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24
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Introduction
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November 2016 - October 2018
Publications
Publications (24)
Objective
Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is the most common aberration of forebrain development, and it leads to a wide spectrum of developmental and craniofacial anomalies. HPE etiology is highly heterogeneous and includes both chromosomal abnormalities and single-gene defects.
Methods
Here, we report an FGFR1 heterozygous variant detected by prenatal e...
La presente Linea guida (LG) nasce da un progetto di rete finanziato dal Ministero
della salute nell’ambito dei progetti di ricerca finalizzata, allo scopo di migliorare la
gestione globale delle Atassie pediatriche (AP).
I segni atassici in età pediatrica possono presentarsi in forme e livelli di gravità
molto eterogenei e possono essere dovuti a...
Biallelic mutations in the BRAT1 gene, encoding BRCA1-associated ATM activator 1, result in variable phenotypes, from rigidity and multifocal seizure syndrome, lethal neonatal (RMFSL) to neurodevelopmental disorder and cerebellar atrophy with or without seizures (NEDCAS), without obvious genotype-phenotype associations. We describe two families at...
Background
Joubert syndrome (JS) is a recessively inherited ciliopathy characterised by congenital ocular motor apraxia (COMA), developmental delay (DD), intellectual disability, ataxia, multiorgan involvement, and a unique cerebellar and brainstem malformation. Over 40 JS-associated genes are known with a diagnostic yield of 60%–75%.
In 2018, we r...
There are no currently available disease-modifying pharmacological treatments for most of the chronic hereditary ataxias; thus, effective rehabilitative strategies are crucial to help improve symptoms and therefore the quality of life. We propose to gather all available evidence on the use of video games, exergames, and apps for tablet and smartpho...
Background
Joubert Syndrome (JS) is a rare inherited neurodevelopmental disorder defined by a characteristic cerebellar and brainstem malformation (i.e. the molar tooth sign) and variable organ involvement. The aim of the present study was to describe functional limitations and disabilities in a large sample of adult patients with a diagnosis of JS...
Background
Pontocerebellar hypoplasias (PCH) comprise a group of genetically heterogeneous disorders characterised by concurrent hypoplasia of the pons and the cerebellum and variable clinical and imaging features. The current classification includes 13 subtypes, with ~20 known causative genes. Attempts have been made to delineate the phenotypic sp...
Mutations in the OPHN1 gene cause a rare X-linked recessive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, variably associated with cerebellar hypoplasia and distinctive facial appearance. In most of cases so far reported, the identified genomic variants involve the region encoding the central RhoGAP domain of the oligophreni...
Objective
CASK pathogenic variants are associated with variable features, as intellectual disability, optic atrophy, brainstem/cerebellar hypoplasia, and epileptic encephalopathy. Few studies describe the electroclinical features of epilepsy in patients with CASK pathogenic variants and their relationship with developmental delay.
Methods
this nat...
Objective:
To estimate the prevalence of Joubert syndrome (JS) in Italy applying standards of descriptive epidemiology and to provide a molecular characterization of the described patient cohort.
Methods:
We enrolled all patients with a neuroradiologically confirmed diagnosis of JS who resided in Italy in 2018 and calculated age and sex prevalen...
Joubert syndrome (JS) is a recessive neurodevelopmental disorder defined by a characteristic cerebellar and brainstem malformation recognizable on axial brain magnetic resonance imaging as the “Molar Tooth Sign”. Although defined by the neurological features, JS is associated with clinical features affecting many other organ systems, particularly p...
De novo mutations in the IRF2BPL gene have been identified to date in 18 patients presenting with neuromotor regression, epilepsy and variable neurological signs. Here, we report a female child carrying a novel heterozygous truncating variant in IRF2BPL. Following normal development for two and half years, she developed a progressive neurological c...
Early onset cerebellar Ataxia (EOAc) comprises a large group of rare heterogeneous disorders. Determination of the underlying etiology can be difficult given the broad differential diagnosis and the complexity of the genotype-phenotype relationships. This may change the diagnostic work-up into a time-consuming, costly and not always rewarding task....
Background:
Joubert syndrome (JS) is an inherited ciliopathy characterized by a complex midbrain-hindbrain malformation and multiorgan involvement. Renal disease, mainly juvenile nephronophthisis (NPH), was reported in 25-30% patients although only ∼18% had a confirmed diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). NPH often remains asymptomatic for m...
Objectives:
To describe the spectrum of brainstem malformations associated to mutations in the tubulin genes taking advantage of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
Methods:
Fifteen patients (six males; median age, 1.25 years; range, 1 month to 31 years) with mutations in the tubulin genes (TUBA1A = 8, TUBB2B = 4...
The approach to identifying a genetic cause in patients with cerebellar disorders relies on history, examination, consultation, and testing, combined with specialized expertise because they are rare and genetically diverse. Cerebellar disorders can be caused by a variety of DNA alterations including single-nucleotide changes, small insertions or de...
The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway is a key signaling pathway orchestrating embryonic development, mainly of the CNS and limbs. In vertebrates, SHH signaling is mediated by the primary cilium, and genetic defects affecting either SHH pathway members or ciliary proteins cause a spectrum of developmental disorders. SUFU is the main negative regulator o...
Objective:
To determine the neuroimaging pattern of cerebellar dysplasia (CD) and other posterior fossa morphological anomalies associated with mutations in tubulin genes and to perform clinical and genetic correlations.
Methods:
Twenty-eight patients harbouring 23 heterozygous pathogenic variants (ten novel) in tubulin genes TUBA1A (n = 10), TU...
Introduction:
Myotonia Congenita (MC) is a nondystrophic skeletal muscle disease characterized by muscle stiffness, weakness, delayed skeletal relaxation and hypertrophic muscle. The disease can be inherited as dominant or recessive. More than 130 mutations in CLCN1 gene have been identified.
Materials and methods:
We analyzed the entire coding...
One set of missense mutations in the neuron specific beta tubulin isotype 3 (TUBB3) has been reported to cause malformations of cortical development (MCD), while a second set has been reported to cause isolated or syndromic Congenital Fibrosis of the Extraocular Muscles type 3 (CFEOM3). Because TUBB3 mutations reported to cause CFEOM had not been a...
Blepharophimosis syndrome (BPES) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition resulting from heterozygous mutations in the FOXL2 gene and clinically characterized by an eyelid malformation associated (type I) or not (type II) with premature ovarian failure. The distinction between the two forms is critical for female patients, as it may allow to pred...
Neurodegeneration with Brain Iron Accumulation (NBIA) syndromes are inherited disorders that lead to impaired iron metabolism with consequent cerebral and/or systemic metal overload. Pathological brain iron deposition usually results in neurological dysfunction characterized by movement disorders and cognitive impairment [1]. We report here a case...
