title: Abnormal oral vascular network pattern geometry: a new clinical sign of down syndrome.
abstract: Down syndrome is a leading genetic cause of mental retardation. Here, we show high fractal dimensions and Lempel-Ziv complexity and lower minimum path fractal dimension (P < or = .0006) for the oral vascular networks of patients (n = 14) and their unaffected parents. This newly recognized sign may provide a useful phenotypical marker for identifying couples potentially at risk for offspring with Down syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Perrino Hospital, Brindisi, Clinical Physiology Institute, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), Lecce Section, Italy. gilatini@tin.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Latini
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bianciardi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parrini
authors.forename: Ricardo N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Laurini
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Felice
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000098:blood supply*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010290:Parents