Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a key regulator of metabolism, adipokines production and secretion. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the PPARγ2 gene Pro12Ala polymorphism in obesity in terms of body mass index (BMI), lipid parameters, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), serum lipid, leptin, adiponectin, resistin and chemerin levels. The study included 160 obese and 140 non obese subjects. The Pro12Ala polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Serum lipid, leptin, adiponectin, resistin and chemerin levels were measured. No association was found between the Pro12Ala polymorphism and BMI. Strikingly, in the study group, obese subjects with the AA genotype had significantly higher triglycerides (p = 0.046) and resistin (p <0.001) levels than those with the wild-type PP and heterozygous PA genotypes. Serum leptin and chemerin levels were significantly associated with Pro-12Ala poymorphism in the obese and non obese groups (p <0.01). In the obese group, subjects with the homozygous AA genotype had significantly lower adiponectin (p = 0.010) activity than the PP genotype. Our results suggest that the PPARγ2 gene Pro12Ala polymorphism has no direct association with obesity but does have significant influences on lipid profiles and adipokines levels.

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Objective: The Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, consisting of the t(9;22)(q34;q11) translocation, is observed in ~90% of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Variant Ph translocations are observed in 5%-10% of CML patients. In variant translocations 3 and possibly more chromosomes are involved. Herein we report 6 CML patients with variant Ph translocations. Materials and Methods: Bone marrow samples were examined using conventional cytogenetic meth ods. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with whole-chromosome paints and BCR-ABL 1D probes were used to confirm and/or complement the findings, and identify rearrangements beyond the resolution of conventional cytogenetic methods. Results: Variant Ph translocations in the 6 patients were as follows: t(7;22)(p22;q11), t(9;22;15) (q34;q11;q22), t(15;22)(p11;q11), t(1;9;22;3)(q24;q34;q11;q21), t(12;22)(p13;q11), and t(4;8;9;22) (q11;q13;q34;q11). Conclusion: Among the patients, 3 had simple and 3 had complex variant Ph translocations. Two of the presented cases had variant Ph chromosomes not previously described, 1 of which had a new complex Ph translocation involving chromosomes 1, 3, 9, 22, and t(1;9;22;3)(q24;q34;q11;q21) apart from a clone with a classical Ph, and the other case had variant Ph translocation with chromosomes 4, 8, 9, and 22, and t(4;8;9;22)(q11;q13;q34;q11) full complex translocation. Number of studies reported that some patients with variant Ph translocation were poor responders to imatinib. All of our patients with variant Ph translocations had suboptimal responses to imatinib, denoting a poor prognosis also. Variant Ph translocations may be important as they are associated with prognosis and therapy for CML patients. (Turk J Hematol 2011; 28: 186-92)

A Pit-bull and a Beagle, both one-year-old, with complaints of an enlarged clitoris were clinically suspected for hermaphroditism. The enlarged clitoris, the uteri and the gonads were removed surgically from each animal and submitted to our department for histopathological evaluation. Tissue samples were fixed with 10% buffered formalin solution and processed routinely, after which paraffin sections were obtained and stained with H&amp;E. A blood sample was taken from the Beagle dog and a peripheral lymphocyte culture was prepared. While the clitoris and uteri were confirmed histopathologically, the gonads were detected as a testis instead of an ovary for both dogs. Additionally, cytogenetic evaluation revealed a normal female chromosome complement, 78, XX for the Beagle dog. According to the gonadal and phenotypic sexes, both cases were first determined as &lsquo;male pseudohermaphroditism&rsquo;, a phenotypic sex disorder. However, after karyotyping analysis, we concluded that the 78, XX Beagle dog should be defined as suffering from XX sex reversal syndrome, a gonadal sex disorder. &nbsp;