Artificial intelligence enables comprehensive genome interpretation and nomination of candidate diagnoses for rare genetic diseases

Genome Med. 2021 Oct 14;13(1):153. doi: 10.1186/s13073-021-00965-0. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Clinical interpretation of genetic variants in the context of the patient’s phenotype is becoming the largest component of cost and time expenditure for genome-based diagnosis of rare genetic diseases. Artificial intelligence (AI) holds promise to greatly simplify and speed genome interpretation by integrating predictive methods with […]

Caenorhabditis elegans provides an efficient drug screening platform for GNAO1-related disorders and highlights the potential role of caffeine in controlling dyskinesia

Hum Mol Genet. 2021 Oct 8:ddab296. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddab296. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Dominant GNAO1 mutations cause an emerging group of childhood-onset neurological disorders characterized by developmental delay, intellectual disability, movement disorders, drug-resistant seizures, and neurological deterioration. GNAO1 encodes the α-subunit of an inhibitory GTP/GDP-binding protein regulating ion channel activity and neurotransmitter release. The pathogenic […]

Dual orexin receptor antagonists for insomnia in youth with neurodevelopmental disorders: a case series and review

Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021 Oct 5. doi: 10.1007/s00787-021-01883-7. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Insomnia is a common, impairing, and difficult-to-treat comorbidity in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Behavioral interventions can be challenging because of developmental and behavioral features that interfere with treatment. Medication management also can be difficult due to a high burden of […]

Biallelic variants in SLC38A3 encoding a glutamine transporter cause epileptic encephalopathy

Brain. 2021 Oct 4:awab369. doi: 10.1093/brain/awab369. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT The solute carrier (SLC) superfamily encompasses >400 transmembrane transporters involved in the exchange of amino acids, nutrients, ions, metals, neurotransmitters and metabolites across biological membranes. SLCs are highly expressed in the mammalian brain; defects in nearly 100 unique SLC-encoding genes (OMIM: https://www.omim.org) are associated […]

ABHD16A deficiency causes a complicated form of hereditary spastic paraplegia associated with intellectual disability and cerebral anomalies

Am J Hum Genet. 2021 Sep 21:S0002-9297(21)00341-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.09.005. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT ABHD16A (abhydrolase domain-containing protein 16A, phospholipase) encodes the major phosphatidylserine (PS) lipase in the brain. PS lipase synthesizes lysophosphatidylserine, an important signaling lipid that functions in the mammalian central nervous system. ABHD16A has not yet been associated with a human disease. […]

A Human Pleiotropic Multiorgan Condition Caused by Deficient Wnt Secretion

N Engl J Med. 2021 Sep 30;385(14):1292-1301. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2033911. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Structural birth defects occur in approximately 3% of live births; most such defects lack defined genetic or environmental causes. Despite advances in surgical approaches, pharmacologic prevention remains largely out of reach. METHODS: We queried worldwide databases of 20,248 families that included children with neurodevelopmental […]

Effect of Whole-Genome Sequencing on the Clinical Management of Acutely Ill Infants With Suspected Genetic Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

JAMA Pediatr. 2021 Sep 27. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.3496. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT IMPORTANCE: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) shows promise as a first-line genetic test for acutely ill infants, but widespread adoption and implementation requires evidence of an effect on clinical management. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of WGS on clinical management in a racially and ethnically […]

Insights into the expanding phenotypic spectrum of inherited disorders of biogenic amines

Nat Commun. 2021 Sep 20;12(1):5529. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-25515-5. ABSTRACT Inherited disorders of neurotransmitter metabolism are rare neurodevelopmental diseases presenting with movement disorders and global developmental delay. This study presents the results of the first standardized deep phenotyping approach and describes the clinical and biochemical presentation at disease onset as well as diagnostic approaches of 275 patients […]

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