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Biomedical subjects

R Norio

Publications and source records attributed to R Norio.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Congenital and infantile nephrotic syndromes.

A nephrotic syndrome which appears during the first few months of life always provides a diagnostic challenge. Congenital nephrosis of the Finnish type (CNF) is a distinct, recessively inherited entity provided that the diagnostic criteria are kept strict. Very important but often forgotten is the presence of a large placenta. Among other alterations tubular dilatations are typical histological findings, even if not pathognomonic. Greatly elevated AFP concentration in the amniotic fluid, due to intrauterine proteinuria, offers an unfailing prenatal diagnosis in CNF but is seldom useful in other types. Renal transplantation has radically changed the prognosis of this otherwise lethal disorder. The histopathological diagnosis diffuse mesangial sclerosis (DMS) was supposed to represent another etiological entity, probably also autosomal recessive. It, however, seems to be heterogenous. The Drash syndrome (nephrotic syndrome, male pseudohermaphroditism and Wilms' tumor) has interesting connections with this group. The number of cases of congenital, infantile and/or familial nephrotic syndromes other than CNF and DMS seems to be surprisingly large. Their exact classification is still not possible. Even if late, "infantile" onset rules out the diagnosis of CNF, many etiological alternatives remain for the "congenital" cases.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1989

Norrie disease gene is distinct from the monoamine oxidase genes.

The genes for MAO-A and MAO-B appear to be very close to the Norrie disease gene, on the basis of loss and/or disruption of the MAO genes and activities in atypical Norrie disease patients deleted for the DXS7 locus; linkage among the MAO genes, the Norrie disease gene, and the DXS7 locus; and mapping of all these loci to the chromosomal region Xp11. The present study provides evidence that the MAO genes are not disrupted in "classic" Norrie disease patients. Genomic DNA from these "nondeletion" Norrie disease patients did not show rearrangements at the MAOA or DXS7 loci. Normal levels of MAO-A activities, as well as normal amounts and size of the MAO-A mRNA, were observed in cultured skin fibroblasts from these patients, and MAO-B activity in their platelets was normal. Catecholamine metabolites evaluated in plasma and urine were in the control range. Thus, although some atypical Norrie disease patients lack both MAO-A and MAO-B activities, MAO does not appear to be an etiologic factor in classic Norrie disease.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1988

Dominant and recessive polycystic kidney disease in children: evaluation of clinical features and laboratory data.

The clinical features and laboratory data of 93 children with polycystic kidney disease were analysed. Family studies showed that the disease was dominant (DPKD) in 17 and recessive (RPKD) in 32 of them. Of the remaining 44 sporadic patients, 1 was classified by histological and/or imaging findings as having DPKD, 41 as having RPKD and 2 could not be classified. The symptoms tended to be more severe in RPKD than in DPKD, but there was much overlap. Death in early life was common in RPKD (55/73) and more rare in DPKD (4/18). If a child with DPKD had disease manifest during the neonatal period, then siblings were usually affected in the neonatal period. Survival to adulthood was seen in both diseases. In the patients who survived the neonatal period, hypertension was more common in RPKD (11/18) than in DPKD (4/14). Symptoms of portal hypertension were present in 2 patients with RPKD and none with DPKD. None of the laboratory investigations discriminated between the two entities. Glomerular filtration rate was diminished more often in RPKD (9/11) than in DPKD (2/8). Some difference was seen in the maximal urine concentrating ability; it was always reduced, often markedly, in RPKD but usually either normal or only moderately disturbed in DPKD. Studies on hepatic function and hepato-cellular damage were usually normal, but bacterial cholangitis was noted in some children with RPKD. The differential diagnosis between DPKD and RPKD needs to be based on the family history, family studies, radiological and/or histological features.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Dominant and recessive polycystic kidney disease in children: classification by intravenous pyelography, ultrasound, and computed tomography.

Both dominant and recessive polycystic kidney disease appear in childhood. We have analyzed findings of intravenous pyelography, ultrasound and computed tomography in genetically classified cases of dominant (13 children) and recessive polycystic kidney disease (5 children) and thus defined criteria by which sporadic cases of childhood polycystic kidney disease can be classified to dominant or recessive polycystic kidney disease.

Child↗
PubMed1988

Evaluation of genetic counselling: recall of information, post-counselling reproduction, and attitude of the counsellees.

Of the families who had received genetic counselling between 1972 and 1981, 791 replied to a questionnaire which covered recall of information, post-counselling reproduction and attitudes towards counselling and prenatal diagnosis. Eighty percent had adequate knowledge of mode of inheritance and 74% of recurrence risk. Knowledge of mode of inheritance was poorest in multifactorial transmission (63%) and knowledge of recurrence risk in X-chromosomal disorders (61%). Forty-five per cent of the families had started a pregnancy after the counselling. 25%). Early lethality of the disorder and feasibility of a prenatal study contributed to positive reproductive decisions. Nine per cent of the children born after the counselling were affected by the disorder in question. The observed risks tended to match well with the expected ones. Sixty-two per cent of the respondents felt that the counselling had had a great or moderate impact on their reproductive plans. Forty-two per cent expressed a wish to hear the counsellor's opinion in addition to the facts. This was more common when the disorder was severe. Although most couples (53%) wished to have a prenatal study, if feasible, and abort an affected foetus, 16% were against abortion in such a case and 31% wished to have the study but were ambiguous about an abortion.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1988

Dominant inheritance of tooth malpositions and their association to hypodontia.

Four kindreds with family-specific malposition of cuspids were studied. Besides malposition of cuspids, the members also showed varying combinations of other anomalies: malposition, malformation or hypodontia of upper lateral incisors, second bicuspids and lower central incisors. The pedigrees provided convincing evidence for autosomal dominant transmission of the abnormalities studied. Their nature and location allow the assumption that they represent different expressions of one dominant gene causing a primary disturbance in the critical marginal area of the embryonic dental lamina.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Homozygous variegate porphyria. A severe skin disease of infancy.

A boy exhibited severe bullous skin disease a few days after birth, followed by increased fragility of the exposed skin in spring and summer. Examination at 2 1/2 years of age led to characteristic biochemical findings: increased excretion of fecal porphyrins (coproporphyrin 121 to 131 and protoporphyrin 467 to 576 nmol/g dry weight), and increased erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration (3643 to 4840 nmol/l). Lymphocyte protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity was very low in the patient (0.4 nmol/mg protein/h) and half-normal (2.7 and 2.3 nmol/mg protein/h) in the parents, suggesting that the patient had homozygous variegate porphyria. Severe skin symptoms and a high concentration of red cell protoporphyrin concentration in an infant should prompt suspicion of homozygous acute hepatic porphyria.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1985

Norrie disease caused by a gene deletion allowing carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis.

Carrier determination and prenatal diagnosis in Norrie disease (ND) has so far not been reported. We describe a kindred with 4 members affected by ND in which a deletion comprising gene locus DXS7 on the short arm of the X chromosome defined by probe L1.28 causes the disorder. This allowed us to predict via chorion villus biopsy that a male foetus of a carrier woman is unaffected.

Blindness↗
PubMed1984

Familial congenital diaphragmatic defects: aspects of etiology, prenatal diagnosis, and treatment.

We present 14 familial cases from five Finnish families affected with a life-threatening congenital diaphragmatic defect (CDD) and review data on 53 previously published familial cases. CDD occurred in three sibs and their half brother's son, and probably in all four offspring of parents consanguineous as both first and second cousins. In the remaining three Finnish families and in the vast majority of the previously reported familial cases, only two sibs were affected. Two thirds of those affected were males both in the Finnish and the overall series. Pedigree data, delayed fusion of the diaphragm as the primary pathogenetic mechanism, varying anatomical structure of the defective hemidiaphragm, association with other congenital anomalies, and data on animal experiments are more in accordance with multifactorial determination than with recessive inheritance. This does not exclude other genetic causes in some familial cases. The recurrence risk for sibs after one affected sib is about 2%. As the prognosis, especially in familial cases of CDD has remained grave, the development of fetal surgical treatment is desirable. This emphasizes the future role of prenatal diagnosis by ultrasound.

Consanguinity↗
PubMed1984

The Meckel syndrome in Finland: epidemiologic and genetic aspects.

Estimates of the incidence of the Meckel syndrome (MS) from different parts of the world vary from 1:140,000 to 1:13,250 births. In this nationwide study performed in Finland, the incidence of 1:14,400 births was found by retrospective ascertainment during the period 1970-1979, while the incidence was 1:8,500 births when prospective monitoring was performed in 1980-1981. The most probable incidence in Finland is about 1:9,000 births. Autosomal recessive inheritance of MS is confirmed in this study. The ratio of affected sibs, corrected for truncate complete ascertainment, was 0.261. No consanguinity between parents was found, as marriages between close relatives are rare in Finland and the ancestors were not traced back far enough to find remote consanguinities.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1984

Further delineation of the Cohen syndrome; report on chorioretinal dystrophy, leukopenia and consanguinity.

Six new patients with the Cohen syndrome are reported from Finland and 25 published cases from elsewhere are reviewed. New findings are consanguinity among two pairs of parents, granulocytopenia, and marked ophthalmological changes: decreased visual acuity, hemeralopia, constricted visual fields, chorioretinal dystrophy with bull's-eye-like maculae and pigmentary deposits, optic atrophy, and isoelectric electroretinogram. Previously known features of the Cohen syndrome (non-progressive mental retardation, short stature, microcephaly, peculiar facies, slender hands and feet, floppiness, delayed puberty) are confirmed or revised. The ophthalmological features merit attention in the previous and future suspected cases of the Cohen syndrome. Autosomal recessive inheritance can be taken for granted.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1982

The desmoid tumor. III. A biochemical and genetic analysis.

We have carefully examined four patients with desmoid tumor (DT) and their 31 relatives. In three of four cases, biopsies of the DT demonstrated low yet significant amounts of estrogen but not progesterone receptors in the tumor cytosol. In the fourth case, where the receptors were not demonstrable, the affected patient was a menopausal woman and the receptors may have been blocked by endogenous estrogen. Fourteen of their 31 relatives demonstrated multiple minor bone malformations in x-ray screening of the skeleton. The inheritance of these malformations was compatible with an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance. These findings are compatible with our suggestion that the basic underlying cause for DT is an inherited defect in growth regulation of the connective tissue. When a trauma is superimposed on such an individual, a DT may result. The growth of the tumor is, however, controlled primarily by sex hormones, estrogen predominance over progesterone being inducive to tumor growth.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗