Eustachian Tube Growth and Development: Anatomy/Function. Protocol Description. This study measures Eustachian tube function and facial growth over time in three groups of children: one with recurrent ear infections, one with chronic middle ear fluid, and one with little past history of otitis media.
Causes of Kartagener syndrome. Kartagener syndrome is caused by a mutation in the DNAI1 gene, which makes a cellular protein required for normal functioning cilia (cilia line the respiratory tract) and sperm motility.
The CISD2 gene mutation that causes Wolfram syndrome type 2 results in an abnormally small, nonfunctional CISD2 protein. As a result, mitochondria are not properly maintained, and they eventually break down. Since the mitochondria provide energy to cells, the loss of mitochondria results in decreased energy for cells.