[Autosomal dominant osteopetrosis: a presentation of 3 cases and a new gene mutation]. / Osteopetrosis autosómica dominante: a propósito de 3 casos y una mutación.

Osteopetrosis (OP) is a congenital bone disease which is caused by a functional disorder in osteoclasts with inability for normal bone resorption, leading to increased bone mineral density and bone sclerosis. It can be classified into different groups according to their clinical and their genetic characteristics: autosomal recessive with several subtypes (OPTB) or autosomal dominant type 1 or 2 (OPTA1-2). There is a wide clinical variability of the disease, from asymptomatic to lethal in the first months of life, with variable expressivity in the family members. Diagnosis is mainly clinical with genetic confirmation of the OP, and treatment is symptomatic. Three cases of OP are presented, with the discovery of a new gene mutation in LRP5 which caused OPTA1 in one of them.

Novel (60%) and recurrent (40%) androgen receptor gene mutations in a series of 59 patients with a 46,XY disorder of sex development.

BACKGROUND: Androgen receptor (AR) gene mutations are the most frequent cause of 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD) and are associated with a variety of phenotypes, ranging from phenotypic women [complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS)] to milder degrees of undervirilization (partial form or PAIS) or men with only infertility (mild form or MAIS). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to characterize the contribution of the AR gene to the molecular cause of 46,XY DSD in a series of Spanish patients. SETTING: We studied a series of 133 index patients with 46,XY DSD in whom gonads were differentiated as testes, with phenotypes including varying degrees of undervirilization, and in whom the AR gene was the first candidate for a molecular analysis. METHODS: The AR gene was sequenced (exons 1 to 8 with intronic flanking regions) in all patients and in family members of 61% of AR-mutated gene patients. RESULTS: AR gene mutations were found in 59 individuals (44.4% of index patients), of whom 46 (78%) were CAIS and 13 (22%) PAIS. Fifty-seven different mutations were found: 21.0% located in exon 1, 15.8% in exons 2 and 3, 57.9% in exons 4-8, and 5.3% intronic. Twenty-three mutations (40.4%) had been previously described and 34 (59.6%) were novel. CONCLUSIONS: AR gene mutation is the most frequent cause of 46,XY DSD, with a clearly higher frequency in the complete phenotype. Mutations spread along the whole coding sequence, including exon 1. This series shows that 60% of mutations detected during the period 2002-2009 were novel.

Mutation update for the CSB/ERCC6 and CSA/ERCC8 genes involved in Cockayne syndrome.

Cockayne syndrome is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder characterized principally by neurological and sensory impairment, cachectic dwarfism, and photosensitivity. This rare disease is linked to mutations in the CSB/ERCC6 and CSA/ERCC8 genes encoding proteins involved in the transcription-coupled DNA repair pathway. The clinical spectrum of Cockayne syndrome encompasses a wide range of severity from severe prenatal forms to mild and late-onset presentations. We have reviewed the 45 published mutations in CSA and CSB to date and we report 43 new mutations in these genes together with the corresponding clinical data. Among the 84 reported kindreds, 52 (62%) have mutations in the CSB gene. Many types of mutations are scattered along the whole coding sequence of both genes, but clusters of missense mutations can be recognized and highlight the role of particular motifs in the proteins. Genotype-phenotype correlation hypotheses are considered with regard to these new molecular and clinical data. Additional cases of molecular prenatal diagnosis are reported and the strategy for prenatal testing is discussed. Two web-based locus-specific databases have been created to list all identified variants and to allow the inclusion of future reports (www.umd.be/CSA/ and www.umd.be/CSB/).

Congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) type Ie. A new patient.

CDG Ie is caused by a deficiency of dolichol-phosphate-mannose synthase 1 (DPM1), an enzyme involved in N-glycan assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum. Three proteins are known to be part of the synthase complex: DPM 1, DPM2 and DPM3. Only mutations in DPM1, the catalytic subunit, have been described in three families. One was homozygous for the c274C>G (R92G) mutation in DPM1 and two others were compound heterozygous for R92G and a c628delC deletion or a c331-343del13, respectively. Clinical features were a severe infantile encephalopathy, early intractable seizures, acquired microcephaly, and some dysmorphic features. We report a patient with milder symptoms: microcephaly, dysmorphic features, developmental delay, optic atrophy, and cerebellar dysfunction without cerebellar atrophy. The patient is homozygous for a new mutation in exon 9 of the DPM1 gene (c742T>C (S248P)). Our findings extend the spectrum of CDG Ie.

[Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia: A cause of fever of unknown origin]. / Displasia ectodérmica hipohidrótica: una causa de fiebre de origen desconocido.

The term ectodermal dysplasias includes many disorders that share some clinical features such as involvement of one or several ectodermal structures and congenital origin. Currently, 154 different types divided into 11 clinical subgroups (Freire Maia classification 1994) have been described. The most frequent entity is hypo- or anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (Christ-Siemens-Touraine syndrome). This is a rare hereditary disease whose main characteristic is the absence, or more often the reduction, of sweat glands, leading to an increase in body temperature together with anomalies of the epidermis and its appendages (hair and nails). We present a case of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia in a premature 18-month-old boy who was referred to our department because of markedly dry skin since birth and recurrent eczematous and lichenification lesions that had been successfully treated with topical corticosteroids. Physical examination revealed mild alopecia with sparse and fine blonde hair and the absence of dental alveoli. The boy's mother had noticed slight sweating and episodes of fever without clinical symptoms, which were more frequent in summer. Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia should be included in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin.

[Permanent neonatal diabetes associated with other anomalies]. / Diabetes neonatal permanente asociada ahipotiroidismo, sordera y rasgos dismórficos.

Neonatal diabetes mellitus is defined as hyperglycemia detected in the first month of life of more than 2 weeks' duration, requiring insulin treatment. It is extremely uncommon (1/500,000 neonates) and is permanent in only 30% of cases. Several hypotheses concerning its etiology have been postulated, such as pancreatic immaturity, paternal uniparental isidisomy of chromosome 6, and the existence of a gene located in the 6 q 22-23 chromosome region subjected to imprinting and exclusively of paternal expression. The management of these patients is usually difficult. These neonates are underweight for their gestational age, and neither anti-insulin antibodies nor anti-islets are detected. We studied a neonate hospitalized because of low weight for his gestational age with dimorphic features and hyperglycemia since the 17 th day of life. Clinical and anatomical follow-up has been periodically performed to the present date. The child presents permanent neonatal diabetes with negative antibodies. Although various insulin patterns have been used since the onset of the syndrome, management remains difficult. The child presents hypothyroidism, bilateral neurosensory deafness, bilateral congenital cataract, myopia, dimorphic features, congenital stridor and slow weight-stature curve. The results of muscle biopsy and metabolic studies were normal. Wolfram's syndrome and mitochondrial diabetes were ruled out. This is an exceptional case of permanent neonatal diabetes associated with other malformations corresponding to no known syndromic patterns.

[Perineal bag versus urethral catheterization of suprapubic aspiration for the diagnosis of urinary tract infections in infants in emergency units]. / Bolsa perineal versus sondaje uretral o punción suprapúbica para el diagnóstico de infección urinaria en el lactante en las unidades de urgencias.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the utility of urine cultures collected by sterile perineal bags as a method of diagnosis of urinary tract infection in infants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients, aged 0 to 27 months, were diagnosed with urinary tract infections based on the growth of more than 100,000 colonies/ml in two urine cultures collected by sterile bags. Confirmation of the infection was done by urine cultures obtained by suprapubic aspiration or urethral catheterization. A urinalysis was simultaneously performed. RESULTS: Urinary tract infection was confirmed in only 6 out of 42 patients. The positive predictive value of the sterile bag was 14%, increasing to 42% combined with an abnormal urinalysis. CONCLUSIONS: The sterile perineal bag is not an accurate method to collect urine for diagnosis of urinary tract infections in febrile infants or those who need prompt diagnosis and treatment.

[WAGR syndrome: a case report]. / Síndrome de WAGR. A propósito de un caso.

OBJECTIVE: WAGR syndrome is a rare syndrome which involves microdeletions of the short arm of chromosome 11 at band 11p13. The clinical features are Wilms' tumor, amiridia, genitourinary abnormalities and mental retardation. There are very few reported cases. We report a new case of WAGR syndrome and review the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Chromosome preparations were obtained from lymphocyte cultures of peripheral blood. For chromosome analysis GTG banding and fluorescent "in situ" hybridization (FISH) were used. RESULTS: Chromosomal analysis revealed deletion of p12-p13 bands. Our patient had bilateral aniridia, Wilms' tumor and cryptorquidia. CONCLUSIONS: The karyotype was 46, XY, del (11)(p12-p13). The p13 band deletion was the cause of the WAGR syndrome.