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Birth Defects Research. Part C, Embryo... Jun 2015Nearly 60 years ago thalidomide was prescribed to treat morning sickness in pregnant women. What followed was the biggest man-made medical disaster ever, where over... (Review)
Review
Nearly 60 years ago thalidomide was prescribed to treat morning sickness in pregnant women. What followed was the biggest man-made medical disaster ever, where over 10,000 children were born with a range of severe and debilitating malformations. Despite this, the drug is now used successfully to treat a range of adult conditions, including multiple myeloma and complications of leprosy. Tragically, a new generation of thalidomide damaged children has been identified in Brazil. Yet, how thalidomide caused its devastating effects in the forming embryo remains unclear. However, studies in the past few years have greatly enhanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms the drug. This review will look at the history of the drug, and the range and type of damage the drug caused, and outline the mechanisms of action the drug uses including recent molecular advances and new findings. Some of the remaining challenges facing thalidomide biologists are also discussed.
Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Adult; Animals; Female; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Male; Pregnancy; Teratogenesis; Teratogens; Thalidomide
PubMed: 26043938
DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.21096 -
Journal of Medicine and Life Apr 2022Fibular hemimelia is defined as a partial or complete absence of the fibula. Alongside fibular deformities, there is a wide spectrum of anomalies, foot deformities, and... (Review)
Review
Fibular hemimelia is defined as a partial or complete absence of the fibula. Alongside fibular deformities, there is a wide spectrum of anomalies, foot deformities, and absent rays. A literature review showed only a handful of cases of prenatal diagnosis of fibular hemimelia. It is a rare disorder that might be isolated or associated with visceral anomalies.
Topics: Ectromelia; Female; Fibula; Humans; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis
PubMed: 35646168
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2021-0397 -
Birth Defects Research Dec 2022Amelia and phocomelia represent severe limb reduction defects. Specific epidemiologic data on these defects are scarce. We conducted a descriptive analysis of prevalence...
BACKGROUND
Amelia and phocomelia represent severe limb reduction defects. Specific epidemiologic data on these defects are scarce. We conducted a descriptive analysis of prevalence data in Finland during 1993-2008 to clarify the epidemiology nationwide in a population-based register study. We hypothesized that increasing maternal age would affect the total prevalence of each disorder.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We collected information on all fetuses and infants affected by amelia and phocomelia during 1993-2008 from the National Register of Congenital Malformations in Finland. The clinical, laboratory, autopsy, and imaging data were re-evaluated where available for all cases found.
RESULTS
A total of 23 amelia and 7 phocomelia patients were identified. Thalidomide was not an etiological factor in any of the cases. The total prevalence of amelia was 2.43 per 100,000 births. The live birth prevalence was 0.63 per 100,000 live births. The total prevalence of phocomelia was 0.74 per 100,000 births, and the live birth prevalence was 0.53 per 100,000 live births. Infant mortality in amelia and phocomelia was 67% and 60%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Infant mortality is high among amelia and phocomelia. Most cases had other major associated anomalies, but syndromic amelia cases were rare. Total prevalences were higher than previously reported and showed an increase in prevalence toward the end of the study period. The percentage of elective terminations of pregnancy for these disorders is high. While isolated cases are rare, they most likely present a better prognosis. Thus, correct diagnosis is essential in counseling for possible elective termination.
Topics: Pregnancy; Infant; Female; Humans; Ectromelia; Prevalence; Finland; Limb Deformities, Congenital; Maternal Age
PubMed: 36353751
DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2123 -
The Pan African Medical Journal 2021
Topics: Abnormalities, Multiple; Child, Preschool; Ectromelia; Foot Deformities, Congenital; Hand Deformities, Congenital; Humans; Male; Nose
PubMed: 34887989
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2021.40.115.28167 -
Developmental Dynamics : An Official... Nov 2017Genetic mapping studies reveal that mutations in cohesion pathways are responsible for multispectrum developmental abnormalities termed cohesinopathies. These include... (Review)
Review
Genetic mapping studies reveal that mutations in cohesion pathways are responsible for multispectrum developmental abnormalities termed cohesinopathies. These include Roberts syndrome (RBS), Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), and Warsaw Breakage Syndrome (WABS). The cohesinopathies are characterized by overlapping phenotypes ranging from craniofacial deformities, limb defects, and mental retardation. Though these syndromes share a similar suite of phenotypes and arise due to mutations in a common cohesion pathway, the underlying mechanisms are currently believed to be distinct. Defects in mitotic failure and apoptosis i.e. trans DNA tethering events are believed to be the underlying cause of RBS, whereas the underlying cause of CdLS is largely modeled as occurring through defects in transcriptional processes i.e. cis DNA tethering events. Here, we review recent findings described primarily in zebrafish, paired with additional studies in other model systems, including human patient cells, which challenge the notion that cohesinopathies represent separate syndromes. We highlight numerous studies that illustrate the utility of zebrafish to provide novel insights into the phenotypes, genes affected and the possible mechanisms underlying cohesinopathies. We propose that transcriptional deregulation is the predominant mechanism through which cohesinopathies arise. Developmental Dynamics 246:881-888, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Topics: Animals; Cell Cycle Proteins; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; Craniofacial Abnormalities; De Lange Syndrome; Ectromelia; Genetic Association Studies; Humans; Hypertelorism; Nervous System Diseases; Transcription, Genetic; Zebrafish; Cohesins
PubMed: 28422453
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24510 -
Journal of Medical Genetics Mar 1973
Review
Topics: Abnormalities, Drug-Induced; Abnormalities, Multiple; Anemia, Aplastic; Anorexia Nervosa; Arm; Cleft Lip; Cleft Palate; Ectromelia; Female; Genes; Heart Defects, Congenital; Hot Temperature; Humans; Phenotype; Pregnancy; Radius; Spine; Syndactyly; Thalidomide; Thrombocytopenia; Thumb; Tibia
PubMed: 4354695
DOI: 10.1136/jmg.10.1.34 -
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews.... 2015Cohesin is a chromosome-associated protein complex that plays many important roles in chromosome function. Genetic screens in yeast originally identified cohesin as a... (Review)
Review
Cohesin is a chromosome-associated protein complex that plays many important roles in chromosome function. Genetic screens in yeast originally identified cohesin as a key regulator of chromosome segregation. Subsequently, work by various groups has identified cohesin as critical for additional processes such as DNA damage repair, insulator function, gene regulation, and chromosome condensation. Mutations in the genes encoding cohesin and its accessory factors result in a group of developmental and intellectual impairment diseases termed 'cohesinopathies.' How mutations in cohesin genes cause disease is not well understood as precocious chromosome segregation is not a common feature in cells derived from patients with these syndromes. In this review, the latest findings concerning cohesin's function in the organization of chromosome structure and gene regulation are discussed. We propose that the cohesinopathies are caused by changes in gene expression that can negatively impact translation. The similarities and differences between cohesinopathies and ribosomopathies, diseases caused by defects in ribosome biogenesis, are discussed. The contribution of cohesin and its accessory proteins to gene expression programs that support translation suggests that cohesin provides a means of coupling chromosome structure with the translational output of cells.
Topics: Animals; Cell Cycle Proteins; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; Craniofacial Abnormalities; De Lange Syndrome; Ectromelia; Humans; Hypertelorism; Protein Biosynthesis; Cohesins
PubMed: 25847322
DOI: 10.1002/wdev.190 -
Canadian Medical Association Journal Dec 1962Phocomelia (flipper-like limbs) has long been recognized as a rare malformation. Numerous cases of phocomelia and other congenital malformations have recently been...
Phocomelia (flipper-like limbs) has long been recognized as a rare malformation. Numerous cases of phocomelia and other congenital malformations have recently been reported in the United Kingdom, Australia, Europe and Canada in which the common factor appears to have been the administration of the hypnotic compound thalidomide during early pregnancy. Two additional cases of infants born with phocomelia, amelia and alimentary abnormalities are presented. In both of these cases the administration of thalidomide was initiated early during pregnancy (five to eight weeks after the last normal menstrual period) and maintained for several weeks. Thalidomide (alpha-phthalimido glutarimide) is related chemically to other glutarimides currently in clinical use. The possibility that these compounds and/or their metabolites may induce teratogenic effects warrants consideration. Emphasis is added to the view that caution should be exercised when prescribing new drugs.
PubMed: 20327332
DOI: No ID Found