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Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is the most common inherited form of gastrointestinal obstruction in infancy. The disease is considered a paradigm for the sex-modified model of multifactorial inheritance and affects males four times more frequently than females. However, extended pedigrees consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance have been documented. We have analysed data from an extended IHPS family including eight affected individuals (five males and three females) and mapped the disease locus to chromosome 16q24 (LOD score=3.7) through an SNP-based genome wide scan. Fourteen additional multiplex pedigrees did not show evidence of linkage to this region, indicating locus heterogeneity.European Journal of Human Genetics (2008) 16, 1151–1154; doi:10.1038/ejhg.2008.86; published online 14 May 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder that is inherited as a multifactorial trait. Genetic analyses have repeatedly identified a primary disease susceptibility locus lying within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), on chromosome 6p21. A small number of non-MHC susceptibility loci have also been identified. These regions tend to overlap with susceptibility intervals for Crohn’s disease and atopic dermatitis, suggesting the possibility that genetic variants affecting inflammatory pathways may contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple disorders. Here, we report a genetic analysis of the interleukin 23 receptor gene ( IL23R), which was recently identified as a susceptibility determinant for Crohn’s disease. We initially examined the results of a whole-genome association scan, carried out on 318 cases and 288 controls. We observed a significant increase of a non-synonymous substitution (p.Arg381Gln) among controls ( P = 0.00036). We validated this finding by extending our cohort to include a further 519 cases and 528 controls. In the overall sample, the frequency of the 381Gln allele was 3.6% in cases and 7% in controls, yielding a P value of 0.00014. Next, we examined genetic variation at the IL12RB1, IL23A and IL12B genes, respectively, encoding the second subunit of the IL23R receptor and the two subunits of its ligand. This analysis identified independent associations for IL12B SNPs rs10045431 ( P value for the extended dataset = 0.0001) and rs3212227 ( P = 0.036). Altogether, these findings indicate that genes participating in IL23 signalling play a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic epithelial inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) is the most common form of bowel obstruction in infancy. The disease affects males four times more often than females and is considered a paradigm for the sex-modified model of multifactorial inheritance. However, pedigrees consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance have also been documented. We analyzed a 3-generation family with IHPS including 10 affected individuals (5 males and 5 females) and mapped the underlying disease locus to chromosome 16p12-p13 (LOD score 3.23) by using a single-nucleotide polymorphism-based genomewide scan. The analysis of 10 additional multiplex pedigrees yielded negative or nonsignificant LOD scores, indicating the presence of locus heterogeneity. Sequence analysis of candidate genes from the chromosome 16 disease interval excluded the presence of pathogenic mutations in the GRIN2A and MYH11 genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is a spine deformity of unknown etiology. Family studies have suggested that IS may be inherited as a mendelian autosomal dominant trait. We have performed linkage analysis on a three-generation IS Italian family. A positive LOD score value of 3.20 at θ=0.00 was detected with marker D17S799 after a genome-wide scanning. Analysis of six flanking microsatellites confirmed the linkage and haplotype inspection defined an interval of about 20 cM between D17S947 and D17S798. This is the first locus reported for IS. We scored genes mapping in this interval and studied the heparan sulfotransferase genes as candidates on the basis of their biochemical role. No causative mutation was detected in the affected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hearing impairment is the most common inherited human sensory defect. Nonsyndromic Hearing Impairment (NSHI) is the most genetically heterogeneous trait known. Over 70 loci have been mapped and a total of 19 genes have been identified. We report here a novel locus (DFNA 30) for autosomal dominant NSHI that we mapped to chromosome 15q25-26 in an Italian four-generation family. The haplotype analysis has identified a critical interval of 18 CM between markers D15S151 and D15S130. This region does not overlap with DFNB16 locus but partially coincides with the otosclerosis (OTS) locus. Localisation of the locus DFNA30 is a first step towards the identification of the gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) has an incidence of 1-8 per 1000 live births and is inherited as a complex sex-modified multifactorial trait with a striking male preponderance. Syndromic and monogenic forms exist, and two loci have been identified. Infants present with vomiting due to gastric-outlet obstruction caused by hypertrophy of the smooth muscle of the pylorus. A genome-wide SNP-based high-density linkage scan was carried out on 81 IHPS pedigrees. Nonparametric and parametric linkage analysis identified loci on chromosomes 11q14-q22 (Zmax = 3.9, p < 0.0001; HLODmax = 3.4, a = 0.34) and Xq23 (Zmax = 4.3, p < 0.00001; HLODmax = 4.8, a = 0.56). The two linked chromosomal regions each harbor functional candidate genes that are members of the canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) family of ion channels and have a potential role in smooth-muscle control and hypertrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study to determine if Mandibuloacral dysplasia (MAD), a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is caused by mutations in the LMNA gene. Methods; Results; Conclusion that patient skin fibroblasts showed nuclei that presented abnormal lamin A/C distribution and a dysmorphic envelope, thus demonstrating the pathogenic effect of the R527H LMNA mutation.

Examines the localization of a gene for familial patella aplasia-hypoplasia (PTLAH) to chromosome 17q21-22. Description of PTLAH; Factors in the occurrence of PTLAH; Association of PTLAH to other defects.