MARIATERESA FALCO

Dr. MARIATERESA FALCO

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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

15Years (2012-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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26 March 2012 in Italian Journal of Pediatrics
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MCMaria Erminia Camarca
Maria Erminia Camarca
EMEnza Mozzillo
Enza Mozzillo
RNRosa Nugnes
Rosa Nugnes
EZEugenio Zito
Eugenio Zito
MFMARIATERESA FALCO
MARIATERESA FALCO
AFadriana franzese
adriana franzese
Celiac Disease (CD) occurs in patients with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) ranging the prevalence of 4.4-11.1% versus 0.5% of the general population. The mechanism of association of these two diseases involves a shared genetic background: HLA genotype DR3-DQ2 and DR4-DQ8 are strongly associated with T1D, DR3-DQ2 with CD. The classical severe presentation of CD rarely occurs in T1D patients, but more often patients have few/mild symptoms of CD or are completely asymptomatic (silent CD). In fact diagnosis of CD is regularly performed by means of the screening in T1D patients. The effects of gluten-free diet (GFD) on the growth and T1D metabolic control in CD/T1D patient are controversial. Regarding of the GFD composition, there is a debate on the higher glycaemic index of gluten-free foods respect to gluten-containing foods; furthermore GFD could be poorer of fibers and richer of fat. The adherence to GFD by children with CD-T1D has been reported generally below 50%, lower respect to the 73% of CD patients, a lower compliance being more frequent among asymptomatic patients. The more severe problems of GFD adherence usually occur during adolescence when in GFD non compliant subjects the lowest quality of life is reported. A psychological and educational support should be provided for these patients.

1 November 2017 in The Application of Clinical Genetics
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MFMARIATERESA FALCO
MARIATERESA FALCO
SASonia Amabile
Sonia Amabile
FAFabio Acquaviva
Fabio Acquaviva
Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS; OMIM #182290) is a complex genetic disorder characterized by distinctive physical features, developmental delay, cognitive impairment, and a typical behavioral phenotype. SMS is caused by interstitial 17p11.2 deletions, encompassing multiple genes and including the retinoic acid-induced 1 gene (RAI1), or by mutations in RAI1 itself. About 10% of all the SMS patients, in fact, carry an RAI1 mutation responsible for the phenotype. RAI1 (OMIM *607642) is a dosage-sensitive gene expressed in many tissues and highly conserved among species. Over the years, several studies have demonstrated that RAI1 (or its homologs in animal models) acts as a transcriptional factor implicated in embryonic neurodevelopment, neuronal differentiation, cell growth and cell cycle regulation, bone and skeletal development, lipid and glucose metabolisms, behavioral functions, and circadian activity. Patients with RAI1 pathogenic variants show some phenotypic differences when compared to those carrying the typical deletion. They usually have lower incidence of hypotonia and less cognitive impairment than those with 17p11.2 deletions but more frequently show the behavioral characteristics of the syndrome and overeating issues. These differences reflect the primary pathogenetic role of RAI1 without the pathogenetic contribution of the other genes included in the typical 17p11.2 deletion. The better comprehension of physiological roles of RAI1, its molecular co-workers and interactors, and its contribution in determining the typical SMS phenotype will certainly open a new path for therapeutic interventions.

28 September 2016 in American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A
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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
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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

27 August 2014 in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation
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GCGianluca Caridi
Gianluca Caridi
FLFrancesca Lugani
Francesca Lugani
MDMonica Dagnino
Monica Dagnino
MGMaddalena Gigante
Maddalena Gigante
AIAchille Iolascon
Achille Iolascon
Gian Marco GhiggeriGian Marco Ghiggeri
Gian Marco Ghiggeri
Background Mutations of INF2 represent the major cause of familial autosomal dominant (AD) focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). A few patients present neurological symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease but the prevalence of the association has not been assessed yet. Methods We screened 28 families with AD FSGS and identified 8 INF2 mutations in 9 families (32 patients overall), 3 of which were new. Mutations were in all cases localized in the diaphanous-inhibitory domain (DID) of the protein. Results Clinical features associated with INF2 mutations in our patient cohort included mild proteinuria (1.55 g/L; range 1–2.5) and haematuria as a unique symptom that was recognized at a median age of 21.75 years (range 8–30). Eighteen patients developed end-stage renal disease during their third decade of life; 12 patients presented a creatinine range between 1.2 and 1.5 mg/dL and 2 were healthy at 45 and 54 years of age. CMT was diagnosed in four cases (12.5%); one of these patients presented an already known mutation on exon 2 of INF2, whereas the other patients presented the same mutation on exon 4, a region that was not previously associated with CMT. Conclusions We confirmed the high incidence of INF2 mutations in families with AD FSGS. The clinical phenotype was mild at the onset of the disease, but evolution to ESRD was frequent. The incidence of CMT has, for the first time, been calculated here to be 12.5% of mutation carriers. Our findings support INF2 gene analysis in families in which renal failure and/or neuro-sensorial defects are inherited following an AD model.

7 July 2021 in European Journal of Pediatrics
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Journal Article
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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)