Short arm enlargement in a G chromosome

The authors report three cases of enlargement in length of the short arm of a G chromosome: in a mother and her trisomy 21 son, and in a child with congenital glaucoma and systemic malformations. They discuss the nature of this odd chromosome. The latter can represent altered chromosomal behavior of anomalous coiling, but it is quite possible that it represents a translocation. The authors observed another case of congenital glaucoma with short arm enlargement in a G chromosome.

Vitelliform degeneration of the macula

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Cytogenetic study of otosclerosis

Chromosomal evaluation was done in 62 patients affected with otosclerosis, clinically and surgically proven. Numerical and structural karyotype analysis of leucocyte and fibroblast cultures, showed normal results.

Cytogenetic findings published earlier by other authors in a small series of otosclerosis patients and where mosaicism in the D-group was detected, are contradicted.

The importance of the critical evaluation of the cytogenetic method used and of the necessity to investigate cytogenetically a large enough number of patients, before linking a clinical and phenotypical condition to cytogenetic finding, is stressed.

Macular dystrophy in deafmutism

Most of the cases of Amalric's pigmentary macular dystrophy associated with deafmutism seem to be due to a rubella or to another viral infection of the mother during pregnancy. This association can sometimes probably also be due to an infectious disease of the early childhood. Heredity seems to be a rather exceptional factor.