TCK: a clinical genetics data collection system.

This work examines the database design and user interface design for a clinical genetics data collection system known as TCK. A specific design goal is automatic generation of the CORN reports. Emphasis in this paper is on how the logical data model resulting from the database design, and the user interface work together to enforce the enterprise results pertaining to data. Data screens are shown, sample queries are explained and the data mapping to the CORN reports presented.

A recessive form of congenital contractures and torticollis associated with malignant hyperthermia.

Two families are presented, each with two affected sibs, all four of whom seem to have a newly described and specific form of congenital contractures (arthrogryposis). The affected subjects have congenital torticollis, dysmorphic, asymmetrical, myopathic facial features, and progressive scoliosis. Two sibs had cleft palate. Malignant hyperthermia has occurred in two of the patients.

Detection of neural tube defects with alpha-fetoprotein measurement in amniotic fluid. A protocol for managing elevated values.

The clinical efficacy of rocket immunoelectrophoresis (RIE) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods for the measurement of amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were compared in separate series of over 1,000 pregnancies each. Using a mean +3 SD limit, 21 of 1,414 pregnancies monitored with RIE and 21 of 1,006 monitored with RIA were interpreted as having borderline elevated values. Five of the elevated AFP values in each series represented abnormal fetuses. No neural tube defects went undetected, although one was recognized only with ultrasound. Only two of seven abnormal fetuses had a family history of neural tube defects, indicating that maternal serum AFP measurement is an important preventive measure in pregnancies that are not recognized as at high risk. The data support the use of commercially available RIA kits for amniotic fluid AFP measurement and suggest a protocol for management of elevated values.

Apert syndrome with frontonasal encephalocele.

We describe a female infant with Apert syndrome (acrocephalosyndactyly, type I) and a frontonasal encephalocele with unremarkable family history.

HeLa cell identification by analysis of ribosomal DNA segment patterns generated by endonuclease restriction.

Restriction endonuclease analysis of HeLa cells and cells in which origins have been questioned provides evidence in favor of a HeLa cell origin for the questioned cells. Digestion of cellular human DNA reveals a variable ribosomal DNA (rDNA) fragment that is present in up to four discrete sizes. Cell lines of known and suspected HeLa origin contain only two size variants. This pattern of variability serves to distinguish HeLa-derived cells from others. Despite repeated passage and divergence of the HeLa phenotype and karyotype, the restriction pattern is remarkably constant.

Molecular analysis of cloned human 18S ribosomal DNA segments.

A fraction of DNA from the human fetal lung fibroblast line IMR-90, 30-fold enriched for ribosomal DNA, was cloned in the lambda phage vector Charon 16A. Of 978 clones assayed by hybridization to a mixture of 125I-labeled 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA, 11 recombinants containing a 3.8-megadalton segment of human 18S ribosomal DNA were identified. Restriction endonuclease analysis of these clones demonstrated variation only in orientation of the human gene segment within the phage vector. Restriction sites that we had previously detected from analysis of restriction products of unfractionated human DNA by using the Southern transfer method were also present in the cloned DNA segment. Recombinant DNA technology thus provides a valid and efficient means to define structural conservation or variation within families of human genes.

Cysteine activation in cultured cystinotic cells. The specific activity of cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase and tRNACys and the determination of the Michaelis-Menten constants for cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase.

This study explored the possibility whether an altered cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase might lead to the faulty regulation of cyst(e)ine levels in cystinotic cells. This hypotheses is attractive, since amino acid activation is important in the regulation of amino acid metabolism in microorganisms. By using cultured fibroblasts from patients with cystinosis, those cell components responsible for cysteine activation were examined: cyst(e)ine, the cysteinyl-tRNA levels, cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase activity, and the K(m) of cysteine, ATP, and tRNA(Cys) for cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase, Fibroblasts from two patients with the infantile form of cystinosis were labeled for three days with [(35)S]-cystine. In comparison with normal cells, these cells contained high levels of free cysteine and cystine. Labeled fibroblasts from a patient with the adolescent form of the disease contained elevated levels of cystine, although elevated cysteine levels were not detected. The ratio of acceptor activity of tRNA(Cys) to tRNA(Leu) in cystinotic cells was 0.46 in cystinotic cells and 0.54 in normal cells. The specific activity of cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase measured in fibroblasts of two infantile and one adolescent form was: 6.1, 2.2, and 2.1 pmol of [(14)C]aminoacyl-tRNA formed/mug protein/10 min, respectively. In addition, the cysteine K(m)'s for the same cells, respectively, were: 3.1 muM, 1.5 muM, and 1.2 muM. The corresponding data for specific activities of two normal cell lines were 2.0 and 5.1 pmol [(14)C]aminoacyl tRNA formed/mug protein/10 min, with K(m)'s of 3.0 muM and 1.7 muM. These data indicate that cystinotic cells contain levels of tRNA(Cys) and Cys-tRNA synthetase comparable to normal cells. In addition, within the cystinotic cells, the relative level of the Cys-tRNA synthetase and tRNA(Cys) to those of leucine and alanine are comparable to normal cells. Finally, the K(m) of Cys-tRNA synthetase for ATP and tRNA is similar in normal and cystinotic cells.