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Iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia (IRIDA) is a rare hereditary form of IDA with autosomal recessive inheritance. IRIDA is characterized by hypochromic microcytic anemia unresponsive to oral iron treatment, low transferrin saturation, and a high level of iron-regulated hormone hepcidin. The genetic background of IRIDA is mutations in the TMPRSS6 gene encoding matriptase-2 (TMPRSS6) that prevent inactivation of hemojuvelin, an activator of hepcidin transcription. We herein report a Korean female with IRIDA who was compound heterozygous for two mutations in TMPRSS6: a novel missense mutation c.1807G>C (p.Gly603Arg) in the serine protease domain and a known splicing mutation c.863+1G>T (IVS6+1G>T).

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare hematologic malignancy in children. Hyperactivation of the Ras pathway from gene mutations is known to be the key culprit in the development of JMML. In this study, we investigated Ras pathway mutations and prognostic implication in Korean patients with JMML. A total of 22 Korean patients with JMML were recruited from two institutions (19 boys and three girls; median age, 17 months; range, 1-74 months). Hematologic and cytogenetic findings were reviewed. Mutation analyses involved PTPN11, KRAS, NRAS, and CBL genes by direct sequencing analyses (selected exons except in CBL). Survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Cytogenetic and/or gene mutations were detected in 18 patients out of 22 (82%). Four patients (18%) had chromosomal abnormalities, with monosomy 7 being the most common. Seventeen (77%) had gene mutations. PTPN11 mutations were detected in 13 patients (59%). The patient heterozygous for c.854T>C had Noonan syndrome. NRAS and KRAS mutations were detected in two patients (9%) and one patient (5%), respectively. A homozygous CBL mutation was detected in one patient (5%; c.1228-2A>G). All mutations detected were previously reported mutations. Survival analyses suggested an unfavorable prognostic implication of PTPN11 mutation, albeit without a statistical significance. Collectively, the results from molecular genetics study and survival analyses suggested a relatively higher frequency and unfavorable prognostic implication of PTPN11 mutations in Korean patients with JMML.

ObjectivesHearing impairment (HI) is the most common sensory deficit in human. The Gap Junction Protein, Beta-2 (GJB2) gene encodes the protein connexin 26, and this gene accounts for up to half of the cases of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic HI. This study was conducted to obtain a set of sequence variations (SVs) of the GJB2 gene among Koreans from the general population for making molecular genetic diagnoses and performing genetic counseling.MethodsWe resequenced the GJB2 gene in 192 chromosomes from 96 adult individuals of Korean descent and who were without a history of hearing difficulty. The data of the SVs was obtained and the haplotypes were reconstructed from the data.ResultsFive SVs were observed, including a novel one (c.558G>A; p.T186T), with the allele frequencies ranging from 0.5% (1/192) to 41% (79/192). The linkage disequilibrium study and haplotype construction showed that some of the SVs are in tight linkage, resulting in a limited number of haplotypes.ConclusionWe observed SVs of the GJB2 gene with different allele frequencies, and a limited number of haplotypes were constructed. The data from this study can be used as reference data for GJB2-related hearing genetic studies, including studies on the founder effect and population genetics, and this data is particularly relevant to people of East Asian decent.

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