,464 European HD patients of the “REGISTRY” cohort from the European Huntington Disease Network (EHDN). In the entire REGISTRY cohort we could not confirm a modifying effect of the ATG7 V471A polymorphism. However, analysing a modifying effect of ATG7 in these REGISTRY patients and in patients of our previous HD cohort according to their ethnic origin, we identified a significant effect of the ATG7 V471A polymorphism on the HD age at onset only in the Italian population (327 patients). In these Italian patients, the polymorphism is associated with a 6-years earlier disease onset and thus seems to have an aggravating effect. We could specify the role of ATG7 as a genetic modifier for HD particularly in the Italian population. This result affirms the modifying influence of the autophagic pathway on the course of HD, but also suggests population-specific modifying mechanisms in HD pathogenesis

Identification of genetic variants associated with Huntington's disease progression: a genome-wide association study

Background Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene, HTT. Age at onset has been used as a quantitative phenotype in genetic analysis looking for Huntington's disease modifiers, but is hard to define and not always available. Therefore, we aimed to generate a novel measure of disease progression and to identify genetic markers associated with this progression measure. Methods We generated a progression score on the basis of principal component analysis of prospectively acquired longitudinal changes in motor, cognitive, and imaging measures in the 218 indivduals in the TRACK-HD cohort of Huntington's disease gene mutation carriers (data collected 2008–11). We generated a parallel progression score using data from 1773 previously genotyped participants from the European Huntington's Disease Network REGISTRY study of Huntington's disease mutation carriers (data collected 2003–13). We did a genome-wide association analyses in terms of progression for 216 TRACK-HD participants and 1773 REGISTRY participants, then a meta-analysis of these results was undertaken. Findings Longitudinal motor, cognitive, and imaging scores were correlated with each other in TRACK-HD participants, justifying use of a single, cross-domain measure of disease progression in both studies. The TRACK-HD and REGISTRY progression measures were correlated with each other (r=0·674), and with age at onset (TRACK-HD, r=0·315; REGISTRY, r=0·234). The meta-analysis of progression in TRACK-HD and REGISTRY gave a genome-wide significant signal (p=1·12 × 10−10) on chromosome 5 spanning three genes: MSH3, DHFR, and MTRNR2L2. The genes in this locus were associated with progression in TRACK-HD (MSH3 p=2·94 × 10−8 DHFR p=8·37 × 10−7 MTRNR2L2 p=2·15 × 10−9) and to a lesser extent in REGISTRY (MSH3 p=9·36 × 10−4 DHFR p=8·45 × 10−4 MTRNR2L2 p=1·20 × 10−3). The lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TRACK-HD (rs557874766) was genome-wide significant in the meta-analysis (p=1·58 × 10−8), and encodes an aminoacid change (Pro67Ala) in MSH3. In TRACK-HD, each copy of the minor allele at this SNP was associated with a 0·4 units per year (95% CI 0·16–0·66) reduction in the rate of change of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Total Motor Score, and a reduction of 0·12 units per year (95% CI 0·06–0·18) in the rate of change of UHDRS Total Functional Capacity score. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age of onset. Interpretation The multidomain progression measure in TRACK-HD was associated with a functional variant that was genome-wide significant in our meta-analysis. The association in only 216 participants implies that the progression measure is a sensitive reflection of disease burden, that the effect size at this locus is large, or both. Knockout of Msh3 reduces somatic expansion in Huntington's disease mouse models, suggesting this mechanism as an area for future therapeutic investigation

The convergence of accounting and economics: A causal analysis of the relationship between exchange rates and the balance of payments of the Philippines and developed countries

With the rise of globalization, understanding international exchanges and transactions has become a necessity. Due to this, there came a need for a standard recording procedure for international transactions between economies which prompted governments to adopt basic accounting procedures to monitor international economic activities. With this, the research explores the applications of accounting standards in a countrys economic matters, and examines the relationship of exchange rates and the national balance sheet accounts. This study subjects previous studies’ claimed relationship between the said variables to weak and strong tests for causality to determine whether a causal relationship between the two may be established. The weak test is done by implementing the propensity score matching technique which allows the group to mimic experimental measures by constructing a counterfactual. Meanwhile, the strong test is done through the dose response technique which can measure the effects of an increase in changes in exchange rate to the changes in a country’s balance of payments position. For this study, the group utilizes a quarterly time-series data of the Philippines from 1999 to 2015 and a 2012 cross-section data of developed economies from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and Bloomberg, respectively. The results show that there exists a significant causal relationship between exchange rate and the national balance sheet accounts, and that such relationship is non-linear it tapers off, strengthens or stays the same after a certain level of exchange rate fluctuation

Growing through caring: An empirical study on the effect of corporate social responsibility activities on the profitability of firms in the ASEAN region

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has continued to gain importance in the business world. Demands of various stakeholder groups have been increasing and numerous firms have been required to devote part of their resources for the good of others. There are many perspectives regarding CSR as a business practice: one viewpoint sees CSR as a cost that must be incurred by a company another viewpoint sees it as an investment for the financial growth of the firm. It has been widely established that firms all over the world need to have CSR practices to foster good reputation not only among customers, but also to various stakeholders. Given the importance of CSR as a whole, its effect on form financial profitability has not yet been widely studied in the ASEAN setting. This study focuses on CSR practices of firms in the ASEAN region and quantities the benefits they receive from these practices using various measurements of firm performance. In this study, data will be gathered from CSRhub.com and will be compared to the financial performance of 208 firms from the ASEAN region. The study will also quantify CSR empirically and will test these CSR indexes against return on asset and return on equity

Identification of genetic variants associated with Huntington's disease progression: a genome-wide association study

Background Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene, HTT. Age at onset has been used as a quantitative phenotype in genetic analysis looking for Huntington's disease modifiers, but is hard to define and not always available. Therefore, we aimed to generate a novel measure of disease progression and to identify genetic markers associated with this progression measure. Methods We generated a progression score on the basis of principal component analysis of prospectively acquired longitudinal changes in motor, cognitive, and imaging measures in the 218 indivduals in the TRACK-HD cohort of Huntington's disease gene mutation carriers (data collected 2008–11). We generated a parallel progression score using data from 1773 previously genotyped participants from the European Huntington's Disease Network REGISTRY study of Huntington's disease mutation carriers (data collected 2003–13). We did a genome-wide association analyses in terms of progression for 216 TRACK-HD participants and 1773 REGISTRY participants, then a meta-analysis of these results was undertaken. Findings Longitudinal motor, cognitive, and imaging scores were correlated with each other in TRACK-HD participants, justifying use of a single, cross-domain measure of disease progression in both studies. The TRACK-HD and REGISTRY progression measures were correlated with each other (r=0·674), and with age at onset (TRACK-HD, r=0·315; REGISTRY, r=0·234). The meta-analysis of progression in TRACK-HD and REGISTRY gave a genome-wide significant signal (p=1·12 × 10−10) on chromosome 5 spanning three genes: MSH3, DHFR, and MTRNR2L2. The genes in this locus were associated with progression in TRACK-HD (MSH3 p=2·94 × 10−8 DHFR p=8·37 × 10−7 MTRNR2L2 p=2·15 × 10−9) and to a lesser extent in REGISTRY (MSH3 p=9·36 × 10−4 DHFR p=8·45 × 10−4 MTRNR2L2 p=1·20 × 10−3). The lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TRACK-HD (rs557874766) was genome-wide significant in the meta-analysis (p=1·58 × 10−8), and encodes an aminoacid change (Pro67Ala) in MSH3. In TRACK-HD, each copy of the minor allele at this SNP was associated with a 0·4 units per year (95% CI 0·16–0·66) reduction in the rate of change of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Total Motor Score, and a reduction of 0·12 units per year (95% CI 0·06–0·18) in the rate of change of UHDRS Total Functional Capacity score. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age of onset. Interpretation The multidomain progression measure in TRACK-HD was associated with a functional variant that was genome-wide significant in our meta-analysis. The association in only 216 participants implies that the progression measure is a sensitive reflection of disease burden, that the effect size at this locus is large, or both. Knockout of Msh3 reduces somatic expansion in Huntington's disease mouse models, suggesting this mechanism as an area for future therapeutic investigation

Observing Huntington's disease: the European Huntington's Disease Network's REGISTRY.

none642sinoneOrth M, Handley OJ, Schwenke C, Dunnett S, Wild EJ, Tabrizi SJ, Landwehrmeyer GB, Bachoud-Lévi AC, Bentivoglio AR, Biunno I, Bonelli R, Burgunder JM, Dunnett SB, Ferreira JJ, Giuliano J, Handley OJ, Heiberg A, Illmann T, van Kammen D, Landwehrmeye GB, Levey J, Nielsen JE, Päivärinta M, Roos RA, Sebastián AR, Tabrizi SJ, Vandenberghe W, Verellen-Dumoulin C, Zaremba J, Uhrova T, Wahlström J, Schwenke C, Orth M, Illmann T, Wallner M, Barth K, Guedes LC, Finisterra AM, Garde MB, Bos R, Burg S, Ecker D, Handley OJ, Held C, Koppers K, Laurà M, Descals AM, McLean T, Mestre T, Minster S, Monza D, Townhill J, Orth M, Padieu H, Paterski L, Peppa N, Koivisto SP, Rialland A, Røren N, Sasinková P, Cubillo PT, Tritsch C, van Walsem MR, Witjes-Ané MN, Yudina E, Zielonka D, Zielonka E, Zinzi P, Bonelli RM, Herranhof B, Holl A, Kapfhammer HP, Koppitz M, Magnet M, Otti D, Painold A, Reisinger K, Scheibl M, Hecht K, Lilek S, Müller N, Schöggl H, Ullah J, Brugger F, Hepperger C, Hotter A, Mahlknecht P, Nocker M, Seppi K, Wenning G, Buratti L, Hametner EM, Holas C, Hussl A, Mair K, Poewe W, Wolf E, Zangerl A, Braunwarth EM, Lilek S, Sinadinosa D, Walleczek AM, Bonelli RM, Ladurner G, Staffen W, Ribaï P, Verellen-Dumoulin C, Flamez A, Morez V, de Raedt S, Boogaerts A, Vandenberghe W, van Reijen D, Klempíř J, Kucharík M, Roth J, Šenkárová Z, Hasholt L, Hjermind LE, Jakobsen O, Nørremølle A, Sørensen SA, Stokholm J, Nielsen J, Hiivola H, Martikainen K, Tuuha K, Peippo M, Sipponen M, Ignatius J, Kärppä M, Åman J, Santala M, Allain P, Guérid MA, Gohier B, Olivier A, Prundean A, Scherer-Gagou C, Verny C, Babiloni B, Debruxelles S, Goizet C, Lafoucrière D, De Bruycker C, Carette AS, Decorte E, Delval A, Delliaux M, Dujardin K, Peter M, Plomhouse L, Simonin C, Thibault-Tanchou S, Bellonet M, Duru C, Krystkowiak P, Roussel M, Wannepain S, Azulay JP, Chabot C, Delphini M, Eusebio A, Grosjean H, Mundler L, Nowak M, Rudolf G, Steinmetz G, Tranchant C, Wagner C, Zimmermann MA, Calvas F, Cheriet S, Démonet JF, Galitzky M, Kosinski CM, Milkereit E, Probst D, Sass C, Schiefer J, Schlangen C, Werner CJ, Gelderblom H, Priller J, Prüss H, Spruth EJ, Andrich J, Hoffmann R, Kraus PH, Muth S, Prehn C, Saft C, Salmen S, Stamm C, Steiner T, Strassburger K, Lange H, Friedrich A, Hunger U, Löhle M, Schmidt S, Storch A, Wolz A, Wolz M, Lambeck J, Zucker B, Boelmans K, Ganos C, Hidding U, Lewerenz J, Münchau A, Orth M, Schmalfeld J, Stubbe L, Zittel S, Diercks G, Gorzolla H, Schrader C, Heinicke W, Ribbat M, Longinus B, Bürk K, Möller JC, Rissling I, Peinemann A, Städtler M, Weindl A, Bechtel N, Beckmann H, Bohlen S, Hölzner E, Lange H, Reilmann R, Rohm S, Rumpf S, Schepers S, Beister A, Dose M, Hammer K, Kieni J, Leythaeuser G, Marquard R, Raab T, Richter S, Selimbegovic-Turkovic A, Schrenk C, Schuierer M, Wiedemann A, Barth K, Buck A, Connemann J, Ecker D, Eschenbach C, Held C, Landwehrmeyer B, Lezius F, Nepper S, Niess A, Orth M, Süssmuth S, Trautmann S, Weydt P, Cormio C, Difruscolo O, Sciruicchio V, Serpino C, de Tommaso M, Capellari S, Cortelli P, Gallassi R, Poda R, Rizzo G, Scaglione C, Bertini E, Ghelli E, Ginestroni A, Massaro F, Mechi C, Paganini M, Piacentini S, Pradella S, Romoli AM, Sorbi S, Abbruzzese G, di Poggio MB, Di Maria E, Ferrandes G, Mandich P, Marchese R, Albanese A, Di Bella D, Di Donato S, Gellera C, Genitrini S, Mariotti C, Monza D, Nanetti L, Paridi D, Soliveri P, Tomasello C, De Michele G, Di Maio L, Rinaldi C, Russo CV, Salvatore E, Tucci T, Cannella M, Codella V, De Gregorio F, De Nicola N, Martino T, Simonelli M, Squitieri F, Bentivoglio AR, Catalli C, Di Giacopo R, Fasano A, Frontali M, Guidubaldi A, Ialongo T, Jacopini G, Loria G, Modoni A, Piano C, Chiara P, Quaranta D, Romano S, Soleti F, Spadaro M, Zinzi P, van Hout MS, van Vugt JP, de Weert AM, Bolwijn JJ, Dekker M, Leenders KL, van Oostrom JC, Bos R, Dumas EM, Jurgens CK, van den Bogaard SJ, Roos RA, 't Hart EP, Witjes-Ané MN, Kremer B, Verstappen CC, Heiberg A, van Walsem MR, Frich J, Wehus R, Aaserud O, Borgerød N, Bjørgo K, Fannemel M, Gørvell P, Pro Koivisto S, Retterstøl L, Overland T, Stokke B, Bjørnevoll I, Sando SB, Blinkenberg EØ, Hauge E, Tyvoll H, Sitek E, Slawek J, Soltan W, Boczarska-Jedynak M, Jasinska-Myga B, Opala G, Kłodowska-Duda G, Banaszkiewicz K, Szczudlik A, Rudzińska M, Wójcik M, Dec M, Krawczyk M, Bryl A, Ciesielska A, Klimberg A, Marcinkowski J, Sempołowicz J, Zielonka D, Samara H, Janik P, Kalbarczyk A, Kwiecinski H, Jamrozik Z, Antczak J, Jachinska K, Rakowicz M, Richter P, Ryglewicz D, Witkowski G, Zdzienicka E, Zaremba J, Sułek A, Krysa W, Júlio F, Januário C, Mestre T, Guedes L, Coelho M, Mendes T, Valadas A, Ferreira JJ, Timóteo Â, Costa C, Vale J, Cavaco S, Damásio J, Magalhães M, Gago M, Garrett C, Guerra MR, Solis P, Herrera CD, Garcia PM, Barrero F, Morales B, Cubo E, Mariscal N, Alonso-Frech F, Perez MR, Fenollar M, García RG, Quiroga PP, Rivera SV, Villanueva C, Bascuñana M, Ventura MF, Ribas GG, de Yébenes JG, Moreno JL, Cubillo PT, Ruíz PJ, Martínez-Descals A, Artiga MJ, Sánchez V, Perea MF, Lorenza F, Torres MM, Reinante G, Moreau LV, Barbera MA, Guia DB, Hernanz LC, Catena JL, Sebastián AR, Ferrer PQ, Carruesco GT, Bas J, Busquets N, Calopa M, Buongiorno MT, Muñoz E, Elorza MD, López CD, Terol SD, Robert MF, Ruíz BG, Casado AG, Martínez IH, Viladrich CM, Pons i Càrdenas R, Roca E, Llesoy JR, Idiago JM, Vergara MR, García SS, Villa Riballo A, González SG, Guisasola LM, Salvador C, San Martín ES, Gorospe A, Legarda I, Arques PN, Rodríguez MJ, Vives B, Gaston I, Ramos-Arroyo MA, Moreno JM, Peña JC, Avarvarei LD, Bastida AM, Recio MF, Vergé LR, Sánchez VS, Carrillo F, Cáceres MT, Mir P, Suarez MJ, Bosca M, Burguera JA, Garcia AC, Martínez LM, del Val JL, Loutfi G, Olofsson C, Stattin EL, Westman L, Wikström B, Höglund A, Pålhagen SE, Paucar M, Sandström B, Soltani R, Svenningsson P, Reza-Soltani TW, Constantinescu R, Fredlund G, Høsterey-Ugander U, Neleborn-Lingefjärd L, Wahlström J, Esmaeilzadeh M, Tedroff J, Winnberg E, Björn Y, Ekwall C, Gøller ML, Johansson A, Wiklund L, Petersen Å, Reimer J, Widner H, Burgunder JM, Burgunder Y, Stebler Y, Kaelin A, Romero I, Schüpbach M, Zaugg SW, Jack R, Matheson K, Miedzybrodzka Z, Rae D, Simpson S, Summers F, Ure A, Crooks J, Curtis A, de Souza Keylock J, Rickards H, Wright J, Hayward B, Sieradzan K, Wright A, Barker RA, Di Pietro A, Fisher K, Goodman A, Hill S, Kershaw A, Mason S, Paterson N, Raymond L, Bisson J, Busse M, Clenaghan C, Ellison-Rose L, Handley O, Hunt S, Townhill J, Price K, Rosser A, Edwards M, Hughes T, McGill M, Pearson P, Porteous M, Smith P, Zeman A, Causley A, Harrower T, Howcroft D, Lambord N, Rankin J, Brockie P, Foster J, Johns N, McKenzie S, Rothery J, Thomas G, Yates S, Miller J, Ritchie S, Burrows L, Fletcher A, Harding A, Laver F, Silva M, Thomson A, Burns P, Chu C, Evans C, Hamer S, Markova I, Miller J, Raman A, Barnes K, Chu C, Hobson E, Jamieson S, Markova I, Thomson J, Toscano J, Wild S, Yardumian P, Bourne C, Clayton C, Dipple H, Clapton J, Grant D, Hallam C, Middleton J, Murch A, Patino D, Bate L, Pate L, Andrews T, Dougherty A, Kavalier F, Golding C, Lashwood A, Robertson D, Ruddy D, Whaite A, Patton M, Peterson M, Rose S, Andrews T, Bruno S, Chu E, Doherty K, Golding, Fillingham K, Foustanos I, O'Donovan K, Peppa N, Tidswell K, Quarrell O.Orth, M; Handley, Oj; Schwenke, C; Dunnett, S; Wild, Ej; Tabrizi, Sj; Landwehrmeyer, Gb; Bachoud-Lévi, Ac; Bentivoglio, Ar; Biunno, I; Bonelli, R; Burgunder, Jm; Dunnett, Sb; Ferreira, Jj; Giuliano, J; Handley, Oj; Heiberg, A; Illmann, T; van Kammen, D; Landwehrmeye, Gb; Levey, J; Nielsen, Je; Päivärinta, M; Roos, Ra; Sebastián, Ar; Tabrizi, Sj; Vandenberghe, W; Verellen-Dumoulin, C; Zaremba, J; Uhrova, T; Wahlström, J; Schwenke, C; Orth, M; Illmann, T; Wallner, M; Barth, K; Guedes, Lc; Finisterra, Am; Garde, Mb; Bos, R; Burg, S; Ecker, D; Handley, Oj; Held, C; Koppers, K; Laurà, M; Descals, Am; Mclean, T; Mestre, T; Minster, S; Monza, D; Townhill, J; Orth, M; Padieu, H; Paterski, L; Peppa, N; Koivisto, Sp; Rialland, A; Røren, N; Sasinková, P; Cubillo, Pt; Tritsch, C; van Walsem, Mr; Witjes-Ané, Mn; Yudina, E; Zielonka, D; Zielonka, E; Zinzi, P; Bonelli, Rm; Herranhof, B; Holl, A; Kapfhammer, Hp; Koppitz, M; Magnet, M; Otti, D; Painold, A; Reisinger, K; Scheibl, M; Hecht, K; Lilek, S; Müller, N; Schöggl, H; Ullah, J; Brugger, F; Hepperger, C; Hotter, A; Mahlknecht, P; Nocker, M; Seppi, K; Wenning, G; Buratti, L; Hametner, Em; Holas, C; Hussl, A; Mair, K; Poewe, W; Wolf, E; Zangerl, A; Braunwarth, Em; Lilek, S; Sinadinosa, D; Walleczek, Am; Bonelli, Rm; Ladurner, G; Staffen, W; Ribaï, P; Verellen-Dumoulin, C; Flamez, A; Morez, V; de Raedt, S; Boogaerts, A; Vandenberghe, W; van Reijen, D; Klempíř, J; Kucharík, M; Roth, J; Šenkárová, Z; Hasholt, L; Hjermind, Le; Jakobsen, O; Nørremølle, A; Sørensen, Sa; Stokholm, J; Nielsen, J; Hiivola, H; Martikainen, K; Tuuha, K; Peippo, M; Sipponen, M; Ignatius, J; Kärppä, M; Åman, J; Santala, M; Allain, P; Guérid, Ma; Gohier, B; Olivier, A; Prundean, A; Scherer-Gagou, C; Verny, C; Babiloni, B; Debruxelles, S; Goizet, C; Lafoucrière, D; De Bruycker, C; Carette, As; Decorte, E; Delval, A; Delliaux, M; Dujardin, K; Peter, M; Plomhouse, L; Simonin, C; Thibault-Tanchou, S; Bellonet, M; Duru, C; Krystkowiak, P; Roussel, M; Wannepain, S; Azulay, Jp; Chabot, C; Delphini, M; Eusebio, A; Grosjean, H; Mundler, L; Nowak, M; Rudolf, G; Steinmetz, G; Tranchant, C; Wagner, C; Zimmermann, Ma; Calvas, F; Cheriet, S; Démonet, Jf; Galitzky, M; Kosinski, Cm; Milkereit, E; Probst, D; Sass, C; Schiefer, J; Schlangen, C; Werner, Cj; Gelderblom, H; Priller, J; Prüss, H; Spruth, Ej; Andrich, J; Hoffmann, R; Kraus, Ph; Muth, S; Prehn, C; Saft, C; Salmen, S; Stamm, C; Steiner, T; Strassburger, K; Lange, H; Friedrich, A; Hunger, U; Löhle, M; Schmidt, S; Storch, A; Wolz, A; Wolz, M; Lambeck, J; Zucker, B; Boelmans, K; Ganos, C; Hidding, U; Lewerenz, J; Münchau, A; Orth, M; Schmalfeld, J; Stubbe, L; Zittel, S; Diercks, G; Gorzolla, H; Schrader, C; Heinicke, W; Ribbat, M; Longinus, B; Bürk, K; Möller, Jc; Rissling, I; Peinemann, A; Städtler, M; Weindl, A; Bechtel, N; Beckmann, H; Bohlen, S; Hölzner, E; Lange, H; Reilmann, R; Rohm, S; Rumpf, S; Schepers, S; Beister, A; Dose, M; Hammer, K; Kieni, J; Leythaeuser, G; Marquard, R; Raab, T; Richter, S; Selimbegovic-Turkovic, A; Schrenk, C; Schuierer, M; Wiedemann, A; Barth, K; Buck, A; Connemann, J; Ecker, D; Eschenbach, C; Held, C; Landwehrmeyer, B; Lezius, F; Nepper, S; Niess, A; Orth, M; Süssmuth, S; Trautmann, S; Weydt, P; Cormio, C; Difruscolo, O; Sciruicchio, V; Serpino, C; de Tommaso, M; Capellari, S; Cortelli, P; Gallassi, R; Poda, R; Rizzo, G; Scaglione, C; Bertini, E; Ghelli, E; Ginestroni, A; Massaro, F; Mechi, C; Paganini, M; Piacentini, S; Pradella, S; Romoli, Am; Sorbi, S; Abbruzzese, G; di Poggio, Mb; Di Maria, E; Ferrandes, G; Mandich, P; Marchese, R; Albanese, A; Di Bella, D; Di Donato, S; Gellera, C; 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Discrepancies in reporting the CAG repeat lengths for Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease results from a CAG repeat expansion within the Huntingtin gene; this is measured routinely in diagnostic laboratories. The European Huntington's Disease Network REGISTRY project centrally measures CAG repeat lengths on fresh samples; these were compared with the original results from 121 laboratories across 15 countries. We report on 1326 duplicate results; a discrepancy in reporting the upper allele occurred in 51% of cases, this reduced to 13.3% and 9.7% when we applied acceptable measurement errors proposed by the American College of Medical Genetics and the Draft European Best Practice Guidelines, respectively. Duplicate results were available for 1250 lower alleles; discrepancies occurred in 40% of cases. Clinically significant discrepancies occurred in 4.0% of cases with a potential unexplained misdiagnosis rate of 0.3%. There was considerable variation in the discrepancy rate among 10 of the countries participating in this study. Out of 1326 samples, 348 were re-analysed by an accredited diagnostic laboratory, based in Germany, with concordance rates of 93% and 94% for the upper and lower alleles, respectively. This became 100% if the acceptable measurement errors were applied. The central laboratory correctly reported allele sizes for six standard reference samples, blind to the known result. Our study differs from external quality assessment (EQA) schemes in that these are duplicate results obtained from a large sample of patients across the whole diagnostic range. We strongly recommend that laboratories state an error rate for their measurement on the report, participate in EQA schemes and use reference materials regularly to adjust their own internal standards