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Biomedical subjects

S Ayme

Publications and source records attributed to S Ayme.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Abnormal childhood phenotypes associated with the same balanced chromosome rearrangements as in the parents.

Three patients have been detected because of abnormal phenotypes. Balanced chromosome rearrangements were found in their karyotypes, and in one of the parents in each case. In these three families the association of an abnormal phenotype and a balanced chromosome rearrangement may either be a chance happening or be induced by a submicroscopic loss of chromosome material, for which different position effects may be responsible, according to the case in question. These observations prompt us to ask what decision should be made relative to termination of pregnancy if such a rearrangement is found in amniotic cells in a family with a previous abnormal child.

Adult

Origin of the extra chromosome in trisomy 21.

Of 61 families of children with trisomy 21, polymorphism of chromosome 21 elucidating the origin of the extra chromosome was found in 42. Nondisjunction was of paternal origin in 8 cases (19.04%) and the anomaly occurred with equal frequency during the first and second meiotic divisions. Maternal nondisjunction was demonstrated in 34 cases (80.95%), in which nondisjunction occurred by far the most often during the first meiotic division (29 cases). These results are in agreement with data from the literature, and suggest the existence of at least two different causes for chromosomal nondisjunction, the first being the same in both sexes and occurring in both meiotic divisions and the second specifically limited to the first meiotic division in the mother.

Chromosome Banding

Erythrocyte copper levels in children with trisomy 21.

Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase is a cuproprotein displaying increased activity in cases of trisomy 21. In this study, the three erythrocyte copper fractions were compared at constant serum copper levels in children with and without trisomy 21. The labile erythrocyte copper level was found to be identical in both groups of children. Total erythrocyte copper, especially the stable fraction, was increased in cases of trisomy 21. The approximately fifty per cent ob served increase correlates with the augmented superoxide dismutase activity related to the presence of an extra chromosome 21. Measurement of the stable erythrocyte copper fraction could constitute an indirect method for evaluating superoxide dismutase activity.

Child

Dermatoglyphics in parents of children with trisomy 21. Evaluation of their interest in genetic counselling.

Dermal patterns in a group of Down's syndrome patients, a normal control population and a group of parents of Down's syndrome patients were studied in an attempt to identify an Index Score to be used in differentiating controls from parents of Down's syndrome children. Using only three patterns (simian crease, palmar hypothenar pattern and Cummins' Index), a parents' Index Score was established which correctly diagnosed 80.83% of controls and 79.17% of parents. The predictive value of this index and its interest in genetic counselling are discussed.

Child

Distribution of spontaneous chromosome breaks in man.

The distribution of break points in human chromosomes was analyzed in 15,754 metaphases from 1084 patients. A total of 1099 breaks were specifically localized to a chromosome band or region depicted in the PARIS CONFERENCE (1971) report. The sites of the breaks were very different from the expected random distribution and showed distinct clustering of breaks in some regions. These observations underline the heterogeneity of chromosomal material and furnish comparative data for the study of cytotoxic agents and constitutional chromosomal fragility.

Chromosome Aberrations

[Pericentric inversions: studies in 47 cases].

The authors report 47 cases of pericentric inversion. Eleven of them involve the chromosomes No. 2, 11 and 9. It appears that the risk of malformations and/or encephalopathy is obviously increased either by "position effect", aneusomie de recombinaison" or "interchromosomal effect". Prenatal diagnosis is therefore indicated. Thirty six cases involve the secondary constriction of chromosome No. 9. In such cases the risk is not enough increased to justify the prenatal diagnosis.

Brain

A dynamic study in two new cases of X chromosome translocations.

The authors discuss the clinical and cytogenetic problems raised in two new cases of X-chromosome translocations. The first case involves a child who presented marked malformations at age 3 months. Chromosome analysis revealed the presence of a translocation between a 22 and X chromosome resulting in partial X monosomy and partial trisomy 22: 46,X,der(X),t(X:22)(q112;q13)mat. The balanced translocation form was detected in the mother. Dynamic study after 5-Brdu treatment revealed inactivation of the translocated X chromosome in the proband, while in the mother the normal X chromosome was inactivated. In addition to magnesium dependent hypocalcemia resulting from a specific absorption anomaly, Case 2 presented discrete malformations and psychomotor retardation. Chromosome analysis revealed an apparently balanced translocation between a 9 and X chromosome: 46,X,t(9;X)(q12;p22). Treatment with 5-Brdu demonstrated that the translocated X chromosome was inactivated but that inactivation did not extend to the translocated part of chromosome 9. Finally, a pericentric inversion of a 9 chromosome was detected in the father, grandfather, and brother of the proband.

Bromodeoxyuridine

Constitutional chromosomal breakage.

There were 18 individuals found to have a constitutional chromosome fragility causing an increase in break frequency. For each chromosome the breakpoint is always the same, whether it involves chromosomes from the same person, the same family, or different families. The fragile points are bands 10q24, 12q13, 16q21, 17p12, and Xq27. Autosomal constitutional fragility does not seem to have a phenotypic correspondence. They were found mostly in parents of children with chromosomal abnormalities or in couples with a history of repeated spontaneous abortions which permits one to raise the possibility of an interchromosomal effect. The six constitutional chromosomal fragilities of the X chromosome had in common the association of mental deficiency, delayed speech, and large malformed ears. The break points in constitutional chromosomal fragility were compared to those of spontaneous breaks in vitro, to those induced by X-rays, and to those in Fanconi's anemia. The theoretical consequences of these structural abnormalities are discussed as well as what to do about them when they are found.

Abortion, Habitual

Quantitative and qualitative study of acrocentric associations in 109 normal subjects.

This study involving 109 normal subjects shows that the mean number of associations by cell seems to represent a biological constant which is not sex related and increases with age, especially after 33 years. From a qualitative point of view, the associations are not at random and their distribution varies from one individual to another. The tendency to associate is a characteristic of a given chromosome in a given individual.

Adult