Decreased sleep quality in patients suffering from retinitis pigmentosa

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of sleep disturbance in subjects diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), as well as the influence of age and gender. Sleep quality was assessed, by means of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), in people with RP (n=177) and gender-and age-matched normally sighted individuals (n=491). The population was divided, according to their age, in eight decade groups. People on shift-work, with affective disorders or with visual impairment other than RP, were excluded. The influence of cataracts in sleep quality was also studied in non-RP people (n=57), with cataracts significantly impairing visual acuity. Another group of healthy controls (n=190) was studied in different seasons of the year for a possible seasonality in sleep disturbance. Global sleep quality decreased in an age-dependent manner in RP-patients, especially from the second decade of life. Retinitis pigmentosa-patients showed, in relation to age-matched controls: lower subjective sleep quality and efficiency, longer sleep latency, shorter sleep duration, higher daytime dysfunction and a higher use of sleeping medication. No significant differences in sleep quality were found among RP-patients or controls depending either on their gender or on the presence of cataracts. Normal sighted individuals did not show seasonality in their sleep quality. We conclude that the sleep quality of RP-patients decreases in an age-dependent manner and points to the probably degeneration of photoreceptors mediating the photic input to the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus in this disease.     

Prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa in Slovenia

Two hundred and twenty-nine symptomatic patients with retinitis pigmentosa were ascertained in Slovenia between 1986 and 1990. Twenty-three further patients were identified while data from 63 families (82 patients) were being collected. After correction for underascertainment, a prevalence of 1 in 6023 was estimated in the Slovene population (1,999,477 in 1990). The highest prevalence of 1 in 1902 was found in the age group 65 years and older. Of 63 analysed families, 17 (27%) showed autosomal dominant, 13 (21%) autosomal recessive, and one family (1.5%) X-linked inheritance; in 30 families (47.5%) isolated cases were found; and in two families the mode of inheritance was impossible to determine.     

Non-allelic mutations in X-linked retinitis pigmentosa

Using RFLP studies, the disease locus in two X-linked retinitis pigmentosa families was found to be centromeric to DXS7 in one family and telomeric to DXS7 in another, suggesting non-allelic heterogeneity.     

视网膜色素变性患者中视网膜色素变性1基因点突变的研究

目的 研究中国视网膜色素变性（retinitis pigmentosa，RP)患者RP1基因的突变频率、特征及其在RP发病机理中所起的作用。方法 运用构象敏感凝胶电泳（conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis,CSGE)和DNA直接测序方法对101例香港地区RP患者的RP1基因全编码区进行突变的筛选与检测。结果 101例RP患者中检出1例患者携带常见的RP1致病突变－R677X，另外在3名正常个体及1例Stargardt患者中检出非致病的无义突变－R1933X。RP1基因在所有RP患者中的突变检出率为1／101。突变最终导致RP1蛋白严重截短。此外，在本研究人群中还发现10个错义突变，除M479I的病理意义未确定之外，其余均系RP1基因的多态现象。结论 R1933X无致病意义，提示羧基端224个氨基酸的区域可能为RP1蛋白非功能区，结合最近发现的RP1羧基端的移码突变－Y1053（1bp del)的病理意义，推测RP1蛋白中相应片段（密码子1052－1933）的缺失会导致RP的发生。为证实这种推测，大范围的RP1基因分型工作是有必要的，并且可同时发现更多的RP致病突变以及不同于其他种族人群的RP1基因多态变化。     

Autosomal inheritance of "senile" retinitis pigmentosa. A report of a family with consanguinity

We describe two sisters affected with retinitis pigmentosa of late onset. Night blindness and progressive visual field loss occurred after 50 years of age in both cases. The parents of affected individuals were first cousins and there was no known history of other similar cases in previous generations. Autosomal recessive inheritance is suggested for such senile retinitis pigmentosa.     

C1q enhances cone photoreceptor survival in a mouse model of autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a degenerative retinal disease involving progressive loss of rod and cone photoreceptor function. It represents the most common form of registered blindness among the working aged populations of developed countries. Given the immense genetic heterogeneity associated with this disease, parameters influencing cone photoreceptor survival (preservation of daytime vision) that are independent of primary mutations are exceedingly important to identify from a therapeutic standpoint. Here we identify C1q, the primary component of the classical complement pathway, as a cone photoreceptor neuronal survival factor.     

视网膜色素变性隐性遗传致病基因PDE6B的突变分析

目的 了解常染色体隐性遗传视网膜色素变性(autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa，ARRP)致病基因磷酸二酯酶β亚单位(phosphodiesterase β subunit,PDE6B)基因在中国视网膜色素变性(retinitis pigmentosa，RP)患者中的突变谱及突变率。方法 应用聚合酶链反应—单链构象多态性，对收集的35个常染色体隐性RP家系38例患者和55例散发RP患者进行PDE6B基因的22个外显子和5’端非翻译区突变筛选；对有变异条带者进行DNA序列分析。结果 测得一个常染色体隐性家系患者PDE6B基因第11外显子5’端上游第19位碱基(第10内含子内)发生G→A转换。1例散发RP患者同时检测到第6外显子第2492位点碱基T颠换为C和第10外显子5’端上游(第9内含子内)第27—28碱基之间有两个碱基TG插入。另两例散发RP患者分别发现第4外显子5’端上游30—31碱基处两个碱基GT插入和第18外显子3’端下游第15个碱基发生G→C颠换。结论 发现1名中国人的散发RP患者携带RP致病基因PDE6B基因的一种复合杂合突变。中国人的PDE6B基因内含子有多种变异。     

Genetic mapping of loci for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa

Linkage analysis was performed in three Swedish families segregating for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP), using five polymorphic DNA markers assigned to Xp. Individual recombination events were analyzed and two- and five-point linkage analysis was undertaken. In one family, a XLRP locus was mapped to the same position as OTC corresponding to RP3. In two families, a disease locus linked to OTC was excluded. In one family, recombination events indicate a locus for XLRP outside the interval (DXS84-OTC-DXS255-DXS14), most likely on the centromeric side of DXS14.     

一个X-连锁视网膜色素变性中国家系的RPGR基因的新突变

目的 对中国人X-连锁视网膜色素变性一家系进行分子遗传学检测，报告RPGR基因突变。方法 首先对该家系X染色体进行致病基因的连锁分析，然后用单链构象多态性技术和直接DNA测序方法进行基因突变分析。结果 连锁分析在多态性微卫星遗传标记DXSS012和DXS8025产生正的Lod值分别为2．41（Zmax=2．40，θ=0）和1．26。进一步单倍型分析确定该家系致病基因位于Xp21．1，与RP3连锁。用RPGR基因突变分析，在外显子ORF15＋483－484发现GA缺失，引起阅读框架的改变，该基因缺失突变在家系中共分离。结论 报告了中国人X-连锁视网膜色素变性RPGR基因外显子ORF15＋483-484的GA缺失突变，丰富了中国人RPGR基闪突变谱，为今后研究X-连锁视网膜色素变性的基因奠定基础。     

The human retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator gene variant database

X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is a genetically heterogeneous retinal degeneration. The major subtype of XLRP is RP3, which accounts for 6 to 20% of all RP cases. Mutations in the RP3 gene, called RP GTPase regulator (RPGR), cause a number of different retinopathies. An RPGR database has been created using the Leiden Open Source Variation Database (LOVD) software system and has comprehensive search and analysis tools. This database is a central resource of RPGR sequence variant data for investigators and will facilitate the interpretation of new mutations, variants, and polymorphisms when these are identified in patients. The database is available on the Internet (http://rpgr.hgu.mrc.ac.uk).     

一个视网膜色素变性家系致病基因定位和CA4基因突变分析

目的通过对一个常染色体显性视网膜色素变性(autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa,adRP)家系致病基因的定位和基因突变分析,以确定该家系的致病基因及其突变形式。方法对15个已知的常染色体显性视网膜色素变性致病基因所在染色体位点进行连锁分析,以确定该家系与疾病连锁的染色体区域,对该区域附近候选基因进行直接序列分析。结果连锁分析提示在D17S701和D17S1604为正的连锁值(logofodds,LOD),分别为Zmax=2.107和Zmax=1.806。其余14个adRP染色体位点的微卫星标记两点LOD值均为负数。单倍型分析进一步将该家系致病基因定位于微卫星标记D17S916和D17S794之间的RP17位点,该位点adRP候选基因碳酸酐酶Ⅳ(carbonic anhydrase4,CA4)直接序列分析在其编码区未发现基因突变。结论将一个中国人常染色体显性视网膜色素变性家系的致病基因定位于RP17位点,但未发现该位点内的CA4基因突变,该家系是否存在CA4基因复杂突变或RP17位点是否存在新的视网膜色素变性致病基因有待于进一步研究。     

100例视网膜色素变性患者中视紫红质基因突变的筛选与检测

目的 研究视紫红质（rhodopsin,RHO）基因在中国人视网膜色素变性（retinitis pigmentosa,RP）患者中的突变频率，特征及其在RP发病机理中的作用。方法 运用构象敏感凝胶电泳和DNA直接测序方法对100例香港地区中国RP中层得RHO基因全编码区进行突变的筛选与检测。结果 共发现种碱基变异，其中3种为沉默型突变，两种为错义突变，1种为缺失突变。P347L在1例55岁女性患者及其同样患RP的3名子女 中检出。327（1－bp del）首次在1例53岁的晚发型RP患者中发现。其26岁的女儿同样携带该突变，但目前除眼底色素上皮出现斑点外，还没有RP的任何症状。上述两种突变均未在对照组中发现。结论 100例RP患者中检出两例携带RHO基因突变，由此可预测香港地区约为2．0％（95％的可信区间为0．2％－7．0％）的RP是由RHO基因突变所致。P347L突变改变了RHO基因C末端一段高度保守的氨基酸序列，致使视紫红质蛋白在细胞P内的运输发生障碍。P327（1 bp del）使突变蛋白的羧基末端失去了原有的磷酸化位点及一段高度保守的功能区，其可能的致病机理有待在今后的研究中通过建立相应的转基因模型或细胞培养系统来阐明。     

Genetic aspects of retinitis pigmentosa in China

We analyzed 151 pedigrees (209 cases) of retinitis pigmentosa in Shanghai, China. Of the 209 cases, the proportion of autosomal recessive (AR), autosomal dominant (AD), X-linked recessive (XR), and simplex cases is 33.1, 11, 7.7, and 48.3% respectively. The average age of onset was 24.7 years in the AD type, 22.9 years in the AR and five years in the XR type. The average refractive errors were ?1.88 D in the AD type, ?2.37 D in the AR type, and ?5.72 D in the XR type. In addition, 24, 100 persons were screened and six cases of retinitis pigmentosa were found. The gene frequencies of the AR (including simplex cases), AD, and XR types as calculated from the disease prevalence were 0.0142267, 0.0000137, and 0.0000384, respectively. The gene frequency of the AR type as calculated from the frequency of consanguinity (15.9%) was 0.00389, which is much less than that calculated from the prevalence. The probable explanation is that the AR type of retinitis pigmentosa really consists of several different disease entities, with each entity representing a separate gene mutation. The number of different mutations within the AR group is estimated to lie between 11 and 41.     

Analysis of RPGR in a South African family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa: research and diagnostic implications

Analysis of exon ORF15 of the RPGR gene has revealed a novel mutation in a South African family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP), which has implications for the rest of the family in terms of pre-symptomatic testing. The ability to test for this mutation will be beneficial for the accurate determination of carrier status in female relatives who may have been unaware of their risk before this study was performed. This work also highlights the need to be aware of the ramifications of mutation testing in what may appear to be small families. This is the first report of an RPGR ORF15 mutation in a South African family of mixed ancestry.     

Estimation of prognosis and prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome in Norway

Retinitis pigmentosa was diagnosed in 101 persons from 53 families. The prognosis for visual function was most favourable for the autosomal dominant group (38 patients from 8 families). The autosomal recessive group (40 patients from 25 families) and the 19 solitary cases were very heterogeneous, with prognosis ranging from favourable to very bad. There was a higher intrafamiliar correlation in the autosomal recessive than in the autosomal dominant group. In 28 patients from 18 families with Usher syndrome, almost all had good visual function until 30 years of age, and few had useful visual function after the age of 50. The age when the patients were registered varied between the different genetic types of retinitis pigmentosa, reflecting differences in prognosis. Therefore, ascertainment probability and prevalence were calculated for each genetic group separately. The prevalence of retinitis pigmentosa in Norway, all genetic groups included, was calculated to be 1/4440, the autosomal dominant type of the disease being the most frequent. The prevalence of Usher syndrome was calculated to be 3.6/100,000. Both retinitis pigmentosa and Usher syndrome were more prevalent in Laps.     

Association of social jetlag and eating patterns with sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in Japanese high school students

A high prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality has been reported in adolescents, but the effects of social jetlag on sleep quality and daytime sleepiness are unclear. Therefore, we assessed the association of sleep and eating patterns with daytime sleepiness and sleep quality among a total of 756 Japanese high school students. Participants completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to evaluate sleep quality, the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale to evaluate daytime sleepiness, and an 8-day sleep diary. Data on average sleep duration, social jetlag, midsleep on free days sleep corrected, and the differences in the first and last meal timing between school days and non-school days were obtained from participants' sleep diaries. The results reveal that social jetlag is associated with differences in the first meal timing between school days and non-school days, and that social jetlag of more than 2 hr is associated with extremely poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness in Japanese high school students. Our findings suggest that reducing social jetlag to within a 2-hr window is important to prevent poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness for this population.     

EYS mutation update: In silico assessment of 271 reported and 26 novel variants in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

Mutations in Eyes shut homolog (EYS) are one of the most common causes of autosomal recessive (ar) retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a progressive blinding disorder. The exact function of the EYS protein and the pathogenic mechanisms underlying EYS‐associated RP are still poorly understood, which hampers the interpretation of the causality of many EYS variants discovered to date. We collected all reported EYS variants present in 377 arRP index cases published before June 2017, and uploaded them in the Leiden Open Variation Database ( www.LOVD.nl/EYS ). We also describe 36 additional index cases, carrying 26 novel variants. Of the 297 unique EYS variants identified, almost half (n = 130) are predicted to result in premature truncation of the EYS protein. Classification of all variants using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines revealed that the predicted pathogenicity of these variants cover the complete spectrum ranging from likely benign to pathogenic, although especially missense variants largely fall in the category of uncertain significance. Besides the identification of likely benign alleles previously reported as being probably pathogenic, our comprehensive analysis underscores the need of functional assays to assess the causality of EYS variants, in order to improve molecular diagnostics and counseling of patients with EYS‐associated RP.