• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.57-62
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• 2022

Systemic autoinflammatory diseases (SAIDs) are characterized by unprovoked inflammatory episodes such as recurrent/periodic fever, serositis, skin lesions, abdominal symptoms, arthritis/arthralgia, and central nervous system involvement. Genetic diagnosis of SAIDs has been challenging because disease manifestations overlap among themselves and with other immunological disease categories, such as infection and autoimmune diseases. However, the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and expanding knowledge about the innate immunity and inflammation have made the routine genetic diagnosis of SAIDs possible. Here, we review the recurrent/periodic fevers, other recently identified autoinflammatory diseases, and type I interferonopathies, and discuss the clinical usefulness of NGS targeted sequencing for SAIDs, and recent advance of understandings for this heterogeneous disease group as for underlying primary immunodeficiency.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.5-11
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• 2023

β-ureidopropionase (β-UP) is an enzyme that catalyzes the final step in the pyrimidine degradation pathway, which converts β-ureidopropionate and β-ureidoisobutyrate into β-alanine and β-aminoisobutyrate, respectively. β-UP deficiency (UPB1D; OMIM # 613161) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive inborn error disease caused by a mutation in the UPB1 gene on chromosome 22q11. To date, approximately 40 cases of UPB1D have been reported worldwide, including one case in Korea. The clinical manifestations of patients with UPB1D are known to be diverse, with a very wide range of manifestations being previously reported; these manifestations include completely asymptomatic, urogenital and colorectal anomalies, or severe neurological involvement, including global developmental delay, microcephaly, early onset psychomotor retardation with dysmorphic features, epilepsy, optic atrophy, retinitis pigmentosa, severely delayed myelination, and cerebellar hypoplasia. Currently, diagnosis of UPB1D is challenging as neurological manifestations, MRI abnormalities, and biochemical analysis for pyrimidine metabolites in the urine, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid also need to be confirmed by UPB1 gene mutations. Overall, treatment of patients with UPB1D is palliative as there is still no definitive curative treatment available.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.11-18
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• 2023

Remarkable advances in genetic diagnosis expanded our knowledge about inherited tubulopathies and other genetic kidney diseases. This review suggests a simple categorization of inherited tubular disease, clarifies the concept of autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD), and introduces novel therapies developed for tubulopathies. Facing patients with suspicious tubular disorders, clinicians should first evaluate the status of volume and acid-base. This step helps the clinicians to localize the affected segment and to confirm genetic diagnosis. ADTKD is a recently characterized disease entity involving tubules. The known causative genes are UMOD, MUC1, REN, and HNF1β. Still, only half of ADTKD patients show mutations for these four identified genes. Whole exome sequencing is a suitable diagnostic tool for tubulopathies, especially for ADTKD. Genetic approaches to treat tubulopathies have progressed recently. Despite the practical obstacles, novel therapies targeting inherited tubulopathies are currently in development.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.121-140
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• 2023

It is becoming more and more clear that each cell, even those of the same type, has a unique identity. This sophistication and the diversity of cell types in tissue are what are pushing the necessity for spatially distributed omics at the single-cell (SC) level. Single-cell chemical assessment, which also provides considerable insight into biological, clinical, pharmacodynamic, pathological, and toxicity studies, is crucial to the investigation of cellular omics (genomics, metabolomics, etc.). Mass spectrometry (MS) as a tool to image and profile single cells and subcellular organelles facilitates novel technical expertise for biochemical and biomedical research, such as assessing the intracellular distribution of drugs and the biochemical diversity of cellular populations. It has been illustrated that ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) is a valuable tool for the rapid, straightforward, and simple analysis of cellular and sub-cellular constituents and metabolites in their native state. This short review examines the advances in ambient mass spectrometry (AMS) and ambient mass spectrometry imaging (AMSI) on single-cell analysis that have been authored in recent years. The discussion also touches on typical single-cell AMS assessments and implementations.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.29-31
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• 2023

Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is very rare and shows heterogeneity with impaired genetic components. PHP is characterized by parathyroid hormone resistance to target organ, related with a GNAS (guanine nucleotide-binding protein α-subunit) mutation and epimutation. PHP receptor is coupled with the stimulatory G protein which activates cyclic adenosine monophosphate formation. PHP type 1A is caused by inactivating mutations on the maternal allele of the GNAS whereas paternal allele mutations cause pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism. PHP type 1B is caused by abnormal patterns of methylation in differentially methylated region which can be divided into partial or complete. This disease has some difficulties to diagnose according to these different molecular alterations caused by complex genetic and epigenetic defects. According to this different molecular alterations, genetic confirmation must be done to discriminate their etiology.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• 제5권2호
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• pp.13-17
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• 2023

KBG syndrome (KBGS) is a multisystem disorder characterized by short stature, distinctive facial features including macrodontia of upper central permanent incisors, and developmental/cognitive delay. It is caused by variants or deletion of Ankyrin Repeat Domain 11 (ANKRD11) located in chromosome 16q24.3. Since its initial report in 1975, KBG syndrome has been recognized as an exceedingly rare disorder. However, recent advancements in genetic diagnostic techniques have led to an increase in both the diagnosis rate and the number of reported cases, contributing to a rapid increase in its global prevalence. We review the clinical aspects of KBGS, including previously reported and newly reported cases, as well as the related genetic patterns discovered so far.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.46-51
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• 2023

Exonic copy number variation (CNV), involving deletions and duplications at the gene's exon level, presents challenges in detection due to their variable impact on gene function. The study delves into the complexities of identifying large CNVs and investigates less familiar but recurrent exonic CNVs, notably enriched in East Asian populations. Examining specific cases like DRC1, STX16, LAMA2, and CFTR highlights the clinical implications and prevalence of exonic CNVs in diverse populations. The review addresses diagnostic challenges, particularly for single exon alterations, advocating for a strategic, multi-method approach. Diagnostic methods, including multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, droplet digital PCR, and CNV screening using next-generation sequencing data, are discussed, with whole genome sequencing emerging as a powerful tool. The study underscores the crucial role of ethnic considerations in understanding specific CNV prevalence and ongoing efforts to unravel subtle variations. The ultimate goal is to advance rare disease diagnosis and treatment through ethnically-specific therapeutic interventions.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제20권2호
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• pp.70-74
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• 2023

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a transcriptional regulator that binds to a complex DNA motif in various orientations and plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression, chromatin restructuring, and developmental processes. Mutations in the CTCF are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Here we report the first Korean case with a de novo heterozygous variant in the CTCF (c.1025G>A; p.Arg342His). She showed global developmental delay, failure to thrive, and dysmorphic face, which are phenotypes consistent with previous reports in the autosomal dominant intellectual developmental disorder 21 (MIM 615502). She also showed clinical features not previously reported, such as antral web and tracheobronchomalacia. Our case follows suit and expands understanding of this rare disorder by reporting common features and, on the other hand, unreported concomitant congenital anomalies.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.1-5
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• 2024

Chromosome 22 is an acrocentric chromosome containing 500-600 genes, representing 1.5%-2% of the total DNA in cells. It was the first human chromosome to be fully sequenced by the Human Genome Project. Several syndromes involving the partial deletion or duplication of chromosome 22 are well descibed, including 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, 22q11.2 duplication syndrome, 22q11.2 distal deletion syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome caused by a 22q13 deletion or pathogenic variant in SHANK3, and cat-eye syndrome caused by a 22 pter-q11 duplication. This review aims to provide concise information on the clinical characteristics of these syndromes. In particular, the similarities in features among these syndromes, genetic basis, and standard detection techniques are described, providing guidance for diagnosis and genetic counselling.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.142-159
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was undertaken to provide prerequisites for accreditation of medical genetics training program and certification process for medical genetics professionals as clinical specialist and set up guidelines on curriculum of medical genetics training program in Korea. Methods : Six ad hoc committees for clinical geneticist, clinical cytogeneticist, clinical molecular geneticist, clinical biochemical geneticist, medical genetics technologists and genetic counselors were organized for reviewing current status in Korea as well as foreign countries. Each committee is composed of 6-8 members. They summarized their opinions according to the structured questionnaire inquiring the ways of accrediting training program, qualification of program director, trainee requirements, contents of curriculum, duration of training program, certification process, estimation of numbers of each specialist needed in next 5 years in Korea. Results : Both prerequisites for the accreditation of medical geneticist training institutions and qualification of program director are suggested. Candidacy of trainees requires MD with board of medical specialty, or PhD degree with professional experiences in related field except clinical genetics program which only accepts MD with board of medical specialty, and Non-MD genetic counselor and medical technologists with degrees of BS or MS. General duration of fellowship will be 2-3 years depending on the categories they are enrolled into. Contents of curriculum for each speciality training are described. For the certification of each category, the candidacy should submit a log book detailing the cases they experienced during the fellowship, prove that they successfully completed course work and clinical experiences in the accredited program, and pass the written examination. Conclusion : As medical genetics becomes more important in daily routine clinical practice, the accreditation of medical genetics training program and certification of personnel are urgently needed. In this regard, the study will be providing guidelines and prerequisites for accreditation of medical genetics training program and certification process for medical genetics professionals as clinical specialist.