Genetic epidemiology of stuttering among school children in the state of Tamil Nadu, India

PURPOSE

Stuttering is a fluency disorder with a worldwide prevalence of 1%. Reports on the epidemiology of stuttering in India are limited. Our primary goal was to examine the prevalence of the disorder among school children. The study also aimed to examine risk factors associated with severity and the impact of parental consanguinity in stuttering.

METHOD

Children from 97 schools in the State of Tamil Nadu, India were screened. Extensive speech characterization, epidemiological details and three-generational pedigrees were collected for 180 probands. The genetic basis of stuttering was examined using the analysis of genealogical index of families (GIF), kinship group and sibling recurrence risk (SRR) measures. Regression analysis and chi-square tests were performed to test the association of risk factors with severity of the disorder.

RESULTS

Among the 74,544 school children screened, the prevalence of stuttering was found to be 0.46%. Pedigree analysis revealed a positive family history in 101 (56%) probands; overall familial incidence was 11%. We observed an overall male-favored sex ratio (4:1). Familial aggregation (GIF = 442.60, p-value <0.001) and sibling recurrence risk ratio (K_s = 0.197, SD = 0.041) was high among consanguineous families. Severity of stuttering was strongly associated with gender and moderately associated with age at onset.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of stuttering in Tamil Nadu is estimated for the first time in this study. High familial incidence, familial aggregation and sibling recurrence risk ratio point to the presence of a genetic basis. Familial aggregation was high among consanguineous families although consanguinity did not seem to play a role in severity.

Familial incidence of the congenital torcular dural arteriovenous shunt: Case report and review of the literature

Congenital dural sinus malformations are rare but can be major causes of mortality and morbidity in the pediatric population if not detected and managed urgently. Lesions involving large draining sinus structures such as superior sagittal sinus and torcular herophili can result in significant intracranial circulation impairment mostly due to venous drainage disturbance. Early detection plays a pivotal role in the outcome of the patients. Rarely familial incidence of some types of arteriovenous malformations in isolation from other congenital hereditary disorders has been reported. Knowledge of the familial association of congenital dural sinus malformations may raise the awareness for considering the possibility of occurrence of these lesions in the relatives of index cases. Herein, we describe the occurrence of giant torcular dural shunt in two pediatric cousins treated with endovascular embolization.

Familial predisposition to pelvic floor dysfunction: prolapse and incontinence surgery among family members and its relationship with age or parity in a Swedish population

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the relationship between heredity and proband's age/parity on the risk of undergoing surgery for pelvic organ prolapse and stress incontinence.

STUDY DESIGN

Swedish population based study. Data from two national Swedish registers were used: the Hospital Discharge Register, National Board of Health and Welfare, containing information on all in-patient surgical procedures on Swedish hospitals, and the Multi-Generation Register, Statistics Sweden, containing information on individuals belonging to the same family. Women who had a surgical procedure for urinary incontinence or genital organ prolapse between the years 1987 and 2002 were identified (probands). Mothers and sisters of the probands were identified and information on incontinence or prolapse operations was linked to those relatives from the Hospital Discharge file, after which adjusted analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Sisters to probands had a relative risk (RR) of 4.69 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 4.49-48.9) and mothers a RR of 2.17 (95% CI 2.07-2.27) for pelvic floor surgery. For sisters the risk decreased with increasing age and parity of the proband.

CONCLUSION

Sisters and mothers of women operated for urinary incontinence/urogenital prolapse had a higher risk of surgery for pelvic floor conditions, in particular sisters of women operated at a young age (<50) and with a low parity. This suggests that heredity plays a lesser role for the development of pelvic floor dysfunction at older age and with increasing parity.

Ovarian dysgerminoma in two sisters

Although rare, dysgerminomas are important irrespective of incidence because they affect women of reproductive age (i.e., <45 years). Dysgerminomas make up two thirds of all malignant ovarian neoplasms in women younger than 20 years. All dysgerminomas are considered malignant, but only one third of dysgerminomas behave aggressively. Their exact etiology has not been determined. Few reports are found in the review of the literature on the incidence of dysgerminoma and other germ cell tumors in families. Some of these reports focus on the genetic abnormalities associated with germ cell tumor and the responsible gene. Two cases of dysgerminomas diagnosed in two sisters aged 14 and 19 years old are presented here with their radiological studies.

Carotid intima-media thickness is increased in subjects with ischemic heart disease having a familial incidence

OBJECTIVES

A family history of ischemic heart disease (IHD) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. However, the mechanisms underlying this susceptibility have not been fully elucidated. The authors hypothesized that an important mediator of the familial incidence of IHD is subclinical atherosclerosis, which is detectable by noninvasive imaging.

METHODS

One hundred forty-seven consecutive subjects (mean age 61.9 years, 57% men) were studied for one year using carotid ultra-sonogrophy for general medical screening, and familial IHD events were validated. Using a 7.5 MHz linear array transducer, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaque were assessed. Subjects were subsequently divided into four groups based on the severity of IMT.

RESULTS

The familial incidence of IHD and incidence of plaque were associated with the severity of IMT. No significant differences in risk factors were found between subjects with and without a family history of IHD.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that subclinical atherosclerosis, as assessed in the carotid arteries, is more prevalent in individuals with a family history of IHD.