Application of a Systematic Developmental Assessment to a Novel Population: Infants With Rare Genetic...
Genetic DiseaseGenetic Syndrome5 moreThe main objective of this study is to apply a well-established model of developmental surveillance (which evolved to characterize the outcomes of very low birth weight infants) to infants with genetic disorders. A novel clinical model for infants with rare genetic disorders has been created as a joint initiative between the Division of Newborn Medicine's NICU Growth and Developmental Support Programs (NICU GraDS) program and the Division of Genetics at Boston Children's Hospital (BCH). This study plans to enroll patients with genetic syndromes seen in this clinic into a prospective, longitudinal study in order to characterize their developmental profiles and needs.
Natural History Study of Patients With HPDL Mutations
Mitochondrial EncephalomyopathiesHereditary Spastic Paraplegia5 moreThis study uses medical records that allow retrospective data extraction of clinical manifestation to assess the natural history of HPDL mutations
Delineating the Molecular Spectrum and the Clinical, Imaging and Neuronal Phenotype of Chopra-Amiel-Gordon...
Genetic DiseaseChopra-Amiel-Gordon Syndrome2 moreThe purpose of this study is to establish a registry of individuals with confirmed or suspected Chopra-Amiel-Gordon Syndrome (CAGS) to learn more about the range of symptoms, changes in the structure of the brain seen on imaging, and learning difficulties that individuals with this disorder may experience. The investigators will obtain medical history, family history, MRI records, patient photographs, and genetic test results from individuals with confirmed or suspected CAGS. A subset of participants will also undergo a standardized neurobehavioral assessment. This data will be maintained on a secure research database. Sample collection will be offered to participants for the functional testing and the generation of iPSC cell lines, for neuronal reprogramming and phenotyping.
Novel Genetic Disorders of the Immune System
PI3KCDCTLA42 moreBackground: - The immune system helps the body fight infection and disease. People with immune system problems can get infections, blood disorders, and other health problems. Researchers want to learn more about the immune system, like what causes it to not work properly. Objectives: - To evaluate people with certain types of immune system disorders. Eligibility: - Adults and children with an immune disorder or symptoms of one, and their relatives. Some disorders are not included in this study. Design: Researchers will review participants medical records. Participants may mail in a blood or saliva sample, or be evaluated at the clinic. At the clinic, they may have a medical history, physical exam, blood tests, and imaging scans (with dye given through a needle in the arm). They may have genetic testing done on a sample of blood, saliva, hair, or nail clipping. Participants may choose to have a skin biopsy. Up to 2 skin samples will be taken from their arm, back, or other area. A biopsy punch is inserted into the skin and rotated. A small circle of skin is removed. Participants 10 and older may also choose to have leukapheresis. Blood is taken through a needle in one arm. It passes through a machine that separates the white blood cells. The rest of the blood is returned by needle in the other arm. Researchers may recommend medicines, but no treatments are being studied. Participants may be invited to return for visits over several years. At those visits, they may repeat some or all of the above tests. Or they may mail in blood or other samples. They may also send medical records.
Family Health Histories: Creating a Culturally Tailored Tool to Reduce Health Disparities in the...
Hereditary DiseasesThe understanding, utilization and uptake of Family Health History is essential to the prevention of health disparities in the African American community. Creating a culturally tailored Family Health History tool, co-developed by members of the African American community will inform, educate and empower African Americans about health issues related to their family genealogy. Applying the knowledge gained via Family Health Histories to increase preventative behaviors including screenings thus linking people to needed health services to prevent the onset of disease and illness.
Rehabilitation Program on Genetic and Degenerative Ataxia
AtaxiaDegenerative Disease1 moreCerebellar ataxia is a pathology linked to the lesion of the cerebellum or the afferent and/or efferent cerebellar pathways. The aetiology can be an acquired cerebral lesion, following a chemical poisoning or a genetic degenerative lesion (for example : Friedreich's ataxia, spinocerebellar ataxias, etc.). As reported by the latest estimate available, genetic degenerative cerebellar ataxias affect approximately 6,000 patients in France (Orpha.net). Symptoms suffered by ataxic patients are : problems and gait disorders along with difficulties in coordination resulting in ataxia, uncoordinated movements. These symptoms cause a decrease in the quality of life on patients with spinocerebellar ataxia. The symptoms improvement linked to the cerebellar syndrome is based on rehabilitation that can be supplemented by use of technical aids. Current scientific knowledge confirms that intensive rehabilitation by physiotherapy and occupational therapy in patients with degenerative ataxias improves cerebellar symptoms. Nevertheless, the choice rehabilitation technique stay at the appreciation of the therapist. From the observation, the investigators have designed an intensive multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, called PAMPERO, with partner patients member of two genetic degenerative ataxia patient organisations. This 5-weeks program has been used in clinic during 3 years on 28 patients. It appears to be the only one in France. The preliminary results show a positive effect on ataxia symptom. Nevertheless, the duration of the benefice over time and the effect on the quality of life stay unknown. However, the quality of life is mainly affected by the participation restriction due to the risk of falling. The most frequent complaint from partner patient is the diminution of the social interaction resulting of the incapacity to move without risk. The present protocol aimed at evaluating the Rehabilitation Program in collaboration with partner patient on the symptom intensity, activity and quality of life on genetic and degenerative ataxia. This PAMPERO program's effect will be assessed by comparing the difference of Intensity of symptom measured by to Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) at inclusion and 3 months after the end of rehabilitation.
Promoting Stress Management and Resilience Among Individuals With Von Hippel- Lindau Disease
Von Hippel-Lindau DiseaseGenetic DisorderThe Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (3RP) has shown efficacy in improving coping and resilience across diverse populations; however, little is known about how it helps individuals manage the challenges of living with a chronic illness. This study proposes to pilot test an adapted version of the 3RP among patients living with VHL.
Related Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) for Genetic Diseases of Blood Cells
Stem Cell TransplantationBone Marrow Transplantation11 moreMany genetic diseases of lymphohematopoietic cells (such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, Combined Immune Deficiency (CID), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, chronic granulomatous disease, X-linked lymphoproliferative disease, and metabolic diseases affecting hematopoiesis) are sublethal diseases caused by mutations that adversely affect the development or function of different types of blood cells. Although pathophysiologically diverse, these genetic diseases share a similar clinical course of significant progressive morbidity, overall poor quality of life, and ultimate death from complications of the disease or its palliative treatment. Supportive care for these diseases includes chronic transfusion, iron chelation, and surgery (splenectomy or cholecystectomy) for the hemoglobinopathies; prophylactic antibiotics, intravenous immunoglobulin, and immunomodulator therapies for the immune deficiencies; and enzyme replacement injections and dietary restriction for some of the metabolic diseases. The suboptimal results of such supportive care measures have led to efforts to implement more aggressive therapeutic interventions to cure these lymphohematopoietic diseases. The most logical strategies for cure of these diseases have been either replacement of the patient's own hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) with those derived from a normal donor allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), or to genetically modify the patient's own stem cells to replace the defective gene (gene therapy).
Fludarabine Phosphate, Cyclophosphamide, and Total-Body Irradiation Followed by Donor Bone Marrow...
Immunodeficiency SyndromeSevere Aplastic Anemia1 moreThis phase I/II trial studies the side effects of fludarabine phosphate, cyclophosphamide and total-body irradiation followed by donor bone marrow transplant and cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and sirolimus in treating patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders or noncancerous inherited disorders. Giving low doses of chemotherapy and total-body irradiation before a bone marrow transplant helps prepare the patient's body to accept the incoming donor's bone marrow and decrease the risk that the patient's immune system will reject the donor's stem cells. When the healthy stem cells from a donor are infused into the patient they may help the patient's bone marrow make stem cells, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Sometimes the transplanted cells from a donor can make an immune response against the body's normal cells called graft versus host disease. Giving cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, tacrolimus, and sirolimus after the transplant may help decrease this from happening.
New York Blood Center National Cord Blood Program
LeukemiaLymphoma3 moreUmbilical cord blood is used as a source of hematopoietic stem cells for bone marrow reconstitution in patients who would be potential candidates for a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated marrow donor. The outcome of transplantation is obtained to assess cord blood myeloid and platelet engraftment, transplant related mortality, overall survival, graft vs. host disease and, for patients with leukemia, lymphoma or myelodysplasia, relapse.