International Cri du Chat Awareness Week
Today is the beginning of the 2nd annual International Cri du Chat
Syndrome Awareness Week. The 5p- Society has joined with other support
organizations around the world in an effort to spread awareness of the
syndrome. Some families are spreading awareness by sharing their story
with their friends and families. Other families are contacting the
media for possible stories. We have other families who are attending
events or giving talks at their churches and child's school.
We hope you are taking the time to educate your community about the CdCS.
The 5p- Society has done several things in preparation of the event
1. We have updated the International Website at www.criduchat.org. Adam Buckner, a fairly new parent to the organization, has redesigned the page. Take a look!!
2. We have prepared a professionally made video that emphasizes that it is more important to focus on what your child can do instead of the things you were told that he or she cannot or will not do. We are very proud of this production and would like to thank parent, Adam Greenberg for his energy and knowledge in getting this done. This video is phase 1 of the "I Can" video campaign. Phase 2 will be release sometime in the fall and there will be some filming done at the New York conference. The direct link for the video.
3. We have added more items to the Cafeshop page www.cafeshop.com/5pshop
4. We have sent out over 500 brochures and sold over 200 bracelets since the 1st of the year.
5. Our FaceBook group page www.facebook.com/groups/385907554759706 has grown tremendously with members throughout the world and continues to be a place of solace for families of newly diagnosed children with the syndrome.
6. We have teamed up with some of the other support organizations in dedicating May 5 as Cri du Chat Syndrome Day!!
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. it is all about us!!
Laura Castillo
Executive Director
5p- Society PO Box 268
Lakewood, CA 90714-0268
(888)970-0777 - (562)920-5240-Fax
www.fivepminus.org
Signs and symptoms
The syndrome gets its name from the characteristic cry of affected infants, which is similar to that of a meowing kitten, due to problems with the larynx and nervous system. About 1/3 of children lose the cry by age 2. Other symptoms of cri du chat syndrome may include:
- constipation.
- feeding problems because of difficulty swallowing and sucking
- unusual facial features which may change over time
- low birth weight and poor growth
- excessive drooling
- severe cognitive, speech, and motor delays
- behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, aggression, tantrums, and repetitive movements
what is Microarray?
Microarray CGH: This method employs array elements that are prepared from large-insert genomic clones like BACs or phage artificial chromosomes (PACs). Its measurement precision allows reliable revealing of single-copy abnormalities affecting individual clones.
what is Skeletal radiography
This technique can highlight microcephaly, cranial base malformations such as lower cranial base angle or abnormally formed sella turcica and clivus, retromicrognathia, disproportionately short metacarpals (especially third, fourth and fifth) and disproportionately long proximal phalanges (especially second, third, fourth and fifth).
what is Chromosome comparative genomic hybridization
Chromosome comparative genomic hybridization (CGH): This technique is able to screen the whole genome for any DNA copy-number alterations in just a single hybridization. However, the results cannot be mapped directly to genome sequence and the resolution is restricted to around 5-10 Mb.