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Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of chromosomal microarray (CMA) in patients who were solely referred for molecular diagnosis.Methods: During a 2-year period, CMA was th...

A Chinese family with δ-thalassemia (δ-thal) was found, in which the daughter is homozygous for δ-thal (HBD: c.-127T>C) with complete deficiency of Hb A2 and the mother is a heterozygote with low level of Hb A2. The father, however, is a heterozygote with a normal Hb A2 value due to coinheritance of a β-thalassemia (β-thal). Although no abnormal clinical or hematological findings were noted in the individuals with δ-thal, one should keep in mind that β-thal can be missed during routine preliminary screening when β-thal and δ-thal coexist in a subject.

With a bidentate Schiff base ligand 2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzaldehyde oxime (HL) and copper acetate, a polynuclear copper(II) complex was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectros...

We report a novel case of Hb Phnom Penh [α117(GH5)Phe-Ile-α118(H1)Thr (α1)] detected through cord blood screening for hemoglobinopathies. Sequence analyses identified this in-frame mutation at codons 117/118 (+ATC) in exon 3 of the α1-globin gene. This mutation causes a silent α-thalassemia (α-thal).

The interaction of the nondeletional α-thalassemia (α-thal) mutations with the Southeast Asian double α-globin gene deletion results in nondeletional Hb H (β4) disease. Hb Constant Spring (Hb CS, α142, TAA>CAA at α2) and Hb Quong Sze [Hb QS, α125, CTG>CCG (α2)] are the most common nondeletional α-thalassemias in the Chinese population. These α-globin structural variants are unstable and undetectable by routine hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis. The amount of Hb Bart’s (γ4) in the cord blood of newborns correlates with the number of α-globin genes that are deleted. We determined the quantity of Hb Bart’s in cord blood at birth with the Sebia CapillaryS electrophoresis system. Using Hb Bart’s levels at 0.1-2.5% as a cut-off range for nondeletional α-thal diagnosis, we detected 154 individuals in 6,525 newborns. Of the 154 samples, 12 were found to be Hb CS carriers, 10 Hb QS carriers, and one Hb Westmead [α122, CAC>CAG (α2)] carrier. We present the first report of the prevalence of Hb QS in our population.

Hb H (β4) disease is an inherited hemoglobin (Hb) defect in which three of the four α-globin genes are deleted or dysfunctional. The clinical manifestations vary widely from mild asymptomatic anemia to a severely anemic state. Recent literature suggests that Hb H disease is not as benign a disorder as previously thought. Newborn screening for Hb H disease is especially appealing because the screening test is based on the detection of Hb Bart's (γ4) that is only possible within the newborn period. In a 2-year period of newborn screening, 18 babies were found to have Hb H disease in a total of 9490 newborns. The overall prevalence for Hb H disease among all newborns in southern China is approximately 1 in 500. The correct diagnosis would allow affected infants to be properly cared for and reduce mortality rate.