Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency in Türkiye; a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: Congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID) is a rare inherited carbohydrate malabsorption disorder caused by sucrase-isomaltase (SI) gene variants. In CSID, an autosomal recessively inherited disease, symptoms can also be seen in individuals with heterozygous mutations. METHODS: The variant spectrum was evaluated retrospectively in individuals who presented with chronic diarrhea between 2014 and 2022 and had undergone genetic testing of the SI gene considering CSID due to diet-related complaints. RESULTS: Ten patients with chronic diarrhea were genetically evaluated with SI gene sequencing. In patients diagnosed with CSID and whose symptoms improved with enzyme replacement therapy, the genetic mutation zygosity was found to be heterozygous at a rate of 90%. In 10% of the patients, the mutation was homozygous. Limiting consuming sucrose and isomaltose foods reduced the patients' complaints, but the symptoms did not disappear completely. With the initiation of sacrosidase enzyme replacement therapy, the patient's complaints completely disappeared. CONCLUSION: In CSID, defined as an autosomal recessive disease, clinical symptoms can also be seen in heterozygous cases previously described as carriers, and these patients also benefit from sacrosidase enzyme replacement therapy. In light of these findings, the autosomal recessive definition of CSID does not fully characterize the disease.What is Known:CSID is a rare inherited carbohydrate malabsorption disorder caused by sucrase-isomaltase gene variants.In congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency, an autosomal recessively inherited disorder, symptoms can also be seen in individuals with heterozygous mutations.What is new:Severe disease symptoms can also be seen in heterozygous cases, which were thought to be carriers because the disease was previously described as autosomal recessive.Sacrosidase enzyme replacement therapy also eliminates the disease symptoms in patients with heterozygous CSID mutations.This is the second study on sucrase-isomaltase enzyme deficiency pediatric groups in Türkiye and Europe.

This is the study to evaluate the congenital sucrase-isomaltase enzyme deficiency in chronic diarrhea cases covering adults and childhood in our country and the clinical features and treatment response characteristics of the variants detected in these patients.In addition, another aim of our study is that sucrase­isomaltase enzyme deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis and should be kept in mind, especially in cases with chronic diarrhea whose cause cannot be determined in childhood.

The role of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in the development of necrotizing enterocolitis.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D and its receptor (VDR) effects on the gastrointestinal system are among its most critical multisystemic effects. METHODS: This study aimed to reveal that VDR gene polymorphisms may constitute a risk factor for necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). VDR Fok1-Bsm1-Apa single-nucleotide polymorphisms were analyzed in the NEC group (n = 74) and the control group (n = 147). Among 1112 babies at and below 36 weeks of gestational age who were hospitalized between January 2013 and December 2016 with a diagnosis of prematurity, 74 of a total of 148 patients who developed NEC during follow-up (NEC group) were included in the study. When NEC was diagnosed according to clinical and radiological findings and staged using Modified Bell criteria, 9 (12.1%) of 74 babies were stage 1A, 13 (17.5%) stage 1B, and 5 (6.7%) stage 2A, 33 (44.5%) stage 2B, 7 (9.4%) stage 3A, 7 (9.4%) stage 3B. Of 964 babies who did not develop NEC during follow-up, 147 were included as the control group in the study. Genotyping of VDR polymorphisms was assayed by real-time PCR. From 221 premature babies in the NEC and control groups, 2 ml peripheral blood was taken appropriately and meticulously into an EDTA tube. DNA was isolated from these blood samples. DNA amplification was performed using a thermal cycler (Applied Biosystems GeneAmp PCR System 9600). RESULTS: When the two groups were compared in terms of the prevalence of VDR Fok1 C/T genotype, it was found that TT genotype increased the risk of NEC by 2.697 times, and there was a significant relationship between TT genotype and the risk of NEC (p = 0.041). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed in terms of gestational age, birth weight, VDR gene polymorphism data between NEC and the control group. According to the analysis results, TT polymorphism, increased the risk of disease 4.5 times (p = 0.033). CONCLUSION: Fok 1 C > T polymorphism in the VDR gene plays a role in the development of NEC. Identifying the risk groups by detecting gene polymorphisms that cause increased susceptibility to NEC may assist in the follow-up of these patients and in making early treatment decisions for them. IMPACT: In this study examining the non-bone effects of the genetic differences in vitamin D metabolism in premature babies, Fok 1 polymorphism has been observed to be an essential risk factor for NEC. This is the first study in our country that has investigated the relationship between VDR gene polymorphism and necrotizing enterocolitis among the Turkish population. Identifying the risk groups by detecting gene polymorphisms that cause increased susceptibility to NEC may assist in the monitoring of these patients and in making early treatment decisions for them.

Clinical features of generalized lipodystrophy in Turkey: A cohort analysis.

AIM: To describe the Turkish generalized lipodystrophy (GL) cohort with the frequency of each complication and the death rate during the period of the follow-up. METHODS: This study reports on 72 patients with GL (47 families) registered at different centres in Turkey that cover all regions of the country. The mean ± SD follow-up was 86 ± 78 months. RESULTS: The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the median time to diagnosis of diabetes and/or prediabetes was 16 years. Hyperglycaemia was not controlled in 37 of 45 patients (82.2%) with diabetes. Hypertriglyceridaemia developed in 65 patients (90.3%). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the median time to diagnosis of hypertriglyceridaemia was 14 years. Hypertriglyceridaemia was severe (≥ 500 mg/dl) in 38 patients (52.8%). Seven (9.7%) patients suffered from pancreatitis. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the median time to diagnosis of hepatic steatosis was 15 years. Liver disease progressed to cirrhosis in nine patients (12.5%). Liver disease was more severe in congenital lipodystrophy type 2 (CGL2). Proteinuric chronic kidney disease (CKD) developed in 32 patients (44.4%) and cardiac disease in 23 patients (31.9%). Kaplan-Meier estimates of the median time to diagnosis of CKD and cardiac disease were 25 and 45 years, respectively. Females appeared to have a more severe metabolic disease, with an earlier onset of metabolic abnormalities. Ten patients died during the follow-up period. Causes of death were end-stage renal disease, sepsis (because of recurrent intestinal perforations, coronavirus disease, diabetic foot infection and following coronary artery bypass graft surgery), myocardial infarction, heart failure because of dilated cardiomyopathy, stroke, liver complications and angiosarcoma. CONCLUSIONS: Standard treatment approaches have only a limited impact and do not prevent the development of severe metabolic abnormalities and early onset of organ complications in GL.

Amyloidosis in a Patient With Congenital Neutropenia Because of G6PC3 Deficiency.

Glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 3 (G6PC3) deficiency is a recently identified form of congenital neutropenia associated with developmental anomalies. The severity of neutropenia and the clinical spectrum are highly variable. Aside from infectious complications and extrahematologic features, inflammatory bowel disease and autoinflammatory complications are less frequently observed manifestations. However, amyloidosis has never been reported in G6PC3 deficiency. Here, we present a 12-year-old patient with incidentally discovered neutropenia because of the p.E65A (c.194A>C) variant of the G6PC3 gene. He had recurrent aphthae and abdominal pain episodes, and developed nephrotic-range proteinuria, amyloidosis, and end-stage renal failure during follow-up.

Investigation of drug resistance against protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase inhibitors by next-generation sequencing in HIV-positive patients.

Our aim was to investigate the mutations in protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT), and integrase (IN) gene regions in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using a single amplicon via next-generation sequencing (NGS). The study included plasma samples from 49 HIV-1-positive patients, which were referred for HIV-1 drug resistance testing during 2017. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed after the RNA extraction and one-step reverse transcription stages. The sequencing of the HIV genome in the PR, RT, and IN gene regions was carried out using MiSeq NGS technology. Sanger sequencing (SS) was used to analyze resistance mutations in the PR and RT gene regions using a ViroSeq HIV-1 Genotyping System. PCR products were analyzed with an ABI3500 GeneticAnalyzer (Applied Biosystems). Resistance mutations detected with NGS at frequencies above 20% were identical to the SS results. Resistance to at least one antiretroviral (ARV) drug was 22.4% (11 of 49) with NGS and 10.2% (5 of 49) with SS. At least one low-frequency resistance mutation was detected in 18.3% (9 of 49) of the samples. Low-frequency resistance mutations resulted in virological failure in only one patient. The cost of the analyses was reduced by sample pooling and multiplex analysis using the MiSeq system. This is the first study in Turkey to use NGS technologies for the detection of resistance mutations in all three gene (PR, RT, IN) regions using a single amplicon. Our findings suggest that NGS is more sensitive and cost-effective than the SS method.

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis: genetic and phenotypic spectrum of 14 patients from Turkey.

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) is a group of congenital metabolic diseases where the neurodegenerative process with the accumulation of ceroid and lipofuscin autofluorescent storage materials is at the forefront. According to the age of presentation, NCLs are classified as congenital, infantile (INCL), late infantile (LINCL), juvenile (JNCL), and adult (ANCL) NCLs. In our study, it was aimed to discuss the clinical and molecular characteristics of our patients diagnosed with NCL. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study which was conducted in 14 patients from 10 unrelated families who were diagnosed with different types of NCL based on clinical presentation, neuroimaging, biochemical measurements, and molecular analyses, at the department of pediatric metabolism between June 2015 and June 2020. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients were diagnosed with different types of NCL. Of those, 4 patients were diagnosed with NCL7 (4/14; 30%), 3/14 (23%) with NCL1, 3/14 (23%) with NCL2, 2/14 (14.2%) with NCL13, and 1/14 (7.1%) with NCL10. Eleven pathogenic variants were detected, 5 of which are novel (c.721G>T [p.Gly241Ter] and c.301G>C [p.Ala146Pro] in MFDS8 gene; c.316C>T [p.Gln106Ter] in PPT1 gene; c.341C>T [p.Ala114Val] in TPP1 gene; c.686A>T [p.Glu229Val] in CTSD gene) CONCLUSION: This study is one of the pioneer comprehensive researches from Turkey that provides information about disease-causing variants and clinical presentation of different and rare types of NCLs. The identification of novel variants and phenotypic expansion is important for genetic counselling in Turkey and expected to improve understanding of NCLs.

Clinical and molecular aspects of PTEN mutations in 10 pediatric patients.

INTRODUCTION: PTEN gene mutations are responsible for the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS). In this study, clinical and molecular findings of patients carrying PTEN mutations are presented. Our aim is to contribute to genotype-phenotype correlation and define the most common findings of the syndrome in pediatric patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Ten molecularly confirmed PHTS patients from seven families were included in the study. All patients were examined by a clinical geneticist. Laboratory test results were obtained from hospital records. Sequencing of PTEN gene was performed. Variant interpretation was done in accordance with 2015 recommendations from the American College of Medical Genetics. RESULTS: Macrocephaly was the most common clinical finding, involving all patients. This was followed by skin lesions, neurodevelopmental delay, and pathologic cranial magnetic resonance imaging findings. Seven different heterozygous PTEN gene variants were found in seven families. Four of these were located in exon 5, which has been described as a hot spot area for the PTEN gene. Four mutations were novel. A wide range of phenotypic and genotypic spectra was found in our study group. CONCLUSION: Screening of PTEN mutations in patients with macrocephaly is recommended due to an increased risk of cancer. Further cases are needed to make a phenotype-genotype correlation in PHTS.

Novel homozygous variants in the SERPING1 gene in two Turkish families with hereditary angioedema of recessive inheritance.

Hereditary angioedema as a result of deficiency of the C1 inhibitor (HAE-C1INH; MIM# 106100) is a rare autosomal disorder and affected individuals are generally heterozygous for dominant negative variants in the SERPING1 gene. Homozygosity for SERPING1 pathogenic variants was long considered to be embryonically lethal; however, five nonrelated families with a recessive HAE pattern have been described in the last decade. In this report, we functionally characterized two newly reported nonrelated, consanguineous families with a recessive presentation of HAE attributed to SERPING1 variants in the reactive center loop (family D; S438F) and gate (family A; I379T) regions. S438F heterozygotes (family D) showed variable levels of intact 105-kDa and cleaved/inactive 96-kDa isoforms of C1INH, whereas their homozygous relative presented only the 96-kDa band. Functional studies showed that S438F reduced C1INH interaction with target proteases in heterozygous (C1s, 32-38% of controls and FXIIa, 28-35% of controls) and homozygous (C1s, 18-24% of controls and FXIIa, 4-8% of controls) carriers, which is consistent with the more severe presentation of HAE in the family and decreased C1q levels in homozygous patients. By contrast, plasma C1INH from I379T heterozygotes (family A) showed normal C1INH/C1s binding (84-94% of controls) and no significant reduction in C1INH/FXIIa complexes (50-70% of controls). However, the homozygote failed to inhibit both C1s (25-42% of controls) and FXIIa (14-18% of controls). This profile is concordant with the less severe presentation of HAE in the family and the conserved C4 and C1q levels in heterozygous and homozygous patients.

Management of a Patient With Congenital Biallelic CSF3R Mutation With GM-CSF.

Severe Congenital Neutropenia (SCN) is a rare inherited disease characterized by an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) lower than 500/µL. Genetic heterogeneity and biallelic CSF3R mutation has rarely been identified as an underlying genetic defect in SCN. The majority of SCN patients respond to granulocyte colony stimulating factor treatment; however, in patients with inherited CSF3R mutation, ANC cannot generally be increased with granulocyte colony stimulating factor treatment. In such cases, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor presents as an effective treatment option. Herein, we report a case of a 5-year-old SCN girl with homozygous c610-611 del ins AG (p.Q204R) mutation in the CSF3R gene, who was successfully treated with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor.

Fetal Gene Therapy Using a Single Injection of Recombinant AAV9 Rescued SMA Phenotype in Mice.

Symptoms of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) disease typically begin in the late prenatal or the early postnatal period of life. The intrauterine (IU) correction of gene expression, fetal gene therapy, could offer effective gene therapy approach for early onset diseases. Hence, the overall goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of human survival motor neuron (hSMN) gene expression after IU delivery in SMA mouse embryos. First, we found that IU-intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of adeno-associated virus serotype-9 (AAV9)-EGFP led to extensive expression of EGFP protein in different parts of the CNS with a great number of transduced neural stem cells. Then, to implement the fetal gene therapy, mouse fetuses received a single i.c.v. injection of a single-stranded (ss) or self-complementary (sc) AAV9-SMN vector that led to a lifespan of 93 (median of 63) or 171 (median 105) days for SMA mice. The muscle pathology and number of the motor neurons also improved in both study groups, with slightly better results coming from scAAV treatment. Consequently, fetal gene therapy may provide an alternative therapeutic approach for treating inherited diseases such as SMA that lead to prenatal death or lifelong irreversible damage.

Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene variants in children and adolescents having familial early-onset obesity: genetic and clinical characteristics.

Melanocortin 4 receptor gene plays an important role in food intake, energy balance, and weight control. The autosomal dominantly inherited MC4R variants cause obesity by causing hyperphagia and decreased sense of satiety. Homozygous variants are rarely reported, and they cause earlier/severe obesity. Our objective is to determine the MC4R gene variant frequency in children and adolescents with familial early-onset obesity. One hundred thirty-nine children and adolescents (57 girls/82 boys) whose weight increase started before the age of 5 years and who had early-onset obesity in at least one of their first-degree relatives were included in the study. Obesity is defined as body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 95th percentile, and as extreme obesity is defined if the BMI ≥ 120% of the 95th percentile or ≥ 35 kg/m2. Children having genetic syndromes associated with obesity and mental retardation or taking drugs that promote changes in eating behavior or weight were excluded from the study. Coding region of the MC4R gene was sequenced by using the Illumina MiSeq Next Generation Sequencing System. The mean age of the patients was 7.3 ± 3.7 years, and the mean BMI SDS was 3.7 ± 0.7. While 118 patients (85%) were prepubertal, 21 patients (15%) were pubertal. Seven different variants were identified in 12 patients by giving a variant detection rate of 8.6%, of these five were previously identified missense variants p.N274S, p.S136F, p.V166I, p.R165W, and p.I291SfsX10. One homozygous variant p.I291SfsX10 (c.870delG) was detected in a severely obese 2-year-old boy, and other variants were heterozygous. Two novel variants were found: p.M200del and p.S188L. By using the in silico analysis software, these novel variants were predicted to be disease causing.Conclusion: MC4R gene variants are quite common in childhood obesity in Turkish population. Screening the variants in MC4R gene is necessary in patients with severe childhood-onset obesity. In such patients, comorbidities of obesity can be seen from early years. What is known • The frequency of MC4R mutations in obese patients was approximately 0-6.3%. What is new • In obese Turkish pediatric population, unlike other European countries, MC4R gene variants are quite common as we found a variant rate of 8.6% • We believe it is necessary to screen the variants in MC4R gene in patients with severe childhood-onset obesity and who had early-onset obesity in at least one of their first-degree relatives in Turkish population.

The utility of whole exome sequencing for identification of the molecular etiology in autosomal recessive developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.

AIM: Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are a group of devastating disorders caused by epileptic activity, resulting in deterioration in developmental, cognitive, and motor functions. The number of genes identified as being responsible for DEEs has been increasing rapidly. However, despite a comprehensive molecular analysis, a molecular diagnosis can only be established in 50% of cases. The aim of this project is to use whole exome sequencing (WES) to determine the molecular etiology of DEEs in undiagnosed patients with a pedigree suggestive of an autosomal recessive single gene disease. METHODS: Three DEE families, having either consanguineous parents of an affected individual and/or having more than one affected offspring, were enrolled in the project. Prior to this project, the families had been evaluated using a next-generation sequencing panel including 16 DEE genes in a previous study; however, no molecular diagnosis could be established. In five cases from the three selected DEEs families in our study, the genetic etiology was investigated using WES. RESULTS: All patients in the study group had infantile onset epileptic seizures; however, semiologies varied. All patients presented with severe developmental delay. WES revealed biallelic disease causing mutations in DENDD5A, GRN, and TBCD genes in family 1, family 2, and family 3, respectively. In each family, the identified variants associated with the disease were segregated. Reverse phenotyping supported the molecular analysis. CONCLUSION: This study provided a valuable contribution to the genotype-phenotype relationship by determining rare epilepsy syndromes in undiagnosed patients previously. WES is a useful diagnostic alternative, particularly in consanguineous families.

A novel variant in LCHGR gene in 3 siblings with type 1 Leydig cell hypoplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Leydig cell hypoplasia (LCH) is an autosomal recessive disease that causes 46, XY sex development disorder. The patients with LCH are usually in the female phenotype and are presented with the complaints of no breast development and primary amenorrhea. In this article, the cases of three siblings who presented with primary amenorrhea and who had LCH were presented. CASE: A 16-year-old patient with female phenotype is presented with primary amenorrhea. Breast development was at Tanner stage 1, the external genitalia were completely in female phenotype. The karyotype was determined as 46, XY. The hormonal analyses revealed that the testosterone synthesis was insufficient despite the high level of luteinizing hormone (LH). Cortisol, ACTH, 17-Hydroxyprogesterone, and AMH levels were normal. LCH diagnosis was considered in the patient with elevated LH and no testosterone synthesis. A new mutation of homozygous c.161 + 4A > G was detected in LHCGR gene. The same mutation was detected in the patient's two siblings with female phenotype and 46, XY karyotype. CONCLUSION: In patients presenting with primary amenorrhea and karyotype 46, XY, there is no testosterone synthesis and if there is LH elevation, LCH should be considered. We found a novel variant in the LHCGR gene in three siblings with karyotype 46, XY and female phenotype.

Coexistence of Gaucher Disease and severe congenital neutropenia.

Gaucher Disease (GD) is the most common lysosomal storage disorder has traditionally been classified into three clinical phenotypes. Type 3 GD is characterized by neurological involvement but neurological symptoms generally appear later in life than in type 2 disease. Neutropenia is much rarer than other hematological manifestations in GD and has not been scrutinized adequately. Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) is a rare disease entity which is characterized by a paucity of peripherally circulating neutrophils with arrest of neutrophil maturation at the promyelocyte stage and consequent increased susceptibility to severe and recurrent infections. We report a patient who presented in the first year of life with visceral involvement and severe neutropenia in whom the propositus had a unique coexistence of Gaucher Disease and severe congenital neutropenia associated with a mutation in HAX1. In contrast to his expired siblings he had experienced no severe infections. These clinical observations suggest that enzyme replacement therapy may display a modulating factor with respect to the clinical course of SCN. SYNOPSIS: Our patient is the only report of the combination of Gaucher Disease and Kostmann Syndrome in the literature. The clinical course of our patient is not severe when comparing with exitus siblings and other Kostmann Syndrome patients. But when considering the patient's only clinical difference is ERT, this case is very important to emphasise the role of enzyme replacement therapy in bone marrow.

Deletions in SERPING1 Lead to Lower C1 Inhibitor Function: Lower C1 Inhibitor Function Can Predict Disease Severity.

BACKGROUND: How genotype affects phenotype in hereditary angioedema with C1 inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) has not been totally clarified. In this study, we investigated the relationship between different types of mutations and various phenotypic characteristics. METHODS: Clinical data from 81 patients from 47 families were recorded. Complement proteins were analyzed from 61 untreated patients. The coding exons and the exon-intron boundaries of the SERPING1 gene were sequenced, and deletion/duplication analysis with multiple ligation dependent probe amplification was performed. The relationship of complement protein with the mutation type was analyzed by using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Thirty-five different mutations (15 novel and 2/15 homozygous) were identified. There was no causative mutation in 6 patients (7.4%). Patients with deletion and large deletion had the lowest (5.05%, 0-18.7; 5.8%, 0-16.5%, respectively), and the none mutation group had the highest C1 inhibitor function (23.3%, 11-78%, p < 0.001). C1 inhibitor function levels decreased as the age of the disease progressed (r = -0.352, p = 0.005). Lower C1 inhibitor function levels caused severer disease (r = -0.404, p = 0.001) and more frequent annual attacks (r = -0.289, p = 0.024). In the off-attack period, C1q levels were lower than normal in 9.8% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Deletion mutations may represent the most unfavorable effect on C1 inhibitor function. The earlier disease onset age could be a sign for lower C1 inhibitor function levels in adult life. C1q levels could also be low in C1-INH-HAE patients, as in acquired angioedema. Lower C1 inhibitor function can predict disease severity and may have negative impacts on the course of C1-INH-HAE.

DSM outcomes of psychotic experiences and associated risk factors: 6-year follow-up study in a community-based sample.

BACKGROUND: Psychotic experiences (PEs) may predict a range of common, non-psychotic disorders as well as psychotic disorders. In this representative, general population-based cohort study, both psychotic and non-psychotic disorder outcomes of PE were analysed, as were potential moderators. METHODS: Addresses were contacted in a multistage clustered probability sampling frame covering 11 districts and 302 neighbourhoods at baseline (n = 4011). Participants were interviewed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) both at baseline and at 6-year follow-up. Participants with PE at baseline were clinically re-interviewed with the SCID-I at follow-up. The role of socio-demographics, characteristics of PE, co-occurrence of mood disorders and family history of mental disorders were tested in the association between baseline PE and follow-up diagnosis. RESULTS: In the participants with baseline PE, the psychotic disorder diagnosis rate at follow up was 7.0% - much lower than the rates of DSM-IV mood disorders without psychotic features (42.8%) and other non-psychotic disorders (24.1%). Within the group with baseline PE, female sex, lower socio-economic status, co-occurrence of mood disorders, family history of a mental disorder and persistence of PE predicted any follow-up DSM diagnosis. Furthermore, onset of psychotic v. non-psychotic disorder was predicted by younger age (15-30 years), co-presence of delusional and hallucinatory PE and family history of severe mental illness. CONCLUSION: The outcome of PE appears to be a consequence of baseline severity of multidimensional psychopathology and familial risk. It may be useful to consider PE as a risk indicator that has trans-diagnostic value.

Homozygous c.130-131 ins A (pW44X) mutation in the HAX1 gene as the most common cause of congenital neutropenia in Turkey: Report from the Turkish Severe Congenital Neutropenia Registry.

BACKGROUND: Severe congenital neutropenia is a rare disease, and autosomal dominantly inherited ELANE mutation is the most frequently observed genetic defect in the registries from North America and Western Europe. However, in eastern countries where consanguineous marriages are common, autosomal recessive forms might be more frequent. METHOD: Two hundred and sixteen patients with severe congenital neutropenia from 28 different pediatric centers in Turkey were registered. RESULTS: The most frequently observed mutation was HAX1 mutation (n = 78, 36.1%). A heterozygous ELANE mutation was detected in 29 patients (13.4%) in our cohort. Biallelic mutations of G6PC3 (n = 9, 4.3%), CSF3R (n = 6, 2.9%), and JAGN1 (n = 2, 1%) were also observed. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment was given to 174 patients (80.6%). Two patients died with infectious complications, and five patients developed myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloblastic leukemia. The mean (± mean standard error) follow-up period was 129.7 ± 76.3 months, and overall survival was 96.8% (CI, 94.4-99.1%) at the age of 15 years. In Turkey, severe congenital neutropenia mostly resulted from the p W44X mutation in the HAX1 gene. CONCLUSION: In Turkey, mutation analysis should be started with HAX1, and if this is negative, ELANE and G6PC3 should be checked. Because of the very high percentage of consanguineous marriage, rare mutations should be tested in patients with a negative mutation screen.

Congenital Neutropenia Patient With Hypomorphic Biallelic CSF3R Mutation Responding to GCSF.

Congenital neutropenia (CN) is a rare disorder, and the most common gene responsible for CN is ELANE. Furthermore, the mutations of HAX1, G6PC3, and JAGN1 genes may cause CN. These patients generally find great benefit from subcutaneous administration of Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF). In recent years, Biallelic Colony Stimulating Factor 3 Receptor (CSF3R) mutations have been described as an underlying defect of CN in several children. In contrast to the previous group, the patients who have a CSF3R mutation do not respond to GCSF treatment. Here, we present a CN patient with hypomorphic biallelic CSF3R mutation responding to GCSF.

Evaluation of CNTNAP2 gene rs2107856 polymorphism in Turkish population with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

PURPOSE: To investigate rs2107856 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of CNTNAP2 gene in Turkish population with pseudoexfoliation and to correlate clinical characteristics with the genotypic profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS), 46 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) and 99 healthy controls were enrolled. Comprehensive ophthalmological examination, central corneal thickness measurement and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness analysis of the peripapillary area were performed. Blood samples of 2 mL with EDTA were obtained and sent for genetic analysis. The role of the detected polymorphism on disease tendency along with the genotype and allele frequencies in each group was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean age of the groups was 70.0 ± 8.0 (range 51-86) in PXS, 71.2 ± 8.8 (range 51-93) in PXG and 64.6 ± 8.3 (range 51-91) in controls. The percentages of homozygote individuals were 11.6, 10.9, 21.2%, and heterozygote individuals were 41.9, 45.7, 42.4% in patients with PXS, PXG and controls, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of both genotype and allele frequencies of rs2107856 (p = 0.429 and p = 0.178, respectively). Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness did not differ between SNP-positive and SNP-negative individuals in PXG, and there was no significant difference between genotype and age, sex, best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, central corneal thickness, cup/disk ratio and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in any of the groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: rs2107856 SNP of CNTNAP2 gene has no association with PXS and PXG in the evaluated Turkish population.

Is BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism associated with psychotic experiences and psychotic disorder outcome? Evidence from a 6 years prospective population-based cohort study.

There is little research on genetic risk for the extended psychosis phenotype ranging from psychotic experiences (PEs) to psychotic disorders (PDs). In this general population-based prospective cohort study, the longitudinal associations between BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism and the different levels of the extended psychosis phenotype were investigated. Addresses were contacted in a multistage clustered probability sampling frame covering 11 districts and 302 neighborhoods at baseline (n = 4011). A nested case-control study (n = 366) recruited individuals with PEs and PDs as well as individuals with no psychotic symptoms. In this subgroup, blood sampling for genetic analysis and assessment of environmental exposures were carried out, followed by clinical re-appraisal at follow-up 6 years later (n = 254). The BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism was significantly associated with the extended psychosis phenotype. The pattern of the association was that the BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism impacted in a dose-response but extra-linear fashion, with stronger impact at the PD end of the extended psychosis phenotype. Associations were still significant after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and environmental exposures including life events, childhood adversity, socioeconomic status, urbanicity, and cannabis use. The BDNF-Val66Met polymorphism may index susceptibility to expression of psychosis along a spectrum.