Given a passage with a context and an answer, construct a question on the basis of the information present in the passage. Construct the question in such a way that (i) it is unambiguous, (ii) it is answerable from the passage, (iii) its answer is unique (iv) it answer uses text phrases from the passage. Avoid creating questions that (i) can't be answered correctly without actually understanding the passage and (ii) uses the same words or phrases given in the passage.

Context: Eph receptors, comprising the A- and B-subfamilies, are the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases in the mammalian genome, and their function is critical for morphogenesis in a variety of contexts. Whereas signaling through B-type Ephs has been demonstrated to play a role in cleft lip and palate (CL/P), the involvement of A-type Ephs has not been examined in this context notwithstanding a recent genome-wide association study that identified the EPHA3 locus as a candidate for non-syndromic CL/P.', 'Here, we present a systematic analysis of the gene expression patterns for the nine EphA receptors at progressive stages of mouse development and find that EphA3, EphA4, and EphA7 exhibit restricted overlapping patterns of expression during palate development. We find that homozygous mutation of EphA3 or compound homozygous mutation of EphA3 and EphA4 in mice does not result in defective midfacial development, supporting the possibility of redundant function with EphA7. We also document previously undescribed expression patterns in other tissues of the craniofacial complex including the lacrimal duct and salivary glands.
Answer: Together, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that mutations in EPHA family genes may cause CL/P and also suggest that functional redundancy between family members may be at play.
Does embryonic expression of EphA receptor genes in mice support their candidacy for involvement in cleft lip and palate?

Context: Despite advances in the diagnosis and management of idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension, its pathogenesis remains elusive. Insight may be gained from study of early-onset familial idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension, in which Mendelian mutations may account for disease. We performed exome sequencing of eight subjects from six kindreds with onset of portal hypertension of indeterminate etiology during infancy or childhood. Three subjects from two consanguineous families shared the identical rare homozygous p.N46S mutation in DGUOK, a deoxyguanosine kinase required for mitochondrial DNA replication; haplotype sharing demonstrated that the mutation in the two families was inherited from a remote common ancestor. All three affected subjects had stable portal hypertension with noncirrhotic liver disease for 6-16 years of follow-up. This mutation impairs adenosine triphosphate binding and reduces catalytic activity. Loss-of-function mutations in DGUOK have previously been implicated in cirrhosis and liver failure but not in isolated portal hypertension. Interestingly, treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency viral infection with the nucleoside analogue didanosine is known to cause portal hypertension in a subset of patients and lowers deoxyguanosine kinase levels in vitro; the current findings implicate these effects on deoxyguanosine kinase in the causal mechanism.
Answer: Our findings provide new insight into the mechanisms mediating inherited and acquired noncirrhotic portal hypertension, expand the phenotypic spectrum of DGUOK deficiency, and provide a new genetic test for a specific cause of idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension. (Hepatology 2016;63:1977-1986).
Does recurrent recessive mutation in deoxyguanosine kinase cause idiopathic noncirrhotic portal hypertension?

Context: Codification of variant forms between Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) and Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) has not been definitively standardized. The aim of this study was to compare among 102 consecutive patients, 2 subsets of overlap syndrome (OS, N=21) with and without antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) to two groups of patients with typical PBC (N=43) or AIH (N=38).', 'OS was defined by the presence in the same patient of at least 2 of 3 accepted criteria of PBC and AIH. Twelve patients with OS were AMA negative and 9 were AMA positive.', 'A lower level of alanine transaminase (139+/-48 vs 269+/-154 IU/L, P<0.05) and a trend towards a higher level of alkaline phosphatase or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was observed in OS without AMA than in OS with AMA (693+/-200 vs 544+/-124 IU/L; 370+/-66 vs 241+/-77 IU/L, respectively). All AMA-negative patients with OS had antinuclear and/or anti-smooth muscle antibodies. OS without AMA differed from those with AMA in that they had more severe bile duct damage including destructive cholangitis (P<0.05), ductopenia (P<0.05), ductular hyperplasia (P<0.05) and a higher METAVIR fibrosis score (2.5+/-0.3 vs 1.3+/-0.3, P<0.05). The response to therapy was not different between PBC, AIH and OS.
Answer: According to the presence of AMA, 2 homogeneous subgroups of patients with overlap syndrome between PBC and AIH may be identified. AMA status affects clinical presentation and liver disease severity of OS.

Do characterization of overlap syndrome between primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis according to antimitochondrial antibodies status?