De novo occurrence of novel SPG3A/atlastin mutation presenting as cerebral palsy.

Background: Mutations in the SPG3A gene (atlastin protein) cause approximately 10% of autosomal-dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia. For many subjects with an SPG3A mutation, spastic gait begins in early childhood and does not significantly worsen even over many years. Such subjects resemble those with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

Reduced recombination in maternal meiosis coupled with non-disjunction at meiosis II leading to recurrent 47,XXX.

We determined the meiotic origin and the stage of non-disjunction of the extra X chromosomes in two sisters with 47,XXX chromosomal complements. Segregation of the X chromosomes in all family members was analyzed using X-linked short tandem repeat polymorphic (STRP) markers. Densitometric analysis of two STRP markers confirmed that both sisters had three copies of the X chromosome and the extra X chromosomes were maternally derived.

A founder COL17A1 splice site mutation leading to generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa in an extended inbred Palestinian family from Israel.

Purpose: Generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa is a nonlethal form of junctional EB with an autosomal recessive inheritance. There is generalized cutaneous blister formation at sites of trauma, atrophic alopecia affecting scalp, eyelash and eyebrow, dystrophic nail changes, and tooth abnormalities. In this study, we have studied a five-generation Palestinian family affected with generalized atrophic benign epidermolysis bullosa.

Modified allelic replication in lymphocytes of patients with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Transcription activity of genes is related to their replication timing, accordingly gene activation is coupled with a shift from late replication to early replication and vice versa. The relationship between replication timing and gene expression is best manifested by monoallelically expressed genes which show an asynchronous pattern of allelic replication, with the active allele replicating earlier than the inactive counterpart. Biallelically expressed genes, which normally replicate highly synchronously, when present in lymphocytes derived from patients with various types of malignancies or premalignancies, replicate highly asynchronously, similar to monoallelically expressed genes.

Asynchronous replication of biallelically expressed loci: a new phenomenon in Turner syndrome.

Purpose: Transcriptional activity of genes is related to their replication timing; alleles showing the common biallelic mode of expression replicate synchronously, whereas those with a monoallelic mode of expression replicate asynchronously. Here the level of synchronization in replication timing of alleles was determined in subjects with Turner syndrome.

Methods: Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used for three loci not linked to X chromosome, in lymphocytes derived from 12 controls, 3 individuals with Turner, and 4 with mosaic Turner syndrome.

Congenital hypothyroidism with Prader-Willi syndrome.

We report a 1 year-old female patient with severe hypotonia who has congenital hypothyroidism and Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). At birth she was found to have congenital hypothyroidism caused by an ectopic sublingual thyroid gland and was commenced on thyroid replacement therapy. She continued to have severe motor delay and therefore further diagnostic evaluation was performed.