Deciphering the molecular landscape of microcephaly in 87 Indian families by exome sequencing

Microcephaly is a frequent feature of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Our study presents the heterogeneous spectrum of genetic disorders in patients with microcephaly either in isolated form or in association with other neurological and extra-neural abnormalities. We present data of 91 patients from 87 unrelated families referred to our clinic during 2016–2020 and provide a comprehensive clinical and genetic landscape in the studied cohort. Molecular diagnosis using exome sequencing was made in 45 families giving a yield of 51.7%. In 9 additional families probable causative variants were detected. We identified disease causing variations in 49 genes that are involved in different functional pathways Among these, 36 had an autosomal recessive pattern, 8 had an autosomal dominant pattern (all inherited de novo), and 5 had an X-linked pattern. In 41 probands where sequence variations in autosomal recessive genes were identified 31 were homozygotes (including 16 from non-consanguineous families). The study added 28 novel pathogenic/likely pathogenic variations. The study also calls attention to phenotypic variability and expansion in spectrum as well as uncovers genes where microcephaly is not reported previously or is a rare finding. We here report phenotypes associated with the genes for ultra-rare NDDs with microcephaly namely ATRIP, MINPP1, PNPLA8, AIMP2, ANKLE2, NCAPD2 and TRIT1.     

Efficacy of istradefylline for gait disorders with freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease: A single-arm,open-label,prospective, multicenter study

Background: Gait disorders are common in Parkinson’s disease patients who respond poorly to dopaminergic treatment. Blockade of adenosine A_2A receptors is expected to improve gait disorders. Istradefylline is a first-in-class selective adenosine A_2A receptor antagonist with benefits for motor complications associated with Parkinson’s disease.

Research design and methods: This multicenter, open-label, single-group, prospective interventional study evaluated changes in total gait-related scores of the Part II/III Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q) in 31 Parkinson’s disease patients treated with istradefylline. Gait analysis by portable gait rhythmogram was performed.

Results: MDS-UPDRS Part III gait-related total scores significantly decreased at Weeks 4–12 from baseline with significant improvements in gait, freezing of gait, and postural stability. Significant decreases in MDS-UPDRS Part II total scores and individual item scores at Week 12 indicated improved daily living activities. At Week 12, there were significant improvements in FOG-Q, new FOG-Q, and overall movement per 48 h measured by portable gait rhythmogram. Adverse events occurred in 7/31 patients.

Conclusions: Istradefylline improved gait disorders in Parkinson’s disease patients complicated with freezing of gait, improving their quality of life. No unexpected adverse drug reactions were identified.

Trial registration: UMIN-CTR (UMIN000020288).     

维生素D在孤独症谱系障碍中作用的研究进展

孤独症谱系障碍(ASD)是影响儿童健康的严重公共问题之一,以社交沟通障碍、兴趣或活动范围狭窄以及重复刻板行为为特征。近年来越来越多的研究显示,ASD患儿维生素D(VitD)水平明显低于同龄健康儿童,VitD缺乏可能与ASD的发病机制相关。本文就VitD与ASD的相关研究进行综述。     

Influence of Prior Psychiatric Disorders on the Treatment Course of Gynaecological Cancer – A Nationwide Cohort Study

Aims

To examine the influence of pre-existing psychiatric disorder on the choice of treatment in patients with gynaecological cancer.

基于家庭的心理治疗对强迫障碍治疗的研究进展

强迫障碍(obsessive-compulsive disorder,OCD)是常见的难治性精神疾病,经过心理治疗和药物治疗仅有40%~60%患者获得缓解,患者残留各种症状和功能障碍。心理治疗是OCD治疗的重要组成部分,家庭因素在疾病的发生、维持和预后中起重要作用,以家庭为基础的心理治疗越来越受到重视。文章就对OCD采用基于家庭的心理治疗的必要性和进展进行综述,研究显示患者家属的精神心理状态和家庭顺应性等因素与OCD治疗效果密切相关,而家庭成员高度参与,针对家庭因素干预的基于家庭的心理治疗策略可以增强治疗效果,改善患者家庭功能。文章为强迫障碍的临床优化治疗提供了实践依据。     

Maximizing Breast Cancer Therapy with Awareness of Potential Treatment-Related Blood Disorders

In this review we summarize the impact of the various modalities of breast cancer therapy coupled with intrinsic patient factors on incidence of subsequent treatment-induced myelodysplasia and acute myelogenous leukemia (t-MDS/AML). It is clear that risk is increased for patients treated with radiation and chemotherapy at younger ages. Radiation is associated with modest risk, whereas chemotherapy, particularly the combination of an alkylating agent and an anthracycline, carries higher risk and radiation and chemotherapy combined increase the risk markedly. Recently, treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), but not pegylated G-CSF, has been identified as a factor associated with increased t-MDS/AML risk. Two newly identified associations may link homologous DNA repair gene deficiency and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor treatment to increased t-MDS/AML risk. When predisposing factors, such as young age, are combined with an increasing number of potentially leukemogenic treatments that may not confer large risk singly, the risk of t-MDS/AML appears to increase. Patient and treatment factors combine to form a biological cascade that can trigger a myelodysplastic event. Patients with breast cancer are often exposed to many of these risk factors in the course of their treatment, and triple-negative patients, who are often younger and/or BRCA positive, are often exposed to all of them. It is important going forward to identify effective therapies without these adverse associated effects and choose existing therapies that minimize the risk of t-MDS/AML without sacrificing therapeutic gain.

Implications for Practice

Breast cancer is far more curable than in the past but requires multimodality treatment. Great care must be taken to use the least leukemogenic treatment programs that do not sacrifice efficacy. Elimination of radiation and anthracycline/alkylating agent regimens will be helpful where possible, particularly in younger patients and possibly those with homologous repair deficiency (HRD). Use of colony-stimulating factors should be limited to those who truly require them for safe chemotherapy administration. Further study of a possible leukemogenic association with HRD and the various forms of colony-stimulating factors is badly needed.