Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004134 (ataxia)
 15,886 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We present the case of a man who died 11 years after the onset of xanthoma disseminatum. His course was marked by numerous, large recurrent intracranial dural-based xanthomatous tumors requiring repeated neurosurgical intervention. Late in his course there was progressive quadriparesis, ataxia, ophthalmoplegia and bulbar palsy as a result of intraparenchymal brainstem involvement. At autopsy, there was extensive meningeal and intraparenchymal CNS disease and widespread systemic infiltrates. The gross and microscopic pathology are presented with immunohistochemical, ultrastructural and biochemical details. The present case is discussed in the context of the current classification scheme and the recent literature, where it is exceptional for the extent of CNS disease. Xanthoma disseminatum is currently classified as a non-X histiocytopathy, the pathogenesis of which remains uncertain. CNS involvement carries a poor prognosis in this otherwise benign condition.
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PMID:Xanthoma disseminatum with massive intracranial involvement. 860 36

We report a 32-year-old man who developed cerebellar ataxia and a posterior fossa mass 12 years after the radiation therapy for a cerebellar arteriovenous malformation (AVM). The patient was well until 19 years of the age when he had an acute onset of vertigo and vomiting. A spinal tap was performed and the CSF was bloody. He was admitted to another hospital where an arteriovenous malformation was found in the cerebellum by angiography. Four years after the onset, he developed tingling sensation in the distribution of the second division of the right trigeminal nerve. He was admitted to the neurosurgery service of our hospital where the cerebellar AVM was confirmed. He was transferred to University of California where Bragg peak stereotaxic radiotherapy was successfully performed; this utilizes high energy alpha-ray produced by a cyclotron. Three years after the radiotherapy, marked reduction in the size of the AVM was confirmed by angiography. Twelve years after the onset of his initial symptom, he noted unsteadiness of gait. He was readmitted to our neurosurgery service where obstructive hydrocephalus was found. He was treated by ventriculoperitoneal shunting and placement of a Ommaya reservoir. After these therapy, he noted marked improvement in his gait and ataxia. However, in 1993, his unsteadiness of gait recurred, and he was again admitted to our neurosurgery service on June 20, 1993. On admission, T1-weighted MRI revealed a slightly low signal intensity mass lesion in the right cerebellar hemisphere compressing the brain stem; a spotty high signal intensity lesion and another small low intensity lesion were seen within the mass. Vertebro-basilar angiograms revealed upward displacement of the superior cerebellar arteries. No arteriovenous nidus was visualized. On July, 3rd, the cyst was surgically drained and the Ommaya reservoir was removed. Post-operative course was uneventful, however, he developed head tremor after the surgery. Neurologic examination on July 20, 1993 revealed an alert and well oriented man in no acute distress. General physical examination was unremarkable. Neurologic examination revealed no dementia; higher cerebral functions appeared intact. The optic discs were flat, and visual fields were intact. Ocular movements were full but convergence was restricted. Horizontal gaze nystagmus was noted more in the right lateral gaze. Pupils were intact. Facial sensation and facial muscles were intact. Hearing was normal. His voice was of nasal quality. Pharyngeal reflex was diminished. The tongue showed deviation to the left without atrophy. Head tremor at 5 c/s was noted. He was able to stand with support but was unable to walk. No muscle atrophy or weakness was noted. The finger-to-nose and the heel-to-knee tests showed dysmetria and decomposition more on the right. Rapid alternating movements were ataxic on the right. Muscle tone was diminished on the right. Muscle stretch reflexes were normally elicited and were symmetric. The plantar response was flexor bilaterally. Sensation was intact. On July 21, a posterior fossa exploration was performed. After the surgery, he was treated with 30 mg/day of alotinolol which showed no effect on his head tremor. He was then treated with gradually increasing doses of clonazepam; when he received 8 mg/day of clonazepam, his tremor showed marked improvement. He was discussed in a neurologic CPC on the nature of the posterior fossa lesion and his tremor. Opinions were divided between delayed radiation necrosis and a radiation-induced brain tumor. The chief discussant arrived at the conclusion that the patient had delayed radiation necrosis compressing the brain stem and cerebellar hemispheres. Regarding the nature of his tremor, he thought that his head tremor was of cerebellar type of postural tremor. Histologic examination of the biopsied specimen revealed accumulation of relatively fresh blood constituents in the deep area of the cerebellum forming a mass. Most of the
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PMID:[A 32-year-old man who developed a posterior fossa mass 12 years after the radiation therapy for cerebellar arteriovenous malformation]. 867 25

INTRODUCTION. Acute intermittent familial ataxia is a rare disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance and unknown etiology which usually in childhood or adolescence. CASE 1. A 33-years-old woman who suffered from giddiness, gait ataxia, dysarthria and somnolence episodes. These episodes lasted between 4 and 72 hours. They generally occurred within a framework of emotional or physical stress. The following tests were performed: hemogram and biochemistry, blood and urine toxicology, immunological tests, cerebrospinal-fluid study, electrocardiogram, electroencephalogram, trunk and visual evocated potentials, cerebral computed tomography and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging. None of them gave significative results. CASE 2. A 12-years-old boy, son of the previous woman, who suffered from somnolence, gait ataxia and dysarthria with acute beginning. The same tests than in the above case were performed together with metabolic studies. There were no pathological findings in this case, either. The symptoms disappeared gradually in 6 days. His familial history led to a diagnosis of acute intermittent familial ataxia. A year later he suffered from a similar disorder and he was immediately treated with acetazolamide. The symptoms disappeared in 2 hours. CONCLUSIONS. Acute intermittent familial ataxia is a disorder of difficult identification. It can be easily confused with other periodical ones, because its diagnosis has to be based on the clinical findings and on the familial history. For this purpose, a therapeutic test with acetazolamide can be useful, since in most cases a spectacular clinical improvement has been observed.
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PMID:[Acute intermittent familial ataxia: report of a new family]. 868 Nov 77

We report on monozygotic twins with different clinical phenotypes of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy. At the age of 10 years both boys were neurologically asymptomatic. The first cranial magnetic resonance examination showed normal findings in the first twin and parietooccipital demyelination in the second. The latter developed behavioral problems 9 months later, followed by visual impairment and gait ataxia. His cranial magnetic resonance image at the age of 11 years showed progressive demyelination. In contrast, neurological status and magnetic resonance images remained normal in the first twin. The same point mutation in exon 8 of the adrenoleukodystrophy gene (C2203T) was detected in both boys. All genotype examinations were consistent with the diagnosis of monozygotic twins, suggesting that some nongenetic factors may be important for different adrenoleukodystrophy phenotypes.
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PMID:Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) in only one of monozygotic twins with an identical ALD genotype. 877 11

We report on a mentally retarded boy with epileptic seizures, microcephaly, ataxia, and developmental delay. His clinical features were consistent with Angelman syndrome. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and DNA analysis showed a deletion of chromosome 15 q11-13 and thus confirmed the diagnosis. In addition, the patient had a unilateral, incomplete cleft lip, a feature which has not previously been reported in Angelman syndrome.
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PMID:Unilateral cleft lip in a boy with Angelman syndrome. 877 3

We report a right-handed 22-year-old man with muscle atrophy. His prenatal course and the delivery were uneventful, but he walked unsupported at 15 months of the age for the first time. He was apparently well but he was in the slowest group in running in schools. He noted a difficulty in climbing up stairs at 19 years of the age, and he was admitted to our hospital for the work up when he was 22-year-old. His family history and past medical history were unremarkable. On admission, he was a slender and tall guy in no acute distress. General physical examination was unremarkable, but he had high-arched palate and high-arched feet. On neurologic examination, mental status and higher cerebral functions were normal. Cranial nerves appeared intact, however, he had a thin and long face without weakness. The sternocleidomastoid muscles appeared somewhat atrophic and were moderately weak. He was able to walk normally, however, he needed a handrail when he went up stairs. Thigh muscles and triceps surae muscles were atrophic and slightly weak (4/ 5). Muscle tone was hypotonic and no deep tendon reflexes were elicited except for jaw jerk. No ataxia or involuntary movements were seen; sensation was intact. Laboratory examination was unremarkable except for slight increase in serum CK to 145 IU/L. An ischemic forearm exercise test revealed slight elevation of lactate and pyruvate in that base line levels were 5.4 mg/dl and 0.52 mg/dl, respectively, which rose to 11.4 mg/dl and 0.85 mg/dl, respectively, 20 minutes after the initiation of the ischemic exercise. The base line serum ammonia was 102.5 micrograms/dl which decreased to 64.8 micrograms/dl at 20 minutes. A diagnostic biopsy was performed from the left quadriceps femoris muscle. The patient was discussed in a neurologic CPC, and the chief discussant arrived at the conclusion that the patient had nemaline myopathy. Opinions were divided between nemaline myopathy and debranching enzyme deficiency. The results of the ischemic exercise was not typical of glycogen storage disease, but elevations of lactate and pyruvate did not appear to be sufficient to be interpreted as normal. Histologic examination of the biopsied specimen revealed marked type I fiber predominance and abundant nemaline rods. Cytoplasmic bodies were also seen. Histologic characteristics were consistent with the diagnosis of nemaline myopathy. The possibility of concomitant presence of AMP deaminase deficiency was discussed, because serum ammonia did not elevate in the ischemic exercise test.
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PMID:[A 22-year-old man with long-standing weakness and atrophy predominantly in the lower extremities]. 879 13

A rare point mutation at nucleotide position 8356 in the transfer RNA gene in mitochondrial DNA was found in a Japanese family. Our proband had migraine and dementia associated with lactic acidosis in addition to myoclonic epilepsy with ataxia and ragged-red fibres in a muscle biopsy specimen consistent with the clinical characteristics of myoclonic epilepsy with ragged-red fibres (MERRF). His mother, who had the same point mutation, also had migraine but without myoclonus or ataxia. His aunt, who had the same point mutation and migraine, developed diabetes mellitus, encephalomyopathy and several stroke-like episodes associated with lactic acidosis (MELAS). This is the third family with the rare mutation seen in American and Italian families. The mutation may not be specific to Caucasians, and is probably closely related to the MERRF/MELAS overlap syndrome.
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PMID:The T-C(8356) mitochondrial DNA mutation in a Japanese family. 880 15

We report a 91-year-old man who had a stroke and died of renal failure. He had been treated for hypertension since 20 years before the onset of the present illness. In addition, he was operated on a gastric cancer 17 years previously. Otherwise he was doing well until May 29, 1991 (when he was 87-year-old) when he had sudden onset of dysarthria and right facial weakness. He was admitted to our hospital. On admission, general physical examination was unremarkable, and neurologic examination revealed a mentally sound man with slight dysarthria, right facial weakness, orolingual dyskinesia, and dysequilibrium in which he showed difficulty in tandem gait; however, no cerebellar ataxia was noted. A cranial CT scan revealed leukoaraiosis with multiple low density areas in the cerebral white matter. His BUN was 37 mg/dl and Cr 2.2 mg/dl. His neurologic symptoms cleared within the next few weeks and he was discharged with ticlopidine 100 mg q.d.. He had been doing well after the discharge except for gradual worsening of his renal function; his BUN was 65 mg/dl and Cr 3.27 mg/dl in April of 1994. On March 10, 1995, he fell down and hit his back; he became unable to walk because of pain, and he was admitted again on March 16, 1995. On admission, his blood pressure was 170/80 mmHg. There was an 1 + pitting pretibial edema; otherwise general physical examination was unremarkable. Neurologic examination revealed an alert and oriented man, however, Hasegawa's dementia scale was 23/30. Higher cerebral functions as well as cranial nerves were intact. He showed some unsteadiness of gait, however, no motor weakness or ataxia was noted. Deep tendon reflexes were diminished, but Chaddock sign was positive bilaterally. Vibration was diminished in the feet, however, pain and touch sensations were intact. Laboratory examination revealed a compression fracture of the twelfth thoracic vertebra. Blood count and chemistries were as follows; Hb 7.6 g/dl, Hct 23.3%, TP 6.0 g/dl, Alb 3.6 g/dl, BUN 87 mg/dl, Cr 4.53 mg/dl, T-Chol 174 mg/dl, HDL-Chol 49 mg/dl, Glu 156 mg/dl, Na 142 mEq/L, K 5.4 mEq/L, Cl 115 mEq/L. A urine specimen contained 1 + protein and 1 + glucose, and the sediments contained hyaline casts. A cranial CT scan was essentially same as that taken four years ago. His hospital course was complicated with pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and progressive renal failure. He was treated with intravenous fluid, chemotherapy, and other supportive measures, however, he expired from respiratory failure on April 30, 1995. He was discussed in a neurologic CPC, and the chief discussant arrived at the conclusion that the patient had Binswanger's disease in the brain, benign nephrosclerosis from arteriolosclerosis due to hypertension, congestive heart failure, and pneumonia. Opinions were divided regarding the question as to whether or not this patient had Binswanger's disease. Although his cranial CT scan revealed leukoaraiosis, his dementia and gait disturbance was only mild until his fall on March, 1995. Clinical features did not conform to those of Binswanger's disease. Postmortem examination of the right hemisphere revealed wide spread atherosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis. The kidney showed benign nephrosclerosis due to arteriolosclerosis. Sclerotic changes were also seen in the coronary arteries and the left middle cerebral artery with 70% stenosis. Myelin stain showed diffuse myelin pallor of the cerebral white matters with scattered small infarcts. Arterioles in the white matter showed arteriolosclerosis. Small infarcts were also seen in the putamen and in the thalamus. This patient appeared to have had circulatory disturbance of the white matter which is the basic abnormality causing Binswanger's disease. However, white matter changes in this patient were not quite severe enough to make a pathologic diagnosis of Binswanger's disease.
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PMID:[A 91-year-old man with a stroke, hypertension, and renal failure]. 899 Apr 84

It is estimated that 10-20% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) have a chronic progressive (CP) course characterized by an insidious of neurological deficits followed by steady progression of disability in the absence of symptomatic remission. No therapeutic modality has shown specific efficacy in the treatment of patients with CP MS and there are no data to indicate that any pharmacologic or other modality alters the clinical course of CP MS. Treatment with picotesla electromagnetic fields (EMFs) is a highly effective modality for the symptomatic management of MS including the chronic progressive form. In addition, this treatment also appears to alter the natural course of the disease in CP patients. A 36 year-old man experienced, at the age of 31, insidious weakness in the legs and several months later developed difficulties with balance with ataxia of gait. His gait abnormality progressed slowly over the following years and at the age of 35 he was severely disabled with spastic paraparesis and ataxia using a rolling walker for ambulation and a scooter for longer distances. In particular, his disability had progressed rapidly over the six months preceding the initiation of treatment with EMFs. He as classified have CP MS and his prognosis was considered extremely unfavorable due to the degree of cerebellar and pyramidal tract involvement and the rapid course of deterioration. In July 1995 the patient began experimental treatment with EMFs. While receiving three treatment sessions a week over 12 months he experienced improvement in cerebellar functions such as gait, balance and tremor as well as bowel and bladder functions, mood, sleep and cognitive function and resolution of diplopia, blurring of vision, dysarthria, paresthesias in the hands, and fatigue. Most remarkably, there was no further progression of the disease during the course of magnetic therapy. This case illustrated that treatment with EMFs, in addition to producing symptomatic improvement, also reverses the clinical course of CP MS.
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PMID:Treatment with electromagnetic field alters the clinical course of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis--a case report. 900 66

A 72-year-old man developed a sudden weakness in his left hand on October 5, 1991. He was admitted two weeks thereafter. Physical examination revealed minimal weakness, and clumsiness of the fingers on his left hand. Exaggerated tendon reflexes and spasticity were also noted only on his left upper limb. He had neither dementia nor psychiatric symptoms. Subsequently he developed weakness in his left leg on November 17. Within 12 days he developed left facial weakness, and myoclonic movements on the left side. By December 2, he developed spastic tetraparesis with bilateral facial palsy, and generalized myoclonic jerks. A few days after that he started to show decorticate posture. From December 16, his mental status deteriorated rapidly, and he became mute, and uncooperative within a week. His clinical course can be summarized as stepwise progression similar to a cerebrovascular accident. Electroencephalography was normal on admission, but periodic synchronous discharge developed in January 1992. Brain CT that showed only mild brain atrophy at first was considered to be compatible with his age, changed to have severe brain atrophy in March 1992. He died of pneumonia on May 24, 1992 after eight months of progressive clinical course. Autopsy was done. The brain weighed 930 grams. Macroscopically there was prominent cortical atrophy. Microscopic examination revealed severe spongy state throughout the cerebral cortex. Typical spongiform changes were confined to the hippocampus. The cerebral white matter appeared to be normal. In the cerebellar cortex, the granular cell layer disappeared and Purkinje's cells were reduced in number. Kuru plaques were not seen. The cerebellar white matter, dentate nucleus, and brainstem seemed to be normal. The spinal cord was not examined. There were no pathological changes to indicate cerebrovascular accident, except for a lacuna in the right basal ganglion and a small angionecrosis in the pons. Western blotting test using Anti-APC (amyloid plaque core) antibody was positive. Neuropathological changes of the present case were consistent with those of CJD. However, the sudden onset of monoparesis without dementia or ataxia is rare as the initial symptom of this disease. The subsequent clinical course with stepwise progression of hemiplegia, which was mimicking a progressive stroke, was also rare for CJD. In comparison to typical case of CJD, this case had a different clinical onset as acute monoparesis. We can find such cases of CJD presenting as stroke in 5.6% in the previous English literatures.
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PMID:[A case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) started with monoparesis of the left arm]. 904 57


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