Publications by authors named "Elif Yilmaz Gulec"

Recently, variants in an 18 nucleotide region in the centre of were shown to cause ReNU syndrome, a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) that is predicted to affect tens of thousands of individuals worldwide. is a non-protein-coding gene that is transcribed into the U4 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) component of the major spliceosome. ReNU syndrome variants disrupt spliceosome function and alter 5' splice site selection.

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Article Synopsis
  • Advances in molecular diagnostics have shown that certain genetic variants linked to neurodegenerative diseases can also cause severe neurodevelopmental disorders when inherited in a biallelic manner.* -
  • The study focuses on TOR1A-associated arthrogryposis multiplex congenita 5 (AMC5), revealing a range of clinical symptoms across a cohort of 57 individuals, including severe flexion contractures, developmental delays, and various motor issues.* -
  • The research identified a phenotypic spectrum from mild symptoms to severe disabilities, with a notable survival rate of 71% and a median mortality age of 1.2 months, mainly due to complications like respiratory failure.*
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Mosaic variants of IDH1 (isocitrate dehydrogenase-1) R132 and IDH2 (isocitrate dehydrogenase-2) R172 loci were detected in most of the bone cysts of Ollier and Maffucci series and in the blood and tissue samples of metaphyseal enchondromatosis with D-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (MC-HGA) patients. We aimed to report an intermediate phenotype comparing with the reported cases. The proband was a 9-year-old boy with widespread metaphyseal enchondromatosis involving metaphyses of long tubular bones, iliac bones and tubular bones of both hands and feet and sparing spine and flat and short bones.

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Microcephaly, epilepsy and diabetes syndrome 1 (MEDS1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by defects in the immediate early response 3 interacting protein 1 () gene. Only nine cases have been described in the literature. MEDS1 manifests as microcephaly with simplified gyral pattern in combination with severe infantile epileptic encephalopathy and early-onset permanent diabetes.

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EMILIN1 (elastin-microfibril-interface-located-protein-1) is a structural component of the elastic fiber network and localizes to the interface between the fibrillin microfibril scaffold and the elastin core. How EMILIN1 contributes to connective tissue integrity is not fully understood. Here, we report bi-allelic EMILIN1 loss-of-function variants causative for an entity combining cutis laxa, arterial tortuosity, aneurysm formation, and bone fragility, resembling autosomal-recessive cutis laxa type 1B, due to EFEMP2 (FBLN4) deficiency.

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Objective: Children with Down syndrome have a high incidence of major malformations and corrective surgery. Some patients do not need any surgery, while some cases are operated for several indications. There are few studies investigating the effect of maternal age on the phenotype of these children, despite the fact that increasing maternal age is a known risk factor for giving birth to Down syndrome.

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Genetic heterogeneity, reduced penetrance, and variable expressivity, the latter including asymmetric body axis plane presentations, have all been described in families with congenital limb malformations (CLMs). Interfamilial and intrafamilial heterogeneity highlight the complexity of the underlying genetic pathogenesis of these developmental anomalies. Family-based genomics by exome sequencing (ES) and rare variant analyses combined with whole-genome array-based comparative genomic hybridization were implemented to investigate 18 families with limb birth defects.

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Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the diagnostic value of microarray testing in autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and multiple congenital anomalies of unknown etiology, as well as to report some potential candidate genes for autism.

Methods: Microarray analysis records between January 2016 and December 2017 from two Genetic Diagnostic Centers in Turkey, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman and Adana Numune Training and Research Hospital, were compiled. Detected copy number variations (CNVs) were classified as benign, likely benign, variants of uncertain significance (VUS), likely pathogenic, and pathogenic according to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines.

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Crisponi/cold-induced sweating syndrome (CS/CISS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by episodic hyperthermia, arthrogryposis, impaired feeding ability, and respiratory distress. The classic CS/CISS is mainly associated with CRLF1 and, rarely, CLCF1. PERCHING syndrome, previously known as CS/CISS type-3 associated with biallelic pathogenic variants in KLHL7, is notable for its few overlapping manifestations.

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Objective: A single-nucleotide polymorphism of the growth hormone 1 gene, GH1IVS4+90A>T (rs2665802), associated with short stature and a polymorphism of the growth hormone receptor gene, exon 3 deleted variant, associated with increased responsiveness to growth hormone have been reported previously. We aimed to investigate the frequency of both polymorphisms and their correlation to height in Turkish short children. Also, we aimed to evaluate the effect of exon 3 deleted variant on response to 1-year growth hormone therapy.

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Robinow syndrome is characterized by a triad of craniofacial dysmorphisms, disproportionate-limb short stature, and genital hypoplasia. A significant degree of phenotypic variability seems to correlate with different genes/loci. Disturbances of the noncanonical WNT-pathway have been identified as the main cause of the syndrome.

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Objective: Low estriol (uE3) levels in the second-trimester screening for Down syndrome may be the result of fetal demise, congenital abnormalities, or some genetic hormonal disorders of the fetus. Although X-linked ichthyosis, a microdeletion syndrome with mild ichthyosis, which causes steroid sulfatase (STS) deficiency, is the most common genetic cause, second-trimester screening tests calculate the risk for a less common and severe disorder known as the Smith Lemli Opitz syndrome (SLOS). We aimed to investigate the outcomes of pregnancies with low uE3 levels in Down syndrome screening and emphasize the high prevalence of STS deficiency instead of SLOS in such cases.

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Spondylometaepiphyseal dysplasia short limb-abnormal calcification type (SMED-SL/AC) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. It is a severe dwarfism syndrome with a characteristic feature of progressive calcification of epiphyseal and other cartilaginous tissues. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the gene encoding the discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2.

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Rapid and reliable detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 mutations are significant to control the contagion and spread rate of the virus. We aimed to evaluate the N501Y mutation rate in randomly chosen positive patients with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The evaluation and analysis of the data with a retrospective approach in cases with mutations, in terms of public health, will contribute to the literature on the global pandemic that affects our society.

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Upregulated signal flow through RAS and the mitogen-associated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is the unifying mechanistic theme of the RASopathies, a family of disorders affecting development and growth. Pathogenic variants in more than 20 genes have been causally linked to RASopathies, the majority having a dominant role in promoting enhanced signaling. Here, we report that SPRED2 loss of function is causally linked to a recessive phenotype evocative of Noonan syndrome.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) affect over 3% of the population, posing significant social and economic challenges; despite advances in genomics, many cases remain undiagnosed.
  • - A study of 234 new subjects and 20 previously unsolved Turkish families used genome-wide screening, identifying clear genetic causes in 75.2% of families, with 218 distinct genes linked to these disorders.
  • - Notably, 28.9% of solved families exhibited multilocus pathogenic variations, often due to identical-by-descent segments in their genomes; additional sequencing helped achieve diagnoses in 25% of previously undiagnosed families.
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Reliable and rapid detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in laboratory setting is critical to control the pandemic. We aimed to an evaluated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) efficiency of nasopharyngeal swabs stored in viral transport medium (VTM) in different temperatures. Ninety swabs taken into VTM were analyzed at the first hour, then divided into two groups with similar numbers of positive and negative samples.

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Latent transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-binding proteins (LTBPs) are microfibril-associated proteins essential for anchoring TGFβ in the extracellular matrix (ECM) as well as for correct assembly of ECM components. Variants in LTBP2, LTBP3, and LTBP4 have been identified in several autosomal recessive Mendelian disorders with skeletal abnormalities with or without impaired development of elastin-rich tissues. Thus far, the human phenotype associated with LTBP1 deficiency has remained enigmatic.

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Hereditary disorders of connective tissue (HDCT) compromise a heterogeneous group of diseases caused by pathogenic variants in genes encoding different components of the extracellular matrix and characterized by pleiotropic manifestations, mainly affecting the cutaneous, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems. We report the case of a 9-year-old boy with a discernible connective tissue disorder characterized by cutis laxa (CL) and multiple herniations and caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in . Hence, we identified as a novel disease-causing gene in the CL spectrum, differentiating it from other HDCT.

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Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition that mainly affects connective tissue in many parts of the body. Cardinal manifestations involve the ocular, skeletal, and cardiovascular systems. The diagnosis of MFS relies on the revised Ghent criteria, outlined by international expert opinion to facilitate accurate recognition of this syndrome as well as to improve patient management and counseling.

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Left subclavian artery originating from the left pulmonary artery is a rare aortic arch anomaly. Herein, we, for the first time in Turkey, present a case of left subclavian artery originating from the left pulmonary artery via ductus arteriosus in DiGeorge syndrome and causing subclavian steal syndrome.

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