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Biomedical subjects

L Hudgins

Publications and source records attributed to L Hudgins.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Kabuki syndrome: a review.

Kabuki syndrome (KS) (Kabuki make-up syndrome, Niikawa-Kuroki syndrome) is a multiple malformation/mental retardation syndrome that was described initially in Japan but is now known to occur in many other ethnic groups. It is characterized by distinctive facial features (eversion of the lower lateral eyelid, arched eyebrows with the lateral one-third dispersed or sparse, depressed nasal tip, and prominent ears), skeletal anomalies, dermatoglyphic abnormalities, short stature, and mental retardation. A number of other manifestations involving other organ systems can aid in the diagnosis and management of KS. This review will focus on the diagnostic criteria, the common and rare features of KS by organ system, and the possible etiology of this interesting condition.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Scanning for telomeric deletions and duplications and uniparental disomy using genetic markers in 120 children with malformations.

We screened 120 children with sporadic multiple congenital anomalies and either growth or mental retardation for uniparental disomy (UPD) or subtelomeric deletions. The screening used short tandem repeat polymorphisms (STRP) from the subtelomeric regions of 41 chromosome arms. Uninformative marker results were reanalyzed by using the next available marker on that chromosome arm. In total, approximately 25,000 genotypes were generated and analyzed for this study. Subtelomeric deletions of 1 Mb in size were excluded for 27 of 40 chromosome arms. Among the 120 subjects none was found to have UPD, but five subjects (4%, 95% confidence interval 1-9%) were found to have a deletion or duplication of one or more chromosome arms. We conclude that UPD is not a frequent cause of undiagnosed multiple congenital anomaly syndrome. In addition, we determined that 9p and 7q harbor chromosome length variations in the normal population. We conclude that subtelomeric marker analysis is effective for the detection of subtelomeric duplications and deletions, although it is labor intensive. Given a detection rate that is similar to prior studies and the large workload imposed by STRPs, we conclude that STRPs are an effective, but impractical, approach to the determination of segmental aneusomy given current technology.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Congenital hypomyelination neuropathy in a newborn infant: unusual cause of diaphragmatic and vocal cord paralyses.

We report a case of congenital hypomyelination neuropathy presenting at birth. The infant had generalized hypotonia and weakness. There was decreased respiratory effort along with a right phrenic nerve and left vocal cord paralyses. Tongue fasciculations were present. Deep tendon reflexes were absent in the upper extremities and hypoactive (1+) in the lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head revealed no intracranial abnormalities, including normal cerebral myelination. Nerve conduction study showed absence of motor and sensory action potentials in the hands when the nerves in the upper limbs were stimulated. A motor response could be elicited only in the proximal leg muscles. Needle electromyography study was normal in the proximal limb muscles, but showed active denervation in the distal muscles of the arm and leg. These findings were thought to be consistent with a length-dependent sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy of axonal type with greater denervation of the distal muscles. A biopsy of the quadriceps muscle showed mild variability in fiber diameter, but no group typing or group atrophy. The muscle fibers showed no intrinsic abnormalities. Biopsy of the sural nerve showed scattered axons with very thin myelin sheaths. There was also a nearly complete loss of large diameter myelinated fibers. No onion bulb formations were noted. These findings were thought to be consistent with congenital hypomyelination neuropathy with a component of axonopathy. DNA analysis for identification of previously characterized mutations in the genes MPZ, PMP22, and EGR2 was negative. Several attempts at extubation failed and the infant became increasingly ventilator-dependent with increasing episodes of desaturation and hypercapnea. He also developed increasing weakness and decreased movement of all extremities. He underwent surgery at 2 months of age for placement of a gastrostomy tube and a tracheostomy. He was discharged from the hospital on a ventilator at 6 months of age. The infant was 13 months old at the time of submission of this report. Although he appears cognitively normal, he remains profoundly hypotonic and is on a home ventilator. There was no evidence of progressive weakness. Congenital hypomyelination neuropathy is a rare form of neonatal neuropathy that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a newborn with profound hypotonia and weakness. It appears to be a heterogeneous disorder with some of the cases being caused by specific genetic mutations.

Demyelinating Diseases↗

Transmission of the dysgnathia complex from mother to daughter.

We report the first observation of parent-to-child transmission of dysgnathia, a rare disorder characterized by severe mandibular hypoplasia or agenesis, ear anomalies, microstomia, and microglossia. Patient 1 was noted prenatally by ultrasound to have severe micrognathia and, after birth, abnormal ears with canal stenosis and non-contiguous lobules located dorsally to the rest of the pinnae, normal zygomata, severe jaw immobility and microstomia with an opening of only 4 to 5 mm, hypoplastic tongue, and cleft palate. The 21-year-old mother of patient 1 was born with severe micrognathia requiring tracheostomy, microglossia, cleft palate with filiform alveolar bands, abnormal pinnae, and decreased conductive hearing. Dysgnathia is thought to result from a defect in the development of the first branchial arch. A similar phenotype has been seen in Otx2 haplo-insufficiency and endothelin-1 homozygous null mice, suggesting that these genes contribute to branchial arch development. Our report of a long-surviving mother and her daughter with non-syndromal dysgnathia may lead to identification of the molecular basis of these findings and provide insight into the genetics of first branchial arch formation. The survival of patient 1 and patient 2 beyond the neonatal period has implications for improvements in prenatal diagnosis and counseling and for neonatal treatment of this condition.

Adult↗

Detection of chromosomal aberrations by a whole-genome microsatellite screen.

Chromosomal aberrations are a common cause of multiple anomaly syndromes that include developmental and growth retardation. Current microscopic techniques are useful for the detection of such aberrations but have a limit of resolution that is above the threshold for phenotypic effect. We hypothesized that a genomewide microsatellite screen could detect chromosomal aberrations that were not detected by standard cytogenetic techniques in a portion of these individuals. To test this hypothesis, we performed a genomewide microsatellite screen of patients, by use of a currently available genetic-marker panel that was originally designed for meiotic mapping of Mendelian traits. We genotyped approximately 400 markers on 17 pairs of parents and their children who had normal karyotypes. By using this approach, we detected and confirmed two cases of segmental aneusomy among 11 children with multiple congenital anomalies. These data demonstrate that a genomewide microsatellite scan can be used to detect chromosomal aberrations that are not detected by microscopic techniques.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

The pediatric intern retreat: 20-year evolution of a continuing investment.

For the past 22 years the interns in pediatrics at the University of Washington and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center have been relieved of all clinical duties in order to participate in a five-day retreat. The retreat provides an opportunity for the interns to learn more about their classmates, build stronger bonds, and provide mutual support. This retreat has been supported by the hospital, the department of pediatrics, faculty, fellows, and community physicians. The authors describe the history of the Intern Retreat, present its goals, daily activities, and faculty, and discuss how the retreat is funded and supported by the hospital and the medical community.

Humans↗

Expansile bone lesions in a three-generation family.

We report on a three-generation family with "expansile" bone lesions of the distal radius and ulna, cortical thickening of the proximal long bones, and pathologic fractures. The differential diagnosis of expansile bone lesions includes isolated bone cysts and tumors, such as enchondromas and fibrous dysplasia; familial expansile osteolysis; and the genochondromatoses. Our patients have findings most similar to the genochondromatoses; however, the distribution of the lesions and the accompanying manifestations may be evidence for a unique genetic condition in this family.

Adult↗

Phenotypic spectrum and management issues in Kabuki syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To report the phenotypic spectrum and management issues of children with Kabuki syndrome (Niikawa-Kuroki syndrome) from North America. DESIGN: A case series of children (n = 18) with clinical findings of Kabuki syndrome. SETTING: Medical genetics clinics in Washington, Alaska, and Arizona. RESULTS: Most patients had postnatal growth retardation, and all had developmental delay and hypotonia. Feeding difficulties, with or without cleft palate, were common; 5 patients required gastrostomy tube placement. Developmental quotients/IQs in all but 2 were 60 or less. Seizures were seen in less than half of the patients, but ophthalmologic and otologic problems were common, particularly recurrent otitis media. Congenital heart defects were present in 7 (39%); 3 patients underwent repair of coarctation of the aorta. Other features included urinary tract anomalies, malabsorption, joint hypermobility and dislocation, congenital hypothyroidism, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and in one patient, autoimmune hemolytic anemia and hypogammaglobulinemia. All patients had negative family histories for Kabuki syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Kabuki syndrome is a mental retardation-malformation syndrome affecting multiple organ systems, with a broad spectrum of neuromuscular dysfunction and mental ability. Given that 18 ethnically diverse patients were identified from 2 genetics programs, it appears that this syndrome is more common in North American non-Japanese patients than previously appreciated.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Heterozygous mutations in the gene encoding noggin affect human joint morphogenesis.

The secreted polypeptide noggin (encoded by the Nog gene) binds and inactivates members of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily of signalling proteins (TGFbeta-FMs), such as BMP4 (ref. 1). By diffusing through extracellular matrices more efficiently than TGFbeta-FMs, noggin may have a principal role in creating morphogenic gradients. During mouse embryogenesis, Nog is expressed at multiple sites, including developing bones. Nog-/- mice die at birth from multiple defects that include bony fusion of the appendicular skeleton. We have identified five dominant human NOG mutations in unrelated families segregating proximal symphalangism (SYM1; OMIM 185800) and a de novo mutation in a patient with unaffected parents. We also found a dominant NOG mutation in a family segregating multiple synostoses syndrome (SYNS1; OMIM 186500); both SYM1 and SYNS1 have multiple joint fusion as their principal feature. All seven NOG mutations alter evolutionarily conserved amino acid residues. The findings reported here confirm that NOG is essential for joint formation and suggest that NOG requirements during skeletogenesis differ between species and between specific skeletal elements within species.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome: a clinical analysis.

Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome is one of a group of disorders characterized by craniosynostosis and marfanoid habitus. Eleven cases were reported previously. We present 4 new patients and review one of the patients of the original report of Shprintzen and Goldberg [1982: J Craniofac Genet Dev Biol 2:65-74], 15 years later. The clinical and radiologic findings on our patients are compared with those of the previously reported patients and also with those of Furlong et al. [1987: Am J Med Genet 26:599-604] and Lacombe and Battin [1993: Clin Dysmorphol 2: 220-224], who share many of the characteristics of Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome. Some of the clinical data are helpful in determining if the patients of Furlong et al. [1987: Am J Med Genet 26:599-604] and Lacombe and Battin [1993: Clin Dysmorphol 2: 220-224] have a separate syndrome or represent a variant of Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome. However, radiologic investigations appear to be more specific, since an abnormality of the first and second cervical vertebrae, hydrocephalus, dilatation of the lateral ventricles, and a Chiari-I malformation of the brain were found only in the patients with Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome. The apparently diagnostic findings of the 15 patients with this syndrome may be helpful in differentiating between Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome and other syndromes with craniosynostosis and marfanoid habitus.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Digital anomalies, microcephaly, and normal intelligence: new syndrome or Feingold syndrome?

We present four patients-two boys and their mother and an unrelated girl-with microcephaly, normal intelligence, and digital abnormalities. The hand abnormalities are characterized by brachydactyly with radial clinodactyly of the fourth and fifth fingers, ulnar clinodactyly of the second fingers, and an increased space between the second and third fingers associated with an abnormal palmar crease that extends to the ulnar border. The foot abnormalities include short toes with syndactyly of the fourth and fifth toes. The mother has normal intelligence, and her sons and the unrelated girl have normal development. Although similar digital abnormalities, microcephaly, and normal intelligence were described by Feingold in patients with gastrointestinal atresia, we think that our patients' findings represent a different condition. The most likely mode of inheritance is autosomal dominant. The clinical recognition of this syndrome will allow for appropriate genetic counseling as well as provision of information on natural history, i.e., normal intelligence.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Characterization of the split hand/split foot malformation locus SHFM1 at 7q21.3-q22.1 and analysis of a candidate gene for its expression during limb development.

Split hand/split foot malformation (SHFM) is a heterogeneous limb developmental disorder, characterized by missing digits and fusion of remaining digits. An autosomal dominant form of this disorder (SHFM1) has been mapped to 7q21.3-q22.1 on the basis of SHFM-associated chromosomal rearrangements. Utilizing a YAC contig across this region, we have defined a critical interval of 1.5 Mb by the analysis of six interstitial deletion patients and mapped the translocation breakpoints of seven ectrodactyly patients within the interval. To delineate the basic molecular defect underlying SHFM, we have searched for candidate genes in a 500 kb region containing five of the translocation breakpoints. Three genes were identified, two genes of the Distal-less (dii) homeobox gene family, DLX5 and DLX6 and a novel gene, which we named DSS1. DSS1 is predicted to encode a highly acidic polypeptide with no significant similarity to any known proteins but 100% amino acid sequence identify with its murine homolog (Dss1). Using RNA in situ hybridization analysis, we detected a tissue-specific expression profile for Dss1 in limb bud, craniofacial primordia and skin. A deficiency in expression of Dss1, DLX5 and/or DLX6 during development may explain the SHFM phenotypes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A "balanced" Y;16 translocation associated with Turner-like neonatal lymphedema suggests the location of a potential anti-Turner gene on the Y chromosome.

A male patient with Turner-like hydrops in the newborn period (Bonnevie-Ullrich syndrome) was studied. The karyotype was 46,X,t(Y;16)(q11.2;q24) in 100 cells. Chromosome painting with the heterochromatic Y chromosome-specific long arm repeat DYZ2 disclosed that all the hybridization was on the derivative 16. This was confirmed by chromosome painting with DYZ1, the other major Y long arm heterochromatic repeat, and DYZ3, the Y alphoid, centromeric repeat which showed chromosomal separation of the 2 stained regions. To further localize the breakpoint, FISH was performed using individual YACs from a Y-YAC contig (Foote et al., 1992). This disclosed two YACs (yOX111 and yOX123) which hybridized to both the Y and der16 chromosomes. The YACS spanning the translocation breakpoint region were located just proximal to the Y heterochromatin boundary. The recent discovery of a candidate gene for the azoospermia factor (AZF) in this region (Ma et al., 1993) suggests the possibility that there are several Y-expressed genes adjacent to the heterochromatin boundary (as there are near the pseudoautosomal boundary) which may include a gene involved with lymphedema which is disrupted by the translocation in this patient.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Isolated persistent hypermethioninemia.

New information has been obtained on 30 patients with isolated persistent hypermethioninemia, most of them previously unreported. Biopsies to confirm the presumptive diagnosis of partially deficient activity of ATP: L-methionine S-adenosyltransferase (MAT; E.C.2.5.1.6) in liver were not performed on most of these patients. However, none showed the clinical findings or the extreme elevations of serum folate previously described in other patients with isolated hypermethioninemia considered not to have hepatic MAT deficiency. Patients ascertained on biochemical grounds had no neurological abnormalities, and 27/30 had IQs or Bayley development-index scores within normal limits or were judged to have normal mental development. Methionine transamination metabolites accumulated abnormally only when plasma methionine concentrations exceeded 300-350 microM and did so more markedly after 0.9 years of age. Data were obtained on urinary organic acids as well as plasma creatinine concentrations. Patterns of inheritance of isolated hypermethioninemia were variable. Considerations as to the optimal management of this group of patients are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Jarcho-Levin syndrome: unusual survival in a classical case.

Spondylothoracic dysostosis, or Jarcho-Levin syndrome, together with spondylocostal dysostosis, constitute a heterogeneous group of rare disorders characterized by short-neck, short-trunk dwarfism and multiple vertebral anomalies at all levels of the vertebral column. The latter include hemivertebrae, fused, hypoplastic, and "butterfly" vertebrae. In most cases of Jarcho-Levin syndrome, the small size of the thorax causes respiratory death in infancy. This report of a Puerto Rican child with spondylothoracic dysostosis and unusually long survival to 11 years exemplifies the nosologic and prognostic difficulties associated with this syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Molecular mapping of the Edwards syndrome phenotype to two noncontiguous regions on chromosome 18.

In an effort to identify regions on chromosome 18 that may be critical in the appearance of the Edwards syndrome phenotype, we have analyzed six patients with partial duplication of chromosome 18. Four of the patients have duplications involving the distal half of 18q (18q21.1-qter) and are very mildly affected. The remaining two patients have most of 18q (18q12.1-qter) duplicated, are severely affected, and have been diagnosed with Edwards syndrome. We have employed FISH, using DNA probes from a chromosome 18-specific library, for the precise determination of the duplicated material in each of these patients. The clinical features and the extent of the chromosomal duplication in these patients were compared with four previously reported partial trisomy 18 patients, to identify regions of chromosome 18 that may be responsible for certain clinical features of trisomy 18. The comparative analysis confirmed that there is no single region on 18q that is sufficient to produce the trisomy 18 phenotype and identified two regions on 18q that may work in conjunction to produce the Edwards syndrome phenotype. In addition, correlative analysis indicates that duplication of 18q12.3-q22.1 may be associated with more severe mental retardation in trisomy 18 individuals.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗