Spongy glio-neuronal dystrophy: a degenerative disease of the nervous system

A case of spongy glio-neuronal dystrophy is reported. The clinical features included mental and motor retardation in early infancy after a normal birth, and from the age of 4 years increasingly severe attacks of multifocal epilepsy, with prolonged postictal coma, myoclonic twitching and nystagmus, and at times hemiplegia for one to two weeks. Acidosis was present during the periods of postictal coma. Jaundice occurred several days before death at the age of 5 years. Neuropathological examination revealed severe spongy degeneration in the thalamus and dentate nucleus, and the cerebral cortex to a lesser degree, with sparing of the white matter. There was partial necrosis of liver cells and in some areas regenerative nodules. Possible aetiological factors linking the cerebral and hepatic pathology are discussed.

Homocystinuria. Reduced folate levels during pyridoxine treatment

Nine patients with homocystinuria due to cystathionine synthase deficiency were treated with pyridoxine: 6 responded biochemically and 5 of these showed marked clinical improvement. Full biochemical response was only obtained slowly in some patients. Response occurred in those patients who were least severely affected by their disease and was consistent within families. No patient experienced a thrombotic episode during pyridoxine treatment. Pretreatment serum and red cell folate levels were normal. All patients showed lowering of folate levels while receiving pyridoxine, and administration of folic acid caused further biochemical improvement in pyridoxine responsive patients and subjective clinical improvement in all. The mechanism for lowering of folate levels during pyridoxine administration may depend upon removal of substrate inhibition of the enzyme N⁵ methyltetrahydrofolate homocysteine methyl transferase, due to pyridoxine-induced lowering of the substrate homocysteine. It is suggested that patients with homocystinuria should be given a long trial with pyridoxine and that folic acid should be given in all cases where pyridoxine is used.

Subacute necrotizing encephalopathy in an acidotic child

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Germination of Witchweed (Striga lutea Lour.): Isolation and Properties of a Potent Stimulant

A crystalline germination stimulant (trivial name strigol) for the rootparasite, witchweed (Striga lutea Lour.), has been isolated from cotton rootexudates and characterized as a C(19)H(22)O(6) compound. Although apparently different from known plant hormones, the stimulant is active at hormonal levels, causing germination at concentrations less than 1O(-5) part per million.

Germination of Witchweed (Striga lutea Lour.): Isolation and Properties of a Potent Stimulant

A crystalline germination stimulant (trivial name strigol) for the rootparasite, witchweed (Striga lutea Lour.), has been isolated from cotton rootexudates and characterized as a C(19)H(22)O(6) compound. Although apparently different from known plant hormones, the stimulant is active at hormonal levels, causing germination at concentrations less than 1O(-5) part per million.