Qualitative aspects of the process of Neonatal Hearing Screening Program in Mexico evaluated from the parental perspective.

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Qualitative aspects of the process of Neonatal Hearing Screening Program in Mexico evaluated from the parental perspective.

Medwave. 2016 Dec 12;16(11):e6798

Authors: Martínez Wbaldo MD, Torres Lagunas ML

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Mexico began in 2010. Its results, published in 2013 by the National Council for the Development and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (CONADIS), report low coverage and, currently, there is a dearth of information about its activities. This study describes the process of the program from the epistemological perspective of women whose children participated in the program, evaluating it under the sustenance of the constructivist-respondent model in search of aspects that could help explain its results.
METHODS: Descriptive study with a qualitative approach based on the constructivistrespondent paradigm. We elected the 14 women who participated in the study through trial and number until theoretical saturation. After signing an informed consent form and respecting the confidentiality and anonymity, these women underwent semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded and transcribed as were conducted. The researchers separately analyzed and coded categories and conjointly summarized categories and subcategories. Validity and reliability were obtained through the credibility, transferability and triangulation.
RESULTS: From the speeches, we obtained the general profile of the interviewed, evolution of their children in the program process and four categories with 15 subcategories related to the reconstruction of the process: knowledge, needs, feelings and attitudes. One was evaluated as favorable, six without agreement and eight as unfavorable. The latter refer to our own context.
CONCLUSIONS: The epistemological perspective of the interviewed women showed aspects that could help explain the low coverage of the program. Attention from public policies could improve this feature. With the establishment of the program, children with deafness are diagnosed and treated at a lower age than before the program.

PMID: 28076344 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Structural properties of the intrinsically disordered, multiple calcium ion-binding otolith matrix macromolecule-64 (OMM-64).

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Structural properties of the intrinsically disordered, multiple calcium ion-binding otolith matrix macromolecule-64 (OMM-64).

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2017 Aug 30;:

Authors: Poznar M, Hołubowicz R, Wojtas M, Gapiński J, Banachowicz E, Patkowski A, Ożyhar A, Dobryszycki P

Abstract
Fish otoliths are calcium carbonate biominerals that are involved in hearing and balance sensing. An organic matrix plays a crucial role in their formation. Otolith matrix macromolecule-64 (OMM-64) is a highly acidic, calcium-binding protein (CBP) found in rainbow trout otoliths. It is a component of high-molecular-weight aggregates, which influence the size, shape and polymorph of calcium carbonate in vitro. In this study, a protocol for the efficient expression and purification of OMM-64 was developed. For the first time, the complete structural characteristics of OMM-64 were described. Various biophysical methods were combined to show that OMM-64 occurs as an intrinsically disordered monomer. Under denaturing conditions (pH, temperature) OMM-64 exhibits folding propensity. It was determined that OMM-64 binds approximately 61 calcium ions with millimolar affinity. The folding-unfolding experiments showed that calcium ions induced the collapse of OMM-64. The effect of other counter ions present in trout endolymph on OMM-64 conformational changes was studied. The significance of disordered properties of OMM-64 and the possible function of this protein is discussed.

PMID: 28866388 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Structural properties of the intrinsically disordered, multiple calcium ion-binding otolith matrix macromolecule-64 (OMM-64).

Related Articles

Structural properties of the intrinsically disordered, multiple calcium ion-binding otolith matrix macromolecule-64 (OMM-64).

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2017 Aug 30;:

Authors: Poznar M, Hołubowicz R, Wojtas M, Gapiński J, Banachowicz E, Patkowski A, Ożyhar A, Dobryszycki P

Abstract
Fish otoliths are calcium carbonate biominerals that are involved in hearing and balance sensing. An organic matrix plays a crucial role in their formation. Otolith matrix macromolecule-64 (OMM-64) is a highly acidic, calcium-binding protein (CBP) found in rainbow trout otoliths. It is a component of high-molecular-weight aggregates, which influence the size, shape and polymorph of calcium carbonate in vitro. In this study, a protocol for the efficient expression and purification of OMM-64 was developed. For the first time, the complete structural characteristics of OMM-64 were described. Various biophysical methods were combined to show that OMM-64 occurs as an intrinsically disordered monomer. Under denaturing conditions (pH, temperature) OMM-64 exhibits folding propensity. It was determined that OMM-64 binds approximately 61 calcium ions with millimolar affinity. The folding-unfolding experiments showed that calcium ions induced the collapse of OMM-64. The effect of other counter ions present in trout endolymph on OMM-64 conformational changes was studied. The significance of disordered properties of OMM-64 and the possible function of this protein is discussed.

PMID: 28866388 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Epiphycan is specifically expressed in cochlear supporting cells and is necessary for normal hearing.

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Epiphycan is specifically expressed in cochlear supporting cells and is necessary for normal hearing.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2017 Aug 29;:

Authors: Hanada Y, Nakamura Y, Ishida Y, Takimoto Y, Taniguchi M, Ozono Y, Koyama Y, Morihana T, Imai T, Ota Y, Sato T, Inohara H, Shimada S

Abstract
The study of inner ear specific transcripts has revealed novel information about hereditary hearing loss and a mechanism of normal hearing. In this study, by analyzing a published cDNA library, we focused on Epiphycan (Epyc), a member of the small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycan family, whose transcript is enriched in the inner ear. Epyc mRNA was expressed abundantly and specifically in adult mice cochleae and was localized in supporting cells within the organ of Corti of both neonatal and adult mice. To examine the function of Epyc, we generated Epyc knockout (KO) mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Epyc KO mice cochleae exhibited normal morphology. However, measurement of the auditory brain-stem response in Epyc KO mice revealed an elevated hearing threshold above 16 kHz frequency. This study suggests that Epyc is necessary for normal auditory function.

PMID: 28864419 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Book Review.

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Book Review.

Int J Audiol. 2017 Aug 31;:1

Authors: White J

PMID: 28859535 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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The interpretation of static positional nystagmus in a balance clinic.

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The interpretation of static positional nystagmus in a balance clinic.

Int J Audiol. 2017 Sep 01;:1-9

Authors: Jeffery H, Hopkins M, Anderson R, Patel V, Rogers J

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the current criteria for the interpretation of positional nystagmus (PN).
DESIGN: Videonystagmography data on PN was collected for 90 patients presenting for balance testing with a history of vertigo or imbalance (excluding those diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). These were compared to normative data from 90 asymptomatic subjects. A literature review was carried out regarding threshold criteria for clinically significant PN. These were evaluated using the data collected.
STUDY SAMPLE: Clinic group: 90 patients; 37 male, 53 female. Age range 15-82 years. Normative group: Ninety subjects; 31 male, 59 female. Age range 21-79 years.
RESULTS: PN was seen in 75.6% of the clinic group and in 50% of the normative group. The prevalence of nystagmus of slow phase velocity (SPV) > 3°/s was significantly higher in the clinic group than the normative group. The maximum SPV recorded in each position was greater from the clinic group than the normative group.
CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the use of normative thresholds for SPV for both horizontal and vertical PN. A normative threshold of >3°/s for horizontal and >7°/s for vertical nystagmus is proposed.

PMID: 28859528 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Development of a method for determining binaural sensitivity to temporal fine structure.

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Development of a method for determining binaural sensitivity to temporal fine structure.

Int J Audiol. 2017 Aug 31;:1-10

Authors: Füllgrabe C, Harland AJ, Sęk AP, Moore BCJ

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To develop and evaluate a test of the ability to process binaural temporal-fine-structure (TFS) information. The test was intended to provide a graded measure of TFS sensitivity for all listeners.
DESIGN: Sensitivity to TFS was assessed at a sensation level of 30 dB using the established TFS-LF test at centre frequencies of 250, 500 and 750 Hz, and using the new TFS-AF test, in which the interaural phase difference (IPD) was fixed and the frequency was adaptively varied. IPDs varied from 30 to 180°.
STUDY SAMPLE: Nine young (19-25 years) and 23 older (47-84 years) listeners with normal hearing over the tested frequency range.
RESULTS: For the young listeners, thresholds on the TFS-AF test did not improve significantly with repeated testing. The rank-ordering of performance across listeners was independent of the size of the IPD, and moderate-to-strong correlations were observed between scores for the TFS-LF and TFS-AF tests. Older listeners who were unable to complete the TFS-LF test were all able to complete the TFS-AF test.
CONCLUSIONS: No practice effects and strong correlations with an established test of binaural TFS sensitivity make the TFS-AF test a good candidate for the assessment of supra-threshold binaural processing.

PMID: 28859494 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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