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Biomedical subjects

R G Boles

Publications and source records attributed to R G Boles.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome, a disorder affecting skeletal strength and vision, is assigned to chromosome region 11q12-13.

Osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome (OPS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe juvenile-onset osteoporosis and congenital or juvenile-onset blindness. The pathogenic mechanism is not known. Clinical, biochemical, and microscopic analyses suggest that OPS may be a disorder of matrix homeostasis rather than a disorder of matrix structure. Consequently, identification of the OPS gene and its protein product could provide insights regarding common osteoporotic conditions, such as postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis. As a first step toward determining the cause of OPS, we utilized a combination of traditional linkage analysis and homozygosity mapping to assign the OPS locus to chromosome region 11q12-13. Mapping was accomplished by analyzing 16 DNA samples (seven affected individuals) from three different consanguineous kindreds. Studies in 10 additional families narrowed the candidate region, supported locus homogeneity, and did not detect founder effects. The OPS locus maps to a 13-cM interval between D11S1298 and D11S971 and most likely lies in a 3-cM region between GSTP1 and D11S1296. At present, no strong candidate genes colocalize with OPS.

Alleles↗
PubMed1995

Deletion of the entire NF1 gene detected by the FISH: four deletion patients associated with severe manifestations.

Genetic analysis of NF1 has indicated a wide diversity of mutations, including chromosome rearrangements, deletions, insertions, duplications, and point mutations. Recently, five severely affected individuals have been found by Kayes et Al. [1994] to have deletions encompassing the entire gene. These deletions were detected by quantitative Southern analysis. To simplify deletion detection, we have employed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using intragenic probes. Thirteen unrelated individuals with NF1 have been studied. Among six with severe manifestations, four have been found to have deletions detected by probes cFF13, cFB5D, cP5, yA43A9, yA113D7 and yD8F4. All four deletions patients have severe developmental delay, minor and major anomalies (including one with bilateral iris colobomas), and multiple cutaneous neurofibromas or plexiform neurofibromas which were present before age 5 years. FISH provides a simple and rapid means of identification of NF1 gene deletions and will allow more rigorous testing of the hypothesis that such deletions are associated with severe manifestations.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1995

Deletion of chromosome 2q24-q31 causes characteristic digital anomalies: case report and review.

We describe a newborn boy with multiple anomalies, including bilateral split foot and an interstitial deletion of chromosome 2 (q24.2-q31.1). Four additional cases in 2 families involving similar deletions have been reported. Bilateral digital anomalies of hands and feet were seen in all 5 cases, including a wide cleft between the first and second toes, wide halluces, brachysyndactyly of the toes, and camptodactyly of the fingers. Other common manifestations have included postnatal growth and mental retardation, microcephaly, down-slanting palpebral fissures, micrognathia, and apparently low-set ears. Bilateral digital anomalies were reported in 22 of 24 cases with deletions including at least part of region 2q24-q31. Digital anomalies were not prevalent in 18 patients with deletions of chromosome 2q not overlapping 2q24-q31. 2q31.1 appears to be the common deleted segment in all cases with significant digital anomalies, which implies the existence of one or more genes involved in distal limb morphogenesis in this region. HOXD13 and EVX2, located in the proximity of 2q31, were not deleted in our patient by Southern analysis. Bilateral digital malformations of the hands and feet associated with other anomalies should be evaluated by chromosome analysis focused at the 2q24-q31 region.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1994

Biochemical diagnosis of fatty acid oxidation disorders by metabolite analysis of postmortem liver.

At least 12 fatty acid oxidation disorders are known to be responsible for cases of sudden and unexpected death in early childhood. A specific diagnosis of these disorders is essential for genetic counseling and for the screening of siblings potentially at risk for life-threatening episodes of fasting intolerance. Postmortem blood and urine samples often are not available for further biochemical studies, and currently only medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency can be diagnosed by the molecular analysis of tissues. We developed a postmortem screening method for fatty acid oxidation disorders by the simultaneous measurement of C8-C20 fatty acids, glucose, lactate, and other metabolites from the methanol wash of a pellet obtained by ultracentrifugation of liver homogenate. Cis-4-decenoic acid was present in five confirmed cases with MCAD deficiency and in one case with glutaric aciduria type II and was absent in 97 of 100 randomly chosen sudden death cases, at least 81 of which were diagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). C14-C18 monounsaturated fatty acids were significantly elevated in the one examined case affected with long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCAD) deficiency. The metabolite profiles in two cases with carnitine uptake deficiency were less informative, but they shared with all the other disease controls a very low glucose concentration, a finding compatible with premortem hypoglycemia. This method is proposed as a simple and practical means of biochemical screening to follow up the postmortem finding of liver fat infiltration.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗
PubMed1994

Further delineation of the ear, patella, short stature syndrome (Meier-Gorlin syndrome).

Two daughters of phenotypically normal parents are described with severe proportional dwarfism with microcephaly, peculiar craniofacial anomalies, microtia, absent patellae, joint hyperextensibility, and other anomalies. Intrafamilial variability is minimal. This combination of anomalies has many similarities to the six cases previously described with the Ear, Patellae, Short stature syndrome (Meier-Gorlin syndrome), which is distinguished by the triad of microtia, absent patellae and growth retardation. Autosomal recessive inheritance is strongly suggested by the presence of two pairs of affected siblings and the equal sex ratio.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1993

Short-term response to dietary therapy in molybdenum cofactor deficiency.

Molybdenum cofactor deficiency was diagnosed in a 3-month-old girl who presented with microcephaly, developmental delay, severe irritability, and lactic acidosis. Dietary methionine restriction, with cysteine supplementation, was associated with moderate short-term clinical improvement, including a resumption in predicted head growth, modest developmental progress, and a reduction in irritability. Clinical relapse was associated with noncompliance of dietary therapy 2 months later. Urinary sulfite levels measured by commercial dipsticks were useful in following therapy. Molybdenum cofactor deficiency is probably frequently underdiagnosed due to the lack of specific clinical or laboratory features. Screening of infants at risk for the presence of urinary sulfites or serum hypouricemia, or both, is both rapid and inexpensive.

Acidosis, Lactic↗
PubMed1992

Pseudo-trisomy 13 syndrome with upper limb shortness and radial hypoplasia.

We report on a fetus with holoprosencephaly, postaxial polydactyly, multiple visceral anomalies, upper limb shortness, and radial hypoplasia with normal chromosomes. We provide a brief review of the newly delineated "pseudo-trisomy 13 syndrome." Severe limb shortness of radial hypoplasia has not been described previously in this syndrome. The present case may expand the spectrum of the pseudo-trisomy 13 syndrome, or may represent a distinct entity.

Arm↗
PubMed1984

Temperature-dependent modulation of [3H]nitrendipine binding by the calcium channel antagonists verapamil and diltiazem in rat brain synaptosomes.

Binding of the dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonist [3H]nitrendipine to an intact rat brain mitochondrial-synaptosomal fraction (P2) was specific, saturable, temperature-dependent and of high affinity (Kd = 115-467 pM). The effects of the calcium channel antagonists verapamil and diltiazem on [3H]nitrendipine binding and their temperature dependence were investigated. At 0 and 25 degrees C, verapamil inhibited [3H]nitrendipine binding incompletely in a manner consistent with an allosteric modulation and nearly independent of the incubation temperature. The effects of diltiazem, however, were found to be highly temperature-dependent. At 25 and 37 degrees C, 10 microM diltiazem enhanced [3H]nitrendipine binding to values of 140 and 200% of control, respectively. At 0 degrees C, 10 microM diltiazem inhibited [3H]nitrendipine binding to a value of 68% of control. Analysis of saturation isotherms at steady state demonstrated that at all temperatures studied the effects of verapamil and diltiazem on [3H]nitrendipine binding were due to alterations in the ligand dissociation constant (Kd). At 25 degrees C, these alterations were mediated by changes in the rate of ligand-receptor complex dissociation. Competition studies of verapamil and diltiazem at 25 and 0 degrees C indicate that the effects of these two drugs on [3H]nitrendipine binding are mutually exclusive. We conclude that the binding of [3H]nitrendipine is allosterically modulated by spacially related binding sites for verapamil and diltiazem.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Specific high-affinity binding sites for [3H]Ro 5-4864 in rat brain and kidney.

The binding of the novel ligand [3H]Ro 5-4864 to membrane preparations of rat kidney and brain was studied. [3H]Ro 5-4864 binds with high affinity (Kd = 0.6 nM) to a single saturable population of benzodiazepine recognition sites on renal membranes. Binding is rapidly reversible and, based on its pharmacological spectrum, takes place at the peripheral-type, Ro 5-4864-sensitive receptor. Specific high-affinity (Kd = 1.1 nM) [3H] Ro 5-4864 binding to the peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding site can also be demonstrated using rat brain membranes. [3H] Ro 5-4864 lacks stereospecificity with regard to chiral activity in position 3. A comparison of benzodiazepine inhibitory potency and structural features reveals that whereas a 4'-substitution assures specificity for the peripheral-type receptor, an N-methyl moiety is essential for optimal activity. [3H]Ro 5-4864 binding to brain membranes is temperature sensitive and is not modulated by barbiturates, convulsants, gamma-aminobutyric acid and chloride anions. The pyrazolopyridine derivative tracazolate inhibits [3H] Ro 5-4864 binding. The regional and subcellular distribution of binding is distinctly different from that previously demonstrated for [3H]benzodiazepine binding in the brain. The olfactory bulb shows the highest binding density, whereas the cerebral cortical, striatal and hippocampal areas are lowest among those areas studied. In the brain, [3H]Ro 5-4864 binding was found to sediment with the nuclear fraction. In conclusion, the present study shows that [3H]Ro 5-4864 is a selective ligand of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding site that can unequivocally be demonstrated in the kidney as well as the brain. The physiological significance of these findings, however, remain to be established.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Severe reversible cardiomyopathy in four unrelated infants associated with mitochondrial DNA D-loop heteroplasmy.

Inherited disorders of energy metabolism are increasingly being recognized as important causes of cardiomyopathy in children. We previously reported that heteroplasmic point substitutions in the mitochondrial DNA D-loop were found in 15 of 75 children at risk for mitochondrial disease (vs 0/95 controls). Four of these cases presented with severe cardiomyopathy in congestive failure in addition to other anomalies and are presented here. In each case, myocardial dysfunction greatly improved following supportive therapy aimed at reversing both congestive failure and catabolism. D-loop point heteroplasmy may be a marker for severe, reversible, infantile multisystem disease that can present with cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathies↗