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R Carmi

Publications and source records attributed to R Carmi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Familial aggregation in the fibromyalgia syndrome.

The authors studied the familial occurrence of fibromyalgia (FMS) to determine a possible role of genetic and familial factors in this syndrome. Fifty-eight offspring aged 5 to 46 years (35 males and 23 females) from 20 complete nuclear families ascertained through affected mothers with FMS were clinically evaluated for FMS according to the ACR 1990 diagnostic criteria. FMS symptoms, quality of life, physical functioning, and dolorimetry thresholds were assessed in all subjects. Sixteen offspring (28%) were found to have FMS. The M/F ratio among the affected was 0.8 compared with 1.5 in the whole study group. Offspring with and without FMS did not differ on anxiety, depression, global well-being, quality of life, and physical functioning. A high prevalence of FMS was observed among offspring of FMS mothers. Because psychological and familial factors were not different in children with and without FMS, the high familial occurrence of this syndrome may be attributable to genetic factors.

Adolescent↗

An autosomal recessive nonsyndromic-hearing-loss locus identified by DNA pooling using two inbred Bedouin kindreds.

Autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) is the most common form of severe inherited childhood deafness. We present the linkage analysis of two inbred Bedouin kindreds from Israel that are affected with ARNSHL. A rapid genomewide screen for markers linked to the disease was performed by using pooled DNA samples. This screen revealed evidence for linkage with markers D9S922 and D9S301 on chromosome 9q. Genotyping of individuals from both kindreds confirmed linkage to chromosome 9q and a maximum combined LOD score of 26.2 (recombination fraction [theta] .025) with marker D9S927. The disease locus was mapped to a 1.6-cM region of chromosome 9ql3-q2l, between markers D9S15 and D9S927. The disease segregates with a common haplotype in the two kindreds, at markers D9S927, D9S175, and D9S284 in the linked interval, supporting the hypothesis that both kindreds inherited the deafness gene from a common ancestor. Although this nonsyndromic-hearing-loss (NSHL) locus maps to the same cytogenetic interval as DFNB7, it does not overlap the currently defined DFNB7 interval and may represent (1) a novel form of NSHL in close proximity to DFNB7 or (2) a relocalization of the DFNB7 interval to a region telomeric to its reported location. This study further demonstrates that DNA pooling is an effective means of quickly identifying regions of linkage in inbred families with heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorders.

Arabs↗

[Neurological symptoms associated with vitamin E deficiency].

Children deficient in vitamin E have various neurologic symptoms. 2 cases representing different mechanisms of this vitamin deficiency are reported. A 15-year-old boy with fat malabsorption due to cystic fibrosis who was diagnosed as being vitamin E deficient (< 0.5 mg/l), had typical neuropathies. On the other hand, a 12-year-old Beduin girl had isolated vitamin E deficiency, as well as neurological symptoms suggestive of Friedrich's ataxia. Vitamin E supplementation by intramuscular injection in the first case and per os in the second led to significant improvement in neurological symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Infantile variant of Bartter syndrome and sensorineural deafness: a new autosomal recessive disorder.

The infantile variant of Bartter syndrome (IBS) is usually associated with maternal polyhydramnios, premature birth, postnatal polyuria and hypokalemic hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis and a typical appearance. IBS is thought to be an autosomal recessive trait. Several congenital tubular defects are associated with sensorineural deafness (SND). However, an association between the IBS and SND has not been reported so far. Here we describe 5 children of an extended consanguineous Bedouin family with IBS and SND. In 3 of the cases, the typical electrolyte imbalance and facial appearance were detected neonatally. SND was detected as early as age 1 month, suggesting either coincidental homozygotization of 2 recessive genes or a pleiotropic effect of one autosomal recessive gene. This association suggests that evaluation of SND is warranted in every case of IBS.

Adolescent↗

Phenotypic differences among patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome linked to three different chromosome loci.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is an autosomal-recessive disorder of mental retardation, obesity, retinal dystrophy, polydactyly, and hypogenitalism. Renal and cardiac abnormalities are also frequent in this disorder. Previous clinical suggestions of heterogeneity of BBS were confirmed recently by the identification of four different chromosome loci linked to the disease. In this study we compared clinical manifestations of the syndrome in patients from 3 unrelated, extended Arab-Bedouin kindreds which were used for the linkage mapping of the BBS loci to chromosomes 3, 15, and 16. The observed differences included the limb distribution of the postaxial polydactyly and the extent and age-association of obesity. It appears that the chromosome 3 locus is associated with polydactyly of all four limbs, while polydactyly of the chromosome 15 type is mostly confined to the hands. On the other hand, the chromosome 15 type is associated with early-onset morbid obesity, while the chromosome 16 type appears to present the "leanest" form of BBS. Future cloning of the various BB genes will contribute to the understanding of the molecular basis of limb development and to the identification of human obesity-related genes.

Adolescent↗

Characterization of the mutations in the glucose-6-phosphatase gene in Israeli patients with glycogen storage disease type 1a: R83C in six Jews and a novel V166G mutation in a Muslim Arab.

Glycogen storage disease type 1a (GSD 1a), an autosomal recessive disease, is caused by the inactivity of glucose-6-phosphatase, the gene of which has been recently cloned. We report on the missense mutation C-->T at nucleotide 326 of the G6Pase gene, causing the change of the Arg codon at position 83 into a Cys codon, as the single mutation detected in six Jewish patients. This finding suggests that this mutation might be prevalent among the Jewish population. A new missense mutation T-->G at nucleotide 576 resulting in V166G was found in an Arab Muslim patient. These families may benefit now from pre- and postnatal diagnosis by analysis of DNA from blood and amniotic fluid or chorionic villus cells rather than liver biopsy. No mutations in the G6Pase gene were detected in two GSD 1b patients.

Arab World↗

Use of a DNA pooling strategy to identify a human obesity syndrome locus on chromosome 15.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome is a heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder characterized by obesity, mental retardation, polydactyly, retinitis pigmentosa and hypogonadism. Patients with this disorder also have a high incidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and renal and cardiovascular anomalies. Three independent loci causing Bardet-Biedl syndrome have previously been reported. In this study, we we utilized a DNA pooling approach using DNA samples from a highly inbred Bedouin kindred to identify a new Bardet-Biedl syndrome locus on chromosome 15. The results further demonstrate the genetic heterogeneity of this disorder. In addition, the results demonstrate the efficiency of the DNA pooling approach for identifying recessive disease loci in highly inbred human populations.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15↗

Cardiac abnormalities in the Bardet-Biedl syndrome: echocardiographic studies of 22 patients.

The Bardet-Biedl syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder of polydactyly, obesity, tapetoretinal degeneration, mental retardation, hypogenitalism, and renal involvement. A high incidence of congenital and acquired heart disease was reported in the former "Laurence-Moon-Biedl-Bardet" syndrome. However, since the establishment of the Bardet-Biedl syndrome as a separate clinical entity, cardiac involvement has not been evaluated in this disorder. We have performed echocardiographic studies on 22 patients with the Bardet-Biedl syndrome from three extended, highly inbred Bedouin families. In addition to previously reported congenital heart defects we have observed hypertrophy of the interventricular septum and dilated cardiomyopathy. Our findings of cardiac involvement in 50% of the cases suggest that echocardiographic examination should be included in the clinical evaluation and follow-up of patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

Adolescent↗

Spontaneous abortion--high risk factor for neural tube defects in subsequent pregnancy.

An increased spontaneous abortion rate has been observed in pregnancies preceding that of fetuses or newborn infants with neural tube defects (NTDs). There are 2 suggested explanations for this observation. One is that a trophoblastic cell rest, remaining from a previous aborted pregnancy, interferes with normal embryogenesis. The second is that the previous lost fetus was affected with NTD. We studied the obstetric history of mothers of newborn infants with NTDs compared to those with other birth defects, in low and high risk groups for NTD (Jew and Bedouins). A significantly higher spontaneous abortion rate (48%) in the preceding pregnancy was found in the NTD group compared to the group with other birth defects (20%). This was especially remarkable for spina bifida cases in the Jewish study population. A significantly higher rate of preceding spontaneous abortion was also found in congenital heart defects (CHD) when compared to other congenital malformations. A hypothesis based on the multifactorial threshold model is put forward to explain these findings. Based on the realization that spontaneous abortion constitutes a high risk factor for NTD and possibly also CHD, we recommend a delay of subsequent pregnancy and periconceptional treatment with folic acid following spontaneous abortion.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗

Linkage localization of the thoraco-abdominal syndrome (TAS) gene to Xq25-26.

The thoraco-abdominal syndrome (TAS) presents a closure defect confined to the ventral midline, manifested as ventral hernia of various degrees in all affected individuals and antero-lateral diaphragmatic defect manifested almost exclusively in affected males. The syndrome is inherited as an X-linked dominant trait affecting blastogenesis (XLB mutation). We studied 27 members of the TAS family for linkage on the X chromosome. The best lod score of 5.5 at theta 0.04 was found for the HPRT locus on Xq26.1. A multilocus lod score of 12.4 was observed when the linkage analysis utilized additional markers in Xq25-26.

Abdomen↗

Prenatal diagnosis of Bartter syndrome.

Bartter syndrome, an autosomal recessive disorder of hyperaldosteronism and increased plasma renin, was suspected in an at-risk pregnancy due to the early occurrence of polyhydramnios. Further establishment of the diagnosis was accomplished by demonstrating increased levels of aldosterone in amniotic fluid and fetal cord blood. Electrolyte levels did not differ significantly from reported controls. It is thus suggested that polyhydramnios is the result of increased fetal urine output in Bartter syndrome and that amniotic fluid aldosterone is a reliable marker for the prenatal diagnosis of this condition.

Adult↗

(+)-(S)-dihydroaeruginoic acid, an inhibitor of Septoria tritici and other phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria, produced by Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Three antibiotics were isolated from a CH2Cl2 extract of the liquid culture of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain PFM2. Two of the antibiotics were identified as 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol and pyoluterin. The structure elucidation, absolute stereochemistry, synthesis, and biological activities of the new antibiotic (+)-(S)- dihydroaeruginoic acid [1] are reported.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Identification of a Bardet-Biedl syndrome locus on chromosome 3 and evaluation of an efficient approach to homozygosity mapping.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by mental retardation, obesity, retinitis pigmentosa, polydactyly and hypogonadism. Individuals with this disorder also have an increased incidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and renal and cardiac anomalies. We previously identified a locus on chromosome 16 causing this disorder, and provided evidence that Bardet-Biedl syndrome is heterogeneous. In this study, we identify another Bardet-Biedl syndrome locus on chromosome 3 and confirm the non-allelic heterogeneity of this disorder in Bedouin populations. In addition, we demonstrate the feasibility of using pooled DNA samples from members of large kindreds as an efficient approach to homozygosity mapping.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of a rare occurrence of lethal multiple pterygium syndrome in two siblings.

We report two cases of prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of the lethal form of multiple pterygium syndrome in successive pregnancies in the same woman. This extremely rare entity is characterized by multiple pterygia, flexion contractures, facial anomalies and hypoplasia of heart and lungs. The appearance of the congenital cataract is unique and this finding was present in both abortuses. Prenatal detection of this syndrome is feasible, and an ultrasound survey should be offered during genetic counselling to previously affected couples.

Journal Article↗

New form of spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia (SEMD) in Jewish family of Iraqi origin.

We report a distinct type of spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia seen in 2 sibs and their second cousin, characterized by early onset severe short stature, small chest, and distended abdomen. They had short neck, severe lumbar lordosis, and marked genu varum due to fibular overgrowth and joint laxity. Radiographically, the patients had platyspondyly, initially noted during the first years of life, with central hypoplasia of the vertebral bodies. At a later age, the vertebrae appear squared with mild interpedicular narrowing. The long bone changes, which at early age resemble those seen in achondroplasia, later include general metaphyseal irregularities and significant epiphyseal ossification delay. These patients present a previously undescribed form of spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, most probably transmitted as an autosomal recessive tract.

Child↗