PubMed Health⌕ Search
Home/Archive/PubMed

PubMed · 2196651

[Molecular and diagnostic genetics].

P Cochaux·T Velu·M Abramowicz·G Vassart
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Using the recent developments of molecular biology techniques, our laboratory is offering carrier and prenatal diagnosis for a variety of genetic disorders including cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria, thalassaemia alpha and beta, sickle cell anaemia, myotonic dystrophy, von Recklinghausen's disease, autosomal polycystic kidney disease, haemophilia A and B, Martin-Bell syndrome (fragile X), Becker and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, etc. It is likely that the rapid advances made in the establishment of the human genetic map will considerably expand the spectrum of diseases for which diagnosis by molecular genetics will become available.

Explore related subjects

Genetic Carrier ScreeningGenetic Diseases, InbornGenetic TechniquesHumansMolecular BiologyMutationPrenatal DiagnosisJournal Article

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

P Cochaux, T Velu, M Abramowicz, G Vassart. 1990. [Molecular and diagnostic genetics].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2196651/

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

PubMed2006

Prevention of lysosomal storage disorders in Israel.

Prevention programs for the detection of heterozygotes of relatively prevalent autosomal recessive diseases in various ethnic groups are available in recent years in Israel. Several lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) are included in this program. The goal of the program is the ascertainment of high risk couples before the birth of affected offspring. This is performed by a population screening program that addresses the specific needs and requirements of various population groups in Israel. The programs are supervised and designed by medical/clinical geneticists and are accompanied by genetic counseling prior to and after testing. Three types of population screening programs are in operation. The first type is offered to the general population and is directed to premarital and married couples. High risk families mostly opt for prenatal diagnosis. The second type is performed for diseases with a frequency of about 1:1000. This occurrence is common in Israel only in various Arab communities due to the high rate of consanguinity. The third type is a premarital screening performed by the Orthodox Jewish community and is operated by a nonprofit organization--"Dor Yeshorim". Two heterozygotes for a particular disease are advised not to proceed with the marriage and thus avoid the dilemma of prenatal diagnosis. Founder mutations of the relevant genes for each ethnic group are tested and the testing is tailored for each individual according to his/her ethnic background. Genetic counseling presents family planning options to high risk couples. These programs have resulted in a significant reduction in the birth of affected patients of the tested LSD a well as other recessive diseases in recent years.

Genetic Carrier Screening↗
PubMed2006

[Prevention of hereditary haemoglobinopathies in The Netherlands].

Haemoglobinopathies are defects that interfere with the synthesis of haemoglobin. Parents who are both healthy carriers (heterozygotes) may produce severely affected homozygous or compound heterozygous children who can be treated only symptomatically. Offering Dutch couples at risk the possibility of primary prevention is a matter of good healthcare and its organisation deserves priority. The prevention of haemoglobinopathy is based on the provision of information to potential carriers, carrier diagnostics and counselling, services that can in principle be provided by existing public health care institutions. Three moments at which the prevention of recessive diseases can be offered are the phase of preconception, the phase of early pregnancy (prospective primary prevention) and the postnatal phase at the time of a following pregnancy (retrospective primary prevention). By providing basic information and requesting laboratory tests for the diagnosis ofhaemoglobinopathy, the general practitioner plays a crucial role in primary prevention.

Genetic Carrier Screening↗
PubMed2006

Podocin-related mechanisms in posttransplant [corrected] recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis [corrected].

Posttransplantation recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is one of the most disarming events in human pathology with important social and psychological consequences. It usually occurs in 30% to 50% of patients affected by the primary form of the disease with an abrupt onset in the majority of cases occurring within 1 month of the transplantation. Prediction of recurrent cases and early therapy with plasmapheresis are the main goals of the therapy. Although the mechanism of posttransplantation recurrence is still obscure, it has been proposed to be of a multifactorial origin, in which plasma factors determine the shedding of proteins of the slit-diaphragm, such as nephrin and podocin, with structural alterations of the ultra-filtering unit of the glomerulus. Low resynthesis of podocin and/or haplo-insufficiency due to heterozygous mutations should represent significant predisposing factors to proteinuria. In this review, the role of podocin in posttransplantation recurrence will be evaluated focusing on the possibility that resynthesis of the protein could represent a key step also for stable normalization of the renal filter. The recent characterization of the podocin promoter cis- and trans- acting elements and the possibility to characterize low- and high-podocin producer haplotypes offer opportunities to evaluate the capacity for podocin resynthesis in the donor kidney. A review of the literature on posttransplantation recurrence of FSGS in patients originally carrying homozygous and/or heterozygous NPHS2 mutations supports the general idea of a multifactorial origin of the primary disease that can be extended to the pathogenesis of posttransplantation recurrence.

Genetic Carrier Screening↗