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Célkitűzés – A spinalis izomatrophia (SMA) az alsó motoneuronok pusztulásával járó progresszív, auto­szomális recesszív betegség. Az elmúlt években fordulat következett be az SMA oki kezelésében, két SMN2 splicing módosító és egy génterápiás gyógyszer vált elérhetővé. Kérdésfelvetés – Az új gyógyszerek az SMA gyermekkori lefolyását érdemben módosítják, és egyes gyógyszerek felnőttkori hatásáról is egyre több adat érhető el. Nem áll azonban rendelkezésre olyan szakirodalom, ami a legújabb eredmények alapján segítséget nyújtana a felnőtt SMA-betegek kezeléséhez szükséges döntések meghozatalában. A Magyar Klinikai Neurogenetikai Társaság vezetősége áttekintette az SMA palliatív kezelésének irányelveit, a randomizált, kontrollált gyógyszervizsgálatokat, a felnőtt SMA-betegek retrospektív és prospektív gyógyszeres vizsgálatainak eredményeit. A vizsgálat alanyai – A konszenzusajánlás megalkotása szempontjából azokat a közleményeket értékeltük, amelyek a felnőttkort elérő, főként SMA II- és III-csoportba tartozó betegek gyógyszeres kezelésének eredményeiről szolgáltatnak adatokat. A konszenzusajánlást a felnőtt SMA-betegek kezeléséről kilenc pontban fogalmaztuk meg, ami kitér a gyógyszeres kezelés technikai, szakmai feltételeire, biztonságossági szempontjaira, a betegek kiválasztására, és hosszú távú monitorizálására. Ajánlásunk a legújabb információkra alapozva segíti a felnőtt SMA-betegek palliatív ellátását és gyógyszeres kezelését, a személyre szabott kezelés során figyelembe veendő hatékonysági és biztonságossági szempontokat nyújt. Rávilágít a későbbiekben megválaszo­lan­dó, egyelőre nyitott kérdésekre is. Az ajánlás mindennapi gyakorlatban való használata a kezelés optimalizációját eredményezheti.

Background Several inborn errors of metabolism show cutis laxa as a highly recognizable feature. One group of these metabolic cutis laxa conditions is autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 2 caused by defects in v-ATPase components or the mitochondrial proline cycle. Besides cutis laxa, muscular hypotonia and cardiac abnormalities are hallmarks of autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 2D (ARCL2D) due to pathogenic variants in ATP6V1A encoding subunit A of the v-ATPase. Affected individuals and methods Here we report on three affected individuals from two families with ARCL2D in whom we performed whole exome and Sanger sequencing. We performed functional studies in fibroblasts from one individual, summarized all known probands clinical, molecular and biochemical features and compared them, also to other metabolic forms of cutis laxa. Results Molecular studies revealed novel missense and the first nonsense variant strongly affecting ATP6V1A expression. All six ARCL2D affected individuals show equally severe cutis laxa and dysmorphism at birth. While for one no information was available, two died in infancy and three are now adolescents with mild or absent intellectual disability. Muscular weakness, ptosis, contractures, and elevated muscle enzymes indicated a persistent myopathy. In cellular studies a fragmented Golgi compartment and a delayed Brefeldin A-induced retrograde transport was shown in two and glycosylation abnormalities were present in fibroblasts from three individuals. Conclusion This is the second and confirmatory report on pathogenic variants in ATP6V1A as the cause of this extremely rare condition and the first to describe a nonsense allele. Our data highlight the tremendous clinical variability of ATP6V1A related phenotypes even within the same family. (words: 260) This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Introduction: 46,XX ovotesticular disorder of sex development (DSD), as defined by the Chicago consensus in 2006, is characterized by histologically confirmed testicular and ovarian tissue in an individual with a 46,XX karyotype and a wide phenotypic spectrum from female to male appearance. Case Presentation: We report the case of two 46,XX sex determining region Y (SRY) gene-negative siblings and their 46,XY father with an approximately 150 kilobase pair (kbp) duplication upstream of SOX9 (SRY-box 9) gene’s transcriptional start site on chromosome 17 (chr17), which involved SOX9’s minimal critical 46,XX sex reversal region. This duplication is sufficient to trigger male development in the absence of Y-chromosomal material and can lead to various degrees of masculinization in 46,XX individuals by overexpression of SOX9. Based on anamnestic information and pedigree analysis, another possible carrier of this copy number variation (CNV) could have been the father’s sister. Discussion: By comparing the duplications of our two sibling patients and previously reported similar cases, we suggest that the small differences between their breakpoints could alternatively modify the inner structure and functioning of SOX9’stopologically associated domain (TAD) due to the differing fine TAD arrangements. Our data support the phenotypic modularity impact – incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity – of very similar but non-identical CNVs, which are possibly inherited across three generations.

Background - Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive, progressive neuromuscular disorder resulting in a loss of lower motoneurons. Recently, new disease-modifying treatments (two drugs for splicing modification of SMN2 and one for SMN1 gene replacement) have become available. Purpose - The new drugs change the progression of SMA with neonatal and childhood onset. Increasing amount of data are available about the effects of these drugs in adult patients with SMA. In this article, we summarize the available data of new SMA therapies in adult patients.Methods - Members of the Executive Committee of the Hungarian Clinical Neurogenetic Society surveyed the literature for palliative treatments, randomized controlled trials, and retrospective and prospective studies using disease modifying therapies in adult patients with SMA. Patients - We evaluated the outcomes of studies focused on treatments of adult patients mainly with SMA II and III.In this paper, we present our consensus statement in nine points covering palliative care, technical, medical and safety considerations, patient selection, and long-term monitoring of adult patients with SMA.This consensus statement aims to support the most efficient management of adult patients with SMA, and provides information about treatment efficacy and safety to be considered during personalized therapy. It also highlights open questions needed to be answered in future. Using this recommendation in clinical practice can result in optimization of therapy.Célkitűzés – A spinalis izomatrophia (SMA) az alsó motoneuronok pusztulásával járó progresszív, auto­szomális recesszív betegség. Az elmúlt években fordulat következett be az SMA oki kezelésében, két SMN2 splicing módosító és egy génterápiás gyógyszer vált elérhetővé. Kérdésfelvetés – Az új gyógyszerek az SMA gyermekkori lefolyását érdemben módosítják, és egyes gyógyszerek felnőttkori hatásáról is egyre több adat érhető el. Nem áll azonban rendelkezésre olyan szakirodalom, ami a legújabb eredmények alapján segítséget nyújtana a felnőtt SMA-betegek kezeléséhez szükséges döntések meghozatalában.A Magyar Klinikai Neurogenetikai Társaság vezetősége áttekintette az SMA palliatív kezelésének irányelveit, a randomizált, kontrollált gyógyszervizsgálatokat, a felnőtt SMA-betegek retrospektív és prospektív gyógyszeres vizsgálatainak eredményeit. A vizsgálat alanyai – A konszenzusajánlás megalkotása szempontjából azokat a közleményeket értékeltük, amelyek a felnőttkort elérő, főként SMA II- és III-csoportba tartozó betegek gyógyszeres kezelésének eredményeiről szolgáltatnak adatokat.A konszenzusajánlást a felnőtt SMA-betegek kezeléséről kilenc pontban fogalmaztuk meg, ami kitér a gyógyszeres kezelés technikai, szakmai feltételeire, biztonságossági szempontjaira, a betegek kiválasztására, és hosszú távú monitorizálására.Ajánlásunk a legújabb információkra alapozva segíti a felnőtt SMA-betegek palliatív ellátását és gyógyszeres kezelését, a személyre szabott kezelés során figyelembe veendő hatékonysági és biztonságossági szempontokat nyújt. Rávilágít a későbbiekben megválaszo­lan­dó, egyelőre nyitott kérdésekre is. Az ajánlás mindennapi gyakorlatban való használata a kezelés optimalizációját eredményezheti.

Background: Publication of comprehensive clinical care guidelines for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in 2010 was a milestone for DMD patient management. Our CARE-NMD survey investigates the neuromuscular, medical, and psychosocial care of DMD patients in Europe, and compares it to the guidelines. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1677 patients contacted via the TREAT-NMD patient registries was conducted using self-report questionnaires in seven European countries. Results: Survey respondents were 861 children and 201 adults. Data describe a European DMD population with mean age of 13.0 years (range 0.8–46.2) of whom 53% had lost ambulation (at 10.3 years of age, median). Corticosteroid medication raised the median age for ambulatory loss from 10.1 years in patients never medicated to 11.4 years in patients who received steroids (p

Background Premature ovarian failure / primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI) associated with the mutations of the FMR1 (Fragile-X Mental Retardation 1) gene belongs to the group of the so-called trinucleotide expansion diseases. Our aim was to analyse the relationship between the paternally inherited premutation (PIP) and the maternally inherited premutation (MIP) by the examination of the family members of women with POF, carrying the premutation allele confirmed by molecular genetic testing. Methods Molecular genetic testing was performed in the patients of the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology with suspected premature ovarian failure. First we performed the southern blot analyses and for the certified premutation cases we used the Repeat Primed PCR. Results Due to POF/POI, a total of 125 patients underwent genetic testing. The FMR1 gene trinucleotide repeat number was examined in the DNA samples of the patients, and in 15 cases (12%) deviations (CGG repeat number corresponding to premutation or gray zone) were detected. In 6 cases out of the 15 cases the CGG repeat number fell within the range of the so-called gray zone (41–54 CGG repeat) (4.8%, 6/125), and the FMR1 premutation (55–200 CGG repeat) ratio was 7.2% (9/125). In 4 out of the 15 cases we found differences in both alleles, one was a premutation allele, and the other allele showed a repeat number belonging to the gray zone. Out of 15 cases, only maternal inheritance (MIP) was detected in 2 cases, in one case the premutation allele (91 CGG repeat number), while in the other case an allele belonging to the gray zone (41 CGG repeat number) were inherited from their mothers. In 10 out of 15 cases, the patient inherited the premutation allele only from the father (PIP). In 5 out of the 10 cases (50%) the premutation allele was inherited from the father, and the repeat number ranged from 55 to 133. Out of 125 cases, 9 patients had detectable cytogenetic abnormalities (7.2%). Conclusions The RP-PCR method can be used to define the smaller premutations and the exact CGG number. Due to the quantitative nature of the RP-PCR, it is possible to detect the mosaicism as well.

We describe sequence analysis of the mitochondrial DNA of five Hungarian patients diagnosed with probable LHON, who do not carry any of the three primary point mutations. We report three novel mutations, one of which might have a pathogenic role.

Background: Recent short-term clinical trials in patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) have indicated greater disease variability in terms of progression than expected. In addition, as average life-expectancy increases, reliable data is required on clinical progression in the older DMD population. Objective: To determine the effects of corticosteroids on major clinical outcomes of DMD in a large multinational cohort of genetically confirmed DMD patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study we analysed clinical data from 5345 genetically confirmed DMD patients from 31 countries held within the TREAT-NMD global DMD database. For analysis patients were categorised by corticosteroid background and further stratified by age. Results: Loss of ambulation in non-steroid treated patients was 10 years and in corticosteroid treated patients 13 years old (p = 0.0001). Corticosteroid treated patients were less likely to need scoliosis surgery (p < 0.001) or ventilatory support (p < 0.001) and there was a mild cardioprotective effect of corticosteroids in the patient population aged 20 years and older (p = 0.0035). Patients with a single deletion of exon 45 showed an increased survival in contrast to other single exon deletions. Conclusions: This study provides data on clinical outcomes of DMD across many healthcare settings and including a sizeable cohort of older patients. Our data confirm the benefits of corticosteroid treatment on ambulation, need for scoliosis surgery, ventilation and, to a lesser extent, cardiomyopathy. This study underlines the importance of data collection via patient registries and the critical role of multi-centre collaboration in the rare disease field. This work was supported by TREAT-NMD operating grants, FP6 LSHM-CT-2006-036825, 20123307 UNEW FY2013 and AFM 16104. Further support came from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement No. 305444 (RD-Connect) and 305121 (Neuromics) and Medical Research Council UK (reference G1002274, grant ID 98482). Sí

Background: Nephronophthisis, an autosomal recessive nephropathy, is responsible for 10% of childhood chronic renal failure. The deletion of its major gene, NPHP1, with a minor allele frequency of 0.24% in the general population, is the most common mutation leading to a monogenic form of childhood chronic renal failure. It is challenging to detect it in the heterozygous state. We aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and the specificity of the quantitative multiplex PCR of short fluorescent fragments (QMPSF) in its detection. Methods: After setting up the protocol of QMPSF, we validated it on 39 individuals diagnosed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) with normal NPHP1 copy number (n=17), with heterozygous deletion (n=13, seven parents and six patients), or with homozygous deletion (n=9). To assess the rate of the deletions that arise from independent events, deleted alleles were haplotyped. Results: The results of QMPSF and MLPA correlated perfectly in the identification of 76 heterozygously deleted and 56 homozygously deleted exons. The inter-experimental variability of the dosage quotient obtained by QMPSF was low: control, 1.05 (median; range, 0.86−1.33, n = 102 exons); heterozygous deletion, 0.51 (0.42−0.67, n = 76 exons); homozygous deletion, 0 (0−0, n = 56 exons). All patients harboring a heterozygous deletion were found to carry a hemizygous mutation. At least 15 out of 18 deletions appeared on different haplotypes and one deletion appeared de novo. Conclusions: The cost- and time-effective QMPSF has a 100% sensitivity and specificity in the detection of NPHP1 deletion. The potential de novo appearance of NPHP1 deletions makes its segregation analysis highly recommended in clinical practice.

Mutations in the nebulin gene are the main cause of autosomal recessive nemaline myopathy, with clinical presentations ranging from mild to severe disease. We have previously reported a nonspecific distal myopathy caused by homozygous missense mutations in the nebulin gene in six Finnish patients from four different families. Here we describe three non-Finnish patients in two unrelated families with distal nemaline myopathy caused by four different compound heterozygous nebulin mutations, only one of which is a missense mutation. One of the mutations has previously been identified in one family with the severe form of nemaline myopathy. We conclude that nemaline myopathy and distal myopathy caused by nebulin mutations form a clinical and histological continuum. Nemaline myopathy should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with an early-onset predominantly distal myopathy.

Muscular dystrophies are a genetically heterogeneous group of degenerative muscle disorders. This article focuses on two severe forms of muscular dystrophies and provides genetic data for a large cohort of Hungarian patients diagnosed within the last few years by the authors. The Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which is located on chromosome Xp21. The genetic analysis of dystrophin is usually performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which detects approximately 95% of all deletions but does not distinguish between one and two copies of the exons investigated. The present work, therefore, concentrates on the improvement of the diagnostic panel for the analysis of DMD/BMD in Hungary. Radioactively labelled cDNA probes, encompassing the whole dystrophin gene detect all the deletions and the analysis is quantitative. In addition, the new multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) technique was recently introduced that enabled more reliable and faster quantitative detection of the entire dystrophin gene. The genomic basis of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is associated with contraction of the D4Z4 repeat region in the subtelomere of chromosome 4q. In case of FSHD, molecular genetic criteria still have to be improved because of the complexity of the disorder.

A Duchenne-/Becker-izomdystrophia súlyos, X-kromoszómához kötött, recesszív neuromuscularis betegség, amelynek előfordulási gyakorisága 1/3500 (Duchenne-típus) és 1/30000 (Becker-típus). A betegség kialakulásáért felelős gént az Xp21-es régióban lokalizálták, amelynek terméke a 427 kD nagyságú dystrophinfehérje. Deletiókat, pontmutációkat és ritkán duplikációkat a teljes génben detektáltak, ami megnehezíti a diagnosztikát. Multiplex polimeráz láncreakció az érintett férfiak 95%-ában kimutatja a deletiót, de nem alkalmas a hordozóság detektálására. Southern-blot-analízissel, 6 cDNS-próbával a teljes 14 kb nagyságú dystrophin-gént kódoló szekvencia analizálható, és a különböző exonokhoz tartozó radioaktív jelek intenzitásának meghatározásával a hordozósági állapot is vizsgálható. A Southern-blot-analízis idő- és anyagigényes, összehasonlítva a multiplex ligációfüggő próbaamplifikációs módszerével, amely lehetővé teszi több DNS-szekvencia relatív mennyiségének meghatározását egyetlen reakcióban. Kilencvenhárom női hozzátartozó hordozósági státuszát vizsgálták Southern-blot- és multiplex ligációfüggő próbaamplifikáció analízissel összehasonlítva. Negyvenkét esetben (45%) igazolták mind a két módszerrel a hordozósági státuszt. Érdekességként, a hordozó populációban két esetben detektáltak duplikációt, két másik esetben pedig a női rokonok hordozónak bizonyultak a teljes dystrophingén hiánya tekintetében. Három további leánybeteg bizonyult hordozónak, klinikai tünetekkel (manifest carrier). A szerzők tapasztalatai alapján a multiplex ligációfüggő próbaamplifikáció analízise a Duchenne-/Becker-izomdystrophia-betegség hordozóságának szűrésében gyors és megbízható módszernek bizonyul, valamint alkalmas az érintett férfiak deletioméretének pontos meghatározására is. A pontos deletiós vagy duplikációs méret ismeretében a fenotípusra is előrejelzés adható, amely a jövőbeli terápiás eljárás kiválasztásához is segítséget nyújthat.

The EuroBioBank (EBB) network (www.eurobiobank.org) is the first operating network of biobanks in Europe to provide human DNA, cell and tissue samples as a service to the scientific community conducting research on rare diseases (RDs). The EBB was established in 2001 to facilitate access to RD biospecimens and associated data; it obtained funding from the European Commission in 2002 (5th framework programme) and started operation in 2003. The set-up phase, during the EC funding period 2003-2006, established the basis for running the network; the following consolidation phase has seen the growth of the network through the joining of new partners, better network cohesion, improved coordination of activities, and the development of a quality-control system. During this phase the network participated in the EC-funded TREAT-NMD programme and was involved in planning of the European Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure. Recently, EBB became a partner of RD-Connect, an FP7 EU programme aimed at linking RD biobanks, registries, and bioinformatics data. Within RD-Connect, EBB contributes expertise, promotes high professional standards, and best practices in RD biobanking, is implementing integration with RD patient registries and 'omics' data, thus challenging the fragmentation of international cooperation on the field. EBB thanks EURORDIS for administrative support, Fondazione Telethon for administrative and financial support, the EC for providing funds (grants: FP5 EuroBioBank, contract N. 02769; FP6 TREAT-NMD, contract N. 036825; and FP7 RD-Connect, grant agreement N. 305444), and AFM for the vision of the network and for encouraging the network to get together. EBB gratefully acknowledges patients and collaborating clinicians/researchers for contributing samples and data to the network, and biobank staffs for running the EBB biobanks. The MRC support to the biobank in London and Newcastle is also gratefully acknowledged. Sí

Background Turner syndrome, a congenital condition that affects 1/2,500 births, results from absence or structural alteration of the second sex chromosome. Turner syndrome is usually associated with short stature, gonadal dysgenesis and variable dysmorphic features. The classical 45,X karyotype accounts approximately for half of all patients, the remainder exhibit mosaicism or structural abnormalities of the X chromosome. However, complex intra-X chromosomal rearrangements involving more than three breakpoints are extremely rare. Results We present a unique case of a novel complex X chromosome rearrangement in a young female patient presenting successively a wide range of autoimmune diseases including insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, celiac disease, anaemia perniciosa, possible inner ear disease and severe hair loss. For the genetic evaluation, conventional cytogenetic analysis and FISH with different X specific probes were initially performed. The complexity of these results and the variety of autoimmune problems of the patient prompted us to identify the exact composition and breakpoints of the rearranged X as well as methylation status of the X chromosomes. The high resolution array-CGH (assembly GRCh37/hg19) detected single copy for the whole chromosome X short arm. Two different sized segments of Xq arm were present in three copies: one large size of 80,3 Mb from Xq11.1 to Xq27.3 region and another smaller (11,1 Mb) from Xq27.3 to Xq28 region. An 1,6 Mb Xq27.3 region of the long arm was present in two copies. Southern blot analysis identified a skewed X inactivation with ≈ 70:30 % ratios of methylated/unmethylated fragments. The G-band and FISH patterns of the rearranged X suggested the aspect of a restructured i(Xq) chromosome which was shattered and fortuitously repaired. The X-STR genotype analysis of the family detected that the patient inherited intact maternal X chromosome and a rearranged paternal X chromosome. The multiple Xq breakages and fusions as well as inverted duplication would have been expected to cause a severe Turner phenotype. However, the patient lacks many of the classic somatic features of Turner syndrome, instead she presented multiorgan autoimmune diseases. Conclusions The clinical data of the presented patient suggest that fragmentation of the i(Xq) chromosome elevates the risk of autoimmune diseases.

Human fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a regulator of lipid and glucose metabolism. It is expressed in skeletal muscle and may be a sensitive and specific marker for mitochondrial diseases and other neuromuscular disorders.Serum FGF21 levels were determined in 71 human samples. Thirty patients with mitochondrial disease, 16 patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), 5 patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, and 20 healthy controls were enrolled. Results Serum FGF21 levels were significantly elevated in patients with progressive external ophthalmoplegia and DM1 compared with patients with facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, other types of mitochondrial diseases, and controls. In the mitochondrial disorder group, serum FGF21 levels were related to the number of ragged blue fibers. Significant insulin resistance was found in DM1 that might be responsible for FGF21 elevation. Conclusions FGF21 elevation may be associated with certain types of mitochondrial disease, and it is influenced by insulin resistance. Muscle Nerve 55: 564-569, 2017.

Western Australian Institute for Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia Friedrich-Baur-Institut, Department of Neurology and Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany Department of Neurology, Sofia Medical University, 1, Sofia, Bulgaria Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Department of Human Genetics and Teratology, National Center for Epidemiology, Budapest, Hungary Unitat de Patalogia Neuromuscular, Servei de Neurologia, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany Department of Molecular Genetics and Diagnostics, National Center for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary Department of Neurology, University College London, Royal Free Campus, London, UK National Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria Clinic for Child Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Servico Neuropediatria, Hospital Maria Pia, Porto, Portugal Department of Pediatric Pathology, Hacettepe University Children’s Hospital, Ankara, Turkey Servio de Neurologia, Hospital ‘La Fe’, Valencia, Spain Hopital de la Salpetriere, Institut de Myologie, Paris, France Neuromuscular Unit, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy

The 8-10 million European Roma/Gypsies are a founder population of common origins that has subsequently split into multiple socially divergent and geographically dispersed Gypsy groups. Unlike other founder populations, whose genealogy has been extensively documented, the demographic history of the Gypsies is not fully understood and, given the lack of written records, has to be inferred from current genetic data. In this study, we have used five disease loci harboring private Gypsy mutations to examine some missing historical parameters and current structure. We analyzed the frequency distribution of the five mutations in 832-1,363 unrelated controls, representing 14 Gypsy populations, and the diversification of chromosomal haplotypes in 501 members of affected families. Sharing of mutations and high carrier rates supported a strong founder effect, and the identity of the congenital myasthenia 1267delG mutation in Gypsy and Indian/Pakistani chromosomes provided the best evidence yet of the Indian origins of the Gypsies. However, dramatic differences in mutation frequencies and haplotype divergence and very limited haplotype sharing pointed to strong internal differentiation and characterized the Gypsies as a founder population comprising multiple subisolates. Using disease haplotype coalescence times at the different loci, we estimated that the entire Gypsy population was founded approximately 32-40 generations ago, with secondary and tertiary founder events occurring approximately 16-25 generations ago. The existence of multiple subisolates, with endogamy maintained to the present day, suggests a general approach to complex disorders in which initial gene mapping could be performed in large families from a single Gypsy group, whereas fine mapping would rely on the informed sampling of the divergent subisolates and searching for the shared genomic region that displays the strongest linkage disequilibrium with the disease.

Investigation of 31 of Roma patients with congenital lactic acidosis (CIA) from Bulgaria identified homozygosity for the R446* mutation in the PDHX gene as the most common cause of the disorder in this ethnic group. It accounted for around 60% of patients in the study and over 25% of all CIA cases referred to the National Genetic Laboratory in Bulgaria. The detection of a homozygous patient from Hungary and carriers among population controls from Romania and Slovakia suggests a wide spread of the mutation in the European Roma population. The clinical phenotype of the twenty R446* homozygotes was relatively homogeneous, with lactic acidosis crisis in the first days or months of life as the most common initial presentation (15/20 patients) and delayed psychomotor development and/or seizures in infancy as the leading manifestations in a smaller group (5/20 patients). The subsequent clinical picture was dominated by impaired physical growth and a very consistent pattern of static cerebral palsy-like encephalopathy with spasticity and severe to profound mental retardation seen in over 80% of cases. Most patients had a positive family history. We propose testing for the R446* mutation in PDHX as a rapid first screening in Roma infants with metabolic acidosis. It will facilitate and accelerate diagnosis in a large proportion of cases, allow early rehabilitation to alleviate the chronic clinical course, and prevent further affected births in high-risk families. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Background Behr’s syndrome is a classical phenotypic description of childhood-onset optic atrophy combined with various neurological symptoms, including ophthalmoparesis, nystagmus, spastic paraparesis, ataxia, peripheral neuropathy and learning difficulties. Objective Here we describe 4 patients with the classical Behr’s syndrome phenotype from 3 unrelated families who carry homozygous nonsense mutations in the C12orf65 gene encoding a protein involved in mitochondrial translation. Methods Whole exome sequencing was performed in genomic DNA and oxygen consumption was measured in patient cell lines. Results We detected 2 different homozygous C12orf65 nonsense mutations in 4 patients with a homogeneous clinical presentation matching the historical description of Behr’s syndrome. The first symptom in all patients was childhood-onset optic atrophy, followed by spastic paraparesis, distal weakness, motor neuropathy and ophthalmoparesis. Conclusions We think that C12orf65 mutations are more frequent than previously suggested and screening of this gene should be considered not only in patients with mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiencies, but also in inherited peripheral neuropathies, spastic paraplegias and ataxias, especially with pre-existing optic atrophy.

BACKGROUND: Behr's syndrome is a classical phenotypic description of childhood-onset optic atrophy combined with various neurological symptoms, including ophthalmoparesis, nystagmus, spastic paraparesis, ataxia, peripheral neuropathy and learning difficulties. OBJECTIVE: Here we describe 4 patients with the classical Behr's syndrome phenotype from 3 unrelated families who carry homozygous nonsense mutations in the C12orf65 gene encoding a protein involved in mitochondrial translation. METHODS: Whole exome sequencing was performed in genomic DNA and oxygen consumption was measured in patient cell lines. RESULTS: We detected 2 different homozygous C12orf65 nonsense mutations in 4 patients with a homogeneous clinical presentation matching the historical description of Behr's syndrome. The first symptom in all patients was childhood-onset optic atrophy, followed by spastic paraparesis, distal weakness, motor neuropathy and ophthalmoparesis. CONCLUSIONS: We think that C12orf65 mutations are more frequent than previously suggested and screening of this gene should be considered not only in patients with mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiencies, but also in inherited peripheral neuropathies, spastic paraplegias and ataxias, especially with pre-existing optic atrophy.

Hypotonia in the neonatal period and early infancy is a common clinical finding. It can be caused by various heterogeneous disorders of different origin which might lead to diagnostic difficulties. Disorders of the neuromuscular junction, such as congenital myasthenic syndromes and neonatal transient myasthenia gravis are among the aetiologies. We report on a case of congenital myasthenia caused by mutation in the long cytoplasmic loop of the epsilon subunit of the acetylcholine receptor and a neonate of a myasthenic mother diagnosed with transient myasthenia gravis.

Autosomal dominant facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by contraction of the D4Z4 repeat region on 4q35. In addition, epigenetic modifying factors play a role in the complex pathomechanism of the disease. Aims: Introduction of a new diagnostic panel in Hungary for the extended molecular analysis of the disease which also provides new insights into the pathomechanism. Methods: In total, DNA samples of 185 clinically diagnosed FSHD patients and 71 asymptomatic relatives were analyzed by EcoRI and BlnI restriction digestion and Southern blot technique with probe p13-E11. Further investigations of the 4q35 alleles associated with the FSHD phenotype utilized qA and qB probes and a restriction analysis of the proximal D4Z4 unit by detecting a G/C SNP and the methylation status. Results: From the patients analyzed 115 had the D4Z4 repeat contraction, whereas from 71 asymptomatic family members five harbored the pathogenic fragment size. In eight families, prenatal testing had to be offered with an outcome of four affected fetuses. Methylation test was performed in 31 genetically confirmed FSHD patients and hypomethylation status was detected in all cases. All the 115 confirmed patients had 4qA alleles with the G polymorphism. Translocation events between 4q35 and the homologous 10q26 regions were also detected. Conclusion: Molecular diagnosis of FSHD became a routine approach in Hungary thus supporting the work of the clinicians, improving quality of life and genetic counseling of the affected families. The provided results from this research suggest that FSHD is associated with complex epigenetic disease mechanisms. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 1576–1585.

Background Oculopharyngodistal myopathy (OPDM) has been reported as a rare, adult-onset hereditary muscle disease with putative autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive inheritance. Patients with OPDM present with progressive ocular, pharyngeal, and distal limb muscle involvement. The genetic defect causing OPDM has not been elucidated. Methods Clinical and genetic findings of 47 patients from 9 unrelated Turkish families diagnosed with OPDM at the Department of Neurology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, between 1982 and 2009 were evaluated. Results The mean age at onset was around 22 years. Both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive traits were observed, without any clear difference in clinical phenotype or severity. The most common initial symptom was ptosis, followed by oropharyngeal symptoms and distal weakness, which started after the fifth disease year. Intrafamilial variability of disease phenotype and severity was notable in the largest autosomal dominant family. Atypical presentations, such as absence of limb weakness in long-term follow-up in 9, proximal predominant weakness in 4, and asymmetric ptosis in 3 patients, were observed. Swallowing difficulty was due to oropharyngeal dysphagia with myopathic origin. Serum creatine kinase levels were slightly increased and EMG revealed myopathic pattern with occasional myotonic discharges. Myopathologic findings included rimmed and autophagic vacuoles and chronic myopathic changes. Importantly, a considerable proportion of patients developed respiratory muscle weakness while still ambulant. Linkage to the genetic loci for all known muscular dystrophies, and for distal and myofibrillar myopathies, was excluded in the largest autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive OPDM families. Conclusions We suggest that OPDM is a clinically and genetically distinct myopathy.

There is currently no cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but there are some promising treatments in development, of which antisense-mediated exon skipping is close to clinical application. The results of the first trials have resulted in significant enthusiasm among clinicians, patients, and their parents and attracted widespread attention in both the scientific and lay press. As in many other rare diseases with significant morbidity this fuels the hope that at last an effective therapy might be within our reach. Parents, but also some clinicians, are now seriously considering treating individual patients with antisense oligonucleotides without waiting for proof from well-designed clinical trials that the new therapies are indeed effective and safe. We understand the sense of urgency that is experienced by patients, parents and their clinicians, but we hope to explain that the preliminary introduction of incompletely tested drugs might lead to dangerous and harmful situations for the patients, endanger the continuation of the development of possible effective therapeutic strategies, or even lead to a complete stop in the further development of promising drugs.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most common autosomal recessive diseases, affecting approximately one in 10,000 live births and with a carrier frequency of approximately one in 35. The disease is caused by a deficiency of the ubiquitous protein survival of motor neuron (SMN), which is encoded by the SMN1 and SMN2 genes. Due to a single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 7, SMN2 produces less full-length transcript than SMN1 and cannot prevent neuronal cell death at physiologic gene dosages. On the other hand, the copy number of SMN2 affects the amount of SMN protein produced and the severity of the SMA phenotype. SMN gene dosage analysis can determine the copy number of SMN1 to detect carriers and patients heterozygous for the absence of SMN1 exon 7. This study provides copy number estimation of SMN1 gene by real-time PCR technique in 56 SMA type I., II., III. patients, 159 parents and healthy relatives and in 152 undefined SMA patients. Among the family members, 91 carriers have been detected and in 56 patients homozygous deletion of SMN1 exon 7 has been confirmed. Moreover, in 12 patients compound heterozygosity of SMN1 exon 7 mutation has been detected, thus providing the possible diagnosis of SMA. In 94 patients, copy number of SMN2 has also been evaluated and a good correlation has been found with the phenotype of the disease. Due to the genetic complexity and the high carrier frequency, accurate risk assessment and genetic counselling are particularly important for the families. These new results provide improvement of the diagnostic service in SMA in Hungary with focus on proper genetic counselling and possible enrolment of the patients in future therapeutic interventions.

Background This article presents a clinically characterization of the mitochondrial DNA mutation (A3243G) associated with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) syndrome in two families. Methods Six patients with MIDD and one mutation-positive relative with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were examined. Fasting serum C-peptide was measured in all subjects and compared with controls having NGT (n = 14). C-peptide response to an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was investigated in the diabetic patients not treated with insulin (n = 3) and in the mutation-positive healthy individual and compared with the controls. Results The A3243G heteroplasmy value varied between 5 and 30%. All A3243G carriers had HLA-DR1-DQ5 haplotype, and either the -DQ5 or the -DQ6 allele. The fasting and the serum C-peptide levels at 120 min during the IVGTT did not differ between the A3243G carriers and the controls. A missing first phase and a decreased total C-peptide response was detected in the mutation-positive diabetics compared with controls (p < 0.0001). The same abnormality was found in the A3243G carrier with NGT. Circulating islet cell antibody (ICA) was present in three patients with MIDD. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), tyrosine phosphatase-like protein IA-2 (IA-2) and mitochondrial antibodies were missing. The diagnosis of MIDD was delayed in each case. Conclusions A missing first phase and a decreased total C-peptide response during an IVGTT was characteristic for the A3243G mutation. The fasting C-peptide level of the carriers did not differ from the controls. Circulating ICA was present in some patients, but GAD, IA-2 and mitochondrial antibodies were absent. All subjects had HLA-DR1-DQ5 haplotype, and either -DQ5 or -DQ6 alleles. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (SMEI; Dravet's syndrome) is a malignant epilepsy syndrome characterized by prolonged febrile hemiconvulsions or generalized seizures starting in the first year of life. Later on myoclonic, atypical absence, and complex partial seizures appear. When one of these seizure forms is lacking the syndrome of borderline SMEI (SMEB) is defined. Psychomotor delay resulting in mental retardation is observed during the second year of life. In most patients a de novo sodium channel alpha-1 subunit (SCN1A) mutation can be identified. By reviewing the clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging data of our SMEI patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2008, we would like to share our experiences in this rare but challenging syndrome. Our results will facilitate the earlier and better diagnosis of Hungarian children with SMEI.Clinical, EEG, MRI and DNA mutation data of 20 SMEI patients treated in the Bethesda Children's Hospital (Budapest) were reviewed.The first seizure appeared at age 6.3+/-3.0 months. At least one of the first two seizures were complex febrile seizures in 19/20 and unilateral seizures in 12/20 children. All children except for one showed hemiconvulsions at least once; all children had seizures lasting longer than 15 minutes. Eight of twenty patients had SMEB. DNA diagnostics identified an SCN1A mutation in 17 patients (6 missense, 4 nonsense, 4 frameshift, 2 splice site, 1 deletion) while 3 children had no mutation.Early diagnosis of SMEI is important for the avoiding unnecessary examinations and false therapies as well as for genetic counselling. Typical symptoms of SMEI are early and prolonged febrile hemiconvulsions with neurological symptoms, mental retardation and secondary seizure types later on. The presence of an SCN1A mutation supports the diagnosis. We propose the availability of molecular diagnostics and stiripentol therapy for SMEI children in Hungary

Recent medical genetic research has identified a number of novel, or previously known, but rare conditions, caused by private founder mutations. The Finnish and Ashkenazi Jew populations provide the best examples for identifying genes in unique genetic disorders. In these populations, research efforts and high-level medical services resulted in intense improvements of medical care and in organization of population-based screening programs. Hereditary disorders of the Roma populations are known for a long time. The genetic background of these diseases has been established by extensive molecular genetic studies. The Romas represent 6% of the Hungarian population and live under extremely bad health conditions. Therefore, our aim was to map the incidence of the hereditary neuromuscular disorders among the Hungarian Roma population. Moreover, we intended to provide proper information, genetic counseling and possible prevention strategies for the families at risk, which should represent a primer task in public health. Because of our experience in neuromuscular disorders, we choose six, frequent, autosomal recessive disorders for these clinical and genetic studies: hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type Lom (HMSNL), hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type Russe (HMSNR), congenital cataracts facial dysmorphism syndrome (CCFDN), limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2C (LGMD2C), congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Following identification of the founder mutations, the possibility of prenatal diagnosis and carrier screening for family members will contribute to the decrease of the recurrence risk for these severe, mostly untreatable disorders.

A comprehensive study of the Hungarian Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) families is presented. Deletions in the hot spots regions were identified by multiplex PCR, whereas rare mutations were detected by Southern blot and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) techniques. DMD/BMD disease was confirmed and exact deletion borders were determined in 19 out of 135 affected males using multiplex PCR. Additional exons involved as well as rare exon deletions were identified by MLPA in 71 male patients, whereas duplications were observed in seven patients. In two DMD patients, the entire dystrophin gene and adjacent genes were deleted. Out of the 95 female relatives, 41 proved to be carriers, including three manifesting carrier females. Using MLPA method, a large portion of the Hungarian DMD/BMD patients and their female relatives were exactly genotyped. For the first time, the incidence and prevalence of asymptomatic and symptomatic female carriers in Hungary was estimated.

Dok ('downstream-of-kinase') family of cytoplasmic proteins play a role in signalling downstream of receptor and non-receptor phosphotyrosine kinases. Recently, a skeletal muscle receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK)-interacting cytoplasmic protein termed Dok-7 has been identified. Subsequently, we and others identified mutations in DOK7 as a cause of congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS), providing evidence for a crucial role of Dok-7 in maintaining synaptic structure. Here we present clinical and molecular genetic data of 14 patients from 12 independent kinships with 13 different mutations in the DOK7 gene. The clinical picture of CMS with DOK7 mutations is highly variable. The age of onset may vary between birth and the third decade. However, most of the patients display a characteristic 'limb-girdle' pattern of weakness with a waddling gait and ptosis, but without ophthalmoparesis. Respiratory problems were frequent. Patients did not benefit from long-term therapy with esterase inhibitors; some of the patients even worsened. DOK7 mutations have emerged as one of the major genetic defects in CMS. The clinical picture differs significantly from CMS caused by mutations in other genes, such as the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunit genes. None of the patients with DOK7 mutations had tubular aggregates in the muscle biopsy, implying that 'limb-girdle myasthenia (LGM) with tubular aggregates' previously described in literature may be a pathogenic entity distinct from CMS caused by DOK7 mutations.

Mutations in CAV3 gene encoding the protein caveolin-3 are associated with autosomal dominant limb girdle muscular dystrophy 1C, rippling muscle disease, hyperCKemia, distal myopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and rare autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy phenotypes. In a 57-year-old patient with asymmetric limb girdle weakness, we detected a novel homozygous intronic mutation (IVS1+2T>C) of the CAV3 gene. This is the first splicing mutation reported for CAV3 . These findings add to the clinical and genetic variability of CAV3 mutations.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are a major cause of human disease. A large number of different molecular defects ultimately compromise oxidative phosphorylation, but it is not clear why the same biochemical defect can cause diverse clinical phenotypes. There is emerging evidence that nuclear genes modulate the phenotype of primary mtDNA disorders. Here, we define an X-chromosomal haplotype that interacts with specific MTND mutations to cause visual failure in the most common mtDNA disease, Leber hereditary optic neuropathy. This effect is independent of the mtDNA genetic background and explains the variable penetrance and sex bias that characterizes this disorder.

Limb gird muscular dystrophies (LGMD2) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of hereditary diseases with autosomal recessive trait, characterized by progressive atrophy and weakness predominantly in the proximal limb muscles. The authors present clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and immunoblot results of two sisters suffering from so far unclassified autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophy. Haplotype analysis for genes possibly involved in autosomal recessive limb girdle muscular dystrophies was performed in the genetically informative family. All of the results pointed to a molecular genetic defect of the calpain-3 (CAPN3) gene. Direct sequencing of the CAPN3 gene revealed compound heterozygous state for two mutations previously described in association with limb girdle muscular dystrophy, proving pathogenicity. The authors would like to emphasize the importance of the above described combined strategy in diagnosing limb girdle muscular dystrophies.

Mutations in the epsilon-acetylcholine receptor (AChR epsilon) subunit gene cause congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) with postsynaptic neural transmission defects. We present 3 male and 2 female patients from three unrelated Croatian, Hungarian, and Russian families with autosomal recessive CMS. All patients manifested with variable degrees of ophthalmoparesis and generalized, fatiguable muscle weakness since birth or early infancy. Electrophysiological studies showed a decremental response in all patients indicating a neuromuscular transmission defect. Pyridostigmine treatment improved the proximal muscle weakness whereas the ophthalmoparesis remained unchanged in all patients. Analysis of the AChR epsilon subunit gene showed homozygosity for a novel splice site mutation of intron 7 epsilon(IVS7-2A/G) in the two Croatian siblings. epsilon-mRNA analysis by RT-PCR and direct sequencing revealed that exon 7 was spliced directly to exon 9 with skipping of exon 8. The Hungarian and Russian patients were heteroallelic carriers of the same mutation epsilon(IVS7-2A/G) and of a frameshifting mutation epsilon 70insG and epsilon 1293insG, respectively. We hypothesize that altered splice products may not be expressed as functional receptors at the cell surface. A haplotype analysis with polymorphic markers revealed a high degree of similarity for the epsilon(IVS7-2A/G) carrying allele in all families and may therefore indicate a common origin of the mutation.

CARE-NMD is an EU-funded project to improve care for patients with Durchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The analysis of the current care practice is the first step to identify gaps and to plan specific measures such as training sessions for professionals and workshops for patients. For this purpose, a large cross-sectional patient-survey about the received care and quality of life of patients with DMD has been performed since September 2011 in seven European countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the United Kingdom. A total of 1,677 patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy have received questionnaires via the national patient registries. For the assessment of quality of care we defined outcome and process indicators. Outcome indicators include stage of the disease, age at loss of ambulation, ability to sit, number of hospitalisations, cardiac and pulmonary function and age at diagnosis. Process indicators comprise the frequency of medical assessments and received treatment, e.g. the use of corticosteroids, non-invasive ventilation and assistive devices. By March 31st 1,093 of 1,677 patients/families responded (66 percent). Response by country were: Bulgaria 45/73, Czech Republic 92/191, Denmark 92/131, Germany 440/545, Hungary 62/70, Poland 137/246, and for United Kingdom 223/421. Key findings about health status, received treatment, and quality of life of patients with DMD in Europe will be presented. This is the largest ever cross-sectional survey of the care and quality of life of people with DMD. The final results will provide detailed insight into the current situation of people with DMD in Europe and help to identify gaps to further improve the situation of affected patients and families.

Background Microduplications 22q11 have been characterized as a genomic duplication syndrome mediated by nonallelic homologous recombination between region-specific low-copy repeats. Here we report on a 19 years old boy with intellectual disability having an unexpected structurally complex ring small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) originated from a larger trisomy and a smaller tetrasomy of proximal 22q11 harboring additional copies of cat eye syndrome critical regions genes. Results Principal clinical features were: anorectal and urogenital malformations, total anomalous pulmonary venous return with secundum ASD, hearing defect, preauricular pits, seizure and eczema. The proband also presented some rare or so far not reported clinical findings such as hyperinsulinaemia, severe immunodeficiency and grave cognitive deficits. Chromosome analysis revealed a mosaic karyotype with the presence of a small ring-like marker in 60% of cells. Array CGH detected approximately an 1,2 Mb single and a 0,2 Mb double copy gain of the proximal long arm of chromosome 22. The 1,3 Mb intervening region of chromosome 22 from centromere to the breakpoints showed no copy alteration. The karyotype of the patient was defined as 47,XY,+mar[60]/46,XY[40].ish idic r(22)(q11.1.q11.21) × 4.arr 22q11(17,435, 645-18,656,678) × 3,(17,598,642-17,799,783) × 4 dn. Conclusions The present report is the first one with a detailed description of clinical presentation in a patient carrying an atypical size ring sSMC (22) analyzed by array CGH. The specialty of the finding is emphasized by the fact that although the patient had a mosaic sSMC and the amplified region was smaller than in typical cat eye syndrome cases, the clinical presentation was severe.

Objective: To report three unrelated infants with a distinctive phenotype of Leigh-like syndrome, neurogenic muscular atrophy, and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The patients all had a homozygous missense mutation in SCO2. Background: SCO2 encodes a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, thought to function as a copper transporter to cytochrome c oxidase (COX), the terminal enzyme of the respiratory chain. Mutations in SCO2 have been described in patients with severe COX deficiency and early onset fatal infantile hypertrophic cardioencephalomyopathy. All patients so far reported are compound heterozygotes for a missense mutation (E140K) near the predicted CxxxC metal binding motif; however, recent functional studies of the homologous mutation in yeast failed to demonstrate an effect on respiration. Methods: Here we present clinical, biochemical, morphologic, functional, MRI, and MRS data in two infants, and a short report in an additional patient, all carrying a homozygous G1541A transition (E140K). Results: The disease onset and symptoms differed significantly from those in compound heterozygotes. MRI and muscle morphology demonstrated an age-dependent progression of disease with predominant involvement of white matter, late appearance of basal ganglia lesions, and neurogenic muscular atrophy in addition to the relatively late onset of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The copper uptake of cultured fibroblasts was significantly increased. Conclusions: The clinical spectrum of SCO2 deficiency includes the delayed development of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and severe neurogenic muscular atrophy. There is increased copper uptake in patients’ fibroblasts indicating that the G1541A mutation effects cellular copper metabolism.

Objective: Mutation analysis of the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) e subunit gene in patients with sporadic or autosomal recessive congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS). Background: The nicotinic AChR of skeletal muscle is a neurotransmitter-gated ion channel that mediates synaptic transmission at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction. Mutations in its gene may cause congenital myasthenic syndromes. A recently described mutation in exon 12 of the AChR e subunit (e1267delG) disrupts the cytoplasmic loop and the fourth transmembrane region (M4) of the AChR e subunit. Methods: Forty-three CMS patients from 35 nonrelated families were clinically classified as sporadic cases of CMS (group III according to European Neuromuscular Centre consensus) and were analyzed for e1267delG by PCR amplification and sequence analysis. Results: The authors report the complete genomic sequence and organization of the gene coding for the e subunit of the human AChR (accession number AF105999). Homozygous e1267delG was identified in 13 CMS patients from 11 independent families. All e1267delG families were of Gypsy or southeastern European origin. Genotype analysis indicated that they derive from a common ancestor (founder) causing CMS in the southeastern European Gypsy population. Phenotype analysis revealed a uniform pattern of clinical features including bilateral ptosis and mild to moderate fatigable weakness of ocular, facial, bulbar, and limb muscles. Conclusions: The mutation e1267delG might be frequent in European congenital myasthenic syndrome patients of Gypsy ethnic origin. In general, patients (e1267delG) were characterized by the onset of symptoms in early infancy, the presence of ophthalmoparesis, positive response to anticholinesterase treatment, and the benign natural course of the disease.

Background One of the frequent reasons for unsuccessful conception is premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI) that is defined as the loss of functional follicles below the age of 40 years. Among the genetic causes the most common one involves the X chromosome, as in Turner syndrome, partial X deletion and X-autosome translocations. Here we report a case of a 27-year-old female patient referred to genetic counselling because of premature ovarian failure. The aim of this case study to perform molecular genetic and cytogenetic analyses in order to identify the exact genetic background of the pathogenic phenotype. Results For premature ovarian failure disease diagnostics we performed the Fragile mental retardation 1 gene analysis using Southern blot technique and Repeat Primed PCR in order to identify the relationship between the Fragile mental retardation 1 gene premutation status and the premature ovarion failure disease. At this early onset, the premature ovarian failure affected patient we detected one normal allele of Fragile mental retardation 1 gene and we couldn’t verify the methylated allele, therefore we performed the cytogenetic analyses using G-banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization methods and a high resolution molecular cytogenetic method, the array comparative genomic hybridization technique. For this patient applying the G-banding, we identified a large deletion on the X chromosome at the critical region (ChrX q21.31-q28) which is associated with the premature ovarian failure phenotype. In order to detect the exact breakpoints, we used a special cytogenetic array ISCA plus CGH array and we verified a 67.355 Mb size loss at the critical region which include total 795 genes. Conclusions We conclude for this case study that the karyotyping is definitely helpful in the evaluation of premature ovarian failure patients, to identify the non submicroscopic chromosomal rearrangement, and using the array CGH technique we can contribute to the most efficient detection and mapping of exact deletion breakpoints of the deleted Xq region.

CARE-NMD aims to disseminate and implement best-practice standards of care for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in Europe. Patient registries offer a valuable approach to engaging with the patient community, both to disseminate information and to survey their experiences. Registries permit the identification of a patient population with a precise genetic diagnosis, and are thus essential to the development of novel, mutation-specific therapeutic approaches such as exon-skipping. A core driving factor in their development has often therefore been clinical trial readiness: e.g. determining trial viability for a specific genetic mutation. However, as registries enable contact with a patient population, they also offer research opportunities outside the clinical trial domain. These include surveying availability of high-quality care and quality of life issues. Furthermore, registries permit the distribution of care information aimed at that particular audience. CARE-NMD has utilised patient registries in both of these contexts. The project has promoted knowledge of best-practice care via the translation and dissemination of the Family Guide to the care standards. This is now available in 22 languages via the CARE-NMD and TREAT-NMD websites, with 200 monthly downloads. The project has also conducted, via national patient registries in seven countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the UK), the largest ever survey of care and quality of life for DMD. The overall response rate is 66%, with 1100 responses received (April 2012), and national response rates of 48–89%. The data gathered provide unparalleled information on the experience of patients and families living with DMD across Europe. The use of registries also enables the return of information to the patient community, enhancing patient-led advocacy for the availability of better care, and strengthening mutual understanding between rare disease researchers and the patient community.

CARE-NMD aims to disseminate and implement best-practice standards of care for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in Europe. As part of the project a survey of health related quality of life was to be conducted in seven countries. To select relevant methods of measurement a screening of seven existing instruments was carried out. Main criteria for selection were frequency of use, correspondence with domains in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), comparability with background population, and scope of cross cultural and geographical assessments. Three pediatric (one disease specific and two generic) and two (generic) instruments were chosen. A comprehensive questionnaire containing the selected instruments was designed and implemented through patient registries in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the UK. The overall response rate was 66%. In addition to information on the experience of 1100 European patients and families living with DMD, the data will provide important knowledge about the options and feasibilities of cross national QoL assessments in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.