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This study presents the technology for preparing and characterization of titanium oxide thin films with properties suitable for gas sensors. For preparing the samples the reactive radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering methods were used. The composition and microstructure of the films were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy, the surface of the films was observed applying high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For measuring the thickness and identifying the refractive indices of the films laser ellipsometry was used. The research was focused on the sensing behavior of the sputtered titania thin films applying quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method, which allows detection of mass changes in the nanogram range. Prototype QCM sensors with TiO2 thin films were made by our team and tested for sensitivity to NH3 and NO2. These films even in as-deposited state and without heating the substrates show good sensitivity. Additional thermal treatment is not necessary, making manufacturing of QCM gas sensor simple and cost-effective, as it is fully compatible with the technology for producing the initial resonator. The sorption is fully reversible and the studied TiO2 films are stable, which makes them capable for measurements for long terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the abstract of the study 'Enrollment of Craniosynostosis Research Participants On-Site and via the Web,' presented at the 21st Annual Education Conference of the National Society of Genetic Counselors held in Phoenix, Arizona in November 2002.

Craniosynostosis is a common malformation occurring in 3-5 per 10,000 live births. Most often craniosynostosis occurs as an isolated (i.e. non-syndromic) anomaly. Non-syndromic craniosynostosis (NSC) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous condition that has the characteristics of a multifactorial trait. It is believed that each sutural synostosis (e.g. sagittal, coronal) represents a different disease. Significant progress has been made in understanding the clinical and molecular aspects of monogenic syndromic craniosynostosis. However, the phenotypic characterization of NSC is incomplete and its causes remain unknown. This review summarizes the available knowledge on NSC and presents a systematic approach aimed at the identification of genetic and non-genetic factors contributing to the risk of this common craniofacial defect.

Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is an autosomal dominant condition with congenital anomalies of the craniofacial and limb regions and neurodegeneration. Genetic anticipation for the dysmorphic and neurologic features has been inferred in a few families. Our previous linkage studies have refined the ODDD candidate region to chromosome 6q22-->q23. In an attempt to clone the ODDD gene, we created a yeast artificial chromosome contig with 31 redundant clones spanning the region and identified and ordered candidate genes and markers. Fluorescent IN SITU hybridization mapped two of these YAC clones to chromosome 6q22.2 telomeric to a known 6q21 fragile site, excluding it as a possible cause of the suggested anticipation. We performed mutation analysis on thirteen candidate genes - GRIK2, HDAC2, COL10A1, PTD013, KPNA5, PIST, ROS1, BRD7, PLN, HSF2, PKIB, FABP7, and HEY2. Although no mutations were found, we identified 44 polymorphisms, including 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms. Direct cDNA selection was performed and fifty-five clones were found to contain sequences that were not previously reported as known genes or ESTs. These clones and polymorphisms will assist in the further characterization of this region and identification of disease genes., (Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel)

Crouzon syndrome and Pfeiffer syndrome are both autosomal dominant craniosynostotic disorders that can be caused by mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene. To determine the parental origin of these FGFR2 mutations, the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) was used. ARMS PCR primers were developed to recognize polymorphisms that could distinguish maternal and paternal alleles. A total of 4,374 bases between introns IIIa and 11 of the FGFR2 gene were sequenced and were assayed by heteroduplex analysis, to identify polymorphisms. Two polymorphisms (1333TA/TATA and 2710 C/T) were found and were used with two previously described polymorphisms, to screen a total of 41 families. Twenty-two of these families were shown to be informative (11 for Crouzon syndrome and 11 for Pfeiffer syndrome). Eleven different mutations in the 22 families were detected by either restriction digest or allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization of ARMS PCR products. We molecularly proved the origin of these different mutations to be paternal for all informative cases analyzed (P=2. 4x10-7; 95% confidence limits 87%-100%). Advanced paternal age was noted for the fathers of patients with Crouzon syndrome or Pfeiffer syndrome, compared with the fathers of control individuals (34. 50+/-7.65 years vs. 30.45+/-1.28 years, P<.01). Our data on advanced paternal age corroborates and extends previous clinical evidence based on statistical analyses as well as additional reports of advanced paternal age associated with paternal origin of three sporadic mutations causing Apert syndrome (FGFR2) and achondroplasia (FGFR3). Our results suggest that older men either have accumulated or are more susceptible to a variety of germline mutations.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) with deafness is clinically distinct among the genetically heterogeneous group of CMT disorders. Molecular studies in a large family with autosomal dominant CMT and deafness have not been reported. The present molecular study involves a family with progressive features of CMT and deafness, originally reported by Kousseff et al. Genetic analysis of 70 individuals (31 affected, 28 unaffected, and 11 spouses) revealed linkage to markers on chromosome 17p11.2-p12, with a maximum LOD score of 9.01 for marker D17S1357 at a recombination fraction of .03. Haplotype analysis placed the CMT-deafness locus between markers D17S839 and D17S122, a approximately 0.6-Mb interval. This critical region lies within the CMT type 1A duplication region and excludes MYO15, a gene coding an unconventional myosin that causes a form of autosomal recessive deafness called DFNB3. Affected individuals from this family do not have the common 1.5-Mb duplication of CMT type 1A. Direct sequencing of the candidate peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene detected a unique G-->C transversion in the heterozygous state in all affected individuals, at position 248 in coding exon 3, predicted to result in an Ala67Pro substitution in the second transmembrane domain of PMP22.

Oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD) is an autosomal dominant condition with high penetrance and variable expressivity. The anomalies of the craniofacial region, eyes, teeth, and limbs indicate abnormal morphogenesis during early fetal development. Neurologic abnormalities occur later in life and appear to be secondary to white matter degeneration and basal ganglia changes. In familial cases, the dysmorphic and/or neurodegenerative components of the phenotype can be more severe and/or present at a younger age in subsequent generations, suggesting genetic anticipation. These clinical features suggest that the ODDD gene is pleiotropic with important functions throughout pre- and postnatal development. We have performed two-point linkage analysis with seven ODDD families and 19 microsatellite markers on chromosome 6q spanning a genetic distance of approximately 11 cM in males and 20 cM in females. We have refined the location of the ODDD gene between DNA markers D6S266/D6S261 (centromeric) and D6S1639 (telomeric), an interval of 1.01 (male) to 2.87 (female) cM. The strongest linkage was to DNA marker D6S433 (Zmax = 8.96, thetamax = 0.001). Families show significant linkage to chromosome 6q22-q23 and no evidence for genetic heterogeneity., (Copyright 1999 Academic Press.)

We have used the adenine phosphoribosyltransferase gene (APRT; 16q24) to investigate the mechanisms of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in normal human somatic cells in vivo. APRT-deficient (APRT-/-, APRT-/0) T lymphocytes from the peripheral blood of four obligate APRT heterozygotes (APRT+/-) with characterized germ-line mutations were selected in medium containing 100 microM 2,6-diaminopurine. A total of 80 2,6-diaminopurine-resistant T-cell clones from 2 of the heterozygotes were analyzed for this study. The presence or absence of LOH of proximal linked microsatellite repeat markers was used to divide the clones into two groups: (a) those in which LOH was likely due to localized changes in APRT (e.g., point mutations); and (b) those with LOH at additional loci. A total of 61 clones (76%) exhibited LOH of linked microsatellite repeat markers at different locations on 16q, which extended from the smallest measured region (<5.5 cM) to the entire 16q arm. The remaining 19 clones (24%) had point mutations in APRT or other relatively minor alterations. Ten clones with LOH encompassing different regions of 16q were examined by conventional cytogenetics and by fluorescence in situ hybridization using an APRT cosmid probe. All clones exhibited a normal diploid karyotype, and nine exhibited two copies of APRT. The one clone that was hemizygous for APRT had the smallest observed region of LOH in clones from that individual. These results indicate that mitotic recombination and, to a much lesser extent, deletion may be the primary mechanisms for the relatively high frequency of in vivo LOH observed in normal human T cells. Because LOH leads to the expression of recessive tumor suppressor genes in many cancers, these data have significant implications for the role of LOH in the early stages of tumor development, especially in breast cancer.

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is an X-linked dysmyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Many cases of PMD can be attributed to defects in the proteolipid protein gene (PLP). To date, with one exception, each family has had either no or a unique mutation in one of the seven exons of PLP. We describe a new missense mutation in exon 2 of the PLP gene of an affected individual. This mutation codes for Ile instead of Thr at codon 42. The point mutation originated in the X chromosome of the maternal great-grandfather of the propositus. This was determined from the pattern of inheritance of the AhaII polymorphism and a series of microsatellite markers that are localized near PLP at Xq22.

Single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of an affected male with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) showed a slight change in mobility of amplified exon 5 of the proteolipid protein (PLP) gene. The exon was sequenced and a G-->A transition at codon 216 was found. This mutation eliminates a BstNI restriction site and creates a MaeI restriction site. In 1989, Gencic et al. reported a mutation that destroyed the same BstNI site, but resulted in a substitution at codon 215 [Am J Hum Genet 45:435-442]. The mutation we report here is also present in the patient's mother and her male fetus as determined by polymerase chain reaction analysis of amniocytes.

The inhibition of extramitochondrial biosynthesis with cycloheximide considerably reduces the binding of exogenous cytochrome c to rat liver mitochondria. Tracing the binding of the exogenous cytochrome c to liver mitochondria and microsomal membranes in the period after application of cycloheximide (from 0 to 120 min) shows that the inhibitor evokes inhibition of the binding at the beginning of the period tested and afterwards there is a tendency to reaching the initial level. The above mentioned changes are more pronounced in the case of binding of cytochrome c to mitochondrial membranes. Chloramphenicol does not influence the number of high-affinity cytochrome c binding sites on the mitochondrial membranes. The cytochrome c--mitochondrial membrane complexes become less stable after inhibition of the mitochondrial protein biosynthesis with chloramphenicol.