MarfanLife.net | News blog

Editorial comment — Bachet 28 (2): 283 — European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery: “The article concerning acute type A dissection in pregnant Marfan patients published in the present issue of the EJCTS reflects, through the report of four cases observed over a period of 12 years, the yet often unresolved difficulties entailed by this accident and raises important questions related to its obstetrical and surgical management.”
This is only part of an editorial (you have to pay $25 for the full thing unless you have a paid subscription), but you can get a good idea of what he’s saying if you read the bit that’s available for free. Very good.

BBC NEWS - Beta-blockers ‘blot out memories’: “The drug has been shown to interfere with the way the brain stores memories.”

ScienCentral: Sudden Killer: “Ruptured aneurysms kill 30 thousand Americans each year, and unfortunately, many people don’t find out they have one until it’s too late.But this ScienCentral News video explains how one woman’s [Carmela Kolman’s] rescue led to countless other lives being saved.”

Scientists have identified the first genetic mutations that cause the aorta to widen, tear and rupture: … “The TGFBR2 pathway has long been studied in relation to cancer. Inactivation of the pathway has been shown to contribute to tumor formation and growth. Milewicz said the mutations connected to aortic aneurysm were not associated with cancer in the families studied. None of the families had symptoms of Marfan syndrome, a connective tissue disease that leaves its victims susceptible to aortic aneurysm and dissection..”

Bismarck Tribune Online - Bismarck, ND: “Many young athletes have spent their summer months going to camps and training to increase their performance level before the sports season begins. Between running sprints, pumping iron and practicing drills, athletes have to get a sports physical in order to play.

Over the years, sports physicals have evolved into a more in-depth and precise method to ensure that athletes are in good health. The checkup has evolved from a simple questionnaire to a more detailed discussion between the doctor and athlete.”

Science & Technology at Scientific American.com: Beating a Sudden Killer: “When a young woman nearly died from a ruptured aneurysm, the author and the woman’s husband began searching for ways to save other aneurysm patients from catastrophe”
Note: It costs $5 to buy the online issue of this Scientific American magazine unless you are an online subscriber (at $39.95). The $5 fee is about the same price as buying the magazine (August 2005) at the newsstand, which was what I did. The young woman featured in the article, Carmela Kolman, has the Marfan syndrome.

Heart surgery changes game for Lakers’ second-round pick:
“Ronny Turiaf was getting ready to make his pro basketball debut with the Los Angeles Lakers. He signed a contract last week. Then he took a team physical.”
…
“The two most common factors that lead to sudden cardiac deaths are hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or an enlargement of the heart muscle; and Marfan’s syndrome, which often leads to a weakening of heart valves. When a person overexerts, those conditions can be fatal.”

NWA WorldTraveler | Growing Strong: “Long legs, long arms, long body�even long fingers. Little Haley Dostalik, age 5, sounds like a basketball coach�s dream.

In this rare case, however, it�s actually a concern. Haley, who lives in Urbandale, Iowa, with her parents, Martin and Kari, and 7-year-old brother, Adam, has Marfan syndrome. ”
[snip!]
“Northwest Airlines created the KidCares medical travel program as part of its AirCares charitable assistance commitment. KidCares provides air travel to children 18 and younger (and one parent or guardian) who are unable to receive treatment in their home area. Donated WorldPerks miles are used to provide this free air travel.”

Abstract: Osteoporosis in adult with Marfan syndrome: casuality or causality?: “Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an inherited connective tissue disorder transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. Recent studies indicate that decreased bone mineral density (BMD) occurs in the spine, femoral necks and greater trochanters of some adults and children with MFS. Since there is uncertainty regarding the BMD status of patients with MFS, the authors present a case report on a female patient with MFS and alteration of phosphocalcic metabolism.”

The full text in .pdf format can be found here

Other current articles about osteoporosis and the Marfan syndrome are:

• Abstract only: Assessment of bone mineral density in adults and children with Marfan syndrome. (Giampietro, et al.)
• Letter to the Editor of Rheumatology, full text: Bone mineral density in Marfan syndrome (Le Parc, et al.)
• Full text: Bone mineral density in adults with Marfan syndrome (Carter, et al.)
• Abstract only: Bone mineral density in sixty adult patients with Marfan syndrome. (Le Parc, et al.)