Association of two selected polymorphisms with developed endometriosis in women from Slovakia.

OBJECTIVES: To clarify the connection between two selected mononucleotide polymorphisms (rs4957014 and rs3756712) in programmed cell death gene 6 (PDCD6) and endometriosis development risk in patients belonging to the majority population of Slovakia. METHODS: From all women involved in the research a buccal DNA sample was taken. A genetic analysis of selected polymorphisms was implemented using Real-time PCR method. Variance in allelic and genotype frequencies was statistically evaluated between the controlgroup and the group of patients. RESULTS: The analysed group consisted of 52 women suffering from endometriosis and the control group of 63 women. Variant G allele frequency in the group of patients in case of polymorphism rs3756712 had a value of 0.42 and in the control group 0.29; that represents its statistically and significantly higher occurrence in the group of patients suffering from endometriosis (p = 0.029 and OR = 1.833). Presence of G allele is related to almost 1.9 times higher risk of endometriosis development. CONCLUSION: Achieved results show that polymorphism rs3756712 is significantly associated with the risk of endometriosis development in Slovak women. Polymorphism rs4957014 did not show any connection with development of endometriosis (Tab. 5, Ref. 10).

Historical sketch of Slovak Haban (Hutterite) population based on autosomal STR analysis.

According to the Hutterite chronicles, the Habans arrived from Austrian Tyrol, Switzerland, and northernmost Italy and stayed in four regions of Slovakia (Sobotiste, Vel'ké Leváre, Moravský Svätý Ján, Trencín). There are some communities in western Slovakia that retained their Haban cultural identity and still identify themselves as descendents of the Hutterite population with their own specific customs. Slovak Habans are typical founder population with significant social isolation for which high degree of inbreeding is typical. Present study investigated STR polymorphisms as a powerful genetic tool for population genetic studies. The aim was to perform a comparative, population genetic study based on 15 STR loci widely used in forensic genetics, of the Haban population, the Slovak majority population and the population of Tyrol. We analyzed allele frequencies and other statistical parameters in three selected populations in order to identify groups of specific ethnic origin and establish their genetic relationship. The data set included 110 unrelated Habans and 201 unrelated individuals from the Slovak majority population, as well as allelic frequencies for the population of Austrian Tyrol available in the literature. Population pairwise FST values used as a short term genetic distance between populations showed significant differentiation between the Habans and both reference populations (FST=0.0025 and 0.0042 for comparison with the Slovaks and Austrians, respectively; p<10(-3)). The Slovak Hutterites were demonstrated to be genetically distinct and more closely related to their geographic neighbors than to their historical ancestral population, which may be at least partially explained by gene flow between neighboring Haban and Slovak populations.

Preliminary results of ethnic divergence of G1181C (rs2073618) and C290T (rs9525641) OPG gene polymorphisms in groups of postmenopausal Slovak women.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we focused on observation of the genetic polymorphisms of the OPG genes G1181C (rs2073618) and C290T (rs9525641), their interactions with biochemical markers and anthropometric parameters in groups of postmenopausal Slovak women (Roma and non-Roma, n = 311). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted and purified from peripheral blood leukocytes by the kit Ultraclean® Blood non-spin® (Carlsbad, CA, USA) using a standard protocol. Genotyping was performed by the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Biochemical markers were measured by the Cobas e411 (Roche Diagnostic, Tokyo, Japan) and Cobas Integra400 plus (Roche Diagnostic, Rotkreuz, Switzerland) analysers. RESULTS: We recorded a higher frequency of the T allele in the C290T polymorphism of the non-Roma control group (53.846%), in Roma groups: control (T - 56.618%) osteoporotic (T - 51.471%). In the G1181C polymorphism, the CC genotype occurred more in the osteoporotic group (34.286%) compared to the control group (27.885%). In the group of postmenopausal Roma women, a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was found between osteoporotic and control in the biochemical parameters' osteocalcin, C-terminal telopeptide I, and age. Statistically significant differences (p<0.0001) were also found in bone mineral density and T-score. The high odds ratio suggests the association of G1181C with osteoporosis. A close relationship was found between haplotypes, BMD, T-score, and IL-6 in control; and BMI, WHR, T-score, and osteocalcin in osteoporotic groups of Roma and non-Roma women. CONCLUSIONS: The results point to differences in the occurrence of genotypes and associations of haplotypes with the manifestation of osteoporosis in Roma and non-Roma women. However, a larger number of samples is needed to determine whether or not there are differences between the Roma and non-Roma populations.

[DNA analysis on Y chromosomal AZF region deletions in Slovak population]. / DNA analýza AZF oblasti Y chromozómu u Slovákov s poruchou plodnosti.

OBJECTIVE: Study on Y chromosomal AZF region deletions in Slovak population, application of DNA technique. DESIGN: Genetic-prospective study. SETTING: Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava. METHODS: For detecting microdeletions in the Y-chromosomal AZF region in men with fertility disorders and for identifying Y-specific sequences we used the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with using three different sets of sY sequences. For a verification of the specific type of deletion we used also fluorescently labeled kit. RESULTS: Diagnoses of referred patients were divided into 2 groups: azoospermia, oligospermia. In the followed-up group of 822 patients there were 349 patients with azoospermia, 473 patients with oligospermia. Globally we reported 38 cases of deletions in the AZF region of the Y chromosome, i.e. 4.62%. 24 patients with deletion are from the group of patients with azoospermia, i.e. 6.88%, 14 patients are from the group of patients with oligospermia (2.95%). Considering particular types of deletions we recorded deletions in each region, AZFa, AZFb and AZFc, combinated AZFbc deletion, but also a complete deletion of the whole AZF region. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed that detection of microdeletions of the AZF region is significant from diagnostic and prognostic view and it pointed out the importance of selection criteria for selecting patients.

WNT10A variants in relation to nonsyndromic hypodontia in eastern Slovak population.

Nonsyndromic hypodontia is a congenital absence of less than six permanent teeth, with a most common subtype maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA). Mutations in several genes have been described in severe tooth agenesis. The aim of this study was to search for the variants in wingless-type MMTV-integration site family member (WNT10A), paired box 9 (PAX9) and axis inhibitor 2 (AXIN2) genes, and investigate their potential role in the pathogenesis of non-syndromic hypodontia. Clinical examination and panoramic radiograph were performed in the cohort of 60 unrelated Slovak patients of Caucasian origin with nonsyndromic hypodontia including 37 MLIA cases and 48 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was isolated from buccal swabs and Sanger sequencing of WNT10A, PAX9 and AXIN2 was performed. Altogether, we identified 23 single-nucleotide variants, of which five were novel. We have found three rare nonsynonymous variants in WNT10A (p.Gly165Arg; p.Gly213Ser and p.Phe228Ile) in eight (13.33%) of 60 patients. Analysis showed potentially damaged WNT10A variant p.Phe228Ile predominantly occurred only in MLIA patients, and with a dominant form of tooth agenesis (odds ratio (ORdom) = 9.841; P = 0.045; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.492-196.701;ORrec = 0.773; P = 1.000; 95% CI 0.015-39.877). In addition, the WNT10A variant p.Phe228Ile showed a trend associated with familial nonsyndromic hypodontia (P = 0.024; OR= 1.20; 95% CI 0.97-1.48). After Bonferroni correction, these effects remained with borderline tendencies. Using a 3D WNT10A protein model, we demonstrated that the variant Phe228Ile changes the proteinsecondary structure. In PAX9 and AXIN2, common variants were detected. Our findings suggest that the identified WNT10A variant p.Phe228Ile could represent risk for the inherited nonsyndromic hypodontia underlying MLIA. However, further study in different populations is required.

Detection of Philadelphia chromosome in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia from the Presov region in Slovakia (1995-2004).

Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) is a characteristic chromosomal marker that is associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Philadelphia chromosome in bone marrow cells in patients with suspected diagnosis of CML in the Presov region (1995-2004) was detected in 94.4 % of cases. In one patient a complex translocation involving the chromosomes 8, 9 and 22 was identified. One patient has showed extra numerical and structural chromosomal aberrations. The mosaic karyotype of Ph chromosome was found in 5.9 % of cases. The conventional cytogenetic analysis remains the standard method for the purpose of diagnosis and monitoring of the therapeutic response and minimal residual disease in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (Tab. 1, Fig. 1, Ref. 18). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Prenatal cytogenetic analysis in the Presov region (Slovakia) in 1999-2004.

Prenatal genetic diagnostics is a part of prenatal care. Prenatal karyotyping is used to identify major genetic and congenital abnormalities in a developing fetus. In the Presov region (Slovakia) in 1999-2004 370 amniotic fluid samples were analysed by G-banding. Abnormal karyotypes were detected in 3.8% of samples. A karyotype using classical banding methods is the only fully informative method able to detect all chromosomal abnormalities. Identification of fetal abnormal chromosomes in high risk pregnancies allows proper pediatric and obstetric managment of the cases as well as genetic counselling (Tab. 1, Fig. 2, Ref. 5).

Genetic variation analysis of 15 autosomal STR loci in Eastern Slovak Caucasian and Romany (Gypsy) population.

The genotype polymorphism studies were carried out on two different populations: Eastern Slovak Caucasian (138) and Romany (Gypsy) (138), both from the town of Presov, at 15 highly polymorphic short tandem repeats (STRs) loci. The selected kit PowerPlex 16 system (Promega) included amelogenin, two penta-nucleotide repeats and 13 tetra-nucleotide repeats. The comparison of the allele frequencies between Eastern Slovak Caucasians and Romanies has shown significant differences in the majority of the focused loci. The P-values of exact test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium probabilities, observed and expected heterozygosity, matching probability, power of discrimination and exclusion, polymorphic information content, typical paternity index, genetic diversity and the other population-genetic indices were calculated.