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Organic acidurias (OAs) are a group of rare metabolic disorders that disrupt the regular amino acid metabolism. OAs are characterized by recurrent episodes of acidemia, ketonuria and hyperammonemia which can result in brain/liver damage and renal failure, and despite the life-long protein-restricted diet, impaired growth and long-term complications can occur. Consequently, a long-term management of OAs patients is required, aimed principally at reducing the frequency and duration of metabolic decompensation/hyperammonemia episodes. Nevertheless, unlike the acute phase, evidence on the chronic management of OAs patients is less consolidated.

Menkes disease is a rare multisystem X-linked disorder of copper metabolism. Despite an early, severe, and progressive neurologic involvement, our knowledge of brain involvement remains unsatisfactory. The first part of this retrospective and review MR imaging study aims to define the frequency rate, timing, imaging features, and evolution of intracranial vascular and white matter changes. According to our analysis, striking but also poorly evolutive vascular abnormalities characterize the very early phases of disease. After the first months, myelination delay becomes evident, often in association with protean focal white matter lesions, some of which reveal an age-specific brain vulnerability. In later phases of the disease, concomitant progressive neurodegeneration might hinder the myelination progression. The currently enriched knowledge of neuroradiologic finding evolution provides valuable clues for early diagnosis, identifies possible MR imaging biomarkers of new treatment efficacy, and improves our comprehension of possible mechanisms of brain injury in Menkes disease.

This is the second part of a retrospective and review MR imaging study aiming to define the frequency rate, timing, imaging features, and evolution of gray matter changes in Menkes disease, a rare multisystem X-linked disorder of copper metabolism characterized by early, severe, and progressive neurologic involvement. According to our analysis, neurodegenerative changes and focal basal ganglia lesions already appear in the early phases of the disease. Subdural collections are less common than generally thought; however, their presence remains important because they might challenge the differential diagnosis with child abuse and might precipitate the clinical deterioration. Anecdotal findings in our large sample seem to provide interesting clues about the protean mechanisms of brain injury in this rare disease and further highlight the broad spectrum of MR imaging findings that might be expected while imaging a child with the suspicion of or a known diagnosis of Menkes disease.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-01T21:59:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_11389_Dissertação final Erik Fissicaro Procópio.pdf: 24584907 bytes, checksum: 5ba9c93de30291017ebff299b50c84bf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-07-27 Neste trabalho, estudamos a formação e as propriedades estruturais e magnéticas das fases de ferritas Mn1-xZnxFe2O4 (x = 0; 0,5; 1), preparadas pela técnica de moagem (High-energy ball milling), via difração de raios-X (DRX), espectroscopia Mössbauer do 57Fe (sem campo aplicado) e medidas de susceptibilidade magnética (em função da temperatura e da frequência do campo AC). Para as ferritas mista e pura de Mn, houve um acidente no processo de preparação e constatamos uma contaminação dos materiais, que comprometeu a apresentação sistemática dos resultados. Resolvemos apresentar os resultados nesta dissertação para ficarem registrados. Com a parte confiável dos dados, fomos capazes de inferir que todas as ferritas, preparadas por moagem nas condições estabelecidas neste trabalho, apresentam uma cinética de formação bastante similar. Contudo, tivemos sucesso na produção da ferrita de zinco (ZnFe2O4), onde acompanhamos a cinética de formação desta fase, que se iniciou nas primeiras 10 h de moagem, mas que não se completou mesmo após 200 h [existe ainda 6% dos precursores (pós de ZnO e α-Fe2O3) no material]. Especificamente, observamos uma alta taxa de formação da fase ZnFe2O4 até às 90 h de moagem, com posterior redução da taxa de reação de estado sólido entre os pós precursores. Por espectroscopia Mössbauer do 57Fe e difração de raios-X, distinguimos a formação de duas fases distintas da ferrita ZnFe2O4 moída por 200 h: uma com estrutura cristalina do tipo espinélio e parâmetro de rede similar ao valor encontrado para este material no bulk e uma fase magnética. Esta fase com grãos cristalinos da ordem de 12 nm para a amostra moída 200 h (recém moída), segundo os espectros Mössbauer, tem temperatura de ordem magnética bem acima (TC ≈ 90 K) daquela encontra para a ferrita no bulk, que é de 10 K. Atribuímos este aumento no valor de TC ao processo de inversão catiônica entre os sítios A e B da estrutura espinélio que, por sua vez, deveriam ser ocupados somente por íons Zn e Fe, respectivamente. A outra componente dos espectros Mössbauer, com temperatura de ordem magnética acima de 300 K, corresponde uma distribuição de campos magnéticos hiperfinos. As frações destas componentes mudam à medida que procedemos com tratamentos térmicos, ou seja, quando se: (i) aumenta o tamanho médio de grãos, (ii) reduz as micro-tensões produzidas pelo processo de moagem e (iii) reduz também a inversão catiônica entre os sítios A e B. Este processo de tratamento térmico produz um material ainda nanoestruturado, mas com grãos da ordem de 14-17 nm, que se ordenam em temperaturas inferiores à temperatura de 30 K, segundo medidas de susceptibilidade magnética AC e Mössbauer. Propomos dois modelos (A e B) para explicar nossos dados experimentais. No modelo A, a região de contorno de grão é desprezível do ponto de vista magnético e teríamos uma vasta distribuição de tamanhos de grãos. No modelo B, teríamos uma distribuição mais estreita de grãos, mas com grande contribuição das regiões de contornos de grãos, ou seja, região que governará a interação magnética entre os grãos. Não conseguimos definir qual dos modelos é o mais apropriado, mas baseado em argumentos físicos, inferimos que seja o modelo B. De qualquer forma, os grãos, com ordem cristalina, estariam interagindo magneticamente e produzindo um T0 (do modelo de Fulcher) de 75 K. Este valor, juntamente com os dados de susceptibilidade magnética, indicam que a ferrita de ZnFe2O4 tratada termicamente em 773 ou 973 K exibe comportamento tipo cluster-glass, com valores das temperaturas de congelamento bem definidos, uma vez que @Tχ(Tf ; f) = 0.

Cholesterol plays a pivotal role in cell membrane physiology and in the biosynthesis of steroids, bile acids, and vitamin D. Inborn defects of cholesterol biosynthesis are a group of metabolic disorders presenting with multiple congenital anomalies, growth delay, and psychomotor disabilities. Recently, a new defect of cholesterol biosynthesis, involving the sterol-C-4-methyl oxidase (SC4MOL) enzyme, has been described in four patients as an autosomal recessive disease due to the defect of demethylation of C4-methylsterols (1). Herein, we describe a new case of SC4MOL deficiency. His clinical history reported bilateral congenital cataracts at the age of 8 months; at 4 years old, he showed psychomotor development delay and learning disabilities; at the age of 15 years, he showed small stature, microcephaly, cerebellum hypoplasia, obesity, and behavioural disorder. Despite numerous clinical, biochemical, and genetic examinations, such as array- CGH, X-fragile test, mitochondrial DNA sequencing, amino acids and organic acids in plasma and urine, the diagnosis was missed until the age of 19 years. Based on these evidences, a cholesterol biosynthesis defect was suspected. Sterol analysis by GC-FID and GC-MS showed higher levels of C4-monomethyl- and C4- dimethylsterols in plasma and red blood cell membranes, suggesting a defect of SC4MOL enzyme. Sequencing of the SC4MOL gene showed that the patient is compound heterozygote for two mutations: c.731A>G (p.Y244C), a known mutation, which substitutes an amino acid within highly conserved metalbinding domain; c.605G>A (p.G202E), not previously described, occurring in a trans-membrane site of fatty acid hydroxylase region. It is absent in EXAC database and in 250 healthy Caucasian individuals. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that this substitution may have a pathogenic role. Both his parents are found heterozygous. Therefore, genetic result supports the diagnosis of SC4MOL deficiency. In conclusion, integration between plasma and red blood cell membranes sterol analysis and genetic analysis allows to reach the definitive diagnosis. In addition, genetic result allows to differentiate among overlapping phenotypes, and to establish the exact reproductive risk. Reference: 1) He et al 2014, BBA 1841:331

Mitochondria are a fundamental component of the eukaryotic cell, nonetheless, available data on their heredity and biogenesis are largely incomplete. Our research is focused on the Doubly Uniparental Inheritance (DUI) of mitochondria. DUI organisms have two mitochondrial lineages, one transmitted through eggs (F-type), the other through sperm (M-type), whose mtDNAs show up to 50% of amino acid divergence. In DUI species, after amphimixis, the embryo is heteroplasmic for its mtDNA, a status that is eventually maintained only in males, where F-mtDNA localizes in the somatic tissues, while M-mtDNA localizes in both germ line and soma. Conversely, in females M-mtDNA disappears, restoring the homoplasmic condition. There is both molecular and phylogenetic evidence that DUI evolved as a modification of the mechanism of maternal inheritance, typical of all Metazoa. Our work aims at expanding the knowledge we have about DUI to make it a model system for mitochondrial biology. Thanks to its unusual features, DUI can shed light on mitochondrial inheritance and biogenesis and on the relationship between mitochondria and germ line components. Moreover, the DUI male represents an unique experimental system for studying mitochondrial heteroplasmy: the heteroplasmic condition of DUI males is natural, therefore the biological functions and interactions between nucleus and mitochondria are the unaltered result of evolution. Among those interactions, of particular interest is the relationship between two processes that shape genome evolution: genomic conflicts and coevolution between nuclear and mitochondrial genes. There is no biological system more suitable than DUI to study that.

To gain better insight in the most current diagnosis and treatment practices for phenylketonuria (PKU) from a broad group of experts, a European PKU survey was performed. The questionnaire, consisting of 33 questions, was sent to 243 PKU professionals in 165 PKU centers in 23 European countries. The responses were compiled and descriptive analyses were performed. One hundred and one questionnaires were returned by 93/165 centers (56%) from 19/23 European countries (83%). The majority of respondents (77%) managed patients of all age groups and more than 90% of PKU teams included physicians or dieticians/nutritionists. The greatest variability existed especially in the definition of PKU phenotypes, therapeutic blood phenylalanine (Phe) target concentrations, and follow-up practices for PKU patients. The tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4 ; sapropterin) loading test was performed by 54% of respondents, of which 61% applied a single dose test (20mg/kg over 24h). BH4 was reported as a treatment option by 34%. This survey documents differences in diagnostic and treatment practices for PKU patients in European centers. In particular, recommendations for the treatment decision varied greatly between different European countries. There is an urgent need to pool long-term data in PKU registries in order to generate an evidence-based international guideline. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Morquio A syndrome (MPS IVA) is a systemic lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfatase (GALNS), encoded by the GALNS gene. We studied 37 MPS IV A patients and defined genotype-phenotype correlations based on clinical data, biochemical assays, molecular analyses, and in silico structural analyses of associated mutations. We found that standard sequencing procedures, albeit identifying 14 novel small GALNS genetic lesions, failed to characterize the second disease-causing mutation in the 16% of the patients' cohort. To address this drawback and uncover potential gross GALNS rearrangements, we developed molecular procedures (CNV [copy-number variation] assays, QF-PCRs [quantitative fluorescent-PCRs]), endorsed by CGH-arrays. Using this approach, we characterized two new large deletions and their corresponding breakpoints. Both deletions were heterozygous and included the first exon of the PIEZO1 gene, which is associated with dehydrated hereditary stomatocitosis, an autosomal-dominant syndrome. In addition, we characterized the new GALNS intronic lesion c.245-11C>G causing m-RNA defects, although identified outside the GT/AG splice pair. We estimated the occurrence of the disease in the Italian population to be approximately 1:300,000 live births and defined a molecular testing algorithm designed to help diagnosing MPS IVA and foreseeing disease progression. © 2014 WILEY PERIODICALS, INC.

Joubert syndrome (JS) and related disorders are a group of autosomal-recessive conditions sharing the “molar tooth sign” on axial brain MRI, together with cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, ataxia, and psychomotor delay. JS is suggested to be a disorder of cilia function and is part of a spectrum of disorders involving retinal, renal, digital, oral, hepatic, and cerebral organs. We identified mutations in ARL13B in two families with the classical form of JS. ARL13B belongs to the Ras GTPase family, and in other species is required for ciliogenesis, body axis formation, and renal function. The encoded Arl13b protein was expressed in developing murine cerebellum and localized to the cilia in primary neurons. Overexpression of human wild-type but not patient mutant ARL13B rescued the Arl13b scorpion zebrafish mutant. Thus, ARL13B has an evolutionarily conserved role mediating cilia function in multiple organs.

Joubert syndrome–related disorders (JSRDs) are a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous conditions that share a midbrain-hindbrain malformation, the molar tooth sign (MTS) visible on brain imaging, with variable neurological, ocular, and renal manifestations. Mutations in the CEP290 gene were recently identified in families with the MTS-related neurological features, many of which showed oculo-renal involvement typical of Senior-Löken syndrome (JSRD-SLS phenotype). Here, we performed comprehensive CEP290-mutation analysis on two nonoverlapping cohorts of JSRD-affected patients with a proven MTS. We identified mutations in 19 of 44 patients with JSRD-SLS. The second cohort consisted of 84 patients representing the spectrum of other JSRD subtypes, with mutations identified in only two patients. The data suggest that CEP290 mutations are frequently encountered and are largely specific to the JSRD-SLS subtype. One patient with mutation displayed complete situs inversus, confirming the clinical and genetic overlap between JSRDs and other ciliopathies.

Three recently synthesized neutral dinuclear carbonyl manganese complexes with the pyridazine bridging ligand, of general formula [Mn2(μ-ER)2(CO)6(μ-pydz)] (pydz = pyridazine; E = O or S; R = methyl or phenyl), have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry in dimethylformamide and acetonitrile both under an inert argon atmosphere and in the presence of carbon dioxide. This family of Mn(I) compounds behaves interestingly at negative potentials in the presence of CO2. Based on this behavior, which is herein discussed, a rather efficient catalytic mechanism for the CO2 reduction reaction toward the generation of CO has been hypothesized.

A family of dinuclear tricarbonyl rhenium (I) complexes containing bridging 1,2-diazine ligand and halide anions as ancillary ligands and able to catalyze CO2 reduction is presented. Electrochemical studies show that the highest catalytic efficiency is obtained for the complex containing the 4,5-bipenthyl-pyridazine and iodide as ancillary halogen ligands. This complex gives rise to TOF=15 s−1 that clearly outperforms the values reported for the benchmark mononuclear Re(CO)3Cl(bpy) (11.1 s−1). The role of the substituents on the pyridazine ligand and the nature of the bridging halide ligands on the catalytic activity have been deeply investigated through a systematic study on the structure-properties relationship to understand the improved catalytic efficiencies of this class of complexes.