The Value of ROH Metrics for Predicting Morbidity: Insights From a Large Cohort Analysis of Chromosomal Microarray.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to define the optimal Regions of Homozygosity (ROH) size cut-offs for prediction of morbidity, based on 13 483 Chromosomal Microarray Analyses (CMA). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated, and area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess the predictive capability of total ROH percentage (TRPS), ROH number and ROH segment size in distinguishing between healthy (n=6,196) and affected (n=6,839) cohorts. The metrics were examined for telomeric and interstitial segments, distinct TRPS categories, and across different ancestral origins.

2q13 Distal Microdeletion: Considering Evidence for an Emerging Syndrome Versus Susceptibility Locus: Twenty-Five New Cases and Review of the Literature.

This study investigates distal 2q13 microdeletion, presenting the largest cohort to date, including prenatal cases, alongside a comprehensive literature review. A retrospective analysis was conducted on distal 2q13 microdeletions from clinical charts and laboratory reports. The cohort was divided into "clinically indicated" and "not-clinically indicated" groups based on the reason for chromosomal microarray testing.

Exploring the human genomic landscape: patterns of common homozygosity regions in a large middle eastern cohort.

Regions of Homozygosity (ROH) typically reflect normal demographic history of a human population, but may also relate to cryptic consanguinity, and, additionally, have been associated with specific medical conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the location, size, and prevalence of common ROH segments in a Middle Eastern cohort. This retrospective study included 13 483 samples collected from all Chromosomal Microarray analyses (CMA) performed using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) arrays at the genetic clinical laboratory of Rabin Medical Center between 2017-2023 (primary data set).

Regions of Homozygocity size patterns among diverse ethnic groups in Israel: Toward tailored diagnostic reporting thresholds.

Long contiguous stretches of homozygosity or regions of homozygosity (ROH) are frequently detected via microarray and sequencing technologies. However, consensus on the establishment of specific size cutoffs for reporting ROH remains elusive. This study aims to assess the Total ROH Percentages (TRPS) and size of ROH segments across different ethnic origins, exploring potential disparities and proposing tailored diagnostic thresholds.

The Diagnostic Yield of Chromosomal Microarray Analysis in Third-Trimester Fetal Abnormalities.

Objective:  This study aimed to determine the diagnostic yield of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) performed in cases of fetal abnormalities detected during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Study Design:  A retrospective review of medical records was conducted for women who underwent amniocentesis at or beyond 28 weeks of gestation between January 2017 and February 2023. CMA results of pregnancies with abnormal sonographic findings not detected before 28 weeks were included.

Exploring inheritance, and clinical penetrance of distal Xq28 duplication syndrome: insights from 47 new unpublished cases.

Background: Distal Xq28 duplication, or int22h1/int22h2-mediated Xq28 duplication syndrome, leads to cognitive impairment, neurobehavioral issues, and facial dysmorphisms. Existing literature has limited information on clinical traits and penetrance.

Methods: We identified cases of distal Xq28 duplication (chrX: 154,126,575-154,709,680, GRCh37/hg19) through a review of clinical records and microarray reports from five centers, encompassing both postnatal and prenatal cases, with no prior family knowledge of the duplication.

Chromosomal microarray testing yield in 829 cases of microcephaly: a clinical characteristics-based analysis for prenatal and postnatal cases.

Introduction: Microcephaly, characterized by abnormal head growth, can often serve as an initial indicator of congenital, genetic, or acquired disorders. In this study, we sought to evaluate the effectiveness of chromosomal microarray (CMA) testing in detecting abnormalities in both prenatal and postnatal cases of microcephaly.

Materials And Methods: CMA Testing: We conducted CMA testing on 87 prenatally-detected microcephaly cases and 742 postnatal cases at a single laboratory.

Prevalence of high-penetrant copy number variants in 7734 low-risk pregnancies.

Background: The rate of clinically significant copy number variants in chromosomal microarray analysis in low-risk pregnancies is approximately 1%. However, these results include copy number variants with low and variable penetrance, although some patients might be interested only in the detection of high-penetrant variants.

Objective: This study aimed to calculate the prevalence of high-penetrant copy number variants in a large cohort of low-risk pregnancies.

Proximal 1q21 duplication: A syndrome or a susceptibility locus?

Proximal 1q21 microduplication is an incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity syndrome. This study reports 28 new cases and summarizes data on phenotype, gender, and parental origin. Data on isolated proximal 1q21.

Chromosomal Microarray Analysis Compared With Noninvasive Prenatal Testing in Pregnancies With Abnormal Maternal Serum Screening.

Objective: To examine the effect of maternal age on the rate of clinically significant chromosomal microarray analysis results in pregnancies with abnormal maternal serum screening and to establish the residual risk for abnormal microarray findings after omitting noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT)-detectable aberrations in pregnancies with abnormal maternal serum screening.

Methods: This retrospective study included all chromosomal microarray analysis tests performed in pregnancies with abnormal maternal serum screening and normal ultrasonogram results over the years 2013-2021. The rate of clinically significant (pathogenic and likely pathogenic) chromosomal microarray analysis findings was compared with a local control cohort of 7,235 pregnancies with normal maternal serum screening and ultrasonogram results, stratified by maternal age.

Prenatal and postnatal chromosomal microarray analysis in 885 cases of various congenital heart defects.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of clinically significant (pathogenic and likely pathogenic) variants detected by chromosomal microarray (CMA) tests performed for prenatally and postnatally detected congenital heart defects.

Methods: A retrospective evaluation of CMA analyses over a period of four years in a single tertiary medical center was performed. Detection rate of clinically significant variants was calculated in the whole cohort, prenatal vs.

Residual risk for clinically significant copy number variants in low-risk pregnancies, following exclusion of noninvasive prenatal screening-detectable findings.

Background: Chromosomal microarray analysis detects a clinically significant amount of copy number variants in approximately 1% of low-risk pregnancies. As the constantly growing use of noninvasive prenatal screening has facilitated the detection of chromosomal aberrations, defining the rate of abnormal chromosomal microarray analysis findings following normal noninvasive prenatal screening is of importance for making informed decisions regarding prenatal testing and screening options.

Objective: To calculate the residual risk for clinically significant copy number variants following theoretically normal noninvasive prenatal screening.

The phenotype of 15 cases with rare 8q24.13-q24.3 deletions-A new syndrome or still an enigma?

Diagnosis of rare copy number variants (CNVs) with scarce literature evidence poses a major challenge for interpretation of the clinical significance of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) results, especially in the prenatal setting. Bioinformatic tools can be used to assist in this issue; however, this prediction can be imprecise. Our objective was to describe the phenotype of the rare copy number losses encompassing the 8q24.

A study of normal copy number variations in Israeli population.

The population of Israel is ethnically diverse, and individuals from different ethnic groups share specific genetic variations. These variations, which have been passed on from common ancestors, are usually reported in public databases as rare variants. Here, we aimed to identify ethnicity-based benign copy number variants (CNVs) and generate the first Israeli CNV database.

Should We Report 15q11.2 BP1-BP2 Deletions and Duplications in the Prenatal Setting?

Copy number variations of the 15q11.2 region at breakpoints 1-2 (BP1-BP2) have been associated with variable phenotypes and low penetrance. Detection of such variations in the prenatal setting can result in significant parental anxiety.

Based on a cohort of 52,879 microarrays, recurrent intragenic FBN2 deletion encompassing exons 1-8 does not cause Beals syndrome.

Introduction: Congenital contractural arachnodactyly (CCA) is a rare connective tissue disorder, associated with heterozygous mutations in the FBN2 gene. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of an intragenic deletion encompassing exons 1-8 of FBN2 gene in Israeli population.

Materials And Methods: A search for intragenic FBN2 microdeletions was performed in two databases of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) - genetic laboratory of a tertiary medical center (the primary cohort) and one of the largest Israeli health maintenance organizations (replication cohort).

Chromosomal microarray vs. NIPS: analysis of 5541 low-risk pregnancies.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic yield of chromosomal microarray (CMA) in pregnancies with normal ultrasound.

Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis included all pregnancies with normal ultrasound undergoing CMA testing between the years 2010 and 2016. We calculated the rate of detection of clinically significant CMA findings in the whole cohort and according to various indications.

Cytogenetic analysis in fetuses with late onset abnormal sonographic findings.

Objective: To determine the rate of chromosomal cytogenetic abnormalities in fetuses with late onset abnormal sonographic findings.

Design: Retrospective cohort of women who underwent amniocentesis at or beyond 23 weeks of gestation, for fetal karyotype and chromosomal microarray analysis, indicated due to late onset abnormal sonographic findings.

Results: All 103 fetuses had a normal karyotype.

When genotype is not predictive of phenotype: implications for genetic counseling based on 21,594 chromosomal microarray analysis examinations.

PurposeTo compare the frequency of copy-number variants (CNVs) of variable penetrance in low-risk and high-risk prenatal samples and postnatal samples.MethodsTwo cohorts were categorized according to chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) indication: group I, low-risk prenatal-women with uneventful pregnancy (control group); group II, high-risk prenatal-women whose fetuses had congenital malformations; and group III, postnatal-individuals with unexplained developmental delay/intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, or multiple congenital anomalies. CNVs were categorized based on clinical penetrance: (i) high (>40%), (ii) moderate (10-40%), and (iii) low (<10%).

A de-novo interstitial microduplication involving 2p16.1-p15 and mirroring 2p16.1-p15 microdeletion syndrome: Clinical and molecular analysis.

Background: Microdeletions of various sizes in the 2p16.1-p15 chromosomal region have been grouped together under the 2p16.1-p15 microdeletion syndrome.

Proteasome inhibitors sensitize glioma cells and glioma stem cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by PKCε-dependent downregulation of AKT and XIAP expressions.

In this study we examined the effects of proteasome inhibitors on cell apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant glioma cells and glioma stem cells (GSCs). Treatment with proteasome inhibitors and TRAIL induced apoptosis in all the resistant glioma cells and GSCs, but not in astrocytes and neural progenitor cells. Since PKCε has been implicated in the resistance of glioma cells to TRAIL, we examined its role in TRAIL and proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis.

Phosphorylation of protein kinase Cdelta on distinct tyrosine residues induces sustained activation of Erk1/2 via down-regulation of MKP-1: role in the apoptotic effect of etoposide.

The mechanism underlying the important role of protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta) in the apoptotic effect of etoposide in glioma cells is incompletely understood. Here, we examined the role of PKCdelta in the activation of Erk1/2 by etoposide. We found that etoposide induced persistent activation of Erk1/2 and nuclear translocation of phospho-Erk1/2.