Genetic predisposition to fetal and neonatal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal tumors represent an extremely rare and heterogeneous disease with an unknown etiology. Due to its early onset, it has been proposed that genetic factors could play a critical role; however, germline genetic analysis is not usually performed in neonatal cancer patients PATIENTS AND METHODS: To improve the identification of cancer genetic predisposition syndromes, we retrospectively review clinical characteristics in 45 patients with confirmed tumor diagnosis before 28 days of age, and we carried out germline genetic analysis in 20 patients using next-generation sequencing and directed sequencing. RESULTS: The genetic studies did not find any germline mutation except patients diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma who harbored RB1 germline mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that genetic factors have almost no higher impact in most neonatal tumors. However, since the heterogeneity of the tumors and the small sample size analyzed, we recommend complementary and centralized germline studies to discard the early onset as an additional criterion to take into account to improve the identification of cancer genetic predisposition syndromes in neonates.

Locomotion and postures of red howlers in a deciduous forest-savanna interface.

Positional (postural and locomotor) patterns and substrates used by the seven adults of a free-ranging troop of red howling monkeys (Alouatta seniculus) were identified and sampled during their feeding and resting. Traveling patterns and substrates were noted but not quantified. Arboreal locomotor behaviors were pronograde quadrupedalism, some leaping, bridging, lowering, and pull up. Sitting and reclining were the most frequent postures. Tail suspension and arboreal bipedal stance were used when feeding. Predominant locomotor behaviors were those in which limbs appeared to be compression stressed. There were no limbs suspensions. The monkeys used the entire tree canopy, that of the low shrubs, and did a good deal of travel on the ground. The lack of forelimb suspension is attributed to the inability of these howlers to hang beneath supports and look forward at the same time; the impediment is created by the size of the vocal organs in the neck. The locomotion of these monkeys is offered to depict that of Aegyptopithecus zeuxis.