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Spindler J, Koller S, Graf U, Berger W, Gerth-Kahlert C, Blaser F. Macular Corneal Dystrophy - Molecular Genetics as the Key in Treatment-Refractory Keratopathy. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2024; 241:398-401. [PMID: 38653268 DOI: 10.1055/a-2219-8288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan Spindler
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Samuel Koller
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Urs Graf
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Aktuelle Adresse: Labordiagnostic St. Gallen West AG, 9015 St. Gallen
| | - Wolfgang Berger
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zentrum für Neurowissenschaften (ZNZ), University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Frank Blaser
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Stafki SA, Turner J, Littel HR, Bruels CC, Truong D, Knirsch U, Stettner GM, Graf U, Berger W, Kinali M, Jungbluth H, Pacak CA, Hughes J, Mirchi A, Derksen A, Vincent-Delorme C, Theil AF, Bernard G, Ellis D, Fassihi H, Lehmann AR, Laugel V, Mohammed S, Kang PB. The Spectrum of MORC2-Related Disorders: A Potential Link to Cockayne Syndrome. Pediatr Neurol 2023; 141:79-86. [PMID: 36791574 PMCID: PMC10098370 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2023.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a DNA repair disorder primarily associated with pathogenic variants in ERCC6 and ERCC8. As in other Mendelian disorders, there are a number of genetically unsolved CS cases. METHODS We ascertained five individuals with monoallelic pathogenic variants in MORC2, previously associated with three dominantly inherited phenotypes: an axonal form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2Z; a syndrome of developmental delay, impaired growth, dysmorphic facies, and axonal neuropathy; and a rare form of spinal muscular atrophy. RESULTS One of these individuals bore a strong phenotypic resemblance to CS. We then identified monoallelic pathogenic MORC2 variants in three of five genetically unsolved individuals with a clinical diagnosis of CS. In total, we identified eight individuals with MORC2-related disorder, four of whom had clinical features strongly suggestive of CS. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that some forms of MORC2-related disorder have phenotypic similarities to CS, including features of accelerated aging. Unlike classic DNA repair disorders, MORC2-related disorder does not appear to be associated with a defect in transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair and follows a dominant pattern of inheritance with variants typically arising de novo. Such de novo pathogenic variants present particular challenges with regard to both initial gene discovery and diagnostic evaluations. MORC2 should be included in diagnostic genetic test panels targeting the evaluation of microcephaly and/or suspected DNA repair disorders. Future studies of MORC2 and its protein product, coupled with further phenotypic characterization, will help to optimize the diagnosis, understanding, and therapy of the associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth A Stafki
- Department of Neurology and Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Johnnie Turner
- Department of Neurology and Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Hannah R Littel
- Department of Neurology and Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Christine C Bruels
- Department of Neurology and Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Don Truong
- Department of Neurology and Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Ursula Knirsch
- Neuromuscular Center Zürich and Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Children's Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Georg M Stettner
- Neuromuscular Center Zürich and Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Children's Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Graf
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics (IMMG), University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Berger
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics (IMMG), University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich (NCZ), University and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland; Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Kinali
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London and Portland Hospital HCA International, London, United Kingdom
| | - Heinz Jungbluth
- Evelina Children's Hospital and King's College London, University of Manchester, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christina A Pacak
- Department of Neurology and Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jayne Hughes
- Amy and Friends Cockayne Syndrome/Trichothiodystrophy Support, Wirral, United Kingdom
| | - Amytice Mirchi
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alexa Derksen
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Arjan F Theil
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Geneviève Bernard
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada; Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada; Division of Medical Genetics, Department Specialized Medicine, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada
| | - David Ellis
- South East Genomics Laboratory Hub, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hiva Fassihi
- St. John's Institute of Dermatology, Rare Disease Centre, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alan R Lehmann
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent Laugel
- Service de Pédiatrie 1, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France; Laboratoire de Génétique médicale, INSERM U1112, Institut de génétique médicale d'Alsace, Faculté de Médecine de Strasbourg, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Shehla Mohammed
- South East Thames Regional Genetics Service and Rare Diseases Centre Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter B Kang
- Department of Neurology and Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Kivrak Pfiffner F, Koller S, Ménétrey A, Graf U, Bähr L, Maspoli A, Hackenberg A, Kottke R, Gerth-Kahlert C, Berger W. Homozygosity for a Novel DOCK7 Variant Due to Segmental Uniparental Isodisomy of Chromosome 1 Associated with Early Infantile Epileptic Encephalopathy (EIEE) and Cortical Visual Impairment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137382. [PMID: 35806387 PMCID: PMC9266905 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE) is a severe neurologic and neurodevelopmental disease that manifests in the first year of life. It shows a high degree of genetic heterogeneity, but the genetic origin is only identified in half of the cases. We report the case of a female child initially diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), an early-onset retinal dystrophy due to photoreceptor cell degeneration in the retina. The first examination at 9 months of age revealed no reaction to light or objects and showed wandering eye movements. Ophthalmological examination did not show any ocular abnormalities. The patient displayed mildly dysmorphic features and a global developmental delay. Brain MRI demonstrated pontine hypo-/dysplasia. The patient developed myoclonic epileptic seizures and epileptic spasms with focal and generalized epileptiform discharges on electroencephalogram (EEG) at the age of 16 months. Genetic screening for a potentially pathogenic DNA sequence variant by whole-exome sequencing (WES) revealed a novel, conserved, homozygous frameshift variant (c.5391delA, p.(Ala1798LeufsTer59)) in exon 42 of the DOCK7 gene (NM_001271999.1). Further analysis by SNP array (Karyomapping) showed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in four segments of chromosome 1. WES data of the parents and the index patient (trio analysis) demonstrated that chromosome 1 was exclusively inherited from the mother. Four LOH segments of chromosome 1 alternately showed isodisomy (UPiD) and heterodisomy (UPhD). In WES data, the father was a noncarrier, and the mother was heterozygous for this DOCK7 variant. The DOCK7 gene is located in 1p31.3, a region situated in one of the four isodisomic segments of chromosome 1, explaining the homozygosity seen in the affected child. Finally, Sanger sequencing confirmed maternal UPiD for the DOCK7 variant. Homozygous or compound heterozygous pathogenic variants in the DOCK7 (dedicator of cytokinesis 7) gene are associated with autosomal recessive, early infantile epileptic encephalopathy 23 (EIEE23; OMIM #615,859), a rare and heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders diagnosed during early childhood. To our knowledge, this is the first report of segmental uniparental iso- and heterodisomy of chromosome 1, leading to homozygosity of the DOCK7 frameshift variant in the affected patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Kivrak Pfiffner
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland; (F.K.P.); (S.K.); (U.G.); (L.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Samuel Koller
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland; (F.K.P.); (S.K.); (U.G.); (L.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Anika Ménétrey
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland; (A.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Urs Graf
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland; (F.K.P.); (S.K.); (U.G.); (L.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Luzy Bähr
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland; (F.K.P.); (S.K.); (U.G.); (L.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Alessandro Maspoli
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland; (F.K.P.); (S.K.); (U.G.); (L.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Annette Hackenberg
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland; (A.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Raimund Kottke
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Children’s Hospital, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland;
| | | | - Wolfgang Berger
- Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland; (F.K.P.); (S.K.); (U.G.); (L.B.); (A.M.)
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- Correspondence:
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Neubauer J, Kissel CK, Bolliger SA, Barbon D, Thali MJ, Kloiber D, Bode PK, Kovacs B, Graf U, Maspoli A, Berger W, Saguner AM, Haas C. Benefits and outcomes of a new multidisciplinary approach for the management and financing of sudden unexplained death cases in a forensic setting in Switzerland. Forensic Sci Int 2022; 334:111240. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Linz H, Beuther H, Gerin M, Goicoechea JR, Helmich F, Krause O, Liu Y, Molinari S, Ossenkopf-Okada V, Pineda J, Sauvage M, Schinnerer E, van der Tak F, Wiedner M, Amiaux J, Bhatia D, Buinhas L, Durand G, Förstner R, Graf U, Lezius M. Bringing high spatial resolution to the far-infrared: A giant leap for astrophysics. Exp Astron (Dordr) 2021; 51:661-697. [PMID: 34744305 PMCID: PMC8536553 DOI: 10.1007/s10686-021-09719-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The far-infrared (FIR) regime is one of the wavelength ranges where no astronomical data with sub-arcsecond spatial resolution exist. None of the medium-term satellite projects like SPICA, Millimetron, or the Origins Space Telescope will resolve this malady. For many research areas, however, information at high spatial and spectral resolution in the FIR, taken from atomic fine-structure lines, from highly excited carbon monoxide (CO), light hydrides, and especially from water lines would open the door for transformative science. A main theme will be to trace the role of water in proto-planetary discs, to observationally advance our understanding of the planet formation process and, intimately related to that, the pathways to habitable planets and the emergence of life. Furthermore, key observations will zoom into the physics and chemistry of the star-formation process in our own Galaxy, as well as in external galaxies. The FIR provides unique tools to investigate in particular the energetics of heating, cooling, and shocks. The velocity-resolved data in these tracers will reveal the detailed dynamics engrained in these processes in a spatially resolved fashion, and will deliver the perfect synergy with ground-based molecular line data for the colder dense gas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Linz
- Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Maryvonne Gerin
- Sorbonne Université, Observatoire de Paris, Université PSL, CNRS, LERMA, Paris, France
| | | | - Frank Helmich
- SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Oliver Krause
- Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yao Liu
- Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany
- Present Address: Purple Mountain Observatory, Key Laboratory for Radio Astronomy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Sergio Molinari
- Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziale, INAF, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Jorge Pineda
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA
| | - Marc Sauvage
- AIM, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Floris van der Tak
- SRON, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Martina Wiedner
- Observatoire de Paris, PSL university, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, LERMA, Paris, France
| | - Jerome Amiaux
- AIM, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Divya Bhatia
- Institut für Flugführung, TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
- Present Address: Independent Spacecraft AOCS/GNC Research Engineer, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Luisa Buinhas
- Universität der Bundeswehr München, Neubiberg, Germany
- Present Address: Space Systems Engineer, Vyoma GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Gilles Durand
- AIM, CEA, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Urs Graf
- 1. Physikalisches Institut, Universität zu Köln, Cologne, Germany
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Kovacs B, Graf U, Magyar I, Baehr L, Maspoli A, Duru F, Berger W, Saguner AM. A novel variant in the SLC4A3 gene with high penetrance in a family with short QT Syndrome. Europace 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/europace/euab116.327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.
Background
Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is a rare, autosomal dominant disease causing sudden cardiac death (SCD). Current guidelines recommend genetic testing. Associated variants in KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNJ2 and SLC4A3 genes have been reported.
Purpose
We report a family with a variant in the SLC4A3 gene with several presentations of SCD and high clinical penetrance of SQTS.
Methods
We performed a post-mortem genetic testing in the index patient in whom prior ECG was available. Subsequently, clinical and electrophysiological work-up and cascade screening (CS) of the detected suspected variant was carried out in available relatives.
Results
The index patient had suffered a SCD at the age of 17 (figure, upper panel, arrow). A previously registered ECG showed a shortened QTc of 340ms (figure, lower panel). Autopsy revealed no structural heart disease. Post-mortem genetic testing revealed variants in the LDB3, MYH7 and a novel heterozygous missense variant, p.(Ser1039Arg) also in the SLC4A3 gene. Although predictive bioinformatic algorithms (AlignGVGD, SIFT, MutationTaster, Polyphen2) showed conflicting classifications, family history was notable for SCD without post-mortem genetic work-up in three second degree relatives (figure, upper panel, patients 207, 208 and 305, age of death 33, 25 and 33 years respectively). CS was performed in first and second degree relatives of the index patient and was highly suggestive for disease association of the variant in the SLC4A3 gene with co-segregation in all clinically affected family members. Only one patient with the variant had a normal QTc (figure, upper panel, patient 202) of 407ms, however this patient was on regular QT-prolonging medication (risperidone and loperamide).
Conclusion
Genetic testing revealed a novel in the SLC4A3 gene, which was recently implicated in the pathogenesis of the SQTS. Although predictive bioinformatic algorithms yielded conflicting results, CS of family members suggests a likely pathogenicity (class IV) of the variant. Further CS or functional tests are necessary to establish causality. Abstract Figure. ECG of index patient and family tree
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kovacs
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Graf
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - I Magyar
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - L Baehr
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Maspoli
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - F Duru
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - W Berger
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - AM Saguner
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
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Kovacs B, Graf U, Magyar I, Baehr L, Maspoli A, Duru F, Berger W, Saguner A. Two novel variants in the SLC4A3 gene in two families with Short QT Syndrome: the role of cascade screening. Eur Heart J 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.0741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is a rare, autosomal dominant disease causing sudden cardiac death (SCD). Genetic testing is recommended according to current guidelines. Variants in KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNJ2 and SLC4A3 genes have been reported in SQTS.
Purpose
We report implications of genetic testing and cascade screening (CS) in two families with phenotypical presentation of SQTS and novel genetic variants of unknown significance.
Methods
We performed a thorough clinical and electrophysiological work-up of the index patients of both families. In addition, genetic screening was conducted. Subsequently, segregation analysis of potentially pathogenic variants was carried out in available relatives.
Results
Index patient 1 presented with a history of recurrent syncope. His ECG showed a shortened QTc of 340ms. Family history was unremarkable. Structural heart disease was excluded by cardiac MRI and coronary angiography. Genetic testing detected a rare heterozygous missense variant in the KCNH2 gene (p.(Arg328Cys), frequency 0.053%), predicted to be pathogenic according to various prediction algorithms (Polyphen, SIFT, Align GVGD, mutation taster). CS of relatives did not confirm this variant as the causative mutation. Reanalysis of whole-exome sequencing data revealed a novel heterozygous missense variant, p.(Arg370Cys) in the recently identified SLC4A3 gene. A variant at the same position has previously been associated with SQTS. CS suggested disease association. The second index patient had a SCD at the age of 17. A previously registered ECG showed a shortened QTc of 340ms. Autopsy revealed no structural heart disease. Post-mortem genetic testing revealed variants in the LDB3, MYH7 and a novel heterozygous missense variant, p.(Ser1039Arg) also in the SLC4A3 gene. Family history was positive for SCD in three 2° relatives. The index patient's father had a positive phenotype with a QTc of 365ms. CS again suggested disease association of the variant in the SLC4A3 gene only.
Conclusion
Genetic testing revealed two novel variants in the SLC4A3 gene, which was recently implicated in the pathogenesis of the SQTS. Predictive bioinformatic algorithms to assess the pathogenicity of missense variants are of limited relevance, but genetic analysis of additional unaffected and affected family members may be instrumental to identify pathogenic DNA sequence variations.
Family tree index patients 1 and 2
Funding Acknowledgement
Type of funding source: None
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kovacs
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Graf
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - I Magyar
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - L Baehr
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Maspoli
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - F Duru
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - W Berger
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A.M Saguner
- University Hospital Zurich, Department of Cardiology, Zurich, Switzerland
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Kovacs B, Graf U, Magyar I, Baehr L, Maspoli A, Firat D, Berger W, Saguner AM. 1268A family with a novel variant in the SLC4A3 gene leading to short QT phenotype - the importance of whole-exome-sequencing and cascade screening. Europace 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/europace/euaa162.297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements
none
Introduction
Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is a rare, autosomal dominant disease causing ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. Genetic testing is recommended according to current guidelines. Mutations in KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNJ2 and more recently SLC4A3 genes have been implicated in SQTS. These genes encode potassium channel subunits and a bicarbonate transporter regulating intracellular pH. A dominant mutation in this transporter can lead to increased intracellular pH and shortened action potential.
Purpose
We present a family with a short QT phenotype and recurrent syncope in whom a novel genetic variant was detected by whole-exome sequencing (WES), confirmed by cascade screening.
Methods
We performed a thorough work-up of the index patient including medical history, physical examination, 12-lead ECG, echocardiography, stress testing, coronary angiography, flecainide challenge, and genetic testing with NGS. QTc was determined using Bazett’s formula. CS of all 1° and two 2° relatives was performed.
Results
The ECG of the index patient showed a QTc of 340ms and characteristics compatible with a SQTS (figure). Clinical work-up was unremarkable. A first genetic search with next generation sequencing focusing on genes that have been previously involved in the pathogenesis of channelopathies detected a rare known heterozygous missense variant in the KCNH2 gene (Arg328Cys, frequency 0.053%), which was predicted to be pathogenic according to various prediction algorithms (Polyphen, SIFT, Align GVGD, mutation taster). ECG screening of all asymptomatic first-degree family members identified a SQT phenotype in the mother (QTc 355ms), but not in the father (QTc 380ms) and sister (410ms). The KCNH2 variant was found in the father and sister but not the affected mother, which excludes this variant as the causative mutation in this family. Therefore, reanalysis of WES data was performed and revealed a novel heterozygous missense variant p.(Arg370Cys) in the SLC4A3 gene, recently associated with SQTS. A mutation in this gene at the same position has been previously reported in SQTS. The p.(Arg370Cys) mutation was found in the mother but not in the unaffected father or sister. Furthermore the mutation was present in two affected maternal uncles (QTc 319ms and 342ms) supporting the assumption that this was the causative mutation in this family.
Conclusions
A novel genetic variant in the SLC4A3 gene leading to sQT phenotype could be detected using WES and cascade screening. Predictive bioinformatic algorithms to assess the pathogenicity of missense variants are of limited relevance, but genetic analysis of additional unaffected and affected family members may be instrumental to identify pathogenic DNA sequence variations.
Abstract Figure. Pedigree and ECGs of the family
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Affiliation(s)
- B Kovacs
- University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - U Graf
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - I Magyar
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - L Baehr
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Maspoli
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - D Firat
- University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - W Berger
- University of Zurich, Institute of Medical Molecular Genetics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A M Saguner
- University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Stettner G, Knirsch U, Berger W, Graf U, Hendriks B, Seidl R, Bernert G, Behunova J, Laccone F, Weiss S. EP.113Infantile-onset CMT2Z is caused by two MORC2 gene mutations and is associated with a distinct phenotype. Neuromuscul Disord 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2019.06.571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Graf U, Casanova EA, Wyck S, Dalcher D, Gatti M, Vollenweider E, Okoniewski MJ, Weber FA, Patel SS, Schmid MW, Li J, Sharif J, Wanner GA, Koseki H, Wong J, Pelczar P, Penengo L, Santoro R, Cinelli P. Corrigendum: Pramel7 mediates ground-state pluripotency through proteasomal-epigenetic combined pathways. Nat Cell Biol 2017; 19:1003. [PMID: 28752849 DOI: 10.1038/ncb3572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/ncb3554.
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Graf U, Casanova EA, Wyck S, Dalcher D, Gatti M, Vollenweider E, Okoniewski M, Weber FA, Patel SS, Schmid MW, Li J, Sharif J, Wanner G, Koseki H, Wong J, Pelczar P, Penengo L, Santoro R, Cinelli P. Pramel7 mediates ground-state pluripotency through proteasomal–epigenetic combined pathways. Nat Cell Biol 2017; 19:763-773. [DOI: 10.1038/ncb3554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Sachsanidis P, Tartagni MV, Graf U. Recurrent Transient Osteoporosis during Pregnancy and Treatment with Oral Bisphosphonates: A Case Report. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.4236/ojog.2017.710105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Justen M, Bonzon C, Ohtani K, Beck M, Graf U, Faist J. 2D patch antenna array on a double metal quantum cascade laser with >90% coupling to a Gaussian beam and selectable facet transparency at 1.9 THz. Opt Lett 2016; 41:4590-4592. [PMID: 27749888 DOI: 10.1364/ol.41.004590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
2×2 parallel fed and 3×3 serial fed patch antenna arrays on a benzocyclobutene (BCB) polymer layer are integrated with a 70 μm wide, dry etched, double metal waveguide quantum cascade laser, operating at about 1.9 THz. The BCB surrounds the quantum cascade laser ridge and is planarized to fit precisely its height. The patch antenna arrays emit a linearly polarized, highly symmetric beam perpendicular to the antenna plane. The beams have a FWHM angle of 49° (2×2) and 35° (3×3). Both measurements and simulations indicate coupling factors to a Gaussian beam of over 90%. The antenna design is strongly governed by the high thickness (h=13.6 μm) and the low dielectric constant (ϵr=2.45) of the BCB substrate. Because the patch array has a very low input reflectivity of -13 to -20 dB over the 1.7-2.1 THz operation band, the laser needs a partially transmitting reflector to maintain the Q-factor of the active medium resonator to assure lasing in the antennas operation band. By changing the dimensions of the reflector, the facet transparency can be designed in a wide range from fully transmissive to highly reflective.
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Bruno G, Bagalino A, Andreozzi P, Caporossi A, Benvenuto R, Graf U. Gastroesophageal Reflux: A Role in Exercise-Induced Urticaria-Angioedema Syndrome? Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/039463209600900234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A. Bagalino
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - P. Andreozzi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A.P. Caporossi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - R. Benvenuto
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - U. Graf
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - P. Andreozzi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A. Bagalino
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - U. Graf
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
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Andreozzi P, Bagalino A, Caporossi AP, Benvenuto R, Graf U, Bruno G. “Silent” Chronic Infections as the Cause of the Urticaria-Angioedema Syndrome. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/039463209600900233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P. Andreozzi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A. Bagalino
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - A. P. Caporossi
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - R. Benvenuto
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - U. Graf
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
| | - G. Bruno
- Istituto I° Clinica Medica, Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”
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Abstract
Many evidences show that bronchial asthma may be triggered or enhanced by gastroesophageal reflux (GER) even if standardized methods to detect this particular syndrome defined as “gastric asthma” are not available. The Bernstein test suitably modified was performed in 6 adult asthmatic outpatients when they were symptom-free. These subjects were also suffering from recurrent epigastric pain. The patients resulted positive to ultranebulized fog bronchial challenge and all had a moderate- severe alteration of the competency of the lower esophageal sphincter, shown by endoscopy. Functional lung parameters were significantly reduced after esophageal acidification when they were compared to basal values. Is the linkage between GER and asthma important in clinical practice? In asthmatic patients GER represents an important trigger for broncoconstriction through a vagal mediated reflex. The modified Bernstein test represents a reproducible method and may be well used to identify “gastric asthma”, particularly when this picture is “silent”, less evident, or it is not rightly considered. Moreover, its recognition is very relevant to therapeutic problems, also when it is in a subclinical stage. In fact, many “excellent” drugs used for bronchial asthma treatment may have undesirable effects for the gastric tract causing abnormalities such as GER that is so damaging in the development of “gastric asthma”.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Istituto I Clinica Medica - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università “La Sapienza” di Roma - Italy
| | - P. Andreozzi
- Istituto I Clinica Medica - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università “La Sapienza” di Roma - Italy
| | - A. Bagalino
- Istituto I Clinica Medica - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università “La Sapienza” di Roma - Italy
| | - U. Graf
- Istituto I Clinica Medica - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università “La Sapienza” di Roma - Italy
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Casanova EA, Shakhova O, Patel SS, Asner IN, Pelczar P, Weber FA, Graf U, Sommer L, Bürki K, Cinelli P. Pramel7 Mediates LIF/STAT3-Dependent Self-Renewal in embryoniC Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2011; 29:474-85. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Reiter F, Graf U, Serebryannikov EE, Schweinberger W, Fiess M, Schultze M, Azzeer AM, Kienberger R, Krausz F, Zheltikov AM, Goulielmakis E. Route to attosecond nonlinear spectroscopy. Phys Rev Lett 2010; 105:243902. [PMID: 21231527 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.105.243902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate generation of coherent microjoule-scale, low-order harmonic supercontinua in the deep and vacuum ultraviolet (4-9 eV), resulting from the nonlinear transformations of near-single-cycle laser pulses in a gas cell. We show theoretically that their formation is connected to a novel nonlinear regime, holding promise for the generation of powerful deep-UV and vacuum ultraviolet subfemtosecond pulses. Our work opens the route to pump-probe spectroscopy of subfemtosecond-scale valence-shell phenomena in atoms, molecules, and condensed matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Reiter
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Strasse 1, D-85748 Garching, Germany
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Vázquez-Gómez G, Sánchez-Santos A, Vázquez-Medrano J, Quintanar-Zúñiga R, Monsalvo-Reyes AC, Piedra-Ibarra E, Dueñas-García IE, Castañeda-Partida L, Graf U, Heres-Pulido ME. Sulforaphane modulates the expression of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6g1 in larvae of the ST and HB crosses of the Drosophila wing spot test and is genotoxic in the ST cross. Food Chem Toxicol 2010; 48:3333-9. [PMID: 20816911 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2010.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2010] [Revised: 08/21/2010] [Accepted: 08/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Constitutive overexpression of Cyp6g1 and Cyp6a2 genes in DDT-resistant line Oregon-flare of the Drosophila melanogaster wing spot test (SMART) has been reported. Cyp6g1 and Cyp6a2 expression levels were compared against the β-actin gene in the standard (ST) and high bioactivation (HB) crosses of the Somatic Mutation and Recombination test (SMART) treated with sulforaphane or phenobarbital as the control inductor. The CYP450s' enzymatic activity was determined by overall NADH consumption. The expression levels of both genes and the CYP450s activity was higher in the HB cross. The Cyp6g1 levels were higher than those of Cyp6a2 in both crosses, but lower than the expression of β-actin. Sulforaphane decreased Cyp6g1 in the HB cross and increased it in the ST cross; Cyp6a2 expression was inhibited in the ST cross. Sulforaphane resulted mutagenic in the ST cross, which could be related to the inhibition of Cyp6a2. Phenobarbital did not modify the Cyp6g1 levels but increased the Cyp6a2 and CYP450s basal activity. Although the transcript levels were always higher in the HB cross than in the ST, the expression of Cyp6a2 and Cyp6g1 was not constitutive and was independent one from the other. Sulforaphane modulated both genes in a differential way in each cross and, in contrast to its putative protective effect, it resulted to be mutagenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Vázquez-Gómez
- Genetic Toxicology, Biology, UBIPRO, FES Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, Mexico
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Ecker K, Küchler M, Feldmeyer-Christe E, Graf U, Waser L. Predictive mapping of floristic site conditions across mire habitats: Evaluating data requirements. COMMUNITY ECOL 2008. [DOI: 10.1556/comec.9.2008.2.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Graf U, Fiess M, Schultze M, Kienberger R, Krausz F, Goulielmakis E. Intense few-cycle light pulses in the deep ultraviolet. Opt Express 2008; 16:18956-18963. [PMID: 19581987 DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.018956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that nonlinear frequency upconversion of few-cycle near-infrared (NIR) laser pulses, by means of harmonic generation in noble gases, is a promising approach for extending cutting-edge, few-cycle ultrafast technology into the deep ultraviolet and beyond, without the need for UV dispersion control. In our experiment, we generate 3.7-fs pulses in the deep UV (approximately 4.6 eV) with adjustable polarization and gigawatt-scale peak power. We demonstrate that the implementation of this concept with a quasi-monocycle driver offers the potential for advancing UV pulse generation towards the 1-fs frontier.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Garching, Germany
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23
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Guzmán-Rincón J, Delfín-Loya A, Ureña-Núñez F, Paredes LC, Zambrano-Achirica F, Graf U. Genotoxicity of neutrons in Drosophila melanogaster. Somatic mutation and recombination induced by reactor neutrons. Radiat Res 2005; 164:157-62. [PMID: 16038586 DOI: 10.1667/rr3405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the observation of a direct relationship between the absorbed doses of neutrons and the frequencies of somatic mutation and recombination using the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) of Drosophila melanogaster. This test was used for evaluating the biological effects induced by neutrons from the Triga Mark III reactor of Mexico. Two different reactor power levels were used, 300 and 1000 kW, and two absorbed doses were tested for each power level: 1.6 and 3.2 Gy for 300 kW and 0.84 and 1.7 Gy for 1000 kW. A linear relationship was observed between the absorbed dose and the somatic mutation and recombination frequencies. Furthermore, these frequencies were dependent on larval age: In 96-h-old larvae, the frequencies were increased considerably but the sizes of the spots were smaller than in 72-h-old larvae. The analysis of the balancer-heterozygous progeny showed a linear absorbed dose- response relationship, although the responses were clearly lower than found in the marker-trans-heterozygous flies. Approximately 65% of the genotoxicity observed is due to recombinational events. The results of the study indicate that thermal and fast neutrons are both mutagenic and recombinagenic in the D. melanogaster wing SMART, and that the frequencies are dependent on neutron dose, reactor power, and the age of the treated larvae.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guzmán-Rincón
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Apartado Postal 18-1027, Col. Escandón, C.P. 11801, México DF, Mexico
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Küchler M, Ecker K, Feldmeyer-Christe E, Graf U, Küchler H, Waser L. Combining remotely sensed spectral data and digital surface models for fine-scale modelling of mire ecosystems. COMMUNITY ECOL 2004. [DOI: 10.1556/comec.5.2004.1.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Abstract
Tackykinins are involved in the inflammatory process of a large number of diseases. The role of the tachykinins in ischemic brain injury was evaluated by the serum levels of Substance P (SP), one of the most known tachykinins and detected by a competitive enzyme immunoassay. The study was performed in 15 human females and 3 human males with typical manifestation of complete stroke (12 cases) or transient ischemic attack (6 cases). The mean SP level in the serum of patients with transient ischemic attack (0.53+/-0.25 ng/ml) and of patients with complete stroke (0.31+/-0.14 ng/ml), showed significantly higher values than in controls (0.10+/-0.02 ng/ml). Moreover, in transient ischemic attack, the SP values were significantly higher than in cerebral complete stroke. But SP levels, based on the timings of classification of patients (i.e. before 12 hours: 0.34+/-0.15 ng/ml vs. 12 to 24 hours: 0.26+/-0.11 ng/ml) with brain injury, did not show any significant difference. Both values anyway were significantly higher than in controls. Our original results demonstrate the SP increase during cerebral ischemia. Further studies are necessary to verify if SP has an effective physiopathological role in the neurological ischemic damage, or if it is only a concomitant phenomenon. Our data, if confirmed, will be particularly important, not only to improve the knowledge of cerebral ischemic injury, but also for diagnosis and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica, University of Rome--La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Graf U, Tega F, Santangelo G, Barucco M, Bruno A, Bracchitta S. Cetirizine, a second-generation H1 antagonist, modulates Rantes and MCP-1 levels in allergic rhinitis. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2002; 15:113-118. [PMID: 12590873 DOI: 10.1177/039463200201500206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemokines and their receptors are involved in several allergic diseases. We measured RANTES and MCP-1 levels in sera of allergic rhinitis patients, and also we evaluated the effect of cetrizine, a second-generation H1 antagonist, on these chemoattractant proteins. 15 subjects were studied (10 males and 5 females; mean age: 26.7 years). They were suffering from perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (8 patients) or by grasses (7 patients). RANTES and MCP-1 serum levels were detected with an enzyme immunoassay before and after two weeks of treatment with 10 mg of cetirizine daily, and again after two weeks of washout. Baseline serum levels of RANTES and MCP-1 chemokines were significantly higher (p < 0.02 and p = 0.007, respectively) in allergic patients than in the healthy control group. Cetirizine resulted in a significant decrease in RANTES (p < 0.02) and MCP-1 (p = 0.003) versus baseline values. There is an increase in RANTES and MCP-1 in allergic rhinitis, which is counteracted by cetirizine.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Allergologia e Immunologia Clinica, Dip Medicina Clinica, Università di Roma, Italy
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Magrini L, Santangelo G, Graf U, Angelino A. Serum Tryptase in Allergic Rhinitis: Effect of Cetirizine Treatment. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2001. [DOI: 10.1177/039463200101400305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Activated mast cells release a large range of potent mediators of allergic inflammation, including proteases. The tryptase serum levels were evaluated in 13 subjects suffering from allergic perennial rhinitis. Moreover, the effects of cetirizine treatment on serum tryptase were studied using the UniCap™ tryptase fluoroenzymeimmunoassay. In allergic patients the serum tryptase values (M±SD: 6.1 ± 2.4 μg/L) were significantly (p < 0.02) higher than the values detected in controls (3.0 ± 1.2 μg/L). In allergic rhinitis, after antihistamine treatment, tryptase values (4.4 ± 1.8 μg/L) decreased significantly (p < 0.001). After two weeks from the cetirizine stop, the tryptase levels increased again (5.5 ± 2.6 μg/l). The results demonstrate that mast cells are constantly activated in perennial allergic rhinitis. The antihistamine treatment is effective in reducing the tryptase release from mast cells, but the mechanism of action of cetirizine is still to understand.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Bruno
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
- Ospedale Madre G. Vannini, Roma
| | - P. Andreozzi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
- Ospedale Madre G. Vannini, Roma
| | - L. Magrini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
| | - G. Santangelo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
| | - U. Graf
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
| | - A. Angelino
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna - Fondazione A. Cesalpino, UniversitàT degli Studi “La Sapienza”, Roma
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Spanó MA, Frei H, Würgler FE, Graf U. Recombinagenic activity of four compounds in the standard and high bioactivation crosses of Drosophila melanogaster in the wing spot test. Mutagenesis 2001; 16:385-94. [PMID: 11507237 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/16.5.385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) using Drosophila melanogaster was employed to determine the recombinagenic and mutagenic activity of four chemicals in an in vivo eukaryotic system. Two different crosses involving the wing cell markers mwh and flr(3) were used: the standard cross and a high bioactivation cross. The high bioactivation cross is characterized by a high constitutive level of cytochromes P450 which leads to an increased sensitivity to a number of promutagens and procarcinogens. Three-day-old larvae derived from both crosses were treated chronically with the oxidizing agent potassium chromate and with the three procarcinogens cyclophosphamide, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene and 9,10-dimethylanthracene. From both crosses two types of progeny were obtained: marker-heterozygous and balancer-heterozygous. The wings of both genotypes were analysed for the occurrence of single and twin spots expressing the mwh and/or flr(3) mutant phenotypes. In the marker-heterozygous genotype the spots can be due either to mitotic recombination or to mutation. In contrast, in the balancer-heterozygous genotype only mutational events lead to spot formation, all recombination events being eliminated. The oxidizing agent potassium chromate was equally and highly genotoxic in both crosses. Surprisingly, the promutagen cyclophosphamide also showed equal genotoxicity in both crosses, whereas p-dimethylaminoazobenzene was negative in the standard cross, but clearly genotoxic in the high bioactivation cross. 9,10-Dimethylanthracene showed a rather weak genotoxicity in the high bioactivation cross. Analyses of the dose-response relationships for mwh clones recorded in the two wing genotypes demonstrated that all four compounds are recombinagenic. The fraction of all genotoxic events which are due to mitotic recombination ranged from 83% (9,10-dimethylanthracene) to 99% (p-dimethylaminoazobenzene). These results demonstrate that the wing spot test in Drosophila is most suited to the detection of recombinagenic activity of genotoxic chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Spanó
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, CH-8603 Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Bracchitta S, Graf U, Santangelo G, Zaino S, Gaston N. Serum tryptase in allergic rhinitis: effect of cetirizine and fluticasone propionate treatment. Clin Ter 2001; 152:299-303. [PMID: 11794849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE A specific reaction against several kinds of inhalant allergens characterizes allergic rhinitis. Mast cells play a crucial role in the allergic inflammation releasing histamine and other mediators. Tryptase is considered to be a specific marker of mast cell activation. This study was devoted to evaluate the serum tryptase in allergic rhinitis and to evaluate the effect of cetirizine and fluticasone propionate on mast cell activation. 13 subjects, suffering from perennial allergic rhinitis induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS Tryptase serum levels were detected by the fluoroenzymeimmunoassay (Pharmacia & Upjohn AB, Uppsala, Sweden). Blood samples were taken four times: before starting the study, after two weeks of 10 mg cetirizine treatment once a day, after two weeks of wash-out, and again after 15 days of 100 micrograms intranasal fluticasone propionate therapy twice a day. RESULTS In allergic rhinitis, the basal values of serum tryptase (M +/- SD: 6.1 +/- 2.4 micrograms/l) were significantly higher than in controls (M +/- SD: 3.0 +/- 1.2 micrograms/l). After the antihistamine treatment, tryptase values (M +/- SD: 4.4 +/- 1.8 micrograms/l) decreased significantly (p < 0.001). After the stop of antihistamine treatment, tryptase levels increased (M +/- SD: 5.5 +/- 2.6 micrograms/l, p < 0.001). After the topical corticosteroid treatment, tryptase values decreased again significantly (M +/- SD: 4.5 +/- 3.1 micrograms/l, p < 0.04). CONCLUSIONS All these data seem to confirm the effective action of cetirizine and fluticasone propionate on tryptase serum levels. While the action of corticosteroid is well known, the action of cetirizine is still to define, considering the recent reports on anti-inflammatory effect of the second generation of H1 receptor antagonists. Further studies are necessary to understand if the pharmacological effect on tryptase is a specific one of cetirizine, or if it is common to other anti-H1 molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università degli Studi La Sapienza, Roma, Italia.
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Magrini L, Santangelo G, Graf U, Angelino A. Serum tryptase in allergic rhinitis: effect of cetirizine treatment. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2001; 14:147-152. [PMID: 12604015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Activated mast cells release a large range of potent mediators of allergic inflammation, including proteases. The tryptase serum levels were evaluated in 13 subjects suffering from allergic perennial rhinitis. Moreover the effects of cetirizine treatment on serum tryptase were studied using the UniCap™ tryptase fluoroenzymeimmunoassay. In allergic patients the serum tryptase values (M±SD: 6.1 ± 2.4 μg/L) were significantly (p < 0.02) higher than the values detected in controls (3.0 ± 1.2 μg/L). In allergic rhinitis, after antihistamine treatment, tryptase values (4.4 ± 1.8 μg/L) decreased significantly (p < 0.001). After two weeks from the cetirizine stop, the tryptase levels increased again (5.5 ± 2.6 μg/l). The results demonstrate that mast cells are constantly activated in perennial allergic rhinitis. The antihistamine treatment is effective in reducing the tryptase release from mast cells, but the mechanism of action of cetirizine is still to understand.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Dept Internal Medicine, University of Rome, La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
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Abstract
Mast cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of many allergic disorders. They can be activated in different ways. The present study was focused to evaluate the role of mast cells in acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema induced by gastroesophageal reflux. Tryptase, an important marker of mast cell activation, was detected with UniCap Tryptase Fluoroenzymeimmunoassay (Pharmacia & Upjohn AB, Uppsala, Sweden). Eight subjects were studied: four males and four females, aged between 29 and 71 years (mean age: 45 yrs.), suffering from acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema. Results were compared with the results of seven healthy control subjects. Moreover, data were compared with those of 13 subjects (10 males and 3 females, mean age: 24.7 years) suffering from allergic rhinitis. In acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema, serum tryptase levels (mean +/- S.D.: 9.6 +/- 4.3 microg/l) were significantly higher (P < 0.007) than those of the controls (mean +/- S.D.: 3.0 +/- 1.2 microg/l) and higher also than in allergic rhinitis (mean +/- S.D.: 6.1 +/- 2.4 microg/l, P < 0.03). The results underline the central role of mast cells in the inflammation of acquired chronic urticaria-angioedema.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Istituto I Clinica Medica, Fondazione A. Cesalpiolo, Università La Sapienza di Roma, Italy.
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Cunha KS, Reguly ML, Graf U, de Andrade HH. Taxanes: the genetic toxicity of paclitaxel and docetaxel in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutagenesis 2001; 16:79-84. [PMID: 11139602 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/16.1.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the taxanes, paclitaxel and docetaxel were investigated for genotoxicity in the wing spot test of Drosophila melanogaster. These relatively new drugs are used in cancer therapy and show great promise in the treatment of a variety of cancers. Their major cellular target is the alpha,beta-tubulin dimer but, unlike other spindle poisons, they stabilize microtubules by a shift towards assembly, producing nonfunctional microtubule bundles. The Drosophila wing Somatic Mutation and Recombination Test (SMART) provides a rapid means to evaluate agents able to induce gene mutations and chromosome aberrations, as well as rearrangements related to mitotic recombination. We applied the standard version of SMART (with normal bioactivation) and a variant version with increased cytochrome P450-dependent biotransformation capacity. In the standard assay, docetaxel was found to be aneuploidogenic; this was effectively abolished by a high cytochrome P450-dependent detoxification capacity. This suggests, as previously reported, the involvement of this family of enzymes in the detoxification of docetaxel rather than in its activation. In contrast, paclitaxel was clearly non-genotoxic at the same (millimolar) concentrations as used for docetaxel in both crosses. The weak responsiveness of SMART assays to aneugenic compounds, the weaker ligand and assembly action of paclitaxel and the more rapid reversibility of the microtubules formed with this compound, may have caused the negative response observed in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Cunha
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, CP 131, 74001-970 Goiânia, GO, Brasil
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35
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Lehmann M, Graf U, Reguly ML, Rodrigues De Andrade HH. Interference of tannic acid on the genotoxicity of mitomycin C, methylmethanesulfonate, and nitrogen mustard in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Environ Mol Mutagen 2000; 36:195-200. [PMID: 11044900 DOI: 10.1002/1098-2280(2000)36:3<195::aid-em2>3.0.co;2-b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The modulating effects of tannic acid (TA) on somatic mutation and mitotic recombination induced by methylmethanesulfonate (MMS), nitrogen mustard (HN2), and mitomycin C (MMC) were evaluated in the standard (ST) cross of the wing spot test in Drosophila melanogaster using co- and posttreatment protocols. It was shown that TA alone did not modify the spontaneous frequencies of single and twin spots, which means that this polyphenol neither acts as a genotoxin nor exerts any antigenotoxic effect over spontaneous DNA lesions. However, the simultaneous administration of genotoxins with TA can lead to considerable alterations of the frequencies of induced wing spots in comparison to those with administration of the genotoxins alone. In fact, TA produced a significant increase in HN2-induced wing spots with enhancements between 90 and 160%. For MMS, the enhancement was 38% in the highest TA concentration tested. In contrast, a significant protective action of this polyphenol was observed in combined treatments with MMC (64 to 99% inhibition). Moreover, the data from TA posttreatments demonstrated that this agent is not effective in exerting protective or enhancing effects on the genotoxicity of MMS, HN2, or MMC. One feasible mechanism of TA action is its interaction with the enzyme systems catalyzing the metabolic detoxification of MMS and HN2, which may also be involved in the bioactivation of MMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lehmann
- Laboratory of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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36
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Bruno G, Andreozzi P, Graf U, Santangelo G. Hepatitis C virus: a high risk factor for a second primary malignancy besides hepatocellular carcinoma. Fact or fiction? Clin Ter 1999; 150:413-8. [PMID: 10756661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Second primary malignancies occur more and more often. But the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) linked to a second primary cancer is not frequent. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study focused on a second primary cancer was performed in 37 patients with HCC, aged between 46 and 81 years, 27 males and 10 females. RESULTS 5 out of them (13.5%), 3 males and 2 females, developed a second primary neoplasm before or after HCC. In 3 cases the second malignancy was a carcinoma of the kidney, of the breast, and the prostate. The fourth patient had a Hodgkin's lymphoma before HCC. The last and most unlucky case, besides HCC, had a basal cell carcinoma, a colorectal cancer, and a bladder carcinoma. The common data of these 5 patients were the presence of anti-HCV antibodies and the positivity of the HCV RNA polymerase reaction. One patient was also HBV positive. CONCLUSION Considering that a large number of virus has been found linked to human cancers, our results brought us to hypothesize that HCV could have played an important role not only in the development of HCC but of the second primary malignancy too. This is likely favoured by constitutional or acquired biological and molecular alterations. Tumor suppressor genes alterations have been reported to be frequently linked to cancers of kidney and breast, of colorectal and skin, of prostate, and lymphoemopoietic tissue. Now just these organs are involved in our patients in addition to the liver. Our results, if confirmed, are of a relevant interest, considering that world-wide HCC is constantly increasing for the spreading of the virus risk-factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Istituto I Clinica Medica, Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Italy
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37
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Santos JH, Graf U, Reguly ML, Rodrigues de Andrade HH. The synergistic effects of vanillin on recombination predominate over its antimutagenic action in relation to MMC-induced lesions in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutat Res 1999; 444:355-65. [PMID: 10521675 DOI: 10.1016/s1383-5718(99)00101-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The wing Somatic Mutation And Recombination Test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster was used to study the modulating action of vanillin (VA) in combination with the alkylating agents mitomycin C (MMC), methylmethanesulphonate (MMS) and the bifunctional nitrogen mustard (HN2). Two types of treatments with VA and each of the three genotoxins were performed: chronic co-treatments of three-day-old larvae of the standard cross as well as post-treatments after acute exposure with the genotoxins. This allowed the study of the action of VA not only in the steps that precede the induction of DNA lesions but also in the repair processes. The overall findings from the co-treatment series suggest that ingestion of VA with MMS or MMC can lead to significant protection against genotoxicity; but this is not the case with HN2. Antioxidant activity, suppression of metabolic activation or interaction with the active groups of these two alkylating agents could be mechanisms by means of which VA exerts its desmutagenic action. In contrast, when evaluated in the post-treatment procedure, VA causes two antagonistic effects on the genotoxicity of MMC: (i) synergism on recombination (172.8%) and (ii) protection against mutation (79.0%). Consequently, both activities together lead to a considerable increase in mitotic recombination. In spite of being separate events, recombination and gene mutation are correlated during mitosis since the fate of a DNA lesion depends on the repair pathway followed. Our results may suggest that VA is a modifying factor that blocks the mutagenic pathway and consequently directs the MMC-induced lesions into a recombinational repair. Furthermore, VA did not modify the genotoxicity when administered after treatments with HN2 or MMS. Therefore, the major finding of the present study, namely the co-recombinagenic activity of VA on MMC-induced lesions, seems to be related to the type of induced lesion and consequently to the repair processes involved in its correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Santos
- Laboratório de Mutagênese, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, CP 15053,91501-970, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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38
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Keel JB, Rinderknecht B, Graf U. [Brown vaginal discharge in early pregnancy, hyperemesis. Intact hydatidiform mole]. Praxis (Bern 1994) 1999; 88:1283-1284. [PMID: 10479968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J B Keel
- Gynäkologische und Geburtshilfliche Klinik, Kantonales Spital Uznach
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39
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Delgado-Rodríguez A, Ortíz-Marttelo R, Villalobos-Pietrini R, Gómez-Arroyo S, Graf U. Genotoxicity of organic extracts of airborne particles in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Chemosphere 1999; 39:33-43. [PMID: 10377966 DOI: 10.1016/s0045-6535(98)00586-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Complex mixtures extracted from air filters exposed for 24 h in two sessions (27 July and 02 August 1991) and at two locations (Merced, downtown, and Pedregal de San Angel, south-west) in Mexico City were analysed. The organic extracts were from airborne particles equal or smaller than 10 microns (PM10), and from total suspended particles (TSP). These organic extracts were assayed in the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in wings of Drosophila melanogaster using two different crosses as well as in the Salmonella/microsome assay using strain TA98 with and without S9 fraction. The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the extracts was determined by gas chromatography. The genotoxic activities observed in the two test systems were comparable with the indirect mutagens producing greater response than the direct mutagens. The quantities of particulate matter as well as the genotoxic activities were higher on 02 August than on 27 July 1991 for both locations. The amounts of airborne particles and the resulting genotoxic activities were higher at Merced than at Pedregal. In both biological systems, PM10 were more genotoxic than TSP. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of the Drosophila wing SMART-which is an in vivo eukaryotic genotoxicity assay-as a biological monitor of environmental pollution related to airborne particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Delgado-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, México
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40
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Vogel EW, Graf U, Frei HJ, Nivard MM. The results of assays in Drosophila as indicators of exposure to carcinogens. IARC Sci Publ 1999:427-70. [PMID: 10353398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila has fulfilled a dual function in the field of genetic toxicology: for use in short-term tests for identifying carcinogens and in a model for studies of the mechanisms of mutagenesis by chemicals. Until the mid-1980s, use of Drosophila in short-term tests was restricted to assays for genetic damage in germ cells, mostly in males. The largest database, on 700-750 chemicals, is available for the test for sex-linked recessive lethal (SLRL) forward mutation. The database for assays of the consequences of chromosomal breakage--reciprocal translocations and chromosome loss--is smaller, with about 100 chemicals tested. Comparative studies conducted within the US National Toxicology Program showed that SLRL is a better end-point than reciprocal translocation: of 66 chemicals (68 entries) that induced SLRL, only 28 (41%) induced reciprocal translocation. The major weakness of the SLRL assay is its low sensitivity (0.27-0.79) for mammalian genotoxins. A strength of the SLRL mutation test is its high specificity, which is close to 1. Thus, whereas a negative response in Drosophila provides little evidence for genotoxicity, a positive response (SLRL frequency > or = five times the control level) provides good evidence that a chemical is a trans-species mutagen and probably also carcinogenic to mammals. The poor performance of the SLRL test revealed in several collaborative studies led to the development of assays for recombination in somatic cells of Drosophila. Two of these tests have been evaluated for all known classes of genotoxic chemical: the mwh/flr wing spot test on more than 400 chemicals and the white/white+ eye spot test on about 220 chemicals. Of 24 carcinogens that gave negative or inconclusive test results in the SLRL assay, 22 gave positive results in one or both of the somatic systems. Their better performance in comparison with the germ-line assays is primarily the result of their low cost (5-10% of that needed for an SLRL assay), allowing use of multiple doses and protocols and the use of distinct tester strains with heterogeneity for activation of procarcinogens. For qualitative and quantitative studies on structure-activity and activity-activity relationship, only germ-line system have been used. In general, clear relationships between physico-chemical parameters (s values, O6/N7-alkylguanine ratios), carcinogenic potency in rodents and several descriptors of genotoxic activity in germ cells (from mice and Drosophila) became apparent when the following descriptors were used: (1) estimates of TD50 (lifetime doses expressed in milligrams per kilogram body weight or millimoles per kilogram body weight) from bioassays for cancer in rodents; (2) the degree of germ-cell specificity, i.e. the ability of a genotoxic agent to induce mutations at practically any stage of development of Drosophila and mouse spermatogenesis, as opposed to a more specific response in postmeiotic stages of both species; (3) the M(NER-)/M(NER+) hypermutability ratio, determined in a repair assay in Drosophila germ cells; (4) the ratio of chromosomal aberrations to SLRL in postmeiotic germ cells of Drosophila, i.e. the comparative efficiency of a carcinogen to induce these two end-points; (5) mutational spectra induced at single loci, i.e. the seven loci used in the specific-locus test in mice and the vermilion, white and rosy genes of Drosophila; and (6) the doubling doses in milligrams or millimoles per kilogram for specific locus induction in mice. On the basis of these parameters, alkylating agents were classified into three categories in terms of germ-cell specificity, which is primarily due to stage-related differences in DNA repair, clastogenic efficiency, type of mutation spectra and carcinogenic potency in rodents. The three categories allow predictions of the genotoxicity of alkylating agents but not yet for other categories of genotoxic carcinogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- E W Vogel
- Medical Genetics Centre South-West Netherlands-MGC, Department of Radiation Genetics and Chemical Mutagenesis, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Bronchial asthma is a disease that has been recognized for centuries, which is influenced mainly by genetic and environmental factors. The current interest of bronchial asthma is focused to ascertain the causes and the mechanisms that induce bronchoconstriction. Recently, abnormalities of the esophageal and gastric tracts have become important related areas for research. In predisposed individuals, these abnormalities can trigger or worsen the particular syndrome better known as "gastric asthma." In bronchial asthma the disorder of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) occurs more often than would be expected by chance. The neurogenic mechanism is considered to be the main cause of bronchoconstriction. The diagnosis of gastric asthma is particularly difficult and it should be considered also when GER is less evident or not recognized. In asthmatic patients the recognition of gastric abnormalities is very relevant for therapeutic problems also when GER is in a subclinical stage. In fact, many drugs used in the treatment of bronchial asthma can promote or enhance GER and subsequently they can worsen the symptoms of gastric asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Bruno
- Istituto I Clinica Medica, Fondazione A. Cesalpino, Università La Sapienza di Roma, Rome, Italy
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42
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Abstract
Among the great variety of genotoxicity assays available, the wing spot test in Drosophila melanogaster has some characteristics that make it very suited for the screening of genotoxic activity, i.e., it is an easy and inexpensive assay using a eukaryotic organism in vivo. One of the most interesting characteristics of the assay is its capacity to detect genotoxic activity of promutagens without the necessity of an exogenous metabolic activation system. In this paper we present results obtained with a recently developed high bioactivation cross of the wing spot test (NORR cross). The positive results obtained with the five well-known procarcinogens 7, 12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, p-dimethylaminoazobenzene, diethylnitrosamine and urethane clearly show that the NORR strains are similar to the other high bioactivation strains previously described, but they lack their methodological disadvantages. We have tested six insecticides, which are characterised by having contradictory results in other genotoxicity tests, using both the standard and the high bioactivation (NORR) cross. The six insecticides analysed are the pyrethroid allethrin, the methylenedioxyphenolic compound piperonyl butoxide, the chlorinated hydrocarbons dieldrin and endrin, and the organophosphates dimethoate and malathion. We obtained negative results for all six compounds. Our results show the suitability of the wing spot test for the evaluation of compounds at the first level of genotoxicity testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Osaba
- Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Basque Country, E-48080, Bilbao, Spain
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43
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Abstract
The fruit fly Drosophila melangaster with its well developed array of genotoxicity test systems has been used in a number of studies on antigenotoxicity of various compounds and mixtures. In recent years, the newly developed Somatic Mutation and Recombination Tests (SMART) have mainly been employed. These one-generation tests make use of the wing or eye imaginal disc cells in larvae and have proven to be very efficient and sensitive. They are based on the principle that the loss of heterozygosity of suitable recessive markers can lead to the formation of mutant clones of cells that are then expressed as spots on the wings or eyes of the adult flies. We have employed the wing spot test with the two markers multiple wing hairs (mwh,3-0.3) and flare (flr,3-38.8). Three-day-old larvae, trans-heterozygous for these markers, are treated chronically or acutely by oral administration with the test compound(s) or complex mixtures. For antigenotoxicity studies, chronic co-treatments can be used, as well as separate pre-treatments with an antigenotoxic agent followed by a chronic treatment with a genotoxin. After eclosion, the wings of the adult flies are scored for the presence of single and twin spots. These spots can be due to different genotoxic events: either mitotic recombination or mutation (deletion, point mutation, specific types of translocation, etc.). The analysis of two different genotypes (one with structurally normal chromosomes, one with a multiply inverted balancer chromosome) allows for a quantitative determination of the recombinagenic activity of genotoxins. Results of two separate studies presented: (1) instant coffee has antirecombinagenic but not antimutagenic activity in the wing spot test; and (2) ascorbic acid and catechin are able to protect against in vivo nitrosation products of methyl urea in combination with sodium nitrite.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Graf
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and University of Zurich, Zurich CH-8603, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
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Guzmán Rincón J, Espinosa J, Graf U. Analysis of the in vivo nitrosation capacity of the larvae used in the wing somatic mutation and recombination test of Drosophila melanogaster. Mutat Res 1998; 412:69-81. [PMID: 9508366 DOI: 10.1016/s1383-5718(97)00174-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The in vivo nitrosation capacity of third-instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster was assessed using the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART). Larvate derived from two different crosses, the standard cross (ST) and the high bioactivation cross (HB) both involving the recessive wing cell markers multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare (flr3), were used. The HB cross is characterised by an increased cytochrome P450-dependent bioactivation capacity for promutagens and procarcinogens. The larvae were treated either with methyl urea, sodium nitrite or its combination. N-Nitrosomethylurea was used as a positive control. The wings of the resulting flies were analysed for the occurrence of mutant spots produced by various types of mutational events or by mitotic recombination. Methyl urea is negative in the ST and the HB cross, whereas sodium nitrite is weakly genotoxic in both crosses. However, the combination of both compounds produces highly increased frequencies of mutations and recombinations predominantly in the HB cross. The genotoxic effects produced by the combined treatments were considerably increased when mashed potatoes or an agar-yeast medium were used for the treatment instead of the standard instant medium. Treatment of larvae with the mixture resulting from the in vitro reaction of nitrosation precursors also resulted in high frequencies of induced spots comparable to those recorded with the potent genotoxin N-nitrosomethylurea. Further experiments showed that the genotoxic effect resulting from the in vivo exposure to nitrosation precursors can be reduced by co-treatment with catechin, a known nitrosation inhibitor. The present study demonstrates that the wing spot test is well suited for the determination of genotoxicity produced by in vivo nitrosation processes and for the study of their modulation by individual compounds or dietary complex mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Guzmán Rincón
- Institute of Toxicology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) and University of Zurich, Schwerzenbach
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45
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Graf U, Niikura H, Hirayama S. Fluorescence Quenching by Oxygen. Lack of Evidence for the Complex Formation of Oxygen with 9-Cyanoanthracene and Anthracene in a Supersonic Free Jet. J Phys Chem A 1997. [DOI: 10.1021/jp962951y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Urs Graf
- Laboratory of Chemistry, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Niikura
- Laboratory of Chemistry, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan
| | - Satoshi Hirayama
- Laboratory of Chemistry, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan
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46
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Niikura H, Graf U, Hirayama S. Intramolecular non-radiative relaxation from the first excited singlet background manifolds of anthracene and 9,10-dichloroanthracene in partially jet-cooled states. Chem Phys Lett 1997. [DOI: 10.1016/s0009-2614(96)01541-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Campesato VR, Graf U, Reguly ML, de Andrade HH. Recombinagenic activity of integerrimine, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid from Senecio brasiliensis, in somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. Environ Mol Mutagen 1997; 29:91-97. [PMID: 9020312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Integerrimine (ITR), a pyrrolizidine alkaloid from Senecio brasiliensis, was tested for genotoxicity using the wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster. The compound was administered by chronic feeding (48 hours) of 3-day-old larvae. Two different crosses involving the markers flare (flr) and multiple wing hairs (mwh) were used, that is, the standard (ST) cross and the high bioactivation (HB) cross, which has a high cytochrome P450-dependent bioactivation capacity. In both crosses, the wings of two types of progeny were analyzed, that is, inversion-free marker heterozygotes and balancer heterozygotes carrying multiple inversions. ITR was found to be equally potent in inducing spots in a dose-related manner in the marker heterozygotes of both crosses. This indicates that the bioactivation capacity present in larvae of the ST cross is sufficient to reveal the genotoxic activity of ITR. In the balancer heterozygotes of both crosses, where all recombinational events are eliminated due to the inversions, the frequencies of induced spots were considerably reduced which documents the recombinagenic activity of ITR. Linear regression analysis of the dose response relationships for both genotypes shows that 85% to 90% of the wing spots are due to mitotic recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- V R Campesato
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil
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48
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Feige K, Steiger R, Graf U, Schöberl M. [Peritonitis in horses: a retrospective study of 95 cases]. Tierarztl Prax 1997; 25:55-61. [PMID: 9157631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Clinical signs of horses with peritonitis were colic (67.4%), elevated heart rate (53.2%), altered mucous membranes (75.8%), reduced intestinal motility (63.2%), increased tension of the abdominal wall (69.9%) and pyrexia (45.1%). The amount of obtained peritoneal fluid was increased in 62.3% of the horses. Colour and translucency of the peritoneal fluid were abnormal in 98.8% of the patients. The nucleated cell count was 83.5 (10-595) x 10(3)/microliter, protein content 35.6 g/l (+/-14.2), specific gravity 1027.3 (+/-7.4) and the relative amount of neutrophils was 87.8% (+/-11). The physical examination and the examination of the peritoneal fluid were of diagnostic value. Complete blood count and blood chemistry indicated the degree of circulatory depression and the duration of the disease. Overall mortality was 47.4% (45/95). Non-survivors had significantly more often an increased heart- and respiratory rate, altered mucous membranes, an increased tension of the abdominal wall, reduced intestinal motility and increased amount of peritoneal fluid. Packed cell volume, urea, creatinine, glutamatdehydrogenase, sorbitoldehydrogenase, lactatdehydrogenase and blood pH were significantly different between survivors and non-survivors. All these parameters were statistically of no prognostic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Feige
- Klinik für Wiederkäuer- und Pferdemedizin, Universität Zürich
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Maeda M, Graf U, Niikura H, Okamoto M, Hirayama S. Thermal energy assisted heavy atom effect: fluorescence quenching of 9-cyanoanthracene in the supercritical fluid of Xe. Chem Phys Lett 1996. [DOI: 10.1016/0009-2614(96)00519-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Rodriguez-Arnaiz R, Soto PO, Oyarzún JC, Graf U. Analysis of mitotic recombination induced by several mono- and bifunctional alkylating agents in the Drosophila wing-spot test. Mutat Res 1996; 351:133-45. [PMID: 8622707 DOI: 10.1016/0027-5107(95)00217-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Mitotic recombination induced by six alkylating agents has been studied in the wing-spot test of Drosophila melanogaster. The model mutagens chosen have different models of action at the DNA level. These are: the direct-acting small alkylating agent methylmethanesulfonate (MMS), the small promutagens N-dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) and N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN), the bifunctional cross-linking alkylating agents mitomycin C (MMC), chlorambucil (CLA) and monocrotaline (MCT). Flies of the standard cross (flr3 / TM3, Bds females and mwh males) were used to produce the larvae to be treated. Three-day old Drosophila larvae were exposed by chronic feeding for 48 h to three different concentrations of all six alkylating agents. Acute feeding for only 2 h was used in addition with DEN and MMC. Wings of the marker-heterozygous (mwh+ / + flr3) as well as of the balancer-heterozygous (mwh+ / TM3, Bds) progeny were analysed. The ranking of the compounds with respect to their genotoxic potency, based on mwh clone formation frequency in marker-heterozygous wings was: MMS > MNC > DMN > CLA approximately MCT > DEN. The ranking with respect to the induction of twin spots, which are produced by mitotic recombination exclusively, was: MMS > DMN > MMC > MCT > CLA > DEN. The quantitative determination of recombinagenic activity, based on mwh clone formation frequencies obtained in both types of wings, gave the following values: MMS, 93%; MCT, 87%; CLA, 80%; MMC, 73%; DMN, 67%; DEN, 22%. A clear relationship exists between the extent of N-alkylation of DNA and the efficiency of the monofunctional agents MMS and DMN as well of the bifunctional agents MCT, CLA and MMC to induce mitotic recombination. This contrasts with the ethylation of base oxygen atoms and the resulting lower efficiency of DEN to produce mitotic recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Rodriguez-Arnaiz
- Laboratorio de Genética, Fakultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, D.F., Mexico
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