Background Approximately 15% of couples are infertile with the male factor explaining approximately 50% of the cases. One of the main genetic factors playing a role in male infertility is Y chromosomal microdeletions within the proximal long arm of the Y chromosome (Yq11), named the azoospermia factor (AZF) region. Recent studies have shown there is a potential connection between deletions of t...

BACKGROUND Cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to elongated sperm heads are not known. We have analysed the nuclear status of spermatozoa with elongated heads. METHODS Fourteen men with at least 30% of spermatozoa with an elongated nucleus were studied and compared with five fertile men as controls. Sperm morphology was analysed by a quantitative ultrastructural analysis. Sperm chromoso...

We report the identification of a female patient with the Xlinked recessive Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase [HPRTI deficiency). Cytogenetic and carrier studies revealed structurally normal chromosomes for this patient and her parents and demonstrated that this mutation arose through a de novo gametic event. Comparison of this patient's DNA with the DNA of her parent...

AIM To establish the frequency of Y chromosome microdeletions in an unselected group of infertile Croatian men. METHODS An unselected group of 105 patients (male partners of infertile couples), both with idiopathic and non-idiopathic infertility, consecutively referred to the outpatient infertility clinic, gynecology department, General Hospital Pula, Istria County, Croatia, was examined for ...

We report a case of an infant with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and hydrops fetalis who died from hypoxic respiratory failure. Autopsy revealed type B interrupted aortic arch (IAA). Microarray revealed a female karyotype with deletion of chromosome 1p21.1p12. There may be an association between 1p microdeletion, CDH, and IAA.

INTRODUCTION Microdeletions of chromosome 22 are common and have a prevalence of at least 1/4 000. Cardiac abnormalities, abnormal facial features and palatal abnormalities are frequently present in these patients. AIM To describe the cardiac lesions and selected measurable facial features in children from the Free State and Northern Cape presenting at the Cardiology Unit of the Universitas A...

INTRODUCTION The latest achievements in molecular diagnosis create new possibilities for evaluation of congenital abnormalities. AIM To present our preliminary experience with genetic diagnosis of congenital combined conotruncal heart defects. METHODS The analysis comprised 35 families with more than one member suffering from conotruncal heart defects (Group I) and 10 families (Group II) ha...

Since 1995, thanks to a large number of studies, Y chromosome microdeletion screening has become part of the routine diagnostic work-up of severe male factor infertility. Many initial contradictory issues such as variability in deletion frequency, markers to be tested, presence of deletions in 'fertile' men, and genotype-phenotype correlation has been resolved. Past and present unresolved issue...