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Contents With the purpose of identifying factors involved in early stages of embryo development in the domestic cat, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry ( MALDI- IMS) was used for the first time to describe the spatial localization of proteins in the oviducts of queens. Oviducts were obtained from two 2 and 4 years old cross-bred queens, divided into three segments, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and then stored at −80°C until use. Next, they were sectioned in a cryostat, fixed on ITO ( indium tin oxide) conductive glass slides for MALDI- IMS and serial sections were collected on microscope slides for histology. As confirmed by histology, MALDI- IMS was able to show contrasting protein distributions in the oviductal infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus. Mass spectra were characterized by abundant ions of m/ z 1,259, 4,939, 4,960 and 10,626, which have been tentatively attributed to keratin, thymosin β10, thymosin β4 and S100, respectively. Keratin and thymosins are involved in the biological response to tissue damage. S100 proteins are calcium-modulated proteins implicated in a variety of cellular activities, including cell differentiation and regulation of cell motility. These results suggest that protein composition differs between segments of the cat oviduct, which corresponds to morphological changes within these sections. Further functional studies could elucidate the effects of these proteins on feline reproductive physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents The aim of the present study was to compare the lipid profile in oocytes of indicus and 1/2 indicus × taurus cows with high and low antral follicle count ( AFC)/oocyte yields. After an OPU procedure (D0), antral follicles ≥3 mm were counted by ultrasonography (D4, 19, 34, 49, 64), and cows were assigned to groups with either high AFC (≥30 follicles; indicus, NH group; 1/2 indicus × taurus, AH group) or low AFC (≤15 antral follicles; indicus, NL group; 1/2 indicus × taurus, AL group). The lipid profiles of the oocytes were determined by MALDI- MS. For GI, GII and GIII oocytes, the indicus samples tend to cluster separately from the 1/2 indicus × taurus samples. The lipid species [ PC ( P-38:5) + H]+ and/or [ PC ( P-36:2) + Na]+, [ PC (38:2) + H]+, [ PC (38:5) + Na]+ and [ TAG (60:8) + NH4]+ were more abundant in indicus ( NH and NL groups) than 1/2 indicus × taurus. The higher lipid content in the indicus oocytes likely reflects differences in the rate of lipid metabolism and may contribute to oocyte competence and embryo development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents The aim of the present study was to investigate the level of information on the chemical structures and relative abundances of lipids present in cat and dog oocytes by matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry ( MALDI- MS). The MALDI- MS approach requires a simple analysis workflow (no lipid extraction) and few samples (two or three oocytes per analysis in this work) providing concomitant profiles of both intact phospholipids such as sphingomyelins ( SM) and phosphatidylcholines ( PC) as well as triacylglycerols ( TAG). The lipids were detected in oocytes by MALDI using dihydroxybenzoic acid ( DHB) as the matrix. The most abundant lipid present in the MS profiles of bitch and queen oocytes was a PC containing 34 carbons and one unsaturation [ PC (34:1)]. Oocytes of these two species are characterized by differences in PC and TAG profiles detected qualitatively as well as by means of principal component analysis ( PCA). Cat oocytes were mainly discriminated by more intense C52 and C54 TAG species and a higher number of unsaturations, indicating predominantly linoleic and oleic fatty acyl residues. Comparison of the lipid profile of bitch and queen oocytes with that of bovine oocytes revealed some similarities and also some species specificity: TAG species present in bovine oocytes were also present in bitches and queens; however, a more pronounced contribution of palmitic, stearic and oleic fatty acid residues was noticed in the lipid profile of bovine oocytes. MALDI- MS provides novel information on chemical lipid composition in canine and feline oocytes, offering a suitable tool to concomitantly monitor, in a nearly direct and simple fashion the composition of phospholipids and TAG. This detailed information is highly needed to the development of improved protocols for in vitro culture and cryopreservation of cat and dog oocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents In this work, we evaluated whether embryo development and pregnancy rates would be affected by culturing bovine Bos indicus embryos in Synthetic Oviductal Fluid with amino acids (SOFaa) or G1/G2 sequential medium under a low-oxygen atmosphere. Using Ovum Pick Up, we obtained 1,538 oocytes, divided into G1/G2 (n = 783) and SOFaa (n = 755). No difference was observed for blastocyst development among the groups (27.8% ± 14.6 and 34.9% ± 20.0 for G1/G2 and SOFaa respectively, p > 0.05). Transferring the embryos (n = 450) from both groups to recipients resulted in similar pregnancy rates for the G1/G2 (38.4% n = 78/203) compared to the SOFaa (39.7% n = 98/247). Our findings confirm that Bos indicus embryos cultured in SOFaa and G1/G2 under low-oxygen atmosphere have similar in vitro (blastocyst rate) and in vivo (pregnancy rate) developmental capacity. However, embryos cultured in G1/G2 medium have higher cleavage than those cultured in SOFaa medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans with monogenic inborn errors responsible for extreme disease phenotypes can reveal essential physiological pathways. We investigated germline mutations in GNAI2 , which encodes G αi2 , a key component in heterotrimeric G protein signal transduction usually thought to regulate adenylyl cyclase-mediated cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production. Patients with activating G αi2 mutations had clinical presentations that included impaired immunity. Mutant G αi2 impaired cell migration and augmented responses to T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. We found that mutant G αi2 influenced TCR signaling by sequestering the guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase)-activating protein RASA2, thereby promoting RAS activation and increasing downstream extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT S6 signaling to drive cellular growth and proliferation.

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) codes for a type 2 transmembrane glycoprotein which hydrolyzes extracellular phosphoanhydrides into bio-active molecules that regulate, inter alia, ectopic mineralization, bone formation, vascular endothelial proliferation, and the innate immune response. The clinical phenotypes produced by ENPP1 deficiency are disparate, ranging from life-threatening arterial calcifications to cutaneous hypopigmentation. To investigate associations between disease phenotype and enzyme activity we quantified the enzyme velocities of 29 unique ENPP1 pathogenic variants in 41 patients enrolled in an NIH study along with 33 other variants reported in literature. We correlated the relative enzyme velocities with the presenting clinical diagnoses, performing the catalytic velocity measurements simultaneously in triplicate using a high-throughput assay to reduce experimental variation. We found that ENPP1 variants associated with autosomal dominant phenotypes reduced enzyme velocities by 50 % or more, whereas variants associated with insulin resistance had non-significant effects on enzyme velocity. In Cole disease the catalytic velocities of ENPP1 variants associated with AD forms trended to lower values than those associated with autosomal recessive forms - 8-32 % vs. 33 % of WT, respectively. Additionally, ENPP1 variants leading to life-threatening vascular calcifications in GACI patients had widely variable enzyme activities, ranging from no significant differences compared to WT to the complete abolishment of enzyme velocity. Finally, disease severity in GACI did not correlate with the mean enzyme velocity of the variants present in affected compound heterozygotes but did correlate with the more severely damaging variant. In summary, correlation of ENPP1 enzyme velocity with disease phenotypes demonstrate that enzyme velocities below 50 % of WT levels are likely to occur in the context of autosomal dominant disease (due to a monoallelic variant), and that disease severity in GACI infants correlates with the more severely damaging ENPP1 variant in compound heterozygotes, not the mean velocity of the pathogenic variants present., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest DTB is an inventor on patents owned by Yale University for therapeutics treating ENPP1 deficiency and is an equity holder and receives research and consulting support from Inozyme Pharma, Inc. TOC is an advisor and has received consulting support from Inozyme Pharma. Y.S. is an employee of Inozyme Pharma., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Polymer-clay nanocomposites have greater thermal stability compared to the pristine polymer matrix. This can be attributed to the physical barrier provided by the inclusion of 2D clay nanoparticles (especially of the smectite group), together with radical trapping related to the distribution of specific 3d atoms in the inorganic phase. To elucidate the relevance of the Fe 3+ distribution in this synergic effect, the iron atoms present in octahedral sheets of natural nontronite clay (Non, 5.6 wt % Fe) or in maghemite (M) nanoparticles (γ-Fe 2 O 3 ) were incorporated in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix. Na-laponite (Lap) clay was used to evaluate the contribution of the diffusion barrier effect to the increased thermal stability of a PMMA-Lap nanocomposite, as evidenced by the upshift of the thermogravimetric (TGA) curve compared to that for PMMA. The contribution of radical trapping to the thermal stability of the PMMA-Non nanocomposite was evidenced by a significant shift of the Fe K-edge rising edge position by -4.5 eV after iron reduction by heating in N 2 , while similar treatment of pristine nontronite did not lead to a significant rising edge shift in the X-ray absorption spectra (XAS). This downshift demonstrated the reduction of Fe 3+ to Fe 0 , induced by the sequestration of radicals formed by PMMA depolymerization. Raman spectroscopy analysis evidenced the formation of graphitic char deposits above 400 °C, further improving the thermal stability of PMMA-Non by providing an additional physical barrier to mass transport. A fourth contribution of well-dispersed iron was the abstraction of carbon from the char by the iron carburization reaction, which hindered CO 2 formation by oxidative coking. In contrast, no relevant contribution of graphitic layer deposition was observed for the PMMA-M-Lap nanocomposite, where its improved thermal stability was only due to the combined contributions of the gas diffusion barrier effect and radical trapping by iron atoms. The maghemite effectively captured the radicals confined by the clay sheets, resulting in significant stabilization of the nanocomposite, with a shift of the mass loss of the PMMA-M-Lap nanocomposite compared to PMMA-Lap., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: Mineral metabolism is critical for proper development of hard tissues of the skeleton and dentition. The dentoalveolar complex includes the following 4 mineralized tissues: enamel, dentin, cementum, and alveolar bone. Developmental processes of these tissues are affected by inherited disorders that disrupt phosphate and pyrophosphate homeostasis, although manifestations are distinct from those in the skeleton., Types of Studies Reviewed: The authors discuss original data from experiments and comparative analyses and review articles describing effects of inherited phosphate and pyrophosphate disorders on dental tissues. A particular emphasis is placed on how new therapeutic approaches for these conditions may affect oral health and dental treatments of affected patients., Results: Disorders of phosphate and pyrophosphate metabolism can lead to reduced mineralization (hypomineralization) or inappropriate (ectopic) calcification of soft tissues. Disruptions in phosphate levels in X-linked hypophosphatemia and hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis and disruptions in pyrophosphate levels in hypophosphatasia and generalized arterial calcification of infancy contribute to dental mineralization defects. Traditionally, there have been few options to ameliorate dental health problems arising from these conditions. New antibody and enzyme replacement therapies bring possibilities to improve oral health in affected patients., Practical Implications: Research over the past 2 decades has exponentially expanded the understanding of mineral metabolism, and has led to novel treatments for mineralization disorders. Newly implemented and emerging therapeutic strategies affect the dentoalveolar complex and interact with aspects of oral health care that must be considered for dental treatment, clinical trial design, and coordination of multidisciplinary care teams., Competing Interests: Disclosures None of the authors reported any disclosures., (Copyright © 2024 American Dental Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Jansen metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (JMC) is an ultra-rare disorder caused by germline heterozygous PTHR1 variants resulting in constitutive activation of parathyroid hormone type 1 receptor. A description of ocular manifestations of the disease is lacking. Six patients with JMC underwent a detailed ophthalmic evaluation, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), visual field testing, and craniofacial CT scans. Five of 6 patients had good visual acuity. All patients had widely spaced eyes; 5/6 had downslanted palpebral fissures. One patient had proptosis, and another had bilateral ptosis. Two patients had incomplete closure of the eyelids (lagophthalmos), one had a history of progressive right facial nerve palsy with profuse epiphora, while the second had advanced optic nerve atrophy with corresponding retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning on OCT and significant bilateral optic canal narrowing on CT scan. Additionally, this patient also had central visual field defects and abnormal color vision. A third patient had normal visual acuity, subtle temporal pallor of the optic nerve head, normal average RNFL, but decreased temporal RNFL and retinal ganglion cell layer analysis (GCA) on OCT. GCA was decreased in 4/6 patients indicating a subclinical optic nerve atrophic process. None of the patients had glaucoma or high myopia. These data represent the first comprehensive report of ophthalmic findings in JMC. Patients with JMC have significant eye findings associated with optic canal narrowing due to extensive skull base dysplastic bone overgrowth that appear to be more prevalent and pronounced with age. Progressive optic neuropathy from optic canal narrowing may be a feature of JMC, and OCT GCA can serve as a useful biomarker for progression in the setting of optic canal narrowing. We suggest that patients with JMC should undergo regular ophthalmic examination including color vision, OCT, visual field testing, orbital, and craniofacial imaging., Competing Interests: No conflicting relationship exists for any author., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2024.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report an unusual case of pseudoxanthoma elasticum presenting with an inflammatory phenotype associated with atypical and rapidly progressive subretinal fibrosis., Methods: This was an observational case report., Results: A patient with a history of pseudoxanthoma elasticum presented with rapidly progressive subretinal fibrosis, particularly in the left eye, over the course of one year. The patient was noted at presentation to have intraocular inflammation, outer retinal attenuation, multifocal choroiditis-like lesions, and intraretinal fluid (in the absence of obvious clinical or angiographic signs of exudative choroidal neovascular membranes). An ocular inflammatory phenotype was diagnosed, and the patient was treated with a combination of local steroids and systemic corticosteroids/immunomodulatory agents. After initiation of these agents, the patient demonstrated functional and structural improvement, with partial outer retinal reconstitution, decreased intraretinal fluid, and lack of further progression of subretinal fibrosis., Conclusion: This report describes an inflammatory phenotype of pseudoxanthoma elasticum associated with severe and atypical subretinal fibrosis. This case expands upon the currently known spectrum of inflammatory phenotypes associated with pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Treatment with corticosteroids or immunomodulatory treatment should be considered in similar cases.

Lipids play numerous pivotal physiological roles in mammalian reproduction, being indispensable for oocyte competence acquisition and post-fertilization embryonic development. Profiling lipids in minute samples, such as oocytes, presents challenges but has been accomplished through mass spectrometry technologies like Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) profiling. With the dual objectives of simplifying workflow and examining the influence of preanalytical conditions, we assessed whether transportation at room temperature affects the lipid profile of bovine oocytes. To this end, samples were prepared using either monophasic (methanol only) or biphasic liquid extraction protocols (Bligh & Dyer method) and transported either on dry ice or at room temperature inside sealed-vacuum packages to prevent lipid oxidation. Subsequently, employing a comprehensive method, we screened a list of 316 MRMs from 10 different lipid subclasses in oocyte lipid extracts. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed similar lipid profiles concerning temperature during transportation, whereas clear differentiation among samples was observed based on the lipid extraction method. Univariate analysis indicated that the one-phase methanol extraction resulted in higher relative abundances of phospholipids, except for phosphatidylserines. Conversely, the Bligh & Dyer extraction favored the detection of neutral intracellular lipids (triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, cholesteryl esters, and acyl-carnitines). Consequently, lipid recovery was directly correlated with the polarity of lipid class and the extraction method. Regarding transportation temperature, phosphatidylethanolamine, triacylglycerol, and free fatty acids exhibited lower abundances when samples were transported at room temperature. Based on multivariate and univariate analyses, we conclude that if samples undergo the same lipid extraction protocol and are transported in the same batch at room temperature inside vacuum-sealed bags, it is feasible to analyze lipid extracts of bovine oocytes and still obtain informative lipid profiling results., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Society for Reproductive Investigation.)

Omics analyses collectively refer to the possibility of profiling genetic variants, RNA, epigenetic markers, proteins, lipids, and metabolites. The most common analytical approaches used for detecting molecules present within biofluids related to metabolism are vibrational spectroscopy techniques, represented by infrared, Raman, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies and mass spectrometry (MS). Omics-based assessments utilizing MS are rapidly expanding and being applied to various scientific disciplines and clinical settings. Most of the omics instruments are operated by specialists in dedicated laboratories; however, the development of miniature portable omics has made the technology more available to users for field applications. Variations in molecular information gained from omics approaches are useful for evaluating human health following environmental exposure and the development and progression of numerous diseases. As MS technology develops so do statistical and machine learning methods for the detection of molecular deviations from personalized metabolism, which are correlated to altered health conditions, and they are intended to provide a multi-disciplinary overview for researchers interested in adding multiomic analysis to their current efforts. This includes an introduction to mass spectrometry-based omics technologies, current state-of-the-art capabilities and their respective strengths and limitations for surveying molecular information. Furthermore, we describe how knowledge gained from these assessments can be applied to personalized medicine and diagnostic strategies.

Background: Arterial calcification due to deficiency of CD73 (ACDC; OMIM 211800) is a rare genetic disease resulting in calcium deposits in arteries and small joints causing claudication, resting pain, severe joint pain, and deformities. Currently, there are no standard treatments for ACDC. Our previous work identified etidronate as a potential targeted ACDC treatment, using in vitro and in vivo disease models with patient-derived cells. In this study, we test the safety and effectiveness of etidronate in attenuating the progression of lower-extremity arterial calcification and vascular blood flow based on the computed tomography (CT) calcium score and ankle-brachial index (ABI)., Methods: Seven adult patients with a confirmed genetic diagnosis of ACDC were enrolled in an open-label, nonrandomized, single-arm pilot study for etidronate treatment. They took etidronate daily for 14 days every 3 months and were examined at the NIH Clinical Center bi-annually for 3 years. They received a baseline evaluation as well as yearly follow up after treatment. Study visits included imaging studies, exercise tolerance tests with ABIs, clinical blood and urine testing, and full dental exams., Results: Etidronate treatment appeared to have slowed the progression of further vascular calcification in lower extremities as measured by CT but did not have an effect in reversing vascular and/or periarticular joint calcifications in our small ACDC cohort., Conclusions: Etidronate was found to be safe and well tolerated by our patients and, despite the small sample size, appeared to show an effect in slowing the progression of calcification in our ACDC patient cohort. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01585402) ., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

We have identified 200 congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) caused by 189 different gene defects and have proposed a classification system for CDG based on the mode of action. This classification includes 8 categories: 1. Disorders of monosaccharide synthesis and interconversion, 2. Disorders of nucleotide sugar synthesis and transport, 3. Disorders of N-linked protein glycosylation, 4. Disorders of O-linked protein glycosylation, 5. Disorders of lipid glycosylation, 6. Disorders of vesicular trafficking, 7. Disorders of multiple glycosylation pathways and 8. Disorders of glycoprotein/glycan degradation. Additionally, using information from IEMbase, we have described the clinical involvement of 19 organs and systems, as well as essential laboratory investigations for each type of CDG. Neurological, dysmorphic, skeletal, and ocular manifestations were the most prevalent, occurring in 81%, 56%, 53%, and 46% of CDG, respectively. This was followed by digestive, cardiovascular, dermatological, endocrine, and hematological symptoms (17-34%). Immunological, genitourinary, respiratory, psychiatric, and renal symptoms were less frequently reported (8-12%), with hair and dental abnormalities present in only 4-7% of CDG. The information provided in this study, including our proposed classification system for CDG, may be beneficial for healthcare providers caring for individuals with metabolic conditions associated with CDG., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors have any COIs., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The enzyme ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 ( ENPP1 ) codes for a type 2 transmembrane glycoprotein that hydrolyzes extracellular ATP to generate pyrophosphate (PP i ) and adenosine monophosphate, thereby contributing to downstream purinergic signaling pathways. The clinical phenotypes induced by ENPP1 deficiency are seemingly contradictory and include early-onset osteoporosis in middle-aged adults and life-threatening vascular calcifications in the large arteries of infants with generalized arterial calcification of infancy. The progressive overmineralization of soft tissue and concurrent undermineralization of skeleton also occur in the general medical population, where it is referred to as paradoxical mineralization to highlight the confusing pathophysiology. This review summarizes the clinical presentation and pathophysiology of paradoxical mineralization unveiled by ENPP1 deficiency and the bench-to-bedside development of a novel ENPP1 biologics designed to treat mineralization disorders in the rare disease and general medical population.

Our objective is to evaluate the effects of feeding rumen-protected Met (RPM) throughout the transition period and early lactation on the lipid profile of the preimplantation embryos and the endometrial tissue of Holstein cows. Treatments consisted of feeding a total mixed ration with top-dressed RPM (Smartamine ® M, Adisseo, Alpharetta, GA, United States; MET; n  = 11; RPM at a rate of 0.08% of DM: Lys:Met = 2.8:1) or not (CON; n  = 9, Lys:Met = 3.5:1). Endometrial biopsies were performed at 15, 30, and 73 days in milk (DIM). Prior to the endometrial biopsy at 73 DIM, preimplantation embryos were harvested via flushing. Endometrial lipid profiles were analyzed using multiple reaction monitoring-profiling and lipid profiles of embryos were acquired using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Relative intensities levels were used for principal component analysis. Embryos from cows in MET had greater concentration of polyunsaturated lipids than embryos from cows in CON. The endometrial tissue samples from cows in MET had lesser concentrations of unsaturated and monounsaturated lipids at 15 DIM, and greater concentration of saturated, unsaturated (specifically diacylglycerol), and monounsaturated (primarily ceramides) lipids at 30 DIM than the endometrial tissue samples from cows in CON. In conclusion, feeding RPM during the transition period and early lactation altered specific lipid classes and lipid unsaturation level of preimplantation embryos and endometrial tissue., Competing Interests: DL from Adisseo had input in the experimental design and had no influence in performing the experiment and analyzing the data. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Stella, Guadagnin, Velasco-Acosta, Ferreira, Rubessa, Wheeler, Luchini and Cardoso.)

Many classical inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) are associated with significant hematological complications such as anemia or thrombosis. While these may not be the prominent presenting feature of these conditions, management of these issues is important for optimal outcomes in people with IMDs. Some disorders that are included in the nosology of inherited metabolic disorders, such as inherited disorders of red cell energy metabolism, have purely hematological features, and have typically been cared for by a hematologist. In the 16th issue of the Footprints series, we identified 265 IMDs associated with hematological abnormalities. We review the major hematological manifestations of IMDs, suggest further investigation of hematological findings, and discuss treatment options available for specific hematological complications of IMDs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lysosomes are degradative organelles that facilitate the removal and recycling of potentially cytotoxic materials and mediate a variety of other cellular processes, such as nutrient sensing, intracellular signaling, and lipid metabolism. Due to these central roles, lysosome dysfunction can lead to deleterious outcomes, including the accumulation of cytotoxic material, inflammation, and cell death. We previously reported that cationic amphiphilic drugs, such as imipramine, alter pH and lipid metabolism within macrophage lysosomes. Therefore, the ability for imipramine to induce changes to the lipid content of isolated macrophage lysosomes was investigated, focusing on sphingomyelin, cholesterol, and glycerophospholipid metabolism as these lipid classes have important roles in inflammation and disease. The lysosomes were isolated from control and imipramine-treated macrophages using density gradient ultracentrifugation, and mass spectrometry was used to measure the changes in their lipid composition. An unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis revealed a clear differentiation between the imipramine-treated and control lysosomes. There was a significant overall increase in the abundance of specific lipids mostly composed of cholesterol esters, sphingomyelins, and phosphatidylcholines, while lysophosphatidylcholines and ceramides were overall decreased. These results support the conclusion that imipramine's ability to change the lysosomal pH inhibits multiple pH-sensitive enzymes in macrophage lysosomes.

Background: KBG syndrome is caused by haploinsufficiency of ANKRD11 and is characterised by macrodontia of upper central incisors, distinctive facial features, short stature, skeletal anomalies, developmental delay, brain malformations and seizures. The central nervous system (CNS) and skeletal features remain poorly defined., Methods: CNS and/or skeletal imaging were collected from molecularly confirmed individuals with KBG syndrome through an international network. We evaluated the original imaging and compared our results with data in the literature., Results: We identified 53 individuals, 44 with CNS and 40 with skeletal imaging. Common CNS findings included incomplete hippocampal inversion and posterior fossa malformations; these were significantly more common than previously reported (63.4% and 65.9% vs 1.1% and 24.7%, respectively). Additional features included patulous internal auditory canal, never described before in KBG syndrome, and the recurrence of ventriculomegaly, encephalic cysts, empty sella and low-lying conus medullaris. We found no correlation between these structural anomalies and epilepsy or intellectual disability. Prevalent skeletal findings comprised abnormalities of the spine including scoliosis, coccygeal anomalies and cervical ribs. Hand X-rays revealed frequent abnormalities of carpal bone morphology and maturation, including a greater delay in ossification compared with metacarpal/phalanx bones., Conclusion: This cohort enabled us to describe the prevalence of very heterogeneous neuroradiological and skeletal anomalies in KBG syndrome. Knowledge of the spectrum of such anomalies will aid diagnostic accuracy, improve patient care and provide a reference for future research on the effects of ANKRD11 variants in skeletal and brain development., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Matrix vesicles are a special class of extracellular vesicles thought to actively contribute to both physiologic and pathologic mineralization. Proteomic studies have shown that matrix vesicles possess high amounts of annexin A5, suggesting that the protein might have multiple roles at the sites of calcification. Currently, Annexin A5 is thought to promote the nucleation of apatitic minerals close to the inner leaflet of the matrix vesicles' membrane enriched in phosphatidylserine and Ca 2+ . Herein, we aimed at unravelling a possible additional role of annexin A5 by investigating the ability of annexin A5 to adsorb on matrix-vesicle biomimetic liposomes and Langmuir monolayers made of dipalmitoylphosphatidylserine (DPPS) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in the absence and in the presence of Ca 2+ . Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic light scattering measurements showed that Ca 2+ at concentrations in the 0.5-2.0 mM range induced the aggregation of liposomes probably due to the formation of DPPS-enriched domains. However, annexin A5 avoided the aggregation of liposomes at Ca 2+ concentrations lower than 1.0 mM. Surface pressure versus surface area isotherms showed that the adsorption of annexin A5 on the monolayers made of a mixture of DPPC and DPPS led to a reduction in the area of excess compared to the theoretical values, which confirmed that the protein favored attractive interactions among the membrane lipids. The stabilization of the lipid membranes by annexin A5 was also validated by recording the changes with time of the surface pressure. Finally, fluorescence microscopy images of lipid monolayers revealed the formation of spherical lipid-condensed domains that became unshaped and larger in the presence of annexin A5. Our data support the model that annexin A5 in matrix vesicles is recruited at the membrane sites enriched in phosphatidylserine and Ca 2+ not only to contribute to the intraluminal mineral formation but also to stabilize the vesicles' membrane and prevent its premature rupture., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

At any age, respiratory manifestations are a major cause of increased morbidity and mortality of inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs). Type and severity are extremely variable, this depending on the type of the underlying disorder. Symptoms and signs originating from upper or lower airways and/or thoracic wall and/or respiratory muscles involvement can occur either at presentation or in the late clinical course. Acute respiratory symptoms can trigger metabolic decompensation which, in turn, makes airway symptoms worse, creating a vicious circle. We have identified 181 IMDs associated with various types of respiratory symptoms which were classified into seven groups according to the type of clinical manifestations affecting the respiratory system: (i) respiratory failure, (ii) restrictive lung disease, (iii) interstitial lung disease, (iv) lower airway disease, (v) upper airway obstruction, (vi) apnea, and (vii) other. We also provided a list of investigations to be performed based on the respiratory phenotypes and indicated the therapeutic strategies currently available for IMD-associated airway disease. This represents the thirteenth issue in a series of educational summaries providing a comprehensive and updated list of metabolic differential diagnoses according to system involvement., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

We provide a comprehensive overview of inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) in which epilepsy is a prominent manifestation. Our unique database search has identified 256 IMDs associated with various types of epilepsies, which we classified according to the classic pathophysiology-based classification of IMDs, and according to selected seizure-related factors (neonatal seizures, infantile spasms, myoclonic seizures, and characteristic EEG patterns) and treatability for the underlying metabolic defect. Our findings indicate that inherited metabolic epilepsies are more likely to present in the neonatal period, with infantile spasms or myoclonic seizures. Additionally, the ∼20% of treatable inherited metabolic epilepsies found by our search were mainly associated with the IMD groups of "cofactor and mineral metabolism" and "Intermediary nutrient metabolism." The information provided by this study, including a comprehensive list of IMDs with epilepsy stratified according to age of onset, and seizure type and characteristics, along with an overview of the key clinical features and proposed diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, may benefit any epileptologist and healthcare provider caring for individuals with metabolic conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None, (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Kidney disease is a global health burden with high morbidity and mortality. Causes of kidney disease are numerous, extending from common disease groups like diabetes and arterial hypertension to rare conditions including inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs). Given its unique anatomy and function, the kidney is a target organ in about 10% of known IMDs, emphasizing the relevant contribution of IMDs to kidney disease. The pattern of injury affects all segments of the nephron including glomerular disease, proximal and distal tubular damage, kidney cyst formation, built-up of nephrocalcinosis and stones as well as severe malformations. We revised and updated the list of known metabolic etiologies associated with kidney involvement and found 190 relevant IMDs. This represents the 14th of a series of educational articles providing a comprehensive and revised list of metabolic differential diagnoses according to system involvement., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: We declare no competing interests. We would like to thank all health professionals from IIER who provided medical care to the patients, and all autopsy and pathology laboratory technicians from Departamento de Patologia-FMUSP, who collaborated in the analysis of the cases. We acknowledge support from the Medical Research Council–São Paulo Research Foundation CADDE partnership award (MR/S0195/1; FAPESP18/143890; 2013/17159‐2), Wellcome Trust and Royal Society (Sir Henry Dale Fellowship 204311/Z/16/Z), and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (INV-034540; INV-034652; and INV‐002396), and Bolsa de produtividade em pesquisa: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico 304987/2017-4 (MD).

Diastrophic dysplasia (DTD) is a recessive chondrodysplasia caused by pathogenic variants in the SLC26A2 gene encoding for a cell membrane sulfate/chloride antiporter crucial for sulfate uptake and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) sulfation. Research on a DTD animal model has suggested possible pharmacological treatment approaches. In view of future clinical trials, the identification of non-invasive biomarkers is crucial to assess the efficacy of treatments. Urinary GAG composition has been analyzed in several metabolic disorders including mucopolysaccharidoses. Moreover, the N-terminal fragment of collagen X, known as collagen X marker (CXM), is considered a real-time marker of endochondral ossification and growth velocity and was studied in individuals with achondroplasia and osteogenesis imperfecta. In this work, urinary GAG sulfation and blood CXM levels were investigated as potential biomarkers for individuals affected by DTD. Chondroitin sulfate disaccharide analysis was performed on GAGs isolated from urine by HPLC after GAG digestion with chondroitinase ABC and ACII, while CXM was assessed in dried blood spots. Results from DTD patients were compared with an age-matched control population. Undersulfation of urinary GAGs was observed in DTD patients with some relationship to the clinical severity and underlying SLC26A2 variants. Lower than normal CXM levels were observed in most patients, even if the marker did not show a clear pattern in our small patient cohort because CXM values are highly dependent on age, gender and growth velocity. In summary, both non-invasive biomarkers are promising assays targeting various aspects of the disorder including overall metabolism of sulfated GAGs and endochondral ossification., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest R.F. Coghlan declares an interest as an inventor of the CXM ELISA assay and receives royalties on the technology; other Authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Each living organism is unique because of the lipid identity of its organelles. The diverse distribution of these molecules also contributes to the role of each organelle in cellular activity. The lipid profiles of whole embryos are well documented in the literature. However, this approach can often lead to the loss of relevant information at the subcellular and consequently, metabolic levels, hindering a deeper understanding of key physiological processes during preimplantation development. Therefore, we aimed to characterize four organelles in vitro-produced bovine embryos: lipid droplets (LD), endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria (MIT), and nuclear membrane (NUC), and evaluate the contribution of the lipid species to each organelle evaluated. Expanded blastocysts were subjected to cell organelle isolation. Thereafter, lipid extraction from cell organelles and lipid analysis using the Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) profiling method were performed. The LD and ER displayed a greater number of lipids (Phosphatidylcholine - PC, Ceramide - Cer, and Sphingomielin - SM) with high signal-to-noise intensities. This result is due to the high rate of biosynthesis, lipid distribution, and ability to store and recycle lipid species of these organelles. The NUC had a more distinct lipid profile than the other three organelles, with high relative intensities of PC, SM, and triacylglycerols (TG), which is consistent with its high nuclear activity. MIT had an intermediate profile that was close to that of LD and ER, which aligns with its autonomous metabolism for some classes of phospholipids (PL). Our study revealed the lipid composition of each organelle studied, and the roles of these lipids could be associated with the characteristic organellar activity. Our findings highlight the lipid species and classes that are relevant for the homeostasis and function of each associated organelle and provide tentative biomarkers for the determination of in vitro embryonic development and quality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Autophagy is a cellular survival mechanism involved in several human diseases, but its participation in the development of salivary gland tumors is not fully understood. This study investigated the immunoexpression of autophagy-related proteins (autophagy-related 7 [Atg7], microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3A [LC3A], microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B [LC3B], protein p62 [p62], and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin [p-mTOR]) in pleomorphic adenoma (PA), polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary glands., Methods: Twenty PAs, 20 PACs, 20 MECs, and 14 ACCs were selected. The percentages of cytoplasmic and nuclear positivity for autophagy-related proteins in neoplastic cells were assessed and correlated with histopathological parameters., Results: Cytoplasmic immunoexpression of Atg7 was observed in all groups, with high median percentages of positivity. Regarding LC3A and LC3B, cytoplasmic immunoexpression was found in most PACs (95%) and in all cases of PA, MEC and ACC, with the highest percentages of positivity in PACs and PAs (p < 0.005). ACCs exhibited lower cytoplasmic immunoexpression of p-mTOR (p < 0.005) and lower nuclear expression of p62 (p < 0.05) when compared to PAs, PACs and MECs. Low nuclear immunoexpression of Atg7, LC3A and p-mTOR and absence of nuclear staining for LC3B were observed in all groups. Regarding histopathological parameters of PAs, MECs and ACCs, there were no significant differences in the expression of autophagy-related proteins. In all groups, positive correlations were observed between the immunoexpression of some autophagy-related proteins (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: The results suggest the participation of autophagy in the pathogenesis of PA, PAC, MEC, and ACC of salivary glands. Upregulation of autophagy and reduced nuclear translocation of p62 may contribute to the aggressive biological behavior of salivary gland ACC., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Indolent NK-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the gastrointestinal tract is a new provisional entity listed in the structure of the forthcoming fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Hematolymphoid Tumors. It was first named as "NK-cell enteropathy" and "Lymphomatoid gastropathy" by two independent series a decade ago. Molecular or cytogenetic studies have lent support to the clonal/neoplastic nature of this entity. Herein we add two of such cases that still challenge pathologists and were previously diagnosed as aggressive lymphomas of NK/T derivation.

Introduction: Pulse wave velocity is used to diagnose central arterial stiffness (CAS) and quantify healthy vascular aging (HVA)., Objective: To evaluate the CAS and HVA in elderly patients with systemic blood pressure levels classified as optimal/normal., Methods: A total of 102 patients without comorbidities and with systolic pressure (SP) < 120 mmHg and diastolic pressure (DP) < 80 mmHg were selected from the EVOPIU database (Pulse Wave Velocity of Elderly Individuals in an Urban area of Brazil). The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (c-fPWV) and the central and peripheral pressures were evaluated in all patients. The patients were divided into four groups: G1: (n = 19, with c-fPWV < 7.6 m/s, without medication), G2 (n = 26, c-fPWV ≥ 7.6 m/s; without medication), G3 (n = 25, c-fPWV < 7.6 m/s with antihypertensive medication), and G4 (n = 32, c-fPWV ≥ 7.6 m/s with antihypertensive medication)., Results: In our sample, 56.7% of patients had c-fPWV ≥ 7.6 m/s. The central systolic pressure in G1 [99 (10) mmHg] was lower than that found in the other three groups [vs. 112 (14) mmHg, 111 (15), 112 (20) mmHg; P < 0.05)]., Conclusion: Older people with optimal arterial blood pressure do not necessarily have HVA and could have c-fPWV values close to the limits established for CAS diagnosis.

Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) profiling is a strategy for the exploratory analysis of small molecules and lipids by direct sample injection, ie, without the use of chromatographic separation. It is based on instrument methods that comprise a list of ion transitions (MRMs), in which the precursor ion is the expected ionized m/z of the lipid at its species level, ie, the description of lipid class and number of carbon and double bonds in the fatty acid chain(s), and the product ion is a fragment expected for the lipid class or for the fatty acid neutral loss. The Lipid Maps database is expanding constantly, and therefore the MRM-profiling methods associated with this database need to be continuously updated. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview and the key references for the MRM-profiling methodology and workflow, followed by a step-by-step approach to build MRM-profiling instrument acquisition methods for class-based lipid exploratory analysis based on the Lipid Maps database. The detailed workflow includes (1) importing the list of lipids from the database; (2) for a given class, combining isomeric lipids described at full structural level into 1 entry to obtain the neutral mass at species level; (3) attributing the standard Lipid Maps abbreviated nomenclature for the lipid at its species level; (4) predicting the ionized precursor ions; and (5) adding the expected product ion. We also describe how to simulate the precursor ion for the suspect screening of modified lipids using lipid oxidation and their expected product ions as an example. After determining the MRMs, information about collision energy, dwell time, and other instrument parameters are added to finalize the acquisition method. As an example of final method output, we describe the format for Agilent MassHunter v.B.06 and provide the parameters in which optimization can be performed by lipid class using one or more lipid standards., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities. All rights reserved.)

Immunological problems are increasingly acknowledged manifestations in many inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs), ranging from exaggerated inflammation, autoimmunity and abnormal cell counts to recurrent microbial infections. A subgroup of IMDs, the congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG), includes CDG types that are even classified as primary immunodeficiencies. Here, we reviewed the list of metabolic disorders reported to be associated with various immunological defects and identified 171 IMDs accompanied by immunological manifestations. Most IMDs are accompanied by immune dysfunctions of which immunodeficiency and infections, innate immune defects, and autoimmunity are the most common abnormalities reported in 144/171 (84%), 44/171 (26%) and 33/171 (19%) of IMDs with immune system involvement, respectively, followed by autoinflammation 17/171 (10%). This article belongs to a series aiming at creating and maintaining a comprehensive list of clinical and metabolic differential diagnoses according to organ system involvement., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The "Nosology of genetic skeletal disorders" has undergone its 11th revision and now contains 771 entries associated with 552 genes reflecting advances in molecular delineation of new disorders thanks to advances in DNA sequencing technology. The most significant change as compared to previous versions is the adoption of the dyadic naming system, systematically associating a phenotypic entity with the gene it arises from. We consider this a significant step forward as dyadic naming is more informative and less prone to errors than the traditional use of list numberings and eponyms. Despite the adoption of dyadic naming, efforts have been made to maintain strong ties to the MIM catalog and its historical data. As with the previous versions, the list of disorders and genes in the Nosology may be useful in considering the differential diagnosis in the clinic, directing bioinformatic analysis of next-generation sequencing results, and providing a basis for novel advances in biology and medicine., (© 2023 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

Detection of ALK rearrangement and/or expression of the ALK protein is an essential component in the evaluation of many neoplasms. Variability has been reported in the ability of different antibody clones to detect ALK expression. The ALK01 clone is commonly used to detect ALK expression in ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALK + ALCL). However, this clone has been shown to lack sensitivity when used for solid tumors. The aim of this study was to determine if our high-sensitivity 5A4-based immunohistochemistry protocol is non-inferior to our ALK01-based protocol for the detection of ALK expression in ALK + ALCL. To compare the two protocols, we stained tissue microarrays of 126 hematolymphoid neoplasms and an additional 21 primary cutaneous ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphomas with both protocols. All 28 ALK + ALCL samples that were positive for the ALK01 antibody were also positive for the 5A4 clone. Three cases on the tissue microarray that were negative with the ALK01 antibody were clearly positive with the 5A4 antibody. We subsequently stained whole tissue sections of these three cases with the ALK01 antibody and found that these three cases were indeed positive with the ALK01 protocol, suggesting that the absence of staining on the tissue microarray samples was due to a combination of sampling error as well as a dimmer signal with the ALK01 protocol. Our study demonstrates that our 5A4-based protocol is non-inferior to the ALK01 antibody for the diagnosis of ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, thus allowing our laboratory to discontinue the use of the ALK01-based protocol., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Inherited metabolic disorders presenting with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are characterized by the dysfunction of the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and pancreas. We have summarized associations of signs and symptoms in 339 inherited metabolic diseases presenting with GI symptoms. Feeding difficulties represent the most common abnormality reported for IMDs with GI involvement (37%) followed by intestinal problems (30%), vomiting (22%), stomach and pancreas involvement (8% each), and esophagus involvement (4%). This represents the eleventh of a series of articles attempting to create and maintain a comprehensive list of clinical and metabolic differential diagnoses according to system involvement., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Biallelic PIGN variants have been described in Fryns syndrome, multiple congenital anomalies-hypotonia-seizure syndrome (MCAHS), and neurologic phenotypes. The full spectrum of clinical manifestations in relation to the genotypes is yet to be reported., Methods: Genotype and phenotype data were collated and analyzed for 61 biallelic PIGN cases: 21 new and 40 previously published cases. Functional analysis was performed for 2 recurrent variants (c.2679C>G p.Ser893Arg and c.932T>G p.Leu311Trp)., Results: Biallelic-truncating variants were detected in 16 patients-10 with Fryns syndrome, 1 with MCAHS1, 2 with Fryns syndrome/MCAHS1, and 3 with neurologic phenotype. There was an increased risk of prenatal or neonatal death within this group (6 deaths were in utero or within 2 months of life; 6 pregnancies were terminated). Incidence of polyhydramnios, congenital anomalies (eg, diaphragmatic hernia), and dysmorphism was significantly increased. Biallelic missense or mixed genotype were reported in the remaining 45 cases-32 showed a neurologic phenotype and 12 had MCAHS1. No cases of diaphragmatic hernia or abdominal wall defects were seen in this group except patient 1 in which we found the missense variant p.Ser893Arg to result in functionally null alleles, suggesting the possibility of an undescribed functionally important region in the final exon. For all genotypes, there was complete penetrance for developmental delay and near-complete penetrance for seizures and hypotonia in patients surviving the neonatal period., Conclusion: We have expanded the described spectrum of phenotypes and natural history associated with biallelic PIGN variants. Our study shows that biallelic-truncating variants usually result in the more severe Fryns syndrome phenotype, but neurologic problems, such as developmental delay, seizures, and hypotonia, present across all genotypes. Functional analysis should be considered when the genotypes do not correlate with the predicted phenotype because there may be other functionally important regions in PIGN that are yet to be discovered., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. All rights reserved.)

Glutaminase deficiency has recently been associated with ataxia and developmental delay due to repeat expansions in the 5'UTR of the glutaminase (GLS) gene. Patients with the described GLS repeat expansion may indeed remain undiagnosed due to the rarity of this variant, the challenge of its detection and the recency of its discovery. In this study, we combined advanced bioinformatics screening of ~3000 genomes and ~1500 exomes with optical genome mapping and long-read sequencing for confirmation studies. We identified two GLS families, previously intensely and unsuccessfully analyzed. One family carries an unusual and complex structural change involving a homozygous repeat expansion nested within a quadruplication event in the 5'UTR of GLS. Glutaminase deficiency and its metabolic consequences were validated by in-depth biochemical analysis. The identified GLS patients showed progressive early-onset ataxia, cognitive deficits, pyramidal tract damage and optic atrophy, thus demonstrating susceptibility of several specific neuron populations to glutaminase deficiency. This large-scale screening study demonstrates the ability of bioinformatics analysis-validated by latest state-of-the-art technologies (optical genome mapping and long-read sequencing)-to effectively flag complex repeat expansions using short-read datasets and thus facilitate diagnosis of ultra-rare disorders., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Lipid homeostasis is critical for maintaining normal cellular functions including membrane structural integrity, cell metabolism, and signal transduction. Adipose tissue and skeletal muscle are two major tissues involved in lipid metabolism. Adipose tissue can store excessive lipids in the form of triacylglyceride (TG), which can be hydrolyzed to release free fatty acids (FFAs) under insufficient nutrition states. In the highly energy-demanding skeletal muscle, lipids serve as oxidative substrates for energy production but can cause muscle dysfunction when overloaded. Lipids undergo fascinating cycles of biogenesis and degradation depending on physiological demands, while dysregulation of lipid metabolism has been increasingly recognized as a hallmark of diseases such as obesity and insulin resistance. Thus, it is important to understand the diversity and dynamics of lipid composition in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Here, we describe the use of multiple reaction monitoring profiling, based on lipid class and fatty acyl chain specific fragmentation, to explore various classes of lipids in skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. We provide a detailed method for exploratory analysis of acylcarnitine (AC), ceramide (Cer), cholesteryl ester (CE), diacylglyceride (DG), FFA, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), sphingomyelin (SM), and TG. Characterization of lipid composition within adipose tissue and skeletal muscle under different physiological situations will provide biomarkers and therapeutic targets for obesity-related diseases., (© 2023. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: ENPP1 Deficiency-caused by biallelic variants in ENPP1-leads to widespread arterial calcification in early life (Generalized Arterial Calcification of Infancy, GACI) or hypophosphatemic rickets in later life (Autosomal Recessive Hypophosphatemic Rickets type 2, ARHR2). A prior study using the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC)-a database of exomes obtained from approximately 60,000 individuals-estimated the genetic prevalence at approximately 1 in 200,000 pregnancies., Methods: We estimated the genetic prevalence of ENPP1 Deficiency by evaluating allele frequencies from a population database, assuming Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. This estimate benefitted from a comprehensive literature review using Mastermind ( https://mastermind.genomenon.com/ ), which uncovered additional variants and supporting evidence, a larger population database with approximately 140,000 individuals, and improved interpretation of variants as per current clinical guidelines., Results: We estimate a genetic prevalence of approximately 1 in 64,000 pregnancies, thus more than tripling the prior estimate. In addition, the carrier frequency of ENPP1 variants was found to be highest in East Asian populations, albeit based on a small sample., Conclusion: These results indicate that a significant number of patients with ENPP1 Deficiency remain undiagnosed. Efforts to increase disease awareness as well as expand genetic testing, particularly in non-European populations are warranted, especially now that clinical trials for enzyme replacement therapy, which proved successful in animal models, are underway., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Loss-of-function variants in the ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase family member 1 (ENPP1) cause ENPP1 Deficiency, a rare disorder characterized by pathological calcification, neointimal proliferation, and impaired bone mineralization. The consequence of ENPP1 Deficiency is a broad range of age dependent symptoms and morbidities including cardiovascular complications and 50% mortality in infants, autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets type 2 (ARHR2) in children, and joint pain, osteomalacia and enthesopathies in adults. Recent research continues to add to the growing clinical presentation profile as well as expanding the role of ENPP1 itself. Here we review the current knowledge on the spectrum of clinical and genetic findings of ENPP1 Deficiency reported in patients diagnosed with GACI or ARHR2 phenotypes using a comprehensive database of known ENPP1 variants with associated clinical data. A total of 108 genotypes were identified from 154 patients. Of the 109 ENPP1 variants reviewed, 72.5% were demonstrably disease-causing, a threefold increase in pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants over other databases. There is substantial heterogeneity in disease severity, even among patients with the same variant. The approach to creating a continuously curated database of ENPP1 variants accessible to clinicians is necessary to increase the diagnostic yield of clinical genetic testing and accelerate diagnosis of ENPP1 Deficiency., (© 2022 The Authors. Human Mutation published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

The aim of this work was to compare the lipidome and metabolome profiling in the Longissimus thoracis muscle early and late postmortem from high and normal ultimate pH (pHu) beef. Lipid profiling discriminated between high and normal pHu beef based on fatty acid metabolism and mitochondrial beta-oxidation of long chain saturated fatty acids at 30 min postmortem, and phospholipid biosynthesis at 44 h postmortem. Metabolite profiling also discriminated between high and normal pHu beef, mainly through glutathione, purine, arginine and proline, and glycine, serine and threonine metabolisms at 30 min postmortem, and glycolysis, TCA cycle, glutathione, tyrosine, and pyruvate metabolisms at 44 h postmortem. Lipid and metabolite profiles showed reduced glycolysis and increased use of alternative energy metabolic processes that were central to differentiating high and normal pHu beef. Phospholipid biosynthesis modification suggested high pHu beef experienced greater oxidative stress., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest associated with this research., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cerebral palsy is the most common physical disability of childhood describing a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders that cause activity limitation, but often are accompanied by disturbances of sensation, perception, cognition, communication and behavior, or by epilepsy. Inborn errors of metabolism have been reported in the literature as presenting with features of cerebral palsy. We reviewed and updated the list of metabolic disorders known to be associated with symptoms suggestive of cerebral palsy and found more than 150 relevant IEMs. This represents the fifth of a series of articles attempting to create and maintain a comprehensive list of clinical and metabolic differential diagnosis according to system involvement., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Damages to the ear are very diverse and can depend on the type of inherited metabolic diseases (IMD). Indeed, IMDs can affect all parts of the auditory system, from the outer ear to the central auditory process. We have identified 219 IMDs associated with various types of ear involvement which we classified into five groups according to the lesion site of the auditory system: congenital external ear abnormalities, acquired external ear abnormalities, middle ear involvement, inner ear or retrocochlear involvement, and unspecified hearing loss. This represents the ninth issue in a series of educational summaries providing a comprehensive and updated list of metabolic differential diagnoses according to system involvement., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) measurement is a critical tool in the evaluation of patients with disordered phosphate homeostasis. Available laboratory reference ranges for blood FGF23 were developed using samples from normophosphatemic individuals. Reliance on such values can lead to misdiagnosis in patients with FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemia, such as X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) and tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO), in whom pathology-driving FGF23 levels can be in the "normal range." To determine FGF23 levels that are diagnostic for the identification of patients with FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemic disorders, we studied 149 patients with various disorders of FGF23-mediated and FGF23-independent hypophosphatemia and defined cut-off levels for both intact FGF23 (iFGF23) and C-terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) that can accurately distinguish between FGF23-mediated and FGF23-independent hypophosphatemia. In addition, to demonstrate the relationship between FGF23 and phosphate across the spectrum of human physiology, we assessed blood levels of FGF23 and phosphate in 434 patients with various forms of hypophosphatemia, hyperphosphatemia, and normophosphatemia. An intact FGF23 cut point of 27 pg/mL was 100% sensitive and specific in distinguishing FGF23-mediated from FGF23-independent hypophosphatemia, and a cFGF23 cut point of 90 RU/mL was 100% sensitive and specific in distinguishing specifically TIO from FGF23-independent hypophosphatemia. There was overlap in the cFGF23 range of 45-90 RU/mL between genetic forms of FGF23 excess and FGF23-independent hypophosphatemia, substantiating the superiority of iFGF23 over cFGF23 in making the diagnosis of FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemia. In this cohort, using the laboratory upper limit of normal for cFGF23 (180 RU/mL) would result in a misdiagnosis in more than half of patients with FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemia. In this, the largest study of FGF23 in chronic hypophosphatemia to date, we established iFGF23 and cFGF23 cut-off values to assist in the evaluation and diagnosis of hypophosphatemic conditions. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA., (© 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR). This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.)

Fatty acids are an important source of energy and a key component of phospholipids in membranes and organelles. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) are converted into unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) by stearoyl Co-A desaturase (SCD), an enzyme active in cancer. Here, we studied how the dynamics between SFAs and UFAs regulated by SCD impacts ovarian cancer cell survival and tumor progression. SCD depletion or inhibition caused lower levels of UFAs vs. SFAs and altered fatty acyl chain plasticity, as demonstrated by lipidomics and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy. Further, increased levels of SFAs resulting from SCD knockdown triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response with brisk activation of IRE1α/XBP1 and PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 axes. Disorganized ER membrane was visualized by electron microscopy and SRS imaging in ovarian cancer cells in which SCD was knocked down. The induction of long-term mild ER stress or short-time severe ER stress by the increased levels of SFAs and loss of UFAs led to cell death. However, ER stress and apoptosis could be readily rescued by supplementation with UFAs and reequilibration of SFA/UFA levels. The effects of SCD knockdown or inhibition observed in vitro translated into suppression of intraperitoneal tumor growth in ovarian cancer xenograft models. Furthermore, a combined intervention using an SCD inhibitor and an SFA-enriched diet initiated ER stress in tumors growing in vivo and potently blocked their dissemination. In all, our data support SCD as a key regulator of the cancer cell fate under metabolic stress and point to treatment strategies targeting the lipid balance.