Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by mutations in the SMN (survival of motor neurons) gene and there is a correlation between disease severity and levels of functional SMN protein. Studies of structure-function relationships in SMN protein may lead to a better understanding of SMA pathogenesis. Self-association of the spinal muscular atrophy protein, SMN, is important for its function in ...

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/gim.2017.134.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Genetic diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is complicated by the presence of SMN2 gene as majority of SMA patients show absence or deletion of SMN1 gene. PCR may amplify both the genes non selectively in presence of high amount of DNA. We evaluated whether allele-specific PCR for diagnostic screening of SMA is reliable in the presence of high amount of genomic DN...

OBJECTIVE Recent advances in understanding Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) etiopathogenesis prompted development of potent intervention strategies and raised need for sensitive outcome measures capable of assessing disease progression and response to treatment. Several biomarkers have been proposed; nevertheless, no general consensus has been reached on the most feasible ones. We observed a wide ...

X-linked spinobulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy's disease) affects muscles and motor neurons, manifesting as weakness and wasting of bulbar, facial, and proximal limb muscles due to loss of anterior horn cells in the brain and spinal cord. We present the case of a patient with X-linked spinobulbar muscular atrophy with rapidly worsening bulbar symptoms caused by laryngopharyngeal irritation asso...

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the most common lethal recessive disease in childhood, and there is currently no effective treatment to halt disease progression. The translation of scientific advances into effective therapies is hampered by major roadblocks in clinical trials, including the complex regulatory environment in Europe, variations in standards of care, patient ascertainment and enr...

Haptoglobin (Hp) groups were investigated in 81 patients with motor neuron disease. A significant excess of heterozygotes was observed, accentuated among males and in the progressive spinal muscular atrophy subgroup. The results are discussed in terms of a possible influence of Hp in the immunological response.

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic motor neuron disease caused by mutations in the SMN1 (Survival Motor Neuron) gene, which leads to hypotonia and muscle weakness with high mortality related respiratory involvement. Gene therapy (GT) (onasemnogeno aberpavovec) for SMA, through an adeno-associated viral vector 9 (AAV9) was recently approved our country, but its safety efficac...

Two candidate genes (NAIP and SMN) have recently been reported for childhood onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Although affected subjects show deletions of these genes, these deletions can lead to either a very mild or a severe phenotype. We have analysed a large number of clinically well defined patients, carriers, and normal controls to assess the frequency and extent of deletions encompas...