Different Rates of the SLC26A4-Related Hearing Loss in Two Indigenous Peoples of Southern Siberia (Russia)

Hereditary hearing loss (HL) is known to be highly locus/allelic heterogeneous, and the prevalence of different HL forms significantly varies among populations worldwide. Investigation of region-specific landscapes of hereditary HL is important for local healthcare and medical genetic services. Mutations in the SLC26A4 gene leading to nonsyndromic recessive deafness (DFNB4) and Pendred syndrome are common genetic causes of hereditary HL, at least in some Asian populations. We present for the first time the results of a thorough analysis of the SLC26A4 gene by Sanger sequencing in the large cohorts of patients with HL of unknown etiology belonging to two neighboring indigenous Turkic-speaking Siberian peoples (Tuvinians and Altaians). A definite genetic diagnosis based on the presence of biallelic SLC26A4 mutations was established for 28.2% (62/220) of all enrolled Tuvinian patients vs. 4.3% (4/93) of Altaian patients. The rate of the SLC26A4-related HL in Tuvinian patients appeared to be one of the highest among populations worldwide. The SLC26A4 mutational spectrum was characterized by the presence of Asian-specific mutations c.919-2A>G and c.2027T>A (p.Leu676Gln), predominantly found in Tuvinian patients, and c.2168A>G (p.His723Arg), which was only detected in Altaian patients. In addition, a novel pathogenic variant c.1545T>G (p.Phe515Leu) was found with high frequency in Tuvinian patients. Overall, based on the findings of this study and our previous research, we were able to uncover the genetic causes of HL in 50.5% of Tuvinian patients and 34.5% of Altaian patients.

Awareness and perception of medical genetic services among Malaysian parents of autism spectrum disorders children: the lessons to be learned

Purpose Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders with uncertain etiology. Evidence shows that genetic testing can explain about 20% of cases. This study aims to assess the level of awareness and perception of medical genetic services among Malaysian parents with ASD children. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey using an interviewer-administered questionnaire was done among 111 parents of children with ASD from August 2017 to September 2019 in two clinics in Malaysia. Findings A majority of children with ASD (80.20%) were male and diagnosed at the age of 3–4 years old (47.80%). When the autistic child was born, most mothers and fathers were aged 26–30 (40.50%) and 31–35 years old (42.30%), respectively. Another child with ASD in nuclear and extended families was reported for 11.70% and 13.50%, respectively. Only 24.30% have seen a professional genetic consultant, and 19.8% have done genetic testing for affected children. The mean score of awareness of genetic services for ASD was 2.48 ± 3.30. Having medical insurance and another child with ASD in the nuclear family was significantly associated with a higher level of awareness (p = 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). Most of the participants have a positive perception of these services. Originality/value Regardless of demographic factors, participants have poor awareness of genetic services for ASD, likely because the primary physician did not recommend it upon diagnosis. Increasing health-care providers’ knowledge about the current potential of genetic testing for ASD and educational campaigns for the public are critical components of using available genetic tests to improve ASD management.

STRUCTURE OF HEREDITARY AND CONGENITAL PATHOLOGY IN A MULTIDISCIPLINARY SPECIALIZED PEDIATRIC CLINIC: PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO DIAGNOSTICS

Hereditary and congenital pathologies make up a significant proportion in the structure of the general morbidity and mortality of the child population. In this regard, the problem of personalized medical care in multidisciplinary clinical centers seems very urgent. In the Scientific-Practical Center of specialized medical care for children the medical genetic service successfully functions since 1995. In 2017–2019, patients were consulted by geneticists, which accounted for 10,6% of all discharged patients; karyotype studies were performed in 463 (20,4%) consulted patients, chromosomal pathology was revealed in 28 (6,04%) of all karyotyped patients. DNA research was performed in 188 patients: exome sequencing – in 112; sequencing of exons of the SCN1A gene – in 39; search for mutations in the PHOX2B gene – in 17; search for frequent mutations in the FGFR1,2,3 genes – in 15 (the technique was introduced since September 2018); sequencing of SLC2A1 gene – in 5 patients. The high demand for medical genetic counseling and laboratory genetic diagnosis of hereditary and congenital diseases confirms the need for independent medical genetic units in multidisciplinary clinical hospitals, that should interact with medical genetic services at regional and federal levels.

Regular genetic counseling and DNA diagnostics of hereditary diseases of the cardiovascular system in the practice of the federal multidisciplinary surgical center (the analysis of the experience of last 10 years work experience of medical genetics laboratory of Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery)

Анализ результатов 10-летней работы лаборатории медицинской генетики показал необходимость развития новых отраслей генетики для формирования персонализированной медицины в России. Совершенствование медико-генетической службы на базе многопрофильного хирургического центра дает большие преимущества в развитии семейных обследований. The analysis of last 10 years work experience of medical genetics laboratory has shown the need for the development of new branches of genetics for the formation of personalized medicine in Russia. The improvement of the medical genetic services at the multidisciplinary surgical center provides great advantages in the development of family examinations.

Support, information, and integration of genetics for children with congenital lower limb deficiencies in British Columbia, Canada

Objectives Children and families affected by congenital limb deficiencies (CLD) require a unique level of emotional support from diagnosis through to adolescence. The following study aims to collect data on Canadian paediatric patients affected by a CLD followed at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH), Department of Orthopaedics. Methods Parents of children with a CLD were asked to complete a written questionnaire examining their experiences. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected concerning parent satisfaction with patient referrals, emotional support, and knowledge of their child’s diagnosis. Results Twenty-five completed questionnaires were returned. Fifty per cent of the parents reported they were either very satisfied, or satisfied, with the emotional support provided by health care providers (HCPs). Twenty-five per cent of the parents were unsatisfied with the emotional support received by HCPs. Forty-eight per cent of the parents could not recall the specific name of their child’s diagnosis; 20% of the parents reported their child did not have diagnosis. All the patients in our study had received a clinical diagnosis. Twenty-eight per cent of the parents in this study were also seen in medical genetics. Conclusions Families require additional resources for emotional support, peer support, and referrals to support organizations. Gaps in parent knowledge regarding their child’s CLD suggest the need for formalized communication strategies for HCPs. Furthermore, patients with CLDs and their families may benefit from improved communication between orthopaedic and medical genetic services at the time of diagnosis. Integration of genetic counsellors may improve emotional supports and education for families with regards to testing and reproductive planning.

PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN'S DISABILITY IN MODERN RUSSIA

Creation of system of early prophylaxis of children disability and support of the families bringing up disabled children and children with limited opportunities are among the main priorities of the Russian Federation state social policy. There are a number of problems requiring immediate solutions. Dynamics of children’s disability in our country is characterized by process stagnation. The age and gender structure of children’s disability practically doesn’t change. The analysis of its nosological structure shows that alienations and disorders of behavior, illness of a nervous system and congenital anomalies of development steadily occupy more than 60% among the illnesses which caused disability of children of all age groups. There was a decrease in the prevalence of total disability in most classes of diseases, such as injuries, diseases of the genitourinary system, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, digestive system and growth of disability caused by neoplasms and diseases of the endocrine system. The underestimation of children’s disability bound to various reasons is supposed: social motivation of a family, complexity of legal veneering, strict requirements of service of medico-social examination, insufficient medical experts awareness on criteria of disability. Among disability formations risk factors the most discussed are the achievements of perinatology leading to improvement of nursing of prematurely born and small newborns, and wide uses of auxiliary genesial technologies. An important part of all preventive measures aimed at reducing the genetic load of population is prenatal and preimplantation diagnosis. It seems appropriate to extend the screening to congenital and hereditary metabolic diseases in neonatal period, including the most common nosological forms of infrequent illnesses. In solving problems of childhood disability prevention a priority should be given to development of services of family planning; improving antenatal and perinatal care; preventive work with healthy but having deviations in development children; development of medical genetic services; implementation of programs of different types of pathology screening.

The genetic background of Southern Iranian couples before marriage

Genetic service for couples plays an increasingly important role in diagnosis and risk management. This study investigated the status of consanguinity and the medical genetic history (effectiveness and coverage of medical genetic services) in couples residing in a city in southern Iran. We questioned couples who were referred to Behbahan Marital Counseling Center, Behbahan, Iran, during the period from January to November 2014, to obtain information on consanguinity, disease history, and previous referral to a medical genetics center. For the collected data was obtained descriptive statistics with STATA 11.0 software. A total of 500 couples were questioned. Mean age was 24.8 ± 5.2 years. Almost one quarter (23.4%) of the couples were consanguineous. Consanguinity was almost twice as common in rural areas as in urban areas (33.9 vs. 19.2%, p = 0.001). Only a few couples (~3.0%) had ever been referred for genetic counseling. The main reason for previous genetic counseling was consanguinity (85.7%). The majority of the participants (96.3%) had never been tested for any genetic conditions. Our findings suggest that only a small proportion of couples in Khuzestan Province, Iran (Behbahan City) were receiving adequate genetics care. This may reflect the limited accessibility of such services, and inadequate awareness and education among the care providers.