Y chromosome microdeletions are an important cause of male infertility. At present, research on the Y chromosome is mainly focused on analyzing the loss of large segments of the azoospermia factor a/b/c (AZFa/b/c) gene, and few studies have reported the impact of unit point deletion in the AZF band on fertility. This study analyzed the effect of sperm quality after sY1192 loss in 116 patients. The sY1192-independent deletion accounted for 41.4% (48/116). Eight patterns were found in the deletions associated with sY1192. The rate of sperm detection was similar in the semen of patients with the independent sY1192 deletion and the combined sY1192 deletions (52.1% vs 50.0%). The patients with only sY1192 gene loss had a higher probability of sperm detection than the patients whose sY1192 gene locus existed, but other gene loci were lost (52.1% vs 32.0%). The hormone levels were similar in patients with sY1192 deletion alone and in those with sY1192 deletion and other types of microdeletions in the presence of the sY1192 locus. After multiple intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) attempts, the pregnancy rate of spouses of men with sY1192-independent deletions was similar to that of other types of microdeletions, but the fertilization and cleavage rates were higher. We observed that eight deletion patterns were observed for sY1192 microdeletions of AZFb/c, dominated by the independent deletion of sY1192. After ICSI, the fertilization rate and cleavage rate of the sY1192-independent microdeletion were higher than those of other Y chromosome microdeletion types, but there was no significant difference in pregnancy outcomes.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Male ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; Adult ; Chromosome Deletion ; Pregnancy Outcome/genetics* ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Semen Analysis ; Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development/genetics* ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of Y chromosome AZFc microdeletion on pregnancy outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). METHODS: From 2016 to 2023, 6 765 cases of oligozoospermia in our hospital were selected as the research objects. The results of Y chromosome microdeletion test were retrospectively analyzed. According to the inclusion exclusion criteria and the principle of propensity distribution 1∶2, 180 patients were included in the study. Sixty patients with Y chromosome AZFc microdeletion and ICSI assisted pregnancy were enrolled into the experimental group. The other 120 patients without Y chromosome microdeletion and ICSI assisted pregnancy were included in the control group. Baseline characteristics, five male sex hormones, laboratory embryo culture and pregnancy outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in male age, female age, infertility years, gravidity and parity between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the five sex hormones of men (P>0.05). Except for transplantable embryos (P<0.05), there was no significant difference in other indicators in the process of embryo culture. There was no difference in pregnancy outcome indicators between the two groups except for the preterm birth rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSION ICSI assisted pregnancy with Y chromosome AZFc microdeletion has no significant effect on pregnancy outcome. And close follow-up of offspring is required.
Humans ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Male ; Chromosome Deletion ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Adult ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Oligospermia/genetics* ; Pregnancy Rate

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of prenatal diagnosis for fetuses with a high risk for sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCAs) indicated by non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), and to assess the influence of maternal chromosomal factors on the results of NIPT. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 454 pregnant women with a high risk for SCAs indicated by NIPT undergoing invasive prenatal diagnosis at the Medical Genetics Center of Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital from January 2022 to September 2024. The data has included prenatal diagnosis indications, results, pregnancy outcomes, and the chromosomal results of pregnant women. RESULTS: Among the 454 women (including 10 with twin pregnancy) with a high risk for SCAs indicated by NIPT, 149 (including 4 twin cases) were diagnosed with SCAs through invasive prenatal diagnosis. These had included 47,XXX (37 cases), 47,XXY (56 cases), 47,XYY (29 cases), 45,X (1 case), 48,XXYY (1 case), mosaicism (20 cases), sex chromosome structural abnormalities (6 cases), and small-scale pathogenic copy number variations (3 cases). 383 pregnant women (including 7 with twin pregnancy) had accepted chromosomal karyotyping analysis. In total 49 cases of SCAs abnormalities were detected. Among them, 41 cases were pregnant women with SCAs but normal fetal chromosomes, which yielded a false positive rate for NIPT caused by maternal factors by 10.7%. In addition, 8 cases (including 1 twin case) had SCAs abnormalities in both the pregnant woman and the fetus. Among the 383 pregnant women, 129 cases (including 3 twin cases) of fetal SCAs were diagnosed, which yielded an overall positive predictive value (PPV) of NIPT for SCAs by 33.7% (129/383). With the 41 false positive cases caused by maternal SCAs abnormalities excluded, the PPV of NIPT for SCAs will be increased to 37.7% (129/342). Among the 454 pregnant women, twin pregnancies have accounted for 2.2% (10/454). Among the confirmed cases of SCAs abnormalities, twin cases accounted for 2.7% (4/149). Among the 383 pregnant women undergoing chromosomal karyotyping, twin cases accounted for 1.8% (7/383). Among the detected cases of chromosomal abnormalities, twin cases accounted for 2.0% (1/49). By calculation, the proportion of singleton pregnant women with a high risk for SCAs indicated by NIPT was approximately 32.1%, and the proportion of twin pregnant women was approximately 38.6%, indicating that twin pregnancies could increase the positive rate of NIPT. CONCLUSION NIPT can improve the screening efficiency for SCAs, but its PPV is limited. Therefore, pregnant women with a high risk for SCAs indicated by NIPT need to undergo invasive prenatal diagnosis for a definite diagnosis, and twin pregnancies can increase the positive rate of NIPT. The study confirmed that chromosomal abnormalities in pregnant women can significantly affect the accuracy of NIPT in detecting fetal SCAs. Therefore, when NIPT indicates SCAs abnormalities, it is recommended to simultaneously conduct chromosomal testing on the pregnant women. The combined application of chromosomal karyotyping analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and copy number variation detection techniques can significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy for SCAs, especially for the detection of mosaicisms.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; False Positive Reactions ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Noninvasive Prenatal Testing/methods* ; Aneuploidy ; Male ; Sex Chromosome Disorders/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic etiology of a patient with tall stature and primary amenorrhea presenting with 47,XYY Disorder of sex development (DSD). METHODS: A female patient presenting with "tall stature and primary amenorrhea" at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital in July 2024 was selected as the study subject. A retrospective study design was employed to collect the patient's clinical data. Peripheral venous blood sample was collected. Following the extraction of genomic DNA, genetic testing was performed including chromosomal karyotyping analysis, copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq), multiplex PCR for the AZF regions and sex-determining genes Y (SRY), and whole-exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and classified for pathogenicity based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital (Ethics No.: 2022-451-01). RESULTS: The patient had a height of 188 cm and a body weight of 50 kg, in addition with infantile uterus, absent ovaries, and primary amenorrhea. G-banded karyotyping analysis of peripheral blood sample revealed 47,XYY. CNV-seq indicated Seq[GRCh37]Yp11.32q12×2. No deletion was detected in the AZF regions of Y chromosome, and SRY was positive. WES identified a heterozygous c.86C>A (p.Thr29Lys) variant of the NR5A1 gene, leading to substitution of threonine with lysine at position 29 of the encoded protein. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of the variant. According to the ACMG guidelines, this variant was classified as variant of uncertain significance (VUS) with supporting evidence (PS3_Moderate+PM5+PP3+PM2_Supporting+PS4_Supporting). Reviewing the nearly 60 years of previously reported cases, all 7 documented 47,XYY DSD patients were assigned a female social gender and presented with abnormal gonadal and external genitalia development. Among them, 5 cases underwent SRY testing, all of which were positive. Only 1 case underwent whole-exome sequencing (WES), but no pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified. CONCLUSION This DSD patient presented with the clinical features of tall stature and primary amenorrhea. The NR5A1 gene variant c.86C>A (p.Thr29Lys) probably underlay the Disorder of sex development in this patient. Above finding has enriched the spectrum of pathogenic variants of the NR5A1 gene.
Humans ; Female ; Steroidogenic Factor 1/genetics* ; DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics* ; XYY Karyotype/genetics* ; Karyotyping ; Retrospective Studies ; Phenotype ; Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development/genetics* ; Sex Chromosome Disorders

OBJECTIVE: To explore the coincidence rate of G-banding karyotype analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the diagnosis of children with sex chromosome mosaicisms. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out for 157 children with suspected sex chromosome abnormalities who had presented at Shenzhen Children's Hospital from April 2021 to May 2022. Interphase sex chromosome FISH and G-banding karyotyping results were collected. The coincidence rate of the two methods in children with sex chromosome mosaicisms was compared. RESULTS: The detection rates of G-banding karyotype analysis and FISH were 26.1% (41/157) and 22.9% (36/157) , respectively (P > 0.05). The results of G-banding karyotype analysis showed that 141 cases (89.8%) were in the sex chromosome homogeneity group, of which only 5 cases (3.5%) were inconsistent with the results of FISH. There were 16 cases (10.2%) in the sex chromosome mosaicism group, of which 11 cases (68.8%) were inconsistent with the results of FISH. There was a statistical difference between the two groups in the coincidence rate of the results of the two methods (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION No significant difference was found between G-banding karyotype analysis and FISH in the detection rate of chromosome abnormalities. The coincidence rate in the mosaicism group was lower than that in the homogeneity group, and the difference was statistically significant. The two methods should be combined for clinical diagnosis.
Humans ; Mosaicism ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Karyotyping ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Karyotype ; Chromosome Banding ; Sex Chromosomes

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy and health economic value of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for the prenatal screening of common fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. METHODS: 10 612 pregnant women from October 2017 to December 2019 presented at the antenatal screening clinic of the General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University were selected as the study subjects. Results of NIPT and invasive prenatal diagnosis and follow-up outcome for the 10 612 pregnant women were retrospectively analyzed and compared. Meanwhile, NIPT data for two periods were analyzed for assessing the health economic value of NIPT as the second- or first-tier screening strategy for the prenatal diagnosis of fetal trisomies 21, 18 and 13. RESULTS: The NIPT was successful in 10 528 (99.72%) subjects, with the sensitivity for fetal trisomies 21, 18 and 13 being 100%, 92.86% and 100%, and the positive predictive value (PPV) being 89.74%, 61.90% and 44.44%, respectively. The PPV of NIPT for sex chromosome aneuploidies was 34.21%. Except for one false negative case of trisomy 18, the negative predictive value for trisomy 21, trisomy 13 and other chromosomal abnormalities were 100%. For pregnant women with high risk by serological screening, advanced maternal age or abnormal ultrasound soft markers, NIPT has yielded a significantly increased high risk ratio. There was no statistical difference in the PPV of NIPT among pregnant women from each subgroup. NIPT would have higher health economic value as a second-tier screening until 2019, while compared to 2015 ~ 2017, its incremental cost-effectiveness ratio as a first-tier screening had declined clearly. CONCLUSION The screening efficacy of NIPT for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 for a mixed population is significantly better than conventional serological screening, but it is relatively low for sex chromosomal abnormalities. NIPT can also be recommended for populations with relatively high risks along with detailed pre- and post-test genetic counselling. From the perspective of health economics, except for open neural tube defects, it is possible for NIPT to replace the conventional serological screening in the future as its cost continues to decrease.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Trisomy/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Down Syndrome/genetics* ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Trisomy 18 Syndrome/genetics* ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Fetus

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) for the diagnosis of children with disorders of sex development (DSD). METHODS: Five children with DSD who presented at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2019 to October 2020 were enrolled. In addition to chromosomal karyotyping, whole exome sequencing (WES), SRY gene testing, and CNV-seq were also carried out. RESULTS: Child 1 and 2 had a social gender of female, whilst their karyotypes were both 46,XY. No pathogenic variant was identified by WES. The results of CNV-seq were 46,XY,+Y (1.4) and 46,XY,-Y (0.75), respectively. The remaining three children have all carried an abnormal chromosome Y. Based on the results of CNV-seq, their karyotypes were respectively verified as 45,X[60]/46,X,del(Y)(q11.221)[40], 45,X,16qh+[76]/46,X,del(Y)(q11.222),16qh+[24], and 45,X[75]/46,XY[25]. CONCLUSION CNV-seq may be used to verify the CNVs on the Y chromosome among children with DSD and identify the abnormal chromosome in those with 45,X/46,XY. Above results have provided a basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of such children.
Humans ; Child ; Female ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Karyotyping ; Exome Sequencing ; Disorders of Sex Development/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic characteristics of idic(X)(p11.22) in Turner syndrome (TS). METHODS: Two fetuses suspected for sex chromosome abnormalities or ultrasound abnormalities were selected from Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital in October 2020 and June 2020, and amniotic fluid samples were collected for G-banded chromosomal karyotyping analysis, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: The two fetuses were respectively found to have a karyotype of 45,X[47]/46,X,psu idic(X)(p11.2)[53] and 46,X,psu idic(X)(p11.2). CMA found that both had deletions in the Xp22.33p11.22 region and duplications in the p11.22q28 region. FISH showed that the centromeres in both fetuses had located on an isochromosome. CONCLUSION The combination of karyotyping analysis, FISH, and CMA is useful for the delineation of complex structural chromosomal aberrations. High-resolution CMA can accurately identify chromosomal breakpoints, which can provide a clue for elucidating the mechanism of chromosomal breakage and rearrangement.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Turner Syndrome/genetics* ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Centromere ; Prenatal Diagnosis

Spermatogenesis is regulated by several Y chromosome-specific genes located in a specific region of the long arm of the Y chromosome, the azoospermia factor region (AZF). AZF microdeletions are the main structural chromosomal abnormalities that cause male infertility. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been used to overcome natural fertilization barriers, allowing infertile couples to have children. However, these techniques increase the risk of vertical transmission of genetic defects. Despite widespread awareness of AZF microdeletions, the occurrence of de novo deletions and overexpression, as well as the expansion of AZF microdeletion vertical transmission, remains unknown. This review summarizes the mechanism of AZF microdeletion and the function of the candidate genes in the AZF region and their corresponding clinical phenotypes. Moreover, vertical transmission cases of AZF microdeletions, the impact of vertical inheritance on male fertility, and the prospective direction of research in this field are also outlined.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Prospective Studies ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome/genetics* ; Oligospermia/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal mosaicisms. METHODS: A total of 775 pregnant women who had visited the Prenatal Diagnosis Center of Yancheng Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected as study subjects. Chromosome karyotyping analysis and CMA were carried out for all women, and FISH was used to validate the suspected mosaicism cases. RESULTS: Among the 775 amniotic fluid samples, karyotyping has identified 13 mosaicism cases, which yielded a detection rate of 1.55%. Respectively, there were 4, 3, 4 and 2 cases for sex chromosome number mosaicisms, abnormal sex chromosome structure mosaicisms, abnormal autosomal number mosaicisms and abnormal autosomal structure mosaicisms. CMA has only detected only 6 of the 13 cases. Among 3 cases verified by FISH, 2 cases were consistent with the karyotyping and CMA results, and clearly showed low proportion mosaicism, and 1 case was consistent with the result of karyotyping but with a normal result by CMA. Eight pregnant women had chosen to terminate the pregnancy (5 with sex chromosome mosaicisms and 3 with autosomal mosaicisms). CONCLUSION For fetuses suspected for chromosomal mosaicisms, CMA, FISH and G-banding karyotyping should be combined to determine the type and proportion of mosaicisms more precisely in order to provide more information for genetic counseling.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Humans ; Mosaicism ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Chromosome Disorders/genetics* ; Prenatal Diagnosis/methods* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Microarray Analysis/methods* ; Chromosomes