Novel variants in the MC4R and LEPR genes among severely obese children from the Iberian population.

We screened for mutations in the MC4R and LEPR genes and investigated the genotype-phenotype correlation in obese individuals belonging to families with evident hereditary patterns of severe and early-onset obesity among the Iberian population. A total of 202 unrelated and severely obese patients since childhood, were enrolled in the study. Bidirectional sequencing of the MC4R gene was carried out in all patients; the LEPR gene was sequenced in 15 individuals based on additional clinical signals.

Distinct mechanism of formation of the 48, XXYY karyotype.

Background: To expose the unusual nature of a coincident sex chromosomal aneuploidy in a patient and his father. Molecular mechanisms involved probably are based on the sperm chromosome of paternal origin, which determine the mode of formation. Conventional cytogenetics techniques and multiple Quantitative Fluorescent PCR of STR markers in sexual chromosomes in the patient and his parents.

The modifier effect of the BDNF gene in the phenotype of the WAGRO syndrome.

Individuals who are carriers of deletions of various sizes that cause haploinsufficiency in the contiguous WT1 and PAX6 genes, located on chromosome 11p13 approximately 4 Mb centromeric to the BDNF gene, are susceptible to Wilms tumor, aniridia, mental retardation, genitourinary anomalies and obesity (WAGRO syndrome). The molecular characterization of the wide deletion 11p15.1p12 arr (18676926-36576388) x1 dn in a child with 3 years and 4 months of age only affected by aniridia, predicts not only other serious associated diseases, but also allows us to hypothesize a specific phenotype of mental impairment, conduct alterations and childhood obesity, possibly added to the onset of metabolic alterations.

FTO risk haplotype among early onset and severe obesity cases in a population of western Spain.

Childhood and adult obesity have been widely associated with FTO genetic variability in different populations. This study aimed to investigate the linkage disequilibrium (LD) block structure of a region surrounding the candidate rs9939609 SNP and determine the best single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) combination that explains the higher proportion of variability observed in children with severe obesity, including obese subjects from families with a very high occurrence of obesity. A sliding window approach pointed to a block containing the rs1477196/rs17817449/rs9939609 haplotype (P value 3.