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Rare Genetic Syndromes (rare + genetic_syndrome)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

A rare case of multiple myeloma initially presenting with pseudoachalasia

DISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 6 2009
Georgia Lazaraki
SUMMARY Pseudoachalasia is a rare clinical entity with clinical, radiographic, and manometric features often indistinguishable from achalasia. Primary adenocarcinomas arising at the gastroesophageal junction or a tumor of the distal esophagus are the most frequent causes of pseudoachalasia. Rarely, processes other than esophagogastric cancers including chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, Chagas' disease, vagotomy, antireflux surgery, pancreatic pseudocysts, von Recklinghausen's neuroinomatosis, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and other malignancies and rare genetic syndromes, may lead to the development of pseudoachalasia. Secondary achalasia is extremely rare, with less than 100 cases reported in the literature so far. Gastrointestinal manifestations in primary or secondary amyloidosis include abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, malabsorption, obstruction, motility disturbance, intestinal infarction, perforation, and hemorrhage; however, gastrointestinal tract involvement is asymptomatic in most instances. We present here a rare case of multiple myeloma initially presenting with dysphagia because of esophageal amyloidosis and manometric findings typical of achalasia. [source]

Simultaneous analysis of the behavioural phenotype, physical factors, and parenting stress in people with Cornelia de Lange syndrome

JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 7 2009
J. Wulffaert
Abstract Background Studies into the phenotype of rare genetic syndromes largely rely on bivariate analysis. The aim of this study was to describe the phenotype of Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) in depth by examining a large number of variables with varying measurement levels. Virtually the only suitable multivariate technique for this is categorical principal component analysis. The characteristics of the CdLS phenotype measured were also analysed in relation to parenting stress. Method Data for 37 children and adults with CdLS were collected. The type of gene mutation and relevant medical characteristics were measured. Information on adaptive functioning, behavioural problems, the presence of the autistic disorder and parenting stress were obtained through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with the parents. Chronological age and gender were also included in the analysis. Results All characteristics measured, except gender, were highly interrelated and there was much variability in the CdLS phenotype. Parents perceived more stress when their children were older, were lower functioning, had more behavioural problems, and if the autistic disorder was present. A new perspective was acquired on the relation between the gene mutation type and medical and behavioural characteristics. In contrast with earlier research the severity of medical characteristics did not appear a strong prognostic factor for the level of development. Conclusion Categorical principal component analysis proved particularly valuable for the description of this small group of participants given the large number of variables with different measurement levels. The success of the technique in the present study suggests that a similar approach to the characterisation of other rare genetic syndromes could prove extremely valuable. Given the high variability and interrelatedness of characteristics in CdLS persons, parents should be informed about this differentiated perspective. [source]

Where genetics and pathology meet: mulibrey nanism,

THE JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2009
Frederik J Hes
Abstract Mulibrey nanism is a rare autosomal recessive disorder with prenatal onset growth retardation (nanism) and dysmorphic features, including a wide range of abnormalities, such as cardiac disease (pericardial constriction, myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis) and anomalies of muscle, liver, brain and eye, resulting in the acronym ,mulibrey'. This commentary summarizes recent analysis of the diverse pathologies seen in this syndrome and highlights the need for pathologists and geneticists to work together. Insights into the pathology of rare genetic syndromes may have important lessons for our understanding of much commoner conditions. Copyright © 2009 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]