特大常染色体显性遗传聋家系听力学特征及候选致病基因突变筛查

目的探讨一中国常染色体显性遗传聋大家系的听力学特征,进行已知致聋基因已知突变位点的筛查。方法经知情同意,对家系成员进行全身检查及听力学检测,获得血样标本;整理分析家系资料并绘制系谱图;用基因组DNA抽提试剂盒提取外周血DNA。对2例家系患者DNA进行GJB2和GJB3基因全部编码区突变检测,对其余23个已知常染色体显性遗传性耳聋(DFNA)基因的74个已知突变位点所涉及的50个外显子进行PCR扩增和直接测序分析。结果该家系共7代199人,现存4代176人,耳聋患者54人。系谱分析显示,耳聋表型代代相传,男女患病人数分别为24和30,符合常染色体显性遗传特征。听力学表现为:迟发性、进行性、双侧对称性、感音神经性听力损失,首先是高频区受损,并快速向中、低频扩展。GJB2、GJB3基因全部编码区及其余23个DFNA基因已知突变位点的序列分析均无阳性发现。结论该家系是一个非综合征型常染色体显性遗传聋大家系,耳聋表型为迟发性、进行性、双耳对称性感音神经性听力损失;初步分子遗传学分析提示可能由新基因或已知基因的新突变致病。     

常染色体显性遗传耳聋家系听力学及遗传学特征分析

目的分析一个常染色体显性遗传性耳聋家系的听力学及遗传学特征,制定致聋基因鉴定策略。方法对该常染色体显性遗传性耳聋家系进行问卷调查,听力学检测,绘制该耳聋家系的遗传图谱,分析其听力学及遗传学特征。结果该家系共5代,进行听力学检测者为33人,听力下降者19人.听力学表现为双侧对称的感音神经性耳聋,以高频听力损失为主,听力损失呈进行性加重,但该家系内2个不同分支听力下降时间明显不同,分别为10-30岁和60岁。该家系A组符合常染色体显性遗传感音神经性耳聋特点,B组符合显性遗传老年性聋特点。结论这个家系的两组成员分别表现出2种不同的听力学表型。A组成员为高频听力下降为主的感音神经性耳聋,符合常染色体显性遗传非综合征型耳聋特点;B组成员为高频听力下降为主的老年性聋,符合显性遗传规律,这2组成员可能分别由不同的致病基因导致,需要根据各自的听力学表型及遗传学特征分别制定耳聋基因筛查策略。     

常染色体显性遗传非综合征性耳聋家系临床听力学特征分析及致病基因定位研究

目的 分析一个连续六代遗传的耳聋家系临床听力学特征及遗传特征,应用连锁分析的方法定位致聋基因.方法 通过家系调查,对一个高频感音神经性聋家系的资料进行了收集、整理及临床听力学和遗传学特征的分析.对家系成员进行调查并绘制系谱图.对调查的家系成员进行病史采集、体检、纯音测听和声导抗检查.结果 该耳聋家系遗传方式为常染色体显性遗传,耳聋患者表现为语后、迟发、渐进、以高频下降为主的听力损失,早期以高频听力损失为主,随着年龄增长逐渐累及全频听力,听力曲线由下降型变为平坦型.结论 该耳聋家系为常染色体显性遗传方式,表现为高频感音神经性耳聋,通过全基因组SNP扫描及连锁分析,初步定位于4号染色体190384723-190669832区域.     

一噪声相关常染色体显性遗传耳聋家系遗传性分析

目的分析一个与噪声接触相关的常染色体显性遗传性耳聋家系的听力学及遗传学特征,制定致聋基因鉴定策略。方法对该常染色体显性遗传性耳聋家系进行问卷调查,听力学检测及全身体查,绘制该耳聋家系的遗传图谱,分析其听力学及遗传学特点。应用Sanger测序技术进行候选基因鉴定。结果该家系共5代,进行听力学检测者为13人,听力下降者6人,其中3人有明显的噪声接触史。听力学表现为双侧迟发性感音神经性耳聋,先以高频听力损失为主,随后逐渐加重累及全频听力下降,听力开始下降年龄在16-37岁之间。起病后3年症状明显加重。应用Sanger测序技术进行候选基因鉴定,未发现致聋突变位点。结论这个家系成员为高频听力下降为主的迟发性感音神经性耳聋,符合常染色体显性遗传非综合征型耳聋特点,且怀疑有噪声易感因素。计划下一步通过对家系的表型分析运用新一代测序技术希望鉴定出该家系的致聋基因。     

一非综合征型耳聋家系听力学和遗传学特征分析

目的:对常染色体显性高频听力损失一个遗传性耳聋家系的听力学特征及遗传学特征进行详细分析。方法:通过家系调查,对家系成员进行全面体查及听力学检查,整理、分析家系资料,总结家系听力学特征和遗传学特征,绘制遗传图谱。应用微卫星标记对常染色体显性遗传(DFNA)的21个位点23个基因进行初步筛查,数据分析采用连锁分析方法。结果:该耳聋家系(命名为SX-H043)成员共43人(包括已故和配偶),分布于四代,遗传方式为DFNA,耳聋患者表现为迟发型的、渐进性的、以高频下降为主的听力损失,发病年龄介于25～50岁,早期以高频损失为主,听力曲线呈下降型,随着年龄增长,全频听力逐渐下降。结论:该耳聋家系为DFNA方式,表现为高频感音神经性聋,对已知耳聋基因位点的筛查,未发现明确的阳性位点,因此通过全基因组扫描及连锁分析,有望发现新的高频感音神经性聋的相关基因。     

进行性非综合征型聋家系临床表型及遗传学分析

目的分析一个连续五代常染色体显性遗传性非综合征型聋家系的临床表型及遗传学特征。方法对该耳聋家系成员进行病史采集、全身及听力学检查,绘制遗传图谱并进行遗传学特征分析。应用微卫星标记连锁分析方法及外显子序列分析对常染色体显性遗传(DFNA)23个基因的22个位点进行初步筛查。结果该耳聋家系共五代,现存家系成员44人,参与本研究的39人中耳聋患者16人,除1人为语前聋外,其他患者均表现为迟发性、渐进性听力下降,发病年龄介于14～40岁,早期以中频听力下降为主,逐渐累及高频,随着年龄的增长,呈全频听力下降。除DFNA5外,各DFNA位点连锁分析所得LOD值均<-2,提示该家系的致聋基因与这些位点均不连锁。对家系中2例患者和2例正常者DFNA5的所有外显子进行测序分析,未发现突变。结论该家系遗传方式符合常染色体显性遗传规律,表现为以中高频听力下降为主的感音神经性聋;对已知耳聋基因位点进行筛查,未发现明确的阳性位点;通过新一代测序技术进行全外显子组分析可能发现新的感音神经性聋致病基因。     

常染色体显性遗传非综合征型耳聋家系听力学及遗传学特征分析

目的分析一个连续5代遗传的耳聋大家系的临床听力学特征及遗传规律。方法通过家系调查,对家系成员进行全身系统检查及临床听力学检测,分析遗传规律,绘制遗传图谱并进行听力学特征分析。结果此耳聋家系成员共计35人。其先证者为感音神经性聋,无全身其他系统异常。耳聋遗传方式为常染色体显性遗传,发病年龄各代间较稳定,为15～30岁。听力表型为代代相传、迟发性、渐进性的中度至重度听力损失,听力损失初以高频下降为主,随着年龄增长逐渐累及全频听力,听力曲线由下降型变为平坦型。结论该家系遗传学特征分析符合非综合征型常染色体显性遗传方式,该研究为进一步致病基因的定位与克隆奠定了基础。     

遗传性聋三家系听力学调查

目的分析无综合征的遗传性进行性感音神经性聋三个家系的听力学特点及遗传特征.方法三家系纯音测听33人,耳聋14例,声导抗、ABR测试4人.对这些家系进行相关资料的调查和听力学检查.结果三个家系语前聋1个家系,语后聋2个家系,表现为双侧对称性进行性听力下降,A家系耳聋始于12岁后,B家系耳聋始于20岁后,首先是高频区受损,迅速依次向中、低频扩展,C家系出生后即耳聋,表现为聋哑症.4例8耳声导抗及ABR测试均证实为耳蜗性感音性听力损失,三个家系男女均有发病,显示了很高的外显率,全身检查未发现其它部位畸形.结论三个家系可能为无综合征的常染色体显性遗传性感音神经性聋.     

一个常染色体显性遗传非综合征型聋家系分析

目的分析一个连续5代遗传的常染色体显性遗传性聋家系的临床听力学及遗传学特征。方法对一个常染色体显性遗传高频感音神经性聋家系成员进行全面体检及临床听力学检查,整理、分析家系资料,确定遗传规律,绘制遗传图谱并进行听力学特征分析。应用Sanger测序技术对该家系成员进行候选基因鉴定。结果该耳聋家系遗传方式为常染色体显性遗传,发病年龄各代间较稳定,在30-45岁之间。听力学表型为代代相传、迟发性、渐进性的中度至重度听力损失,患者早期以高频听力下降为主,随着年龄增长逐渐累及全频听力。应用Sanger测序技术进行候选基因鉴定,未发现致聋突变位点。结论该家系遗传学特征符合常染色体显性遗传方式,听力学具有早期高频听力下降并逐渐累及全频的特征,在候选基因中进行测序未发现致聋突变位点。因此希望通过对家系进一步的表型分析或者运用新一代测序技术,可以找到该家系的致聋基因。     

先天性非进展性常染色体显性遗传非综合症型耳聋家系临床表型特征分析

目的一个连续三代的常染色体显性遗传先天性非进展性非综合症型耳聋家系的临床听力学特征及遗传规律。方法对耳聋家系成员进行病史采集、体格检查、纯音测听、声导抗、听性脑干反应检测,其中一名患者进行颞骨CT扫描检查。绘制遗传图谱并进行遗传学特征分析。结果该家系成员共计18人,耳聋患者11人,其中一例为氨基糖苷类药物致聋患者。该耳聋家系每代及男女均有发病,非药物致聋患者均表现为语前聋、平稳型、全频中度听力下降,听力曲线呈平坦型。结论该家系遗传方式符合常染色体显性遗传规律,表现为全频中度感音神经性耳聋。该研究为下一步的致聋基因的定位与鉴定奠定了良好的工作基础。     

The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF‐C in early laryngeal cancer: relationship with radioresistance

The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF‐C in early laryngeal cancer: relationship with radioresistance Angiogenesis is essential for tumour growth and invasion. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a prime mediator of tumour angiogenesis. VEGF‐C is a closely related protein that effects lymphatic endothelial cells and may be important in the process of lymphatic metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of these cytokines in patients with T1 and T2a glottic, squamous cell carcinoma, in comparison with normal epithelial control tissue, to ascertain any association with radioresistance. Twenty‐two tumours treated by radiotherapy (13 radiosensitive, nine radioresistant) and seven normal control tissues were studied. The minimum follow‐up was 2 years after radiotherapy. Expression of VEGF and VEGF‐C was evaluated by immunohistochemistry of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded biopsy specimens. Analysis was carried out using a quantitative computer image analyser. Both VEGF and VEGF‐C were detectable in tumour and normal control specimens. There was increased expression in tumour specimens of both VEGF (P = 0.03) and VEGF‐C (P < 0.001). In addition, the expression of VEGF‐C was associated with tumours of higher histological grade (P = 0.021). There was, however, no difference in VEGF and VEGF‐C expression between radioresistant and radiosensitive tumours. The expression of VEGF and VEGF‐C is increased in early laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, measuring the expression of these proteins cannot predict radioresistance in this tumour group.     

Treatment of Maxillary Sinus Carcinoma: Clinical Results Using the Kitasato Modality

The conventional therapeutic regimen for maxillary sinus carcinoma consists of dissection of the maxilla, full-dose irradiation and extensive chemotherapy. However, the results obtained with this treatment are often poor. Even when patients recover, their quality of life is significantly reduced as a result of deformity of facial structures and swallowing and articulation dysfunctions. A retrospective analysis of 68 patients with maxillary sinus carcinoma treated with the Kitasato modality between 1975 and 1999 was conducted. All patients underwent pergingival maxillary sinus surgery combined with pre- and postoperative irradiation therapy with standardized total doses of 16 Gy; the postoperative irradiation was given in combination with regional intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy administered via the superficial temporal artery. All visible tumor lesions were removed where possible in order to preserve or facilitate cellular immunity after surgery. The cumulative 5-year survival rates were 85.7% for Stage II patients, 88.1% for Stage III, 76.6% for Stage IVA and 75.0% for Stage IVB.     

Cervical Reflex Induced by Click Stimuli in Cats

We studied click-evoked potentials in the anterior horn of the spinal cord in 17 cats. A concentric needle electrode was inserted into the anterior horn of the spinal cord at levels C3-C6. Potentials evoked with 105 dB SPL clicks were recorded with a peak latency of 4.89-5.10 ms only at the C3 level. These responses were observed 45-60 dB SPL above the auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold, and no potentials were evoked by stimulation of the contralateral ear. Average was performed 100 times with changes in stimulation frequency of 1-20 Hz. The amplitude of the potentials decreased with increasing stimulus frequency, but there were no changes in ABRs. The responses disappeared after destruction of the medial vestibulospinal tract at the obex level, but ABRs were still recorded. The spinal nucleus of the accessory nerves was located in the anterior horn of the spinal cord at levels C1-C6, and the sternocleidomastoid muscle motoneurons were found at levels C1-C3. The click-evoked potentials recorded in this study reflect responses of the spinal nucleus of accessory nerves through the vestibulospinal tract to click stimulation. The responses have the same characteristics as vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials that can be recorded using surface electrodes over the sternocleidomastoid muscles of humans.     

Tongue Base Reduction with Temperature-controlled Radiofrequency Volumetric Tissue Reduction for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

In recent years a considerable effort has been made to establish the use of different surgical techniques for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Nevertheless, treatment of hypopharyngeal obstruction due to tongue base hypertrophy remains in many ways an unsolved problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tongue base reduction with temperature-controlled radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction in the treatment of OSAS. Twenty patients with OSAS and tongue base hypertrophy were treated with radiofrequency tissue ablation. An intensified treatment protocol was used, delivering 2,800 J per treatment session under local anesthesia. Two nights of polysomnography testing were performed before and after treatment. Daytime sleepiness, snoring and postoperative morbidity were assessed using questionnaires. Mean respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was reduced from 32.1 to 24.9/h after a mean of 3.4 treatment sessions. Six patients (33%) were cured after the procedure (reduction in RDI of &#83 50% and a postoperative RDI of <15/h) and ten (55%) showed an improvement of >20% in their RDI. Daytime sleepiness and snoring improved significantly. Peri- and postoperative morbidity was low; one severe complication occurred (tongue base abscess). We were able to achieve similar cure and responder rates to those reported in a recently published pilot study but with a reduced number of treatment sessions. We believe that this technique may improve patient acceptance and have beneficial cost implications.     

Lack of significant estrogen and progesterone receptor expression in nasal telangiectasias in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: an immunohistochemical analysis

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by snoring and apnea during sleep leading to decreased oxygen saturation and disturbed sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness and neuropsychological disturbances. This study investigates cognitive neuropsychological abilities in a group of 53 OSAS patients before and after treatment with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. General intellectual ability, verbal learning and memory as well as executive functioning were measured at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. After surgery there were significant improvements in verbal learning and memory (mean change - 39, SD 57.3, p <0.001), recall (mean change - 24.3, SD 39.3, p <0.001) and executive functioning (as assessed by percentage of errors on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test; mean change-9.1, SD 15.7, p <0.001). These improvements were in accordance with improvements in the degree of sleep apnea, the oxygen desaturation index (mean change -9.7, SD 15.9, p <0.001) and arterial minimum oxygen saturation (mean change 4.5%, SD 10.2%, p <0.01). Surgical treatment seems to improve verbal learning, memory and recall and executive functions in parallel with better oxygenation in OSAS.     

Measurement of chemosensory function

Although hundreds of thousands of patients seek medical help annually for disorders of taste and smell, relatively few medical practitioners quantitatively test their patients' chemosensory function, taking their complaints at face value. This is clearly not the approach paid to patients complaining of visual, hearing, or balance problems. Accurate chemosensory testing is essential to establish the nature, degree, and veracity of a patient's complaint, as well as to aid in counseling and in monitoring the effectiveness of treatment strategies and decisions. In many cases, patients perseverate on chemosensory loss that objective assessment demonstrates has resolved. In other cases, patients are malingering. Olfactory testing is critical for not only establishing the validity and degree of the chemosensory dysfunction, but for helping patients place their dysfunction into perspective relative to the function of their peer group. It is well established, for example, that olfactory dysfunction is the rule, rather than the exception, in members of the older population. Moreover, it is now apparent that such dysfunction can be an early sign of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Importantly, older anosmics are three times more likely to die over the course of an ensuring five-year period than their normosmic peers, a situation that may be averted in some cases by appropriate nutritional and safety counseling. This review provides the clinician, as well as the academic and industrial researcher, with an overview of the available means for accurately assessing smell and taste function, including up-to-date information and normative data for advances in this field.