Browsing by Author "Walsh, Laurence"

Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
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    Delayed focal seizures following gunshot wound to the head in a child with minimal initial sequelae
    (Elsevier, 2024-10-31) Singhal, Saurabh; Miller, Derryl; Croxton, Amanda; Walsh, Laurence; Neurology, School of Medicine
    A 6 year old girl accidentally discovered a gun in her home and shot herself in her mouth. A bullet lodged in her right frontal lobe, but she remained neurologically intact with minimal symptoms. Her diagnosis was delayed due to the family leaving the emergency room for long wait times and later noticed over 72 hours from the injury at a dentist appointment. She was sent back to the emergency department, where head imaging revealed the injury to be inoperable. Six months later, the patient developed focal impaired awareness seizures. This was treated with oxcarbazepine, and patient responded well with no further spells. The case was highly unusual as the neurological symptoms were mild compared to the severity and the risk of initial intracranial injury. It emphasizes the frequently overlooked risk of leaving guns unsecured in households with children.
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    Delineating the molecular and phenotypic spectrum of the SETD1B-related syndrome
    (Elsevier, 2021-11) Weerts, Marjolein J.A.; Lanko, Kristina; Guzmán-Vega, Francisco J.; Jackson, Adam; Ramakrishnan, Reshmi; Cardona-Londoño, Kelly J.; Peña-Guerra, Karla A.; van Bever, Yolande; van Paassen, Barbara W.; Kievit, Anneke; van Slegtenhorst, Marjon; Allen, Nicholas M.; Kehoe, Caroline M.; Robinson, Hannah K.; Pang, Lewis; Banu, Selina H.; Zaman, Mashaya; Efthymiou, Stephanie; Houlden, Henry; Järvelä, Irma; Lauronen, Leena; Määttä, Tuomo; Schrauwen, Isabelle; Leal, Suzanne M.; Ruivenkamp, Claudia A.L.; Barge-Schaapveld, Daniela Q.C.M.; Peeters-Scholte, Cacha M.P.C.D.; Galehdari, Hamid; Mazaheri, Neda; Sisodiya, Sanjay M.; Harrison, Victoria; Sun, Angela; Thies, Jenny; Pedroza, Luis Alberto; Lara-Taranchenko, Yana; Chinn, Ivan K.; Lupski, James R.; Garza-Flores, Alexandra; McGlothlin, Jeffery; Yang, Lin; Huang, Shaoping; Wang, Xiaodong; Jewett, Tamison; Rosso, Gretchen; Lin, Xi; Mohammed, Shehla; Merritt, J. Lawrence, II.; Mirzaa, Ghayda M.; Timms, Andrew E.; Scheck, Joshua; Elting, Mariet W.; Polstra, Abeltje M.; Schenck, Lauren; Ruzhnikov, Maura R.Z.; Vetro, Annalisa; Montomoli, Martino; Guerrini, Renzo; Koboldt, Daniel C.; Mihalic Mosher, Theresa; Pastore, Matthew T.; McBride, Kim L.; Peng, Jing; Pan, Zou; Willemsen, Marjolein; Koning, Susanne; Turnpenny, Peter D.; de Vries, Bert B.A.; Gilissen, Christian; Pfundt, Rolph; Lees, Melissa; Braddock, Stephen R.; Klemp, Kara C.; Vansenne, Fleur; van Gijn, Marielle E.; Quindipan, Catherine; Deardorff, Matthew A.; Hamm, J. Austin; Putnam, Abbey M.; Baud, Rebecca; Walsh, Laurence; Lynch, Sally A.; Baptista, Julia; Person, Richard E.; Monaghan, Kristin G.; Crunk, Amy; Keller-Ramey, Jennifer; Reich, Adi; Elloumi, Houda Zghal; Alders, Marielle; Kerkhof, Jennifer; McConkey, Haley; Haghshenas, Sadegheh; Maroofian, Reza; Sadikovic, Bekim; Banka, Siddharth; Arold, Stefan T.; Barakat, Tahsin Stefan; Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine
    Purpose: Pathogenic variants in SETD1B have been associated with a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder including intellectual disability, language delay, and seizures. To date, clinical features have been described for 11 patients with (likely) pathogenic SETD1B sequence variants. This study aims to further delineate the spectrum of the SETD1B-related syndrome based on characterizing an expanded patient cohort. Methods: We perform an in-depth clinical characterization of a cohort of 36 unpublished individuals with SETD1B sequence variants, describing their molecular and phenotypic spectrum. Selected variants were functionally tested using in vitro and genome-wide methylation assays. Results: Our data present evidence for a loss-of-function mechanism of SETD1B variants, resulting in a core clinical phenotype of global developmental delay, language delay including regression, intellectual disability, autism and other behavioral issues, and variable epilepsy phenotypes. Developmental delay appeared to precede seizure onset, suggesting SETD1B dysfunction impacts physiological neurodevelopment even in the absence of epileptic activity. Males are significantly overrepresented and more severely affected, and we speculate that sex-linked traits could affect susceptibility to penetrance and the clinical spectrum of SETD1B variants. Conclusion: Insights from this extensive cohort will facilitate the counseling regarding the molecular and phenotypic landscape of newly diagnosed patients with the SETD1B-related syndrome.
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    Functional Dysregulation of CDC42 Causes Diverse Developmental Phenotypes
    (Elsevier, 2018-02-01) Martinelli, Simone; Krumbach, Oliver H.F.; Pantaleoni, Francesca; Coppola, Simona; Amin, Ehsan; Pannone, Luca; Nouri, Kazem; Farina, Luciapia; Dvorsky, Radovan; Lepri, Francesca; Bucholzer, Marcel; Konopatzki, Raphael; Walsh, Laurence; Payne, Katelyn; Pierpont, Mary Ella; Vergano, Samantha Schrier; Langley, Katherine G.; Larsen, Douglas; Farwell, Kelly D.; Tang, Sha; Mroske, Cameron; Gallotta, Ivan; Schiavi, Elia Di; della Monica, Matteo; Lugli, Licia; Rossi, Cesare; Seri, Marco; Cocchi, Guido; Henderson, Lindsay; Baskin, Berivan; Alders, Mariëlle; Mendoza-Londono, Roberto; Dupuis, Lucie; Nickerson, Deborah A.; Chong, Jessica X.; Meeks, Naomi; Brown, Kathleen; Causey, Tahnee; Cho, Megan T.; Demuth, Stephanie; Digilio, Maria Cristina; Gelb, Bruce D.; Bamshad, Michael J.; Zenker, Martin; Ahmadian, Mohammad Reza; Hennekam, Raoul C.; Tartaglia, Marco; Mirzaa, Ghayda M.; Neurology, School of Medicine
    Exome sequencing has markedly enhanced the discovery of genes implicated in Mendelian disorders, particularly for individuals in whom a known clinical entity could not be assigned. This has led to the recognition that phenotypic heterogeneity resulting from allelic mutations occurs more commonly than previously appreciated. Here, we report that missense variants in CDC42, a gene encoding a small GTPase functioning as an intracellular signaling node, underlie a clinically heterogeneous group of phenotypes characterized by variable growth dysregulation, facial dysmorphism, and neurodevelopmental, immunological, and hematological anomalies, including a phenotype resembling Noonan syndrome, a developmental disorder caused by dysregulated RAS signaling. In silico, in vitro, and in vivo analyses demonstrate that mutations variably perturb CDC42 function by altering the switch between the active and inactive states of the GTPase and/or affecting CDC42 interaction with effectors, and differentially disturb cellular and developmental processes. These findings reveal the remarkably variable impact that dominantly acting CDC42 mutations have on cell function and development, creating challenges in syndrome definition, and exemplify the importance of functional profiling for syndrome recognition and delineation.
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    Klinefelter’s Syndrome with Maternal Uniparental Disomy X, Interstitial Xp22.31 Deletion, X-linked Ichthyosis, and Severe Central Nervous System Regression
    (Thieme, 2021) Brault, Jennifer; Walsh, Laurence; Vance, Gail H.; Weaver, David D.; Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine
    We presented in this article a patient with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (47,XXY) who had maternal nondisjunction and uniparental disomy of the X chromosome with regions of heterodisomy and isodisomy, an interstitial Xp22.31 deletion of both X chromosomes, and other problems. His mother also possesses the same Xp22.31 deletion. The patient presented with status epilepticus and stroke, followed by severe brain atrophy and developmental regression. His unusual clinical and cytogenetic findings apparently have not been reported with either KS or Xp22.31 deletions. Based on the patient's available genetic and biochemical information, we cannot satisfactorily explain his seizures, strokes, or catastrophic brain regression.
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    Magnetic resonance imaging enhancement of spinal nerve roots in a boy with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy before diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
    (Elsevier, 2023-11-18) Miller, Derryl; Walsh, Laurence; Smith, Lisa; Supakul, Nucharin; Ho, Chang; Onishi, Toshihiro; Neurology, School of Medicine
    We present a boy with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) who was found to have lumbar nerve root enhancement on a screening MRI of the spine. The MRI was performed for lower extremity predominant symptoms. Several weeks after this MRI, he developed leg pain and was averse to walking long distances. He was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) with electromyography, nerve conduction studies, and serial imaging. His case is consistent with CIDP in association with X-ALD based on improvement with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) with continued contrast enhancement and lower extremity symptoms 8 weeks after his initial scans. Contrast enhancement of nerve roots has not been previously described in X-ALD. Nerve root enhancement has been seen in other leukodystrophies such as globoid cell leukodystrophy and metachromatic leukodystrophy. This case also demonstrates comorbid X-ALD with CIDP and highlights possible mechanisms from the literature for this association. We also review the broad differential of cauda equina nerve root enhancement.
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    Magnetic resonance imaging enhancement of spinal nerve roots in a boy with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy before diagnosis of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
    (Elsevier, 2024-01) Miller, Derryl; Walsh, Laurence; Smith, Lisa; Supakul , Nucharin; Ho, Chang; Onishi , Toshihiro; Neurology, School of Medicine
    We present a boy with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) who was found to have lumbar nerve root enhancement on a screening MRI of the spine. The MRI was performed for lower extremity predominant symptoms. Several weeks after this MRI, he developed leg pain and was averse to walking long distances. He was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP) with electromyography, nerve conduction studies, and serial imaging. His case is consistent with CIDP in association with X-ALD based on improvement with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) with continued contrast enhancement and lower extremity symptoms 8 weeks after his initial scans. Contrast enhancement of nerve roots has not been previously described in X-ALD. Nerve root enhancement has been seen in other leukodystrophies such as globoid cell leukodystrophy and metachromatic leukodystrophy. This case also demonstrates comorbid X-ALD with CIDP and highlights possible mechanisms from the literature for this association. We also review the broad differential of cauda equina nerve root enhancement.
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    Missense variants in TAF1 and developmental phenotypes: Challenges of determining pathogenicity
    (Wiley, 2019-10-23) Cheng, Hanyin; Capponi, Simona; Wakeling, Emma; Marchi, Elaine; Li, Quan; Zhao, Mengge; Weng, Chunhua; Piatek, Stefan G.; Ahlfors, Helena; Kleyner, Robert; Rope, Alan; Lumaka, Aimé; Lukusa, Prosper; Devriendt, Koenraad; Vermeesch, Joris; Posey, Jennifer E.; Palmer, Elizabeth E.; Murray, Lucinda; Leon, Eyby; Diaz, Jullianne; Worgan, Lisa; Mallawaarachchi, Amali; Vogt, Julie; de Munnik, Sonja A.; Dreyer, Lauren; Baynam, Gareth; Ewans, Lisa; Stark, Zornitza; Lunke, Sebastian; Gonçalves, Ana R.; Soares, Gabriela; Oliveira, Jorge; Fassi, Emily; Willing, Marcia; Waugh, Jeff L.; Faivre, Laurence; Riviere, Jean-Baptiste; Moutton, Sebastien; Mohammed, Shehla; Payne, Katelyn; Walsh, Laurence; Begtrup, Amber; Guillen Sacoto, Maria J.; Douglas, Ganka; Alexander, Nora; Buckley, Michael F.; Mark, Paul R.; Adès, Lesley C.; Sandaradura, Sarah A.; Lupski, James R.; Roscioli, Tony; Agrawal, Pankaj B.; Kline, Antonie D.; Wang, Kai; Timmers, T. Marc; Lyon, Gholson J.; Neurology, School of Medicine
    We recently described a new neurodevelopmental syndrome (TAF1/MRXS33 intellectual disability syndrome) (MIM# 300966) caused by pathogenic variants involving the X-linked gene TAF1, which participates in RNA polymerase II transcription. The initial study reported eleven families, and the syndrome was defined as presenting early in life with hypotonia, facial dysmorphia, and developmental delay that evolved into intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We have now identified an additional 27 families through a genotype-first approach. Familial segregation analysis, clinical phenotyping, and bioinformatics were capitalized on to assess potential variant pathogenicity, and molecular modelling was performed for those variants falling within structurally characterized domains of TAF1. A novel phenotypic clustering approach was also applied, in which the phenotypes of affected individuals were classified using 51 standardized Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms. Phenotypes associated with TAF1 variants show considerable pleiotropy and clinical variability, but prominent among previously unreported effects were brain morphological abnormalities, seizures, hearing loss, and heart malformations. Our allelic series broadens the phenotypic spectrum of TAF1/MRXS33 intellectual disability syndrome and the range of TAF1 molecular defects in humans. It also illustrates the challenges for determining the pathogenicity of inherited missense variants, particularly for genes mapping to chromosome X.
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    Movement Disorders and Neurometabolic Diseases
    (Elsevier, 2018) Christensen, Celanie K.; Walsh, Laurence; Neurology, School of Medicine
    Many inherited metabolic disorders cause movement disorders in children. This review focuses on chorea, dystonia, myoclonus, tremor, and parkinsonism. Broad categories commonly responsible for pediatric movement disorders include mitochondrial disorders, organic acidemias, mineral metabolism and transport disorders, neurotransmitter diseases, purine metabolism disorders, lipid storage disorders, and disorders of creatine metabolism. Each movement disorder can be caused by many different inherited metabolic disorders and several of the inherited metabolic disorders can cause multiple movement abnormalities. Dietary modifications, medications, and increasingly specific therapy can improve outcomes in children with movement disorders caused by metabolic disorders. Recognition and characterization of secondary movement disorders in children facilitate management of the abnormal movements and diagnosis, and possible treatment, of an underlying metabolic disorder.
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    Novel Homozygous Deletion in STRADA Gene Associated With Polyhydramnios, Megalencephaly, and Epilepsy in 2 Siblings: Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment
    (Sage, 2018) Nelson, Katherine; Bell, Jennifer; Jackman, Christopher; Shih, Chie-Schin; Payne, Katelyn; Dlouhy, Stephen; Walsh, Laurence; Neurology, School of Medicine
    Mutations in the STE20-related kinase adaptor α (STRADA) gene have been reported to cause an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by infantile-onset epilepsy, developmental delay, and craniofacial dysmorphisms. To date, there have been 17 reported individuals diagnosed with STRADA mutations, 16 of which are from a single Old Order Mennonite cohort and share a deletion of exons 9-13. The remaining individual is of consanguineous Indian descent and has a homozygous single–base pair duplication. We report a novel STRADA gene deletion of exons 7-9 in 2 sisters from nonconsanguineous parents, as well as an improvement in seizure control in 1 sibling following treatment with sirolimus, an m-Tor inhibitor of potential benefit to patients with this genetic mutation.