Thrombophilia and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: The Enigma Continues.

BACKGROUND Thrombophilic gene polymorphism is known to be a risk factor for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), but few studies have confirmed a possible role of thrombophilic genes polymorphism in RPL risk. This study was conducted to understand the relationship of the mutations of some thrombophilia-associated gene polymorphism (heterozygous/homozygous) with RPL. We compared patients with 2 abortions to patients with 3 or more abortions among Turkish women. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, patients previously diagnosed with habitual abortus at Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient clinics in Turkey between 2012 and 2016 were included. In their peripheral blood, we detected factor V Leiden H1299R, prothrombin G20210A, MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C, PAI-1 4G/5G, and PAI-1 4G/4G gene mutations. RESULTS In this study, we have observed statistically meaningful data (P<0.01) related to the relationship between RPL and thrombophilia-associated gene polymorphisms such as heterozygous factor V Leiden H1299R, heterozygous prothrombin G20210A, PAI-1 4G/5G, and PAI-1 4G/4G. CONCLUSIONS We found that diagnosis of thrombophilic genes polymorphism is useful to determine the causes of RPL, recognizing that this multifactorial disease can also be influenced by various acquired factors, including reproduction-associated risk factors and prolonged immobilization.

Human Papilloma Viruses and Their Genotype Distribution in Women with High Socioeconomic Status in Central Anatolia, Turkey: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND In the present study we retrospectively evaluated the results of outpatients who had an HPV analysis, and present objective evidence for the administration of preventive inoculation in our area. MATERIAL AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 532 outpatients who visited a single center between 2012 and 2016 and had an HPV infection analysis. The criteria for inclusion of patients with unhealthy cervix in the study were: erosion, chronic cervicitis, healed lacerations, hypertrophied cervix, and abnormal discharges from the cervix. RESULTS We found that 122 out of 532 patients were infected with HPV, and the rate of multiple infections was 59.0% (72/122). HR-HPV (group 1 carcinogens HPV-16 (18.9%, 23/122), HPV-18 (13.1%, 16/122), HPV- 31 (4.9%, 6/122), HPV-33 (3.3%, 4/122), HPV-35 (7.4.9%/122), HPV-39 (5.7%, 7/122), HPV-45 (5.7%, 7/122), HPV-51 (11.5%, 15/122); Group 3 LR-HPV; HPV-6 (31.1%, 38/122), HPV-11 (26.2%, 32/122), HPV-42 (9.0%, 11/122) and HPV-43 (4.9%, 6/122). In terms of linear-by-linear association test, no significant statistical difference was identified between years. The P value for HPV infection rate on year basis was P>0.05. CONCLUSIONS In this hospital-based retrospective analysis, HPV types were found to be similar to HPV types reported in developed countries. We firmly suggest that patients should be informed about the risk of HPV infection at early ages.

An investigation of the effects of FGFR2 and B7-H4 polymorphisms in breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Polymorphisms in FGFR2 are important markers for breast cancer susceptibility in the general population. CHEK2 and FGFR2 polymorphisms with known susceptibility alleles of BRCA1, BRCA2, PTEN, and TP53, can be investigated as potential modifiers of high penetrant risk alleles. Although the B7-H4 gene is highly expressed in many different tumors, there is one published study showing the association of polymorphisms with breast cancer. We aimed to investigate FGFR2 and B7-H4 polymorphisms in breast cancer in the Turkish community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a group of 31 cases diagnosed with breast cancer and 30 healthy women with matched ages, the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs1219648, rs2981582 in FGFR2 gene were identified by sequence analysis and the SNPs rs10754339, rs10801935, and rs3738414 in the B7-H4 gene were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. RESULTS: Although statistically not significant, the frequency of FGFR2 heterozygous polymorphisms in the group with breast cancer was detected to be higher. In the B7-H4 SNP rs10801935, polymorphic AA, and AG genotype distributions were found in higher frequencies in the breast cancer patients. In contrast to the results of a published study, the present study shows that B7-H4 rs3738414 polymorphism GG genotype was found in higher frequency in the control group than the breast cancer group and the result was statistically significant (P=0.018). CONCLUSION: Larger scale studies are necessary to determine the prevalence of these polymorphisms and association with breast cancer in Turkish community, as this study is the first study performed.

Modulator effects of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism on response to vitamin B12 therapy and homocysteine metabolism.

In this study, our aim was to investigate the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism on the vitamin B12 therapy response in 95 patients with vitamin B12 deficiency and 92 healthy control subjects using vitamin B12, plasma total homocysteine (tHcy), and folate as the main measure of outcome. MTHFR C677T genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. There were no differences in the distribution of MTHFR genotypes in the cases versus the controls. Mean concentrations of plasma tHcy and B12 vitamin were 18.84 µM and 142.47 pg/mL in patients with TT (10.5%) genotypes. Furthermore, mean concentrations of B12 vitamin after cobalamin therapy were 697.62, 656.64, and 488.76 pg/mL in patients with the CC, CT, and TT genotypes, respectively. The MTHFR 677 TT genotype has decreasing effect in B12 vitamin and increasing effect in tHcy. In comparison with the patients having CC and CT genotypes, patients with the TT genotype had a lower response to vitamin B12 therapy.

Age-related macular degeneration and association of CFH Y402H and LOC387715 A69S polymorphisms in a Turkish population.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a disease with multifactorial etiology characterized by irreversible loss of central visual acuity. The discovery of susceptive single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has progressed our understanding of AMD. Complement factor H (CFH) gene Y402H polymorphism and high-temperature requirement A-1 (HTRA1) LOC387715 gene A69S polymorphisms are the most important SNPs reported in the literature. Determination of genetic risk factors and genotype-phenotype relationship in AMD may result in rapid and cost-effective therapeutic applications for young and old population. In this study, we hypothesized a potential association between CFH gene Y402H and HTRA1 LOC387715 gene A69S polymorphism in Turkish AMD patients. In blood samples from a total of 252 individuals, 147 clinically diagnosed as AMD and the others control, polymorphic sites in CFH, Y402H (Tsp509I T/C), and HTRA1, LOC387715 A69S (FnuHI G/T), were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. There was significant difference between CFH genotypes in the AMD group, TT 21.8%, TC 48.3%, and CC 29.9%, and in the control subjects, TT 45% (p=0.003), TC 41% (p=0.0001), and CC 14% (p=0.0001). Further, the A69S polymorphism of LOC387715 was investigated and found to be significantly associated with AMD. LOC387715 genotypes in the AMD group were GG 30.6%, GT 38.1%, and TT 31.3% and in the control subjects were GG 59% (p=0.027), GT 39% (p=0.0001), and TT 2% (p=0.0001), respectively. We also found that Y402H C and A69S T allele were associated with AMD. This is the first study showing that Y402H and LOC387715 are associated with AMD in Turkish population.

A 10.46 Mb 12p11.1-12.1 interstitial deletion coincident with a 0.19 Mb NRXN1 deletion detected by array CGH in a girl with scoliosis and autism.

We present a 12-year-old girl with de novo karyotype 46,XX,del(12)(p11.1p12.1). Array CGH revealed in addition to a 10.466 Mb interstitial deletion on 12p11.1→12p12.1 a 0.191 Mb deletion on 2p16.3. The girl presented with mild facial dysmorphism consisting of microcephaly, hypertelorism, downslanting palpebral fissures, strabismus, broad nasal base, bulbous nose, short philtrum, micro/retrognathia, irregular tooth arrangement, phalangeal deformity in distal phalanges of hands, 5th finger camptodactyly, brachydactyly in feet, history of joint hypermobility, and scoliosis. She was considered to have mild to moderate mental retardation and ascertained for an autism spectrum disorder(ASD). Short arm of chromosome 12 interstitial deletions are rarely reported whereas point mutations and deletions of NRXN1, which is located on chromosome 2p16.3, are associated with ASDs. In this article we present and discuss the phenotypic consequences of a patient who was affected by deletions of two different chromosomal regions.

[Analysis of genetic penetrance in the pedigree of cases with Van der Woude syndrome: report of five cases]. / Van der Woude sendromlu olgularimizin soyagacinda genetik penetransin analizi: bes olgu sunumu.

Van der Woude syndrome is a congenital abnormality characterized by labial cysts, accessory salivary glands, pits, fistulas and paramedian sinuses of the lower lips, and is frequently associated with cleft lip and palate. This disease is the most common syndromic cleft abnormality. The disease is characterized by a single gene abnormality where craniofacial morphogenesis is affected. It has an autosomal dominant inheritance with involvement of 1q32-41 chromosomal locus. However, the gene expression profile is variable and the disease may present in some individuals with sinuses of the lower lips only. We present results of analysis of genetic penetrance in the pedigree of five cases with Van der Woude syndrome together with a review of the literature.

Characterization of double ring chromosome 4 mosaicism associated with bilateral hip dislocation, cortical dysgenesis, and epilepsy.

We present the clinical and molecular findings in a Turkish child with a de novo mosaic ring derived from chromosome 4 with multiple cell-lines; the karyotype was 46,XY,r(4)[83]/45,XY, -4[6]/47,XY,r(4),+r(4)[5]/48,XY,r(4),+r(4),+dic r(4)[1]/46,XY[5]. The patient is a 20-month-old male who was the first pregnancy of nonconsanguineous parents. The baby was delivered at term with a birth weight of 1,700 g (<3rd centile) and a length of 46 cm. The baby had feeding difficulties and vomiting problems. He started walking at age 2 years and delayed language was observed. Facial appearance was normal, but the ears were large with abnormal structure. The hands showed bilateral clinodactyly of the 5th fingers. He had mild mental retardation, and epilepsy. Analysis of chromosomes showed 46,XY,r(4)(::p16.3 --> qter::)[67]/46,XY,r(4;4)(::p16.3 --> qter::p16.3 --> qter::)[2]/46,XY[3] by multicolor banding (MCB) technique. Array CGH delineated the size of the terminal deletion as 900 kb in 4p16.3. The Wolf-Hirschhorn critical region was preserved even though our patient had mild mental and motor retardation. While the mosaicism of the ring 4 could affect the phenotype, the deleted 900 kb distal deletion and clinical features of the patient may provide further insight into characteristic phenotype of the 4p- related syndromes.

Surgery for acute abdomen and MEFV mutations in patients with FMF.

OBJECTIVES: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by recurrent fever, peritonitis, arthritis, pleuritis, and secondary amyloidosis. In the current study, we sought to determine the frequency of acute surgical abdominal intervention and MEFV gene mutations in FMF patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 159 patients were referred to our department with a diagnosis of FMF. Twenty-six patients (16.4%) had a history of surgical intervention. Of these, 17 (10.7%) were operated on due to appendicitis, and 9 (5.7%) were operated on due to other acute abdomen reasons. Genomic DNA was isolated from the blood samples, and in the isolated DNA samples, 12 MEFV gene mutations were studied. RESULTS: Mutation frequency was detected to be 80.8% in the patients with acute abdomen surgery intervention and 56.4% in the patients without acute abdomen surgical intervention. Upon mutational evaluation of these patients, we noted that the M694V (40.5%) and E148Q (21.4%) mutations occurred most frequently. CONCLUSIONS: The MEFV gene mutation frequency in FMF patients with acute abdomen surgical intervention was significantly higher than that in patients without such intervention. Increased mutation scanning in FMF patients will significantly decrease unnecessary surgical interventions in this patient group.

Analysis of PTEN gene mutations in a Turkish patient with Cowden syndrome.

Cowden syndrome (CS), an autosomal dominant disorder, is associated with germline mutations of the PTEN (phosphatase, tensin homolog, deleted on chromosome TEN) gene. PTEN mutations were linked to several human neoplasms. Clinical diagnosis has been based on Consortium criteria, but detection of mutations in the PTEN gene has importance in accurate diagnosis. This article presents a female patient with classic features of the syndrome and gives the result of first PTEN mutation analysis result in a Turkish CS patient. The patient, who suffered from trichilemmomas, papillomatous lesions, lipomas, thyroid lesions, gastrointestinal hamartomas, and fibrocystic disease of the breast, is consistent with the diagnostic criteria of CS. The exons and intron/exon boundaries of the PTEN gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. We analyzed the clinical features and DNA in a Turkish patient with CS. We found a single-nucleotide substitution in the splicing acceptor site of intron 5 of the PTEN gene (IVS5-2A > C). It is not clear whether which types of PTEN mutations are responsible for particular phenotypes. This germline PTEN mutation, IVS5-2A --> C, has been reported once before, but the clinical features differ from our patient. Also, this is the first reported PTEN mutation from Turkey.

Investigating the in vitro effect of taurine on the infant lymphocytes by sister chromatid exchange.

BACKGROUND: Taurine (2-aminoethane sulphonic acid) is normally present in most mammalian tissues and the most abundant free amino acid in lymphocytes. It participates in various important physiological activities including modulation of the functioning of the central nervous system, cell proliferation, viability and prevention of oxidant-induced injury in many tissues. Its levels in human milk are very high which may be the most important difference from cow's milk. In contrast, an inverse association between breast-feeding and carcinogenesis in childhood or later in life has been suggested by several studies. METHODS: The study group consisted of eight healthy infants. Peripheral blood was collected and lymphocytes were cultured with either Taurine or Mitomycin C (MMC). Sister chromatid exchange in lymphocytes of the infants were calculated. RESULTS: Statistical differences were found between untreated and MMC-treated lymphocytes, untreated and MMC plus taurine-treated lymphocytes, and between MMC and MMC plus taurine-treated lymphocytes (P = 0.012). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that taurine plays a protective role in MMC-induced sister chromatid exchange in human lymphocytes. The authors suggest that the high levels of taurine found in human milk may induce protecting effects from breast-feeding against DNA damage and malignancy.

HLA-DR B1 and DQ B1 polymorphisms in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the significance of polymorphisms in HLA class II genes in coronary artery ectasia (CAE) patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-six patients with CAE without associated cardiac defects were enrolled in the study. CAE was defined as luminal dilation of 1.5- to 2.0-fold of normal limits. Ninety-five healthy subjects who were donors for different organ transplantations, were chosen as control group. Physical examination, electrocardiography and chest X-ray were completely normal in these cases. Both the patients and the control group were screened and compared for their HLA class II genotypes. HLA-DR B1*13, DR16, DQ2 and DQ5 genotypes were significantly more frequent in the patient group. When the known risk factors of coronary heart disease were compared in the patients carrying these genotypes with the non-carrying group, no significant differences were encountered. CONCLUSIONS: HLA-DR B1*13, DR16, DQ2 and DQ5 may be associated with the pathogenesis and increase the risk of CAE.

Investigation of DNA damage in lymphocytes exposed to benzathine penicillin G.

BACKGROUND: Benzathine penicillin G (BPG) is a widely used antibiotic for treatment or prophylaxis of certain infectious diseases. Previous in vivo studies using sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency and comet assay, had showed that long-term administration of benzathine penicillin G may cause some degree of DNA damage in children with rheumatic fever. METHODS: Because DNA damage has also been reported in various connective tissue disorders, to rule out the possible effects of underlying disease on DNA integrity, 3-day-cultured lymphocytes obtained from nine healthy individuals were exposed to BPG at different concentrations (0.002, 0.02 and 0.1 micro g/mL), and sister chromatid exchange frequencies were studied. The mean SCE frequency per metaphase was calculated from 20 selected cells for each individual. RESULTS: The incidence of SCE frequency did not differ when all groups were compared. Comparing between each concentration group, exposure to BPG did not cause a dose-dependent increase in SCE frequency (Student's t-test, P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Insignificant changes (P > 0.05) in SCE, within the 3-day exposure to BPG, may suggest that DNA damage did not occur. Short-term exposure to BPG does not have toxic effects on DNA. In contrast, this preliminary study should be supported by other genotoxicity assays, expanding the exposure time to longer periods, in order to exclude rapid DNA repair mechanisms. and a possible role of underlying disease on DNA integrity should not be ignored.

Fetal chromosomal analysis of pregnancies following intracytoplasmic sperm injection with amniotic tissue culture.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of chromosomal anomalies in a complete cohort of ICSI pregnancies. METHODS: From January 1996 to December 2000, 1500 consecutive patients who had become pregnant after Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) were given prenatal genetic counseling and 98 of them (6.5%) who accepted amniocentesis were studied. Amniocentesis was performed between 14 and 20th weeks of their pregnancy. Amniotic tissue cultures were processed according to Hoehn et al. A minimum of 20 metaphases were examined on each preparation. Both parents were also evaluated with peripheral blood karyotyping. RESULTS: Amniocentesis and karyotyping was performed to evaluate the 142 fetuses from 98 ICSI pregnancies. Karyotypes from peripheral leucocytes of the parents were also evaluated. Chromosomal anomalies were detected from 6 out of the 142 (4.2%) fetuses. The anomalies were as follows, '46,XX/69,XXX/92,XXXX', '46,XY/69,XXY/92,XXYY', '47,XY + 21', '46,XY/47,XY + 7', '47,XXY', and '45,X0'. All except one pregnancy were terminated with the consent of the couples. Fetal tissue cultures were also studied after the termination of the pregnancy in order to confirm prenatal diagnosis. We did not detect abnormal karyotype from the parents of these fetuses. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of chromosomal abnormalities seems to be slightly increased in ICSI pregnancies. Paternal factors due to morphologically abnormal spermatozoa, maternal factors due to increased mother age and more frequently, de novo occurring sex chromosomal abnormalities may be responsible for this outcome.

New heritable fragile site at 15q13 in both members of a nonconsanguineous couple.

The detection of a fragile site in a patient often causes concerns due to its potential significance and the necessity to be followed-up properly with genetic counseling. Here we present a new heritable fragile site at 15q13, which was spontaneously expressed at a high frequency in lymphocytes culture of both members of a nonconsanguineous couple with recurrent abortions. The fragile site was not detected in the parents of the female, while the male had inherited it from his father. The fragile site was seen > or =85% of cells in all the carriers. To the best of our knowledge, the presence of this fragile site is being described for the first time under different culture conditions. While it looks like the fragile site is harmless in all carriers, having heterozygosity in the couple may lead to homozygous offspring that could result in fetal loss.