Publications by authors named "Francesca Faravelli"

Background: Distal arthrogryposis with impaired proprioception and touch (DAIPT) is a rare autosomal recessive neurological disease characterized by progressive alteration of mechanosensation. DAIPT is caused by loss of function variants in the PIEZO2 gene that encodes an ionic channel involved in mechanotransduction signaling. Our study started from the case of an 11-year-old boy with skeletal and neuromuscular features suggestive of DAIPT.

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Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a rare, genetically heterogeneous form of diabetes characterized by early-onset dysglycaemia, typically before 25 years of age, and autosomal dominant inheritance. Among the different forms of MODY, HNF4A-MODY (MODY1) is caused by mutations in the gene, which encodes a transcription factor essential for glucose metabolism. Here, we describe a novel splicing variant in the gene (c.

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Introduction: Arteriovenous cerebral high-flow shunts include the vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) and vein of Galen dilatation, which are considered secondary to arteriovenous malformations or arteriovenous fistulas. These entities are often sporadic but are found in association with variants of the and genes (capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation, CMAVM; OMIM #608354) or and genes (hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, HHT; OMIM #187300). The clinical phenotypes associated with these conditions are highly variable, with incomplete penetrance and mostly dependent on the hemodynamic consequences (including heart failure and cerebral hemorrhage) or management complications rather than anatomical vascular variations .

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Objectives: This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To evaluate the benefits and harms of using NGS techniques compared to conventional newborn screening alone for pre-symptomatic identification of genetic diseases in newborns.

Secondary Objectives: to explore equity and ethical issues in the application of the new techniques, to inform healthcare decisions by families, carers, and policymakers.

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Nail-Patella syndrome (NPS) is a rare autosomal dominant condition due to haploinsufficiency of LMX1B, caused by loss-of-function variants affecting the coding sequence, or partial/whole deletions of the gene. In here, we describe two familial cases of NPS, carrying novel variants of the LMX1B 5'UTR region (-174C>T and -226G>A). To verify their pathogenic role, we carried out a functional characterization, both by reporter gene assays in heterologous systems and in patient's derived cells.

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Immune dysregulation in Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) shows a broad phenotype, including autoimmune disorders, benign lymphoproliferation, and malignancies, driven by an increasing number of implicated genes. Recent findings suggest that childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) may exhibit immunological abnormalities potentially linked to an underlying IEI, along with a well-known increased risk of subsequent malignancies due to prior cancer treatments. We describe a patient with two composite heterozygous pathogenic variants in the interleukin-2-inducible T-cell kinase () gene and a history of multiple tumors, including recurrent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-related nodular sclerosis and Hodgkin's lymphoma (NSHL), associated with unresponsive multiple hand warts, immune thrombocytopenia, and an impaired immunological profile (CD4+ lymphocytopenia, memory B-cell deficiency, reduction in regulatory T-cells, and B-cell- and T-cell-activated profiles).

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UPF3B encodes the Regulator of nonsense transcripts 3B protein, a core-member of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway, protecting the cells from the potentially deleterious actions of transcripts with premature termination codons. Hemizygous variants in the UPF3B gene cause a spectrum of neuropsychiatric issues including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia/childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS). The number of patients reported to date is very limited, often lacking an extensive phenotypical and neuroradiological description of this ultra-rare syndrome.

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Objective: In England, through the Genomic Medicine Service Alliances (GMSAs), a national transformation project aims to embed robust pathways to deliver universal Lynch syndrome (LS) testing for patients with colorectal and endometrial cancers. Prior to commencement of the project, there was evidence of variation and low testing levels in eligible patients which is consistent with other health systems; however, we believe this is amenable to systematic improvement with responsibility for testing delivery by local cancer teams supported by regional infrastructure.

Methods And Analysis: A project team and national oversight group was formed in May 2021 with membership including 21×cancer alliances, 7×GMSAs, charities and other stakeholders who agreed key performance indicators.

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We describe a mosaic PRKACA duplication in a young infant who presented with a Carney-like complex: bilateral non-pigmented micronodular adrenal hyperplasia, severe early-onset Cushing's syndrome, and distinct acral soft tissue overgrowth due to cutaneous mucinosis. This represents a novel manifestation of PRKACA disruption and broadens the extra-adrenal phenotype of PRKACA-associated Cushing's syndrome. Our data suggest that Cushing's syndrome phenotypes arising from somatic and germline PRKACA abnormalities can exist on a spectrum.

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Opitz G/BBB syndrome (OS) is a rare genetic developmental condition characterized by congenital defects along the midline of the body. The main clinical signs are represented by hypertelorism, laryngo-tracheo-esophageal defects and hypospadias. The X-linked form of the disease is associated with mutations in the gene located in Xp22 whereas mutations in the gene in 22q11 have been linked to few cases of the autosomal dominant form of this disorder, as well as to other genetic syndromes.

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Background: Epilepsy is a main feature of Mowat Wilson Syndrome (MWS), a congenital malformation syndrome caused by ZEB2 variants. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term evolution of the electroclinical phenotype of MWS in a large population.

Methods: Forty-individuals with a genetically confirmed diagnosis were enrolled.

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Article Synopsis
  • An amendment to the original paper has been released.
  • This amendment contains updates or corrections to the information presented in the original text.
  • Readers can access the amendment through a specific link provided at the top of the paper.
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Hypopigmentation along Blaschko's lines is a hallmark of a poorly defined group of mosaic syndromes whose genetic causes are unknown. Here we show that postzygotic inactivating mutations of RHOA cause a neuroectodermal syndrome combining linear hypopigmentation, alopecia, apparently asymptomatic leukoencephalopathy, and facial, ocular, dental and acral anomalies. Our findings pave the way toward elucidating the etiology of pigmentary mosaicism and highlight the role of RHOA in human development and disease.

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In 2015-2016, we and others reported ALDH18A1 mutations causing dominant (SPG9A) or recessive (SPG9B) spastic paraplegia. In vitro production of the ALDH18A1 product, Δ -pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), appeared necessary for cracking SPG9 disease-causing mechanisms. We now describe a baculovirus-insect cell system that yields mgs of pure human P5CS and that has proven highly valuable with two novel P5CS mutations reported here in new SPG9B patients.

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Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is mostly caused by two distinct events that occur in the gene (Xq27.3): an expansion above 200 repeats of a CGG triplet located in the 5'UTR of the gene, and methylation of the cytosines located in the CpG islands upstream of the CGG repeats. Here, we describe two unrelated families with one FXS child and another sibling presenting mild intellectual disability and behavioral features evocative of FXS.

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Purpose: Unexpected fetal abnormalities occur in 2-5% of pregnancies. While traditional cytogenetic and microarray approaches achieve diagnosis in around 40% of cases, lack of diagnosis in others impedes parental counseling, informed decision making, and pregnancy management. Postnatally exome sequencing yields high diagnostic rates, but relies on careful phenotyping to interpret genotype results.

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Purpose: Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MWS) is a rare intellectual disability/multiple congenital anomalies syndrome caused by heterozygous mutation of the ZEB2 gene. It is generally underestimated because its rarity and phenotypic variability sometimes make it difficult to recognize. Here, we aimed to better delineate the phenotype, natural history, and genotype-phenotype correlations of MWS.

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Purpose: Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MWS) is a genetic disease characterized by distinctive facial features, moderate to severe intellectual disability, and congenital malformations, including Hirschsprung disease, genital and eye anomalies, and congenital heart defects, caused by haploinsufficiency of the ZEB2 gene. To date, no characteristic pattern of brain dysmorphology in MWS has been defined.

Methods: Through brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis, we delineated a neuroimaging phenotype in 54 MWS patients with a proven ZEB2 defect, compared it with the features identified in a thorough review of published cases, and evaluated genotype-phenotype correlations.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study examines the use of folic acid supplements before and during early pregnancy among Italian women to prevent neural tube defects in infants.
  • Conducted in 2012, data from 2,189 women across seven maternity clinics revealed that only 23.5% reported using folic acid, with various factors influencing use, such as pregnancy intention and preconception health visits.
  • The findings highlight a low overall prevalence of preconception folic acid use, particularly among women without planned pregnancies or health consultations, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to improve folic acid supplementation among these groups.
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Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasias (SEMDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of autosomal-dominant and autosomal-recessive disorders. An apparent X-linked recessive (XLR) form of SEMD in a single Italian family was previously reported. We have been able to restudy this family together with a second family from Korea by segregating a severe SEMD in an X-linked pattern.

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The transition to pulmonary respiration after birth requires rapid alterations in the structure of the mammalian cardiovascular system. One dramatic change that occurs is the closure of the ductus arteriosus (DA), an arterial connection in the fetus that directs blood flow away from the pulmonary circulation. Two members of the TGFβ family, bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) and BMP10, have been recently involved in postnatal angiogenesis, both being necessary for remodeling of newly formed microvascular beds.

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Objectives: Adequate preconception maternal health care is essential to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy outcomes and complications. Still, many women are exposed to a number of unhealthy risk factors both before and early in pregnancy. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of a number of important preconception risk factors using data from a recent multicenter study in Italy.

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