Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Gene 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Medical Genetics Laboratory, Petrovsky Russian Research Center of Surgery, Moscow 119991, Russia; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow 117997, Russia.

Mutations in the MYH7 gene are the source of an allelic series of diseases, including various cardiomyopathies and skeletal myopathies that usually manifest in adulthood. We observed a 1.5 y. Read More

Skelet Muscle 2019 Feb 21;9(1). Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1020, New York, NY, 10029, USA.

Background: Group I Paks are serine/threonine kinases that function as major effectors of the small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42, and they regulate cytoskeletal dynamics, cell polarity, and transcription. We previously demonstrated that Pak1 and Pak2 function redundantly to promote skeletal myoblast differentiation during postnatal development and regeneration in mice. However, the roles of Pak1 and Pak2 in adult muscle homeostasis are unknown. Read More

J Neurol 2019 Feb 20. Epub 2019 Feb 20.

Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Objective: The histopathological features of malignant hyperthermia (MH) and non-anaesthetic (mostly exertional) rhabdomyolysis (RM) due to RYR1 mutations have only been reported in a few cases.

Methods: We performed a retrospective multi-centre cohort study focussing on the histopathological features of patients with MH or RM due to RYR1 mutations (1987-2017). All muscle biopsies were reviewed by a neuromuscular pathologist. Read More

Nat Commun 2019 Feb 15;10(1):797. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", CSIC-UAM, 28029, Madrid, Spain.

FXR1 is an alternatively spliced gene that encodes RNA binding proteins (FXR1P) involved in muscle development. In contrast to other tissues, cardiac and skeletal muscle express two FXR1P isoforms that incorporate an additional exon-15. We report that recessive mutations in this particular exon of FXR1 cause congenital multi-minicore myopathy in humans and mice. Read More

J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The phenotypes associated with pathogenic variants in the ryanodine receptor 1 gene (RYR1, OMIM# 180901) have greatly expanded over the last few decades as genetic testing for RYR1 variants has become more common. Initially described in association with malignant hyperthermia, pathogenic variants in RYR1 are typically associated with core pathology in muscle biopsies (central core disease or multiminicore disease) and symptomatic myopathies with symptoms ranging from mild weakness to perinatal lethality. We describe a 2-week-old male patient with multiple congenital dysmorphisms, severe perinatal weakness, and subsequent demise, whose histopathology on autopsy was consistent with congenital muscular dystrophy. Read More

Acta Neuropathol 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), 1, rue Laurent Fries, BP 10142, 67404, Illkirch, France.

The identification of genes implicated in myopathies is essential for diagnosis and for revealing novel therapeutic targets. Here we characterize a novel subclass of congenital myopathy at the morphological, molecular, and functional level. Through exome sequencing, we identified de novo ACTN2 mutations, a missense and a deletion, in two unrelated patients presenting with progressive early-onset muscle weakness and respiratory involvement. Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Feb;57(2):142-145

Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University; Hunan Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Changsha 410008, China.

To summarize the clinical manifestations and gene variations of combined immunodeficiency caused by ORAI1 variation with a case report and literature review. The clinical data of the patient who was diagnosed with ORAI1 variation caused combined immunodeficiency in the Department of Pediatrics in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in February 2018 were extracted and analyzed. The literature till August 2018 was searched with key words of 'ORAI1', and 'immunodeficiency' in both English and Chinese in the database of China national knowledge infrast ructure (CNKI), Wanfang and Pubmed. Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Feb;57(2):136-141

Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China.

To summarize the clinical manifestations and determine the molecular etiology for two collagen type Ⅵ-related myopathy pedigrees. Two spontaneous collagen type Ⅵ-related myopathy patients were admitted to Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics in October 2017. Clinical data of probands and their family members were collected and their genomic DNA was obtained for genetic testing. Read More

J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

PHYMEDEXP, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France.

Background: Prognosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is related to cardiac dysfunction. Speckle-tracking echocardiographic (STE) imaging is emerging as a noninvasive functional biomarker to consider in the early detection of DMD-related cardiomyopathy. However, STE analysis has not been assessed in a prospectively controlled study, especially in presymptomatic children with DMD, and no study has used STE analysis in all three displacements (longitudinal, radial, and circumferential) and for both ventricles. Read More

Neurology 2019 Feb 23;92(8):e866-e878. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

From The Heart Institute (M.T., J.J., B.G.), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH; Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Powell Gene Therapy Center (B.B.), and Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Congenital Heart Center (J.F.), University of Florida, Gainesville; Department of Cardiology (J.L., B.A.-V., M.R.O.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Smidt Heart Institute (R.M., E.M., R.G.V.), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; Capricor Therapeutics (R.R.S., B.F., J.R., J.M.P., L.M., D.D.A.), Beverly Hills, CA; and Department of Cardiology (K.M.), Laikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Objective: To assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of intracoronary allogeneic cardiosphere-derived cells (CAP-1002) in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Methods: The Halt Cardiomyopathy Progression (HOPE)-Duchenne trial is a phase I/II, randomized, controlled, open-label trial (NCT02485938). Patients with DMD >12 years old, with substantial myocardial fibrosis, were randomized (1:1) to usual care (control) or global intracoronary infusion of CAP-1002 (75 million cells). Read More

Neuroepidemiology 2019 Jan 18;52(3-4):128-135. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Background: Previous epidemiological studies of genetic muscle disorders have relied on medical records to identify cases and may be at risk of selection biases or have focused on selective population groups.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine age-standardised prevalence of genetic muscle disorders through a nationwide, epidemiological study across the lifespan using the capture-recapture method.

Methods: Adults and children with a confirmed clinical or molecular diagnosis of a genetic muscle disorder, resident in New Zealand on April 1, 2015 were identified using multiple overlapping sources. Read More

Am J Med Genet A 2019 Mar 16;179(3):386-396. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

The Prenatal Diagnosis and Medical Genetics Program, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) is a calcium release channel essential for excitation-contraction coupling in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscles. Dominant variants in the RYR1 have been well associated with the known pharmacogenetic ryanodinopathy and malignant hyperthermia. With the era of next-generation gene sequencing and growing number of causative variants, the spectrum of ryanodinopathies has been evolving with dominant and recessive variants presenting with RYR1-related congenital myopathies such as central core disease, minicore myopathy with external ophthalmoplegia, core-rod myopathy, and congenital neuromuscular disease. Read More

F1000Res 2018 11;7. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.

By definition, congenital myopathy typically presents with skeletal muscle weakness and hypotonia at birth. Traditionally, congenital myopathy subtypes have been predominantly distinguished on the basis of the pathological hallmarks present on skeletal muscle biopsies. Many genes cause congenital myopathies when mutated, and a burst of new causative genes have been identified because of advances in gene sequencing technology. Read More

Ann Lab Med 2019 May;39(3):299-310

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Background: To validate the clinical application of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) as a first-tier clinical diagnostic test and to determine the impact of CMA results on patient clinical management, we conducted a multicenter prospective study in Korean patients diagnosed as having developmental delay/intellectual disability (DD/ID), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and multiple congenital anomalies (MCA).

Methods: We performed both CMA and G-banding cytogenetics as the first-tier tests in 617 patients. To determine whether the CMA results directly influenced treatment recommendations, the referring clinicians were asked to complete a 39-item questionnaire for each patient separately after receiving the CMA results. Read More

Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019 Jan 5;7(1). Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Neuromuscular Morphology Unit, Myology Institute, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.

Several morphological phenotypes have been associated to RYR1-recessive myopathies. We recharacterized the RYR1-recessive morphological spectrum by a large monocentric study performed on 54 muscle biopsies from a large cohort of 48 genetically confirmed patients, using histoenzymology, immunohistochemistry, and ultrastructural studies. We also analysed the level of RyR1 expression in patients' muscle biopsies. Read More

J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2019 Feb;78(2):130-139

Division of Pediatric Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

Mutations in at least 12 genes are responsible for a group of congenital skeletal muscle diseases known as nemaline myopathies (NMs). NMs are associated with a range of clinical symptoms and pathological changes often including the presence of cytoplasmic rod-like structures (nemaline bodies) and myofiber hypotrophy. Our recent work has identified a variable degree of behavioral benefit when treating 2 NM mouse models due to mutations in Acta1 with myostatin inhibition. Read More

Eur Respir J 2018 Dec 21. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Scottish Pulmonary Vascular Unit, Golden Jubilee National Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Objectives of this ERS Task Force were to summarise current studies, to develop strategies for future research and to increase availability and awareness of exercise training for pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients.An evidence-based approach with clinical expertise of the Task Force members, based on both literature search and face-to-face meetings was conducted. The statement summarises current knowledge and open questions regarding clinical effects of exercise training in PH, training modalities, implementation strategies and pathophysiologic mechanisms. Read More

Neuromuscul Disord 2019 Jan 9;29(1):30-38. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Neurology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Mutations in RYR1 are a common genetic cause of non-dystrophic neuromuscular disorders. To obtain baseline data concerning the prevalence of fatigue, the psychological disease burden and quality of life associated with these common conditions, we performed a questionnaire study. Seventy-two patients were included in this study, 33 with a congenital myopathy and 39 with malignant hyperthermia or exertional rhabdomyolysis. Read More

Am J Med Genet A 2019 Feb 18;179(2):317-321. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Division of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Disorders, IRCCS-Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.

Kyphoscoliotic Ehlers-Danlos syndrome associated with FKBP14 (FKBP14-kEDS) is an ultrarare autosomal recessive disorder reported in less than 30 individuals so far. In its original description, emphasis was put on the mild muscle involvement. Further reports confirm that FKBP14-kEDS is distinguishable from primary muscle disorders by the lack of progressive muscle disease. Read More

BMC Neurol 2018 Dec 15;18(1):207. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Medical Biology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, 06100 Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: Alpha-dystroglycan (αDG) is an extracellular peripheral glycoprotein that acts as a receptor for both extracellular matrix proteins containing laminin globular domains and certain arenaviruses. An important enzyme, known as Like-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (LARGE), has been shown to transfer repeating units of -glucuronic acid-β1,3-xylose-α1,3- (matriglycan) to αDG that is required for functional receptor as an extracellular matrix protein scaffold. The reduction in the amount of LARGE-dependent matriglycan result in heterogeneous forms of dystroglycanopathy that is associated with hypoglycosylation of αDG and a consequent lack of ligand-binding activity. Read More

Front Genet 2018 28;9:599. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, MMG, U1251, Marseille, France.

Essential muscular organ that provides the whole body with oxygen and nutrients, the heart is the first organ to function during embryonic development. Cardiovascular diseases, including acquired and congenital heart defects, are the leading cause of mortality in industrialized countries. Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) are involved in a variety of cellular responses including proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Dec 10;19(12). Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.

Point mutations in genes encoding isoforms of skeletal muscle tropomyosin may cause nemaline myopathy, cap myopathy (Cap), congenital fiber-type disproportion (CFTD), and distal arthrogryposis. The molecular mechanisms of muscle dysfunction in these diseases remain unclear. We studied the effect of the E173A, R90P, E150A, and A155T myopathy-causing substitutions in γ-tropomyosin (Tpm3. Read More

Muscle Nerve 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.

Introduction: Decremental responses in repetitive nerve stimulation have been reported in a few hereditary myopathies. We examined the frequency of decrement in a cohort of myopathy patients.

Methods: We reviewed all patients referred for myopathy who underwent repetitive nerve stimulation between January 2007 and May 2017. Read More

J Forensic Leg Med 2019 Feb 29;61:92-96. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba city, Chiba Prefecture, 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

A 5-year-old boy with a chromosome-9 abnormality and multiple external and visceral malformations was found in cardiopulmonary arrest during a regular visit to the hospital; he did not respond to cardiopulmonary resuscitation and died. An odontoid process fracture and calcification and fibrosis of the muscles around the superior cervical vertebra were observed during the autopsy. Postmortem computed tomography revealed an anterior dislocation of the atlas; odontoid synchondrosis fracture; and delayed, incomplete bony fusion of the odontoid process relative to his age. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Jan 5;60(1):12-18. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University.

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a group of hereditary muscular dystrophy syndrome caused by deficiency of genes encoding nuclear envelope proteins. Patients having EDMD show the triad of muscle dystrophy, joint contracture, and cardiac disease. In almost all patients, cardiac involvement is prevalent and is the most severe aspect of EDMD. Read More

Hum Genet 2019 Jan 27;138(1):105-107. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

ISLR2 (immunoglobulin superfamily containing leucine-rich repeat 2), encodes a protein involved in axon guidance in brain development (hence the other name leucine-rich repeat domain- and immunoglobulin domain-containing axon extension proteins; LINX). A recently described mouse knockout displays hydrocephalus. However, the corresponding phenotype in humans is unknown. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 11 19;9(1):4848. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Pharmaceutical Biochemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Lausanne, University of Geneva, CMU 5-6, Rue Michel-Servet 1, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland.

X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM, also known as XLCNM) is a severe congenital muscular disorder due to mutations in the myotubularin gene, MTM1. It is characterized by generalized hypotonia, leading to neonatal death of most patients. No specific treatment exists. Read More

Nat Commun 2018 11 19;9(1):4849. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Program for Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay Street, Toronto, ON, CAN M5G 0A4, Canada.

Myotubular myopathy (MTM) is a severe X-linked disease without existing therapies. Here, we show that tamoxifen ameliorates MTM-related histopathological and functional abnormalities in mice, and nearly doubles survival. The beneficial effects of tamoxifen are mediated primarily via estrogen receptor signaling, as demonstrated through in vitro studies and in vivo phenotypic rescue with estradiol. Read More

Med Sci (Paris) 2018 Nov 12;34 Hors série n°2:26-31. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Illkirch, France - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR7104, Illkirch, France - Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1258, Illkirch, France - Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.

Calcium (Ca) is an essential regulator for a large number of cellular functions in various tissues and organs, and small disturbances of Ca homeostasis can severely compromise normal physiology. Intracellular Ca balance is mainly controlled by the reticular Ca sensor STIM1 and the plasma membrane Ca channel ORAI1 through a mechanism known as store-operated Ca entry (SOCE). Gain-of-function mutations in STIM1 or ORAI1 cause excessive extracellular Ca influx, resulting in tubular aggregate myopathy (TAM) and Stormorken syndrome (STRMK). Read More

Muscle Nerve 2019 Mar 29;59(3):315-320. Epub 2018 Dec 29.

Mayo Clinic Neurology Department, 4500 San Pablo Road South, Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, USA.

Introduction: Needle electromyography (EMG) findings help confirm myopathy and may indicate specific pathologic changes on muscle biopsy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 218 consecutive patients referred for muscle biopsy. Presence of specific needle EMG findings was correlated with pathologic findings of inflammation, necrosis, splitting, and vacuolar changes. Read More

Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim 2018 Dec 7;65(10):601-602. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Servicio de Anestesia, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Cantabria, España. Electronic address:

Muscle Nerve 2019 Mar 28;59(3):357-362. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Division of Newborn Medicine, Division of Genetics and Genomics, and The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.

Introduction: Centronuclear myopathies (CNMs) are a subtype of congenital myopathies (CMs) characterized by muscle weakness, predominant type 1 fibers, and increased central nuclei. SPEG (striated preferentially expressed protein kinase) mutations have recently been identified in 7 CM patients (6 with CNMs). We report 2 additional patients with SPEG mutations expanding the phenotype and evaluate genotype-phenotype correlations associated with SPEG mutations. Read More

Neurotherapeutics 2018 10;15(4):885-899

Neuromuscular Symptoms Unit, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Ryanodine receptor type 1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM) are the most common class of congenital myopathies. Historically, RYR1-RM classification and diagnosis have been guided by histopathologic findings on muscle biopsy. Main histological subtypes of RYR1-RM include central core disease, multiminicore disease, core-rod myopathy, centronuclear myopathy, and congenital fiber-type disproportion. Read More

Skeletal Radiol 2018 Oct 30. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Clinic, Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and CIBERER, Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the most sensitive and specific imaging technique for the detection of muscle diseases related to myopathies. Since 2008, the use of whole-body MRI (WBMRI) to evaluate myopathies has improved due to technical advances such as rolling table platform and parallel imaging, which enable rapid assessment of the entire musculoskeletal system with high-quality images. WBMRI protocols should include T1-weighted and short-tau inversion recovery (STIR), which provide the basic pulse sequences for studying myopathies, in order to detect fatty infiltration/muscle atrophy and muscle edema, respectively. Read More

Tex Heart Inst J 2018 08 1;45(4):270-272. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease comprises a vast array of defects in myelin integrity that causes progressive peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy. It is the most prevalent inherited peripheral neuropathy, and it can affect the management of coexisting medical conditions. We report the case of a 25-year-old woman who had undergone successful Fontan surgery during childhood, but her Fontan circulation failed as a result of diaphragmatic paresis caused by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2019 Jan;44(1):81-82

From the *Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; and †Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China.

MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes) is a rare congenital mitochondrial DNA mutation disease. Here, we report a 4-year-old girl, who presented with short stature, mental retardation, and recurrent seizures, underwent simultaneous F-FDG PET/MRI examination. An interesting contradiction images were found on bilateral frontal, left temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes, which were with high blood flow shown on 3D-ASL perfusion images, but low uptake of F-FDG on PET images. Read More

Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2018 Nov 27;58(11):663-667. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Neurology, Osaka City General Hospital.

A 33-year-old man admitted to our hospital for the evaluation of progressive muscular atrophy of his left lower leg. From his childhood, he had suffered from transient attacks of limb paralysis and myalgia lasting about 1 hour. At age 30, the muscle weakness and atrophy of his left lower leg emerged and progressed gradually. Read More

J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2018 Dec;77(12):1101-1114

Neuromuscular Morphology Unit, Myology Institute, GHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.

Titin-related myopathies are heterogeneous clinical conditions associated with mutations in TTN. To define their histopathologic boundaries and try to overcome the difficulty in assessing the pathogenic role of TTN variants, we performed a thorough morphological skeletal muscle analysis including light and electron microscopy in 23 patients with different clinical phenotypes presenting pathogenic autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive (AR) mutations located in different TTN domains. We identified a consistent pattern characterized by diverse defects in oxidative staining with prominent nuclear internalization in congenital phenotypes (AR-CM) (n = 10), ± necrotic/regenerative fibers, associated with endomysial fibrosis and rimmed vacuoles (RVs) in AR early-onset Emery-Dreifuss-like (AR-ED) (n = 4) and AR adult-onset distal myopathies (n = 4), and cytoplasmic bodies (CBs) as predominant finding in hereditary myopathy with early respiratory failure (HMERF) patients (n = 5). Read More

Neurotherapeutics 2018 10;15(4):872-884

Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, 395 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.

Myotonic dystrophy is an autosomal dominant muscular dystrophy not only associated with muscle weakness, atrophy, and myotonia but also prominent multisystem involvement. There are 2 similar, but distinct, forms of myotonic dystrophy; type 1 is caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene, and type 2 is caused by a CCTG repeat expansion in the CNBP gene. Type 1 is associated with distal limb, neck flexor, and bulbar weakness and results in different phenotypic subtypes with variable onset from congenital to very late-onset as well as variable signs and symptoms. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2018 Sep;10(Suppl 24):S2864-S2873

Paediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiology Department, M3C Regional Reference CHD Centre, University Hospital, Montpellier, France.

Nearly four decades ago, the World Health Organization stated that functional capacity explorations best reflected the impact of a chronic disease on quality of life. Today, cardio-pulmonary exercise test (CPET) is recommended in the follow-up of patients with congenital heart diseases (CHDs). Indeed, the maximum oxygen uptake (VO) and the ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO slope) correlate with both the prognosis and the quality of life in this population. Read More

Curr Med Res Opin 2019 Mar 9;35(3):543-552. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

d Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Hôpital Universitaire Robert Debré , Service d'endocrinologie diabétologie pédiatrique, Centre de Compétence des Pathologies Rares de l'Insulino-Sécrétion et de l'Insulino-Sensibilité (PRISIS) , Paris , France.

Background: Lipodystrophic syndromes are rare diseases of genetic or acquired origin characterized by partial or generalized lack of body fat. Early detection and diagnosis are crucial to prevent and manage associated metabolic dysfunctions, i.e. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018 10 5;115(43):11066-11071. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67404 Illkirch, France;

Centronuclear myopathies (CNM) are a group of severe muscle diseases for which no effective therapy is currently available. We have previously shown that reduction of the large GTPase DNM2 in a mouse model of the X-linked form, due to loss of myotubularin phosphatase MTM1, prevents the development of the skeletal muscle pathophysiology. As is mutated in autosomal dominant forms, here we tested whether DNM2 reduction can rescue -related CNM in a knock-in mouse harboring the p. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Oct 2;2018. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Department of Ophthalmology, Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Pediatr Phys Ther 2018 10;30(4):340

Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester, Massachusetts School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions Boston, Massachusetts.

Pediatr Phys Ther 2018 10;30(4):335-339

Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training (Dr Hayes) and Department of Neurology (Mss Dibella and Crockett and Drs Dixon, Butterfield, and Johnson), University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the physical activity levels in children with congenital myotonic dystrophy (CDM), and to examine whether patient clinical and functional characteristics correlated to physical activity.

Methods: Twenty-five children with CDM were assessed on functional measures, clinical measures, and physical activity levels.

Results: Results support that children with CDM spend the majority of their time inactive. Read More

J Epidemiol 2019 Jan 29;29(1):18-25. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California.

Background: Inherited factors and maternal behaviors are thought to play an important role in the etiology of several congenital malformations. Twin studies can offer additional evidence regarding the contribution of genetic and lifestyle factors to common birth anomalies, but few large-scale studies have been reported.

Methods: We included data from twins (20,803 pairs) from the population-based California Twin Program. Read More

Orphanet J Rare Dis 2018 Sep 26;13(1):170. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

Department of Developmental Neuroscience and Molecular Medicine Neuromuscular Unit and Child Neurology, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Via dei Giacinti 2, 56018, Pisa, Italy.

Background: Dystroglycanopathy (α-DG) is a relatively common, clinically and genetically heterogeneous category of congenital forms of muscular dystrophy (CMD) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) associated with hypoglycosylated α-dystroglycan. To date, mutations in at least 19 genes have been associated with α-DG. One of them, GMPPB, encoding the guanosine-diphosphate-mannose (GDP-mannose) pyrophosphorylase B protein, has recently been associated with a wide clinical spectrum ranging from severe Walker-Warburg syndrome to pseudo-metabolic myopathy and even congenital myasthenic syndromes. Read More

Front Physiol 2018 7;9:1277. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

CNRS UMR5310, INSERM U1217, Institut NeuroMyoGène, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France.

Since the discovery of the inner nuclear transmembrane protein emerin in the early 1990s, nuclear envelope (NE) components and related involvement in nuclei integrity and functionality have been highly investigated. The NE is composed of two distinct lipid bilayers described as the inner (INM) and outer (ONM) nuclear membrane. NE proteins can be specifically "integrated" in the INM (such as emerin and SUN proteins) or in the ONM such as nesprins. Read More

Neuromuscul Disord 2018 Nov 13;28(11):952-955. Epub 2018 Aug 13.

Pathology Department and Neuromuscular Unit, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute-Hospital de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.

X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) is a rare neuromuscular condition caused by mutations in the MTM1 gene. Female carriers are believed to be usually asymptomatic; nevertheless, recent reports have displayed a wide a spectrum of clinical involvement in females suggesting that MTM1 mutations might be underestimated in this population. Here we report a 55-year-old woman manifesting with an abrupt respiratory decline, whose respiratory function tests revealed a severe restrictive ventilatory defect. Read More

Neurol Sci 2018 Dec 19;39(12):2043-2051. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Department of Neuromuscular Disorder, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 139# Ziqiang Road, Shijiazhuang, 050051, Hebei, People's Republic of China.

Centronuclear myopathies (CNMs) are a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous muscle disorders. Here, we report a cohort of seven CNM patients with their clinical, histological, and morphological features. In addition, using the next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique (5/7 patients), we identified small indels: intronic, exonic, and missense mutations in MTM1, DNM2, and RYR1 genes. Read More