Health and Fitness

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND) Overview What is paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)? Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) is when you’re suddenly awakened feeling short of breath. Unlike orthopnea, it doesn’t happen when you’re awake and lying down or reclining, only when you’re asleep. PND can feel scary, like you can’t breathe or are working hard to get a deep breath. You may gasp for air and cough. It can be particularly jarring because it wakes you suddenly, after an hour or two of sleep. Sitting up helps you feel better within about 10 to 15 minutes. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is pronounced “pair-uh-SIZ-muhl knock-TUR-nuhl DISP-nee-uh.” Possible Causes What causes paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea? Heart, lung and neurological issues are the most common causes of sudden breathlessness when you’re sleeping: Heart disease. When you’re lying down, your blood moves from your legs to your lungs. If your heart can’t move the extra blood out efficiently, the extra fluid puts pressure on y...

Acrocallosal Syndrome Overview Acrocallosal syndrome, Schinzel type is a rare genetic disorder that is apparent at birth (congenital). Associated symptoms and findings may be variable, including among affected members of the same family (kindred). However, the disorder is typically characterized by underdevelopment (hypoplasia) or absence (agenesis) of the thick band of nerve fibers joining the two hemispheres of the brain (corpus callosum) and moderate to severe mental retardation. In addition, many affected individuals have malformations of the skull and facial (craniofacial) region and/or distinctive abnormalities of the fingers and toes (digits). Characteristic craniofacial abnormalities may include an unusually large head (macrocephaly) with a prominent forehead, widely spaced eyes (ocular hypertelorism), downslanting eyelid folds (palpebral fissures), a small nose with a broad nasal bridge; and malformed (dysplastic) ears. Most affected individuals also have distinctive digital m...

  ACAD9 deficiency Overview ACAD9 deficiency is a rare, autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that impairs mitochondrial function, leading to reduced energy production. It primarily causes severe muscle weakness, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), and lactic acidosis. Often presenting in infancy, it can be fatal but may respond to high-dose Riboflavin therapy. Symptoms Muscle Issues (Myopathy): Low muscle tone (hypotonia), muscle weakness (myopathy), and exercise intolerance (fatigue). Cardiac Issues (Cardiomyopathy) : Enlarged and weakened heart muscle (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is common), rhythm abnormalities, and potential heart failure. Neurological Issues: Intellectual disability, developmental delays, seizures, and sometimes movement disorders. Metabolic Crisis: Acute symptoms can include severe lactic acidosis, liver dysfunction, vomiting, and failure to thrive in infants. Other Symptoms: Shortness of breath, fatigue, and in some cases, Leigh's syndrome (a ...

Bassen-Kornzweig syndrome (abetalipoproteinemia)  Overview Abetalipoproteinemia is a rare inherited disorder affecting fat absorption by the intestine and mobilization by the liver. Inability to absorb fat results in deficiencies of lipids and various essential vitamins. Affected individuals experience progressive neurological deterioration, muscle weakness, difficulty walking and blood abnormalities including a condition in which the red blood cells are malformed (acanthocytosis) resulting in low levels of circulating red blood cells (anemia). Affected individuals may also develop degeneration of the retina of the eyes potentially resulting in loss of vision, a condition known as retinitis pigmentosa. Abetalipoproteinemia is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern and is caused by changes (mutations or variants) in the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) gene. Abetalipoproteinemia was first reported in the medical literature by doctors Bassen and Kornzweig in 1950 ...

Bart syndrome Overview Bart syndrome is a rare genetic disorder (a form of aplasia cutis congenita type VI) present at birth, characterized by the triad of localized absence of skin (often on lower extremities), skin blistering (epidermolysis bullosa), and nail dystrophy. It is typically managed conservatively with wound care to prevent infection, often showing good prognosis. Symptoms Cardiomyopathy: Often presents as enlarged/weakened heart muscle (dilated) or left ventricular noncompaction, usually appearing before age 5 and leading to significant heart failure risks. Neutropenia: Chronic or cyclical low levels of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell), leading to frequent infections, mouth ulcers, and sepsis. Skeletal Myopathy: Significant muscle weakness, particularly in the proximal muscles, resulting in reduced muscle tone (hypotonia) and fatigue. Growth Delay : Prepubertal growth retardation and a distinct, thinner physical build. Metabolic Abnormalities: Increased urinary...

Bart-Pumphrey syndrome  Overview Bart-Pumphrey syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by the triad of knuckle pads, leukonychia (white nails), and sensorineural hearing loss, often accompanied by palmoplantar keratoderma (thickened skin on palms/soles). Caused by mutations in the GJB2 gene, it primarily affects skin and hearing from childhood. Symptoms Knuckle Pads: Wart-like, hyperkeratotic (thickened) plaques over the interphalangeal joints of the fingers and toes. These are often the most common finding.  Hearing Loss: Sensorineural hearing loss is nearly always present and ranges from moderate to profound, generally occurring from birth. Leukonychia : White discoloration of the nails, which may be total (whole nail) or partial, sometimes accompanied by brittle or thickened nails. Palmoplantar Keratoderma: Diffuse thickening of the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Causes Gene Mutation: Mutations in GJB2 (gap junction bet...