Publications by authors named "Bilcag Akgun"

Introduction: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) and ABCA7 genes are among the strongest heritable risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in African-ancestry (AA) populations. APOE 𝜀4 affects both risk and age at onset (AAO), with lower risk in AA populations. This study evaluates the independent and interactive effects of the AA-specific ABCA7 frameshift deletion and APOE 𝜀4 allele on AAO.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hispanic/Latino populations, particularly Puerto Ricans, are underrepresented in Alzheimer Disease (AD) genetics research, prompting a study to identify new AD risk loci in this group.
  • The study involved Whole Genome Sequencing and analyzed data from 648 Puerto Ricans, adjusting for various factors to ensure accurate results and inferring local ancestry.
  • Results revealed a suggestive AD risk locus on chromosome 12 and replicated several known AD genetic loci, emphasizing the need for including diverse populations in genetic studies to improve understanding of AD.
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Objective: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) consists of a group of phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous connective tissue disorders that share similar skeletal anomalies causing bone fragility and deformation. The aim was to investigate the molecular genetic etiology and determine the relationship between genotype and phenotype in OI patients using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Methods: A targeted NGS analysis panel (Illumina TruSight One) containing genes involved in collagen/bone synthesis was performed on the Illumina Nextseq550 platform in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of OI.

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Background: Cognitive and functional abilities in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology (ADP) are highly variable. Factors contributing to this variability are not well understood. Previous research indicates that higher educational attainment (EA) correlates with reduced cognitive impairments among those with ADP.

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Article Synopsis
  • Some people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) can show very different levels of thinking and functioning abilities, with some being nearly okay while others have serious problems.
  • Research shows that education level can help protect against these issues, but it's unclear if more education also helps with everyday tasks.
  • A study with 410 people found that those with more education (more than 8 years) had better everyday abilities, especially if they didn't carry a specific gene linked to Alzheimer's.
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Background: Hypophosphatasia is a rare inherited metabolic disease resulted by gene mutations. It is characterized by defective bone and teeth mineralization. The phenotypic spectrum is highly variable ranging from lethal perinatal form to mild forms which are only diagnosed in adulthood or remain undiagnosed despite persistently low concentrations of ALP.

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Objective: Hemophilia A (HA) is the most severe X-linked inherited bleeding disorder caused by hemizygous mutations in the gene. The aim of this study is to determine the mutation spectrum of the gene in a large HA cohort from Turkey, and then to establish a phenotype-genotype correlation.

Materials And Methods: All HA cases (270 patients) analyzed molecularly in the Ege University Pediatric Genetics Molecular Laboratory between March 2017 and March 2018 were included in this study.

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L1 syndrome is a rare X linked recessive disorder caused bygene mutations in the L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM), and characterized by hydrocephalus, intellectual disability, adducted thumbs and spasticity of the legs. The gene encodes a protein which plays an important role in neuronal development. Two unrelated L1 syndrome cases, with global developmental delay and hydrocephalus, were referred to pediatric genetics subdivision for genetic counseling.

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Purpose: To investigate rs2107856 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of CNTNAP2 gene in Turkish population with pseudoexfoliation and to correlate clinical characteristics with the genotypic profile.

Materials And Methods: Forty-three patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS), 46 patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG) and 99 healthy controls were enrolled. Comprehensive ophthalmological examination, central corneal thickness measurement and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness analysis of the peripapillary area were performed.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the deletions and duplications with a molecular karyotyping technique and to elucidate the etiology of autism.

Method: A total of 31 patients (20 boys and 11 girls) between 4 to 18 years old with normal chromosomal analysis and no Fragile X mutation were diagnosed in the Ege University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic with autism (according to DSM-IV-TR criteria) and were enrolled in the study. Symptom severity of the patients was evaluated with a Childhood Autism Rating Scale.

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