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R B Lowry

Publications and source records attributed to R B Lowry.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Cleft lip and palate, sensorineural deafness, and sacral lipoma in two brothers: a possible example of the disorganisation mutant.

We report two brothers of Chinese origin who have an apparently unique syndrome of cleft lip/palate, profound sensorineural deafness, and a sacral lipoma. Additional findings which were not common to both were aberrant digital appendages on the heel and thigh of one boy and an anterior sacral meningocele and dislocated hip in the other. Intelligence is normal in both. Both boys suffer from functional constipation but biopsy studies showed no evidence of Hirschsprung's disease. The parents, who are normal, are not related. Inheritance is probably autosomal or X linked recessive. A possible link with the disorganisation mouse mutant is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

The Alberta Hereditary Diseases Program: a regional model for delivery of genetic services.

Genetic counselling and related services are generally provided at major university medical centres because they are very specialized. The need for rurally based genetic services prompted the inclusion of an outreached program in the Alberta Hereditary Diseases Program (AHDP), which was established in 1979; the AHDP was designed to provide services to the entire province through two regional centres and seven outreach clinics. There is a community health nurse in almost every health unit whose duties are either totally or partially devoted to the AHDP; thus, genetic help and information are as close as a rural health unit. The AHDP is designed to provide complete clinical (diagnostic, counselling and some management) services and laboratory (cytogenetic, biochemical and molecular) services for genetic disorders. In addition, the program emphasizes education and publishes a quarterly bulletin, which is sent free of charge to all physicians, hospitals, public health units, social service units, major radio and television stations, newspapers and public libraries and to selected individuals and groups in Alberta.

Alberta↗
PubMed1990

Overlap between Rubinstein-Taybi and Saethre-Chotzen syndromes: a case report.

This report concerns a 14-year follow-up of a patient whose clinical manifestations led to a diagnosis of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome; however, his intelligence is normal. Reappraisal resulted in a change of diagnosis to Saethre-Chotzen syndrome. Overlapping manifestations in the 2 syndromes are discussed.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1989

Alberta Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System.

The Alberta Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System was started in 1966 in response to the thalidomide tragedy earlier in the decade. It was one of four provincial surveillance systems on which the federal government relied for baseline statistics of congenital anomalies. The government now collects data from six provinces and one territory. The Alberta Congenital Anomaly Surveillance System originally depended on three types of notification to the Division of Vital Statistics, Department of Health, Government of Alberta: birth notice and certificates of death and stillbirth; increased sources of ascertainment have greatly improved data quality. We present the data for 1980-86 and compare the prevalence rates of selected anomalies with the rates from three other surveillance systems. Surveillance systems do not guarantee that a new teratogen will be detected, but they are extremely valuable for testing hypotheses regarding causation. At the very least they provide baseline data with which to compare any deviation or trend. For many, if not most, congenital anomalies total prevention is not possible; however, surveillance systems can be used to measure progress in prevention.

Alberta↗
PubMed1989

Birth prevalence of cleft lip and palate in British Columbia between 1952 and 1986: stability of rates.

We examined the birth prevalence of cleft lip with or without cleft palate and of isolated cleft palate in British Columbia between 1952 and 1986 using the data of the BC Health Surveillance Registry. The rates fluctuated over the study period, but linear trend analysis showed no increase or decrease for cleft lip with or without cleft palate; however, there was a significant increase for isolated cleft palate, attributed to improved ascertainment around 1963-66. Given the possible effects of newer agents used in both silviculture and agriculture, as well as the general concern over drugs and other environmental agents, such a long-term monitoring program is important. Furthermore, if significant clustering occurs, good background data are essential for comparison. The general public's perception is that the rates of birth defects are increasing. Our findings should give some reassurance with respect to orofacial clefts.

British Columbia↗
PubMed1989

Epiphyseal dysplasia, microcephaly, nystagmus, and retinitis pigmentosa.

In 1975, we reported two brothers with epiphyseal dysplasia, microcephaly, and nystagmus; one of them also had mild mental retardation. Here we present information on the natural history, particularly with respect to the development of a new visual problem, namely, retinitis pigmentosa.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

An interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 13.

A case of an interstitial deletion of chromosome 13, identified as 46,XY,del(13)(q22q31), is reported in a child with psychomotor retardation, prominent low-set ears, epicanthus, hypertelorism, broad nasal bridge, hypoplastic fifth fingers and abnormal dermatoglyphics. This patient is compared to others in the literature with a similar deletion.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1988

Birth prevalence and recurrence rates of neural tube defects in southern Alberta in 1970-81.

Given the observed variation in birth prevalence and recurrence rates of neural tube defects, it is important to obtain such data specific to a given locality for research and genetic counseling purposes. A review of hospital medical charts, the patient lists of the Medical Genetics and Myelomeningocele clinics at Alberta Children's Hospital and data from the Canadian Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System revealed the annual birth prevalence rate of neural tube defects in southern Alberta in 1970-81 to be 1.62/1000 total births. This figure suggests southern Alberta to be a low-frequency area. There was no significant variation in the annual rates of spina bifida, encephalocele or all neural tube defects combined over the study period. A significant linear decline in the frequency of births of anencephalic infants, however, was noted (p = 0.025). Information on the total reproductive history of the mothers revealed that the empiric risk of recurrence of a neural tube defect was 2.2%, and the risk to all siblings was estimated to be 2.3%. In future prevalence studies multiple sources of case ascertainment should be used, including data on pregnancies terminated because of a fetal neural tube defect.

Alberta↗
PubMed1988

Mental retardation, distinct facial changes, short stature, obesity, and hypogonadism: a new X-linked mental retardation syndrome.

We describe a 3-year-old boy and his 2 maternal uncles with moderate to severe mental retardation, short stature, mild obesity, hypogonadism, a low total finger ridge count, and a distinctive face characterized by bitemporal narrowness, almond-shaped palperbral fissures, depressed nasal bridge, anteverted nares, short and inverted-V-shaped upper lip, and macrostomia. Two other males in this family who had similar facial anomalies and developmental delay died in early infancy and midchildhood. This apparently new disorder is reminiscent of, but distinct from, the Prader-Willi syndrome, and is likely inherited as an X-linked recessive trait. Preliminary studies with DNA probes are consistent with an X-linked locus and permit exclusion of distal Xp and Xq regions as the site of this mutation.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1988

Genetic disorders in children and young adults: a population study.

The data base of an ongoing population-based registry with multiple sources of ascertainment was used to estimate the present population load from genetic disease in more than 1 million consecutive live births. It was found that, before approximately age 25 years, greater than or equal to 53/1,000 live-born individuals can be expected to have diseases with an important genetic component. This total was composed of single-gene disorders (3.6/1,000), consisting of autosomal dominant (1.4/1,000), autosomal recessive (1.7/1,000), and X-linked recessive disorders (0.5/1,000). Chromosomal anomalies accounted for 1.8/1,000, multifactorial disorders (including those present at birth and those of onset before age 25 years) accounted for 46.4/1,000, and cases of genetic etiology in which the precise mechanism was not identified accounted for 1.2/1,000. Previous studies have usually considered all congenital anomalies (ICD 740-759) as part of the genetic load, but only those judged to fit into one of the above categories were included in the present study. Data for congenital anomalies are therefore also presented separately, to facilitate comparison with earlier studies. If all congenital anomalies are considered as part of the genetic load, then greater than or equal to 79/1,000 live-born individuals have been identified as having one or other genetic disorder before approximately age 25 years. These new data represent a better estimate of the genetic load in the population than do previous studies.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Autosomal recessive juvenile cataract in Hutterites.

Autosomal recessive inheritance of juvenile cataract is described amongst several related sibships of Lehrerleut Hutterites. The main features of the cataract include onset between three and seven years of age; rapid progression to maturity within one to three months; normal intelligence; no systemic associations, and no urinary reducing substances and normal erythrocyte galactokinase activity. Genetic analysis demonstrates the close relationship between parents of affected sibships with a coefficient of inbreeding of affected sibships of 0.0512. Estimates of heterozygote frequency within Lehrerleut Hutterites at 0.128 indicate that if current inbreeding practice continues additional cases can be expected.

Alberta↗