Essay on Marfan Syndrome

Week five I wrote about a sperm bank that lost a deceased man's vials of sperm. Grief, sorrow, and suffering were all feelings felt by Sarah Robertson after the loss of her 29 year-old husband, Aaron Robertson. Aaron had passed away from a rare genetic disorder known as Marfan Syndrome. Sarah mourned the death of her husband, but had somewhat comfort in knowing that six vials of her deceased husbands sperm were safely stored at the Reproductive Fertility Center in Los Angeles. As time went on since Aaron passed, Sarah felt she was ready to put his vials of sperm to use. Devastating news awaited Sarah as she was told that all six vials had been reported missing. Sarah and her in-laws are suing the LA clinic and Dr. Peyman Saadat, the owner.

day one they watch their beautiful healthy child grow up and live a normal life.

Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome is a very rare and serious genetic disorder that generally affects the heart, facial features, and skin of an individual. It is caused by a desultory gene mutation, which takes place in one of four genes. Those genes are known as BRAF, MEK1, MEK2, and KRAS. From research, it is also suspected there is a possibility that other genes are associated with the rare condition. This disorder holds multiple alternative names, a long history, obvious symptoms, extensive amounts of interesting data, and is lucky enough to be supported by numerous organizations that will stop at nothing to help.

The FBN1 gene is responsible for providing instructions for the production of fibrillin-1, which is a protein that is secreted into the matrix of connective tissue (“FBN1,” 2015). Therefore, a mutation in this gene can cause the excessive production of fibrillin-1, and when fibrillin-1 binds to other proteins they form threads called microfibrils. Microfibrils contain a growth factor called transforming growth factor beta or TGF-β (“FBN1,” 2015), so when there is an increase of TGF-β, problems with the connective tissue throughout the body can occur (“What is Marfan Syndrome? | The Marfan Foundation,” n.d.), more of these problems will be elaborated upon further in the report. The genetic mutation in the FBN1 gene is usually hereditary, but it is possible for one to be the first in their family to have this genetic mutation. If one has this mutation

Marfan Syndrome, which is named after Antoine Marfan who first described the disorder in 1896, is a genetic disorder that affects the connective tissues found throughout the body. This syndrome can affect many different parts of the body, but the most commonly affected are the heart, blood vessels, bones, joints, respiratory system, nervous system, and eyes. Thankfully, a person’s intelligence is never affected. Marfan syndrome affects people from all races and ethnic backgrounds, and this often makes it hard to detect. It is a pretty rare genetic disorder affecting only about 1 in every 5,000 people.

Researchers believe the mutation of this gene causes too much bone to grow instead of muscle.

Marfan syndrome is a genetic mutation of the FBN1 gene which codes for a protein that contributes to the connective tissue in the body and releases certain growth hormones (Callewaert et al., 2007). A mutation in this gene contributes to a variety of signs and symptoms usually involving skeletal deformations like long bone overgrowth, causing elongated limbs and spinal conditions like scoliosis and kyphosis (Callewaert et al., 2007). Retina detachment is common in those with Marfan syndrome and cardiovascular complications may include aortic dilation, dissection and rupture and up two thirds of patients develop mitral valve dysfunction (Callewaert et al., 2007). R.C. has experienced detached retinas,

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease which is progressive and limits breathing ability. The lungs and other organs are affected by a thick buildup of mucus. This mucus traps bacteria which leads lung damage, infections, and respiratory failure. The digestive enzymes being released is prevented, affecting the breakdown of food and nutrients being absorbed. ?More than 30,000 children and adults in the United States have Cystic Fibrosis. 70,000 people worldwide.? (Diagnosed With Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) Someone who has Cystic Fibrosis have a defective gene from each parent which produces faulty protein. The CFTR gene is the gene that is mutated causing this. The channel that transports chloride in and out of cells is created by instructions that are created by CFTR gene. The regulation of chloride ions and water are prevented creating the thick mucus formed on the passageways of lungs, pancreas, and other organs. Cystic Fibrosis doesn?t cause learning problems are mobility of the person. Babies with this still develop and grow up normally. The average life expectancy is close to 40 years, and has been increasing in the last fifty years thanks to improved care. ?Chronic coughing, recurring chest colds, wheezing, shortness of breath, frequent sinus infections, and allergies that last all year, are the most common symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis.? (Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms) Since this disease is progressive

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death of an infant less than one year of age after having done a complete postmortem examination and investigation of the scene of death. There are no causes that have been found that make it clear as to why SIDS is so common. The rate of SIDS decreased dramatically when the Back to Sleep campaign was started to encourage parents and caregivers that infants were placed on their back while sleeping (Hockenberry & Wilson, 2015, p. 473). The most common ways that these deaths have occurred are the infant’s sleeping environments and their positioning. Research shows that infants that sleep in the prone position are most at risk

Autosomal dominant LGMD occur less often than recessive dominant LGMD. In the metabolism myotilin gene mutations occur, it may be due to a deficiency of vitamin B12, vitamin E, folate or exposures to nitrous oxide. LGMD 1A disease normally occurs from the age 42 to 77, and develops in the same areas (hip, shoulder and back) however, it could spread to the leg muscles. Due to the fact that myotilin gene is mutated, it causes focal myofibrillar destruction to occur, and this results in intracytoplasmic deposits to float around in the blood stream. In one case study done in Barcelona in 2011, there were 13 patients who were all diagnosed with myotilin gene mutation disease. The results showed that the deposits of myofibrillar became immune to myotilin and cluster up the vacuoles and interfere with the Z-lines. Overall the study revealed that each patient shared the same phenotypic characteristics, LGMD 1A and myofibrillar myopathy variations which emphasizes that LGMD is a developing neuromuscular disorder (Montse,

A permanent change in a gene that can be passed on to children. The rare, early-onset familial

Affecting only one in every 2 million people Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is one of the rarest genetic disorders of congenital skeleton malformations; identified by congenital malformation of the big toe at birth. Flare-ups occur by soft tissue injury followed by immobility. A mutation in the activin receptor IA/activin-like kinase 2 (ACVR1/ALK2), and bone protein (BMP) type I receptor were reported in all cases of FOP, making this a specific disease causing mutations in the human genome (Kaplan, 28 O). However, there is no current cure for FOP there are new developing treatments. The benefit to studying this rare

Myopia (nearsightedness) is one of the most common symptoms of the disease. Other symptoms occurring in the eyes include dislocated lens, detached retina, risk of early glaucoma and/or cataracts, and, if not treated, can result in vision loss. Symptoms of the cardiovascular system include a stretched or weakened aorta (aortic dilation or aneurysm) due to defective connective tissue and defects in heart valves. An example of a valve defect is mitral valve prolapse in which one or both cusps of the mitral valve swells or collapses into the left upper atrium when the heart contracts. Cardiovascular symptoms can lead to arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, and chest pain. There are also some effects on lungs, albeit not as common as other symptoms, in which the air sacs can become stretched and lead to an increased risk of lung collapse. The nervous system is also affected as dural ectasia, where the dura that covers the spinal fluid stretches and weakens, eventually leading the bones of the spinal column to wear away. Other symptoms are more obvious and affect the skeletal and connective tissue systems. Those with Marfan syndrome commonly have stretch marks and overgrowth of the

The presence of an FBN1 mutation that is associated with cardiovascular disease will confirm the diagnosis of this condition in the patient.

Apart from this, Marfan syndrome has several symptoms. However, the most prominent indicators affect the skeletal, cardiac, and optical systems. The entire fibrous connective can also be affected (4). Other signs include extreme nearsightedness, an abnormally curved spine, flat feet, excessively limbs, and extraordinary and overcrowded teeth. The central cause of the condition is a deficiency in the gene that enables the human body to produce the fibrillin protein, which provides the connective tissue the strength and power to support the body organ (4). Along with this, an individual inherits the abnormal from parents who had the disorder, and the condition can occur in men and women in all races as well as