Metric analysis of the hard palate in children with Down syndrome: a comparative study.

The hard palate is viewed as playing an important role in the passive articulation of speech. Its probable role in the defective articulation of speech in individuals with Down syndrome has been examined in the present study. In individuals with Down syndrome, the hard palate is highly arched, constricted, and narrow and stair type with malformed misaligned teeth and a large and fissured tongue. As a result good palato-lingual contact is not achieved, with resulting defective articulation. Using orthodontic and prosthodontic principles could modify this situation, i.e. the anatomy of the hard palate. The altered palatal contour may give better placing to the tongue, leading to improved palato-lingual contact and articulation. The dimensional parameters measured were: average linear width (AVL), average curvilinear width (AVCL), average height (AVH) at different planes; average antero-posterior length (AAP), average volume (V), palatal arch length (PAL), and palatal index (PI). The findings were compared with those of controls of the same age and sex. The AVL, AVCL, AAP, PAL, V and PI values of patients with Down syndrome were found to be less than the corresponding values of controls and the average height values of patients with Down syndrome were greater than the corresponding values of controls. Statistical significance was observed in all measurements between the controls and the patients with Down syndrome, especially in those concerning the height and the volume of the oral cavity. Observations from this study have suggested that prostheses might be designed to modify the palatal anatomy and produce better articulation in people with Down syndrome.

Cytogenetic studies in amenorrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To study the frequency of the chromosomal abnormality (CA), referred for karyotyping, and counseling in individuals with primary amenorrhea (PA) and secondary amenorrhea (SA). METHODS: We report on a retrospective survey of 865 women with amenorrhea (620-PA and 245-SA) at the Division of Human Genetics, Department of Anatomy, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, India from 1973 to 2005. RESULTS: The frequency of the CA in amenorrhea was 23.35%, while PA was 26.13%, and SA was 16.33%. Numerical CA was prevalent in 45.54% of the total; 43.83% in PA, and 52.5% in SA. In numerical chromosomal abnormality, the observed karyotypes were: 45,X; 47,XXX; X mosaicism (45,X/46,XX; 45,XX/46,XX/47,XXX; 45,X/47,XXX; 46,XX/47,XXX); Y mosaicism (45,X/46,XY; 45,X/47,XYY); and others: 46,XX/47,XX+10; 46,XX/46,XY; 46,XX/47,XXY. In addition, is the presence of 46,XY female condition in 63 cases (31.19%), out of which 34.57% were detected to be associated with primary, and 17.5% with SA. Included in the structural chromosomal anomaly were: 46,X,i(Xq); reciprocal translocation [46,XX,t(9;14)]; Robertsonian translocation (13;14); X; autosomal translocations (X;12 and X;14); deletion/duplication/ fragment/isochromosome/marker/ring formation associated either with the long or the short arms of X chromosome; 46,XX,9q-; 46,XX/46,XX,3p(break); in a pure free status or mostly in mosaic status. CONCLUSION: The present study has emphasized that karyotyping is one of the fundamental investigations in the evaluation of amenorrhea. It has highlighted CA, one of the genetic etiology as the causal factor in amenorrhea.

A novel human sex-determining gene linked to Xp11.21-11.23.

CONTEXT: The molecular basis for about 70-80% of 46,XY sex-reversed females remains unexplained, because they carry normal copies of the genes (SRY, SOX9, DAX1, DMRT, SF1, WT1) involved in sex determination pathway. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to map the chromosomal locus responsible for an unexplained sex-reversed phenotype. DESIGN: The study implemented a genome-wide scan using families with multiple sex-reversed individuals. SETTING: The patients, along with the family members, were selected from different hospitals/reproductive centers. PARTICIPANTS: Sex-reversed individuals and their siblings and parents participated in the study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Identification of the chromosomal locus responsible for sex reversal in these families and sequence analysis of candidate genes were the main outcome measures. RESULTS: Parametric linkage analysis revealed a maximum two-point LOD score of 5.70 with marker DXS991 (Xp11.21) and 4.57 with marker DXS1039 (Xp11.23-Xp11.22), and a multipoint LOD score of 5.77 with marker DXS991 and 5.22 with marker DXS1039. The two markers (DXS991 and DXS1039) with highest LOD score span approximately 3.41 cM (75.79-79.2 cM) on the short arm of the X-chromosome. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide evidence for a major susceptibility locus for sex reversal/gonadal dysgenesis on the short arm of the X-chromosome (Xp11.21-11.23). Furthermore, molecular exploration of the expression of candidate genes in the embryonic gonad/gonadal ridge will help in the identification of the underlying gene for sex reversal.

Dermatoglyphics in rheumatoid arthritis.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been referred to Division of Human Genetics for counselling. Qualitative dermatoglyphics comprising of finger print pattern, interdigital pattern, hypothenar pattern and palmar crease were studied on 26 female and 11 male rheumatoid arthritis patients. Comparison between patient male and control male; and patient female and control female has been done. 'Chi' square test was performed. In male patients, with hands together, arches were increased, loops/ whorls were decreased. Partial Simian crease was significantly increased. In the right hand, patterns were increased in the 3rd interdigital area. On the other hand, in female patients there was a significant increase in whorls and decrease in loops on the first finger on both the hands, increase in arches on the 3rd finger; both arches and whorls on the 4th finger of left hand. Present study has emphasized that dermatoglyphics could be applied as a diagnostic tool to patients with rheumatoid arthritis.