A 7-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with rapidly progressive vision loss. Since 1 year of age, she had exhibited developmental delay accompanied by visual impairment and neutropenia. Combined with genetic testing and molecular pathogenicity analysis, she was diagnosed with Cohen syndrome (CS) caused by compound heterozygous variants in VPS13B (c.6940+1G>T and c.2911C>T). The c.6940+1G>T variant resulted in exon 38 skipping, leading to a frameshift and premature termination. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed significantly reduced VPS13B gene expression (P<0.05). Bioinformatic analysis suggested that both variants likely produce truncated proteins. This case highlights that integrating clinical features with molecular pathogenicity assessment (DNA, RNA, and protein analysis) can improve early diagnostic accuracy for CS.
Humans ; Female ; Child ; Vesicular Transport Proteins/genetics* ; Developmental Disabilities/etiology* ; Muscle Hypotonia/etiology* ; Myopia/etiology* ; Heterozygote ; Intellectual Disability/etiology* ; Microcephaly/etiology* ; Obesity/genetics* ; Growth Disorders/etiology* ; Retinal Degeneration/genetics* ; Psychomotor Disorders/genetics* ; Fingers/abnormalities*

A boy was admitted at the age of 17 months. He had psychomotor retardation in early infancy. Physical examination revealed microcephalus, unusual facies, and a single palmar crease on his right hand, as well as muscle hypotonia in the extremities and hyperextension of the bilateral shoulder and hip joints. Genetic detection identified two pathogenic compound heterozygous mutations, c.8868-1G>A (splicing) and c.11624_11625del (p.V3875Afs*10), in the VPS13B gene, and thus the boy was diagnosed with Cohen syndrome. Cohen syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by the VPS13B gene mutations and has complex clinical manifestations. Its clinical features include microcephalus, unusual facies, neutropenia, and joint hyperextension. VPS13B gene detection helps to make a confirmed diagnosis.
Base Sequence ; Developmental Disabilities ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Fingers ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Microcephaly ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Muscle Hypotonia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Mutation ; Myopia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Neutropenia ; complications ; genetics ; psychology ; Obesity ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Psychomotor Disorders ; diagnosis ; etiology ; genetics ; Retinal Degeneration ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Vesicular Transport Proteins ; genetics

In this study, we reported a case of progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia in Peking University Third Hospital. A 56-year-old male patient presented with hip joint pain for more than 40 years and multiple joints pain with limitation of movements of these joints for 28 years. This patient suffered from joint pain and impaired range of motion of the hip, knee, elbow and shoulder gradually, associated with difficulty in walking and inability to take care of himself. He was diagnosed with "femoral head necrosis" or "ankylosing spondylitis" in local hospitals, but the treatment of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and sulfasalazine was not effective. Up to the age of 14, the patient displayed normal physical development, with the highest height was about 158 cm, according to the patient recall. However, his height was 153 cm at present. There was no history of similar illness in any family member. Physical examinations descried limitation of movement of almost all joints. Enlargement and flexion deformity of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the hands resulted in the claw hand appearance. Limited abduction and internal and external rotation of the shoulder and hip could be find. He had normal laboratory findings for blood routine test, biochemical indexes and acute phase reactants such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Furthermore, HLA-B27 and autoimmune antibodies such as rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody and antinuclear antibody (ANA) were all negative. X-ray of the hip showed loss of the joint space and irregularities of the femoral head, both femoral head were flattened, it could be see hyperplasia, osteophytes, bilateral femoral neck thicken, neck dry angle turned smaller. The radiological findings of the spinal vertebra indicated kyphosis deformity, narrowing of the intervertebral discs, vertebral syndesmophytes and flattening of the vertebra. However, there was no clues of bone marrow edema in the lumbar MRI. At last, genetic testing for the Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein 3 (WISP3) gene was done and indicated compound heterozygous mutations: 756C>G and c.866dupA. These two mutations were derived from the patient's mother and father (the patient's parents each had a heterozygous mutation). Two exons of the WISP3 gene had nucleotide changes leading to amino acid mutations. According to the patient's history, symptoms, physical examinations, radiological findings and genetic testing, the final definitive diagnosis was progressive pseudorheumatic dysplasia.
Cerebral Palsy ; Heterozygote ; Hip/pathology* ; Humans ; Joint Diseases/etiology* ; Male ; Microcephaly ; Middle Aged ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/diagnosis*

OBJECTIVETo clarify the possible association between the Zika virus (ZIKV) and microcephaly and understand where we are in terms of research and the debate on the causation between mild maternal clinical features and severe fetal microcephaly.

DATA SOURCESWe did a comprehensive literature review with the keywords "zika" and/or "microcephaly" from inception to May 27, 2016, with PubMed.

STUDY SELECTIONStudies were included and analyzed if they met all of the following criteria: "probable or confirmed infant microcephaly" and "probable or confirmed ZIKV infection among mothers or infants".

RESULTSWe emphasize the diagnosis of ZIKV infection, including maternal clinical manifestations, maternal and fetal laboratory confirmation, and possible autopsy if need. Other confounders that may lead to microcephaly should be excluded from the study. We presented the results from clinical manifestations of ZIKV infection, testing methods evolving but the mechanism of microcephaly uncertain, flexible definition challenging the diagnosis of microcephaly, and limited causal reference on pregnant women. We made analog comparison of severe acute respiratory syndrome and chikungunya virus in terms of DNA mutation and global movement to provide further research recommendation. The chance of catch-up growth may decrease the number of pervious "diagnosed" microcephaly.

CONCLUSIONSThere are some evidence available through mice models and direct isolation of ZIKV in affected pregnancies on kindly causal relationship but not convincible enough. We analyzed and presented the weakness or limitation of published reports with the desire to shed light to further study directions.

Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Microcephaly ; diagnosis ; etiology ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Zika Virus ; pathogenicity ; Zika Virus Infection ; complications