The expanding clinical and genetic spectrum of DYNC1H1-related disorders.

Intracellular trafficking involves an intricate machinery of motor complexes including the dynein complex to shuttle cargo for autophagolysosomal degradation. Deficiency in dynein axonemal chains as well as cytoplasmic light and intermediate chains have been linked with ciliary dyskinesia and skeletal dysplasia. The cytoplasmic dynein 1 heavy chain protein (DYNC1H1) serves as a core complex for retrograde trafficking in neuronal axons. Dominant pathogenic variants in DYNC1H1 have been previously implicated in peripheral neuromuscular disorders (NMD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). As heavy-chain dynein is ubiquitously expressed, the apparent selectivity of heavy-chain dyneinopathy for motor neuronal phenotypes remains currently unaccounted for. Here, we aimed to evaluate the full DYNC1H1-related clinical, molecular and imaging spectrum, including multisystem features and novel phenotypes presenting throughout life. We identified 47 cases from 43 families with pathogenic heterozygous variants in DYNC1H1 (aged 0-59 years) and collected phenotypic data via a comprehensive standardized survey and clinical follow-up appointments. Most patients presented with divergent and previously unrecognized neurological and multisystem features, leading to significant delays in genetic testing and establishing the correct diagnosis. Neurological phenotypes include novel autonomic features, previously rarely described behavioral disorders, movement disorders, and periventricular lesions. Sensory neuropathy was identified in nine patients (median age of onset 10.6 years), of which five were only diagnosed after the second decade of life, and three had a progressive age-dependent sensory neuropathy. Novel multisystem features included primary immunodeficiency, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, organ anomalies, and skeletal manifestations, resembling the phenotypic spectrum of other dyneinopathies. We also identified an age-dependent biphasic disease course with developmental regression in the first decade and, following a period of stability, neurodegenerative progression after the second decade of life. Of note, we observed several cases in whom neurodegeneration appeared to be prompted by intercurrent systemic infections with double-stranded DNA viruses (Herpesviridae) or single-stranded RNA viruses (Ross-River fever, SARS-CoV-2). Moreover, the disease course appeared to be exacerbated by viral infections regardless of age and/or severity of NDD manifestations, indicating a role of dynein in anti-viral immunity and neuronal health. In summary, our findings expand the clinical, imaging, and molecular spectrum of pathogenic DYNC1H1 variants beyond motor neuropathy disorders and suggest a life-long continuum and age-related progression due to deficient intracellular trafficking. This study will facilitate early diagnosis and improve counselling and health surveillance of affected patients.

RTN2 deficiency results in an autosomal recessive distal motor neuropathy with lower limb spasticity.

Heterozygous RTN2 variants have been previously identified in a limited cohort of families affected by autosomal dominant spastic paraplegia (SPG12-OMIM:604805) with a variable age of onset. Nevertheless, the definitive validity of SPG12 remains to be confidently confirmed due to the scarcity of supporting evidence. In this study, we identified and validated seven novel or ultra-rare homozygous loss-of-function RTN2 variants in 14 individuals from seven consanguineous families with distal hereditary motor neuropathy (dHMN) using exome, genome and Sanger sequencing coupled with deep-phenotyping. All affected individuals (seven males and seven females, aged 9-50 years) exhibited weakness in the distal upper and lower limbs, lower limb spasticity and hyperreflexia, with onset in the first decade of life. Nerve conduction studies revealed axonal motor neuropathy with neurogenic changes in the electromyography. Despite a slowly progressive disease course, all patients remained ambulatory over a mean disease duration of 19.71 ± 13.70 years. Characterization of Caenorhabditis elegans RTN2 homologous loss-of-function variants demonstrated morphological and behavioural differences compared with the parental strain. Treatment of the mutant with an endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ reuptake inhibitor (2,5-di-tert-butylhydroquinone) rescued key phenotypic differences, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit for RTN2-disorder. Despite RTN2 being an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident membrane shaping protein, our analysis of patient fibroblast cells did not find significant alterations in ER structure or the response to ER stress. Our findings delineate a distinct form of autosomal recessive dHMN with pyramidal features associated with RTN2 deficiency. This phenotype shares similarities with SIGMAR1-related dHMN and Silver-like syndromes, providing valuable insights into the clinical spectrum and potential therapeutic strategies for RTN2-related dHMN.

Neurodevelopmental disorders associated variants in ADAT3 disrupt the activity of the ADAT2/ADAT3 tRNA deaminase complex and impair neuronal migration.

The ADAT2/ADAT3 complex catalyzes the adenosine to inosine modification at the wobble position of eukaryotic tRNAs. Mutations in ADAT3 , the catalytically inactive subunit of the ADAT2/ADAT3 complex, have been identified in patients presenting with severe neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Yet, the physiological function of ADAT2/ADAT3 complex during brain development remains totally unknown. Here we showed that maintaining a proper level of ADAT2/ADAT3 catalytic activity is required for correct radial migration of projection neurons in the developing mouse cortex. In addition, we not only reported 7 new NDD patients carrying biallelic variants in ADAT3 but also deeply characterize the impact of those variants on ADAT2/ADAT3 structure, biochemical properties, enzymatic activity and tRNAs editing and abundance. We demonstrated that all the identified variants alter both the expression and the activity of the complex leading to a significant decrease of I 34 with direct consequence on their steady-state. Using in vivo complementation assays, we correlated the severity of the migration phenotype with the degree of the loss of function caused by the variants. Altogether, our results indicate a critical role of ADAT2/ADAT3 during cortical development and provide cellular and molecular insights into the pathogenicity of ADAT3-related neurodevelopmental disorder.

The clinical and genetic landscape of developmental and epileptic encephalopathies in Egyptian children.

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are a heterogeneous group of epilepsies characterized by early-onset, refractory seizures associated with developmental regression or impairment, with a heterogeneous genetic landscape including genes implicated in various pathways and mechanisms. We retrospectively studied the clinical and genetic data of patients with genetic DEE who presented at two tertiary centers in Egypt over a 10-year period. Exome sequencing was used for genetic testing. We report 74 patients from 63 unrelated Egyptian families, with a high rate of consanguinity (58%). The most common seizure type was generalized tonic-clonic (58%) and multiple seizure types were common (55%). The most common epilepsy syndrome was early infantile DEE (50%). All patients showed variable degrees of developmental impairment. Microcephaly, hypotonia, ophthalmological involvement and neuroimaging abnormalities were common. Eighteen novel variants were identified and the phenotypes of five DEE genes were expanded with novel phenotype-genotype associations. Obtaining a genetic diagnosis had implications on epilepsy management in 17 patients with variants in 12 genes. In this study, we expand the phenotype and genotype spectrum of DEE in a large single ethnic cohort of patients. Reaching a genetic diagnosis guided precision management of epilepsy in a significant proportion of patients.

Clinical, biochemical, and molecular characterization of mucopolysaccharidosis type III in 34 Egyptian patients.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III) is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder characterized by progressive neurocognitive deterioration. There are four MPS III subtypes (A, B, C, and D) that are clinically indistinguishable with variable rates of progression. A retrospective analysis was carried out on 34 patients with MPS III types at Cairo University Children's Hospital. We described the clinical, biochemical, and molecular spectrum of MPS III patients. Of 34 patients, 22 patients had MPS IIIB, 7/34 had MPS IIIC, 4/34 had MPS IIIA, and only 1 had MPS IIID. All patients presented with developmental delay/intellectual disability, and speech delay. Ataxia was reported in a patient with MPS IIIC, and cerebellar atrophy in a patient with MPS IIIA. We reported 25 variants in the 4 MPS III genes, 11 of which were not previously reported. This is the first study to analyze the clinical and genetic spectrum of MPS III patients in Egypt. This study explores the genetic map of MPS III in the Egyptian population. It will pave the way for a national registry for rare diseases in Egypt, a country with a high rate of consanguineous marriage and consequently a high rate of autosomal recessive disorders.

Organic acidurias in Egyptian children: The urge for high-risk screening.

BACKGROUND: Organic acidurias are a group of inborn errors of metabolism. They present a significant diagnostic challenge and are associated with serious morbidity and mortality. They are considered the most frequent inborn errors of metabolism among high-risk children. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is a reliable diagnostic technique for organic acidurias. This hospital-based study aimed to quantify the frequency of organic acidurias among a group of high-risk Egyptian pediatric patients and to highlight the importance of high-risk screening for such disorders. METHODS: One hundred and fifty high-risk children who presented to the inherited metabolic disease unit and the pediatric intensive care units of Cairo University Children Hospital were tested for urine organic acids using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Thirty percent (45/150) of the patients were confirmed as having an altered organic acids profile. Neurological manifestations were the most common presentation. Glutaric aciduria type I and maple-syrup urine disease were the most common disorders encountered among the group that was studied. CONCLUSION: Organic acid detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is key to the diagnosis of many metabolic disorders. Until a national expanded newborn screening program is established, high-risk screening is strongly encouraged for the early detection of, and proper intervention for such disorders among Egyptian children.

Creatine Deficiency Syndromes: Comparison of Screening Methods and Characterization of Four Novel Intronic Variants.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral creatine deficiency syndromes (CCDS) are disorders affecting creatine synthesis or transport. Several methods have been developed to measure creatine and guanidinoacetate (GAA) in different body fluids including methods based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-pressure liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The diagnosis of CCDS is then confirmed by sequencing of creatine biosynthesis genes guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) and Arginine: glycine amidinotransferase (GATM) and creatine transporter gene solute carrier family 6 member 8 (SLC6A8) or by functional enzymatic assay. The aim of the current study was to find the most reliable and accurate screening method for CCDS by comparing methods using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR), GC-MS and HPLC-MS. Additionally, this study was performed to estimate the prevalence of CCDS in a cohort of Egyptian patients and potentially to discover novel variants. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 150 subjects with clinical signs and symptoms consistent with CCDS. Metabolic profiling of urine samples was performed using three techniques: 1) GC-MS 2) Ultra high-pressure (or performance) liquid chromatography - Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC- MS/MS) and 3) NMR. RESULTS: The linearity of peak areas for creatine and GAA by UHPLC-MS/MS and NMR covered and exceeded the ranges normally found in urine. The limit of quantification and the inter-day precision results for creatine and GAA were more robust by UHPLC-MS/MS than NMR. Ten cases were identified as being positive for CCDS by our analytical approaches and underwent next generation sequencing (NGS) for GAMT, GATM and SLC6A8 genes. NGS was performed and confirmed one patient with one likely Pathogenic variant in GAMT gene: (NC_000019.10:g.1401317C > G, NP_000147.1:p.Ala54Pro). Additionally, we describe four novel intronic variants in the GATM gene: c.1043-357del and c.1043-357_1043-356insT, and were predicted to activate cryptic acceptor site with potential alteration of splicing, c.979-227G > A was found to significantly alter the Exon Splice Enhancer (ESE) xon Splice Silencer (ESS) motifs ratio and c.1042 + 262del which was found to have no implications on splicing. CONCLUSIONS: Both UHPLC-MS/MS and NMR spectroscopy are comparable to GC-MS in screening for CCDS. Nonetheless, the UHPLC-MS/MS method had better performance than NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, Sequencing of the full length of GATM, GAMT, and SLC6A8 genes is needed to identify intronic variants that could cause CCDS via affecting splice sites.

Clinical and biochemical spectrum of metabolic cardiomyopathy in Egyptian children.

Background: Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) commonly present with pediatric cardiomyopathy. Identification of the underlying cause is necessary as it may lead to improved outcomes. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic rate, the clinical, and biochemical spectra of IEMs among Egyptian pediatric patients presenting with cardiomyopathy, and their outcome measures. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, biochemical, and radiological data of 1512 children diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at Cairo University Children's Hospital over a 5-year duration. Results: Two hundred twenty-nine children were clinically suspected as IEMs and underwent metabolic workup. Nineteen different IEMs were confirmed in 57 (24.4%) of the suspected children. Their median age at presentation was 2.6 years and the majority had extra-cardiac manifestations. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy represented 43/57 (75.4%) of confirmed cases, while dilated cardiomyopathy represented 13/57 (22.8%), and one patient presented with a mixed phenotype. Twenty- six patients (45.6%) survived, while 31 patients (54%) either died or were lost to follow up and assumed deceased. Conclusions: We developed for the first time a database and a diagnostic scheme for metabolic cardiomyopathies in Egyptian children. With the recent introduction of enzyme replacement therapy, many metabolic disorders became treatable, thus establishing an early and accurate diagnosis is extremely important.

Clinical and genetic spectrum of mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes: A report of 6 cases with 4 novel variants.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) depletion syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of rare autosomal recessive genetic disorders characterized by a decrease in the number of mtDNA copies inside the organ involved. There are three distinct forms of MDS including the hepatocerebral, the myopathic and the encephalomyopathic forms. The diversity in the clinical and genetic spectrum of these disorders makes the diagnosis challenging. Here, we describe the clinical phenotype and the genetic spectrum of 6 patients with MDS including 4 novel variants and compare them with previously reported cases. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Six patients from six unrelated families were included in this study. All the patients were subjected to a detailed history, thorough general and neurologic examination, basic laboratory investigations including lactic acid and ammonia, amino acids, acylcarnitine profiles and brain MRI. Whole-exome sequencing was performed for all of them to confirm the suspicion of mitochondrial disorder. RESULTS: In our series, four patients presented with the hepatocerebral form of MDS with the major presenting manifestation of progressive liver cell failure with severe hypotonia and global developmental delay. Four variants in the DGUOK gene and the MPV17 have been identified including 2 novel variants. One patient was identified in the myopathic form presenting with myopathy associated with two novel variants in the TK2 gene. One patient was diagnosed with encephalomyopathic form presenting with persistent lactic acidosis and global delay due to a homozygous variant in the FBXL4 gene. CONCLUSION: MDS has a wide spectrum of heterogeneous clinical presentations and about nine different genes involved. Whole exome sequencing (WES) has resulted in faster diagnosis of these challenging cases as the phenotype overlap with many other disorders. This should be considered the first-tier diagnostic test obviating the need for more invasive testing like muscle biopsies.

An integrated multiomic approach as an excellent tool for the diagnosis of metabolic diseases: our first 3720 patients.

To present our experience using a multiomic approach, which integrates genetic and biochemical testing as a first-line diagnostic tool for patients with inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs). A cohort of 3720 patients from 62 countries was tested using a panel including 206 genes with single nucleotide and copy number variant (SNV/CNV) detection, followed by semi-automatic variant filtering and reflex biochemical testing (25 assays). In 1389 patients (37%), a genetic diagnosis was achieved. Within this cohort, the highest diagnostic yield was obtained for patients from Asia (57.5%, mainly from Pakistan). Overall, 701 pathogenic/likely pathogenic unique SNVs and 40 CNVs were identified. In 620 patients, the result of the biochemical tests guided variant classification and reporting. Top five diagnosed diseases were: Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease type A/B, phenylketonuria, mucopolysaccharidosis type I, and Wilson disease. We show that integrated genetic and biochemical testing facilitated the decision on clinical relevance of the variants and led to a high diagnostic yield (37%), which is comparable to exome/genome sequencing. More importantly, up to 43% of these patients (n = 610) could benefit from medical treatments (e.g., enzyme replacement therapy). This multiomic approach constitutes a unique and highly effective tool for the genetic diagnosis of IMDs.

Biallelic ADAM22 pathogenic variants cause progressive encephalopathy and infantile-onset refractory epilepsy.

Pathogenic variants in A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase (ADAM) 22, the postsynaptic cell membrane receptor for the glycoprotein leucine-rich repeat glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1), have been recently associated with recessive developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. However, so far, only two affected individuals have been described and many features of this disorder are unknown. We refine the phenotype and report 19 additional individuals harbouring compound heterozygous or homozygous inactivating ADAM22 variants, of whom 18 had clinical data available. Additionally, we provide follow-up data from two previously reported cases. All affected individuals exhibited infantile-onset, treatment-resistant epilepsy. Additional clinical features included moderate to profound global developmental delay/intellectual disability (20/20), hypotonia (12/20) and delayed motor development (19/20). Brain MRI findings included cerebral atrophy (13/20), supported by post-mortem histological examination in patient-derived brain tissue, cerebellar vermis atrophy (5/20), and callosal hypoplasia (4/20). Functional studies in transfected cell lines confirmed the deleteriousness of all identified variants and indicated at least three distinct pathological mechanisms: (i) defective cell membrane expression; (ii) impaired LGI1-binding; and/or (iii) impaired interaction with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95. We reveal novel clinical and molecular hallmarks of ADAM22 deficiency and provide knowledge that might inform clinical management and early diagnostics.

A disorder clinically resembling cystic fibrosis caused by biallelic variants in the AGR2 gene.

PURPOSE: We sought to describe a disorder clinically mimicking cystic fibrosis (CF) and to elucidate its genetic cause. METHODS: Exome/genome sequencing and human phenotype ontology data of nearly 40 000 patients from our Bio/Databank were analysed. RNA sequencing of samples from the nasal mucosa from patients, carriers and controls followed by transcriptome analysis was performed. RESULTS: We identified 13 patients from 9 families with a CF-like phenotype consisting of recurrent lower respiratory infections (13/13), failure to thrive (13/13) and chronic diarrhoea (8/13), with high morbidity and mortality. All patients had biallelic variants in AGR2, (1) two splice-site variants, (2) gene deletion and (3) three missense variants. We confirmed aberrant AGR2 transcripts caused by an intronic variant and complete absence of AGR2 transcripts caused by the large gene deletion, resulting in loss of function (LoF). Furthermore, transcriptome analysis identified significant downregulation of components of the mucociliary machinery (intraciliary transport, cilium organisation), as well as upregulation of immune processes. CONCLUSION: We describe a previously unrecognised autosomal recessive disorder caused by AGR2 variants. AGR2-related disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting a CF-like phenotype. This has implications for the molecular diagnosis and management of these patients. AGR2 LoF is likely the disease mechanism, with consequent impairment of the mucociliary defence machinery. Future studies should aim to establish a better understanding of the disease pathophysiology and to identify potential drug targets.

A novel POU1F1 pathogenic variant: Two familial case reports with phenotype expansion.

Up: A schematic-diagram of POU1F1-gene. Down right: an electrophoretogram of the detected novel pathogenic-variant in comparison with wild-type POU1F1 exon-6 sequence. Down left: Family pedigree of the two-siblings reported.

A founder mutation in PEX12 among Egyptian patients in peroxisomal biogenesis disorder.

At least 14 distinctive PEX genes function in the biogenesis of peroxisomes. Biallelic alterations in the peroxisomal biogenesis factor 12 (PEX12) gene lead to Zellweger syndrome spectrum (ZSS) with variable clinical expressivity ranging from early lethality to mildly affected with long-term survival. Herein, we define 20 patients derived from 14 unrelated Egyptian families, 19 of which show a homozygous PEX12 in-frame (c.1047_1049del p.(Gln349del)) deletion. This founder mutation, reported rarely outside of Egypt, was associated with a uniformly severe phenotype. Patients showed developmental delay in early life followed by motor and mental regression, progressive hypotonia, unsteadiness, and lack of speech. Seventeen patients had sparse hair or partial alopecia, a striking feature that was not noted previously in PEX12. Neonatal cholestasis was manifested in 2 siblings. Neurodiagnostics showed consistent cerebellar atrophy and variable white matter demyelination, axonal neuropathy in about half, and cardiomyopathy in 10% of patients. A single patient with a compound heterozygous PEX12 mutation exhibited milder features with late childhood onset with gait disturbance and learning disability. Thus, the PEX12 relatively common founder mutation accounts for the majority of PEX12-related disease in Egypt and delineates a uniform clinical and radiographic phenotype.

A relatively common homozygous TRAPPC4 splicing variant is associated with an early-infantile neurodegenerative syndrome.

Trafficking protein particle (TRAPP) complexes, which include the TRAPPC4 protein, regulate membrane trafficking between lipid organelles in a process termed vesicular tethering. TRAPPC4 was recently implicated in a recessive neurodevelopmental condition in four unrelated families due to a shared c.454+3A>G splice variant. Here, we report 23 patients from 17 independent families with an early-infantile-onset neurodegenerative presentation, where we also identified the homozygous variant hg38:11:119020256 A>G (NM_016146.5:c.454+3A>G) in TRAPPC4 through exome or genome sequencing. No other clinically relevant TRAPPC4 variants were identified among any of over 10,000 patients with neurodevelopmental conditions. We found the carrier frequency of TRAPPC4 c.454+3A>G was 2.4-5.4 per 10,000 healthy individuals. Affected individuals with the homozygous TRAPPC4 c.454+3A>G variant showed profound psychomotor delay, developmental regression, early-onset epilepsy, microcephaly and progressive spastic tetraplegia. Based upon RNA sequencing, the variant resulted in partial exon 3 skipping and generation of an aberrant transcript owing to use of a downstream cryptic splice donor site, predicting a premature stop codon and nonsense mediated decay. These data confirm the pathogenicity of the TRAPPC4 c.454+3A>G variant, and refine the clinical presentation of TRAPPC4-related encephalopathy.

Author Correction: Loss of MTX2 causes mandibuloacral dysplasia and links mitochondrial dysfunction to altered nuclear morphology.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

ASAH1-related disorders: Description of 15 novel pediatric patients and expansion of the clinical phenotype.

Acid ceramidase deficiency is an orphan lysosomal disorder caused by ASAH1 pathogenic variants and presenting with either Farber disease or spinal muscle atrophy with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (SMA-PME). Phenotypic and genotypic features are rarely explored beyond the scope of case reports. Furthermore, the new biomarker C26-Ceramide requires validation in a clinical setting. We evaluated the clinical, biomarker and genetic spectrum of 15 Egyptian children from 14 unrelated families with biallelic pathogenic variants in ASAH1 (12 Farber and 3 SMA-PME). Recruited children were nine females/six males ranging in age at diagnosis from 13 to 118 months. We detected ASAH1 pathogenic variants in all 30 alleles including three novel variants (c.1126A>G (p.Thr376Ala), c.1205G>A (p.Arg402Gln), exon-5-deletion). Both total C26-Ceramide and its trans- isomer showed 100% sensitivity for the detection of ASAH1-related disorders in tested patients. A 10-year-old girl with the novel variant c.1205G>A (p.Arg402Gln) presented with a new peculiar phenotype of PME without muscle atrophy. We expanded the phenotypic spectrum of ASAH1-related disorders and validated the biomarker C26-Ceramide for supporting diagnosis in symptomatic patients.

Loss of MTX2 causes mandibuloacral dysplasia and links mitochondrial dysfunction to altered nuclear morphology.

Mandibuloacral dysplasia syndromes are mainly due to recessive LMNA or ZMPSTE24 mutations, with cardinal nuclear morphological abnormalities and dysfunction. We report five homozygous null mutations in MTX2, encoding Metaxin-2 (MTX2), an outer mitochondrial membrane protein, in patients presenting with a severe laminopathy-like mandibuloacral dysplasia characterized by growth retardation, bone resorption, arterial calcification, renal glomerulosclerosis and severe hypertension. Loss of MTX2 in patients' primary fibroblasts leads to loss of Metaxin-1 (MTX1) and mitochondrial dysfunction, including network fragmentation and oxidative phosphorylation impairment. Furthermore, patients' fibroblasts are resistant to induced apoptosis, leading to increased cell senescence and mitophagy and reduced proliferation. Interestingly, secondary nuclear morphological defects are observed in both MTX2-mutant fibroblasts and mtx-2-depleted C. elegans. We thus report the identification of a severe premature aging syndrome revealing an unsuspected link between mitochondrial composition and function and nuclear morphology, establishing a pathophysiological link with premature aging laminopathies and likely explaining common clinical features.

Characterisation of COVID-19 Pandemic in Paediatric Age Group: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic first originated in Wuhan the capital of Hubei province, China in December 2019 and then spread globally. It is caused by SARS-CoV-2. Until 1st April 2020, the number of cases worldwide was recorded to be 823,626 with 40,598 deaths. Most of the reported cases were adults with few cases described in children and neonates. OBJECTIVES: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyse the disease characterisation in paediatric age group including the possibility of vertical transmission to the neonates. METHODS: Articles published up to 2nd April 2020 in PubMed and google Scholar were considered for this study. FINDINGS: The most frequently reported symptoms were cough 49% (95% CI: 42 - 55%) and fever 47% (95% CI: 41- 53%). Lymphopenia and increased Procalcitonin were recorded in (21%, 95% CI: 12 - 30%) and (28%, 95% CI: 18 - 37%) respectively. No sex difference for COVID-19 was found in paediatric age group (p = 0.7). Case fatality rate was 0%. Four out of 58 neonates (6.8%) born to COVID-19 confirmed mothers tested positive for the disease. CONCLUSION: The disease trajectory in Paediatric patients has good prognosis compared to adults. Intensive care unit and death are rare. Vertical transmission and virus shedding in breast milk are yet to be established.

ASAH1 pathogenic variants associated with acid ceramidase deficiency: Farber disease and spinal muscular atrophy with progressive myoclonic epilepsy.

Farber disease and spinal muscular atrophy with progressive myoclonic epilepsy are a spectrum of rare lysosomal storage disorders characterized by acid ceramidase deficiency (ACD), resulting from pathogenic variants in N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 1 (ASAH1). Other than simple listings provided in literature reviews, a curated, comprehensive list of ASAH1 mutations associated with ACD clinical phenotypes has not yet been published. This publication includes mutations in ASAH1 collected through the Observational and Cross-Sectional Cohort Study of the Natural History and Phenotypic Spectrum of Farber Disease (NHS), ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03233841, in combination with an up-to-date curated list of published mutations. The NHS is the first to collect retrospective and prospective data on living and deceased patients with ACD presenting as Farber disease, who had or had not undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Forty-five patients representing the known clinical spectrum of Farber disease (living patients aged 1-28 years) were enrolled. The curation of known ASAH1 pathogenic variants using a single reference transcript includes 10 previously unpublished from the NHS and 63 that were previously reported. The publication of ASAH1 variants will be greatly beneficial to patients undergoing genetic testing in the future by providing a significantly expanded reference list of disease-causing variants.