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Objective To investigate the impulsivity and aggressiveness characteristics of patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) and its relationship with brain structure.Methods The Chinese version of the Barratt impulsiveness scale,11 version (BIS-1 1-C) and Buss-Perry aggression questionnaire (BPAQ) were assessed in 78 patients with hepatolenticular degeneration(HLD group) and 86 normal adults (health control group).HLD patients were examined by 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).The differences in impulsivity and aggressiveness of the two groups were compared,and the relationship was analyzed between impulsivity,aggressiveness and different brain structures in patients with HLD.Results The total impulsive score,unplanned factor score,the total aggressive score and anger factor score of patients with cerebral HLD (61.74±9.82,26.08±5.06,82.71 ± 15.92,20.06± 5.74,respectively) were higher than those in patients with hepatic HLD (56.73±7.11,23.02±4.20,72.84± 11.15,16.64±5.01,respectively),and health control group(52.19±7.53,21.50± 3.93,64.64±9.83,14.27 ±4.38,respectively),and the differences were significant (F=3.193,4.646,11.830,8.270,all P＜0.05).Total impulsive score was positively correlated with aggressive score and physical aggression in HLD group(r=0.299,0.290,both P＜0.05).Unplanned score was positively correlated with aggressive total score (r=0.324) and physical aggression (r=0.320) in HLD group (P＜0.05).Frontal lobe injury was the influencing factor of total impulsive score(B=10.263,95％CI=0.467-19.946,P=0.008),attention score(B=2.837,95％CI=0.382-5.600,P=0.010) and unplanned factor score (B=3.977,95％ CI=0.848-8.502,P=0.046).Thalamus injury was the influencing factor of aggressive total score and its factor score.Caudate nucleus injury was the influencing factor of aggressive total score (B=10.030,95％ CI=3.351-18.039,P=0.017) and physical aggression score (B =4.432,95％ CI=1.193-7.729,P=0.016).Conclusion Patients with HLD have higher impulsive and aggressive tendencies,which are mainly manifested in unplanned impulsive and anger tendencies.Brain injury may be an important factor affecting impulsiveness and aggression in patients with HLD.Impulsiveness is related with frontal lobe injury and aggression to thalamus and caudate nucleus injury.Impulsiveness and aggressiveness in patients with HLD are not caused by damage to isolated brain areas,but are related to damage to multiple brain areas.
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Objective@#To report a case of peripheral neuropathy secondary to copper deficiency (CD) by long-term decoppering chelation in Wilson′s disease (WD) to enhance understanding of the disease, and to pay more attention to individualized treatment of WD. @*Methods@#A case of WD diagnosed 12 years ago confirmed by gene detection and since then treated with anti-copper agent was diagnosed as CD based peripheral neuropathy and significant neutropenia and followed up for six months, and the clinical manifestations, laboratory examination, electrophysiology, imaging features were summarized. The related literatures were reviewed. @*Results@#A total of 16 cases of WD complicated with CD were reviewed and analyzed, including seven males and nine females aged 13-56 years. All of them were treated with zinc for 1-38 years, and nine cases with peripheral neuropathy. Hematological indicators can be significantly improved and neurological symptoms can be partially alleviated after stopping copper removal treatment. @*Conclusions@#Peripheral neuropathy in a WD with treatment-related CD may occur in blind treatment, irregular treatment monitoring and without individualized treatment adjustment. It is necessary to monitor blood routine, copper and zinc metabolism regularly and advocate individualized treatment of WD.
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Objective To explore cognitive impairment and related factors in patients with Wilson disease (WD) and to screen the risk factors of cognitive impairment in order to provide evidence for clinical intervention. Methods The Chinese Version Addenbrooke＇s Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III-C) was used to assess the cognitive function. The WD patients with cognitive impairment were analyzed the difference between those with non-cognitive disorders in the Young scale, Baethel scale and biochemical indicators. Risk factors for cognitive impairment in WD patients were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results Cognitive impairment occurred in 43 (59.7%) of 72 patients with WD. ACE-III-C total score, attention, memory, language fluency, visual spatial factor scores, Young scores, Barthel scores and serum copper levels were significantly different between patients with cognitive impairment and patients with non-cognitive impairment (P＜0.01). Linear regression analysis showed that serum copper levels were the most important risk factors for ACE-III-C total score and cognitive subfields (P＜0.01). Serum zinc levels as a secondary risk factor of language fluency and visual space (P＜0.05). Age-related participation affected language fluency (P＜0.05). Conclusions Serum copper and zinc levels may be the main risk factors of cognitive impairment. Modulation of serum copper and zinc levels may be the key for intervention to treat cognitive impairment in WD patients.
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Objective To investigate the changes of cardiac structure and function in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD).Methods From March 2010 to February 2011,90 HLD patients who did not receive formal treatment (observation group) and 30 healthy people (control group) were collected and analyzed with color Doppler echocardiography in the Institute of Neurology,Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.Based on the clinical manifestations,cases were divided into hepatic type group (n =31),brain type group (n =42) and brain-visceral type group (n =17).According to the Child-Pugh classification,patients were divided into Child A group (n =71),Child B group (n =10) and Child C group (n =9).Results (1) The left atrial diameter ((28.00 ± 3.11),(29.62 ± 3.44) mm) and left ventricular diameter ((45.69 ± 3.75),(47.10-± 4.73) mm) of HLD patients in brain-visceral type group and hepatic type group were larger than that of the control group ((24.86 ± 2.63),(41.93 ±3.56) mm;t =3.143,4.761,P=0.018,0.000;t=3.764,5.167,P=0.018,0.000).The left atrial diameter and left ventricular diameter of hepatic type group were significantly larger than the brain type group (26.06 ± 3.68,43.34 ± 3.88;t =3.557,P =0.000;t =3.751,P =0.001).The value of E/A in the hepatic type group (1.57 ± 0.37) was significantly lower than the control group (1.93 ± 0.20;t =-0.352,P =0.006).(2) The left atrial diameter ((31.29 ± 1.70),(34.67 ± 1.97) mm) and left ventricular diameter ((48.29 ± 2.81),(53.67 ± 2.67) mm) of Child B and C groups were significantly larger than the control group ((24.86 ± 2.63),(41.93 ± 3.56) rm;t =6.429,9.810,P =0.000,0.000;t =6.357,10.738,P =0.000,0.000),and the Child A group ((26.42 ± 3.05),(43.89 ± 3.76) rm;t=4.871,8.252,P=0.000,0.000;t =4.399,8.780,P=0.003,0.000).The value of E/A of Child B and C groups (1.58 ± 0.32,1.26 ± 0.39) was lower than that of the control group (t =-0.347,0.662,P=0.020,0.000);At the same time,the value of E/A of Child C group was significantly lower than that of Child A group (1.80 ± 0.33;t =-0.530,P =0.000).Conclusions The HLD patients may have cardiac structural and functional changes,mainly manifested as left atrial and left ventricular enlargement and cardiac diastolic dysfunction,whereas a serious impact has not yet been found in systolic function.And the changes of cardiac structure and function were related to the degree of liver cirrhosis in patients with HLD.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze a case of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) with mental retardation as the initial neurological symptom.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Medical imaging, histopathological assay and genetic testing were carried out to analyze the patient.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Neurological manifestations of the 27-year-old male patient were initiated by mental retardation and subsequently memory lapses, ataxia, spastic paraplegia and fuzzy language. Other symptoms included cataract, xanthomatosis in Achilles tendon, kidney stones and high arches. The total bile acid in serum has risen to 14.7 umol/L. There were symmetrical abnormal signals in bilateral cerebellar dentate nuclei, hypointensities on T1WI and DWI and mixed signals on T2WI. Cholesterol crystallization and cholesterol granulomatous inflammation were found upon pathological examination of the Achilles tendon. The patient was found to have carried a compound heterozygous mutation of the CTX gene, which consisted of two novel mutations including c.379C>T (p.Arg127Trp) in exon 2 and c.1174G>A (p.Glu392Lys) in exon 6 of the CYP27A1 gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Clinicians should be alert to cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis when the patient has mental retardation caused by genetic and metabolic factors beginning at a young age, particularly accompanied with tendinous xanthomatosis and cataracts. CTX can be readily diagnosed by histopathological assay and sequencing of the CYP27A1 gene.</p>
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Adult , Humans , Male , Cholestanetriol 26-Monooxygenase , Genetics , Intellectual Disability , Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous , GeneticsABSTRACT
Objective To study the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and correlated factors in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD).Methods The rCBF of lentiform nucleus,thalamus and other sites in 14 patients with HLD of cerebral type (cerebral type group) and 10 patients with HLD of non-cerebral type (non-cerebral type group) were determined by magnetic resonance-perfusion imaging technology,meanwhile 13 healthy volunteers were selected as control group,and calculated the relative regional cerebral blood flow (rrCBF) for avoiding perfusion time lag.The correlation between the clinical symptom scores,the content of urinary copper,duration and rrCBF in HLD patients were evaluated.Results The rrCBF of cerebral type group in the left and right frontal lobe,temporal lobe,lentiform nucleus,caudate nucleus,thalamus,midbrain,pons and the left hippocampus,cerebellar cortex,dentate nucleus were lower than those of control group (1.91 ±0.35 vs.2.44 ±0.64,1.80 ±0.30 vs.2.37 ±0.65,1.37 ±0.35 vs.2.14 ±0.91,1.58 ±0.52 vs.2.39 ±0.99,1.61 ±0.38 vs.2.59 ±0.74,1.52 ±0.64 vs.2.63 ±0.73,1.88 ±0.32 vs.2.61 ±0.67,1.70 ±0.40 vs.2.35 ±0.50,1.48 ±0.13 vs.2.01 ±0.59,1.46 ±0.38 vs.2.38 ±0.99,1.47 ±0.55 vs.2.02 ±0.72,1.27 ±0.48 vs.1.91 ±0.51,1.24 ±0.38 vs.1.47 ±0.29,1.25 ±0.39 vs.1.53 ±0.37,1.74 ±0.27 vs.2.40 ±0.89,1.79 ±0.50 vs.2.22 ±0.66,2.15 ±0.41 vs.2.64 ± 0.61),and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01).There were no significant differences in the rrCBF of the parietal and occipital lobe,etc between cerebral type group and control group (P ＞ 0.05).The rrCBF of cerebral type group in the left and right lentiform nucleus were lower than those of non-cerebral type group (1.61 ± 0.38 vs.1.94 ± 0.58,1.52 ± 0.64 vs.1.99 ± 0.59),and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).The clinical symptom scores were positively correlated with the rrCBF of the left and right lentiform nucleus in 24 patients with HLD (r =-0.792 and-0.764,P ＜ 0.01),the content of urinary copper and duration had no correlation with the rrCBF of the left and right lentiform nucleus(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The rCBF of cerebral type and non-cerebral type HLD is significantly reduced,cerebral type patients have lower rCBF than non-cerebral type patients.The rCBF is correlated with the clinical symptom scores.
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Objective To examine the brain metabolic changes in WD patients receiving copper chelation by us?ing 1H-MRS. Method Thirty-nine patients with WD was randomly divided into four groups: non-brain type group (18 cases), brain type prior-treatment group and short-term treatment group (21 cases), long-term treatment group (20 cases) from short-term treatment group, and 20 healthy volunteers served as a control group. 1H-MRS and MRI were performed on patients on 1.5/MR/MRS system to detect these above-mentioned items before and after treatment. Result The mean of NAA/Cr was significantly lower in the left putamen and head of the caudate nucleus than in the left basal ganglion in the 39 patients with WD. The mean of NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr in the left putamen and basal ganglion was significantly lower in non-brain type group than in control group(P0.05). The mean of NAA/Cr and NAA/Cho in the left putamen and basal ganglion was much higher in long-term treatment group than in brain type group(P<0.01 or P<0.05). The mean of Cho/Cr in the left head of caudate nucleus were much higher after treatment compared with prior-treatment group(P<0.05). The mean of NAA/Cr in the left putamen, head of the left caudate nucleus and basal ganglion in all groups was negatively correlated with course of the disease. Conclusion There are significant differences in brain metabolism among different type of WD. The long-term but not short-term copper chelation significantly improves brain metabolism. NAA/Cr may be used as a non-invasive indicator to examine the efficacy of treatment.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical and genetic characteristics of twins and siblings affected with Wilson's disease (WD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data and blood samples were collected from the subjects after informed consent was obtained. Genomic DNA was extracted and potential mutations in the exons in ATP7B gene were detected with PCR-DNA sequencing. Short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping was performed to determine the zygosity of the twins.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 5 pairs of twins have all met the diagnostic criteria for WD. STR genotyping has confirmed that 4 pairs were monozygotic twins. 3 pairs of twins had an onset with liver symptoms, the other 2 had an onset with brain symptoms. ATP7B gene mutations were detected in 4 pairs of twins, which have all located in exons 8 and 13. A heterozygous p.R778W mutation in exon 8 and homozygous p.P992L mutation in exon 13 were detected in all patients from one family, whose parents have carried a heterozygous p.R778W mutation and p.P992L heterozygous mutation, respectively, which suggested loss of heterozygosity (LOH). In one family, no mutation was detected in all exons of the ATP7B gene in the patients and their parents. For a triplet, one female was with definite WD and brain symptoms at the onset, one male had subclinical type with WD, whilst another female was completely normal. The triplets and their mother have all carried a p.P992L heterozygous mutation .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Above results have confirmed an important role for genetic factors in the pathogenesis of WD. In addition to point mutations, LOH is also involved in the pathogenesis for WD.</p>
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Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Young Adult , Adenosine Triphosphatases , Genetics , Base Sequence , Cation Transport Proteins , Genetics , Copper-Transporting ATPases , Exons , Genotype , Hepatolenticular Degeneration , Diagnosis , Genetics , Loss of Heterozygosity , Mutation , Siblings , TwinsABSTRACT
Objective To establish a fast and effective gene diagnosis method for Wilson's disease(WD) patients by double PCR-SSCP technology.Methods We amplificated exon8 and exon12 of ATP7B gene by double PCR from genomic DNA of 140 unrelated WD patients and 30 normal controls,then used SSCP technology to screen them.At last we identificated these patients' mutation features by direct sequencing.Results No abnormality shift was found in 30 controls.In 140 patients,we found 7 types of abnormal mobility shifts in 66 cases(47.14%).In subsequent direct sequencing,mutation rate of Arg778Leu/Gln was 37.14%(52/140),and Thr935Met was 12.86%(18/140).Conclusion Double PCR-SSCP diagnosis technology is a effective method which can improve diagnosis rate for Wilson disease.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical manifestation of 155 patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD) complicated with epilepsy and the therapeutic effect of integrative Chinese and Western medicine treatment on them.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical manifestation of patients and its relationship with abnormalities in cranial CT and/or MRI were observed. Patients were treated by combined treatment of copper repellent with sodium dimercaptosulfonate 20 mg/kg per day by intravenous dripping, and modified Gandou Decoction (GDD) by oral intake and antiepileptics as well, after treatment for 8-10 courses, the clinical effect, copper levels in urine and serum were compared between groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 155 HLD patients, 96 were complicated with petit mal and 59 with grand mal. In the CT and/or MRI conducted in 72 patients, all showed abnormal images, besides such frequently met images as bilateral symmetrical basal ganglia focal lesion in 65 case-episode (90.3%) and brain atrophy of various degrees in 61 case-episode (84.7%), the massive lesions in cerebral white matter as principal, with the cortex involved, were also found in 54 patients (74%), which were mostly bilateral and symmetric or located in 2 adjecent lobes of brain, the sites of damage, in sequence of occurrence, were frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe and callosal gyrus. Brain atrophy was found in all the remained patients without above-mentioned lesions. Abnormal EEG was shown in 29 patients (40.2%), which mainly manifested as theta wave of moderate to high potential and/or short paroxysmal spike-slow or sharp-slow complex wave evoked. The urinary copper level in patients after treatment was 34.5 +/- 21.6 micromol/24 hrs, significantly higher than that before treatment, 4.49 +/- 1.93 micromol/24 hrs (P < 0.01). And the serum copper level in patients also lowered significantly (P< 0.01). Epileptic seizure was controlled completely along with the gradually improving of extrapyramidal symptoms.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Partial seizure was the most common type of seizure of HLD patient complicated with epilepsy, the next is systemic seizure. Cerebral damage lesion and obvious brain atrophy could be the main etiological factors of HLD complicated with epilepsy, combined copper repellent therapy of integrative Chinese and Western medicine, and antiepileptics produced good clinical effect on the patients.</p>
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Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Anticonvulsants , Therapeutic Uses , Chelating Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Drug Therapy, Combination , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Therapeutic Uses , Epilepsy , Drug Therapy , Hepatolenticular Degeneration , Drug Therapy , Phytotherapy , Unithiol , Therapeutic UsesABSTRACT
Objective The selective deficit of recognition of disgust expression in Huntington’s disease (HD) and HD gene carrier strongly suggested the possibility that basal ganglia is involved in disgust processing. To further tested this hypothesis, we test the perception of emotional expressions in patients with symptomatic Wilson’s disease (WD), another basal ganglia disease resulted from abnormal copper metabo lism. Methods We developed a six basic emotional morphed face continuum (30 morphed emotional faces across happy surprise fear sad disgust anger happy). Participants were required to label each of these morphs in 5 trails to measure the ability of different emotion processing. The performances of 32 cases of WD were compared with 20 age and education matched normal controls. Results On the group level, although significantly impaired in fear, disgust and anger (correct identification scores: 12.8?3.6;9.1?4.7;14.9?4.3, P
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Objective To study the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovary axis function in female patients with hepatolenticular degeneration (HLD). Method By RIA test the levels of serum pituitary and sex hormones were observed. Results The level of fallicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was significantly lower than that in control group ( P
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Objective To study the relationship between the levels of serum oxide and antioxide in patients with Wilson disease (WD) and its visceral injury.Methods We determined the serum levels of MDA,GSH PX,GSH and VitE in 29 patients with WD and 21 normal controls by the method of reversephase high performance liquid chromatography (RP HPLC) and the chemo colorimetric method.Results The serum levels of MDA in all patients with WD were significantly higher than those of controls( P 0 05 ).Conclusion There was metabolism disorder of free radicals (FRs) in the serum of patients with WD.As compared with normal controls the serum levels of oxides increased and the levels of antioxides decreased in patients with WD,it might be one of important factors for the patients with visce ral injury.
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The aim of our study was to observe changes of biliary trace elements and hepatolienal ultrasonography in patients with HL D treated synthetically by metal-binding a- gents DMSA and DMPS.Using Aloka SSD2 5 6 ultrasonography and WFX-1 E2 atomic ab- sorption spectrophotometer,we analysed and asseyed the sonograms and biliary trace ele- ments of30 patients with differentultrasonographic typesbefore and six weeksafter DMSA and DMPS treatment.Biliary B juice were obtained by duodenal drainage.The results showed that the biliary copper content of patients with glinting echogenic dots type,rock stratum type and tree-like type increaed markedly after therapy(P