A pedigree of a rare Cb1X type X-linked methylmalonic acidemia due to transcriptional co-regulator HCFC1 ;mutation / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the clinical and genetic features in the pedigree of Cb1X type X-linked methylmalonic aciduria. Methods Clinical data of one child with X-linked methylmalonic aciduria diagnosed by blood and urine analysis were analyzed retrospectively. Targeted next-generation sequencing has been performed to detect the mutation of methylmalonic aciduria-related genes. Results The boy started presenting with seizures and severe mental retardation at 2 months of age. At 5 months of age, he had the manifestations of seizures, severe mental retardation, increased methylmalonic acid in urinary, increased propionylcarnitine in blood and increased plasma homocysteine, and met the requirements for the diagnosis of methylmalonic aciduria complicated with hyperhomocysteinemia. No mutation was detected in his MMA-related autosomal genes. However, a hemizygote mutation c.344C?>?T (p.Ala115Val) was identiifed in exon 3 of HCFC1 in X chromosome, which conifrmed the CblX type methylmalonic aciduria. His parents were healthy. His elder brother also manifested severe psychomotor retardation with intractable epilepsy, and died at 6 months of age with unknown cause. His mother carried the same mutation and had slightly elevated urine methylmalonic acid and plasma total homocysteine. His father did not carry the mutation. Conclusion A pedigree of a rare Cb1X type X-linked methylmalonic acidemia is ifrstly diagnosed in China by the new generation sequencing technology.

Cases of inherited disorders of amino acid metabolism in population at risk / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Introduction@#Oligophrenia makes 7.3% of all mental disorders in our country. It is known that almost 4% of all diagnosed cases of oligophrenia developed as a result of an inherited disturbance of amino acid metabolism. In most countries, the frequencies of inherited diseases of amino acid metabolism in the population are determined, and preventive screening programs of newborns are implemented. No study has been conducted so far into the issue of inherited diseases of amino acid metabolism in the Mongolian population. The goal of our survey was to detect inherited disorders of amino acid metabolism in the population at risk. @*Materials and Methods@#The collection of samples and the laboratory analysis were carried out in the following two stages: </br>1. The screening analysis of 514 individuals diagnosed with mental retardation was performed by paper chromatography; </br>2. The positivecases detected by the screening were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography. @*Results@#The screening testing detected twelve potential disturbances of amino acid metabolism. Out of the twelve positive cases four individuals refused to participate in the confirmatory stage of the survey. Among the remained eight individuals, cases of hypertyrosinemia, hypervalinemia, hyperglycinemia, hyperlysinemia and pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy were detected. @*Conclusions@#</br>1. The fact that cases of inherited disorders of amino acid metabolism were detected among mentally retarded individuals show that the disorder is one of causes of oligophrenia. </br>2. A screening program of newborns should be implemented for early detection of inherited disorders of amino acid metabolism. </br>3. A genetic counselling and testing centre could assist in reduction of number of individuals with inherited disorders.

Incidence of Inborn Errors of Metabolism by Expanded Newborn Screening in a Mexican Hospital

Abstract Newborn screening for the detection of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), endocrinopathies, hemoglobinopathies, and other disorders is a public health initiative aimed at identifying specific diseases in a timely manner. Mexico initiated newborn screening in 1973, but the national incidence of this group of diseases is unknown or uncertain due to the lack of large sample sizes of expanded newborn screening (ENS) programs and lack of related publications. The incidence of a specific group of IEM, endocrinopathies, hemoglobinopathies, and other disorders in newborns was obtained from a Mexican hospital. These newborns were part of a comprehensive ENS program at Ginequito (a private hospital in Mexico), from January 2012 to August 2014. The retrospective study included the examination of 10 000 newborns' results obtained from the ENS program (comprising the possible detection of more than 50 screened disorders). The findings were the following: 34 newborns were confirmed with an IEM, endocrinopathies, hemoglobinopathies, or other disorders and 68 were identified as carriers. Consequently, the estimated global incidence for those disorders was 3.4 in 1000 newborns; and the carrier prevalence was 6.8 in 1000. Moreover, a 0.04% false-positive rate was unveiled as soon as diagnostic testing revealed negative results. The most frequent diagnosis was glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency; and in the case of carriers, it was hemoglobinopathies. The benefit of the ENS is clear as it offers prompt treatment on the basis of an early diagnosis including proper genetic counseling. Furthermore, these results provide a good estimation of the frequencies of different forms of newborn IEM, endocrinopathies, hemoglobinopathies, and other disorders at Ginequito.

Haemoglobinopathies in Greece: prevention programme over the past 35 years.

At present, prevention of thalassaemia and sickle cell disease is the only realistic approach to control the birth of new patients in countries having high numbers of carriers. This is fully justified because avoiding the birth of an ever increasing number of patients may allow a more effective use of the available resources in improving the management of the patients surviving today and alleviate the already overloaded public health system from the inevitable tremendous and ever increasing cost. Moreover, prenatal diagnosis may help couples at risk to have non-thalassaemic children. Greece is one of the countries where the mean frequency of carriers is approximately 7.5 per cent (population 11 million) and has set up a nationwide programme for carrier identification in the early seventies; this is provided through a dozen of specific Units attached to the major Blood Transfusion Services of the country, on a voluntary basis and free of charge. Spread of information through mass media, the schools, and other groups has greatly contributed in creating the necessary sensitization; obstetricians and antenatal Clinics are also instrumental to this effect. Prenatal diagnosis is offered centrally (Athens) and covers satisfactorily the estimated needs (500-600 annually); the total number has already exceeded 35,000. According to information obtained from the major paediatric hospitals all over the country, the number of thalassaemia major or SCD admitted for treatment over the last ten years has been around 15 yearly (instead of an estimate of 120-130).

The inherited disorders of haemoglobin: an increasingly neglected global health burden.

An estimated 300,000 babies are born each year with a severe inherited disease of haemoglobin and that over 80 per cent of these births occur in low- or middle-income countries. As these countries go through the epidemiological transition, characterized by a reduction in childhood and infant mortality due to improved public health measures, infants who had previously died of these conditions before they were recognised are now surviving to present for diagnosis and treatment. For a variety of reasons, even in the rich countries there are limited data about the true frequency, natural history, and survival of patients with these disorders, information that is absolutely critical towards providing governments and international health agencies with accurate information about the true global health burden of these conditions. The situation can only be improved by major action on the part of the rich countries together with the formation of partnerships between rich and poor countries and input from the major international health agencies and funding organisations.

Wilson's disease in southern Brazil: a 40-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND: Long-term data on the clinical follow-up and the treatment effectiveness of Wilson's disease are limited because of the low disease frequency. This study evaluated a retrospective cohort of Wilson's disease patients from southern Brazil during a 40-year follow-up period. METHODS: Thirty-six Wilson's disease patients, diagnosed from 1971 to 2010, were retrospectively evaluated according to their clinical presentation, epidemiological and social features, response to therapy and outcome. RESULTS: Examining the patients' continental origins showed that 74.5 percent had a European ancestor. The mean age at the initial symptom presentation was 23.3 ± 9.3 years, with a delay of 27.5 ± 41.9 months until definitive diagnosis. At presentation, hepatic symptoms were predominant (38.9 percent), followed by mixed symptoms (hepatic and neuropsychiatric) (30.6 percent) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (25 percent). Kayser-Fleischer rings were identified in 55.6 percent of patients, with a higher frequency among those patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms (77.8 percent). Eighteen patients developed neuropsychiatric features, most commonly cerebellar syndrome. Neuroradiological imaging abnormalities were observed in 72.2 percent of these patients. Chronic liver disease was detected in 68 percent of the patients with hepatic symptoms. 94.2 percent of all the patients were treated with D-penicillamine for a mean time of 129.9 ± 108.3 months. Other treatments included zinc salts, combined therapy and liver transplantation. After initiating therapy, 78.8 percent of the patients had a stable or improved outcome, and the overall survival rate was 90.1 percent. CONCLUSION: This study is the first retrospective description of a population of Wilson's disease patients of mainly European continental origin who live in southern Brazil. Wilson's disease is treatable if correctly diagnosed, and an adequate quality of life can be achieved, resulting in a long overall survival.