Case report and review of literature of a rare congenital disorder: Adams-Oliver syndrome

A Child with a Congenital Aplasia of the Scalp: A Quiz

Abstract is missing (Quiz)

Macrocephaly and Finger Changes: A Narrative Review

Macrocephaly, characterized by an abnormally large head circumference, often co-occurs with distinctive finger changes, presenting a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. This review aims to provide a current synthetic overview of the main acquired and genetic etiologies associated with macrocephaly and finger changes. The genetic cause encompasses several categories of diseases, including bone marrow expansion disorders, skeletal dysplasias, ciliopathies, inherited metabolic diseases, RASopathies, and overgrowth syndromes. Furthermore, autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases are also explored for their potential involvement in macrocephaly and finger changes. The intricate genetic mechanisms involved in the formation of cranial bones and extremities are multifaceted. An excess in growth may stem from disruptions in the intricate interplays among the genetic, epigenetic, and hormonal factors that regulate human growth. Understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms is important for elucidating the developmental pathways and biological processes that contribute to the observed clinical phenotypes. The review provides a practical approach to delineate causes of macrocephaly and finger changes, facilitate differential diagnosis and guide for the appropriate etiological framework. Early recognition contributes to timely intervention and improved outcomes for affected individuals.

Adams-Oliver syndrome

The article presents the observation of a rare hereditary disease: Adams–Oliver syndrome. In a newborn girl in the postnatal period, a lesion of the distal extremities was revealed in the form of syndactyly of the proximal phalanges of 4–5 and 2–3 fingers, hypoplasia of the nail phalanges of 2–5 fingers of the left foot, fusion of the proximal phalanges and the absence of middle and nail phalanges of 2–3 fingers of the right foot, hypoplasia of the terminal phalanx and the absence of the nail plate of the 2nd finger of the left hand. In addition to malformations of the extremities, anomalies in the development of the skin on the scalp in the form of an area of aplasia and outgrowths, represented by sweat gland hyperplasia with a fibroepithelial outgrowth, were noted. Cardiac pathology was manifested by a heart rhythm disturbance of the type of sinus bradyarrhythmia. Adams–Oliver syndrome is a complex disease with phenotypic variability, which causes difficulties in clinical diagnosis.

Notch Signaling in Vascular Endothelial and Mural Cell Communications

The Notch signaling pathway is a highly versatile and evolutionarily conserved mechanism with an important role in cell fate determination. Notch signaling plays a vital role in vascular development, regulating several fundamental processes such as angiogenesis, arterial/venous differentiation, and mural cell investment. Aberrant Notch signaling can result in severe vascular phenotypes as observed in cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) and Alagille syndrome. It is known that vascular endothelial cells and mural cells interact to regulate vessel formation, cell maturation, and stability of the vascular network. Defective endothelial-mural cell interactions are a common phenotype in diseases characterized by impaired vascular integrity. Further refinement of the role of Notch signaling in the vascular junctions will be critical to attempts to modulate Notch in the context of human vascular disease. In this review, we aim to consolidate and summarize our current understanding of Notch signaling in the vascular endothelial and mural cells during development and in the adult vasculature.