Aceruloplasminemia presenting with microcytic anemia in a Turkish boy due to a novel pathogenic variant.

Aceruloplasminemia inherited autosomal recessively in the ceruloplasmin gene is a progressive disease with iron accumulation in various organs such as the brain, liver, pancreas, and retina. Ceruloplasmin gene encodes ceruloplasmin protein, which has ferroxidase activity and is involved in copper and iron metabolism. Progressive neurotoxicity, retinopathy, and diabetes may develop in about 40-60 decades. In addition, microcytic anemia accompanied by high ferritin and low ceruloplasmin level that develop at earlier ages can be first manifestation. Iron chelation may be utilized in the treatment to reduce the toxicity. Early diagnosis and treatment may delay the onset of symptoms. A 14-year-old male patient was followed up with microcytic anemia since an eight-years old. Anemia was accompanied by microcytosis, high ferritin, and low copper and ceruloplasmin levels. A novel homozygous c.690delG variant was detected in ceruloplasmin by whole exome sequencing. Clinical, laboratory and imaging findings of the patient demonstrated aceruloplasminemia. We present a boy with persistent microcytic anemia of the first manifestation at the age of eight, as the youngest case of aceruloplasminemia in the literature. Thereby, aceruloplasminemia should be kept in mind in the etiology of microcytic anemia whose cause couldn't found in childhood.

Germline landscape of BRCAs by 7-site collaborations as a BRCA consortium in Turkey.

BRCA1/2 mutations play a significant role in cancer pathogenesis and predisposition particularly in breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. Thus, germline analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 is essential for clinical management strategies aiming at the identification of recurrent and novel mutations that could be used as a first screening approach. We analyzed germline variants of BRCA1/2 genes for 2168 individuals who had cancer diagnosis or high risk assessment due to BRCAs related cancers, referred to 10 health care centers distributed across 7 regions covering the Turkish landscape. Overall, 68 and 157 distinct mutations were identified in BRCA1 and BRCA2, respectively. Twenty-two novel variants were reported from both genes while BRCA2 showed higher mutational heterogeneity. We herein report the collective data as BRCA Turkish consortium that confirm the molecular heterogeneity in BRCAs among Turkish population, and also as the first study presenting the both geographical, demographical and gene based landscape of all recurrent and novel mutations which some might be a founder effect in comparison to global databases. This wider perspective leads to the most accurate variant interpretations which pave the way for the more precise and efficient management affecting the clinical and molecular aspects.

Evaluation of the results of patients who applied to the Çukurova University, Medical Genetics Department for prenatal diagnosis and determination of genetic counseling principles

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to summarize the experiences of a single medical center for genetic diagnosis and treatment of prenatal patients. Materials and methods: This study includes a retrospective data analysis of 2843 prenatally investigated cases using invasive methods during a 6-year period (2013­2019) at a single tertiary care center. Results: Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 80 out of 1221 amniotic fluid samples;,178 out of 1608 chorionic villus samples, and 1 out of 14 cordocentesis samples. The most common chromosomal abnormality was trisomy 21. At least one mutation was detected in 63 of the 152 molecular tests performed on fetuses. Conclusion: Clinical procedures such as ultrasounds and genetic tests are able to provide a better clinical follow-up for pregnant women about the possible congenital anomalies or any genetic condition, with proper genetic counseling and testing methodology.

[Detection of Candida DNA in simulated blood samples by polymerase chain reaction]. / Simüle kan örneklerinde polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu ile Candida DNA'sinin saptanmasi.

Although blood culture method is accepted as gold standard in the laboratory diagnosis of invasive candidiasis seen in immunocompromised patients, cultivation of blood is considered as not a reliable and rapid method for the diagnosis of candidemia, since it may be negative in approximately half of the patients, slow growth rate of Candida in routine culture media and requirement of large amounts of blood for the isolation. The aim of this study was to detect Candida DNA in simulated blood samples by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Simulated samples were prepared by using blood samples of healthy volunteers. These samples were inoculated into tubes with EDTA and BACTEC 9240 blood culture bottles in which no growth was detected and with standard strains of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus together with the clinical isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus, C. kefyr, C. glabrata, C. lusitaniae, C. guilliermondii and Rhodotorula sp. Additionally, blood culture samples of 23 cases whose blood culture bottles signaled as positive and revealed growth of Candida in agar plates were examined. DNA extraction of all samples were performed according to the standard procedure proposed by the MN Nucleospin Tissue Kit (Macherey-Nagel, Germany) for tissue samples; following the pre-treatment with erythrocyte, leukocyte and fungus cell wall lysis buffers. DNAs were amplified with PCR, using primers specific for the 5S rDNA region (PCon 1 and PCon 2 primers) and PCR products were obtained by electrophoresis in 2% agarose gel. Presence of a 105 base pair (bp) product was considered as positive. The lowest detection limit of PCR has been determined as 10(2)-10(3) cfu/ml Candida for our simulated samples. The presence of a 105 bp band has been observed in samples prepared with all Candida strains included in the study. Blood samples spiked with E. coli, S. aureus, A. fumigatus and Rhodotorula sp. and negative blood samples has been found negative in terms of Candida DNA. The same 105 bp product has been observed for blood culture samples with Candida growth. The PCR method applied in this study takes approximately seven hours and the cost was calculated approximately 6.00 U.S. dollars per patient. As a result, it has been determined that Candida DNA can be detected in a shorter time by PCR using specific primers for 5S rDNA gene from simulated samples prepared with either blood or BACTEC blood culture bottles.