Background: Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive disorder characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric features. Cerebellar ataxia is classically considered as uncommon in HD clinical spectrum. Objective: To determine the prevalence of cerebellar ataxia in patients with HD, both in the early and in the late stages of HD. Methods: Seventy-two individuals considered eligible were assessed by two trained doctors, applying the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and Brief Ataxia Rating Scale (BARS) for ataxia, the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) and also, Barthel Index (BI), in order to evaluate functional capacity. Results: Fifty-one patients (70.8%) presented with clinical ataxia at the time of examination (mean time of disease was 9.1 years). Six (8.33%) patients presented with cerebellar ataxia as first symptom. When stratified according to time of disease, a decline in the presence of chorea ( p = 0.032) and an increase in cognitive deficit ( p = 0.023) were observed in the patients as the disease progressed. The presence of ataxia was associated with longer duration of illness and severity of illness (UHDRS) ( p < 0.0001), and shorter Barthel (less functionality) ( p = 0.001). Conclusions: Cerebellar involvement may play an important role in natural history of brain degeneration in HD. The presence of cerebellar ataxia in HD is relevant and it may occur even in early stages, and should be included as part of the motor features of the disease.

Background: Burnout syndrome is a work-related psychological response, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low professional accomplishment. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of burnout syndrome in neurologists in the State of Paraná, Brazil, dividing them into stroke neurologists and non-stroke neurologists. Methods: We performed a crosssectional observational study, with a quantitative approach, based on the online Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey questionnaire. Results: A total of 74 neurologists were evaluated, 44.6% of whom had burnout syndrome, predominantly among females and stroke neurologists. Both the stroke neurologist and non-stroke neurologist groups had medium degrees of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization; however, while stroke neurologists had high professional accomplishment, non-stroke neurologists had mean-to-low scores of professional accomplishment. There was a proportional relationship between age and emotional exhaustion. Female neurologists also reported lower professional accomplishment levels. Conclusion: Burnout is prevalent among the neurologists of Paraná, corroborating the results previously reported in other studies. There seems to be no significant difference between those neurologists who work in the emergency stroke care setting compared with those who don't.

MYH9-related disease is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations of the MYH9 gene, which encodes the non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA on chromosome 22q12. It is characterized by congenital macrothrombocytopenia, bleeding tendency, hearing loss, and cataracts. Nephropathy occurs in approximately 30% of MYH9-related disease in a male patient carrier of a de novo missense mutation in exon 1 of the MYH9 gene [c.287C > T; p.Ser(TCG)96(TTG)Leu]. He presented all phenotypic manifestations of the disease, but cataracts. Renal alterations were microhematuria, nephrotic-range proteinuria (up to 7.5 g/24h), and rapid loss of renal function. The decline per year of the glomerular filtration rate was 20 mL/min/1.73m2 for five years. Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system, the only recommended therapy for slowing the progression of this nephropathy, was prescribed. Although MYH9-related disease is a rare cause of glomerulopathy and end-stage renal disease, awareness of rare genetic kidney disorders is essential to ensure accurate diagnosis and proper management of orphan disease patients.

There are more than 150 different rare genetic kidney diseases. They can be classified according to diagnostic findings as (i) disorders of growth and structure, (ii) glomerular diseases, (iii) tubular, and (iv) metabolic diseases. In recent years, there has been a shift of paradigm in this field. Molecular testing has become more accessible, our understanding of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms of these diseases has evolved, and new therapeutic strategies have become more available. Therefore, the role of nephrologists has progressively shifted from a mere spectator to an active player, part of a multidisciplinary team in the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. This article provides an overview of the recent advances in rare hereditary kidney disorders by discussing the genetic aspects, clinical manifestations, diagnostic, and therapeutic approaches of some of these disorders, named familial focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, tuberous sclerosis complex, Fabry nephropathy, and MYH-9 related disorder.