Fragile X Syndrome in children

Fragile X syndrome is caused by the expansion of CGG triplets in the FMR1 gene, which generates epigenetic changes that silence its expression. The absence of the protein coded by this gene, FMRP, causes cellular dysfunction, leading to impaired brain development and functional abnormalities. The physical and neurologic manifestations of the disease appear early in life and may suggest the diagnosis. However, it must be confirmed by molecular tests. It affects multiple areas of daily living and greatly burdens the affected individuals and their families. Fragile X syndrome is the most common monogenic cause of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder; the diagnosis should be suspected in every patient with neurodevelopmental delay. Early interventions could improve the functional prognosis of patients with Fragile X syndrome, significantly impacting their quality of life and daily functioning. Therefore, healthcare for children with Fragile X syndrome should include a multidisciplinary approach.

El síndrome de X frágil es causado por la expansión de tripletas CGG en el gen FMR1, el cual genera cambios epigenéticos que silencian su expresión. La ausencia de la proteína codificada por este gen, la FMRP, causa disfunción celular, llevando a deficiencia en el desarrollo cerebral y anormalidades funcionales. Las manifestaciones físicas y neurológicas de la enfermedad aparecen en edades tempranas y pueden sugerir el diagnóstico. Sin embargo, este debe ser confirmado por pruebas moleculares. El síndrome afecta múltiples aspectos de la vida diaria y representa una alta carga para los individuos afectados y para sus familias. El síndrome de C frágil es la causa monogénica más común de discapacidad intelectual y trastornos del espectro autista; por ende, el diagnóstico debe sospecharse en todo paciente con retraso del neurodesarrollo. Intervenciones tempranas podrían mejorar el pronóstico funcional de pacientes con síndrome de X frágil, impactando significativamente su calidad de vida y funcionamiento. Por lo tanto, la atención en salud de niños con síndrome de X frágil debe incluir un abordaje multidisciplinario.

Quality of life and labor inclusion of people with disabilities

Introduction: Disability is a generic term that includes deficits, limitations in activity and restrictions in participation indicate the negative aspects of the interaction between an individual and its contextual factors, environmental and personal factors. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of labor inclusion and health-related quality of life of people with disabilities in a population group from the city of Neiva (Colombia). Materials and methods: Descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study with quantitative approach and non-experimental design, in a sample of 64 people with disabilities. Demographic variables such as age, sex, marital status, education, socioeconomic status, link to the social security system in health, and type of disability were considered. The WHOQOL-BREF, 2004 quality of life scale was applied. Central tendency measures were also calculated with their dispersions and 95% confidence intervals in the continuous quantitative variables. Results: The most frequent disability was physical with 78.13%, followed by visual with 17.18%. The highest percentage of impairment of the quality of life concerning disability is given by the need to move from one place to another, to feel dissatisfaction with their sexual life and the perception of an unhealthy environment. Conclusions: The main factors for the labor inclusion of a person with a disability are subject to sex, the type of disability, access to decent employment, and remuneration according to their potentialities.

Developmental delay assessment in children < 5 years of age attended in the Pediatric Rehabilitation Service of a reference hospital in Peru / Evaluación del retraso del desarrollo en niños < 5 años atendidos en el Servicio de Rehabilitación Pediátrica de un hospital de referencia en Perú

Abstract Background: Child development is a complex biological, psychological, and emotional process. Timely screening for developmental delay allows early interventions. Therefore, this study sought to assess the frequency and characteristics of developmental delay in children < 5 years of age who attended the Pediatric Rehabilitation Service of a referral hospital in Peru. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study. Information was collected from medical records of children < 5 years of age who attended between April and September 2022 at the Rebagliati Hospital's Pediatric Rehabilitation Service. The REBA-PED Child Developmental Assessment Profile was used for the developmental assessment, which allows to identify the degree of delay in each area (gross motor, fine motor, hearing and language, intelligence and learning, and personal-social) and the presence of warning signs. Results: Of 226 children who attended the service, 49.1% were between 3 and 5 years old, 57.1% were female, only 3.1% were referred for suspected developmental delay, and none had had a previous developmental assessment. Among the children evaluated, 12.4% had a simple developmental delay, 19.5% had a significant developmental delay, and 53.5% had a global developmental delay. In addition, 70.8% presented a warning sign of developmental delay. Hearing and language (86.8%) and intelligence and learning (83.5%) areas had a higher frequency of significant developmental delay. Conclusions: We found a high frequency of developmental delay in the children assessed, predominantly in hearing and language. Although all the children were referred, none had had a previous developmental assessment.

Resumen Introducción: El desarrollo infantil es un proceso complejo de cambios biológicos, psicológicos y emocionales. El despistaje oportuno del retraso del desarrollo permite implementar intervenciones tempranas. Este estudio buscó evaluar la frecuencia y las características del retraso del desarrollo en niños < 5 años atendidos en el Servicio de Rehabilitación Pediátrica de un hospital de referencia de Perú. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal en el que se recolectó información de niños < 5 años atendidos entre abril y septiembre del 2022 en el Servicio de Rehabilitación Pediátrica del Hospital Rebagliati, para lo cual se revisaron sus historias clínicas. Para la evaluación del desarrollo, se utilizó el Perfil de Evaluación del Desarrollo Infantil REBA-PED, que permite reconocer el grado de retraso por área (motora gruesa, motora fina, audición y lenguaje, inteligencia y aprendizaje, y personal social) y los signos de alarma. Resultados: De 226 niños atendidos, el 49.1% tenía entre 3 a 5 años, el 57.1% era de sexo femenino, solo el 3.1% fue remitido por sospecha de retraso del desarrollo y ninguno había tenido una evaluación previa del desarrollo infantil. Entre los niños evaluados, el 12.4% presentó un retraso simple del desarrollo, el 19.5% presentó un retraso significativo y el 53.5%, un retraso global. Además, el 70.8% presentó algún signo de alarma durante el desarrollo infantil. La frecuencia de retraso significativo fue mayor en las áreas de audición y lenguaje (86.8%) y de inteligencia y aprendizaje (83.5%) tuvieron mayor frecuencia de retraso significativo. Conclusiones: Se encontró una frecuencia elevada de retraso del desarrollo entre los niños evaluados, con predominio del área de audición y lenguaje. Si bien todos los niños fueron referidos, ninguno había tenido una evaluación previa del desarrollo.

Características clínicas y los resultados de los Potenciales Evocados Visuales por Flash en niños menores de 5 años

Introducción: Los potenciales evocados visuales (PEV) evalúan la vía visual mediante pequeñas respuestas neuroeléctricas de la corteza occipital. Constituyen un examen no invasivo para determinar la función visual en prematuros, recién nacidos, lactantes, niños con malformaciones cerebrales enfermedades metabólicas o retraso mental. Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y los resultados de los Potenciales Evocados Visuales por Flash en niños menores de 5 años en el periodo de diciembre de 2017 a diciembre de 2018. Materiales y Métodos: Diseño observacional, descriptivo, ambispectivo con componente analítico. Los pacientes incluidos niños de 0 a 5 años de edad que se realizaron PEV en el Hospital Pediátrico en el período de diciembre de 2017 a diciembre de 2018. Muestreo no probabilístico de casos consecutivos. Variables principales: Edad, sexo, procedencia, profesional que solicitó el estudio, motivo de solicitud del estudio, datos maternos y perinatales, resultados del PEV. Los datos fueron analizados con SPSSv 21, utilizando estadística descriptiva. Resultados: Se estudiaron 110 pacientes que se realizaron PEV, la mediana de edad fue de 32 meses, predominó el sexo masculino, procedieron del departamento Central (63,6%). La mayoría de los pacientes presentaban Parálisis cerebral infantil (PCI), los neurólogos solicitaron mayormente el estudio. De los antecedentes perinatales, se evidenció que, a menor edad gestacional, menor peso de nacimiento, menor Apgar y antecedente de hospitalización perinatal, los valores de latencia y amplitud para la onda P100 en ambos ojos presentaban alteraciones, siendo esta relación estadísticamente significativa. Conclusión: Aunque en su mayoría los resultados de PEV fueron normales existe una relación importante entre los antecedentes perinatales y la alteración del resultado especialmente con respecto al Apgar a los 1 min mostrando una relación inversa.

Introduction: Visual evoked potentials (VEP) evaluate the visual pathway through small neuroelectric responses from the occipital cortex. They constitute a non-invasive test to determine visual function in premature babies, newborns, infants, children with brain malformations, metabolic diseases or mental retardation. Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and the results of Flash Visual Evoked Potentials in children under 5 years of age during the time period from December 2017 to December 2018. Materials and Methods: This was an observational, descriptive and ambispective design with an analytical component. The patients included children from 0 to 5 years of age who underwent VEP at the Pediatric Hospital in the period from December 2017 to December 2018. We used non-probabilistic sampling of consecutive cases. Main variables: Age, sex, place of residence, professional who requested the study, reason for requesting the study, maternal and perinatal data, VEP results. Data were analyzed with SPSSv 21, using descriptive statistics. Results: 110 patients who underwent VEP were studied, the median age was 32 months, the male sex predominated, most lived in the Central department (63.6%). Most of the patients had infantile cerebral palsy (ICP), neurologists most frequently requested the study. Using the perinatal history, we determined that a lower gestational age, lower birth weight, lower Apgar score, and a history of perinatal hospitalization were associated with alterations in the latency and amplitude values for the P100 wave in both eyes, this relationship was statistically significant. Conclusion: Although the majority of the VEP results were normal, there is an important relationship between the perinatal history and the alteration of the result, especially with respect to the Apgar at 1 min, which shows an inverse relationship.

Alberta infant motor scale in Brazilian research: a bibliometric study / Escala Motora Infantil de Alberta en la investigación brasileña: un estudio bibliométrico / Alberta infant motor scale em pesquisas brasileiras: estudo bibliométrico

ABSTRACT The Alberta infant motor scale (AIMS) is an instrument for assessing the gross motor development of newborns, aged 0-18 months. This study aimed to summarize the Brazilian studies that used the AIMS and identify their objectives to know the main uses of the scale for professionals interested in child motor development. This is a bibliometric study on SciELO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The searched keywords were "Alberta infant motor scale" and "Brazil," with their equivalents in Portuguese and united by "AND." Inclusion criteria were: use of AIMS with children aged 0-18 months carried out in Brazil. The variables database, journal, year of publication, language, region of the institution linked to the authors, and type of study were analyzed in a descriptive quantitative manner. Content analysis was performed on the objectives described in the articles. In total, 79 articles were included and most of them had a cross-sectional design and were linked to institutions in the South and Southeast regions. Furthermore, most studies were from the last 10 years and in English. The journal Fisioterapia e Pesquisa was the Brazilian journal that most published studies of the sample. The analyzed objectives were distributed into six word classes, with two large groups: psychometric validity (19.1%) and evaluative studies (80.9%). The latter considered the various child populations analyzed. We presented studies that used the AIMS to evaluate the motor development of Brazilian children, reinforcing the importance of this instrument in the national context and also encouraging its use.

RESUMEN La Escala Motora Infantil de Alberta (AIMS) es un instrumento que evalúa el desarrollo motor grueso de los recién nacidos de entre 0 y 18 meses de edad. Este estudio pretendió hacer una síntesis de estudios brasileños que utilizaron la AIMS, así como identificar sus objetivos, con el fin de proporcionar una tabla de los principales usos de la escala a los profesionales interesados en el desarrollo motor infantil. Se trata de un estudio bibliométrico, en el que se realizaron búsquedas en las bases de datos SciELO, PubMed, Scopus y Web of Science. Los descriptores utilizados fueron "escala motora infantil de Alberta" y "Brasil", con sus equivalentes en inglés, unidos por el término booleano "AND". El criterio de inclusión fue la aplicación de la AIMS en Brasil, con niños de entre 0 y 18 meses. Las variables base de datos, revista, año de publicación, idioma, región de la institución vinculada a los autores y tipo de estudio se analizaron de manera cuantitativa y descriptiva. Se realizó un análisis de contenido de los objetivos descritos en los estudios, y se incluyeron 79 estudios, de los cuales la mayoría presentó un diseño transversal y estaba vinculado a instituciones de las regiones Sur y Sudeste de Brasil. La mayoría de las publicaciones son de los últimos 10 años, en inglés, y la revista Fisioterapia e Pesquisa fue la revista nacional que más publicó estudios. Los objetivos analizados se dividieron en seis clases de palabras, que contienen dos grupos principales: validez psicométrica (19,1%) y estudios evaluativos (80,9%). Este último tuvo en cuenta las diversas poblaciones infantiles analizadas. Este estudio presentó las investigaciones que evaluaron la AIMS respecto al desarrollo motor de los niños brasileños. Esto destaca la importancia del citado instrumento en el contexto nacional, además estimula su uso.

RESUMO A Alberta infant motor scale (AIMS) é um instrumento de avaliação do desenvolvimento motor grosso dos recém-nascidos entre 0 e 18 meses de idade. Este estudo buscou sumarizar as pesquisas brasileiras que utilizaram a AIMS e identificar seus objetivos, a fim de fornecer um quadro das principais utilizações da escala aos profissionais interessados no desenvolvimento motor infantil. Trata-se de um estudo bibliométrico realizado por meio de buscas nas bases de dados SciELO, PubMed, Scopus, e Web of Science. Os descritores foram "escala motora infantil de Alberta" e "Brasil", com seus equivalentes em inglês, unidos pelo termo booleano "AND". O critério de inclusão foi a utilização da AIMS no Brasil, com crianças de 0 a 18 meses. As variáveis base de dados, revista, ano de publicação, idioma, região da instituição vinculada aos autores e tipo de estudo foram analisadas de forma quantitativa descritiva. Foi realizada análise de conteúdo dos objetivos descritos nas pesquisas, e foram incluídos 79 estudos, a maioria dos quais apresentou delineamento transversal e estava vinculada a instituições das regiões Sul e Sudeste. Boa parte das publicações era dos últimos 10 anos, em inglês, e a revista Fisioterapia e Pesquisa foi o periódico nacional que mais publicou estudos referentes à amostra. Os objetivos analisados foram distribuídos em seis classes de palavras, contidas em dois grandes grupos: validades psicométricas (19,1%) e estudos avaliativos (80,9%). Este último considerou as várias populações infantis analisadas. O estudo apresentou as pesquisas que utilizaram a AIMS para avaliar o desenvolvimento motor de crianças brasileiras. Isso reforça a importância deste instrumento no contexto nacional, além de estimular sua utilização.

Profile of children assisted in a teaching outpatient clinic of developmental disabilities in São Paulo, Brazil / Perfil das crianças atendidas em um ambulatório de ensino de alterações do desenvolvimento em São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract Objective: To analyze the epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with developmental disabilities followed in a university clinic in Brazil. Methods: Descriptive, retrospective study, based on medical records. Children aged zero to 18 years with developmental problems, firstly evaluated between 2009 and 2018, were included. Patients with missing data or out of the age and time period established were excluded. There were nine losses and 374 patients constituted the final sample. Linear regression models were performed. Results: The mean age at the first assessment was 52.2±39.7 months and the age when the parents perceived the symptoms was 20.9±23.8 months. The most common impairment was motor associated with language delay (28.3%). The interval between the parents' perception and the first consultation was associated with the mothers' education and number of pregnancies. The age at first assessment was associated with the disability type. The number of pregnancies was associated with the child's age when the parents noticed the symptoms and at the first consultation. Conclusions: Parents' recognition of the symptoms occurred early, however, there was a delay until the arrival at the clinic. Higher maternal education was associated with a shorter gap between perception of the developmental disability and consultation. A greater number of pregnancies was associated with a later perception of the developmental delay by the parents as well as a delay in the assessment and a wider interval between them. Motor problems were the most common in younger children, and language complaints in older ones.

Resumo Objetivo: Estabelecer o perfil clínico-epidemiológico de pacientes com alterações do desenvolvimento acompanhados em uma clínica universitária brasileira. Métodos: Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo, baseado em prontuários. Foram incluídas crianças de zero a 18 anos com alterações do desenvolvimento, primeiramente avaliadas entre 2009 e 2018. Foram excluídos pacientes com dados ausentes ou fora da idade e do período estabelecidos. Houve nove perdas, e 374 pacientes constituíram a amostra final. Modelos de regressão linear foram executados. Resultados: A média de idade na primeira avaliação foi de 52,2±39,7 meses, e a média de idade quando os pais perceberam os sintomas foi de 20,9±23,8 meses. O comprometimento mais comum foi o motor associado ao da linguagem (28,3%). O intervalo entre a percepção dos pais e a primeira consulta esteve associado à escolaridade materna e ao número de gestações. A idade da primeira avaliação foi relacionada ao tipo de comprometimento. O número de gestações foi associado à idade da criança quando os pais notaram os sintomas e na primeira consulta. Conclusões: O reconhecimento dos sintomas pelos pais foi pontual, porém houve demora até a chegada à clínica. Maior escolaridade materna foi associada a menor defasagem entre a percepção da deficiência e a consulta. Maior número de gestações foi associado a uma percepção tardia dos pais com relação aos sintomas e ao atraso na primeira avaliação, bem como ao maior intervalo entre elas. Os sintomas motores foram os mais comuns nas crianças mais novas, e as queixas de linguagem nas mais velhas.

COVID-19 em pessoas com deficiências do desenvolvimento: uma revisão de escopo / COVID-19 en personas con trastornos en el desarrollo: una revisión de alcance / COVID-19 in people with developmental disabilities: a scoping review

Resumo Objetivo Examinar a evidência emergente sobre os tipos e a frequência de deficiências do desenvolvimento na população afetada pela COVID-19, identificando formas de categorização, incidência/prevalência e comorbidades mais frequentes. Métodos Para esta revisão de escopo realizou-se busca por estudos observacionais nas bases de dados Medline (PubMed), Scopus (Elsevier), ISI Web of Science (Clarivate), Lilacs (BVS) e 'literatura cinzenta'. Como critérios de elegibilidade, os estudos deveriam apresentar resultados de ocorrência de deficiência de desenvolvimento em pessoas com COVID-19, permitindo comparação com a população em geral, ou entre os grupos de deficiências. Dois revisores independentes fizeram o mapeamento das informações utilizando um instrumento de extração de dados previamente elaborado. Outros dois pesquisadores verificaram os dados e auxiliaram na elaboração dos quadros de apresentação dos resultados. Resultados Observou-se diversidade de terminologias empregadas para categorizar as DD. As pessoas com DD e com comorbidades que representam maior risco para a COVID-19 necessitaram de internação hospitalar com maior frequência do que a população em geral. De um total de 4930 estudos, 14 foram selecionados para avaliação. Destes, 5 artigos foram estudos longitudinais. Conclusão Em pessoas com DD, a COVID-19 apresentou taxas de morbidade, letalidade e mortalidade mais altas em faixas etárias mais jovens, na população mais pobre, na população institucionalizada e que requer tecnologias de suporte de vida e cuidados especializados. A vulnerabilidade das pessoas com DD à COVID-19 depende do tipo e da gravidade da deficiência e da presença de comorbidades, evidenciando a necessidade de atenção no diagnóstico e nas medidas preventivas, como a vacinação.

Resumen Objetivo Examinar la evidencia emergente sobre los tipos y la frecuencia de trastornos en el desarrollo (TD) en la población afectada por COVID-19 e identificar formas de categorización, incidencia/prevalencia y comorbilidades más frecuentes. Métodos Para esta revisión de alcance se realizó una búsqueda de estudios observacionales en las bases de datos Medline (PubMed), Scopus (Elsevier), ISI Web of Science (Clarivate), Lilacs (BVS) y 'literatura gris'. Como criterio de elegibilidad, los estudios debían presentar resultados de casos de TD en personas con COVID-19 y permitir la comparación con la población general, o entre los grupos de trastornos. Dos revisores independientes realizaron el mapeo de la información con la utilización de un instrumento de extracción de datos previamente elaborado. Otros dos investigadores verificaron los datos y ayudaron a elaborar los cuadros de presentación de resultados. Resultados Se observó diversidad en la terminología empleada para categorizar los TD. Las personas con TD y con comorbilidades que representan mayor riesgo de COVID-19 necesitaron internación hospitalaria con mayor frecuencia que la población general. De un total de 4930 estudios, 14 fueron seleccionados para el análisis, de los cuales 5 artículos fueron estudios longitudinales. Conclusión En personas con TD, el COVID-19 presentó índices de morbilidad, letalidad y mortalidad más altos en rangos de edad más jóvenes, en la población más pobre, en la población institucionalizada y que requiere tecnologías de soporte vital y cuidados especializados. La vulnerabilidad de las personas con TD depende del tipo y gravedad del trastorno y de la presencia de comorbilidades, lo que deja en evidencia la necesidad de atención en el diagnóstico y en las medidas preventivas, como la vacunación.

Abstract Objective To examine the emerging evidence on developmental disability type and frequency in the population affected by COVID-19, identifying more frequent forms of categorization, incidence/prevalence and comorbidities. Methods For this scoping review, we searched for observational studies in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus (Elsevier), ISI Web of Science (Clarivate), LILACS (VHL) and grey literature databases. As eligibility criteria, studies should present results of developmental disability (DD) occurrence in people with COVID-19, allowing comparison with the general population, or between groups of disabilities. Two independent reviewers mapped the information using a previously elaborated data extraction instrument. Two other researchers verified the data and assisted in table elaboration to present the results. Results There was a diversity of terminologies used to categorize DD. People with DD and comorbidities that represent a higher risk for COVID-19 required hospitalization more frequently than the general population. Out of a total of 4930 studies, 14 were selected for assessment. Of these, 5 articles were longitudinal studies. Conclusion In people with DD, COVID-19 had higher morbidity, lethality and mortality rates in younger age groups, in the poorest population, in the institutionalized population, requiring life support technologies and specialized care. The vulnerability of people with DD to COVID-19 depends on disease type and severity and the presence of comorbidities, highlighting the need for attention in diagnosis and preventive measures, such as vaccination.

Adapted physical education programs for psychomotor development in school settings for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a systematic review / 中国康复理论与实践

ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of physical activity in an adaptive physical education program on the psychomotor development of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the school setting. MethodsLiterature related to adaptive physical education programs and psychomotor development for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities were retrieved from EBSCO, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and CNKI, from the establishment of the library to May, 2023, and systematically reviewed. ResultsSeven English literatures of randomized controlled trials were included, from four countries, involving 236 subjects, aged six to 18 years. The main sources were journals in the fields of sport and psychomotor, developmental disorders, adapted physical education, and children's psychomotor, with publication dates centered after 2016. Physical activity components of adaptive physical education programs in school settings primarily included muscle and balance training, perceptual-motor training, walking up and down stairs, aerobic exercise using equipment (e.g., treadmills, steppers, cross-trainers, and stationary bikes), sit-ups, jumping exercises, rhythmic activities, simultaneous static and dynamic balancing activities while focusing on visual inputs, changing positions at different rhythms and moving through space, breathing and stretching exercises, adapted table tennis motor skill training, ball control exercises, and hand-eye coordination exercises, with an intervention of light-moderate intensity, 45 to 60 minutes a time, one to five times a week, for eight to 24 weeks. The health benefit maily included the enhancement of rhythmic perception as well as the improvement of integrated visual, auditory, and tactile perception; improving muscular strength and endurance, total locomotor capacity and fine-motor capacity such as fine-motor integration, running speed and agility, and balance; improving physical flexibility and coordination, such as upper limb coordination, static balance, strength and flexibility; improvement of correct response, sustained response, and theoretical level of reactivity, and motor flexibility and agility; significant improvements in self-care (eating, dressing, and self-direction), increasing in the number of sit-ups to standard, increasing success in jumping for a ball, and improving motor skill proficiency and executive functioning. ConclusionThis systematic review constructed a PICO for the psychomotor development of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities participating in physical activity in the school setting with an adaptive physical education program based on the PRISMA guidelines. The adaptive physical education program may promote psychomotor development in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in five main areas: perception, motor control, coordination, reaction time, and movement planning and execution.

Mental health services for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a WHO-FICs-based study / 中国康复理论与实践

ObjectiveTo systematically analyze the typical mental health conditions and psychological disorders of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), to construct a mental health service system and psychological interventions to these mental health conditions of children with IDD . MethodsBased on the framework of the World Health Organization Family International Classifications (WHO-FICs), the mental health conditions and related functioning were analyzed, and the mental health service framework and proposed mental health interventions were constructed.There were six main categories of mental health conditions for children with IDDConclusionThis study systematically analyzed the typical mental health status and related psychological functional impairments of children with IDD. Based on the World Health Organization health service system, a mental health service framework for children with IDD was constructed. Referring to the WHO's continuum of health services, a system of psychological intervention methods for children with IDD was established. Furthermore, the WHO-FICs were used to describe and code the functions of children with IDD, and the ICHI-β3 was applied to code and analyze the related psychological interventions. Resultsmood disorders (anxiety and depression), behavioral disorders (disruptive disorders and challenging behaviors, aggressive behaviors), traumatic disorders (post-traumatic stress disorder), mental disorders (schizophrenia), suicide and self-harm, and learning disabilities (developmental learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Mental health services for children with IDD involved in six dimensions: leadership and governance, fundraising, human resources, service delivery, mental health technologies, and information and research. Mental health services went through the continuum of health services from prevention, treatment, rehabilitation to health promotion. We delivered mental health services for children with IDD in three aspects: identifying and diagnosing mental health problems or conditions, analyzing the main factors caused mental health problems, and analyzing the environmental factors. Mental health service interventions mainly covered five categories: antidepressants, psychotherapy, stress management training, physical exercise training, healthy lifestyle education, consultation and support. Children with IDD may obtain the mental health services in hospitals, rehabilitation institutions, community and school settings.

Advances in genetics and prevention of monogenic global developmental delay and intellectual disability / 中华围产医学杂志

Global developmental delay/intellectual disability (GDD/ID) is an enormous group of neurodevelopmental disorders with diverse clinical and genetic heterogeneity. The estimated prevalence of GDD/ID was 1%-3%, affecting about 150 million people. GDD/ID is one of the leading causes of disability in children worldwide. The causes of GDD/ID are complex, comprising genetic and environmental factors. It is often co-morbid with a variety of psychiatric behavioral disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Owing to the improvement of genetic technology, monogenic GDD/ID has been one of the hot-spot research in genomic era, and the relevant preventive measures deserve extensive attention. In this review, we summarized the advances in genetics and prevention of monogenic GDD/ID.

A case of mental retardation autosomal dominant 35 with neonatal onset / 中华围产医学杂志

This article reported a male patient with neonatal onset mental retardation autosomal dominant 35 (MRD35). The boy presented with repeated convulsions, hypotonia, enlarged head circumference, congenital muscular torticollis and feeding difficulties in the neonatal period. Dynamic electroencephalogram showed paroxysmal epileptic discharges in the left central-temporal region. High-throughput whole-exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous mutation of c.139G>A (p.Glu47Lys) in the PPP2R5D gene, which was a de novo mutation not inherited from his parents. The child had significant developmental delay at the age of one year. MRD35 lacks typical clinical manifestations and requires whole-exome sequencing for definitive diagnosis. Currently, there is no specific treatment for MRD35 and symptomatic treatments, including rehabilitation training, language training and seizure control, are mostly adopted.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal ZTTK syndrome: a case report / 中华围产医学杂志

This article reported the prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with ZTTK syndrome. A pregnant woman underwent preimplantation genetic diagnosis because her partner carried a balanced chromosomal translocation. Chromosomal karyotype analysis and copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) performed on amniocytes collected at 18 + weeks of gestation revealed no abnormalities. Ultrasonography performed at 23 +5 and 26 +3 weeks of gestation revealed severe fetal growth restriction, cerebellar dysplasia, poorly visualized sacrum and coccyx, and spina bifida. MRI of the fetal brain showed that the bilateral cerebellar hemispheres of the fetus were small and the cisterna magna was large at 23 +6 weeks of gestation. Whole exome sequencing in the pedigree identified a heterozygous variant c.2092delG (p.Glu698fs*4) in the exon 3 of the fetal SON gene, which was not inherited from the parents and proved to be a de novo mutation. Mutations in the locus are pathogenic, causing ZTTK syndrome. After genetic counseling, the pregnant woman and her family chose to terminate the pregnancy.

One case of developmental epileptic encephalopathy caused by NR4A2 gene variation and literature review / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of a child with developmental epileptic encephalopathy caused by NR4A2 gene mutation, and to summarize the clinical phenotypes and genotypes to improve the clinician′s understanding of this disease. Methods:The clinical data of a child with developmental epileptic encephalopathy admitted to Linyi People′s Hospital in August 2022 were collected, video electroencephalogram, craniocerebral magnetic resonance imaging and family whole exon sequencing were improved, and the suspected mutation sites were verified by Sanger sequencing. Relevant literature was consulted to summarize the clinical phenotypes and genetic characteristics of nervous system diseases caused by NR4A2 gene. Results:It was found that there was a heterozygous missense mutation at the locus c.866G>A (p.A289H) of NR4A2 gene in the child, which was a de novo mutation, and both parents were wild type. According to the American Society of Medical Genetics and Genomics variation classification, it was assessed as a suspected pathogenic variation. Through literature review, there were 16 related cases reported internationally, with clinical phenotypes including mental retardation/mental retardation, language disorders, seizures, muscle tone changes and different psychological and behavioral problems. Conclusions:The NR4A2 gene is not only associated with dopa responsive disorders, but also with neurological development, intellectual impairment, language development delay, and epilepsy. The mutation of NR42A gene c.866G>A (p.A289H) is the genetic cause of the patient, and the detection of this locus expands the NR4A2 gene spectrum. NR4A2 gene is one of the pathogenic genes of developmental epileptic encephalopathy.

Clinical phenotype and gene mutation analysis of neurodevelopmental disorders caused by CTNNB1 gene mutation / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotype and gene mutation in a child with developmental disorders caused by CTNNB1 gene mutation. Methods:Clinical data of a child with CTNNB1 gene mutation who was admitted to Xiamen Hospital of Fudan University Affiliated Pediatric Hospital in May 2017 were collected, whole exome sequencing technology was applied to verify the family lineage of the child, and the pathogenicity of mutation site was analyzed. Results:The patient was a 6 years and 1 month old male, with a clinical phenotype including mental retardation, motor developmental disorders, speech disorders, visual disorders (internal strabismus), microcephaly, and behavioral problems (social withdrawal, overdependence, etc.), as well as panic syndrome (i.e., sudden shrieking in response to auditory and visual stimuli, extensional rigidity of the body, etc., followed by short periods of general extensional rigidity). The whole exome sequencing results showed the presence of a de novo mutation c.283(exon4)C>T in the CTNNB1 gene, and the c.283(exon4)C>T mutation was interpreted as pathogenic (PVS1+PS2+PS1+PM2+PM) according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics variant classification criteria and guidelines. No relevant genetic variants were found in the parental family verification. Conclusion:CTNNB1 gene mutation c.283(exon4)C>T can cause neurodevelopmental disorders, including mental retardation, motor developmental disorders, speech disorders, visual disorders, microcephaly and behavioral abnormalities.

A case of 5p15.1-5p15.33 duplication and literature review / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical and genetic features of the children with 5p15.1-5p15.33 duplication at the end of the short arm of chromosome 5 (5p).Methods:Clinical data of a 5p15.1-5p15.33 duplicative patient diagnosed in the Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University in July 2021 were collected, and the characteristics of the patients of 5p duplication syndrome reported in the literatures were summarized and analyzed.Results:The boy was 1 year and 5 months old at the time of admission. The main clinical manifestations included growth restriction and developmental delay after birth, accompanied by craniofacial deformities. At 7 months old, he was diagnosed as epilepsy due to convulsive limbs. At present, he is 2 years old, still has recurrent convulsions, can not raise his head, sit alone, crawl and talk, with hypotonia. Repeated cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed agenesis of the corpus callosum. The child′s parents had normal phenotypes. His copy number variation sequencing results showed partial overlap of chromosome 5p15.1-5p15.33 (chr5:1934522-18905656), which was determined as pathogenic copy number variation according to copy number variations evaluation criteria, and no abnormality was detected in his parents. According to the retrieval strategy set in this study, 10 literatures (all in English, reporting 17 cases) were retrieved, and a total of 22 5p duplication syndrome patients (including this case and 4 cases included in databases) were included. Seventeen of the 22 patients were younger than 14 years old with a onset age of 7 (0, 18) years, and the male to female ratio was about 1.1∶1. Among the 22 patients, craniofacial malformation was found in 19 patients, developmental disorder in 18, bone/muscle dysplasia in 15, autism in 11, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 9, mental retardation in 8, obesity in 5, epilepsy in 5, congenital heart dysplasia in 2, hypotonia in 4, strabismus/hyperopia in 2, and corpus callosum dysplasia, endocrine dysfunction, inguinal hernia as well as umbilical hernia in 1, respectively. There were 19 cases of multiple malformation and 3 cases of single malformation.Conclusions:5p15.1-5p15.33 duplication may be the genetic cause of this child. Facial malformation, developmental delay, skeletal/muscular dysplasia, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are the main clinical phenotypes of 5p copy number duplication. Corpus callosum dysplasia may be an extended phenotype of chromosome duplication at this location.

Competencias narrativas escritas en niños con trastornos del desarrollo / Narrative in children with developmental disorders

RESUMEN INTRODUCCIÓN: Los aspectos narrativos del lenguaje constituyen una competencia en el desarrollo funcional de la comunicación, la cual predice el desempeño académico de los niños. En este trabajo se estudia la narrativa en niños con trastornos del desarrollo, a fin de hacer diagnósticos precoces y adoptar mejores estrategias terapéuticas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: Estudio controlado analítico de corte transversal. Se incluyen sujetos de 9 a 17 años, evaluados con la prueba de teoría de la mente (TOM) de Sally y Anne, quienes luego deben narrar la historia de la prueba. Se evaluó el número total de palabras (TP), la cantidad total de oraciones (TO), el promedio de palabras por oración (PPO), la sintaxis (S) y la capacidad expresar la idea central del relato (ICR). RESULTADOS: Participaron 61 sujetos. El grupo 1 o control con 24, el grupo 2 con 37 sujetos (con diagnóstico de trastorno por déficit de atención (TDA), trastorno de la lectoescritura (TLE), trastorno del espectro autista (TEA) y discapacidad intelectual (DI)). En teoría de la mente respondieron correctamente 18 participantes del grupo 1, 7 participantes con TDA, 4 de los TLE, 5 sujetos con DI y 3 sujetos con TEA. Los sujetos del grupo 2 presentaron distintos grados de dificultades narrativas según el trastorno. A mayor edad utilizaron mayor cantidad de palabras, sin distinción por sexo. CONCLUSIÓN: Es importante estudiar los aspectos narrativos del lenguaje en pediatría puesto que las habilidades requeridas incluyen aspectos estructurales del lenguaje y habilidades cognitivas que es necesario tener en cuenta para definir estrategias terapéuticas más precisas y acordes a las necesidades de este grupo de pacientes.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Narrative is a competence in the functional development of communication that predicts academic performance in children. We studied narrative in children with developmental disorders in order to develop better therapeutic strategies. METHODS: Cross-sectional analytical controlled study. We included subjects age 9 to 17 years old, evaluated with the Mind Theory Test (TOM) of Sally and Anne in which they have to repeat a story. We evaluated total number of words (TP), total number of sentences (TO), average words per sentence (PPO), syntax (S) and ability to express the central idea of the story (ICR). RESULTS: We included 61 subjects in two groups. Group 1 or control with 24, Group 2 with 37 subjects (with a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder (ADD), literacy disorder (TLE), autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID)). TOM 3 was correctly answered by 18 subjects of Group 1, 7 of ADD, 4 of the TLE, 5 of the ID and 3 participants with TEA. The Group 2 presented different degrees of narrative difficulties. All children said more words when they grew up without distinction by gender. DISCUSSION: Children with developmental disorders present a lower performance in narrative aspects depending of the disorder, which allows to carry out therapeutic strategies according to their needs.

Sintomatología depresiva y factores asociados en madres de niños con parálisis cerebral en rehabilitación

RESUMEN Introducción: La madre cumple un rol fundamental en la rehabilitación de un niño con parálisis cerebral por eso la importancia de conocer su salud mental. Objetivo: Determinar la sintomatología depresiva y los factores asociados en madres de niños con parálisis cerebral en rehabilitación. Métodos: Estudio observacional de corte transversal en 112 madres de niños con parálisis cerebral del Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, ciudad de Lima. Se aplicó el inventario de depresión de Beck II para sintomatología depresiva y el registro de factores de la madre y del niño. Resultados: Presentaron sintomatología depresiva leve/moderada/severa 45,54 %: nivel leve 24,11 %, moderado 16,07 % y severo 5,36 %, representaron el grupo de riesgo. Factores de la madre (p< 0,05): 66,67 % madres solteras/separadas presentaron sintomatología; 57,45 % de pobreza extrema; 55,56 % de familia uniparental/extensa/compuesta; 75 % de las madres sin apoyo; 60 % de relación regular o sin pareja; con sentimiento de culpa 64,71 % y 77,78 % de ocupación obrera/trabajadora del hogar. Factores del niño: 50,55 % de gravedad moderada/severa de discapacidad. Conclusiones: La sintomatología depresiva leve/moderada/severa considerada como grupo de riesgo para depresión, representa 45,54 % y los factores asociados dependientes de la madre son: ser madres solteras o separadas, de pobreza extrema, de familia no nuclear, sin apoyo del padre del niño, relación de pareja regular o no tener pareja, sentimiento de culpa y ser obreras/trabajadoras del hogar. Y como factor dependiente del niño con parálisis cerebral, es la gravedad severa/moderada de la discapacidad que presentó el infante.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Mothers play a fundamental role in the rehabilitation of a child with cerebral palsy, which is why it is important to know on their mental health. Objective: Determine the depressive symptomatology and associated factors in mothers of children with cerebral palsy in rehabilitation. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study in 112 mothers of children with cerebral palsy from the National Institute of Rehabilitation, Lima city. The Beck II depression inventory was applied for depressive symptomatology and the recording of factors of the mother and the child. Results: 45.54% presented mild/moderate/severe depressive symptoms: mild level 24.11%, moderate: 16.07% and severe: 5.36%, represented the risk group. Factors of the mother (p< 0.05): 66.67% single/separated mothers presented symptoms; 57.45% of extreme poverty; 55.56% single-parent/extended/compound family; 75% of mothers without support; 60% regular relationship or with no partner; with guilt 64.71% and 77.78% of worker/domestic worker occupation. Child factors: 50.55% moderate/severe severity of disability. Conclusions: The mild/moderate/severe depressive symptomatology considered as a risk group for depression, represents 45.54% and the associated factors dependent on the mother are: being single or separated mothers, extreme poverty, non-nuclear family, without support from the father of the child, regular relationship or not having a partner, feeling of guilt and being workers/domestic workers. And as a dependent factor of the child with cerebral palsy, it is the severe/moderate severity of the disability that the infant presented.

Modelo de monitoreo de comportamientos inusuales o conglomerados de defectos congénitos en el nivel departamental, distrital y municipal, Colombia, 2018 / Monitoring model of unusual behaviors or conglomerates of birth defects at the departmental, district and municipal levels, Colombia, 2018

Resumen Introducción: La información de la vigilancia en salud pública permite la detección de patrones inusuales en los datos, con el fin de que las respuestas de salud pública sean oportunas y contribuyan a la disminución de la morbimortalidad de la población infantil. Objetivos: Describir un modelo de monitoreo diseñado para la identificación de comportamientos inusuales y conglomerados de defectos congénitos, así como el incremento en la frecuencia del evento en comparación con el número de casos notificados históricamente. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo que incluye el análisis de los casos notificados al Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia en Salud Pública (SIVIGILA) durante los últimos tres años, agrupados y comparados con las prevalencias de acuerdo con lo reportado por el ECLAM. Se usó la distribución de probabilidades de Poisson y se identificó aquellas entidades territoriales en donde se observan diferencias significativas entre lo esperado y lo observado con un valor de significancia < 0,05 (p < 0,05). Resultados: Se identificaron prevalencias superiores en holoprosencefalia, microcefalia, polidactilia, defectos por reducción de miembro inferior y coartación de la aorta. Los comportamientos inusuales de los defectos congénitos de sistema nervioso central se concentran en anencefalia, espina bífida, hidrocefalia, microcefalia. Conclusiones: Las condiciones particulares de cada municipio y/o departamento y el comportamiento de los defectos congénitos en algunas áreas podría indicar que las mujeres en estado de gestación son susceptibles a mayores riesgos en zonas particulares, y que este riesgo en particular podría ser el resultado de diversas inequidades en salud generadas por las interacciones sociales, ambientales y comportamentales.

Abstract Introduction: The public health surveillance information allows the detection of unusual patterns in the data in order that public health responses are timely and contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality of the child population. Objectives: To describe a monitoring model designed for the identification of unusual behaviors and conglomerates of congenital defects, as well as the increase in the frequency of the event in comparison with the number of cases reported historically. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive study that includes the analysis of the cases notified to the Public Health National Surveillance System (SIVIGILA) during the last three years, grouped and compared with the prevalences according to what was reported by the ECLAM. The distribution of Poisson probabilities was used identifying those territorial entities where significant differences were observed between what was expected and what was observed with a value of significance < 0.05 (p < 0.05). Results: Superior prevalences were identified in holoprosencephaly, microcephaly, polydactyly, defects due to reduction of the lower limb and coarctation of the aorta. Unusual behaviors of congenital defects of the central nervous system are concentrated in anencephaly, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, microcephaly. Conclusions: The conditions of each municipality and / or department and the behavior of congenital defects in some areas could indicate that women in pregnancy are susceptible to greater risks areas, and that this risk could be the result of various health inequities generated by social, environmental, and behavioral interactions.

Neurological, cognitive and learning evaluation of students who were born preterm / Avaliação neurológica, cognitiva e de aprendizagem de escolares nascidos prematuros

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the cognitive and academic profile of preterm newborns at school age and to determine the factors related to prematurity and sociodemographic profile that influence these results. Methods: Patients aged 6-14 years old that were assisted in the preterm follow-up clinic were recruited. The cognitive, academic, and neurological capacities were accessed through a detailed evaluation with a child neurologist, a neuropsychologist and a psychopedagogue. Neonatal data were collected from patient records. Results: 97 children were included and 14 were excluded from the study, resulting in 83 children. Gestational age (GA) was 30±3 weeks and weight at birth was 1138g (605 to 4185g). Poor performance was shown in 38.4% for writing, 57.5% for reading and 42.5% for mathematics. The mean total intelligence quotient (IQ) was 96±14.9 points, and 10.9% were considered altered. Children with unstructured families presented 78.3% of failure in reading tests (p=0.029). The multivariate analysis showed association between GA at birth and classic mini-mental score (p=0.043), total IQ (p=0.047), perceptual organization IQ (p=0.035), and processing speed IQ (p=0.036). There was also association between weight at birth and the classic (p=0.004) and adapted (p=0.007) mini-mental scores; invasive mechanic ventilation duration and classic mini-mental (p=0.049); and lower maternal age and processing speed IQ (p=0.033). Conclusions: Preterm infants at school age had high frequency of failure in cognitive and academic evaluation tests. Learning difficulties are high among them. Multiple neonatal variables are related with altered cognitive and students development.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil de desenvolvimento cognitivo e acadêmico de recém-nascidos pré-termo em idade escolar e indicar os fatores relacionados à prematuridade e ao perfil sociodemográfico que influenciam esse resultado. Métodos: Recrutaram-se pacientes com idades entre 6 e 14 anos que fizeram seguimento no ambulatório de acompanhamento de prematuros. As capacidades cognitiva, acadêmica e neurológica foram acessadas por avaliação pormenorizada com neuropediatra, neuropsicóloga e psicopedagoga. Buscaram-se os dados neonatais nos prontuários. Resultados: Foram incluídos 97 recém-nascidos pré-termo e excluídos 14, resultando em 83 crianças. A idade gestacional foi 30±3 semanas e o peso de nascimento 1138g (605; 4185g). Tiveram mau desempenho em escrita 38,4%, leitura 57,5% e matemática 42,5%. A média de quociente de inteligência total foi de 96,0±14,9 pontos, sendo 10,9% considerados alterados. Crianças com famílias desestruturadas apresentaram 78,3% de falha de leitura (p=0,029). Pela regressão multivariada, houve relação entre idade gestacional ao nascimento e pontuação no miniexame do estado mental (minimental) clássico (p=0,043), quociente de inteligência total (p=0,047), quociente de inteligência organização perceptual (p=0,035) e quociente de inteligência velocidade de processamento (p=0,036); entre peso ao nascer e minimental clássico (p=0,004) e adaptado (p=0,007); entre tempo de ventilação mecânica invasiva e minimental clássico (p=0,049); e entre idade materna mais baixa e quociente de inteligência velocidade de processamento (p=0,033). Conclusões: Os recém-nascidos pré-termo apresentaram alta frequência de falha nos testes de avaliação cognitiva e acadêmica. Uma série de intercorrências neonatais apresenta associação com alterações no desenvolvimento cognitivo e escolar.

Intervención fisioterapéutica en una niña con síndrome de Pfeiffer. Reporte de caso / Physiotherapeutic intervention in a girl with Pfeiffer syndrome. Case Report

Introducción: El síndrome de Pfeiffer es un trastorno congénito autosómico dominante que afecta a 1 entre 100.000 nacidos vivos. El objetivo de este reporte de caso es describir la intervención fisioterapéutica en una niña con síndrome de Pfeiffer tipo 2, la cual se basó en el concepto del entrenamiento centrado en tareas específicas, el análisis de cambios en el control postural y la educación y empoderamiento a los padres. Presentación del caso: Niña que inició tratamiento de fisioterapia con una frecuencia de dos sesiones semanales, desde los 6 meses hasta los dos años, cuando logró deambular por ocho pasos consecutivos de manera independiente. A los 12 meses logró la sedestación independiente, a los 18 meses la niña se ubicó en el percentil 50 según la escala Alberta y a los 24 meses pudo dar ocho pasos seguidos sin asistencia y realizar alcances y manipulación bimanual con objetos modificados. Conclusión: El entrenamiento basado en tareas y el enfoque centrado en el paciente y su familia permitieron que una niña con síndrome de Pfeiffer tipo 2, con deficiencias en las funciones y estructuras corporales musculoesqueléticas y relacionadas con el movimiento, lograra deambular por ocho pasos de manera independiente a los dos años y se interesara por manipular y explorar su entorno inmediato. La intervención en fisioterapia puede beneficiar a los niños con síndrome de Pfeiffer o síndromes similares, que evolucionan con deficiencias en su neurodesarrollo, mejorando su calidad de vida.

Introduction: Pfeiffer syndrome is an autosomal dominant congenital disorder that affects 1 in 100,000 live births. Variable malformations, developmental delay, and neurological complications occur. The objective of this case report is to describe the physical therapy intervention on a girl with type 2 Pfeiffer syndrome, which was based on the concept of training focused on specific tasks, the analysis of changes in postural control, and education and empowerment to parents. Case presentation: A girl who began physiotherapy treatment with a frequency of two weekly sessions, from 6 months to two years, when she managed to walk independently for eight consecutive steps. At 12 months, she achieved independent sitting, at 18 months the girl was in the 50th percentile according to the Alberta scale, and at 24 months she was able to take eight continuous steps without assistance and perform bimanual reaching and manipulation with modified objects. Conclusion: Task-based training and a patient and family-centered approach allowed a girl with type 2 Pfeiffer syndrome, with deficiencies in musculoskeletal and movement-related bodily functions and structures, to ambulate independently for eight steps at two years and to be interested in manipulating and exploring her immediate environment. Physiotherapy intervention can benefit children with Pfeiffer syndrome or similar syndromes, who evolve with deficiencies in their development, improving their quality of life.