DNA extraction from fixed cytogenetic cell suspensions

We developed a procedure for DNA extraction from small volumes of fixed cell suspensions previously prepared for conventional cytogenetic analysis. Good quality DNA was isolated with a fast and simple protocol using DNAzol reagent. This provided suitable DNA for various types of molecular analyses, including polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism, denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography, and direct sequencing. This technique provides sufficient material for such test, which are important for diagnosis of neoplastic diseases in pediatric patients.

FISH studies in a girl with sporadic aniridia and an apparently balanced de novo t(11; 13)(p13; q33) translocation detect a microdeletion involving the WAGR region

O estudo citogenético convencional em uma menina com aniridia esporádica resultou em uma aparente translocaçäo balanceada t(11;13)(p13;q33) de novo. Entretanto, o estudo citogenético pela hibridaçäo in situ fluorescente (FISH) detectou a presença de uma deleçäo críptica 11p13p14, incluindo a regiäo WAGR e envolvendo aproximadamente 7.5 Mb de DNA, deletando os genes PAX6 e WT1. Estes resultados correlacionam-se com o quadro clínico da paciente e a coloca em alto risco de desenvolver tumor de Wilms. A ausência de retardo mental na paciente indica que a posiçäo distal do ponto de quebra poderá refinar o mapeamento do locus retardo mental na síndrome de genes contíguos WAGR (Wilms, aniridia, anomalias genitais e retardo mental).

Xp-duplications with and without sex reversal.

Duplications in Xp including the DSS (dosage sensitive sex reversal) region cause male to female sex reversal. We investigated two patients from families with Xp duplications. The first case was one of two sisters with karyotype 46,XY,der(22),t(X;22)(p11.3;p11)mat and unambiguous female genitalia. The living sister was developmentally retarded, and showed multiple dysmorphic features and an acrocallosal syndrome. The second case was a boy with a maternally inherited direct duplication of Xp21.3-pter with the breakpoint close to the DSS locus. He had multiple abnormalities and micropenis, but otherwise unambiguous male genitalia. We performed quantitative Southern blot analysis with probes from Xp22.13 to p21.2 to define the duplicated region. Clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular data from both patients were compared with those of previously reported related cases. A comparison of the extragenital symptoms revealed no differences between patients with or without sex reversal. In both cases, the symptoms were non-specific. Among 22 patients with a duplication in Xp, nine had unambiguous female genitalia and a well-documented duplication of the DSS region. Two patients with duplication of DSS showed ambiguous external genitalia. From these data, we conclude that induction of testicular tissue may start in these patients, but that the type of genitalia depends on the degree of subsequent degeneration by a gene in DSS.

Autosomal dominant osteosclerosis type Stanescu: the third family.

We describe a family with Stanescu osteosclerosis. The propositus and his mother were short and had cortical sclerosis of the long bones, deficient facial sinus development, cranial bone malformations, and normal intelligence. To the best of our knowledge, only two such families have been described previously. The autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance of this skeletal dysplasia is reinforced, as there are many other reportedly affected relatives, including the maternal grandfather, uncles, and aunts of the propositus. The findings of wormian bones and calcification of the falx, not previously described, may be added to the phenotype.

Absent tibiae--polydactyly--triphalangeal thumbs with fibular dimelia: variable expression of the Werner (McKusick 188770) syndrome?

We report on a family in which the autosomal dominant Werner syndrome (WS) (MIM# 188770) affects ten members in three generations. Besides the absent tibiae the propositus had duplication of the fibulae. Possible pathogenetic mechanism is discussed.

Limb deficiency with or without Möbius sequence in seven Brazilian children associated with misoprostol use in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Misoprostol, a synthetic analog of prostaglandin, has been widely used in Brazil as an abortifacient. Abortion is illegal in Brazil. An uncertain number of these abortion attempts are unsuccessful and the pregnancy continues. We report on 7 patients whose mothers attempted to abort using this drug in the first trimester of gestation without success. The 7 patients presented with limb defects and in 4 of them a diagnosis of Möbius sequence was made.

RAPADILINO syndrome.

We report on a boy with severe radial hypoplasia, absent thumbs and patellae, short stature, persistent diarrhea, slender nose and normal intelligence as another example of the RAPADILINO syndrome.

Pure 4p trisomy due to a de novo 4q;22p dicentric translocated chromosome karyotype 46,XX,-22,+t(4;22)(q1200;p13).

A de novo t(4;22)(q1200;p13) is reported in a girl with a florid 4p trisomy phenotype. The abnormal chromosome was identified by high resolution, C-bands and confirmed by 5-BrdU as de novo dicentric translocated chromosome.