Ayfer Pazarbaşı

Studies on angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and genotype distributions in Turkish preeclampsia patients.

Placental, immune and genetic factors are thought to play an important role in preeclampia (PE)s pathophysiology. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) plays a vital role in the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) which regulates blood pressure by converting angiotensin I into a powerfull vasoconstrictor angiotensin II. A deletion polymorphism (D allele) has been reported to be associated with elevated ACE activity. The aim of the this study was to investigate whether there is an association between angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and PE. In this study, 120 preeclamptic and 116 normotensive Turkish pregnant women were genotyped for ACE I/D polymorphism and the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of this polymorphism in preeclampsia and controls were evaluated. Codominant, dominant and recessive models were appplied in ACE gene I/D polymorphism. In the codominant model, DD genotype was found significantly more frequent in preeclampsia than controls (P = 0.016). Moreover, in dominant model (DD frequency versus DI+II frequency) there was a significant relation between DD genotype and preeclampsia (P = 0.006). D allele frequency was 64.6% in preeclampsia while it was 56.1% in controls (P = 0.062). In conclusion, there was significant difference in genotype distribution between preeclampsia and controls.

Association between pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections disease and tumor necrosis factor-α gene−308 g/a, −850 c/t polymorphisms in 4-12-year-old children in Adana/Turkey

OBJECTIVES: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) is a newly defined disease in neuropsychiatry and occurs with an autoimmune mechanism after Group A Beta Hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) infection. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), encoded by TNF-α gene has an important role in the apoptotic mechanisms of autoimmune diseases. Recently, TNF-α polymorphisms and autoimmune/psychiatric disorders have been reported to be related. In this regard, we focused on to investigate a possible relation between the TNF-α gene promoter region−308 G/A and − 850 C/T polymorphisms and PANDAS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, ages of PANDAS patient and control groups were ranging from 4 years to 12-year-old. Patient group includes childhood onset PANDAS patients (n = 42) and control group includes healthy children (n = 58). Diagnoses have been carried out according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV) criteria with Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime (KSAD-S-PL) and Children Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale Moreover, PANDAS criteria established by the American National Psychiatry Institute have been employed for diagnoses. For identifying polymorphisms; Polymerase Chain Reaction, Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism and Polyacrylamid Gel Electrophoresis were used. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: For −308 polymorphism, 37 of 42 PANDAS patients’ results and for −850 C/T polymorphism, 38 of 42 PANDAS patients’ results were obtained. According to our statistical analysis there is a positive relationship between PANDAS patients for −308 G/A polymorphism but not for −850 C/T polymorphism. There is no positive relationship between −308 G/A polymorphism and antistrep-tolysin O (ASO) titers and no relationship between −850 C/T polymorphism and ASO titers. We found, however, positive relationship between genders of patients (boys) and the disease. According to our results, we propose that the AA polymorphism of −308 G/A polymorphism can be used as a molecular indicator for PANDAS.

Detection of Parental Origin and Cell Stage Errors of a Double Nondisjunction in a Fetus by QF-PCR

AIM To investigate parental origins and cell stage errors of a double nondisjunction in a fetus. METHOD For the determination of the most common chromosome anomalies, quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction method using short tandem repeat (STR) DNA markers was applied to a fetus with abnormal ultrasonographic findings. Parental origin and cell stage errors of the trisomies were inferred by comparing the inherited STR alleles. Conventional cytogenetic technique was also applied for the confirmation of the aneuploidies. RESULTS A double nondisjunction including chromosomes 21 and X (48,XXX,+21) was detected prenatally in the fetus. The origin of both chromosomes was maternal, and the errors were in meiosis I for 21 and meiosis II for X. Molecular results were concordant with cytogenetic results. CONCLUSION Molecular techniques could be useful for the pre- and postnatal diagnosis of the common aneuploidies and determining its parental origin. This kind of study will improve knowledge about the mechanisms of nondisjunction and enable appropriate and rapid genetic counseling.

Genetic polymorphisms of estrogen receptor alpha and catechol-O-methyltransferase genes in Turkish patients with familial prostate carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Estrogen is one of the most crucial hormones participating in the proliferation and carcinogenesis of the prostate glands. Genetic polymorphisms in the estrogen metabolism pathway might be involved in the risk of prostate carcinoma development. We evaluated the association between genetic polymorphisms in estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genes and the risk of developing familial prostate carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 34 cases with prostate carcinoma whose first-degree relatives had prostate carcinoma and 30 healthy age-matched male controls were enrolled. The genotypes of ESR1 and COMT genes were analyzed employing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. 34 cases with prostate carcinoma, whose first degree relatives had prostate carcinoma and 14 age-matched male controls were enrolled to analyze the genotype of these two genes. RESULTS: Among control patients, the ESR1 PvuII genotypes of C/C, C/T and T/T were observed in 37%, 26% and 37%, respectively, whereas the C/C, C/T and T/T genotypes were observed in 18%, 41% and 41% of case patients, respectively. Among controls, the ESR1 PvuII allele frequencies of C and T were equally observed, whereas the C and T allele frequencies were observed in 38% and 62% of patients, respectively. Among ESR1 PvuII genotypes there were not any significant difference in terms of genotype (P = 0.199) and allele (P = 0.181) frequencies. Among controls, the ESR1 XbaI genotypes of G/G, G/A and A/A were observed in 33%, 37% and 33%, respectively, whereas the G/G, G/A and A/A genotypes were observed in 12%, 47% and 41% of patients, respectively. Among controls, the ESR1 XbaI allele frequencies of A and G were observed equally, respectively, whereas the A and G frequencies were observed in 65% and 35% of patients, respectively. Among ESR1 Χ baI, there was not any significant difference in terms of genotype (P = 0.111) and allele (P = 0.093) frequencies. But the C/C genotype of the PvuII site and G/G genotype of the XbaI site in the ESR1 gene were associated significantly with the risk of developing prostate carcinoma. The G/G, G/A and A/A genotypes of the COMT gene were observed in 50%, 29% and 21% of control patients and in 53%, 21% and 26% of case patients, respectively. The A and G allele frequencies of the COMT gene were observed in 36.7%, 63.3% of control patients and in 36.8%, 63.2% of case patients, respectively. In COMT gene, there was not any significant difference in terms of genotype (P = 0.843) and allele (P = 0.991) frequencies. But the G/A genotype of the COMT gene had a weak tendency toward increased risk. CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms of ESR1 gene in the estrogen metabolism pathway were associated significantly with familial prostate carcinoma risk. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of low-penetrance genes are targets for understanding the genetic susceptibility of familial prostate carcinoma.

The Reliability of Maternal Serum Triple Test in Prenatal Diagnosis of Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities of Pregnant Turkish Women

AIM The purpose of this article was to evaluate the reliability of maternal serum triple marker screening of alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic gonadotropin, and unconjugated estriol for the prenatal diagnosis of fetal chromosomal abnormalities in Turkish pregnant women. METHOD Medical records were used to analyze indications of amniocentesis and quantitative fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction. Anomaly screening was performed for all patients between 13 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. A total of 1725 pregnancies with chromosomal abnormality risk according to triple test screening were accepted for fetal chromosome analysis and quantitative fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Chromosomal aberrations were observed in 56 (3.2%) cases. About 44.6% of the abnormalities detected were numerical aberrations; however, 55.3% of the abnormalities were structural aberrations. Abnormalities detected were inversion of chromosome 9 in 20 cases, trisomy 21 in 14 cases, 46,XX/47,XX, +21 in 1 case, trisomy 18 in 2 cases, trisomy 13 in 1 case, 47,XXY, in 1 case, 45,X, in 1 case, structural abnormalities in 12 cases, and mosaic or tetraploidy in 6 cases. CONCLUSION Second trimester triple test is an effective screening tool for detecting fetal Down syndrome in Turkish women.

Çukurova Populasyonunda Gebelik Zamanı ve Maternal Yaşın Fetal Cinsiyet Oranı Üzerine Olan Etkisi

Amac: Bu calismanin amaci, cukurova ve cevresindeki populasyonda konsepsiyon ayi, ebeveynlerin yaslari, mevsimsel degisimler, ebeveynlerin alkol ve sigara kullanim durumlari gibi cevresel degiskenlerin fetal cinsiyet oranini etkileyip etkilemediklerini tespit etmektir. Materyal ve Metod: Bu calismada, 2005-2007 yillari arasinda amniyosentez maksadiyla prenatal tani laboratuvarimiza yonlendirilen hastalarin verilerini analiz ettik. Istatistiksel analiz icin ki-kare, Fishers exact ve T testlerini uyguladik. Bulgular: Konsepsiyon zamani ile primer cinsiyet orani arasinda bir iliski tespit edilemedi. Aylara gore primer cinsiyet oranindaki degisimlerin istatistiksel olarak anlamli olmadigi gozlendi. Istisna olarak eylul ayindaki degisim kaydedildi. Eylul ayinda istatistiksel olarak anlamli bir sekilde cinsiyet oraninin erkege dogru degistigi saptandi (erkek:kadin orani=1.8). Sonuc: Yaz/sonbahar fotoperiyodunda bulunan eylul ayindaki iklimsel degisimin, cinsiyet oranindaki bu farklilasmayi etkiledigini dusunmekteyiz.

10. kromozomdaki perisentrik inversiyonun agresif davranış ve hiperaktivite üzerine etkisi

Aggressive behavior and hyperactivity are neurodevelopmental diseases with unknown pathogenesis. Pericentric inv(10)(p11.2;q21.2) mutation is frequently encountered in cytogenetic laboratories. This mutation is accepted as a polymorphic variant and is phenotypically silent, but in some cases it has been associated with neurodevelopmental diseases like autism. After blood culturing, standard chromosome obtaining procedure was applied to patients. In this study, clinical and cytogenetical findings of a boy with developmental delay, mental and motor retardation, attention deficit and hyperactivity have been reported. As a result of chromosome analysis, on chromosome 10, a large pericentric inversion between p11.1 and q22.q bands has been found. Karyotype analysis was also performed to mother, father and siblings of the patient and they have been found to have normal karyotype. It is plausible to consider a relation between inv(10) and some behavioral problems. Additionally, molecular studies targeting 10p-q critical region will be more informative for the true identification of this disease.

Prenatal (Doğum Öncesi) Tanı

Prenatal (Dogum oncesi) tani; fetus veya embriyodaki hastaliklarin dogum oncesi donemde tespit edilmesi islemidir. Amac; hastaliklarin olabildigince erken donemde saptanmasi ve sonuca gore gerekli islemlerin yapilmasidir1. Prenatal genetik testler; sitogenetik testleri (kromozom duzeyinde degerlendirme) ve molekuler testleri (DNA duzeyinde mutasyon analizi) icermektedir. Prenatal tani ile ozellikle risk tasiyan gebeliklerde bebege henuz anne karnindayken tani konulmasi mumkun olmaktadir. Prenatal tani ayni zamanda hastaligin varsa dogum oncesi tedavisine ve dogum sonrasi gerekli onlemlerin alinmasina, tedavi planlanmasina olanak vermektedir. Bu yontemler ile tanisi konulan bazi hastaliklar icin yasal cerceveler dahilinde ailenin istegi dogrultusunda gebeliklerin sonlandirilmasi da mumkun olabilmektedir.

Erkek İnfertilitesinin Sitogenetiği

Infertility by definition, is not to get pregnant within one year of regular sexual relationship without protection, affects 15-20% of reproductive age couples. Approximately 30% of infertility cases are male originated. Male infertility is caused by endocrine-related genetic defects affecting urogenital system function. These defects adversely affect subsequent spermatogenesis, sexual function, fertility, early embryonic stage of sexual maturation. Autosomal and gonosomal, numerical and structural chromosome abnormalities and related syndromes rank at the top causes of male infertility. Similar chromosome abnormalities are detected in male infertility and as the rate of these abnormalities increase, it was found to reduce sperm count especially in azospermic and oligozoospermic men.