Delineating the CCDC22-related Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome phenotype in the original family.

Pathogenic variants in CCDC22 were initially described in 2012 in a large Australian family with intellectual disability and were subsequently noted to cause a phenotype consistent with the previously described Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome (RSS). The phenotypes of the original family were not described in detail and remains limited phenotypic data reported in medical literature. We detail the phenotypes of the original family, including newly diagnosed family members. With these eight phenotypic descriptions, more than triple the number of individuals for whom detailed clinical information is available. In addition to typical facies, common phenotypic features included intellectual disability, congenital heart disease and posterior fossa malformations, postnatal short stature, ectodermal abnormalities, and digital anomalies as previously described. Spinal curvature and genital anomalies were seen in most patients, while gastrointestinal features and disturbed sleep were also recurrently seen. We propose a possible mechanism linking the familial variant to a diagnosis of sarcoidosis in one individual. Given the clinical and genetic heterogeneity of RSS, we suggest a dyadic naming convention.

Clinical delineation, sex differences, and genotype-phenotype correlation in pathogenic KDM6A variants causing X-linked Kabuki syndrome type 2.

PURPOSE: The variant spectrum and the phenotype of X-linked Kabuki syndrome type 2 (KS2) are poorly understood. METHODS: Genetic and clinical details of new and published individuals with pathogenic KDM6A variants were compiled and analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty-one distinct pathogenic KDM6A variants (50 truncating, 11 missense) from 80 patients (34 males, 46 females) were identified. Missense variants clustered in the TRP 2, 3, 7 and Jmj-C domains. Truncating variants were significantly more likely to be de novo. Thirteen individuals had maternally inherited variants and one had a paternally inherited variant. Neonatal feeding difficulties, hypoglycemia, postnatal growth retardation, poor weight gain, motor delay, intellectual disability (ID), microcephaly, congenital heart anomalies, palate defects, renal malformations, strabismus, hearing loss, recurrent infections, hyperinsulinism, seizures, joint hypermobility, and gastroesophageal reflux were frequent clinical findings. Facial features of over a third of patients were not typical for KS. Males were significantly more likely to be born prematurely, have shorter stature, and severe developmental delay/ID. CONCLUSION: We expand the KDM6A variant spectrum and delineate the KS2 phenotype. We demonstrate that the variability of the KS2 phenotypic depends on sex and the variant type. We also highlight the overlaps and differences between the phenotypes of KS2 and KS1.

RCT of a Comprehensive Outpatient Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Objective: This study tested the efficacy of an intensive outpatient psychosocial treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability (ID).Method: Eighty-eight children (ages 7-12 years) were randomly assigned to the treatment or control (waitlist) condition. The 18-week cognitive-behavioral treatment (two 90-min sessions per week) included small-group instruction and therapeutic activities targeting social/social-communication skills, face-emotion recognition, nonliteral language skills, and interest expansion. A behavioral system was used to increase skills development and reduce ASD symptoms. Efficacy was tested immediately following treatment (posttest), with maintenance assessed 4-6 weeks later (follow-up). Measures included parent ratings of the children's social/social-communication skills, ASD symptoms, broad social skills, and behavior symptoms, child tests of social-cognitive skills (emotion recognition and nonliteral language), and behavioral observations.Results:Significant effects favoring the treatment group were found at posttest on the primary measures of ASD symptoms (Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition; Constantino & Gruber, 2012) and social/social-communication skills (Adapted Skillstreaming Checklist; Lopata, Thomeer, Volker, Nida & Lee, 2008), and secondary measures of nonliteral language skills, broad social skills, and behavior symptoms (measures of emotion-recognition skills and social behaviors during structured game sessions were non-significant). The significant treatment effects found at posttest were all maintained at follow-up.Conclusions: The outpatient treatment improved several core areas of functioning for children with ASD without ID. Additional elements may be needed to expand the efficacy of the treatment so that the observed skills/symptom improvements generalize to social interactions during gameplay.

Feasibility of Ultra-Rapid Exome Sequencing in Critically Ill Infants and Children With Suspected Monogenic Conditions in the Australian Public Health Care System.

Importance: Widespread adoption of rapid genomic testing in pediatric critical care requires robust clinical and laboratory pathways that provide equitable and consistent service across health care systems. Objective: To prospectively evaluate the performance of a multicenter network for ultra-rapid genomic diagnosis in a public health care system. Design, Setting, and Participants: Descriptive feasibility study of critically ill pediatric patients with suspected monogenic conditions treated at 12 Australian hospitals between March 2018 and February 2019, with data collected to May 2019. A formal implementation strategy emphasizing communication and feedback, standardized processes, coordination, distributed leadership, and collective learning was used to facilitate adoption. Exposures: Ultra-rapid exome sequencing. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was time from sample receipt to ultra-rapid exome sequencing report. The secondary outcomes were the molecular diagnostic yield, the change in clinical management after the ultra-rapid exome sequencing report, the time from hospital admission to the laboratory report, and the proportion of laboratory reports returned prior to death or hospital discharge. Results: The study population included 108 patients with a median age of 28 days (range, 0 days to 17 years); 34% were female; and 57% were from neonatal intensive care units, 33% were from pediatric intensive care units, and 9% were from other hospital wards. The mean time from sample receipt to ultra-rapid exome sequencing report was 3.3 days (95% CI, 3.2-3.5 days) and the median time was 3 days (range, 2-7 days). The mean time from hospital admission to ultra-rapid exome sequencing report was 17.5 days (95% CI, 14.6-21.1 days) and 93 reports (86%) were issued prior to death or hospital discharge. A molecular diagnosis was established in 55 patients (51%). Eleven diagnoses (20%) resulted from using the following approaches to augment standard exome sequencing analysis: mitochondrial genome sequencing analysis, exome sequencing-based copy number analysis, use of international databases to identify novel gene-disease associations, and additional phenotyping and RNA analysis. In 42 of 55 patients (76%) with a molecular diagnosis and 6 of 53 patients (11%) without a molecular diagnosis, the ultra-rapid exome sequencing result was considered as having influenced clinical management. Targeted treatments were initiated in 12 patients (11%), treatment was redirected toward palliative care in 14 patients (13%), and surveillance for specific complications was initiated in 19 patients (18%). Conclusions and Relevance: This study suggests feasibility of ultra-rapid genomic testing in critically ill pediatric patients with suspected monogenic conditions in the Australian public health care system. However, further research is needed to understand the clinical value of such testing, and the generalizability of the findings to other health care settings.

Computerized neuropsychological assessment devices in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The proliferation of computerized neuropsychological assessment devices (CNADs) for screening and monitoring cognitive impairment is increasing exponentially. Previous reviews of computerized tests for multiple sclerosis (MS) were primarily qualitative and did not rigorously compare CNADs on psychometric properties. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to systematically review the literature on the use of CNADs in MS and identify test batteries and single tests with good evidence for reliability and validity. METHOD: A search of four major online databases was conducted for publications related to computerized testing and MS. Test-retest reliability and validity coefficients and effect sizes were recorded for each CNAD test, along with administration characteristics. RESULTS: We identified 11 batteries and 33 individual tests from 120 peer-reviewed articles meeting the inclusion criteria. CNADs with the strongest psychometric support include the CogState Brief Battery, Cognitive Drug Research Battery, NeuroTrax, CNS-Vital Signs, and computer-based administrations of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test. CONCLUSION: We identified several CNADs that are valid to screen for MS-related cognitive impairment, or to supplement full, conventional neuropsychological assessment. The necessity of testing with a technician, and in a controlled clinic/laboratory environment, remains uncertain.

Community Effectiveness RCT of a Comprehensive Psychosocial Treatment for High-Functioning Children With ASD.

This community effectiveness randomized clinical trial examined the feasibility and effectiveness of a comprehensive psychosocial treatment, summerMAX, when implemented by a community agency. Fifty-seven high-functioning children (48 male, 9 female), ages 7-12 years with autism spectrum disorder participated in this study. The 5-week summerMAX treatment included instruction and therapeutic activities targeting social/social-communication skills, interpretation of nonliteral language skills, face-emotion recognition skills, and interest expansion. A behavioral program was also used to increase skills acquisition and decrease autism spectrum disorder symptoms and problem behaviors. Feasibility was supported via high levels of fidelity and parent, child, and staff clinician satisfaction. Significant treatment effects favoring the treatment group over waitlist controls were found on all 5 of the primary outcome measures (i.e., child test of nonliteral language skills and parent ratings of the children's autism spectrum disorder symptoms, targeted social/social-communication skills, broader social performance, and withdrawal). Staff clinician ratings substantiated the improvements reported by parents. Results of this randomized clinical trial are consistent with those of prior studies of summerMAX and suggest that the program was feasible and effective when implemented by a community agency under real-world conditions.

Cluster Randomized Trial of a School Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

There are currently no empirically supported, comprehensive school-based interventions (CSBIs) for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without concomitant intellectual and language disability. This study compared outcomes for a CSBI (schoolMAX) to typical educational programming (services-as-usual [SAU]) for these children. A total of 103 children (6-12 years of age) with ASD (without intellectual and language disability) were randomly assigned by school buildings (clusters) to receive the CSBI (n = 52 completed) or SAU (n = 50 completed). The CSBI was implemented by trained school personnel and targeted social competence and ASD symptoms using social skills groups, emotion recognition instruction, therapeutic activities, behavioral reinforcement, and parent training. Outcome measures tested the effects of the CSBI on social competence and ASD symptoms, as well as potential collateral effects on academic achievement. Outcomes (baseline-to-follow-up) were assessed using tests of social cognition and academic skills and behavioral observations (by masked evaluators) and parent-teacher ratings of ASD symptoms and social/social-communication skills (nonmasked; ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03338530, https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/). The CSBI group improved significantly more than the SAU group on the test of emotion recognition skills and parent-teacher ratings of ASD symptoms (primary outcomes) and social/social-communication skills (secondary outcome). No differences between groups were detected for recess social interactions or academic skills. The CSBI improved several core areas of functioning for children with ASD compared to usual educational programming. Additional intervention elements may be needed to expand the efficacy of the CSBI so that the observed skills/symptom improvements generalize to recess social interactions and/or academic skills are enhanced.

Stable neuropsychiatric status in multiple sclerosis: a 3-year study.

Personality changes and neuropsychiatric symptoms are found in multiple sclerosis (MS), but no study has evaluated decline compared to healthy controls. This study assessed personality traits and neuropsychiatric symptoms over 3 years using the NEO Five Factor Inventory and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. Additional metrics evaluated ambulation, manual dexterity and cognitive function. Contrary to hypothesis, patients showed no significant change in personality or neuropsychiatric status relative to controls. Patients were impaired in motor and cognitive function at baseline and follow-up, but showed only slowing in ambulation over time. The findings indicate that neuropsychiatric status is stable in MS over 3 years.

Disclosure of disease status among employed multiple sclerosis patients: association with negative work events and accommodations.

BACKGROUND: Unemployment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and detrimental to quality of life. Studies suggest disclosure of diagnosis is an adaptive strategy for patients. However, the role of cognitive deficits and psychiatric symptoms in disclosure are not well studied. OBJECTIVE: The goals of this paper were to (a) determine clinical factors most predictive of disclosure, and (b) measure the effects of disclosure on workplace problems and accommodations in employed patients. METHODS: We studied two overlapping cohorts: a cross-sectional sample (n = 143) to determine outcomes associated with disclosure, and a longitudinal sample (n = 103) compared at four time points over one year on reported problems and accommodations. A case study of six patients, disclosing during monitoring, was also included. RESULTS: Disclosure was associated with greater physical disability but not cognitive impairment. Logistic regression predicting disclosure status retained physical disability, accommodations and years of employment (p < 0.0001). Disclosed patients reported more work problems and accommodations over time. The case study revealed that reasons for disclosing are multifaceted, including connection to employer, decreased mobility and problems at work. CONCLUSION: Although cognitive impairment is linked to unemployment, it does not appear to inform disclosure decisions. Early disclosure may help maintain employment if followed by appropriate accommodations.

A new perspective on proxy report: Investigating implicit processes of understanding through patient-proxy congruence.

BACKGROUND: Utilizing proxy report is a common solution to gathering quality-of-life information from people who are not capable of reliably answering questionnaires, such as people with dementia. Proxy report could, however, also provide information about patients' implicit processes of understanding, which we define as automatic, schema-driven cognitive processes that allow one to have a better understanding of oneself and of one's body, make oneself known and knowable to members of the social network, and allow one to react proactively in response to cues. We investigated whether implicit processes of understanding explain some of the association between reserve and healthy lifestyle behaviors. METHODS: We operationalized three implicit processes of understanding: (a) psychosocial understanding; (b) insight into physical disability; and (c) somatic awareness. This secondary analysis involved a cohort of multiple sclerosis patients and their caregiver informants (n = 118 pairs). Measures included a neurologist-administered Expanded Disability Status Scale, patient- and informant-completed survey measures, and a heartbeat perception test (interoception). Patient-other congruence assessed implicit processes of understanding: psychosocial understanding (neurocognitive and personality); physical-disability insight; and somatic awareness (interoception). RESULTS: Effect sizes (ES) for the inter-correlations between the three implicit processes were small. Psychosocial understanding was associated with higher past reserve-building activities (small ES). Psychosocial understanding explained variance in healthy lifestyle behaviors over and above the variance explained by current reserve-building activities (∆R (2) = 0.04; model R Adjusted (2) = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Proxy versus patient report can provide information about underlying interpretational processes related to insight. These processes are distinct from reserve, predict health outcomes, and can inform lifestyle-changing interventions.

Negative work events and accommodations in employed multiple sclerosis patients.

Work disability is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and cognitive disorder discriminates disabled from employed patients. Our goal was to develop and validate an online vocational status monitoring tool measuring negative work events and use of accommodations. We enrolled 52 employed patients completing an online survey and a clinical examination including tests of motor function, cognitive abilities, and depression. The survey recorded a wide range of reported work problems. Regression models predicting negative work events, and use of accommodations, retained measures of ambulation, cognition, and depression. These data provide preliminary support for the validity of online vocational monitoring in MS.

Characterizing cognitive function during relapse in multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize neuropsychological (NP) test performance during multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse and recovery. METHODS: Clinical status was assessed with NP testing and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) in 24 relapsing patients, and 24 individually-matched, stable controls. All presented with cognitive symptoms as indicated by patient, clinician or caregiver perceived decline, but were free of optic neuritis, ataxia and upper extremity weakness that could compromise NP testing. The presence of enhancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions was considered confirmatory of relapse. Relapsing patients were treated with corticosteroids. NP testing and EDSS were compared to pre-relapse baseline levels, and three-month, post-relapse, follow-up. RESULTS: Analyses revealed significant decline on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) (p=0.005) and worsening on EDSS (p=0.019). Impairment was observed at the point of relapse in cases but not controls. The groups were no longer different at three-month follow-up. The increment of decline on SDMT was 3.5 raw score points, or roughly 6%. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to assess NP status changes during MS relapse using well established, reliable metrics. The presence of a clinically meaningful event is substantiated by decline in NP testing, observed or reported cognitive change, and in a subset of patients, gadolinium-enhancing MRI lesions.

Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of Social Intervention Outcomes for Children on the Autism Spectrum.

A prior randomized trial found a school social intervention yielded significantly better outcomes (social and autism features) immediately following intervention compared to typical school programming (services-as-usual [SAU]) for children on the autism spectrum. In that study, children in the SAU condition subsequently completed a summer social intervention. This study tested longer-term maintenance of effects for children who completed both interventions. A total of 103 children (ages 6-12 years) on the autism spectrum enrolled and 102 completed the initial RCT. Following the summer social intervention, 90 children from the original RCT completed the longer-term follow-up study. In addition to baseline and posttest in the initial RCT, children from both groups were tested at three follow-up points (five total testing points). At the time of first longitudinal follow-up testing, the children were 1.25-4.25 years post-intervention (ages 8-15 years). Longitudinal multilevel model analyses (and follow-up contrasts) revealed significant improvements for both groups post-intervention on measures of emotion recognition, autism features, and social skills, indicating maintenance of post-intervention improvements over the three follow-up testing points. No between-group differences were found for autism features or social skills over time; however, the school social intervention may have yielded somewhat better emotion recognition skills. Exploratory tests found that child IQ, language level, and length of time since completing the intervention did not moderate outcomes. Both social interventions yielded positive and durable longer-term improvements for children on the autism spectrum. [ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03338530; November 8, 2017; original retrospectively registered trial].

Influence of cognitive function on speech and articulation rate in multiple sclerosis.

We examined cognitive predictors of speech and articulation rate in 50 individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 23 healthy controls. We measured speech and articulation rate from audio-recordings of participants reading aloud and talking extemporaneously on a topic of their choice (i.e., self-generated speech). Articulation rate was calculated for each speech sample by removing lexically irrelevant vocalizations and pauses of >200 ms. Speech rate was similarly calculated including pauses. Concurrently, the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) battery, as well as standardized tests of sentence intelligibility and syllable repetition were administered. Analysis of variance showed that MS patients were slower on three of the four rate measures. Greater variance in rate measures was accounted for by cognitive variables for the MS group than controls. An information processing speed composite, as measured by the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), was the strongest predictor among cognitive tests. A composite of memory tests related to self-generated speech, above and beyond information processing speed, but not to oral reading. Self-generated speech, in this study, was not found to relate more strongly to cognitive tests than simple reading. Implications for further research are discussed.

Active cognitive reserve influences the regional atrophy to cognition link in multiple sclerosis.

Recent research indicates that cognitive reserve mitigates the clinical expression of neuropsychological impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS). This literature primarily uses premorbid intelligence and lifetime experiences as indicators. However, changes in current recreational activities may also contribute to the maintenance of neural function despite brain atrophy. We examined the moderation effects of current changes in recreational activity on the relationship between brain atrophy and information processing speed in 57 relapsing-remitting MS patients. Current enrichment was assessed using the Recreation and Pastimes subscale from the Sickness Impact Profile. In patients reporting current declines in recreational activities, brain atrophy was negatively associated with cognition, but there was no such association in participants reporting stable participation. The MRI metric-by-recreational activity interaction was significant in separate hierarchical regression analyses conducted using third ventricle width, neocortical volume, T2 lesion volume, and thalamic volume as brain measures. Results suggest that recreational activities protect against brain atrophy's detrimental influence on cognition.

ASD Symptoms, Social Skills, and Comorbidity: Predictors of Bullying Perpetration.

Children with ASD are more likely to be involved in bullying compared to typically developing peers; however, studies rarely examine bullying perpetration and the contributing factors among this population. The primary aim of this study was to examine the extent to which parent-reported ASD symptoms, social skills, and comorbid externalizing and internalizing symptoms predicted bullying perpetration in a sample of 390 children with ASD without intellectual disability. Findings from hierarchical regression analyses indicated that social skill deficits, externalizing symptoms (i.e., hyperactivity, aggression, and conduct problems), and depressive symptoms were associated with higher likelihood of bullying perpetration, while severity of ASD symptoms and anxiety were not significant predictors. Further research is needed to better understand bullying perpetration among children with ASD.

Telomere biology disorder presenting acutely with pulmonary fibrosis and hepatopulmonary syndrome in a young adult male.

A 33-year-old man presented with acute dyspnoea and profound hypoxaemia, and had clubbing, greying of hair, orthodeoxia and fine inspiratory crackles. CT chest showed established pulmonary fibrosis in a usual interstitial pneumonia pattern. Additional investigations revealed a small patent foramen ovale, pancytopenia, and oesophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy from liver cirrhosis. Telomere length testing demonstrated short telomeres (<1st percentile), confirming the diagnosis of a telomere biology disorder. An interstitial lung disease gene panel identified a pathogenic variant in TERT (c.1700C>T, p.(Thr567Met)) and a variant of uncertain significance in PARN (c.1159G>A, p.(Gly387Arg)). Combined lung and liver transplantation was deemed not suitable due to frailty and severe hepatopulmonary syndrome, and he died 56 days after presentation. Early recognition of the short telomere syndrome is important, and its multi-organ involvement poses challenges to management. Genetic screening may be important in younger patients with pulmonary fibrosis or in unexplained liver cirrhosis.

Reliability and equivalence of alternate forms for the Symbol Digit Modalities Test: implications for multiple sclerosis clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is common in multiple sclerosis (MS), but is seldom assessed in clinical trials investigating the effects of disease-modifying therapies. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a particularly promising tool due to its sensitivity and robust correlation with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and vocational disability. Unfortunately, there are no validated alternate SDMT forms, which are needed to mitigate practice effects. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the reliability and equivalence of SDMT alternate forms. METHODS: Twenty-five healthy participants completed each of five alternate versions of the SDMT - the standard form, two versions from the Rao Brief Repeatable Battery, and two forms specifically designed for this study. Order effects were controlled using a Latin-square research design. RESULTS: All five versions of the SDMT produced mean values within 3 raw score points of one another. Three forms were very consistent, and not different by conservative statistical tests. The SDMT test-retest reliability using these forms was good to excellent, with all r values exceeding 0.80. CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, we find good evidence that at least three alternate versions of the SDMT are of equivalent difficulty in healthy adults. The forms are reliable, and can be implemented in clinical trials emphasizing cognitive outcomes.

Comparison of saliva collection methods in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders: acceptability and recovery of cortisol.

This study compared cortisol concentrations yielded using three saliva collection methods (passive drool, salivette, and sorbette) in both in vitro and in vivo conditions, as well as method acceptability for a sample of children (n = 39) with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders. No cortisol concentration differences were observed between passive and sorbette samples obtained in vitro or in vivo. The salivette derived concentration was lower than the other two methods for the in vitro derived comparisons but did not differ from the other methods when collected in vivo. Cross-day comparison for the salivettes was also found to differ significantly, whereas the cross-day comparisons did not differ for the passive method or the sorbette method. Overall, passive drool and sorbettes were found to produce similar and stable readings of cortisol, whereas the salivette yielded unstable and variable concentrations. Ratings suggested that the children generally perceived all methods as acceptable.

Effect of COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Restrictions on Parent Reported Symptom Severity and Adaptive Functioning of Youth with ASD.

This study assessed the potential short-term effects of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions on ratings of ASD and comorbid symptoms severity and adaptive functioning of 69 youth, ages 8-16 years with ASD without intellectual disability. Parent/caregiver ratings were being collected in fall and spring over approximately two years when the restrictions were imposed four months prior to the final data collection point. Results indicated no significant changes in parent/caregiver ratings of ASD symptom severity, comorbid symptoms severity, social skills, or adaptive behaviors following the stay-at-home restrictions and little variability across the four data collection points. Although findings suggested minimal short-term effects on these symptoms and adaptive skills, ongoing monitoring is needed to assess longer-term impacts.