Biomedical subjects

M Duran

Publications and source records attributed to M Duran.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Guideline for the diagnosis and management of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (glutaric aciduria type I).

Glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease with an estimated overall prevalence of 1 in 100 000 newborns. Biochemically, the disease is characterized by accumulation of glutaric acid, 3-hydroxyglutaric acid, glutaconic acid, and glutarylcarnitine, which can be detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of organic acids or tandem mass spectrometry of acylcarnitines. Clinically, the disease course is usually determined by acute encephalopathic crises precipitated by infectious diseases, immunizations, and surgery during infancy or childhood. The characteristic neurological sequel is acute striatal injury and, subsequently, dystonia. During the last three decades attempts have been made to establish and optimize therapy for GCDH deficiency. Maintenance treatment consisting of a diet combined with oral supplementation of L: -carnitine, and an intensified emergency treatment during acute episodes of intercurrent illness have been applied to the majority of patients. This treatment strategy has significantly reduced the frequency of acute encephalopathic crises in early-diagnosed patients. Therefore, GCDH deficiency is now considered to be a treatable condition. However, significant differences exist in the diagnostic procedure and management of affected patients so that there is a wide variation of the outcome, in particular of pre-symptomatically diagnosed patients. At this time of rapid expansion of neonatal screening for GCDH deficiency, the major aim of this guideline is to re-assess the common practice and to formulate recommendations for diagnosis and management of GCDH deficiency based on the best available evidence.

Child↗

PubMed2006

Prolonged moderate-intensity exercise without and with L-carnitine supplementation in patients with MCAD deficiency.

Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) is probably the most common inborn error of fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Routine L-carnitine supplementation in the treatment of MCADD is controversial. To establish the effects of L-carnitine supplementation during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise in MCADD, five patients and three control subjects were studied during 2 hours of moderate-intensity exercise after a 12-hour fast. Patients were studied twice, once with and once without L-carnitine supplementation (50 mg/kg per day). Blood samples were collected before, during and after exercise, and analysed for routine parameters, acylcarnitines and carnitine biosynthesis intermediates. Urine was collected before and after exercise, and analysed for acylcarnitines. All patients were able to complete the exercise test without any apparent clinical or biochemical adverse effects, even without L-carnitine supplementation. A significant rise in plasma free fatty acids and octanoylcarnitine levels during exercise was seen in all patients, indicating a substantial increase in FAO during exercise. Octanoylcarnitine levels in plasma were significantly higher in patients with L-carnitine supplementation, suggesting increased clearance of accumulating acylcarnitines. A statistically significant increase of plasma and urinary free carnitine levels, as well as of plasma gamma-butyrobetaine was seen in MCADD patients without L-carnitine supplementation. These data suggest an increase in carnitine biosynthesis. In conclusion, although L-carnitine supplementation may promote clearance of accumulating acylcarnitines during moderate-intensity exercise, no apparent beneficial effect of this supplementation on clinical and biochemical parameters was observed in MCADD patients. Our results suggest that MCADD patients are able to increase carnitine biosynthesis during exercise to compensate for carnitine losses.

Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase↗

PubMed2006

GAMT deficiency: features, treatment, and outcome in an inborn error of creatine synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Guanidinoactetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder of creatine synthesis. The authors analyzed clinical, biochemical, and molecular findings in 27 patients. METHODS: The authors collected data from questionnaires and literature reports. A score including degree of intellectual disability, epileptic seizures, and movement disorder was developed and used to classify clinical phenotype as severe, moderate, or mild. Score and biochemical data were assessed before and during treatment with oral creatine substitution alone or with additional dietary arginine restriction and ornithine supplementation. RESULTS: Intellectual disability, epileptic seizures, guanidinoacetate accumulation in body fluids, and deficiency of brain creatine were common in all 27 patients. Twelve patients had severe, 12 patients had moderate, and three patients had mild clinical phenotype. Twenty-one of 27 (78%) patients had severe intellectual disability (estimated IQ 20 to 34). There was no obvious correlation between severity of the clinical phenotype, guanidinoacetate accumulation in body fluids, and GAMT mutations. Treatment resulted in almost normalized cerebral creatine levels, reduced guanidinoacetate accumulation, and in improvement of epilepsy and movement disorder, whereas the degree of intellectual disability remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Guanidinoactetate methyltransferase deficiency should be considered in patients with unexplained intellectual disability, and urinary guanidinoacetate should be determined as an initial diagnostic approach.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Mutations in the gene encoding peroxisomal sterol carrier protein X (SCPx) cause leukencephalopathy with dystonia and motor neuropathy.

In this report, we describe the first known patient with a deficiency of sterol carrier protein X (SCPx), a peroxisomal enzyme with thiolase activity, which is required for the breakdown of branched-chain fatty acids. The patient presented with torticollis and dystonic head tremor as well as slight cerebellar signs with intention tremor, nystagmus, hyposmia, and azoospermia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed leukencephalopathy and involvement of the thalamus and pons. Metabolite analyses of plasma revealed an accumulation of the branched-chain fatty acid pristanic acid, and abnormal bile alcohol glucuronides were excreted in urine. In cultured skin fibroblasts, the thiolytic activity of SCPx was deficient, and no SCPx protein could be detected by western blotting. Mutation analysis revealed a homozygous 1-nucleotide insertion, 545_546insA, leading to a frameshift and premature stop codon (I184fsX7).

Adult↗

PubMed2006

MRI of the brain and cervical spinal cord in rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata.

BACKGROUND: The classic rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) phenotype involves a typical facial appearance, cataracts, skeletal dysplasia causing disproportionate somatic growth failure, microcephaly, and severe psychomotor defects. Biochemical abnormalities include impaired plasmalogen biosynthesis in all forms of RCDP and accumulation of phytanic acid in RCDP type 1. A subset of patients has a milder clinical and biochemical phenotype, with less severe neurologic impairment and an incomplete deficiency in plasmalogens. The impact of plasmalogen deficiency on neurologic function is severe, causing spasticity and mental defects, but its pathomechanism is still unknown. The authors specifically focused on myelination because myelin is rich in ethanolamine plasmalogens. OBJECTIVE: To define the neuroimaging characteristics of the genetic peroxisomal disorder RCDP. METHODS: Twenty-one MR images of the brain and cervical spine of 11 patients were evaluated and correlated with neurologic and biochemical profiles. RESULTS: No abnormalities on MRI were seen in the patients with a mild phenotype of RCDP, whereas delayed myelination, ventricular enlargement and increased subarachnoidal spaces, supratentorial myelin abnormalities, and cerebellar atrophy were observed in patients with the severe phenotype of both RCDP type 1 and 3. The severity of both the MRI abnormalities and the clinical phenotype is correlated with the plasmalogen level. CONCLUSIONS: The severe phenotype of rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) is accompanied by a specific pattern of both developmental and regressive MRI abnormalities. Plasmalogen levels seem to play an important role in the pathophysiology of CNS abnormalities in RCDP. Increased phytanic acid appears not to be the cause of cerebellar atrophy.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

A homozygous nonsense mutation in the methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase gene (MCEE) results in mild methylmalonic aciduria.

Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA-uria) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of amino acid metabolism, involving valine, threonine, isoleucine, and methionine. This organic aciduria may present in the neonatal period with life-threatening metabolic acidosis, hyperammonemia, feeding difficulties, pancytopenia, and coma. Most affected patients have mutations in the methylmalonyl-coenzyme A (methylmalonyl-CoA) mutase gene. Mildly affected patients may present in childhood with failure to thrive and recurrent attacks of metabolic acidosis. Both a higher residual activity of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase as well as the vitamin B12-responsive defects (cblA and cblB) may form the basis of the mild disorder. A few patients with moderate MMA-uria are known in whom no defect could be identified. Here we present a 16-year-old female patient with persisting moderate MMA-uria (approximately 50 mmol/mol creatinine). She was born to consanguineous Caucasian parents. Her fibroblast mutase activity was normal and no effect of vitamin B12 supplementation could be established. Reduced incorporation of 14C-propionate into macromolecules suggested a defect in the propionate-to-succinate pathway. We found a homozygous nonsense mutation (c.139C>T) in the methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase gene (MCEE), resulting in an early terminating signal (p.R47X). Both parents were heterozygous for this mutation; they were found to excrete normal amounts of methylmalonic acid (MMA). This is the first report of methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase deficiency, thereby unequivocally demonstrating the biochemical role of this enzyme in human metabolism.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

PubMed2006

Analysis of pyrimidine synthesis de novo intermediates in urine during crisis of a patient with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

Analysis of pyrimidine synthesis de novo intermediates and pyrimidine degradation products in urine samples from a decompensated patient with an ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency showed a strikingly aberrant metabolic profile. Strongly elevated levels of N-carbamyl-aspartate, orotate and uracil were present whereas the concentration of uridine was only marginally increased. The level of pyrimidine excretion appeared to be independent of the ammonia levels in blood, which were only mildly increased.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2006

Sequential MR imaging changes in nonketotic hyperglycinemia.

Serial diffusion-weighted (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed in a patient with neonatal onset nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH). At 3 weeks areas that are normally myelinated at this time showed increased T2-signal intensity and restricted diffusion, consistent with vacuolating myelinopathy. At 3 months, these areas had increased in the topographic pattern of normal myelination, whereas fractional anisotropy was compatible with axonal sparing. At 17 months, diffusion restriction had disappeared, likely because of coalescence of myelin vacuoles. A decrease of fractional anisotropy was observed in the previously myelinated areas indicative of axonal loss. We conclude that DWI and DTI can be used to identify and characterize white matter tract abnormalities in patients with NKH.

Brain↗

PubMed2005

Brain abnormalities in a case of malonyl-CoA decarboxylase deficiency.

Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD) deficiency is an extremely rare inborn error of metabolism that presents with metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia, and/or cardiomyopathy. Patients also show neurological signs and symptoms that have been infrequently reported. We describe a girl with MCD deficiency, whose brain MRI shows white matter abnormalities and additionally diffuse pachygyria and periventricular heterotopia, consistent with a malformation of cortical development. MLYCD-gene sequence analysis shows normal genomic sequence but no messenger product, suggesting an abnormality of transcription regulation. Our patient has strikingly low appetite, which is interesting in the light of the proposed role of malonyl-CoA in the regulation of feeding control, but this remains to be confirmed in other patients. Considering the incomplete understanding of the role of metabolic pathways in brain development, patients with MCD deficiency should be evaluated with brain MRI and unexplained malformations of cortical development should be reason for metabolic screening.

Agenesis of Corpus Callosum↗

PubMed2005

Characterization of phytanic acid omega-hydroxylation in human liver microsomes.

Phytanic acid is a 3-methyl branched-chain fatty acid which originates from dietary sources. Since the 3-methyl group blocks regular beta-oxidation, it is broken down by peroxisomal alpha-oxidation. Adult Refsum disease patients accumulate phytanic acid as a result of an impairment in peroxisomal alpha-oxidation, caused by the deficient activity of the enzyme phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase in the majority of patients. In this paper, we studied an alternative degradation route for phytanic acid, namely omega-oxidation. During omega-oxidation a fatty acid is hydroxylated at its omega-end by a member of the cytochrome P450 multi-enzyme family. Subsequently, an alcohol dehydrogenase converts the formed hydroxyl group into an aldehyde, which is then converted into a carboxyl-group by an aldehyde dehydrogenase. In case of phytanic acid omega-hydroxylation would lead to the formation of phytanedioic acid, which can be degraded by beta-oxidation from the omega-end. Here, we show that phytanic acid indeed undergoes omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxylation in pooled human liver microsomes in an NADPH-dependent manner with a ratio of 15:1. Studies with imidazole antimycotics indicate that these reactions are catalyzed by one or more cytochrome P450 enzymes. Induction of the cytochrome P450 involved in phytanic acid omega-hydroxylation may increase the flux through the omega-oxidation pathway, causing increased clearance of phytanic acid in ARD patients. Hence, this alternative catabolic pathway is of potential therapeutic relevance.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency identified in adults and a child with mental retardation.

Our study describes the adult clinical and biochemical spectrum of guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency, a recently discovered inborn error of metabolism. The majority of the previous reports dealt with pediatric patients, in contrast to the present study. A total of 180 institutionalized patients with a severe mental handicap were investigated for urine and plasma uric acid and creatinine. Patients with an increased urinary uric acid/creatinine ratio and/or decreased creatinine were subjected to the analysis of guanidinoacetate (GAA). Four patients (three related and one from an unrelated family) were identified with GAMT-deficiency. A fifth patient had died before a biochemical diagnosis could be made. They all had shown a normal psychomotor development for the first year of life, after which they developed a profound mental retardation. Three out of four had convulsions and all four totally lacked the development of speech. Their GAMT activity in lymphoblasts was impaired and two novel mutations were identified: the 59 G > C and 506 G > A missense mutations. Urinary GAA was increased, but highly variable 347-1,624 mmol/mol creat (Controls <150 mmol/mol creat). In plasma and CSF the GAA levels were fairly constant at 17.3-27.0 mumol/L (Controls 1.33-3.33) and 11.0-12.4 mumol/L, respectively (Controls 0.068-0.114). GAMT deficiency in adults is associated with severe mental retardation and absence or limited speech development. Convulsions may be prominent. The nonspecific nature of the clinical findings as well as the limited availability of GAA assays and/or in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the brain may mean that many more patients remain undiagnosed in institutions for persons with mental handicaps.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed2005

Two novel mutations in SLC6A8 cause creatine transporter defect and distinctive X-linked mental retardation in two unrelated Dutch families.

Four Dutch male patients, two brothers from unrelated families were referred for investigation of psychomotor and severe language/speech delay. All four patients showed growth deficiency over the years. Facial features and poor body habitus were quite similar in the patients and in their mothers. Brain MRI showed nonspecific periventricular white matter lesions. In all the patients neuropsychological tests revealed moderate mental retardation, attention deficit and hyperactivity with impulsivity, a semantic-pragmatic language disorder, and oral dyspraxia. This specific cognitive profile is different from other children with mental retardation syndromes and seems to be unique. Excretion of creatine to creatinine ratio in urine of the four boys was increased compared to controls and their creatine uptake in fibroblasts was deficient. In the two brothers from the first pedigree, DNA sequence analysis revealed a novel mutation in the splice donor site in intron 10 (IVS10 + 5G>C, c.1495 + 5G>C) of the SLC6A8 gene leading to skipping of exon 10. In the other sib pair a novel missense mutation (c. 1361C>T; p.Pro544Leu) was found. These are the first families reported, in which the clinical suspicion of a creatine transporter disorder was raised on clinical grounds, before a brain 1H-MRS suggested the diagnosis. Screening of apparently X-linked mental retarded patients with this somatic and behavioral phenotype by the biochemical assay of creatine to creatinine ratio in the urine or DNA sequence analysis of SLC6A8 is worthwhile even when 1H-MRS is not available.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2005

A phytol-enriched diet induces changes in fatty acid metabolism in mice both via PPARalpha-dependent and -independent pathways.

Branched-chain fatty acids (such as phytanic and pristanic acid) are ligands for the nuclear hormone receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) in vitro. To investigate the effects of these physiological compounds in vivo, wild-type and PPARalpha-deficient (PPARalpha-/-) mice were fed a phytol-enriched diet. This resulted in increased plasma and liver levels of the phytol metabolites phytanic and pristanic acid. In wild-type mice, plasma fatty acid levels decreased after phytol feeding, whereas in PPARalpha-/- mice, the already elevated fatty acid levels increased. In addition, PPARalpha-/- mice were found to be carnitine deficient in both plasma and liver. Dietary phytol increased liver free carnitine in wild-type animals but not in PPARalpha-/- mice. Investigation of carnitine biosynthesis revealed that PPARalpha is likely involved in the regulation of carnitine homeostasis. Furthermore, phytol feeding resulted in a PPARalpha-dependent induction of various peroxisomal and mitochondrial beta-oxidation enzymes. In addition, a PPARalpha-independent induction of catalase, phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase, carnitine octanoyltransferase, peroxisomal 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, and straight-chain acyl-CoA oxidase was observed. In conclusion, branched-chain fatty acids are physiologically relevant ligands of PPARalpha in mice. These findings are especially relevant for disorders in which branched-chain fatty acids accumulate, such as Refsum disease and peroxisome biogenesis disorders.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Ornithine aminotransferase deficiency: diagnostic difficulties in neonatal presentation.

We describe two unrelated cases of ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) deficiency with rare neonatal presentation of hyperammonaemia. The diagnosis in the neonatal presentation of OAT deficiency is hampered as hyperornithinaemia is absent. Enzyme and mutation studies confirmed the diagnosis. OAT deficiency should be included in differential diagnosis of neonatal hyperammonaemia.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

PubMed2005

The 625G>A SCAD gene variant is common but not associated with increased C4-carnitine in newborn blood spots.

The 625G>A variant of the short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) gene is considered to confer susceptibility for developing 'clinical SCAD deficiency' and appears to be common in the general population. To determine the frequency of the 625G>A variant in The Netherlands, we analysed 1036 screening cards of 5- to 8-day-old newborns and found 5.5% homozygous and 31.3% heterozygous for the 625G>A variant. An increased blood/plasma C4-carnitine concentration is considered to be one of the biochemical characteristics of SCAD deficiency. To explore the correlation of C4-carnitine levels with the 625G>A variant, we determined the C4-carnitine concentration, as well as the ratio of C4- to free carnitine, in blood spots from newborns, who were detected as homozygous, heterozygous or noncarriers for the gene variant. No significant differences were found between these groups. Our study demonstrates a high frequency of the 625G>A SCAD gene variant in the Dutch population, but no correlation to significantly increased C4-carnitine levels in blood spots taken between the 5th and 8th days of life. This latter observation might be the result of the relatively late timing of neonatal screening in our country, implying that fatty acid oxidation disorders may be missed at that stage. If the 625G>A variant is associated with clinical SCAD deficiency, the high frequency of the variant suggests a possible involvement of SCAD deficiency in the pathogenesis of common disorders, probably in relation to other genetic and/or environmental factors. However, homozygosity for the 625G>A variant might be only a biochemical phenomenon, representing a 'nondisease'.

Alleles↗

PubMed2005

Neonatal lactic acidosis, complex I/IV deficiency, and fetal cerebral disruption.

Cerebral developmental abnormalities occur in various inborn errors of metabolism including peroxisomal deficiencies, pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency and others. Associations with abnormalities of the respiratory chain are rare. Here we report male and female siblings with microcephaly, a complex neuromigrational disorder including ependymal cysts, leptomeningeal and subcortical heterotopia, polymicrogyria, multifocal cerebral calcifications, agenesis of the corpus callosum, and spongiform changes in brainstem and cerebellum. Intractable lactic acidosis, causing death on the first day of life, was associated with severely reduced activities of complex I and complex IV. The neuropathological and biochemical findings are closely similar to those reported previously. The findings confirm a distinct genetic syndrome of disrupted brain development with TORCH-like calcifications, and a complex neuronal migration disorder associated with a multicomplex disorder of the respiratory chain.

Acidosis, Lactic↗

PubMed2004

Omega-hydroxylation of phytanic acid in rat liver microsomes: implications for Refsum disease.

The 3-methyl-branched fatty acid phytanic acid is degraded by the peroxisomal alpha-oxidation route because the 3-methyl group blocks beta-oxidation. In adult Refsum disease (ARD), peroxisomal alpha-oxidation is defective, which is caused by mutations in the gene coding for phytanoyl-CoA hydroxylase in the majority of ARD patients. As a consequence, phytanic acid accumulates in tissues and body fluids. This study focuses on an alternative route of phytanic acid degradation, omega-oxidation. The first step in omega-oxidation is hydroxylation at the omega-end of the fatty acid, catalyzed by a member of the cytochrome P450 multienzyme family. To study this first step, the formation of hydroxylated intermediates was studied in rat liver microsomes incubated with phytanic acid and NADPH. Two hydroxylated metabolites of phytanic acid were formed, omega- and (omega-1)-hydroxyphytanic acid (ratio of formation, 5:1). The formation of omega-hydroxyphytanic acid was NADPH dependent and inhibited by imidazole derivatives. These results indicate that phytanic acid undergoes omega-hydroxylation in rat liver microsomes and that an isoform of cytochrome P450 catalyzes the first step of phytanic acid omega-oxidation.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Reconstruction of the vena cava with the peritoneum: the effect of temporary distal arteriovenous fistula on patency (an experimental study).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of increasing inferior vena cava blood flow by means of distal arteriovenous fistula on the patency of a peritoneal tube graft. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 16 mongrel dogs, a 3-4 cm long circular defect was created at the infrarenal inferior vena cava. The defect was interposed with peritoneal tube graft. A temporary distal femoro-femoral arteriovenous fistula was also constructed in 8 dogs just after the caval interposition. Graft patency was evaluated by Doppler ultrasonography and angiography. Histological evaluation was also performed. RESULTS: Seven dogs in each group survived. All control grafts occluded within the first week, compared to no occlusions in fistula group (Fisher's exact test, p<0.005). However one 'fistula' dog with a still patent graft was sacrificed on the 18th day due to ultrasonographically occluded arteriovenous fistula. CONCLUSION: In dogs, the peritoneum may be used as graft material for reconstruction of the inferior vena cava, provided a distal arteriovenous fistula is constructed.

Animals↗