Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027066 (myoclonus)
 4,275 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Dementia--a syndrome of acquired intellectual deterioration--is an etiologically non-specific condition which is permanent, progressive, or reversible. In the evaluation of demented patients, a careful exposure history will determine the possible role of drugs, metals, or toxins. The physical examination may reveal focal deficits in cases of intracranial mass lesions and spasticity or ataxia of the lower limbs if hydrocephalus is present. Coexistance of dementia and peripheral neuropathy usually indicates a toxic or metabolic disorder. Asterixis, myoclonus, and postural tremor are common in toxic-metabolic dementias, while resting tremor, choreoathetosis, and rigidity occur in progressive extrapyramidal disorders. EEG is focally abnormal in cases of cerebral mass lesions and exhibits generalized slowing in toxic-metabolic encephalopathies. CT will aid in the identification of hydrocephalus, subdural hematomas, and intracranial mass lesions. A thorough laboratory evaluation including complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen and blood sugar, liver and thyroid tests, calcium and phosphorus levels, B12 and folate levels, serum copper and ceruloplasmin, VDRL, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and lumbar puncture may demonstrate treatable disorders that are adversely affecting intellectual function. Elderly individuals are particularly susceptible to the effects of toxic or metabolic disorders, and a mild dementia might be exaggerated by relatively minor fluctuations in metabolic status. Treatable causes of dementia should be considered in all demented patients.
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PMID:[Treatable dementia syndromes]. 358 48

Dementia, a syndrome of acquired intellectual deterioration, is an etiologically nonspecific condition that can be permanent or reversible. When evaluating demented patients, a careful exposure history will determine the possible role of drugs, metals, or toxins. Physical examination may reveal focal deficits in cases of intracranial mass lesions and spasticity or ataxia of the lower limbs if hydrocephalus is present. Coexistence of dementia and a peripheral neuropathy usually indicates the existence of a toxic or metabolic disorder. Depressed mood, sleep disturbance, anorexia, impotence, constipation, and psychomotor retardation indicate the presence of a depressive syndrome. Asterixis, myoclonus, and postural tremor are common in toxic-metabolic dementias, whereas resting tremor, choreoathetosis, or rigidity occur in progressive extrapyramidal disorder. EEG is focally abnormal in cases of cerebral mass lesions and shows generalized slowing in toxic-metabolic encephalopathies. CT will aid in the identification of hydrocephalus, subdural hematomas, and intracranial mass lesions. A thorough laboratory evaluation including complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen and blood sugar, liver and thyroid function tests, serum calcium and phosphorus levels, B12 and folate levels, serum copper and ceruloplasmin, VDRL, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and lumbar puncture may demonstrate treatable disorders that are adversely affecting intellectual function. Elderly individuals are particularly susceptible to the effects of toxic or metabolic disorders, and a mild dementia may be exaggerated by relatively minor fluctuations in metabolic status. Treatable causes of dementia should be sought in all demented patients.
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PMID:Treatable dementias. 635 58

A 16-year-old girl presented with early-onset cerebellar ataxia, myoclonus, elevated lactic acidosis and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. Muscle biopsy specimens revealed fibres with a "ragged" appearance with increased mitochondria and lipid droplets. Biochemical investigation revealed a deficiency of complex bc1 (complex III) of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Genetic analysis did not show either deletions or known mutations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS) showed defective energy metabolism in brain and gastrocnemius muscle. A decreased phosphocreatine (PCr) content was found in the occipital lobes accompanied by normal inorganic phosphate (Pi) and cytosolic pH. These findings represented evidence of a high cytosolic adenosine diphosphate concentration and a relatively high rate of metabolism accompanied by a low phosphorylation potential. Muscle 31P-MRS showed a high Pi content at rest, abnormal exercise transfer pattern and a low rate of PCr post-exercise recovery. These findings suggested a deficit of mitochondrial function. Therapy with vitamins K3 and C normalized brain 31P-MRS indices, whereas it did not affect muscle bioenergetic metabolism. In this patient, the endocrinological disorder is putatively due to a mitochondrial cytopathy. Although an unknown mtDNA mutation cannot be ruled out, the genetic defect may lie in the nuclear genome.
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PMID:Early-onset cerebellar ataxia, myoclonus and hypogonadism in a case of mitochondrial complex III deficiency treated with vitamins K3 and C. 779 18