Publications by authors named "Alessandro Mauro Spinelli"

Haploinsufficiency of FOXP1 gene is responsible for a neurodevelopmental disorder presenting with intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), hypotonia, mild dysmorphic features, and multiple congenital anomalies. Joint contractures are not listed as a major feature of FOXP1-related disorder. We report five unrelated individuals, each harboring likely gene disruptive de novo FOXP1 variants or whole gene microdeletion, who showed multiple joint contractures affecting at least two proximal and/or distal joints.

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  • Dysmorphologists face challenges due to the diverse phenotypic variability of human faces, particularly when using Next-Generation Phenotyping (NGP) tools, which are often trained on limited data.
  • To address this, the GestaltMatcher Database (GMDB) was created, compiling over 10,980 facial images from various global populations, significantly improving the representation of underrepresented ancestries, especially African and Asian patients.
  • The study found that incorporating data from non-European patients enhanced NGP accuracy by over 11% without compromising performance for European patients, highlighting the importance of diverse datasets in identifying genetic disorders.
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  • The significant phenotypic variability of human faces complicates the work of dysmorphologists by challenging Next-Generation Phenotyping (NGP) tools, especially when analyzing patients from diverse genetic backgrounds.
  • The research established the GestaltMatcher Database (GMDB), which includes over 10,000 facial images from patients with rare genetic disorders worldwide, striving to improve representation of underrepresented populations, particularly Asian and African patients.
  • The analysis showed that incorporating data from non-European patients enhanced the accuracy of NGP in diagnosing facial disorders without negatively affecting performance on European patients, emphasizing the need for more diverse datasets in medical genetics.
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  • - KBG syndrome (KBGS) is marked by unique facial features, short stature, and varied clinical symptoms, with a significant portion of individuals experiencing intellectual disability and epilepsy.
  • - A recent European study examined 49 KBGS patients using advanced genetic testing to understand the syndrome better, revealing common traits like dental anomalies and skeletal issues alongside neurological concerns.
  • - The findings suggest that clinicians should be aware of a broader range of symptoms, especially dental and palatal abnormalities, and include specific genetic testing for more accurate diagnosis and management of KBGS.
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Background: Postzygotic activating variants cause several phenotypes within the -related overgrowth spectrum (PROS). Variant strength, mosaicism level, specific tissue involvement and overlapping disorders are responsible for disease heterogeneity. We explored these factors in 150 novel patients and in an expanded cohort of 1007 mutated patients, analysing our new data with previous literature to give a comprehensive picture.

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Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) can be associated with a wide range of extracardiac anomalies, with an underlying etiology identified in approximately 10% of cases. Individuals affected with Myhre syndrome due to recurrent SMAD4 mutations frequently have cardiovascular anomalies, including congenital heart defects. In addition to two patients in the literature with ToF, we describe five additional individuals with Myhre syndrome and classic ToF, ToF with pulmonary atresia and multiple aorto-pulmonary collaterals, and ToF with absent pulmonary valve.

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  • The BCAP31 gene at Xq28 encodes BAP31, which is involved in transporting proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus, with mutations linked to severe neurological disorders in males.
  • Pathogenic variants result in a spectrum of symptoms, including profound intellectual disability, dystonia, deafness, and a syndrome called deafness, dystonia, and cerebral hypomyelination (DDCH), with females often being asymptomatic or only mildly affected.
  • The study identifies 17 new families with BCAP31-related conditions, confirming that males with loss-of-function variants have a more severe phenotype, while females can exhibit a range of neurological symptoms, and suggests additional complications like elevated liver enzymes in male
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Background: Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a rare congenital overgrowth disorder. A major feature is lateralized overgrowth, which can variably involve a single body district up to the entire hemisome. Visceral asymmetrical involvement has been observed, commonly represented by enlargement of one kidney or adrenal gland, rather than one gonad.

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In this paper, is reported the identification of two chimeric patients, a rare finding if sexual abnormalities are absent. However, their chimeric condition is responsible at least for the Silver-Russell phenotype observed in one of the two patients. By single nucleotide polymorphism-array analyses, it was possible to clearly define the mechanism responsible for this unusual finding, underlining the importance of this technique in bringing out the perhaps submerged world of chimeras.

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Breast cancer (BC) in men is rare and genetic predisposition is likely to play a relevant role in its etiology. Inherited mutations in BRCA1/2 account for about 13% of all cases and additional genes that may contribute to the missing heritability need to be investigated. In our study, a well-characterized series of 523 male BC (MBC) patients from the Italian multicenter study on MBC, enriched for non-BRCA1/2 MBC cases, was screened by a multigene custom panel of 50 cancer-associated genes.

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Inherited mutations in , and, mainly, genes are associated with increased risk of male breast cancer (MBC). Mutations in and genes may also increase MBC risk. Overall, these genes are functionally linked to DNA repair pathways, highlighting the central role of genome maintenance in MBC genetic predisposition.

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Experimental evidence from animal models and epidemiology studies has demonstrated that nutrition affects lung development and may have a lifelong impact on respiratory health. Chronic restriction of nutrients and/or oxygen during pregnancy causes structural changes in the airways and parenchyma that may result in abnormal lung function, which is tracked throughout life. Inadequate nutritional management in very premature infants hampers lung growth and may be a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

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The phenotypic manifestations of microdeletions in the 19q13.32 region are still poorly known. In this paper we report a patient who presented with hypotonia, developmental delay, facial dysmorphism, micrognathia, kyphoscoliosis, and buried penis.

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