Case Report: Non-ossifying fibromas with pathologic fractures in a patient with NONO-associated X-linked syndromic intellectual developmental disorder

The NONO gene encodes a nuclear protein involved in transcriptional regulation, RNA synthesis and DNA repair. Hemizygous loss-of function, de novo or maternally inherited variants in NONO have been associated with an X-linked syndromic intellectual developmental disorder-34 (OMIM # 300967), characterized by developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, macrocephaly, elongated face, structural abnormalities of corpus callosum and/or cerebellum, congenital heart defect and left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy. Few patients have been described in the literature and the phenotype data are limited. We report a 17-year-old boy with dolihocephaly, elongated face, strabismus, speech and motor delay, intellectual disability, congenital heart defect (ASD, VSD and Ebstein’s anomaly), left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy, bilateral inguinal hernia and cryptorchidism. Additional features included recurrent fractures due to multiple non-ossifying fibromas, thrombocytopenia, and renal anomalies. Exome sequencing revealed a de novo pathogenic variant (NM_001145408.2: c.348+2_ 348+15del) in intron 5 of the NONO gene. Renal anomalies and thrombocytopenia have been rarely reported in patients with NONO—X-linked intellectual disability syndrome, while recurrent fractures due to multiple non-ossifying fibromas have not previously been associated with this syndrome. The phenotypic spectrum of NONO—X-linked intellectual disability syndrome may be broader than currently known

Case Report: SATB2-Associated Syndrome Overlapping With Clinical Mitochondrial Disease Presentation: Report of Two Cases

SATB2-associated syndrome (SAS) is an autosomal dominant neurogenetic multisystemic disorder. We describe two individuals with global developmental delay and hypotonia who underwent an extensive evaluation to rule out an underlying mitochondrial disorder before their eventual diagnosis of SAS. Although the strict application of the clinical mitochondrial disease score only led to the designation of “possible” mitochondrial disorder for these two individuals, other documented abnormalities included nonspecific neuroimaging findings on magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, decreased complex I activity on muscle biopsy for patient 2, and variation in the size and relative proportion of types of muscle fibers in the muscle biopsies that were aligned with mitochondrial diseases. SAS should be in the differential diagnoses of mitochondrial disorders, and broad-spectrum diagnostic tests such as exome sequencing need to be considered early in the evaluation process of undiagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders

Mowat-Wilson syndrome : growth charts

Background Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MWS; OMIM #235730) is a genetic condition caused by heterozygous mutations or deletions of theZEB2gene. It is characterized by moderate-severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, Hirschsprung disease and multiple organ malformations of which congenital heart defects and urogenital anomalies are the most frequent ones. To date, a clear description of the physical development of MWS patients does not exist. The aim of this study is to provide up-to-date growth charts specific for infants and children with MWS. Charts for males and females aged from 0 to 16 years were generated using a total of 2865 measurements from 99 MWS patients of different ancestries. All data were collected through extensive collaborations with the Italian MWS association (AIMW) and the MWS Foundation. The GAMLSS package for the R statistical computing software was used to model the growth charts. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and head circumference were compared to those from standard international growth charts for healthy children. Results In newborns, weight and length were distributed as in the general population, while head circumference was slightly smaller, with an average below the 30th centile. Up to the age of 7 years, weight and height distribution was shifted to slightly lower values than in the general population; after that, the difference increased further, with 50% of the affected children below the 5th centile of the general population. BMI distribution was similar to that of non-affected children until the age of 7 years, at which point values in MWS children increased with a less steep slope, particularly in males. Microcephaly was sometimes present at birth, but in most cases it developed gradually during infancy; many children had a small head circumference, between the 3rd and the 10th centile, rather than being truly microcephalic (at least 2 SD below the mean). Most patients were of slender build. Conclusions These charts contribute to the understanding of the natural history of MWS and should assist pediatricians and other caregivers in providing optimal care to MWS individuals who show problems related to physical growth. This is the first study on growth in patients with MWS.Peer reviewe

TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOR FETAL ANOMALIES – ANALYSIS OF CASES OVER A 4-YEAR PERIOD

Background: The consequence of prenatal detection of fetuses with congenital anomalies is induced ter- mination of pregnancy (TOP). The analysis of the indications for TOP and the agreements between prenatal and pathohistological findings is required to assess the quality of work and the appropriateness of diagnostic procedures. Methods: This retrospective analysis involved the indications for TOP performed for congenital fetal anomalies between January 2005 and March 2009. The TOP cases were divided into two groups: the early (up to 22 week, abortion) and the late (≥ 22 weeks 0/7, delivery) termina- tion group. With regard to the agreement between prenatal and pathohistological postmor- tem findings, 3 groups were created: complete agreement, agreement with additional data provided by pathohistological analysis, disagreement of findings. Results: Of the 220 cases of TOP for congenital anomalies, 180 (82 %) were abortion cases and 40 (18 %) were labour cases. In both groups, the most frequent causes for TOP were fetal structural abnormalities that were not due to chromosomal anomalies (102 (57 %) in the abortion group and 38 (95 %) in the delivery group). The percentage of chromosomal/monogenic anomalies was statistically significantly higher in the abortion (43 %) than in the labour group (only 5 %) (p < 0.001). Pathohistological examination was performed in 172 cases. In 126 (73 %) cases the agreement between prenatal ultrasound and pathohistological find- ings was complete and in 37 (22 %) pathohistological findings provided additional data on congenital anomalies that did not change the prenatally made diagnosis and would not affect the management of pregnancy. In none of the cases did pathohistological findings reject the prenatally made diagnosis. Conclusions: Fetal structural anomalies are frequent cause of TOP. Pathohistological examination of the fetus confirmed the prenatal diagnosis in all the cases, whereas in one fourth of the cases it provided additional information on congenital anomalies

PREIMPLANTATION GENETIC DIAGNOSIS – 4 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF GYNECOLOGY, UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTRE LJUBLJANA

Background. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis offers early investigation of embryos in couples with a high risk for offspring affected by a genetic disease. We report indications and results associated with the PGD program conducted at Gynecology Clinic Ljubljana from June 2004 to December 2008. Methods. The retrospective analysis includes sixty cycles performed in 34 couples enrolled in the PGD programe. Embryos were biopsied on the third day and the genetic analysis was performed using the FISH and PCR methods. Embryo transfers were carried out on the fifth day. Results. The main indications were chromosomal abnormalities (67 %), followed by recurrent miscarriages (16 %), autosomal dominant and recessive diseases (9 %), and X-linked diseases (6 %). Sixty cycles were performed and 48 embryo transfer procedures. There were 15 clinical pregnancies resulting in clinical pregnancy rate 25 % per cycle and 37.5 % per embryo transfer. A total of eight unaffected children were born, and two pregnancies are still ongoing. Conclusions. PGD is technically a very challenging procedure. Superior knowledge and communication between geneticists and reproductive medicine scientists is mandatory for successful PGD procedures. PGD has gained a place among the choices offered at Gynecology Clinic Ljubljana to couples at risk of transmission of genetic disease