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Biomedical subjects

A Guala

Publications and source records attributed to A Guala.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Peculiar facial appearance and generalized brachydactyly in a patient with congenital onychodysplasia of the index fingers (Iso-Kikuchi syndrome).

We report on a patient with clinical manifestations consistent with a diagnosis of congenital onychodysplasia of the index fingers (COIF). This syndrome has been found mainly in Japan, and as far as we know, this is the first case reported in Italy. In addition to the typical bilateral split nail of the second finger, the patient showed bilateral inguinal hernia, a peculiar face, and short hands. The metacarpophalangeal profile showed a generalized brachydactyly with all the hand long bones below x3 SD. The patient's father showed a peculiar kind of micronychia on both the fifth toes, suggesting a possible autosomal dominant transmission of the syndrome. In utero ischemia of the palmar digital artery and a dysplastic change in the crescent-shaped cap of the distal phalanx are the two main candidate pathogenetic mechanisms that have been proposed. In our opinion, the gradual broadening of the spectrum of this syndrome brings support to the hypothesis of a basal dysplastic pathogenetic mechanism involving not only the index fingers but also perhaps other tissues outside. We think that for the moment the definition of COIF for this syndrome should be maintained, the alternative proposed term "congenital onychodysplasia" being too indefinite.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Arterial tortuosity syndrome.

We describe a patient with arterial tortuosity syndrome (ATS), a rare disorder comprising generalized tortuosity and elongation of all major arteries, soft skin, joint laxity, severe keratoconus, and diffuse tortuosity of the carotids and of intracranial arteries. The patient's probably affected brother and sister died at an early age. Cytochemical studies excluded Ehlers-Danlos type IV and type VII syndromes. We review 11 previously described patients.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Macrocephaly-Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita without cutis marmorata?

We report on two patients with clinical manifestations consistent with a diagnosis of macrocephaly-cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (M-CMTC). Both showed macrocephaly with high forehead, overgrowth, capillary hemangiomata involving philtrum, nose, and lips, and redundant skin. In addition, the first had cutis marmorata and joint laxity. The second had postaxial polydactyly of hands and feet, cutaneous syndactyly of third and fourth right fingers and of second and third right toes without evident cutis marmorata. A magnetic resonance imaging scan showed cerebral alterations in both patients. The first had bilateral cortical dysplasia with frontal bilateral myelinization defect of corona radiata. The second had mild intertonsillar widening, cavum septi pellucidi, small porencephalic areas in the anterolateral region of cellae, and subsequently developed a nonobstructive hydrocephalus. Reviewing all reported cases we propose a new criterion for M-CMTC diagnosis.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Radioulnar synostosis and XYY syndrome.

Radioulnar synostosis in a boy with XYY syndrome is discussed. Only four other cases of radioulnar synostosis with XYY syndrome have been reported in the literature.

Child, Preschool↗

[Hemiplegic migraine. A series of 5 patients].

We describe the occurrence of five pediatric patients presenting an aura encompassing neurovegetative and unilateral neurological manifestations persisting during and after the migrainous attack are described. All investigations were normal and the symptoms completely disappeared within 24-48 hours with non specific treatment. A diagnosis of hemiplegic migraine was made. The importance is underlined for the pediatrician to consider migraine in the differential diagnosis of a child first presenting with neurological symptoms even without symptoms of migraine.

Acetaminophen↗

[Familial variability in the clinical expression of hand-foot-mouth disease].

Aim of the paper is to describe the variability of clinical symptoms in hand, foot and mouth disease, especially among patients belonging to the same family. In spring 1999, during an epidemic of hand, foot and mouth disease, nineteen cases were observed by the authors. In eight cases also some members of the family were affected. A great variability in the clinical expression of the disease, above all among the members of the same family were observed. No cases in children below twelve months or in elderly members of the family were found. Children below three years had more stressed general symptoms, but in no case hospitalization was necessary. Hand, foot and mouth disease does not always show vesicles and aphthae in the affected areas. Clinical expression can also be lacking, but in this case diagnosis can be made easy by the presence of an epidemic or of other cases in the same family.

Child, Preschool↗

[Rubella vaccination in the post-partum: which is the best approach?].

BACKGROUND: Two different post partum Rubella vaccination's programs for seronegative women in puerperium are compared. METHODS: In the Borgosesia hospital (Piedmont Region) the vaccination has been proposed by gynecologists already during pregnancy to all the pregnants proved to be negative at the Rubella's test in the initial pregnancy. The little number of enlisted patients is the consequence of the availability of only one doctor to take part in the vaccination's program. In this hospital the cost of vaccination was paid by the patient that had to buy the vaccine before hospitalization. In the Vigevano's hospital (Lombardia Region) the rubella's vaccination has been instead proposed by the nursery pediatrist to all the women who has just given birth in the period between 1995-1997, seronegative for rubella's test in pregnancy or in puerperium. RESULTS: The results (88% of the seronegative women vaccinated in Borgosesia versus 72.6% in Vigevano) show that the best way is to make the pregnant women aware by the gynecologist during pregnancy, even though the vaccine wasn't free for the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The action of pediatrists combined with the availability from hospital administration to offer a free vaccine will make possible to reach an almost total success of the Rubella vaccination's program.

Female↗

Bladder carcinoma in Costello syndrome: report on a patient born to consanguineous parents and review.

We report on a 12-year-old boy with Costello syndrome born to consanguineous (first cousins once removed) parents, supporting the hypothesis of recessive transmission of this syndrome. At age 11 years, the patient developed a bladder carcinoma, a rare pediatric tumor not previously described in Costello syndrome. This suggests that an increased risk of malignancy may be part of this condition.

Adolescent↗

Early onset of gastric carcinoma and constitutional deletion of 18p.

We report on the association of a gastric carcinoma and a constitutional deletion of the short arm of chromosome 18 in a 14-year-old patient. The phenotype of the patient, including microcephaly, ptosis, micrognathia, tetralogy of Fallot, and mental retardation, fits well with previously reported cases of del(18p); she also showed a positive serology against Helicobacter pylori. The comparison of the alleles of polymorphic loci located on the short arm of chromosome 18 between the patient and her parents showed a maternal origin of the abnormal chromosome. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for loci located in the long arm of chromosome 18 is a frequent event in gastric carcinomas; it was observed in the tumoral mass of our patient and again, the alleles lost were of maternal origin. We postulate that the constitutional chromosomal abnormality may have favored the loss of the abnormal chromosome in some cells and that the loss of the deleted chromosome 18 (demonstrated by LOH for this chromosome in the tumoral mass) has been an early step in the pathogenesis of the gastric carcinoma of our patient with Helicobacter pylori infection acting as a cofactor.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Long first metacarpal in monozygotic twins with probable Baller-Gerold syndrome.

We report on a pair of monozygotic twins with probable Baller-Gerold syndrome (BGS). Twin A had severe coronal craniosynostosis. Twin B had right radioulnar and ipsilateral first metacarpal hypoplasia. Both had bilateral fifth finger clinodactyly. Assuming that the twins were truly monozygotic, a single genetic disorder (i.e., BGS) could explain the variable expression. Together the twins have the typical anomalies of BGS. The diagnosis was supported by the metacarpophalangeal profile (MPP) which confirmed hypoplasia of the first right metacarpal in Twin A and bilateral fifth finger brachymesophalangy in both twins. Furthermore, the MPP showed an unexpected abnormal lengthening of the first metacarpal (unilateral in Twin A and bilateral in Twin B), a previously undetected radial ray defect in BGS. These findings suggest the possibility that the MPP may assist recognition of mild cases of BGS such as those with apparently isolated craniosynostosis or isolated upper limbs defects.

Adult↗

Prevalence of genetic hemochromatosis in a cohort of Italian patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Few data exist on the prevalence of genetic hemochromatosis among diabetic patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of genetic hemochromatosis in diabetic patients and a matched control group and to evaluate the accuracy of iron-related indexes in detecting hemochromatosis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Diabetes clinics of four hospitals in northern Italy. PATIENTS: 894 diabetic patients (117 with type 1 diabetes and 777 with type 2 diabetes) and 467 matched controls. MEASUREMENTS: Transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels were measured in all study participants. After secondary iron overload was excluded as the cause of persistently elevated transferrin saturation and serum ferritin levels, liver biopsy was performed and siderosis was estimated semiquantitatively and quantitatively. A hepatic iron index greater than 1.9 was considered diagnostic for hemochromatosis. RESULTS: Hemochromatosis was diagnosed in 12 patients with type 2 diabetes (prevalence, 1.34% [95% CI, 0.7% to 2.3%]) and 1 control (prevalence, 0.2% [CI, 0.1% to 1.4%]; P = 0.032). The odds ratio of hemochromatosis in association with diabetes was 6.3 (CI, 1.1 to 37.7). Measurement of transferrin saturation was the most sensitive test for hemochromatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic hemochromatosis is frequently not diagnosed in patients with diabetes, although it is a hallmark of the disease. Screening for hemochromatosis could be beneficial for patients with diabetes.

Adolescent↗