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Biomedical subjects

J A Boughman

Publications and source records attributed to J A Boughman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A population-based study of coarctation of the aorta: comparisons of infants with and without associated ventricular septal defect.

BACKGROUND: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital cardiovascular malformation (CCVM) sometimes associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD). Although the phenotypic association is well documented, little research exists on the epidemiological features distinguishing CoA with and without VSD. METHODS: The Baltimore-Washington Infant Study (1981-1989), a population-based study of CCVM, evaluated 126 infants with "pure" CoA (free of associated cardiac defects) and 67 infants with CoA and VSD (COA/VSD) in comparison to 3,572 controls. RESULTS: The proportion of infants with associated extracardiac anomalies was greater among CoA/VSD than among pure CoA (31% versus 11%). Infants with CoA/VSD were twice as likely as those with pure CoA to be born small for gestational age (23% versus 12%, respectively, compared with 6% of controls). All-cause mortality during the first year of life was higher in CoA/VSD than in pure CoA (21% vs. 7%). Multiple logistic regression models revealed that family history of CCVM was associated with pure CoA (adjusted case-control odds ratio [OR] = 4.6; 99% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5-13.9) and with CoA/VSD (OR = 5.9, CI = 1.2-23.5); maternal history of organic solvent exposures early in pregnancy was also associated with pure CoA (OR = 3.2, CI = 1.0-10.2) and with CoA/VSD (OR = 3.7, CI 0.9-14.9). Additional risk factors, including maternal epilepsy (OR = 5.3, CI = 0.9-30.6), and use of macrodantin (OR = 6.7, CI = 1.4-31.8) were associated only with pure CoA. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight possible genetic and environmental differences between pure CoA and CoA/VSD and may stimulate further investigations of the etiology of CoA.

Age Factors↗

Gonadal (ovarian) dysgenesis in 46,XX individuals: frequency of the autosomal recessive form.

Gonadal (ovarian) dysgenesis with normal chromosomes (46,XX) clearly is a heterogeneous condition. In some forms, the defect is restricted to the gonads, whereas other affected females show neurosensory hearing loss (Perrault syndrome). In another form, brothers may have germ cell aplasia [Granat et al., Fertil Steril 1983; 40:215-219]. Nongenetic causes exist as well. To elucidate the proportion of XX gonadal (ovarian) dysgenesis due to autosomal recessive genes, we analyzed published (N = 17) and unpublished (N = 8) families having at least two female offspring. Analysis was restricted to cases in whom ovarian failure was documented by the presence of streak ovaries (published cases) or elevated gonadotropins (unpublished cases). We reasoned that the closer to that segregation ratio expected for an autosomal recessive trait (0.25), the lower the frequency of nongenetic forms. Segregation analysis utilized standard correction for single ascertainment, with only females included in the preliminary analysis. The segregation ratio estimate was 0.16. Our results suggest that many 46,XX females with gonadal (ovarian) dysgenesis represent a disorder segregating as an autosomal recessive trait, placing sisters of these cases at a 25% risk for this disorder.

Female↗

Genetic epidemiologic study of hearing loss in an adult population.

Previous population studies of hearing loss have been limited to children with moderate to profound impairment, and have reported that heritability accounts for at least 50% of congenital or early-onset cases. The present study was designed to assess genetic factors associated with late-onset hearing impairment in an adult population. A brief family history and audiologic questionnaire was sent to approximately 11,200 members of the consumer organization, Self Help for the Hard of Hearing, Inc., and 4,039 questionnaires were returned. All respondents reported having at least one previous audiologic exam. Reported data were verified against audiograms when available. Regardless of the reported causes, 49% of early-onset cases (< or = 20 years of age) had one or two parent(s) with some form of hearing loss compared with 62% in later-onset cases. As expected, mean age at onset was substantially younger for cases with positive family histories than cases with negative family histories. Results from nuclear segregation analysis showed that fully recessive and dominant models failed to explain the early- or late-onset hearing loss data. In this nationwide survey, the large proportion of cases with positive family histories clearly indicates the importance of genetic factors in adult-onset forms of hearing loss. Comparison with younger-onset cases will permit further delineation of differences in inheritance patterns. This study should identify more homogeneous groups of adult-onset families for further genetic study, and provide empiric information for use in genetic counselling.

Adult↗

Ebstein's malformation of the tricuspid valve: genetic and environmental factors. The Baltimore-Washington Infant Study Group.

Ebstein's anomaly is a specific structural deformity of the tricuspid valve, and its rarity has hampered etiologic evaluation. Cases of Ebstein's anomaly registered in the Baltimore Washington Infant Study (BWIS), a regional case-control study of cardiovascular malformations (CVM) in infancy, are reviewed. Between 1981 and 1989 a total of 4,390 CVM cases, including 47 Ebstein cases, and 3,572 controls were registered. The prevalence of Ebstein's anomaly was 5.2 per 100,000 livebirths. Additional cardiac anomalies were present in 38.3% of Ebstein cases. Non-cardiac malformations were present in 19.1% of Ebstein cases vs. 25.5% of other CVM, and 1.7% of controls. Case-fatality by 1 year of age was 23.4% in Ebstein vs. 18.1% in other CVM. Interviews of parents of Ebstein cases, other CVM, and controls (n = 44, 3,335, and 3,572, respectively) elicited information on family history of malformations, maternal illnesses, reproductive history, therapeutic drugs, parental lifestyle, and environmental exposures during the periconceptional period. Case-control analyses suggest genetic, reproductive, and environmental risk factors: twins [odds ratio (OR) 8.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.6-25.3]; family history of CVM (OR 6.4, 95% CI 1.8-22.2); white race (OR 2.9 with non-whites as reference, 95% CI 1.2-7.0); previous miscarriages (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.2-3.3); maternal exposure to benzodiazepines (OR 5.4, 95% CI 1.5-19.1); and varnishing (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3-9.1). Additional multicenter investigations are warranted to elucidate the role of genetic, reproductive, and environmental factors in the etiology of this anomaly.

Adult↗

Congenital heart disease in adolescents and adults. Teratology, genetics, and recurrence risks.

This brief review has described historic highlights of etiologic knowledge, current concepts in the categorization of cardiovascular anomalies based upon ongoing advances in teratology, and epidemiologic evaluations of biologic and xenobiotic risk factors with emphasis on the teratogenic roles of maternal diabetes, hyperphenylalaninemia, and parental exposures to alcohol, drugs, solvents, pesticides, lead, and other toxic substances. Evidence is presented for a strong genetic basis of cardiovascular maldevelopment requiring further studies to define at-risk families. Counseling and personal and societal preventive interventions may reduce the occurrence of some forms of CHD.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

Endocardial cushion defect: further studies of "isolated" versus "syndromic" occurrence.

The isolated occurrence of endocardial cushion defect (ECD) has been suggested to differ from its occurrence within the context of a syndrome, with regard to the nature (complete or partial) of the defect and the associated cardiovascular malformations. Analysis of data derived from the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study of congenital cardiovascular malformations supports the observation that "syndromic" ECD tends to be of the complete atrioventricular canal type and is less frequently associated with left cardiac anomalies than the isolated form. However, each syndrome has a unique impact on the overall cardiovascular "phenotype", including the ECD. This is especially true for Down and Ivemark syndromes, which are most frequently associated with ECD, but also for other syndromes as well. It is also suggested that isolated ECD is specifically associated with gastrointestinal and urinary tract anomalies. However, in Down syndrome ECD appears to be a specific cardiovascular expression of the trisomic state that is unrelated to other noncardiac malformations. Additional information on the association of ECD with other less common genetic syndromes is needed in order to further investigate the possible genetic basis of this cardiac defect.

Case-Control Studies↗

Pentalogy of Cantrell and associated midline anomalies: a possible ventral midline developmental field.

Five cases of the Pentalogy of Cantrell (PC), ascertained through the Baltimore-Washington population-based study of infants with congenital cardiovascular malformations, represent a regional prevalence of 5.5/1 million liveborn infants for this disorder. Three of these patients had cleft lip with or without palate. Review of the reported literature of the Pentalogy of Cantrell and various combinations of the anomalies within the spectrum of this pentad suggests that the PC defines a specific midline ventral developmental field. Cleft lip with or without cleft palate and encephalocele tend to specifically associate with ventral midline anomalies within the spectrum of PC. These associations might either illustrate the previously observed tendency of specific occurrence of certain combinations of midline defects or represent defined subunits of the midline developmental field.

Abdomen↗

Phenotypic assessment of early onset periodontitis in sibships.

Early onset periodontitis is a group of familial diseases that are not yet clearly defined by etiologic mechanisms, although some risk factors have been recognized. The disorders include a localized form of juvenile periodontitis (JP), and a more generalized form (GP). In a family study, 39 sibships (116 individuals, aged 13-48) were evaluated for clinical indices, neutrophil chemotaxis, and serum antibodies to A. actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). Of 77 siblings, 41 were healthy at examination. In 14 sibships, all affected persons had JP; 14 other sibships had all affected individuals with GP; and 11 had at least one sib with each form. For probands with decreased chemotaxis, 71% of affected sibs and 36% of clinically healthy sibs had decreased chemotaxis. For Aa seropositive probands, 83% of affected siblings and 65% of currently healthy sibs were also seropositive. The associations of disease with these risk factors were stronger in JP-only sibships. Some affected sibs had neither risk factor, while many currently healthy sibs had 1 or both. While these 2 factors demonstrate population association with disease, neither fits the pattern expected within families to clearly suggest a causal mechanism. The assessment of within and among family variability remains the best approach for recognition of possible causal mechanisms and sources of heterogeneity.

Adolescent↗

Linkage analysis and predicting genetic disease.

Linkage analysis is an important and clinically applicable method of predicting risk for genetic disorders and traits. When a gene cannot be detected directly, evaluation of a closely linked marker may be used in risk assessment. This review of linkage analysis provides basic information and examples of the application of these methods in genetic counseling situations.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Birth weight and cardiovascular malformations: a population-based study. The Baltimore-Washington Infant Study.

Mean birth weights were evaluated in infants with D-transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot, endocardial cushion defect, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary stenosis, aortic stenosis, coarctation of the aorta, ventricular septal defect, and atrial septal defect in a population-based case-control study of congenital cardiovascular malformations in residents of Maryland, Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia (1981-1987). Study subjects were liveborn singletons without extracardiac anomalies. After adjustment for potentially confounding maternal, gestational, and infant factors, significant birth weight deficits were found for infants with tetralogy of Fallot, endocardial cushion defect, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary stenosis, coarctation of the aorta, ventricular septal defect, and atrial septal defect. After adjustment, infants with these malformations (except coarctation of the aorta and atrial septal defect) were also significantly more likely than were controls to have low birth weight for gestational age. These findings strengthen previous evidence that certain cardiovascular malformations and low birth weight may be causally related.

Case-Control Studies↗

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return: familial and environmental factors. The Baltimore-Washington Infant Study Group.

In total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), the intrapulmonary venous plexus has failed to connect to the left atrium, so that the pulmonary veins drain into right atrial tributaries, frequently resulting in early postnatal circulatory distress. The Baltimore-Washington Infant Study (BWIS), a population-based exploratory case-control study of cardiovascular malformations (CVM), identified 41 cases of TAPVR during 1981-1987: 1.5% of all CVM (N = 2659), a regional prevalence of 6.8/100,000 live births. Of the TAPVR infants, 68% were diagnosed as neonates, 88% had surgery, and 51.2% were alive at 1 year of age. Noncardiac malformations were present in nine cases (22%); the male-female ratio was 0.78 (18.23). Compared with a control group representative of the birth cohort (N = 2,801), more TAPVR patients had low birthweight (less than 2,500 g: 16.2% vs. 6.9%, short gestational age (less than 38 weeks: 18.9% vs. 9.3%), and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (26.8% vs. 5.8%). Sociodemographic findings were similar to those of controls, except that fewer TAPVR mothers received private pregnancy care (59.5% vs. 71.4%). Family history revealed no other TAPVR-affected members, but a significant linear trend of increased risk was found over the ordered malformation categories (familial noncardiac, cardiac, both). Bivariate analysis of TAPVR and exposure in life-style, hobbies, and work showed possible associations for exposure to lead (OR 2.9; 99% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2, 7.2), painting/paint stripping (OR 3.3; 99% CI: 1.3, 8.4), lead soldering (OR 13.3; 99% CI: 1.8, 99.2), and pesticides (OR 2.7; 99% CI: 1.2, 6.4). Multivariate analysis suggested an interaction between pesticide exposure and family history and, thus, a possible familial susceptibility to environmental teratogens. Although the number of TAPVR cases is small, this epidemiologic study identifies hypotheses that may be further explored in morphogenetic and epidemiology studies. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) constitutes a well-defined clinical entity in which the pulmonary veins fail to enter the left atrium and instead drain into the right atrium or its systemic venous tributaries (Neill, '56; Rowe et al., '81). During intrauterine life, the malformation does not compromise the fetal circulation, since the pulmonary arterial resistance is high and the patent foramen ovale provides easy access of right atrial blood to the left side of the heart. At birth, however, the pulmonary vascular resistance begins to fall, and the presence of a severe hemodynamic disturbance becomes increasingly evident (Ferencz et al., '71).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

Study of the relationship between elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and adverse pregnancy outcome.

In a study of 1,703 pregnancies, adverse clinical outcomes associated with unexplained elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) included intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), prematurity, IUGR and prematurity, prematurity without IUGR, spontaneous abortion, and stillbirth. These findings have significant implications for careful obstetrical management of patients with elevated MSAFP.

Adolescent↗

Segregation distortion in inheritance of progressive rod cone degeneration (prcd) in miniature poodle dogs.

Segregation distortion was observed in inheritance of progressive rod-cone degeneration (prcd) in a colony of Miniature Poodle dogs. Breeding results, from both retrospective records and prospectively planned matings, were classified into five mating types: (1) affected to affected, (2) homozygous normal sire to any dam, (3) heterozygous to heterozygous, (4) heterozygous sire to affected dam, and (5) affected sire to heterozygous dam. For all but the last category, results were in accord with mendelian expectations for autosomal-recessive inheritance. However, litters of mating type 5 had fewer affected pups (20/77) than expected. The observed segregation ratio for this mating type (0.26) was significantly (P less than 0.001) less than the expected (0.50). The segregation distortion could not be accounted for by either pre- or postnatal loss of affected pups, as litter size and litter survivability were uniform among litters of different mating types. Either the prcd locus, or a linked locus, would appear to influence either gametic or zygotic fitness in the heterozygous mother. Comparison is drawn to the inheritance of retinitis pigmentosa in humans, in which decreased segregation ratios are also recognized.

Animals↗

Association of scleroderma with a T cell antigen receptor gamma gene restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in the T cell receptor (TCR) alpha, beta, and gamma genes were analyzed in 61 scleroderma patients and 150 controls. An association was found between scleroderma and an 11.3-kb Pvu II fragment in the TCR gamma gene; this gene was found in 41.0% of the patients, compared with 21.7% of the controls (P less than 0.01, odds ratio = 2.50). There were no associations between scleroderma and the tested RFLPs in the TCR alpha or beta genes, and no RFLPs were found in the constant region of the TCR delta gene.

Alleles↗

Repeated measurement of spontaneous and clastogen-induced sister-chromatid exchange.

Sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE), both spontaneous and chemically-induced [bleomycin (BLM), mitomycin-C (MMC), streptonigrin (SN), and 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO)], were studied in the lymphocytes of 24 normal individuals on 2 or 3 different occasions, separated by periods of up to 2 years. For all BLM-induced SCEs, the variation in SCE frequency among the samples from a single individual was significantly greater than the variation between replicate cultures on a given day. These results raise questions concerning the validity of conclusions based on a single observation of chemically-induced SCEs.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Congenital cardiovascular malformations (CCVM) and structural chromosome abnormalities: a report of 9 cases and literature review.

Nine cases of congenital cardiovascular malformations (CCVM) with associated unbalanced structural chromosomal abnormalities were ascertained in a population-based study of heart defects, constituting 0.4% of the 2,103 cases of CCVM in the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study (BWIS). This represents a four-fold increase over the general population rate. In an effort to determine possible phenotype/karyotype correlations, the literature was searched for cases with similar karyotypic abnormalities. This comparison of 223 literature cases of karyotypic abnormalities with nine similar cases ascertained by heart malformation has provided the opportunity to review cardiac defects reported in cases of structural abnormalities of chromosomes 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, and 18. The most common cardiac malformation present in the chromosomal cases was ventricular septal defect (VSD) (39%); similarly VSD is the most common CCVM among children with heart defects, although it is the primary defect in only 20% of the BWIS cases. Among all heart defects in the BWIS, atrial septal defect (ASD) represents 5.5% of all cases, but in cases of 8p duplication, ASD is present in 41%. In addition, 40% of cases of 9p duplication had an ASD. Similarly, 35% of cases of 11q duplication had an ASD. While the suggestion of specific karyotype/phenotype association is premature, information on additional cases might clarify the possibility that genetic determinants related to septum formation may reside on chromosome 8, 9, and/or 11. The variety of chromosomal abnormalities in cases with ventricular septal defect indicates one type of genetic heterogeneity that may be involved in this very common heart defect.

Case-Control Studies↗