MicroRNA expression profiling in children with different asthma phenotypes.

An improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms in asthma through exploring the role of microRNAs may offer promise to reveal new approaches for primary prevention and identification of new therapeutic targets in childhood asthma. The primary goal of this study is to identify the microRNAs that play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma in pediatric age group. The secondary goal is to analyze these microRNAs according to the asthma phenotype, atopic status, and severity of the disease exacerbation. To our knowledge, this is the first research project in the literature which studies the relationship between microRNA expression and the severity of childhood asthma. One hundred children between 6 and 18 years old with a diagnosis of asthma, and 100 age-matched healthy children were enrolled in this study, and the analyses of microRNA expression profiles were performed in the Medical Genetics Laboratories of Ege University between November 2009 and June 2010. The expression of 10 microRNAs were shown to be higher in patients with more severe asthma, and the expression of these microRNAs were also found to be higher in patients who present with more severe acute asthma exacerbation symptoms (P < 0.001). Also, five microRNAs were found to be expressed more than twofold in allergic patients when compared to non-allergic participants (P <0.001). Asthma is one of the best examples of complex genetic diseases, and further studies, which will investigate the relationship between these microRNA's and their target genes, are needed to learn more about the specific roles of microRNAs in respiratory diseases. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:582-587. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Molecular analysis and clinical findings of Griscelli syndrome patients.

Griscelli syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder associated with skin or hair hypopigmentation, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, and immunologic and central nervous system abnormalities. GS type II is caused by RAB27A mutations. We present RAB27A mutation analysis of 6 cases diagnosed as GS type II. Missense mutations (L26P and L130P) in 2 cases, deletion of 5 bases (514delCAAGC) in 2 cases, and 1 base deletion (148delA) in 2 cases were detected. This report has importance in phenotype-genotype correlation of different types of mutations including missense mutations and deletions within the RAB27A gene in GSII syndrome.

Does mannose-binding lectin have a role in adult Turkish patients with nasal polyposis?

OBJECTIVE: Mannose-binding lectin is an important component of innate immunity; it initiates the lectin pathway of complement activation critical for innate immunity. Failure of local innate defenses may result in defective responses that lead to the persistent carriage of microorganisms or ongoing inflammation. This study investigated the role of mannose-binding lectin levels and the frequency of the 6 functional mannose-binding lectin polymorphisms in Turkish individuals with nasal polyposis. STUDY DESIGN: A case-control study. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Fifty-one patients with nasal polyposis and 53 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum mannose-binding lectin levels were obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the mannose-binding lectin oligomer ELISA kit. Mannose-binding lectin 2 genotyping was performed by isolating the genomic DNA from leukocytes. RESULTS: Mean mannose-binding lectin levels were 1693.2 and 1887.8 in the patient and control group, respectively. Although mannose-binding lectin levels were lower in the patient group, the difference was not statistically significant (P > .05). No overall association was observed between the mannose-binding lectin genotype and susceptibility to nasal polyposis (95% confidence interval = 0.716-4.389, odds ratio = 1.773). The mutant allele frequencies of the 3 structural polymorphisms did not differ significantly between the nasal polyposis patients and the controls (P = .659). CONCLUSIONS: Mannose-binding lectins are not involved in the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis in adult Turkish patients, but additional research is needed for further comment.

Reasons for adult referrals for genetic counseling at a genetics center in Izmir, Turkey: analysis of 8965 cases over an eleven-year period.

A limited numbers of published studies evaluate the referral reasons for genetic counseling services in the literature. These studies are focused on prenatal genetic counseling services, in particular, prenatal diagnosis. In order to provide the most effective and helpful genetic counseling services, genetics professionals need adequate knowledge about the profile of individuals referred for these services. In addition, physicians need increased awareness of the nature of genetic issues in order to make appropriate referrals. This study was intended to provide a descriptive analysis of the referral reasons of patients that received genetic counseling at a genetics center in Izmir, Turkey during an 11-year period. A total of 8965 records generated between 1998 and 2008 from one genetic center (which consists of The Department of Medical Genetics and Division of Pediatric Genetics) were evaluated retrospectively. Of these, 6,258 involved referrals for prenatal reasons, and 2,707 involved referrals for postnatal reasons. Both prenatal and postnatal records were further classified into more specific categories of referral reasons. The most common reason for genetic counseling among the prenatal patients was advanced maternal age (42.0%), followed by high risk results on prenatal biochemical screening tests such as second trimester double test [(serum concentration of alphafetoprotein (AFP), beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-HCG)], triple test (serum concentration of AFP, beta-HCG, oestriol) and integrated test (26.5%). The most common indications for postnatal patients were recurrent miscarriages (28.2%) and infertility (19.7%). A significant increase in number of specific categories of referrals for genetic counseling was observed for the last 3 years after the establishment of the Medical Genetics Department. These data provide useful information about the frequency of referrals to the genetics department, and the feasibility of genetic services. Organization of genetic services and systematic procedures for genetic counseling and genetic testing may improve the public's awareness of genetics and ensure a high standard of patient care.

Multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene polymorphisms in childhood drug-resistant epilepsy.

Despite considerable progress in the pharmacotherapy of epilepsy, more than 30% of patients are reported to be resistant to antiepileptic drugs. Multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene could play a role in drug resistance in epilepsy. In this study, the authors investigated the association between the MDR1 gene polymorphisms, C3435T and G2677AT, and drug resistance epilepsy by using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism and pyrosequencing methods in a group of 39 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy and 92 controls. No associations were found between the polymorphisms of the MDR1 gene and drug-resistant epilepsy. Haplotype analysis showed no significant association. Compound genotype analysis showed that CC3435/GG2677 was significantly higher in the control group compared to the patient group. In conclusion, MDR1 polymorphisms investigated in this study are not associated with antiepileptic drug resistance, but the CC3435/GG2677 compound genotype might have an effect on antiepileptic drug response.

Interferon-gamma gene and interferon-gamma receptor-1 gene polymorphisms in children with tuberculosis from Turkey.

Macrophage activation by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is important in host resistance to tuberculosis (TB). In this study, the relationships of the +874 T/A polymorphism in the first intron of the IFN-gamma gene and intronic (CA)n polymorphic microsatellite marker of the interferon-gamma receptor 1 (IFN-gammaR1) gene to TB susceptibility were investigated in children. Forty children with TB and 67 age-matched controls were included. There were no significant differences between the allele frequencies and genotype frequencies of patient and control groups for the polymorphism +874 T/A in the IFN-gamma gene. Differences that were not statistically significant were found between the group of children with TB and the control group for the allelic markers (170 and 180) in the IFN-gammaR1 gene. The incidence of the allele 170 was higher in patients (30.9%) than in controls (17.4%), whereas the allele 180 was found to be more common in controls (9% vs 1.2%). In conclusion, no significant association was observed between the +874 T/A polymorphism found in the first exon of the IFN-gamma gene and TB susceptibility in Turkish children.

Prenatally diagnosed Turner syndrome and cystic hygroma: incidence and reasons for referrals.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence and reasons for referrals for prenatally detected Turner syndrome and cystic hygroma cases among prenatal cases performed between 1998 and 2007. METHODS: In this study 3,595 amniocentesis, chorionic villus and cordocenthesis materials obtained between 1998 and 2007 were evaluated. Among prenatal cases, 23 Turner syndrome cases were also evaluated according to their referral reasons. Among the indications of prenatal cases, cystic hygroma was evaluated according to karyotype results. RESULTS: Twenty-three cases were Turner Syndrome in which 7 cases were detected to have mosaic pattern. The indications for prenatal diagnosis for the cases were cystic hygroma in 11 cases, missed abortion in 6 cases, advanced maternal age in 5 cases and positive screening test results in 1 case. Among 18 cases having cystic hygroma detected by ultrasonography, 8 cases (44.4%) were found to have a 45,X karyotype, 3 cases were found to be mosaic Turner syndrome (16.7%), 5 cases (27.7%) had normal karyotype, 1 case (5.6%) 47,XX,+13 and 1 case (5.6%) 47,XX,+21. CONCLUSION: The present study indicates the importance of cystic hygroma in prenatal diagnosis of Turner Syndrome and other aneuploidies.

Association between IL4 (-590), ACE (I)/(D), CCR5 (Delta32), CTLA4 (+49) and IL1-RN (VNTR in intron 2) gene polymorphisms and vitiligo.

Vitiligo is a common skin disorder characterized by patterned depigmentation, because of a decrease of melanin pigment resulting from apparent melanocyte loss. The aim of this study was to investigate interleukin 4 (IL4), Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), C-C Chemocine Receptor 5 (CCR5), Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte-associated Antigen Receptor 4 (CTLA4) and Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist (IL1-RN) gene polymorphisms in 48 Turkish vitiligo patients and 50 healthy controls. Polymorphisms for the genes ACE insertion(I)/deletion(D), CCR5 (Delta32), IL1-RN (VNTR in intron 2) were detected by PCR methods. IL4 (-590) and CTLA4 (+49) gene polymorphisms were typed using PCR-RFLP methods. No significant differences in either the genotype distribution or allele frequencies of IL4, CCR5 and ACE gene polymorphisms were observed. GG genotype and G allele in CTLA4 genes were found to be significantly higher in vitiligo patients compared to the controls. (0.002, 0.000). CTLA4 (AA) and IL1-RN (1/5) genotypes and 5 allele frequency in the IL1-RN gene were found to be significantly lower in vitiligo patients compared to healthy controls (p: 0.014, 0.015, 0.016, respectively). As a conclusion, CTLA4 and IL1-RN genes might play roles in the genetic etiology of vitiligo.

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of common aneuploidies in amniotic fluid using quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) is a successful prenatal diagnostic method which has been regularly used for the diagnosis of common chromosomal abnormalities in recent years. This method provides diagnosis of common aneuploidies in a few hours after sampling with a high throughput, very low error rates and low cost. METHODS: In this study, 576 amniotic fluid samples were analyzed for trisomies 13, 18, and 21 and sex chromosome aneuploidies using different commercial QF-PCR kits (ChromoQuant version 1, Aneufast, ChromoQuant version 2). Test results were compared with those obtained by conventional cytogenetic analyses. RESULTS: Nine cases of trisomy 21 (1.6%), 1 case of trisomy 13 (0.17%), 3 cases of trisomy 18 (0.52%), 1 case of Turner syndrome (0.17%), 2 cases of Klinefelter's syndrome (0.34%), 2 cases of triploidy (0.34%) and 1 case of XXX (0.17%) were detected by QF-PCR. The results obtained by QF-PCR were consistent with the results of cytogenetic studies (except for 2 samples which had structural chromosomal abnormalities which could not be detected by QF-PCR). CONCLUSION: The QF-PCR method is an appropriate choice for rapid aneuploidy testing in our as well as in other populations.

Role of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphisms in children with sepsis and septic shock.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is characterized by a systemic inflammatory response. Its development and outcome are associated with host defense, pathogenicity of the microorganism and genetic polymorphisms. Genetic polymorphisms of the immune system genes have been shown to have a close relationship with the clinical outcomes of sepsis. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays a major role in the host defense against invading pathogens. It is therefore likely that polymorphisms in the ACE gene may have an important effect on determining the development and the outcome of sepsis. METHODS: Ninety-eight children diagnosed as having sepsis and 287 healthy children were included in the study. Insertion/deletion polymorphisms were analyzed using reverse-hybridization assay. RESULTS: The carriers of I allele (D/I genotype and I/I genotype) were found to have an increased risk of developing sepsis compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: DD genotype may play a positive role against the development of sepsis in healthy children.

Association between mannose binding lectin polymorphisms and predisposition to bacterial meningitis.

The aim of this study was to examine the presence of any association between mannose binding lectin (MBL) gene variants and bacterial meningitis. Codon 54 (B allele) and codon 57 (C allele) polymorphisms in exon 1 of the MBL gene were investigated in 50 healthy controls and 31 patients diagnosed as purulent meningitis. Codon 57 polymorphism was not found in our patient and control groups. B allele frequency was significantly higher in the patient group (22%) compared to the control group (3%). AB genotype was determined in 39% and 6% of patient and healthy control groups, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant. AA genotype was determined in 61% of the patient group and in 94% of the control group, and it was statistically low in the patient group. These results suggest that codon 54 polymorphism in the MBL gene may play a role in susceptibility to bacterial meningitis in children.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency in a patient with spastic paraplegia and recurrent infections.

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive immunodeficiency disease. The characteristic features of the disease include severe T cell immune defects with recurrent infections, a failure to thrive, and progressive neurological findings. To date, 35 cases of purine nucleosidase phosphorylase deficiency have been reported worldwide. A 2-year-old female patient was hospitalized due to recurrent infections starting from 6 months and a fever that had continued for a month. The parents were first cousins. Physical examination showed a failure to thrive, herpetic lesions around the lips, painful lesions on the tongue and the buccal mucosa, lung infection, and spastic paraparesis in the lower extremities. She had motor and mental retardation. Laboratory tests revealed lymphopenia; low CD3, CD4, and CD8 counts; normal immunoglobulin levels; low uric acid; and very low purine nucleoside phosphorylase enzyme activity (1.4 nmol/h/mg; normal range, 490-1530). DNA sequencing of the purine nucleosidase phosphorylase gene revealed a missense homozygous mutation, a G to A transition at exon 4 position 64 (349G>A transition), which led to a substitution of alanine by threonine at codon 117 (Ala117Thr). Both parents were heterozygous for the mutation. This is the second purine nucleosidase phosphorylase deficient case to have been presented and carrying this mutation worldwide. Various antibiotics, antifungal drugs, and intravenous immunoglobulin were used to treat the infections during her 3 months. This form of treatment proved to be unresponsive, resulting in her subsequent death at 26 months of age.

Evidence of an association between mannose binding lectin codon 54 polymorphism and adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy in children.

Mannose binding lectin (MBL) is a calcium-dependent lectin that plays an important role innate immunity by activating the complement pathway. There have been a number of studies describing an association between the MBL genotype and disease susceptibility. MBL deficiency has been described as one of the factors leading to a number of infections in children with recurrent upper respiratory tractus infections (URTI). We hypothesized that MBL deficiency may be associated with recurrent URTI, which requires adenoidectomy and/or adenotonsillectomy. In this study to clarify this hypothesis we investigated whether there may be an association between two low producing MBL variants and adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy due to recurrent URTI in children. Blood samples were collected, adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy due to recurrent URTI and 50 controls (mean age 80.53 +/- 32.62 months). In all patients and controls codon 54 and codon 57 polymorphisms of the MBL gene were analyzed. None of the subjects from the patient group and control group carried codon 57 polymorphism of the MBL gene. The frequency of low-level MBL genotypes (AB and BB) for codon 54 polymorphism in the patient group was found to be significantly higher compared to the control subjects (55.7% versus 14%) (p<0.001). This study shows that the presence of low-level MBL alleles is associated with adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy caused by recurrent URTI in children.

Two cases of macrocephaly and immune deficiency.

Macrocephaly describes a head circumference greater than two standard deviations above the mean and is a feature of a number of genetic syndromes. Here we report on two patients with microcephaly, immune deficiency and anemia. In addition, one case had periventricular leukomalacia and the other case had myelinisation delay in periventricular white matter development. These cases may represent a distinct new syndrome.

Pyoderma gangrenosum in a six-month-old boy.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon, chronic ulcerative condition of the skin that was first described in 1930. It can occur in any age group, but only 4% of the patients are infants or children. An underlying systemic disease is present in approximately 50% of the patients with PG. The most common associations include inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, lymphoproliferative disorders and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). PG has been reported in association with CRMO in only a few children whose ages were between 18 months and 12 years. We report a six-month-old boy who was diagnosed as CRMO based on his clinical examination and histological findings. This is the youngest case reported in the literature (under 12 months of age) with PG associated with CRMO.

Complications of varicella in healthy children in Izmir, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the paper was to evaluate the indications of hospital admissions and complications of varicella infection in immunologically healthy children. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2001, patient records of children hospitalized due to varicella infection were reviewed. Incidence and clinical spectrum of complications and their distribution related to age and seasonal variations were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 178 immunocompetent children were hospitalized for varicella complications during the study period. This resulted in a crude incidence of 6.3/100 000 population at risk. All hospital admissions were due to accompanying complications. The majority of complications occurred in preschool-age children with a median age of 3 years. No gender predominance was found. The most frequent complications were infectious complications, which were observed in 79 children (44%). Superinfections of the skin were present in 24 patients. Pneumonia was observed in 59 children: 49 had bacterial, 10 had viral pneumonia. Pyogenic arthritis was seen in two children and one had concomitant osteomyelitis. Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci were recovered from two patients with invasive bacterial infections. A total of 68 (38%) neurologic complications were observed. Cerebellar ataxia was present in 24, encephalitis was present in 17. Infectious complications occurred more frequently in younger children (median age: 2 years), whereas neurologic complications occurred at an older age (median age: 6 years). Hematologic complications were seen in nine children. There was a seasonal distribution of complications with a peak in January. CONCLUSION: Complications of varicella requiring hospitalization in immunocompetent children are more frequent than previously thought.

Evaluation of telomerase mRNA (hTERT) in childhood acute leukemia.

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is the catalytic component of telomerase enzyme and has been shown to be associated with telomerase activity (TA). Although many studies in adult leukemia have established the importance of TA, very few have been reported in the children. In this study hTERT levels in childhood leukemia was evaluated and compared with the prognostic factors described before. The LightCycler instrument was used (online real-time PCR) for the quantification of hTERT in peripheral blood and bone marrow in 23 cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and in 8 cases with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Ten cases with normal peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) were selected as control group. Cytogenetic analyses were available in 21 patients with leukemia. In all cases with acute leukemia and in control group, peripheral blood (PB) hTERT levels correlated significantly with bone marrow (BM) hTERT levels. Before treatment, patients with ALL had significantly higher hTERT levels than that of AML patients and control cases. Among patients with ALL, higher hTERT levels were observed in patients with pre-B leukemia, followed by B cell and T cell leukemia patients. Initially increased hTERT levels decreased to the nearly normal levels during remission in cases with ALL. No correlation was observed between the initial hTERT levels and the known prognostic factors except cytogenetic findings. Higher hTERT levels were detected in patients having karyotypic abnormalities which indicate poor prognosis. hTERT levels are significantly high in childhood ALL with the highest level of pre-B cell leukemia before treatment. Those high levels of hTERT decrease to almost normal levels in remission. hTERT levels might be useful in monitoring of leukemia in children.

Hair zinc level in Down syndrome.

Immunological, endocrinological, and haematological abnormalities are relatively common in people with Down syndrome (Cuadrado & Barrena, 1996; Decoq & Vincker, 1995; Hestnes et al., 1991; Sustrova & Strbak, 1994; Nespoli, Burgio, Ugazio & Maccario, 1993; Kempski, Chessells & Reeves, 1997; Kivivuori, Rajantie, & Siimes, 1996; David et al., 1996; Gjertson, Sturm & Berger, 1999). Zinc is one of the elements that act in the maintenance of normal function of these systems. This study was designed to investigate zinc levels in children with Down syndrome. Zinc levels were measured in hair using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The hair zinc level of 19 children with Down syndrome was compared with the zinc level of 11 typically developing children. Hair zinc levels were found to be significantly lower (p < .05) in those with Down syndrome (average 95.18 +/- 56.10 ppm) than in the typically developing children (average 208.88 +/- 152.37 ppm). Some of the problems experienced by children with Down syndrome may be due to these low zinc levels, but further research is required to confirm these results, and to establish any correlation with these problems.

Evaluation of 80 children with prolonged fever.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been published regarding the etiology and evaluation of a child with prolonged fever, however, the reasons for the prolonged fever have changed during the years. The present study aims to determine the causes of prolonged fever, to investigate the relationship of fever using some basic laboratory tests, and to establish guidelines for the approach in those children. METHODS: The charts of 80 out of 17490 hospitalized children who were seen between 1996 and 2001 with prolonged fever of longer than 2 weeks and unknown origin were reviewed in the university hospital of Izmir, Turkey. Their charts were evaluated in respect of age, sex, growth curves, educational level of their families, the duration and the magnitude of fever, causes of fever, and basic laboratory investigations such as white blood cell, blood smear, hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: Forty-four (55.00%) were boys and 36 (45.00%) were girls. Forty-four children (55.00%) were aged between 1 month and 2 years, 21 (26.25%) were aged 3-6 years, seven (8.75%) were aged 7-10 years, and eight (10.00%) were older than 10 years. The mean age was 3.87 +/- 4.17 years (range 3 months-17 years). Forty-six children (57.50%) had a prolonged fever that had lasted from 15-30 days, 18 (22.50%) from 31-60 days, and 16 (20.00%) had fever lasting more than 60 days. Final diagnosis had been reached in 70 of the 80 children (87.50%). The most common causes were infection (47/80), followed by immune deficiency (6/80), collagen tissue disorder (5/80), neoplasia (2/80), and miscellaneous (10/80) such as central fever in three, diabetes insipidus in two, familial Mediterranean fever in two, Kawasaki disease, foreign body in the respiratory system, and Crohn disease in one patient each. Among the laboratory tests white blood cell count, hemoglobin level and blood smear distribution of infection group were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The most common cause of fever of unknown origin remains infection. The proportion of collagen tissue disorders and neoplasia have been found to be decreased. Unusual reasons such as diabetes insipidus and foreign body in the respiratory system in the miscellaneous group have been detected. Age plays important role in the diagnosis of prolonged fever, while some basic laboratory tests might give clues in the evaluation and may suggest a diagnosis.