OBJECTIVETo assess the value of chromosomal karyotyping and array-based comparative genomic hybridization for the diagnosis of fetus with abnormalities detected by ultrasonography.

METHODSUmbilical cord blood samples were derived from 1 603 pregnant women. The samples were cultured for routine G-banding karyotype analysis. Among these, 792 samples have further subjected to array CGH analysis.

RESULTSAmong the 1 603 fetuses, 117 (7.30%) were found with chromosomal abnormalities. These included 72 numerical aberrations and 45 structural abnormalities, which respectively accounted for 4.49% and 2.81% of all cases. For those <35 years and ≥ 35 years, a significant difference has been found in terms of fetal chromosomal abnormalities (chi-square is 30.687, P< 0.01). And there was also a significant difference between those with isolated, two or multiple ultrasonographic markers (chi-square is 85.50, P< 0.01). Among 736 fetuses with a normal karyotype, array CGH has detected 17 (2.31%) with a microdeletion or microduplication.

CONCLUSIONKaryotype analysis and array CGH should be offered to all fetuses with ultrasonography detected anomalies regardless the number of markers.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Disorders ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Female ; Fetus ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the genetic etiology for fetuses featuring intrauterine growth anomalies using array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH).

METHODSForty-nine fetuses were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA of the abortive tissues was analyzed with aCGH.

RESULTSFourteen (28.6%) samples were found with chromosomal aberrations, which included 8 chromosomal aneuploidies and 6 micro-aberrations (4 with known clinical pathogenecity and 2 with unknown clinical significance).

CONCLUSIONNumerical and structural chromosomal aberrations underlie a significant proportion of fetal growth anomalies. aCGH has provided an effective method for delineating their genetic cause.

Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Congenital Abnormalities ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods

OBJECTIVETo establish a strategy for screening and diagnosing common microdeletion and microduplication syndromes among children with idiopathic mental retardation and development abnormalities.

METHODSPotential chromosomal variations among patients with unexplained mental retardation, cardiac anomalies, particular facial features, learning disabilities and other clinical characteristics were detected with bacterial artificial chromosome BACs-on-Beads (BoBs) technique and karyotyping. Positive results were verified with array-based comparative genomic hybridization (Array-CGH).

RESULTSFifty eight of the 60 patients had a normal chromosome karyotype. Ten patients with microdeletion and microduplication syndromes were detected by BoBs, which included two positive cases identified through chromosome karyotyping. Two patients were respectively diagnosed as Smith-Magenis syndrome and Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome by BoBs and the results were confirmed by Array-CGH.

CONCLUSIONBoBs is capable of detecting chromosome microdeletion and microduplication with high specificity and throughput, which can compensate the shortcomings of conventional cytogenetic technology and will be widely applied for clinical diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosome Duplication ; Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial ; genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Constitutional interstitial deletions of the long arm of chromosome 5 (5q) are quite rare, and the corresponding phenotype is not yet clearly delineated. Severe mental retardation has been described in most patients who present 5q deletions. Specifically, the interstitial deletion of chromosome 5q33.3q35.1, an extremely rare chromosomal aberration, is characterized by mental retardation, developmental delay, and facial dysmorphism. Although the severity of mental retardation varies across cases, it is the most common feature described in patients who present the 5q33.3q35.1 deletion. Here, we report a case of a de novo deletion of 5q33.3q35.1, 46,XY,del(5)(q33.3q35.1) in an 11-year-old boy with mental retardation; to the best of our knowledge this is the first case in Korea to be reported. He was diagnosed with severe mental retardation, developmental delay, facial dysmorphisms, dental anomalies, and epilepsy. Chromosomal microarray analysis using the comparative genomic hybridization array method revealed a 16-Mb-long deletion of 5q33. 3q35.1(156,409,412-172,584,708)x1. Understanding this deletion may help draw a rough phenotypic map of 5q and correlate the phenotypes with specific chromosomal regions. The 5q33.3q35.1 deletion is a rare condition; however, accurate diagnosis of the associated mental retardation is important to ensure proper genetic counseling and to guide patients as part of long-term management.
Arm ; Child ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Diagnosis ; Epilepsy ; Genetic Counseling ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability* ; Korea ; Male* ; Methods ; Microarray Analysis ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo analyze the genetic cause for a child with growth retardation and mental retardation and discuss the application of array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) in its molecular genetic diagnosis.

METHODSConventional karyotyping of peripheral blood for the family was carried out. aCGH was performed to further ascertain the size and origin of the additional chromosome fragments.

RESULTSIn the trio family here, the karyotype of the father was normal, the karyotype of the mother was 46,XX, t(6;9)(q26;q21)and the proband child's was 47,XX,+der(9)?t(6;9)(q26;q21). aCGH showed that the extra chromosomal fragments originated from chromosome 9p24.3-q21.13 and the size was 78.26 Mb, and the repeat region included the 9p trisomy's clinical area. At the same time, it was confirmed that 6q26-q27 was trisomic and the fragment that related to development delay was 6.6 Mb. We determined that the proband's karyotype was 47,XX,+der(9)t(6;9)(q26;q21.13)mat finally.

CONCLUSIONThe patient's abnormal chromosome has originated from her mother with balance translocation. The duplications of 9p24.3-q21.13 and 6q26-q27 may lead to growth retardation and mental retardation. Accompanied with the cytogenetic methods, aCGH can accurately identify the origin and size of the abnormal chromosomes, contributing to the genetic analysis.

Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Disorders ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Trisomy ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze mutation of the PMP22 gene in a pedigree affected with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the proband and members from his family, and fetal DNA was extracted from amniotic fluid sample. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) analyses were carried out to determine the copy number of the PMP22 gene. Sanger sequencing was carried out to detect point mutations of the PMP22 gene.

RESULTSA heterozygous duplication of the PMP22 gene was detected in the proband and his father, while no point mutation, insertion or deletion was found in them. No duplication or deletion of the PMP22 gene was found in other family members.

CONCLUSIONBased on clinical symptoms and genetic findings, the heterozygous duplication of the PMP22 gene is probably the cause of the disease in the proband. The fact that the father has carried the same duplication but with no detectable symptom may be due to irregular transmission pattern of the mutation. Genetic counseling for the family should therefore be with caution.

Adult ; Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease ; genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Family Health ; Female ; Gene Dosage ; Gene Duplication ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Myelin Proteins ; genetics ; Pedigree

BACKGROUNDWolf-Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a contiguous gene syndrome that is typically caused by a deletion of the distal portion of the short arm of chromosome 4. However, there are few reports about the features of Chinese WHS patients. This study aimed to characterize the clinical and molecular cytogenetic features of Chinese WHS patients using the combination of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH).

METHODSClinical information was collected from ten patients with WHS. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the patients. The deletions were analyzed by MLPA and array CGH.

RESULTSAll patients exhibited the core clinical symptoms of WHS, including severe growth delay, a Greek warrior helmet facial appearance, differing degrees of intellectual disability, and epilepsy or electroencephalogram anomalies. The 4p deletions ranged from 2.62 Mb to 17.25 Mb in size and included LETM1, WHSC1, and FGFR3.

CONCLUSIONSThe combined use of MLPA and array CGH is an effective and specific means to diagnose WHS and allows for the precise identification of the breakpoints and sizes of deletions. The deletion of genes in the WHS candidate region is closely correlated with the core WHS phenotype.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Phenotype ; Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the potential pathogenic genomic imbalance in children with unexplained intellectual disability (ID) and/or developmental delay (DD) and its association with phenotypes, and to investigate the value of array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) in clinical molecular genetic diagnosis.

METHODSThe whole genome of 16 children with ID/DD was scanned by the array-CGH for detection of genomic copy number variations (CNVs), and the revealed genomic imbalance was confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification.

RESULTSG-band karyotyping of peripheral blood cells showed no abnormalities in the 16 children. The results of the array-CGH revealed that 6 (38%) of the 16 patients had genomic CNVs, and 3 cases of CNVs were normal polymorphic changes; 1 CNV was a microdeletion of 4p16.3, which was the critical region for Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, and 1 CNV was a microdeletion of 7q11.23, which was the critical region for Williams-Beuren syndrome. Moreover, a CNV was identified with two duplications at 2q22.2 and 15q21.3 in a boy, which proved to have a clinical significance due to its association with ID, brain DD, unusual facies, cryptorchidism, irregular dentition, etc.

CONCLUSIONSArray-CGH allows for the etiological diagnosis in some of the children with unexplained ID/DD. As a high-throughput and rapid tool, it has a great clinical significance in the etiological diagnosis of ID/DD.

Adolescent ; Child ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Developmental Disabilities ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) for analyzing tissues derived from spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.

METHODSAgilent Human Genome CGH Microarray 4×44 K chip and Affymetrix Cytoscan 750 K Array were utilized to detect genome-wide copy number variations (CNV) in 43 fetuses with spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. All identified CNV were analyzed with references from Database of Genomic variants (DGV), database of DECIPHER, ISCA and OMIM, as well as comprehensive literature review to determine whether the identified CNVs were pathogenic. Parental DNA of two cases was also analyzed with the same arrays for pathogenic or unknown significant CNVs.

RESULTSAll of the 43 specimens were successfully analyzed. Clinically significant chromosomal aberrations were identified in 32 (74.4%) of the samples, which included 26 aneuploidies and 10 pathogenic CNV.

CONCLUSIONArray-CGH is a fast and effective method for analyzing tissues derived from spontaneous abortions and stillbirths which may be difficult to culture for karyotype analysis.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Fetus ; chemistry ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Stillbirth ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo estimate the value of blastocyst culture for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

METHODSDay 3 embryos were biopsied and analyzed with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique. Embryos with normal FISH results were cultured into blastocysts, and the ones with better morphology scores were transferred. Fourteen embryos with abnormal FISH results were cultured into blastocysts. Part of the cells taken from the blastocysts were amplified by whole genomic amplification (WGA) and assessed by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) analysis.

RESULTSSix blastocysts with normal FISH results were transferred in 5 cycles. Four healthy babies of 3 cycles were delivered. Another one was a singleton pregnancy but with embryo growth arrest, whose villus karyotype was normal. Fourteen embryos with abnormal FISH results were cultured into blastocysts and analyzed by array-CGH. Six blastocysts were normal by array-CGH.

CONCLUSIONFISH combined with blastocyst culture may further ensure the accuracy of PGD result. Detection at the blastocyst stage can avoid false positive results and mosaic interferences on Day 3 stage and are therefore more authentic.

Adult ; Blastocyst ; cytology ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; methods ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; prevention & control ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods