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Biomedical subjects

D A Stumpf

Publications and source records attributed to D A Stumpf.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Human alpha-tocopherol transfer protein: gene structure and mutations in familial vitamin E deficiency.

Familial vitamin E deficiency (AVED) causes ataxia and peripheral neuropathy that resembles Friedreich's ataxia. AVED is thought to be caused by a defect in the transport of vitamin E in liver cells, which is the probable function of alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (alphaTTP). We have cloned the cDNA and several genomic phage clones covering the entire human alphaTTP gene and determined the junctions between the five exons and four introns that composed the gene for human alphaTTP. Three mutations in three unrelated North American families with AVED were identified. Two mutations, 485delT and 513insTT, cause a frame shift and a premature stop codon and the third mutation 574G-->A would substitute Arg192 to His in alphaTTP. The 2 patients with a severe form of AVED were homozygous with 485delT and 513insTT, respectively, while the patient with a mild form of the disease was compound heterozygous with 513insTT and 574G-->A. These findings have identified the underlying genetic defect in AVED and have confirmed the role of alphaTTP in AVED.

Adolescent↗

Reye syndrome: an international perspective.

An international perspective of Reye syndrome provides insights not noticeable with a parochial perspective. Sources of variation in Reye syndrome include geographic factors. The disappearance of Reye syndrome occurred globally, raising doubts about the importance of regional efforts to eliminate specific putative causes.

Child↗

Propionate mitochondrial toxicity in liver and skeletal muscle: acyl CoA levels.

Propionic acidemia occasionally produces a toxic encephalopathy resembling Reye syndrome, indicating disruption of mitochondrial metabolism. Understanding the mitochondrial effect of propionate might clarify the pathophysiology. Liver mitochondria are inhibited by propionate (5 mM) while muscle mitochondria are not. Preincubation is required to inhibit liver mitochondria, suggesting that propionate is metabolized to propionyl CoA. Liver and skeletal muscle mitochondria incubated with [1-14C]propionate contain similar quantities of matrix isotope and release comparable [14C]CO2. However, only liver mitochondria accumulated significant propionyl CoA, which was largely (68%) synthesized from propionate. Carnitine reduced the level of liver matrix propionyl CoA. Inhibition of respiratory control ratios by propionate correlated with propionyl CoA levels. These results support the hypothesis that acyl CoA esters are toxic and that carnitine exerts its protective effect by converting acyl CoA esters to acylcarnitine esters.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

The effect of malate on propionate mitochondrial toxicity.

Propionic acidemia occasionally produces a toxic encephalopathy resembling Reye's syndrome, indicating disruption of mitochondrial metabolism. Liver mitochondria respiratory control ratios were reduced 46% by 5 mM propionate; inhibition correlated with matrix propionyl-CoA levels. L-Malate prevented the toxic effect of propionate and reduced the propionyl-CoA matrix concentration by 62%. The beneficial effect of L-malate is apparently due to stimulation of succinate efflux because the effect is blocked by benzylmalonate, an inhibitor of the dicarboxylate carrier. Matrix concentration of label from [1-14C]propionate was not affected by L-malate and/or benzylmalonate. L-Malate may be useful in the treatment of patients with propionic acidemia.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

Phenotypic heterogeneity in the syndromes of 3-methylglutaconic aciduria.

Combined 3-methylglutaconic and 3-methylglutaric aciduria, one of the more common urinary organic acid abnormalities, has been observed in at least three clinical syndromes. We studied an additional seven patients with 3-methylglutaconic aciduria, four of whom were best categorized as having the type II syndrome, two as having an "unspecified" syndrome, and one who may have had a primary urea cycle defect. In cultured cells and autopsy tissues derived from patients with the type II and unspecified syndromes, we were unsuccessful in identifying a defect in the leucine degradative pathway distal to 3-methylcrotonyl-coenzyme A carboxylase and in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway between 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and diphosphomevalonate decarboxylase. Further assessment of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway in several patients with one of the two types of disease also provided no defined abnormality. The primary metabolic defects in the type II and unspecified syndromes remain undefined.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors↗

Isolated vitamin E deficiency in the absence of fat malabsorption--familial and sporadic cases: characterization and investigation of causes.

We observed four young adults, including three siblings, with a progressive neurologic disorder that developed over the first two decades. Electrophysiologic studies revealed mildly delayed nerve conduction, decreased amplitudes of sensory action potentials, and sensory delay in the posterior columns. Known causes of similar neurologic disorders were excluded. Although vitamin E deficiency was well documented, intestinal absorption and plasma lipoprotein transport of vitamin E were normal. Incubation studies in vitro failed to identify a plasma factor causing destruction of circulating vitamin E. There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of steatorrhea caused by gastrointestinal, hepatic, or pancreatic disease. Plasma lipoproteins, apolipoprotein B, and adipose tissue fatty acid composition were normal. Oral vitamin E therapy restored serum levels to normal and caused neurologic improvement in two patients. We postulate that an inherited defect in hepatocyte secretion of vitamin E into lipoproteins may account for this disorder, which occurs in sporadic cases as well as in siblings.

Absorption↗

Friedreich's disease: V. Variant form with vitamin E deficiency and normal fat absorption.

A 30-year-old woman was thought to have Friedreich's disease because of progressive ataxia, dysarthria, and titubation from age 3 years. Her diet was normal, and there were neither symptoms nor laboratory evidence of liver disease or fat malabsorption. Serum vitamin E content and the ratio of serum vitamin E to total serum lipid were very low, but serum vitamin A, cholylglycine, and lipid levels were normal, as was an oral vitamin E tolerance test. Muscle biopsy showed the lysosomal inclusions of vitamin E deficiency. Mitochondria had normal oxidative phosphorylation using polarographic assays. The cause of her vitamin E deficiency was unknown.

Adult↗

Acute ataxia.

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Ataxia↗

Bilirubin increases mitochondrial inner membrane conductance.

Bilirubin accumulates within, and induces loose coupling in, rat liver mitochondria. This state, characterized by a normal protonmotive force, but increased oxygen consumption and inner membrane conductance, could impair cellular energy metabolism. Loose coupling is observed at bilirubin concentrations (12-24 microM) attained in tissues of kernicteric animals.

Animals↗

Carnitine deficiency, organic acidemias, and Reye's syndrome.

Relative carnitine deficiency is important in the pathophysiology of several disorders, including Reye's syndrome and organic acidemias. In acute clinical crises, carnitine serves as a "buffer," trapping toxic acyl compounds. Mitochondrial failure develops in carnitine deficiency when there is insufficient tissue carnitine available to buffer toxic acyl-CoA metabolites. Toxic levels of acyl-CoA impair the citrate cycle, gluconeogenesis, the urea cycle, and fatty-acid oxidation. Carnitine replacement therapy is safe and induces excretion of toxic acyl groups in the urine.

Acids↗

The metabolic consequences of experimental intraventricular hemorrhage.

Experimental intraventricular hemorrhage was produced by injection of autologous fresh blood (0.25 ml/kg) or artificial CSF into the right lateral ventricle of 24 dogs. A transient ventricular fluid acidosis (pH drop to 7.09) was accompanied by increased lactate, pyruvate, ammonia, and Pco2, and decreased bicarbonate and glucose. High lactate/pyruvate ratios were the most persistent abnormality. The control group, which received intraventricular artificial CSF, developed minimal ventricular fluid acidosis (pH 7.26). Lumbar CSF and venous blood acid-base parameters did not change. Simultaneous cisternal samples obtained from some of the animals reflected similar metabolic abnormalities of lesser magnitude. Intraventricular injection of sodium bicarbonate normalized the pH in four animals.

Animals↗

The inherited ataxias.

Diagnosis and classification of the inherited ataxias are reviewed with emphasis on recognizing treatable disorders. Even when basic defects are untreatable, many complications of the degenerative process are amenable to therapy.

Ataxia↗

Anticonvulsant use during pregnancy.

Although antiepileptic medications may play a role in fetal malformations, this risk appears no greater than the risk associated with either the seizures themselves or a change in medication during pregnancy. In general, the number and the dose of antiepileptic medications should be minimized during pregnancy. Potential complications during the pregnancy must be anticipated. Drug levels must be monitored. Because the fetus is at a somewhat higher risk, ultrasound studies may be useful in monitoring the pregnancy. Delivery should take place in a center where appropriate facilities are available if intervention is required during labor or if the baby is malformed. Both the infant and the mother should be monitored closely after the delivery.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

A microchamber for polarographic assay.

A glass micro-chamber which allows polarographic assay in a volume of 180 microliter is described. The conical shape of this chamber allows efficient mixing with a Teflon magnetic flea. This chamber facilitates the study of the small quantities of mitochondria obtained from human tissue biopsies or animal sources. The polarographic assay of mouse liver mitochondria is described.

Animals↗

Lipoamide dehydrogenase deficiency with primary lactic acidosis: favorable response to treatment with oral lipoic acid.

An 8-month-old boy with severe lactic acidosis was found to have lipoamide dehydrogenase deficiency. Treatment with thiamine, biotin, bicarbonate, protein restriction, and ketogenic diet failed to alleviate the lactic acidosis. Oral administration of lipoic acid 25 to 50 mg/kg produced dramatic improvement in lactic and pyruvic acidemia, which has continued for 2 years and which has been accompanied by clinical improvement.

Acidosis↗

Brain mitochondrial metabolism in experimental thiamine deficiency.

Thiamine deficiency causes Wernicke's encephalopathy, although the precise mechanism is unknown. We used a low-thiamine diet in conjunction with a thiamine analog, pyrithiamine, as a model of severe thiamine deficiency in rats. We investigated the function of intact, coupled mitochondria isolated from both brain and liver. State 4 respiration did not change in the thiamine-deficient animals. Brain state 3 rates fell in thiamine-deficient animals when pyruvate/malate, alpha-ketoglutarate, or glutamate were used as substrate. Liver state 3 rates were depressed only when pyruvate/malate was substrate. Activities of brain and liver pyruvate dehydrogenase complex and alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex were depressed in the thiamine-deficient group. We conclude that the mitochondrial abnormalities resulting from thiamine deficiency are secondary to depression of thiamine-mediated enzyme activity, rather than from a putative role of thiamine in chemiosmotic coupling, and that the resulting abnormalities in ATP synthesis and perhaps in glutamate catabolism result in the irreversible neurologic defect seen in this disease.

Animals↗