Analysis of behavioral and hippocampal variation in congenic albino and pigmented BALB mice

Mice of the BALB/c strain are widely used in behavioral research in spite of the albino condition, which can obscure brain-behavior relationships. We have developed a pigmented BALB strain, congenic to BALB/c, which could be more appropriate for neurogenetic studies that aim at identifying the effects of neurological mutations on behavior. Comparison of inbred albino and pigmented congenic BALB arising from the same litters provides a valuable tool for detecting the consequences of the albino mutation on behavioral performances. Preliminary results presented here show that the albino condition does not interfere with the development and patterns of connectivity of mossy fibers in the hippocampus. On the other hand, obvious coat color-linked differences appear for locomotor activity and defecation scores in the open field, pigmented mice being unexpectedlyl less active and more reactive than albino, as if better vision increased their reactions to a novel, anxiogenic environment. Finally, pigmented mice do not show better performances in the radial maze, which confirms that the inability of BALB mice for spatial learning in a highly demanding version of this task cannot be attributed to their inability to process visual information.     

眼皮肤白化病的临床表现与危害

眼皮肤白化病是一组与黑色素生物合成有关的遗传性疾病,表现为眼、皮肤、毛发黑色素缺乏等。黑色素缺乏可引起眼的一系列异常表现,如严重的视力低下、畏光、眼球震颤等;患者皮肤极易被紫外线晒伤而患皮肤癌;由于其特殊的表型,白化病患者的心理发育也会受到一定程度的影响。本文重点介绍眼皮肤白化病的临床表现及危害。     

Oculocutaneous albinism and anterior chambre cleavage malformations. Not a coincidence

We report on 6 patients out of a group of 86 albinos, with an additional eye defect: an anterior chamber cleavage disorder, i.e. a frequency of 7%. Given this high percentage of the coexistence of these two, we believe that this is not a coincidence.     

New method for detecting misrouted retinofugal fibers in humans with albinism by magnetoencephalography

In humans with albinism, a large percentage of the ganglion cell axons from the temporal retina decussate abnormally in the chiasm and synapse in the contralateral LGN. The aim of this study was to determine whether the misrouting of the optic fibers can be detected by magnetoencephalography (MEG). Visually evoked magnetic fields (VEFs) were recorded from three patients with albinism. After monocular stimulation, the isofield contour maps of the VEFs showed a single current dipole pattern over the contralateral hemisphere in patients with albinism. These results clearly illustrated the reduced uncrossed retinofugal pathway of patients with albinism.     

眼皮肤白化病1型的遗传学机制的研究进展

眼皮肤白化病是由于黑色素合成相关基因突变导致眼、皮肤、毛发黑色素沉着减少或缺乏引起的一类常染色体隐形遗传疾病的总称。根据突变基因的不同,眼皮肤白化病可分为4种不同的类型,其中眼皮肤白化病1型是由于TYR基因突变导致酪氨酸酶功能低下或缺乏引起的眼皮肤白化病类型,国内外对此型的发病机制研究较全面,文章就眼皮肤白化病1型的遗传学机制研究进展做一综述。     

A prosthetic contact lens in the treatment of ocular manifestations of albinism

A patient with severe ocular albinism was fitted with a prosthetic soft contact lens which improved both photophobic symptoms and facial cosmesis.     

Development and co-construction of a therapeutic patient education program for albinism

BackgroundLong-term and ongoing support in accordance with the changing needs of patients and their families is one of the main components of patient care, including therapeutic patient education (TPE).ObjectiveTo co-construct a TPE program for albinism with all those involved in the management of albinism patients.MethodsEight steps have been defined for the co-construction process: 1) identify all the relevant experts and invite them to participate in the construction of a TPE program to improve care for and support of patients with albinism, 2) review and analyse all publications regarding TPE for albinism, 3) conduct semi-structured interviews with the patients’ parents, 4) conduct brainstorming meetings with the participating experts for an exchange of experience and expertise, 5) elaborate the program's concrete content with the experts, 6) draw up a TPE skills checklist, 7) create TPE educational tools to facilitate learning, 8) review and summarize each step of the co-construction protocol.ResultsCo-construction of a TPE program for children, adolescents, and young adults with albinism, and their parents.ConclusionStrengths and advantages of the co-construction process include: i) highlighting of the experiential knowledge mentioned in the repository, ii) multiplicity of points of view and perspectives, iii) rapid improvement in TPE training both for the association and the patients, iv) awareness of the shift caregivers’ position with regards to TPE and recognition of the polysemy of their discourse. The TPE program for albinism has been authorized since 2018.