Paolo Fontana

Dr. Paolo Fontana

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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28 September 2016 in American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
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Journal Article
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FAFabio Acquaviva
Fabio Acquaviva
MSMaria Elena Sana
Maria Elena Sana
MMMatteo Della Monica
Matteo Della Monica
MPMichele Pinelli
Michele Pinelli
DPDiana Postorivo
Diana Postorivo
GSGioacchino Scarano
Gioacchino Scarano

30 March 2017 in Clinical Genetics
Verified
Journal Article
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PFPaolo Fontana
Paolo Fontana
MGM. Grasso
M. Grasso
FAFabio Acquaviva
Fabio Acquaviva
EGE. Gennaro
E. Gennaro
MGM.L. Galli
M.L. Galli
FLFortunato Lonardo
Fortunato Lonardo

7 July 2021 in European Journal of Pediatrics
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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FCFrancesca Di Candia
Francesca Di Candia
PFPaolo Fontana
Paolo Fontana
PPPamela Paglia
Pamela Paglia
MFMARIATERESA FALCO
MARIATERESA FALCO
CRCarmen Rosano
Carmen Rosano
DMDaniela Melis
Daniela Melis
Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a well-recognized disorder characterized by postnatal growth deficiency, dysmorphic facial features, skeletal anomalies, and intellectual disability. The syndrome is caused by KMT2D gene mutations or less frequently KDM6A gene mutations or deletions. We report a systematic evaluation of KS patients from Campania region of Italy; data were also compared with literature ones. We collected data of 15 subjects (8 males and 7 females with age range 10–26 years; mean age 16.9 years) with confirmed diagnosis of KS, representing the entire cohort of patients from Campania Region. Each patient performed biochemical testing and instrumental investigation. Neuro-intellectual development, cranio-facial dysmorphisms, and multisystem involvement data were collected retrospectively. For each category, type of defects and frequency of the anomalies were analyzed. Our observation shows that KS patients from Campania region have some particular and previously underscored, neurological and immunological findings. We found high prevalence of EEG’s abnormalities (43%) and MRI brain abnormalities (60%). Microcephaly resulted more common in our series (33%), if compared with major cohorts described in literature. Biochemical features of immunodeficiency and autoimmune diseases including thyroid autoimmunity, polyserositis, and vitiligo were observed with high prevalence (54.5%). Low immunoglobulins levels were a frequent finding. Lymphocyte class investigation showed significantly reduced CD8 levels in one patient.Conclusions: These data confirm great heterogeneity of clinical manifestations in KS and suggest to introduce further clinical diagnostic criteria in order to perform a correct and precocious diagnosis. What is Known• Kabuki syndrome is characterized by growth deficiency, dysmorphic facial features, skeletal anomalies, and intellectual disability• Immune dysfunction is a common finding but autoimmune diseases are rarely seen• Neurological features are common What is New• Some particular facial features could help gestalt diagnosis (hypertelorism, broad nasal bridge, micrognathia, tooth agenesis, cutaneous haemangiomas and strabismus)• Higher prevalence of autoimmune disorders than previously reported• Particular neurological features are present in this cohort (EEG and MRI brain abnormalities)

12 April 2016 in Italian Journal of Pediatrics
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Journal Article
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GCGerarda Cappuccio
Gerarda Cappuccio
FVFrancesco Vitiello
Francesco Vitiello
ACAlberto Casertano
Alberto Casertano
PFPaolo Fontana
Paolo Fontana
GRGenesio Rita
Genesio Rita
DMDaniela Melis
Daniela Melis
Array-CGH (aCGH) is presently used into routine clinical practice for diagnosis of patients with intellectual disability (ID), multiple congenital anomalies (MCA), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ACGH could detect small chromosomal imbalances, copy number variations (CNVs), and closely define their size and gene content. ACGH detects pathogenic imbalances in 14–20 % of patients with ID. The aims of this study were: to establish clinical clues potentially associated with pathogenic CNVs and to identify cytogenetic indicators to predict the pathogenicity of the variants of uncertain significance (VOUS) in a large cohort of paediatric patients. We enrolled 214 patients referred for either: ID, and/or ASD and/or MCA to genetic services at the Federico II University of Naples, Department of Translational Medicine. For each patient we collected clinical and imaging data. All the patients were tested with aCGH or as first-tier test or as part of a wider diagnostic work-up. Pathologic data were detected in 65 individuals (30 %) and 46 CNVs revealed a known syndrome. The pathological CNVs were usually deletions showing the highest gene-dosage content. The positive family history for ID/ASD/MCA and ASD were good indicators for detecting pathological chromosomal rearrangements. Other clinical features as eyes anomalies, hearing loss, neurological signs, cutaneous dyscromia and endocrinological problems seem to be potential predictors of pathological CNVs. Among patients carrying VOUS we analyzed genetic features including CNVs size, presence of deletion or duplication, genic density, multiple CNVs, to clinical features. Higher gene density was found in patients affected by ID. This result suggest that higher gene content has more chances to include pathogenic gene involved and causing ID in these patients. Our study suggest the use of aCGH as first-tier test in patients with neurdevelopmental phenotypes. The inferred results have been used for building a flow-chart to be applied for children with ID.

1 November 2021 in European Journal of Medical Genetics
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Journal Article
Closed access
PFPaolo Fontana
Paolo Fontana
MGMonia Ginevrino
Monia Ginevrino
KBKristel Bejo
Kristel Bejo
GCGiuseppina Cantalupo
Giuseppina Cantalupo
MCMaria Ciavarella
Maria Ciavarella
FLFortunato Lonardo
Fortunato Lonardo

1 March 2014 in Gene
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PFPaolo Fontana
Paolo Fontana
GRGenesio Rita
Genesio Rita
ACAlberto Casertano
Alberto Casertano
GCGerarda Cappuccio
Gerarda Cappuccio
AMAngela Mormile
Angela Mormile
DMDaniela Melis
Daniela Melis