Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Ashwin Dalal.
We report on a case of short stature with facial dysmorphism, ulnar deviation of hands and joint contractures. The X-rays of hands showed dislocation of the distal end of the radius and growth of the radius over the head of the ulna with total absence of carpal bones and hypoplastic tarsal bones. This is first report of such an association.
OBJECTIVE: To inform clinicians about fertility in males with Down syndrome. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: Medical Genetics Department of a tertiary-care hospital. PATIENT(S): A 26-year-old man with confirmed nonmosaic trisomy 21. INTERVENTION(S): Karyotype, amniocentesis, paternity testing using microsatellite markers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Confirmed paternity in the son of a male with nonmosaic trisomy 21. RESULT(S): A male with nonmosaic Down syndrome fathered a normal son, and the paternity was proven by microsatellite marker analysis. CONCLUSION(S): Although Down syndrome males have been reported to be infertile, it may not always be true. Infertility in males has been attributed to defective spermatogenesis, but ignorance of the sexual act may be one of the contributing factors. It is important to advise postpubertal Down syndrome males on contraceptive measures.
BACKGROUND: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common birth defects (1 in 1,000) leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Periconceptional folic acid supplementation helps in prevention of 70% of NTDs. Recently, polymorphisms in genes encoding enzymes of the folate pathway have been implicated in causation of NTDs. Since the closure of neural tube occurs at multiple sites, the etiology of defect at different sites may be different - which explains the failure of folic acid supplementation to prevent all NTDs. METHODS: Molecular analysis of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms was carried out using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion. We studied the association of these polymorphisms in mothers with a previous child with NTD and further refined the risk by stratification based on level of defect. RESULTS: The frequency of 677C-->T homozygotes was higher in mothers with a previous child with NTD than the controls (OR = 1.6 (0.38-6.7), 95% CI, p = 0.72) but the difference was statistically insignificant. There was a significant difference in frequency of T alleles among mothers with a previous child with a 'lower' type of defect compared to controls (OR = 2.15 (1.13-4.1), 95% CI, p = 0.02). We did not find any significant association of 1298A-->C polymorphism with the level of NTDs. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in the North Indian population, the 677C-->T allele of the MTHFR gene may be associated with the occurrence of a lower type of NTD. This points towards the differential role of thermolabile MTHFR at different sites of neural tube closure.
We report a fetus with symmetrical terminal transverse limb deficiency. Two earlier reports described patients with similar defects. These patients resemble the animal models that result from the removal of apical ectodermal ridge.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Hemihyperplasia is a condition characterized by asymmetric overgrowth of one or more body parts. It may be an isolated finding or may be associated with various syndromes like Beckwith-Weidemann syndrome, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, Proteus syndrome etc. Pigmentary skin lesions and capillary malformations are commonly seen in cases of hemihyperplasia. We report a case of hemihyperplasia with associated skin hyperextensibility, varicose veins, skin fragility, easy bruising and papery scars, on the side of hyperplasia. This is the first report of association of isolated hemihyperplasia with skin changes similar to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.