PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

F Giraud

Publications and source records attributed to F Giraud.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Abnormal childhood phenotypes associated with the same balanced chromosome rearrangements as in the parents.

Three patients have been detected because of abnormal phenotypes. Balanced chromosome rearrangements were found in their karyotypes, and in one of the parents in each case. In these three families the association of an abnormal phenotype and a balanced chromosome rearrangement may either be a chance happening or be induced by a submicroscopic loss of chromosome material, for which different position effects may be responsible, according to the case in question. These observations prompt us to ask what decision should be made relative to termination of pregnancy if such a rearrangement is found in amniotic cells in a family with a previous abnormal child.

Adult

Origin of the extra chromosome in trisomy 21.

Of 61 families of children with trisomy 21, polymorphism of chromosome 21 elucidating the origin of the extra chromosome was found in 42. Nondisjunction was of paternal origin in 8 cases (19.04%) and the anomaly occurred with equal frequency during the first and second meiotic divisions. Maternal nondisjunction was demonstrated in 34 cases (80.95%), in which nondisjunction occurred by far the most often during the first meiotic division (29 cases). These results are in agreement with data from the literature, and suggest the existence of at least two different causes for chromosomal nondisjunction, the first being the same in both sexes and occurring in both meiotic divisions and the second specifically limited to the first meiotic division in the mother.

Chromosome Banding

Dermatoglyphics in parents of children with trisomy 21. Evaluation of their interest in genetic counselling.

Dermal patterns in a group of Down's syndrome patients, a normal control population and a group of parents of Down's syndrome patients were studied in an attempt to identify an Index Score to be used in differentiating controls from parents of Down's syndrome children. Using only three patterns (simian crease, palmar hypothenar pattern and Cummins' Index), a parents' Index Score was established which correctly diagnosed 80.83% of controls and 79.17% of parents. The predictive value of this index and its interest in genetic counselling are discussed.

Child

Duchenne type muscular dystrophy and consanguinity: difficulties in pedigree analysis.

We report the case of a 2-year-old girl who had signs of Duchenne type muscular dystrophy on clinical, electromyographic, laboratory, and pathological examination. The parents of the child are first cousins. A brother and nephew of the mother also had Duchenne type muscular dystrophy. Karyotype analysis in the proband showed both X chromosomes to be morphologically normal. The mother had very high plasma CK levels, equivalent to those observed in carriers of the disease. We discuss different hypothetical mechanisms designed to account for the family pedigree.

Biopsy

Distribution of spontaneous chromosome breaks in man.

The distribution of break points in human chromosomes was analyzed in 15,754 metaphases from 1084 patients. A total of 1099 breaks were specifically localized to a chromosome band or region depicted in the PARIS CONFERENCE (1971) report. The sites of the breaks were very different from the expected random distribution and showed distinct clustering of breaks in some regions. These observations underline the heterogeneity of chromosomal material and furnish comparative data for the study of cytotoxic agents and constitutional chromosomal fragility.

Chromosome Aberrations

[Partial trisomy 21].

Three mentally retarded children with partial trisomy 21 who looked like children with complete trisomy 21 had increased activity of superoxide dismutase A. This emphases the pathogenic role of the 21q22 band in this condition.

Adolescent

[Pericentric inversions: studies in 47 cases].

The authors report 47 cases of pericentric inversion. Eleven of them involve the chromosomes No. 2, 11 and 9. It appears that the risk of malformations and/or encephalopathy is obviously increased either by "position effect", aneusomie de recombinaison" or "interchromosomal effect". Prenatal diagnosis is therefore indicated. Thirty six cases involve the secondary constriction of chromosome No. 9. In such cases the risk is not enough increased to justify the prenatal diagnosis.

Brain

[Structural abnormalities of the Y chromosome. Observations in ten cases].

The authors report ten cases of structural anomalies involving the Y chromosome: five cases of a dicentric Y chromosome, one ring Y chromosome, one case of a Y isochromosome containing the long arms, one deletion of the long arms (Yq-), one case of an abnormally long Y chromosome (Yq+) and one Y-autosome translocation. Analysis of clinical and chromosomal correlations, especially with respect to sexual differentiation, led to discussing the role of the Y chromosome.

Adolescent

A dynamic study in two new cases of X chromosome translocations.

The authors discuss the clinical and cytogenetic problems raised in two new cases of X-chromosome translocations. The first case involves a child who presented marked malformations at age 3 months. Chromosome analysis revealed the presence of a translocation between a 22 and X chromosome resulting in partial X monosomy and partial trisomy 22: 46,X,der(X),t(X:22)(q112;q13)mat. The balanced translocation form was detected in the mother. Dynamic study after 5-Brdu treatment revealed inactivation of the translocated X chromosome in the proband, while in the mother the normal X chromosome was inactivated. In addition to magnesium dependent hypocalcemia resulting from a specific absorption anomaly, Case 2 presented discrete malformations and psychomotor retardation. Chromosome analysis revealed an apparently balanced translocation between a 9 and X chromosome: 46,X,t(9;X)(q12;p22). Treatment with 5-Brdu demonstrated that the translocated X chromosome was inactivated but that inactivation did not extend to the translocated part of chromosome 9. Finally, a pericentric inversion of a 9 chromosome was detected in the father, grandfather, and brother of the proband.

Bromodeoxyuridine

The effect of membrane cholesterol on the sodium pump in red blood cells.

1. Human red blood cells (R.B.C.) were incubated with phosphatidylcholine vesicles to obtain partial depletion of their membrane cholesterol. The kinetic parameters of the Na pump (affinities and maximal fluxes) were determined in these cells and compared with controls. 2. In the presence of internal K, progressive cholesterol depletion induces gradually (i) an increase of the maximal flux (ii) a reduction of the apparent affinity for internal Na. 3. In the absence of internal K, cholesterol depletion has no apparent effect, indicating that the observed changes were mediated by the internal K. Cholesterol depletion acts by increasing these two K effects: (i) activation of the maximal fluxes, and (ii) reduction of the internal Na affinity. 4. The cholesterol effect (on the K-pump interaction) is specific; it occurs without any change (i) in the affinities for internal Na and inorganic phosphate and for external Na and K, and (ii) in the number of pumping sites. 5. Under physiological conditions, cholesterol reduces the cation translocation rate and increases the selectivity of the pump for internal Na.

Binding Sites

Y autosome translocation and complex chromosome rearrangement in cri du chat syndrome.

An unbalanced Y autosome translocation t(5;Y) and an apparently balanced translocation t(2;13) are identified with the Q and R banding in a 7-year-old boy with severe encephalopathy and a multiple malformation syndrome. At birth, the clinical diagnosis of 'cri du chat' syndrome based on the characteristic crying was not confirmed after karyotyping, using conventional staining techniques.

Abnormalities, Multiple