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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To report two unrelated patients with a new phenotype of nonketotic hyperglycinemia associated with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Clinical findings included rapidly progressive neurological deterioration with onset in the first year of life characterized by developmental regression without seizures or electroencephalogram abnormalities during follow-up. Both patients died before the age of 18 months. Glycine cleavage system deficiency was confirmed by enzymatic studies in frozen liver. Molecular analysis in the related genes showed no pathogenic mutation. Radiological and pathological findings were consistent with progressive vacuolating encephalopathy. Our patients with biochemical and enzymatic parameters consistent with atypical nonketotic hyperglycinemia. The clinical and radiological evolution, as progressive vacuolating leukoencephalopathy and the association with pulmonary hypertension constitute a previously unrecognized variant.
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PMID:Progressive vacuolating glycine leukoencephalopathy with pulmonary hypertension. 1680 95

The neurotransmitter disorders represent an enigmatic and enlarging group of neurometabolic conditions caused by abnormal neurotransmitter metabolism or transport. A high index of clinical suspicion is important, given the availability of therapeutic strategies. This article covers disorders of monoamine (catecholamine and serotonin) synthesis, glycine catabolism, pyridoxine dependency, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) metabolism. The technological aspects of appropriate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection, shipment, study, and interpretation merit special consideration. Diagnosis of disorders of monoamines requires analysis of CSF homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, ortho-methyldopa, BH4, and neopterin. The delineation of new disorders with important therapeutic implications, such as cerebral folate deficiency and PNPO deficiency, serves to highlight the value of measuring CSF neurotransmitter precursors and metabolites. The impressive responsiveness of Segawa fluctuating dystonia to levodopa is a hallmark feature of previously unrecognized neurologic morbidity becoming treatable at any age. Aromatic amino acid decarboxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency have more severe phenotypes and show variable responsiveness to levodopa. Glycine encephalopathy usually has a poor outcome; benzoate therapy may be helpful in less affected cases. Pyridoxine-dependent seizures are a refractory but treatable group of neonatal and infantile seizures; rare cases require pyridoxal-5-phosphate. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency is relatively common in comparison to the remainder of this group of disorders. Treatment directed at the metabolic defect with vigabatrin has been disappointing, and multiple therapies are targeted toward specific but protean symptoms. Other disorders of GABA metabolism, as is true of the wide spectrum of neurotransmitter disorders, will require increasing use of CSF analysis for diagnosis, and ultimately, treatment.
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PMID:Diagnosis and treatment of neurotransmitter disorders. 1703 64

The effect of latrunculin A microperfusion on hippocampal extracellular concentrations of glutamate, aspartate, glycine and GABA, as measured by in vivo microdialysis, was investigated. Latrunculin A (4 microg/ml) was perfused for three consecutive days (8h a day) to promote in vivo F-actin depolymerization. Intrahippocampal latrunculin A microdialysis induced seizures during the second and third day of perfusion, and the animals started showing spontaneous seizures 1 month after lartrunculin A administration. Hippocampal glutamate levels were significantly increased during the first day of latrunculin A microperfusion without significant changes during the second and third day of perfusion. Aspartate levels were significantly increased during the first and second days of treatment. The rise on glutamate and asparate levels was partially reversed by perfusion of NMDA antagonist MK-801. Glycine concentrations were significantly increased during the 3 days of latrunculin A microdialyis, but no significant effect was observed on baseline GABA levels. One month after latrunculin A microperfusion, no significant differences in glutamate and aspartate extracellular concentrations were detected as compared to controls, however, significant increases in glycine and GABA extracellular concentrations were observed. The immediate increases in glutamate, aspartate and glycine levels indicate a modulatory effect of the F-actin cytoskeleton on extracellular concentrations of glutamate, aspartate and glycine. The chronic elevations in GABA and glycine levels are more likely to be related with long-term epileptogenesis processes. Our results suggest that the in vivo biochemical study of actin-dependent processes seems to be a promising approach to the neuropathology and neuropharmacology of epileptic seizures.
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PMID:Changes in extracellular amino acid concentrations in the rat hippocampus after in vivo actin depolymerization with latrunculin A. 1731 2

The pediatric neurotransmitter disorders represent an enlarging group of neurological syndromes characterized by abnormalities of neurotransmitter synthesis and breakdown. The disorders of dopamine and serotonin synthesis are aromatic amino acid decarboxylase deficiency, tyrosine hydroxylase deficiency, and disorders of tetrahydrobiopterin synthesis. Amino acid decarboxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase, sepiapterin reductase, and guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase (Segawa disease) deficiencies do not feature elevated serum phenylalanine and require cerebrospinal fluid analysis for diagnosis. Segawa disease is characterized by dramatic and lifelong responsiveness to levodopa. Glycine encephalopathy is typically manifested by refractory neonatal seizures secondary to a defect of the glycine degradative pathway. gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) metabolism is associated with several disorders, including glutamic acid decarboxylase deficiency with nonsyndromic cleft lip/ palate, GABA-transaminase deficiency, and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency. The latter is characterized by elevated gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and includes a wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms as well as epilepsy. Pyridoxine-dependent seizures have now been associated with deficiency of alpha-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, as well as a new variant requiring therapy with pyridoxal-5-phosphate, the biologically active form of pyridoxine.
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PMID:The pediatric neurotransmitter disorders. 1769 69

Glycine encephalopathy (GE) is caused by an inherited deficiency of the glycine cleavage system (GCS) and characterized by accumulation of glycine in body fluids and various neurologic symptoms. Coma and convulsions develop in neonates in typical GE while psychomotor retardation and behavioral abnormalities in infancy and childhood are observed in mild GE. Recently, we have established a transgenic mouse line (low-GCS) with reduced GCS activity (29% of wild-type (WT) C57BL/6) and accumulation of glycine in the brain (Stroke, 2007; 38:2157). The purpose of the present study is to characterize behavioral features of the low-GCS mouse as a model of mild GE. Two other transgenic mouse lines were also analyzed: high-GCS mice with elevated GCS activity and low-GCS-2 mice with reduced GCS activity. As compared with controls, low-GCS mice manifested increased seizure susceptibility, aggressiveness and anxiety-like activity, which resembled abnormal behaviors reported in mild GE, whereas high-GCS mice were less sensitive to seizures, hypoactive and less anxious. Antagonists for the glycine-binding site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor significantly ameliorated elevated locomotor activity and seizure susceptibility in the low-GCS mice. Our results suggest the usefulness of low-GCS mice as a mouse model for mild GE and a novel therapeutic strategy.
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PMID:Model mice for mild-form glycine encephalopathy: behavioral and biochemical characterizations and efficacy of antagonists for the glycine binding site of N-methyl D-aspartate receptor. 1841 41

Chemical-induced seizures up-regulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of endogenous opioids preferentially activating mu opioid receptor (MOR) could also increase BDNF mRNA expression. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent i.c.v. administration of synthetic MOR-selective agonists in rats can modulate both seizure activity and up-regulation of BDNF mRNA expression. Effects and potencies of i.c.v. administration of morphine and [D-Ala(2), N-Me-Phe(4), Gly(5)-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO), were directly investigated by scoring behavioral seizures and measuring BDNF mRNA expression. In addition, effects of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone and antiepileptic drugs, diazepam, phenobarbital, and valproate, on i.c.v. MOR agonist-induced behavioral seizures and up-regulation of BDNF mRNA expression were determined. A single i.c.v. administration of morphine (10-100 microg) or DAMGO (0.15-1.5 microg) dose-dependently elicited behavioral seizures and increased BDNF mRNA expression in the widespread brain regions. However, s.c. administration of MOR agonists neither produced behavioral seizures nor increased BDNF mRNA expression. Pretreatment with naloxone 1 mg/kg significantly reduced behavioral seizure scores and the up-regulation of BDNF mRNA expression elicited by i.c.v. morphine or DAMGO. Similarly, diazepam 10 mg/kg and phenobarbital 40 mg/kg significantly blocked i.c.v. MOR agonist-induced actions. Pretreatment with valproate 300 mg/kg only attenuated behavioral seizures, but it did not affect morphine-induced increase of BDNF mRNA expression. This study provides supporting evidence that seizure activity plays an important role in the up-regulation of BDNF mRNA expression elicited by central MOR activation and that decreased inhibitory action of GABAergic system through the modulation on GABA receptor synaptic function by central MOR activation is involved in its regulation of BDNF mRNA expression.
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PMID:Seizure activity involved in the up-regulation of BDNF mRNA expression by activation of central mu opioid receptors. 1930 19

Seizure is one kind of severe side effects during clozapine (Clo) treatment. However, the mechanism of seizure associated with Clo therapy is not completely clear. Strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors (GlyRs) play an important role in regulating the excitability in the hippocampus. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Clo on GlyRs in cultured hippocampal neurons of rats. Clo reversibly inhibited the glycine-induced chloride currents (I(Gly)) in a concentration-dependent manner. The half-maximal effect concentration (EC(50)) for glycine alone was 25.6+/-0.7 microM with the Hill coefficient 1.5+/-0.1; in the presence of Clo, the EC(50) and the Hill coefficient were 28.9+/-6.3 microM and 1.2+/-0.3 respectively, which were not significantly affected by Clo. In addition, Clo inhibition of I(Gly) was not influenced by blocking D(1) and D(2) dopamine receptors with haloperidol (Hal). Taken together, these results suggest that Clo is a non-competitive antagonist of GlyR independent of its activation of dopamine receptors, which may contribute to seizure associated with Clo therapy.
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PMID:Clozapine inhibits strychnine-sensitive glycine receptors in rat hippocampal neurons. 1940 75

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) subcutaneously administrated to neonatal rats induces several neurochemical alterations in the brain, which have been associated with an excitotoxic process triggered by an over activation of glutamate receptors; however there are few systematic studies about initial changes in intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) Glu levels produced by MSG in the brain. Thus, to characterize these changes, rat pups were injected with a MSG solution at 1, 3, 5 and 7 postnatal days (PD), and i.c.v. Glu levels and hippocampal total content of related amino acids (Asp, Glu, Gln, Gly, Tau, Ala and GABA) were estimated before, immediately and after each injection. Behavioral and EEG responses were also monitored after MSG administrations. Significant rise in i.c.v. Glu levels were found, mainly in response to the first and second injection. Moreover, the total content of all amino acids evaluated also increased during the first hour after the first MSG administration but only Glu and GABA remained elevated after 24 h. These biochemical modifications were accompanied with behavioral alterations characterized by: screeching, tail stiffness, head nodding, emprosthotonic flexion episodes and generalized tonic-clonic convulsions, which were associated with electroencephalographic pattern alterations. Altered behavior found in animals treated with MSG suggests an initial seizure situation. Although four MSG administrations were used, the most relevant findings were observed after the first and second administrations at PD1 and PD3, suggesting that only two MSG injections could be sufficient to resemble a seizure and/or excitotoxic model.
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PMID:Monosodium glutamate neonatal treatment as a seizure and excitotoxic model. 2004 88

Glycine can act as either an inhibitory neurotransmitter or as a potentiator of NMDA-dependent excitatory neurotransmission. There is some evidence that glycine can have both pro- and anticonvulsant properties in various rodent models of epilepsy. In the present study we tested several glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibitors including NFPS, SSR 504734, Lu AA21279, Org 25935, SB-710622, GSK931145, as well as the glycine agonist d-serine, in the maximal electroshock threshold (MEST) test in the rat. In a series of experiments, male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=12/group) were pre-treated with a compound of interest and then received an electric shock delivered via corneal electrodes. A cohort of satellite animals (n=3/group) was also used to measure blood and brain levels of Org 25935. All GlyT1 inhibitors increased seizure thresholds dose-dependently, indicative of anticonvulsant activity. SB-710622 and GSK931145 had lower minimum effective doses (MEDs) in the MEST test than other GlyT1 inhibitors. At estimated t(max), increases in dose administered were paralleled by increases in blood and brain concentrations of Org 25935. Thus, increasing extracellular concentration of glycine via inhibition of its uptake protects from electroshock-induced seizures in the rat. Whether strychnine-sensitive or strychnine-insensitive glycine binding sites are involved in this effect remains to be determined.
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PMID:Glycine transporter 1 (GlyT1) inhibitors exhibit anticonvulsant properties in the rat maximal electroshock threshold (MEST) test. 2030 37

Glycine encephalopathy (GE), also known as non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, is a life-threatening metabolic disease caused by inherited deficiency of the glycine cleavage system (GCS). GE is characterized by accumulation of a large amount of glycine in serum and cerebrospinal fluids. In typical cases with GE, coma, profound hypotonia, and intractable seizures develop within several days of life. Patients with atypical symptoms may have delayed or missed diagnosis because of non-specific symptoms. It is sometimes problematic to confirm the diagnosis of GE since it requires either invasive liver biopsy for measurement of GCS activity or exhaustive mutational screening of three GCS genes, GLDC, AMT, and GCSH. We herein describe two novel laboratory tests for diagnosis of GE, [1-(13)C]glycine breath test and the multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for detection of large deletions in GLDC. The [1-(13)C]glycine breath test has been developed for noninvasive enzymatic diagnosis of GE. Because the GCS generates CO(2) by degradation of glycine, the GCS activity could be evaluated in vivo by measurement of exhaled (13)CO(2) after administration of a stable isotope, [1-(13)C]glycine. The MLPA has been developed for improvement in mutation detection rate in GE: Deletions involving multiple GDLC exons are prevalent among GE patients, but cannot be detected by the exon-sequencing analysis. Two novel diagnosis methods would facilitate diagnosis of hyperglycinemic patients as having GE.
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PMID:Two novel laboratory tests facilitating diagnosis of glycine encephalopathy (nonketotic hyperglycinemia). 2147 Aug 5


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