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Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the most common neurologic diseases in children and an important cause of cerebral palsy (CP). It is a permanent, non-progressive motor disorder that results in a delay in psychomotor development. Brain damage is followed by the activation of the immune system, and increased cytokine concentration in the plasma. Cytokines are circulating soluble proteins, mediators of communication for immune cells. The main biological activity of interleukin-6 (IL-6) is the stimulation of the liver to produce acute-phase proteins. Aim: The frequency of genotypes and alleles of the IL-6 gene polymorphism will be determined, analyzing the possible connection between IL-6 gene polymorphism and the onset of CP. Material and methods: This study involved 117 newborns who were treated in the Clinic of Neurology and Psychiatry for Children and Youth and the Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics of the University Clinical Centre of Serbia in Belgrade. Data was collected for each patient regarding their gender, gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score. Genotyping of rs1800795 in the IL-6 gene was performed by real-time PCR using a standardized TaqMan SNP assay. The difference in frequency of genotypes and alleles was analyzed by the X2 test. Results: The frequencies of genotypes in patients with CP were: 86.5% for GC + GG and 13.5% for CC, and in patients without CP were: 84.6% for GG + GC and 15.4% for CC. The frequency of alleles in patients with CP for G allele was 63.5% and for C allele 36.5%. In the group without CP, 56.2% had G allele and 43.8% C allele. No statistical significance has been demonstrated. Conclusion: No connection between IL-6 gene polymorphism with the development of cerebral palsy in newborns diagnosed with HIE at birth was demonstrated.

Introduction: Skeletal anomalies are a heterogeneous group of disorders including changes in bone shape, size, and density that cause abnormalities of the extremities, trunk, and head. They rank second in Europe in the frequency of all congenital anomalies. The most common skeletal anomalies include head, face and limb anomalies. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of skeletal anomalies and their association with anomalies of internal organs, as well as to show the age of the mother and the gestational week of the fetus with established skeletal anomalies. Material and methods: All fetal and neonatal autopsies in the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 at the Institute of Pathology "Djordje Joannovic" of the Faculty of Medicine University of Belgrade were analyzed. In the mentioned period, 580 fetal and neonatal autopsies were performed. Clinical data were obtained from the Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic "Narodni Front" on the basis of completed requests for clinical autopsy. Descriptive statistics methods were used (data are presented as absolute numbers and percentage frequencies). Results: The most common skeletal anomalies are divided into seven groups: spina bifida (20; 33.34%), limb anomalies (16; 26.67%), head and face bone anomalies (15; 25%), joint anomalies (2; 3.33%), achondroplasia (3; 5%), osteogenesis imperfecta (2; 3.33%) and other anomalies (2; 3.33%). The most common associated anomalies were central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities, followed by heart and kidney abnormalities. The youngest mother was 15 years old, and the oldest was 47 years old. The mean age of the mothers was 30 years. Conclusion: In our study, the most common anomaly was spina bifida, while limb anomalies and craniofacial anomalies are next in frequency. Skeletal anomalies were often associated with anomalies of the heart, kidneys, and CNS. They were mostly diagnosed between the 22nd and 27th gestational week. Our results showed that skeletal anomalies are more common in fetuses or neonates of mothers older than 30 years.