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Aim:Structural chromosome 18 anomalies are characterized by multiple congenital anomalies and intellectual disability. In this study, 6 cases with structural anomalies of chromosome 18 diagnosed by using conventional and molecular cytogenetic analyses are presented.Materials and Methods:Six cases who were carrying structural chromosome 18 abnormalities were enrolled in the study. Developmental milestones, growth parameters and dysmorphologic features were evaluated by experienced clinical geneticists. Laboratory analysis including genetic tests, imaging studies, and eye and hearing examinations were obtained from the medical records, retrospectively.Results:All cases had karyotype analysis, 2 cases had fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis and one case had microarray analysis, which were performed by using peripheral blood. A total of 6 cases in which del (18p) in one case, del (18q) in 4 cases and i (18q) in one case were evaluated.Conclusion:Although a wide range of phenotypic findings, depending on the affected chromosomal region and size, can be seen in patients who carry structural chromosome 18 anomalies, some additional novel features are presented in our series which will contribute to the literature.

Background: Down syndrome, which is the most common human chromosomal anomaly that can affect people of any race and age, can be diagnosed prenatally in most cases. Prenatal diagnosis via culture method is time-consuming; thus, genetic analysis has thus been introduced and is continually being developed for rapid prenatal diagnosis. For this reason, the effective use of microRNA profiling for the rapid analysis of prenatal amniotic fluid samples for the diagnosis of Down syndrome was investigated. Aims: To evaluate the expression levels of 14 microRNAs encoded by chromosome 21 in amniotic fluid samples and their utility for prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Study Design: Case-control study. Methods: We performed invasive prenatal testing for 56 pregnant women; 23 carried fetuses with Down syndrome, and 33 carried fetuses with a normal karyotype. Advanced maternal age and increased risk for Down syndrome in the screening tests were indications for invasive prenatal testing. The age of gestation in the study and control groups ranged between 17 and 18 weeks. The expression levels of microRNA were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The expression levels of microRNA-125b-2, microRNA-155, and microRNA-3156 were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. Conclusion: The presence of significantly dysregulated microRNAs may be associated with either the phenotype or the result of abnormal development. Further large-scale comparative studies conducted in a variety of conditions may bring novel insights in the field of abnormal prenatal conditions.

Abstract We suggest PLAID, APLAID, and FCAS3 have to be considered as different aspects of the same underlying condition, because of our long‐term clinical and genetical experiences. Some CVID patients have the same disease‐causing mutations in PLCG2 gene, so it may be better to define all of them as “PLCG2deficiency.”