14 research outputs found
Охрана редких, исчезающих видов животных. снежный барс (ИРБИС)
Данная статья посвящена вопросам охраны редких, исчезающих видов животных, в том числе снежных барсов. Рассмотрены факторы оказывающие пагубное воздействие на животный мир, также рассмотрено правовое регулирование проблемы снижения популяции снежного барса. Обозначены основные задачи для решения данной проблемы.This article is devoted to the protection of rare, endangered species of animals, including snow leopards. The factors that have a harmful effect on the animal world are considered, as well as the legal regulation of the snow leopard population decline problem. There are outlined main tasks for solving this problem
Homozygous NMNAT2 mutation in sisters with polyneuropathy and erythromelalgia.
We identified a homozygous missense mutation in the gene encoding NAD synthesizing enzyme NMNAT2 in two siblings with childhood onset polyneuropathy with erythromelalgia. No additional homozygotes for this rare allele, which leads to amino acid substitution T94M, were present among the unaffected relatives tested or in the 60,000 exomes of the ExAC database. For axons to survive, axonal NMNAT2 activity has to be maintained above a threshold level but the T94M mutation confers a partial loss of function both in the ability of NMNAT2 to support axon survival and in its enzymatic properties. Electrophysiological tests and histological analysis of sural nerve biopsies in the patients were consistent with loss of distal sensory and motor axons. Thus, it is likely that NMNAT2 mutation causes this pain and axon loss phenotype making this the first disorder associated with mutation of a key regulator of Wallerian-like axon degeneration in humans. This supports indications from numerous animal studies that the Wallerian degeneration pathway is important in human disease and raises important questions about which other human phenotypes could be linked to this gene
Improved upper limb function in non-ambulant children with SMA type 2 and 3 during nusinersen treatment: a prospective 3-years SMArtCARE registry study
Background
The development and approval of disease modifying treatments have dramatically changed disease progression in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Nusinersen was approved in Europe in 2017 for the treatment of SMA patients irrespective of age and disease severity. Most data on therapeutic efficacy are available for the infantile-onset SMA. For patients with SMA type 2 and type 3, there is still a lack of sufficient evidence and long-term experience for nusinersen treatment. Here, we report data from the SMArtCARE registry of non-ambulant children with SMA type 2 and typen 3 under nusinersen treatment with a follow-up period of up to 38 months.
Methods
SMArtCARE is a disease-specific registry with data on patients with SMA irrespective of age, treatment regime or disease severity. Data are collected during routine patient visits as real-world outcome data. This analysis included all non-ambulant patients with SMA type 2 or 3 below 18 years of age before initiation of treatment. Primary outcomes were changes in motor function evaluated with the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE) and the Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM).
Results
Data from 256 non-ambulant, pediatric patients with SMA were included in the data analysis. Improvements in motor function were more prominent in upper limb: 32.4% of patients experienced clinically meaningful improvements in RULM and 24.6% in HFMSE. 8.6% of patients gained a new motor milestone, whereas no motor milestones were lost. Only 4.3% of patients showed a clinically meaningful worsening in HFMSE and 1.2% in RULM score.
Conclusion
Our results demonstrate clinically meaningful improvements or stabilization of disease progression in non-ambulant, pediatric patients with SMA under nusinersen treatment. Changes were most evident in upper limb function and were observed continuously over the follow-up period. Our data confirm clinical trial data, while providing longer follow-up, an increased number of treated patients, and a wider range of age and disease severity
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Homozygous NMNAT2 mutation in sisters with polyneuropathy and erythromelalgia.
We identified a homozygous missense mutation in the gene encoding NAD synthesizing enzyme NMNAT2 in two siblings with childhood onset polyneuropathy with erythromelalgia. No additional homozygotes for this rare allele, which leads to amino acid substitution T94M, were present among the unaffected relatives tested or in the 60,000 exomes of the ExAC database. For axons to survive, axonal NMNAT2 activity has to be maintained above a threshold level but the T94M mutation confers a partial loss of function both in the ability of NMNAT2 to support axon survival and in its enzymatic properties. Electrophysiological tests and histological analysis of sural nerve biopsies in the patients were consistent with loss of distal sensory and motor axons. Thus, it is likely that NMNAT2 mutation causes this pain and axon loss phenotype making this the first disorder associated with mutation of a key regulator of Wallerian-like axon degeneration in humans. This supports indications from numerous animal studies that the Wallerian degeneration pathway is important in human disease and raises important questions about which other human phenotypes could be linked to this gene
Biotin-Responsive Basal Ganglia Disease: A Treatable Differential Diagnosis of Leigh Syndrome.
Biotin-responsive basal ganglia disease (BBGD) is an autosomal recessive disorder, which is caused by mutations in the SLC19A3 gene. BBGD typically causes (sub)acute episodes with encephalopathy and subsequent neurological deterioration. If untreated, the clinical course may be fatal. Our report on a 6-year-old child with BBGD highlights that the disease is a crucial differential diagnosis of Leigh syndrome. Therefore, biotin and thiamine treatment is recommended for any patient with symmetrical basal ganglia lesions and neurological symptoms until BBGD is excluded. In addition, we exemplify that deformation-field-based morphometry of brain magnetic resonance images constitutes a novel quantitative tool, which might be very useful to monitor disease course and therapeutic effects in neurometabolic disorders
Activating de novo mutations in NFE2L2 encoding NRF2 cause a multisystem disorder
Transcription factor NRF2, encoded by NFE2L2, is the master regulator of defense against stress in mammalian cells. Somatic mutations of NFE2L2 leading to NRF2 accumulation promote cell survival and drug resistance in cancer cells. Here we show that the same mutations as inborn de novo mutations cause an early onset multisystem disorder with failure to thrive, immunodeficiency and neurological symptoms. NRF2 accumulation leads to widespread misregulation of gene expression and an imbalance in cytosolic redox balance. The unique combination of white matter lesions, hypohomocysteinaemia and increased G-6-P-dehydrogenase activity will facilitate early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of this novel disorder