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Exploring quality of life in individuals with a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, CDKL5 Deficiency DisorderCDKL5 Deficiency Disorder (CDD) is a rare genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) gene. It is now considered to be a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy because of the early onset of seizures in association with severe global delay. Other features include cortical visual impairment, sleep and gastro-intestinal problems. Progress in clinical understanding, especially regarding the spectrum of functional ability, seizure patterns, and other comorbidities was initially slow but accelerated in 2012 with the establishment of the International CDKL5 Database (ICDD). Our aim was to use this data source to investigate quality of life (QOL) and associated factors in this disorder.
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Predicting Long-Term Survival Without Major Disability for Infants Born PretermApgar score, birth weight, sex, socioeconomic status, and maternal ethnicity, in addition to gestational age, have pronounced impacts on disability-free survival.
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Parent-reported health-related quality of life of children with Down syndrome: A descriptive studyTo describe health-related quality of life of Australian children and adolescents with Down syndrome and compare it with norm-referenced data.
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CDKL5 variants: Improving our understanding of a rare neurologic disorderProviding new insights into the interpretation of genetic variants in a rare neurologi disorder, in the contexts of population sequencing data.
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Are assisted reproductive technology pregnancies more likely to be exposed to teratogenic medication? A whole-population studyAssisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies are at greater risk of birth defects than non-ART pregnancies. Teratogenic medication exposure is a potential cause of birth defects that has not been compared between ART and non-ART pregnancies.
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Influenza vaccination in Western Australian children: Exploring the health benefits and cost savings of increased vaccine coverage in childrenTo assess potential benefits and direct healthcare cost savings with expansion of an existing childhood influenza immunisation program, we developed a dynamic transmission model for the state of Western Australia, evaluating increasing coverage in children < 5 years and routinely immunising school-aged children.
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How Well Does the EQ-5D-Y-5L Describe Children With Intellectual Disability?: “There's a Lot More to My Child Than That She Can't Wash or Dress Herself.”The EQ-5D-5L is a generic health utility instrument for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL), with self-report and proxy report versions for children (EQ-5D-Y-5L). Children with intellectual disability (ID) are a heterogeneous population whose impairments and comorbidities place them at risk of poor HRQoL. This study aimed to describe the content validity and suitability for children with ID of a proxy report version of the EQ-5D-Y-5L as seen by their caregivers.
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What does better look like in individuals with severe neurodevelopmental impairments? A qualitative descriptive study on SCN2A-related developmental and epileptic encephalopathyThere are limited psychometric data on outcome measures for children with Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathies (DEEs), beyond measuring seizures, and no data to describe meaningful change. This study aimed to explore parent perceptions of important differences in functional abilities that would guide their participation in clinical trials.
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FDA Patient-Focused Drug Development Guidances: Considerations for Trial Readiness in Rare Developmental and Epileptic EncephalopathiesDevelopmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) are rare, often monogenic neurodevelopmental conditions. Most affected individuals have refractory seizures. All have multiple severe impairments which can be as life-limiting as or more limiting than the seizures themselves. Mechanism- and gene-targeted therapies for these individually rare, genetic conditions hold hope for treatment, amelioration of disease expression, and even cure.
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Young people with intellectual disability transitioning to adulthood: Do behaviour trajectories differ in those with and without down syndromeChanges in emotional and behavioural problems for young people with intellectual disability with and without Down syndrome as they transition into adulthood