Chorea and migraine: "Hemicrania choreatica"?
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Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
M D Ferrari
Publications and source records attributed to M D Ferrari.
Impairment of phenytoin parahydroxylation as a cause of severe intoxication.
A case history is presented of a patient who developed a severe phenytoin intoxication on a "therapeutic" dose of 300 mg/day. This phenomenon could be ascribed to a poor oxidative metabolizing capacity of this patient for phenytoin, as demonstrated by a low para-hydroxyphenyl-phenylhydantoin to phenytoin ratio in the urine. To characterize the specificity of this metabolic defect, debrisoquine and antipyrine oxidation were also studied. Contrary to expectations, this patient was shown to be an extensive debrisoquine metabolizer; the antipyrine clearance was even higher than normal. These findings suggest that phenytoin para-hydroxylation is regulated by an oxidative enzyme complex different from those which oxidize debrisoquine and antipyrine.
Aged↗
A migrainous syndrome with pleocytosis.
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Adult↗
Migraine, ataxia and epilepsy: a challenging spectrum of genetically determined calcium channelopathies. Dutch Migraine Genetics Research Group.
Clinical and genetic heterogeneity as well as influence of environmental factors have hampered identification of the genetic factors which are involved in episodic diseases such as migraine, episodic ataxia and epilepsy. The study of rare, but clearly genetically determined subtypes, may help to unravel the pathogenesis of the more common forms. Recently, different types of mutation in the brain-specific P/Q type calcium channel alpha 1A subunit gene (CACNA1A) on chromosome 19p13 were shown to be involved in three human disorders: familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM), episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2), and chronic spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). In addition, evidence is accumulating that the same gene is also involved in the common forms of migraine with and without aura. In the tottering and leaner mouse, which are characterised by epilepsy and ataxia, similar mutations were identified in the mouse homologue of the calcium channel alpha 1A subunit gene. These findings add to the growing list of episodic (and now also chronic) neurological disorders, which are caused by inherited abnormalities of voltage-dependent ion channels. The findings in migraine illustrate that rare, but monogenic variants of a disorder, may be successfully used to identify candidate genes for the more common, but genetically more complex, forms.
Animals↗
[Biodegradability in soil of residual hydrocarbons in petroleum tank bottoms].
Biodegradability of hydrocarbons on soils can be applied to the treatment of residues (land treatment) from petroleum refinery as well as the cleaning of contaminated soils (bioremediation). In this paper we have studied the biodegradability of hydrocarbons from petroleum tank bottom sludges on soil by the autochthonous microbial community. Lab assays were conducted in 1l-beakers under the following conditions: hydrocarbon load 5.3%, total aerobic microorganisms 2.7 x 10(7) CFU/g, hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms (HDM) 2.5 x 10(5) cells/g, incubation temperature 25 degrees C, pH 7.0-7.6, and moisture 10-15%. Soil had the following composition: sand 25%, silt 15%, and clay 20%. Different levels and kind of fertilizers were evaluated. Fertilization increased the rate and the quantity of hydrocarbons degraded. It was degraded about 40% of hydrocarbons in 30-90 days according to the fertilization effected. During biodegradation, the HDM increased 760 times. Assays conducted outdoor on trays showed a similar limit of biodegradation. Changes with time in the fungi population, hydrocarbon class, carbon level, and saturated hydrocarbon profiles were measured too. Data suggests the use of microorganisms having a greater metabolic capacity, specially to degrade those hydrocarbon classes that they have shown to be more resistant to biodegradation (aromatics, resins and asphaltenes).
Biodegradation, Environmental↗
Study of Bacillus sp. culture conditions to promote production of unhairing proteases.
The substitution of chemical depilatory agents in the leather industry by proteolytic enzymes produced by Bacillus species has an important economical and environmental impact. In previous assays, a Bacillus sp. showing a promising depilatory activity was isolated. In this paper, a culture medium that stimulated the synthesis and segregation of depilatory proteases, was selected. The influence of pH, oxygen supply rate (KLaC*), and inoculum age was evaluated on cell growth and protease production. Assays were carried out in lab bioreactors (1.2-1.4 l) at 37 degrees C. Five different media that differed in carbon and nitrogen sources were tested. pH ranged from 4.0 to 8.5. KLaC* varied between 40 and 470 mmol/lh. The best medium culture for protease production contained: nutrient broth (Britania) 8 g/l, yeast extract (Britania) 3 g/l, and mineral salts. Protease production was more effective at pH of 6.7, KLaC* of 360 mmol/lh, and inoculum age of 12 hours. These experimental conditions led to the following results: maximum proteolytic activity 2700 U/ml, overall volumetric protease productivity 300 u/ml-h, average specific growth rate 0.62 h-1, and average specific protease production rate 2.50 x 10(5) U/gh.
Bacillus↗
[Sumatriptan in clinical practice].
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Animals↗
[Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and its application to the bioremediation of contaminated soils and sludges].
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of priority pollutants due to their toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic properties. They are found in high concentration in many soils and sludges, mainly those associated with petroleum, gas-production and wood-preservation industries. Application of microorganisms for the remediation of contaminated soils and sludges has gained interest as a promising technique in comparison to the conventional practices of landfilling, incineration or solvent extraction. This paper reviews the controlling variables of the biodegradation of PAHs as well as the use of solid-phase and slurry-phase bioremediation techniques. The acceptance of bioremediation technology requires the demonstration of its efficacy, reliability, predictability of the field performance from lab-scale treatability studies, and economical advantage. Some limitations in the biodegradation of high-molecular-weight PAHs and failures in the control of scale-depending factors (mass transport, spatial heterogeneities, abiotic losses) can reduce its effectiveness. Methodology used for the systematic evaluation of bioremediation is also reviewed.
Biodegradation, Environmental↗
Occurrence of heterotrophic bacteria and fungi in an aviation fuel handling system and its relationship with fuel fouling.
Clean, dry and contaminant-free fuel is necessary for safe and economical aircraft operation. Microbial growth in aviation fuel handling systems can alter the quality of the product. This paper reports the occurrence of heterotrophic bacteria and fungi in a handling system of jet A-1 aviation turbine fuel. A total of 350 samples were collected during 1990-1996. The aerobic microorganisms in fuel samples were mainly fungi, 85% of samples containing < or = 100 cfu/l (range 0 (< 1 cfu/l) to 2000 cfu/l). The predominant fungi were Cladosporium and Aspergillus. Water was observed mainly in samples extracted from the drainage pipes of two tanks used frequently as intermediate storage tanks. The aerobic heterotrophic microorganisms found in water samples were mostly bacteria, counts varying from 100 to 8.8 x 10(7) cfu/ml, with 85% of samples containing 10(4)-10(7) cfu/ml. There was a preponderance of Pseudomonas spp. Bacterial contaminants belonging to the genus Flavobacterium and Aeromonas were also identified. Sulphate reducing bacteria were detected in 80% of water samples. It was not possible to assign a maximum microbial contamination level above which maintenance is required and it is suggested that analysis of successive samples from the same site are necessary for this purpose. Microbial sludges produced in the laboratory and collected from a contaminated tank bottom were analysed chemically. The data are presented and discussed. Samples collected from the supply pipes of tanks and refueller trucks during the period surveyed always met the standard specifications.
Aeromonas↗