Navigation Links
People with DFNA2 hearing loss show increased touch sensitivity
Date:12/9/2011

People with a certain form of inherited hearing loss have increased sensitivity to low frequency vibration, according to a study by Professor Thomas Jentsch of the Leibniz-Institut fr Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP)/Max Delbrck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch and Professor Gary Lewin (MDC), conducted in cooperation with clinicians from Madrid, Spain and Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The research findings, which were published in Nature Neuroscience (doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn.2985)*, reveal previously unknown relationships between hearing loss and touch sensitivity: In order to be able to 'feel', specialized cells in the skin must be tuned like instruments in an orchestra.

The members of the Spanish and Dutch families who participated in the study were quite amazed when the researchers from Berlin unpacked their testing equipment. Many of the family members suffer from hereditary DFNA2 hearing loss, but the researchers were less interested in their hearing ability than in their sense of touch. The hearing impairment is caused by a mutation which disrupts the function of many hair cells in the inner ear. This mutation, the researchers suspected, might also affect the sense of touch.

Tiny, delicate hairs in our inner ear vibrate to the pressure of the sound waves. The vibrations cause an influx of positively charged potassium ions into the hair cells. This electric current produces a nerve signal that is transmitted to the brain we hear. The potassium ions flow through a channel in the cell membrane and again out of the hair cells. This potassium channel, a protein molecule called KCNQ4, is destroyed by the mutation in hearing-impaired people. The sensory cells gradually die off due to overload. "But we have found that KCNQ4 is present not only in the ear, but also in some sensory cells of the skin," Thomas Jentsch explained. "This gave us the idea that the mutation might also affect the sense of touch. And this is exa
'/>"/>

Contact: bachtler@mdc-berlin.de
bachtler@mdc-berlin.de
49-309-406-3896
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3

Related medicine news :

1. Behavior of people faced with health-care choices is not influenced by framing effect, study finds
2. Swedish people are quick to adopt JoVE, a video journal for biomedical sciences
3. Low-Cal Diet Cuts Fat Around Heart in Obese People: Study
4. Kessler Foundation receives grants to study health disparities in people with disabilities
5. Thin People May Be at Greater Risk for Post-Surgery Death
6. People May Lie More Often in Emails, Instant Messages
7. Profile Drawn of People With Chronic Jaw Pain
8. Does a Gene Make People Seem Kinder?
9. Shock Fear May Curb Sex for People With Heart Devices
10. Risk of contracting diabetes to increase in world of 7 billion people
11. Wearable defibrillator can prevent death in people with arrhythmias
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:6/18/2013)... Exposed Skin Care has finally been released after much ... ages finally achieve the clear, beautiful skin they have always ... clearing system combines the power of science and nature to ... , After a quick review of Exposed ... the most effective available on the market to cure acne ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... studies linking bullying and depression, coupled with extensive ... led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ... on these issues. This panel synthesized the latest ... in bullying and suicide-related behaviors. Three themes emerged: ... health problem, with widespread and often harmful results; ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... An apple a day might really keep ... with breast cancer, she chose a different method for ... Myself Cancer, I Can Take It Away!: Alternatives Brought ... explains how changing her physical, mental and emotional diet ... made to feel fearful when diagnosed with a disease ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... June 18, 2013 Cheap Concert Tickets has ... the tournament which gets underway in July. Soccer fans ... CONCACAF ticket order. , The popularity and hype ... the globe.    In fact, the hype of the game triggered the ... also trickled down the veins of fans from the Caribbean. ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... As obesity rates sky rocket in the ... equipment during childbirth comes as no shock. Forceps are surgical ... when she is unable to do so herself and although ... higher rates of complication for both the mother and the ... mother and child, forceps births add to the pressure of ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Exposed Skin Care Review Released by ExposedSkinCareReview.org 2Health News:Exposed Skin Care Review Released by ExposedSkinCareReview.org 3Health News:Bullying and suicide among youth is a public health problem 2Health News:Cancer Survivor Linda Christina Beauregard Writes New Tell-All Book About Her Alternative Treatment Method 2Health News:CONCACAF Tickets Have Been Released for Martinique, Mexico, Panama, El Salvador, Trinidad, Tobago, Haiti, Honduras, Costa Rica, Cuba, Belize, US, Canada, Honduras & Cuba 2Health News:CONCACAF Tickets Have Been Released for Martinique, Mexico, Panama, El Salvador, Trinidad, Tobago, Haiti, Honduras, Costa Rica, Cuba, Belize, US, Canada, Honduras & Cuba 3Health News:Forceps Births Double, Obesity is Major Reason in Births Complications 2
... ... Foundation of America today announced the winner and runners-up in its 2010 ... three high school seniors shared a strong desire to change the way ... her father who had early onset Alzheimer,s disease, the winner, Katherine Henley ...
... Hawaii Instructors have ... ... www.infantswim.com ), the safest provider of Self-Rescue swimming lessons for babies and toddlers from ... including: Honolulu, Aiea, North Shore, Waipahu and Kailua. Since 2008, local ISR instructors have taught ...
... ... Shelter for Haitians , ... Lakewood Ranch, Fla. (Vocus) -- ShelterBox Response Team Member and graduate student, Beverly ... dotted with tent camps, fallen buildings, and people lining the streets in their makeshift ...
... of women of childbearing age fit the bill , ... says federal guidelines on obesity should be revised so ... U.S. guidelines determine who is obese based on body-mass ... weight are proportional. The researchers found that about half ...
... The first formal U.S. government recommendations on physical activity, ... 2008. Now, those guidelines have been interpreted for practical ... Journal of Lifestyle Medicine , published by SAGE. ... recommendations regarding the types and amounts of physical activity ...
... Thirteen of 32 member societies have already adopted guidelines, ... A new voluntary ethics code for how medical organizations ... the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS). , "Physicians ... independent voices in science and medicine," Dr. Allen Lichter, ...
Cached Medicine News:Health News:Alzheimer's Foundation of America Announces 2010 College Scholarship Winner 2Health News:Alzheimer's Foundation of America Announces 2010 College Scholarship Winner 3Health News:Alzheimer's Foundation of America Announces 2010 College Scholarship Winner 4Health News:Infant Swimming Resource Now Has 11 Self-RescueTM Swimming Locations in Hawaii 2Health News:Infant Swimming Resource Now Has 11 Self-RescueTM Swimming Locations in Hawaii 3Health News:With Rainy Season Looming, Florida Woman Rushes to Aid of Haitians 2Health News:With Rainy Season Looming, Florida Woman Rushes to Aid of Haitians 3Health News:More U.S. Women May Be Obese Than Thought 2Health News:Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans interpreted for practical use 2Health News:Voluntary Ethics Code Set for Medical Organizations 2
(Date:6/18/2013)...  Specialty Coating Systems is pleased to ... technologies: SCS microRESIST™ Antimicrobial Parylene Technology. SCS ... antimicrobial properties to effectively eliminate harmful microorganisms ... (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130618/DE33772LOGO ) ... to pose a challenge to hospitals and ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... 18, 2013  In a letter to authorities at her ... Lake View, Iowa , writes that a ... vaccine is neither scientifically justified nor ethically sound. ... summer issue of the Journal of American Physicians ... correct, and an average of 36,000 patients per year die ...
(Date:6/18/2013)... BURLINGTON, Mass. , June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ ... and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, ... includes coverage of the Middle East ... Market Access Tracker analyzes the challenges and opportunities ... in four international regions comprising 24 countries. The ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Specialty Coating Systems Announces New Antimicrobial Parylene Technology 2Mandated Flu Vaccine for Hospital Workers Ethically Questionable, Surgeon Writes 2Decision Resources' Market Access Tracker Now Covers the Middle East and Africa 2Decision Resources' Market Access Tracker Now Covers the Middle East and Africa 3
... NewBridge Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC of Dubai, UAE announced today ... Chief Executive Officer and a member of the company,s ... who joins NewBridge after a career extending over 29 ... senior positions covering many geographies including; US, Europe, and ...
... Nonin Medical, Inc., a leading innovator of noninvasive physiological ... new clinical guidebook and a new European sales, distribution ... (ERS) 2010 Annual Congress in Barcelona, Spain. ... McGowan, vice president, sales, said, "This year, Nonin Medical ...
Cached Medicine Technology:NewBridge Pharmaceuticals Completes $12 Million First Close of Series B Financing, Announces Senior Executive Appointments 2NewBridge Pharmaceuticals Completes $12 Million First Close of Series B Financing, Announces Senior Executive Appointments 3Nonin Medical to Introduce New Innovations at ERS 2010 Annual Congress 2Nonin Medical to Introduce New Innovations at ERS 2010 Annual Congress 3
... Centra B+ can be used as a manual ... Centra W for AHG spins, or as a ... rotors, transparent cell washing rotor: easy to see ... options, aerosol containment for vacutainers, glove friendly membrane ...
... programmable refrigerated floor-standing centrifuge. Mobile space ... large choice of accessories, microprocessor control, ... 4 languages, imbalance detection & shutdown ... dual lid interlock, current and temperature ...
... Powerful programmable refrigerated bench-top ... capacity rotors, large choice ... sample protection, true sample ... lifetime reproducibility, true RCF, ...
GP8R is a powerful 3-liter large capacity centrifuge which is flexible and easy to use with refrigeration facility. Performs separations 50-100% faster than the rest, powerful, accommodating and conv...
Medicine Products: