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Abstract Background Human rhinoviruses, major precipitants of asthma exacerbations, induce lower airway inflammation and mediate angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility that rhinoviruses may also contribute to the fibrotic component of airway remodeling. Methods Levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA and protein were measured following rhinovirus infection of bronchial epithelial cells. The profibrotic effect of epithelial products was assessed by DNA synthesis and matrix metalloproteinase activity assays. Moreover, epithelial cells were exposed to supernatants from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells, obtained from healthy donors or atopic asthmatic subjects and subsequently infected by rhinovirus and bFGF release was estimated. bFGF was also measured in respiratory secretions from atopic asthmatic patients before and during rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations. Results Rhinovirus epithelial infection stimulated mRNA expression and release of bFGF, the latter being positively correlated with cell death under conditions promoting rhinovirus-induced cytotoxicity. Supernatants from infected cultures induced lung fibroblast proliferation, which was inhibited by anti-bFGF antibody, and demonstrated increased matrix metalloproteinase activity. Rhinovirus-mediated bFGF release was significantly higher in an in vitro simulation of atopic asthmatic environment and, importantly, during rhinovirus-associated asthma exacerbations. Conclusions Rhinovirus infection induces bFGF release by airway epithelium, and stimulates stroma cell proliferation contributing to airway remodeling in asthma. Repeated rhinovirus infections may promote asthma persistence, particularly in the context of atopy; prevention of such infections may influence the natural history of asthma.

A 23-mutation panel for CFTR carrier screening is recommended to women of reproductive age by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In the present study the optimized efficiency regarding the carrier rate of Next-Generation sequencing (NGS) technology is compared to the one of limited mutation detection panels. A total of 824 consequent cases were subjected to the commercial Cystic Fibrosis Genotyping Assay. Some 188 negative samples randomly selected from the initial group of probands were further subjected to an extended mutation panel characterized by 92% detection rate, as well as to massive parallel sequencing. Twenty-two probands subjected to the commercial assay proved to carry one mutation included in the ACOG panel (carrier rate 0.0267). The latter panels revealed the presence of mutations not included in the ACOG panel in four probands, resulting to an increase of carrier rate of 0.0106 in the case of in-house panel and an increase of rate of 0.0213 if NGS was used. The above data seem to support the implementation of NGS in the routine CFTR carrier screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Variants of fat mass and obesity associated gene ( FTO) and melanocortin-4 receptor gene ( MC4R) are related to obesity, overweight and type 2 diabetes. Objectives: To examine the presence of FTO and MC4R variants in Greek newborns. Subjects and methods: A total 1530 newborns of Greek origin were subjected to genetic testing for rs9939609 ( FTO) and for rs17782313 ( MC4R) variants using dried blood spot (DBS) analysis. Results: Some 20.2% of newborns carried none of the tested variants. FTO homozygotes and FTO heterozygotes correspond to 18.0% and 45.9% of neonates, respectively. MC4R homozygotes and MC4R heterozygotes were identified in 6.7% and 36.3% of neonates, respectively. Of the infants, 2.2% carried both variants in homozygosity, whereas heterozygotes for both variants correspond to 16.7% of the tested neonates. Conclusion: The results indicate high prevalence of homozygosity and heterozygosity for tested variants. Early screening via DBS may be beneficial in order to adopt a healthy lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) gene is located at the X-chromosome at Xq28 and the disease is recessively inherited predominantly in males. More than 400 variants have been proposed based on clinical and enzymatic studies. The aim of the current study was to identify C563T mutation in G6PD-deficient newborns and to correlate the enzyme residual activity with the presence of the mutation. Some 1189 full-term neonates aged 3-5 days old were tested for G6PD activity in dried blood spots from Guthrie cards using a commercial kit. DNA extraction from Guthrie cards and mutation identification among the deficient samples were performed with current techniques. A total of 92 (7.7%) newborns were G6PD-deficient. In 46 (50%), the mutation C563T was identified. The residual activity in C563T hemizygote males ( n = 28) was statistically significantly lower (1.23 ± 0.93 U/g Hb) than that in non-C563T G6PD-deficient males ( n = 25) (4.01 ± 1.20 U/g Hb, p < 0.0001) and in controls (13.6 ± 2.9 U/g Hb, p < 0.0001). In C563T heterozygote females, the estimated enzyme activity was lower than that determined in non-C563T females. Male C563T hemizygotes suffer from G6PD deficiency and severe neonatal jaundice. G6PD activity showed statistically significant correlation with total bilirubin blood levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late-onset multiple carboxylase deficiency, also known as biotinidase (BTD) deficiency, is an autosomal recessively inherited disorder of biotin metabolism. Its early diagnosis and treatment seems that it can even fully prevent its various clinical manifestations. Mutations in the BTD gene scattered throughout its coding region have been detected in patients ascertained either through newborn screening or clinically. From March 2010 up to June 2011, 18 954 Greek neonates were subjected to biochemical determination of BTD activity through a semiquantitative fluoroimmunoassay. Subsequently, the first cohort of our 'suspected' samples was further tested for the presence of aberrations associated either with partial or profound BTD deficiency through sequencing of the coding region of the BTD gene, including splice-site junctions. On the basis of the molecular data derived from the study of our first cohort of 'suspected' samples, a panel of four mutations, most frequently encountered in the Greek population, was created, and a rapid, reliable and cost-effective real-time-based genotyping assay for the detection of these mutations was developed. This is the first report about the BTD mutational spectrum in Greece, and it could be a beneficial utility in the differential clinical diagnosis of BTD deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biotinidase deficiency (BTD) is an inherited disorder with severe clinical manifestations if not treated early. 63,119 neonates were tested for BTD according to a 3-step protocol. Biotinidase activity was initially estimated through standard colorimetric method on dried blood spots, then the suspected samples were subjected to molecular analysis of the BT gene and determination of BT activity in serum through an HPLC method. 14 infants with partial BTD (incidence 1:4508) were detected. Nine of them were homozygotes (D444H/D444H), and 4 compound heterozygotes carrying D444H combined with Q456H, T532M, C186Y and R157H, respectively. All were asymptomatic and supplemented with 10mg biotin. Although the number of screened neonates is rather small, it may be suggested that the incidence of the partial BTD infants is the highest ever reported. Detection of BTD should be added to the Greek national neonatal screening program. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]