Search for the ethiopathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder which affects about 10% of women in reproductive age. According to the Rotterdam consensus criteria, PCOS is diagnosed in the presence of two out of three following symptoms: (1) oligomenorrhoea, anovulation, (2) hyperandrogenism, (3) polycystic ovaries at ultrasound scan. Etiology of the syndrome, although widely speculated, still remains unknown. Analysis of the prevalence of PCOS among the families reveals that genetic contribution to the outcome of the syndrome is highly probable. However, the pattern of inheritance is not clear. On the basis of common clinical symptoms, disorders in metabolic pathways involved in biosynthesis and action of steroid hormones and insulin, as well as in development of inflammatory state, have been searched. As part of the research, large-scale analysis of “candidate genes”, whose protein products are engaged in several metabolic processes, have been performed. According to research, at least in some of them mutations or polymorphisms, mainly SNP-type, affecting transcription of the gene or protein properties, have been found. Nevertheless, none of them seem to play a key role in the pathogenesis of the syndrome, indicating that PCOS may be a result of several genes abnormalities interactions. In this review we present the current state of knowledge concerning particular genes, products of which seem to take part in the modulation of the clinical sings of the disease

CADASIL caused by stereotyped p.Arg207Cys mutation of NOTCH3 gene

The most common hereditary cerebral small vessel disease, associated with strokes and vascular dementia, is known as cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). CADASIL is caused by mutations of the NOTCH3 gene. Since most pathogenic mutations at the protein level result with cysteine being replaced with another amino acid or another amino acid being replaced with cysteine, they are referred to as stereotyped mutations. A 55-year-old male patient, suddenly affected by speech disturbances, was diagnosed with a sporadic case of CADASIL on the basis of radiological imaging, particularly an magnetic resonance imaging scan. The diagnosis was conclusively confirmed by genetic testing, which revealed one of the rarer mutations, located in one allele of the NOTCH3 gene, namely p.Arg207Cys, reflecting at the DNA level a transition changing cytosine to thymine in position 619. In magnetic resonance imaging, classical radiological changes were seen, along with the presence of microhaemorrhages in subcortical nuclei, which is an atypical clinical manifestation of the disease. Despite the advanced cerebral changes, the patient continued to be professionally active. Currently, no effective treatment for the condition is available.Najczęstszą genetycznie uwarunkowaną chorobą małych naczyń związaną z udarami i naczyniopochodnym otępieniem jest mózgowa autosomalna dominująca arteriopatia z podkorowymi zawałami i leukoencefalopatią (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, CADASIL). Za CADASIL odpowiedzialne są mutacje genu NOTCH3. Większość patogennych mutacji na poziomie białka skutkuje zastąpieniem cysteiny innym aminokwasem bądź innego aminokwasu cysteiną, dlatego mutacje te nazywa się stereotypowymi. U 55-letniego pacjenta, u którego nagle wystąpiły zaburzenia mowy, zdiagnozowano sporadyczny przypadek CADASIL-u. Podstawą podejrzenia choroby był obraz radiologiczny, a zwłaszcza obraz uzyskany w badaniu rezonansem magnetycznym. Badanie genetyczne potwierdziło diagnozę. Ujawniono jedną z rzadszych mutacji – w jednym allelu genu NOTCH3 p.Arg207Cys, odpowiadającą na poziomie DNA tranzycji cytozyny w tyminę w pozycji 619. W badaniu rezonansem magnetycznym odnotowano klasyczne zmiany radiologiczne i obecność mikrokrwawień w jądrach podkorowych, co nie jest częstą manifestacją choroby. Mimo tak zaawansowanych zmian pacjent kontynuował pracę zawodową. W chwili obecnej nie jest znane skuteczne leczenie

CADASIL spowodowany stereotypową mutacją p.Arg207Cys w genie NOTCH3

Najczęstszą genetycznie uwarunkowaną chorobą małych naczyń związaną z udarami i naczyniopochodnym otępieniem jest mózgowa autosomalna dominująca arteriopatia z podkorowymi zawałami i leukoencefalopatią (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, CADASIL). Za CADASIL odpowiedzialne są mutacje genu NOTCH3. Większość patogennych mutacji na poziomie białka skutkuje zastąpieniem cysteiny innym aminokwasem bądź innego aminokwasu cysteiną, dlatego mutacje te nazywa się stereotypowymi. U 55-letniego pacjenta, u którego nagle wystąpiły zaburzenia mowy, zdiagnozowano sporadyczny przypadek CADASIL-u. Podstawą podejrzenia choroby był obraz radiologiczny, a zwłaszcza obraz uzyskany w badaniu rezonansem magnetycznym. Badanie genetyczne potwierdziło diagnozę. Ujawniono jedną z rzadszych mutacji – w jednym allelu genu NOTCH3 p.Arg207Cys, odpowiadającą na poziomie DNA tranzycji cytozyny w tyminę w pozycji 619. W badaniu rezonansem magnetycznym odnotowano klasyczne zmiany radiologiczne i obecność mikrokrwawień w jądrach podkorowych, co nie jest częstą manifestacją choroby. Mimo tak zaawansowanych zmian pacjent kontynuował pracę zawodową. W chwili obecnej nie jest znane skuteczne leczenie

Melanoma and other malignant skin cancers in psoriatic patients treated with phototherapy. Role of the p16 protein in psoriasis

Recently, the potential risk of malignant skin cancer development in psoriatic patients has been highlighted. It seems that some pathogenetic factors in psoriasis could predispose to a malignant transformation. So far, the relationship between the therapeutic schemes in psoriasis and possible neoplastic transformation has not been clearly explained. The phototherapy is considered a very effective therapeutic method in psoriasis, however, the pathogenesis of some malignancies is associated with the exposure to UV radiation. One of the defence mechanisms that protect the cells from damaging and mutagenic factors, such as UV radiation, seems to be the p16 protein. Moreover, in recent years, the altered expression of the p16 protein in the diseases not related to malignant transformation, including psoriasis, has been observed. The new hypothesis suggesting a participation of the p16 protein in psoriatic plaque formation has appeared

Data_Sheet_1_Case report: VEXAS as an example of autoinflammatory syndrome in pulmonology clinical practice.docx

Lung involvement is not widely recognized as a complication of auto-inflammatory diseases. We present a broad approach to diagnose a severe form of autoinflammatory syndrome in an adult male patient. A 63-year-old Caucasian male presented with recurrent episodes of high fever, interstitial lung infiltration, and pleural effusion. Laboratory tests performed during the flares revealed lymphopenia and increased levels of C-reactive protein and ferritin. Broad diagnostic research on infections, connective tissue diseases, and malignancies yielded negative results. The patient’s symptoms promptly resolved upon the administration of glucocorticoids; however, they reappeared when the prednisone dose was reduced. All attempts to administer immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive medications were ineffective. During follow-up, autoinflammatory syndrome was suspected; however, no pathological variants of monogenic autoinflammatory diseases were identified by genome-exome sequencing. The patient did not respond to interleukin 1 blockade with anakinra. He died due to multi-organ failure, and his condition remained unresolved until the first reported description of vacuole, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, and somatic syndrome (VEXAS). We describe the diagnostic traps and reasoning process involved in establishing that the patient’s symptoms were autoinflammatory in nature based on clinical symptoms, in addition to the proof of concept gained from genetic reevaluation and identification of pathogenic variants in the UBA1 gene. The aim of this review is to increase the awareness of VEXAS among pulmonologists. Genetic screening for UBA1 should be considered in patients with recurrent pneumonitis of unknown origin with elevated inflammatory markers and signs of cytopenia, especially if they require chronic steroids to control the disease. Respiratory manifestations are part of VEXAS; these may be dominant in the course of the disease and severe at presentation.</p