Identification of SLC22A5 Gene Mutation in a Family with Carnitine Uptake Defect

Primary systemic carnitine deficiency is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation in the SLC22A5 gene on chromosome 5q31. The most common presentations are in infancy and early childhood with either metabolic decompensation or cardiac and myopathic manifestations. We report a case of 9-year-old boy with dysmorphic appearance and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Tandem MS spectrometry analysis was compatible with carnitine uptake defect (CUD). His sister had died due to sudden infant death at 19 months. His second 4-year-old sister’s echocardiographic examination revealed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, also suffering from easy fatigability. Her tandem MS spectrometry analyses resulted in CUD. We sequenced all the exons of the SLC22A5 gene encoding the high affinity carnitine transporter OCTN2 in the DNA. And one new mutation (c.1427T>G → p.Leu476Arg) was found in the boy and his sister in homozygous form, leading to the synthesis of an altered protein which causes CUD. The parent’s molecular diagnosis supported the carrier status. In order to explore the genetic background of the patient’s dysmorphic appearance, an array-CGH analysis was performed that revealed nine copy number variations only. Here we report a novel SLC22A5 mutation with the novel hallmark of its association with dysmorphologic feature

A congenital cranial dysinnervation disorder: Möbius' syndrome

Moebius sendromu, diğer adıyla Moebius sekansı, doğuştan yüz ve göz sinirlerinde felç ile belirgin, ilerleyici olmayan bir kraniyal disinnervasyon bozukluğudur. Emmede zayıflık ve yüz felci nedeniyle izlenen, in vitro dölleme ile oluşan gebelik sonucu doğan, beş günlük kız hastaya iki taraflı pitoz ve dışa bakış kısıtlılığı, dilde sola kayma, dismorfik yüz görünümü, sol el parmak ve tırnaklarında hipoplazi bulguları ile birlikte Moebius sendromu tanısı konuldu. Bu sendroma üç, dört, beş, dokuz, 10 ve 12 gibi ek kraniyal sinir tutulumu, kol ve bacak gelişim anomalileri de eşlik edebilir. Etiolojide bir çok etmen öne sürülmekle beraber yardımcı üreme tekniklerine bağlı nadir olgular bildirilmiştir. Hastalarda beslenme güçlüğü ve aspirasyon sorunları süt çocukluğu döneminde karşılaşılan başlıca sorunlardır. Yüz felci ile doğan yenidoğan diğer kraniyal sinirler bakımından da ayrıntılı muayene edilmeli, ayırıcı tanıda Moebius sendromu ile birlikte diğer kraniyal disinnervasyon bozuklukları göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır.Möbius' syndrome, also known as Möbius' sequence, is a nonprogressive cranial dysinnervation disorder characterized by congenital facial and abducens nerve paralysis. Here, we report a 5-day-old girl who was conceived after in vitro fertilization with poor suck and facial paralysis. She had bilaterally ptosis and lateral gaze limitation, left-sided deviation of the tongue, dysmorphic face, hypoplastic fingers and finger nails on the left hand, and was diagnosed as having Möbius' syndrome. Involvement of other cranial nerves such as three, four, five, nine, 9 and 12, and limb malformations may accompany this syndrome. However, several factors have been proposed for the etiology, some rare cases have also been reported with artificial reproductive technologies. Feeding difficulties and aspiration are the main problems encountered in infancy. The other cranial nerves should be examined further in newborns who present with congenital facial palsy, and other cranial dysinnervation disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis

Common Obesity Syndromes in Childhood

Sendromik obezite farklı gen ya da kromozom bozukluklarıyla ortaya çıkar. Obeziteye dismorfik bulgular, mental retardasyon ve gelişimsel anomaliler eşlik eder. Prader-Willi sendromu, Bardet-Biedl sendromu ve Alström sendromu klinik pratikte en sık karşılaşılan obezite sendromlarıdır. Prader-Willi sendromu hipotoni, hiperfaji, hipogonadizm ve boy kısalığı ile karakterize genomik imprinting hatasından kaynaklanan bir obezite sendromudur. Bardet-Biedl sendromu retinal distrofi, trunkal obezite, postaksiyel polidaktili, öğrenme güçlüğü, renal anomaliler ve erkeklerde hipogonadotropik hipogonadizm ile karakterize otozomal resesif geçişli, genetik olarak heterojen bir siliopati sendromudur. Alström sendromu ilerleyici kon-rod distrofisine, obezite ve sensörinöral işitme kaybının eşlik ettiği çoklu organ tutulumu ile karakterize, otozomal resesif geçişli bir sendromdur. Ekzojenik ve monojenik obezitelerin dışlandığı durumlarda sendromik obeziteye yaklaşırken hormonal değerlendirmenin yanında hasta ek dismorfik özellikleri, oftalmolojik, dental, kardiyak, renal, nörolojik sistem yönünden de değerlendirilmelidir. Tanının doğrulanması ve aileye genetik danışmanlık hizmeti verilebilmesi için genetik tanı yöntemlerinden yararlanılmalıdır.Syndromic obesity occurs with different genetic or chromosomal disorders. Obesity is accompanied by dysmorphic features, mental retardation and developmental abnormalities. Prader-Willi syndrome, Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Alström syndrome are the most commonly encountered obesity syndromes, in clinical practice. Prader-Willi syndrome is an obesity syndrome, characterized by hypotonia, hyperphagia, hypogonadism and short stature due to genomic imprinting defect. Bardet-Biedl syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous ciliopathy syndrome caused by autosomal recessive genes, characterized by retinal dystrophy, truncal obesity, postaxial polydactyly, learning difficulties, renal anomalies, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism only in males, Alström syndrome is an autosomal recessive syndrome, characterized by progressive cone-rod dystrophy, obesity and sensorineural hearing loss accompanied by multi-organ involvement. If exogenous and monogenic obesity is excluded, not only hormonal evaluation but also additional dysmorphic features, ophthalmic, dental, cardiac, renal, and neurological systems should also be evaluated to approach syndromic obesity. Genetic diagnostic analysis should be utilized for confirming the diagnosis and providing genetic counseling to families

Fetal Valproate Syndrome

There have been several reports of congenital malformations in the offspring of mothers who took valproic acid (VPA) during pregnancy as a treatment for epilepsy. Methods: Herein, we describe four cases with typically similar facial features of fetal valproate syndrome accompanied to minor skeletal abnormalities. Results: The first case was a 16-month-old girl, presenting with facial dysmorphism, and finger abnormalities. Her mother took VPA (1500 mg/d) up to the 10th gestational week and at a dosage of 1000 mg/d through the pregnancy. The second patient was 5-year-old boy with speech disability, bilateral cryptorchidism, facial dysmorphism, and finger abnormalities whose mother took VPA (1000 mg/d) through pregnancy. The third 19-month-old patient was the brother of the second patient who had facial dysmorphism, bilateral cryptorchidism, and finger abnormalities. His mother also took VPA (1000 mg/d) through pregnancy. The fourth 3-year and 6 month-old boy with minor facial dysmorphism and sternum deformity was exposed to VPA (500 mg/d) in utero. Conclusion: In conclusion, there is a recognizable spectrum of abnormalities in some infants exposed to VPA without dose-depence and the common facial dysmorphic features and minor skeletal abnormalities that may occur within the both low and high dose VPA use

A congenital cranial dysinnervation disorder: Möbius’ syndrome

Moebius sendromu, diğer adıyla Moebius sekansı, doğuştan yüz ve göz sinirlerinde felç ile belirgin, ilerleyici olmayan bir kraniyal disinnervasyon bozukluğudur. Emmede zayıflık ve yüz felci nedeniyle izlenen, in vitro dölleme ile oluşan gebelik sonucu doğan, beş günlük kız hastaya iki taraflı pitoz ve dışa bakış kısıtlılığı, dilde sola kayma, dismorfik yüz görünümü, sol el parmak ve tırnaklarında hipoplazi bulguları ile birlikte Moebius sendromu tanısı konuldu. Bu sendroma üç, dört, beş, dokuz, 10 ve 12 gibi ek kraniyal sinir tutulumu, kol ve bacak gelişim anomalileri de eşlik edebilir. Etiolojide bir çok etmen öne sürülmekle beraber yardımcı üreme tekniklerine bağlı nadir olgular bildirilmiştir. Hastalarda beslenme güçlüğü ve aspirasyon sorunları süt çocukluğu döneminde karşılaşılan başlıca sorunlardır. Yüz felci ile doğan yenidoğan diğer kraniyal sinirler bakımından da ayrıntılı muayene edilmeli, ayırıcı tanıda Moebius sendromu ile birlikte diğer kraniyal disinnervasyon bozuklukları göz önünde bulundurulmalıdır.Möbius' syndrome, also known as Möbius' sequence, is a nonprogressive cranial dysinnervation disorder characterized by congenital facial and abducens nerve paralysis. Here, we report a 5-day-old girl who was conceived after in vitro fertilization with poor suck and facial paralysis. She had bilaterally ptosis and lateral gaze limitation, left-sided deviation of the tongue, dysmorphic face, hypoplastic fingers and finger nails on the left hand, and was diagnosed as having Möbius' syndrome. Involvement of other cranial nerves such as three, four, five, nine, 9 and 12, and limb malformations may accompany this syndrome. However, several factors have been proposed for the etiology, some rare cases have also been reported with artificial reproductive technologies. Feeding difficulties and aspiration are the main problems encountered in infancy. The other cranial nerves should be examined further in newborns who present with congenital facial palsy, and other cranial dysinnervation disorders should be considered in the differential diagnosis

The Outcomes of an Individualized Physical Therapy Program in CALFAN Syndrome: A Case Report

Purpose: This case report investigated the effectiveness of an individualized physical therapy program in CALFAN syndrome. Case Description: A 13-year-old girl participated in physical therapy, which included trunk stabilization, balance training, and functional exercises for 12 weeks. Assessments: The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale; Trunk Impairment Scale; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; Functional Independence Measure for Children; Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire; 9-Hole Peg Test; and Cobb measurement were used as outcome measures. Results: Positive changes were observed in the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale; Quick Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire; Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory; Trunk Impairment Scale; Functional Independence Measure; and the 9-Hole Peg Test. The Cobb angle was increased by 2° in the thoracic region and reduced by 11° in the lumbar region. Conclusions: Physical therapy improved quality of life, functional independence, trunk control, and upper extremity performance. What This Adds to Evidence: This case report is the first to support the effectiveness of physical therapy for a child with CALFAN syndrome. © 2022 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. All rights reserved

Effectiveness of functional trunk training on trunk control and upper limb functions in patients with autosomal recessive hereditary ataxia

BACKGROUND: Ataxia is a clinical syndrome characterized by coordination problems and postural disorders. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of functional trunk training on trunk control and upper limb functions in autosomal recessive hereditary ataxia. METHODS: Twenty patients were randomly divided into treatment and control groups. Both groups received trunk stabilization and balance exercises, and the treatment group received additional functional trunk training sessions (3 days/week for 8 weeks). The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale, Trunk Impairment Scale, Modified Functional Reach Test, Nine-Hole Peg Test and Quick-Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire were used for assessments. RESULTS: The treatment group showed an increase in the upper limb performance bilaterally, whereas increased performance was seen only in the dominant upper limb in the control group. While the functional reach improved in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions in the treatment group, it was improved only in the AP direction in the control group. Also, the mean changes in outcomes were not significantly different between the groups except for modified functional reach test. CONCLUSIONS: Functional trunk training may be a more effective method to improve upper limb performance and dynamic trunk balance in autosomal recessive hereditary ataxia

Evaluation of the Neurodevelopmental Status for Urea Cycle Disorders: Based on Clinical Experience

Aim:Urea cycle disorders (UCD) still have poor neurological outcomes despite early diagnosis and treatment. We aimed to present the neurological outcomes of UCD patients and to determine the main simple and accessible factors affecting these outcomes.Materials and Methods:This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in two pediatric metabolism centers on 29 patients from 25 unrelated families who were diagnosed and followed with UCD based on clinical presentation, neurological parameters, biochemical measurements, and molecular analysis.Results:Within the study population, the most common diagnosis was argininosuccinate synthase deficiency in 13 (44.82%) patients, followed by N-acetylglutamate synthase deficiency in five patients (17.24%), ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency in four patients (13.79%), arginase 1 deficiency in three patients (10.34%), carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 deficiency in three patients (10.34%), and argininosuccinate lyase deficiency in one patient (3.44%). Peak ammonia levels were observed to be significantly higher in those patients with delayed milestones and patients who had Denver II 500 μmol/L (n=18). Those patients with abnormal neurological parameters had a significantly higher mean number of hyperammonemic episodes per year. Extracorporeal detoxification was given to eight patients, in combination with therapeutic hypothermia in two patients. Rapid regression was observed in brain edema in those who underwent therapeutic hypothermia.Conclusion:Our study emphasizes the effect of peak ammonia levels and the frequency of hyperammonemic episodes on neurological outcomes. There were still poor neurocognitive outcomes despite extracorporeal detoxification. This highlights the need to reassess current treatment strategies, including the threshold for starting extracorporeal detoxification if ammonia levels exceed 500 µmol/L. The use of therapeutic hypothermia by experienced teams may be promising due to its brain edema-reducing effects

The Genomics of Arthrogryposis, a Complex Trait: Candidate Genes and Further Evidence for Oligogenic Inheritance

Arthrogryposis is a clinical finding that is present either as a feature of a neuromuscular condition or as part of a systemic disease in over 400 Mendelian conditions. The underlying molecular etiology remains largely unknown because of genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity. We applied exome sequencing (ES) in a cohort of 89 families with the clinical sign of arthrogryposis. Additional molecular techniques including array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) were performed on individuals who were found to have pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs) and mosaicism, respectively. A molecular diagnosis was established in 65.2% (58/89) of families. Eleven out of 58 families (19.0%) showed evidence for potential involvement of pathogenic variation at more than one locus, probably driven by absence of heterozygosity (AOH) burden due to identity-by-descent (IBD). RYR3, MYOM2, ERGIC1, SPTBN4, and ABCA7 represent genes, identified in two or more families, for which mutations are probably causative for arthrogryposis. We also provide evidence for the involvement of CNVs in the etiology of arthrogryposis and for the idea that both mono-allelic and bi-allelic variants in the same gene cause either similar or distinct syndromes. We were able to identify the molecular etiology in nine out of 20 families who underwent reanalysis. In summary, our data from family-based ES further delineate the molecular etiology of arthrogryposis, yielded several candidate disease-associated genes, and provide evidence for mutational burden in a biological pathway or network. Our study also highlights the importance of reanalysis of individuals with unsolved diagnoses in conjunction with sequencing extended family members