AMutation Causes Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss in a Chinese X-linked Recessive Family / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The molecular genetic research showed the association between X-linked hearing loss and mutations in POU3F4. This research aimed to identify a POU3F4 mutation in a nonsyndromic X-linked recessive hearing loss family.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A series of clinical evaluations including medical history, otologic examinations, family history, audiologic testing, and a high-resolution computed tomography scan were performed for each patient. Bidirectional sequencing was carried out for all polymerase chain reaction products of the samples. Moreover, 834 controls with normal hearing were also tested.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pedigree showed X-linkage recessive inheritance pattern, and pathogenic mutation (c.499C>T) was identified in the proband and his family member, which led to a premature termination prior to the entire POU domains. This mutation co-segregated with hearing loss in this family. No mutation of POU3F4 gene was found in 834 controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A nonsense mutation is identified in a family displaying the pedigree consistent with X-linked recessive pattern in POU3F4 gene. In addition, we may provide molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling for this family.</p>

Correlation between phonetically balanced maximum and pure tone auditory threshold among 106 auditory neuropathy patients / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To estimate correlation between phonetically balanced maximum (PB max) and pure tone auditory threshold in auditory neuropathy (AN) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and six AN patients were identified using multiple criteria including PB max, a metric for speech recognition, pure tone auditory threshold, acoustic emission test, distortion products otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR). SPSS statistical software was used to estimate the Pearson's correlation between PB max and pure tone auditory threshold and to test whether pure tone auditory threshold, or auditory configuration had a significant impact on PB max.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Even the patients had the same or similar values for pure tone auditory threshold or auditory configuration, varied values of PB max were found in two hundreds and twelve ears for 106 patients. Analysis of the data for 106 patients revealed a negative correlation (r = -0. 602, P <0. 01) between PB max and pure tone auditory threshold, i. e. hearing loss at a mild relates to a lower PB max. By using analysis of variance (ANOVA) method, it was found that both pure tone auditory threshold and auditory configuration had a significant (P <0.01) impact on the patients' PB max.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This analysis implicated the promise and potential of pure tone auditory threshold and auditory configuration for predicting PB max of the AN patients, and improving the diagnosis of AN.</p>

Studies of the strategy for newborn gene screening / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss and analyze the feasibility and strategy for perform the newborn gene screening in the process of newborn hearing screening in order to supply the defects or limitation in the hearing screening.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four hundreds and sixty newborn babies from December 2006 to April 2007 accepted the simultaneous hearing and gene screening. Otoacoustic emission (OAE) was used for the first step hearing screening and OAE combined with auto auditory brainstem response (AABR) detection for the second step screening. Newborn genetic disease screening cards were used for collecting the blood spot from the umbilical cord within the moment of newborn. The cards could be directly performed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for screening the mitochondrial 12SrRNA 1555G and GJB2 as well as SLC26A4 genes mutations. The restriction enzyme Alw26I was used to recognize the point mutation of 12SrRNA A1555G. The samples with the possible 12SrRNA A1555G mutation were then sequenced to verify. The PCR products from the GJB2 coding region and SLC26A4 IVS7-2A > G hot spot region were sequenced directly. The software of DNAStar was used to analysis the sequence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The first step of hearing screening of 460 newborn babies showed " refer" on the left ear of nine babies and on the right ear of three babies. Seven showed "refer" on bilateral with the the total of babies 19. After 42 days, they accepted the second step for hearing screening. 16 of the 19 were showed "pass" with OAE and AABR. One baby showed "pass" on the left ear, "refer" on the right ear with the OAE detection but bilateral "pass" with AABR. Two babies failed to accept the re-examination. The newborn gene screening showed five of the 460 babies had the positive response on the A1555G restriction enzyme assay. Of the five babies, one was proved to be the 12SrRNA A1555G mutation and three were the C1556T mutations and one sequence was normal. For the SLC26A4 gene screening, five were the heterozygote of IVS7-2A > G mutation were found and one was carrier the polymorphism of IVS7-18T > G and another was IVS6-62_63insGT heterozygote carrier. For the GJB2 gene screening, eight were 235delC heterozygote carriers, four were G109A heterozygote carriers. All the gene screening found 23 newborn babies of the 460 harbored the changes in the three genes. Of those, one was the 12SrRNA A1555G. pathogenic mutation and 13 were pathogenic heterozygote carriers, nine were the polymorphisms. It was worth to pay more attentions that A1555G mutation was found in the baby whose hearing screening was "pass" in the hearing screening as well as the 13 heterozygote carrier for GJB2 and SLC26A4 gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It might be one of the powerful strategy for adding the concept of newborn gene screening into the hearing screening for the purpose of early diagnosis and discovery the prelingual or late-onset or the high risk as well as the pathogenic carriers. On the basis of the research progress, it was necessary to develop the national newborn gene screening into the process of newborn hearing screening.</p>