Citations

ABSTRACT The cohesin complex, composed of SMC1, SMC3, RAD21, and STAG1/STAG2, is essential for chromosome cohesion, DNA repair, and transcriptional regulation. Pathogenic variants in cohesin components cause cohesinopathies. The classical characteristics of cohesinopathies include developmental delay (DD), intellectual disability (ID), feeding difficulties, hypotonia, short stature, hearing loss, and dysmorphic features. Here, we present a 5‐year‐old boy with classical cohesinopathy features, including DD/ID and feeding difficulties, along with non‐classical features such as hypoglycemia, recurrent fever, and immunodeficiency. Trio exome sequencing identified a novel de novo missense variant of uncertain significance (NM_005862.3:c.643G>A(p.Val215Ile)) in the STAG1 gene. The variant localizes to the RAD21 interaction interface, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed conformational changes comparable to other STAG1 variants reported as likely pathogenic in patients, supporting a deleterious effect which may disrupt the STAG1‐RAD21 interaction interface. This case expands the phenotypic and molecular spectrum of STAG1‐related cohesinopathy and advances our understanding of the disease mechanism.

Portal hypertension is a central driver of morbidity and mortality in advanced chronic liver disease, yet its contribution to death is frequently underestimated owing to underreporting on death certificates. Population-level data on portal hypertension-related mortality trends and disparities in the United States remain limited. We conducted a retrospective, population-based mortality study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research Multiple Cause of Death database, identifying deaths with International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision code K76.6 listed in any cause-of-death field from 1999 to 2023. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates per 100,000 population were calculated and stratified by sex, U.S. Census region, race/ethnicity, and urban–rural status (the latter restricted to 1999–2020 due to data availability). Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression, with annual percent change (APC) reported as the primary trend metric and 95% confidence intervals presented for all estimates. A total of 34,551 portal hypertension-related deaths were identified. Overall age-adjusted mortality rates declined sharply from 1999 to 2002 (APC − 12.85%), plateaued for more than a decade, and rose thereafter. Mortality increased significantly in women after 2009 (APC + 6.69%) and in men after 2013 (APC + 6.18%). Among racial and ethnic groups, Hispanic or Latino individuals consistently demonstrated the highest mortality burden throughout the study period, followed by White individuals, whereas Black or African American individuals exhibited comparatively lower but significantly rising rates from 2006 onward. White individuals demonstrated the steepest recent acceleration, with a significant increase after 2014 (APC + 8.51%). Regionally, the South experienced the steepest post-2013 increase, while the Northeast retained the lowest absolute rates despite a significant rise after 2014. Urban populations showed early improvement through 2014 followed by rising mortality, whereas rural populations experienced a later but steeper rise beginning around 2013, with widening urban–rural disparities over time. Portal hypertension-related mortality has risen significantly since the mid-2010s across all demographic and geographic subgroups, with disproportionate burdens among Hispanic individuals, men, rural populations, and residents of the Southern United States. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies, equitable access to hepatology care, and aggressive management of metabolic and alcohol-related risk factors to reverse this trajectory.

PURPOSE Bone metastases (BM) occur in approximately 30% of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and are associated with poor survival and symptomatic skeletal events (SSEs). Radium-223, an alpha-emitting bone-seeking radioisotope, and cabozantinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, have demonstrated activity in BM. RADICAL (Alliance A031801; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04071223 ) evaluated cabozantinib ± radium-223 in mRCC with BM. METHODS This phase II trial enrolled patients with mRCC of any histology with ≥1 BM. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to cabozantinib ± radium-223, stratified by osteoclast-targeted therapy (OTT), prior therapy, opioid use, and International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC) risk. The primary end point was SSE-free survival (SSE-FS). Secondary end points included safety, objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS). A target of 124 evaluable patients was planned, with a prespecified interim futility analysis at 50% of expected SSE-FS events; the trial would stop if the stratified hazard ratio (sHR) > 1.0. RESULTS The prespecified interim futility analysis was conducted after 90 patients were enrolled and crossed the futility boundary, leading to closure at 98 patients. The final analysis included all 98 patients. Median age was 63 years, 82.7% had clear cell histology, and 79.6% were using an OTT. IMDC risk was favorable (18.4%), intermediate (67.3%), and poor (14.3%). Median follow-up was 13.1 months. Median SSE-FS for cabozantinib with radium-223 versus cabozantinib was 16.7 versus 17.6 months (sHR, 1.46 [90% CI, 0.86 to 2.51]). Median OS was 28.3 versus 19.7 months (sHR, 1.40 [95% CI, 0.70 to 2.79]). ORR was 19.4% versus 25.0% ( P = .78). Grade ≥3 adverse events were similar across arms (69.6% v 75.5%). CONCLUSION Radium-223 did not improve SSE-FS when added to cabozantinib. The combination demonstrated a manageable safety profile.

Black race and Hispanic ethnicity are associated with higher mortality in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) following hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), though mechanisms remain unclear. We evaluated 796 children with SCID who received nonsibling HCT between 1982 and 2020 using data from the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium. Overall survival for Black (aHR 2.47, 95%CI 1.64, 3.71) and Asian/Pacific Islander patients (aHR 1.82, 95%CI 1.00, 3.30) was significantly lower compared with non-Hispanic White patients, while Hispanic patients had lower event-free survival (aHR 1.83, 95%CI 1.27, 2.63) compared with non-Hispanic White patients. Even after adjusting for age and infection, Black patients with SCID had more than twofold hazard of death compared with non-Hispanic White patients. NBS was associated with earlier diagnosis, reduced infection at HCT, and elimination of survival disparities between Black and non-Hispanic White patients. These findings suggest that universal, system-level interventions such as NBS can mitigate disparities in outcomes for children with SCID.

ABSTRACT Pathogenic variants in AMMECR1 have been associated with a rare multisystem disorder characterized by midface hypoplasia, hearing impairment, elliptocytosis, and nephrocalcinosis (MFHIEN). To date, most reported cases involve copy number variants or presumed loss‐of‐function alterations, with only a single prior report describing a missense variant supported by functional studies. Here, we report a patient with a heterozygous de novo AMMECR1 missense variant, NM_015365.3:c.649G>A p.(Val217Met) presenting with clinical features consistent with MFHIEN, including midface hypoplasia, partial hearing impairment, nephrocalcinosis, and elliptocytosis identified on peripheral blood smear. Comparative review of the literature highlights that while previously reported missense variants in AMMECR1 demonstrated altered intranuclear protein distribution and reduced expression in functional assays, clinical evidence supporting pathogenicity of non‐truncating variants remains limited. The phenotypic overlap between our patient and prior report strengthens the association between missense variations and the MFHIEN phenotype. Our findings support the pathogenic relevance of missense variation in AMMECR1 and emphasize the importance of integrating detailed phenotyping, including hematologic evaluation, with genomic data in the diagnosis of rare multisystem disorders. Additional cases and functional studies are needed to clarify genotype–phenotype correlations and underlying disease mechanisms.

Abstract Background Large language models (LLMs) offer promise for systematic review data extraction, but performance in complex multidisciplinary domains and utility for clinical statement generation remain insufficiently described. Objectives To evaluate Google NotebookLM for AI-assisted data extraction and RAND/UCLA consensus statement generation in a systematic review of IBD, obesity, and cardiometabolic comorbidities. Methods Studies were organized into domain-specific notebooks; structured prompts generated standardized evidence tables. Two independent reviewers validated outputs against full-text articles using a four-category error classification. Cell-level accuracy and critical accuracy (cells free of major factual errors) were the primary metrics; workflow time was compared against a published conventional extraction benchmark. Concordance between AI-generated and expert-finalized statements was assessed. Results Across 57 articles, 1,710 data cells were extracted; 151 (8.83%) were flagged, yielding 91.17% cell-level accuracy. Major factual errors occurred in only 4 cells (0.23%), for a critical accuracy of 99.77%. Most errors were minor omissions (59.6%) or incomplete extractions (30.5%); domain error rates ranged from 7.08% to 11.33%. The pipeline required 17.7 versus a projected 165.1 person-hours (89.3% reduction). PICO-structured prompting generated 70 candidate statements; 58 of 112 finalized panel statements (51.8%) were AI-derived, and 85.7% were retained in the finalized set. Conclusion Google NotebookLM demonstrates feasibility as a primary extraction and synthesis tool in a multidisciplinary systematic review, with extractive incompleteness as the principal limitation and substantial time savings over conventional approaches. Its novel application to RAND/UCLA consensus statement generation extends AI-assisted evidence synthesis to clinical consensus generation workflow.

Abstract Objective Invasive presurgical evaluation plays a key role in pediatric epilepsy surgery, particularly in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐negative cases, by guiding resective, disconnective, or ablative procedures. This International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Taskforce study provides an updated global overview of current invasive evaluation practices. Methods Group‐level data were collected from 61 epilepsy surgery programs (49 pediatric‐only) in 29 countries across six continents. Included were children and adolescents who underwent presurgical evaluation and epilepsy surgery in 2023. The study was designed to enable comparison with the similar ILAE survey conducted in 2004. Results A total of 2427 patients were included. Invasive evaluations were performed in 21.1% of cases, most frequently in North America (33.7%, higher than Europe: 18.0%, p = .003). Among invasive cases, 32.3% had no detectable MRI abnormalities. The main indication for invasive evaluation was seizure onset localization (88.1%), followed by motor or sensory mapping (17.2%) and language mapping (14.2%). Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) was the predominant technique (19.8% overall, 93.6% of invasive cases), more common in North America (30.0%, p = .021) and less common in South America (7.4%, p < .001). Subdural electrodes were used in only 3.2% of invasive cases, and combined depth and subdural approaches in 3.2%. SEEG‐guided radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RF‐TC) was performed in 40.9% of SEEG cases, most commonly in Asia (63.8%). In 16.2% of invasive evaluations, patients did not proceed to resection, disconnection, or ablation, with the highest rate in Europe (28.5%). Significance This global survey provides the first broad overview of invasive evaluation practices in pediatric epilepsy surgery across participating centers worldwide. It highlights the widespread adoption of SEEG, declining use of subdural electrodes, and increasing application of SEEG‐guided RF‐TC. The high proportion of MRI‐negative cases and the considerable proportion of patients not proceeding to resection, disconnection, or ablation underscore the complexity of contemporary surgical candidates and the need for further refinement of selection strategies.

Abstract The persistent global rise in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) challenges the effectiveness of current risk factor-based algorithms in primary prevention. Most myocardial infarctions occur in individuals without prior symptoms or recognized standard modifiable risk factors, underscoring the need to improve risk stratification. Coronary CT imaging, including coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), enables direct non-invasive visualization of coronary atherosclerosis, supporting a shift from population-based prevention towards personalized, disease-based risk assessment and targeted preventive treatment. CCTA provides comprehensive evaluation of plaque burden, composition, stenosis severity, and high-risk plaque (HRP) features, thereby refining risk stratification and guiding personalized treatment decisions. The presence and total burden of coronary atherosclerotic plaque are considered the primary CCTA-derived markers for guiding preventive therapy, while noncalcified plaque burden and HRP features may support treatment intensification. Advances in CT technology, including photon-counting CT, and the application of artificial intelligence-based tools may further refine risk assessment by enabling accurate and reproducible plaque quantification and characterization. Although no randomized trials have yet demonstrated that CCTA-based screening improves clinical outcomes in asymptomatic individuals compared with standard care, the same is true of traditional cardiovascular risk scores. Three large ongoing randomized trials are currently evaluating whether CCTA-guided, personalized prevention strategies can reduce ASCVD events. The results are eagerly awaited and may redefine the role of CCTA in asymptomatic individuals.

Abstract Objective Pediatric epilepsy surgery is well established, but contemporary global data on referral and presurgical evaluation practices are lacking. This International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery Task Force study provides an updated overview of current trends and regional differences. Methods Group‐level data were collected from 61 epilepsy surgery programs (49 pediatric‐only) across 29 countries and six continents, identified through ILAE networks, and included all children and adolescents treated in 2023 who underwent presurgical evaluation/epilepsy surgery. Results Group‐level data were available for 2427 patients. Mean age at surgery was 9.1 ± 4.9 years; mean epilepsy duration was 5.3. At surgery, 3.2% were <1 year old (highest in Oceania: 5.1%), and 6.1% were nonpharmacoresistant (highest in Europe: 15.0%). Prior neurosurgery was reported in 14.2% (highest in North America: 28.8%), including 8.0% resections (6.1% for epilepsy, 1.5% for tumors; highest in Oceania: 16.5%), 2.3% disconnections (1.3% corpus callosotomy; highest in South America: 4.7%), and 4.2% neuromodulation (3.7% vagal nerve stimulation, .2% responsive neurostimulation, one deep brain stimulation; highest in North America: 12.2%). Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) at surgery included Lennox–Gastaut syndrome (7.4%), infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (5.1%), and DEE with spike–wave activation in sleep (1.5%). Presurgical investigations included fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (52.6%; highest in Oceania: 79.7%), genetic testing (46.8%; highest in Asia: 54.3%), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) postprocessing (32.4%; highest in South America: 53.0%), functional MRI (fMRI; 15.2%; highest in North America: 40.3%), magnetoencephalography (11.9%; highest in North America: 39.3%), single photon emission computed tomography (9.6%; highest in North America: 22.2%), high‐density electroencephalography (EEG; 1.9%; highest in Europe: 4.7%), source localization (1.6%; highest in Oceania: 7.6%), Wada test (1.2%; highest in North America: 3.5%), and EEG‐fMRI (.5%; highest in Europe: 1.1%). Significance Despite some early surgeries, including in infancy and before pharmacoresistance, mean epilepsy duration before surgery remains >5 years. Reoperations are common, with resection more frequent than neuromodulation. Genetic testing in nearly half of patients reflects its growing relevance, and the high rate of DEEs underscores the complexity of surgical candidates.