Discordance for Cornelia de Lange syndrome in twins. (1/85)

A male infant, the first-born of twins, with features of Cornealia de Lange syndrome is described. His normal twin was discordnat for 3 of the 14 blood loci tested. Chromosomes from the affected infant appeared normal. Though the aetiological basis for the Cornealia de Lange syndrome remains obscure, most authorities accept genetic rather than environmental causation. The present findings of discordance for Cornelia de Lange syndrome in twins support this view but do not clarify the mode of inheritance.  (+info)

The de Lange syndrome in one of twins. (2/85)

A pair of female monozygotic twins, one of them affected by the de Lange syndrome is described for the first time. Monozygosity was established by most of the accepted standards in use at the present time. Speculation is offered as to whether the discordance in the manifestation of the syndrome provides any clues for understanding its controversial pathogenesis. In this regard two genetic mechanisms are discussed. One is the hypothesis of a chromosomal or mitotic instability. The other possibility would be a postzygotic new mutation of a gene or large effect.  (+info)

Behavioural phenotype of Cornelia de Lange syndrome. (3/85)

A postal questionnaire was used to study 49 individuals with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (including both the classical and the mild forms) to ascertain behavioural phenotype. Ages ranged from early childhood to adulthood (mean age, 10.2 years; SD, 7.8) and the degree of mental retardation from borderline (10%), through mild (8%), moderate (18%), and severe (20%) to profound (43%). A wide variety of symptoms occurred frequently, notably hyperactivity (40%), self injury (44%), daily aggression (49%), and sleep disturbance (55%). These correlated closely with the presence of an autistic like syndrome and with the degree of mental retardation. The frequency and severity of disturbance, continuing beyond childhood, is important when planning the amount and duration of support required by parents.  (+info)

Power Doppler imaging of the fetal upper aerodigestive tract using a 4-point standardized evaluation: preliminary report. (4/85)

OBJECTIVE: Our investigation of fetal swallowing has identified potential limitations in the use of color Doppler imaging for detection of amniotic fluid flow and discrimination of respiratory from ingestive activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate an alternative imaging modality, power Doppler sonography, as a technique to enhance detection of amniotic fluid flow in the upper aerodigestive tract. METHODS: We applied a standardized 4-axis sonographic examination of upper aerodigestive structures and used power Doppler imaging to document amniotic fluid flow. Normal aerodigestive activities from 62 healthy control subjects were compared with 4 abnormal cases. RESULTS: Our longitudinal experience with 66 subjects showed that a directed evaluation of the fetal upper aerodigestive tract with power Doppler imaging provided a systematic approach for studying the physiologic development of this region in both healthy and at-risk fetuses. CONCLUSIONS: A standardized 4-axis examination with power Doppler imaging is a useful adjunct in addressing ingestive and respiratory functions in the developing fetus.  (+info)

NIPBL mutational analysis in 120 individuals with Cornelia de Lange syndrome and evaluation of genotype-phenotype correlations. (5/85)

The Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a multisystem developmental disorder characterized by facial dysmorphia, upper-extremity malformations, hirsutism, cardiac defects, growth and cognitive retardation, and gastrointestinal abnormalities. Both missense and protein-truncating mutations in NIPBL, the human homolog of the Drosophila melanogaster Nipped-B gene, have recently been reported to cause CdLS. The function of NIPBL in mammals is unknown. The Drosophila Nipped-B protein facilitates long-range enhancer-promoter interactions and plays a role in Notch signaling and other developmental pathways, as well as being involved in mitotic sister-chromatid cohesion. We report the spectrum and distribution of NIPBL mutations in a large well-characterized cohort of individuals with CdLS. Mutations were found in 56 (47%) of 120 unrelated individuals with sporadic or familial CdLS. Statistically significant phenotypic differences between mutation-positive and mutation-negative individuals were identified. Analysis also suggested a trend toward a milder phenotype in individuals with missense mutations than in those with other types of mutations.  (+info)

Adherin: key to the cohesin ring and cornelia de Lange syndrome. (6/85)

Adherin facilitates sister chromatid cohesion, DNA repair and binding of the cohesin complex to chromosomes. New studies indicate that adherin activity is coordinated with DNA replication and chromosome segregation, and that its dosage is critical for gene expression and human development.  (+info)

Cornelia de-Lange syndrome. (7/85)

Cornelia De Lange syndrome is a relatively uncommon, multiple congenital anomaly / mental retardation disorder of unknown etiology. Its incidence has been reported to vary from 1 : 30,000 to 1 : 50,000 of live births, without any known racial predilection. However, it has been considered to be due to a new dominant mutation. Main clinical features of this syndrome include growth retardation, developmental delay, hirsutism, structural limb abnormalities, mental retardation and facial growth discrepancies. Main causes of death in such patients include pneumonia along with cardiac, respiratory and GI abnormalities.  (+info)

A Korean case of Cornelia de Lange syndrome. (8/85)

PURPOSE: Cornelia de Lange syndrome is a rare disease showing characteristic facial appearance, developmental delay, growth retardation, low birth weight, skeletal formation anomaly, hirsutism and various ophthalmologic problems. METHODS: We experienced a case of an 18-year-old female with Cornelia de Lange syndrome showing superficial keratitis with entropion, ptosis, high myopia, lacrimal cutaneous fistula and characteristic facial appearance. She was born with low birth weight, operated for cleft palate and diagnosed with ventricular septal defect. In addition, she showed psychological lag and developmental impairment. RESULTS: We performed entropion correction surgery, administered medical therapy for superficial keratitis and prescribed glasses for her myopia. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case report on the successful correction of entropion with Cornelia de Lange syndrome in Korea.  (+info)