Dried blood spot-based newborn screening for bile acid synthesis disorders, Zellweger spectrum disorder, and Niemann-Pick type C1 by detection of bile acid metabolites.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether it is possible to screen for bile acid synthesis disorders (BASDs) including peroxisome biogenesis disorder 1a (PBD1A) and Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) at the time of newborn mass screening by measuring the intermediary metabolites of bile acid (BA) synthesis. METHODS: Patients with 3ß-hydroxy-ΔSuchy et al. (2021)5-C27-steroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (HSD3B7) deficiency (n = 2), 3-oxo-ΔPandak and Kakiyama (n.d.)4-steroid 5ß-reductase (SRD5B1) deficiency (n = 1), oxysterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7B1) deficiency (n = 1), PBD1A (n = 1), and NPC1 (n = 2) with available dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected in the neonatal period were included. DBSs from healthy neonates at 4 days of age (n = 1055) were also collected for the control. Disease specific BAs were measured by newly optimized liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with short run cycle (5-min/run). The results were validated by comparing with those obtained by the conventional condition with longer run cycle (76-min/run). RESULTS: In healthy specimens, taurocholic acid and cholic acid were the two major BAs which constituted approximately 80% in the measured BAs. The disease marker BAs presented <10%. In BASDs, the following BAs were determined for the disease specific markers: Glyco/tauro 3ß,7α,12α-trihydroxy-5-cholenoic acid 3-sulfate for HSD3B7 deficiency (>70%); glyco/tauro 7α,12α-dihydroxy-3-oxo-4-cholenoic acid for SRD5B1 deficiency (54%); tauro 3ß-hydroxy-5-cholenoic acid 3-sulfate for CYP7B1 deficiency (94%); 3α,7α,12α-trihydroxy-5ß-cholestanoic acid for PBD1A (78%); and tauro 3ß,7ß-dihydroxy-5-cholenoic acid 3-sulfate for NPC1 (26%). *The % in the parenthesis indicates the portion found in the patient's specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Early postnatal screening for BASDs, PBD1A and NPC1 is feasible with the described DBS-based method by measuring disease specific BAs. The present method is a quick and affordable test for screening for these inherited diseases.

A Case of Neonate with Split Cord Malformation Presenting with Hypoplasia of the Left Lower Extremity.

The frequency of split cord malformation (SCM) is approximately 1 in 5000 births; however, patients are rarely diagnosed with SCM in the neonatal period. Moreover, there have been no reports of SCM with hypoplasia of the lower extremities at birth. A 3-day-old girl was transferred to our hospital for a thorough examination of hypoplasia of the left lower extremity and lumbosacral abnormalities detected after birth. The spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a split spinal cord in a single dural tube. Based on the MRI findings, the patient was diagnosed with SCM type II. Following discussions with the parents, pediatricians, neurosurgeons, psychologists, and social workers, we decided to perform untethering to prevent further neurological impairment after achieving a sufficient body weight. The patient was discharged on day 25 of life. Early diagnosis and intervention may improve the neurological prognosis in terms of motor function, bladder and bowel function, and superficial sensation; thus, clinicians should report infrequent findings that may lead to SCM diagnosis. SCM should be differentiated in patients with left-right differences in the appearance of the lower extremity, particularly in those with lumbosacral abnormalities.

A COL4A1 variant in a neonate with multiple intracranial hemorrhages and congenital cataracts.

A 2-day-old neonate presented with seizures, multiple intracranial hemorrhages, and bilateral congenital cataracts. Targeted next-generation sequencing of the collagen type IV alpha 1 chain (COL4A1) gene revealed a heterozygous de novo missense variant (NM_001845.6:c.2291G>A/p.Gly764Asp). This missense variant adds to the compendium of COL4A1 variants and is associated with a COL4A1-related disorder.

Postnatal relative adrenal insufficiency results in methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in preterm infants: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: To investigate the relationship between early-life stress and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene methylation, which may result in long-lasting neurodevelopmental impairment, we performed a longitudinal analysis of the methylation ratio within the GR gene promoter 1F region using next-generation sequencing in preterm infants.Cell-free DNA was extracted from the frozen serum of 19 preterm birth infants at birth and at 1 and 2 months after birth. All were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital between August 2014 and May 2016 and suffered from chronic lung disease (CLD).Through bisulfite amplicon sequencing using an Illumina Miseq system and Bismark-0.15.0 software, we identified the rate of cytosine methylation. Results: Patients' sex and body weight standard deviation were extracted as the associated independent variables at birth. Sex, glucocorticoid administration for treating CLD, and postnatal invasive procedures (surgical operation and blood sampling) were extracted as the associated independent variables at 1 month. Methylation rates increased significantly between postnatal 1 and 2 months at 9 of the 39 CpG sites. Postnatal glucocorticoid administration to treat circulatory collapse was the most-associated independent variable with a positive regression coefficient for a change in methylation rate at these nine CpG sites. It also influenced the methylation ratio at 22 of the 39 CpG sites at 2 months of age. The standard deviation (SD) score at birth was extracted as an independent variable, with a negative regression coefficient at 9 of the 22 CpG sites together with glucocorticoid administration. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that a prenatal environment that results in intrauterine growth restriction and postnatal relative adrenal insufficiency requiring glucocorticoid administration leads to GR gene methylation. That, in turn, may result in neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Genetic Analysis of Japanese Children With Acute Recurrent and Chronic Pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVES: Causes of acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP) or chronic pancreatitis (CP) are sometimes difficult to determine in children. In such patients, genetic analysis may prove helpful. The present study analyzed mutations of cationic trypsinogen (PRSS1), serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1 (SPINK1), chymotrypsin C (CTRC), and carboxypeptidase A1 (CPA1) and investigated the clinical features of children with these mutations. METHODS: Genetic analyses of mutations in these 4 genes were conducted in 128 patients with ARP or CP. Characteristics of the patients showing mutations were investigated using medical records. RESULTS: Fifty of the 128 (39.1%) subjects had at least 1 mutation (median age at onset, 7.6 years). Abdominal pain was the presenting symptom of pancreatitis in 48 of the 50 patients (96%). Fifteen of those 50 patients (30.0%) had a family history of pancreatitis. Gene mutations were present in PRSS1 in 26 patients, SPINK1 in 23, CTRC in 3, and CPA1 in 5. In the 31 patients with mutations in SPINK1, CTRC, or CPA1, 16 (51.6%) had homozygous or heterozygous mutations with other mutations. Three patients underwent surgery and another 4 patients underwent endoscopy to manage ARP or CP. Although 3 of the 7 patients complained of mild abdominal pain, none of those 7 patients experienced any obvious episode of ARP after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric patients with idiopathic ARP and CP, genetic analysis is useful for identifying the cause of pancreatitis. Early endoscopic or surgical treatment prevents ARP by extending the interval between episodes of pancreatitis in this population.

Scoring system for the prediction of severe acute pancreatitis in children.

BACKGROUND: The lack of an accurate scoring system for pediatric acute pancreatitis could cause delays in appropriate clinical management and increase the risk of progressive life-threatening complications. We investigated a modified Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (JPN) scoring system that uses pediatric systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) score, age, and weight to establish a more useful scoring system for children. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients with acute pancreatitis who were admitted to Juntendo University Hospital between 1985 and 2011. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the pediatric JPN scoring system were calculated and then compared with those of previously developed scoring systems. RESULTS: The patient group consisted of 145 patients (88 girls, 57 boys). The pediatric JPN score had greater sensitivity (80%) than the Ranson (60%), modified Glasgow (50%), and DeBanto (60%) scores. The specificity was 96% for the pediatric JPN score, 94% for the Ranson score, 99% for the modified Glasgow score, and 86% for the DeBanto score. CONCLUSION: The pediatric JPN score can be used to predict severe acute pancreatitis during the initial medical assessment.

Prophylaxis for ribavirin-related anemia using eicosapentaenoic acid in chronic hepatitis C patients.

BACKGROUND: Ribavirin-related anemia is a serious side-effect of the pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy used for hepatitis C, and may be cause for a reduction in ribavirin dose or even cessation of treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prophylactic effects of oral eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation on ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia in pediatric and young adult patients. METHODS: Twelve chronic hepatitis C patients ranging in age from 3 to 21 years (mean, 13.9 ± 5.1 years) who received pegylated interferon α-2b and ribavirin combination therapy were randomized to either the control group (n = 6) or EPA group (n = 6). Blood samples were collected before, and at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after treatment to measure clinical laboratory parameters. RESULTS: The reduction in hemoglobin levels of the EPA group was significantly ameliorated at 8 and 16 weeks when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in plasma ribavirin concentrations between the two groups during the treatment. However, one patient in the control group had a reduction in ribavirin dose. CONCLUSION: EPA supplementation prevented ribavirin-induced hemolytic anemia during combination therapy with pegylated interferon α-2b and ribavirin in pediatric and young adult patients.

A boy with a severe phenotype of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency.

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder affecting γ-aminobutyric acid degradation. We describe here a boy with a severe phenotype of SSADH deficiency. He was referred because of a developmental delay at 4 months of age. At the age of 8 months, severe seizures developed. The diagnosis of SSADH deficiency was confirmed by an increase in 4-hydroxybutyric acid and heteroallelic mutation in the ALDH5A1 gene. His seizures were successfully treated with high-dose phenobarbital, and the electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities were ameliorated. However, the patient showed a degenerative clinical course with severe neurological deficits. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed abnormal high intensities in the putamina and caudate nuclei on T2-weighted images, followed by marked atrophic changes. The clinical manifestation of our patient indicates the wide variety of SSADH deficiency phenotypes.