Assessment of Depression, Anxiety, Quality of Life, and Coping in Long-Standing Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Data on psychological harm in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) are scarce. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess anxiety, depression, quality of life, and coping in long-standing MEN2 patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients were 43 adults (age ≥18 years) with clinical and genetic diagnosis of MEN2 and long-term follow-up (10.6 ± 8.2 years; range 1-33 years). This was a cross-sectional study with qualitative and quantitative psychological assessment using semi-directed interviews and HADS, EORTC QLQ C30, and MINI-MAC scales. Adopting clinical criteria from 2015 ATA Guidelines on MEN2, biochemical cure (39%; 16/41), persistence/recurrence (61%; 25/41), and stable chronic disease (22/41) of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) were scored. Pheochromocytoma affected 19 (44%) patients, with previous adrenalectomy in 17 of them. RESULTS: Overall, anxiety (42%; mean score 11 ± 2.9; range 8-18; anxiety is defined as a score ≥8) and depression (26%; mean score 11 ± 3.8; range 8-20; depression is defined as a score ≥8) symptoms were frequent. Patients who transmitted RET mutations to a child had higher scores for weakness-discouragement/anxious preoccupation and lower scores for cognitive, emotional, and physical functioning (p < 0.05). Feelings of guilt were present in 35% of patients with mutation-positive children. Lower mean score values for depression and anxiety and higher scores for role, cognitive, and emotional functioning were noticed in 33 patients who were well-informed about their disease (p < 0.05). Fighting spirit was more frequently found in patients with multiple surgical procedures (p = 0.019) and controlled chronic adrenal insufficiency (p = 0.024). Patients with MEN2-related stress-inducing factors had lower scores for fighting spirit and cognitive functioning and higher scores for insomnia and dyspnea (p < 0.05). Eleven patients required sustained psychotherapeutic treatment. Mean global health status was relatively good in MEN2 cases (68.1 ± 22.3), and the cured group had higher physical functioning (p = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological distress is likely chronic in MEN2 patients. This study identified diverse MEN2-related factors (degree of information on disease, mutation-positive children, number of surgeries, comorbidities, stress-inducing factors, and cure) interfering positively or negatively with the results of the psychometrics scales. The active investigation of these factors and the applied psychological assessment protocol are useful to identify MEN2 patients requiring psychological assistance.

Association between Pro12Ala, Pvull, Avall, Sstl and ADIPOQ single-nucleotide polymorphisms with lipid and glycemic profiles of patients with Berardinelli-Seip syndrome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Berardinelli-Seip syndrome (BSS) is a recessive autosomal genetic disorder characterized by the near loss of adipose tissue with disturbance in lipid metabolism. METHODS: Biochemical and hormonal parameters and Pro12Ala, Pvull, Avall, Sstl and ADIPOQ polymorphisms in 22 patients with BSS were analyzed and examined for a possible association with lipid profiles. RESULTS: Parental consanguinity, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus were observed in 63.6, 81.8 and 59.1% of patients, respectively. All individuals presented high triglyceride levels, and 68.1% of patients showed high cholesterol levels. The Pro/Pro genotype of the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPARγ2 gene was found in 86.3% of patients; the Ala/Ala variant was not observed in any patient. The PvuII polymorphism of the LPL gene showed a frequency of 50% for the P1P2 variant. The AvaII polymorphism of the LDLR gene showed a similar frequency of 40.9% for both CT and TT variants. The S1S1 genotype of the Sstl polymorphism of the APOC3 gene had a frequency of 86.3%. The CC allele of the ADIPOQ polymorphism of the adiponectin gene was found in 54.6% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: No association was found between lipid parameters and the relevant Pvull, Avall and Sstl polymorphisms. However, we did observe an association of the Pro12Ala and ADIPOQ polymorphisms with higher lipid levels, suggesting a close relationship between these factors.

A novel Val648Ile substitution in RET protooncogene observed in a Cys634Arg multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A kindred presenting with an adrenocorticotropin-producing pheochromocytoma.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) comprises a heterogeneous group of neoplasic disorders that most commonly have a single missense substitution of the RET protooncogene (RET) involving exons 10 and 11. It was previously reported a MEN 2A kindred in which the father presented with a rare phenotype consisting of bilateral ACTH-producing pheochromocytoma and medullary thyroid carcinoma. We recently performed mutational analysis of the father and his 4 children using a denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis approach and PCR-amplified genomic DNA, followed by direct sequencing or restriction fragment length polymorphism testing. All 4 children showed a RET sequence variation. The common exon 11 Cys(634)Arg RET mutation was present in 2 of the 4 children who had undergone thyroidectomy for C cell disease. The remaining 2 children, who did not harbor the Cys(634)Arg mutation and are negative for C cell and adrenal disease, carry a previously unreported Val(648)Ile missense change in RET exon 11. This novel substitution was not found in the unaffected mother or in 200 control alleles. Both RET variants were present in the father affected with MEN 2A and the unusual ACTH-producing pheochromocytoma. We speculate that the double RET mutation may have modified and contributed to the rare MEN 2A phenotype in the father.

Raquitismo hipofosfatêmico: da clínica à genética molecular / Hypophosphathemic rickets: from the clinics to the molecular genetic

O raquitismo hipofosfatêmico dominante ligado ao cromossomo X é a forma mais comum de raquitismo familial, e caracteriza-se por hipo-fosfatemia associada a hiperfosfatúria e metabolismo anormal da vitamina D. Existem outras formas de hiperfosfatúrias hereditárias, sugerindo um complexo processo de homeostase do fosfato. Como não está definida qual a lesão básica do distúrbio, torna-se difícil o esclarecimento da fisiopatologia. Recentemente, através da abordagem de clonagem posicional, foi identificado um forte gene candidato, o PEX, que seria o responsável pelo distúrbio. Diversos tipos de mutações no PEX foram encontradas em cerca de 60 famílias. Os recentes avanços genéticos no estudo dessa doença muito têm contribuído para melhorar o entendimento da sua fisiopatologia e do controle do equilíbrio do fosfato.