ABSTRACT
Otosclerosis (MIM 166800) is primarily a metabolic bone disorder of the otic capsule, which leads to bony fixation of the stapedial footplate in the oval window; it is among the most common causes of acquired hearing loss. The etiology of this disease is largely unknown, although epidemiological studies suggest the involvement of both genetic and environmental factors. Recently, a reelin gene, SNP rs3914132, located in intron 2, was shown to be associated with otosclerosis in a European population. When we sequenced blood DNA samples of 85 individuals with otosclerosis and 85 controls, four SNPs of this gene: rs3914131 (P = 0.6463), rs3914132 (P = 0.1822), rs9641319 (P = 0.7371), and rs10227303 (P = 0.5669) were not significantly associated with this disease. In one familial case, a novel variant (C/T) at contig position 2923488 was found to be inherited by the proband and affected family members.
Subject(s)
Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal/genetics , Extracellular Matrix Proteins/genetics , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Otosclerosis/genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics , Serine Endopeptidases/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , India/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Otosclerosis/epidemiology , Reelin Protein , Young AdultABSTRACT
The medical fitness of the candidates selected for officers' training institutes of three wings of Armed Forces is assessed by special medical boards(SMBs) and appeal medical boards (AMBs). The candidates declared unfit at AMBs arc given one more chance to prove their medical fitness, if they so desire, at an another board, designated as review medical board (RMB). RMB is sanctioned by DGAFMS based on merit of the case and as per the provisions of para 482 of RMSAF -1983. The venue of RMB is either at AFMC Pune or at Army Hospital (R&R) Delhi. RMB documents for the period from 1993-98 were analysed. During this period 338 requests for RMB were received, out of which 173 cases were given sanction (51.69%) for RMB. The average percentage of fitness in RMB among the total requests was 25.73%. There was no significant difference in the percentage of fitness between the RMBs held at AFMC Pune and Army Hospital (R&R) Delhi. Thus the paper goes to prove its usefulnesss to the candidates as well as to services and its fairness.
