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In 2018, the first 22q11.2 multidisciplinary program in the state of Florida was created at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital following the new paradigm for best care of 22q11.2 deletion patients. Since inauguration, the clinic flourished despite challenges. Our 22q clinic has 149 patients ranging from ages 0–21. From that total, 138 are 22q11.2DS: 74 females and 64 males (44% Hispanics, 35% Caucasians, 11% African American, 3% Asian and 7% multiracial). Eleven patients are in the 22q11.2 duplication group; 7 females and 4 males (50% Hispanics, 30% Caucasians 10% Asian and 10% multiracial). Our multidisciplinary team has grown to include twelve different specialties to better serve our growing patient population and has adapted to the pandemic by offering virtual clinics. Although there are many 22q multidisciplinary clinics worldwide, our clinic has special characteristics. We have an ethnically diverse group of patients and a large team of mostly bilingual providers who are passionate about and have expertise on 22q Deletion/Duplication Syndromes. Our 22q clinic is based at a community hospital and counts on the partnership of local 22q patient support groups. The program is also unique in that it is now expanding to care for adult 22q patients. Our clinic is another live example of how multidisciplinary care is the best way to achieve the most optimal outcomes in 22q patients, and that if there is a passionate and dedicated team of providers willing to collaborate for these patients, a 22q multidisciplinary program can thrive, succeed and grow at a community hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The world has suffered immeasurably during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Increased distress and mental and medical health concerns are collateral consequences to the disease itself. The Genes to Mental Health (G2MH) Network consortium sought to understand how individuals affected by the rare copy number variations of 22q11.2 deletion and duplication syndrome, associated with neurodevelopmental/neuropsychiatric conditions, were coping. The article focuses on worry and disruptions in medical care caused by the pandemic. Methods: The University of Pennsylvania COVID‐19 Stressor List and care disruption questions were circulated by 22 advocacy groups in English and 11 other languages. Results: A total of 512 people from 23 countries completed the survey; most were caregivers of affected individuals. Worry about family members acquiring COVID‐19 had the highest average endorsed worry, whilst currently having COVID‐19 had the lowest rated worry. Total COVID‐19 worries were higher in individuals completing the survey towards the end of the study (later pandemic wave); 36% (n = 186) of the sample reported a significant effect on health due to care interruption during the pandemic; 44% of individuals (n = 111) receiving care for their genetic syndrome in a hospital setting reported delaying appointments due to COVID‐19 fears; 12% (n = 59) of the sample reported disruptions to treatments; and of those reporting no current disruptions, 59% (n = 269) worried about future disruptions if the pandemic continued. Higher levels of care disruptions were related to higher COVID‐19 worries (Ps < 0.005). Minimal differences by respondent type or copy number variation type emerged. Conclusions: Widespread medical care disruptions and pandemic‐related worries were reported by individuals with 22q11.2 syndrome and their family members. Reported worries were broadly consistent with research results from prior reports in the general population. The long‐term effects of COVID‐19 worries, interruptions to care and hospital avoidance require further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) and 22q11.2 duplication syndrome (22q11.2DupS) are the most common copy number variations in humans. The clinical phenotypes of these two syndromes are variable, and there are no large sample data on the prenatal detection rate for these two syndromes in the Chinese population. Results We recruited 411 pregnant women who showed either abnormal prenatal ultrasound findings or positive prenatal BoBs™ results or who had given birth to a child with chromosomal abnormalities. SNP-array analysis and interphase FISH analysis identified five fetuses with 22q11.2 copy number variants (CNVs), three of which were 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) (3/411) and two of which were 22q11.2 duplication syndrome (22q11.2DupS). In all 5 cases of diagnosed 22q11.2 abnormalities, inheritance could not be identified because the parents did not undergo further testing. Conclusion Our case reports provide a detection rate of 22q11.2 CNVs for fetuses with prenatal diagnostic indications, and early diagnosis of these two syndromes was essential for prenatal intervention in these cases. SNP-array technology is an effective tool in the prenatal diagnosis of 22q11.2 CNVs. The prenatal diagnosis of these two syndromes is helpful for early intervention, which is of great clinical significance.

Background: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) and 22q11.2 duplication syndrome (22q11.2DupS) are the most common copy number variations in humans. The clinical phenotypes of these two syndromes are variable, and there are no large sample data on the prenatal detection rate for these two syndromes in the Chinese population. Results: We recruited 411 pregnant women who showed either abnormal prenatal ultrasound findings or positive prenatal BoBs™ results or who had given birth to a child with chromosomal abnormalities. SNP-array analysis and interphase FISH analysis identified five fetuses with 22q11.2 copy number variants (CNVs), three of which were 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) (3/411) and two of which were 22q11.2 duplication syndrome (22q11.2DupS). In all 5 cases of diagnosed 22q11.2 abnormalities, inheritance could not be identified because the parents did not undergo further testing. Conclusion: Our case reports provide a detection rate of 22q11.2 CNVs for fetuses with prenatal diagnostic indications, and early diagnosis of these two syndromes was essential for prenatal intervention in these cases. SNP-array technology is an effective tool in the prenatal diagnosis of 22q11.2 CNVs. The prenatal diagnosis of these two syndromes is helpful for early intervention, which is of great clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported no clear critical region for medical comorbidities in children with deletions or duplications of 22q11.2. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether individuals with small nested deletions or duplications of the LCR-A to B region of 22q11.2 show an elevated rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to individuals with deletions or duplications that do not include this region. Methods We recruited 46 patients with nested deletions (n = 33) or duplications (n = 13) of 22q11.2, including LCR-A to B (n del = 11), LCR-A to C (n del = 4), LCR-B to D (n del = 14; n dup = 8), LCR-C to D (n del = 4; n dup = 2), and smaller nested regions (n = 3). Parent questionnaire, record review, and, for a subset, in-person evaluation were used for ASD diagnostic classification. Rates of ASD in individuals with involvement of LCR-B to LCR-D were compared with Fisher’s exact test to LCR-A to LCR-B for deletions, and to a previously published sample of LCR-A to LCR-D for duplications. The rates of medical comorbidities and psychiatric diagnoses were determined from questionnaires and chart review. We also report group mean differences on psychiatric questionnaires. Results Individuals with deletions involving LCR-A to B showed a 39–44% rate of ASD compared to 0% in individuals whose deletions did not involve LCR-A to B. We observed similar rates of medical comorbidities in individuals with involvement of LCR-A to B and LCR-B to D for both duplications and deletions, consistent with prior studies. Conclusions Children with nested deletions of 22q11.2 may be at greater risk for autism spectrum disorder if the region includes LCR-A to LCR-B. Replication is needed.

Background: Previous studies have reported no clear critical region for medical comorbidities in children with deletions or duplications of 22q11.2. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether individuals with small nested deletions or duplications of the LCR-A to B region of 22q11.2 show an elevated rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to individuals with deletions or duplications that do not include this region. Methods: We recruited 46 patients with nested deletions (n = 33) or duplications (n = 13) of 22q11.2, including LCR-A to B (ndel = 11), LCR-A to C (ndel = 4), LCR-B to D (ndel = 14; ndup = 8), LCR-C to D (ndel = 4; ndup = 2), and smaller nested regions (n = 3). Parent questionnaire, record review, and, for a subset, in-person evaluation were used for ASD diagnostic classification. Rates of ASD in individuals with involvement of LCR-B to LCR-D were compared with Fisher's exact test to LCR-A to LCR-B for deletions, and to a previously published sample of LCR-A to LCR-D for duplications. The rates of medical comorbidities and psychiatric diagnoses were determined from questionnaires and chart review. We also report group mean differences on psychiatric questionnaires. Results: Individuals with deletions involving LCR-A to B showed a 39-44% rate of ASD compared to 0% in individuals whose deletions did not involve LCR-A to B. We observed similar rates of medical comorbidities in individuals with involvement of LCR-A to B and LCR-B to D for both duplications and deletions, consistent with prior studies. Conclusions: Children with nested deletions of 22q11.2 may be at greater risk for autism spectrum disorder if the region includes LCR-A to LCR-B. Replication is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Widespread use of microarray technology has led to increasing identification of 22q11.2 duplication syndrome (22q11.2DupS), the reciprocal syndrome of the well-characterized 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). Individuals with 22q11.2DS have elevated rates of community diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia, and a range of medical problems and birth defects that necessitate extensive medical screening. Case reports of 22q11.2DupS include patients with ASD, fewer medical problems, and no schizophrenia; however, no prospective cohort study has been reported. The goals of the study were to (1) characterize the neuropsychiatric functioning of a cohort of individuals with 22q11.2DupS in comparison to large samples of typically developing controls (TDCs), ASD and 22q11.2DS; (2) estimate the prevalence of ASD in 22q11.2DupS; (3) determine whether the indications that prompted the genetic testing in 22q11.2DupS differ from 22q11.2DS and (4) determine whether comprehensive medical screening should be recommended for those diagnosed with 22q11.2DupS. Methods: Medical characterization was done by parental questionnaire and medical chart review of individuals with 22q11.2DupS (n = 37) and 22q11.2DS (n = 101). Neuropsychiatric characterization of children with 22.11.2DupS, 22q11.2DS, TDCs, and ASD was done by parent-report questionnaires; in addition, the ASD and 22q11.2DupS groups received the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. Results: Individuals with 22q11.2DupS, 22q11.2DS, and ASD had significantly impaired social interaction and adaptive behavior skills compared to TDCs. Overall, 38 % of children aged 2-18 with 22q11.2DupS had community diagnoses of ASD, but fewer (14-25 %)met on the basis of best clinical judgment that included ADI-R and ADOS data. Indications for genetic testing were significantly different for 22q11.2DupS and 22q11.2DS, with the deletions more commonly tested because of birth defects or medical problems, and the duplications because of developmental delay. However, when the screening protocol for 22q11.2DS was applied to the 22q11.2DupS sample, several medical problems were identified that would pose significant risk if left undetected. Conclusions: 22q11.2DupS has a high rate of ASD at 14-25 %, among the highest of any genetic disorder. Prospective medical screening should be done for all patients with 22q11.2DupS, including those diagnosed due to developmental delays and ASD alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]