Turk J Gastroenterol 2017 Jul;28(4):319-321

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.

Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther 2017 Jun 15. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Pediatric Hematology Oncology Section of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant, Department of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address:

Bone marrow failure syndrome is an epithet of bone marrow failure (all or single-cell lineage) that is attributable to an underlying genetic aberration usually with a constellation of somatic abnormalities. Multiple inheritance patterns have been described in these disorders; many are transmitted in an autosomal recessive pattern, which may consequently lead to a higher prevalence of such illnesses in homogeneous societies such as Saudi Arabia, where consanguineous marriages are not uncommon. At King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, the most common entity referred for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is Fanconi anemia, followed by pure red aplasia, and, less commonly, dyskeratosis congenita, congenital neutropenia, and others. Read More

Pediatr Int 2017 Jun 23. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

Department of Pediatrics, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Semin Hematol 2017 Apr 7;54(2):105-114. Epub 2017 Apr 7.

Haematology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.

The inherited marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by failure in the production of one or more blood lineage. The clinical manifestations of the IBMFS vary according to the type and number of blood cell lines involved, including different combinations of anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. In some IBMFS, systemic non-hematologic manifestations, including congenital malformations, mucocutaneous abnormalities, developmental delay, and other medical complications, may be present. Read More

Ann Hematol 2017 Aug 16;96(8):1389-1397. Epub 2017 Jun 16.

Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Affiliated Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) using an optimized conditioning regimen is essential for the long-term survival of patients with inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS). We report HSCT in 24 children with Fanconi anemia (FA, n = 12), Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA, n = 7), and dyskeratosis congenita (DC, n = 5) from a single HSCT center. The graft source was peripheral blood stem cells (n = 19) or cord blood stem cells (n = 5). Read More

Clin Cancer Res 2017 Jun;23(11):e23-e31

National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland.

DNA repair syndromes are heterogeneous disorders caused by pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins key in DNA replication and/or the cellular response to DNA damage. The majority of these syndromes are inherited in an autosomal-recessive manner, but autosomal-dominant and X-linked recessive disorders also exist. The clinical features of patients with DNA repair syndromes are highly varied and dependent on the underlying genetic cause. Read More

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2017 May 22. Epub 2017 May 22.

*Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto City Hospital †Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

Although bone marrow failure in patients with dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) can be successfully treated with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) using a reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen, the outcome of nonhematological disorders in patients with DKC treated with allo-HCT using RIC has not been fully elucidated. Here, we describe the clinical course of nonhematological disorders after allo-HCT with RIC in 3 consecutive patients with DKC. Allo-HCT with RIC was feasible in all cases; however, patient 1 developed lethal pulmonary disease and patient 2 experienced progression of hepatic fibrosis. Read More

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2017 May 19. Epub 2017 May 19.

Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.

Patients with inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS), such as Fanconi anemia (FA), dyskeratosis congenita (DC), or Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), can have hematologic manifestations cured through hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Subsequent late effects seen in these patients arise from a combination of the underlying disease, the pre-HCT therapy, and the HCT process. During the international consensus conference sponsored by the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium on late effects screening and recommendations following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for immune deficiency and nonmalignant hematologic diseases held in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 2016, a half-day session was focused specifically on the unmet needs for these patients with IBMFS. Read More

Front Immunol 2017 1;8:449. Epub 2017 May 1.

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.

Typical features of dyskeratosis congenita (DC) resulting from excessive telomere shortening include bone marrow failure (BMF), mucosal fragility, and pulmonary or liver fibrosis. In more severe cases, immune deficiency and recurring infections can add to disease severity. RTEL1 deficiency has recently been described as a major genetic etiology, but the molecular basis and clinical consequences of RTEL1-associated DC are incompletely characterized. Read More

Haematologica 2017 May 11. Epub 2017 May 11.

Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.

Curr Cardiol Rev 2017 May 9. Epub 2017 May 9.

Congenital Heart Center, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI . United States.

The "hepatic factor," a molecule or group of molecules present in the hepatic venous blood, essential for the prevention of the development of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) and right-to-left shunting has been a conceptual enigma in the understanding of many related conditions. Patients with various forms of liver diseases including acute hepatic failure, and others with normal hepatic function like hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), inflammatory and parasitic disorders, cardiogenic hepatopulmonary syndrome (cHPS) and skin disorders like Dyskeratosis congenita are all known to cause PAVMs. Over a period of the last two decades our understanding of the pathogenesis of PAVMs has changed, but the mechanisms are still not clearly understood. Read More

Pediatr Res 2017 May 31. Epub 2017 May 31.

Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA.

BackgroundPatients with inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) may have several risk factors for low bone mineral density (BMD). We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of low BMD in IBMFS and determine the associated risk factors.MethodsPatients with IBMFS with at least one dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan were evaluated. Read More

J Oral Maxillofac Pathol 2017 Jan-Apr;21(1):87-91

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, MMCDSR, MM University, Ambala, Haryana, India.

Telomeres are repetitive ribonucleoprotein complexes present at ends of chromosomes. To synthesize this manuscript, a thorough literature search was done using PubMed, MEDLINE and Cochrane review for English-language literature and data available from the period of 2005-2016 were analyzed for manuscript writing. Telomeres help in maintaining the cellular health, inbuilt cellular mechanisms, metabolism and normal cell cycle. Read More

Am J Hum Genet 2017 May;100(5):751-765

McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address:

We developed a variant-annotation method that combines sequence-based machine-learning classification with a context-dependent algorithm for selecting splice variants. Our approach is distinctive in that it compares the splice potential of a sequence bearing a variant with the splice potential of the reference sequence. After training, classification accurately identified 168 of 180 (93. Read More

Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi 2017 Apr;19(4):452-457

Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.

An 8-year-old girl who had experienced intermittent cough and fever over a 3 year period, was admitted after experiencing a recurrence for one month. One year ago the patient experienced a recurrent oral mucosal ulcer. Physical examination showed vitiligo in the skin of the upper right back. Read More

N Engl J Med 2017 Apr;376(15):1460

Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO.

Nucleic Acids Res 2017 Apr 10. Epub 2017 Apr 10.

Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire Eucaryote, Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, 31000 Toulouse, France.

The poly-A specific ribonuclease (PARN), initially characterized for its role in mRNA catabolism, supports the processing of different types of non-coding RNAs including telomerase RNA. Mutations in PARN are linked to dyskeratosis congenita and pulmonary fibrosis. Here, we show that PARN is part of the enzymatic machinery that matures the human 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Read More

Nat Commun 2017 Mar 17;8:14766. Epub 2017 Mar 17.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Critical telomere shortening (for example, secondary to partial telomerase deficiency in the rare disease dyskeratosis congenita) causes tissue pathology, but underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Mice lacking telomerase (for example, mTR(-/-) telomerase RNA template mutants) provide a model for investigating pathogenesis. In such mice, after several generations of telomerase deficiency telomeres shorten to the point of uncapping, causing defects most pronounced in high-turnover tissues including intestinal epithelium. Read More

J Cell Biol 2017 Apr 2;216(4):875-887. Epub 2017 Mar 2.

Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre, Madrid E-28029, Spain

Telomeres, the protective ends of linear chromosomes, shorten throughout an individual's lifetime. Telomere shortening is proposed to be a primary molecular cause of aging. Short telomeres block the proliferative capacity of stem cells, affecting their potential to regenerate tissues, and trigger the development of age-associated diseases. Read More

Br J Haematol 2017 May 17;177(4):526-542. Epub 2017 Feb 17.

Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

The inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) typically present with significant cytopenias in at least one haematopoietic cell lineage that may progress to pancytopenia, and are associated with increased risk of cancer. Although the clinical features of the IBMFS are often diagnostic, variable disease penetrance and expressivity may result in diagnostic dilemmas. The discovery of the genetic aetiology of the IBMFS has been greatly facilitated by next-generation sequencing methods. Read More

J Biol Chem 2017 Mar 1;292(11):4593-4601. Epub 2017 Feb 1.

From the Department of Gene Expression and Regulation, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 and

Naturally occurring mutations in the ribonucleoprotein reverse transcriptase, telomerase, are associated with the bone marrow failure syndromes dyskeratosis congenita, aplastic anemia, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, the mechanism by which these mutations impact telomerase function remains unknown. Here we present the structure of the human telomerase C-terminal extension (or thumb domain) determined by the method of single-wavelength anomalous diffraction to 2. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol 2017 Jan 23. Epub 2017 Jan 23.

Section of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex. Electronic address:

Background: Mutations in the long noncoding RNA RNase component of the mitochondrial RNA processing endoribonuclease (RMRP) give rise to the autosomal recessive condition cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH). The CHH disease phenotype has some overlap with dyskeratosis congenita, a well-known "telomere disorder." RMRP binds the telomerase reverse transcriptase (catalytic subunit) in some cell lines, raising the possibility that RMRP might play a role in telomere biology. Read More

Med Sci (Paris) 2017 Jan 25;33(1):95-98. Epub 2017 Jan 25.

Génétique de la suppression tumorale, Équipe Labellisée Ligue, Institut Curie, Centre de recherche, 26, rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France - Sorbonne Universités, UPMC, Université Paris 6, Paris, France - CNRS UMR 3244, Paris, France - PSL Research University, Paris, France.

Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2017 May 20;23(5):726-735. Epub 2017 Jan 20.

Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland.

Fanconi anemia (FA), dyskeratosis congenita (DC), and Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) are 3 of the most common inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS), in which the hematologic manifestations can be cured with hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Later in life, these patients face a variety of medical conditions, which may be a manifestation of underlying disease or due to pre-HCT therapy, the HCT, or a combination of all these elements. Very limited long-term follow-up data exist in these populations, with FA the only IBMFS that has specific published data. Read More

J Mol Biol 2017 Jan 20. Epub 2017 Jan 20.

Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Applied Cancer Research Pavillion, 3201 rue Jean-Mignault, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1E 4K8, Canada. Electronic address:

Telomerase reverse transcriptase elongates telomeres to overcome their natural attrition and allow unlimited cellular proliferation, a characteristic shared by stem cells and the majority of malignant cancerous cells. The telomerase holoenzyme comprises a core RNA molecule, a catalytic protein subunit, and other accessory proteins. Malfunction of certain telomerase components can cause serious genetic disorders including dyskeratosis congenita and aplastic anaemia. Read More

Ophthalmic Genet 2017 Jan-Feb;38(1):51-60. Epub 2017 Jan 17.

a Retina Service, Department of Ophthalmology , Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts , USA.

Background: Revesz syndrome is a telomere disorder in the dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) spectrum characterized by exudative retinopathy, bone marrow failure, neuroradiographic abnormalities, and integumentary findings.

Materials/methods: We report the ophthalmologic findings, documented by examinations under anesthesia with clinical photography and fluorescein angiography, as well as the systemic manifestations and genetic and molecular testing, in identical twins with Revesz syndrome, and compare and contrast these features to those of other pediatric retinal vasculopathies.

Results: Both twins exhibited widespread avascularity and anomalous vasculature of the retinal periphery, retinal telangiectasias, and exudation. Read More

Bone Marrow Transplant 2017 May 16;52(5):765-768. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.

Intern Med 2016;55(23):3441-3444. Epub 2016 Dec 1.

Department of Gastroenterology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Japan.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare inherited disease in which the telomere complex cannot be maintained. Shortened telomeres can cause a number of clinical conditions. We herein report a case of unrelated bone marrow transplantation due to aplastic anemia associated with DC. Read More

Iran J Kidney Dis 2016 Nov;10(6):416-418

Nephropediatric Department, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunisia.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a very rare inherited disorder. It is caused by dysfunction of telomere maintenance. It involves RNA telomerase components relevant to various mutations leading to a classic triad of physical findings consisting of nail dystrophy of the hands and feet, mucosal leukoplakia, and reticular pigmentation of the skin, most commonly on the head, neck, and trunk. Read More

Eur Respir J 2017 Jan 25;49(1). Epub 2017 Jan 25.

Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Am J Hematol 2016 Dec 4;91(12):1215-1220. Epub 2016 Nov 4.

Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Group, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is an inherited bone marrow failure and cancer susceptibility syndrome caused by germline mutations in telomere biology genes. Germline mutations in DKC1, which encodes the protein dyskerin, cause X-linked recessive DC. Because of skewed X-chromosome inactivation, female DKC1 mutation carriers do not typically develop clinical features of DC. Read More

Dan Med J 2016 Nov;63(11)

The growing proportion of elderly people represents an increasing economic burden, not least because of age-associated diseases that pose a significant cost to the health service. Finding possible interventions to age-associated disorders therefore have wide ranging implications. A number of genetically defined accelerated aging diseases have been characterized that can aid in our understanding of aging. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016 Nov 2;113(46):13021-13026. Epub 2016 Nov 2.

Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109;

Telomerase replicates chromosome ends to facilitate continued cell division. Mutations that compromise telomerase function result in stem cell failure diseases, such as dyskeratosis congenita (DC). One such mutation (K170Δ), residing in the telomerase-recruitment factor TPP1, provides an excellent opportunity to structurally, biochemically, and genetically dissect the mechanism of such diseases. Read More

Am J Hematol 2016 Dec 21;91(12):1227-1233. Epub 2016 Oct 21.

Comprehensive Bone Marrow Failure Center, Division of Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare inherited telomeropathy most frequently caused by mutations in a number of genes all thought to be involved in telomere maintenance. The main causes of mortality in DC are bone marrow failure as well as malignancies including leukemias and solid tumors. The clinical picture including the degree of bone marrow failure is highly variable and factors that contribute to this variability are poorly understood. Read More

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2016 Dec 18;63(12):2139-2145. Epub 2016 Jul 18.

National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland.

Background: The inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFSs) are diverse disorders with syndrome-specific features; their otologic and audiologic manifestations have not been well described. Our objective was to characterize these in patients with Fanconi anemia (FA), dyskeratosis congenita (DC), Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), and to determine the association between physical findings and hearing loss.

Methods: Patients with an IBMFS underwent comprehensive clinical and laboratory evaluations and testing for syndrome-specific gene mutations. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2016 Oct 17;141(21):1578-1580. Epub 2016 Oct 17.

Telomere syndromes (syn. Telomeropathies) are inherited disorders hallmarked by accelerated telomere shortening based on a molecular defect within the telomerase/telomere complex. The rare, but well-defined model disorder Dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) characterized by typical skin manifestations and bone marrow failure represents the classical manifestation of telomere syndromes in childhood and adolescence. Read More

Curr Opin Hematol 2016 Nov;23(6):501-507

Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.

Purpose Of Review: Dyskeratosis congenita is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome caused by defects in telomere maintenance. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for bone marrow failure because of dyskeratosis congenita. The present review summarizes the literature with respect to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with dyskeratosis congenita who received HSCT, and discusses the recent progress in the management of dyskeratosis congenita. Read More

Retin Cases Brief Rep 2017 Winter;11 Suppl 1:S187-S190

*Associated Retinal Consultants, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, Michigan; †Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan; ‡Department of Ophthalmology, Beaumont Hospital-Southshore Campus, Trenton, Michigan; §Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; ¶Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; and **Florida Retina Institute, Jacksonville, Florida.

Purpose: To report a novel presentation of dyskeratosis congenita masquerading as familial exudative vitreoretinopathy.

Methods: Observational case series involving single family and literature review.

Results: A brother and sister were diagnosed with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy at ages 4 and 2, respectively. Read More

Haematologica 2016 Oct 9;101(10):1180-1189. Epub 2016 Sep 9.

Centre for Genomics and Child Health, Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Barts NHS Trust, London, UK.

Dyskeratosis congenita is a highly pleotropic genetic disorder. This heterogeneity can lead to difficulties in making an accurate diagnosis and delays in appropriate management. The aim of this study was to determine the underlying genetic basis in patients presenting with features of dyskeratosis congenita and who were negative for mutations in the classical dyskeratosis congenita genes. Read More

Indian Dermatol Online J 2016 Jul-Aug;7(4):275-7

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

Dyskeratosiscongenita (DKC) is a genetically heterogeneous disease of defective telomere maintenance that may demonstrate different patterns of inheritance. It is characterized by thetriad of dystrophy of the nails, leukokeratosis of the oral mucosa, and extensive net-like pigmentation of the skin. We report a case ofDKC who presented with a chief complaint of dysphagia. Read More

Cell Stem Cell 2016 Sep 18;19(3):397-405. Epub 2016 Aug 18.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address:

Patients with dyskeratosis congenita (DC) suffer from stem cell failure in highly proliferative tissues, including the intestinal epithelium. Few therapeutic options exist for this disorder, and patients are treated primarily with bone marrow transplantation to restore hematopoietic function. Here, we generate isogenic DC patient and disease allele-corrected intestinal tissue using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-mediated gene correction in induced pluripotent stem cells and directed differentiation. Read More

J Clin Diagn Res 2016 Jun 1;10(6):ZD07-9. Epub 2016 Jun 1.

Private practitioner, Karimnagar, Telangana, India .

Zinsser-Cole-Engmann syndrome also called Dyskeratosis Congenita (DKC) is a rare genodermatosis first described by Zinsser in 1906. Mutations in DKC1 gene is responsible for DKC. It is usually inherited as an X-linked recessive trait, resulting in a striking male predilection. Read More

Rinsho Ketsueki 2016 Jul;57(7):882-90

Department of Pediatrics, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine.

Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders characterized by bone marrow failure, congenital anomalies, and an increased risk of malignancies. Diagnosis is often difficult due to the wide variety of clinical expressions. The representative diseases are Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA), Fanconi anemia (FA), congenital sideroblastic anemia (CSA), congenital dyserhthropoietic anemia, Shwachman Diamond syndrome, and dyskeratosis congenita. Read More

Mol Genet Genomic Med 2016 Jul 20;4(4):475-9. Epub 2016 Mar 20.

Clinical Genetics Branch Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health 9609 Medical Center Drive Rockville Maryland 20850.

Background: Telomere length <1st percentile-for-age in leukocyte subsets by flow cytometry with fluorescence in situ hybridization (flow FISH) is highly sensitive and specific in diagnosing patients with dyskeratosis congenita (DC), a telomere biology disorder.

Methods: We evaluated the clinical utility of the high-throughput quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) relative telomere length (RTL) measurement as a diagnostic test for DC in patients with a priori clinical and/or genetic DC diagnoses. We calculated the sensitivity and specificity of RTL at different age-specific percentile cutoffs in 31 patients with DC and 51 mutation-negative relatives, and evaluated RTL difference by disease genotype. Read More

Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 2016 Jun 7;32(Suppl 1):228-32. Epub 2015 Feb 7.

Department of Orthopaedics, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh India ; Prakash Niwas, Near Chitkara Park, Lower Kaithu, Shimla, 171003 India.

Avascular necrosis of head of femur is a rare presentation in Dyskeratosis Congenita (DC). Aplastic anaemia, increased susceptibility to infections and fatal pulmonary complications often complicate the clinical scenario in these patients leading to short life span and difficulty in performing surgical interventions. The diagnosis initially and subsequent management by total hip replacement posed a great challenge. Read More

Hormones (Athens) 2016 Apr;15(2):297-9

Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Endocrinology Department, Izmir, Turkey.

Trends Mol Med 2016 Jul 3;22(7):615-28. Epub 2016 Jun 3.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA. Electronic address:

A key aspect of cellular function is the proper assembly and utilization of ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). Recent studies have shown that hyper- or hypo-assembly of various RNPs can lead to human diseases. Defects in the formation of RNPs lead to 'RNP hypo-assembly diseases', which can be caused by RNA degradation outcompeting RNP assembly. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2016 May 30;17(6). Epub 2016 May 30.

Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous clonal hematopoietic disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, bone marrow dysplasia, and peripheral cytopenias. Familial forms of MDS have traditionally been considered rare, especially in adults; however, the increasing availability of somatic and germline genetic analyses has identified multiple susceptibility loci. Bone marrow failure syndromes have been well-described in the pediatric setting, e. Read More

N Engl J Med 2016 Jun;374(22):2192-3

Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France

N Engl J Med 2016 Jun;374(22):2193