OBJECTIVETo analyze mutations of SLC26A4 gene and explore their origins for a patient with enlarge vestibuar aqueduct syndrome.

METHODSClinical data and peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the patient and her parents. Genome DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood. All of the 21 exons of the SLC26A4 gene were amplified with PCR and subjected to directly sequencing.

RESULTSThe patient was found to have carried two mutant alleles of the SLC26A4 gene, namely c.1522A to G and c.1229C to T, which were inherited from her father and mother, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSLC26A4 c.1522A to G is likely to be a pathogenic mutation. Above results may facilitate genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for this family.

Adult ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Child ; Exons ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pedigree ; Vestibular Aqueduct ; abnormalities

Objective:To evaluate the effect of propofol anesthesia on autophagy in hippocampal neurons of newborn rats.Methods:Thirty-nine healthy Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 7 days, weighing 10-12 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=13 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), fat emulsion group (group F) and propofol group (group P). Normal saline 8 ml/kg was intraperitoneally injected for 5 consecutive days in group C. Medium-/long-chain fatty emulsion injection 8 ml/kg was intraperitoneally injected for 5 consecutive days in group F. Medium-/long-chain propofol injection 80 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected for 5 consecutive days in group P. Five rats were sacrificed on 1st day after the end of propofol anesthesia, and hippocampal tissues were taken for determination of the expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) and Beclin-1 (by Western blot). The remaining rats in each group underwent the Morris water maze test on 19th day after the end of propofol anesthesia (30 days after birth), and the escape latency, percentage of time of staying at the target quadrant and the number of crossing the original platform were recorded. Results:Compared with group C, no significant change was found in the expression of hippocampal LC3B and Beclin-1, escape latency, percentage of time of staying at the target quadrant, and the number of crossing the original platform in group F ( P>0.05), and the expression of hippocampal LC3B and Beclin-1 was significantly up-regulated, the escape latency was prolonged, percentage of time of staying at the target quadrant was decreased, and the number of crossing the original platform was decreased in group P ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Conclusion:The mechanism by which propofol anesthesia causes long-term cognitive dysfunction may be related to promoting autophagy in hippocampal neurons of newborn rats.