Parent experiences with genetic testing for pediatric hearing loss.

The purpose of the current study was to assess parent perceptions and experiences of genetic testing, as well as barriers for not undergoing testing in a sample of families of children with hearing loss. A 44-item questionnaire, The Parent Perception of Genetic Testing Questionnaire developed by the research study team was administered. Participants were recruited from a pediatric otolaryngology/audiology practice and social media.

Etiologic Diagnosis of Genetic Hearing Loss in an Ethnically Diverse Deafness Cohort.

Introduction: Hearing loss is a common sensory disorder that impacts patients across the lifespan. Many genetic variants have been identified that contribute to non-syndromic hearing loss. Yet, genetic testing is not routinely administered when hearing loss is diagnosed, particularly in adults.

Dispersed DNA variants underlie hearing loss in South Florida's minority population.

Background: We analyzed the genetic causes of sensorineural hearing loss in racial and ethnic minorities of South Florida by reviewing demographic, phenotypic, and genetic data on 136 patients presenting to the Hereditary Hearing Loss Clinic at the University of Miami. In our retrospective chart review, of these patients, half self-identified as Hispanic, and the self-identified racial distribution was 115 (86%) White, 15 (11%) Black, and 6 (4%) Asian. Our analysis helps to reduce the gap in understanding the prevalence, impact, and genetic factors related to hearing loss among diverse populations.

Cytokine Profiling of Cyst Fluid and Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Cystic Vestibular Schwannoma.

Background: The vestibular schwannoma (VS) secretome can initiate monocyte recruitment and macrophage polarization to M1 (proinflammatory) and/or M2 (protumorigenic) phenotypes, which in turn secrete additional cytokines that contribute to the tumor microenvironment. Profiling cyst fluid and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in cystic VS provides a unique opportunity to understand mechanisms that may contribute to tumor progression and cyst formation.

Hypothesis: Cystic VSs secrete high levels of cytokines into cyst fluid and express abundant M1 and M2 macrophages.

Chemosensory function recovery in COVID-19 patients: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine whether subjects who have recovered from COVID-19 smell and taste disturbance perform similarly to their COVID-naïve baseline, on gold-standard smell and taste tests.

Study Design: Prospective cross-sectional study.

Setting: University of Miami Department of Otolaryngology in Miami, FL between September 2021, and August 2022.

Cotargeting Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase and Focal Adhesion Kinase Pathways Inhibits Proliferation of NF2 Schwannoma Cells.

Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) is a tumor predisposition syndrome caused by germline inactivating mutations in the NF2 gene encoding the merlin tumor suppressor. Patients develop multiple benign tumor types in the nervous system including bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS). Standard treatments include surgery and radiation therapy, which may lead to loss of hearing, impaired facial nerve function, and other complications.

Early Wnt Signaling Activation Promotes Inner Ear Differentiation via Cell Caudalization in Mouse Stem Cell-Derived Organoids.

The inner ear is derived from the otic placode, one of the numerous cranial sensory placodes that emerges from the pre-placodal ectoderm (PPE) along its anterior-posterior axis. However, the molecular dynamics underlying how the PPE is regionalized are poorly resolved. We used stem cell-derived organoids to investigate the effects of Wnt signaling on early PPE differentiation and found that modulating Wnt signaling significantly increased inner ear organoid induction efficiency and reproducibility.

Elucidation of repeat motifs R1- and R2-related TRIOBP variants in autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss DFNB28 among indigenous South African individuals.

Background: DFNB28, a recessively inherited nonsyndromic form of deafness in humans, is caused by mutations in the TRIOBP gene (MIM #609761) on chromosome 22q13. Its protein TRIOBP helps to tightly bundle F-actin filaments, forming a rootlet that penetrates through the cuticular plate into the cochlear hair cell body. Repeat motifs R1 and R2, located in exon 7 of the TRIOBP-5 isoform, are the actin-binding domains.

CUDC907, a dual phosphoinositide-3 kinase/histone deacetylase inhibitor, promotes apoptosis of NF2 Schwannoma cells.

Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) is a rare tumor disorder caused by pathogenic variants of the merlin tumor suppressor encoded by . Patients develop vestibular schwannomas (VS), peripheral schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas. There are no approved drug therapies for NF2.

Effect of AR42 in Primary Vestibular Schwannoma Cells and a Xenograft Model of Vestibular Schwannoma.

Hypothesis: AR42, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, reduces viability of primary vestibular schwannoma (VS) cells and delays tumor progression and hearing loss (HL) in a xenograft model of VS.

Background: The impact of HDAC expression on AR42 response in primary VS cells is unknown, as well as the effects of AR42 on VS-associated HL and imbalance.

Methods: Primary human VS cells (n = 7) were treated with AR42 (0-3.

Characterization of an induced pluripotent stem cell line (UMi040-A) bearing an auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder-associated variant in TMEM43.

Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disorders. TMEM43 is expressed in cochlear glia-like supporting cells (GLSs) and is known to be associated with late-onset auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) and progressive hearing loss. Here, we describe the derivation of an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from a patient lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) carrying a single heterozygous nonsense variant (p.

Generation of hiPSC line UMi030-A from an individual with the hearing loss-related GJB2 mutation c.109G > A.

Genetic variants in the GJB2 gene which encodes for the Connexin 26 protein account for ∼ 60% of cases of genetic hearing loss. A novel hiPSC line was generated from an individual with the hearing loss-related variant c.109G > A in GJB2 leading to the p.

Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Vestibular Schwannoma and Relationship to Hearing.

Objective: (1) Characterize the distribution of M1 and M2 macrophages in vestibular schwannomas by hearing status. (2) Develop assays to assess monocyte migration and macrophage polarization in cocultures with vestibular schwannoma cells.

Study Design: Basic and translational science.

Peripheral vestibular system: Age-related vestibular loss and associated deficits.

Given the interdependence of multiple factors in age-related vestibular loss (e.g., balance, vision, cognition), it is important to examine the individual contributions of these factors with ARVL.

Characterization of UMi031-A-2 inducible pluripotent stem cell line with a neurofibromatosis type 2-associated mutation.

The UMi031-A-2 hiPSC line contains a CRISPR-induced homozygous, Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) mutation (L64P (CTG > CCG)) in the NF2 gene that encodes a merlin tumor suppressor. This line was generated from an unaffected iPSC line using CRISPR technology and characterized for pluripotency and karyotypic stability. The c.

Derivation of iPSC line UMi029-A bearing a hearing-loss associated variant in the SMPX gene.

Hereditary hearing loss (HL) is the most common sensory disorder with multiple potential modes of inheritance, such as X-linked. Multiple loci have been associated with X-linked HL, including variants in the Small Muscle Protein X-Linked (SMPX) gene responsible for deafness, X-linked 4 (DFNX4) (OMIM 300066). Here we describe the derivation of an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from an individual bearing a novel splice variant (c.

Identification of a genetic variant underlying familial cases of recurrent benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo in humans, yet the molecular etiology is currently unknown. Evidence suggests that genetic factors may play an important role in some cases of idiopathic BPPV, particularly in familial cases, but the responsible genetic variants have not been identified. In this study, we performed whole exome sequencing [including untranslated regions (UTRs)] of 12 families and Sanger sequencing of additional 30 families with recurrent BPPV in Caucasians from the United States (US) Midwest region, to identify the genetic variants responsible for heightened susceptibility to BPPV.

Screening Strategies for Deafness Genes and Functional Outcomes in Cochlear Implant Patients.

Objectives: To review the current state of knowledge about the influence of specific genetic mutations that cause sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) on cochlear implant (CI) functional outcomes, and how this knowledge may be integrated into clinical practice. A multistep and sequential population-based genetic algorithm suitable for the identification of congenital SNHL mutations before CI placement is also examined.

Data Sources, Study Selection: A review was performed of the English literature from 2000 to 2019 using PubMed regarding the influence of specific mutations on CI outcomes and the use of next-generation sequencing for genetic screening of CI patients.

Generation and characterization of a P2rx2 V60L mouse model for DFNA41.

P2RX2 encodes the P2X2 receptor, which is an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) gated (purinoreceptor) ion channel. P2RX2 c. 178G > T (p.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid Attenuates Cadmium- and Lead-Induced Neurotoxicity by Inhibiting Both Endoplasmic-Reticulum Stress and Activation of Fas/FasL and Mitochondrial Apoptotic Pathways in Rat Cerebral Cortex.

Although many studies have reported toxic effects of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the central nervous system, few studies have investigated the combined toxicity of Cd and Pb. The mechanisms by which these combined heavy metals induce toxicity, as well as effective means to exert neuroprotection from these agents, remain poorly understood. To investigate the protective effects of alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) on Cd- and/or Pb-induced cortical damage in rats, 48 Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to drinking water containing 50 mg/L of Cd and/or 300 mg/L of Pb for 12 weeks, in the presence or absence of α-LA co-treatment (50 mg/kg) via gavage.

Spectrum of Mutations in an Indigenous South African Population Further Elucidates the Nonsyndromic Autosomal Recessive Phenotype of DFNB2 to Include Both Homozygous and Compound Heterozygous Mutations.

gene encodes unconventional myosin VIIA, which, when mutated, causes a phenotypic spectrum ranging from recessive hearing loss DFNB2 to deaf-blindness, Usher Type 1B (USH1B). mutations are reported in nine DFNB2 families to date, none from sub-Saharan Africa.In DNA, from a cohort of 94 individuals representing 92 families from the Limpopo province of South Africa, eight variations were detected among 10 individuals.

Fluorescent Detection of Vestibular Schwannoma Using Intravenous Sodium Fluorescein In Vivo.

Background: Vestibular schwannoma (VS) are intracranial tumors caused by merlin deficiency. Sodium fluorescein (SF) is a fluorescent compound that accumulates in various intracranial tumors, causing tumors to emit green fluorescence after blue light excitation.

Hypothesis: Intravenous SF preferentially deposits in VS, helping surgeons differentiate tumor from surrounding tissue.