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Objective: Developmental bony craniovertebral junction (CVJ) anomalies seem to have a genetic basis and also abnormal joint morphology causing atlantoaxial dislocation (AAD) and basilar invagination (BI). Methods: DNA extracted polymerase chain reaction single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) performed for mutation screening of FBN1 gene (n=50 cases+ 50 age/ sex-matched normal; total: 100). Samples with a deviated pattern of bands in SSCP were sequenced to detect the type of variation. Computed tomography (CT) scans of 100 patients (15–45 years old) compared with an equal number of age/sex-matched controls (21.9±8.2 years). Joint parameters studied: sagittal joint inclination (SI), craniocervical tilt (CCT), coronal joint inclination (CI). Results: Thirty-nine samples (78%) showed sequence variants. Exon 25, 26, 27, and 28 showed variable patterns of DNA bands in SSCP, which on sequencing gives various types of DNA sequence variations in intronic region of the FBN1 gene in 14%, 14%, 6%, and 44% respectively. CT radiology:SI and CCT correlated with both BI and AAD (p<0.01). The mean SI value in controls: 83.35°±8.65°, and in patients with BI and AAD:129°±24.05°. Mean CCT in controls: 60.2°±9.2°, and in patients with BI and AAD: 86.0°±18.1°. Mean CI in controls:110.3°±4.23°, and in cases: 125.15°±16.4°. Conclusion: The study showed mutations in FBN1 gene (reported in Marfan syndrome). There is also an alteration of joint morphology, correlating with AAD and BI severity. Hence, we propose a double-hit hypothesis: the presence of weak ligaments (due to FB1 gene alterations) and abnormal joint morphology may contribute to AAD and BI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycogen storage disease type III (GSD III) is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of glycogen degradation pathway due to deficiency or reduced activity of glycogen debranching enzyme (GDE) that results in accumulation of abnormal glycogen in the liver, muscle, and heart. The cardinal hallmarks are hepatomegaly, fasting hypoglycemia, seizures, growth retardation, progressive skeletal myopathy, and cardiomyopathy in few. To date, 258 mutations in amyloglucosidase (AGL) gene have been identified worldwide. However, the mutation spectrum in the Asian Indian region is yet to be well characterized. We investigated 24 patients of Asian origin from 21 unrelated families with a provisional diagnosis of GSD III based on clinical and biochemical criteria. Molecular diagnosis was assessed by bidirectional sequencing and the impact of novel missense variants on the tertiary (three‐dimensional) structure of GDE was evaluated by molecular modeling approach. Eighteen different pathogenic variants were identified, out of which 78% were novel. Novel variants included five nonsense, three small duplications and two small deletions, a splice site variant, and three missense variants. Variations in Exons 4, 14, 19, 24, 27, and 33 accounted for 61% of the total pathogenic variants identified and Allele p.Gly798Alafs*3 showed a high allele frequency of 11%. Molecular modeling study of novel pathogenic missense variants indicated the probable underlying molecular mechanism of adverse impact of variations on the structure and catalytic function of human GDE. Our study is the first large study on GSD III from the Asian subcontinent, which further expands the mutation spectrum of AGL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in the field of genomics have seen the successful implementation of whole exome sequencing as a rapid and efficient diagnostic strategy in several genodermatoses. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of molecular studies in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) in India. Whole exome sequencing was performed using genomic DNA from each case of epidermolysis bullosa, followed by massively parallel sequencing. Resulting reads were mapped to the human reference genome hg19. Sanger sequencing subsequently confirmed the potentially pathogenic mutations. Whole exome sequencing of 18 patients with DEB from 17 unrelated Indian families revealed 20 distinct sequence variants in the COL7A1 gene including 2 widely prevalent mutations. Dominant inheritance was seen in 7 patients, while 11 patients showed a highly variable recessive DEB. This preliminary study using exome sequencing is clearly encouraging and will serve as the basis for future large-scale molecular studies to actively identify and understand DEB in the Indian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) or Williams syndrome (OMIM 194050) is a multisystem disorder manifested by neurodevelopmental delay and is caused by a hemizygous deletion of ∼1.5-1.8 Mb in the 7q11.23 region. Clinical features include cardiovascular anomalies (mainly supravalvular aortic stenosis), peripheral pulmonary stenosis, distinctive facies, intellectual disability (usually mild), unique personality characteristics, and growth and endocrine abnormalities. Clinical diagnostic criteria are available for WBS; however, the mainstay of diagnosis is the detection of the contiguous gene deletion. Although FISH remains the most widely used laboratory test, the diagnosis can also be established by means of qPCR, MLPA, microsatellite marker analysis, and chromosomal microarray (CMA). We evaluated the utility of MLPA to detect deletion/duplication in the 7q11.23 region in 43 patients suspected to have WBS using MLPA kits for microdeletion syndromes. A hemizygous deletion in the 7q11.23 region was found in 41 (95.3%) patients using MLPA. One patient had an atypical deletion detected by CMA. During the initial period of this study, the results of 12 patients tested by MLPA were also confirmed by FISH. Compared to FISH and CMA, MLPA is a cheaper, high-throughput, less labor-intensive and less time-consuming technique for the diagnosis of WBS. Although CMA is expensive and labor-intensive, its effectiveness is demonstrated to detect an atypical deletion and to delineate the breakpoints. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5p deletion syndrome or Cri du Chat syndrome is a autosomal deletion syndrome, caused by the de novo deletion of chromosome 5p in the majority of the cases. Clinical features include developmental delay, microcephaly, subtle facial dysmorphism and high-pitched cry. With the advent of newer techniques such as multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, rapid diagnosis is possible and chromosomal microarray helps in accurate delineation of the breakpoints. In this study, we characterized probands from two Indian families who had duplication of another chromosome in addition to deletion of 5p region. In the first family, two females of 3 and 5 yr of age had deletion of 5p15.33p15.2 (14.7 Mb) and duplication of 8q24.21q24.3 (15.4 Mb). Proband in the second family was a 2-year-old female and had deletion of 5p15.33p14.3 (22.55 Mb) along with duplication of 12p13.33p13.31 (7.7 Mb). In both the families, father was balanced translocation carrier of the chromosomes involved. Patients in family 1 had overwhelming features of 5p deletion while patient in family 2, besides having features of 5p deletion, showed many features of 12p duplications. Prenatal diagnosis was possible in both the families. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed molecular cytogenetic analysis and prenatal diagnosis report of 5p deletion syndrome from India.