Genetic variation of FOXE1 and risk for orofacial clefts in a California population.

We investigated whether orofacial clefts are associated with polymorphic variation within and around FOXE1. This California population-based case control study focused on white Hispanic and white nonHispanic infants among which there were 262 infants with cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P), 103 with cleft palate only (CPO), and 382 unaffected controls. These cases and controls were genotyped for 13 SNPs across 220 Kb at the FOXE1 Locus.

Identification of novel candidate gene loci and increased sex chromosome aneuploidy among infants with conotruncal heart defects.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are common malformations, affecting four to eight per 1,000 total births. Conotruncal defects are an important pathogenetic subset of CHDs, comprising nearly 20% of the total. Although both environmental and genetic factors are known to contribute to the occurrence of conotruncal defects, the causes remain unknown for most.

Considering the vascular hypothesis for the pathogenesis of small intestinal atresia: a case control study of genetic factors.

Small intestinal atresia (SIA) is a rare congenital occlusion of the small intestine. SIA development, particularly in the jejunum and ileum, has been associated with in utero disruption of vascular supply. However, the number of studies of the vascular hypothesis is limited.

Evidence for rosettes as an unrecognized stage in the life cycle of Leishmania parasites.

Leishmania parasites, which afflict 12 million people in 88 countries, exist as promastigotes transmitted by insect vectors and as amastigotes residing in mammalian macrophages. Promastigote cells arranged in rosettes have also been described but universally disregarded as a distinct stage in the life cycle. We present evidence that only rosettes of Leishmania major promastigotes express cell surface poly-alpha2,8 N-acetyl neuraminic acid (PSA) and PSA containing de-N-acetyl neuraminic acid (NeuPSA).

Association of congenital cardiovascular malformations with 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms of selected cardiovascular disease-related genes.

Introduction: Clark (1996) proposed that abnormal blood flow is related to some congenital cardiovascular malformations (CCVMs), particularly CCVM with obstruction to blood flow. Our hypothesis is that CCVMs may relate to genes that affect blood coagulation or flow. We studied whether polymorphisms of such genes are related to CCVMs; previous association of these SNPs to conotruncal CCVMs is described.

Targeting nanodisks via a single chain variable antibody--apolipoprotein chimera.

Nanodisks (ND) are nanometer scale complexes of phospholipid and apolipoprotein that have been shown to function as drug delivery vehicles. ND harboring significant quantities of the antifungal agent, amphotericin B, or the bioactive isoprenoid, all trans retinoic acid, have been generated and characterized. As currently formulated, ND possess limited targeting capability.

Chromosomal abnormalities among children born with conotruncal cardiac defects.

Background: Conotruncal heart defects compose 25% to 30% of nonsyndromic congenital heart defects. This study describes the frequency of chromosome abnormalities and microdeletion of 22q11 associated among infants and fetuses delivered with conotruncal heart malformations.

Methods: From a population base of 974,579 infants/fetuses delivered, 622 California infants/fetuses were ascertained with a defect of aortopulmonary septation.

Genetic susceptibilities in the association between maternal exposure to tobacco smoke and the risk of nonsyndromic oral cleft.

Maternal tobacco consumption is considered as a risk factor for nonsyndromic oral clefts. However, this risk is moderate and may be modulated by genetic susceptibilities, including variants of the TGFA, TGFB3 and MSX1 developmental genes and polymorphisms of genes of the CYP (1A1, 2E1) and GST (M1, T1) families involved in metabolic pathways of tobacco smoke compounds. This French case-control study (1998-2001; 240 nonsyndromic cases, 236 controls) included a case-parent design (175 triad-families) that made it possible to distinguish the direct effect of the child's genotype and maternally mediated effects.

Gastroschisis: a gene-environment model involving the VEGF-NOS3 pathway.

Gastroschisis is a severe major malformation in which an infant is delivered with a portion of intestines and possible other abdominal organs extruding through a defect in the abdominal wall, usually to the right of the umbilical cord. Etiologies of gastroschisis are largely unknown, and even its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Several recent epidemiological studies have identified interactions between maternal smoking during pregnancy, genetic variants of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, and risk for gastroschisis.

NAT2 variation and idiopathic talipes equinovarus (clubfoot).

Idiopathic talipes equinovarus (ITEV), or isolated clubfoot, is a common developmental anomaly that is characterized by a rigid foot, adducted forefoot, cavus midfoot, equinovarus of the hindfoot, and hypoplastic calf musculature. The etiology of this common birth defect is largely unknown, but genetic factors have been implicated in population and family studies and maternal smoking during pregnancy has been identified as an environmental risk factor. The biotransformation of exogenous substances, such as tobacco smoke, is modulated by numerous genes including N-acetylation genes, NAT1 and NAT2.

Association between 49 infant gene polymorphisms and preterm delivery.

The occurrence of preterm delivery has been increasing in the U.S. Previous studies have identified risk factors for preterm delivery that may have genetic influences.

Maternal smoking during early pregnancy, GSTP1 and EPHX1 variants, and risk of isolated orofacial clefts.

Objective: To examine the interactions between four fetal xenobiotic metabolizing gene polymorphisms, maternal cigarette smoking, and risk for oral cleft defects.

Design And Participants: California population-based case-control study of 431 infants born with isolated orofacial clefts and 299 nonmalformed controls.

Main Outcome Measures: Infants were genotyped for functional polymorphisms of the detoxification enzymes microsomal epoxide hydrolase-1 (EPHX1 T-->C [Tyr113His], and A-->G [His139Arg]), and glutathione-S transferase Pi-1 (GSTP1 A-->G [Ile105Val] and C-->T [Ala114Val]), and risks for cleft outcomes were measured for gene only and gene-maternal smoking effects.

Association between a leukotriene C4 synthase gene promoter polymorphism and coronary artery calcium in young women: the Muscatine Study.

Objective: A majority of the recognized risk factors for atherosclerosis and the development of cardiovascular disease have been derived from the study of older populations who have already manifested clinical symptoms. If risk factors can be identified earlier in life, such as genetic variation, preventive measures may be taken before overt symptoms of pathology have manifested, and when treatments may be most effective.

Methods And Results: In an effort to identify individuals at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, we genotyped 732 members of the Muscatine Study Longitudinal Adult Cohort for candidate genetic markers associated with several pathogenetic processes.

Selected gene polymorphisms and their interaction with maternal smoking, as risk factors for gastroschisis.

Background: Gastroschisis is a severe birth defect in which the infant is born with a portion of the intestines extruding through a small tear in the abdominal wall, usually to the right of the umbilical cord. Its etiology is unknown, but the prevailing hypothesis is that it results from a vascular accident at the time of involution of the right umbilical vein or of the development of the superior mesenteric artery.

Methods: In a case-control study of 57 cases of gastroschisis and 506 controls, we tested DNA for polymorphisms of 32 genes representing enzymes involved in angiogenesis, blood vessel integrity, inflammation, wound repair, and dermal or epidermal strength.

Risks of human limb deficiency anomalies associated with 29 SNPs of genes involved in homocysteine metabolism, coagulation, cell-cell interactions, inflammatory response, and blood pressure regulation.

This study explored risks of limb deficiency anomalies associated with 29 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes involved in homocysteine metabolism, coagulation, cell-cell interaction, inflammatory response, and blood pressure regulation. The authors genotyped 96 cases and 437 non-malformed controls from a California population-based case-control study (1987-1988 birth cohort). Increased risk of limb anomaly was observed for three SNPs: heterozygosity for F5 Arg506Gln, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.

Candidate gene polymorphisms do not differ between newborns with stroke and normal controls.

Background And Purpose: Neonatal stroke is increasingly recognized with an estimated incidence of one in 4000 live births per year. Pathways involved in the pathophysiology of neonatal stroke are diverse and may include thrombosis and thrombolysis, vascular reactivity, and inflammation.

Methods: We compared frequencies of polymorphisms in genes regulating thrombosis and thrombolysis, nitric oxide, cytokines, vascular tone, and cell adhesion in a hospital-based cohort of 59 newborns with stroke relative to a random sample of 437 California newborns.

Risk of limb deficiency defects associated with NAT1, NAT2, GSTT1, GSTM1, and NOS3 genetic variants, maternal smoking, and vitamin supplement intake.

Increasing epidemiologic evidence suggests that genetic susceptibilities contribute to birth defects risks, especially in combination with other environmental exposures. This analysis examines the association of risk of limb deficiency defects with infant genotypes for N-acetyltranferases (NAT1, NAT2), glutathione-S-tranferases (GSTT1, GSTM1), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3). The combined effects of infant genotype with maternal smoking and supplement intake were also examined.

Recovery of genomic DNA from residual frozen archival blood clots suitable for amplification and use in genotyping assays.

A greatly neglected source of DNA potentially useful for genetic or forensic studies is the clot remaining from blood samples collected for serum chemistry measurements. We have investigated the utility of residual clots remaining from venipunctures collected for California's Expanded Maternal Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Screening Program. We report a protocol based on the salting out method for the extraction of DNA from samples which have been archived and frozen for up to 2.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) genetic variants, maternal smoking, vitamin use, and risk of human orofacial clefts.

Orofacial clefts have been associated with maternal cigarette smoking and lack of folic acid supplementation (which results in higher plasma homocysteine concentrations). Because endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) activity influences homocysteine concentration and because smoking compromises NOS3 activity, genetic variation in NOS3 might interact with smoking and folic acid use in clefting risk. The authors genotyped 244 infants with isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P), 99 with isolated cleft palate, and 588 controls from a California population-based case-control study (1987-1989 birth cohort) for two NOS3 polymorphisms: A(-922)G and G894T.

Maternal smoking, genetic variation of glutathione s-transferases, and risk for orofacial clefts.

Background: Maternal smoking is a known risk factor for orofacial clefts. We investigated whether risk is greater among offspring who lack the genetic capacity to produce glutathione S-transferase enzymes relevant to detoxification of chemicals in cigarette smoke.

Methods: Using a population-based case-control design, we genotyped 423 California infants with an isolated cleft and 294 nonmalformed controls for null variants of the glutathione S-transferases GSTT1 and GSTM1.

Risks of human conotruncal heart defects associated with 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms of selected cardiovascular disease-related genes.

Investigating possible genetic polymorphisms and gene-environment interactions in the etiology of human conotruncal defects is a prudent research approach. In this study we explore gene-only and gene-environment effects of 32 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on conotruncal defect risks. The genes bearing these SNPs participate in one of five pathogenetic processes, homocysteine metabolism, coagulation, cell-cell interaction, inflammatory response, and blood pressure regulation.

Genetic polymorphisms and cerebral palsy in very preterm infants.

In the present study, we examine whether selected genetic polymorphisms contribute to the development of cerebral palsy (CP) in very preterm infants. Subjects were 96 singleton infants with later-diagnosed CP and 119 control children, white non-Hispanic (n for CP=74, controls=88) or white Hispanic (CP=22, controls=31), born <32 wk gestation. Presence of CP was identified through state service agencies, with review of medical records.

Periconceptional multivitamin intake during early pregnancy, genetic variation of acetyl-N-transferase 1 (NAT1), and risk for orofacial clefts.

Background: Periconceptional supplementation of multivitamins that include folic acid have been shown to prevent several birth defects, including neural tube defects and orofacial clefts. We investigated whether polymorphic variants of fetal acetyl-N-transferase 1 (NAT1), an enzyme involved in the catabolism of folates, differentially interacted with maternal multivitamin use during early pregnancy to alter the risk of delivering an infant with an orofacial cleft malformation.

Methods: Using a large population-based case-control study, we genotyped 421 California infants born with an isolated cleft and 299 controls for two NAT1 polymorphisms.

Maternal smoking and the risk of orofacial clefts: Susceptibility with NAT1 and NAT2 polymorphisms.

Background: Orofacial clefts are etiologically heterogeneous malformations. One probable cause is maternal smoking during pregnancy. The effect of maternal smoking may be modified by genes involved in biotransformation of toxic compounds derived from tobacco.