Determmation of the chomosomal constitution of human spermatozoa has been camed out though the human-hamster interspecific in vitro fertilization(IVF) system. In recent years, the introduction of fluorescence in-situ hybridization(FISH) technique has provided an alternative approach to evaluate the cbmmosomal constitution of human spermatozoa. The nuclei of mature spermatozoa are highly condensed with interpmtamine disulphide bridges, therefore the success of FISH on interphase human spermatozoa relies on partial decondensation of the sperm chromatin. In early studies, dithioothreitol(DTT) has been known as an efficient decondensation agent. Since then, several different decondensation methods using D1T have been establisdhed, and in terms of decondensation, we were tried to fix the optimal decondensation protocol using DlT. In our study, the optimal concentration and treatment time were 1-mM and 30 min, respectively. We examined chromosome complements of human sperm to investigate the effect of paternal age on the hequency of nondisjunction in human sperm. We investgated sperm karyotypes ftom two diffaent age groups)28+/-0.5, 46+/-6), A minimum of 1000 spermatozoa for one patient were analyzed. The mean frequencies of YY, XX, XY, 21-disamy spermatozoa ware 0.04%, 0.45%, 0.40%, 0.45% respectively in young age group and 1.06%, 0.62%, 1.06%, 0.76% in old ages. The mean frequency of disomy spermatozoa was higher in old age poup compare with those of young age group.
Chromatin ; Chromosome Aberrations* ; Complement System Proteins ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; Interphase ; Karyotype ; Paternal Age ; Spermatozoa*

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques allow the enumeration of chromosome abnormalities and from a great potential for many clinical applications. In order to produce quantitative and reproducible results, expensive tools such as a cooled CCD camera and a computer software are required. We have developed a Chromosome Image Processing System (Chips) using FISH that allows the detection and mapping of the genetic aberrations. The aim of our study, therefore, is to evaluate the capabilities of our original system using a black-and-white video camera. As a model system, three repetitive DNA probes (D18Zl, DXZI, and DYZ3) were hybridized to variety different clinical samples such as human metaphase spreads and interphase nuclei obtained from uncultured peripheral blood lymphocytes, uncultured amniocytes, and germ cells. The visualization of the FISH signals was performed using our system for image acquisition and pseudocoloring. FISH images were obtained by combining images from each of probes and DAPI counterstain captured separately. Using our original system, the aberrations of single or multiple chromosomes in a single hybridization experiment using chromosomes and interphase nuclei from a variety of cell types, including lymphocytes, amniocytes, sperm, and biopsied blastomeres, were enabled to evaluate. There were no differences in the image quality in accordance with FISH method, fluorochrome types, or different clinical samples. Always bright signals were detected using our system. Our system also yielded constant results. Our Chips would permit a level of performance of FISH analysis on metaphase chromosomes and interphase nuclei with unparalleled capabilities. Thus, it would be useful for clinical purposes.
Blastomeres ; Chromosome Aberrations ; DNA Probes ; Fluorescence* ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization* ; Interphase ; Lymphocytes ; Metaphase ; Spermatozoa

BACKGROUND: One of major challenge of cytogenetics is to obtain qualitative metaphases to achieve a meaningful analysis. Methotrexate (MTX) synchronization and the Giant Cell Tumor-Conditioned Medium (GCT-CM) have been used to improve the metaphase preparation from hematopoietic malignancies. The purpose of this study is to determine Mitotic Index (MI) of bone marrow samples under several culture conditions that may improve the quality of chromosome preparation. METHODS: Sixty nine bone marrow samples were cultured into 3 groups by traditional methods. The first group was tested for the effect of cell concentration on MI. The second, for the effect of MTX concentration on MI. The third group was classified into 4 subgroups as follows: 1) MTX only in 24 hour culture 2) MTX and GCT-CM in 24 hour culture 3) 48 hour culture without MTX 4) 48 hour culture and GCT-CM. MI was calculated as the ratio of metaphase to interphase cells in 1000 cells. Quality of metaphase was evaluated by classified the metaphase cell into 3 types. RESULTS: The first and second groups revealed no relationship between cell concentration, amount of MTX and MI, respectively. The third group showed significant differences among four subgroups. The MI increased in subgroups using GCT-CM and in the 48 hour culture, with greatest increase in group using 48 hour culture and GCT-CM simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS: The use of GCT-CM medium and prolonged culture improved the quality of metaphase cells and MI. It is therefore beneficial to use these conditions in cytogenetic studies on bone marrow in hematologic disease.
Bone Marrow* ; Cytogenetics ; Giant Cells* ; Hematologic Diseases ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Interphase ; Metaphase ; Methotrexate ; Mitotic Index*

We report a case of a female karyotype that was normal except for double minutes (dmin) in acute myeloid leukemia. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, the amplification of C-MYC was detected in both interphase and metaphase cells. The patient of the present case had received only limited therapy with cytosine arabinoside, but lived for more than one year. It supports the recent notion that dmin may not necessarily be associated with a poor outcome.
Cytarabine ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Interphase ; Karyotype* ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute* ; Metaphase ; Oncogenes*

OBJECTIVETo explore the clonal evolution of monosomy 7 in patients with aplastic anemia (AA).

METHODSMonosomy 7 (-7) in 81 AA patients with normal karyotype at diagnosis and 46 AA treated with immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and more than 6 months of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhuG-CSF) were detected by interphase- fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) retrospectively.

RESULTSThere were 5.4% - 7.6% of -7 cells in 11 (13.6%) of 81 patients at diagnosis, the survival and response rate to IST in -7 positive patients did not differ significantly from that in -7 negative patients (P = 0.481, 0.865); -7 cells disappeared after IST in all of the 11 patients including 5 received long-term rhuG-CSF therapy, and none of them evolved to myelodysplastic syndromes/acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML) at a median follow-up of 44 months. Serial assessments of -7 clones were performed in 46 patients, none of whom detected -7 clones 3-6 months after IST, but -7 recurrence in 5 patients 12 - 15 months after IST. At a median follow-up of 48 months, FISH identified 6 patients with -7 clones while the conventional cytogenetic analysis (CCA) recognized in 5. Moreover, the first demonstration of -7 by FISH was 3 - 18 months earlier than that by CCA. All of the 6 patients with FISH detected -7 evolved to MDS/AML with -7 and four of them were retrospectively analysed for in samples at -7 diagnosis of AA, but none of them was positive.

CONCLUSIONSMonosomy 7 exists in a part of AA patients, but the preexisting -7 cells seems neither associated with fatality nor evolvation to MDS/AML. rhuG-CSF might facilitate the expansion of -7 clones; It is necessary to monitor -7 in AA, especially when received long-term rhuG-CSF therapy.

In multiple myeloma (MM), hyperdiploidy (HD) is known to impart longer overall survival. However, it is unclear whether coexistent HD ameliorates the adverse effects of known high-risk cytogenetics in MM patients. To address this issue, we investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of HD with high-risk cytogenetics in MM. Ninety-seven patients with MM were included in the study. For metaphase cytogenetics (MC), unstimulated cells from bone marrow aspirates were cultured for either 24 or 48 hours. To detect HD by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH), we assessed trisomies of chromosomes 5, 7, 9, 11, 15, and 17. Of the 97 MM patients, 40 showed HD. The frequency of co-occurrence of HD and high-risk cytogenetics was 14% (14/97). When the clinicopathological characteristics were compared between the two groups of HD with high-risk cytogenetics vs. non-HD (NHD) with high-risk cytogenetics, the level of beta 2 microglobulin and stage distribution significantly differed (P=0.020, P=0.032, respectively). This study shows that some of the clinicopathological characteristics of MM patients with high-risk cytogenetics differ according to HD or NHD status.
beta 2-Microglobulin ; Bone Marrow ; Cytogenetics* ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Interphase ; Metaphase ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Trisomy

Paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 30 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL) and 10 of reactive hyperplasia, were processed for interphase cytogenetic chromosomal study. We performed non-fluorescent in situ hybridization(NFISH) using the enzymatic method with digoxigenin-labeled DNA centromeric probes for chromosome 7,12,18 and X, and a painting probe for chromosome 18. Chromosomal aberrations were observed in 27(90%) out of 30 cases of NHL. The most commonly observed numerical aberration was extracopy of X chromosome. There were some characteristic aberrations corresponding to each grade and group of NHL by International Working Formulation: In low grade NHL(9 cases), a third were associated with extracopy of chromosome 12, and disomy X was frequently found in small lymphocytic lymphoma(75%). With intermediate grade(16 cases), tetraploidy(25%), translocation of chromosome 18(25%), and extracopy of chromosome 18(19%) were characteristically associated. These results suggest that interphase NFISH is an easily performable method in retrograde cytogenetic study of archival materials. Some specifically correlated chromosomal aberrations corresponding to the histopathologic grades and groups could provide us more valuable information for determining pathologic diagnosis and assessing the clinical outcome of NHL.
*Chromosome Aberrations ; Human ; Immunophenotyping ; *In Situ Hybridization ; Interphase ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/*genetics/pathology ; Paraffin Embedding ; Pseudolymphoma/genetics/pathology

Adreno-hepatic fusion is rare condition defined as adhesion of the liver and right adrenal cortex with close intermingling of the respective parenchyme. It is suggested to be an aging phenomenon, because its incidence is much higher in older age group. Clinically it may pose a problem of operability of the organ involved. We report a case of incidentally found adreno-hepatic fusion in a 49 year old female patient with adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon. The segementectomy of VIII segement of the liver was done due to a 6 4 cm sized metastatic nodule of adenocarcioma. Pathological examination of the liver revealed an ovoid shaped, 1 0.5 cm sized adrenal cortical tissue. It was subcapsularly located and about 1cm apart from the metastatic adenocarcinoma with an intervening normal hepatic tissue. The adrenal tissue was mainly composed of zona fasciculata without medullary tissue. In the interphase, the adrenal tissue and liver tissue were admixed closely and partially septated by thin fibrous tissue. There was no inflammatory response to the heterotropically located adrenal tissue and there was no symptom related to the adrenal gland.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adrenal Cortex ; Adrenal Glands ; Aging ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interphase ; Liver ; Middle Aged ; Zona Fasciculata

PURPOSE: FISH is suggested as a useful tool for rapid detection of specific aneuploidy in uncultured amniocytes abnormality in interphase nucleus. In this study, we are going to share our experience using FISH in prenatal diagnosis and suggest the criteria for the diagnosis of aneuploidy by analyzing the results of FISH test. METHODS: From January, 1999 to May, 2006, 8,613 tests in amniotic fluids obtained from 7,893 pregnant women were performed by using FISH for prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21, trisomy 18 and trisomy 13. The indications of chromosome study were a screen positive for Down syndrome or Edwards syndrome in maternal serum marker screening test and an advanced maternal age (> or =35 years old). RESULTS: We have the 8,502 informative results from 8,613 tests (98.7%) which is submitted our criteria and the sensitivity is 98.2%. CONCLUSION: FISH on uncultured amniocytes is a rapid, clinically useful tool for prenatal diagnosis, with informative specimens being highly accurate. But the limitation of FISH is both expensive and labor-intensive.
Amniotic Fluid ; Aneuploidy* ; Biomarkers ; Diagnosis ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Humans ; Interphase ; Mass Screening ; Maternal Age ; Pregnant Women ; Prenatal Diagnosis* ; Trisomy

BACKGROUND: The t(11;14)(q13;q32) is known to be one of the most frequent chromosomal abnor-malities found in multiple myeloma (MM). However, studies on t(11;14) in MM have been problemat-ic due to the fact that MM cells proliferate poorly in vitro. The purpose of our study is to evaluate inci-dence, clinical, and hematologic findings of MM with IgH and cyclin D1 gene rearrangement and to investigate the usefulness of interphase FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization). METHODS: The study group included 36 patients (23 newly diagnosed MM, 8 relapsed MM, 5 per-sistent MM after treatment) admitted to Mokdong and Gil Hospital from November 1998 to July 2002. Interphase FISH was performed with IGH/CCND1 dual color, dual fusion translocation probe (Vysis Inc, Downers Grove, IL USA), using bone marrow mononuclear cells. RESULTS: Incidence of IgH and cyclin D1 gene rearrangement by interphase FISH was 19%. One patient with normal karyotype and another patient without any metaphase cells showed IgH and cyclin D1 gene rearrangement with interphase FISH. The lambda light chain subtype was more frequently found in patients with rearrangement (4/5, 80%) than those without rearrangement (6/23, 26%) (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in other clinical and hematologic findings in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that MM with IgH and cyclin D1 gene rearrangement is associated with the expression of lambda light chain. Interphase FISH may be helpful in samples with normal karyotype or no metaphase cells for detection of gene rearrangement of MM.
Bone Marrow ; Cyclin D1* ; Cyclins* ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genes, bcl-1* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Interphase* ; Karyotype ; Metaphase ; Multiple Myeloma*