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PURPOSE: Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by the cessation of menstrual cycles before the age of 40 years due to the depletion or dysfunction of the ovarian follicles. POI is a highly heterogeneous disease in terms of etiology. The aim of this study is to reveal the genetic etiology in POI patients. METHODS: A total of 35 patients (mean age: 27.2 years) from 28 different families diagnosed with POI were included in the study. Karyotype, FMR1 premutation analysis, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, and whole-exome sequencing (WES) were conducted to determine the genetic etiology of patients. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients with POI were first evaluated by karyotype analysis, and chromosomal anomaly was detected in three (8.5%) and FMR1 premutation was detected in six patients (17%) from two different families. A total of 29 patients without FMR1 premutation were included in the SNP array analysis, and one patient had a 337-kb deletion in the chromosome 6q26 region including PARK2 gene, which was thought to be associated with POI. Twenty-nine cases included in SNP array analysis were evaluated simultaneously with WES analysis, and genetic variant was detected in 55.1% (16/29). CONCLUSION: In the present study, rare novel variants were identified in genes known to be associated with POI, which contribute to the mutation spectrum. The effects of detected novel genes and variations on different pathways such as gonadal development, meiosis and DNA repair, or metabolism need to be investigated by experimental studies. Molecular etiology allows accurate genetic counseling to the patient and family as well as fertility planning.

@ 2022 by the Istanbul Medeniyet University.Objective: Hereditary cancer syndromes (HCSs) are a heterogenous group of disorders caused by germline pathogenic variations in various genes that function in cell growth and proliferation. This study aimed to describe the germline variations in patients with hereditary cancer using multigene panels. Methods: The molecular and clinical findings of 218 patients with HCS were evaluated. In addition, 25 HCS-related genes were sequenced using a multigene panel, and variations were classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) criteria. In total, 218 HCS patients predominantly with breast, colorectal, ovarian, gastric, and endometrium cancers were included. Results: Pathogenic variations in 12 distinct genes were detected in 36 of 218 (16.5%) cases. In this study, the most affected gene was the ATM gene, in which pathogenic variations were detected in 8 of 218 cases, followed by CHEK2 (3.2%), MUTYH (3.2%), BRIP1 (1.8%), BARD1 (0.9%), TP53 (0.9%), PALB2 (0.4%), MLH1 (0.4%), MSH2 (0.4%), PMS2 (0.4%), RAD50 (0.4%), and RAD51C (0.4%). Conclusions: This study contributes to genotype-phenotype correlation in HCSs and expands the variation spectrum by introducing three novel pathogenic variations. The wide spectrum of the gene pathogenic variations detected and the presence of multiple gene defects in the same patient make the multigene panel testing a valuable tool in detecting the hereditary forms of cancer and providing effective genetic counseling and family specific screening strategies. Amaç: Herediter kanser sendromları (HCS) hücre büyümesi ve proliferasyonunda görevli genlerde saptanan germline mutasyonlardan kaynaklanan heterojen bir grup hastalıktır. Bu çalışmada kalıtımsal kanser sendrom ön tanısıyla değerlendirilen olgularda çoklu gen paneli ile germ hattı varyasyonlarının değerlendirilmesi planlanmıştır. Yöntemler: Kalıtımsal kanser sendromu düşünülen 218 olgudan periferik kandan DNA izolasyonu sonrası HCS ile ilişkili 25 gen multigen panel kullanılarak dizilendi ve varyasyonlar American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) kriterlerine göre değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Meme, kolorektal, over, gastrik ve endometriyum kanseri başta olmak üzere toplam 218 herediter kanser sendromlu olgu değerlendirildi. Tüm çalışma grubu incelendiğinde en sık ATM gen varyasyonları (8/218, %3,6) tespit edildi ve bunu sıklık sırasına göre CHEK2 (%3,2), MUTYH (%3,2), BRIP1 (%1,8), BARD1 (%0,9), TP53 (%0,9), PALB2 (%0,4), MLH1 (%0,4), MSH2 (%0,4), PMS2 (%0,4), RAD50 (%0,4), RAD51C (%0,4) varyasyonları takip etmekteydi. Sonuçlar: Bu çalışmada farklı kanser türlerinde kalıtımsal kansere yol açan genler analiz edilmiş ve fenotiple ilişkisi değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca bu çalışmada ilk kez saptanan üç yeni varyasyon ile literatüre katkı sağlanmaktadır. Patojenik varyasyon tespit edilen genlerin geniş dağılımı ve aynı hastada birden fazla genetik varyasyonun varlığı düşünüldüğünde, uygun genetik danışma ve aileye özgü tarama planlaması yapmak için çoklu gen taraması kalıtımsal kanser hastalarının değerlendirilmesinde hızlı ve etkin bir yöntem olarak görünmektedir.

Background/aim: BCL-3, upregulated in several cancers, functions as a crucial player not only in cell cycle and apoptosis, but also in metastasis. The study aimed to analyse the expression profile of BCL-3 and its interacting partners in metastatic breast cancer. Materials and methods: mRNA expression levels were evaluated in blood samples of metastatic breast cancer patients (n=55) and in healthy control donors (n=50) by RT qPCR. SPSS 26 program was used for statistical analysis. Results: Expression levels of BCL-3 mRNA was downregulated in metastatic breast cancers patients compared to healthy control group (p= 0.0004). Subsequently, expression levels of the NFKB1 (p= 0.0005), NFKB2 (p=0.0001), CYLD (p= 0.00042) and TP53 (p= 0.0287) were significantly lower in metastatic breast patients compared to healthy controls. CCND1 and CDH2 gene expressions were significantly upregulated in metastatic group (p=0.0009; and p= 0.0030, respectively). GSK3B, SMAD3 and TGFB1 expressions were not significantly different between groups. Conclusion: This study indicates significant expression difference between patients and controls. The NF-κB regulators might induce the metastatic potential through interaction with the other molecules in the microenvironment, nevertheless, it is needed further research whether the importance of BCL-3 as a biomarker for metastatic breast cancer.

Phenytoin has a widespread use in epilepsy treatment and is mainly metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP). We have investigated CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 allelic variants in a Turkish population of patients on phenytoin therapy. Patients on phenytoin therapy (n = 102) for the prevention of epileptic seizures were included. Polymorphic alleles were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Serum concentrations of phenytoin were measured by fluorescence polarization immune assay method. The most frequent genotype was detected for CYP2C9 wild-type alleles (78.43 %), whereas CYP2C19*2/*2 (5.88 %) was the least frequent genotype group. According to the classification made with both enzyme polymorphisms, CYP2C9*1/*1-CYP2C19*1/*1 (G1: 41.17 %) genotype group was the most frequent whereas CYP2C9*1/*2-CYP2C19*1/*3 (G7: 0.98 %) was the least frequent one. The highest mean phenytoin level (27.95 ± 1.85 µg/ml) was detected in the G8 genotype group (CYP2C9*1/*3-CYP2C19*2/*3) and the G1 genotype group showed the lowest mean phenytoin level (7.43 ± 0.73 µg/ml). The mean serum concentration of phenytoin of the polymorphic patients with epilepsy was higher than that for the wild-type alleles both in the monotherapy and polytherapy patients. These results show the importance of the genetic polymorphism analysis of the main metabolizing enzyme groups of phenytoin for the dose adjustment.

Dentinogenesis imperfecta Type II (DGI-II) is a condition inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and characterized by abnormal dentine structure affecting both the primary and secondary dentitions. The genetic etiology of the disease still remains unclear, suggesting a genetically heterogeneous background. The aim of this study is to manifest briefly DGI-II and to investigate the association between BsmI, TaqI and FokI polymorphisms of Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and dentinogenesis imperfecta type II in a Turkish family by PCR-RFLP methodology. The affected mother and her two affected daughters were bb for BsmI polymorphism, whereas her unaffected son and her husband were Bb for the same polymorphism. One of the affected children was tt, the rest of the family were Tt for TaqI polymorphism, and all of the enrolled subjects were FF for FokI polymorphism. As a conclusion, BsmI polymorphism bb seems to be associated with (DGI-II), but should be examined in larger numbers in order to be considered as a risk factor. Неполный дентиногенез II типа (DGI-II) – состояние, которое наследуется как аутосомный доми-нантный признак и характеризуется как аномальная структура дентина, которая затрагивает первичный и вторичный рост зубов. Генетическая этиология заболевания все еще остается неизученной, но предполагается, что имеет генетически гетерогенную основу. Целью работы было с помощью PCR-RFLP оценить DGI-II и изучить связь между полиморфизмом BsmI, TaqI и FokI гена VDR и неполным дентиногенезом II типа в одной из турецких семей. Затронутые болезнью мать и две дочери были рецессивными гомозиготами bb в отношении полиморфизма BsmI, в то время как здоровый сын и муж были гетерозиготами Bb. По TaqI полиморфизму одна из больных дочерей была tt, а остальные члены семьи – Tt. Все перечисленные члены семьи были FF по полиморфизму FokI. Очевидно, полиморфизм bb BsmI связан с DGI-II, однако необходимо исследование большей выборки, чтобы считать его фактором риска.

Obesity is a major contributory factor of morbidity and mortality. It has been suggested that biological systems may be involved in the tendency to be and to remain physically inactive also behaviors such as food and beverage preferences and nutrient intake may at least partially genetically determined. Consequently, besides environment, genetic factors may also contribute to the level of physical activity and eating behaviors thus effect obesity. Therefore the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of various gene mutations on obesity, physical activity levels and eating behavior phenotypes. One hundred patients and 100 controls were enrolled to the study. Physical activity levels were measured with an actical acceloremeter device. Eating behaviors were evaluated using Three-Factor Eating questionnaire (TFEQ). Associations between eating behavior scores and physical characteristics were also evaluated. The information about other obesity risk factors were also collected. Mutations were investigated with PCR, direct sequencing and Real-Time PCR. rs1051168, rs8050146 -2778C T mutations were found statistically significant in patients, rs1121980 was found statistically significant in controls. 21 mutations were found in MC4R and near MC4R of which 18 of them are novel and 8 of them cause amino acid change. In addition, it was found that, some obesity related factors and questions of TFEQ are associated with various investigated gene mutations. Any relation between gene mutations and physical activity levels were not detected. It is thought that, due to the genotype data and eating behaviors, it may be possible to recommend patients for proper eating patterns to prevent obesity. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(10):806-816, 2016.

Summary: Purpose: Mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel subunit gene SCN1A have been associated with febrile seizures (FSs) in autosomal dominant generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) families and severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy. The present study assessed the role of SCN1A in familial typical FSs. Methods: FS families were selected throughout a collaborative study of the Italian League Against Epilepsy. For each index case, the entire coding region of SCN1A was screened by denaturant high-performance liquid chromatography. DNA fragments showing variant chromatograms were subsequently sequenced. Results: Thirty-two FS families accounting for 91 affected individuals were ascertained. Mutational analysis detected a single coding variant (A3169G) on exon 16. The extended analysis of all family members and 78 normal controls demonstrated that A3169G did not contribute to the FS phenotype. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that SCN1A is not frequently involved in common FSs and suggested the involvement of specific FS genes.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a group of genetic endocrine disorders, caused by enzyme deficiencies in the conversion of cholesterol to cortisol. More than 90% of the cases have 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). The clinical phenotype of the disease is classified as classic, the severe form, and nonclassic, the mild form. In this study, it was planned to characterize the mutations that cause 21-OHD in Turkish CAH patients by direct sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis and to investigate the type of CAH (classic or nonclassic type) that these mutations cause. A total of 124 CAH patients with 21-OHD and 100 healthy volunteers were recruited to the study. Most of the mutations were detected by direct sequencing. Large gene deletions/duplications/conversions were investigated with MLPA analysis. Results were evaluated statistically. At the end of our study, 66 different variations were detected including SNPs and deletions/duplications/conversions. Of these variations, 18 are novel, of which three cause amino acid substitutions. In addition, 15 SNPs which cause amino acid changes were identified among these variations. If similar results are obtained in different populations, these mutations, in particular the novel mutation 711 GA, may be used as markers for prenatal diagnosis.

WOS: 000261856700006, Many epidemiological studies have reported an association between hemostatic factors and risk of both coronary and peripheral artery diseases. Using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis, we investigated the association between coronary artery disease and polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T and A1298C), prothrombin (G20210A), and factor V (A4070G) genes. We screened these gene variants in 174 subjects who had undergone coronary angiography - 115 patients with patent coronary artery disease (grade 3 vessel disease, i.e., significant coronary stenosis), and 59 healthy controls with grade 0 vessel disease. The analysis of our data did not show any statistically significant association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and the investigated polymorphisms.

Aims: Patients with isochromosome 18 [i(18q)] have features of both trisomy 18 and deletion of 18p [del(18p)] syndromes. Although, hypopituitarism has been reported in patients with del(18p) syndrome, it has not been described in patients with i(18q) syndrome previously. We describe a case with i(18q)/del(18p) mosaicism associated with a novel finding of hypopituitarism. Methods: Clinical characteristics of the patient have been discussed in the light of the literature. Results: The patient had dysmorphic findings that are predominantly seen in del(18p) syndrome such as low nasal bridge, wide mouth, large ears, high forehead, hypopigmentation, upturned nostrils and hypopituitarism (TSH, ACTH, and GH deficiencies, and pituitary hypoplasia on magnetic resonance imaging). In addition, she also had upturning of upper lip and seizures, which are features of trisomy 18 syndrome. Conclusions: In agreement with the previous clinical reports, this case further supports the presence of a factor, which is involved in pituitary development and/or function, on the short arm of chromosome 18.