Eating disorders in young patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

AIM: We describe the association of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and feeding and eating disorders (FED) in five patients admitted to our third level centre for both FED and NF1. METHODS: Case series of five adolescent females with NF1 treated for FED. RESULTS: We collected data from five patients with NF1 aged between 14 and 22 years, all females. The onset of eating disorder symptoms occurred between 13 and 19 years of age and was characterised by food intake restriction, associated with physical hyperactivity in three out of five cases. One patient also reported self-injurious acts and episodic binges. Patients received diagnoses of anorexia nervosa (AN, n = 2), atypical AN (n = 1), bulimia nervosa (n = 1), unspecified feeding and eating disorder (n = 1). CONCLUSION: The current literature reports a single case of an adult with NF1 and comorbid AN, focusing on the dermatological features of NF1. Our article describes a case series of five patients in developmental age affected by NF1 and FED. Clinical and psychological features of NF1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of FED when these two conditions co-occur. The dermatological alterations of NF1 may contribute to body image distortion that characterises AN. Further research is required to systematically screen populations of patients with NF1 for the presence of FED.

The Clinical Impact of Methotrexate-Induced Stroke-Like Neurotoxicity in Paediatric Departments: An Italian Multi-Centre Case-Series.

Introduction: Stroke-like syndrome (SLS) is a rare subacute neurological complication of intrathecal or high-dose (≥500 mg) Methotrexate (MTX) administration. Its clinical features, evoking acute cerebral ischaemia with fluctuating course symptoms and a possible spontaneous resolution, have elicited interest among the scientific community. However, many issues are still open on the underlying pathogenesis, clinical, and therapeutic management and long-term outcome. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical, radiological and laboratory records of all patients diagnosed with SLS between 2011 and 2021 at 4 National referral centers for Pediatric Onco-Hematology. Patients with a latency period that was longer than 3 weeks between the last MTX administration of MTX and SLS onset were excluded from the analysis, as were those with unclear etiologies. We assessed symptom severity using a dedicated arbitrary scoring system. Eleven patients were included in the study. Results: The underlying disease was acute lymphoblastic leukemia type B in 10/11 patients, while fibroblastic osteosarcoma was present in a single subject. The median age at diagnosis was 11 years (range 4-34), and 64% of the patients were women. Symptoms occurred after a mean of 9.45 days (± 0.75) since the last MTX administration and lasted between 1 and 96 h. Clinical features included hemiplegia and/or cranial nerves palsy, paraesthesia, movement or speech disorders, and seizure. All patients underwent neuroimaging studies (CT and/or MRI) and EEG. The scoring system revealed an average of 4.9 points (± 2.3), with a median of 5 points (maximum 20 points). We detected a linear correlation between the severity of the disease and age in male patients. Conclusions: SLS is a rare, well-characterized complication of MTX administration. Despite the small sample, we have been able to confirm some of the previous findings in literature. We also identified a linear correlation between age and severity of the disease, which could improve the future clinical management.

Hemiplegic-Migraine-like Attacks as First Manifestation of Diffuse Leptomeningeal Glioneuronal Tumor: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLGNT) is a low-grade tumor characterized by diffuse leptomeningeal infiltrates. Symptoms are usually secondary to hydrocephalus. Hemiplegic migraine (HM)-like episodes have never been associated with DLGNT, but they have been reported with different inflammatory and tumoral entities involving leptomeninges. OBSERVATIONS: We report the case of a 10-year-old boy with recurrent episodes of right hyposthenia, aphasia, and headache lasting hours to days with complete remission. The electroencephalogram during the attack showed diffuse slower activity on the left hemisphere, which improved together with the symptoms. DLGNT was discovered during a follow-up magnetic resonance imaging and confirmed by biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of HM-like attacks in DLGNT. We discuss the pathogenetic hypotheses of our case and previously reported cases of "symptomatic" HM with leptomeningeal involvement.

Bi-allelic variants in MDH2: Expanding the clinical phenotype.

Bi-allelic alterations in the MDH2 gene have recently been reported in three unrelated toddlers with early-onset severe encephalopathy. Here, we describe a new case of a child carrying novel variants in MDH2. This child presented with early-onset encephalocardiopathy requiring heart transplant and showed cerebellar ataxia and drug-responsive epilepsy; his family history was significant for multiple cancers, a feature often associated with monoallelic variants in MDH2. Functional studies in cultured skin fibroblasts from the proband showed reduced protein levels and impaired enzyme activity, further corroborating the genetic results. The relatively mild neurological presentation and severe cardiac manifestations requiring heart transplant distinguish this case from previous reports. This patient thus expands the spectrum of clinical features associated with MDH2 variants.

Further delineation and long-term evolution of electroclinical phenotype in Mowat Wilson Syndrome. A longitudinal study in 40 individuals.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy is a main feature of Mowat Wilson Syndrome (MWS), a congenital malformation syndrome caused by ZEB2 variants. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term evolution of the electroclinical phenotype of MWS in a large population. METHODS: Forty-individuals with a genetically confirmed diagnosis were enrolled. Three age groups were identified (t1 = 0-4; t2 = 5-12; t3 = >13 years); clinical data and EEG records were collected, analyzed, and compared for age group. Video-EEG recorded seizures were reviewed. RESULTS: Thirty-six of 40 individuals had epilepsy, of whom 35/35 aged >5 years. Almost all (35/36) presented focal seizures at onset (mean age at onset 3.4 ±â€¯2.3 SD) that persisted, reduced in frequency, in 7/22 individuals after the age of 13. Absences occurred in 22/36 (mean age at onset 7.2 ±â€¯0.9 SD); no one had absences before 6 and over 16 years old. Paroxysmal interictal abnormalities in sleep also followed an age-dependent evolution with a significant increase in frequency at school age (p = 0.002) and a reduction during adolescence (p = 0.008). Electrical Status Epilepticus during Sleep occurred in 14/36 (13/14 aged 5-13 years old at onset). Seven focal seizure ictal video-EEGs were collected: all were long-lasting and more visible clinical signs were often preceded by prolonged electrical and/or subtle (erratic head and eye orientation) seizures. Valproic acid was confirmed as the most widely used and effective drug, followed by levetiracetam. CONCLUSIONS: Epilepsy is a major sign of MWS with a characteristic, age-dependent, electroclinical pattern. Improvement with adolescence/adulthood is usually observed. Our data strengthen the hypothesis of a GABAergic transmission imbalance underlying ZEB2-related epilepsy.

Consensus protocol for EEG and amplitude-integrated EEG assessment and monitoring in neonates.

The aim of this work is to establish inclusive guidelines on electroencephalography (EEG) applicable to all neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Guidelines on ideal EEG monitoring for neonates are available, but there are significant barriers to their implementation in many centres around the world. These include barriers due to limited resources regarding the availability of equipment and technical and interpretive round-the-clock personnel. On the other hand, despite its limitations, amplitude-integrated EEG (aEEG) (previously called Cerebral Function Monitor [CFM]) is a common alternative used in NICUs. The Italian Neonatal Seizure Collaborative Network (INNESCO), working with all national scientific societies interested in the field of neonatal clinical neurophysiology, performed a systematic literature review and promoted interdisciplinary discussions among experts (neonatologists, paediatric neurologists, neurophysiologists, technicians) between 2017 and 2020 with the aim of elaborating shared recommendations. A consensus statement on videoEEG (vEEG) and aEEG for the principal neonatal indications was established. The authors propose a flexible frame of recommendations based on the complementary use of vEEG and aEEG applicable to the various neonatal units with different levels of complexity according to local resources and specific patient features. Suggestions for promoting cooperation between neonatologists, paediatric neurologists, and neurophysiologists, organisational restructuring, and teleneurophysiology implementation are provided.

Leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts: Genetic and phenotypic spectrum.

Biallelic mutations in SNORD118, encoding the small nucleolar RNA U8, cause leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts (LCC). Given the difficulty in interpreting the functional consequences of variants in nonprotein encoding genes, and the high allelic polymorphism across SNORD118 in controls, we set out to provide a description of the molecular pathology and clinical spectrum observed in a cohort of patients with LCC. We identified 64 affected individuals from 56 families. Age at presentation varied from 3 weeks to 67 years, with disease onset after age 40 years in eight patients. Ten patients had died. We recorded 44 distinct, likely pathogenic, variants in SNORD118. Fifty two of 56 probands were compound heterozygotes, with parental consanguinity reported in only three families. Forty nine of 56 probands were either heterozygous (46) or homozygous (three) for a mutation involving one of seven nucleotides that facilitate a novel intramolecular interaction between the 5' end and 3' extension of precursor-U8. There was no obvious genotype-phenotype correlation to explain the marked variability in age at onset. Complementing recently published functional analyses in a zebrafish model, these data suggest that LCC most often occurs due to combinatorial severe and milder mutations, with the latter mostly affecting 3' end processing of precursor-U8.

Mutations in SNORD118 cause the cerebral microangiopathy leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts.

Although ribosomes are ubiquitous and essential for life, recent data indicate that monogenic causes of ribosomal dysfunction can confer a remarkable degree of specificity in terms of human disease phenotype. Box C/D small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved non-protein-coding RNAs involved in ribosome biogenesis. Here we show that biallelic mutations in the gene SNORD118, encoding the box C/D snoRNA U8, cause the cerebral microangiopathy leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts (LCC), presenting at any age from early childhood to late adulthood. These mutations affect U8 expression, processing and protein binding and thus implicate U8 as essential in cerebral vascular homeostasis.

New patients with Temple syndrome caused by 14q32 deletion: Genotype-phenotype correlations and risk of thyroid cancer.

Temple syndrome (TS) is caused by abnormal expression of genes at the imprinted locus 14q32. A subset of TS patients carry 14q32 deletions of paternal origin. We aimed to define possible genotype-phenotype correlations and to highlight the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, which is a previously unreported feature of TS. We described four new patients who carry deletions of paternal origin at 14q32 detected by array-CGH and reviewed nine patients reported in the medical literature. We compared clinical features with respect to deletion size and position. Expression of DLK1 is altered in all the patients with TS, but intellectual disability (ID) is present only in patients with larger deletions extending proximally to the imprinted locus. This study led to the identification of an ID "critical region" containing four annotated genes including YY1 as the strongest candidate. Furthermore, we described three patients with thyroid dysfunction, which progressed to papillary carcinoma at a very young age in two of them. We conclude that DLK1 loss of function is likely to be responsible for the core features of TS, while haploinsufficiency of a gene outside the imprinted region causes ID. Thyroid cancer may be an unrecognized feature and monitoring for thyroid dysfunction should thus be considered in TS patients.

Succinate-CoA ligase deficiency due to mutations in SUCLA2 and SUCLG1: phenotype and genotype correlations in 71 patients.

BACKGROUND: The encephalomyopathic mtDNA depletion syndrome with methylmalonic aciduria is associated with deficiency of succinate-CoA ligase, caused by mutations in SUCLA2 or SUCLG1. We report here 25 new patients with succinate-CoA ligase deficiency, and review the clinical and molecular findings in these and 46 previously reported patients. PATIENTS AND RESULTS: Of the 71 patients, 50 had SUCLA2 mutations and 21 had SUCLG1 mutations. In the newly-reported 20 SUCLA2 patients we found 16 different mutations, of which nine were novel: two large gene deletions, a 1 bp duplication, two 1 bp deletions, a 3 bp insertion, a nonsense mutation and two missense mutations. In the newly-reported SUCLG1 patients, five missense mutations were identified, of which two were novel. The median onset of symptoms was two months for patients with SUCLA2 mutations and at birth for SUCLG1 patients. Median survival was 20 years for SUCLA2 and 20 months for SUCLG1. Notable clinical differences between the two groups were hepatopathy, found in 38% of SUCLG1 cases but not in SUCLA2 cases, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which was not reported in SUCLA2 patients, but documented in 14% of cases with SUCLG1 mutations. Long survival, to age 20 years or older, was reported in 12% of SUCLA2 and in 10% of SUCLG1 patients. The most frequent abnormality on neuroimaging was basal ganglia involvement, found in 69% of SUCLA2 and 80% of SUCLG1 patients. Analysis of respiratory chain enzyme activities in muscle generally showed a combined deficiency of complexes I and IV, but normal histological and biochemical findings in muscle did not preclude a diagnosis of succinate-CoA ligase deficiency. In five patients, the urinary excretion of methylmalonic acid was only marginally elevated, whereas elevated plasma methylmalonic acid was consistently found. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the largest study of patients with SUCLA2 and SUCLG1 deficiency. The most important findings were a significantly longer survival in patients with SUCLA2 mutations compared to SUCLG1 mutations and a trend towards longer survival in patients with missense mutations compared to loss-of-function mutations. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and liver involvement was exclusively found in patients with SUCLG1 mutations, whereas epilepsy was much more frequent in patients with SUCLA2 mutations compared to patients with SUCLG1 mutations. The mutation analysis revealed a number of novel mutations, including a homozygous deletion of the entire SUCLA2 gene, and we found evidence of two founder mutations in the Scandinavian population, in addition to the known SUCLA2 founder mutation in the Faroe Islands.

Life-threatening complications of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in children.

BACKGROUND: Although the posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is considered to have a benign clinical outcome, the presentation of PRES can be associated with life-threatening complications such as severe cerebral hemorrhage, cerebellar herniation and refractory status epilepticus (SE). The aim of this paper is to report incidence, clinical features and outcome of life-threatening complications related to PRES in children. METHODS: Patients who suffered from life-threatening complications were retrospectively identified from a group composed by 27 consecutive children diagnosed with PRES in our hospital between 2000 and 2012. The clinical, radiological and EEG features and the outcome of these patients were evaluated and compared to the characteristics of patients with no complications. RESULTS: Five patients (18%) presented life-threatening complications: 2 cerebral hemorrhages with mass effect and midline shift (1 massive intraparenchymal hemorrhage and 1 subdural hemorrhage and intraparenchymal hemorrhage), 2 transforaminal cerebellar herniations and 1 refractory SE. Two children died because of complications and 2 children required urgent neurosurgical intervention. The infratentorial involvement at onset of PRES and the observation of focal neurological deficits other than visual disturbances were significantly more frequent in children with life-threatening complications (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: PRES is associated with a non-negligible incidence of life-threatening complications. A careful clinical, neuroradiological and EEG monitoring is necessary in order to improve the outcome especially in the case of focal neurological deficits and infratentorial involvement.

Leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts: a purely neurological disorder distinct from coats plus.

OBJECTIVE: With the identification of mutations in the conserved telomere maintenance component 1 (CTC1) gene as the cause of Coats plus (CP) disease, it has become evident that leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts (LCC) is a distinct genetic entity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 15 patients with LCC were identified from our database of patients with intracranial calcification. The clinical and radiological features are described. RESULTS: The median age (range) at presentation was 10 months (range, 2 days-54 years). Of the 15 patients, 9 presented with epileptic seizures, 5 with motor abnormalities, and 1 with developmental delay. Motor abnormalities developed in 14 patients and cognitive problems in 13 patients. Dense calcification occurred in the basal ganglia, thalami, dentate nucleus, brain stem, deep gyri, deep white matter, and in a pericystic distribution. Diffuse leukoencephalopathy was present in all patients, and it was usually symmetrical involving periventricular, deep, and sometimes subcortical, regions. Cysts developed in the basal ganglia, thalamus, deep white matter, cerebellum, or brain stem. In unaffected areas, normal myelination was present. No patient demonstrated cerebral atrophy. CONCLUSION: LCC shares the neuroradiological features of CP. However, LCC is a purely neurological disorder distinguished genetically by the absence of mutations in CTC1. The molecular cause(s) of LCC has (have) not yet been determined.

Mutations in CTC1, encoding conserved telomere maintenance component 1, cause Coats plus.

Coats plus is a highly pleiotropic disorder particularly affecting the eye, brain, bone and gastrointestinal tract. Here, we show that Coats plus results from mutations in CTC1, encoding conserved telomere maintenance component 1, a member of the mammalian homolog of the yeast heterotrimeric CST telomeric capping complex. Consistent with the observation of shortened telomeres in an Arabidopsis CTC1 mutant and the phenotypic overlap of Coats plus with the telomeric maintenance disorders comprising dyskeratosis congenita, we observed shortened telomeres in three individuals with Coats plus and an increase in spontaneous γH2AX-positive cells in cell lines derived from two affected individuals. CTC1 is also a subunit of the α-accessory factor (AAF) complex, stimulating the activity of DNA polymerase-α primase, the only enzyme known to initiate DNA replication in eukaryotic cells. Thus, CTC1 may have a function in DNA metabolism that is necessary for but not specific to telomeric integrity.

FA2H-related disorders: a novel c.270+3A>T splice-site mutation leads to a complex neurodegenerative phenotype.

Homozygous mutations in the gene for fatty acid 2-hydroxylase (FA2H) have been associated in humans with three neurodegenerative disorders: complicated spastic paraplegia (SPG35), leukodystrophy with spastic paraparesis and dystonia, and neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation. Here, we describe a novel homozygous c.270+3A>T mutation in an Italian consanguineous family. In two affected brothers (age at molecular diagnosis 22y and 15y; age at last follow-up 24y and 17y), altered FA2H function led to a severe phenotype, with clinical features overlapping those of the three FA2H-associated disorders. Both patients showed childhood onset progressive spastic paraparesis, mild pyramidal and cerebellar upper limb signs, severe cognitive impairment, white-matter disease, and cerebellar, brainstem, and spinal cord atrophy. However, absence of dystonia, drowsiness episodes, and a subtle globus pallidus involvement suggested that FA2H mutations result in a clinical spectrum, rather than causing distinct disorders. Although clinical heterogeneity is apparent, larger numbers of patients are needed to establish more accurate genotype-phenotype correlations.

VNS in drug resistant epilepsy: preliminary report on a small group of patients.

BACKGROUND: In 1997 Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of medically intractable partial epilepsy in people aged 12 years and older who are ineligible for resective epilepsy surgery. Although the exact mechanisms of action are unknown, the use of VNS with children has increased, including those younger than 12 years of age, or those with generalized epilepsy. METHODS: We describe the outcome for the first group of nine patients, aged 8-28 years, who had pharmaco-resistant epilepsy and were treated with VNS. During the follow up, we gradually and slowly increased the parameters of the stimulation in order to assess the efficacy of VNS even at parameters which would usually be considered "non-therapeutic", along with possible side effects and changes in quality of life. RESULTS: At the last follow, up 1 patient was "seizures free", 3 were "very good responders", 3 were "good responders" and 2 were "non responders". We obtained an initial seizure reduction with low stimulation parameters, the highest current reached being 2.00 mA. This observation supports the possibility that, for younger patients, lower stimulation intensities than those commonly used in clinical practice for adults can be therapeutic. We also wanted to underline the reduction in seizure frequency (approximately 91.7%) and the reduction in seizure duration (> 50%) in the patients affected by drug-resistant absence epilepsy. Adverse effects were mild, tolerable and, in most of cases, easily resolved by adjusting the stimulation parameters. Hoarseness of voice was the most frequent side effect. The improvements in the quality of life are relevant and seem to be independent of the VNS effect in controlling seizures. CONCLUSIONS: Our small experience seems to confirm the efficacy and safety of VNS in drug resistant partial and generalized epilepsy in developing age groups.

Sensorial saturation for neonatal analgesia.

AIM: Sensorial saturation (SS) is a procedure in which touch, massage, taste, voice, smell, and sight compete with pain, producing almost complete analgesia during heel prick in neonates. SS is an apparently complex maneuvre, but when correctly explained it is easily learnt. In the present paper, we studied its feasibility, assessing whether a long training is really needed to achieve good results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 66 consecutive babies and divided them randomly into 3 groups which received the following forms of analgesia: glucose plus sucking (A), SS performed by nurses (B), SS performed by mothers (C). We did not use perfume on the caregivers' hands, so that babies could smell the natural scent of the hands. We assessed pain level by the ABC scale. RESULTS: Median scores of groups A, B, and C were: 1 (0 to 6), 0 (0 to 4), and 0 (0 to 6), respectively. Mean scores were: 0.6, 0.6, and 1.7 and standard errors were 0.38, 0.22, and 0.32, respectively. Scores of groups B and C were significantly lower than that of A (P=0.03 and 0.006, respectively). No significant difference was found between values of scores of groups B and C. CONCLUSIONS: Even without the use of perfume on the hands, SS was effective as an analgesic maneuvre. It made no difference whether SS was performed by mothers who applied it for the first time or experienced nurses. SS is rapid to learn and any caregiver (mother, pediatrician or nurse) can effectively use it.