EEFSEC deficiency: A selenopathy with early-onset neurodegeneration.

Inborn errors of selenoprotein expression arise from deleterious variants in genes encoding selenoproteins or selenoprotein biosynthetic factors, some of which are associated with neurodegenerative disorders. This study shows that bi-allelic selenocysteine tRNA-specific eukaryotic elongation factor (EEFSEC) variants cause selenoprotein deficiency, leading to progressive neurodegeneration. EEFSEC deficiency, an autosomal recessive disorder, manifests with global developmental delay, progressive spasticity, ataxia, and seizures.

Parental magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of fetuses with brain anomalies.

Aim: To evaluate the role of parental magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing fetuses with suspected brain anomalies and its use in prenatal counselling.

Method: A retrospective, multicentre chart review was conducted on fetuses who underwent brain MRI because of suspected brain abnormalities between January 2008 and December 2022, with one or both parents who underwent brain MRI (MRI-Trio) as part of prenatal counselling. Clinical and demographic data were collected, including fetal and parental MRI findings, prenatal counselling outcomes, genetic testing results, family and previous pregnancy history, neurological examinations of the born children up to 24 months of age, and autopsy reports of fetuses from terminated pregnancies.

Autosomal Dominant, Long-Standing Dysglycemia in 2 Families with Unique Phenotypic Features.

We describe 2 families with 5 members from 2 generations whose clinical and laboratory characteristics over up to 15 years were consistent with dysglycemia/impaired glucose tolerance. In both families (2 probands and 3 family members), long-term follow-up excluded diabetes type 1 and type 2. Diabetes type 1 antibodies were persistently negative and C-peptide levels were normal.

Novel phenotype associated with homozygous likely pathogenic variant in the POP1 gene.

The biallelic variants of the POP1 gene are associated with the anauxetic dysplasia (AAD OMIM 607095), a rare skeletal dysplasia, characterized by prenatal rhizomelic shortening of limbs and generalized joint hypermobility. Affected individuals usually have normal neurodevelopmental milestones. Here we present three cases from the same family with likely pathogenic homozygous POP1 variant and a completely novel phenotype: a girl with global developmental delay and autism, microcephaly, peculiar dysmorphic features and multiple congenital anomalies.

Riboflavin-responsive lipid-storage myopathy in elderly patients.

There are scarce reports of riboflavin-responsive lipid storage myopathy in elderly patients with onset in their sixties. We describe three elderly patients with riboflavin-responsive lipid-storage myopathy. All three patients (aged 67-71 years on first examination) had subacute onset of neck extensors and proximal limb weakness progressing to inability to rise from a sitting position or to walk.

Utility of genetic testing in children with leukodystrophy.

Background: Leukodystrophies are monogenic disorders primarily affecting the white matter. We aimed to evaluate the utility of genetic testing and time-to-diagnosis in a retrospective cohort of children with suspected leukodystrophy.

Methods: Medical records of patients who attended the leukodystrophy clinic at the Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital between June 2019 and December 2021 were retrieved.

Diagnosis of fetal cortical abnormalities by new reference charts for assessment of sylvian fissure biometry.

Objective: To develop novel fetal reference ranges for the characterization of the normal appearance of the Sylvian fissures (SF) along gestation and to apply them to fetuses with cortical abnormalities affecting the SF.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used three-dimensional sonographic multiplanar reformatting (3D-MPR) to examine the fetal SF. Normal development was assessed in the second and third trimesters.

Delineation of a KDM2B-related neurodevelopmental disorder and its associated DNA methylation signature.

Purpose: Pathogenic variants in genes involved in the epigenetic machinery are an emerging cause of neurodevelopment disorders (NDDs). Lysine-demethylase 2B (KDM2B) encodes an epigenetic regulator and mouse models suggest an important role during development. We set out to determine whether KDM2B variants are associated with NDD.

Juvenile mucopolysaccharidosis plus disease caused by a missense mutation in VPS33A.

A rare and fatal disease resembling mucopolysaccharidosis in infants, is caused by impaired intracellular endocytic trafficking due to deficiency of core components of the intracellular membrane-tethering protein complexes, HOPS, and CORVET. Whole exome sequencing identified a novel VPS33A mutation in a patient suffering from a variant form of mucopolysaccharidosis. Electron and confocal microscopy, immunoblotting, and glycosphingolipid trafficking experiments were undertaken to investigate the effects of the mutant VPS33A in patient-derived skin fibroblasts.

In-silico phenotype prediction by normal mode variant analysis in TUBB4A-related disease.

TUBB4A-associated disorder is a rare condition affecting the central nervous system. It displays a wide phenotypic spectrum, ranging from isolated late-onset torsion dystonia to a severe early-onset disease with developmental delay, neurological deficits, and atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebellum, therefore complicating variant interpretation and phenotype prediction in patients carrying TUBB4A variants. We applied entropy-based normal mode analysis (NMA) to investigate genotype-phenotype correlations in TUBB4A-releated disease and to develop an in-silico approach to assist in variant interpretation and phenotype prediction in this disorder.

X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy: First report of an Israeli family presenting with late onset lower limb girdle weakness.

X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy (XMEA) is a rare disorder characterized by slow progressive muscle weakness and distinctive pathology of excessive autophagic vacuoles on muscle biopsy. Here we report on five patients, in a single family, with proximal lower limb weakness. The proband, a 25-year-old man, presented with 5 years of progressive lower limbs proximal muscle weakness.

Major brain malformations: corpus callosum dysgenesis, agenesis of septum pellucidum and polymicrogyria in patients with BCORL1-related disorders.

Objective: BCORL1, a transcriptional co-repressor, has a role in cortical migration, neuronal differentiation, maturation, and cerebellar development. We describe BCORL1 as a new genetic cause for major brain malformations.

Methods And Results: We report three patients from two unrelated families with neonatal onset intractable epilepsy and profound global developmental delay.

Diagnostic yield of chromosomal microarray and trio whole exome sequencing in cryptogenic cerebral palsy.

Objective: To determine the yield of genetic diagnoses using chromosomal microarray (CMA) and trio whole exome sequencing (WES), separately and combined, among patients with cryptogenic cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: Trio WES of patients with prior CMA analysis for cryptogenic CP, defined as disabling, non-progressive motor symptoms beginning before the age of 3 years without known cause.

Results: Given both CMA analysis and trio WES, clinically significant genetic findings were identified for 58% of patients (26 of 45).

Leptin modulates gene expression in the heart, cardiomyocytes and the adipose tissue thus mitigating LPS-induced damage.

Leptin is an adipokine of pleiotropic effects linked to energy metabolism, satiety, the immune response, and cardioprotection. We have recently shown that leptin causally conferred resistance to myocardial infarction-induced damage in transgenic αMUPA mice overexpressing leptin compared to their wild type (WT) ancestral mice FVB/N. Prompted by these findings, we have investigated here if leptin can counteract the inflammatory response triggered after LPS administration in tissues in vivo and in cardiomyocytes in culture.

Congenital Mirror Movements Associated With Brain Malformations.

Background: Congenital mirror movements are involuntary movements of a side of the body imitating intentional movements on the opposite side, appearing in early childhood and persisting beyond 7 years of age. Congenital mirror movements are usually idiopathic but have been reported in association with various brain malformations.

Methods: We describe clinical, genetic, and radiologic features in 9 individuals from 5 families manifesting congenital mirror movements.

Clinical phenotypes of infantile onset CACNA1A-related disorder.

Background: CACNA1A-related disorders present with persistent progressive and non-progressive cerebellar ataxia and paroxysmal events: epileptic seizures and non-epileptic attacks. These phenotypes overlap and co-exist in the majority of patients.

Objective: To describe phenotypes in infantile onset CACNA1A-related disorder and to explore intra-familial variations and genotype-phenotype correlations.

Procedure-to-delivery interval after late amniocentesis and the need for routine antenatal corticosteroids.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the procedure-to-delivery interval (PDI), the obstetric complications, and the early neonatal outcome in patients that did or did not receive glucocorticosteroids (GCSs) before third-trimester amniocentesis (TTA).

Methods: A retrospectively analysis of 445 TTA procedures divided into two groups based on the administration (study group = 220 patients) or not (control group = 225 patients) of GCSs before TTA. The PDI was calculated for all patients.

Successful pregnancy in a patient with mitochondrial cardiomyopathy due to ACAD9 deficiency.

Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase family member 9 (ACAD9) is an enzyme essential for the assembly of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I. ACAD9 deficiency can cause lactic acidosis, myopathy, cardiomyopathy, intellectual disability, and early demise. We present a patient with mitochondrial myopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and epilepsy due to recessive ACAD9 mutations.