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Biomedical subjects

P Goetz

Publications and source records attributed to P Goetz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Mosaicism in 45,X Turner syndrome: does survival in early pregnancy depend on the presence of two sex chromosomes?

Cytogenetic and molecular genetic findings in 91 patients with Turner syndrome are reported. In 87 patients, chromosome studies were carried out both in lymphocyte and fibroblast cultures. Mosaicism was demonstrated in 58 of these patients (66.7%), whereas only 18 (20.7%) were apparent non-mosaic 45,X, and 11 patients (12.6%) showed non-mosaic structural aberrations of the X chromosome. Among the mosaic cases 16 (18.4% of all patients) displayed a second cell line containing small marker chromosomes. The association of Y-specific chromosomal material with the presence of marker chromosomes was demonstrated in 6 out of 7 mixoploid fibroblast cell lines by polymerase chain reaction amplification and by Southern-blot analysis. The observation of ring formation and morphological variability in vivo and in vitro, and the continuous reduction in the percentage of cells containing marker chromosomes in longterm cultivation experiments indicated an increased instability of marker chromosomes. The findings suggest that in vivo selection of structurally altered sex chromosomes exists. Thus, the observation of apparent non-mosaic 45,X chromosomal complements in liveborn individuals with Turner syndrome does not contradict the hypothesis that some degree of mosaicism is necessary for survival in early pregnancy.

Blotting, Southern

[Screening for fragile X syndrome in handicapped boys].

From a group of 201 mentally retarded boys 149 were clinically and somatometrically examined. Chromosomal analysis for detection of a fra(X)-syndrome was undertaken, when more than 3 of the chosen examination parameters were suspicious or when anamnestic clues for X-chromosomally linked mental retardation were present. 89 boys fulfilled above requirements, 14 of these had a fra(X)-syndrome (15.7%). The following symptoms were found with outstanding frequency: hyperactivity, hypotonic muscles, enlargement of testes, increased length of hands, retarded development of speech, dermatoglyphic abnormalities. If more than 3 of these findings occur, a chromosomal analysis for exclusion of a fra(X)-syndrome should be performed.

Child

[Diagnosis of Turner's syndrome 1965-1989: karyotype, age at diagnosis and determining signs].

Early diagnosis of Turner's syndrome makes possible optimal application of all procedures of substitution and symptomatic therapy and offers also psychological support to the parents and the patients. In 1965-1989 in two centres 135 girls with Turner's syndrome were detected, 72 with karyotype 45, X, 63 with a chromosomal mosaic and/or structural anomaly. Girls and women with karyotype 45, X are detected sooner (9.4 +/- 6.9 years, as compared with 14.2 +/- 8.1 years, p = 0.0003). Before the age of three 28% of the girls with karyotype 45, X were detected (by congenital lymphoedemas, coarctation of the aorta, poor progress), only 9% of the others. Growth impairment revealed the diagnosis in 27% of the affected girls. Girls with karyotype 45, X were diagnosed on account of impaired growth sooner (7.9 +/- 2.2 years as compared with 11.8 +/- 2.7 years, p = 0.00005). At a time when the diagnosis of girls with karyotype was practically completed, 16% of the spontaneously maturing and menstruating women with chromosomal mosaic where the syndrome was detected during examination of sterility or habitual abortion were still not diagnosed.

Age Factors

[Gonadal dysgenesis].

The authors describe six patients, female phenotype with karyotype 45X/46XY. Two girls suffered from pure gonadal dysgenesis, four from mixed gonadal dysgenesis. The authors emphasize the intact axis hypothalamus-pituitary gonads. In the above diagnoses the authors recommend revision and extirpation of the gonads with regard to possible malignant growth in the dysgenetic gonad.

Adolescent

[Factors affecting the prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood].

The authors tried to test the value of some clinical and laboratory characteristics for the prognosis of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in a group of 69 children treated according to three different protocols. The results were evaluated by methods of one-dimensional and multidimensional analysis. The absolute number of blasts in the peripheral blood stream and initial leucocytosis during establishment of the diagnosis proved to be the most important risk factors influencing the prognosis of the patients. Other adverse signs for the prognosis of ALL in the group were a mediastinal tumour, L2 type of leukaemic blasts according to the morphological FAB classification and age above 10 years when the diagnosis was established. The patient's sex, immunophenotype of the leukaemic blasts, chromosomal abnormality of the karyotype in the leukaemic cells, marked hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia, haemoglobin values and PAS reaction in the blasts, did not affect the therapeutic results in the author's group of patients.

Adolescent

The importance of blast cell DNA content for prognosis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The prognostic value of cellular DNA content measured by static cytophotometry was evaluated in 69 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using the pretreatment distribution of the DNA content in blast cells of bone marrow and peripheral blood. The median follow-up of the whole group of patients was 45 months. Aneuploidy was detected in 71% of children, most of them showing a hyperdiploid content (DNA index greater than 1.05). The duration of complete remission was significantly longer in patients with distinct hyperdiploid DNA content (DNA index greater than 1.16) than in those with less hyperdiploid and diploid DNA content (DNA index less than 1.16). The results achieved by static cytophotometry were compared with flow cytometry analysis and with cytogenetic investigations of chromosomal abnormalities in leukemic cells. Higher correlation was found between flow cytometry and cytogenetics. Flow cytometry proved to be a more convenient method for detection of the DNA content in leukemic cells than static cytophotometry.

Adolescent

Correlations of clinical and laboratory data for prognosis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Correlation of 24 different clinical and laboratory measures was performed for a calculation of the prognosis in 65 children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The hematologic as well as genetic parameters were studied at the time of diagnosis. It was shown that the initial blast count in peripheral blood is the most important risk factor for the prognosis of ALL. Cytogenetic, DNA cytometric, and pedigree data correlate with blast count and also seem to be very important determinants for ALL prognosis. The statistically significant increase in the incidence of neoplasms in ALL families is reported.

Child

Synaptonemal complexes of mouse and human pachytene chromosomes visualized by silver staining in air-dried preparations.

A new method is described which allows light microscopy visualization of the synaptonemal complexes in primary spermatocytes. The conventional acetic acid-alcohol fixed and air-dried preparations can be used for the modified silver staining technique. Several hundred pachytene spermatocytes from a single mouse testis or human testicular biopsy can be examined. The prospective utilization of the present method is briefly discussed.

Animals

Effects of alkylating agents on lymphocytes from controls and from patients with Fanconi's anemia. Studies of sister chromatid exchanges, chromosome aberrations, and kinetics of cell division.

The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and chromosome aberrations and the dynamics of cell division in peripheral blood lymphocytes of four patients with Fanconi's anemia were studied after in vitro exposure to alkylating agents TEPA and mitomycin. SCE frequency was significantly increased even after very low doses of mutagens, while chromosome aberrations were significantly increased only after high doses (0.160 micrograms/ml mitomycin and 10(-5) M TEPA). The responses of Fanconi's anemia cells and control cells did not differ significantly. The increased frequency of both SCE and chromosome aberrations was accompanied by gradual delay of cell division, which was most conspicuous in cells from patients with Fanconi's anemia.

Anemia, Aplastic

[Edwards' syndrome].

Two cases of Edwards' syndrome were observed. One occurred in a girl aged 6 months, the other in a male neonate. The two children showed a highly characteristic appearance of both the face and the extremities, so that it arouse suspicion of 18-chromosomy. The latter was confirmed by a postmortem cytogenetic examination. The syndrome also includes malformations of inner organs and microscopical architectural changes of organs, which occurred in both the cases described, but different in type.

Abnormalities, Multiple