Romina Kohan1, Favio Pesaola2, Norberto Guelbert3, Patricia Pons4, Ana María Oller-Ramírez5, Gisela Rautenberg6, Adriana Becerra7, Katherine Sims8, Winnie Xin9, Inés Adriana Cismondi10, Inés Noher de Halac11. 1. Centro de Estudio de las Metabolopatías Congénitas (CEMECO), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ferroviarios 1250, 5014 Córdoba, Argentina; Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre s/n, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: kohanromina@gmail.com. 2. Centro de Estudio de las Metabolopatías Congénitas (CEMECO), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ferroviarios 1250, 5014 Córdoba, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 1917, C1033AAJ CABA, Argentina. Electronic address: favio.pesaola@gmail.com. 3. Centro de Estudio de las Metabolopatías Congénitas (CEMECO), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ferroviarios 1250, 5014 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: nguelbert@arnet.com.ar. 4. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre esq. Enrique Barros, 1º piso, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: ppons@cmefcm.uncor.edu. 5. Centro de Estudio de las Metabolopatías Congénitas (CEMECO), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ferroviarios 1250, 5014 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: ramirezoller@gmail.com. 6. Centro de Estudio de las Metabolopatías Congénitas (CEMECO), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ferroviarios 1250, 5014 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: giselarautenberg@hotmail.com. 7. Centro de Estudio de las Metabolopatías Congénitas (CEMECO), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ferroviarios 1250, 5014 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: dra.adrianabecerra@hotmail.com. 8. Massachussets General Hospital, Neurology Department, Center for Genetic Research [CHGR], Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: sims@helix.mgh.harvard.edu. 9. Massachussets General Hospital, Neurology Department, Center for Genetic Research [CHGR], Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: xin@helix.mgh.harvard.edu. 10. Centro de Estudio de las Metabolopatías Congénitas (CEMECO), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ferroviarios 1250, 5014 Córdoba, Argentina; Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre s/n, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: ines.adriana.cismondi@unc.edu.ar. 11. Centro de Estudio de las Metabolopatías Congénitas (CEMECO), Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Ferroviarios 1250, 5014 Córdoba, Argentina; Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre s/n, 5000 Córdoba, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Av. Rivadavia 1917, C1033AAJ CABA, Argentina. Electronic address: nclcemeco1789@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The Argentinean program was initiated more than a decade ago as the first experience of systematic translational research focused on NCL in Latin America. The aim was to overcome misdiagnoses and underdiagnoses in the region. SUBJECTS: 216 NCL suspected individuals from 8 different countries and their direct family members. METHODS: Clinical assessment, enzyme testing, electron microscopy, and DNA screening. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 1) The study confirmed NCL disease in 122 subjects. Phenotypic studies comprised epileptic seizures and movement disorders, ophthalmology, neurophysiology, image analysis, rating scales, enzyme testing, and electron microscopy, carried out under a consensus algorithm; 2) DNA screening and validation of mutations in genes PPT1 (CLN1), TPP1 (CLN2), CLN3, CLN5, CLN6, MFSD8 (CLN7), and CLN8: characterization of variant types, novel/known mutations and polymorphisms; 3) Progress of the epidemiological picture in Latin America; and 4) NCL-like pathology studies in progress. The Translational Research Program was highly efficient in addressing the misdiagnosis/underdiagnosis in the NCL disorders. The study of "orphan diseases" in a public administrated hospital should be adopted by the health systems, as it positively impacts upon the family's quality of life, the collection of epidemiological data, and triggers research advances. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Current Research on the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (Batten Disease)".
BACKGROUND: The Argentinean program was initiated more than a decade ago as the first experience of systematic translational research focused on NCL in Latin America. The aim was to overcome misdiagnoses and underdiagnoses in the region. SUBJECTS: 216 NCL suspected individuals from 8 different countries and their direct family members. METHODS: Clinical assessment, enzyme testing, electron microscopy, and DNA screening. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 1) The study confirmed NCL disease in 122 subjects. Phenotypic studies comprised epilepticseizures and movement disorders, ophthalmology, neurophysiology, image analysis, rating scales, enzyme testing, and electron microscopy, carried out under a consensus algorithm; 2) DNA screening and validation of mutations in genes PPT1 (CLN1), TPP1 (CLN2), CLN3, CLN5, CLN6, MFSD8 (CLN7), and CLN8: characterization of variant types, novel/known mutations and polymorphisms; 3) Progress of the epidemiological picture in Latin America; and 4) NCL-like pathology studies in progress. The Translational Research Program was highly efficient in addressing the misdiagnosis/underdiagnosis in the NCL disorders. The study of "orphan diseases" in a public administrated hospital should be adopted by the health systems, as it positively impacts upon the family's quality of life, the collection of epidemiological data, and triggers research advances. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Current Research on the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (Batten Disease)".
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