Prevalence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677 C-T polymorphism among mothers of Down syndrome children.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between chromosomal non‑disjunction leading to aneuploidy and folate metabolism has drawn attention in the recent years. In this study, we examined the polymorphism in the gene encoding the folate metabolizing enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), namely, 677 C‑T in women having Down syndrome (DS) children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prevalence of these variant genotypes (MTHFR 677 C‑T polymorphism) in women having DS children (case mothers) (n = 110) was compared with controls (n = 111) from Punjab. Genotyping was done using the polymerase chain reaction method followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: In the present study, 1.8% of case mothers had TT genotype while none of the control mothers showed this genotype. T allele frequency among cases was 0.13 and 0.11 in controls. The Chi‑square value showed a non‑significant difference between cases and controls. CONCLUSION: No association has been observed between 677 C‑T polymorphism and risk of non‑disjunction in case mothers. Detection of polymorphisms in more genes of folate pathway is required to find out the exact cause of non‑disjunction.

3p Deletion Syndrome.

3p deletion is a rare cytogenetic finding. Here we describe a 3 months old male with congenital malformations. His karyotype revealed 3p deletion 46,XY,del(3)(p25-pter). The child had flexion deformity of wrist and elbow which has never been reported before.

Karyotypic findings in chronic myeloid leukemia cases undergoing treatment.

BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal myeloproliferative expansion of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study, CML samples were collected from various hospitals in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Ludhiana. RESULTS: Chromosomal alterations seen in peripheral blood lymphocytes of these treated and untreated cases of CML were satellite associations, double minutes, random loss, gain of C group chromosomes and presence of marker chromosome. No aberrations were observed in control samples. Karyotypic abnormalities have also been noted in the Ph-negative cells of some patients in disease remission. CONCLUSION: This is a novel phenomenon whose prognostic implications require thorough and systematic evaluation.

Pyknodysostosis: visceral manifestations and simian crease.

Pyknodysostosis is a rare autosomal recessive osteosclerosing skeletal disorder caused by mutations in the CTSK gene situated at 1q21 that codes for cathepsin K - a lysosomal cysteine protease. Mutations in this gene affect the metabolism of skeletal system. This causes problems in bone resorption and remodelling and craniofacial abnormalities. In this article we report a case of 12 year old female from Punjab with pyknodysostosis having hepatosplenomegaly and simian crease.