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Biomedical subjects

S H Tucker

Publications and source records attributed to S H Tucker.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Imaging studies in a unique familial dysmyelinating disorder.

We report the imaging findings in five patients with a unique dysmyelinating disorder. MR studies of these infants showed obstructive hydrocephalus caused by mass effect produced by an enlarged cerebellum. The white matter of an enlarged cerebrum and cerebellum showed delayed myelination. Proton spectroscopy showed normal N-acetylaspartate (NAA) levels. While the dysmyelinating disorder was clearly differentiated from Canavan disease by an absence of elevated NAA and differing histopathologic findings and autosomal-dominant inheritance pattern, there were similarities to this disease in the presentation and, to some extent, in the initial imaging findings.

Adolescent↗

Central nervous system involvement in cat scratch disease.

Cat scratch disease is a cause of benign regional adenopathy which is rarely associated with CNS complications. Two children with cat scratch disease associated with alterations of mental status and convulsions are presented. One patient had a focal cerebral abnormality on neurologic examination, EEG, and computed axial tomography. The spectrum of CNS involvement is reviewed for this usually benign disease. Prognosis is generally excellent. The pathogenesis of the CNS complications has not been elucidated.

Adolescent↗

Further evidence for Xp21 location of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) locus: X;9 translocation in a female with DMD.

Females who fully manifest Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an X linked disorder, are extremely rare. Cytogenetic studies are indicated in such females to rule out an X chromosome abnormality, which could render a female hemizygous for X linked genes. At present there are six reports describing females with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and an X; autosome translocation. Although each of these six rearrangements involves a different autosome, (chromosomes 11, 21, 1, 3, 5, and 6) they have in common a breakpoint at Xp21. We report here our observations of a further female with DMD who carries a de novo translocation between Xp and 9p. The breakpoint in our patient is also located at Xp21, adding evidence for the assignment of this band as the site of the DMD gene.

Child, Preschool↗

Biochemical studies in a patient with subacute neuropathic Gaucher disease without visceral glucosylceramide storage.

Autopsy samples were obtained from a 12.5-year-old girl who died with a neurologic disorder consisting of myoclonus, myoclonic epilepsy, spasticity, strabismus, and mild mental retardation but no hepatosplenomegaly. Studies in leukocytes, cultured skin fibroblasts, brain, liver, and spleen of this patient revealed glucosylceramide beta-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.45, glucocerebrosidase) activity about 10% of controls, and well in the range found in samples from Gaucher disease patients. Extraction of the lipids from liver and spleen with chloroform-methanol (2:1) did not show accumulation of glucosylceramide or other lipid. Examination of the lipids in brain by high performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of glucosylceramide, which is not found in brain samples from controls. Pathologic examination of the liver and spleen revealed no evidence of Gaucher disease. The brain showed many degenerative lesions and loss of neurons. There was no complementation of glucocerebrosidase activity when the cells from this patient were hybridized with cells from patients with Type 1 or Type 2 Gaucher disease. The reason for the lack of glucosylceramide storage in the liver and spleen has not been determined.

Autopsy↗

Clinical variation in 2 related children with neuronopathic Gaucher disease.

The clinical features in 2 second cousins with neuronopathic Gaucher disease include slowly progressive ataxia, spasticity, myoclonus, and seizures with relative preservation of intellectual function. Organomegaly was noted only in Patient 1. Both patients had diffuse slowing with paroxysmal features in electroencephalograms and a deficiency of beta-glucosidase activity in leukocytes and skin fibroblast cultures. The parents of Patient 1 and the related father of Patient 2 had levels of beta-glucosidase activity consistent with the carrier state for Gaucher disease. The value of beta-glucosidase activity in the mother of Patient 2 suggests a different mutation, the result being a defective enzyme component not detectable by measuring total activity.

Child↗

Slow tremor and macrocephaly: expanded version of the bobble-head doll syndrome.

The clinical features of three children in whom a slow tremor involving the head, trunk, or limbs was associated with macrocephaly are presented. The findings were similar but not identical to those previously reported in four children with the bobble-head doll syndrome. These seven children have many of the signs and symptoms found in patients with surgically or spontaneously arrested hydrocephalus, including motor incoordination, behavior and psychologic deviations, and endocrine dysfunction. The tremor which can be voluntarily inhibited and which disappears following shunt surgery, is unique. The theoretical basis for the tremor is briefly discussed.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗