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Background Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, MetabERN has been monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 infection rates within its metabolic community. To gather data on the total number of cases and the severity of symptoms among IMD patients one year into the pandemic, an online survey was distributed among all MetabERN healthcare providers (HCP). Epidemiological analysis was performed by integrating the survey’s data with the MetabERN database. Results Survey’s respondents reported a total of 452 cases of COVID-19 among their IMD patients (213 paediatric and 239 adults). Considering the total number of patients followed by the respondents (n = 26,347), the registered prevalence of COVID-19 in the IMD population was of 1716 × 100,000. Italy emerged as the most affected country (25.4% of cases), followed by the United Kingdom (14.2% of cases). Most of the paediatric cases of COVID-19 displayed no or mild symptoms during the disease: 34% of HCP reported having asymptomatic patients in 75–100% of cases, while 37.5% reported mild symptoms in about a quarter of their patients. Similarly to paediatric cases, most adult IMD patients with COVID-19 were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms: about one third of respondents reported 75–100% asymptomatic patients and about 65% of HCP had between 0 and 50% of patients with mild symptoms. The majority of the respondents reported no deaths due to COVID-19 in adult and paediatric patients with IMDs. Conclusions Most of MetabERN’s IMD patients who got COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic had mild symptoms and a positive outcome of the disease. However, fatal events were recorded in paediatric patients; this, together with the lack of information on the long-term effects of COVID-19 in IMDs, call for caution in the metabolic population.

Background Pompe disease and Mucopolysaccharidoses Type I (MPS-I) are lysosomal disorders caused by a deficiency of α-glucosidase and alpha-L-iduronidase, respectively. The mainstay of treatment is enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), a life-long treatment that requires regular I.V. infusions. Hospital-based therapy can, however, negatively impact quality of life over time. The purpose of the HomERT study (Home infusions of ERT) was to evaluate the safety, treatment compliance, and treatment satisfaction related to home therapy of Pompe disease patients with Myozyme ® (alglucosidase alfa) and MPS-I patients with Aldurazyme ® (laronidase). The final results are presented in this paper. Results The HomERT study was a multicenter, non-interventional, minimum 12-month prospective observational, double-cohort study that analyzed 56 patients from 14 sites in Italy from October 2021 to February 2024: cohort A (Pompe disease − 47 patients) and cohort B (MPS-I − 9 patients: 6 Hurler/Scheie, 3 Scheie). During the observation period, the mean (SD) number of missed infusions was 5.8 (3.92) in cohort A and 3.0 (3.52) in cohort B, corresponding to a mean (SD) of missed infusions of 19.8 (32.7)% and 4.1 (4.2)%, respectively, versus the number of planned infusions. Only 2 patients in cohort A returned to the hospital setting due to “adverse event” and “other” reasons. A total of 13 Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) were reported during the home-care setting before and after enrollment. The average number of ADRs per patient was 0.2 (1.46) in cohort A and 0.2 (0.67) in group B, and the rate of ADRs/year was 0.15 (95% CI: 0.06; 0.34) in cohort A and 0.06 (95% CI: 0.01; 0.38) in cohort B. The majority of patients preferred home-based infusions (cohort A: 93.6%; cohort B: 88.9%), and the main reason was attributed to treatment convenience (cohort A: 93.6%; cohort B: 100%). Despite the underlying conditions, most patients self-evaluated their health as “Fair” in cohort A (36.2%) and “Good” in cohort B (44.5%). Conclusion The use of ERT with α-glucosidase and alpha-L-iduronidase alfa remains a strong candidate for home therapy, with favorable safety profile, improved treatment ERT compliance, and patient satisfaction. NCT05073783.

Background The Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) demands precise information on benefit/risk profile of home-based enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for the treatment of patients with Pompe disease and Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I). This passage is necessary to obtain the authorization for ERT home therapy, even after the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic period. This research intends to evaluate the safety, treatment satisfaction, and compliance of MPS I patients treated with laronidase (Aldurazyme®) and Pompe Disease patients treated with alglucosidase alfa (Myozyme®) in a homecare setting. Results We report herein an early interim analysis of the HomERT (Home infusions of ERT) study, a multicenter, non-interventional, double-cohort study that retrospectively analyzed 38 patients from 14 sites in Italy: cohort A (Pompe disease − 32 patients) and cohort B (MPS I − 6 patients). Among the selected patients who started home therapy before enrollment, the average number of missed home-based infusions was 0.7 (1.3) in cohort A and 3.8 (6.4) in cohort B with no return to the hospital setting. Irrespective of the treatment location, 3 prior ADRs per cohort were reported. The majority of patients preferred home-based infusions (cohort A: 96.9%; cohort B: 100%): the main reason was attributed to treatment convenience (cohort A: 81.3%; cohort B: 83.3%). Despite the underlying conditions, most patients self-evaluated their health as “good” (cohort A: 50%; cohort B: 83.3%). Conclusions Evidence of favorable safety profile, improved treatment compliance and personal satisfaction validates the use of ERT with laronidase and alglucosidase alfa as a strong candidate for home therapy.

Background Late onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is a lysosomal neuromuscular disorder which can progressively impair the patients’ exercise tolerance, motor and respiratory functions, and quality of life. The available enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) does not completely counteract disease progression. We investigated the effect of exercise training alone, or associated with a high-protein diet, on the exercise tolerance, muscle and pulmonary functions, and quality of life of LOPD patients on long term ERT. Methods The patients were asked to participate to a crossover randomized study comprehending a control period (free diet, no exercise) followed by 2 intervention periods: exercise or exercise + diet , each lasting 26 weeks and separated by 13 weeks washout periods. Exercise training included moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a cycle ergometer, stretching and balance exercises, strength training. The diet was composed by 25–30% protein, 30–35% carbohydrate and 35–40% fat. Before and after each period patients were assessed for: exercise tolerance test on a cycle-ergometer, serum muscle enzymes, pulmonary function tests and SF36 questionnaire for quality of life. Compliance was evaluated by training and dietary diaries. Patients were contacted weekly by researchers to optimize adherence to treatments. Results Thirteen LOPD patients, median age 49 ± 11 years, under chronic ERT (median 6.0 ± 4.0 years) were recruited. Peak aerobic power (peak pulmonary O 2 uptake) decreased after control , whereas it increased after exercise, and more markedlyafter exercise + diet . Serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) significantly decreased after exercise + diet; both creatine kinase (CK) and LDH levels were significantly reduced after exercise + diet compared to exercise. Pulmonary function showed no changes after control and exercise , whereas a significant improvement of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) was observed after exercise + diet . SF36 showed a slight improvement in the “mental component” scale after exercise , and a significant improvement in “general health” and “vitality” after exercise + diet . The compliance to prescriptions was higher than 70% for both diet and exercise . Conclusions Exercise tolerance (as evaluated by peak aerobic power) showed a tendency to decrease in LOPD patients on long term ERT. Exercise training, particularly if combined with high-protein diet, could reverse this decrease and result in an improvement, which was accompanied by improved quality of life. The association of the two lifestyle interventions resulted also in a reduction of muscle enzyme levels and improved pulmonary function.

This study aims to assess the proinflammatory interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory IL-10 production by monocytes from 38 patients with type 2 diabetes and 31 controls in different glucose concentrations. Monocytes were incubated in low (2.5 mmol/L)-, normal (5.0 mmol/L)-, and high (20 mmol/L)-glucose conditions in the presence and absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Monocytes from both patients and controls only produced a significant increase in IL-1β in low-glucose conditions (p<0.01), and this phenomenon was amplified in the presence of LPS, while it was not seen in normal- or high-glucose conditions, not even in the presence of LPS stimulation. There was no increase in IL-10 production by monocytes from either diabetic patients or controls using whatever glucose concentrations, except when treated with LPS in normal-glucose conditions. These findings seem to suggest that low-glucose conditions induce an inflammatory response in monocytes in all individuals, as an intrinsic capacity of this cell line. On the other hand, monocytes only retain their anti-inflammatory ability in response to known inflammatory stimuli such as LPS, under normal-glucose concentrations. In conclusion, human monocytes express an inflammatory pattern in low-glucose conditions in vitro. This response could contribute to explaining the higher cardiovascular risk induced by hypoglycemia in diabetic patients.

Adult metabolic medicine (AMM) is an expanding medical subspecialty, due to the increasing number of adult patients with inherited metabolic diseases (IMD). However, a formal training and postgraduate education in this field is not available in the majority of countries. Existing adult metabolic specialists (AMS) come from many different backgrounds. The aim of this survey was to assess the state of play as regards education and training in AMM worldwide. Members of the Society for the Study of Inborn Error of Metabolism adult metabolic group (n = 89) were asked to take part in this survey. Forty‐two AMS (47.2%) from 18 different countries completed the questionnaire. The most common specialties were internal medicine (38.1%), endocrinology (26.2%), genetics (21.4%), and neurology (21.4%). Ninety‐five percent of respondents considered that practical clinical experience had contributed importantly for their professional development, while only 27% felt the same for formal academic education. The current state of available education and training was judged as generally poor or fair (73% of the respondents). The most suggested ways of improving education and training in AMM were: to facilitate international internships; to implement courses on adult‐IMD; and to create a formal academic education. The skills considered most important for AMS were: recognition of signs and symptoms of diseases, knowledge of the available treatments, and ability to perform a correct follow up. In conclusion, worldwide, current available education and training in AMM is considered inadequate. This survey emphasizes the need for development of new, formal training opportunities to improve knowledge, and competence in this rapidly expanding field.

The rapid expansion of the number of adult patients with inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs) has created demand for physicians with expertise in the field of adult metabolic medicine (AMM). Unfortunately, existing accredited training programs in this field are rare, and training programs in pediatric metabolic medicine cannot fully meet the needs of AMM physicians as the types of patients and the problems they face are different in the adult setting. We surveyed a group of working practitioners in AMM for input on what medical expert competencies they feel should be included as part of training programs in AMM. Through a modified Delphi process, 66 physicians from six continents reached consensus on a comprehensive list of training competencies in AMM. This list includes competencies from the fields of adult internal medicine, neurology, medical genetics, and pediatric metabolic medicine but also includes competencies not found in any of those programs, leading to the conclusion that the training needs for specialists in AMM cannot be met from any of these existing programs. We propose that AMM be considered a subspecialty separate from pediatric metabolic medicine and that accredited training programs in AMM be created using these medical expert competencies as part of a broader program design.

X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most common monogenic disorder causing hypophosphatemia. This case-note review documents the clinical features and the complications of treatment in 59 adults (19 male, 40 female) with XLH. XLH is associated with a large number of private mutations; 37 different mutations in the PHEX gene were identified in this cohort, 14 of which have not been previously reported. Orthopaedic involvement requiring surgical intervention (osteotomy) was frequent. Joint replacement and decompressive laminectomy were observed in those older than 40 years. Dental disease (63%), nephrocalcinosis (42%), and hearing impairment (14%) were also common. The rarity of the disease and the large number of variants make it difficult to discern specific genotype-phenotype relationships. A new treatment, an anti-FGF23 antibody, that may affect the natural history of the disease is currently being investigated in clinical trials.

Glucocerebrosidase (GCase) is a lysosomal enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of glucosylceramide in the presence of its activator saposin C (SapC). SapC arises from the proteolytical cleavage of prosaposin (encoded by PSAP gene), which gives rise to four saposins. GCase is targeted to the lysosomes by LIMP-2, encoded by SCARB2 gene. GCase deficiency causes Gaucher Disease (GD), which is mainly due to biallelic pathogenetic variants in the GCase-encoding gene, GBA1. However, impairment of GCase activity can be rarely caused by SapC or LIMP-2 deficiencies. We report a new case of LIMP-2 deficiency and a new case of SapC deficiency (missing all four saposins, PSAP deficiency), and measured common biomarkers of GD and GCase activity. Glucosylsphingosine and chitotriosidase activity in plasma were increased in GCase deficiencies caused by PSAP and GBA1 mutations, whereas SCARB2-linked deficiency showed only Glucosylsphingosine elevation. GCase activity was reduced in fibroblasts and leukocytes: the decrease was sharper in GBA1- and SCARB2-mutant fibroblasts than PSAP-mutant ones; LIMP-2-deficient leukocytes displayed higher residual GCase activity than GBA1-mutant ones. Finally, we demonstrated that GCase mainly undergoes proteasomal degradation in LIMP-2-deficient fibroblasts and lysosomal degradation in PSAP-deficient fibroblasts. Thus, we analyzed the differential biochemical profile of GCase deficiencies due to the ultra-rare PSAP and SCARB2 biallelic pathogenic variants in comparison with the profile observed in GBA1-linked GCase deficiency.

Pompe disease and Mucopolysaccharidoses Type I (MPS-I) are lysosomal disorders caused by a deficiency of [alpha]-glucosidase and alpha-L-iduronidase, respectively. The mainstay of treatment is enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), a life-long treatment that requires regular I.V. infusions. Hospital-based therapy can, however, negatively impact quality of life over time. The purpose of the HomERT study (Home infusions of ERT) was to evaluate the safety, treatment compliance, and treatment satisfaction related to home therapy of Pompe disease patients with Myozyme.sup.® (alglucosidase alfa) and MPS-I patients with Aldurazyme.sup.® (laronidase). The final results are presented in this paper. The HomERT study was a multicenter, non-interventional, minimum 12-month prospective observational, double-cohort study that analyzed 56 patients from 14 sites in Italy from October 2021 to February 2024: cohort A (Pompe disease - 47 patients) and cohort B (MPS-I - 9 patients: 6 Hurler/Scheie, 3 Scheie). During the observation period, the mean (SD) number of missed infusions was 5.8 (3.92) in cohort A and 3.0 (3.52) in cohort B, corresponding to a mean (SD) of missed infusions of 19.8 (32.7)% and 4.1 (4.2)%, respectively, versus the number of planned infusions. Only 2 patients in cohort A returned to the hospital setting due to \"adverse event\" and \"other\" reasons. A total of 13 Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) were reported during the home-care setting before and after enrollment. The average number of ADRs per patient was 0.2 (1.46) in cohort A and 0.2 (0.67) in group B, and the rate of ADRs/year was 0.15 (95% CI: 0.06; 0.34) in cohort A and 0.06 (95% CI: 0.01; 0.38) in cohort B. The majority of patients preferred home-based infusions (cohort A: 93.6%; cohort B: 88.9%), and the main reason was attributed to treatment convenience (cohort A: 93.6%; cohort B: 100%). Despite the underlying conditions, most patients self-evaluated their health as \"Fair\" in cohort A (36.2%) and \"Good\" in cohort B (44.5%). The use of ERT with [alpha]-glucosidase and alpha-L-iduronidase alfa remains a strong candidate for home therapy, with favorable safety profile, improved treatment ERT compliance, and patient satisfaction. NCT05073783.