Transient neonatal pustular melanosis: An unusual and challenging eruption.

TNPM is a benign, transient, neonatal pustulosis requiring no active treatment. Diagnosis is clinical, characterized by a vesiculopustular eruption, healing with residual hyperpigmented macules. Before diagnosing TNPM, serious conditions including skin infections should be excluded. This case was unusual in that vesiculobullae predominated, with a notable absence of simple pustules.

A novel phenotype of AChR-deficiency syndrome with predominant facial and distal weakness resulting from the inclusion of an evolutionary alternatively-spliced exon in CHRNA1.

Primary acetylcholine receptor deficiency is the most common subtype of congenital myasthenic syndrome, resulting in reduced amount of acetylcholine receptors expressed at the muscle endplate and impaired neuromuscular transmission. AChR deficiency is caused mainly by pathogenic variants in the ε-subunit of the acetylcholine receptor encoded by CHRNE, although pathogenic variants in other subunits are also seen. We report the clinical and molecular features of 13 patients from nine unrelated kinships with acetylcholine receptor deficiency harbouring the CHRNA1 variant NM_001039523.3:c.257G>A (p.Arg86His) in homozygosity or compound heterozygosity. This variant results in the inclusion of an alternatively-spliced evolutionary exon (P3A) that causes expression of a non-functional acetylcholine receptor α-subunit. We compare the clinical findings of this group to the other cases of acetylcholine receptor deficiency within our cohort. We report differences in phenotype, highlighting a predominant pattern of facial and distal weakness in adulthood, predominantly in the upper limbs, which is unusual for acetylcholine receptor deficiency syndromes, and more in keeping with slow-channel syndrome or distal myopathy. Finally, we stress the importance of including alternative exons in variant analysis to increase the probability of achieving a molecular diagnosis.

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Sedation and analgesia practices in neonatal intensive care units (EUROPAIN): results from a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Neonates who are in pain or are stressed during care in the intensive care unit (ICU) are often given sedation or analgesia. We investigated the current use of sedation or analgesia in neonatal ICUs (NICUs) in European countries. METHODS: EUROPAIN (EUROpean Pain Audit In Neonates) was a prospective cohort study of the management of sedation and analgesia in patients in NICUs. All neonates admitted to NICUs during 1 month were included in this study. Data on demographics, methods of respiration, use of continuous or intermittent sedation, analgesia, or neuromuscular blockers, pain assessments, and drug withdrawal syndromes were gathered during the first 28 days of admission to NICUs. Multivariable linear regression models and propensity scores were used to assess the association between duration of tracheal ventilation (TV) and exposure to opioids, sedatives-hypnotics, or general anaesthetics in neonates (O-SH-GA). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01694745. FINDINGS: From Oct 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013, 6680 neonates were enrolled in 243 NICUs in 18 European countries. Mean gestational age of these neonates was 35.0 weeks (SD 4.6) and birthweight was 2384 g (1007). 2142 (32%) neonates were given TV, 1496 (22%) non-invasive ventilation (NIV), and 3042 (46%) were kept on spontaneous ventilation (SV). 1746 (82%), 266 (18%), and 282 (9%) neonates in the TV, NIV, and SV groups, respectively, were given sedation or analgesia as a continuous infusion, intermittent doses, or both (p<0.0001). In the participating NICUs, the median use of sedation or analgesia was 89.3% (70.0-100) for neonates in the TV group. Opioids were given to 1764 (26%) of 6680 neonates and to 1589 (74%) of 2142 neonates in the TV group. Midazolam was given to 576 (9%) of 6680 neonates and 536 (25%) neonates of 2142 neonates in the TV group. 542 (25%) neonates in the TV group were given neuromuscular blockers, which were administered as continuous infusions to 146 (7%) of these neonates. Pain assessments were recorded in 1250 (58%) of 2138, 672 (45%) of 1493, and 916 (30%) of 3017 neonates in the TV, NIV, and SV groups, respectively (p<0.0001). In the univariate analysis, neonates given O-SH-GA in the TV group needed a longer duration of TV than did those who were not given O-SH-GA (mean 136.2 h [SD 173.1] vs 39.8 h [94.7] h; p<0.0001). Multivariable and propensity score analyses confirmed this association (p<0.0001). INTERPRETATION: Wide variations in sedation and analgesia practices occur between NICUs and countries. Widespread use of O-SH-GA in intubated neonates might prolong their need for mechanical ventilation, but further research is needed to investigate the therapeutic and adverse effects of O-SH-GA in neonates, and to develop new and safe approaches for sedation and analgesia. FUNDING: European Community's Seventh Framework Programme.

Clinicians', policy makers' and patients' views of pediatric cross-border care between Malta and the UK.

OBJECTIVE: The Malta-UK cross-border health care collaboration gives Maltese patients access to highly specialized care that is not available locally. Our aim was to identify the issues that arise in cross-border specialized care for rare childhood diseases. METHODS: We conducted 31 semi-structured face-to-face interviews with policy makers, consultant pediatricians from Mater Dei Hospital in Malta, the Royal Marsden Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital in England and the parents of a random sample of children referred for treatment abroad in 2011. We conducted qualitative thematic analysis of the data. RESULTS: Respondents viewed the collaboration as successful in providing timely access to high quality specialist care. Four factors facilitated implementation: long established personal relationships; communication and data sharing; shared care approach; and well established support systems. The key challenges are logistical, financial, communication and cultural and psychological. CONCLUSION: Cross-border care pathways can successfully support access to high quality specialized care that is acceptable to health professionals and patients.

Molecular genetics of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency in the Maltese population.

Deficient activity of the Dihydropteridine Reductase enzyme (DHPR; EC 1.5.1.34; OMIM 261630) is due to mutations in the Quinoid Dihydropteridine Reductase gene on 4p15.3 (QDPR; RefSeq NM_000320). It results in defective recycling of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)) and homozygotes have a rare form of atypical Hyperphenylalaninaemia and Phenylketonuria (aPKU). The heterozygote frequency in the Maltese population is high at 3.3%. The more recently described and rarer type of BH(4) deficiency due to Sepiapterin Reductase enzyme deficiency (SR; EC 1.1.1.153; OMIM 182125), which presents as an atypical form of Dopa Responsive Dystonia (DRD) [L. Bonafe, B. Thony, J.M. Penzien, B. Czarnecki, N. Blau, Mutations in the sepiapterin reductase gene cause a novel tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent monoamine-neurotransmitter deficiency without hyperphenylalaninemia, Am. J. Hum. Genet. 69 (2001) 269-277; B.R.G. Neville, R. Parascandalo, S. Attard Montalto, R. Farrugia, A.E. Felice, A congenital dopa responsive motor disorder: a Maltese variant due to sepiapterin reductase deficiency, Brain 128 (Pt10) (2005) 2291-2296.] has also been identified at high frequency (4.6%) in this population. Two mutations, the c.68G>A in QDPR (p.G23D), and the new SPR, IVS2-2A>G mutation at the splice site consensus sequence in intron 2 of the Sepiapterin Reductase gene (SPR; RefSeq NM_003124) on 2p14-p12, were found to be the sole causative mutations in all the patients with DHPR deficiency and SR deficiency studied. All parents were heterozygotes for the corresponding mutation and showed no clinical symptoms. Three polymorphisms, c.96C>T (p.A32A), c. 345G>A (p.S115S) and c. 396G>A (p.L132L), have also been identified in the QDPR gene, defining four wild-type frameworks, useful in molecular epidemiology studies. The c. 68G>A mutation in QDPR was found only on framework I, suggesting a founder effect. In contrast no additional sequence diversity was found in the SPR gene whether in wild-type or mutant alleles which is also consistent with a founder effect.

Clinical and molecular phenotype of Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome.

Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome (AGS) is a genetic encephalopathy whose clinical features mimic those of acquired in utero viral infection. AGS exhibits locus heterogeneity, with mutations identified in genes encoding the 3'-->5' exonuclease TREX1 and the three subunits of the RNASEH2 endonuclease complex. To define the molecular spectrum of AGS, we performed mutation screening in patients, from 127 pedigrees, with a clinical diagnosis of the disease. Biallelic mutations in TREX1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, and RNASEH2C were observed in 31, 3, 47, and 18 families, respectively. In five families, we identified an RNASEH2A or RNASEH2B mutation on one allele only. In one child, the disease occurred because of a de novo heterozygous TREX1 mutation. In 22 families, no mutations were found. Null mutations were common in TREX1, although a specific missense mutation was observed frequently in patients from northern Europe. Almost all mutations in RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, and RNASEH2C were missense. We identified an RNASEH2C founder mutation in 13 Pakistani families. We also collected clinical data from 123 mutation-positive patients. Two clinical presentations could be delineated: an early-onset neonatal form, highly reminiscent of congenital infection seen particularly with TREX1 mutations, and a later-onset presentation, sometimes occurring after several months of normal development and occasionally associated with remarkably preserved neurological function, most frequently due to RNASEH2B mutations. Mortality was correlated with genotype; 34.3% of patients with TREX1, RNASEH2A, and RNASEH2C mutations versus 8.0% RNASEH2B mutation-positive patients were known to have died (P=.001). Our analysis defines the phenotypic spectrum of AGS and suggests a coherent mutation-screening strategy in this heterogeneous disorder. Additionally, our data indicate that at least one further AGS-causing gene remains to be identified.