The study included 112 patients with diagnosis of DMD at National Institute of Pediatrics and 24 patient’s brothers. The results showed that: value of definitive diagnosis of creatine kinase (CK) test were 100% (CK levels of 100% patients were higher than CK levels of normal children). CK method could detect very early DMD even patients who were not yet clinical expression (11/24 patient’s were not yet clinical expression detected DMD by CK). The value of CK for heterozygote detection was 82.3% for DMD patient’s mothers who had clearly family history and 35.3% for DMD patient’s mothers who had only one child with DMD in the family. Based on PCR result analysis, gene mutation of two DMD patient with clearly family history had not belonged to 48- exon.
diagnosis ; Creatine Kinase ; Heterozygote ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne

OBJECTIVE: To explore the cause of inconsistent genotypes for an α-thalassemia carrier by using two commercial genotyping kits. METHODS: GAP-PCR and PCR-reverse dot blotting (PCR-RDB) were employed to determine the genotype of the carrier, while Sanger sequencing was used to verify the results. RESULTS: Sequencing analysis demonstrated that the subject has carried a α1 globin gene with a 3.7 kb heterozygous deletion. In addition, two novel mutations, IVS-II-55(T>G) and IVS-II-119(G>TCGGCCC), were found in intron 2 of α2 globin gene. CONCLUSION The two mutations located in the binding regions of PCR primers have caused failure of PCR amplification and misreading of the genotype. Combination of clinical and hematological phenotypes is indispensible to infer the genotype of carriers for accurate diagnosis.
Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; alpha-Thalassemia ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree affected with resistance to thyroid hormone syndrome (RTH). METHODS: Exons 7 to 10 of the THRbeta gene were sequenced for the proband and members of his pedigree. RESULTS: Three patients from the pedigree were identified. All have presented with palpitation, fatigue, goiter, elevated free thyroid hormone and free triiodothyronine, and normal or elevated thyrotropin. Genetic testing revealed that the proband, his mother, second sister and one of her daughters had carried a heterozygous c.1336T>A variant of the THRbeta gene, which resulted in substitution of Cysteine by Serine at position 446. The variant was unreported previously. Based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics standards and guidelines, the c.1336T>A(p.Cys446Ser) variant of THRbeta gene was predicted to be lilely pathogenic(PM1+PM2+PM5+PP3). CONCLUSION The c.1336T>A variant, identified in the exon 10 of the THRbeta gene, probably underlay the RTH in this pedigree. Genetic testing has validated the clinical diagnosis for this pedigree.
Female ; Genomics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mothers ; Mutation ; Pedigree

Galactosemia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase (GALT) enzyme activity. Classic galactosemia (G/G) is due to severe GALT deficiency in the presence of a GALT gene mutation, whereas Duarte variant (D/D) has 50% of normal GALT activity and benign clinical course. The D2 allele of Duarte variant is linked to a promoter deletion 5' to the translation start site (-119 to -116 delGTCA) in addition to N314D. So, Duarte variant/classical galactosemia (D/G) compound heterozygotes have relatively mild clinical manifestation than classical galactosemia and can be differentiated from classical galactosemia or Duarte variant by mutational analysis. We report a case of D/G galactosemia compound heterozygote proven by the reduction of GALT enzyme activity in erythrocytes and mutation analysis of GALT gene, which revealed N314D polymorphism and -119 to -116 delGTCA.
Alleles ; Erythrocytes ; Galactosemias* ; Heterozygote* ; UTP-Hexose-1-Phosphate Uridylyltransferase*

PURPOSE: The beta-adrenoceptors are pharmacologically classified into beta1-, beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptor. The gene of each subtype has polymorphisms related to their function (beta1-adrenoceptor: Ser49Gly, beta2- adrenoceptor: Gln27Glu, beta3-adrenoceptor: Trp64Arg). The objectives of this study were to analyse the allelic and genotypic distribution of the representative polymorphism of beta-adrenoceptors in preeclampsia and to investigate whether combined genotype of beta-adrenoceptors may be associated with preeclampsia. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from a Korean population (159 preeclamptic pregnancies and 168 normotensive pregnancies). The beta1-, beta2- and beta3-adrenoceptor genotypes was determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: There were no differences in allelic and genotypic distribution of beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms between the two groups. However, the Arg allele of beta3-adrenoceptor polymorphism were more frequent in preecalmpsia than in controls (P<0.05, OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.01-2.46). Moreover, prevalence of genotype carrying heterozygote of beta3-adrenoceptor polymorphism was increased in preeclampsia compared with controls (P<0.05, OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.06-2.92). When combination of the three polymorphisms were evaluated, pregnancies with the particular combined genotype that is consisted of heterozygote of beta1-, beta3-adrenoceptor and wild homozygote of beta2-adrenoceptor (Ser/Gly, Gln/Gln, Trp/Arg), showed a significant increase in the risk of preeclampsia (P<0.05, OR=3.01, 95% CI 1.12-8.08). CONCLUSION: A particular combined genotype (Ser/Gly, Gln/Gln, Trp/Arg) of - adrenoceptors was associated with the risk of preeclampsia.
Alleles ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Receptors, Adrenergic

OBJECTIVETo explore the frequency and spectrum of thalassemia gene mutations of the population in Sanya area of Hainan province in China.

METHODSThe type and frequency of gene mutation in 1060 patients with suspected thalassemia were analyzed by Gap-PCR and reverse dot blot (RDB).

RESULTSThe detection on mutation of thalassemia gene were found in 539 suspected thalassemia patients, the total detected rate was 50.85% (539/1060), out of them 330 (31.13%) were diagnosed with α-thalassemia, 162 (15.28%) with β-thalassemia, and 47 (4.43%) as carriers of both α and β-thalassemia. In α-thalassemia patients, genotype were as follows in proper order--SEA/αα (9.25%)、-α /αα (5.94%)，HbH (5.56%)，-α /αα (5.00%)，-α /-α (2.36%)，-α /-α (1.70%), and -α/-α(1.32%). In β-thalassemia patients, there were 9 gene mutations: CD41-42 (9.8%), CD17 (1.32%), 654 (1.23%), CD71-72 (1.23%), IVS-II-654 (1.04%), -28 (0.37%), CD43 (0.19%), -29 (0.18%) and βE (0.09%). In the α and β composite thalassemia there were 12 genotypes. The -α/αα was the most common genotype co-existed with β-thalassemia (1.70%), followed by the -α /αα genotype (0.94%).

CONCLUSIONThe data of this study provide the frequency and the spectrum of thalassemia gene mutations in the sanya area of Hainan province, which can contribute to set up the strategies for the prevention and control of thalassemia in this area.

OBJECTIVETo identify the clinical phenotype and gene mutation in two kindreds with type I inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency.

METHODSThe coagulation and anticoagulation testing and thrombophilia screening were used for phenotypic diagnosis and immunonephelometry and chromogenic assay for plasma level of AT antigen (AT:Ag) and AT activity (AT:A), respectively. All of the seven exons and intron-exon boundaries and untranslation regions of AT gene were amplified by PCR, and the PCR products analysis was by direct sequencing. The corresponding gene sites of the two family members and healthy individuals were detected according to the gene mutation sites.

RESULTSThe plasma levels of AT:Ag of proband 1 and proband 2 were 126 mg/L and 117 mg/L, and AT:A was 49% and 48%, respectively. Heterozygotic deletion of 3239-3240delCT in proband 1 and nonsense mutation 3206A-->T (K70Stop) in proband 2 were rchaacterized in exon 2 of AT gene. And some of their family members were also detected with the heterozygotic gene mutation.

CONCLUSIONType I inherited antithrombin deficiency of the two probands were caused by AT gene mutation 3239-3240delCT and 3206A-->T (K70Stop).

PURPOSE: Restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) is a widely accepted method for carrier detection of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD) . This study was done to evaluate the clinical value of linkage analysis of RFLP-PCR using five polymorphic markers selected and the heterozygote frequency of those markers in DMD/BMD patients and their family members. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RFLP-PCR test was performed in twenty clinically diagnosed male DMD/BMD patients from 13 families who have been confirmed to have dystrophin gene defect from 1994 to 1997 and their 47 female family members and the results were evaluated by linkage analysis to detect carriers. RESULTS: The heterozygote frequency of pERT 87-15/XmnI, pERT87-15/BamHI, pERT87-8/TaqI, 5'-dysIII (CA) and 3'-dys (CA) markers were 55%, 49%, 45%, 32% and 26% respectively. Fourty-four (91%) out of 47 female family members had heterozygosity to at least one of those five markers. Since the obligate carriers from two families showed homozygocity to all five markers, carrier detection was possible in eleven families (85%) by the linkage analysis. CONCLUSION: RFLP-PCR using markers with high heterozygote frequency could be the first line modality of carrier detection that is crucial in genetic counseling of DMD/BMD patients and their families.
Dystrophin ; Female ; Genetic Counseling* ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne*

14-3-3γ plays diverse roles in different aspects of cellular processes. Especially in the brain where 14-3-3γ is enriched, it has been reported to be involved in neurological and psychiatric diseases (e.g. Williams-Beuren syndrome and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease). However, behavioral abnormalities related to 14-3-3γ deficiency are largely unknown. Here, by using 14-3-3γ deficient mice, we found that homozygous knockout mice were prenatally lethal, and heterozygous mice showed developmental delay relative to wild-type littermate mice. In addition, in behavioral analyses, we found that 14-3-3γ heterozygote mice display hyperactive and depressive-like behavior along with more sensitive responses to acute stress than littermate control mice. These results suggest that 14-3-3γ levels may be involved in the developmental manifestation of related neuropsychiatric diseases. In addition, 14-3-3γ heterozygote mice may be a potential model to study the molecular pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Animals ; Anxiety ; Brain ; Heterozygote ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Williams Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the hematological phenotype and genotype of hemoglobin Q-Thailand in Fujian area. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood samples of patients. Suspected samples were screened by hematological parameters analysis and verified with DNA sequencing. RESULTS: In 35 patients suspected with Hb Q-Thailand, 20 were confirmed, which included one case compounded with heterozygous β mutation and one compounded with Hb New York. CONCLUSION Analysis of hematological phenotype and genotype of Hb Q-Thailand can faciliate genetic counseling for patients from Fujian area.
China ; Genotype ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation ; Phenotype