Tone-Burst Auditory Brainstem Response and Cortical Potentials in Diagnosis of Syndromic Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder.

In this study, we report our findings of comprehensive evaluation in a man with syndromic craniofacial features, cognitive impairment, and hearing loss. The patient underwent psychological and genetic testing and screening for 133 genetic mutations associated with hearing loss, as well as extensive audiological evaluation to assess the auditory pathway between the middle ear and the auditory cortex. Psychological testing showed moderate cognitive impairment. Genetic testing did not reveal a genetic mutation for hearing loss. Audiological evaluation revealed mixed hearing loss and signs of auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) despite absence of otoacoustic emissions and an absent click-evoked auditory brainstem response (ABR) without recording of cochlear microphonics (CM). ANSD was characterized by abnormal speech discrimination, bilateral robust CM to 2,000 Hz tone-burst (TB) ABR, and abnormal left thalamocortical and cortical pathways diagnosed based on auditory middle latency and cortical N1-P2 responses. These behavioral and electrophysiological findings suggest post-synaptic ANSD at the brainstem level. An abnormal left thalamocortical auditory pathway may be attributable to the combined effect of lack of neural synchrony secondary to ANSD mainly on the left and/or brain injury. The findings in this study support the use of TB ABR and auditory cortical potentials in the ANSD test protocol and in patients with craniofacial anomalies.

Two-Dimensional Fluorescence Difference Spectroscopy of ZnO and Mg Composites in the Detection of Physiological Protein and RNA Interactions.

Two-dimensional fluorescence difference spectroscopy (2-D FDS) was used to determine the unique spectral signatures of zinc oxide (ZnO), magnesium oxide (MgO), and 5% magnesium zinc oxide nanocomposite (5% Mg/ZnO) and was then used to demonstrate the change in spectral signature that occurs when physiologically important proteins, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ribonuclease A (RNase A), interact with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). When RNase A is bound to 5% Mg/ZnO, the intensity is quenched, while the intensity is magnified and a significant shift is seen when torula yeast RNA (TYRNA) is bound to RNase A and 5% Mg/ZnO. The intensity of 5% Mg/ZnO is quenched also when thrombin and thrombin aptamer are bound to the nanocomposite. These data indicate that RNA-protein interaction can occur unimpeded on the surface of NPs, which was confirmed by gel electrophoresis, and importantly that the change in fluorescence excitation, emission, and intensity shown by 2-D FDS may indicate specificity of biomolecular interactions.

Transforming growth factor-ß1/Smad3-independent epithelial-mesenchymal transition in type I collagen glomerulopathy.

The glomerulofibrotic Col1a2-deficient mouse model demonstrates glomerular homotrimeric type I collagen deposition in mesangial and subendothelial spaces. In this report, we investigate the role of transforming growth factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) in myofibroblast activation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in this glomerulopathy. Immunohistochemical analyses of glomerular α-sma, desmin, vimentin, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen demonstrated parietal epithelial cell proliferation and EMT in late stages of the glomerulopathy in the Col1a2-deficient mice. Glomerular TGF-ß1 RNA and protein were not elevated in 1- and 3-month-old mice as determined by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and protein immunoassay analyses. To investigate further whether TGF-ß1 plays a role in the glomerulopathy outside of the 1- and 3-month time periods, the Col1a2-deficient mice were bred with Smad3 knockout mice. If the glomerular fibrosis in the Col1a2-deficient mice is mediated by the TGF-ß1/Smad3 transcription pathway, it was hypothesized that the resultant Col1a2-deficient/Smad3-deficient mice would exhibit attenuated glomerular homotrimer deposition. However, the Col1a2-deficient/Smad3-deficient kidneys were similarly affected as compared to age-matched Col1a2-deficient kidneys, suggesting that homotrimeric type I collagen deposition in the Col1a2-deficient mouse is independent of TGF-ß1/Smad3 signaling. Deposition of homotrimeric type I collagen appears to be the initiating event in this glomerulopathy, providing evidence that EMT and myofibroblast activation occur following initiation, consistent with a secondary wound-healing response independent of TGF-ß1.

Characterization of the MPS I-H knock-in mouse reveals increased femoral biomechanical integrity with compromised material strength and altered bone geometry.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I), is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency in the α-L-iduronidase enzyme, resulting in decreased enzymatic activity and accumulation of glycosaminoglycans. The disorder phenotypically manifests with increased urine glycosaminoglycan excretion, facial dysmorphology, neuropathology, cardiac manifestations, and bone deformities. While the development of new treatment strategies have shown promise in attenuating many symptoms associated with the disorder, the bone phenotype remains unresponsive. The aim of this study was to investigate and further characterize the skeletal manifestations of the Idua-W392X knock-in mouse model, which carries a nonsense mutation corresponding to the IDUA-W402X mutation found in Hurler syndrome (MPS I-H) patients. µCT analysis of the microarchitecture demonstrated increased cortical thickness, trabecular number, and trabecular connectivity along with decreased trabecular separation in the tibiae of female homozygous Idua-W392X knock-in (IDUA-/-) mice, and increased cortical thickness in male IDUA-/- tibiae. Cortical density, as determined by µCT, and bone mineral density distribution, as determined by quantitative backscattered microscopy, were equivalent in IDUA-/- and wildtype (Wt) bone. However, tibial porosity was increased in IDUA-/- cortical bone. Raman spectroscopy results indicated that tibiae from female IDUA-/- had decreased phosphate to matrix ratios and increased carbonate to phosphate ratios compared to Wt female tibiae, whereas these ratios remained equivalent in male IDUA-/- and Wt tibiae. Femora demonstrated altered geometry and upon torsional loading to failure analysis, female IDUA-/- mouse femora exhibited increased torsional ultimate strength, with a decrease in material strength relative to Wt littermates. Taken together, these findings suggest that the IDUA-/- mutation results in increased bone torsional strength by altering the overall bone geometry and the microarchitecture which may be a compensatory response to increased porosity, reduced bone tensile strength and altered physiochemical composition.

Deficient degradation of homotrimeric type I collagen, α1(I)3 glomerulopathy in oim mice.

Col1a2-deficient (oim) mice synthesize homotrimeric type I collagen due to nonfunctional proα2(I) collagen chains. Our previous studies revealed a postnatal, progressive type I collagen glomerulopathy in this mouse model, but the mechanism of the sclerotic collagen accumulation within the renal mesangium remains unclear. The recent demonstration of the resistance of homotrimeric type I collagen to cleavage by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), led us to investigate the role of MMP-resistance in the glomerulosclerosis of Col1a2-deficient mice. We measured the pre- and post-translational expression of type I collagen and MMPs in glomeruli from heterozygous and homozygous animals. Both the heterotrimeric and homotrimeric isotypes of type I collagen were equally present in whole kidneys of heterozygous mice by immunohistochemistry and biochemical analysis, but the sclerotic glomerular collagen was at least 95-98% homotrimeric, suggesting homotrimeric type I collagen is the pathogenic isotype of type I collagen in glomerular disease. Although steady-state MMP and Col1a1 mRNA levels increased with the disease progression, we found these changes to be a secondary response to the deficient clearance of MMP-resistant homotrimers. Increased renal MMP expression was not sufficient to prevent homotrimeric type I collagen accumulation.