Sequence variants in the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) gene are associated with NIDDM in Caucasians

NIDDM is a common heterogeneous disorder, the genetic basis of which has yet to be determined. The sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) gene, now known to encode an integral component of the pancreatic beta-cell ATP-sensitive potassium channel, IKATP, was investigated as a logical candidate for this disorder. The two nucleotide-binding fold (NBF) regions of SUR are known to be critical for normal glucose regulation of insulin secretion. Thus, single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis was used to find sequence changes in the two NBF regions of the SUR gene in 35 NIDDM patients. Eight variants were found; and three were evaluated in two Northern European white populations (Utah and the U.K.): 1) a missense mutation in exon 7 (S1370A) was found with equal frequency in patients (n = 223) and control subjects (n = 322); 2) an ACC-->ACT silent variant in exon 22 (T761T) was more common in patients than in control subjects (allele frequencies 0.07 vs. 0.02, P = 0.0008, odds ratio (OR) 3.01, 95% CI 1.54-5.87); and 3) an intronic t-->c change located at position -3 of the exon 24 splice acceptor site was also more common in patients than in control subjects (0.62 vs. 0.46, P < 0.0001, OR 1.91, 95% Cl 1.50-2.44). The combined genotypes of exon 22 C/T or T/T and intron 24 -3c/-3c occurred in 8.9% of patients and 0.5% of control subjects (P < 0.0001, OR 21.5, 95% CI 2.91-159.6). These results suggest that defects at the SUR locus may be a major contributor to the inherited basis of NIDDM in Northern European Caucasians.

[Precocious puberty associated with Von Recklinghausen's disease. Developmental follow-up under cyproterone acetate treatment]

Authors describe a case of a boy aged 8-10/12 years with precocious puberty associated with Von Recklinghausen's disease. He was treated with cyproterone acetate (100 mg/m2/24 h oral doses) and controlled for a period of two years. He shows very few effects of puberal physical signs and improvement of his sexual behavioral area. They have evaluated growth evolution by different parameters and couldn't appreciate any improvement because of the advanced bone age (13-6/12 years) when treatment was started.

[An endemic area of sporotrichosis in Guatemala]

An endemic area of sporotrichosis is described in the Lake of Ayarza District, South Guatemala, where 53 patients have been observed within 3 years. In 45.3% of the cases, the infection appeared after handling fish. The disease was more frequently observed in man (83%) and in patients less than 30 years of age. The most frequent clinical type was the ascending lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis of the limbs. Some cases of ulcerative or verrucous lesions were seen. Almost all the patients cured rapidly either by potassium iodide (46 patients) or spontaneously, or after application of local heat (4 patients). Intradermal tests were performed in healthy population in the endemic area and, for comparison, in Guatemala City. Whole yeast cell antigens of Sporothrix schenckii and Ceratocystis stenoceras were used in these tests. Skin tests to both antigens were more frequently positive in the endemic area; the highest frequency was obtained with the antigen of C. stenoceras. A serological study was performed in 26 patients. The fluorescent antibody staining technique was more sensitive than yeast cell and latex particles agglutinations. C. stenoceras was isolated from bark of some trees, especially Eucalyptus, in the environment, but not S. schenckii.