Optimal Genetic Screening for Cystic Fibrosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein El Hajj ◽  
Douglas R. Bish ◽  
Ebru K. Bish

Improving Newborn Screening for Genetic Diseases Screening newborns for life-threatening genetic diseases is an important public health initiative. Cystic fibrosis is one of the most prevalent diseases in this context. As part of the cystic fibrosis screening process, all states in the United States use multiple tests, including genetic tests that detect a subset of the more than 300 genetic variants (specific mutations) that cause cystic fibrosis. In “Optimal Genetic Screening for Cystic Fibrosis,” El-Hajj, D.R. Bish, and E.K. Bish develop a decision support model to select which genetic variants to screen for, considering the trade-off between classification accuracy and testing cost, and the technological constraints that limit the number of variants selected. Because variant prevalence rates are highly uncertain, a robust optimization framework is developed. Further, two commonly used cystic fibrosis screening processes are analytically compared, and conditions under which each process dominates are established. A case study based on published data are provided.

10.2223/1345 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-244
Author(s):  
Grégor P. Chermikoski Santos ◽  
Mouseline T. Domingos ◽  
Ehrenfried O. Wittig ◽  
Carlos A. Riedi ◽  
Nelson A. Rosário

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 1857-1864
Author(s):  
Elisa M. Castells ◽  
Aramis Sánchez ◽  
Amarilys Frómeta ◽  
Yanin Mokdse ◽  
Nelson Ozunas ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundIn Cuba, no screening program for cystic fibrosis (CF) has been implemented yet. The ultramicro enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (UMELISA)® TIR NEONATAL has been developed for the measurement of immunoreactive trypsin (IRT) in dried blood spots on filter paper. The analytical performance of the kit was evaluated in the national network of laboratories.MethodsNewborn dried blood samples (DBS) were evaluated in 16 laboratories. An IRT/IRT/DNA protocol was followed using a cut-off value of 50 ng/mL. The mean, median and percentiles of the distribution were calculated and a two-sample t-test with unequal variance was used for statistical analysis. Influence of perinatal factors on IRT levels was analyzed.ResultsFrom January to June 2018, 6470 newborns were studied, obtaining a mean IRT value of 12.09 ng/mL (ranging 0–358 ng/mL) and a median of 8.99 ng/mL. Fifty-two samples (0.78%) were above the cut-off level and 16 samples (0.24%) were elevated in the re-screening process. One of them was confirmed positive by molecular biology (phe508del/c.3120 + 1G > A), constituting the first newborn screened and diagnosed early in Cuba. Second DBS samples were collected on average at 14 days and processed in the laboratory at 16 days of birth. Significant differences were observed (p < 0.05) when evaluating the influence of gender, birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA) on the IRT values. Lower IRT concentrations were found in samples processed after 10 days of collection.ConclusionsThe performance of UMELISA® TIR NEONATAL in the laboratories has been satisfactory; hence CF newborn screening (NBS) was extended throughout the country from January 2019.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 2599
Author(s):  
Mégane Collobert ◽  
Ozvan Bocher ◽  
Anaïs Le Nabec ◽  
Emmanuelle Génin ◽  
Claude Férec ◽  
...  

About 8% of the human genome is covered with candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs). Disruptions of CREs, described as “cis-ruptions” have been identified as being involved in various genetic diseases. Thanks to the development of chromatin conformation study techniques, several long-range cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) regulatory elements were identified, but the regulatory mechanisms of the CFTR gene have yet to be fully elucidated. The aim of this work is to improve our knowledge of the CFTR gene regulation, and to identity factors that could impact the CFTR gene expression, and potentially account for the variability of the clinical presentation of cystic fibrosis as well as CFTR-related disorders. Here, we apply the robust GWAS3D score to determine which of the CFTR introns could be involved in gene regulation. This approach highlights four particular CFTR introns of interest. Using reporter gene constructs in intestinal cells, we show that two new introns display strong cooperative effects in intestinal cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses further demonstrate fixation of transcription factors network. These results provide new insights into our understanding of the CFTR gene regulation and allow us to suggest a 3D CFTR locus structure in intestinal cells. A better understand of regulation mechanisms of the CFTR gene could elucidate cases of patients where the phenotype is not yet explained by the genotype. This would thus help in better diagnosis and therefore better management. These cis-acting regions may be a therapeutic challenge that could lead to the development of specific molecules capable of modulating gene expression in the future.


Author(s):  
Guido Pennings ◽  
Edgar Mocanu ◽  
Janne Rothmar Herrmann ◽  
Anne-Bine Skytte ◽  
Corey Burke ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Mahta Jahanshahi ◽  
Keith Gregg ◽  
Gillian Davis ◽  
Adora Ndu ◽  
Veronica Miller ◽  
...  

AbstractThe regulatory standards of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require substantial evidence of effectiveness from adequate and well-controlled trials that typically use a valid comparison to an internal concurrent control. However, when it is not feasible or ethical to use an internal control, particularly in rare disease populations, relying on external controls may be acceptable. To better understand the use of external controls to support product development and approval, we reviewed FDA regulatory approval decisions between 2000 and 2019 for drug and biologic products to identify pivotal studies that leveraged external controls, with a focus on select therapeutic areas. Forty-five approvals were identified where FDA accepted external control data in their benefit/risk assessment; they did so for many reasons including the rare nature of the disease, ethical concerns regarding use of a placebo or no-treatment arm, the seriousness of the condition, and the high unmet medical need. Retrospective natural history data, including retrospective reviews of patient records, was the most common source of external control (44%). Other types of external control were baseline control (33%); published data (11%); and data from a previous clinical study (11%). To gain further insights, a comprehensive evaluation of selected approvals utilizing different types of external control is provided to highlight the variety of approaches used by sponsors and the challenges encountered in supporting product development and FDA decision making; particularly, the value and use of retrospective natural history in the development of products for rare diseases. Education on the use of external controls based on FDA regulatory precedent will allow for continued use and broader application of innovative approaches to clinical trial design, while avoiding delays in product development for rare diseases. Learnings from this review also highlight the need to update regulatory guidance to acknowledge the utility of external controls, particularly retrospective natural history data.


1999 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 479-541
Author(s):  
Allyn L. Taylor

The global Human Genome Project (HGP) promises dramatic advances in biomedical science and in identifying and treating diseases and illnesses that exact an enormous toll on people throughout the world. The HGP portends a conceptual revolution in health care: many foresee a new “predictive medicine” based on the development of genetic screening, testing and gene therapy.Although advances in genetic science create the potential for dramatic progress against disease in rich and poor states, they also pose profound national and global policy concerns, including the potential impact of the scientific developments on human rights and public health. The development of more precise genetic information raises the specter of genetic discrimination by public and private sectors in all nations with access to the new technologies. In addition, nations will grapple increasingly with the appropriate balance between screening for and treatment of genetic diseases in order to promote public health and protect individual rights to privacy and confidentiality. Genetic screening and services also raise human rights questions relating to equitable resource allocation and the protection of public health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-141
Author(s):  
Suma Elcy Varghese ◽  
Rana Hassan Mohammad El Otol ◽  
Fatma Sultan Al Olama ◽  
Salah Ahmad Mohamed Elbadawi

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Early detection of diseases in newborn may help in early intervention and treatment, which may either cure the disease or improve the outcome of the patient. Dubai’s Health Authority has a newborn screening program which includes screening for metabolic and genetic conditions, for hearing and vision, and for congenital heart disease. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> The objectives of this study are to assess the outcome of the newborn genetic screening program, to correlate the association between the outcome of the program and demographic variables and to find out the percentage of the number of infants who were confirmed to have the genetic disease (by confirmatory tests) out of the total infants who had positive screening test results. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> During the period of the study from January 2018 to December 2018, a total of 7,027 newborns were tested in Dubai Health Authority facilities by the newborn genetic screening program (known as the “Step One Screening”). Blood samples were collected by heel prick on a collection paper. All samples were transported to PerkinElmer Genomics in the USA where the tests were done. The genetic disorders identified were correlated with different variables like gender and nationality. The data were entered in an excel sheet and analyzed by using SPSS software. All infants aged 0–3 months who have done newborn genetic screening at Dubai Health Authority facilities between January and December 2018 were included. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The incidence of screened disorders was 1:7,027 for congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 1:1,757 for congenital hypothyroidism, 1:1,757 for inborn errors of metabolism, 1:2,342 for biotinidase deficiency, 1:1,171 for hemoglobinopathies, 1:12 for hemoglobinopathy traits, and 1:10 for different genetic mutations of G6PD deficiency. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> There is a high incidence of different genetic diseases detected by newborn screening. These results justify unifying the program in the UAE and preventive programs like premarital screening and genetic counseling.


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. S10-S11
Author(s):  
Silvia Modamio-Høybjør ◽  
Silvia Fernández ◽  
Raquel Garcia ◽  
Moisés De La Casa ◽  
Ferran Garcia ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 84-95
Author(s):  
Fabio Ingravalle ◽  
Giovanni Casella ◽  
Adriana Ingravalle ◽  
Claudio Monti ◽  
Federica De Salvatore ◽  
...  

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the commonest inherited genetic disorder in Caucasians due to a mutation in the gene CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator), and it should be considered as an Inherited Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Syndrome. In the United States, physicians of CF Foundation established the “Developing Innovative Gastroenterology Speciality Training Program” to increase the research on CF in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases. The risk to develop a CRC is 5–10 times higher in CF patients than in the general population and even greater in CF patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy due to organ transplantation (30-fold increased risk relative to the general population). Colonoscopy should be considered the best screening for CRC in CF patients. The screening colonoscopy should be started at the age of 40 in CF patients and, if negative, a new colonoscopy should be performed every 5 years and every 3 years if adenomas are detected. For transplanted CF patients, the screening colonoscopy could be started at the age of 35, in transplanted patients at the age of 30 and, if before, at the age of 30. CF transplanted patients, between the age of 35 and 55, must repeat colonoscopy every 3 years. Our review draws attention towards the clinically relevant development of CRC in CF patients, and it may pave the way for further screenings and studies.


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