Objective:To explore the clinical phenotypic features and genetic variation characteristics of children with epilepsy-aphasia spectrum due to GRIN2A gene variants confirmed by second-generation sequencing. Methods:The clinical data of 5 children with epilepsy-aphasia spectrum with epileptic onset diagnosed in the Department of Neurology, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, from February 2019 to November 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Whole-exome genome sequencing of the probands using a second-generation sequencing method confirmed that all 5 cases were children with the GRIN2A gene variant. The characteristics of the GRIN2A gene variants were analyzed. Results:Among the 5 children diagnosed with epileptic aphasia spectrum due to GRIN2A gene variants, the male-to-female ratio was 4∶1, and the age range of onset was 1.5-4.4 years. The clinical phenotype included seizures in all cases, language and intellectual developmental deficits in 4 cases, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in 3 cases. The seizures were manifested as focal seizures or secondary generalized seizures, and were effectively controlled with antiepileptic drugs. Among the 5 children, gene variant of case 1 was originated from a paternal heterozygous variant, and cases 2-5 had de novo variants, which were c.2107C>T (p.Gln703 *) nonsense variant, c.2284G>A (p.Gly762Arg) missense variant, c.2197del (p.Ala733Glnfs *3) shifted coding variant, c.2511G>A (p.Trp837 *) nonsense variant, and c.1651+1G>C shear site variant, respectively. None of the 5 loci were reported in the literature. Conclusions:Epilepsy-aphasia spectrum is an epilepsy syndrome with a complex onset, and may have different phenotypes at different genetic variant loci, with focal seizures or secondary generalized seizures, which can be effectively controlled with anti-seizure medication. The GRIN2A gene variant is the genetic etiology of the epileptic aphasia spectrum.

The clinical data and gene variant characteristics of a patient with glutathione synthetase (GSS) deficiency were summarized. The child was born 15 min prematurely as a male infant with postnatal respiratory distress, metabolic acidosis, severe anemia, hemolysis, hyperbilirubinemia, and motor developmental backwardness. Blood and urine genetic metabolic screening showed a blood glutamate value of 1 343.1 μmol/L and a urine 5-oxoproline value of 1 873.7 nmol/mg creatinine. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed nonspecific subarachnoid widening. Whole-exon gene sequencing of the family line suggested that the GSS gene of the preexisting patient originated from paternal and maternal variants, respectively: c.632_633del (p.Gln211Argfs *8), and c.491G>A (p.Arg164Gln). Complex heterozygous variants of the GSS gene were the genetic etiology of the present case.

Clinical data and genetic mutation characteristics of a patient with Coffin-Siris syndrome by 6q25.3 deletion were summarized. The child was a 7-year and 6-month old girl who had feeding difficulties, repeated infection, language and motor retardation, low intelligence, laryngeal cartilage dysplasia, thick eyebrows, sparse teeth, hairy back, hyperactivity and aggressive behavior, seizures and ataxia. There was no abnormality in chromosomal karyotype analysis by proband; genomic copy number variant sequencing (CNV-seq) indicated approximately 4.27 Mb heterozygous deletion in chromosome 6q25.3 region, with 17 genes including ARID1B gene, father maternal CNV-seq showing no abnormalities. Trio-whole-exome sequencing showed the proband missed all exons 1-20 of the ARID1B gene, with wild-type parents. The proband had severe clinical symptoms and haplodose insufficiency which was the genetic etiology.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of a patient with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) due to partial deletion of EDA gene. METHODS: The child has presented with HED complicated with epilepsy. Family trio whole exome sequencing (Trio-WES), copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq), and karyotype analysis were carried out to explore the underlying genetic etiology. RESULTS: The proband, a 7-year-and-8-month-old boy, presented with thin curly hair, thin and sparse eyebrow, xerosis cutis, susceptibility to hyperthermia from childhood, hypohidrosis, sharp/sparse/absent teeth, saddle nose, prominent forehead, auricle adulation and seizure. He was found to have a normal chromosomal karyotype, and no abnormality was found by Trio-WES. Genome-wide CNV-seq revealed a 341.90 kb deletion at Xq13.1q13.1 (chrX: 68 796 566-69 138 468). As verified by PCR-electrophoresis, the deletion has removed part of the EDA gene. The deletion was derived from his mother with normal hair, mild xerosis cutis, and sparse, decidulated and nail-like teeth. The mother was detected with a heterozygous 242.10 kb deletion at Xq13.1q13.1 (chrX: 68 836 154-69 078 250). CONCLUSION Both the proband and his mother have carried a Xq13.1 microdeletion involving part of the EDA gene. The clinical phenotypes of the mother and the proband were consistent with the clinical characteristics of X-linked recessive HED, for which partial deletion of the EDA gene is probably accountable.
Child ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Ectodermal Dysplasia ; Ectodermal Dysplasia 1, Anhidrotic/genetics* ; Ectodysplasins/genetics* ; Humans ; Male ; Phenotype

Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotype of a child with Jansen-de Vries syndrome, to clarify its genetic diagnosis and genetic characteristics, and to improve the understanding of this disease.Methods:Clinical data from a child with Jansen-de Vries syndrome diagnosed in the Children′s Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in October 2019 were collected, using core family-complete exon genomics detection (Trio-WES) and chromosome copy number variation (CNV) analysis techniques for genetic testing for the child and her parents, generation Sanger sequencing for family member verification for possible pathogenic mutations, and clinical and molecular genetic analysis. The relevant reports of PPM1D gene mutation in patients with mental retardation were reviewed.Results:The proband was a 11-month-old girl, presenting with mental retardation, lagging speech and motor development, autistic behavior, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and short stature, low flat nose bridge, low ear, short finger syndrome.Trio-WES results of the core family of the child suggested that PPM1D was a new transcoding heterozygous mutation, PPM1D (NM-003620): c.1216delA (p.Thr406Profs *3), and the karyotype and CNV analysis of the chromosome were normal. Literature retrieval showed currently a total of 18 cases were reported PPM1D gene mutation of mental disorders, described in the online human Mendel database for developmental disorder associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction and pain threshold increases, the age distribution in the seven months to 21 years of age, clinical manifestation of mental retardation, increased pain threshold, abnormal behavior, feeding difficulties, visual impairment, short finger syndrome, a group of syndromes associated with short stature, fever or vomiting, and congenital deformities. Conclusions:Jansen-de Vries syndrome clinically presents mainly with overall retardation (mental retardation/backward delayed motor development, language development, low muscle tone), abnormal behavior (lonely sample behavior, autism), craniofacial malformations (broad forehead, low ear nose bridge, thin upper lip), short finger syndrome (short feet, pinky stubby), gastrointestinal dysfunction (milk overflow, feeding difficulties, constipation). The child was diagnosed as a newly transcoding heterozygous mutation of the PPM1D gene. The current treatment is mainly rehabilitation training, and growth hormone replacement therapy can be given to part of the short height disease. The PPM1D gene [PPM1D(NM-003620): c.1216delA(p.Thr406Profs *3)] is the genetic cause of the child.

Objective:To report a rare case of early onset epileptic encephalopathy caused by YWHAG gene mutation, and discuss the clinical and genetic characteristics as well as the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the disease.Methods:Clinical data of the patient with YWHAG gene deficiency from Department of Neurology, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University were collected in January 2018. The whole exome sequencing was performed on the core members of the family, and the characteristics of gene mutations were analyzed.Results:The proband is a girl, three years and 10 months old, presented to the outpatient department of neurology with a history of six-month intermittent convulsions, manifested as epilepsy seizures, mental retardation, motor delay and gait instability, ataxia. The brain magnetic resonance imaging showed myelinated dysplasia, and long-term video electroencephalogram (EEG) showed extensive 1.5-3.0 Hz slow spikes, and multiple spikes during sleep. During the monitoring, the children had clinical seizures and abnormal EEG discharges, indicating that myoclonus was accompanied by atypical absence of consciousness. Whole exome sequencing on the proband detected a de novo mutation c.169C>T (p.Arg57Cys) in YWHAG gene. According to American College of Medical Genetics guidelines (2015), the mutation was considered potentially pathogenic.Conclusion:Early epileptic encephalopathy caused by YWHAG gene mutation is very rare, and the variation of YWHAG gene c.169C>T is the possible pathogenic variation of the genetic cause of early onset epileptic encephalopathy in the proband.

Objective:To analyze the clinical and imaging characteristics of acute necrotic encephalopathy (ANE) in a child with human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data and imaging features of a case of HHV-6 related ANE from Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in March 2019.Results:The one year and seven month-old child had acute encephalopathy, recurrent convulsions, consciousness disorders, elevated serum transaminase. The number of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cells was normal and the protein increased. High throughput gene testing of CSF showed HHV-6. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple symmetry damage in the bilateral thalamus, brainstem, and cerebellum. The symptoms improved after the treatment of glucocorticoids, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasmapheresis.Conclusions:ANE is a rare severe encephalopathy, the characteristic imaging change of which is symmetry multifocal cerebral damage, especially in the bilateral thalamus. ANE should be considered for patients with frequent convulsions and disturbance of consciousness after virus infection.

Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotypes, therapy and genetic features of aldehyde dehydrogenase 7 family member A1 (ALDH7A1) gene mutations in five cases of pyridoxine dependent epilepsy (PDE) with diagnosis confirmed by next generation sequencing.Methods:Retrospective analysis was carried out on clinical data of five cases of PDE children with early epilepsy onset who were treated in the Department of Neurology of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from February 2018 to November 2019. Next generation sequencing approach was used for genetic sequencing of proband ALDH7A1 gene and the first generation Sanger was used for validation of family members. And the characteristics of gene mutations were analyzed.Results:Among the five children diagnosed with PDE, the male to female ratio was 4 ∶ 1 and ages at clinic visit ranged from two months to 10 months old. In clinical phenotypes, all five cases experienced onset in neonatal period, with repeated seizures, manifested as myoclonus, spasms or focal paroxysm. The administration of antiepileptic drugs performed poorly in seizure control while long term oral intake of large dose pyridoxine showed better efficacy. All the five cases of children came from compound heterozygous mutations of father and mother, i.e. slicing homozygous mutation c.247-2(IVS2)A>T, missense mutation c.584A>G (p.N195S) and nonsense mutation c.1003C>T(p.R335 *), missense mutation c.1553G>C(p.R518T) and c.1547A>G(p.Y516C), missense mutation c.1547A>G(p.Y516C) and frameshift mutation c.1566_1568delTAC, missense mutation c.1061A>G(p.Y354C) and nonsense mutation c.841C>T(p.Q281X, 259), among which c.247-2(IVS2)A>T was novel splicing site mutation not reported before. Conclusions:PDE is induced by ALDH7A gene mutation. Early clinical manifestations are mostly onset of refractory epilepsy in neonatal period. Antiepileptic drugs perform poorly in terms of efficacy while pyridoxine can control seizure effectively. Gene analysis should be conducted on such patients for confirmed diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and gene mutation of seven cases of CDKL5 gene related early-onset epileptic encephalopathy diagnosed by next-generation sequencing.Methods:The clinical data of children with early-onset epileptic encephalopathy from February 2018 to December 2019 in the Department of Neurology, Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. The whole exome sequencing method was used to analyze the entire exome of the proband, and seven cases of CDKL5 gene mutation positive were screened out, and Sanger sequencing verification on family members was performed to identify the source and the characteristics of gene mutations were analyzed.Results:Among the seven children diagnosed with CDKL5 gene related early-onset epileptic encephalopathy, the ratio of male to female was 2∶5, and the age of onset was 15 days to five months of birth. The clinical phenotypes all included different degrees of developmental delay and repeated seizures, which were manifested as general seizures, myoclonic seizures, convulsive seizures or focal seizures; the outcome of use of antiepileptic drugs to control seizures was poor, and some applications of ketogenic diet had better effects. CDKL5 gene mutation sites were all denovo mutations, including NM_003159: c.772_776del (p.K258Efs *10) frameshift mutation, NM_003159.2 (exon: 9-15) heterozygous deletion, CDKL5 hemizygous deletion, NM_003159: c.268 (exon5) G>T (p.E90 *, 941) and NM_003159: c.2578C>T (p.Q860 *, 171) nonsense mutation, NM_003159: c.211A>G (p.Asn71Asp) and NM_001323289: c.545T>C (p.L182P) missense mutation. Among them, c.772_776del (p.K258Efs *10), c.268 (exon5)G>T and c.2578C>T (p.Q860 *, 171) have not been reported. Conclusions:CDKL5 gene related early-onset epileptic encephalopathy is an early onset epilepsy, which is more common in women, and has different forms of seizures. The early electroencephalogram is characterized as severe abnormal brain discharge, and the disease progresses in various forms. There are no specific changes in head magnetic resonance imaging. Different gene mutation sites may lead to different phenotypes and prognostic differences. Many anti-epileptic treatments are ineffective, and ketogenic diets are effective for some patients.

Objective:To summarize the clinical phenotype and tripeptidyl peptidase-1 (TPP1) gene mutation characteristics in a family with type 2 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN2) confirmed by second generation sequencing. Methods:The clinical data of a family with CLN2 from the Department of Neurology of the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in June 2018 were collected. The proband was confirmed by using the whole-exome sequencing and the Sanger test of the first generation was used in the family members, and the mutation characteristics of TPP1 gene were analyzed, and the clinical features were summarized.Results:The proband is a three-year- and nine-month-old girl, presented with generalized tonic-clonic seizures, normal mental function, mild backward development of language and movement. The ophthalmic examination showed binocular ametropia, normal visual acuity, and no macular degeneration. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed widening of the subarachnoid space in the frontotemporal region, deepening of the sulci, and cerebellar atrophy. There were two heterozygous mutations in the TPP1 gene, from her parents with normal phenotypes respectively. The c. 1449-1450insG (p.I484Dfs*7) mutation comes from her father, which is an unreported heterozygous mutation of code-shifting, whereas the c.1417G>A(p.G473R) mutation comes from her mother, which is a known missense mutation, consistent with the characteristic of CLN2 complex heterozygous mutation. The proband′s elder brother, whose first symptom was myoclonic seizure at the age of three, and now he is seven years old with progressive visual impairment and regression of intellectual, motor and cognitive functions. The ophthalmic examination showed retinal degeneration, and the cranial MRI showed whole-brain atrophy with obvious cerebellar atrophy. The pathogenic gene of TPP1 and the complex heterozygous mutation site were consistent with the proband. Now the proband′s younger brother is 2-year- and 10-month-old, whose phenotype is normal, with a single heterozygous mutation of c.1417G>A (p.G473R), which comes from their mother, and the parents of the proband have no clinical phenotype. Conclusions:CLN2 is a rare lysosomal storage disorder that is characterized by seizures, progressive mental and motor deterioration, loss of vision and brain atrophy on MRI, binocular macular degeneration. TPP1 complex heterozygous mutation c. 1449-1450insG(p.I484Dfs*7) and c.1417G>A(p.G473R) is the genetic cause of this case.