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Breast cancer affects thousands of women each year and among those diagnosed, African-American women (AAW) make up a significant proportion that are diagnosed with early onset disease, have larger tumors, greater lymph node involvement, higher mortality and lower survival rates. Studies examining factors associated with greater breast cancer morbidity and mortality in this group have suggested that they may differ from Caucasian women in terms of certain risk factors for breast cancer; however, other evidence suggests that the risk of developing breast cancer is similar among African-American and Caucasian women who have a family history of breast cancer. As such, access to genetic counseling and testing (GC/T) services would be an important part of cancer control for this group but in this fast moving area of medicine African-American women are being "left behind". It is unclear why AAW have not readily adopted these preventive services. In light of the paucity of evidence regarding explanations of underuse, it is possible that important factors such as perceived behavioral control (PBC) in the Theory of Planned Behavior may help explain African-American women's participation in genetic counseling and testing for BRCA 1/2. The goals of this mixed methods study were twofold; first, to explore levels of perceived behavioral control and general motivations regarding genetic counseling and testing for BRCA 1/2 in African-American women at moderate to high-risk for breast and ovarian cancer and second, to explore the dimensionality of the perceived behavioral control construct from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and its utility in understanding underuse of BRCA 1/2 genetics services in this group. African-American women are being "left behind". Overall, women had high levels of perceived behavioral control, low knowledge and positive attitudes towards genetic counseling and testing for BRCA 1/2. Results from the principal components analysis lent support for the dimensionality of the perceived behavioral control construct suggesting that it indeed could be thought of as made up of the constructs perceived control [P-C] and perceived difficulty [P-D]. Only perceived control was found to be associated with genetic testing intentions suggesting that it was a better predictor. Neither scale was associated with genetic counseling intentions. African-American women are being "left behind". Future research should focus on educational efforts geared towards highlighting the utility of genetic counseling in addition to genetic testing for BRCA 1/2. Theoretical implications include using two measures to assess aspects of perceived behavioral control (perceived difficulty [P-D] and perceived control [P-C]) instead of one PBC measure. Additionally, studies using the TPB model should include the constructs of spirituality and knowledge when trying to understand underuse of BRCA 1/2 genetic services in African-American women at moderate to high-risk for breast cancer. African-American women are being "left behind". / Ph. D.

Amniocentesis is one of the most widely used prenatal diagnostic techniques for congenital disorders. It was hypothesized that the psychological responses of mothers and fathers to amniocenthesis during high-risk pregnancies would be positively correlated on scales of Symptomatology (Anxiety, Depression, Anger, and Somatic Complaints) and Well-Being (Relaxed, Contented, Friendliness, and Somatic Well-Being). It was also hypothesized that Symptomatology would be negatively correlated with Well-Being. Nineteen couples, who were referred by their physicians, voluntarily participated in the study. Each partner completed the Symptom Questionnaire (Kellner, 1983), a self-rating scale of Symptomatology and Well-Being, in addition to the Pre-Amniocentesis and Post-Amniocentesis Questionnaires (original questionnaires developed for this study) at intervals prior to and following the procedure, while awaiting results. A Pearson product-moment correlation of the total scores revealed a positive correlation (p < 0.5) between the scores of fathers and mothers on the Symptomatology Scale, both pre- and post-amniocentesis (r = .47 and .47). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation (p < .05) between Symptomatology and Well-Being scores for both mothers (r = -.55 and -.60) and fathers (r = -.48 and -.74) at the pre- and post-amniocentesis periods, respectively. The hypothesis cannot be completely accepted because the positive correlation does not exist at the post-amniocentesis level. Mothers appear to experience more Symptomatology and less Well-Being than fathers at the post-amniocentesis level. The results are interpreted to suggest that fathers and mothers may both benefit from pre- and post-amniocentesis supportive intervention.

Family-based and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of alcohol dependence (AD) have reported numerous associated variants. The clinical validity of these variants for predicting AD compared to family history has not yet been reported. These studies aim to explore the aggregate impact of multiple genetic variants with small effect sizes on risk prediction in order to provide a clinical interpretation of genetic contributions to AD. Data simulations showed that given AD’s prevalence and heritability, a risk prediction model incorporating all genetic contributions would have an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) approaching 0.80, which is often a target AUC for screening. Adding additional environmental factors could increase the AUC to 0.95. Using the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) and the Study of Addiction: Genes and Environment (SAGE) GWAS samples, we used several different sources to capture genetic information associated with AD in discovery samples, and then tested genetic sum scores created based on this information for predictive accuracy in validation samples. Scores were assessed separately for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated in candidate gene studies and in GWAS analyses. Candidate gene sum scores did not exhibit significant predictive accuracy, but SNPs meeting less stringent p-value thresholds in GWAS analyses did, ranging from mean estimates of 0.549 for SNPs meeting p<0.01 to 0.565 for SNPs meeting p<0.50. Variants associated with subtypes of AD showed that there is similarly modest and significant predictive ability for an externalizing subtype. Scores created based on all individual SNP effects in aggregate across the entire genome accounted for 0.46%-0.57% of the variance in AD symptom count, and have AUCs of 0.527 to 0.549. Additional covariates and environmental factors that are correlated with AD increased the AUC to 0.865. Family history was a better classifier of case-control status than genetic sum scores, with an AUC of 0.686 in COGA and 0.614 in SAGE. This project suggests that SNPs from candidate gene studies and genome-wide association studies currently have limited clinical validity, but there is potential for enhanced predictive ability with better detection of genetic factors contributing to AD.

Algumas síndromes genéticas monogênicas apresentam fenótipos considerados progeróides, ou seja, desenvolvem precocemente características clínicas semelhantes às observadas no envelhecimento humano normal. A relação fisiopatológica entre essas doenças e o processo de envelhecimento vem sendo estudada, sendo que o entendimento dos mecanismos moleculares em um campo contribui para a compreensão do outro. As síndromes de Hutchinson-Gilford e Rothmund-Thomson são duas condições progeróides raras, já bem caracterizadas clinicamente, que são causadas por alterações nos genes LMNA (em um alelo) e RECQL4 (nos dois alelos), respectivamente. No entanto, em cerca de 40% a 60% dos indivíduos com a síndrome de Rothmund-Thomson, não são encontradas mutações em RECQL4, constituindo um subgrupo chamado de tipo I; desse modo, os casos com alteração no gene constituem o tipo II da síndrome. Indivíduos com o tipo II apresentam um risco aumentado para o desenvolvimento de câncer, particularmente o osteossarcoma. Neste trabalho, nove pacientes com sinais progeróides foram avaliados clinicamente e tiveram o DNA sequenciado. Um paciente recebeu o diagnóstico clínico de síndrome de Hutchinson-Gilford, que foi confirmado pela mutação patogênica mais frequente encontrada no gene LMNA (p.Gly608Gly). Oito pacientes jovens, com mediana de idade de 2 anos e 2 meses, foram diagnosticados clinicamente como afetados pela síndrome de Rothmund-Thomson, cujas características clínicas mais comuns incluíam déficit pôndero-estatural, cabelos e sobrancelhas/cílios esparsos, fronte ampla, lesão cutânea (eritema em face e lesão poiquilodérmica) e anomalias ósseas, alterações típicas da síndrome. Catarata estava presente em 50% dos indivíduos. Nenhum dos pacientes desenvolveu algum tipo de tumor até o momento. O sequenciamento do gene RECQL4 mostrou a presença de três variantes patogênicas diferentes, em três probandos (37,5%), sendo dois em homozigose e um em heterozigose composta, todas já descritas previamente na literatura. Em busca de alterações em outro gene que pudesse explicar o quadro apresentado pelos pacientes sem mutação, três dos probandos, incluindo os genitores de um deles, tiveram o exoma sequenciado. No entanto, não foram encontradas, nessa etapa, variantes adicionais que explicassem na totalidade os fenótipos apresentados. Comparando os achados clínicos dos pacientes com a síndrome de Rothmund-Thomson tipo I e tipo II, foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante na incidência de catarata subcapsular nos pacientes sem mutação (p<0,05), semelhante ao que é descrito na literatura. Diante dos achados clínicos e moleculares obtidos, foi realizado o aconselhamento genético para todos os indivíduos, enfatizando a evolução, os cuidados e acompanhamentos necessários para as duas doenças em questão e fornecendo informações aos genitores dos probandos sobre o risco de recorrência para a prole futura / Some monogenic disorders exhibit progeroid phenotypes, in other words, they develop premature characteristics similar to those observed in normal human aging. The physiopathological correlation between these diseases and the aging process has being studied, and the understanding of the molecular mechanisms in one field contributes to the understanding of the other. The Hutchinson-Gilford and Rothmund-Thomson syndromes are two clinically well-characterized rare progerioid conditions that are caused by changes in the LMNA (in one allele) and RECQL4 (in both alleles) genes, respectively. However, in about 40% to 60% of individuals with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, no mutations are found in RECQL4, constituting a subgroup called type I; thus, cases with mutations in the gene constitute the type II group of the syndrome. Individuals with type II have an increased risk for the development of cancer, particularly osteosarcoma. In this study, nine patients with progerioid signs were clinically evaluated and had the DNA sequenced. One patient was clinically diagnosed with Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, which was confirmed by the most frequent pathogenic mutation found in the LMNA gene (p.Gly608Gly). Eight young patients with median age of 2 years and 2 months were clinically diagnosed as affected by Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, whose most common clinical features included: short stature; sparse hair, eyebrows and eyelashes; erythematous skin lesions and poikiloderma; and bone abnormalities; all typical of the syndrome. Cataract was present in 50% of individuals. None of the patients has developed any type of tumor at this time. Sequencing of the RECQL4 gene showed the presence of three different pathogenic variants in three probands (37.5%), two in homozygous and one in compound heterozygosity, all previously described in the literature. In search of alterations in another gene that could explain the phenotype presented by the patients without mutation, three of the probands, including the parents of one of them, had the exoma sequenced. However, there were no additional variants at this stage that fully explained the phenotypes presented by these individuals. Comparing the clinical findings of patients with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome type I and type II, a statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of subcapsular cataract in patients without mutation (p <0.05), similar to that described in the literature. In light of the clinical and molecular findings, genetic counseling was performed for all individuals, emphasizing the evolution, care and follow-up needed for the two diseases in question and providing information to the parents of the probands on the risk of recurrence for future offspring

O presente estudo é focalizado na avaliação dos achados do sistema nervoso central através de imagens obtidas através de ressonância nuclear magnética (RNM) em pacientes com a Síndrome de Opitz G/BBB. A síndrome de Opitz G/BBB (OMIM; 145410; 300000) é uma síndrome de anomalias congênitas múltiplas que comprometem a linha média, clinica e geneticamente heterogênea, com uma forma ligada ao cromossomo X mapeada em Xp22.3 e uma outra forma supostamente autossômica dominante mapeada em 22q11 cujo gene nunca foi identificado; no entanto, ambas são reconhecidas como uma condição única. Esta síndrome de anomalias da linha média se caracteriza principalmente por hipertelorismo, bico de viúva, ponte nasal larga, hipospádia, fissura de lábio/palato, e anomalias laringo-traqueo-esofágicas. Neste estudo avaliamos 19 pacientes do sexo masculino, brasileiros, sem etnia específica, com idades variando entre 5 e 38 anos, diagnosticados previamente como portadores de síndrome de Opitz G/BBB, selecionados dos arquivos da Seção de Genética Clinica, Divisão de Sindromologia, HRAC-USP Bauru. Destes pacientes, 6 tinham avaliação prévia por estudos de genética molecular gentilmente realizados pelas Dras. Chiara Migliore (Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS \"Burlo Garofolo\", Trieste, Italy) e Germana Meroni (CBM - Cluster in Biomedicine, AREA Science Park, Trieste, Italy). Os estudos por imagem através de RNM foram realizados em todos os pacientes. Atenção especial foi dedicada a 3 pacientes que mostravam fenótipos clínicos distintos dos demais dentro do espectro da síndrome de Opitz G/BBB: dois pacientes apresentavam ptose, pescoço alado, e anomalias da cintura escapular, enquanto que o terceiro apresentava retardo mental grave e microcefalia associado a graves alterações encefálicas na avaliação por imagem, tais como atrofia cortical generalizada e grande anomalia de Dandy-Walker. Os principais achados por imagem da amostra total são representados por cisterna magna ampla (15 indivíduos = 78,95%), dilatação do 4º ventrículo (14 = 73,68%), hipoplasia do vermis cerebelar (8 = 42,10%), hemisférios cerebelares anômalos e cavum septum vergae (3 = 15,79% cada condição); atrofia de córtex cerebral, alargamento do III ventrículo, aumento da cisterna pré-pontina, hipoplasia de corpo caloso e persistência de septo pelúcido contam, cada um, com dois pacientes acometidos (10,53%). Aparentemente não havia correlação entre o fenótipo clínico e os achados por imagem, existindo grande variabilidade de paciente para paciente, que se estendiam desde discretas alterações da linha média até grave malformação de Dandy-Walker. As alterações comportamentais e cognitivas usualmente descritas na literatura como achados principais em pacientes com hipoplasia do vermis cerebelar e/ou hipoplasia cerebelar não foram reconhecidas como achados marcantes nos pacientes do presente trabalho. A alta frequência de anomalias cerebelares em pacientes com a síndrome de Opitz G/BBB nos leva a recomendação para a reformulação do aconselhamento genético, abordagem e manejo destes pacientes. / The present survey focused on the evaluation of the central nervous system images findings in patients with the Opitz G/BBB syndrome obtained through magnetic nuclear resonance imaging (MRI). The Opitz G/BBB syndrome (OMIM; 145410; 300000) is a midline congenital malformation syndrome, clinical and genetically heterogeneous with an X-linked form mapped on Xp22.3 and a not well defined autosomal dominant form purportedly on 22q11, however they are recognized as one entity. This multiple congenital midline malformation syndrome is mainly characterized by hypertelorism, widows peak, broad nasal bridge, hypospadias, cleft lip/palate, and laryngo-tracheo-esophageal abnormalities. In the present study we have evaluated nineteen male patients of Brazilian extraction, with no preferential ethnic background, with age span ranging from 5 to 38 years old and previously diagnosed with the OS were selected from the files of the Section of Clinical Genetics, Division of Syndromology, HRAC-USP Bauru. From these patients, six had previous evaluation through molecular analysis graciously performed by Chiara Migliore (Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS \"Burlo Garofolo\", Trieste, Italy) and Germana Meroni (CBM - Cluster in Biomedicine, AREA Science Park, Trieste, Italy). Imaging studies through MRI were performed in all patients. Special attention was given to 3 out the 19 patients who showed unique phenotypes within the OS spectrum: 2 of them presented ptosis, pterigium colli, and abnormal scapular girdle as deviant signs and they presented mild/moderate cerebellar anomalies, and the 3rd presented severe mental retardation and microcephaly associated to generalized severe imaging findings mainly represented by generalized cortical atrophy and huge Dandy-Walker anomaly. Main MRI findings of the whole sample included wide cisterna magna (15 = 78,95%), enlarged 4th ventricle (14 = 73,68%), cerebellar vermis hypoplasia (8 = 42,10%); abnormal cerebellar hemispheres and cavum septum vergae (3 = 15,79% each one); cerebral cortical atrophy, enlarged III ventricle, enlarged prepontine cisterna, calosal hypoplasia and cavum septum pellucidum counts, each one, two patients (10,53%). Apparently there is no correlation between the clinical phenotype and the imaging findings, and there is a wide variability from patients to patients, ranging from mild midline anomalies to severe Dandy Walker anomaly. Behavioral and severe cognitive deficits usually reported in the pertinent literature as main findings associated to cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and/or cerebellar hypoplasia were not recognized as a remarkable finding in the present series. The high frequency of cerebellar anomalies in the OS patients led us to recommend a reformulation in the genetic counseling approach to these patients.

Thesis (doctoral)--Göteborg University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 438-449) and index.