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Research

Comparing home polysomnography with transcutaneous CO2 monitoring to laboratory polysomnography in children with neuromuscular disorders

Clinical utility of home polysomnography in children with neuromuscular disorders is limited by lack of evidence that sleep-disordered breathing can be reliably identified and inability to diagnose hypoventilation because carbon dioxide is not measured.

Research

Deletions in the CDKL5 5 untranslated region lead to CDKL5 deficiency disorder

Pathogenic variants in the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene are associated with CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD), a severe X-linked developmental and epileptic encephalopathy.

Database a crucial tool helping to fill the CDKL5 information void

The Kids Research Institute Australia disability researcher, Associate Professor Helen Leonard, played an important role in the identification of the differences that define CDD, thanks to her extensive experience researching Rett syndrome and running an Australian online database tracking Rett cases.

Research

Quality of life beyond diagnosis in intellectual disability – Latent profiling

To compare quality of life (QOL) across diagnoses associated with intellectual disability, construct QOL profiles and evaluate membership by diagnostic group, function and comorbidities.

Research

Evolving Trends of Gastrostomy Insertion Within a Pediatric Population

New gastrostomy insertion among children who require long-term enteral feeding support increased over the study period

Research

How Families Manage the Complex Medical Needs of Their Children with MECP2 Duplication Syndrome

MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS) is a rare, X-linked, neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from the duplication of the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. The clinical features of MDS include severe intellectual disability, global developmental delay, seizures, recurrent respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal problems. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how the parents of children with MDS manage their child's seizures, recurrent respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal symptoms, and the impact on them as parents.

Research

Associations Between Hyperphagia, Symptoms of Sleep Breathing Disorder, Behaviour Difficulties and Caregiver Well-Being in Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Preliminary Study

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterised by neurodevelopmental delays, hyperphagia, difficulties with social communication and challenging behaviours. Individuals require intensive supervision from caregivers which may negatively affect caregiver quality of life. This study used data collected in the Australasian PWS Registry to evaluate associations between child behaviours and caregiver mental well-being.

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Seizure variables and their relationship to genotype and functional abilities in the CDKL5 disorder

Epilepsy is pervasive but not mandatory for the CDKL5 disorder, and genotype and functional abilities were related to seizure frequency

Research

Relationship between family quality of life and day occupations of young people with Down syndrome

This study aimed to explore relationships between family quality of life, day occupations and activities of daily living of young persons with Down syndrome.

Research

Psychometric properties of the Quality of Life Inventory-Disability (QI-Disability) measure

Initial evaluation suggests that QI-Disability is a reliable and valid measure of quality of life across the spectrum of intellectual disability