Mosaic Turner syndrome associated with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia in Women: Clinical Considerations

Men and women, for biologic and sociocultural reasons, differ in the nature of their risks for schizophrenia and also in their care needs. Women with schizophrenia have several reproduction-associated risks and care needs that require special clinical consideration. They also have several specific risks related to antipsychotics and gender-associated needs not necessarily related to biology. These require clinicians' diagnostic acumen, treatment skills, cultural sensitivity, and advocacy know-how. Although this does not pertain to everyone, awareness on the part of clinicians is essential. This article addresses the current evidence for difference.

Obsessive-compulsive symptoms in two patients with chromosomal disorders involving the X chromosome

INTRODUCTION

The etio-pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be explained using a biopsychosocial model. Little is known about obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in the context of chromosomal disorders involving the X chromosome.

METHODS

Case studies of two patients with chromosomal disorders involving the X chromosome (Patient 1 with a variant of Turner syndrome and Patient 2 with triple X syndrome).

RESULTS

Both patients were treated due to severe OCS. In the research MRI analysis, the most pronounced MRI change in both patients was a gray matter volume loss in the orbitofrontal cortex. Patient 1 additionally showed left mesiotemporal changes. Patient 2 presented with global gray matter volume reduction, slowing in EEG, and a reduced intelligence quotient.

DISCUSSION

OCS could occur in the context of Turner syndrome or triple X syndrome. The detected MRI changes would be compatible with dysfunction of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loops involved in OCD pathophysiology. Further studies with larger patient groups should investigate whether this association can be validated.

A computational lens on menopause-associated psychosis

Psychotic episodes are debilitating disease states that can cause extreme distress and impair functioning. There are sex differences that drive the onset of these episodes. One difference is that, in addition to a risk period in adolescence and early adulthood, women approaching the menopause transition experience a second period of risk for new-onset psychosis. One leading hypothesis explaining this menopause-associated psychosis (MAP) is that estrogen decline in menopause removes a protective factor against processes that contribute to psychotic symptoms. However, the neural mechanisms connecting estrogen decline to these symptoms are still not well understood. Using the tools of computational psychiatry, links have been proposed between symptom presentation and potential algorithmic and biological correlates. These models connect changes in signaling with symptom formation by evaluating changes in information processing that are not easily observable (latent states). In this manuscript, we contextualize the observed effects of estrogen (decline) on neural pathways implicated in psychosis. We then propose how estrogen could drive changes in latent states giving rise to cognitive and psychotic symptoms associated with psychosis. Using computational frameworks to inform research in MAP may provide a systematic method for identifying patient-specific pathways driving symptoms and simultaneously refine models describing the pathogenesis of psychosis across all age groups.

The contribution of Xp22.31 gene dosage to Turner and Klinefelter syndromes and sex-biased phenotypes

Turner syndrome (TS) is a rare developmental condition in females caused by complete, or partial, loss of the second sex chromosome; it is associated with a number of phenotypes including short stature, ovarian failure and infertility, as well as neurobehavioural and cognitive manifestations. In contrast, Klinefelter syndrome (KS) arises from an excess of X chromosome material in males (typical karyotype is 47,XXY); like TS, KS is associated with infertility and hormonal imbalance, and behavioural/neurocognitive differences from gonadal sex-matched counterparts. Lower dosage of genes that escape X-inactivation may partially explain TS phenotypes, whilst overdosage of these genes may contribute towards KS-related symptoms. Here, I discuss new findings from individuals with deletions or duplications limited to Xp22.31 (a region escaping X-inactivation), and consider the extent to which altered gene dosage within this small interval (and of the steroid sulfatase (STS) gene in particular) may influence the phenotypic profiles of TS and KS. The expression of X-escapees can be higher in female than male tissues; I conclude by considering how lower Xp22.31 gene dosage in males may increase their likelihood of exhibiting particular phenotypes relative to females. Understanding the genetic contribution to specific phenotypes in rare disorders such as TS and KS, and to more common sex-biased phenotypes, will be important for developing more effective, and more personalised, therapeutic approaches.

Schizophrenia Psychosis in Women

A first step towards personalized medicine is to consider whether, for some disorders, the safest and most effective treatment of women needs to differ from standard guideline recommendations developed on the basis of clinical trials conducted, for the most part, in men. A second step is to consider how women’s reproductive stages—pre-pubertal years, menstrual phases, pregnancy trimesters, lactation and postpartum periods, menopausal and postmenopausal/aging status—affect the optimal choice of treatment. This review focuses on these two steps in the treatment of psychosis, specifically schizophrenia. It discusses genetics, precursors and symptoms of schizophrenia, reproductive and associated ethical issues, antipsychotic drug response and adverse effects, substance abuse, victimization and perpetration of violence, and issues of immigration and of co-morbidity. The conclusions, while often based on clinical experience and theoretical considerations rather than strictly on the evidence of randomized controlled trials, are that clinical recommendations need to consider clinical and role differences that exist between men and women and make appropriate correction for age and reproductive status.

Diagnostic cytogenetic testing following positive noninvasive prenatal screening results of sex chromosome abnormalities: Report of five cases and systematic review of evidence

BACKGROUND

Follow-up cytogenetic analysis has been recommended for cases with positive noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS) results. This study of five cases with numerical and structural sex chromosomal abnormalities (SCA) and a review of large case series of NIPS provided guidance to improve prenatal diagnosis for SCA.

METHODS

Following positive NIPS results for SCA, karyotype analysis, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and locus-specific quantitative PCR were performed on cultured amniocytes, chorionic villi cells, and stimulated lymphocytes. Review of large case series was performed to evaluate the NIPS positive rate, follow-up rate of cytogenetic analysis, positive predictive value (PPV) for major types of SCA, and relative frequencies of subtypes of major SCA.

RESULTS

Of the five cases with positive NIPS for SCA, case 1 showed a mosaic pattern of monosomy X and isodicentric Y; case 2 showed a mosaic pattern of monosomy X confined to the placenta; cases 3 and 4 had an isochromosome of Xq, and case 5 showed a derivative chromosome 14 from a Yq/14p translocation of maternal origin. Review of literature showed that mean positive rate of NIPS for SCA was 0.61%, follow-up rate of cytogenetics analysis was 76%, and mean PPV for SCA was 48%. Mosaic patterns and structural rearrangements involving sex chromosomes were estimated in 3%-20% and 3% of SCA cases, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These five cases further demonstrated the necessity to pursue follow-up cytogenetic analysis to characterize mosaic patterns and structural abnormalities involving sex chromosomes and their value for prenatal genetic counseling. A workflow showing the performance of current NIPS and cytogenetic analysis for SCA was summarized. These results could facilitate an evidence-based approach to guide prenatal diagnosis of SCA.

Recognition and management of adults with Turner syndrome: From the transition of adolescence through the senior years

Turner syndrome is recognized now as a syndrome familiar not only to pediatricians and pediatric specialists, medical geneticists, adult endocrinologists, and cardiologists, but also increasingly to primary care providers, internal medicine specialists, obstetricians, and reproductive medicine specialists. In addition, the care of women with Turner syndrome may involve social services, and various educational and neuropsychologic therapies. This article focuses on the recognition and management of Turner syndrome from adolescents in transition, through adulthood, and into another transition as older women. It can be viewed as an interpretation of recent international guidelines, complementary to those recommendations, and in some instances, an update. An attempt was made to provide an international perspective. Finally, the women and families who live with Turner syndrome and who inspired several sections, are themselves part of the broad readership that may benefit from this review.

Sex chromosome abnormalities and psychiatric diseases

Excesses of sex chromosome abnormalities in patients with psychiatric diseases have recently been observed. It remains unclear whether sex chromosome abnormalities are related to sex differences in some psychiatric diseases. While studies showed evidence of susceptibility loci over many sex chromosomal regions related to various mental diseases, others demonstrated that the sex chromosome aneuploidies may be the key to exploring the pathogenesis of psychiatric disease. In this review, we will outline the current evidence on the interaction of sex chromosome abnormalities with schizophrenia, autism, ADHD and mood disorders.