Tri-amelia and phocomelia with multiple malformations resembling Roberts syndrome in a fetus: is it a variant or a new syndrome?

Cohesin: an emerging master regulator at the heart of cardiac development

Cohesins are ATPase complexes that play central roles in cellular processes such as chromosome division, DNA repair, and gene expression. Cohesinopathies arise from mutations in cohesin proteins or cohesin complex regulators and encompass a family of related developmental disorders that present with a range of severe birth defects, affect many different physiological systems, and often lead to embryonic fatality. Treatments for cohesinopathies are limited, in large part due to the lack of understanding of cohesin biology. Thus, characterizing the signaling networks that lie upstream and downstream of cohesin-dependent pathways remains clinically relevant. Here, we highlight alterations in cohesins and cohesin regulators that result in cohesinopathies, with a focus on cardiac defects. In addition, we suggest a novel and more unifying view regarding the mechanisms through which cohesinopathy-based heart defects may arise.

Fetal Amelia With Hypoplastic Tibia and Terminal Fibular Hemimelia: A Case Report With Review of the Literature

Congenital limb deformities, with a birth frequency of 0.55 per 1,000, are extremely rare prenatal defects that can present with either partial or complete lack of a limb or a specific portion of a limb. Amelia is a sporadic anomaly that is defined by the complete absence of a limb's skeletal elements, whereas hypomelia is defined by the incomplete development of a limb's skeletal elements. We present the case of a neonate with gross facial deformities in the form of the absence of both external ears and a saddle-shaped nose. The absence of the right lower limb bud was seen. The left lower limb was underdeveloped, noted only up to the thigh region with the hypoplastic distal part of the leg and absent foot. Genitals and the anus were absent. To the best of our knowledge, this case is exceptional in that congenital limb abnormalities are present at birth along with accompanying genital underdevelopment.

Fetal amelia: a case report

Congenital limb defects are rare fetal anomalies with a birth prevalence of 0.55 per 1,000. Amelia is an extremely rare birth defect marked by the complete absence of one or more limbs. We report a case of fetal amelia, ultrasound findings, manifestations and the fetal outcome.

A review of supernumerary and absent limbs and digits of the upper limb

For years people have been enamored by anomalies of the human limbs, particularly supernumerary and absent limbs and digits. Historically, there are a number of examples of such anomalies, including royal families of ancient Chaldea, tribes from Arabia, and examples from across nineteenth century Europe. The development of the upper limbs in a growing embryo is still being elucidated with the recent advent of homeobox genes, but researchers agree that upper limbs develop between stages 12-23 through a complex embryological process. Maternal thalidomide intake during limb development is known to cause limb reduction and subsequent amelia or phocomelia. Additionally, a number of clinical reports have illustrated different limb anomaly cases, with each situation unique in phenotype and developmental abnormality. Supernumerary and absent limbs and digits are not unique to humans, and a number of animal cases have also been reported. This review of the literature illustrates the historical, anatomical, and clinical aspects of supernumerary and absent limbs and digits for the upper limb.