Leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts (LCC): 5 cases and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts (LCC) is a rare autosomal recessive cerebral angiomatous-like microangiopathy characterized by diffuse and asymmetric white-matter lesions associated with multiple calcifications and cysts. The disease is caused by SNORD118 mutations. The entire clinical spectrum of LCC is not yet fully determined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To define the clinical spectrum of LCC, we analyzed data from recently diagnosed cases and from the litterature. Both clinical and imaging features from our five LCC cases harboring compound heterozygous SNORD118 mutations were presented and all cases reported in the litterature reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety-two LCC cases including our five patients were identified. Consanguinity was rare (4%), and 97% of cases were symptomatic. Mean age of first clinical manifestations was 16.1±16.1 years (range 1 month-71 years) and was earlier in men (10.3±14.3 years) than in women (20.2±22.8 years) (P=0.02). The main inaugural symptoms were seizures (36%; mean age at onset: 5.2±9.5 years) and progressive neurological symptoms including ataxia, dystonia and spasticity (26%; 27.8±23.6 years). Intracranial hypertension was less frequently observed (14%), mostly in adults (mean age 31.5±13.2 years). Ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes were inaugural symptoms in two adults (2%). During follow-up, most patients developed progressive extrapyramidal, cerebellar and pyramidal signs (83%), cognitive decline (56%), seizures (37%), intracranial hypertension (30%) or stroke (2%). CONCLUSION: In LCC, the clinical spectrum is largely heterogeneous and the course of the disease appears highly variable in contrast to other hereditary cerebral small vessel diseases.

The natural history of classic galactosemia: lessons from the GalNet registry.

BACKGROUND: Classic galactosemia is a rare inborn error of carbohydrate metabolism, caused by a severe deficiency of the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT). A galactose-restricted diet has proven to be very effective to treat the neonatal life-threatening manifestations and has been the cornerstone of treatment for this severe disease. However, burdensome complications occur despite a lifelong diet. For rare diseases, a patient disease specific registry is fundamental to monitor the lifespan pathology and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of potential therapies. In 2014, the international Galactosemias Network (GalNet) developed a web-based patient registry for this disease, the GalNet Registry. The aim was to delineate the natural history of classic galactosemia based on a large dataset of patients. METHODS: Observational data derived from 15 countries and 32 centers including 509 patients were acquired between December 2014 and July 2018. RESULTS: Most affected patients experienced neonatal manifestations (79.8%) and despite following a diet developed brain impairments (85.0%), primary ovarian insufficiency (79.7%) and a diminished bone mineral density (26.5%). Newborn screening, age at onset of dietary treatment, strictness of the galactose-restricted diet, p.Gln188Arg mutation and GALT enzyme activity influenced the clinical picture. Detection by newborn screening and commencement of diet in the first week of life were associated with a more favorable outcome. A homozygous p.Gln188Arg mutation, GALT enzyme activity of ≤ 1% and strict galactose restriction were associated with a less favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: This study describes the natural history of classic galactosemia based on the hitherto largest data set.

[Mild hemophilia A fortuitously discovered during Henoch-Schönlein purpura]. / Découverte fortuite d'une hémophilie A mineure à l'occasion d'un purpura rhumatoïde.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura is a common form of immunological vasculitis in children. Hemophilia A is a genetic disorder, inherited in a X-linked recessive pattern, and characterized by spontaneous hemorrhage or prolonged bleeding due to factor VIII deficiency. The clinical signs depend on the severity of factor VIII deficiency. We herein report the case of a 4-year-old boy admitted to the emergency room for typical rheumatoid purpura, associated with a lengthening of aPTT, whose exploration had uncovered mild hemophilia A. Laboratory assays should explore lengthening of aPTT: firstly the presence of lupus anticoagulant without bleeding risk, in an inflammatory context; secondly a deficiency of VWF and one of the factors involved in the extrinsic coagulation pathway associated with bleeding risk.

Glycogen storage disease type 1 and diabetes: learning by comparing and contrasting the two disorders.

Glycogen storage disease type 1 (GSD1) and diabetes may look at first like totally opposite disorders, as diabetes is characterized by uncontrolled hyperglycaemia, whereas GSD1 is characterized by severe fasting hypoglycaemia. Diabetes is due to a failure to suppress endogenous glucose production (EGP) in the postprandial state because of either a lack of insulin or insulin resistance. In contrast, GSD1 is characterized by a lack of EGP. However, both diseases share remarkably similar patterns in terms of pathophysiology such as the long-term progression of renal dysfunction and hepatic steatosis leading to renal failure and the development of hepatic tumours, respectively. Thus, much may be learned from considering the similarities between GSD1 and diabetes, especially in the metabolic pathways underlying nephropathy and fatty liver, and perhaps even more from their differences. In this review, the differences between diabetes and GSD1 are first highlighted, as both are characterized by alterations in EGP. The molecular pathways involved in liver pathologies, including steatosis, hepatomegaly (glycogenic hepatopathy) and the development of liver tumours are also compared. These pathologies are mainly due to the accumulation of lipids and/or glycogen in hepatocytes. Finally, the similar pathways leading to nephropathy in both diabetic and GSD1 patients are described. In conclusion, comparisons of these pathologies should lead to a better understanding of the crucial role of EGP in the control of glucose and energy homoeostasis. Moreover, it may highlight similar therapeutic targets for the two disorders. Thus, this review suggests that the treatment of adult patients with either GSD1 or diabetes could be carried out by the same specialists-diabetologists.

[Construction and validation of an evaluation tool of sexual health using self-administered questionnaires for an application to metabolic diseases]. / Mise au point et validation d'un outil d'évaluation de la santé sexuelle sous forme d'auto-questionnaires pour une application aux maladies métaboliques.

AIM: To elaborate and validate in general population a survey built with self-administered questionnaires in French about evaluation of sexual health for an application to men and women with metabolic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study built with four questionnaires (socio-familial environment [MSPSS scale], self-esteem [Rosenberg scale], anxiety and depression scale [Sigmund and Snaith scale], and male [BISF-M] or female [BISF-W] sexuality) translated in French and distributed to 232 men and 260 women. RESULTS: Hundred and eleven men aged 18 to 56 years and 142 women aged 20 to 60 years answered the self-administered questionnaire. Analysis showed several links between self-esteem, anxiety and depression and the different domains of male sexuality, justifying their association. Comparison between men and women confirmed the differences of sexual approach between the two sexes. CONCLUSION: Results in our population were concordant with those already reported in literature, indicating the validity and the reliability of our questionnaire and its multiparametric approach. Data obtained in this population will allow to use this multiparametric tool with patients affected by a metabolic disease.

Are children born after infertility treatment at increased risk of retinoblastoma?

BACKGROUND: Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most frequent eye tumour in children, with an incidence of 1 in 15-20,000 births. It accounts for 11% of all cancers in the first year of life. Except for the hereditary forms, its causes are not well-known. Studies have recently suggested an increased risk of RB among children born after IVF, but the relevant literature is sparse. We assessed the association between infertility treatment, subfertility and RB. METHODS: We included all children living in France diagnosed with RB between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2006 at the Institut Curie, the national reference centre for RB diagnosis and treatment. We used multiple logistic regression to compare them with a national sample of births in France in 1998 and 2003 (n = 28 170). RESULTS: The study included 244 non-familial RB cases. The risk of RB increased with maternal age [adjusted odds ratio (adj OR) = 2.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-3.22 at 35-39 years compared with younger than 25 years and adj OR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.22-4.81 at 40 years or older], but the associations with IVF (adj OR = 1.37, 95% CI 0.64-2.95) and ovarian stimulation or intrauterine insemination (adj OR = 1.35, 95% CI 0.77-2.38) were not statistically significant after adjustment for maternal age and tobacco use. Among women who had no infertility treatment, the risk of RB was significantly increased when time to pregnancy exceeded 24 months (adj OR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.17-3.48) compared with time to pregnancy ≤ 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our study did not observe a significantly increased risk of RB associated with infertility treatment, in particular with IVF. But we did find an increased risk for women for whom time to pregnancy exceeded 24 months.

[What evidence for chest physiotherapy in infants hospitalized for acute viral bronchiolitis?]. / Place actuelle de la kinésithérapie respiratoire dans la prise en charge de la bronchiolite aiguë du nourrisson hospitalisé

This article updates the respiratory physiotherapy technique used in France, and the rationale for its use. This paper reports the results of a recent randomized clinical trial that did not show any efficiency of respiratory physiotherapy (using increased expiratory acceleration) in infants hospitalized for a first episode of bronchiolitis. Further trials are necessary for evaluating this technique in infants who are not hospitalized.

Chromosomal breakpoints characterization of two supernumerary ring chromosomes 20.

The occurrence of an additional ring chromosome 20 is a rare chromosome abnormality, and no common phenotype has been yet described. We report on two new patients presenting with a supernumerary ring chromosome 20 both prenatally diagnosed. The first presented with intrauterine growth retardation and some craniofacial dysmorphism, and the second case had a normal phenotype except for obesity. Conventional cytogenetic studies showed for each patient a small supernumerary marker chromosome (SMC). Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, these SMCs corresponded to ring chromosomes 20 including a part of short and long arms of chromosome 20. Detailed molecular cytogenetic characterization showed different breakpoints (20p11.23 and 20q11.23 for Patient 1 and 20p11.21 and 20q11.21 for Patient 2) and sizes of the two ring chromosomes 20 (13.6 Mb for case 1 and 4.8 Mb for case 2). Review of the 13 case reports of an extra r(20) ascertained postnatally (8 cases) and prenatally (5 cases) showed varying degrees of phenotypic abnormalities. We document a detailed molecular cytogenetic chromosomal breakpoints characterization of two cases of supernumerary ring chromosomes 20. These results emphasize the need to characterize precisely chromosomal breakpoints of supernumerary ring chromosomes 20 in order to establish genotype-phenotype correlation. This report may be helpful for prediction of natural history and outcome, particularly in prenatal diagnosis.

Inter-observer agreement between physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists for respiratory clinical evaluation in bronchiolitis.

Care providers for children with bronchiolitis use various tools to evaluate respiratory status. The use of a single tool by different types of care provider requires a high level of inter-observer agreement, an aspect rarely studied. This study, involving 82 physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists aimed to evaluate inter-observer agreement for clinical evaluations in children hospitalized for a first episode of bronchiolitis. Respiratory evaluation included three frequently reported parameters of respiratory status: respiratory rate, retraction signs, and wheezing. The frequency of concordance for observers from the same and from different care provider groups was assessed using a weighted kappa statistic and considering all possible combinations of care providers. We also calculated inter-provider agreement as a function of patient age, regardless of care provider type. Overall inter-observer agreement for all provider pairs was 93.1%, with a weighted kappa statistic of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.66-0.78), indicating substantial agreement, with no difference as a function of pair composition. Inter-observer agreements for the various age groups ranged from 87% to 93%, with kappa scores ranging from 0.62 to 0.78. We conclude that a simple clinical evaluation for respiratory status assessment has a high level of inter-observer agreement within and between physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists. Thus, once the validity of this test has been confirmed in a large population sample, it should be possible to use this test to monitor children hospitalized with bronchiolitis and as an endpoint in clinical trials.

Binder phenotype: clinical and etiological heterogeneity of the so-called Binder maxillonasal dysplasia in prenatally diagnosed cases, and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Prenatal Binder profile is a well known clinical phenotype, defined by a flat profile without nasal eminence, contrasting with nasal bones of normal length. Binder profile results of a hypoplasia of the nasal pyramid (sometimes referred to as maxillonasal dysplasia). We report 8 fetuses prenatally diagnosed as Binder phenotype, and discuss their postnatal diagnoses. METHODS: Ultrasonographic detailed measurements in 2D and 3D were done on the 8 fetuses with Binder profile, and were compared with postnatal phenotype. RESULTS: All fetuses have an association of verticalized nasal bones, abnormal convexity of the maxilla, and some degree of chondrodysplasia punctata. The final diagnoses included fetal warfarin syndrome (one patient), infantile sialic acid storage (one patient), probable Keutel syndrome (one patient), and five unclassifiable types of chondrodysplasia punctata. CONCLUSION: This series demonstrates the heterogeneity of prenatally diagnosed Binder phenotype, and the presence of chondrodysplasia punctata in all cases. An anomaly of vitamin K metabolism, possibly due to environmental factors, is suspected in these mild chondrodysplasia punctata. We recommend considering early prophylactic vitamin K supplementation in every suspected acquired vitamin K deficiency including incoercible vomiting of the pregnancy.

Molecular cytogenetic characterization of a 4p15.1-pter duplication and a 4q35.1-qter deletion in a recombinant of chromosome 4 pericentric inversion.

To date, 10 cases of recombinant of chromosome 4 pericentric inversion involving sub-bands p14p15 and q35 have been described. We report on the first case analyzed using array-CGH in a female infant presenting psychomotor and growth retardation, facial anomalies, axial hypotonia, short neck, wide spaced nipples and cardiac defects. Conventional karyotype associated to FISH revealed a recombinant chromosome 4 with partial 4p duplication and 4q deletion derived from a paternal pericentric inversion. Array-CGH allowed us to precise rec4 breakpoints: the proposita carried a small 4.82-4.97 Mb 4q35.1 terminal deletion and a large 35.3-36.7 Mb 4p15.1 terminal duplication. Duplications of the distal 2/3 of short arm of chromosome 4 give rise to recognizable craniofacial features but no specific visceral malformation. A contrario small terminal 4q deletions are associated with cardiac defects. This case and review of literature suggest that two genes ArgBP2 and PDLIM3, located at 4q35.1 and both involved in cardiac and muscle development, could be responsible for cardiac defects observed in terminal 4q35.1 deletions.

Pure and complete trisomy 18p due to a supernumerary marker chromosome associated with moderate mental retardation.

Trisomy for the short arm of chromosome 18 or trisomy 18p, is rarely described. We report on a 13-year-old boy with minor facial anomalies, mental retardation, bilateral cryptorchidism associated with a de novo supernumerary marker chromosome (SMC). Using fluorescence in situ hybridization and comparative genomic hybridization analyses, this SMC corresponded to the p arm of chromosome 18 associated with a centromere of either chromosome 13 or 21 and nucleolus organizing regions (NORs). We report here the first case of a pure and complete trisomy 18p due to a SMC. This report and review of literature confirm that the main phenotypic anomaly associated with trisomy 18p is moderate mental retardation.

Terminal 14q32.33 deletion: genotype-phenotype correlation.

We report on a female infant presenting with psychomotor retardation and facial dysmorphism. Cytogenetic studies showed an abnormal chromosome 14 with ectopic NOR sequences at the extremity of the long arm with a terminal 14q32.33 deletion. Review of the eight cases with pure terminal 14q32.3 deletions described to date documented that our observation is the smallest terminal 14q deletion ever reported. Thus, genotype-phenotype correlation allows us to delimit the critical region for mental retardation, hypotonia, epi-telecanthus, short bulbous nose, long philtrum, thin upper lip, and small mouth observed in 14 qter deletions to the subtelomeric 1.6 Mb of chromosome 14.

[Influenza vaccination coverage rate in children with underlying chronic disorders in 7 French pediatric wards]. / Couverture vaccinale vis-à-vis de la grippe chez les enfants de la région parisienne atteints d'une affection de longue durée.

UNLABELLED: In France, annual influenza vaccination is recommended and free of charge for children with chronic disease (chronic lung, heart or kidney disease, diabetes, haemoglobinopathy, immune deficiency). The national goal is to reach 75% influenza vaccination coverage by 2008, but data on coverage in high risk children are limited. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the influenza vaccination coverage in children with an underlying chronic health condition in the Paris region, during in- or out-patient visit at hospital. METHODS: A multicentre cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out over 2 months before the 2004-2005 flu vaccination campaign in 7 French paediatric hospitals (Paris region). Inclusion criteria for this survey were: children aged 6 months to 18 years, with an underlying chronic disease requiring annual influenza vaccination, with a vaccination card available, so as to check their vaccination status. Reasons for non vaccination were recorded. RESULTS: Data from 239 children were analysed. 56% of patients were males (mean age: 8.1 years). Two patients had 2 separate underlying chronic disorders; 69% had a haemoglobinopathy, 16.3% had a chronic respiratory disease, and 7.5% had diabetes. The influenza vaccination rate for 2003-2004 was 43.7% (haemoglobinopathy: 55.5%; chronic respiratory diseases: 12.8%). This rate increased from 20.4% to 43.7% between 1999 and 2003. Less than 16% of parents remembered having received a voucher for free vaccination from the National Health Insurance Agency. CONCLUSION: Efforts are still needed to achieve the 2008 objectives of 75% coverage.

[Cocaine and trisomy 8 associated with prenatal diagnosis of corpus callosum agenesis]. / Cocaïne et trisomie 8 associées au diagnostic prénatal d'agénésie du corps calleux.

We report the case of a newborn presenting an agenesis of corpus callosum (ACC) discovered in the prenatal period and initially related to cocaine exposure during the first trimester of gestation. The cytogenetic analysis revealed a trisomy 8 mosaicism. The putative role of prenatal cocaine exposure and mosaicism for chromosome 8 in ACC are discussed. This report emphasizes the specific analysis of chromosome 8 by using fluorescence in situ hybridization as a complement to routine cytogenetic analysis for prenatal diagnosis of ACC.

Fetal type IV glycogen storage disease: clinical, enzymatic, and genetic data of a pure muscular form with variable and early antenatal manifestations in the same family.

We report on a family of three consecutive fetuses affected by type IV glycogen storage disease (GSD IV). In all cases, cervical cystic hygroma was observed on the 12-week-ultrasound examination. During the second trimester, fetal hydrops developed in the first pregnancy whereas fetal akinesia appeared in the second pregnancy. The diagnosis was suggested by microscopic examination of fetal tissues showing characteristic inclusions exclusively in striated fibers, then confirmed by enzymatic studies on frozen muscle. Antenatal diagnosis was performed on the third and fourth pregnancies: cervical cystic hygroma and low glycogen branching enzyme (GBE) activity on chorionic villi sample (CVS) were detected in the third pregnancy whereas ultrasound findings were normal and GBE activity within normal range on CVS in the fourth pregnancy. Molecular analysis showed that the mother was heterozygous for a c.1471G > C mutation in exon 12, leading to the replacement of an alanine by a tyrosine at codon 491 (p.A491T); the father was heterozygous for a c.895G > T mutation in exon 7, leading to the creation of a stop codon at position 299 (p.G299X). GSD IV has to be considered in a context of cervical cystic hygroma with normal karyotype, particularly when second trimester hydrops or akinesia develop. Enzymatic analysis of GBE must be performed on CVS or amniotic cells to confirm the diagnosis. Characteristic intracellular inclusions are specific to the disease and should be recognized, even in macerated tissues after fetal death. Genetic analysis of the GBE gene may help to shed some light on the puzzling diversity of GSD IV phenotypes.