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Zhang C, Xin QP, Xie YB, Guo XY, Xing EH, Dou ZJ, Zhao C. Relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene polymorphism and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in early renal injury in H-type hypertension. BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2024; 24:55. [PMID: 38238653 PMCID: PMC10795344 DOI: 10.1186/s12872-024-03704-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyse the relationship between the polymorphisms of the H-type hypertensive methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in early kidney injury. METHOD A total of 279 hospitalised patients with hypertension were selected and grouped according to their homocysteine (Hcy) level. If their blood Hcy level was ≥ 10 µmol/L they were assigned to the H-type hypertensive group, and if it was < 10 µmol/L they were assigned to the non-H-type hypertensive group. Blood lipid indexes, renal function indexes and blood glucose indexes were collected, and the differences between the two groups were compared. Furthermore, MTHFR C677T genotype distribution and allele frequency and Hcy level of MTHFR C677T genotype were compared, and logistic multiple regression analysis was conducted for the correlation of different genotypes of MTHFR C677T and the early kidney injury marker NGAL. RESULTS In the non-H-type hypertensive group, the levels of Hcy and NGAL, cystatin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, uric acid, serum β2-microglobulin and urinary microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio increased significantly, and the glomerular filtration rate level decreased significantly, when compared with the H-type hypertensive group, with statistical differences (p < 0.05). The H-type hypertensive group and the non-H-type hypertensive group had significant differences in the CC, CT and TT genotypes and allele frequencies at the MTHFR C677T locus. The MTHFR C677T gene mutation rate of the H-type hypertensive group was significantly higher than that of the non-H-type hypertensive group. The H-type hypertensive group had higher levels of the TT genotype and CT genotype Hcy. There was a statistical difference (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism is correlated with the Hcy level, and its gene polymorphism will affect the Hcy level. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism has an interactive effect with NGAL. Screening NGAL and reducing Hcy levels are valuable methods for the prevention and treatment of early renal injury in patients with H-type hypertension and help improve the prognosis of patients and their quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, No. 36 of Nanyingzi Street, Shidongzigou District, Chengde, 067000, China
| | - Qiu-Ping Xin
- Department of General Practice, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, No. 36 of Nanyingzi Street, Shidongzigou District, Chengde, 067000, China
| | - Yun-Bo Xie
- Department of General Practice, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, No. 36 of Nanyingzi Street, Shidongzigou District, Chengde, 067000, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Guo
- Department of General Practice, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, No. 36 of Nanyingzi Street, Shidongzigou District, Chengde, 067000, China
| | - En-Hong Xing
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, 067000, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Dou
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, No. 36 of Nanyingzi Street, Shidongzigou District, Chengde, 067000, China.
| | - Cui Zhao
- Department of General Practice, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, No. 36 of Nanyingzi Street, Shidongzigou District, Chengde, 067000, China.
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Onnivello S, Locatelli C, Pulina F, Ramacieri G, Marcolin C, Antonaros F, Vione B, Catapano F, Lanfranchi S. Cross-sectional developmental trajectories in the adaptive functioning of children and adolescents with Down syndrome. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2024; 144:104641. [PMID: 38141379 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persons with Down syndrome (DS) reveal adaptive functioning (AF) difficulties. Studies on AF in DS have focused mainly on describing the profile (i.e., strengths in socialization, and weaknesses in communication), while less is known about age-related differences. This study aimed to elucidate how AF changes with age in children and adolescents with DS, taking a cross-sectional developmental trajectory approach. Moreover, the contribution of both chronological age (CA) and mental age (MA) on AF development was explored. METHOD This study involved 115 children and adolescents (between 3 and 16 years old) with DS. Parents were interviewed about their children's AF on communication, daily living and socialization skills. Children and adolescents with DS were assessed on their developmental level. RESULTS While participants' standard scores on AF decreased linearly over time, their age-equivalent scores increased with linear or segmented patterns, depending on the skill considered. CA and MA were related to daily living skills and socialization to much the same degree, while MA correlated more strongly than CA with communication. CONCLUSION This study contributes to the understanding of how AF develops in children and adolescents with DS, showing that CA and MA both contribute to shaping the skills involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Onnivello
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Italy.
| | - Chiara Locatelli
- Neonatology Operating Unit, IRCCS A.O.U. of Bologna, Policlinic of Sant'Orsola, Italy
| | - Francesca Pulina
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ramacieri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Italy; Specialist School of Child Neuropsychiatry, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Marcolin
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Antonaros
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Beatrice Vione
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Catapano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Lanfranchi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Italy.
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Baldo F, Piovesan A, Rakvin M, Ramacieri G, Locatelli C, Lanfranchi S, Onnivello S, Pulina F, Caracausi M, Antonaros F, Lombardi M, Pelleri MC. Machine learning based analysis for intellectual disability in Down syndrome. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19444. [PMID: 37810082 PMCID: PMC10558609 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID), but a pathogenic mechanism has not been identified yet. Studying a complex and not monogenic condition such as DS, a clear correlation between cause and effect might be difficult to find through classical analysis methods, thus different approaches need to be used. The increased availability of big data has made the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and in particular machine learning (ML) in the medical field possible. The purpose of this work is the application of ML techniques to provide an analysis of clinical records obtained from subjects with DS and study their association with ID. We have applied two tree-based ML models (random forest and gradient boosting machine) to the research question: how to identify key features likely associated with ID in DS. We analyzed 109 features (or variables) in 106 DS subjects. The outcome of the analysis was the age equivalent (AE) score as indicator of intellectual functioning, impaired in ID. We applied several methods to configure the models: feature selection through Boruta framework to minimize random correlation; data augmentation to overcome the issue of a small dataset; age effect mitigation to take into account the chronological age of the subjects. The results show that ML algorithms can be applied with good accuracy to identify variables likely involved in cognitive impairment in DS. In particular, we show how random forest and gradient boosting machine produce results with low error (MSE <0.12) and an acceptable R2 (0.70 and 0.93). Interestingly, the ranking of the variables point to several features of interest related to hearing, gastrointestinal alterations, thyroid state, immune system and vitamin B12 that can be considered with particular attention for improving care pathways for people with DS. In conclusion, ML-based model may assist researchers in identifying key features likely correlated with ID in DS, and ultimately, may improve research efforts focused on the identification of possible therapeutic targets and new care pathways. We believe this study can be the basis for further testing/validating of our algorithms with multiple and larger datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Baldo
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Allison Piovesan
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Marijana Rakvin
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ramacieri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Chiara Locatelli
- Neonatology Unit, IRCCS University General Hospital Sant’Orsola Polyclinic, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Silvia Lanfranchi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, PD, Italy
| | - Sara Onnivello
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, PD, Italy
| | - Francesca Pulina
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padua, PD, Italy
| | - Maria Caracausi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Francesca Antonaros
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Michele Lombardi
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 2, 40136, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Pelleri
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
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Abstract
Communicating the diagnosis of Down Syndrome to a couple of parents is never easy, whether before or after birth. As doctors, we must certainly rely on our own relational skills, but it is also necessary to be confident in some general indications, which are often overlooked in the strict hospital routine. This article is intended as a summary of the main articles published on this subject in the international literature, collecting and summarising the most important indications that have emerged in years of medical practice all over the world as well as in our personal experience. The diffusion of these guidelines is essential to help the doctor in this difficult task, on which there is often little training, and above all to guarantee to the parents the least traumatic communication possible.
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Vione B, Ramacieri G, Zavaroni G, Piano A, La Rocca G, Caracausi M, Vitale L, Piovesan A, Gori C, Pirazzoli GL, Strippoli P, Cocchi G, Corvaglia L, Locatelli C, Pelleri MC, Antonaros F. One-carbon pathway metabolites are altered in the plasma of subjects with Down syndrome: Relation to chromosomal dosage. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:1006891. [PMID: 36530924 PMCID: PMC9751312 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1006891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal disorder and it is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21 (Hsa21). Subjects with DS show a large heterogeneity of phenotypes and the most constant clinical features present are typical facies and intellectual disability (ID). Several studies demonstrated that trisomy 21 causes an alteration in the metabolic profile, involving among all the one-carbon cycle. Methods We performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to identify the concentration of 5 different intermediates of the one-carbon cycle in plasma samples obtained from a total of 164 subjects with DS compared to 54 euploid subjects. We investigated: tetrahydrofolate (THF; DS n = 108, control n = 41), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methyl-THF; DS n = 140, control n = 34), 5-formyltetrahydrofolate (5-formyl-THF; DS n = 80, control n = 21), S-adenosyl-homocysteine (SAH; DS n = 94, control n = 20) and S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM; DS n = 24, control n = 15). Results Results highlight specific alterations of THF with a median concentration ratio DS/control of 2:3, a decrease of a necessary molecule perfectly consistent with a chromosomal dosage effect. Moreover, SAM and SAH show a ratio DS/control of 1.82:1 and 3.6:1, respectively. Discussion The relevance of these results for the biology of intelligence and its impairment in trisomy 21 is discussed, leading to the final proposal of 5-methyl-THF as the best candidate for a clinical trial aimed at restoring the dysregulation of one-carbon cycle in trisomy 21, possibly improving cognitive skills of subjects with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Vione
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ramacieri
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giacomo Zavaroni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela Piano
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia La Rocca
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Caracausi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenza Vitale
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Allison Piovesan
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Caterina Gori
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Pierluigi Strippoli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Guido Cocchi
- Neonatology Unit, IRCCS Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luigi Corvaglia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Neonatology Unit, IRCCS Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Locatelli
- Neonatology Unit, IRCCS Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Pelleri
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesca Antonaros
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Biochemical Discrimination of the Down Syndrome-Related Metabolic and Oxidative/Nitrosative Stress Alterations from the Physiologic Age-Related Changes through the Targeted Metabolomic Analysis of Serum. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11061208. [PMID: 35740106 PMCID: PMC9219806 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11061208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by an accelerated aging process, frequently associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previous studies evidenced that DS patients have various metabolic anomalies, easily measurable in their serum samples, although values that were found in DS patients were compared with those of age-matched non-DS patients, thus hampering to discriminate the physiologic age-related changes of serum metabolites from those that are truly caused by the pathologic processes associated with DS. In the present study we performed a targeted metabolomic evaluation of serum samples from DS patients without dementia of two age classes (Younger DS Patients, YDSP, aging 20–40 years; Aged DS Patients, ADSP, aging 41–60 years), comparing the results with those that were obtained in two age classes of non-DS patients (Younger non-DS Patients, YnonDSP, aging 30–60 years; Aged-nonDS Patients, AnonDSP, aging 75–90 years). Of the 36 compounds assayed, 30 had significantly different concentrations in Pooled non-DS Patients (PnonDSP), compared to Pooled DS Patients (PDSP). Age categorization revealed that 11/30 compounds were significantly different in AnonDSP, compared to YnonDSP, indicating physiologic, age-related changes of their circulating concentrations. A comparison between YDSP and ADSP showed that 19/30 metabolites had significantly different values from those found in the corresponding classes of non-DS patients, strongly suggesting pathologic, DS-associated alterations of their serum levels. Twelve compounds selectively and specifically discriminated PnonDSP from PDSP, whilst only three discriminated YDSP from ADSP. The results allowed to determine, for the first time and to the best of our knowledge, the true, age-independent alterations of metabolism that are measurable in serum and attributable only to DS. These findings may be of high relevance for better strategies (pharmacological, nutritional) aiming to specifically target the dysmetabolism and decreased antioxidant defenses that are associated with DS.
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Jory J. Red cell folate status among a subset of Canadian children with Down Syndrome post-fortification. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2022; 66:471-482. [PMID: 35266234 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome (DS) is associated with altered methylation pathways. Children with DS may therefore represent a population subgroup with vulnerability to increased exposures to folic acid, which is involved in one-carbon metabolism. Folic acid (FA) fortification of flour and maternal FA supplementation are intended to reduce neural tube defects related to folate deficiency. The interventions have been widely successful in Canada. Emerging evidence suggests that higher FA exposures may also have potential negative consequences, including implications for DNA methylation. This retrospective chart review provides insight on the red blood cell (RBC) folate status of a subset of Canadian children and infants with DS, post-fortification. METHODS Children with DS in two Canadian provinces were assessed in the community. Access to RBC folate testing was variable, limiting sample size to 39 (n = 27 for children ≤6 years; n = 12 for children 6-18 years). All children with DS and an RBC folate result were included. The use of FA-containing supplements and formula was documented. RESULTS Among children 6-18 years, 100% had RBC folates >1000 nmol/L, 50% were >2000 nmol/L and 25% had levels above the upper laboratory reporting limit. Among the younger children (<6 years), 52% had RBC folates >2000 nmol and 2 children exceeded 3000 nmol/L. Among exclusively breast-fed infants (<12 months), 100% had RBC folates >1000 nmol/L and 50% had levels >2000 nmol/L, suggestive of in-utero or maternal exposures. RBC folate status among this subset of Canadian children with DS is higher than documented for the larger Canadian population, and higher than among US children with DS. CONCLUSIONS Young Canadian children with DS demonstrated high post-fortification RBC folate status. RBC folate status was higher than reported for the larger Canadian population, and higher than for US children with Down Syndrome. Consumption of folic acid-containing formula and/or supplements was relatively low among these Canadian children with DS, suggesting maternal FA supplements and/or FA-fortified foods may be important etiological factors. A larger, prospective study is needed to validate these results, and to explore potential health implications among this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Jory
- Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, MacDonald Institute, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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A reassessment of Jackson's checklist and identification of two Down syndrome sub-phenotypes. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3104. [PMID: 35210468 PMCID: PMC8873406 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06984-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is characterised by several clinical features including intellectual disability (ID) and craniofacial dysmorphisms. In 1976, Jackson and coll. identified a checklist of signs for clinical diagnosis of DS; the utility of these checklists in improving the accuracy of clinical diagnosis has been recently reaffirmed, but they have rarely been revised. The purpose of this work is to reassess the characteristic phenotypic signs and their frequencies in 233 DS subjects, following Jackson's checklist. 63.77% of the subjects showed more than 12 signs while none showed less than 5, confirming the effectiveness of Jackson's checklist for the clinical diagnosis of DS. An association between three phenotypic signs emerged, allowing us to distinguish two sub-phenotypes: Brachycephaly, short and broad Hands, short Neck (BHN), which is more frequent, and "non-BHN". The strong association of these signs might be interpreted in the context of the growth defects observed in DS children suggesting decreased cell proliferation. Lastly, cognitive assessments were investigated for 114 subjects. The lack of association between the presence of a physical sign or the number of signs present in a subject and cognitive skills disproves the stereotype that physical characteristics are predictive of degree of ID.
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Cognitive profiles in children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1936. [PMID: 35121796 PMCID: PMC8816899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05825-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The Down syndrome (DS) phenotype is usually characterized by relative strengths in non-verbal skills and deficits in verbal processing, but high interindividual variability has been registered in the syndrome. The goal of this study was to explore the cognitive profile, considering verbal and non-verbal intelligence, of children and adolescents with DS, also taking into account interindividual variability. We particularly aimed to investigate whether this variability means that we should envisage more than one cognitive profile in this population. The correlation between cognitive profile and medical conditions, parents’ education levels and developmental milestones was also explored. Seventy-two children/adolescents with DS, aged 7–16 years, were assessed with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-III. Age-equivalent scores were adopted, and Verbal and Non-Verbal indices were obtained for each individual. The cognitive profile of the group as a whole was characterized by similar scores in the verbal and non-verbal domain. Cluster analysis revealed three different profiles, however: one group, with the lowest scores, had the typical profile associated with DS (with higher non-verbal than verbal intelligence); one, with intermediate scores, had greater verbal than non-verbal intelligence; and one, with the highest scores, fared equally well in the verbal and non-verbal domain. Three cognitive profiles emerged, suggesting that educational support for children and adolescents with DS may need to be more specific.
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Antonaros F, Pitocco M, Abete D, Vione B, Piovesan A, Vitale L, Strippoli P, Caracausi M, Pelleri MC. Structural Characterization of the Highly Restricted Down Syndrome Critical Region on 21q22.13: New KCNJ6 and DSCR4 Transcript Isoforms. Front Genet 2021; 12:770359. [PMID: 34956324 PMCID: PMC8692863 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.770359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is caused by trisomy of chromosome 21 and it is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID) in humans. Subjects with DS show a typical phenotype marked by facial dysmorphisms and ID. Partial trisomy 21 (PT21) is a rare genotype characterized by the duplication of a delimited chromosome 21 (Hsa21) portion and it may or may not be associated with DS diagnosis. The highly restricted Down syndrome critical region (HR-DSCR) is a region of Hsa21 present in three copies in all individuals with PT21 and a diagnosis of DS. This region, located on distal 21q22.13, is 34 kbp long and does not include characterized genes. The HR-DSCR is annotated as an intergenic region between KCNJ6-201 transcript encoding for potassium inwardly rectifying channel subfamily J member 6 and DSCR4-201 transcript encoding Down syndrome critical region 4. Two transcripts recently identified by massive RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) and automatically annotated on Ensembl database reveal that the HR-DSCR seems to be partially crossed by KCNJ6-202 and DSCR4-202 isoforms. KCNJ6-202 shares the coding sequence with KCNJ6-201 which is involved in many physiological processes, including heart rate in cardiac cells and circuit activity in neuronal cells. DSCR4-202 transcript has the first two exons in common with DSCR4-201, the only experimentally verified gene uniquely present in Hominidae. In this study, we performed in silico and in vitro analyses of the HR-DSCR. Bioinformatic data, obtained using Sequence Read Archive (SRA) and SRA-BLAST software, were confirmed by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing on a panel of human tissues. Our data demonstrate that the HR-DSCR cannot be defined as an intergenic region. Further studies are needed to investigate the functional role of the new transcripts, likely involved in DS phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Antonaros
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Margherita Pitocco
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Domenico Abete
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Beatrice Vione
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Allison Piovesan
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenza Vitale
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Strippoli
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Caracausi
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Pelleri
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Lai F, Mercaldo N, Wang CM, Hersch GG, Rosas HD. Association between Inflammatory Conditions and Alzheimer's Disease Age of Onset in Down Syndrome. J Clin Med 2021; 10:3116. [PMID: 34300282 PMCID: PMC8307987 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10143116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adults with Down syndrome (DS) have an exceptionally high prevalence of Alzheimer disease (AD), with an earlier age of onset compared with the neurotypical population. In addition to beta amyloid, immunological processes involved in neuroinflammation and in peripheral inflammatory/autoimmune conditions are thought to play important roles in the pathophysiology of AD. Individuals with DS also have a high prevalence of autoimmune/inflammatory conditions which may contribute to an increased risk of early AD onset, but this has not been studied. Given the wide range in the age of AD onset in those with DS, we sought to evaluate the relationship between the presence of inflammatory conditions and the age of AD onset. We performed a retrospective study on 339 adults with DS, 125 who were cognitively stable (CS) and 214 with a diagnosis of AD. Data were available for six autoimmune conditions (alopecia, celiac disease, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, diabetes and vitamin B12 deficiency) and for one inflammatory condition, gout. Gout was associated with a significant delay in the age of AD onset by more than 2.5 years. Our data suggests that inflammatory conditions may play a role in the age of AD onset in DS. Further studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Lai
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA;
| | - Nathaniel Mercaldo
- Department of Radiology, Center for Neuroimaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA;
| | | | - Giovi G. Hersch
- College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
| | - Herminia Diana Rosas
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA;
- Department of Radiology, Center for Neuroimaging of Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA;
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Locatelli C, Onnivello S, Antonaros F, Feliciello A, Filoni S, Rossi S, Pulina F, Marcolin C, Vianello R, Toffalini E, Ramacieri G, Martelli A, Procaccini G, Sperti G, Caracausi M, Pelleri MC, Vitale L, Pirazzoli GL, Strippoli P, Cocchi G, Piovesan A, Lanfranchi S. Is the Age of Developmental Milestones a Predictor for Future Development in Down Syndrome? Brain Sci 2021; 11:655. [PMID: 34069813 PMCID: PMC8157296 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic alteration responsible for intellectual disability, which refers to deficits in both intellectual and adaptive functioning. According to this, individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) reach developmental milestones (e.g., sitting, walking, and babbling) in the same order as their typically developing peers, but later in life. Since developmental milestones are the first blocks on which development builds, the aims of the current study are to: (i) expand the knowledge of developmental milestone acquisition; and (ii) explore the relationship between developmental milestone acquisition and later development. For this purpose 105 children/adolescents with DS were involved in this study, divided in two groups, Preschoolers (n = 39) and School-age participants (n = 66). Information on the age of acquisition of Sitting, Walking, Babbling, and Sphincter Control was collected, together with cognitive, motor, and adaptive functioning. Sitting predicted later motor development, but, with age, it became less important in predicting motor development in everyday life. Babbling predicted later language development in older children. Finally, Sphincter Control emerged as the strongest predictor of motor, cognitive, language, and adaptive skills, with its role being more evident with increasing age. Our data suggest that the age of reaching the milestones considered in the study has an influence on successive development, a role that can be due to common neural substrates, the environment, and the developmental cascade effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Locatelli
- IRCCS, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.L.); (A.F.); (S.F.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (G.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Sara Onnivello
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.O.); (F.P.); (C.M.); (R.V.); (S.L.)
| | - Francesca Antonaros
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 8, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (G.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.P.); (L.V.); (P.S.)
| | - Agnese Feliciello
- IRCCS, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.L.); (A.F.); (S.F.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (G.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Sonia Filoni
- IRCCS, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.L.); (A.F.); (S.F.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (G.P.); (G.S.)
- Specialisation School in Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Pain Care, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Largo del Pozzo, 71, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Sara Rossi
- IRCCS, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.L.); (A.F.); (S.F.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (G.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Francesca Pulina
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.O.); (F.P.); (C.M.); (R.V.); (S.L.)
| | - Chiara Marcolin
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.O.); (F.P.); (C.M.); (R.V.); (S.L.)
| | - Renzo Vianello
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.O.); (F.P.); (C.M.); (R.V.); (S.L.)
| | - Enrico Toffalini
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Ramacieri
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 8, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (G.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.P.); (L.V.); (P.S.)
| | - Anna Martelli
- IRCCS, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.L.); (A.F.); (S.F.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (G.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Giulia Procaccini
- IRCCS, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.L.); (A.F.); (S.F.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (G.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Giacomo Sperti
- IRCCS, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (C.L.); (A.F.); (S.F.); (S.R.); (A.M.); (G.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Maria Caracausi
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 8, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (G.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.P.); (L.V.); (P.S.)
| | - Maria Chiara Pelleri
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 8, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (G.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.P.); (L.V.); (P.S.)
| | - Lorenza Vitale
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 8, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (G.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.P.); (L.V.); (P.S.)
| | - Gian Luca Pirazzoli
- Medical Department, Maggiore Hospital, Largo Nigrisoli 2, 40133 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Pierluigi Strippoli
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 8, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (G.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.P.); (L.V.); (P.S.)
| | - Guido Cocchi
- Neonatology Unit, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Allison Piovesan
- Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, via Belmeloro 8, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (F.A.); (G.R.); (M.C.); (M.C.P.); (L.V.); (P.S.)
| | - Silvia Lanfranchi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy; (S.O.); (F.P.); (C.M.); (R.V.); (S.L.)
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