Selective synthesis of (Z)-2-enynyl-2-hydroxy-imidazolidine-4,5-diones via Cu(I)-mediated multicomponent coupling of terminal alkynes, carbodiimides and oxalyl chloride.

(Z)-2-Enynyl-2-hydroxy-imidazolidine-4,5-diones 2 are synthesized for the first time via Cu(I)-mediated (Z)-selective geminal coupling among two molecules of terminal alkynes, carbodiimides, and oxalyl chloride. Further transformation of 2a is performed to yield a highly functionalized spiro heterocyclic compound 5.

[CT findings of tuberous sclerosis associated with hepatic and renal angiomyolipomas].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical and computed tomographic(CT) findings of tuberous sclerosis(TS) associated with hepatic and renal angiomyolipomas. METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and CT findings of 7 TS patients with hepatic and renal angiomyolipomas. RESULTS: Brain CT showed calcified nodules and/or the uncalcified nodule in the lateral ventricle subependymal in 7 patients. Abdominal CT showed bilateral renal angiomyolipomas in 7 cases and hepatic angiomyolipomas in 2 cases. Chest CT showed lymphangioleiomyomatosis in one case. CONCLUSIONS: TS associated with merger hepatic and/or renal angiomyolipomas have typical CT findings. Liver angiomyolipomas shows certain correlation with bilateral renal angiomyolipomas.

Mitofusin 2 gene mutation causing early-onset CMT2A with different progressive courses.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Type 2A2 (CMT2A2), caused by mitofusin 2 (MFN2) genes, has been clinically classified into two types: severe early-onset and mild benign. Here we reported 3 early onset patients with different progressive courses. The 3 patients had mutations R94W, R364W and a novel W740R in the MFN2 gene. Two patients presented with progressive distal limb muscle weakness and wasting from the ages of 5 and 6 years, respectively. The disease developed slowly, with loss of ambulation after 35 years of age. The third patient presented with similar symptoms after birth, and has never been able to walk independently. Sural nerve biopsies revealed severe axonal neuropathy with mitochondrial aggregation in axons. Our data confirmed that early-onset CMT2A2 can present with different courses in Chinese patients. The novel mutation in MFN2 found in this study broadens the genotypic spectrum associated with MFN2 related CMT.

[Two novel mutations of GJB1 gene associated with typical X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between phenotype and genotype and the role of immune cells in the pathogenesis of X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT1X). METHODS: The probands of the two families with X-linked dominant inherited peripheral neuropathy were evaluated clinically, electrophysiologically, pathologically and genetically. The available family members were genetic analyzed and the novel mutations were compared with other known ones. RESULTS: (1) In both families, affected members presented progressive weakness and wasting of distal extremities and it seems that males suffered more severely than affected females with onset in the first decade of their life. Proband of family 1 showed moderately elevated CSF protein and marked increase of IgG-syn in CSF.(2) Nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of the peripheral nerves was intermediately slow in both motor and sensory nerves exhibiting the features of demyelination. Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs) was abnormal in the proband of family 1: delayed I-III interpeak intervals were recorded but with normal III-V interpeak intervals. (3) Sural nerve biopsy in the probands of the two families showed a prominent distinguished loss of myelinated fibers and a few clusters of regenerating axons without conspicuous onion-bulb formations. Thinly myelinated fibers was prominent in family 2 but not in family 1. Immunohistochemical staining showed that there were positive CD68 cells in the endoneurial space and lamellar sheath. (4) By genetic testing, we identified two novel missense mutations of GJB1 gene, which resulted in Ile127Phe amino acid substitution in family 1(located in the intracellular loop of connexin 32) and Asp178Gly amino acid substitution in family 2 (located in the 2(nd) extracellular loop of CX32), respectively. Both mutations were highly conserved in low species and were predicted to be possibly damaging through Polyphen prediction tool. CONCLUSION: The two novel GJB1 gene mutations cause a spectrum of clinical manifestations of CMT1X in both families. However, the mutations site of CX32 alone cannot predict these phenotypic variations in CMT1X fully. The immune system may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.

[Diagnostic value of muscle, sural nerve and skin biopsies in childhood neuromuscular disorders].

OBJECTIVE: To elicit the usefulness of muscle, sural nerve and skin biopsies in neuromuscular disease, including its diagnostic value and indications for biopsy. METHOD: The authors retrospectively evaluated the clinical data of every patient who underwent muscle, sural nerve and/or skin biopsy in the department between January 1999 and December 2004. RESULT: One hundred and two patients with the suspected neuromuscular diseases were included. Muscle disease or hereditary metabolic/degenerative diseases with muscular injury were suspected in 82 patients, specific or typical histological findings confirmed diagnosis in 33 of these patients. The diagnosis included muscular dystrophies in 13 patients; inflammatory myopathies in 4 patients; congenital centronuclear myopathies in 2 patients; vacuole myopathy in 1 patient; mitochondrial myopathies in 8 patients; lipid storage myopathy in 1 patient; glycogenosis in 1 patient; spinal muscular atrophy in 3 patients. Nonspecific changes were seen in 25 patients, and in 24 patients nothing abnormal was revealed. Neuropathy or hereditary metabolic/degenerative diseases with peripheral nerve injury were suspected in 23 patients, specific or typical histological findings confirmed diagnosis in 10 of these patients, including hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy in 9 patients and metachromatic leukodystrophy with peripheral nerve abnormality in 1 patient. Nonspecific changes were seen in 11 patients and 2 patients had normal sural nerve. Skin biopsies were performed in 8 patients, specific or typical histological findings confirmed diagnosis in 4 of these patients. The diagnosis included neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in 2 patients, infantile axonal dystrophy in 1 patient, vacuole lysosomal disease in 1 patient, and 4 patients had normal skin biopsy. CONCLUSION: Muscle, sural nerve and skin biopsies play an important role in diagnosis of childhood neuromuscular disease, and should be done only in carefully selected cases after thorough clinical work-up. Muscle biopsy is essential for diagnosis of congenital and metabolic myopathies. Typical pathologic alterations of sural nerve have diagnostic value for hereditary neuropathies. Skin biopsy should be performed to verify neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.