Chromosome aberrations, micronucleus frequency, and catalase concentration in a population chronically exposed to high levels of radon.

PURPOSE: To deepen our knowledge on the effects of high levels of indoor radon exposure, we assessed the frequencies of unstable and stable chromosome aberrations and micronucleus (MN), as well as the concentration of an endogenous antioxidant (catalase, CAT), in blood samples of individuals chronically exposed to high indoor radon concentrations in Indonesia (Tande-Tande sub-village, Mamuju, West Sulawesi). Moreover, we also investigated the occurrence of a radio-adaptive response (RAR) in Tande-Tande sub-village inhabitants using the G2 MN assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The frequencies of dicentric (DC), acentric (AF), ring (R), and translocation (Tr) chromosomes in Tande-Tande inhabitants were compared to those in people living in a reference area with low levels of indoor radon levels (Topoyo village, Indonesia). The number of MN per 1000 binucleated cells (BNC) and CAT concentration per total protein was quantified and compared between groups. Lastly, we irradiated (2 Gy) phytohemagglutinin-stimulated samples in vitro and measured the frequency of MN to verify the occurrence of a RAR in Tande-Tande sub-village inhabitants. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The frequencies of DC, AF, and Tr did not differ between Tande-Tande inhabitants and control subjects (p = 0.350, 0.521, 0.597). The frequency of MN in Tande-Tande inhabitants was significantly lower than that in the control group (p = 0.006). Similarly, CAT concentration in Tande-Tande inhabitants was also significantly lower than that in the control population (p < 0.001). Significant negative correlations were identified for MN number and CAT concentration versus indoor radon concentration, annual effective dose, or cumulative dose both within groups and when all data were analyzed together. Our findings indicate that, despite the high indoor radon levels, Tande-Tande inhabitants are not under oxidative stress, since this group had lower CAT concentration and MN frequency than those in the control group. The negative correlation between MN frequency and indoor radon concentration, annual effective dose, and cumulative dose suggests the occurrence of an RAR phenomenon in Tande-Tande sub-village inhabitants. This interpretation is also supported by the results of the G2 MN assay, which revealed lower MN frequencies after in vitro irradiation of samples from Tande-Tande sub-village inhabitants than those in samples from the control group (p = 0.0069, for cumulative MN frequency; p = 0.0146, for radiation-induced MN only).

Spontaneous Chromosomal Aberrations in Lymphocytes and Development of Tumor in Hospital Workers.

BACKGROUND: Cytogenetic analysis of chromosomes in blood lymphocytes can be used to reveal biomarkers of tumor risk. The frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) appears to correlate with the later incidence of cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In our work, a total of 515 healthy Hungarian medical workers and 725 controls were enrolled in our investigation. The CAs in peripheral blood lymphocytes were analyzed. RESULTS: The frequency of CAs was significantly higher in the groups working with ionizing radiation and with cytostatic agents compared to unexposed controls and in male smokers rather than non-smokers. The frequency of dicentric chromosomes, however, was not significantly different between control and exposed groups. Among 82 cancer cases (6.6%), the most frequent types were cancer of the breast (20.5%), colon (12.8%), lung and thyroid gland (9-9%). Our analysis showed 8.1% cancer cases in smokers compared to 5.7% in non-smokers. CONCLUSION: The potential exposure to carcinogens did not modify the effect of CAs on cancer risk but tobacco smoking did increase risk.

The WHO 2016 diagnostic criteria for Acute Myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia related changes (AML-MRC) produce a very heterogeneous entity: A retrospective analysis of the FAB subtype RAEB-T.

We studied 79 patients with AML-MRC or RAEB-T, who were later reclassified according to the WHO classification. Marrow slides were examined cytomorphologically with regard to dysplasia. Patients were followed up until March 2020. Thirty-one patients underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation (median survival (ms) 16 months), 14 were treated with induction chemotherapy (ms 8.4 months), 18 received hypomethylating agents (ms 9.2 months), 16 received low dose chemotherapy or best supportive care (ms 2.4 months). Only 30.4 % fulfilled the morphologic WHO criteria. 46.8 % were classified as AML-MRC by an antecedent MDS, 54.4 % of the pts were classified by MDS-related chromosomal abnormalities. 5 % did not fulfill any of the criteria and were entered based on 20-29 % medullary blasts. There was no difference in ms between pts presenting with > 50 % dysplasia as compared to pts with dysplasia between 10 % and 50 % (ms 9.1 vs 9.9 months, p = n.s.) or for pts with antecedent MDS (ms 9.1 vs 8.9 months, p = n.s.). Myelodysplasia-related cytogenetic abnormalities were associated with a worse outcome (ms 8.1 vs 13.5 months, p = 0.026). AML-MRC in its current definition is a heterogenous entity. Dysplasia of ≥ 50 % in ≥ two lineages is not helpful for diagnostics and prognostication and therefore should be deleted in future classifications. We recommend utilizing the WHO guidelines for defining dysplasia (10 % or greater in ≥ 1 of the three myeloid cell lines) assisting in establishing the diagnosis of MDS.

Influence of fibroids on cell-free DNA screening accuracy.

OBJECTIVE: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening assesses both maternal and placental cfDNA. Fibroids are common and release cfDNA into maternal serum. Genetic abnormality is seen in 50% of fibroids. We aimed to assess the impact of fibroids on the accuracy of genome-wide cfDNA screening. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies examined at one of two centers in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia, between 1 November 2019 and 31 December 2020. All cases underwent pretest ultrasound examination to confirm an ongoing pregnancy of at least 10 weeks' gestation, and, at this stage, the number and volume of any uterine fibroid were documented. Genome-wide cfDNA screening was performed to detect all copy-number variants (CNV) > 7 megabases. The incidence of a false-positive result was compared between cases with and those without fibroids. RESULTS: Over the 14-month study period, 13 184 patients underwent cfDNA screening, of whom 1017 (7.7%) had fibroids. Fibroids were not identified in any of the 17 participants who had a false-positive result for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X or Y. Ninety-five (0.7%) cases were screen-positive for subchromosomal aberration (SA), rare autosomal trisomy (RAT) or multiple abnormalities (MA), with 10 of these cases having a fetal genetic abnormality. The incidence of a false-positive RAT, MA or SA result was significantly higher in participants with fibroids (20/1017 (2.0%)) than in those without fibroids (64/12 167 (0.5%)). Women with fibroids were approximately six times as likely to have a false-positive result for SA, and this was associated positively with both fibroid number and volume. CONCLUSIONS: Most women with fibroids do not have an abnormal result on genome-wide cfDNA screening. However, CNVs due to fibroids are associated with false-positive SA findings, although fibroids do not appear to influence cfDNA screening accuracy for the common autosomal trisomies or sex-chromosomal abnormalities. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Molecular mechanisms and topological consequences of drastic chromosomal rearrangements of muntjac deer.

Muntjac deer have experienced drastic karyotype changes during their speciation, making it an ideal model for studying mechanisms and functional consequences of mammalian chromosome evolution. Here we generated chromosome-level genomes for Hydropotes inermis (2n = 70), Muntiacus reevesi (2n = 46), female and male M. crinifrons (2n = 8/9) and a contig-level genome for M. gongshanensis (2n = 8/9). These high-quality genomes combined with Hi-C data allowed us to reveal the evolution of 3D chromatin architectures during mammalian chromosome evolution. We find that the chromosome fusion events of muntjac species did not alter the A/B compartment structure and topologically associated domains near the fusion sites, but new chromatin interactions were gradually established across the fusion sites. The recently borne neo-Y chromosome of M. crinifrons, which underwent male-specific inversions, has dramatically restructured chromatin compartments, recapitulating the early evolution of canonical mammalian Y chromosomes. We also reveal that a complex structure containing unique centromeric satellite, truncated telomeric and palindrome repeats might have mediated muntjacs' recurrent chromosome fusions. These results provide insights into the recurrent chromosome tandem fusion in muntjacs, early evolution of mammalian sex chromosomes, and reveal how chromosome rearrangements can reshape the 3D chromatin regulatory conformations during species evolution.

Karyotype analysis of amniotic fluid cells and report of chromosomal abnormalities in 15,401 cases of Iranian women.

The aim of present study was to assess the karyotypes of amniotic fluid cells and find the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities and their significance in clinical setting. A total of 15,401 pregnant women were assessed from March 2016 to May 2019, and 14,968 amniotic fluid samples were successfully cultured. These fetuses were grouped according to different indications including advanced maternal age, abnormal nuchal translucency (NT) values, positive first/second trimester screening results, high risk NIPT results, very low PAPP-A and free ß-hCG multiples of the normal median (MoM) results, abnormal ultrasound findings or previous history of chromosomal abnormalities. Results indicated the presence of normal karyotype in 90.2% (13,497/14,968) of fetuses. Totally, 46.4% (6945/14,968) of fetuses were 46,XX and 43.8% (6552/14,968) had 46,XY chromosome pattern. A total of 1077 abnormal karyotypes were found among 14,968 fetuses, thus the rate of abnormal fetuses was calculated to be 7.2% (1072/14,968). Meanwhile, a total of 394 cases (2.8%) had a normal polymorphism in their karyotype. In other words, abnormal karyotypes were detected in one of 13.9 cases of patients underwent amniocentesis. Down syndrome, Edward's syndrome, abnormal mosaicisms and Patau's syndrome were detected in 4.4% (659/14,968), 0.57% (85/14,968), 0.49% (74/14,968) and 0.24% (36/14,968) of cases, respectively. Sex chromosomal abnormalities including Klinefelter syndrome, Turner syndrome and 47,XXX karyotype were detected in 64 cases (0.43%). In this article, the rates of chromosomal abnormalities are compared between different groups of patients based on the advanced maternal age, abnormal NT values, very low PAPP-A and free ß-hCG MoMs results, and positive FTS results. The current investigation provides insight into the most appropriate indications for amniocentesis in Iran.

Complex mosaic blastocysts after preimplantation genetic testing: prevalence and outcomes after re-biopsy and re-vitrification.

RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the incidence of complex mosaic in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) blastocysts and can it be managed in clinical practice? DESIGN: A retrospective study of PGT cycles conducted between January 2018 and October 2019 at a single centre. Biopsies of blastocysts were collected and analysed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Complex mosaic blastocysts were defined as those with three or more mosaic chromosomes. The cryopreserved complex mosaic blastocysts underwent a second round of biopsy, NGS analysis and vitrification. The euploid blastocysts identified by the re-biopsy were warmed again for embryo transfer. The main outcomes included the prevalence of the complex mosaic and the ongoing pregnancy rate. RESULTS: The prevalence of the complex mosaic was 2.4% (437/17,979). The prevalence of the complex mosaic was not associated with maternal age and morphological quality. A total of 89 complex mosaic blastocysts underwent re-biopsy and 96.6% (86/89) survived the first warming. For the re-biopsy samples, 61.6% (53/86) were euploid. The poor-quality blastocysts had higher rates of aneuploidy compared with good-quality blastocysts. The survival rate for blastocysts undergoing the second warming was 100% (18/18) and resulted in an ongoing pregnancy rate of 38.9% (7/18) as well as the birth of six healthy infants. CONCLUSION: Re-biopsy may rescue blastocysts with development potential for transfer and improve the cumulative pregnancy rate per stimulation cycle in patients containing complex mosaic blastocysts.

Effects of chromosomal abnormalities on pregnancy outcomes in female undergoing artificial insemination with donor's sperm.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, pregnancy outcomes and prognostic factors for pregnancy of female with chromosomal abnormalities (CAs) after artificial insemination with donor's sperm (AID) treatment.A retrospective case-control study was analyzed by using the data of 29 female patients with CA and 116 controlled patients with normal karyotype (1:4 ratio) who underwent AID cycles at Guangdong Family Planning Special Hospital from January 2011 to December 2017. In all cases, reproductive histories were collected, and the cytogenetic analysis was performed by Trypsin-Giemsa banding and karyotyping. The embryos were fertilized via intracervical or intrauterine insemination. Clinical characteristic variables were compared.The prevalence of CA was found to be 0.29% in the whole AID population. The live birth rates of CA group and controlled group were 41.4% and 31.0% (P = .29) respectively. Compared to normal karyotype group, patients with CA showed higher rate of primary infertility (93.1% vs 75.9%, P = .049); Multivariate analysis demonstrated that ovarian stimulation (odds ratio, 3.055; 95% confidence interval, 1.421-6.568; P = .004) was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in female patients with AID treatment.For the infertility CA patients who were phenotypically normal, AID was a suitable choice, whereas ovarian stimulation results in an improvement in the pregnancy rate.

Optimizing the Diagnostic Strategy to Identify Genetic Abnormalities in Miscarriage.

INTRODUCTION: The single most common cause of miscarriage is genetic abnormality. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a prospective cohort study to compare the performance of conventional karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) using array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) and single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) to identify genetic abnormalities in miscarriage specimens. METHODS: A total of 63 miscarriage specimens were included. Conventional karyotyping, array-CGH, and SNP-array were performed and the results compared. RESULTS: Genetic abnormalities were detected in 31 cases (49.2%) by at least one testing modality. Single autosomal trisomy was the most common defect (71.0%), followed by polyploidy (16.1%), multiple aneuploidy (9.7%), and monosomy X (3.2%). Mosaicisms were identified in four cases and confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using appropriate probes. SNP-array had a higher detection rate of genetic abnormalities than array-CGH (93.5 vs. 77.4%), and conventional karyotyping had the lowest detection rate (76.0%). SNP-array enabled the detection of all types of genetic abnormalities, including polyploidy. CONCLUSIONS: Although conventional karyotyping and FISH are still needed, SNP-array represents the first choice for miscarriage because the technique showed excellent performance in the detection of genetic abnormalities and minimized the probability of testing failure as well as time, costs, and labor.

Chromosomal microarray analysis in fetuses with high-risk prenatal indications: A retrospective study in China.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine the diagnostic value of prenatal chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for fetuses with several indications of being at high risk for various conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 1256 pregnancies that were prenatally evaluated due to high-risk indications using invasive CMA. The indications for invasive prenatal diagnosis mainly included ultrasound anomalies, high-risk for maternal serum screening (MSS), high-risk for non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT), family history of genetic disorders or birth defects, and advanced maternal age (AMA). The rate of clinically significant genomic imbalances between the different groups was compared. RESULTS: The overall prenatal diagnostic yield was 98 (7.8%) of 1256 pregnancies. Clinically significant genomic aberrations were identified in 2 (1.5%) of 132 patients with non-structural ultrasound anomalies, 36 (12.7%) of 283 with structural ultrasound anomalies, 2 (4.5%) of 44 at high-risk for MSS, 38 (26.6%) of 143 at high-risk for NIPT, 11 (3.8%) of 288 with a family history, and 7 (2.1%) of 328 with AMA. Submicroscopic findings were identified in 29 fetuses, 19 of whom showed structural ultrasound anomalies. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic yields of CMA for pregnancies with different indications greatly varied. CMA could serve as a first-tier test for structural anomalies, especially multiple anomalies, craniofacial dysplasia, urinary defects, and cardiac dysplasia. Our results have important implications for genetic counseling.

Genetic factors and the risk of drug-resistant epilepsy in young children with epilepsy and neurodevelopment disability: A prospective study and updated meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT: Drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) affects 7% to 20% of children with epilepsy. Although some risk factors for DRE have been identified, the results have not been consistent. Moreover, data regarding the risk factors for epilepsy and its seizure outcome in the first 2 years of life are limited.We analyzed data for children aged 0 to 2 years with epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disability from January, 2013, through December, 2017. These patients were followed up to compare the risk of DRE in patients with genetic defect (genetic group) with that without genetic defect (nongenetic group). Additionally, we conducted a meta-analysis to identify the pooled prevalence of genetic factors in children with DRE.A total of 96 patients were enrolled. A total of 68 patients were enrolled in the nongenetic group, whereas 28 patients were enrolled in the genetic group. The overall DRE risk in the genetic group was 6.5 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.15-19.6; p = 0.03) higher than that in the nongenetic group. Separately, a total of 1308 DRE patients were participated in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of these patients with genetic factors was 22.8% (95% CI 17.4-29.3).The genetic defect plays a crucial role in the development of DRE in younger children with epilepsy and neurodevelopmental disability. The results can serve as a reference for further studies of epilepsy panel design and may also assist in the development of improved treatments and prevention strategies for DRE.

Analysis of 17,428 pregnant women undergoing non-invasive prenatal testing for fetal chromosome in Northeast China.

ABSTRACT: Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is an incomparable prenatal screening technology, but we should undergo amniocentesis to confirm fetal chromosome when pregnancies receive a positive result via NIPT. We aimed to investigate the detection rate and positive predictive value of NIPT results in pregnancies from Northeast China, and to determine the reasons for false positive and false negative NIPT results.This study evaluates 17,428 singleton pregnancies had undergone NIPT detection. 202 samples were NIPT positive with the detection rate was 1.16% (202/17,428). Among all the positive samples, 160 samples (79.21%) were referred for an amniocentesis procedure to investigate the fetal chromosome. The positive predictive value of T21, T18, and T13 was found to be 75% with a 0.07% false positive rate. Positive predictive value from high to low was as follows: trisomy 21 (84.38%), followed by trisomy 18 (61.54%), autosomal abnormalities (52.94%), sex chromosomal abnormalities (38.46%), and trisomy 13 (33.33%). The positive predictive values for sex chromosome abnormalities turned out to be mosaic sex chromosome aneuploidies (83.33%), followed by XYY (57.14%), XXY (37.50%), XXX (36.36%), and Monosomy X (28.95%). Out of the 160 samples had amniocentesis, the true positive cases in trisomy 21 had a higher percentage of Z-scores compared with the false positive cases in trisomy 21 (P < .05). And the true positive cases in trisomy 18 had a significantly higher percentage of Z-scores compared with the false positive cases in trisomy 18 (P < .01).These findings indicate that the positive predictive value of T21, T18, and T13 was found to be 75% with a 0.07% false positive rate. It is worth noting that the positive predictive value of NIPT for autosomes and sex chromosomes. Moreover, if women receive a positive result via NIPT, they should pay attention to the results with undergoing further prenatal diagnosis.

Clinical significance of cytogenetic and molecular genetic abnormalities in 634 Chinese patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

PURPOSE: To explore the relevance of cytogenetic or molecular genetic abnormalities to clinical variables, including clinical and laboratory characteristics and prognosis in Chinese patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). METHODS: A total of 634 consecutive patients diagnosed with MDS at The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from June 2008 to May 2018 were retrospectively included in this study. All patients had evaluable cytogenetic analysis, and 425 patients had MDS-related mutations sequencing. RESULTS: 38.6% of patients displayed abnormal karyotypes. The most common cytogenetic abnormality was +8 (31%). Sole +8 was related to female (p = 0.002), hemoglobin >10 g/dL (p = 0.03), and <60 years old (p = 0.046). TP53 mutations were associated with complex karyotype (CK) (p < 0.001). DNMT3A mutations correlated with -Y (p = 0.01) whereas NRAS mutations correlated with 20q- (p = 0.04). The overall survival (OS) was significantly inferior in patients with +8 compared with those with normal karyotype (NK) (p = 0.003). However, the OS of sole +8 and +8 with one additional karyotypic abnormality was not different from NK (p = 0.16), but +8 with two or more abnormalities had a significantly shorter OS than +8 and +8 with one additional karyotypic abnormality (p = 0.02). In multivariable analysis, ≥60 years old, marrow blasts ≥5% and TP53 mutations were independent predictors for poor OS (p < 0.05), whereas SF3B1 mutations indicated better prognosis. Male IDH1 and IDH2 mutations and marrow blasts ≥5% were independent risk factors for worse leukemia free survival (LFS) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this population of Chinese patients, trisomy 8 is the most common karyotypic abnormality. Patients with +8 showed a poorer OS compared with patients with NK. Sole +8 and +8 with one additional karyotypic abnormality had similar OS with NK, whereas +8 with two or more abnormalities had a significantly shorter OS. DNMT3A mutations correlated with -Y and NRAS mutations correlated with 20q-. TP53 mutations were associated with CK and had a poor OS. SF3B1 mutations indicated a favorable OS. IDH1 and IDH2 mutations independently indicated inferior LFS.

Loss of H3K27 methylation identifies poor outcomes in adult-onset acute leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute leukemia is an epigenetically heterogeneous disease. The intensity of treatment is currently guided by cytogenetic and molecular genetic risk classifications; however these incompletely predict outcomes, requiring additional information for more accurate outcome predictions. We aimed to identify potential prognostic implications of epigenetic modification of histone proteins, with a focus on H3K4 and H3K27 methylation marks in relation to mutations in chromatin, splicing and transcriptional regulators in adult-onset acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemia. RESULTS: Histone 3 lysine 4 di- and trimethylation (H3K4me2, H3K4me3) and lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) mark expression was evaluated in 241 acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 114 B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and 14T-cell ALL (T-ALL) patient samples at time of diagnosis using reverse phase protein array. Expression levels of the marks were significantly lower in AML than in B and T-ALL in both bone marrow and peripheral blood, as well as compared to normal CD34+ cells. In AML, greater loss of H3K27me3 was associated with increased proliferative potential and shorter overall survival in the whole patient population, as well as in subsets with DNA methylation mutations. To study the prognostic impact of H3K27me3 in the context of cytogenetic aberrations and mutations, multivariate analysis was performed and identified lower H3K27me3 level as an independent unfavorable prognostic factor in all, as well as in TP53 mutated patients. AML with decreased H3K27me3 demonstrated an upregulated anti-apoptotic phenotype. In ALL, the relative quantity of histone methylation expression correlated with response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor in patients who carried the Philadelphia cytogenetic aberration and prior smoking behavior. CONCLUSION: This study shows that proteomic profiling of epigenetic modifications has clinical implications in acute leukemia and supports the idea that epigenetic patterns contribute to a more accurate picture of the leukemic state that complements cytogenetic and molecular genetic subgrouping. A combination of these variables may offer more accurate outcome prediction and we suggest that histone methylation mark measurement at time of diagnosis might be a suitable method to improve patient outcome prediction and subsequent treatment intensity stratification in selected subgroups.

Clinical outcomes following preimplantation genetic testing and microdissecting junction region in couples with balanced chromosome rearrangement.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to summarize the clinical outcomes of apparently balanced chromosome rearrangement (ABCR) carriers in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) cycles by next-generation sequencing following microdissecting junction region (MicroSeq) to distinguish non-carrier embryos from balanced carriers. METHODS: A retrospective study of 762 ABCR carrier couples who requested PGT for structural rearrangements combined with MicroSeq at the Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya was conducted between October 2014 and October 2019. RESULTS: Trophectoderm biopsy was performed in 4122 blastocysts derived from 917 PGT-SR cycles and 3781 blastocysts were detected. Among the 3781 blastocysts diagnosed, 1433 (37.9%, 1433/3781) were balanced, of which 739 blastocysts were carriers (51.57%, 739/1433) and 694 blastocysts were normal (48.43%, 694/1433). Approximately 26.39% of cycles had both carrier and normal embryo transfer, and the average number of biopsied blastocysts was 6.7. In the cumulative 223 biopsied cycles with normal embryo transfer, all couples chose to transfer the normal embryos. In the 225 cycles with only carrier embryos, the couples chose to transfer the carrier embryos in 169/225 (75.11%) cycles. A total of 732 frozen embryo transfer cycles were performed, resulting in 502 clinical pregnancies. Cumulatively, 326 babies were born; all of these babies were healthy and free of any developmental issues. CONCLUSION: Our study provides the first evaluation of the clinical outcomes of a large sample with ABCR carrier couples undergoing the MicroSeq-PGT technique and reveals its powerful ability to distinguish between carrier and non-carrier balanced embryos.

Genetic damage in lymphocytes of lung cancer patients is correlated to the composition of the respiratory tract microbiome.

Recent findings indicate that the microbiome may have significant impact on the development of lung cancer by its effects on inflammation, dysbiosis or genome damage. The aim of this study was to compare the sputum microbiome of lung cancer (LC) patients with the chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronuclei (MN) frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes. In the study, the taxonomic composition of the sputum microbiome of 66 men with untreated LC were compared with 62 control subjects with respect to CA and MN frequency and centromere fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis. Results showed a significant increase in CA (4.11 ± 2.48% versus 2.08 ± 1.18%) and MN (1.53 ± 0.67% versus 0.87 ± 0.49%) frequencies, respectively, in LC patients as compared to control subjects. The higher frequency of centromeric positive MN of LC patients was mainly due to aneuploidy. A significant increase in Streptococcus, Bacillus, Gemella and Haemophilus in LC patients was detected, in comparison to the control subjects while 18 bacterial genera were significantly reduced, which indicates a decrease in the beta diversity in the microbiome of LC patients. Although, the CA frequency in LC patients is significantly associated with an increased presence of the genera Bacteroides, Lachnoanaerobaculum, Porphyromonas, Mycoplasma and Fusobacterium in their sputum, and a decrease for the genus Granulicatella after application of false discovery rate correction, significance was not any more present. The decrease of MN frequency of LC patients is significantly associated with an increase in Megasphaera genera and Selenomonas bovis. In conclusion, a significant difference in beta diversity of microbiome between LC and control subjects and association between the sputum microbiome composition and genome damage of LC patients was detected, thus supporting previous studies suggesting an etiological connection between the airway microbiome and LC.

Cytogenetic signatures of recurrent pregnancy losses.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities in the products of conception (POC) of patients with spontaneous miscarriages (SM) and with recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL) and to determine biological mechanisms contributing to RPL. METHODS: During a 20-year period, 12 096 POC samples underwent classical chromosome analysis. Cytogenetic findings were compared between the SM and RPL cohorts. RESULTS: Analysis of RPL cohort has identified an increased incidence of inherited and de novo structural chromosome abnormalities, recurrent polyploid conceptions, and complex mosaic alterations. These abnormalities are the signature of genomic instability, posing a high risk of genetic abnormalities to offspring independent of maternal age. Predominance of male conceptions in the RPL cohort points toward an X-linked etiology and gender-specific intolerance for certain genetic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed several possible genetic etiologies of RPL, including parental structural chromosome rearrangements, predisposition to meiotic nondisjunction, and genomic instability. Loss of karyotypically normal fetuses might be attributed to defects in genes essential for fetal development, as well as aberrations affecting the X chromosome. Molecular studies of parental and POC genomes will help to identify inherited defects in genes involved in meiotic divisions and DNA repair to confirm our hypotheses, and to discover novel fetal-essential genes.

Prenatal tests for chromosomal abnormalities detection (PTCAD): pregnant women's knowledge in an Italian Population.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays several Prenatal Tests for Chromosomal Abnormalities Detection (PTCAD) are available. In those cases in which there is not an Institutional protocol to advise women about the available PTCAD, the choice of which one to undergo is up to the woman and largely depends on her knowledge about them. Therefore, we decided to evaluate, as a primary outcome, knowledge about PTCAD among pregnant women attending our Term Clinic. As a secondary outcome we evaluated the relationship between the patient's knowledge and the subsequently chosen PTCAD. METHODS: From August 2017 to August 2018 an anonymous questionnaire with multiple-choice answers was administered to all pregnant women attending our Term antenatal Clinic, a tertiary obstetric unit in Catanzaro (Italy). RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-five pregnant women were enrolled in the study. We observed that 28.8% of the pregnant women that chose one of the PTCAD, avoided the first trimester combined screening test; among these, 11.4% were in favour of the cell-free foetal DNA test. The latter was erroneously considered diagnostic by 34.3% of the women that had chosen it. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that women's knowledge about PTCAD is poor and that there is a potentially dangerous confusion between the words 'screening' and 'diagnostic'. Informative campaigns about PTCAD and the application of dedicated antenatal counselling appointments should be a health-care priority to avoid unnecessary risks and costs for pregnant women and possible legal issues.

Risk of Clinically Significant Chromosomal Microarray Analysis Findings in Fetuses With Nuchal Translucency From 3.0 mm Through 3.4 mm.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of clinically significant chromosomal microarray analysis findings in fetuses with nuchal translucency from 3.0-3.4 mm. In addition, we aimed to define the yield of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in such pregnancies. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included results of all chromosomal microarray analysis tests performed owing to a nuchal translucency measurement from 3.0-3.4 mm, without ultrasonographic anomalies, retrieved from the Israeli Ministry of Health computerized database. Rates of clinically significant (pathogenic and likely pathogenic) microarray findings were compared with a previously published local control population, encompassing 2,752 fetuses with normal ultrasound findings and nuchal translucency less than 3.0 mm. RESULTS: Overall, 619 chromosomal microarray analyses were performed owing to isolated nuchal translucency from 3.0-3.4 mm. Of these, 29 (4.7%) cases had clinically significant copy number variants, a significantly higher risk compared with control-group pregnancies (relative risk 3.3, 95% CI 2.6-7.2). Divided by tenths of millimeters, the risk for abnormal chromosomal microarray analysis findings remained significantly increased, except for the subgroup of 198 fetuses with nuchal translucency measurements of 3.0 mm. Noninvasive prenatal testing for the five common chromosome aneuploidies would have missed 41.4% of the abnormal copy number variants-1.9% of overall cases, or 1 in 52 fetuses with nuchal translucency from 3-3.4 mm. Genome-wide NIPT, as well as traditional karyotyping, could have missed an abnormal finding in 9 of 619 (1.5%), or 1 in 69 fetuses. CONCLUSION: Our outcomes show that the rate of abnormal chromosomal microarray analysis findings in fetuses with nuchal translucency from 3.1-3.4 mm is significantly higher compared with fetuses with normal ultrasound findings.

Telomere aberrations, including telomere loss, doublets, and extreme shortening, are increased in patients with infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that telomere shortening and/or loss are risk factors for infertility. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of the telomere status in patients with infertility using conventional cytogenetic data collected prospectively. SETTING: Academic centers. PATIENT(S): Cytogenetic slides with cultured peripheral lymphocytes from 50 patients undergoing fertility treatment and 150 healthy donors, including 100 donors matched for age. INTERVENTION(S): Cytogenetic slides were used to detect chromosomal and telomere aberrations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Telomere length and telomere aberrations were analyzed after telomere and centromere staining. RESULT(S): The mean telomere length of patients consulting for infertility was significantly less than that of healthy donors of similar age. Moreover, patients with infertility showed significantly more extreme telomere loss and telomere doublet formation than healthy controls. Telomere shortening and/or telomere aberrations were more pronounced in patients with structural chromosomal aberrations. Dicentric chromosomes were identified in 6/13 patients, with constitutional chromosomal aberrations leading to chromosomal instability that correlated with chromosomal end-to-end fusions. CONCLUSION(S): Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of analyzing telomere aberrations in addition to chromosomal aberrations, using cytogenetic slides. Telomere attrition and/or dysfunction represent the main common cytogenetic characteristic of patients with infertility, leading to potential implications for fertility assessment. Pending further studies, these techniques that correlate the outcome of assisted reproduction and telomere integrity status may represent a novel and useful diagnostic and/or prognostic tool for medical care in this field.