Publications by authors named "Lacson A"

The prevalence of pediatric serological negative celiac disease (SNCD) is poorly described, with few recognized clinical predictors beyond immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency or reduced gluten intake. The purpose of this retrospective review was to describe the prevalence of SNCD at the Stollery Children's Hospital and identify clinical features to help in recognition of these cases. Patients with a positive biopsy and negative serology (SNCD) were compared to those with positive biopsy and serology.

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Lafora disease is an autosomal recessive glycogen-storage disorder resulting from an accumulation of toxic polyglucosan bodies (PGBs) in the central nervous system, which causes behavioral and neurologic symptoms in humans and other animals. In this case study, brains collected from two young adult free-ranging moose () cows that were seemingly blind and found walking in circles were examined by light and electron microscopy. Microscopic analysis of the hippocampus of the brain revealed inclusion bodies resembling PGBs in the neuronal perikaryon, neuronal processes, and neuropil.

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Malignant mesothelioma is a neoplasm of serosal surfaces, most commonly affecting the pleura. The peritoneum, pericardium, and tunica vaginalis are less frequently involved. Malignant mesothelioma with fusion in young adults was recently reported in the literature.

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Background: Germline pathogenic variants impairing the caspase recruitment domain family member 11 (CARD11)-B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/lymphoma 10 (BCL10)-MALT1 paracaspase (MALT1) (CBM) complex are associated with diverse human diseases including combined immunodeficiency (CID), atopy, and lymphoproliferation. However, the impact of CARD11 deficiency on human B-cell development, signaling, and function is incompletely understood.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the cellular, immunological, and biochemical basis of disease for 2 unrelated patients who presented with profound CID associated with viral and fungal respiratory infections, interstitial lung disease, and severe colitis.

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Unilateral pulmonary vein atresia (UPVA) is a rare congenital vascular malformation with obliteration of the pulmonary vein. We present a case series of three siblings with variable presentation of UPVA. We suggest a dominant genetic cause based on different paternity.

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Background: Controversy exists about optimal methods for duodenal biopsy in diagnosis of celiac disease (CD), in terms of both number of samples and anatomic location. The reliability of duodenal bulb biopsy has been questioned given that normal bulb architecture may mimic disease. However, multiple studies have reported patients with CD have histopathological lesions limited to proximal changes in the duodenal bulb alone.

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A multimetric approach was used to detect structural, compositional, and functional shifts in the underlying macrobenthic communities of an offshore mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) farm in a Portuguese Aquaculture Production Area. Sampling stations distributed inside and outside this area were used to evaluate sediment descriptors and macrobenthic samples collected before (April and September 2010) and after (June and September 2014) the initiation of mussel farming. Sediment fine fraction, organic matter content, and trace element concentrations were found to increase with depth, independently from the mussel farm.

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A subset of a larger and heterogeneous class of disorders, the congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are caused by pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins that support the integrity and function of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). A central component of the NMJ is the sodium-dependent high-affinity choline transporter 1 (CHT1), a solute carrier protein (gene symbol SLC5A7), responsible for the reuptake of choline into nerve termini has recently been implicated as one of several autosomal recessive causes of CMS. We report the identification and functional characterization of a novel pathogenic variant in SLC5A7, c.

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GNE myopathy is characterized by distal muscle weakness, and caused by recessive mutations in . Its onset is characteristically in young adulthood, although a broad spectrum of onset age is known to exist. A large number of mutations in are pathogenic and this clinical phenotype can be difficult to differentiate clinically from other late-onset myopathies.

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Background: Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is an ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV; ANCA denotes antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody) that causes necrotizing inflammation of small blood vessels. Renal and pulmonary manifestations are common whereas central nervous system (CNS) involvement, and in particular spinal disease, is rare.

Methods: We reviewed a case of MPA presenting with spinal intradural hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage.

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Primary coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deficiencies are rare, clinically heterogeneous disorders caused by mutations in several genes encoding proteins involved in CoQ10 biosynthesis. CoQ10 is an essential component of the electron transport chain (ETC), where it shuttles electrons from complex I or II to complex III. By whole-exome sequencing, we identified five individuals carrying biallelic mutations in COQ4.

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Fungal respiratory infections in patients with CF are a significant concern both pre- and post-lung transplantation (LTx). Fungal infection is associated with increased mortality post-LTx, and in the past decade, the prevalence of fungal colonization in Canadian pediatric patients with CF has increased. The emergence of novel fungal pathogens is particularly challenging to the transplant community, as little is known regarding their virulence and optimal management.

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IMPORTANCE Diprosopus is a medical condition that refers to full or partial craniofacial duplication. A particular subset of this condition, duplication of the mouth, is an exceedingly rare condition, with 7 reported cases in the medical literature. The embryogenesis and mechanism of disease are not well understood.

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Diarrhea is a common manifestation of disease in recipients of intestinal transplants. Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate administration has been associated with significant bowel injury. Recognizing the diagnosis requires clinical awareness and comprehensive review of intestinal biopsies.

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A neonate with pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis, pulmonary hypertension, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is described. The fatal outcome for this patient contrasts with the reported favorable prognosis associated with isolated pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis. To the authors' knowledge, the association of pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has not been reported previously.

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Protracted diarrhea is used to describe infants with loose and frequent stools of sufficient severity to require nutritional support, most commonly parenteral nutrition. Despite similar clinical presentations, the causes of protracted diarrhea in infants are varied and diverse in management and prognosis. The following cases represent the two more common causes of protracted diarrhea in young infants in the developed world - allergic and autoimmune enteropathy.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the long-term effects of non-myeloablative bone marrow transplants in BXSB mice using matched donor cells, focusing on different sources of donor lymphocytes and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC).
  • Results showed that mice receiving both bone marrow and MSC (BMT + MSC group) had significantly better outcomes in survival rates and reduced kidney damage compared to controls exposed only to radiation.
  • While MSC alone did not fully prevent kidney disease, they appeared to help regulate certain immune cell populations, highlighting the role of the innate immune system in disease and potential immunomodulatory effects of MSC.
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The Aicardi syndrome is characterized by infantile spasms, corpus callosum agenesis, and chorioretinal lacunae and almost exclusively affects females (very rarely, 47, XXY males). The crucial genetic mishap likely occurs in the postzygotic stage, but the variable clinical phenotype among the approximately 450 known cases has not been explained. No consistent mutations or deletions exist among patients.

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An esophageal mucocele causing airway obstruction is an exceptionally rare complication of esophageal diversion in children. In this instance, they are fluid-filled dilatations of the esophageal remnant following bipolar exclusion of the thoracic esophagus. Only six pediatric cases have been reported previously in the literature.

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Complete hydatidiform mole is an abnormal conceptus characterized by hydropic villi accompanied by proliferating trophoblasts. Its pathogenesis is largely unknown. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase is induced by vascular endothelial growth factor and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and other physiologic conditions in the placenta.

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