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Biomedical subjects

E H Zackai

Publications and source records attributed to E H Zackai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome type II (Langer-Giedion) with persistent cloaca and prune belly sequence in a girl with 8q interstitial deletion.

A patient with the diagnosis of Langer-Giedion syndrome (tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome type II) and interstitial 8q deletion was also noted to have persistent cloaca and prune belly sequence. This is the first report of this association. If it postulated that these latter embryonic defects may be due to the chromosome abnormality, supporting the definition of contiguous gene syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Deletions and microdeletions of 22q11.2 in velo-cardio-facial syndrome.

Velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS), an autosomal dominant disorder, is characterized by cleft palate, cardiac defects, learning disabilities and a typical facial appearance. Less frequently, VCFS patients have manifestations of the DiGeorge complex (DGC) including hypocalcemia, hypoplastic or absent lymphoid tissue and T-cell deficiency suggesting that these 2 conditions share a common pathogenesis. Here, we report the results of cytogenetic and molecular studies of 15 VCFS patients. High-resolution banding techniques detected an interstitial deletion of 22q11.21-q11.23 in 3 patients. The remaining 12 patients had apparently normal chromosomes. Molecular analysis with probes from the DiGeorge Chromosome Region (DGCR) within 22q11 detected DNA deletions in 14 of 15 patients. In 2 families, deletions were detected in the affected parent as well as the propositus suggesting that the autosomal dominant transmission of VCFS is due to segregation of a deletion. Deletions of the same loci previously shown to be deleted in patients with DGC explains the overlapping phenotype of VCFS and the DGC and supports the hypothesis that the cause of these two disorders is the same.

Chromosome Banding

Ocular albinism in a male with del (6)(q13-q15): candidate region for autosomal recessive ocular albinism?

We describe a boy with an interstitial deletion of 6(q13-q15) and include "coarse" facial features, upslanting palpebral fissures, thin vermilion border of the upper lip, elongated philtrum, developmental delay, and profound hypotonia. The child's eye findings, pedigree, paucity of maternal ocular changes, and lack of melanin macroglobules in the skin suggest that this individual's phenotype is clinically similar to that of autosomal recessive ocular albinism. Though it is possible that this deletion and his ophthalmic disorder are coincidental, we postulate that the ocular albinism may be due to hemizygosity for a paternally derived ocular albinism gene located on chromosome 6 in the region q13-q15. This patient's deletion is secondary to a recombination of a maternal intrachromosomal inverted insertion of this region. Of the 7 reported 6q1 deletions, this is the only case that is due to a familial chromosome rearrangement.

Albinism, Ocular

On lumping and splitting: a fetus with clinical findings of the oral-facial-digital syndrome type VI, the hydrolethalus syndrome, and the Pallister-Hall syndrome.

The three midline malformation complexes, the oral-facial-digital syndrome type VI (OFDS VI) or Váradi syndrome, the hydrolethalus syndrome (HS), and the Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS) have been described as distinct genetic entities. Here, we report a fetus with a combination of clinical findings of all 3 syndromes similar to the twin fetuses described in the accompanying paper (Hingorani et al., 1991). The phenotypic overlap in these fetuses with the OFDS VI, HS, and PHS raises the question as to whether or not they indeed represent separate genetic entities as previously assumed.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Oculodentodigital dysplasia syndrome associated with abnormal cerebral white matter.

Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) syndrome is an uncommon inherited disorder with eye and facial abnormalities, syndactyly, and defects in tooth enamel. Some of the previously reported patients with ODDD syndrome also manifested spastic quadriparesis. We describe a patient with sporadic ODDD syndrome referred for evaluation of progressive spastic paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated abnormal white matter, which suggests an explanation for the observed spastic paraparesis.

Adult

Interstitial deletion of 4(q21q25) in a liveborn male.

We describe a liveborn male with a de novo deletion of 4(q21q25). The findings in this infant are compared with those of other 4q interstitial deletion patients with similar break-points. Given the reproducible findings including skull asymmetry, cardiac defects, renal cysts, "butterfly" vertebrae, as well as a particular dysmorphic face with developmental delay, there is evidence for an interstitial 4q deletion syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Congenital nystagmus in a (46,XX/45,X) mosaic woman from a family with X-linked congenital nystagmus.

X-linked congenital nystagmus is a rare disorder in which affected males manifest binocular uniplanar nystagmus with associated head oscillation. In the families previously reported, affected females have been described. We report on a multigeneration family with X-linked congenital nystagmus with an affected woman. She was a (46,XX/45,X) mosaic. Magnetic resonance images of the brain of affected individuals were normal.

Aged

Segmental spinal muscular atrophy and dermatological findings in a patient with chromosome 18q deletion.

We have evaluated a young woman with segmental spinal muscular atrophy, who has a deletion of a portion of the long arm of chromosome 18. She also has vitiligo and lichen sclerosis et atrophicus. She has neither the facial dysmorphism nor the mental deficit usually associated with the 18q- syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging scan of her brain demonstrates high signal intensity consistent with abnormal myelination. Southern blot analysis of her DNA demonstrates that the deletion includes the gene for human myelin basic protein. Neither spinal muscular atrophy nor this patient's skin manifestations have been previously reported in association with 18q-.

Adult

Oral-facial-digital syndrome type VI (Váradi syndrome): further clinical delineation.

Cerebellar anomalies are consistent findings in patients with the oral-facial-digital syndrome type VI (Váradi syndrome) in addition to variable facial and oral changes, and polysyndactyly of hands and feet. We report 3 unrelated patients with this entity who have a hypoplastic cerebellar vermis shown by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well as clinical signs of cerebellar defect. Polydactyly of the hands is characterized by a central Y-shaped metacarpal. Clinically recurrent episodes of tachypnea and hyperpnea are remarkable. Postnatal growth is delayed with short stature in all 3 patients possibly due to growth hormone deficiency in one of them. In contrast to reported patients who are all severely mentally retarded, one of our patients is of normal intelligence. Type VI oral-facial-digital syndrome is an autosomal-recessive trait and may be detected prenatally.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Partial duplication 1q: report of four patients and review of the literature.

Here we report on 4 unrelated patients with reciprocal translocations which resulted in duplication of the distal portion of chromosome 1q. Although the patients had certain non-specific malformations in common, our investigation and a review of the literature do not suggest the existence of a distinct phenotype due to this chromosome abnormality. We think that the coexisting deletion present in each of these patients is responsible for most of the observed differences in clinical manifestations. The variable phenotype makes clinical recognition difficult and precludes making a long-term prognosis.

Chromosome Aberrations

The diagnosis of neurofibromatosis-1 in the child under the age of 6 years.

One-hundred sixty children under the age of 6 years presented for diagnostic evaluation regarding neurofibromatosis-1 (NF-1). Using the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference criteria, 151 (94%) of the children were classified on initial examination: 112 were diagnosed as having NF-1 and 39 were found to be unaffected (all 39 have remained asymptomatic on follow-up). Nine could not be classified (3 have subsequently met minimal diagnostic criteria on follow-up). Clinical manifestations of NF-1 include cafe au lait spots (97%), freckling in the axillary or inguinal region (81%), Lisch nodules (30%), neurofibromas (15%), pseudoarthrosis (6%), and optic nerve gliomas (4%). More than minimal diagnostic criteria were met by 80% of the children who had a positive family history and by 32% of those who did not. Thus, the clinical diagnosis of NF-1 is possible in the child who is under 6 years of age, and the National Institutes of Health criteria are useful and applicable.

Age Factors

Prenatal detection of Roberts-SC phocomelia syndrome: report of 2 sibs with characteristic manifestations.

We describe 2 sibs with Roberts-SC phocomelia syndrome. Although an ultrasound scan performed at 13 weeks of gestation failed to identify specific abnormalities, repeat scan at 17 weeks detected tetraphocomelia. Ultrasonography can reliably detect Roberts-SC phocomelia prenatally; however, serial scans may be needed. Postmortem examination of the proposita confirmed the sonographic findings and also disclosed dysplastic kidneys and ovarian dysgenesis. The degree of phenotypic variation observed between the sibs supports the hypothesis that Roberts syndrome and SC phocomelia represent a single genetic entity.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Clinical, cytogenetic, and pedigree findings in 18 cases of Aicardi syndrome.

Eighteen girls with Aicardi syndrome were identified through a survey of neurologists, geneticists, and ophthalmologists. All had infantile seizures, developmental delay, agenesis of the corpus callosum (complete: 72%, partial: 28%), and characteristic chorioretinal lacunar lesions. Costovertebral defects including hemivertebrae, scoliosis, and absent or malformed ribs were present in 39%, cortical heterotopias were present in 50%, and microphthalmia was identified in a third. Cytogenetic investigation was carried out in all families. An unbalanced X;3 translocation, 46,X,der(X)t(X;3)(p22.3;p23)mat, was discovered in a girl with chorioretinal lacunar lesions characteristic of Aicardi syndrome, developmental delay, and infantile seizures. However, this child had a normal appearing corpus callosum on CT and magnetic resonance imaging scans and therefore did not meet the criteria for inclusion in the study. Chromosomes of all other patients and parents were normal. Findings at birth, age of seizure onset, treatment, and prognosis are discussed. The pedigree data from these 18 families demonstrated an unaffected male:female sib ratio of 1:1.7 and a 14% spontaneous abortion rate. The findings of this study support the contention that Aicardi syndrome is an X-linked dominant disorder with early embryonic lethality in hemizygous males and that all cases represent new mutations.

Abnormalities, Multiple

The role of cytologic NOR variants in the etiology of trisomy 21.

Silver-stained chromosomes from 29 couples with a trisomy 21 offspring and from 25 control couples were studied to determine whether there was an association of nucleolar-organizing-region variants in parents of children with trisomy 21. A reproducible scoring system for the analysis of silver-stained chromosomes was developed, and this was applied to the analysis of study participants in a blinded fashion. Seven of the 58 parents of children with trisomy 21 and seven of the 50 control parents were found to have variant NORs on silver staining. Therefore, we do not find a demonstrable risk for nondisjunction of chromosome 21 in individuals with silver-staining variants.

Chromosome Mapping

Reproductive risks for carriers of complex chromosome rearrangements: analysis of 25 families.

We have determined the empirical reproductive risks for heterozygous carriers of complex chromosome rearrangements (CCRs). CCRs are structural rearrangements involving at least three chromosomes and three or more chromosomal breakpoints. Pregnancy outcome, the frequency and type of chromosomal imbalance in the offspring, and the localization and distribution of chromosome breakpoints were analyzed in 25 CCR families ascertained by the birth of a malformed child or repeated spontaneous abortions. This study included two newly ascertained familial CCRs and a total of 67 informative pregnancies. Analysis of the data, after correction for ascertainment bias, showed that the incidence of spontaneous abortions in CCR families was 48.3%. Approximately one in ten pregnancies and 18.4% of all live births to CCR carriers resulted in phenotypically abnormal offspring. One-half of all CCR carrier liveborn offspring were also CCR carriers. There was a 53.7% incidence of an abnormal pregnancy outcome to CCR carriers. We failed to detect any evidence for a non-random involvement of specific chromosomes in CCRs. However, we did observe a non-random distribution of specific breakpoints at sites 1q25, 4q13, 6q27, 7p14, 9q12, 11p11, 11p15, 12q21, 13q31, and 18q21.

Chromosome Aberrations

Holoprosencephaly: association with interstitial deletion of 2p and review of the cytogenetic literature.

Chromosome analysis with high-resolution banding showed a small de novo interstitial deletion of chromosome 2(p21----p22.2) in an infant with holoprosencephaly. This is the first such observation. There is a well-known association with abnormalities of chromosome 13 (most commonly trisomy 13, but also dup(13q) and del(13q) and chromosome 18 (most often del(18p), but also trisomy 18). Review of the literature also showed duplications of 3p and deletions of 7q to be causes of the holoprosencephaly defect.

Abnormalities, Multiple

Aglossia with congenital absence of the mandibular rami and other craniofacial abnormalities.

We describe a severe first branchial arch abnormality including nearly complete absence of mandible, hypoplasia of the maxilla and the zygomatic arches, and complete gingival fusion in a chromosomally normal child born to a nonconsanguineous couple who deny prenatal exposures. A tight orbicularis oris muscle caused the lips to be constantly pursed. Intraoral contents could only be defined after the fused gingiva were separated. The infant had hypoplasia of the buccal cavity with a persistent membrane separating it from the pharynx; palate structures and tongue were absent. The orbits and midface were severely hypoplastic. However, the ears were normal in shape and only slightly low in position. There was unilateral optic nerve coloboma and coronal craniosynostosis. The only noncraniofacial malformation was an atrial septal defect. Embryologically, there is severe malformation of structures arising from the cephalic neural crest cells of both the maxillary and mandibular prominences of the first branchial arch. However, the first branchial cleft region was spared.

Facial Bones