Degree of genetic homozygosity and distribution of AB0 blood types among patients with spina bifida occulta and spina bifida aperta

Homozygous-Recessive Characteristics as a Biomarker of Predisposition for COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a new form of severe acute respiratory syndrome, has caused a global pandemic. The aim of this study was to analyze homozygous-recessive characteristics (HRC) in the group of COVID-19 patients, considering their gender, forms of the disease (mild and severe symptoms), risk factors: hypertension, diabetes mellitus type 2, hyperlipidemia, smoking habits, and the distribution of ABO blood group. Using the HRC test, we analyzed 20 HRCs in a sample of 321 individuals: 205 patients and 116 controls. The average HRC in patients was significantly higher than controls, as well as in patients with severe symptoms compared to patients with mild symptoms. The patients with higher HRC (cut-off ≤5.5) experienced a significantly increased risk of disease of 2.3 times (OR = 2.315, p < .0005). Our results indicate that the HRC test could be used as a screening in recognizing predisposition for COVID-19.

Morphogenetic Variability as Potential Biomarker of Neurogenic Lesion Degree in Children with Spina Bifida

Aims. In this study we analyzed the degree of genetic homozygosity among spina bifida patients with different degrees of neurogenic lesion (N = 82), as well as their clinical and neurological characteristics, compared to healthy control individuals (N = 100). Methods. According to clinical and electromyographic findings, we separately assessed the type of neurogenic lesion (paresis or paralysis). Regarding the degree of neurogenic lesion, patients were classified into three groups: mild, moderate and severe. We analyzed six muscles. For assessing the degree of individual genetic homozygosity, we tested the presence and distribution of 15 homozygous recessive characteristics (HRC). Results. The predominant type of neurogenic lesion was paresis. Every third evaluated muscle was affected in the group with mild neurogenic lesion, while more than half were affected in the group with severe neurogenic lesion. The average values of HRCs among different groups of patients and the control showed the population-genetic differences that exist among them (control x¯_HRC/15 = 3.0 ± 0.2; mild x¯_HRC/15 = 3.6 ± 0.2; moderate x¯_HRC/15 = 4.8 ± 0.3; severe neurogenic lesion x¯_HRC/15 = 5.0 ± 0.3). Conclusions. Spina bifida patients have a significant increase of recessive homozygosity and a decreased variability compared to the control group. As neurogenic lesions are more severe, more affected muscles are present, as well as the increase of individual recessive homozygosity.

Genetic and Environmental Dispositions for Cardiovascular Variability: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to evaluate the degree of genetic homozygosity in the group of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as to evaluate morphogenetic variability in CAD patients regarding the presence of investigated risk factors (RF) compared to a control sample of individuals. Additionally, we aimed to evaluate the distribution of ABO blood type frequencies between tested samples of individuals.

METHODS

This study analyzed individual phenotype and morphogenetic variability of 17 homozygously-recessive characteristics (HRC), by using HRC test in a sample of 148 individuals in CAD patients group and 156 individuals in the control group. The following RF were analyzed: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and smoking.

RESULTS

The mean value of HRC in CAD patients is significantly higher, while variability decreases compared to the control sample (CAD patients: 4.24 ± 1.59, control sample: 3.75 ± 1.69; V_CAD-patients = 37.50%, V_C = 45.07%). There is a significant difference in individual variations of 17 HRC between control sample and CAD patients (χ² = 169.144; p < 0.01), which points out to different variability for tested genes. Mean values of HRC significantly differed in CAD patients in regard to the number of RF present. A blood type (OR = 1.75) is significant predictor for CAD, while O blood type (OR = 0.43) was significantly associated with controls.

CONCLUSION

There is a higher degree of recessive homozygosity in CAD patients versus individuals in the control sample, and the presence of significant variations in the degree of recessive homozygosity as the number of tested RF increases.

Cross-sectional study of C1-S5 vertebral bodies in human fetuses

INTRODUCTION

Knowledge on the normative spinal growth is relevant in the prenatal detection of its abnormalities. The present study determines the height, transverse and sagittal diameters, cross sectional area, and volume of individual C1-S5 vertebral bodies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using the methods of computed tomography (CT), digital image analysis, and statistics, the size of C1-S5 vertebral bodies in 55 spontaneously aborted human fetuses aged 17-30 weeks was examined.

RESULTS

All the 5 examined parameters changed significantly with gestational age (p < 0.01). The mean height of vertebral bodies revealed an increase from the atlas (2.39 ±0.54 mm) to L2 (4.62 ±0.97 mm), stabilized through L3-L4 (4.58 ±0.92 mm, 4.61 ±0.84 mm), and then was decreasing to S5 (0.43 ±1.06 mm). The mean transverse diameter of vertebral bodies was increasing from the atlas (1.20 ±1.96 mm) to L1 (6.24 ±1.46 mm), so as to stabilize through L2-L3 (6.12 ±1.65, 6.12 ±1.61 mm), and finally was decreasing to S5 (0.26 ±0.96 mm). There was an increase in sagittal diameter of vertebral bodies from the atlas (0.82 ±1.34 mm) to T7 (4.76 ±0.85 mm), its stabilization for T8-L4 (4.73 ±0.86 mm, 4.71 ±1.02 mm), and then a decrease in values to S5 (0.21 ±0.75 mm) was observed. The values for cross-sectional area of vertebral bodies were increasing from the atlas (2.95 ±5.25 mm(2)) to L3 (24.92 ±11.07 mm(2)), and then started decreasing to S5 (0.48 ±2.09 mm(2)). The volumetric growth of vertebral bodies was increasing from the atlas (8.60 ±16.40 mm(3)) to L3 (122.16 ±74.73 mm(3)), and then was decreasing to S5 (1.60 ±7.00 mm(3)).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a sharp increase in size of fetal vertebral bodies between the atlas and the axis, and a sharp decrease in size within the sacral spine. In human fetuses the vertebral body growth is characterized by maximum values in sagittal diameter for T7, in transverse diameter for L1, in height for L2, and in both cross-sectional area and volume for L3.

New patterns of the growing L3 vertebra and its 3 ossification centers in human fetuses - a CT, digital, and statistical study

Background

This study describes reference data for L3 vertebra and its 3 ossification centers at varying gestational ages.

Material/Methods

Using CT, digital-image analysis and statistics, the growth of L3 vertebra and its 3 ossification centers in 55 spontaneously aborted human fetuses aged 17–30 weeks was examined.

Results

Neither sex nor right-left significant differences were found. The height and transverse and sagittal diameters of the L3 vertebral body increased logarithmically. Its cross-sectional area followed linearly, whereas its volume increased parabolically. The transverse and sagittal diameters of the ossification center of the L3 vertebral body varied logarithmically, but its cross-sectional area and volume grew linearly. The ossification center-to-vertebral body volume ratio gradually declined with age. The neural ossification centers increased logarithmically in length and width, and proportionately in cross-sectional area and volume.

Conclusions

With no sex differences, the growth dynamics of the L3 vertebral body follow logarithmically in height, sagittal and transverse diameters, linearly (in cross-sectional area), and parabolically (in volume). The growth dynamics of the 3 ossification centers of the L3 vertebra follow logarithmically in transverse and sagittal diameters, and linearly (in cross-sectional area and volume). The age-specific reference intervals of the L3 vertebra and its 3 ossification centers present the normative values of clinical importance in the diagnosis of congenital spinal defects.

Population genetic analyses of susceptibility to increased body weight

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a complex condition with multifactorial origin. Assuming that such a state is genetically controlled, the aim of our study was to evaluate the degree of genetic homozygosity among overweight and obese individuals by the homozygously recessive characteristics (HRC) test.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We analysed the presence, distribution and individual combination of 15 selected genetically controlled recessive phenotype traits in a sample of 140 individuals with increased body mass index (overweight individuals n = 100 and obese individuals n = 40) and a control group of normal weight individuals (n = 300).

RESULTS

OBESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER MEAN VALUES FOR GENETIC HOMOZYGOSITY THAN THOSE WITH NORMAL WEIGHT (NORMAL WEIGHT: 3.61 ±1.48; obese: 4.13 ±1.47, p < 0.05) and difference in the presence of certain individual combinations of evaluated phenotype traits (Σχ(2) = 76.9; p < 0.01). There was no difference in average homozygosity of such genetic markers between groups of normal weight and overweight individuals (normal weight: 3.61 ±1.48; overweight: 3.93 ±1.51, p > 0.05) and between groups of overweight and obese individuals (overweight: 3.93 ±1.51; obese: 4.13 ±1.47, p > 0.05). There is no difference in the presence of certain individual combinations of evaluated phenotype traits between overweight and obese individuals (Σχ(2) = 20.6; p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a populational genetic difference in the degree of genetic homozygosity and variability between the group of normal weight and group of obese individuals, indicating a possible genetic component. Overweight and obese individuals have a genetic predisposition, but different expression of genetic loads could be one of the possible explanations for different susceptibility to increase of fat mass and body mass index.

Gender and morphogenetic variability of patients with spina bifida occulta and spina bifida aperta: prospective population-genetic study

BACKGROUND

Aim of our study was to evaluate degree of genetic homozygosity in male and female gender of spina bifida (SB) occulta and SB aperta patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We evaluated 95 patients with SB occulta and 51 with SB aperta. Degree of genetic homozygosity was evaluated by direct observation of 15 homozygously recessive characteristics (HRC) by HRC-test separately for SB occulta and SB aperta participants. Additionally 370 individuals without SB from Serbia were randomly selected and evaluated as control group. Male and female gender was separately evaluated for assessing degree of genetic homozygosity.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in mean values of HRC between male and female gender in control group (male gender -3.9±1.2, female gender -4.0±1.4, z=0.39; p>0.05), SB occulta (male gender -4.1±1.5, female gender -4.7±1.4, z=1.87, p>0.05) and SB aperta patients (male gender -4.3±1.6, female gender -4.5±1.4, z=0.66, p>0.05), while there was significantly increased recessive homozygosity in female SB occulta group versus control female group (Females: SB occulta -4.7±1.4, Control group -4.0±1.4, z=3.16, p<0.01) and female SB aperta group versus control female group (Females: SB aperta -4.5±1.4, Control group -4.0±1.4, z=2.05, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

There is increased recessive homozygosity in tested female SB occulta and female SB aperta individuals versus SB male participants and significantly increased recessive homozygosity in female groups of SB patients versus control female group. These findings could lead to the possible assumption that different genes in different degree might be expressed in SB occulta and SB aperta patients.

Distribution of affected muscles and degree of neurogenic lesion in patients with spina bifida

INTRODUCTION

Patients with spina bifida in the lumbosacral region usually have various degrees of motor and sensory dysfunctions of the lower extremities and anal sphincter. The aim of our study was to evaluate the distribution and differences in frequencies of affected muscles, number of affected muscles and degree of neurogenic lesion between patients with spina bifida occulta (SBO) and spina bifida aperta (SBA).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In 100 patients with SB, 6 muscles in the lower limbs were separately analysed. Due to the number of affected muscles, we evaluated 5 groups of patients: with 1 affected muscle, 2 affected muscles, 3 affected muscles, 4 affected muscles and 5 affected muscles. Three degrees of neurogenic lesions were assessed: mild, moderate and severe.

RESULTS

The tibialis anterior muscle was most frequently affected in SB patients. The outer anal sphincter was frequently affected in the group of SBA patients. Single muscle affection is frequent in the group of patients with SBO, while in the group of patients with SBA, 4 muscles were significantly frequently affected. The great majority of patients (45.46%) with affected outer anal sphincter (OAS) in the group of SBO were without affection of other muscles, while for the SBA group it was for every third patient. Mild neurogenic lesion was significantly frequent in SBO patients, while severe form was significantly frequent in SBA patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with SBO usually present with mild to moderate clinical presentation, while multiple root involvement and severe degree of neurogenic lesion is associated more frequently with SBA.

Individual phenotype trait variability as genetic markers of gender susceptibility to spina bifida

We compared individual trait variability in 65 male and 81 female patients with spina bifida occulta (SBO) or spina bifida aperta (SBA) against 170 male and 200 female subjects randomly selected Serbian subjects without these conditions. Variability was evaluated by direct observation of 15 homozygous recessive traits (HRT), while gender was evaluated separately. Individual trait variations between genders in SBO patients (4/15 HRT) and in SBA patients (12/15 HRT) showed remarkable differences. Individual trait variations between the male control group and SBO (9/15 HRT), between the female control group and SBO (5/15 HRT), between the male control group and SBA (8/15 HRT), between the female control group and SBA (9/15 HRT), between male SBO and SBA patients (6/15 HRT), between female SBO and SBA patients (6/15 HRT), also indicated remarkable differences. These differences could be explained by different expression of genes that may contribute to expression of spina bifida (SB).