1/16. Study of the cell biology and biochemistry of cherubism.AIMS: To establish whether the multinucleate cells in lesions of patients with cherubism are also osteoclasts and if this is the case whether they were responsive to calcitonin; to carry out cytogenetic studies on two members of the same family affected by cherubism in an attempt to identify any major chromosomal defects; and to perform an in-depth modern biochemical study of four children in the same family. SUBJECTS AND methods: Four related children with cherubism were studied. Tissue taken from one of the children at elective decompression of an optic nerve was submitted to in vitro bone resorption studies. Cytogenetic studies were done on two of the children and biochemical studies on all four. RESULTS: The multinucleate cells in the cherubic lesions were shown to be osteoclasts since they synthesised tartrate resistant acid phosphatase, expressed the vitronectin receptor, and resorbed bone. bone resorption by the cultured multinucleate cells was significantly inhibited by calcitonin. High resolution cytogenetic studies failed to detect any chromosomal abnormalities in two children with cherubism. The biochemistry profile of all four children with cherubism showed that serum calcium, parathyroid hormone, parathyroid related hormone, calcitonin, and alkaline phosphatase were within normal levels. urine analysis of pyridinium and deoxypyridinium cross links, hydroxyproline, and calcium in relation to urine creatinine were measured to assess bone resorption in these children, and the values were at the upper end of the normal range in all four. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are required to determine whether calcitonin treatment will control this grossly deforming disease until the time when the physiological changes that occur at puberty rectify the pathology. It is not recommended that biochemical markers of bone resorption are used in isolation to monitor the activity of cherubism in individuals because the results are based on a small number of children and because of reports of marked interindividual variation in the levels of these markers, particularly in children.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nerve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/16. Severe, non X-linked congenital microcephaly with absence of the pyramidal tracts in two siblings.In two siblings (a female and a male neonate), severe microcephaly, bilateral absence of the pyramids, severe hypoplasia of the cerebral peduncles, and dysplasia of the inferior olives was found together with microphthalmia, facial malformations and multiple contractures of the extremities. In both cases, the cerebral hemispheres otherwise showed a more or less normal gyral pattern with the insula incompletely covered by the opercula, and a tom but otherwise intact corpus callosum. In case 2, congenital cataract was also observed. The present cases can be characterized as a rapidly fatal, familial syndrome, probably transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait, and have several features in common with the Neu-Laxova syndrome. They differ in having a less severe form of microcephaly, a rather normal cytoarchitecture of the cerebral cortex, an apparently normal corpus callosum, no gross cerebellar abnormalities, and no other organ malformations. The present cases belong to a group of heterogeneous syndromes which have microcephaly, ocular and facial malformations, multiple contractures, and ichthyosis-like skin in common.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.091737304621788keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/16. Multiple meningiomas, craniofacial hyperostosis and retinal abnormalities in proteus syndrome.Because clinical evidence suggests that proteus syndrome may be caused by a somatic mutation during early development, resulting in mosaicism, the possible types of abnormalities and their clinical distributions are highly variable. Here, we report on an unusual patient with proteus syndrome. Manifestations included multiple meningiomas, polymicrogyria, and periventricular heterotopias. Both eyes had epibulbar cystic lesions. The retina showed diffuse disorganization with nodular gliosis, retinal pigmentary abnormalities, chronic papilledema, and optic atrophy. Other abnormalities included progressive cranial, mandibular, maxillary, and auditory canal hyperostoses, epidermal nevi, and mental deficiency. The limbs were proportionate, and the hands and feet were normal.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.091737304621788keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/16. A new syndrome of optic nerve colobomas and renal abnormalities associated with arthrogryposis multiplex.Renal-coloboma syndrome is a developmental disorder involving optic nerve colobomas and renal hypoplasia/insufficiency, which exhibits autosomal dominant inheritance and a highly variable phenotype (OMIM:120330). mutation in the PAX2 gene was found to result in the renal-coloboma phenotype. We report on an Arab family with autosomal dominant inheritance of a syndrome characterized by a variable combination of optic nerve colobomas, renal abnormalities, vesicoureteral reflux, lax joints and arthrogryposis multiplex. Apart from the arthrogryposis multiplex which has not been described in the renal-coloboma syndrome, the features of the syndrome in this family are very similar to the renal-coloboma syndrome. However sequencing of all 12 axons of PAX2 gene revealed no mutation in this family. The disorder in this family is likely to represent a new syndrome with features overlapping with the renal-coloboma syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = nerve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/16. Two patients with Kabuki syndrome presenting with endocrine problems.A 4 year-old boy with mental retardation and seizures presented to the pediatric endocrinology clinic because of a history of hypoglycemia; a 16 month-old girl with developmental delay presented with bilateral breast tissue enlargement; in both, a diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome was made because of typical facial features, neurodevelopmental delay and other stigmata consistent with Kabuki syndrome. Kabuki syndrome is a mental retardation-malformation syndrome affecting multiple organ systems with a broad spectrum of abnormalities. The facial features of the syndrome are specific and independent of ethnic origin. In addition to presenting with endocrine problems, the patients reported here exhibit some novel findings such as congenital alopecia areata and hyperpigmented skin lesion. The diagnosis of Kabuki syndrome should be considered in patients with hypoglycemia or premature thelarche when associated with developmental delay and a peculiar facies.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.091737304621788keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/16. Congenital myotonic dystrophy.Myotonic muscular dystrophy is the most frequent autosomal muscular dystrophy affecting adults and children. It affects multiple organ systems and is probably the best example of variable expressivity in a human disease. This article presents a patient with congenital myotonic dystrophy who had facial dysmorphism, hypotonia, talipes, feeding and respiratory difficulties in the neonatal period and later presented to us with developmental delay and had percussion myotonia. His mother had clinical and electrophysiological features of myotonia. Expansion of unstable CTG trinucleotide repeat in the myotonic protein kinase gene was demonstrated in both. The identification of this molecular defect allows its specific diagnosis in relation to other neuromuscular disorders as well as accurate prenatal diagnosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.091737304621788keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/16. DOOR syndrome: report of three additional cases.Three new cases of DOOR syndrome are described in unrelated Brazilian children. One of these cases also has a congential cardiac defect. None of the cases has organic acid abnormalities and they can therefore be classified as Type II.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.091737304621788keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/16. growth retardation, developmental delay, distinctive face, multiple endocrine abnormalities, and adenylyl cyclase dysfunction: a new syndrome?We report on a 17-year-old male with severe pre- and postnatal growth retardation, craniosynostosis, distinctive facial features, acanthosis nigricans, deafness, mental retardation and progressive multi-organ involvement, particularly of the endocrine system, including hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, transitory hypoparathyroidism, and insulin resistance. In order to find a common mechanism explaining these multiple abnormalities, we searched for a possible defect in the signal transduction pathways from membrane to nucleus involving G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR). Adenylyl cyclase activity was evaluated by assaying c-AMP in the patient's cultured fibroblasts stimulated with several drugs and toxins acting on different effectors upstream of adenylyl cyclase. The preliminary results indicate a reduced cAMP accumulation in the patient, neither caused by constitutive activation of Gi nor inhibition of Gs signaling, and probably resulting from an alteration in the adenylyl cyclase system. The differential diagnosis with syndromes showing common clinical features with our patient is discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.091737304621788keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/16. Cenani-Lenz syndactyly in a patient with features of Kabuki syndrome.We report a 5 9/12-year-old male with Cenani-Lenz syndactyly (CLS). He presented with three malformed digits on each hand and bilateral 2,3 partial cutaneous toe syndactyly. The expression of this presumed autosomal recessive disorder is variable and has been confused with split hand foot malformation (SHFM). Not all CLS patients show the typical 'spoon hand' configuration originally described. Affected CLS patients show a disorganized appearance of the phalanges with some degree of syndactyly/oligodactyly, in addition to metacarpal and carpal fusions. Radioulnar synostosis may be present. Cases lacking radioulnar synostosis may show proximal dislocation of the radial heads. The distal limb anomalies seen in our patient resemble other reported CLS patients. Radiographic evaluation showed a disorganized appearance of the phalanges, a 'kissing delta phalanx' of one proximal phalanx, metacarpal fusions, carpal coalitions and posterior subluxation of the radial heads. Clinical examination revealed features suggestive of Kabuki syndrome including large, prominent ears, sparse, medially flared and arched eyebrows, wide palpebral fissures, long eyelashes, and oligodontia with flat head 'screwdriver-shaped' incisors, in addition to persistent finger and thumb-tip pads. The faces of CLS patients are rarely shown or described. However, some patients in published reports have large, prominent ears. A recent report suggested midfacial dysmorphism in two patients with CLS (). Although the findings of CLS with features of Kabuki syndrome in our patient may be coincidental, the faces of CLS patients need to be carefully evaluated and described to determine if there is a distinctive accompanying facial phenotype.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.18347460924358keywords = organ (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/16. A generalized skeletal hyperostosis in two siblings caused by a novel mutation in the SOST gene.In this study, a brother and sister of German origin are described with a possible diagnosis of van Buchem disease, a rare autosomal recessive sclerosing bone dysplasia characterized by a generalized hyperostosis of the skeleton mainly affecting the cranial bones. Clinically, patients suffer from cranial nerve entrapment potentially resulting in facial paresis, hearing disturbances, and visual loss. The radiological picture of van Buchem disease closely resembles sclerosteosis, although in the latter patients, syndactyly, tall stature, and raised intracranial pressure are frequently observed, allowing a differential diagnosis with van Buchem disease. Previous molecular studies demonstrated homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the SOST gene in sclerosteosis patients while a chromosomal rearrangement creating a 52-kb deletion downstream of this gene was found in Dutch patients with van Buchem disease. This deletion most likely suppresses SOST expression. Sclerostin, the SOST gene product, has been shown to play a role in bone metabolism. The two siblings reported here were evaluated at the molecular level by carrying out a mutation analysis of the SOST gene. This resulted in the identification of a novel putative disease-causing splice site mutation (IVS1 1 G-->C) homozygously present in both siblings.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = nerve (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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