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N Coad

Publications and source records attributed to N Coad.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Parental imprinting of human chromosome region 11p15.3-pter involved in the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and various human neoplasia.

Cytogenetic and DNA analyses of patients with the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) enabled us to refine the localization of the syndrome at 11p15.3-pter to two distinct regions. One chromosome region (BWSCR1) is near the insulin (INS) and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) genes. The other region (BWSCR2) is more proximal near two sequences with zinc-binding finger motifs and a number of known and putative genes. This latter region, at least, seems to be associated with the development of childhood tumors. Our results strongly support the proposed involvement of parental imprinting in the etiology of BWS since all balanced chromosomal abnormalities in these patients were maternally transmitted while the mothers were phenotypically normal. We demonstrate that such an autosomal balanced rearrangement can lead to a specific maternal hypomethylation of the INS/IGF2 genes localized distal to the breakpoint. This underlines the role of these genes in the etiology of the syndrome.

Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome↗

Molecular nature of genetic changes resulting in loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 11 in Wilms' tumours.

In this paper we describe the analysis of genetic changes in chromosome 11 in Wilms' tumours. Using a range of probes for regions 11p15, 11p13 and 11q we have screened DNA from 14 Wilms' tumours together with control DNA obtained from the patients' lymphocytes and their parents. We have been able to demonstrate loss of heterozygosity in 5 of the 14 different Wilms' tumours. In three of these five tumours, loss of heterozygosity did not involve markers for 11p13, 11p15.4 or the proximal region of 11p15.5, but only some markers assigned to the most distal part of 11p15.5. In two of these tumours we could demonstrate unequal mitotic recombination in 11p with breakpoints in the hypervariable regions 5' of the insulin gene and/or 3' of the HRASI proto-oncogene. In one tumour, from a Beckwith-Wiedemann patient, all markers for the region 11q13-pter became hemizygous; the region 11q13-qter remained heterozygous. These results demonstrate that loss of heterozygosity in Wilms' tumours may not necessarily involve the proposed Wilms' tumours locus at 11p13 but may be limited to 11p15.5. This suggests that not only the 11p13 region, but also the 11p15.5 region is involved in Wilms' tumour development. The possible role of both regions in the development of Wilms' tumour is discussed.

Alleles↗

Juvenile discitis.

Over a period of three years four girls and two boys presented with discitis. All were less than 5 years old at presentation, and each had a short history of symptoms. Three were initially thought to have pathological defects of the abdomen. All children showed abnormal posturing with exaggerated lumbar lordosis. Diagnosis was essentially clinical. All cultures were sterile. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was increased in all the children and all had mild pyrexia. Symptoms lasted from two to 8 weeks. Discitis should be considered in any child with fever, abnormal posturing, and refusal to walk. Early recognition may avoid unnecessary diagnostic and treatment procedures.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗