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Most infants born with very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight < 1500 g) show spontaneous catch-up growth in postnatal life. The reasons for the absence of catch-up growth are not entirely understood. We performed a comprehensive investigation of 52 children born with VLBW. Ten children had a history of an external cause that explained the VLBW and five refused genetic evaluation. Twenty-three cases were initially evaluated by a candidate gene approach. Patients with a negative result in the candidate gene approach (n = 14) or without clinical suspicion (n = 14) were assessed by chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) and/or whole-exome sequencing (WES). A genetic condition was identified in 19 of 37 (51.4%) patients without an external cause, nine by candidate gene approach, and 10 by a genomic approach (CMA/WES). Silver-Russell syndrome was the most frequent diagnosis (n = 5) and the remaining patients were diagnosed with other rare monogenic conditions. Almost all patients with a positive genetic diagnosis exhibited syndromic features (94.4%). However, microcephaly, neurodevelopmental disorders, major malformation, or facial dysmorphism were also frequently observed in children with an external cause. In conclusion, a significant proportion of children born with VLBW with persistent short stature have a genetic/epigenetic condition., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

It has been estimated that 10-15% of people with Robinow syndrome (RS) show delayed development, but no studies have formally assessed developmental domains. The objective of this study is to provide the first description of cognitive, adaptive, and psychological functioning in RS. Thirteen participants (10 males) aged 4-51 years were seen for neuropsychological screening. Eight had autosomal-dominant RS (DVL1, n = 5; WNT5A, n = 3), four had autosomal-recessive RS (NXN, n = 2; ROR2, n = 2), and one had a mutation on an RS candidate gene (GPC4). Participants completed measures of intellectual, fine-motor, adaptive, executive, and psychological functioning. Findings indicated generally average intellectual functioning and low-average visuomotor skills. Adaptive functioning was average in autosomal-recessive RS (RRS) but low average in autosomal-dominant RS (DRS). Parent-report indicated executive dysfunction and attention problems in 4/8 children, 3/4 of whom had a DVL1 variant; adult self-report did not indicate similar difficulties. Learning disabilities were also reported in 4/8 individuals with DRS, 3/4 of whom had a DVL1 variant. Peer problems were reported for a majority of participants, many of whom also reported emotional concerns. Altogether, the findings indicate average neurocognitive functioning in RRS. In contrast, DRS, especially DVL1 pathogenic alleles, may confer specific risk for neurodevelopmental disability., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Kenny-Caffey syndrome (KCS) type 2 (OMIM 127000) is a rare syndromic cause of hypoparathyroidism which is characterized by proportionate short stature, long bone abnormalities, delayed closure of anterior fontanelle, eye abnormalities, and normal intelligence. It is caused by variants in FAM111A (NM&#95;001942519.1). In this review, we reported the first Chinese patients, a pair of monozygotic twins, with genetically confirmed KCS type 2 with over 20 years follow-up. We summarized the clinical features of 14 previously reported and genetically confirmed KCS type 2 patients; our twin patients exhibited a unique spinal manifestation which could be an important age-dependent feature of KCS type 2. In this review, over 60% KCS type 2 patients had dental problem and over 80% suffered from refractive errors or structural eye abnormalities. Therefore, early dental, ophthalmological, and orthopedic assessments are warranted for KCS type 2 patients. Micro-orchidism, previously reported in KCS type 2 patients, was also detected in our patients. The possibility of subfertility should be considered in male KCS type 2 patients. A multidisciplinary management approach for this rare syndrome is recommended., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

PCNT encodes a large coiled- protein localizing to pericentriolar material and is associated with microcephalic osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II syndrome (MOPD II). We report our experience of nine new patients from seven unrelated consanguineous Egyptian families with the distinctive clinical features of MOPD II in whom a customized NGS panel showed homozygous truncating variants of PCNT. The NGS panel results were validated thereafter using Sanger sequencing revealing three previously reported and three novel PCNT pathogenic variants. The core phenotype appeared homogeneous to what had been reported before although patients differed in the severity showing inter and intra familial variability. The orodental pattern showed atrophic alveolar ridge (five patients), rootless tooth (four patients), tooth agenesis (three patients), and malformed tooth (three patients). In addition, mesiodens was a novel finding found in one patient. The novel c.9394-1G>T variant was found in two sibs who had tooth agenesis. CNS anomalies with possible vascular sequelae were documented in two male patients (22.2%). Simplified gyral pattern with poor development of the frontal horns of lateral ventricles was seen in four patients and mild thinning of the corpus callosum in two patients. Unilateral coronal craniosynstosis was noted in one patient and thick but short corpus callosum was an unusual finding noted in another. The later has not been reported before. Our results refine the clinical, neuroradiological, and orodental features and expand the molecular spectrum of MOPD II., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Hypertension, compounded by obesity, contributes to cardiovascular disease and mortality. Data describing hypertension prevalence in adults with short stature skeletal dysplasias are lacking, perhaps due to poor fit of typical adult blood pressure cuffs on rhizomelic or contracted upper extremities. Through health screening research, blood pressure was measured in short stature adults attending support group meetings and skeletal dysplasia clinics. Blood pressure was measured with a commercially available, narrower adult cuff on the upper and/or lower segment of the arm. Height, weight, age, gender, diagnosis, exercise, and medications were collected. Subjects were classified as normotensive, prehypertensive, or hypertensive for group analysis; no individual clinical diagnoses were made. In 403 short stature adults, 42% were hypertensive (systolic >140, diastolic >90 OR taking antihypertensive medications). For every BMI unit and 1 kg weight increase in males, there was a 9% and an 8% increase, respectively, in the odds of hypertension versus normotension. In females, the increase was 10% and 6%, respectively. In those with achondroplasia, the most common short stature dysplasia, males (n = 106) had 10% greater odds of hypertension versus normotension for every BMI unit and kilogram increase. In females with achondroplasia (n = 128), the odds of hypertension versus normotension was 8% greater for each BMI unit and 7% for each additional kilogram. These data suggest a high population prevalence of hypertension among short stature adults. Blood pressure must be monitored as part of routine medical care, and measuring at the forearm may be the only viable clinical option in rhizomelic short stature adults with elbow contractures., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)