BACKGROUND: Fragile X syndrome is one of the most common causes of mental retardation. For its prevention, detection of premutation range CGG repeat in FMR1 gene is necessary. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of premutation range of CGG repeat in neonate, and to evaluate the possibility of screening test. METHODS: DNA were extracted from Guthrie paper blood spot, referred for neonatal metabolic screening test, collected during the period of March 1996 through August 1996, at Chunchon Sacred Heart Hospital. Then FMR1 gene involving CGG repeat was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and then abnormal expansion of CGG were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and digoxigenin labelled chemiluminescent detection method. RESULTS: Four cases among 669 PCR product were appeared to have abnormal CGG expansion and 3 out of the 4 cases were confirmed to have abnormal CGG repeat by chemiluminescent detection method. CONCLUSION: We found 3 premutation range CGG expansion with a prevalence of 1/233 in neonate. Although PCR based agarose gel electrophoresis alone is not suitable for screening test, it could be a useful tool for fragile X screening test in combination with chemiluminescent detection method.
Digoxigenin ; DNA ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Fragile X Syndrome ; Gangwon-do ; Heart ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intellectual Disability ; Mass Screening ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Prevalence*

BACKGROUND: In approach to an adrenal incidentaloma, early exclusion of pheochromocytoma is clinically important, due to the risk of catecholamine crisis. The aims of this study are to investigate the characteristics of incidentally detected pheochromocytomas, compared with that of the other adrenal incidentalomas, and to compare these characteristics with those of symptomatic pheochromocytomas. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 198 patients with adrenal incidentaloma from 2001 to 2010. We analyzed the clinical, laboratory and radiological data of pheochromocytomas, in comparison with those of the other adrenal incidentalomas. We also compared the characteristics of these incidentally detected pheochromocytomas with the medical records of 28 pathologically proven pheochromocytomas, diagnosed based on typical symptoms. RESULTS: Among the 198 patients with adrenal incidentaloma, nineteen patients were diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytomas showed larger size and higher Hounsfield unit at precontrast computed tomography (CT) than did non-pheochromocytomas. All pheochromocytomas were larger than 2.0 cm, and the Hounsfield units were 19 or higher in precontrast CT. When both criteria of size > 2.0 cm and Hounsfield unit > 19 were met, the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma were 100% and 79.3%, respectively. Compared with patients with pheochromocytoma, diagnosed based on typical symptoms, patients with incidentally detected pheochromocytoma were older, presented less often with hypertension, and showed lower levels of 24-hour urine metanephrine. CONCLUSION: Adrenal incidentaloma with < 2.0 cm in size or < or = 19 Hounsfield units in precontrast CT imaging was less likely to be a pheochromocytoma. Patients with incidentally discovered pheochromocytoma showed lower catecholamine metabolites, compared with those patients with symptomatic pheochromocytoma.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Medical Records ; Pheochromocytoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity