1.
Biallelic Mutations of VAC14 in Pediatric-Onset Neurological Disease.
Lenk, GM, Szymanska, K, Debska-Vielhaber, G, Rydzanicz, M, Walczak, A, Bekiesinska-Figatowska, M, Vielhaber, S, Hallmann, K, Stawinski, P, Buehring, S, et al
American journal of human genetics. 2016;(1):188-94
Abstract
In the PI(3,5)P2 biosynthetic complex, the lipid kinase PIKFYVE and the phosphatase FIG4 are bound to the dimeric scaffold protein VAC14, which is composed of multiple heat-repeat domains. Mutations of FIG4 result in the inherited disorders Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4J, Yunis-Varón syndrome, and polymicrogyria with seizures. We here describe inherited variants of VAC14 in two unrelated children with sudden onset of a progressive neurological disorder and regression of developmental milestones. Both children developed impaired movement with dystonia, became nonambulatory and nonverbal, and exhibited striatal abnormalities on MRI. A diagnosis of Leigh syndrome was rejected due to normal lactate profiles. Exome sequencing identified biallelic variants of VAC14 that were inherited from unaffected heterozygous parents in both families. Proband 1 inherited a splice-site variant that results in skipping of exon 13, p.Ile459Profs(∗)4 (not reported in public databases), and the missense variant p.Trp424Leu (reported in the ExAC database in a single heterozygote). Proband 2 inherited two missense variants in the dimerization domain of VAC14, p.Ala582Ser and p.Ser583Leu, that have not been previously reported. Cultured skin fibroblasts exhibited the accumulation of vacuoles that is characteristic of PI(3,5)P2 deficiency. Vacuolization of fibroblasts was rescued by transfection of wild-type VAC14 cDNA. The similar age of onset and neurological decline in the two unrelated children define a recessive disorder resulting from compound heterozygosity for deleterious variants of VAC14.
2.
[Celiac disease with epilepsy and minor neurological disorders].
Tirotta, D, Eusebi, G, Durante, V
Recenti progressi in medicina. 2012;(5):198-204
Abstract
We present the case of a woman with abdominal pain, headache, syncope. The diagnosis of celiac disease (CD), associated with epilepsy and the brief review of literature, suggest that CD should be considered in neurological disorders of unknown etiology. The diet can be effective only on abdominal pain.
3.
Susceptibility-weighted MR imaging: a review of clinical applications in children.
Tong, KA, Ashwal, S, Obenaus, A, Nickerson, JP, Kido, D, Haacke, EM
AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology. 2008;(1):9-17
Abstract
Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a high-spatial-resolution 3D gradient-echo MR imaging technique with phase postprocessing that accentuates the paramagnetic properties of blood products such as deoxyhemoglobin, intracellular methemoglobin, and hemosiderin. It is particularly useful for detecting intravascular venous deoxygenated blood as well as extravascular blood products. It is also quite sensitive to the presence of other substances such as iron, some forms of calcification, and air. We have used this technique in the past several years to study a wide variety of pediatric neurologic disorders. We present a review with selected case histories to demonstrate its clinical usefulness in the improvement of the following: 1) detection of hemorrhagic lesions seen in various conditions, including traumatic brain injury and coagulopathic or other hemorrhagic disorders; 2) detection of vascular malformations such as cavernous angiomas, telangiectasias, or pial angiomas associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome; 3) demonstration of venous thrombosis and/or increased oxygen extraction in the setting of infarction, hypoxic/anoxic injury, or brain death; 4) delineation of neoplasms with hemorrhage, calcification, or increased vascularity; and 5) depiction of calcium or iron deposition in neurodegenerative disorders. SWI has provided new understanding of some of these disease processes. It is hoped that as SWI becomes more widely available, it will provide additional diagnostic and prognostic information that will improve the care and outcome of affected children.
4.
Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in pediatric neurology.
Gulati, S, Shah, T, Menon, S, Jayasundar, R, Kalra, V
Indian journal of pediatrics. 2003;(4):317-25
Abstract
In the last three decades a range of non-invasive biophysical techniques have been developed, of which Magnetic Resonance (MR) has proved to be the most versatile. Its non-invasive and safe nature has made it the most important diagnostic and research tool in clinical medicine. MR Spectroscopy (MRS) is the only technique in clinical medicine that provides non-invasive access to living chemistry in situ. This article focuses mainly on proton MRS in brain and also phosphorus MRS in calf muscle, with particular reference to the pediatric population, the normal spectrum and its use in various disease conditions in the practice of pediatric neurology. Few representative case studies among different disease groups have also been detailed.