Recent molecular advances in understanding vertebrate limb development

Oromandibular-limb hypogenesis syndromes: a case of aglossia with an intraoral band

Oromandibular and limb syndromes feature primarily in sporadic case reports because of their low incidence. They include Moebius syndrome, aglossia-adactylia syndrome, Hanhart syndrome, glossopalatine ankylosis syndrome, limb deficiency-splenogonadal fusion syndrome and Charlie M. syndrome. There is confusion in the classification of these patients because of the associated anomalies and the frequency of overlapping features. This paper presents a patient with oromandibular malformations associated with major defects in the upper and lower limbs. Aglossia in the presence of an intraoral band is a peculiar association demanding classification. This case confirms that aglossia-adactylia syndrome and the glossopalatine ankylosis syndrome are variants along a spectrum.

A molecular approach to bone regeneration

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are becoming increasingly recognised as valuable molecular tools for regenerating bone and accelerating fracture healing. New bone growth is the result of BMP-induced differentiation of pluripotent mesenchymal cells along osteoblastic pathways. This phenomenon recapitulates in adults specific aspects of skeletal morphogenesis co-ordinated by BMPs during development. An understanding of the basic scientific research which has led to the characterisation and purification of these remarkable molecules is essential if their full therapeutic potential is to be realised.