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REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct buy cialis in montreal. 16, 2020-- Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq. GH) today announced it will report financial results for the third quarter 2020 after market close on Thursday, November 5, 2020.

Company management will be webcasting a corresponding conference call beginning at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Live audio of the webcast will be available on the “Investors” section of the company website at.

Www.guardanthealth.com. The webcast will be archived and available for replay after the event. About Guardant Health Guardant Health is a leading precision oncology company focused on helping conquer cancer globally through use of its proprietary blood tests, vast data sets and advanced analytics. The Guardant Health Oncology Platform leverages capabilities to drive commercial adoption, improve patient clinical outcomes and lower healthcare costs across all stages of the cancer care continuum.

Guardant Health has launched liquid biopsy-based Guardant360®, Guardant360 CDx, and GuardantOMNI® tests for advanced stage cancer patients. These tests fuel development of its LUNAR program, which aims to address the needs of early stage cancer patients with neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment selection, cancer survivors with surveillance, asymptomatic individuals eligible for cancer screening and individuals at a higher risk for developing cancer with early detection. View source version on businesswire.com. Https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201016005576/en/ Investor Contact.

Carrie Mendivilinvestors@guardanthealth.com Media Contact. Anna Czenepress@guardanthealth.com Courtney Carrollcourtney.carroll@uncappedcommunications.com Source. Guardant Health, Inc.REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 2020-- Guardant Health, Inc.

(Nasdaq. GH) (“Guardant Health”), a leading precision oncology company focused on helping conquer cancer globally through use of its proprietary blood tests, vast data sets and advanced analytics, announced today the closings of an underwritten public offering of 7,700,000 shares of its common stock, which includes full exercise of the underwriter’s option to purchase 700,000 shares, at a public offering price of $102.00 per share, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, all of which were sold by SoftBank Investment Advisers. The initial closing of 7,000,000 shares occurred on October 9, 2020, and the closing of the underwriter’s option to purchase additional shares occurred today. Guardant Health did not sell any of its shares in the offering and did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares in the offering by SoftBank Investment Advisers.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as sole book-running manager of the offering. The public offering was made pursuant to an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 that was filed by Guardant Health with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and automatically became effective upon filing.

A final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the offering have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may be obtained by contacting. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at (866) 803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. Source. Guardant Health, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com.

Https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201015005933/en/ Investors. Carrie Mendivilinvestors@guardanthealth.com Media. Anna Czenepress@guardanthealth.comSource. Guardant Health, Inc..

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Maximizing health cialis canada supplier coverage for DAP https://ferienhaus-sticher-borkum.de/cialis-online-no-prescription/ clients. Before and after winning the case Outline prepared by Geoffrey Hale and Cathy Roberts - updated August 2012 This outline is intended to assist Disability Advocacy Program (DAP) advocates maximize health insurance coverage for clients they are representing on Social Security/SSI disability determinations. We begin with a discussion of coverage options available while your cialis canada supplier client’s DAP case is pending and then outline the effect winning the DAP case can have on your client’s access to health care coverage. How your client is affected will vary depending on the source and amount of disability income he or she receives after the successful appeal. I.

BACKGROUND cialis canada supplier. Public health coverage for your clients will primarily be provided by Medicaid and Medicare. The two cialis canada supplier programs are structured differently and have different eligibility criteria, but in order to provide the most complete coverage possible for your clients, they must work effectively together. Understanding their interactions is essential to ensuring benefits for your client. Here is a brief overview of the programs we will cover.

A. Medicaid. Medicaid is the public insurance program jointly funded by the federal, state and local governments for people of limited means. For federal Medicaid law, see 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq., 42 C.F.R.

§ 430 et seq. Regular Medicaid is described in New York’s State Plan and codified at N.Y. Soc. Serv. L.

§§ 122, 131, 363- 369-1. 18 N.Y.C.R.R. § 360, 505. New York also offers several additional programs to provide health care benefits to those whose income might be too high for Regular Medicaid. i.

Family Health Plus (FHPlus) is an extension of New York’s Medicaid program that provides health coverage for adults who are over-income for regular Medicaid. FHPlus is described in New York’s 1115 waiver and codified at N.Y. Soc. Serv. L.

§369-ee. ii. Child Health Plus (CHPlus) is a sliding scale premium program for children who are over-income for regular Medicaid. CHPlus is codified at N.Y. Pub.

Health L. §2510 et seq. b. Medicare. Medicare is the federal health insurance program providing coverage for the elderly, disabled, and people with end-stage renal disease.

Medicare is codified under title XVIII of the Social Security Law, see 42 U.S.C. § 1395 et seq., 42 C.F.R. § 400 et seq. Medicare is divided into four parts. i.

Part A covers hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health, and hospice care, with some deductibles and coinsurance. Most people are eligible for Part A at no cost. See 42 U.S.C. § 1395c, 42 C.F.R. Pt.

406. ii. Part B provides medical insurance for doctor’s visits and other outpatient medical services. Medicare Part B has significant cost-sharing components. There are monthly premiums (the standard premium in 2012 is $99.90.

In addition, there is a $135 annual deductible (which will increase to $155 in 2010) as well as 20% co-insurance for most covered out-patient services. See 42 U.S.C. § 1395k, 42 C.F.R. Pt. 407.

iii. Part C, also called Medicare Advantage, provides traditional Medicare coverage (Parts A and B) through private managed care insurers. See 42 U.S.C. § 1395w, 42 C.F.R. Pt.

422. Premium amounts for Medicare Advantage plans vary. Some Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. iv. Part D is an optional prescription drug benefit available to anyone with Medicare Parts A and B.

See 42 U.S.C. § 1395w, 42 C.F.R. § 423.30(a)(1)(i) and (ii). Unlike Parts A and B, Part D benefits are provided directly through private plans offered by insurance companies. In order to receive prescription drug coverage, a Medicare beneficiary must join a Part D Plan or participate in a Medicare Advantage plan that provides prescription drug coverage.

C. Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). Funded by the State Medicaid program, MSPs help eligible individuals meet some or all of their cost-sharing obligations under Medicare. See N.Y. Soc.

Serv. L. § 367-a(3)(a), (b), and (d). There are three separate MSPs, each with different eligibility requirements and providing different benefits. i.

Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB). The QMB program provides the most comprehensive benefits. Available to those with incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), the QMB program covers virtually all Medicare cost-sharing obligations. Part B premiums, Part A premiums, if there are any, and any and all deductibles and co-insurance. ii.

Special Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB). For those with incomes between 100% and 120% FPL, the SLMB program will cover Part B premiums only. iii. Qualified Individual (QI-1). For those with incomes between 120% and 135% FPL, but not otherwise Medicaid eligible, the QI-1 program covers Medicare Part B premiums.

D. Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS or “Extra Help”). LIS is a federal subsidy administered by CMS that helps Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and/or resources pay for some or most of the costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage. See 42 C.F.R. § 423.773.

Some of the costs covered in full or in part by LIS include the monthly premiums, annual deductible, co-payments, and the coverage gap. Individuals eligible for Medicaid, SSI, or MSP are deemed eligible for full LIS benefitsSee 42 C.F.R. § 423.773(c). LIS applications are treated as (“deemed”) applications for MSP benefits, See the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008, Pub. Law 110-275.

II. WHILE THE DAP APPEAL IS PENDING Does your client have health insurance?. If not, why isn’t s/he getting Medicaid, Family Health Plus or Child Health Plus?. There have been many recent changes which expand eligibility and streamline the application process. All/most of your DAP clients should qualify.

Significant changes to Medicaid include. Elimination of the resource test for certain categories of Medicaid applicants/recipients and all applicants to the Family Health Plus program. N.Y. Soc. Serv.

L. §369-ee (2), as amended by L. 2009, c. 58, pt. C, § 59-d.

As of October 1, 2009, a resource test is no longer required for these categories. Elimination of the fingerprinting requirement. N.Y. Soc. Serv.

L. §369-ee, as amended by L. 2009, c. 58, pt. C, § 62.

Elimination of the waiting period for CHPlus. N.Y. Pub. Health L. §2511, as amended by L.

2008, c. 58. Elimination of the face-to-face interview requirement for Medicaid, effective April 1, 2010. N.Y. Soc.

Serv. L. §366-a (1), as amended by L. 2009, c. 58, pt.

C, § 60. Higher income levels for Single Adults and Childless Couples. N.Y. Soc. Serv.

L. §366(1)(a)(1),(8) as amended by L. 2008, c. 58. See also.

GIS 08 MA/022. Higher income levels for Medicaid’s Medically Needy program. N.Y. Soc. Serv.

L. §366(2)(a)(7) as amended by L. 2008, c. 58. See also.

GIS 08 MA/022 More detailed information on recent changes to Medicaid is available at. III. AFTER CLIENT IS AWARDED DAP BENEFITS a. Medicaid eligibility. Clients receiving even $1.00 of SSI should qualify for Medicaid automatically.

The process for qualifying will differ, however, depending on the source of payment. 1. Clients Receiving SSI Only. i. These clients are eligible for full Medicaid without a spend-down.

ii. Medicaid coverage is automatic. No separate application/ recertification required. iii. Most SSI-only recipients are required to participate in Medicaid managed care.

2. Concurrent (SSI/SSD) cases. Eligible for full Medicaid since receiving SSI. See N.Y. Soc.

I. They can still qualify for Medicaid but may have a spend-down. Federal Law allows states to use a “spend-down” to extend Medicaid to “medically needy” persons in the federal mandatory categories (children, caretakers, elderly and disabled people) whose income or resources are above the eligibility level for regular Medicaid. See 42 U.S.C. § 1396 (a) (10) (ii) (XIII).

ii. Under spend-down, applicants in New York’s Medically Needy program can qualify for Medicaid once their income/resources, minus incurred medical expenses, fall below the specified level. For an explanation of spend-down, see 96 ADM 15. B. Family Health Plus Until your client qualifies for Medicare, those over-income for Medicaid may qualify for Family Health Plus without needing to satisfy a spend-down.

It covers adults without children with income up to 100% of the FPL and adults with children up to 150% of the FPL.[1] The eligibility tests are the same as for regular Medicaid with two additional requirements. Applicants must be between the ages of 19 and 64 and they generally must be uninsured. See N.Y. Soc. Serv.

L. § 369-ee et. Seq. Once your client begins to receive Medicare, he or she will not be eligible for FHP, because FHP is generally only available to those without insurance. For more information on FHP see our article on Family Health Plus.

IV. LOOMING ISSUES - MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY (WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT) a. SSI-only cases Clients receiving only SSI aren’t eligible for Medicare until they turn 65, unless they also have End Stage Renal Disease. B. Concurrent (SSD and SSI) cases 1.

Medicare eligibility kicks in beginning with 25th month of SSD receipt. See 42 U.S.C. § 426(f). Exception. In 2000, Congress eliminated the 24-month waiting period for people diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease.) See 42 U.S.C.

§ 426 (h) 2. Enrollment in Medicare is a condition of eligibility for Medicaid coverage. These clients cannot decline Medicare coverage. (05 OMM/ADM 5. Medicaid Reference Guide p.

344.1) 3. Medicare coverage is not free. Although most individuals receive Part A without any premium, Part B has monthly premiums and significant cost-sharing components. 4. Medicaid and/or the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) should pick up most of Medicare’s cost sharing.

Most SSI beneficiaries are eligible not only for full Medicaid, but also for the most comprehensive MSP, the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program. I. Parts A &. B (hospital and outpatient/doctors visits). A.

Medicaid will pick up premiums, deductibles, co-pays. N.Y. Soc. Serv. L.

§ 367-a (3) (a). For those not enrolled in an MSP, SSA normally deducts the Part B premium directly from the monthly check. However, SSI recipients are supposed to be enrolled automatically in QMB, and Medicaid is responsible for covering the premiums. Part B premiums should never be deducted from these clients’ checks.[1] Medicaid and QMB-only recipients should NEVER be billed directly for Part A or B services. Even non-Medicaid providers are supposed to be able to bill Medicaid directly for services.[2] Clients are only responsible for Medicaid co-pay amount.

See 42 U.S.C. § 1396a (n) ii. Part D (prescription drugs). a. Clients enrolled in Medicaid and/or MSP are deemed eligible for Low Income Subsidy (LIS aka Extra Help).

See 42 C.F.R. § 423.773(c). SSA POMS SI § 01715.005A.5. New York State If client doesn’t enroll in Part D plan on his/her own, s/he will be automatically assigned to a benchmark[3] plan. See 42 C.F.R.

§ 423.34 (d). LIS will pick up most of cost-sharing.[3] Because your clients are eligible for full LIS, they should have NO deductible and NO premium if they are in a benchmark plan, and will not be subject to the coverage gap (aka “donut hole”). See 42 C.F.R. §§ 423.780 and 423.782. The full LIS beneficiary will also have co-pays limited to either $1.10 or $3.30 (2010 amounts).

See 42 C.F.R. § 423.104 (d) (5) (A). Other important points to remember. - Medicaid co-pay rules do not apply to Part D drugs. - Your client’s plan may not cover all his/her drugs.

- You can help your clients find the plan that best suits their needs. To figure out what the best Part D plans are best for your particular client, go to www.medicare.gov. Click on “formulary finder” and plug in your client’s medication list. You can enroll in a Part D plan through www.medicare.gov, or by contacting the plan directly. €“ Your clients can switch plans at any time during the year.

Iii. Part C (“Medicare Advantage”). a. Medicare Advantage plans provide traditional Medicare coverage (Parts A and B) through private managed care insurers. See 42 U.S.C.

§ 1395w, 42 C.F.R. Pt. 422. Medicare Advantage participation is voluntary. For those clients enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans, the QMB cost sharing obligations are the same as they are under traditional Medicare.

Medicaid must cover any premiums required by the plan, up to the Part B premium amount. Medicaid must also cover any co-payments and co-insurance under the plan. As with traditional Medicare, both providers and plans are prohibited from billing the beneficiary directly for these co-payments. C. SSD only individuals.

1. Same Medicare eligibility criteria (24 month waiting period, except for persons w/ ALS). I. During the 24 month waiting period, explore eligibility for Medicaid or Family Health Plus. 2.

Once Medicare eligibility begins. ii. Parts A &. B. SSA will automatically enroll your client.

Part B premiums will be deducted from monthly Social Security benefits. (Part A will be free – no monthly premium) Clients have the right to decline ongoing Part B coverage, BUT this is almost never a good idea, and can cause all sorts of headaches if client ever wants to enroll in Part B in the future. (late enrollment penalty and can’t enroll outside of annual enrollment period, unless person is eligible for Medicare Savings Program – see more below) Clients can decline “retro” Part B coverage with no penalty on the Medicare side – just make sure they don’t actually need the coverage. Risky to decline if they had other coverage during the retro period – their other coverage may require that Medicare be utilized if available. Part A and Part B also have deductibles and co-pays.

Medicaid and/or the MSPs can help cover this cost sharing. iii. Part D. Client must affirmatively enroll in Part D, unless they receive LIS. See 42 U.S.C.

§ 1395w-101 (b) (2), 42 C.F.R. § 423.38 (a). Enrollment is done through individual private plans. LIS recipients will be auto-assigned to a Part D benchmark plan if they have not selected a plan on their own. Client can decline Part D coverage with no penalty if s/he has “comparable coverage.” 42 C.F.R.

§ 423.34 (d) (3) (i). If no comparable coverage, person faces possible late enrollment penalty &. Limited enrollment periods. 42 C.F.R. § 423.46.

However, clients receiving LIS do not incur any late enrollment penalty. 42 C.F.R. § 423.780 (e). Part D has a substantial cost-sharing component – deductibles, premiums and co-pays which vary from plan to plan. There is also the coverage gap, also known as “donut hole,” which can leave beneficiaries picking up 100% of the cost of their drugs until/unless a catastrophic spending limit is reached.

The LIS program can help with Part D cost-sharing. Use Medicare’s website to figure out what plan is best for your client. (Go to www.medicare.gov , click on “formulary finder” and plug in your client’s medication list. ) You can also enroll in a Part D plan directly through www.medicare.gov. Iii.

Help with Medicare cost-sharing a. Medicaid – After eligibility for Medicare starts, client may still be eligible for Medicaid, with or without a spend-down. There are lots of ways to help clients meet their spend-down – including - Medicare cost sharing amounts (deductibles, premiums, co-pays) - over the counter medications if prescribed by a doctor. - expenses paid by state-funded programs like EPIC and ADAP. - medical bills of person’s spouse or child.

- health insurance premiums. - joining a pooled Supplemental Needs Trust (SNT). B. Medicare Savings Program (MSP) – If client is not eligible for Medicaid, explore eligibility for Medicare Savings Program (MSP). MSP pays for Part B premiums and gets you into the Part D LIS.

There are no asset limits in the Medicare Savings Program. One of the MSPs (QMB), also covers all cost sharing for Parts A &. B. If your client is eligible for Medicaid AND MSP, enrolling in MSP may subject him/her to, or increase a spend-down, because Medicaid and the various MSPs have different income eligibility levels. It is the client’s choice as to whether or not to be enrolled into MSP.

C. Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS) – If your client is not eligible for MSP or Medicaid, s/he may still be eligible for Part D Low Income Subsidy. Applications for LIS are also be treated as applications for MSP, unless the client affirmatively indicates that s/he does not want to apply for MSP. d. Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) -- Medigap is supplemental private insurance coverage that covers all or some of the deductibles and coinsurance for Medicare Parts A and B.

Medigap is not available to people enrolled in Part C. E. Medicare Advantage – Medicare Advantage plans “package” Medicare (Part A and B) benefits, with or without Part D coverage, through a private health insurance plan. The cost-sharing structure (deductible, premium, co-pays) varies from plan to plan. For a list of Medicare Advantage plans in your area, go to www.medicare.gov – click on “find health plans.” f.

NY Prescription Saver Card -- NYP$ is a state-sponsored pharmacy discount card that can lower the cost of prescriptions by as much as 60 percent on generics and 30 percent on brand name drugs. Can be used during the Part D “donut hole” (coverage gap) g. For clients living with HIV. ADAP [AIDS Drug Assistance Program] ADAP provides free medications for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and opportunistic s. ADAP can be used to help meet a Medicaid spenddown and get into the Part D Low Income subsidy.

For more information about ADAP, go to V. GETTING MEDICAID IN THE DISABLED CATEGORY AFTER AN SSI/SSDI DENIAL What if your client's application for SSI or SSDI is denied based on SSA's finding that they were not "disabled?. " Obviously, you have your appeals work cut out for you, but in the meantime, what can they do about health insurance?. It is still possible to have Medicaid make a separate disability determination that is not controlled by the unfavorable SSA determination in certain situations. Specifically, an applicant is entitled to a new disability determination where he/she.

alleges a different or additional disabling condition than that considered by SSA in making its determination. Or alleges less than 12 months after the most recent unfavorable SSA disability determination that his/her condition has changed or deteriorated, alleges a new period of disability which meets the duration requirement, and SSA has refused to reopen or reconsider the allegations, or the individual is now ineligible for SSA benefits for a non-medical reason. Or alleges more than 12 months after the most recent unfavorable SSA disability determination that his/her condition has changed or deteriorated since the SSA determination and alleges a new period of disability which meets the duration requirement, and has not applied to SSA regarding these allegations. See GIS 10-MA-014 and 08 OHIP/INF-03.[4] [1] Potential wrinkle – for some clients Medicaid is not automatically pick up cost-sharing. In Monroe County we have had several cases where SSA began deducting Medicare Part B premiums from the checks of clients who were receiving SSI and Medicaid and then qualified for Medicare.

The process should be automatic. Please contact Geoffrey Hale in our Rochester office if you encounter any cases like this. [2]Under terms established to provide benefits for QMBs, a provider agreement necessary for reimbursement “may be executed through the submission of a claim to the Medicaid agency requesting Medicaid payment for Medicare deductibles and coinsurance for QMBs.” CMS State Medicaid Manual, Chapter 3, Eligibility, 3490.14 (b), available at. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Manuals/PBM/itemdetail.asp?. ItemID=CMS021927.

[3]Benchmark plans are free if you are an LIS recipient. The amount of the benchmark changes from year to year. In 2013, a Part D plan in New York State is considered benchmark if it provides basic Part D coverage and its monthly premium is $43.22 or less. [4] These citations courtesy of Jim Murphy at Legal Services of Central New York. This site provides general information only.

This is not legal advice. You can only obtain legal advice from a lawyer. In addition, your use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. To contact a lawyer, visit http://lawhelp.org/ny. We make every effort to keep these materials and links up-to-date and in accordance with New York City, New York state and federal law.

However, we do not guarantee the accuracy of this information.Some "dual eligible" beneficiaries (people who have Medicare and Medicaid) are entitled to receive reimbursement of their Medicare Part B premiums from New York State through the Medicare Insurance Premium Payment Program (MIPP). The Part B premium is $148.50 in 2021. MIPP is for some groups who are either not eligible for -- or who are not yet enrolled in-- the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which is the main program that pays the Medicare Part B premium for low-income people. Some people are not eligible for an MSP even though they have full Medicaid with no spend down. This is because they are in a special Medicaid eligibility category -- discussed below -- with Medicaid income limits that are actually HIGHER than the MSP income limits.

MIPP reimburses them for their Part B premium because they have “full Medicaid” (no spend down) but are ineligible for MSP because their income is above the MSP SLIMB level (120% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Even if their income is under the QI-1 MSP level (135% FPL), someone cannot have both QI-1 and Medicaid). Instead, these consumers can have their Part B premium reimbursed through the MIPP program. In this article. The MIPP program was established because the State determined that those who have full Medicaid and Medicare Part B should be reimbursed for their Part B premium, even if they do not qualify for MSP, because Medicare is considered cost effective third party health insurance, and because consumers must enroll in Medicare as a condition of eligibility for Medicaid (See 89 ADM 7).

There are generally four groups of dual-eligible consumers that are eligible for MIPP. Therefore, many MBI WPD consumers have incomes higher than what MSP normally allows, but still have full Medicaid with no spend down. Those consumers can qualify for MIPP and have their Part B premiums reimbursed. Here is an example. Sam is age 50 and has Medicare and MBI-WPD.

She gets $1500/mo gross from Social Security Disability and also makes $400/month through work activity. $ 167.50 -- EARNED INCOME - Because she is disabled, the DAB earned income disregard applies. $400 - $65 = $335. Her countable earned income is 1/2 of $335 = $167.50 + $1500.00 -- UNEARNED INCOME from Social Security Disability = $1,667.50 --TOTAL income. This is above the SLIMB limit of $1,288 (2021) but she can still qualify for MIPP.

2. Parent/Caretaker Relatives with MAGI-like Budgeting - Including Medicare Beneficiaries. Consumers who fall into the DAB category (Age 65+/Disabled/Blind) and would otherwise be budgeted with non-MAGI rules can opt to use Affordable Care Act MAGI rules if they are the parent/caretaker of a child under age 18 or under age 19 and in school full time. This is referred to as “MAGI-like budgeting.” Under MAGI rules income can be up to 138% of the FPL—again, higher than the limit for DAB budgeting, which is equivalent to only 83% FPL. MAGI-like consumers can be enrolled in either MSP or MIPP, depending on if their income is higher or lower than 120% of the FPL.

If their income is under 120% FPL, they are eligible for MSP as a SLIMB. If income is above 120% FPL, then they can enroll in MIPP. (See GIS 18 MA/001 - 2018 Medicaid Managed Care Transition for Enrollees Gaining Medicare, #4) When a consumer has Medicaid through the New York State of Health (NYSoH) Marketplace and then enrolls in Medicare when she turns age 65 or because she received Social Security Disability for 24 months, her Medicaid case is normally** transferred to the local department of social services (LDSS)(HRA in NYC) to be rebudgeted under non-MAGI budgeting. During the transition process, she should be reimbursed for the Part B premiums via MIPP. However, the transition time can vary based on age.

AGE 65+ Those who enroll in Medicare at age 65+ will receive a letter from their local district asking them to "renew" Medicaid through their local district. See 2014 LCM-02. The Medicaid case takes about four months to be rebudgeted and approved by the LDSS. The consumer is entitled to MIPP payments for at least three months during the transition. Once the case is with the LDSS she should automatically be re-evaluated for MSP, even if the LDSS determines the consumer is not eligible for Medicaid because of excess income or assets.

08 OHIP/ADM-4. Consumers UNDER 65 who receive Medicare due to disability status are entitled to keep MAGI Medicaid through NYSoH for up to 12 months (also known as continuous coverage, See NY Social Services Law 366, subd. 4(c). These consumers should receive MIPP payments for as long as their cases remain with NYSoH and throughout the transition to the LDSS. NOTE during erectile dysfunction treatment emergency their case may remain with NYSoH for more than 12 months.

See here. EXAMPLE. Sam, age 60, was last authorized for Medicaid on the Marketplace in June 2020. He became enrolled in Medicare based on disability in August 2020, and started receiving Social Security in the same month (he won a hearing approving Social Security disability benefits retroactively, after first being denied disability). Even though his Social Security is too high, he can keep Medicaid for 12 months beginning June 2020.

Sam has to pay for his Part B premium - it is deducted from his Social Security check. He may call the Marketplace and request a refund. This will continue until the end of his 12 months of continuous MAGI Medicaid eligibility. He will be reimbursed regardless of whether he is in a Medicaid managed care plan. See GIS 18 MA/001 Medicaid Managed Care Transition for Enrollees Gaining Medicare (PDF) When that ends, he will renew Medicaid and apply for MSP with his local district.

See GIS 18 MA/001 - 2018 Medicaid Managed Care Transition for Enrollees Gaining Medicare, #4 for an explanation of this process. That directive also clarified that reimbursement of the Part B premium will be made regardless of whether the individual is still in a Medicaid managed care (MMC) plan. Note. During the erectile dysfunction treatment emergency, those who have Medicaid through the NYSOH marketplace and enroll in Medicare should NOT have their cases transitioned to the LDSS. They should keep the same MAGI budgeting and automatically receive MIPP payments.

See GIS 20 MA/04 or this article on erectile dysfunction treatment eligibility changes 4. Those with Special Budgeting after Losing SSI (DAC, Pickle, 1619b) Disabled Adult Child (DAC). Special budgeting is available to those who are 18+ and lose SSI because they begin receiving Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits (or receive an increase in the amount of their benefit). Consumer must have become disabled or blind before age 22 to receive the benefit. If the new DAC benefit amount was disregarded and the consumer would otherwise be eligible for SSI, they can keep Medicaid eligibility with NO SPEND DOWN.

See this article. Consumers may have income higher than MSP limits, but keep full Medicaid with no spend down. Therefore, they are eligible for payment of their Part B premiums. See page 96 of the Medicaid Reference Guide (Categorical Factors). If their income is lower than the MSP SLIMB threshold, they can be added to MSP.

If higher than the threshold, they can be reimbursed via MIPP. See also 95-ADM-11. Medical Assistance Eligibility for Disabled Adult Children, Section C (pg 8). Pickle &. 1619B.

5. When the Part B Premium Reduces Countable Income to Below the Medicaid Limit Since the Part B premium can be used as a deduction from gross income, it may reduce someone's countable income to below the Medicaid limit. The consumer should be paid the difference to bring her up to the Medicaid level ($904/month in 2021). They will only be reimbursed for the difference between their countable income and $904, not necessarily the full amount of the premium. See GIS 02-MA-019.

Reimbursement of Health Insurance Premiums MIPP and MSP are similar in that they both pay for the Medicare Part B premium, but there are some key differences. MIPP structures the payments as reimbursement -- beneficiaries must continue to pay their premium (via a monthly deduction from their Social Security check or quarterly billing, if they do not receive Social Security) and then are reimbursed via check. In contrast, MSP enrollees are not charged for their premium. Their Social Security check usually increases because the Part B premium is no longer withheld from their check. MIPP only provides reimbursement for Part B.

It does not have any of the other benefits MSPs can provide, such as. A consumer cannot have MIPP without also having Medicaid, whereas MSP enrollees can have MSP only. Of the above benefits, Medicaid also provides Part D Extra Help automatic eligibility. There is no application process for MIPP because consumers should be screened and enrolled automatically (00 OMM/ADM-7). Either the state or the LDSS is responsible for screening &.

Distributing MIPP payments, depending on where the Medicaid case is held and administered (14 /2014 LCM-02 Section V). If a consumer is eligible for MIPP and is not receiving it, they should contact whichever agency holds their case and request enrollment. Unfortunately, since there is no formal process for applying, it may require some advocacy. If Medicaid case is at New York State of Health they should call 1-855-355-5777. Consumers will likely have to ask for a supervisor in order to find someone familiar with MIPP.

If Medicaid case is with HRA in New York City, they should email mipp@hra.nyc.gov. If Medicaid case is with other local districts in NYS, call your local county DSS. See more here about consumers who have Medicaid on NYSofHealth who then enroll in Medicare - how they access MIPP. Once enrolled, it make take a few months for payments to begin. Payments will be made in the form of checks from the Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), the fiscal agent for the New York State Medicaid program.

The check itself comes attached to a remittance notice from Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS). Unfortunately, the notice is not consumer-friendly and may be confusing. See attached sample for what to look for. Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP) HIPP is a sister program to MIPP and will reimburse consumers for private third party health insurance when deemed “cost effective.” Directives:.

Maximizing health coverage for buy cialis in montreal DAP clients. Before and after winning the case Outline prepared by Geoffrey Hale and Cathy Roberts - updated August 2012 This outline is intended to assist Disability Advocacy Program (DAP) advocates maximize health insurance coverage for clients they are representing on Social Security/SSI disability determinations. We begin with a discussion of coverage options available while your buy cialis in montreal client’s DAP case is pending and then outline the effect winning the DAP case can have on your client’s access to health care coverage.

How your client is affected will vary depending on the source and amount of disability income he or she receives after the successful appeal. I. BACKGROUND buy cialis in montreal.

Public health coverage for your clients will primarily be provided by Medicaid and Medicare. The two programs are structured differently and have different eligibility criteria, but in order to buy cialis in montreal provide the most complete coverage possible for your clients, they must work effectively together. Understanding their interactions is essential to ensuring benefits for your client.

Here is a brief overview of the programs we will cover. A. Medicaid.

Medicaid is the public insurance program jointly funded by the federal, state and local governments for people of limited means. For federal Medicaid law, see 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq., 42 C.F.R.

§ 430 et seq. Regular Medicaid is described in New York’s State Plan and codified at N.Y. Soc.

18 N.Y.C.R.R. § 360, 505. New York also offers several additional programs to provide health care benefits to those whose income might be too high for Regular Medicaid.

i. Family Health Plus (FHPlus) is an extension of New York’s Medicaid program that provides health coverage for adults who are over-income for regular Medicaid. FHPlus is described in New York’s 1115 waiver and codified at N.Y.

§369-ee. ii. Child Health Plus (CHPlus) is a sliding scale premium program for children who are over-income for regular Medicaid.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program providing coverage for the elderly, disabled, and people with end-stage renal disease. Medicare is codified under title XVIII of the Social Security Law, see 42 U.S.C. § 1395 et seq., 42 C.F.R.

§ 400 et seq. Medicare is divided into four parts. i.

Part A covers hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health, and hospice care, with some deductibles and coinsurance. Most people are eligible for Part A at no cost. See 42 U.S.C.

ii. Part B provides medical insurance for doctor’s visits and other outpatient medical services. Medicare Part B has significant cost-sharing components.

There are monthly premiums (the standard premium in 2012 is $99.90. In addition, there is a $135 annual deductible (which will increase to $155 in 2010) as well as 20% co-insurance for most covered out-patient services. See 42 U.S.C.

iii. Part C, also called Medicare Advantage, provides traditional Medicare coverage (Parts A and B) through private managed care insurers. See 42 U.S.C.

Premium amounts for Medicare Advantage plans vary. Some Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage. iv.

Part D is an optional prescription drug benefit available to anyone with Medicare Parts A and B. See 42 U.S.C. § 1395w, 42 C.F.R.

§ 423.30(a)(1)(i) and (ii). Unlike Parts A and B, Part D benefits are provided directly through private plans offered by insurance companies. In order to receive prescription drug coverage, a Medicare beneficiary must join a Part D Plan or participate in a Medicare Advantage plan that provides prescription drug coverage.

C. Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs). Funded by the State Medicaid program, MSPs help eligible individuals meet some or all of their cost-sharing obligations under Medicare.

L. § 367-a(3)(a), (b), and (d). There are three separate MSPs, each with different eligibility requirements and providing different benefits.

i. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB). The QMB program provides the most comprehensive benefits.

Available to those with incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), the QMB program covers virtually all Medicare cost-sharing obligations. Part B premiums, Part A premiums, if there are any, and any and all deductibles and co-insurance. ii.

Special Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB). For those with incomes between 100% and 120% FPL, the SLMB program will cover Part B premiums only. iii.

Qualified Individual (QI-1). For those with incomes between 120% and 135% FPL, but not otherwise Medicaid eligible, the QI-1 program covers Medicare Part B premiums. D.

Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS or “Extra Help”). LIS is a federal subsidy administered by CMS that helps Medicare beneficiaries with limited income and/or resources pay for some or most of the costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage. See 42 C.F.R.

§ 423.773. Some of the costs covered in full or in part by LIS include the monthly premiums, annual deductible, co-payments, and the coverage gap. Individuals eligible for Medicaid, SSI, or MSP are deemed eligible for full LIS benefitsSee 42 C.F.R.

§ 423.773(c). LIS applications are treated as (“deemed”) applications for MSP benefits, See the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008, Pub. Law 110-275.

II. WHILE THE DAP APPEAL IS PENDING Does your client have health insurance?. If not, why isn’t s/he getting Medicaid, Family Health Plus or Child Health Plus?.

There have been many recent changes which expand eligibility and streamline the application process. All/most of your DAP clients should qualify. Significant changes to Medicaid include.

Elimination of the resource test for certain categories of Medicaid applicants/recipients and all applicants to the Family Health Plus program. N.Y. Soc.

As of October 1, 2009, a resource test is no longer required for these categories. Elimination of the fingerprinting requirement. N.Y.

§369-ee, as amended by L. 2009, c. 58, pt.

C, § 62. Elimination of the waiting period for CHPlus. N.Y.

2008, c. 58. Elimination of the face-to-face interview requirement for Medicaid, effective April 1, 2010.

58, pt. C, § 60. Higher income levels for Single Adults and Childless Couples.

L. §366(1)(a)(1),(8) as amended by L. 2008, c.

Higher income levels for Medicaid’s Medically Needy program. N.Y. Soc.

GIS 08 MA/022 More detailed information on recent changes to Medicaid is available at. III. AFTER CLIENT IS AWARDED DAP BENEFITS a.

Medicaid eligibility. Clients receiving even $1.00 of SSI should qualify for Medicaid automatically. The process for qualifying will differ, however, depending on the source of payment.

These clients are eligible for full Medicaid without a spend-down. See N.Y. Soc.

ii. Medicaid coverage is automatic. No separate application/ recertification required.

iii. Most SSI-only recipients are required to participate in Medicaid managed care. See N.Y.

Eligible for full Medicaid since receiving SSI. See N.Y. Soc.

They can still qualify for Medicaid but may have a spend-down. Federal Law allows states to use a “spend-down” to extend Medicaid to “medically needy” persons in the federal mandatory categories (children, caretakers, elderly and disabled people) whose income or resources are above the eligibility level for regular Medicaid. See 42 U.S.C.

§ 1396 (a) (10) (ii) (XIII). ii. Under spend-down, applicants in New York’s Medically Needy program can qualify for Medicaid once their income/resources, minus incurred medical expenses, fall below the specified level.

For an explanation of spend-down, see 96 ADM 15. B. Family Health Plus Until your client qualifies for Medicare, those over-income for Medicaid may qualify for Family Health Plus without needing to satisfy a spend-down.

It covers adults without children with income up to 100% of the FPL and adults with children up to 150% of the FPL.[1] The eligibility tests are the same as for regular Medicaid with two additional requirements. Applicants must be between the ages of 19 and 64 and they generally must be uninsured. See N.Y.

§ 369-ee et. Seq. Once your client begins to receive Medicare, he or she will not be eligible for FHP, because FHP is generally only available to those without insurance.

For more information on FHP see our article on Family Health Plus. IV. LOOMING ISSUES - MEDICARE ELIGIBILITY (WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT) a.

SSI-only cases Clients receiving only SSI aren’t eligible for Medicare until they turn 65, unless they also have End Stage Renal Disease. B. Concurrent (SSD and SSI) cases 1.

Medicare eligibility kicks in beginning with 25th month of SSD receipt. See 42 U.S.C. § 426(f).

Exception. In 2000, Congress eliminated the 24-month waiting period for people diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease.) See 42 U.S.C. § 426 (h) 2.

Enrollment in Medicare is a condition of eligibility for Medicaid coverage. These clients cannot decline Medicare coverage. (05 OMM/ADM 5.

Medicaid Reference Guide p. 344.1) 3. Medicare coverage is not free.

Although most individuals receive Part A without any premium, Part B has monthly premiums and significant cost-sharing components. 4. Medicaid and/or the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) should pick up most of Medicare’s cost sharing.

Most SSI beneficiaries are eligible not only for full Medicaid, but also for the most comprehensive MSP, the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program. I. Parts A &.

B (hospital and outpatient/doctors visits). A. Medicaid will pick up premiums, deductibles, co-pays.

L. § 367-a (3) (a). For those not enrolled in an MSP, SSA normally deducts the Part B premium directly from the monthly check.

However, SSI recipients are supposed to be enrolled automatically in QMB, and Medicaid is responsible for covering the premiums. Part B premiums should never be deducted from these clients’ checks.[1] Medicaid and QMB-only recipients should NEVER be billed directly for Part A or B services. Even non-Medicaid providers are supposed to be able to bill Medicaid directly for services.[2] Clients are only responsible for Medicaid co-pay amount.

See 42 U.S.C. § 1396a (n) ii. Part D (prescription drugs).

a. Clients enrolled in Medicaid and/or MSP are deemed eligible for Low Income Subsidy (LIS aka Extra Help). See 42 C.F.R.

§ 423.773(c). SSA POMS SI § 01715.005A.5. New York State If client doesn’t enroll in Part D plan on his/her own, s/he will be automatically assigned to a benchmark[3] plan.

See 42 C.F.R. § 423.34 (d). LIS will pick up most of cost-sharing.[3] Because your clients are eligible for full LIS, they should have NO deductible and NO premium if they are in a benchmark plan, and will not be subject to the coverage gap (aka “donut hole”).

See 42 C.F.R. §§ 423.780 and 423.782. The full LIS beneficiary will also have co-pays limited to either $1.10 or $3.30 (2010 amounts).

See 42 C.F.R. § 423.104 (d) (5) (A). Other important points to remember.

- Medicaid co-pay rules do not apply to Part D drugs. - Your client’s plan may not cover all his/her drugs. - You can help your clients find the plan that best suits their needs.

To figure out what the best Part D plans are best for your particular client, go to www.medicare.gov. Click on “formulary finder” and plug in your client’s medication list. You can enroll in a Part D plan through www.medicare.gov, or by contacting the plan directly.

€“ Your clients can switch plans at any time during the year. Iii. Part C (“Medicare Advantage”).

a. Medicare Advantage plans provide traditional Medicare coverage (Parts A and B) through private managed care insurers. See 42 U.S.C.

Medicare Advantage participation is voluntary. For those clients enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans, the QMB cost sharing obligations are the same as they are under traditional Medicare. Medicaid must cover any premiums required by the plan, up to the Part B premium amount.

Medicaid must also cover any co-payments and co-insurance under the plan. As with traditional Medicare, both providers and plans are prohibited from billing the beneficiary directly for these co-payments. C.

SSD only individuals. 1. Same Medicare eligibility criteria (24 month waiting period, except for persons w/ ALS).

I. During the 24 month waiting period, explore eligibility for Medicaid or Family Health Plus. 2.

Once Medicare eligibility begins. ii. Parts A &.

B. SSA will automatically enroll your client. Part B premiums will be deducted from monthly Social Security benefits.

(Part A will be free – no monthly premium) Clients have the right to decline ongoing Part B coverage, BUT this is almost never a good idea, and can cause all sorts of headaches if client ever wants to enroll in Part B in the future. (late enrollment penalty and can’t enroll outside of annual enrollment period, unless person is eligible for Medicare Savings Program – see more below) Clients can decline “retro” Part B coverage with no penalty on the Medicare side – just make sure they don’t actually need the coverage. Risky to decline if they had other coverage during the retro period – their other coverage may require that Medicare be utilized if available.

Part A and Part B also have deductibles and co-pays. Medicaid and/or the MSPs can help cover this cost sharing. iii.

Part D. Client must affirmatively enroll in Part D, unless they receive LIS. See 42 U.S.C.

§ 1395w-101 (b) (2), 42 C.F.R. § 423.38 (a). Enrollment is done through individual private plans.

LIS recipients will be auto-assigned to a Part D benchmark plan if they have not selected a plan on their own. Client can decline Part D coverage with no penalty if s/he has “comparable coverage.” 42 C.F.R. § 423.34 (d) (3) (i).

If no comparable coverage, person faces possible late enrollment penalty &. Limited enrollment periods. 42 C.F.R.

§ 423.46. However, clients receiving LIS do not incur any late enrollment penalty. 42 C.F.R.

§ 423.780 (e). Part D has a substantial cost-sharing component – deductibles, premiums and co-pays which vary from plan to plan. There is also the coverage gap, also known as “donut hole,” which can leave beneficiaries picking up 100% of the cost of their drugs until/unless a catastrophic spending limit is reached.

The LIS program can help with Part D cost-sharing. Use Medicare’s website to figure out what plan is best for your client. (Go to www.medicare.gov , click on “formulary finder” and plug in your client’s medication list.

) You can also enroll in a Part D plan directly through www.medicare.gov. Iii. Help with Medicare cost-sharing a.

Medicaid – After eligibility for Medicare starts, client may still be eligible for Medicaid, with or without a spend-down. There are lots of ways to help clients meet their spend-down – including - Medicare cost sharing amounts (deductibles, premiums, co-pays) - over the counter medications if prescribed by a doctor. - expenses paid by state-funded programs like EPIC and ADAP.

- medical bills of person’s spouse or child. - health insurance premiums. - joining a pooled Supplemental Needs Trust (SNT).

B. Medicare Savings Program (MSP) – If client is not eligible for Medicaid, explore eligibility for Medicare Savings Program (MSP). MSP pays for Part B premiums and gets you into the Part D LIS.

There are no asset limits in the Medicare Savings Program. One of the MSPs (QMB), also covers all cost sharing for Parts A &. B.

If your client is eligible for Medicaid AND MSP, enrolling in MSP may subject him/her to, or increase a spend-down, because Medicaid and the various MSPs have different income eligibility levels. It is the client’s choice as to whether or not to be enrolled into MSP. C.

Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS) – If your client is not eligible for MSP or Medicaid, s/he may still be eligible for Part D Low Income Subsidy. Applications for LIS are also be treated as applications for MSP, unless the client affirmatively indicates that s/he does not want to apply for MSP. d.

Medicare supplemental insurance (Medigap) -- Medigap is supplemental private insurance coverage that covers all or some of the deductibles and coinsurance for Medicare Parts A and B. Medigap is not available to people enrolled in Part C. E.

Medicare Advantage – Medicare Advantage plans “package” Medicare (Part A and B) benefits, with or without Part D coverage, through a private health insurance plan. The cost-sharing structure (deductible, premium, co-pays) varies from plan to plan. For a list of Medicare Advantage plans in your area, go to www.medicare.gov – click on “find health plans.” f.

NY Prescription Saver Card -- NYP$ is a state-sponsored pharmacy discount card that can lower the cost of prescriptions by as much as 60 percent on generics and 30 percent on brand name drugs. Can be used during the Part D “donut hole” (coverage gap) g. For clients living with HIV.

ADAP [AIDS Drug Assistance Program] ADAP provides free medications for the treatment of HIV/AIDS and opportunistic s. ADAP can be used to help meet a Medicaid spenddown and get into the Part D Low Income subsidy. For more information about ADAP, go to V.

GETTING MEDICAID IN THE DISABLED CATEGORY AFTER AN SSI/SSDI DENIAL What if your client's application for SSI or SSDI is denied based on SSA's finding that they were not "disabled?. " Obviously, you have your appeals work cut out for you, but in the meantime, what can they do about health insurance?. It is still possible to have Medicaid make a separate disability determination that is not controlled by the unfavorable SSA determination in certain situations.

Specifically, an applicant is entitled to a new disability determination where he/she. alleges a different or additional disabling condition than that considered by SSA in making its determination. Or alleges less than 12 months after the most recent unfavorable SSA disability determination that his/her condition has changed or deteriorated, alleges a new period of disability which meets the duration requirement, and SSA has refused to reopen or reconsider the allegations, or the individual is now ineligible for SSA benefits for a non-medical reason.

Or alleges more than 12 months after the most recent unfavorable SSA disability determination that his/her condition has changed or deteriorated since the SSA determination and alleges a new period of disability which meets the duration requirement, and has not applied to SSA regarding these allegations. See GIS 10-MA-014 and 08 OHIP/INF-03.[4] [1] Potential wrinkle – for some clients Medicaid is not automatically pick up cost-sharing. In Monroe County we have had several cases where SSA began deducting Medicare Part B premiums from the checks of clients who were receiving SSI and Medicaid and then qualified for Medicare.

The process should be automatic. Please contact Geoffrey Hale in our Rochester office if you encounter any cases like this. [2]Under terms established to provide benefits for QMBs, a provider agreement necessary for reimbursement “may be executed through the submission of a claim to the Medicaid agency requesting Medicaid payment for Medicare deductibles and coinsurance for QMBs.” CMS State Medicaid Manual, Chapter 3, Eligibility, 3490.14 (b), available at.

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Manuals/PBM/itemdetail.asp?. ItemID=CMS021927. [3]Benchmark plans are free if you are an LIS recipient.

The amount of the benchmark changes from year to year. In 2013, a Part D plan in New York State is considered benchmark if it provides basic Part D coverage and its monthly premium is $43.22 or less. [4] These citations courtesy of Jim Murphy at Legal Services of Central New York.

This site provides general information only. This is not legal advice. You can only obtain legal advice from a lawyer.

In addition, your use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. To contact a lawyer, visit http://lawhelp.org/ny. We make every effort to keep these materials and links up-to-date and in accordance with New York City, New York state and federal law.

However, we do not guarantee the accuracy of this information.Some "dual eligible" beneficiaries (people who have Medicare and Medicaid) are entitled to receive reimbursement of their Medicare Part B premiums from New York State through the Medicare Insurance Premium Payment Program (MIPP). The Part B premium is $148.50 in 2021. MIPP is for some groups who are either not eligible for -- or who are not yet enrolled in-- the Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which is the main program that pays the Medicare Part B premium for low-income people.

Some people are not eligible for an MSP even though they have full Medicaid with no spend down. This is because they are in a special Medicaid eligibility category -- discussed below -- with Medicaid income limits that are actually HIGHER than the MSP income limits. MIPP reimburses them for their Part B premium because they have “full Medicaid” (no spend down) but are ineligible for MSP because their income is above the MSP SLIMB level (120% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Even if their income is under the QI-1 MSP level (135% FPL), someone cannot have both QI-1 and Medicaid). Instead, these consumers can have their Part B premium reimbursed through the MIPP program. In this article.

The MIPP program was established because the State determined that those who have full Medicaid and Medicare Part B should be reimbursed for their Part B premium, even if they do not qualify for MSP, because Medicare is considered cost effective third party health insurance, and because consumers must enroll in Medicare as a condition of eligibility for Medicaid (See 89 ADM 7). There are generally four groups of dual-eligible consumers that are eligible for MIPP. Therefore, many MBI WPD consumers have incomes higher than what MSP normally allows, but still have full Medicaid with no spend down.

Those consumers can qualify for MIPP and have their Part B premiums reimbursed. Here is an example. Sam is age 50 and has Medicare and MBI-WPD.

She gets $1500/mo gross from Social Security Disability and also makes $400/month through work activity. $ 167.50 -- EARNED INCOME - Because she is disabled, the DAB earned income disregard applies. $400 - $65 = $335.

Her countable earned income is 1/2 of $335 = $167.50 + $1500.00 -- UNEARNED INCOME from Social Security Disability = $1,667.50 --TOTAL income. This is above the SLIMB limit of $1,288 (2021) but she can still qualify for MIPP. 2.

Parent/Caretaker Relatives with MAGI-like Budgeting - Including Medicare Beneficiaries. Consumers who fall into the DAB category (Age 65+/Disabled/Blind) and would otherwise be budgeted with non-MAGI rules can opt to use Affordable Care Act MAGI rules if they are the parent/caretaker of a child under age 18 or under age 19 and in school full time. This is referred to as “MAGI-like budgeting.” Under MAGI rules income can be up to 138% of the FPL—again, higher than the limit for DAB budgeting, which is equivalent to only 83% FPL.

MAGI-like consumers can be enrolled in either MSP or MIPP, depending on if their income is higher or lower than 120% of the FPL. If their income is under 120% FPL, they are eligible for MSP as a SLIMB. If income is above 120% FPL, then they can enroll in MIPP.

(See GIS 18 MA/001 - 2018 Medicaid Managed Care Transition for Enrollees Gaining Medicare, #4) When a consumer has Medicaid through the New York State of Health (NYSoH) Marketplace and then enrolls in Medicare when she turns age 65 or because she received Social Security Disability for 24 months, her Medicaid case is normally** transferred to the local department of social services (LDSS)(HRA in NYC) to be rebudgeted under non-MAGI budgeting. During the transition process, she should be reimbursed for the Part B premiums via MIPP. However, the transition time can vary based on age.

AGE 65+ Those who enroll in Medicare at age 65+ will receive a letter from their local district asking them to "renew" Medicaid through their local district. See 2014 LCM-02. The Medicaid case takes about four months to be rebudgeted and approved by the LDSS.

The consumer is entitled to MIPP payments for at least three months during the transition. Once the case is with the LDSS she should automatically be re-evaluated for MSP, even if the LDSS determines the consumer is not eligible for Medicaid because of excess income or assets. 08 OHIP/ADM-4.

Consumers UNDER 65 who receive Medicare due to disability status are entitled to keep MAGI Medicaid through NYSoH for up to 12 months (also known as continuous coverage, See NY Social Services Law 366, subd. 4(c). These consumers should receive MIPP payments for as long as their cases remain with NYSoH and throughout the transition to the LDSS.

NOTE during erectile dysfunction treatment emergency their case may remain with NYSoH for more than 12 months. See here. EXAMPLE.

Sam, age 60, was last authorized for Medicaid on the Marketplace in June 2020. He became enrolled in Medicare based on disability in August 2020, and started receiving Social Security in the same month (he won a hearing approving Social Security disability benefits retroactively, after first being denied disability). Even though his Social Security is too high, he can keep Medicaid for 12 months beginning June 2020.

Sam has to pay for his Part B premium - it is deducted from his Social Security check. He may call the Marketplace and request a refund. This will continue until the end of his 12 months of continuous MAGI Medicaid eligibility.

He will be reimbursed regardless of whether he is in a Medicaid managed care plan. See GIS 18 MA/001 Medicaid Managed Care Transition for Enrollees Gaining Medicare (PDF) When that ends, he will renew Medicaid and apply for MSP with his local district. See GIS 18 MA/001 - 2018 Medicaid Managed Care Transition for Enrollees Gaining Medicare, #4 for an explanation of this process.

That directive also clarified that reimbursement of the Part B premium will be made regardless of whether the individual is still in a Medicaid managed care (MMC) plan. Note. During the erectile dysfunction treatment emergency, those who have Medicaid through the NYSOH marketplace and enroll in Medicare should NOT have their cases transitioned to the LDSS.

They should keep the same MAGI budgeting and automatically receive MIPP payments. See GIS 20 MA/04 or this article on erectile dysfunction treatment eligibility changes 4. Those with Special Budgeting after Losing SSI (DAC, Pickle, 1619b) Disabled Adult Child (DAC).

Special budgeting is available to those who are 18+ and lose SSI because they begin receiving Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits (or receive an increase in the amount of their benefit). Consumer must have become disabled or blind before age 22 to receive the benefit. If the new DAC benefit amount was disregarded and the consumer would otherwise be eligible for SSI, they can keep Medicaid eligibility with NO SPEND DOWN.

See this article. Consumers may have income higher than MSP limits, but keep full Medicaid with no spend down. Therefore, they are eligible for payment of their Part B premiums.

See page 96 of the Medicaid Reference Guide (Categorical Factors). If their income is lower than the MSP SLIMB threshold, they can be added to MSP. If higher than the threshold, they can be reimbursed via MIPP.

See also 95-ADM-11. Medical Assistance Eligibility for Disabled Adult Children, Section C (pg 8). Pickle &.

1619B. 5. When the Part B Premium Reduces Countable Income to Below the Medicaid Limit Since the Part B premium can be used as a deduction from gross income, it may reduce someone's countable income to below the Medicaid limit.

The consumer should be paid the difference to bring her up to the Medicaid level ($904/month in 2021). They will only be reimbursed for the difference between their countable income and $904, not necessarily the full amount of the premium. See GIS 02-MA-019.

Reimbursement of Health Insurance Premiums MIPP and MSP are similar in that they both pay for the Medicare Part B premium, but there are some key differences. MIPP structures the payments as reimbursement -- beneficiaries must continue to pay their premium (via a monthly deduction from their Social Security check or quarterly billing, if they do not receive Social Security) and then are reimbursed via check. In contrast, MSP enrollees are not charged for their premium.

Their Social Security check usually increases because the Part B premium is no longer withheld from their check. MIPP only provides reimbursement for Part B. It does not have any of the other benefits MSPs can provide, such as.

A consumer cannot have MIPP without also having Medicaid, whereas MSP enrollees can have MSP only. Of the above benefits, Medicaid also provides Part D Extra Help automatic eligibility. There is no application process for MIPP because consumers should be screened and enrolled automatically (00 OMM/ADM-7).

Either the state or the LDSS is responsible for screening &. Distributing MIPP payments, depending on where the Medicaid case is held and administered (14 /2014 LCM-02 Section V). If a consumer is eligible for MIPP and is not receiving it, they should contact whichever agency holds their case and request enrollment.

Unfortunately, since there is no formal process for applying, it may require some advocacy. If Medicaid case is at New York State of Health they should call 1-855-355-5777. Consumers will likely have to ask for a supervisor in order to find someone familiar with MIPP.

If Medicaid case is with HRA in New York City, they should email mipp@hra.nyc.gov. If Medicaid case is with other local districts in NYS, call your local county DSS. See more here about consumers who have Medicaid on NYSofHealth who then enroll in Medicare - how they access MIPP.

Once enrolled, it make take a few months for payments to begin. Payments will be made in the form of checks from the Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), the fiscal agent for the New York State Medicaid program. The check itself comes attached to a remittance notice from Medicaid Management Information Systems (MMIS).

Unfortunately, the notice is not consumer-friendly and may be confusing. See attached sample for what to look for. Health Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP) HIPP is a sister program to MIPP and will reimburse consumers for private third party health insurance when deemed “cost effective.” Directives:.

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€‹15 full-time equivalent specialist counsellors will be deployed across rural NSW to help prevent suicide, with the first two counsellors starting in the Eurobodalla and Snowy Mountains regions.NSW Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said the relatively high rates of suicide in rural areas are devastating families and communities, and the $6.75 million investment will add another layer of help.“Many factors can contribute to suicide, from domestic violence, to relationship issues or unemployment, to stress and hardship,” Mrs how to get cialis without a doctor Taylor said. €œThese specialist mental health counsellors are there on the ground to support people thinking of suicide or impacted by suicide, and I encourage communities across the state to lean on them for support.”Director Mental Health Drug and Alcohol for Southern NSW Local Health District Damien Eggleton said he wants more people to ask for help when they need it. €œOur rural communities have proven beyond a doubt they’re resilient and fearless when faced with adversity, whether that be geographic isolation, searing drought or the impact of the how to get cialis without a doctor current cialis – but they don’t need to go it alone,” Mr Eggleton said. €œThe support provided by these counsellors will complement the peer work and drought support provided by our Farm Gate Counsellors and Drought Counsellors.”Rural counsellor Samara Byrne said she wants young people to know there are people you can turn to when feeling overwhelmed with life or feeling like a burden on others.

€œWe are here for you and here to listen if you how to get cialis without a doctor are feeling distressed, anxious or a burden to loved ones. The service is easily accessible through the Mental Health Line. Just ask for the Rural Counsellor.”“Having moved from Sydney in 2016 to our beautiful farm in SNSW, I am so pleased to be able to do what I am most passionate about, supporting people’s wellbeing in Rural Australia and building on the natural local community resilience”.Minister Taylor urges people in the bush how to get cialis without a doctor to get help by contacting these rural counsellors. €œSupport is available, all you need to do is pick up the phone and make an appointment by calling the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.”The 15 rural counselling positions are part of the Towards Zero Suicides.

A $87 million investment over three years in new suicide how to get cialis without a doctor prevention initiatives. A NSW Premier’s Priority, this is a whole-of-government commitment to transforming the way we identify and support anyone impacted by suicide.If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress, please seek help immediately in a life-threatening situation by calling 000 or seek support though one of these services:Lifeline 13 11 14Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor and Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott today announced the expansion of the Police Ambulance and Clinical Early Response (PACER) pilot program.“This ground breaking collaboration embeds mental health experts with first responders to support them to appropriately recognise, assess, and respond to mental health emergencies live at the scene,” Mrs Taylor said. €œThe pilot program has had incredible results with significant reductions in emergency department presentations, how to get cialis without a doctor police and ambulance time on scene. €œThis approach has enormous potential to change lives, with the community getting more appropriate care at the time when they need it most.” Mr Elliott welcomed the support for the police officers who are deeply committed to serving and protecting the people of NSW “During the pilot program, police time-on-scene was reduced by an average of 45 minutes, not only supporting first responders to appropriately recognise and respond to psychiatric incidents in the community, but also freeing up officers to serve thecommunity in other areas,” Mr Elliott said.

€œThe presence and availability of a PACER clinician in a police station increases the knowledge and understanding of mental health how to get cialis without a doctor issues amongst officers This initiative is crucial, now more than ever, following the devastating ‘Black Summer’ bushfires and the erectile dysfunction treatment cialis, which have affected us all.” NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner, Malcolm Lanyon APM, said the PACER model has been a success at the trial site in St George Police Area Command. €œDuring the trial we saw a significant reduction in time taken for police to respond to these matters. It translated to a better outcome for both our officers and how to get cialis without a doctor the individuals in need of assistance,” Mr Lanyon said. The PACER program will expand to Campbelltown, Nepean, Northern Beaches, Sutherland Shire, Blacktown, Eastern Beaches, Kuring-gai, Metro Combined consisting of Kings Cross/Surry Hills/City of Sydney, South Sydney and Bankstown Police Area Commands with recruitment underway for the specialist mental health clinicians from July 2020.

This investment is part of the $73 how to get cialis without a doctor million suite of mental health measures recently announced by the NSW Government. This includes 216 new mental health staff, additional funding for the NSW Mental Health Line, extra support for Telehealth, funding for extra therapeutic programs to aid recovery in mental health units and a $6 million investment in Lifeline to expand their invaluable service..

€‹15 full-time equivalent specialist counsellors will be deployed across rural NSW to help prevent suicide, with the first two counsellors starting in the Eurobodalla and Snowy Mountains regions.NSW Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said the relatively high rates of suicide in buy cialis in montreal rural areas are devastating families and communities, and the $6.75 million investment will add another layer of help.“Many factors can contribute to suicide, from domestic violence, to relationship issues or unemployment, to stress and hardship,” Mrs Taylor said. €œThese specialist mental health counsellors are there on the ground to support people thinking of suicide or impacted by suicide, and I encourage communities across the state to lean on them for support.”Director Mental Health Drug and Alcohol for Southern NSW Local Health District Damien Eggleton said he wants more people to ask for help when they need it. €œOur rural communities have proven beyond a doubt they’re resilient and fearless when faced with adversity, whether that be geographic isolation, searing buy cialis in montreal drought or the impact of the current cialis – but they don’t need to go it alone,” Mr Eggleton said. €œThe support provided by these counsellors will complement the peer work and drought support provided by our Farm Gate Counsellors and Drought Counsellors.”Rural counsellor Samara Byrne said she wants young people to know there are people you can turn to when feeling overwhelmed with life or feeling like a burden on others.

€œWe are here for you and here to listen if you are feeling distressed, anxious or a buy cialis in montreal burden to loved ones. The service is easily accessible through the Mental Health Line. Just ask for the Rural Counsellor.”“Having moved from Sydney in 2016 to our beautiful farm in SNSW, I am so pleased to be able to do what I am most passionate about, supporting people’s wellbeing in Rural Australia and building on the natural local community resilience”.Minister Taylor urges people in the bush to buy cialis in montreal get help by contacting these rural counsellors. €œSupport is available, all you need to do is pick up the phone and make an appointment by calling the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.”The 15 rural counselling positions are part of the Towards Zero Suicides.

A $87 million investment over three years in new buy cialis in montreal suicide prevention initiatives. A NSW Premier’s Priority, this is a whole-of-government commitment to transforming the way we identify and support anyone impacted by suicide.If you, or someone you know, is thinking about suicide or experiencing a personal crisis or distress, please seek help immediately in a life-threatening situation by calling 000 or seek support though one of these services:Lifeline 13 11 14Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor and Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott today announced the expansion of the Police Ambulance and Clinical Early Response (PACER) pilot program.“This ground breaking collaboration embeds mental health experts with first responders to support them to appropriately recognise, assess, and respond to mental health emergencies live at the scene,” Mrs Taylor said. €œThe pilot program has had incredible results with significant reductions in emergency department presentations, police and ambulance time buy cialis in montreal on scene. €œThis approach has enormous potential to change lives, with the community getting more appropriate care at the time when they need it most.” Mr Elliott welcomed the support for the police officers who are deeply committed to serving and protecting the people of NSW “During the pilot program, police time-on-scene was reduced by an average of 45 minutes, not only supporting first responders to appropriately recognise and respond to psychiatric incidents in the community, but also freeing up officers to serve thecommunity in other areas,” Mr Elliott said.

€œThe presence and availability of a PACER clinician in a police station increases the knowledge and understanding of mental health issues amongst officers This initiative is crucial, now more than ever, following the devastating ‘Black Summer’ bushfires and the erectile dysfunction treatment cialis, which have affected us all.” NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner, Malcolm Lanyon APM, said the PACER model has been a buy cialis in montreal success at the trial site in St George Police Area Command. €œDuring the trial we saw a significant reduction in time taken for police to respond to these matters. It translated to a better outcome for buy cialis in montreal both our officers and the individuals in need of assistance,” Mr Lanyon said. The PACER program will expand to Campbelltown, Nepean, Northern Beaches, Sutherland Shire, Blacktown, Eastern Beaches, Kuring-gai, Metro Combined consisting of Kings Cross/Surry Hills/City of Sydney, South Sydney and Bankstown Police Area Commands with recruitment underway for the specialist mental health clinicians from July 2020.

This investment is part buy cialis in montreal of the $73 million suite of mental health measures recently announced by the NSW Government. This includes 216 new mental health staff, additional funding for the NSW Mental Health Line, extra support for Telehealth, funding for extra therapeutic programs to aid recovery in mental health units and a $6 million investment in Lifeline to expand their invaluable service..

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IntroductionThe mammalian kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs) are microtubule and ATP-dependent molecular motors, which were first identified in 1985 as axonal transporters in squid and bovine brains.1 Forty-five different kinesin family cheapest place to buy cialis member (KIF) genes were identified in the mouse genome so far, 44 of which are present in the human genome. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence homology between the human and the mouse genome led to the classification of KIF genes into 16 families, from kinesin-1 to kinesin-14B (figure 1).2 The first kinesins discovered belong to the kinesin-1 family (KIF5A, KIF5B and KIF5C), and they form a heterotetramer of two heavy chains and two light chains (KLC1-4).2 KIF genes encode KIFs, a specific class of motor proteins generating intracellular motility by driving directional transport of various cargoes such as organelles, protein complexes and mRNAs along the microtubule system.2 Studies using knockout mouse models by Hirokawa and colleagues significantly contributed to elucidate the roles of kinesins in mammalian physiology. Their role in transport is fundamental to cellular logistics and performance, and the molecular motors are not only effectors of signal transduction cascades but also transport and/or bind to important signal transduction molecules to actively modulate their function.3Phylogenetic tree of mammalian kinesin superfamily genes identified in the human (and mouse) genome and classified in 16 subfamilies (from kinesin 1 to 14B) (adapted from Hirokawa et al cheapest place to buy cialis 3)." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 1 Phylogenetic tree of mammalian kinesin superfamily genes identified in the human (and mouse) genome and classified in 16 subfamilies (from kinesin 1 to 14B) (adapted from Hirokawa et al3).The first kinesins were observed in the context of axonal transport in neurons, and a novel disease entity of ‘motor–proteinopathy’ was proposed for the pathogenesis of axonal neuropathies in 2001.4 Due to their role in cellular membrane trafficking, however, kinesins are essential for the functioning of many polar cell types, such as neurons, epithelial cells, sperm cells or stem cells during organogenesis.

Kinesins also play a fundamental role in cell-cycle dynamics, both during mitotic and meiotic processes. They regulate cheapest place to buy cialis chromosomal condensation and alignment, spindle formation, cytokinesis and cell-cycle progression.5 It is estimated that about a dozen kinesins are involved in the cell cycle. Among these, there is a specific subclass of chromokinesins (kinesin 4 and kinesin 10 family) which are able to bind chromosomes.6 Recently, KIFs were discovered to act as microtubule stabilisers (KIF26A and KIF21A) and depolymerisers (KIF2A and KIF2C), activities which are important for both cellular morphogenesis and mammalian development, playing a role in neuronal and axonal morphology and ciliogenesis.7Alterations in motor kinesins are leading to human disease by various pathological mechanisms, including cancer and multifactorial and monogenic disorders.

Variants in 18 out of the 44 human KIF genes were identified to cause cheapest place to buy cialis monogenic disorders, following different modes of Mendelian inheritance and associated with a wide spectrum of clinical signs. These range from lethal and multiple to isolated congenital anomalies—including birth defects potentially detectable in the foetal period by current prenatal imaging studies—to postnatally apparent neurodevelopmental disorders, intellectual disability and neurological conditions.We will review the current state of knowledge of the biological processes kinesins are involved in and discuss their emerging role in human disease, particularly in birth defects and congenital anomaly syndromes. Birth defects remain a leading cause of perinatal lethality in industrialised countries.8 Structural anomalies are recognised with increasing reliability during early pregnancy by the use of high-resolution ultrasound technologies, thus raising questions about diagnosis, aetiology, prognosis and recurrence risk, particularly in the presence of more than one anomaly, which most likely indicates a genetic aetiology.

We identify recurrent phenotype patterns caused by alterations in KIF genes, and we outline the cheapest place to buy cialis complexity of phenotype–genotype correlations mirroring the processes of intracellular microtubule-mediated transport and movement, in which kinesins play a fundamental role. There are likely many more relationships between the clinical signs and the genetic variants to be identified in the future, and the functional network of kinesins and their role in human disease need to be further elucidated. We propose to introduce the term ‘kinesinopathies’ for this group of conditions, which are phenotypically and genetically overlapping and characterised by the functional impairment of a specific group cheapest place to buy cialis of molecular motors.

We hope that their systematic approach leads to a better recognition in clinical practice, as well as in genome-wide sequencing for diagnosis and research, and opens strategies for the future development of molecular therapies.KIF structureAll KIFs have a phylogenetically well-conserved motor domain head, consisting of an ATP-binding motif and a microtubule-binding domain. Depending on the position of the motor domain, kinesins can be subdivided into N-kinesins (amino-terminal motor domain), M-kinesins (middle-region motor domain) and C-kinesins (carboxy-terminal motor domain).2 Most kinesins belong to the N-kinesin subgroup, but members of the kinesin 13A family (figure 1) belong to the M-kinesin subtype, while KIF1C, KIF2C and KIF3C belong to the C- kinesin subfamily.3 Both N-kinesins and C-kinesins are responsible for cheapest place to buy cialis plus end and minus end-directed motility, M-kinesins for depolymerisation of microtubules in tubulin molecules. However, there are a few exceptions to this categorisation.9 The motor domain head attaches to the neck, the coiled coil stalk and the tail.

The kinesins’ neck is family-specific and responsible for the direction of motility or regulation of activity. The coiled coil cheapest place to buy cialis stalk and tail are involved in kinesin dimerisation and/or interactions with cargoes. Kinesins typically use scaffold proteins and adaptor proteins to bind their cargoes but can sometimes bind the cargo directly.

Scaffolds and adaptors might also have regulatory roles in kinesin-driven intracellular transport, that is, recognising specific cargoes and regulating their loading and unloading.3Role of KIFs in physiology and diseaseThe application of genome-wide sequencing for gene cheapest place to buy cialis identification in research or for clinical diagnostic purposes significantly contributes to the identification of KIF candidate genes. Genotype–phenotype correlations in KIF gene-related disorders, together with functional and animal studies, continue to elucidate the complex involvement of KIFs in human developmental pathways and disease. Table 1 summarises the monogenic conditions caused by variants affecting the function of KIF genes.View this table:Table 1 Specific monogenic disorders caused by variants affecting the function of KIF genesView this table:Table 2 Summary of phenotypes and genotypes of KIF149 26 30 31The kinesins’ functions in physiological processes, however, are complex and still incompletely understood, but their role in cell-cycle progression and regulation, including both meiosis and mitosis, in intracellular trafficking, cheapest place to buy cialis axonal transport, microtubule activity and ciliogenesis, is increasingly studied.

Figure 2 summarises the clustering of KIF genes according to their functional roles and the phenotypical consequences as identified to date in 32 out of the 44 human kinesin genes.Assignment and clustering of KIF genes to various functions and relation to birth defect or monogenic phenotype groups. Detailed phenotypes are shown in tables 1 cheapest place to buy cialis and 3. Cancer and multifactorial conditions are not included.

CNS, central nervous system." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 2 Assignment and clustering of KIF genes to various functions and relation to birth defect or monogenic phenotype groups. Detailed phenotypes are shown in tables cheapest place to buy cialis 1 and 3. Cancer and multifactorial conditions are not included.

CNS, central nervous system.Kinesins play a pivotal role during early development and cheapest place to buy cialis organogenesis. Microcephaly is one of the most frequently associated clinical signs, mirroring a defect in the regulation of the final number of neurons during development.10KIF4A is a motor protein that translocates PRC1, a cytokinesis protein, to the ends of the spindle microtubules during mitosis, regulates the PARP1 activity in brain development and the survival of neurons, and is a member of the L1CAM recycling pathway. Variants in L1CAM cause cheapest place to buy cialis X-linked isolated and syndromic hydrocephalus.

KIF4A was recently proposed as a candidate gene for hydrocephalus.11KIFs are involved in neuronal branching, and microtubule depolarisation, operated by KIF2A M-kinesin, was suggested to suppress collateral branch extension during brain development, leading to anomalies of cortical development, including agyria and pachygyria, subcortical band heterotopia and corpus callosum anomalies.12Functional disruption of KIF genes in knockout mice often results in embryonic lethality, for example, for Kif18A, Kif10, Kif3A, Kif3B and Kif5B,13–17 highlighting the importance of kinesins in embryonic and foetal development. A study on KIF16B demonstrated that microtubule-based trafficking is responsible for early development and stem cell survival.18 KIF26B is essential in kidney development, contributing to the adhesion of mesenchymal cells to the ureteric bud.3 KIF26A was suggested to play a role in enteric nervous system development, because knockout mice develop a megacolon and enteric nerve hypoplasia,19 and to negatively regulate nociceptive sensation.20A significant number of KIFs play a prominent role in ciliogenesis and cilia function. They regulate cilia length, ciliary assembly/disassembly and can have motile cilia-specific functions.21 Some KIFs, specifically found in primary cilia (PC), regulate the length of the axoneme and its disassembly when re-entering the cell cycle.KIF7, also a key cheapest place to buy cialis component of the Hedgehog signalling pathway, is responsible for cilia length regulation through suppression of microtubule polymerisation.7 KIF7 variants cause hydrolethalus, acrocallosal, and Joubert and Al-Gazali-Bakalinova syndromes.22 Kif2A knockout mice have severe brain defects, and KIF2A variants in humans lead to microcephaly because of cell-cycle delay in cellular progenitors resulting from cilia disassembly defects.

KIF24, belonging to the same kinesin 13 family, plays a role in both microtubule depolymerising activity and regulation of the early steps of ciliogenesis. Other PC-related KIFs recently identified are KIF5B, KIF1C and KIF13B, and a potential role in cilia was hypothesised for cheapest place to buy cialis KIF11 and KIF14.KIF3 protein complex (KIF3A-KIF3B-KAP3 heterotetramer) is a molecular motor necessary for intraflagellar transport (IFT) but is also involved in ciliogenesis of motile cilia. Kif3a-knockout or Kif3b-knockout mice are prenatally lethal, exhibiting anomalies similar to ciliopathy phenotypes, including the disturbance of left–right body determination.3KIF19A is localised at the tip of motile cilia and performs motor and microtubule-depolymerising activities during IFT.

Kif19a-knockout mice present with hydrocephalus and female infertility, common signs in ciliary defects, due to abnormally elongated cilia with altered motility, not able to generate proper fluid cheapest place to buy cialis flow.9Further KIFs, which may have specific roles in motile cilia, are KIF27, KIF9, KIF6 and KIF18B. Regarding the involvement of numerous KIFs in cilia-related processes, it is not surprising that many disorders caused by variants affecting KIF gene function are presenting with anomalies reminiscent of ciliopathies.Kinesin motors have a fundamental role in neuronal function, as they are responsible for the transport of synaptic vesicle precursors and transmitter receptors along axons and dendrites from the neuron body.3 Molecular motor activity as for KIF1A, KIF5 and KIF17 is important for higher brain functions, such as learning and memory through regulation of synaptic transmission.5 Dysfunction can be associated with intellectual disability and global developmental delay (table 1).Impaired function can also result in peripheral neuropathies (KIF5A, KLC2, KIF1A and KIF1B) and ocular motility disorders (KLC2 and KIF21A)23 24 when axon elongation in the peripheral nervous system and optic nerve is affected. KIF5A variants are associated with epileptic phenotypes both in humans and mice25 because the transport of neurotransmitter receptors is disturbed and inhibitory regulation is altered.Due to their role in cell-cycle regulation, kinesins are important in male spermatogenesis and female oogenesis.

They are cheapest place to buy cialis involved in all steps of spermatogenesis 26 and, based on previous animal studies, they may represent a potential target to treat male infertility. In female meiosis, 13 KIF genes were studied in animal models. There is some evidence that kinesin expression is vulnerable to maternal ageing and environmental factors, such as oocyte cryopreservation and alcohol cheapest place to buy cialis consumption.

It may be promising to expand research in this field in order to clarify the mechanisms and factors contributing to oocyte quality decline.27Many kinesins were extensively studied in the fields of cancer development, progression and therapy. Deregulation of the mitotic kinesins by both overexpression and decreased expression causes cancer progression or can be a prognostic marker in various tumours.28 The cell-permeable small-molecule mitotic inhibitor monastrol was discovered in 199929 and was shown to arrest cells in mitosis by specifically inhibiting KIF11, cheapest place to buy cialis a kinesin important for spindle bipolarity. The bipolar mitotic spindle is replaced by a monoastral microtubule array surrounded by a ring of chromosomes, which gave the inhibitor its name.

The mitotic spindle is now a well-known target cheapest place to buy cialis of chemotherapy, and inhibitors of the mitotic kinesins KIF11, KIF10 and KIF1C are being studied for this purpose.28 30 The redundancy of some kinesins allows them to escape pharmacological inhibition. For example, in the absence of KIF10, KIF15 is able to replace all of its essential functions in spindle assembly. Cilia-related KIF7, KIF13B and KIF27 are involved in SHh signalling and may be a future target in cancer research.28Some kinesins confer susceptibility to a range of multifactorial, metabolic and neurodegenerative conditions.

KIF13B contributes to the enhancement cheapest place to buy cialis of endocytosis of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 1 that is involved in the recognition and internalisation of LDL and factor VIII. Kif13b-knockout mice have hypercholesterolaemia and higher factor VIII serum levels.5 KIF12 is implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, protecting pancreatic β cells from the oxidative stress caused by nutritional excess.5 Variants in KIF1B or KIF21B confer susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (OMIM %612596, #126200).31 32 KIF5A was associated with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (OMIM #617921).33 KIF3 complex and KIF17 were recently uncovered to be involved in schizophrenia.34 35 Further studies, however, are needed to clarify the precise role of KIFs in neurodegenerative processes and psychiatric conditions.KIF14 -related birth defects. Lessons learntAdvances in next-generation sequencing technologies have revolutionised our understanding of Mendelian disorders, including birth defect phenotypes, by sequencing the coding genome (exome) cheapest place to buy cialis or entire genome at an unprecedented resolution in a comparably short time span.

The technology has been extensively used for gene identification approaches in research for many years, enabling unparalleled genotype–phenotype correlations and the definition of novel pathways of related genes and disorders at an accelerated pace, traditionally focusing on postnatal disorders. Filges and Friedman36 postulated that a number of novel disease genes causing birth defects could be identifiable through cheapest place to buy cialis the investigation of lethal foetal phenotypes since they would represent the extreme end of allelic milder and viable postnatal phenotypes with less specific or recognisable anomaly patterns. Based on embryonically or perinatally lethal mouse models (www.informatics.jax.org and www.dmdd.org.uk), it is estimated that knockout variants in about 30% of human protein coding genes may present with a phenotype of early lethality.

The identification of KIF14 loss of function variants in fetuses with a lethal multiple congenital anomaly syndrome and the subsequent description of the allelic postnatal viable phenotype and further functional characterisation of KIF14 in developmental processes are recent examples of how to study those embryonic lethal phenotypes in order to understand the role of genes for which little to nothing is known.Filges et al identified autosomal recessive compound heterozygous loss of function variants in KIF14 using family-based exome sequencing in a recurrent severe lethal phenotype (OMIM #616258). It was the first human phenotype reported due to variants in the human KIF14 gene (figure 3).37 The two affected siblings presented with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), oligohydramnios, severe microcephaly, renal cystic dysplasia or agenesis, genital tract malformations (uterine hypoplasia and vaginal atresia), as well as cerebral and cerebellar hypoplasias with partial or total agenesis of the vermis, arhinencephaly, agenesis of occipital lobes/corpus callosum at second trimester ultrasound cheapest place to buy cialis scan. Cross-species comparison to the laggard spontaneous mice mutant, characterised by homozygous variants of the Kif14 gene,38 confirmed a phenotypical overlap.

An increased number of binucleated cells in the tissue histology of the cheapest place to buy cialis two fetuses were in concordance with the key role of KIF14 during mitosis participating in chromosomes’ congression and alignment, as well as in cytokinesis39 and the observation of binucleated cells as a consequence of failed cytokinesis in mammalian KIF14 knockdown cells. During cytokinesis, PRC1 localises KIF14 at the central spindle and midbody, which in turn recruits citron rho-interacting kinase (CIT) to the midbody. CIT, in cheapest place to buy cialis turn, acts as a negative regulator of KIF14 activity.

Knockdown of KIF14 in mammalian cells results in impaired localisation of CIT during mitosis.40Structure of KIF14 and summary of all published KIF14 variants affecting function.10 37 41 42 The N-terminal region (aa 1–356) is important for its interactions with PRC1 and the protein’s localisation at the central spindle and midbody. The kinesin motor domain (aa 358–701) is responsible for the microtubule-dependent ATPase activity. The FHA cheapest place to buy cialis domain (aa 825–891).

Stalk and tail region (aa 891–1648) are necessary for the interaction with the protein CRIK (aa 901–1189, red diagonal lines). There are four additional coiled-coil domains (light blue-coloured areas).61 cheapest place to buy cialis FHA, forkhead associated. Aa, amino acid." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 3 Structure of KIF14 and summary of all published KIF14 variants affecting function.10 37 41 42 The N-terminal region (aa 1–356) is important for its interactions with PRC1 and the protein’s localisation at the central spindle and midbody.

The kinesin motor domain (aa 358–701) is responsible cheapest place to buy cialis for the microtubule-dependent ATPase activity. The FHA domain (aa 825–891). Stalk and tail cheapest place to buy cialis region (aa 891–1648) are necessary for the interaction with the protein CRIK (aa 901–1189, red diagonal lines).

There are four additional coiled-coil domains (light blue-coloured areas).61 FHA, forkhead associated. Aa, amino acid.Filges et al pointed out that KIF14 should be considered a candidate gene for viable postnatal phenotypes, including isolated microcephaly.34 Additional individuals with autosomal recessive variants in KIF14 and isolated primary microcephaly were then described9 41 42 (table 2).Impaired cytokinesis, increased apoptosis and reduced cell motility were confirmed in cells from the described patients, pointing to a new cellular pathway in the pathogenesis of microcephaly.43 Apart from one case with small kidneys with increased echogenicity, none of these 18 patients had associated kidney anomalies. However, a targeted exome sequencing study in 204 unrelated patients with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) reported two more cases of renal anomalies, bilateral hypoplasia or agenesis, caused by KIF14 variants.44 Further nine cases had an cheapest place to buy cialis associated renal phenotype, which ranged from bilateral renal agenesis to cystic or non-cystic renal hypodysplasia.42 Table 2 and figure 3 summarise KIF14 variants and the associated phenotypes.

Loss of function variants more likely lead to multiple congenital anomalies, while hypomorphic variants result in a milder phenotype without renal involvement, although phenotype–genotype correlations remain preliminary for the time being.The phenotypical spectrum ranging from isolated primary microcephaly to congenital anomalies reminiscent of ciliopathy phenotypes suggested a complex role for KIF14 in developmental processes and raised a number of questions about the relationship between its established role in cell division and its possible function in ciliary pathways. Functional studies of absent KIF14 protein in the development of human foetal tissues and mutant zebrafish provided evidence for similarities and differences between mitotic events occurring during proliferation in the development of both brain and kidney.42 The observation that KIF14-stained midbodies accumulate within the lumen of the branch tips of ureteric buds in human foetal kidneys provided a key cheapest place to buy cialis clue to better understand the mechanism through which the loss of KIF14 affects both brain and kidney development in humans. It was previously demonstrated that the secretion and accumulation of midbody remnants in the cerebrospinal fluid in mice during the early stages of brain development correspond to the amplification of neural progenitors.45 Kif14 mutant zebrafish phenotypes supported the hypothesis of a potential role for KIF14 in cilia.

In vitro and in vivo analyses suggested that loss of kif14 causes ciliary anomalies cheapest place to buy cialis through an accumulation of mitotic cells in ciliated tissues but failed to establish a direct functional link.21 42 Further mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Overexpression of KIF14 in various types of tumours was suggested to be a possible prognostic marker and a potential target for therapeutic purposes.46Kinesinopathies in birth defect phenotypes. Recurrent themesIn the last few years, an increasing number of variants in KIF genes were described to cause isolated as well as multiple congenital anomalies.

There is a huge variability of phenotypes caused by variants even within cheapest place to buy cialis the same gene. However, we can identify recurrent clinical signs that should alert the clinician to suspect a KIF gene-related disorder and the molecular geneticist to include KIF genes in multigene-panel and genome-wide sequencing approaches. This will become particularly relevant in prenatal and perinatal medicine, which focuses on the detection of structural anomalies in the fetus and the newborn by using ultrasound cheapest place to buy cialis and MRI or autopsy when the outcome is lethal.

We have summarised the predominant and recurrent structural anomalies in kinesinopathies reported so far that would likely become apparent during the foetal period in table 3 and the syndromic disorders in table 1.View this table:Table 3 KIF gene-related structural congenital anomalies recurrently described in prenatal phenotypesSupplemental materialConsistent with the kinesins’ role in the development of the central nervous system (CNS), brain anomalies of various degrees are a frequent clinical sign, particularly microcephaly, but include lissencephaly, polymicrogyria, thinned or agenesis of the corpus callosum, arhinencephaly, cerebral hypoplasia or atrophy, cerebellar hypoplasia or atrophy, brainstem hypoplasia and a molar tooth sign on brain imaging.12 22 37 44 47–51Primary microcephaly can be detected prenatally or at birth12 22 47 48 50 51 and can present as an isolated or syndromic condition as, for example, caused by variants in KIF149 or in KIF11 (microcephaly with or without chorioretinopathy, lymphoedema or mental retardation. OMIM #152950).48KIF7 variants were related to cheapest place to buy cialis macrocephaly in the presence of congenital hydrocephalus (hydrolethalus syndrome LS2, OMIM # 614120). Isolated hydrocephalus was reported for KIF4A in a single case.11Foetal akinesia and arthrogryposis (KIF5C12, KIF1434 and KIF26B50) are likely secondary to the neurological compromise of the fetus but can also appear as an early sign of abnormal CNS development, which should prompt specialist CNS sonographic and MRI evaluation of the fetus.Further anomalies of the limbs include camptodactyly (KIF26B50), clubfoot (KIF1A51), rocker-bottom feet (KIF26B50) and congenital lymphoedema of the limbs (dorsa of feet, lower extremities and, rarely, hands) in cases with KIF11 gene mutations.48 In particular, KIF7 gene variants have been related to various anomalies of the hands (tapered fingers, fifth finger clinodactyly, brachydactyly, preaxial or postaxial polydactyly, bifid terminal phalanges of the thumbs, spindle-shaped fingers, clinodactyly and soft tissue webbing) and feet (toe syndactyly, preaxial or postaxial polydactyly, and duplicated halluces).22CAKUT and genital anomalies are reported in various kinesinopathies including renal agenesis or hypoplasia (KIF1437 and KIF1252), ureteral hypoplasia (KIF1437), congenital megabladder (KIF1252) and vesicoureteral reflux (KIF1252), uterine hypoplasia and vaginal atresia (KIF1437) and hypospadias and chordae (KIF16B49).IUGR is recurrently detected (KIF5C12, KIF1437, KIF1053, KIF1554 and KIF2A12) and is particularly relevant when occurring simultaneously with one of the other recurrent clinical signs, indicating a potential syndromic KIF-related disorder.

Oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios is most likely secondary to a primary organ anomaly.There are a few kinesinopathy syndromes that have been specifically reported to be lethal, such as the ciliary phenotype (OMIM #616258), caused by variants in KIF1434, and hydrolethalus syndrome (OMIM #614120), caused by variants in KIF7.22 However, lethality is usually closely related to the specific major anomalies, and it can be hypothesised that such a lethal phenotype will exist for all KIF gene-related disorders.Developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, and sensory and motor disturbances of the peripheral nervous system, as well as eye anomalies, such as microphthalmy, optic nerve pallor, fibrosis of extraocular muscles and chorioretinopathy, will escape detection in the foetal period but are reported in postnatal patients.Kinesin pathways in birth defectsFunctional studies of kinesins in birth defects are still sparse, and little is known about their networks and pathways. In order to improve our understanding, we used the Ingenuity Pathway cheapest place to buy cialis Analysis (IPA Qiagen, Redwood City, California, USA) to visualise and analyse the connections between the 13 kinesin motor proteins associated with structural congenital anomalies (KIF5C, KIF1A, KIF1BP, KIF14, KIF16B, KIF7, KIF4A, KIF11, KIF10, KIF26B, KIF12, KIF15 and KIF2A) and in up to 10 of each of their most significant downstream proteins. The connections are defined as protein–protein interactions, activation, regulation of binding, expression, localisation, phosphorylation, protein–RNA interactions, molecular cleavage, ubiquitination, protein–DNA interactions, inhibition, translocation and transcription.

Figure 3 displays cheapest place to buy cialis the results. We used the software Gephy55 to look for all possible interactions between all proteins of the network and also used the IPA data to retrieve the canonical pathways involved. Figure 4 and online supplementary material, table 4, summarise cheapest place to buy cialis the results.

KIF7, KIF14 and KIF12 are located within the same network, and because of multiple connections between themselves and their downstream proteins, it is not surprising that they are all involved in kidney anomalies. IPA data are based on current publications and are therefore cheapest place to buy cialis subject to bias because proteins that are most interconnected are also most probably those that have been more extensively studied. However, we consider the KIF genes coding for proteins seeming less important within the network to be strong candidates for future studies of human developmental disorders.IPA of the 13 kinesins known to be involved in birth defects with respect to their position in the cell.

Proteins displayed on the right side of the figure, below the tag ‘other’, are those for which no subcellular location is known. Birth defect-related kinesins and cheapest place to buy cialis their connection with each other are highlighted in green. Light blue-coloured downstream proteins are those which are known to cause birth defects when altered.

Yellow-coloured proteins are those involved in neurological disorders overlapping with the clinical cheapest place to buy cialis features of kinesinopathies. The legend of the biological function associated with every molecule is displayed on the right. Path Designer by IPA was used for the figure design cheapest place to buy cialis.

IPA, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 4 IPA of the 13 kinesins known to be involved in birth defects with respect to their position in the cell. Proteins displayed on the right side of the figure, below the tag ‘other’, are those for which no subcellular location is known. Birth defect-related kinesins and their connection with cheapest place to buy cialis each other are highlighted in green.

Light blue-coloured downstream proteins are those which are known to cause birth defects when altered. Yellow-coloured proteins are those cheapest place to buy cialis involved in neurological disorders overlapping with the clinical features of kinesinopathies. The legend of the biological function associated with every molecule is displayed on the right.

Path Designer by IPA was used for the cheapest place to buy cialis figure design. IPA, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis.Closing remarks and future perspectivesNovel KIF genes are increasingly identified, and there is a growing body of literature demonstrating the impact of kinesin dysfunction in human disease. We propose to introduce the term kinesinopathies for conditions caused by variants in KIF genes, since recurrent and common functional and phenotypical themes cheapest place to buy cialis can be observed.

In analogy to ciliopathies56 and rasopathies,57 the delineation of the clinical, genetic and functional hallmarks of kinesinopathies will be important to better recognise these conditions, to understand the pathomechanisms and to ultimately improve the clinical management of the patients. Previously, the unified view of the phenotype characteristics of ciliary dysfunction allowed a tremendous increase in awareness, both in clinic and research, and the further identification of yet unrecognised ciliary disorders and the genes and proteins involved in their pathogenesis.56Remarkable progress was achieved in assigning function to kinesins through their study in isolated and multiple congenital anomaly phenotypes. They are one large superfamily of molecular motors out of three (kinesins, dyneins and myosins), which is of key importance in several fundamental cellular processes using microtubules as rails for directional anterograde intracellular transport, including its regulation and modulating signal cheapest place to buy cialis transduction.5 Kinesin motors are most important for the movement of chromosomes along the spindles during chromosome segregation, regulation of spindle formation, cell division and cytokinesis.

These essential and broad cellular functions are critical for many physiological processes such as neuronal function and survival, some ciliary functions and ciliogenesis, determination of the left/right asymmetry of our body and regulation of organogenesis, thus explaining the impact and emerging recognition of kinesins in embryonic and foetal development. Defects can result in cheapest place to buy cialis neuropathies, higher brain functions and structural brain anomalies. Multiple congenital anomalies, including the kidney and urinary tract and limb anomalies, are repeatedly reported.

Microcephaly, which is usually not associated with genes implicated in specific ciliary mechanisms, and CNS anomalies are the most recurrent clinical signs cheapest place to buy cialis in both the prenatal and postnatal phenotypes described so far. The discovery of the implication of KIF14 in microcephaly further suggested a possible novel role of other microcephaly proteins in cytokinesis. A number of syndromic kinesinopathies present, however, with phenotype patterns reminiscent of ciliopathies.

So far, cheapest place to buy cialis however, a direct functional impact was confirmed in only a few and could not be demonstrated, for example, for KIF14, despite an overlapping clinical pattern. In turn, ciliopathies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of conditions themselves. Studying tissue and cheapest place to buy cialis cell type-specific function and expression may help to further define the specific defects related to the individual aberrant kinesin.The pleiotropic nature of human kinesinopathies, however, is just emerging, but their study promises to provide important insights into human developmental pathways.

Seemingly unrelated clinical entities are highlighting a common theme. In a relatively short time cheapest place to buy cialis span, monogenic KIF-related disorders were identified to present with often severe and lethal antenatal anomalies, with multiple or isolated congenital anomalies, neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders, or an increased susceptibility to multifactorial conditions. We focused on the emerging role of kinesins in structural congenital anomalies because, as illustrated for the KIF14 gene, great potential to decipher allelic viable phenotypes and developmental pathways lies in the study of these human knockout phenotypes at the severe end of the phenotypical spectrum.

Knockout variants in about 30% of human protein coding genes in our genome may present with a phenotype of early lethality, and KIF genes seem to play an important role in such fundamental processes of human development. Identifying and characterising the cheapest place to buy cialis variants, genes and phenotypes will extend our knowledge on early human development and pathomechanisms, and will ultimately also improve the clinical utility of genome-wide sequencing approaches for prenatal and postnatal application by our increased ability to interpret loss of function and hypomorphic variants alike. Furthermore, kinesins were extensively studied in cancer research and therapeutic strategies targeting their specific functions, such as the example of monastrol and other inhibitors of the mitotic kinesins may be adopted in the future.

There are likely many more kinesinopathies to be unravelled in the field of birth defects because of their pivotal role in cellular logistics, but their recognition in clinics and research will depend on our ability to identify and characterise the common clinical, molecular and cheapest place to buy cialis functional themes of these disorders and to use them to improve our understanding of their disease mechanisms.IntroductionIntellectual disability (ID) affects about 3% of individuals worldwide and raises significant issues in terms of diagnostic, management and genetic counselling. The presence of pigmentation anomalies in a patient with ID represents helpful clinical clues in order to narrow the range of aetiological hypothesis. Hypomelanosis of Ito (HMI, MIM #300337) is an unspecific term encompassing a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by cutaneous hypopigmented whorls and streaks along Blaschko’s lines and variable extracutaneous features affecting the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.1 The cutaneous pattern therefore represents a non-specific hallmark of cheapest place to buy cialis mosaicism in these neurocutaneous conditions.

Genetic mosaicism is due to postzygotic mutations, either chromosomal rearrangements or point mutations, whereas random X inactivation in females leads to functional mosaicism.2 Unravelling the molecular basis of pigmentary mosaicism (PM) is still a challenge due to clinical and genetic heterogeneity, technical difficulties in detecting mosaic mutations by classical sequencing approaches and the complexities of obtaining affected tissue. As part of a collaborative group, we recently reported de novo mutations in exons 3 and 4 of transcription factor E3 (TFE3) as the cheapest place to buy cialis cause for HMI in four unrelated individuals, including one male, as well as syndromic ID without pigmentary disorders in a female.3TFE3 belongs to the MITF family of mammalian basic helix–loop–helix zipper transcription factors, together with TFEB and TFEC. All four can form homodimers or heterodimers with each other.4 Embryonic expression of TFE3 orthologues Tfe3a and Tfe3b was demonstrated in the zebrafish in a wide range of tissues.5 TFE3 subcellular localisation plays a crucial role in the regulation of cellular homeostasis and embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation.

The phosphorylated TFE3 is retained in the cytoplasm, whereas dephosphorylated protein translocates to the nucleus to promote the transcription of target genes involved in lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy.6 TFE3 relocalisation to the nucleus is driven on various stressors, such as starvation,7 8 DNA damage,9 mitochondrial damage,10 Golgi stress11 and pathogens12 in an mTORC1-dependent manner, and oxidative stress13 or cadmium exposition14 in an mTORC1-independent manner. Moreover, lysosomal signalling-induced nucleocytoplasmic redistribution of TFE3 is essential to the regulation of ESC renewal.3 15 By restricting nuclear localisation and activity of Tfe3, lysosome activity, the tumour suppressor protein folliculin and the Ragulator cheapest place to buy cialis protein complex enable the exit from pluripotency and therefore drive differentiation. Conversely, enforced nuclear Tfe3 enables ESCs to withstand differentiation.15 In humans, TFE3 mutations have long been known in cancer.

Gene fusions by translocations or other chromosomal rearragements involving TFE3 and five partner genes have indeed been reported to occur in a subset of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), referred to as ‘TFE-fusion RCC’, and, more rarely, to lung sarcoma and perivascular epithelioid cell tumours.16 Beyond these data on TFE3 function, by the report of a series of 17 individuals harbouring de novo mutations in exons 3 and 4 of cheapest place to buy cialis TFE3, we emphasise their phenotype and bring additional clinical insight toward the recognition of this novel developmental disorder.ResultsWe describe a series of 17 patients carrying a de novo mutation in TFE3, 5 of them being previously published with limited clinical information.3 Twelve were females and five were males. Their age ranged from 12 months to 22 years. Five were referred for HMI, five for syndromic ID and five for suspicion of storage disorder.Clinical cheapest place to buy cialis dataThe clinical features are summarised in table 1.

Additional information can be found in online supplementary data 1.Supplemental materialView this table:Table 1 Clinical and molecular features of the 17 patients with an TFE3 mutationNeonatal course was remarkable for nine patients. History of jaundice, hepatomegaly or feeding difficulties was reported for three patients each, hypoglycaemia for two and cholestasis for one. All these features were transient.Developmental delay, usually severe and noticeable from the first cheapest place to buy cialis months of life, was a constant feature in all the individuals.

Only 6 patients were able to walk at the time of the study, whereas 11 were still unable to walk. All patients were non-verbal, cheapest place to buy cialis except for two older patients who could speak a few words. Neurological examination was abnormal in 12 individuals and consisted in truncal hypotonia, associated with lower limb spasticity (6 individuals) or ataxia (2 adults).

Behavioural issues cheapest place to buy cialis such as autistic features and sleeping disturbance were noted for 11 patients. Eleven patients developed epilepsy, onset in the first decade and characterised as intractable in three of them. Brain MRI was normal in 10 individuals and abnormal in 6 patients (hydrocephaly, short corpus callosum, Dandy-Walker malformation, arachnoid cyst, periventricular white matter lesions, delayed myelination and cerebral atrophy).

The sensory anomaly was congenital hearing loss (5 patients), and ophtalmological anomalies (10 patients) consisted of strabismus, hyperopia, retinal degeneration, depigmented macule on the iris, oculomotor apraxia or impaired vision of cortical cheapest place to buy cialis origin.Facial dysmorphism shared among the patients consisted in coarseness, flat nasal bridge, short nose with anteverted nares, widely spaced eyes, almond-shaped eyes, thick lips, facial hypertrichosis, fleshy earlobe, and full and pink cheeks (figure 1). Twelve patients had pigmentation anomalies, located on Blaschko’s lines for 10 of them (figure 2). One was diagnosed at 4 years old with cheapest place to buy cialis histiocytofibroma.

Moderate to severe postnatal growth retardation affected 10 patients, who had a length between −2.0 and −4.5 SD. Obesity affected cheapest place to buy cialis 13 individuals. Skeletal anomalies were frequent (11 individuals) and consisted of flat or clubfeet, hyperlordosis, scoliosis, hip dislocation, limitation of elbow extension and genu valgum.

Recurrent s of the upper airways were noted in five patients cheapest place to buy cialis. One had a documented neutropenia. Early-onset chronic interstitial lung disease was reported in two patients.

Nail clubbing cheapest place to buy cialis was noted in two individuals. Visceral malformations consisted of congenital heart defect (left ventricle dilatation, aortic insufficiency and patent ductus arteriosus) in three patients, umbilical hernia in three individuals, lateral semicircular canal dysplasia, posterior plagiocephaly, sleep apnoea syndrome, anteriorly displaced anus and hypospadias in one individual each.Facial phenotypes of seven patients. (A–C) Patient cheapest place to buy cialis 5, aged 6 months (A,B) and 3 years (C).

(D) Patient 8, aged 5 years. (E,F) Patient cheapest place to buy cialis 2, aged 5 and 20 years. (G–I) Patient 3, aged 1 year (G) and 3 years (H,I).

(J,K) Patient 13, aged 22 years. (L–O) Patient 6, aged 8 months (L), 20 months (M) and cheapest place to buy cialis 3 years (N,O). (P,Q) Patient 10 aged 22 years." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 1 Facial phenotypes of seven patients.

(A–C) Patient 5, aged 6 months (A,B) and cheapest place to buy cialis 3 years (C). (D) Patient 8, aged 5 years. (E,F) Patient 2, aged 5 and 20 cheapest place to buy cialis years.

(G–I) Patient 3, aged 1 year (G) and 3 years (H,I). (J,K) Patient 13, aged 22 years. (L–O) Patient 6, aged 8 months (L), 20 months (M) cheapest place to buy cialis and 3 years (N,O).

(P,Q) Patient 10 aged 22 years.Cutaneous features. (A) Patient cheapest place to buy cialis 3. Umbilical hernia, widely spaced nipples and hypopigmentation on the left side of the abdomen.

(B) Patient cheapest place to buy cialis 17. Hypotonia, umbilical hernia and widely spaced nipples. (C) Patient cheapest place to buy cialis 8.

Blaschko’s lines on the back. (D) Patient 6. Hypopigmentation on the left cheapest place to buy cialis side of the abdomen.

(E) Patient 7. Blaschko’s lines on the cheapest place to buy cialis abdomen and right side of the trunk. (F) Patient 13.

Hand. Note clubbing of thumbnail and loose skin. (G) Patient 17.

Blaschko’s lines on the left side of the abdomen. (H) Patient 17. Hand.

Note tapering fingers and wrinkled skin. (I) Patient 1. Linear hypopigmentation on the back.

(J) Patient 6. Blaschko’s lines on the back. (K) Patient 3.

Blachko’s lines on the right lower limb. (L) Patient 6. Blaschko’s lines on the right lower limb.

(M,N) Patient 7. Linear hyperpigmentation on the lower limbs. (O) Patient 11.

Blaschko’s lines on the back." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 2 Cutaneous features. (A) Patient 3. Umbilical hernia, widely spaced nipples and hypopigmentation on the left side of the abdomen.

(B) Patient 17. Hypotonia, umbilical hernia and widely spaced nipples. (C) Patient 8.

Blaschko’s lines on the back. (D) Patient 6. Hypopigmentation on the left side of the abdomen.

(E) Patient 7. Blaschko’s lines on the abdomen and right side of the trunk. (F) Patient 13.

Hand. Note clubbing of thumbnail and loose skin. (G) Patient 17.

Blaschko’s lines on the left side of the abdomen. (H) Patient 17. Hand.

Note tapering fingers and wrinkled skin. (I) Patient 1. Linear hypopigmentation on the back.

(J) Patient 6. Blaschko’s lines on the back. (K) Patient 3.

Blachko’s lines on the right lower limb. (L) Patient 6. Blaschko’s lines on the right lower limb.

(M,N) Patient 7. Linear hyperpigmentation on the lower limbs. (O) Patient 11.

Blaschko’s lines on the back.Molecular resultsThe characteristics of the 13 different de novo TFE3 variants identified in the 17 unrelated individuals are summarised in table 2. All but one were missense variants, affecting nine different aminoacids. One was a splice donor mutation.

This mutation was reported a few weeks ago in a patient with a similar phenotype.21 Two variants were localised in exon 3 and 11 in exon 4 (figure 3). All were absent from public databases and were predicted to be pathogenic by prediction softwares. TFE3 protein and localisation of the missense variants identified.

In bold are variants identified in two patients. In bold and underlined is the variant identified in three patients. In green is the intronic variant." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 3 TFE3 protein and localisation of the missense variants identified.

In bold are variants identified in two patients. In bold and underlined is the variant identified in three patients. In green is the intronic variant.View this table:Table 2 Molecular data of the 13 de novo TFE3 mutations.

Characteristics, inheritance, frequency in the public database GnomAD, prediction scores regarding pathogenicity (Polyphen, Grantham and CADD (Combined Annotation Dependant Depletion) scores). The transcript is NM_006521.5The putative mosaicism was assessed through X inactivation studies in females and analysis of the exome sequencing data in males, by checking the total number of reads covering the variant, as well as the number of reads supporting the presence of the variant (table 1). Allele frequencies in females were always consistent with a constitutional heterozygous mutation.

X inactivation was skewed in blood of the female patients 1, 3 and 7 and in fibroblasts of Patient 2. X inactivation was random in fibroblasts of Patient 1 and 3. Regarding the male patients, the mutation was identified in 65% of the reads for Patient 17% and 88% of the reads for Patient 15 (106/120).

No mosaicism was detected in the blood of Patient 13, 14 and 16 despite the presence of pigmentary manifestations in Patient 16.DiscussionTFE3 functions in signalling of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1). The PIK3-AKT-mTOR pathway plays a role in the regulation of cellular growth, proliferation, survival and metabolism. Overactivation of the mTOR signalling is responsible for neurocutaneous disorders and cancers.22 Somatic mutations in TSC1, TSC2, AKT3, PIK3CA and MTOR are responsible for focal cortical dysplasia type II (MIM607341),23–25 hemimegalencephaly26 and megalencephaly.27 The phenotype ascribed to germline TSC1/TSC2, PTEN, MTOR and PK3R2/AKT3/CCND2 mutations – respectively in tuberous sclerosis (TS, MIM 191100), Cowden syndrome (CS, MIM 158350), Smith-Kingsmore syndrome (MIM 616638) and Megalencephaly, Polymicrogyria, Polydactyly and Hydrocephalus syndrome 1, 2 and 3 (MPPH1/2/3, MIM 603387/615939/615938) - is characterised by the association of ID, epilepsy, brain malformations and skin tumours.

Similarly, all the individuals harbouring a de novo TFE3 mutation reported in the series presented with a severe neurodevelopmental disorder. Delayed psychomotor development was constant. The youngest patient to acquire independent walking was 30 months old, and more than half of the patients aged over 18 months (57%), did not acquire walk at the last examination.

Conversely to patients with MTOR, AKT3 or PTEN mutation, none of the patients described in this series had macrocephaly. Brain imaging was abnormal in 35% of the patients. Hydrocephaly and corpus callosum dysgenesis, identified in respectively three and one individual, were previously reported in patients with mosaic gain of function MTOR mutations.28 29 One patient had surgery to remove an early-onset histiocytofibroma.

However, no other skin tumour was reported, either in this patient or in any other from the series.Pigmentation anomalies, along Blaschko’s lines or, for one patient, as a large hyperpigmented area, were present in a majority of the individuals (71%) in the series, including 40% of the males and 83% of the females. PM along Blaschko’s lines is highly suggestive of genetic mosaicism.30 Genomic mosaicism is defined by the presence of at least two cell populations with different genotypes in an individual originating from one zygote and mainly occurs through post-zygotic event, whereas females can present with functional (epigenetics) mosaicism due to X inactivation.2 PM is a classical feature of X-linked male-lethal genodermatosis, such as incontinentia pigmenti (IP, MIM #308300), focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH, MIM #305600), chondrodysplasia punctuata type 2 (Conradi-Hunermann-Happle syndrome, CDPX2, MIM #302960) and linear skin defects with multiple congenital anomalies (LSDMCA1, MIM #309801). In these conditions, the overwhelming predominance of affected females is a consequence of the male lethality, and the PM a manifestation of the functional mosaicism occurring in females.

Similarly, the majority of individuals with de novo TFE3 variants in our cohort were females (sex ratio female:male was 12:5 (2.4)). The study of X-inactivation on non-cultured fibroblasts was consistent with functional mosaicism in two affected females with PM who harboured random X-inactivation, whereas a third female without PM had skewed X-inactivation. In IP, FDH and CDPX2, most hemizygous males die in utero.

However, there have been reports of surviving males 31–33 with an estimated prevalence around 10% in FDH and IP.32 34 The majority of them are explained by post-zygotic mutations or chromosomal anomalies (Klinefelter syndrome). Non-mosaic males have also been reported in FDH and IP – respectively about 17% and 45% of the affected males harbour a non-mosaic variant.32 35 In our series, males represented 29% of the patients with a de novo TFE3 variant. A mosaic variant was identified in blood for half of them.

None had Klinefelter syndrome. Interestingly, mosaicism was detected in only one out of the two males with PM, and one male with a mosaic variant had no pigmentation anomalies noted on examination. It is still possible that subtle pigmentation anomalies were missed on examination.

Moreover, somatic mosaicism can be difficult to detect. Recent studies have shown that a large proportion of de novo mutations presumed to be germline had in fact occurred as post-zygotic event.36 In the males of this cohort, WES was performed on leucocytes-derived DNA and no other tissue was studied. Therefore, it is possible that a low mosaicism was not detected.

Finally, it is probable than TFE3 mutations account for a significant proportion of patients with HMI. Indeed, in this population, the high frequency of ID, epilepsy, coarse facial features has long been emphasised in the literature.37By its ability to bind the coordinated lysosomal enhancement and regulation (CLEAR) sites in the promotor region of target genes, TFE3 is involved in the control lysosomal biogenesis, autophagy and endocytosis.8 Several patients of the series indeed had clinical and biochemical features that pointed toward an inborn error of metabolism. Lysosomal storage disorder was suspected due to the variable association of coarse facial features (88%), skeletal anomalies (65%) –flat or clubfeet, hyperlordosis, hip dislocation, limitation of elbow extension, genu valgum, scoliosis–, postnatal growth retardation (59%), history of speech or developmental regression (29%) congenital hearing loss (29%), recurrent upper airways s (29%) neonatal liver anomalies such as hepatomegaly and cholestasis (18%), upper airways s (24%), umbilical hernia (18%), sleep apnoea syndrome (6%) and aortic insufficiency (6%).

Other metabolic anomalies observed in the series were obesity, defined in children by body mass index (BMI) (weight/height2) above the WHO curve, present in the oldest patients (76%), neonatal transient hypoglycaemia (12%), and hyperlactataemia (6%). Dysregulation of lipid metabolism, via suppression of thermogenesis and decreased lipolysis, thus leading to increased adipose tissue, was previously observed in adipose-specific TFE3 transgenic mice.38 Similarly to lysosomes, mitochondrias have a key role in cellular metabolism, including autophagy. Recent data demonstrate that mitochondrial and lysosomal metabolisms are interrelated.39 Muscle biopsy, performed in two individuals from this cohort, showed fat and glycogen accumulation, muscular fibre size irregularity, without evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction.

Interestingly in the more recent data, evidences showing that TFE3 plays a role in the regulation of the circadian oscillations of the expression of genes involved in autophagy and lipid metabolism, and that Tfe3 knock-out mice had abnormal circadian behaviour.40 Indeed, in our series, five patients (29%) were noted to have sleep disturbance. This could be due to circadian rhythms alteration. Finally, TFE3 has been shown to be involved in the regulation of innate immune response in macrophages via the FLCN-AMPK signalling axis,41 and of B-lymphocytes activation.42 Along these lines, four patients of the series (24%) had a history of recurrent s, associated with documented neutropenia in one of them.

As shown in table 3, a summary of the frequency of the features observed in the cohort, facial dysmorphism was constant and strikingly similar among the patients. More than two-third had anteverted nares, broad flat nasal bridge, almond-shaped and widely spaced eyes, puffy cheeks and coarse facial features (thick lips and fleshy earlobes). More than half had facial hypertrichosis.

All individuals presented with at least four of the above features. One patient had an extreme facial phenotype of hypertelorism, bifid nose and bilateral cleft lip and palate. Whether these frontonasal dysplasia features may be associated with the TFE3 mutation remains unclear.

No other mutation in known genes was found in Patient 1’s exome sequencing data.View this table:Table 3 Frequency of the clinical features observed in the seriesTFE3 is a highly conserved protein, intolerant to loss of function as supported by data from the GnomAD browser43 (probability of being loss-of-function intolerant (pLI) evaluated at 0.98, observed:expected ratio=0.06) and to missense variants (Z=2.15). Moreover, TFE3 does not, or only in a few tissues, escape X inactivation, suggesting that TFE3 gene dosage is crucial to cell function.44 45 In vitro, Villegas et al recently showed that the absence of either TFE3 exon 3 or 4 resulted in a nuclear gain-of-function Tfe3 allele in ESCs, indicating that both exons 3 and 4 are required for Tfe3 inactivation.3 Nuclear localisation and resistance to differentiation were proved in Tfe3 knock-out (K.O.) ESCs expressing murine Tfe3 alleles (Gln118Pro and Pro185Leu, corresponding to mutations Gln119Pro and Pro186Leu identified in individuals referred to as patients 1 and 2 in this series). Based on the analysis of TFE3 secondary structure,46 indicating that residues 110–215 are predicted to form a domain of two stable alpha helices that might be disrupted by mutations in exons 3 and 4, and the observation of a similar phenotype in patients harbouring mutations in exons 3 and 4, it was suggested that Tfe3 exons 3 and 4 form a Rag binding fold whose structural integrity is indispensable for lysosome-mediated cytoplasmic Tfe3 inactivation.3 In this series, the recurrent mutations Arg117Gln, Leu191Pro and Thr187Met were present in respectively two, two and three patients.

The aminoacid in position 187 was mutated in five patients. In addition, 13 of the described mutations were localised between positions p.184 and p.201. This proximity could account for the absence of obvious genotype–phenotype correlation.

The canonical splice site variant in intron 4 identified in patient 9 might lead to in-frame exon skipping of exon 4. The clinical picture of the patient with this splice site variant perfectly fits with the syndrome described here. As a consequence, we raise the hypothesis of a gain-of-function effect of this variant.In conclusion, de novo mutations in exons 3 and 4 of the X-linked gene TFE3 are responsible for a neurocutaneous disorder with specific and recognisable facial dysmorphism, lysosomal storage disorder-like features and PM.

This series unravels TFE3 as a major gene responsible for HMI and for a rare cause of syndromic ID. Furthermore, we provide clinical and molecular data on a previously unidentified lysosomal storage disorder, in which new insights, especially biochemical features, will probably be investigated further, together with the description of more patients. Further delineation of this phenotype will indeed allow a better understanding of the link between lysosomal signalling and development.

Finally, the evidence for mosaicism in this recently described disorder highlights the importance of considering mosaic variants on next-generation sequencing reports in diagnostic, including for patients without suggestive phenotype..

IntroductionThe mammalian kinesin superfamily buy cialis in montreal proteins (KIFs) are microtubule and ATP-dependent molecular motors, which were first identified in 1985 as axonal transporters in squid and bovine brains.1 Forty-five different kinesin family member (KIF) genes were identified in the mouse genome so far, 44 of which are present in the human genome. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence homology between the human and the mouse genome led to the classification of KIF genes into 16 families, from kinesin-1 to kinesin-14B (figure 1).2 The first kinesins discovered belong to the kinesin-1 family (KIF5A, KIF5B and KIF5C), and they form a heterotetramer of two heavy chains and two light chains (KLC1-4).2 KIF genes encode KIFs, a specific class of motor proteins generating intracellular motility by driving directional transport of various cargoes such as organelles, protein complexes and mRNAs along the microtubule system.2 Studies using knockout mouse models by Hirokawa and colleagues significantly contributed to elucidate the roles of kinesins in mammalian physiology. Their role in transport is fundamental to cellular logistics and performance, and the molecular motors are not only effectors of signal transduction cascades but also transport and/or bind to important signal transduction molecules to actively modulate their function.3Phylogenetic tree of mammalian kinesin superfamily genes identified in the human (and mouse) genome and classified in 16 subfamilies (from kinesin 1 to 14B) (adapted from Hirokawa et al 3)." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 1 Phylogenetic tree of mammalian kinesin superfamily genes identified in the human (and mouse) genome and classified in 16 subfamilies (from kinesin 1 to 14B) (adapted from Hirokawa et al3).The first kinesins were observed in the context of axonal transport in neurons, and a novel disease entity of ‘motor–proteinopathy’ was proposed for the pathogenesis of axonal neuropathies in 2001.4 Due to their role in cellular membrane trafficking, however, kinesins are essential for the functioning of many polar cell types, such as neurons, epithelial buy cialis in montreal cells, sperm cells or stem cells during organogenesis. Kinesins also play a fundamental role in cell-cycle dynamics, both during mitotic and meiotic processes.

They regulate chromosomal condensation and alignment, spindle formation, cytokinesis and cell-cycle progression.5 It is buy cialis in montreal estimated that about a dozen kinesins are involved in the cell cycle. Among these, there is a specific subclass of chromokinesins (kinesin 4 and kinesin 10 family) which are able to bind chromosomes.6 Recently, KIFs were discovered to act as microtubule stabilisers (KIF26A and KIF21A) and depolymerisers (KIF2A and KIF2C), activities which are important for both cellular morphogenesis and mammalian development, playing a role in neuronal and axonal morphology and ciliogenesis.7Alterations in motor kinesins are leading to human disease by various pathological mechanisms, including cancer and multifactorial and monogenic disorders. Variants in 18 out of the 44 human KIF genes were identified to cause buy cialis in montreal monogenic disorders, following different modes of Mendelian inheritance and associated with a wide spectrum of clinical signs. These range from lethal and multiple to isolated congenital anomalies—including birth defects potentially detectable in the foetal period by current prenatal imaging studies—to postnatally apparent neurodevelopmental disorders, intellectual disability and neurological conditions.We will review the current state of knowledge of the biological processes kinesins are involved in and discuss their emerging role in human disease, particularly in birth defects and congenital anomaly syndromes.

Birth defects remain a leading cause of perinatal lethality in industrialised countries.8 Structural anomalies are recognised with increasing reliability during early pregnancy by the use of high-resolution ultrasound technologies, thus raising questions about diagnosis, aetiology, prognosis and recurrence risk, particularly in the presence of more than one anomaly, which most likely indicates a genetic aetiology. We identify recurrent phenotype patterns caused by alterations in KIF genes, and we outline the complexity of phenotype–genotype correlations mirroring the processes of intracellular microtubule-mediated transport and movement, in which kinesins buy cialis in montreal play a fundamental role. There are likely many more relationships between the clinical signs and the genetic variants to be identified in the future, and the functional network of kinesins and their role in human disease need to be further elucidated. We propose to introduce the term ‘kinesinopathies’ for this buy cialis in montreal group of conditions, which are phenotypically and genetically overlapping and characterised by the functional impairment of a specific group of molecular motors.

We hope that their systematic approach leads to a better recognition in clinical practice, as well as in genome-wide sequencing for diagnosis and research, and opens strategies for the future development of molecular therapies.KIF structureAll KIFs have a phylogenetically well-conserved motor domain head, consisting of an ATP-binding motif and a microtubule-binding domain. Depending on the position of the motor domain, kinesins can be subdivided into N-kinesins (amino-terminal motor domain), M-kinesins (middle-region motor domain) and C-kinesins (carboxy-terminal motor domain).2 Most buy cialis in montreal kinesins belong to the N-kinesin subgroup, but members of the kinesin 13A family (figure 1) belong to the M-kinesin subtype, while KIF1C, KIF2C and KIF3C belong to the C- kinesin subfamily.3 Both N-kinesins and C-kinesins are responsible for plus end and minus end-directed motility, M-kinesins for depolymerisation of microtubules in tubulin molecules. However, there are a few exceptions to this categorisation.9 The motor domain head attaches to the neck, the coiled coil stalk and the tail. The kinesins’ neck is family-specific and responsible for the direction of motility or regulation of activity.

The coiled coil stalk and tail are involved in kinesin buy cialis in montreal dimerisation and/or interactions with cargoes. Kinesins typically use scaffold proteins and adaptor proteins to bind their cargoes but can sometimes bind the cargo directly. Scaffolds and adaptors might also have regulatory roles in kinesin-driven intracellular transport, that is, recognising specific cargoes and regulating their loading buy cialis in montreal and unloading.3Role of KIFs in physiology and diseaseThe application of genome-wide sequencing for gene identification in research or for clinical diagnostic purposes significantly contributes to the identification of KIF candidate genes. Genotype–phenotype correlations in KIF gene-related disorders, together with functional and animal studies, continue to elucidate the complex involvement of KIFs in human developmental pathways and disease.

Table 1 summarises the monogenic conditions caused by variants affecting the function of buy cialis in montreal KIF genes.View this table:Table 1 Specific monogenic disorders caused by variants affecting the function of KIF genesView this table:Table 2 Summary of phenotypes and genotypes of KIF149 26 30 31The kinesins’ functions in physiological processes, however, are complex and still incompletely understood, but their role in cell-cycle progression and regulation, including both meiosis and mitosis, in intracellular trafficking, axonal transport, microtubule activity and ciliogenesis, is increasingly studied. Figure 2 summarises the clustering of KIF genes according to their functional roles and the phenotypical consequences as identified to date in 32 out of the 44 human kinesin genes.Assignment and clustering of KIF genes to various functions and relation to birth defect or monogenic phenotype groups. Detailed phenotypes are shown in tables 1 buy cialis in montreal and 3. Cancer and multifactorial conditions are not included.

CNS, central nervous system." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 2 Assignment and clustering of KIF genes to various functions and relation to birth defect or monogenic phenotype groups. Detailed phenotypes buy cialis in montreal are shown in tables 1 and 3. Cancer and multifactorial conditions are not included. CNS, central nervous system.Kinesins play a pivotal role during buy cialis in montreal early development and organogenesis.

Microcephaly is one of the most frequently associated clinical signs, mirroring a defect in the regulation of the final number of neurons during development.10KIF4A is a motor protein that translocates PRC1, a cytokinesis protein, to the ends of the spindle microtubules during mitosis, regulates the PARP1 activity in brain development and the survival of neurons, and is a member of the L1CAM recycling pathway. Variants in L1CAM cause X-linked isolated and syndromic buy cialis in montreal hydrocephalus. KIF4A was recently proposed as a candidate gene for hydrocephalus.11KIFs are involved in neuronal branching, and microtubule depolarisation, operated by KIF2A M-kinesin, was suggested to suppress collateral branch extension during brain development, leading to anomalies of cortical development, including agyria and pachygyria, subcortical band heterotopia and corpus callosum anomalies.12Functional disruption of KIF genes in knockout mice often results in embryonic lethality, for example, for Kif18A, Kif10, Kif3A, Kif3B and Kif5B,13–17 highlighting the importance of kinesins in embryonic and foetal development. A study on KIF16B demonstrated that microtubule-based trafficking is responsible for early development and stem cell survival.18 KIF26B is essential in kidney development, contributing to the adhesion of mesenchymal cells to the ureteric bud.3 KIF26A was suggested to play a role in enteric nervous system development, because knockout mice develop a megacolon and enteric nerve hypoplasia,19 and to negatively regulate nociceptive sensation.20A significant number of KIFs play a prominent role in ciliogenesis and cilia function.

They regulate cilia length, ciliary assembly/disassembly and can have motile cilia-specific functions.21 Some KIFs, specifically found in primary cilia (PC), regulate the length of the axoneme and its disassembly when re-entering the cell cycle.KIF7, also a key buy cialis in montreal component of the Hedgehog signalling pathway, is responsible for cilia length regulation through suppression of microtubule polymerisation.7 KIF7 variants cause hydrolethalus, acrocallosal, and Joubert and Al-Gazali-Bakalinova syndromes.22 Kif2A knockout mice have severe brain defects, and KIF2A variants in humans lead to microcephaly because of cell-cycle delay in cellular progenitors resulting from cilia disassembly defects. KIF24, belonging to the same kinesin 13 family, plays a role in both microtubule depolymerising activity and regulation of the early steps of ciliogenesis. Other PC-related KIFs recently identified are KIF5B, KIF1C and KIF13B, and a potential role in cilia was hypothesised for KIF11 and KIF14.KIF3 protein complex (KIF3A-KIF3B-KAP3 heterotetramer) is a molecular motor necessary for intraflagellar transport (IFT) but is also involved in buy cialis in montreal ciliogenesis of motile cilia. Kif3a-knockout or Kif3b-knockout mice are prenatally lethal, exhibiting anomalies similar to ciliopathy phenotypes, including the disturbance of left–right body determination.3KIF19A is localised at the tip of motile cilia and performs motor and microtubule-depolymerising activities during IFT.

Kif19a-knockout mice buy cialis in montreal present with hydrocephalus and female infertility, common signs in ciliary defects, due to abnormally elongated cilia with altered motility, not able to generate proper fluid flow.9Further KIFs, which may have specific roles in motile cilia, are KIF27, KIF9, KIF6 and KIF18B. Regarding the involvement of numerous KIFs in cilia-related processes, it is not surprising that many disorders caused by variants affecting KIF gene function are presenting with anomalies reminiscent of ciliopathies.Kinesin motors have a fundamental role in neuronal function, as they are responsible for the transport of synaptic vesicle precursors and transmitter receptors along axons and dendrites from the neuron body.3 Molecular motor activity as for KIF1A, KIF5 and KIF17 is important for higher brain functions, such as learning and memory through regulation of synaptic transmission.5 Dysfunction can be associated with intellectual disability and global developmental delay (table 1).Impaired function can also result in peripheral neuropathies (KIF5A, KLC2, KIF1A and KIF1B) and ocular motility disorders (KLC2 and KIF21A)23 24 when axon elongation in the peripheral nervous system and optic nerve is affected. KIF5A variants are associated with epileptic phenotypes both in humans and mice25 because the transport of neurotransmitter receptors is disturbed and inhibitory regulation is altered.Due to their role in cell-cycle regulation, kinesins are important in male spermatogenesis and female oogenesis. They are involved in all steps of spermatogenesis 26 and, buy cialis in montreal based on previous animal studies, they may represent a potential target to treat male infertility.

In female meiosis, 13 KIF genes were studied in animal models. There is some evidence that kinesin expression is vulnerable to maternal ageing and environmental factors, such as oocyte cryopreservation and buy cialis in montreal alcohol consumption. It may be promising to expand research in this field in order to clarify the mechanisms and factors contributing to oocyte quality decline.27Many kinesins were extensively studied in the fields of cancer development, progression and therapy. Deregulation of the mitotic kinesins by both overexpression and decreased expression causes cancer progression or can be a prognostic marker in various tumours.28 The cell-permeable small-molecule mitotic inhibitor buy cialis in montreal monastrol was discovered in 199929 and was shown to arrest cells in mitosis by specifically inhibiting KIF11, a kinesin important for spindle bipolarity.

The bipolar mitotic spindle is replaced by a monoastral microtubule array surrounded by a ring of chromosomes, which gave the inhibitor its name. The mitotic spindle is now a well-known target of chemotherapy, and inhibitors buy cialis in montreal of the mitotic kinesins KIF11, KIF10 and KIF1C are being studied for this purpose.28 30 The redundancy of some kinesins allows them to escape pharmacological inhibition. For example, in the absence of KIF10, KIF15 is able to replace all of its essential functions in spindle assembly. Cilia-related KIF7, KIF13B and KIF27 are involved in SHh signalling and may be a future target in cancer research.28Some kinesins confer susceptibility to a range of multifactorial, metabolic and neurodegenerative conditions.

KIF13B contributes to the enhancement of endocytosis of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 1 that is involved in the recognition and buy cialis in montreal internalisation of LDL and factor VIII. Kif13b-knockout mice have hypercholesterolaemia and higher factor VIII serum levels.5 KIF12 is implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, protecting pancreatic β cells from the oxidative stress caused by nutritional excess.5 Variants in KIF1B or KIF21B confer susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (OMIM %612596, #126200).31 32 KIF5A was associated with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (OMIM #617921).33 KIF3 complex and KIF17 were recently uncovered to be involved in schizophrenia.34 35 Further studies, however, are needed to clarify the precise role of KIFs in neurodegenerative processes and psychiatric conditions.KIF14 -related birth defects. Lessons learntAdvances in next-generation sequencing technologies have revolutionised our understanding of Mendelian disorders, including birth defect phenotypes, by sequencing the coding genome (exome) or entire genome at an unprecedented resolution in a comparably short buy cialis in montreal time span. The technology has been extensively used for gene identification approaches in research for many years, enabling unparalleled genotype–phenotype correlations and the definition of novel pathways of related genes and disorders at an accelerated pace, traditionally focusing on postnatal disorders.

Filges and Friedman36 postulated that a number of novel disease genes causing birth defects could be identifiable through the investigation of lethal foetal phenotypes since they would represent the extreme end buy cialis in montreal of allelic milder and viable postnatal phenotypes with less specific or recognisable anomaly patterns. Based on embryonically or perinatally lethal mouse models (www.informatics.jax.org and www.dmdd.org.uk), it is estimated that knockout variants in about 30% of human protein coding genes may present with a phenotype of early lethality. The identification of KIF14 loss of function variants in fetuses with a lethal multiple congenital anomaly syndrome and the subsequent description of the allelic postnatal viable phenotype and further functional characterisation of KIF14 in developmental processes are recent examples of how to study those embryonic lethal phenotypes in order to understand the role of genes for which little to nothing is known.Filges et al identified autosomal recessive compound heterozygous loss of function variants in KIF14 using family-based exome sequencing in a recurrent severe lethal phenotype (OMIM #616258). It was the first human phenotype reported due to variants in the human KIF14 gene (figure 3).37 The two affected siblings presented with buy cialis in montreal intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), oligohydramnios, severe microcephaly, renal cystic dysplasia or agenesis, genital tract malformations (uterine hypoplasia and vaginal atresia), as well as cerebral and cerebellar hypoplasias with partial or total agenesis of the vermis, arhinencephaly, agenesis of occipital lobes/corpus callosum at second trimester ultrasound scan.

Cross-species comparison to the laggard spontaneous mice mutant, characterised by homozygous variants of the Kif14 gene,38 confirmed a phenotypical overlap. An increased number of binucleated cells in the tissue histology of the two fetuses were in concordance with the key role of KIF14 during mitosis participating in chromosomes’ congression and alignment, as well as in cytokinesis39 and the observation of buy cialis in montreal binucleated cells as a consequence of failed cytokinesis in mammalian KIF14 knockdown cells. During cytokinesis, PRC1 localises KIF14 at the central spindle and midbody, which in turn recruits citron rho-interacting kinase (CIT) to the midbody. CIT, in turn, buy cialis in montreal acts as a negative regulator of KIF14 activity.

Knockdown of KIF14 in mammalian cells results in impaired localisation of CIT during mitosis.40Structure of KIF14 and summary of all published KIF14 variants affecting function.10 37 41 42 The N-terminal region (aa 1–356) is important for its interactions with PRC1 and the protein’s localisation at the central spindle and midbody. The kinesin motor domain (aa 358–701) is responsible for the microtubule-dependent ATPase activity. The FHA domain (aa 825–891) buy cialis in montreal. Stalk and tail region (aa 891–1648) are necessary for the interaction with the protein CRIK (aa 901–1189, red diagonal lines).

There are four additional coiled-coil domains (light blue-coloured areas).61 buy cialis in montreal FHA, forkhead associated. Aa, amino acid." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 3 Structure of KIF14 and summary of all published KIF14 variants affecting function.10 37 41 42 The N-terminal region (aa 1–356) is important for its interactions with PRC1 and the protein’s localisation at the central spindle and midbody. The kinesin motor domain (aa 358–701) is responsible for the microtubule-dependent buy cialis in montreal ATPase activity. The FHA domain (aa 825–891).

Stalk and tail region (aa 891–1648) are necessary for the interaction with the protein CRIK buy cialis in montreal (aa 901–1189, red diagonal lines). There are four additional coiled-coil domains (light blue-coloured areas).61 FHA, forkhead associated. Aa, amino acid.Filges et al pointed out that KIF14 should be considered a candidate gene for viable postnatal phenotypes, including isolated microcephaly.34 Additional individuals with autosomal recessive variants in KIF14 and isolated primary microcephaly were then described9 41 42 (table 2).Impaired cytokinesis, increased apoptosis and reduced cell motility were confirmed in cells from the described patients, pointing to a new cellular pathway in the pathogenesis of microcephaly.43 Apart from one case with small kidneys with increased echogenicity, none of these 18 patients had associated kidney anomalies. However, a targeted exome sequencing study in 204 unrelated patients with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) reported two more cases of renal anomalies, bilateral hypoplasia or agenesis, caused by KIF14 variants.44 Further nine cases had an associated renal phenotype, which ranged from bilateral renal agenesis buy cialis in montreal to cystic or non-cystic renal hypodysplasia.42 Table 2 and figure 3 summarise KIF14 variants and the associated phenotypes.

Loss of function variants more likely lead to multiple congenital anomalies, while hypomorphic variants result in a milder phenotype without renal involvement, although phenotype–genotype correlations remain preliminary for the time being.The phenotypical spectrum ranging from isolated primary microcephaly to congenital anomalies reminiscent of ciliopathy phenotypes suggested a complex role for KIF14 in developmental processes and raised a number of questions about the relationship between its established role in cell division and its possible function in ciliary pathways. Functional studies of absent KIF14 protein in the development of human foetal tissues and mutant zebrafish provided evidence for similarities and differences between mitotic events occurring during proliferation in the development of both brain and kidney.42 The observation that KIF14-stained midbodies accumulate within the lumen of the branch tips of ureteric buds in human foetal kidneys buy cialis in montreal provided a key clue to better understand the mechanism through which the loss of KIF14 affects both brain and kidney development in humans. It was previously demonstrated that the secretion and accumulation of midbody remnants in the cerebrospinal fluid in mice during the early stages of brain development correspond to the amplification of neural progenitors.45 Kif14 mutant zebrafish phenotypes supported the hypothesis of a potential role for KIF14 in cilia. In vitro and in vivo analyses suggested that loss of kif14 causes buy cialis in montreal ciliary anomalies through an accumulation of mitotic cells in ciliated tissues but failed to establish a direct functional link.21 42 Further mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Overexpression of KIF14 in various types of tumours was suggested to be a possible prognostic marker and a potential target for therapeutic purposes.46Kinesinopathies in birth defect phenotypes. Recurrent themesIn the last few years, an increasing number of variants in KIF genes were described to cause isolated as well as multiple congenital anomalies. There is a huge variability buy cialis in montreal of phenotypes caused by variants even within the same gene. However, we can identify recurrent clinical signs that should alert the clinician to suspect a KIF gene-related disorder and the molecular geneticist to include KIF genes in multigene-panel and genome-wide sequencing approaches.

This will buy cialis in montreal become particularly relevant in prenatal and perinatal medicine, which focuses on the detection of structural anomalies in the fetus and the newborn by using ultrasound and MRI or autopsy when the outcome is lethal. We have summarised the predominant and recurrent structural anomalies in kinesinopathies reported so far that would likely become apparent during the foetal period in table 3 and the syndromic disorders in table 1.View this table:Table 3 KIF gene-related structural congenital anomalies recurrently described in prenatal phenotypesSupplemental materialConsistent with the kinesins’ role in the development of the central nervous system (CNS), brain anomalies of various degrees are a frequent clinical sign, particularly microcephaly, but include lissencephaly, polymicrogyria, thinned or agenesis of the corpus callosum, arhinencephaly, cerebral hypoplasia or atrophy, cerebellar hypoplasia or atrophy, brainstem hypoplasia and a molar tooth sign on brain imaging.12 22 37 44 47–51Primary microcephaly can be detected prenatally or at birth12 22 47 48 50 51 and can present as an isolated or syndromic condition as, for example, caused by variants in KIF149 or in KIF11 (microcephaly with or without chorioretinopathy, lymphoedema or mental retardation. OMIM #152950).48KIF7 variants were related to macrocephaly in the presence of congenital hydrocephalus (hydrolethalus syndrome LS2, OMIM buy cialis in montreal # 614120). Isolated hydrocephalus was reported for KIF4A in a single case.11Foetal akinesia and arthrogryposis (KIF5C12, KIF1434 and KIF26B50) are likely secondary to the neurological compromise of the fetus but can also appear as an early sign of abnormal CNS development, which should prompt specialist CNS sonographic and MRI evaluation of the fetus.Further anomalies of the limbs include camptodactyly (KIF26B50), clubfoot (KIF1A51), rocker-bottom feet (KIF26B50) and congenital lymphoedema of the limbs (dorsa of feet, lower extremities and, rarely, hands) in cases with KIF11 gene mutations.48 In particular, KIF7 gene variants have been related to various anomalies of the hands (tapered fingers, fifth finger clinodactyly, brachydactyly, preaxial or postaxial polydactyly, bifid terminal phalanges of the thumbs, spindle-shaped fingers, clinodactyly and soft tissue webbing) and feet (toe syndactyly, preaxial or postaxial polydactyly, and duplicated halluces).22CAKUT and genital anomalies are reported in various kinesinopathies including renal agenesis or hypoplasia (KIF1437 and KIF1252), ureteral hypoplasia (KIF1437), congenital megabladder (KIF1252) and vesicoureteral reflux (KIF1252), uterine hypoplasia and vaginal atresia (KIF1437) and hypospadias and chordae (KIF16B49).IUGR is recurrently detected (KIF5C12, KIF1437, KIF1053, KIF1554 and KIF2A12) and is particularly relevant when occurring simultaneously with one of the other recurrent clinical signs, indicating a potential syndromic KIF-related disorder.

Oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios is most likely secondary to a primary organ anomaly.There are a few kinesinopathy syndromes that have been specifically reported to be lethal, such as the ciliary phenotype (OMIM #616258), caused by variants in KIF1434, and hydrolethalus syndrome (OMIM #614120), caused by variants in KIF7.22 However, lethality is usually closely related to the specific major anomalies, and it can be hypothesised that such a lethal phenotype will exist for all KIF gene-related disorders.Developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, and sensory and motor disturbances of the peripheral nervous system, as well as eye anomalies, such as microphthalmy, optic nerve pallor, fibrosis of extraocular muscles and chorioretinopathy, will escape detection in the foetal period but are reported in postnatal patients.Kinesin pathways in birth defectsFunctional studies of kinesins in birth defects are still sparse, and little is known about their networks and pathways. In order to improve our understanding, we used the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA Qiagen, Redwood City, California, USA) to visualise and analyse the connections between the 13 kinesin motor proteins associated with structural congenital buy cialis in montreal anomalies (KIF5C, KIF1A, KIF1BP, KIF14, KIF16B, KIF7, KIF4A, KIF11, KIF10, KIF26B, KIF12, KIF15 and KIF2A) and in up to 10 of each of their most significant downstream proteins. The connections are defined as protein–protein interactions, activation, regulation of binding, expression, localisation, phosphorylation, protein–RNA interactions, molecular cleavage, ubiquitination, protein–DNA interactions, inhibition, translocation and transcription. Figure 3 buy cialis in montreal displays the results.

We used the software Gephy55 to look for all possible interactions between all proteins of the network and also used the IPA data to retrieve the canonical pathways involved. Figure 4 and online buy cialis in montreal supplementary material, table 4, summarise the results. KIF7, KIF14 and KIF12 are located within the same network, and because of multiple connections between themselves and their downstream proteins, it is not surprising that they are all involved in kidney anomalies. IPA data are based on current buy cialis in montreal publications and are therefore subject to bias because proteins that are most interconnected are also most probably those that have been more extensively studied.

However, we consider the KIF genes coding for proteins seeming less important within the network to be strong candidates for future studies of human developmental disorders.IPA of the 13 kinesins known to be involved in birth defects with respect to their position in the cell. Proteins displayed on the right side of the figure, below the tag ‘other’, are those for which no subcellular location is known. Birth defect-related kinesins and their connection with buy cialis in montreal each other are highlighted in green. Light blue-coloured downstream proteins are those which are known to cause birth defects when altered.

Yellow-coloured proteins are those involved in neurological disorders overlapping with buy cialis in montreal the clinical features of kinesinopathies. The legend of the biological function associated with every molecule is displayed on the right. Path Designer by buy cialis in montreal IPA was used for the figure design. IPA, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 4 IPA of the 13 kinesins known to be involved in birth defects with respect to their position in the cell.

Proteins displayed on the right side of the figure, below the tag ‘other’, are those for which no subcellular location is known. Birth defect-related kinesins and buy cialis in montreal their connection with each other are highlighted in green. Light blue-coloured downstream proteins are those which are known to cause birth defects when altered. Yellow-coloured proteins are those involved in neurological disorders overlapping with the buy cialis in montreal clinical features of kinesinopathies.

The legend of the biological function associated with every molecule is displayed on the right. Path Designer by buy cialis in montreal IPA was used for the figure design. IPA, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis.Closing remarks and future perspectivesNovel KIF genes are increasingly identified, and there is a growing body of literature demonstrating the impact of kinesin dysfunction in human disease. We propose buy cialis in montreal to introduce the term kinesinopathies for conditions caused by variants in KIF genes, since recurrent and common functional and phenotypical themes can be observed.

In analogy to ciliopathies56 and rasopathies,57 the delineation of the clinical, genetic and functional hallmarks of kinesinopathies will be important to better recognise these conditions, to understand the pathomechanisms and to ultimately improve the clinical management of the patients. Previously, the unified view of the phenotype characteristics of ciliary dysfunction allowed a tremendous increase in awareness, both in clinic and research, and the further identification of yet unrecognised ciliary disorders and the genes and proteins involved in their pathogenesis.56Remarkable progress was achieved in assigning function to kinesins through their study in isolated and multiple congenital anomaly phenotypes. They are one large superfamily of molecular motors out of three (kinesins, dyneins and myosins), which is of key importance in several fundamental cellular processes using microtubules buy cialis in montreal as rails for directional anterograde intracellular transport, including its regulation and modulating signal transduction.5 Kinesin motors are most important for the movement of chromosomes along the spindles during chromosome segregation, regulation of spindle formation, cell division and cytokinesis. These essential and broad cellular functions are critical for many physiological processes such as neuronal function and survival, some ciliary functions and ciliogenesis, determination of the left/right asymmetry of our body and regulation of organogenesis, thus explaining the impact and emerging recognition of kinesins in embryonic and foetal development.

Defects can result in neuropathies, higher brain functions and structural buy cialis in montreal brain anomalies. Multiple congenital anomalies, including the kidney and urinary tract and limb anomalies, are repeatedly reported. Microcephaly, which is usually not associated with genes implicated in specific ciliary mechanisms, and CNS buy cialis in montreal anomalies are the most recurrent clinical signs in both the prenatal and postnatal phenotypes described so far. The discovery of the implication of KIF14 in microcephaly further suggested a possible novel role of other microcephaly proteins in cytokinesis.

A number of syndromic kinesinopathies present, however, with phenotype patterns reminiscent of ciliopathies. So far, however, buy cialis in montreal a direct functional impact was confirmed in only a few and could not be demonstrated, for example, for KIF14, despite an overlapping clinical pattern. In turn, ciliopathies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of conditions themselves. Studying tissue and cell type-specific function and expression may help to further define the specific defects related to the individual aberrant kinesin.The pleiotropic nature of human kinesinopathies, however, is buy cialis in montreal just emerging, but their study promises to provide important insights into human developmental pathways.

Seemingly unrelated clinical entities are highlighting a common theme. In a relatively short time span, monogenic KIF-related disorders were identified to present with often severe and lethal antenatal anomalies, with multiple or isolated congenital anomalies, neurodevelopmental and neurological disorders, or an increased susceptibility buy cialis in montreal to multifactorial conditions. We focused on the emerging role of kinesins in structural congenital anomalies because, as illustrated for the KIF14 gene, great potential to decipher allelic viable phenotypes and developmental pathways lies in the study of these human knockout phenotypes at the severe end of the phenotypical spectrum. Knockout variants in about 30% of human protein coding genes in our genome may present with a phenotype of early lethality, and KIF genes seem to play an important role in such fundamental processes of human development.

Identifying and characterising the variants, genes and phenotypes will extend our knowledge on early human development and pathomechanisms, and will ultimately buy cialis in montreal also improve the clinical utility of genome-wide sequencing approaches for prenatal and postnatal application by our increased ability to interpret loss of function and hypomorphic variants alike. Furthermore, kinesins were extensively studied in cancer research and therapeutic strategies targeting their specific functions, such as the example of monastrol and other inhibitors of the mitotic kinesins may be adopted in the future. There are likely many more kinesinopathies to be unravelled in the field of birth defects because of their pivotal role in cellular logistics, buy cialis in montreal but their recognition in clinics and research will depend on our ability to identify and characterise the common clinical, molecular and functional themes of these disorders and to use them to improve our understanding of their disease mechanisms.IntroductionIntellectual disability (ID) affects about 3% of individuals worldwide and raises significant issues in terms of diagnostic, management and genetic counselling. The presence of pigmentation anomalies in a patient with ID represents helpful clinical clues in order to narrow the range of aetiological hypothesis.

Hypomelanosis of Ito (HMI, MIM #300337) is an unspecific term encompassing a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by cutaneous hypopigmented whorls and streaks along Blaschko’s lines and variable extracutaneous features affecting the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.1 The cutaneous pattern therefore represents a non-specific buy cialis in montreal hallmark of mosaicism in these neurocutaneous conditions. Genetic mosaicism is due to postzygotic mutations, either chromosomal rearrangements or point mutations, whereas random X inactivation in females leads to functional mosaicism.2 Unravelling the molecular basis of pigmentary mosaicism (PM) is still a challenge due to clinical and genetic heterogeneity, technical difficulties in detecting mosaic mutations by classical sequencing approaches and the complexities of obtaining affected tissue. As part of a collaborative group, we recently reported de novo mutations in exons 3 and 4 of transcription factor E3 (TFE3) as the cause for HMI in four unrelated individuals, including one male, as well as syndromic ID without pigmentary disorders in a female.3TFE3 belongs buy cialis in montreal to the MITF family of mammalian basic helix–loop–helix zipper transcription factors, together with TFEB and TFEC. All four can form homodimers or heterodimers with each other.4 Embryonic expression of TFE3 orthologues Tfe3a and Tfe3b was demonstrated in the zebrafish in a wide range of tissues.5 TFE3 subcellular localisation plays a crucial role in the regulation of cellular homeostasis and embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation.

The phosphorylated TFE3 is retained in the cytoplasm, whereas dephosphorylated protein translocates to the nucleus to promote the transcription of target genes involved in lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy.6 TFE3 relocalisation to the nucleus is driven on various stressors, such as starvation,7 8 DNA damage,9 mitochondrial damage,10 Golgi stress11 and pathogens12 in an mTORC1-dependent manner, and oxidative stress13 or cadmium exposition14 in an mTORC1-independent manner. Moreover, lysosomal signalling-induced nucleocytoplasmic redistribution of TFE3 is essential to the regulation of ESC renewal.3 15 By restricting nuclear localisation and activity of Tfe3, lysosome activity, the tumour suppressor protein folliculin and the Ragulator protein complex enable the buy cialis in montreal exit from pluripotency and therefore drive differentiation. Conversely, enforced nuclear Tfe3 enables ESCs to withstand differentiation.15 In humans, TFE3 mutations have long been known in cancer. Gene fusions by translocations or other chromosomal rearragements involving TFE3 and five partner genes have indeed been reported to occur in a subset of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), referred to as ‘TFE-fusion RCC’, and, more rarely, to lung sarcoma and perivascular epithelioid cell tumours.16 Beyond these data on TFE3 function, by the report of a series of 17 individuals harbouring de novo mutations in exons 3 and 4 of TFE3, we emphasise their phenotype and buy cialis in montreal bring additional clinical insight toward the recognition of this novel developmental disorder.ResultsWe describe a series of 17 patients carrying a de novo mutation in TFE3, 5 of them being previously published with limited clinical information.3 Twelve were females and five were males.

Their age ranged from 12 months to 22 years. Five were referred for HMI, five for syndromic ID and five for suspicion of storage disorder.Clinical dataThe clinical buy cialis in montreal features are summarised in table 1. Additional information can be found in online supplementary data 1.Supplemental materialView this table:Table 1 Clinical and molecular features of the 17 patients with an TFE3 mutationNeonatal course was remarkable for nine patients. History of jaundice, hepatomegaly or feeding difficulties was reported for three patients each, hypoglycaemia for two and cholestasis for one.

All these buy cialis in montreal features were transient.Developmental delay, usually severe and noticeable from the first months of life, was a constant feature in all the individuals. Only 6 patients were able to walk at the time of the study, whereas 11 were still unable to walk. All patients were non-verbal, buy cialis in montreal except for two older patients who could speak a few words. Neurological examination was abnormal in 12 individuals and consisted in truncal hypotonia, associated with lower limb spasticity (6 individuals) or ataxia (2 adults).

Behavioural issues such as autistic features and sleeping disturbance buy cialis in montreal were noted for 11 patients. Eleven patients developed epilepsy, onset in the first decade and characterised as intractable in three of them. Brain MRI was normal in 10 individuals and abnormal in 6 patients (hydrocephaly, short corpus callosum, Dandy-Walker malformation, arachnoid cyst, periventricular white matter lesions, delayed myelination and cerebral atrophy). The sensory anomaly was congenital hearing loss (5 patients), and ophtalmological anomalies (10 patients) consisted of strabismus, hyperopia, retinal degeneration, depigmented macule on the iris, oculomotor apraxia or impaired vision of cortical origin.Facial dysmorphism shared among the patients consisted in buy cialis in montreal coarseness, flat nasal bridge, short nose with anteverted nares, widely spaced eyes, almond-shaped eyes, thick lips, facial hypertrichosis, fleshy earlobe, and full and pink cheeks (figure 1).

Twelve patients had pigmentation anomalies, located on Blaschko’s lines for 10 of them (figure 2). One was diagnosed at buy cialis in montreal 4 years old with histiocytofibroma. Moderate to severe postnatal growth retardation affected 10 patients, who had a length between −2.0 and −4.5 SD. Obesity affected buy cialis in montreal 13 individuals.

Skeletal anomalies were frequent (11 individuals) and consisted of flat or clubfeet, hyperlordosis, scoliosis, hip dislocation, limitation of elbow extension and genu valgum. Recurrent s of the upper airways were noted in five buy cialis in montreal patients. One had a documented neutropenia. Early-onset chronic interstitial lung disease was reported in two patients.

Nail clubbing was noted in buy cialis in montreal two individuals. Visceral malformations consisted of congenital heart defect (left ventricle dilatation, aortic insufficiency and patent ductus arteriosus) in three patients, umbilical hernia in three individuals, lateral semicircular canal dysplasia, posterior plagiocephaly, sleep apnoea syndrome, anteriorly displaced anus and hypospadias in one individual each.Facial phenotypes of seven patients. (A–C) Patient buy cialis in montreal 5, aged 6 months (A,B) and 3 years (C). (D) Patient 8, aged 5 years.

(E,F) Patient 2, aged 5 and 20 buy cialis in montreal years. (G–I) Patient 3, aged 1 year (G) and 3 years (H,I). (J,K) Patient 13, aged 22 years. (L–O) Patient 6, aged 8 months (L), 20 months (M) and 3 buy cialis in montreal years (N,O).

(P,Q) Patient 10 aged 22 years." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 1 Facial phenotypes of seven patients. (A–C) Patient 5, aged 6 months buy cialis in montreal (A,B) and 3 years (C). (D) Patient 8, aged 5 years. (E,F) Patient 2, aged buy cialis in montreal 5 and 20 years.

(G–I) Patient 3, aged 1 year (G) and 3 years (H,I). (J,K) Patient 13, aged 22 years. (L–O) Patient 6, buy cialis in montreal aged 8 months (L), 20 months (M) and 3 years (N,O). (P,Q) Patient 10 aged 22 years.Cutaneous features.

(A) Patient 3 buy cialis in montreal. Umbilical hernia, widely spaced nipples and hypopigmentation on the left side of the abdomen. (B) Patient buy cialis in montreal 17. Hypotonia, umbilical hernia and widely spaced nipples.

(C) Patient buy cialis in montreal 8. Blaschko’s lines on the back. (D) Patient 6. Hypopigmentation on the left side of the buy cialis in montreal abdomen.

(E) Patient 7. Blaschko’s lines on the abdomen and buy cialis in montreal right side of the trunk. (F) Patient 13. Hand.

Note clubbing of thumbnail and loose skin. (G) Patient 17. Blaschko’s lines on the left side of the abdomen. (H) Patient 17.

Hand. Note tapering fingers and wrinkled skin. (I) Patient 1. Linear hypopigmentation on the back.

(J) Patient 6. Blaschko’s lines on the back. (K) Patient 3. Blachko’s lines on the right lower limb.

(L) Patient 6. Blaschko’s lines on the right lower limb. (M,N) Patient 7. Linear hyperpigmentation on the lower limbs.

(O) Patient 11. Blaschko’s lines on the back." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 2 Cutaneous features. (A) Patient 3. Umbilical hernia, widely spaced nipples and hypopigmentation on the left side of the abdomen.

(B) Patient 17. Hypotonia, umbilical hernia and widely spaced nipples. (C) Patient 8. Blaschko’s lines on the back.

(D) Patient 6. Hypopigmentation on the left side of the abdomen. (E) Patient 7. Blaschko’s lines on the abdomen and right side of the trunk.

(F) Patient 13. Hand. Note clubbing of thumbnail and loose skin. (G) Patient 17.

Blaschko’s lines on the left side of the abdomen. (H) Patient 17. Hand. Note tapering fingers and wrinkled skin.

(I) Patient 1. Linear hypopigmentation on the back. (J) Patient 6. Blaschko’s lines on the back.

(K) Patient 3. Blachko’s lines on the right lower limb. (L) Patient 6. Blaschko’s lines on the right lower limb.

(M,N) Patient 7. Linear hyperpigmentation on the lower limbs. (O) Patient 11. Blaschko’s lines on the back.Molecular resultsThe characteristics of the 13 different de novo TFE3 variants identified in the 17 unrelated individuals are summarised in table 2.

All but one were missense variants, affecting nine different aminoacids. One was a splice donor mutation. This mutation was reported a few weeks ago in a patient with a similar phenotype.21 Two variants were localised in exon 3 and 11 in exon 4 (figure 3). All were absent from public databases and were predicted to be pathogenic by prediction softwares.

TFE3 protein and localisation of the missense variants identified. In bold are variants identified in two patients. In bold and underlined is the variant identified in three patients. In green is the intronic variant." data-icon-position data-hide-link-title="0">Figure 3 TFE3 protein and localisation of the missense variants identified.

In bold are variants identified in two patients. In bold and underlined is the variant identified in three patients. In green is the intronic variant.View this table:Table 2 Molecular data of the 13 de novo TFE3 mutations. Characteristics, inheritance, frequency in the public database GnomAD, prediction scores regarding pathogenicity (Polyphen, Grantham and CADD (Combined Annotation Dependant Depletion) scores).

The transcript is NM_006521.5The putative mosaicism was assessed through X inactivation studies in females and analysis of the exome sequencing data in males, by checking the total number of reads covering the variant, as well as the number of reads supporting the presence of the variant (table 1). Allele frequencies in females were always consistent with a constitutional heterozygous mutation. X inactivation was skewed in blood of the female patients 1, 3 and 7 and in fibroblasts of Patient 2. X inactivation was random in fibroblasts of Patient 1 and 3.

Regarding the male patients, the mutation was identified in 65% of the reads for Patient 17% and 88% of the reads for Patient 15 (106/120). No mosaicism was detected in the blood of Patient 13, 14 and 16 despite the presence of pigmentary manifestations in Patient 16.DiscussionTFE3 functions in signalling of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 (mTORC1). The PIK3-AKT-mTOR pathway plays a role in the regulation of cellular growth, proliferation, survival and metabolism. Overactivation of the mTOR signalling is responsible for neurocutaneous disorders and cancers.22 Somatic mutations in TSC1, TSC2, AKT3, PIK3CA and MTOR are responsible for focal cortical dysplasia type II (MIM607341),23–25 hemimegalencephaly26 and megalencephaly.27 The phenotype ascribed to germline TSC1/TSC2, PTEN, MTOR and PK3R2/AKT3/CCND2 mutations – respectively in tuberous sclerosis (TS, MIM 191100), Cowden syndrome (CS, MIM 158350), Smith-Kingsmore syndrome (MIM 616638) and Megalencephaly, Polymicrogyria, Polydactyly and Hydrocephalus syndrome 1, 2 and 3 (MPPH1/2/3, MIM 603387/615939/615938) - is characterised by the association of ID, epilepsy, brain malformations and skin tumours.

Similarly, all the individuals harbouring a de novo TFE3 mutation reported in the series presented with a severe neurodevelopmental disorder. Delayed psychomotor development was constant. The youngest patient to acquire independent walking was 30 months old, and more than half of the patients aged over 18 months (57%), did not acquire walk at the last examination. Conversely to patients with MTOR, AKT3 or PTEN mutation, none of the patients described in this series had macrocephaly.

Brain imaging was abnormal in 35% of the patients. Hydrocephaly and corpus callosum dysgenesis, identified in respectively three and one individual, were previously reported in patients with mosaic gain of function MTOR mutations.28 29 One patient had surgery to remove an early-onset histiocytofibroma. However, no other skin tumour was reported, either in this patient or in any other from the series.Pigmentation anomalies, along Blaschko’s lines or, for one patient, as a large hyperpigmented area, were present in a majority of the individuals (71%) in the series, including 40% of the males and 83% of the females. PM along Blaschko’s lines is highly suggestive of genetic mosaicism.30 Genomic mosaicism is defined by the presence of at least two cell populations with different genotypes in an individual originating from one zygote and mainly occurs through post-zygotic event, whereas females can present with functional (epigenetics) mosaicism due to X inactivation.2 PM is a classical feature of X-linked male-lethal genodermatosis, such as incontinentia pigmenti (IP, MIM #308300), focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH, MIM #305600), chondrodysplasia punctuata type 2 (Conradi-Hunermann-Happle syndrome, CDPX2, MIM #302960) and linear skin defects with multiple congenital anomalies (LSDMCA1, MIM #309801).

In these conditions, the overwhelming predominance of affected females is a consequence of the male lethality, and the PM a manifestation of the functional mosaicism occurring in females. Similarly, the majority of individuals with de novo TFE3 variants in our cohort were females (sex ratio female:male was 12:5 (2.4)). The study of X-inactivation on non-cultured fibroblasts was consistent with functional mosaicism in two affected females with PM who harboured random X-inactivation, whereas a third female without PM had skewed X-inactivation. In IP, FDH and CDPX2, most hemizygous males die in utero.

However, there have been reports of surviving males 31–33 with an estimated prevalence around 10% in FDH and IP.32 34 The majority of them are explained by post-zygotic mutations or chromosomal anomalies (Klinefelter syndrome). Non-mosaic males have also been reported in FDH and IP – respectively about 17% and 45% of the affected males harbour a non-mosaic variant.32 35 In our series, males represented 29% of the patients with a de novo TFE3 variant. A mosaic variant was identified in blood for half of them. None had Klinefelter syndrome.

Interestingly, mosaicism was detected in only one out of the two males with PM, and one male with a mosaic variant had no pigmentation anomalies noted on examination. It is still possible that subtle pigmentation anomalies were missed on examination. Moreover, somatic mosaicism can be difficult to detect. Recent studies have shown that a large proportion of de novo mutations presumed to be germline had in fact occurred as post-zygotic event.36 In the males of this cohort, WES was performed on leucocytes-derived DNA and no other tissue was studied.

Therefore, it is possible that a low mosaicism was not detected. Finally, it is probable than TFE3 mutations account for a significant proportion of patients with HMI. Indeed, in this population, the high frequency of ID, epilepsy, coarse facial features has long been emphasised in the literature.37By its ability to bind the coordinated lysosomal enhancement and regulation (CLEAR) sites in the promotor region of target genes, TFE3 is involved in the control lysosomal biogenesis, autophagy and endocytosis.8 Several patients of the series indeed had clinical and biochemical features that pointed toward an inborn error of metabolism. Lysosomal storage disorder was suspected due to the variable association of coarse facial features (88%), skeletal anomalies (65%) –flat or clubfeet, hyperlordosis, hip dislocation, limitation of elbow extension, genu valgum, scoliosis–, postnatal growth retardation (59%), history of speech or developmental regression (29%) congenital hearing loss (29%), recurrent upper airways s (29%) neonatal liver anomalies such as hepatomegaly and cholestasis (18%), upper airways s (24%), umbilical hernia (18%), sleep apnoea syndrome (6%) and aortic insufficiency (6%).

Other metabolic anomalies observed in the series were obesity, defined in children by body mass index (BMI) (weight/height2) above the WHO curve, present in the oldest patients (76%), neonatal transient hypoglycaemia (12%), and hyperlactataemia (6%). Dysregulation of lipid metabolism, via suppression of thermogenesis and decreased lipolysis, thus leading to increased adipose tissue, was previously observed in adipose-specific TFE3 transgenic mice.38 Similarly to lysosomes, mitochondrias have a key role in cellular metabolism, including autophagy. Recent data demonstrate that mitochondrial and lysosomal metabolisms are interrelated.39 Muscle biopsy, performed in two individuals from this cohort, showed fat and glycogen accumulation, muscular fibre size irregularity, without evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction. Interestingly in the more recent data, evidences showing that TFE3 plays a role in the regulation of the circadian oscillations of the expression of genes involved in autophagy and lipid metabolism, and that Tfe3 knock-out mice had abnormal circadian behaviour.40 Indeed, in our series, five patients (29%) were noted to have sleep disturbance.

This could be due to circadian rhythms alteration. Finally, TFE3 has been shown to be involved in the regulation of innate immune response in macrophages via the FLCN-AMPK signalling axis,41 and of B-lymphocytes activation.42 Along these lines, four patients of the series (24%) had a history of recurrent s, associated with documented neutropenia in one of them. As shown in table 3, a summary of the frequency of the features observed in the cohort, facial dysmorphism was constant and strikingly similar among the patients. More than two-third had anteverted nares, broad flat nasal bridge, almond-shaped and widely spaced eyes, puffy cheeks and coarse facial features (thick lips and fleshy earlobes).

More than half had facial hypertrichosis. All individuals presented with at least four of the above features. One patient had an extreme facial phenotype of hypertelorism, bifid nose and bilateral cleft lip and palate. Whether these frontonasal dysplasia features may be associated with the TFE3 mutation remains unclear.

No other mutation in known genes was found in Patient 1’s exome sequencing data.View this table:Table 3 Frequency of the clinical features observed in the seriesTFE3 is a highly conserved protein, intolerant to loss of function as supported by data from the GnomAD browser43 (probability of being loss-of-function intolerant (pLI) evaluated at 0.98, observed:expected ratio=0.06) and to missense variants (Z=2.15). Moreover, TFE3 does not, or only in a few tissues, escape X inactivation, suggesting that TFE3 gene dosage is crucial to cell function.44 45 In vitro, Villegas et al recently showed that the absence of either TFE3 exon 3 or 4 resulted in a nuclear gain-of-function Tfe3 allele in ESCs, indicating that both exons 3 and 4 are required for Tfe3 inactivation.3 Nuclear localisation and resistance to differentiation were proved in Tfe3 knock-out (K.O.) ESCs expressing murine Tfe3 alleles (Gln118Pro and Pro185Leu, corresponding to mutations Gln119Pro and Pro186Leu identified in individuals referred to as patients 1 and 2 in this series). Based on the analysis of TFE3 secondary structure,46 indicating that residues 110–215 are predicted to form a domain of two stable alpha helices that might be disrupted by mutations in exons 3 and 4, and the observation of a similar phenotype in patients harbouring mutations in exons 3 and 4, it was suggested that Tfe3 exons 3 and 4 form a Rag binding fold whose structural integrity is indispensable for lysosome-mediated cytoplasmic Tfe3 inactivation.3 In this series, the recurrent mutations Arg117Gln, Leu191Pro and Thr187Met were present in respectively two, two and three patients. The aminoacid in position 187 was mutated in five patients.

In addition, 13 of the described mutations were localised between positions p.184 and p.201. This proximity could account for the absence of obvious genotype–phenotype correlation. The canonical splice site variant in intron 4 identified in patient 9 might lead to in-frame exon skipping of exon 4. The clinical picture of the patient with this splice site variant perfectly fits with the syndrome described here.

As a consequence, we raise the hypothesis of a gain-of-function effect of this variant.In conclusion, de novo mutations in exons 3 and 4 of the X-linked gene TFE3 are responsible for a neurocutaneous disorder with specific and recognisable facial dysmorphism, lysosomal storage disorder-like features and PM. This series unravels TFE3 as a major gene responsible for HMI and for a rare cause of syndromic ID. Furthermore, we provide clinical and molecular data on a previously unidentified lysosomal storage disorder, in which new insights, especially biochemical features, will probably be investigated further, together with the description of more patients. Further delineation of this phenotype will indeed allow a better understanding of the link between lysosomal signalling and development.

Finally, the evidence for mosaicism in this recently described disorder highlights the importance of considering mosaic variants on next-generation sequencing reports in diagnostic, including for patients without suggestive phenotype..