Assessing the Subjective Happiness of Parents of Children With Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities Receiving Home Care.

BACKGROUND: Home care for children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) is challenging for parents because it is highly intensive and long-lasting. The pursuit of happiness is an essential goal for everyone. However, only a few studies have focused on the happiness of families with such children. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to examine the subjective happiness of parents of children with SMID receiving home care and identify the factors associated with their happiness. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online questionnaire-based survey of 23 parents of children with SMID and nurses with children without disabilities as controls at Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Japan from July 1 to August 31, 2023. We set the subjective happiness scale (SHS) scores as the outcomes. We used the Mann-Whitney U test to compare the SHS scores between the two groups. Moreover, we extracted the clinical and demographic factors affecting the SHS scores of parents of children with SMID using univariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: We obtained responses from 12 parents with SMID and 105 controls. The average SHS scores of parents with SMID and controls were 4.8 and 4.7, respectively, and both groups did not differ significantly. Univariate analysis showed that parental male sex and the presence of a tracheostomy were negatively associated with the SHS scores of parents. CONCLUSIONS: The SHS scores did not differ significantly between parents with SMID and controls. However, more attention seemed necessary for fathers and parents of children who have undergone tracheostomies. Given the exploratory nature of this study and its small sample size, larger-scale investigations are warranted. Additionally, qualitative research conducted after establishing trustful relationships could provide further insights.

An adolescent case of ASXL3-related disorder with delayed onset of feeding difficulty.

BACKGROUND: ASXL3-related disorder, first described in 2013, is a genetic disorder with an autosomal dominant inheritance that is caused by a heterozygous loss-of-function variant in ASXL3. The most characteristic feature is neurodevelopmental delay with consistently limited speech. Feeding difficulty is a main symptom observed in infancy. However, no adolescent case has been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 14-year-old girl with ASXL3-related syndrome was referred to our hospital with subacute onset of emotional lability. Limbic encephalitis was ruled out by examination; however, the patient gradually showed a lack of interest in eating, with decreased diet volume. Consequently, she experienced significant weight loss. She experienced no symptoms of bulimia, or food allergy; therefore, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) was clinically suspected. CONCLUSIONS: We reported the first case of ASXL3-related disorder with adolescent onset of feeding difficulty. ARFID was considered a cause of the feeding difficulty.

The process by which mothers of children with special healthcare needs evolve their connections with the community.

Mothers of children with special healthcare needs often face many extra difficulties, such as being isolated in the community. This study, conducted in the San'in region of Japan between December 2017 and February 2019, aimed to clarify how the mothers established and adapted their connections within their communities through a qualitative descriptive design study. Participants were 12 mothers caring for children with special healthcare needs. Verbatim data on adapting to life after hospital discharge was collected through interviews and analyzed by the modified grounded theory approach. The data generated 14 concepts, which were grouped into four categories, as follows: Difficulties in life that arise from caring for children in social isolation; gaining an objective view of the current situation and future of caring for children with special healthcare needs; collaboration based on the understanding of relationships with others; and feeling fulfilled in life. These describe four phases that the mothers went through which are similar to each stage of the transition theory. Providing support via a collaborative partnership may be effective for mothers experiencing anxiety during the transition stages.

Frequent epileptic apnoea in a patient with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome.

Pitt-Hopkins syndrome is a rare genetic disease, characterised by severe intellectual disability, distinctive dysmorphic features, epilepsy and distinctive breathing abnormalities during wakefulness. Here, we describe the case of a 22-year-old woman with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome who presented with intractable generalised tonic seizures from the age of 11 years, which increased in frequency with age and onset of menstruation despite usage of some anticonvulsant drugs. From the age of 16 years, polysomnography and video-EEG led to the detection of frequent epileptic apnoea during sleep. Although the frequency of generalised tonic seizure clusters was reduced by treatment with phenobarbital and potassium bromide, epileptic apnoea persisted. Furthermore, frequent epileptic apnoea observed in our patient was regarded as a factor for aspiration and deterioration of respiratory function. This study indicates that patients with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome require close monitoring for epileptic apnoea. Moreover, long-term EEG and respiratory monitoring are necessary to distinguish epileptic apnoea from other respiratory disorders in patients with Pitt-Hopkins syndrome.

Ambroxol chaperone therapy for neuronopathic Gaucher disease: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by a deficiency of glucocerebrosidase. Although enzyme-replacement and substrate-reduction therapies are available, their efficacies in treating the neurological manifestations of GD are negligible. Pharmacological chaperone therapy is hypothesized to offer a new strategy for treating the neurological manifestations of this disease. Specifically, ambroxol, a commonly used expectorant, has been proposed as a candidate pharmacological chaperone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and neurological efficacy of ambroxol in patients with neuronopathic GD. METHODS: This open-label pilot study included five patients who received high-dose oral ambroxol in combination with enzyme replacement therapy. Safety was assessed by adverse event query, physical examination, electrocardiography, laboratory studies, and drug concentration. Biochemical efficacy was assessed through evidence of glucocerebrosidase activity in the lymphocytes and glucosylsphingosine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Neurological efficacy was evaluated using the Unified Myoclonus Rating Scale, Gross Motor Function Measure, Functional Independence Measure, seizure frequency, pupillary light reflex, horizontal saccadic latency, and electrophysiologic studies. RESULTS: High-dose oral ambroxol had good safety and tolerability, significantly increased lymphocyte glucocerebrosidase activity, permeated the blood-brain barrier, and decreased glucosylsphingosine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Myoclonus, seizures, and pupillary light reflex dysfunction markedly improved in all patients. Relief from myoclonus led to impressive recovery of gross motor function in two patients, allowing them to walk again. INTERPRETATION: Pharmacological chaperone therapy with high-dose oral ambroxol shows promise in treating neuronopathic GD, necessitating further clinical trials.

Effect of Intrathecal Baclofen on Delayed-Onset Paroxysmal Dystonia due to Compression Injury Resulting From Congenital and Progressive Spinal Bone Deformities in Chondrodysplasia Punctata.

BACKGROUND: Dystonia due to spinal lesions in adult patients is characterized by the provocation and/or amelioration of the spasm by somatosensory stimulation with a sensory trick. PATIENT DESCRIPTION: An infant with brachytelephalangic chondrodysplasia punctata developed flaccid tetraplegia due to cervical cord compression resulting from congenital atlantoaxial dislocation. Episodic, tonic extension of the extremities, neck, and trunk had appeared daily since age two years and was often provoked by tactile stimulation. Although decompression surgery was performed at age three years, progressive spinal deformity resulted in the aggravation of episodic dystonia thereafter, lasting for hours. Foot dorsiflexion and wearing a truncal brace for scoliosis inhibited these spasms. Intrathecal baclofen bolus injection transiently ameliorated the paroxysmal dystonia and detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in the lower urinary tract. CONCLUSION: Paroxysmal dystonia is unusual in children with spinal cord lesions; however, it should be recognized for appropriate individualized clinical management.

Effects of donepezil and serotonin reuptake inhibitor on acute regression during adolescence in Down syndrome.

A 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome (DS) showed a gradual decline in his daily activities and feeding capacities, and a marked deterioration triggered by a streptococcal infection was observed at the age of 15 years. He became bedridden, accompanied by sleep disturbance, sustained upward gaze, and generalized rigidity. Magnetic resonance imaging showed unremarkable findings, but antiglutamate receptor autoantibodies were positive in his cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment with thiamine infusion and steroid pulse therapy showed little effect, but gross motor dysfunction and appetite loss were ameliorated by the administration of l-DOPA and serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Thereafter, autistic behaviors predominated, including loss of social interaction, oral tendency, water phobia, and aggressiveness. Initiation of donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, resulted in the disappearance of these symptoms and total recovery of the patient to his previous psychosocial levels. We hypothesize that the acute regression in adolescence represents a process closely related to the defects of serotonergic and cholinergic systems that are innate to DS brains and not just a nonspecific comorbidity of depression or limbic encephalitis.

Stimulus-induced reflex epileptic spasms in 5p- syndrome.

Here we describe two patients with 5p- syndrome who suffered from epilepsy characterised by stimulus-induced epileptic spasms manifesting as head nodding. In patient 1, a series of spasms were exclusively triggered by eating, and were associated with diffuse high-voltage slow waves on ictal EEG, particularly presenting as a positive slow potential at the left mid-temporal area. Clusters of sharp waves with negative polarity emerged in the same area during the inter-spasm periods during eating. In patient 2, spasms were provoked by either eating or micturition. Ictal EEG of clustered spasms after micturition showed positive slow or triphasic waves, which correlated with each spasm, over the bifrontal and vertex areas. These findings suggest that the focal cortical areas act as trigger regions in reflex epilepsies, and that a spasm-generator responsible for the execution of reflex spasms exists either in other cortical areas or in the subcortical structures. Although epilepsy is an unusual complication of 5p- syndrome, this syndrome may have a propensity to develop reflex epilepsy, particularly epileptic spasms. However, identification of responsible genes and their roles in this phenotype requires further investigations.

An association of 19p13.2 microdeletions with Malan syndrome and Chiari malformation.

Patients with microdeletions in the 19p13.2 chromosomal region show developmental delays, overgrowth, and distinctive features with big head appearances. These manifestations are now recognized as Sotos syndrome-like features (Sotos syndrome 2) or Malan syndrome. We identified three female patients with 19p13.2 deletions involving NFIX, a gene responsible for Malan syndrome. We compared the genotypic and phenotypic data of these patients with those of the patients previously reported. The most of the clinical features were found to overlap; however, Chiari malformation type I was observed in two of the three patients evaluated in this study. Because Chiari malformation type I has never been reported in the patients with NSD1-related Sotos syndrome, this finding indicates the possible role of 19p13.2 deletion in patients with mimicking features of Sotos syndrome but have negative NSD1 testing results.

Evolution of a symptomatic diffuse developmental venous anomaly with progressive cerebral atrophy in an atypical case of Sturge-Weber syndrome.

A 2-year-old boy had glaucoma, bilateral facial haemangioma and widespread blue nevi on the trunk and extremities since birth. Dilated medullary veins were detected in the left cerebral periventricular white matter on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Macrocephaly and delayed psychomotor development were observed during late infancy, and susceptibility-weighted angiography revealed an extensive developmental venous anomaly with multiple caput medusae throughout bilateral hemispheres, accompanied by periventricular hyperintense alterations on MRI and progressive diffuse atrophy of the cerebral mantle with left-sided predominance. Hypoperfusion in the left cerebral and cerebellar hemisphere was also uncovered. No meningeal haemangioma was observed. This patient may represent a novel subgroup of phakomatosis cases that can be regarded as a variant of Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Early predictors of status epilepticus-associated mortality and morbidity in children.

BACKGROUND: Early predictors of status epilepticus (SE)-associated mortality and morbidity have not been systematically studied in children, considerably impeding the identification of patients at risk. OBJECTIVES: To determine reliable early predictors of SE-associated mortality and morbidity and identify the etiology of SE-associated sequelae in Japanese children. METHODS: We conducted a prospective multicenter study of clinical findings and initial laboratory data acquired at SE onset, and assessed outcomes at the last follow-up examination. In-hospital death during the acute period and neurological sequelae were classified as poor outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 201 children who experienced their first SE episode, 16 exhibited poor outcome that was most commonly associated with acute encephalopathy. Univariate analysis revealed that the following were associated with poor outcomes: young age (⩽24 months); seizure duration >90 min; seizure intractability (failure of the second anticonvulsive drug); biphasic seizures; abnormal blood glucose levels (<61 or >250 mg/dL); serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ⩾56 U/L; and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels >2.00 mg/dL. Multivariate analysis revealed that young age, seizure intractability, abnormal blood glucose levels, and elevated AST and CRP levels were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Young age and seizure intractability were highly predictive of poor outcomes in pediatric SE. Moreover, abnormal blood glucose levels and elevated AST and CRP levels were predictors that might be closely associated with the etiology, especially acute encephalopathy and severe bacterial infection (sepsis and meningitis) in Japanese children.

Effect of levetiracetam in acute encephalitis with refractory, repetitive partial seizures during acute and chronic phase.

AIM: To clarify the effect of levetiracetam (LEV) for acute and chronic seizure control in acute encephalitis with refractory, repetitive partial seizures (AERRPS). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course of six AERRPS cases treated with LEV, and explored the acute phase termination by withdrawal from barbiturate-induced coma under artificial ventilation, and the reduction in seizure frequency during the chronic phase. LEV was administrated orally or via nasogastric tubes as an add-on agent during acute (n=3; age 8-10 years) and chronic (n=3; age 19-30 years) AERRPS. RESULTS: In the acute phase, administration of LEV (50-60 mg/kg/d) in combination with phenobarbital (n=3; peak 57.9-76.1 µg/ml) and potassium bromide (n=2; 30-36 mg/kg/d)) resulted in successful reduction of intravenous barbiturate dosage and withdrawal from artificial ventilation. In the chronic phase, seizure frequency reduced by >75% for 5-18 months with LEV 750-1500 mg/d. CONCLUSION: LEV may affect seizure control in AERRPS, particularly during the chronic phase, through its unique action of inhibition of excitatory neurotransmitter release. The regimen of oral barbiturate, potassium bromide and LEV would be worth for trial during the acute phase of AERRPS.

Abnormal pupillary light reflex with chromatic pupillometry in Gaucher disease.

The hallmark of neuronopathic Gaucher disease (GD) is oculomotor abnormalities, but ophthalmological assessment is difficult in uncooperative patients. Chromatic pupillometry is a quantitative method to assess the pupillary light reflex (PLR) with minimal patient cooperation. Thus, we investigated whether chromatic pupillometry could be useful for neurological evaluations in GD. In our neuronopathic GD patients, red light-induced PLR was markedly impaired, whereas blue light-induced PLR was relatively spared. In addition, patients with non-neuronopathic GD showed no abnormalities. These novel findings show that chromatic pupillometry is a convenient method to detect neurological signs and monitor the course of disease in neuronopathic GD.

Risk factors for acute pancreatitis in patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Acute pancreatitis in patients with severe motor and intellectual disability (SMID) is a rare but life-threatening condition. Possible causes of acute pancreatitis in these patients including valproic acid therapy, hypothermia and nasoduodenal tube feeding, have not yet been investigated in detail. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the risk factors for acute pancreatitis in patients with SMID. METHODS: Five SMID patients with acute pancreatitis and 15 SMID patients without acute pancreatitis were reviewed. Age; serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, and albumin; height; bodyweight; body surface area; body mass index; daily calorie intake; daily calorie intake per unit of body mass surface area; daily calorie intake per kilogram bodyweight; and valproic acid usage were examined. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed in serum albumin level between the two groups (P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: The mechanism of acute pancreatitis in these patients was considered as pancreatic morphological change, acinar damage, and elevated serum trypsinogen level caused by malnutrition. It is likely that acute pancreatitis in patients with SMID occurs due to the same mechanism as in anorexia nervosa and malnourished patients. To prevent acute pancreatitis in these patients, it is important to maintain adequate nutritional status.

Novel compound heterozygous mutations of POLR3A revealed by whole-exome sequencing in a patient with hypomyelination.

OBJECTIVE: Congenital white matter disorders are a heterogeneous group of hypomyelination disorders affecting the white matter of the brain. Recently, mutations in the genes encoding the subunits of RNA polymerase III (Pol III), POLR3A and POLR3B, have been identified as new genetic causes for hypomyelinating disorders. METHOD: Whole-exome sequencing was applied to identify responsible gene mutations in a 29-year-old female patient showing hypomyelination of unknown cause. To investigate the pathological mechanism underlying the hypomyelination in this patient, the expression level of 7SL RNA, a transcriptional target of Pol III, was analyzed in cultured skin fibroblasts derived from the patient with POLR3A mutations. RESULTS: Novel compound heterozygous mutations of POLR3A were identified in the patient, who started to show cerebellar signs at 3 years, lost ambulation at 7 years, and became bedridden at 18 years. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed severe volume loss in the brainstem, the cerebellum, and the white matter associated with hypomyelination. In addition to hypodontia and hypogonadism, she showed many pituitary hormone-related deficiencies. The expression level of 7SL RNA in cultured skin fibroblasts derived from this patient showed no significant abnormality. CONCLUSION: The many pituitary hormone-related deficiencies identified in this patient may be an essential finding for the Pol III-related leukodystrophies spectrum. Further investigation is needed for a better understanding of the disease mechanism.