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Cureus Jul 2023Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder resulting from defects in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, which... (Review)
Review
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder resulting from defects in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein, which in turn results in a multi-systemic disorder. There are numerous known CF alleles associated with different mutations of the CFTR gene, with the most common CF allele being a three-base-pair deletion known as ΔF508. One common manifestation of CF is glycemic dysregulation associated with decreased insulin secretion, often progressing into a distinct form of diabetes known as cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). In the past decade, a class of drugs known as CFTR modulators has entered clinical practice. These drugs interact with the CFTR protein to restore its function, with different modulators (or combinations of modulators) suitable for patients with different CFTR mutations. Previous research has established that the modulator ivacaftor is effective in decreasing blood glucose and sometimes resolving CFRD in patients with certain CFTR mutations (class III mutations). However, early modulator therapies for individuals with the common ΔF508 mutation (e.g., a combination of the modulators lumacaftor and ivacaftor) have largely proven ineffective in improving glucose regulation. More recently, a combination therapy of three modulators, namely elexacaftor, tezacaftor, and ivacaftor (ETI), has entered clinical practice for patients with the ΔF508 mutation. However, it is not clear whether this therapy is effective in treating dysglycemia. We searched for studies of any design that examined the effects of ETI on measures of blood glucose. All available studies were observational studies comparing patients before and after initiating ETI therapy. Measures of daily-life blood glucose (those obtained with continuous glucose monitoring systems or by measuring glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)) and post-prandial glucose spikes from oral glucose tolerance tests showed significant improvements in at least some studies. The majority of studies showed significant improvements from pre- to post-ETI in one or more blood glucose measures. While the interpretation of this evidence is complicated by the lack of randomized controlled trials, it appears that ETI therapy is associated with improved glucose regulation for at least some patients with the ΔF508 mutation.
PubMed: 37575762
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.41697 -
European Journal of Medical Research Aug 2023Previous studies showed that the combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib (combination therapy) significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) but no overall... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies showed that the combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib (combination therapy) significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) but no overall survival (OS) compared to erlotinib alone (monotherapy) for advanced EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Two phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) had reported the OS results in 2021. This meta-analysis aimed to include the results of the two RCTs to make a decision.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We systematically searched relevant databases for RCTs on the use of bevacizumab plus erlotinib in advanced EGFR-mutant NSCLC. The main outcomes of interest were PFS, OS, and the reported hazard ratio (HR). Fixed-effect model was used to estimate pooled HR.
RESULTS
Total 5 RCTs with 935 patients were eligible for this meta-analysis. All studies reached their primary study endpoints including PFS and OS. Compared to monotherapy, combination therapy remarkably prolonged PFS (HR = 0.60, 95% confidence interval CI 0.51-0.70; p < 0.00001); however, OS was similar between the two groups (HR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.76-1.08; p = 0.26). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that in deletion within exon 19 (19del) mutation subgroup, the combination therapy could only prolong PFS (HR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.47-0.76; p < 0.0001) but not OS (HR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.73-1.37; p = 1.00), and also in leucine-to-arginine substitution in exon 21 (L858R) mutation subgroup (HR = 0.59, p < 0.0001 and HR = 0.80, p = 0.18, respectively). For patients with brain metastasis at baseline, the combination therapy achieved a significant better PFS than the monotherapy (HR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.39-0.90; p = 0.01), and a better OS with the difference marginally significant (HR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.46-1.02; p = 0.06).
CONCLUSIONS
Combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib can prolong progression-free survival but not overall survival compared to erlotinib alone in advanced EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer patients. The combination therapy not only can prolong progression-free survival but also has a tendency to prolong overall survival for patients with brain metastasis at baseline.
Topics: Humans; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Bevacizumab; Erlotinib Hydrochloride; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Brain Neoplasms; Lung Neoplasms; ErbB Receptors
PubMed: 37635242
DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01272-7 -
Clinical Endocrinology May 2024Lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LCAH) is caused by mutations in STAR. A systematic review of phenotype-genotype correlation and data on testicular histology in...
OBJECTIVE
Lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia (LCAH) is caused by mutations in STAR. A systematic review of phenotype-genotype correlation and data on testicular histology in LCAH patients is unavailable. We aim to describe our experience and provide phenotype-genotype correlation. DESIGN, PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Retrospective review of three genetically proven LCAH patients from our centre and per-patient data analysis from a systematic review of 292 probands. The phenotypic subgroups of 46,XY were Group A (typical female genitalia), Group B (atypical genitalia) and Group C (typical male genitalia).
RESULTS
We report three new LCAH probands from India, all diagnosed post-infancy with preserved gonadal function and one novel variant. The systematic review reports 46,XY to 46,XX LCAH ratio of 1.1 (155:140). Patients with 46,XY LCAH in Group A were diagnosed in infancy (116/117) and had higher mineralocorticoid involvement than Group C (96.4% vs. 75%, p = 0.035), whereas Group C had preserved gonadal function. Hyperplastic adrenals are noted in ~60% of LCAH diagnosed with primary adrenal insufficiency in infancy. There was no report of gonadal germ cell cancer and rare reports of germ cell neoplasia in situ in adolescents, especially with intraabdominal gonads. Two-thirds of LCAH probands were East-Asian and 11/16 regional recurrent variants were from East Asia. There was minimal overlap between variants in Groups A (n = 55), B (n = 9) and C (n = 8). All nonsense and frameshift and most of the splice-site variants and deletion/insertions were present in Group A.
CONCLUSIONS
We report three new cases of LCAH from India. We propose a phenotype-derived genotypic classification of reported STAR variants in 46,XY LCAH.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Male; Female; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital; Mutation; Phosphoproteins; Phenotype; Genotype; Disorder of Sex Development, 46,XY
PubMed: 38368602
DOI: 10.1111/cen.15032 -
BJU International Jul 2024To reveal the overall sperm retrieval rate (SRR) and range in patients with azoospermia factor c (AZFc) microdeletion azoospermia by microdissection testicular sperm... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To reveal the overall sperm retrieval rate (SRR) and range in patients with azoospermia factor c (AZFc) microdeletion azoospermia by microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) and discuss the differences of preoperative patient factors among studies with various SRRs.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We searched PubMed, Web of Science and Embase until February 2023. All studies reporting SRRs by mTESE and required parameters of patients with AZFc microdeletions were included. The primary outcome was the SRR and, if available, the pregnancy rate (PR) and live-birth rate (LBR) after intracytoplasmic sperm injection were also investigated as secondary outcomes.
RESULTS
Eventually 11 cohort studies were included in this review. A total number of 441 patients underwent mTESE and in 275 of them sperm was obtained, reaching an overall SRR of 62.4%. The SRRs among studies had a wide range from 25.0% to 85.7%. The studies reporting higher SRRs generally had older mean ages, and higher follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone levels. Only four studies provided practical data on pregnancies and live-born children of patients with AZFc microdeletions, so the overall PR and LBR were unavailable.
CONCLUSIONS
The overall SRR of patients with AZFc microdeletion azoospermia was 62.4%. The effect of patient factors in SR needs further evidence in future work.
Topics: Humans; Azoospermia; Sperm Retrieval; Male; Pregnancy; Female; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Pregnancy Rate; Chromosome Deletion
PubMed: 37942695
DOI: 10.1111/bju.16205 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2024To review the clinical characteristics and effect of treatment in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and three copies of the gene.
The impact of three gene copies on clinical characteristics and effect of disease-modifying treatment in patients with spinal muscular atrophy: a systematic literature review.
OBJECTIVE
To review the clinical characteristics and effect of treatment in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and three copies of the gene.
METHODS
We conducted a literature search in October 2022 to identify English-language clinical research on SMA that included copy number according to PRISMA guidelines.
RESULTS
Our search identified 44 studies examining the impact of three copies on clinical characteristics (21 on phenotype, 13 on natural history, and 15 on functional status and other signs/symptoms). In children with type I SMA or presymptomatic infants with an deletion, three copies was associated with later symptom onset, slower decline in motor function and longer survival compared with two copies. In patients with SMA type II or III, three copies is associated with earlier symptom onset, loss of ambulation, and ventilator dependence compared with four copies. Eleven studies examined treatment effects with nusinersen (nine studies), onasemnogene abeparvovec (one study), and a range of treatments (one study) in patients with three copies. In presymptomatic infants, early treatment delayed the onset of symptoms and maintained motor function in those with three copies. The impact of copy number on treatment response in symptomatic patients is still unclear.
CONCLUSION
copy number is strongly correlated with SMA phenotype in patients with deletion, while no correlation was found in patients with an mutation. Patients with three copies show a highly variable clinical phenotype. Early initiation of treatment is highly effective in presymptomatic patients with three copies.
PubMed: 38487326
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1308296 -
BMC Endocrine Disorders Jun 2024Activating mutation in Ubiquitin-specific peptidase (USP8) is identified to enhance cell proliferation and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion from corticotroph...
OBJECTIVE
Activating mutation in Ubiquitin-specific peptidase (USP8) is identified to enhance cell proliferation and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion from corticotroph pituitary adenoma. We investigated the USP8 variant status in a population of Iranian people with functional corticotroph pituitary adenoma (FCPA). Moreover, a systematic review was conducted to thoroughly explore the role of USP8 variants and the related pathways in corticotroph adenomas, genotype-phenotype correlation in USP8-mutated individuals with FCPA, and the potential role of USP8 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as targeted therapies in PFCAs.
METHODS
Genetic analysis of 20 tissue samples from 19 patients with PFCAs was performed using Sanger sequencing. Moreover, a systematic literature review was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, web of Sciences, and Cochrane databases were searched. The last search was performed on 20 September 2023 for all databases.
RESULTS
In our series, we found two somatic mutations including a 7-bp deletion variant: c.2151_2157delCTCCTCC, p. Ser718GlnfsTer3, and a missense variant: c.2159 C > G, p. Pro720Arg (rs672601311) in exon 14. The Systematic review indicated USP8 variant in 35% of corticotroph adenomas, with the highest frequency (25%) in 720 code regions, p. Pro720Arg. Data regarding the impact of USP8 mutational status on clinical characteristics and outcomes in FCPAs are inconsistent. Moreover, Pasireotide as well as inhibitors of EGFR such as Gefitinib and Lapatinib, as well as USP8 inhibitors including -ehtyloxyimino9H-indeno (1, 2-b) pyrazine-2, 3-dicarbonitrile, DUBs-IN-2, and RA-9 indicated promising results in treatment of corticotroph adenomas.
CONCLUSION
Although the USP8-EGFR system has been identified as the main trigger and target of corticotroph tumorigenesis, more precise multicenter studies are required to yield more consistent information regarding the phenotype-genotype correlation and to develop effective targeted therapies.
Topics: Humans; Ubiquitin Thiolesterase; Iran; Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion; Adult; Female; Male; Endopeptidases; Mutation; Middle Aged; ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma; Middle Eastern People
PubMed: 38862897
DOI: 10.1186/s12902-024-01619-z -
Gene May 2024Changes in the nervous system are related to a wide range of mental disorders, which include neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) that are characterized by early onset... (Review)
Review
Genetic network analysis indicate that individuals affected by neurodevelopmental conditions have genetic variations associated with ophthalmologic alterations: A critical review of literature.
Changes in the nervous system are related to a wide range of mental disorders, which include neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) that are characterized by early onset mental conditions, such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders and correlated conditions (ASD). Previous studies have shown distinct genetic components associated with diverse schizophrenia and ASD phenotypes, with mostly focused on rescuing neural phenotypes and brain activity, but alterations related to vision are overlooked. Thus, as the vision is composed by the eyes that itself represents a part of the brain, with the retina being formed by neurons and cells originating from the glia, genetic variations affecting the brain can also affect the vision. Here, we performed a critical systematic literature review to screen for all genetic variations in individuals presenting NDD with reported alterations in vision. Using these restricting criteria, we found 20 genes with distinct types of genetic variations, inherited or de novo, that includes SNP, SNV, deletion, insertion, duplication or indel. The variations occurring within protein coding regions have different impact on protein formation, such as missense, nonsense or frameshift. Moreover, a molecular analysis of the 20 genes found revealed that 17 shared a common protein-protein or genetic interaction network. Moreover, gene expression analysis in samples from the brain and other tissues indicates that 18 of the genes found are highly expressed in the brain and retina, indicating their potential role in adult vision phenotype. Finally, we only found 3 genes from our study described in standard public databanks of ophthalmogenetics, suggesting that the other 17 genes could be novel target for vision diseases.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Gene Regulatory Networks; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Phenotype; INDEL Mutation
PubMed: 38325665
DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148246 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Feb 2024Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a rare Mendelian disorder caused by mutations of the androgen receptor () gene on the long arm of the X chromosome. As a result...
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome with Bilateral Gonadal Sertoli Cell Lesions, Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor, and Paratesticular Leiomyoma: A Case Report and First Systematic Literature Review.
Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a rare Mendelian disorder caused by mutations of the androgen receptor () gene on the long arm of the X chromosome. As a result of the mutation, the receptor becomes resistant to androgens, and hence, karyotypically male patients (46,XY) carry a female phenotype. Their cryptorchid gonads are prone to the development of several types of tumors (germ cell, sex cord stromal, and others). Here, we report a 15-year-old female-looking patient with primary amenorrhea who underwent laparoscopic gonadectomy. Histologically, the patient's gonads showed Sertoli cell hamartomas (SCHs) and adenomas (SCAs) with areas of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs) and a left-sided paratesticular leiomyoma. Rudimentary Fallopian tubes were also present. The patient's karyotype was 46,XY without any evidence of aberrations. Molecular genetic analysis of the left gonad revealed two likely germline mutations-a pathogenic frameshift deletion in the gene (c.77delT) and a likely pathogenic missense variant in the gene (p.A94V). Strikingly, no somatic mutations, fusions, or copy number variations were found. We also performed the first systematic literature review (PRISMA guidelines; screened databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science; ended on 7 December 2023) of the reported cases of patients with AIS showing benign or malignant Sertoli cell lesions/tumors in their gonads ( = 225; age: 4-84, mean 32 years), including Sertoli cell hyperplasia (1%), Sertoli cell nodules (6%), SCHs (31%), SCAs (36%), Sertoli cell tumors (SCTs) (16%), and SLCTs (4%). The few cases ( = 14, 6%; six SCAs, four SCTs, two SLCTs, and two SCHs) with available follow-up (2-49, mean 17 months) showed no evidence of disease (13/14, 93%) or died of other causes (1/14, 7%) despite the histological diagnosis. Smooth muscle lesions/proliferations were identified in 19 (8%) cases (including clearly reported rudimentary uterine remnants, 3 cases; leiomyomas, 4 cases). Rudimentary Fallopian tube(s) were described in nine (4%) cases. Conclusion: AIS may be associated with sex cord/stromal tumors and, rarely, mesenchymal tumors such as leiomyomas. True malignant sex cord tumors can arise in these patients. Larger series with longer follow-ups are needed to estimate the exact prognostic relevance of tumor histology in AIS.
PubMed: 38398243
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13040929