Capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation (CM-AVM) is a newly recognized autosomal dominant disorder, caused by mutations in the RASA1 gene in six families. Here we report 42 novel RASA1 mutations and the associated phenotype in 44 families. The penetrance and de novo occurrence were high. All affected individuals presented multifocal capillary malformations (CMs), which represent the hallmark of the disorder. Importantly, one-third had fast-flow vascular lesions. Among them, we observed severe intracranial AVMs, including vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation, which were symptomatic at birth or during infancy, extracranial AVM of the face and extremities, and Parkes Weber syndrome (PKWS), previously considered sporadic and nongenetic. These fast-flow lesions can be differed from the other two genetic AVMs seen in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and in phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) hamartomatous tumor syndrome. Finally, some CM-AVM patients had neural tumors reminiscent of neurofibromatosis type 1 or 2. This is the first extensive study on the phenotypes associated with RASA1 mutations, and unravels their wide heterogeneity.

Capillary malformation-arteriovenous malformation (CM-AVM) is an autosomal-dominant disorder, caused by heterozygous RASA1 mutations, and manifesting multifocal CMs and high risk for fast-flow lesions. A limited number of patients have been reported, raising the question of the phenotypic borders. We identified new patients with a clinical diagnosis of CM-AVM, and patients with overlapping phenotypes. RASA1 was screened in 261 index patients with: CM-AVM (n = 100), common CM(s) (port-wine stain; n = 100), Sturge-Weber syndrome (n = 37), or isolated AVM(s) (n = 24). Fifty-eight distinct RASA1 mutations (43 novel) were identified in 68 index patients with CM-AVM and none in patients with other phenotypes. A novel clinical feature was identified: cutaneous zones of numerous small white pale halos with a central red spot. An additional question addressed in this study was the "second-hit" hypothesis as a pathophysiological mechanism for CM-AVM. One tissue from a patient with a germline RASA1 mutation was available. The analysis of the tissue showed loss of the wild-type RASA1 allele. In conclusion, mutations in RASA1 underscore the specific CM-AVM phenotype and the clinical diagnosis is based on identifying the characteristic CMs. The high incidence of fast-flow lesions warrants careful clinical and radiologic examination, and regular follow-up.

We found mutations in patients with multifocal CMs associated with AVMs. The phenotype, CM-AVM2, mimics-related CM-AVM1 and also hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. -encoded p120RASGAP is a direct effector of EPHB4. Our data highlight the pathogenetic importance of this interaction and indicts EPHB4-RAS-ERK signaling pathway as a major cause for AVMs.

Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are especially vulnerable to infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Aim The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among HCWs from February 24 th to April 30 th , 2020, in a hospital in Madrid, Spain. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Cumulative COVID-19 incidence was calculated for all HCWs and categorized according to presumed level of COVID-19 exposure (high, medium, and low). Findings Among 1911 HCWs, 213 (11.1%) had COVID-19 during the study period. Cases increased gradually from March 8 th , peaking on March 17 th and declining thereafter. The peak of cases among HCWs was reached 14 days before the peak in admitted COVID-19 cases in the hospital. There were no significant differences in the proportion of COVID-19 cases according to level of occupational exposure ( P = 0.123). There were five departments and two professions in which >20% of the workers had confirmed COVID-19. Temporal clusters were identified in three of these departments and one profession, with most of the cases occurring over a period of less than five days. The prevalence of comorbidities was low and 91.5% of patients had mild or moderate symptoms. Eleven patients were admitted to the hospital and one patient needed intensive care. None of the patients died. The median time of sick leave was 20 (interquartile range: 15–26) days. Conclusion The results suggest that HCW–HCW transmission accounted for part of the cases. In spite of a low prevalence of comorbidities and a mild clinical course in most cases, COVID-19 caused long periods of sick leave.

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Background Activating RAS mutations in the germline cause rare developmental disorders such as Costello syndrome. Somatic RAS mutations are found in approximately 30% of human cancers. Keratinocytic epidermal nevi (KEN) represent benign congenital skin lesions arranged along Blaschko's lines. A subgroup of KEN is caused by hotspot oncogenic FGFR3 and PIK3CA mutations in mosaicism, but the majority lack these mutations. Methods This study screened 72 KEN for activating mutations in RAS genes and other oncogenes. Results Activating RAS mutations were identified in 28/72 (39%) of KEN. HRAS was the most commonly affected oncogene (86%), with the HRAS p.G13R substitution representing a new hotspot mutation. Conclusion These results indicate that activating RAS somatic mutations leading to mosaicism result in benign KEN of the skin. Given the prevalence of KEN, mosaic HRAS mutations appear to be more common in patients than germline ones. These findings identify KEN as a mosaic RASopathy and lend further support to the notion that genetic mosaicism is an important contributor to disease.

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Large and giant congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are rare melanocytic lesions mostly caused by postzygotic NRAS alteration. Molecular characterization is usually focused on NRAS and BRAF genes in a unique biopsy sample of the CMN. However, large/giant CMN may exhibit phenotypic differences among distinct areas, and patients differ in features such as presence of multiple CMN or spilus-like lesions. Herein, we have characterized a series of 21 large/giant CMN including patients with spilus-type nevi (9/21 patients, 42.8%). Overall, 53 fresh frozen biopsy samples corresponding to 40 phenotypically characterized areas of large/giant CMNs and 13 satellite lesions were analyzed with a multigene panel and RNA sequencing. Mutational screening showed mutations in 76.2% (16/21) of large/giant CMNs. A NRAS mutation was found in 57.1% (12/21) of patients, and mutations in other genes such as BRAF, KRAS, APC, and MET were detected in 14.3% (3/21) of patients. RNA sequencing showed the fusion transcript ZEB2-ALK and SOX5-RAF1 in large/giant CMN from two patients without missense mutations. Both alterations were not detected in unaffected skin and were detected in different areas of affected skin. These findings suggest that large/giant CMN may result from distinct molecular events in addition to NRAS mutations, including point mutations and fusion transcripts.