Early Development of Newborn Screening for HCU and Current Challenges.

Classic homocystinuria (HCU) was added to newborn screening (NBS) by Robert Guthrie a few years after the disorder was first described. The justification for NBS was similar to that for PKU, that presymptomatic identification and early dietary treatment would prevent the clinical consequences, which, for HCU, are mental deficiency, ectopia lentis, skeletal abnormalities, and thromboembolism. It was assumed that identifying increased methionine in the screening blood specimen would identify all affected neonates. However, it is now clear that many with HCU are missed by NBS, mainly because the methionine level in the first days of life is normal or below the cutoff level in the NBS program. This includes virtually all of those with B6-responsive HCU. Thus, a more effective method of NBS for HCU should be considered. Included among the possibilities are decreasing the methionine cutoff level, requiring an increase in the Met/Phe ratio if the methionine level is not at or greater than the cutoff level, using methionine as the primary screen with homocysteine as a second-tier test, or replacing methionine with homocysteine as the primary screen. Homocysteine is the primary metabolite that increases in HCU, while the methionine increase is secondary, so homocysteine is usually increased before the increase in methionine, almost always during the first few days of life. Finally, targeted gene screening might be considered. All of these possibilities would impose added expense and labor to NBS, so meeting these challenges would likely require a regional or national effort.

H2S is synthesized via CBS/CSE pathway and triggered by cold conditions during Agaricus bisporus storage

BACKGROUND: H2S is proved to be functioning as a signaling molecule in an array of physiological processes in the plant and animal kingdom. However, the H2S synthesis pathway and the responses to cold conditions remain unclear in postharvest mushroom. RESULTS: The biosynthesis of H2S in the Agaricus bisporus mushroom tissues exhibited an increasing tendency during postharvest storage and was significantly triggered by cold treatment. The cystathionine clyase (AbCSE) and cystathionine b-synthase (AbCBS) genes were cloned and proved responsible for H2S biosynthesis. Furthermore, transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of AbCSE and AbCBS were crucial for the enzyme activities and subsequent H2S levels. However, the AbMST was not involved in this process. Moreover, the AbCSE and AbCBS genes displayed low identity to the characterized genes, but typical catalytic domains, activity sites, subunit interface sites, and cofactor binding sites were conserved in the respective protein sequences, as revealed by molecular modeling and docking study. The potential transcription factors responsible for the H2S biosynthesis in cold conditions were also provided. CONCLUSIONS: The H2S biosynthetic pathway in postharvest mushroom was unique and distinct to that of other horticultural products.

Homocistinuria, reporte de un caso / Homocystinuria, Case Report / Homocistinuria, relato de um caso

Resumen: En este artículo se presenta el caso de una niña de 13 años con historia de cefalea de 2 años de evolución, la cual ha sido estudiada por subluxación del cristalino y fenotipo marfonoide. Para llevar a cabo la investigación se realizó una tomografía cerebral simple que evidenció trombosis de varios senos cerebrales. Posteriormente se hospitalizó a la paciente en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, mientras se anticoagulaba con enoxaparina. Se solicitó un estudio para trombofilia junto con homocisteina en sangre, ante la sospecha de homocistinuria. Luego de confirmarse el diagnóstico se recetó piridoxina y ácido fólico, con lo cual la paciente evolucionó de manera satisfactoria y recuperó las funciones perdidas. El seguimiento de este caso para la investigación permitió encontrar una disminución mayor del 20 % de la homocisteina, sin que sus niveles estuvieran por debajo de 50 µmol/L, hecho que hace a la paciente respondedora parcial a la piridoxina.

Abstract: This article presents the case of a 13-year-old girl with a 2-year history of headache, which has been studied for lens subluxation and Marfanoid phenotype. To carry out this research, a simple brain tomography was performed that showed thrombosis of several sinuses. Subsequently, the patient was hospitalized in the intensive care unit and anticoagulated with enoxaparin. A study was requested for thrombophilia along with homocysteine in blood, on suspicion of homocystinuria. After confirming the diagnosis, pyridoxin and folic acid were prescribed, with which the patient evolved satisfactorily and recovered lost functions. Follow-up on this case for the research allowed us to find a decrease in homocysteine greater than 20 %, without its levels being below 50 µmol/L, which makes the patient partially responsive to pyridoxine.

Resumo: Neste artigo, é apresentado o caso de uma menina de 13 anos, com história de cefaleia de dois anos de evolução, a qual tem sido estudada por subluxação do cristalino e fenótipo marfanoide. Para realizar a pesquisa, foi tomada uma tomografia cerebral simples que evidenciou trombose de vários seios cerebrais. Em seguida, a paciente foi internada na unidade de tratamento intensivo onde recebeu tratamento anticoagulante com enoxaparina. Foi solicitado um estudo para trombofilia junto com homocisteina em sangue, diante da suspeita de homocistinúria. Após o diagnóstico ter sido confirmado, foram receitados piridoxina e ácido fólico, com os quais o estado da paciente evoluiu de maneira satisfatória e ela recuperou as funções perdidas. O seguimento do caso para a pesquisa permitiu verificar uma diminuição maior de 20% da homocisteina, sem que seus niveis estivessem abaixo de 50 µmol/L, fato que torna a paciente apta parcialmente à piridoxina.

A Case of Homocystinuria with Ectopia Lentis

Homocystinuria is an inborn error on the pathway of the methionine metabolism. It is mainly caused by a cystathionine B-synthase deficiency in the brain or liver. Homocystinuria is biochemically characterized by: 1) an increase of the homocystine and methionine concentration in the plasma; and 2) a decrease of the cystine with an increased excretion of homocystine in the urine. The clinical manifestations of this autosomal recessive disorder include: ectopoia lentis, skeletal abnormalities, high incidence of thromboembolism and high frequency of mental retardation. We have been experiencing a case of a 10 year old female patient who has suffered from homocystinuria. She has undergone mental retardation, poor vision caused by ocular complications and Marfanoid feautures.