Friedreich's ataxia (FA) associated with diabetes mellitus type 1 and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: analysis of a FA family.

Progressive signs of ataxia in a eight year old girl with hypo-active knee and ankle jerks, prompted the analysis of the frataxin gene (FXN; 606829). The most common molecular abnormality--GAA trinucleotide repeat expansion in intron 1--was found with +300 GAA repeats (1490 bp) (normal individuals have 5 to 30 GAA repeats expansions, whereas affected individuals have from 70 to more than 1000 GAA triplets). Additionally she had unstable gait with incoordination of limb movements, impairment of position and vibratory senses, dysarthria, pes cavus, positive Babinski sign and scoliosis.

Friedreich ataxia (FA) associated with diabetes mellitus type 1 and hyperthrophic cardiomyopathy.

Progressive signs of ataxia in a eight years old girl prompted neurological investigation. The girl had unstable gait with incoordination of limb movements, impairment of position and vibratory senses, dysarthria, pes cavus, positive Babinski sign and scoliosis. At the age of fourteen the girl was referred in a comatose condition, in a severe diabetic ketoacidosis.

Protein-energy malnutrition as the first manifestation of cystic fibrosis in infancy.

Background: The protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) that is characterized by hypoproteinemia, edema, and anemia has been reported in 5-13% of infants with cystic fibrosis (CF). Due to the surprising higher incidence of PEM as the first presenting manifestation of CF in Macedonia, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible risk factors in its development.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory profiles (hemoglobin, red blood cell count, total serum protein, serum albumin and liver enzyme levels) and genotype data were analyzed in 115 newly diagnosed infants with CF, during the period 1990-2006.

Screening for liver disease in cystic fibrosis: analysis of clinical and genetic risk factors for its development.

This study analyzes the prevalence and the role of possible clinical and genetic risk factors for the development of cystic fibrosis (CF)-related liver disease (LD) in a Macedonian CF population. All patients older than three years (n=52) were screened for LD. LD was defined by the finding of hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly, significant and persistent increase of at least two serum liver enzyme levels, suggestive ultrasonographic abnormalities (score >4), and morphologic or functional scintigraphic abnormalities.

Hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis: case report and a family study.

A 7-month-old male infant was referred for investigation after a documented febrile urinary tract infection. His past medical history was characterized by episodes of unexplained fever and mild dehydration. The ultrasound examination of his kidneys demonstrated bilateral diffuse medullary nephrocalcinosis.

Metabolic alkalosis with hypoelectrolytemia in infants with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) can develop episodes of hyponatremic hypochloremic dehydration with metabolic alkalosis when they sweat excessively, which is not caused by sweating in normal infants. We investigated the incidence of the metabolic alkalosis with hypoelectrolytemia in CF infants, the possible risk factors for its occurrence and the importance of the manifestation in the diagnosis of CF.

Methods: In order to evaluate the incidence and the risk factors for the development of this sweat-related metabolic disorder in CF, we reviewed the records of all children diagnosed as having CF before the age of 12 months in a 10-year period.

Molecular basis of cystic fibrosis in the Republic of Macedonia.

Eighty-three cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and their families, belonging to various ethnic groups living in the Republic of Macedonia were studied for molecular defects in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, and for the associated extragenic marker loci XV-2c and KM19. The DNA methodology used included characterization of CFTR mutations in 19 exons (and flanking sequences) of the gene and analysis of distribution of the XV-2c/KM19 haplotypes among normal (N) and CF chromosomes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification followed by dot blot hybridization, restriction digestion, single-strand conformational polymorphism, constant denaturing gel electrophoresis, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and sequencing. We identified 58.

Two new mutations (1811 + 1G-->C and Y569C) identified in the CFTR gene in patients of Macedonian and Croatian origin.

Two novel CFTR gene mutations were identified in one patient of the Macedonian and Croatian origin, respectively. The two mutations were detected by the method of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (a splicing mutation 1811 + 1G-->C) in intron 11, and by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis (a missence mutation Y569C) in exon 12. The mutations were characterized by direct sequencing of amplified DNA, according to Sanger.

A new polymorphism in exon 7 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene.

Here we describe a new polymorphism, located in exon 7 of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene at nucleotide position 1104 (C-->G), detected by a single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis.

Hb Volga [beta 27(B9)Ala-->Asp]: detection of a de novo mutation by Ava II digestion of PCR-amplified DNA.

Hb Volga was observed as a de novo mutation in a 5-year-old boy from Tuzla, Bosnia and Hercegovina, who exhibited severe Heinz body hemolytic anemia. The variant was detected and quantitated at 10.6% by a reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure.