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Background Somatic and germline genetic alterations are significant drivers of cancer. Increasing integration of new technologies which profile these alterations requires timely, equitable and high-quality genetic counselling to facilitate accurate diagnoses and informed decision-making by patients and their families in preventive and clinical settings. This article aims to provide an overview of genetic counselling legislation and practice across European Union (EU) Member States to serve as a foundation for future European recommendations and action. Methods National legislative databases of all 27 Member States were searched using terms relevant to genetic counselling, translated as appropriate. Interviews with relevant experts from each Member State were conducted to validate legislative search results and provide detailed insights into genetic counselling practice in each country. Results Genetic counselling is included in national legislative documents of 22 of 27 Member States, with substantial variation in legal mechanisms and prescribed details (i.e. the 'who, what, when and where' of counselling). Practice is similarly varied. Workforce capacity (25 of 27 Member States) and genetic literacy (all Member States) were common reported barriers. Recognition and/or better integration of genetic counsellors and updated legislation and were most commonly noted as the 'most important change' which would improve practice. Conclusions This review highlights substantial variability in genetic counselling across EU Member States, as well as common barriers notwithstanding this variation. Future recommendations and action should focus on addressing literacy and capacity challenges through legislative, regulatory and/or strategic approaches at EU, national, regional and/or local levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study the authors present an update to the CFTR mutation profile in Hungary, utilizing data from a selected cohort of 45 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients from different regions of the country. Methods: Depending on the preceding analysis, four different mutation detection methods were used. A commercial assay targeting the most common CF-causing mutations was performed as the first test followed by an allele specific PCR for CFTRdele2,3(21 kb), Sanger sequencing and MLPA analysis of the coding region of the CFTR gene. Results: In our recent study 27 different mutations were detected, including 2 novel ones (c.1037_1038insA and c.1394C > T). Besides F508del (c.1521_1523delCTT), the following mutations were found at a frequency of > 4.0%: W 1 282X (c.3 8 4 6 G > A ), N 1303K (c.3 9 0 9 C > G ), CFTRdele2,3(21 kb) (c.54-5 940_273 + 10250del21kb) and 2184insA (c.2052_2053insA). In addition, four mutations (G 542X, Y1 092X , 621+ 1G > T, and 2143delT) were found in more than one allele. Conclusions: The updated database of Hungarian mutations not only enables to increase the efficiency of the existing diagnostic approach, but also provides a further refined basis for the introduction of the molecular newborn screening (NBS) program in Hungary.

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common monogenic diseases. Genetic testing is becoming increasingly reasoned to establish or confirm the diagnosis by detecting abnormal mutations., Objective: In order to develop a diagnostic strategy for cystic fibrosis and to facilitate mutation-specific treatments, the genetic revision of the Hungarian Cystic Fibrosis Registry was performed., Method: 582 patients' data and samples were used for the revision (528 originally included in the register and 54 received during the revision). First we reviewed the patients' existing genetic findings. Wherever necessary, a comprehensive three-level genetic analysis of the CFTR gene was done., Results: According to our study, of the 528 patients present in the Registry, 395 (74.8%) had 2 pathogenic CFTR mutations. We completed and corrected 94 patients' previously incomplete genetic status. 73 different pathogenic variants were described, in which 1 aberration was not previously reported (c.3130G>A). The 5 most common mutations were: F508del (68.4%); CFTRdele2,3 (3.7%); G542X (3.2%); 2184insA (2.7%); W1282X (2.3%). Based on genotype and age, in Hungary 211 patients are eligible for the available lumacaftor-ivacaftor combination therapy, and 361 patients for the ivacaftor-tezacaftor-elexacaftor therapy., Conclusion: Due to the revision, we could identify the patients who can benefit from mutation-specific drugs instead of symptomatic therapy. In addition, the data obtained have been used to map the Hungarian distribution of mutations in the CFTR gene, which will help to develop a diagnostic strategy. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(51): 2052-2059.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome is an autosomal recessive mental retardation and multiple malformation syndrome caused by deficiency of the 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, the enzyme catalyzing the last step in cholesterol biosynthesis. The authors summarize the pathophysiology, epidemiology, clinical picture, diagnostics and therapy of the disease based on a review of the international literature. Since 2004, fourteen patients have been diagnosed with Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome in Hungary, which suggests an underdiagnosis of the disease based upon estimated incidence data. Due to deficiency of the 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, serum cholesterol concentration is low and 7-dehydrocholesterol concentration is elevated in blood and tissues; the latter being highly specific for the syndrome. Detection of disease-causing mutations makes the prenatal diagnosis possible. The clinical spectrum is wide, the most common symptom is syndactyly of the second and third toes. Standard therapy is cholesterol supplementation. Recent publications suggest that oxidative compounds of 7-dehydrocholesterol may play a role in the pathophysiology of the disease as well.

Background: In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the internal tandem duplication (ITD) in the juxtamembrane domain of the FLT3 (Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3) gene is one of the most frequent genetic alterations associated with poor prognosis., Methods: A complex evaluation of the analytical properties of the three most frequently used detection methods--PCR followed by agarose (AGE), polyacrylamide (PAGE) or capillary electrophoresis (CE)--was performed on 95 DNA samples obtained from 73 AML patients., Results: All the three methods verified the presence of a mutant allele in 20 samples from 18 patients. AGE and PAGE could detect the presence of 1%-2% mutant allele, while the detection limit of CE was 0.28%. However, acceptable reproducibility (inter-assay CV <25%) of the mutant allele rate determination was only achievable above 1.5% mutant/total allele rate. The reproducibility of the ITD size determination by CE was much better, but the ITD size calculated by PeakScanner or GeneScan analysis was 7% lower as compared to values obtained by DNA sequencing. The presence of multiple ITD was over-estimated by PAGE and AGE due to the formation of heteroduplexes., Conclusions: This study suggests the use of PCR+CE in the diagnostics and the follow-up of AML patients. The data further supports the importance of proper analytical evaluation of home-made molecular biological diagnostic tests.