Sunday, January 26, 2020

Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome: Physiology and Features

Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome: Physiology and Features Discuss the inheritance, molecular and biochemical defects underlying the clinical features associated with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. The Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a rare heritable disorder of inborn error metabolism of purine which was examined in 1964 by Lesch and Nyhan. They investigated the two brothers with hyperuricemia and neurobehavioral problems and suggested that this disorder involves motor impairment and self-injurious behaviors (Lesch, M and Nyhan, W. L., 1964). The popularity of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is about 1 in 380000 individuals and this disorder presents solely in male. (Seegmiller, J. E., et al, 1967). It is passed on since the X-linked recessive trait causes genetic mutation followed by the exertion of an enzyme called hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT). In the metabolic condition, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is recognized by purine overproduction (Nyhan, W. L, et al, 1967) which contributes to increased level of uric acid significantly. The clinical features associate with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome are briefly outlined and the inheritance, molecular and biochemical defects underlying the clinical features are also discussed. Figure 1. The clinical features associated with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. This disorder leads to neurobehavioral syndrome involving motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment and self-injurious behaviors (Mumues, 2015).    The clinical characteristics of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome are defined by motor defection leading to neurological operation, cognitive and behavioral impairment, and also overproduction of uric acid or hyperuricemia (van der Zee et al., 1968). Moreover, neurological disturbance is majorly performed as hypotonia and developmental delay which are obviously expressed by three to six months. The children are interrupted in sitting and walking or require a wheelchair in severe condition. Additionally, the twitch of facial muscles and limbs can be observed in elder children. During the first ages, the extrapyramidal difficulties such as dystonia and choreoathetosis or the pyramidal difficulties like spasticity and hyperreflexia become noticeable (Jinnah and Friedmann, 2001). Furthermore, cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment occurring between two to three years old can lead to moderate or serious mental hindrance. Also, the continuous self-injurious behaviors such as biting the fingers or lips and hitting the head or limbs are the most distinctive behavioral symptom in patients (Nyhan, W. L, et al, 1968). Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is also characterized by overproduction of uric acid and this induces the decomposition of uric acid crystals in kidneys, ureters or bladder and the gouty arthritis can be developed later in the disorder (Page et al, 1987). Figure 2. The inheritance detects of Lesch- Nyhan syndrome. This X-linked recessive syndrome is solely for the male and the chance taken from the sons and daughters with either affected father and unaffected mother or unaffected father and carrier mother are showed (IFFA, 2016). Firstly, the Lesch- Nyhan syndrome is inherited in an X-linked recessive characteristic since the mutation of HPRT gene is positioned on the X chromosome and this disorder is described to the male only (Hoefnagel et al, 1965). More importantly, the X-linked inheritance determined that the X-linked character cannot be transferred from the father to the son. In this syndrome, the Lyon hypothesis can be adopted to demonstrate the mothers are heterozygous and the mosaics involve two cell cultures where one is entirely normal and another one is fully faulty (Migeon et al, 1968) . An investigation is examined that the fibroblasts developing in the cell populations from the skin were duplicated (Migeon, B. R, et al, 1968) and HGPRT deficiency in the negative duplication can be observed through radioautographical method. Furthermore, the halt of the X chromosome is not described as a random activity because HGPRT in the erythrocytes or leukocytes of obliged heterozygotes for this situation i s distinct with the glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency where the transportation of enzyme in heterozygotes is around 50%. It is indicated that the enzyme action in the erythrocytes of the mothers with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome are normal. Also, the blood-relative family in two kinds of G6PD and HGPRT (Nyhan, W. L.et al, 1970) are separating so this shows that females were heterozygous to G6PD. The reason why the males have more frequent chance to suffer from this X linked recessive syndrome than the females is because the males contain only one X chromosome and one changed copy of the gene is enough to lead to this syndrome and it is uncommon that females possess two changed copies of the gene Vogel (1977). It is examined that the father of a male patient is not the carrier of the mutated gene and also do not suffer from the syndrome. The chance taken from the siblings rely upon the carrier condition of the mother. Carrier women contain a 50% chance of passing on the HPRT1 variation in each gestation. The sons who receive that variation will be influenced and the daughters who obtain the variation are served as carriers. Hence, it can be concluded that a carrier mother has a one-fourth chance of getting an affected son, one-fourth chance of getting a carrier daughter and half chance of getting a normal son or daughter (Genetic Home Reference, 2007). Figure 3. Purine metabolism with de novo synthesis and salvage synthesis. The de novo purine synthesis is mobilized by the enzyme, PRPP amidotransferase, and the salvage pathway by hypoxanthine phosphorybosyltransferase (HPRT) and adenine phosphorybosyltransferase (APRT). HPRT catalyzes the salvage synthesis of inosine monophosphate, IMP, and guanosine monophosphate, GMP, from hypoxanthine and guanine particularly by using PRPP as a co-substrate. The HPRT deficiency leads to decomposition of hypoxanthine and guanine which are transformed into uric acid by xanthine oxidase. Purine overproduction, increase level of PRPP and decrease level of IMP and GMP are the results (Torres R J and Puig J G, 2007). Secondly, Lesch-Nyhan syndrome contributes to the molecular defects due to the mutation of HPRT1 gene which encrypts hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase. This enzyme is used to recycle purines and is responsible for transferring hypoxanthine and guanine back into DNA synthesis which establish the cells to possess enough supply of building blocks and assemble DNA and RNA (Sweetman, L and Nyhan, W. L. 1972). The deficiency of HPRT map to chromosome Xq26-q27.2 and is likely to cause heterogenous mutations (Greene, M. L, et al, 1970). Also, it induces the increased level of purine nucleotides by purine salvage pathway. It leads to decomposition of uric acid because of the broken down but unrecycled purines and occurrence of excessive PRPP, resulting in the neurological and behavioral problems of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (Kelley, W. N, 1968). The de novo pathway is initiated with the active form of ribose from ribose-5-phosphate to 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) and this synthesis discharges AMP. PRPP gives rise to the first nucleotide called inosine monophosphate (IMP) by an enzyme PRPP amidotransferase which serves as the rate-limiting step. Besides, IMP uses as a forerunner of AMP and GMP synthesis and the route of pathway is modulated by the higher level of particular nucleotide (Fox, I. H and Kelley, W. N, 1971). There are two main transferase enzymes involving in the purines salvage pathway. HPRT is responsible for catalyzing the hypoxanthine to inosine monophosphate (IMP) and guanine to guanosine monophosphate (GMP) and another one is adenosine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) which assembles adenine to AMP through transferring the 5-phosphoribosyl group from 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) (Keebaugh et al., 2007). The AMP, GMP, IMP are all catabolized to uric acid and particular mononucleotides is started with the transformation to the phosphate free nucleoside via cytosolic 5-nucleotidases. After that, the nitrogen is eliminated from adenosine to produce inosine with an enzyme, adenosine deaminase (ADA). The ribose is discarded from the nucleotides by purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) and create hypoxanthine, xanthine and guanine (Rubin, C. S.et al, 1969). The nitrogen is then eliminated from guanine through guanine deaminase and xanthine is produced. Eventually, hypoxanthine and xanthine are converted to the final product of purine catabolism called uric acid by xanthine oxidase (Kelley, W. N, et al, 1970). It can be concluded that HGPRT deficiency leads to higher level of PRPP because of its rate limiting function and decreased level of GMP and IMP, resulting in increased de novo purine synthesis and degradation of purines to contribute to the higher level of uric acid called hyperuricemia and cause Lesch-Nyhan syndrome (Rosenbloom, F. M, et al, 1968). Thirdly, the biochemical defects can be determined by the purine metabolism of the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome and the metabolism can indicate the rate of uric acid synthesizing from 14C-labeled glycine (Sweetman, L. 1968). Also, the deficiency of HPRT contributes to the excessive purine synthesis and this enzyme acts as a regulating role in purine metabolism. The specific activity of the uric acid can be examined by the isolation and purification from urine. In the children with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome it is observed that accelerated specific activity in the uric acid obtain 20 times higher glycine concentration salvaged in uric acid than the control individuals (Nyhan, W. L.et al, 1968). Thus, it leads to the higher level of purine overproduction in patients. Besides, the rate of de novo synthesis of purine using fibroblasts grown in cell culture can be demonstrated (Seegmiller, J. E., et al, 1967). There is a significant relationship between asperity of disorder and recycle of hypoxanthine or guanine. The expressions of intracellular purines are normal within the fibroblasts with deficient HGPRT but purine depletion is apparent since the increased purine metabolites are discharged from cells. In addition, the normal purines were probable to cause a compensative increase in purine synthesis due to notable rising in purinosomes. Moreover, the purine de novo overproduction showing in this syndrome is an unsuccessful feedback regulation. The first step of the purine pathway is catalyzed by phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate amidotmnsfemse and is dependent to feedback inhibition by adenine and guanine. 2-ethylamino-l,3,4-thiadiazole was used for the examination and the observation showed that uricogenic agent significantly increases the rate of purine synthesis in normal conditions but in the patients the rates of purine synthesis increase more intensely by this agent (Nyhan, W. L.et al, 1968). Furthermore, the existence of xanthinuria in patients with inborn deficiency of xanthine oxidase expresses the abnormalities in the central nervous system. In the cerebrospinal fluid (Sweetman, L. 1968) the xanthine levels are equivalent to the controls and the hypoxanthine level in patients with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome were greater than the controls by four times. Hence, Hypoxanthine and guanine recycling and the de novo pur ine synthesis are demonstrated to determine the biochemical abnormality of Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. In conclusion, by the discussion of the inheritance, molecular and biochemical defects that determining the clinical trait correlated with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, it is demonstrated that this X-linked recessive disorder is exclusive for males and is induced from the mutation of HGPRT gene which contributes to the overproduction of uric acid by purine salvage pathway and causes neurobehavioral problems of affected individuals (Rosenbloom, F. M.et al, 1968). For the future perspectives, although there is no treatment to cure this disorder, effective medications can be adopted to alleviate the symptoms such as managing the uric acid levels by allopurinol and reducing behavioral problems by taking diazepam or haloperidol appropriately (Genetics Home Reference, 2007). (Word count: 1639) References: Fox, I. H and Kelley, W. N. 1971. Ann. Intern. Med. 74:424-33  Genetics Home Reference, 2007. Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Retrieved on 24/5/2007. Greene, M. L and Boyle, J. A, 1970. Science 167:887- 89 Hoefnagel, D, et al, 1965. Hereditary choreoathetosis, self-mutilation and hyperuricemia in young males. New Eng. J. Med. 273: 130-135, 1965. IFFA, 2016. Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome on emaze. [digital image] Retrieved from: https://www.emaze.com/@ACFTIZWL/Lesch-Nyhan-Syndrome Jinnah, H. A and Friedmann, T. 2001. Lesch-Nyhan disease and its variants.In: Scriver, C. R.; Beaudet, A. L.; Sly, W. S.; Valle, D. (eds.): The Metabolic Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease. Vol. II. (8th ed.) New York: McGraw-Hill (pub.) P. 2537. Kelley, W. N, 1968. Fed. Proc. 27: 1047-52 Keebaugh, A. C and Sullivan, R. T, 2007. NISC Comparative Sequencing Program, Thomas, J. W. Gene duplication and inactivation in the HPRT gene family. Genomics 89: 134-142. Kelley, W. N, et al, 1970. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 21 5 :512-16 Lesch, M and Nyhan, W. L, 1964. Am. J. Med. 36:561-70 Mumues, 2015. Mental retardation. [digital image] Retrieved from: https://www.slideshare.net/mumues/mental-retardation-44326087 Migeon, B. R, et al, 1968. X-linked hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase deficiency: heterozygote has two clonal populations. Science 160: 425-427. Nyhan, W. L, 1967. Pediat. 67 :257-63 Nyhan, W. L, et al, 1968. Metabolism 17 :846-53 Nyhan, W. L, et al, 1970. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA 65:214-18 Page, T, et al, 1987. Syndrome of mild mental retardation, spastic gait, and skeletal malformations in a family with partial deficiency of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase. Pediatrics 79: 713-717 Rubin, C. S, et al, 1969. J. Lab. Cfin. Med. 74:732-41 Rosenbloom, F. M, et al, 1968. Bioi. Chern. 243 : 1 166-73 Seegmiller, J. E, et al, 1967. Science 155: 1 682-84 Sweetman, L. 1968. Fed. Proc. 27 : 1 055-59 Sweetman, L and Nyhan, W. L. 1972. Arch. Intern. Med. 130:214-20 Torres R J and Puig J G, 2007. Hypoxanthaine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) deficiency: Lesch- Nyhan Syndrome. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2, 1. [digital image] Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesch%E2%80%93Nyhan_syndrome#/media/File:HPRT_metabolism.jpg Vogel, F, 1977. A probable sex difference in some mutation rates. (Editorial) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 29: 312-319.   Ã‚  

Friday, January 17, 2020

Language & Human Communication

Of all human skills, language is one of the most valuable because it allows us to communicate with one another. Human communication is important to society, enabling business and interpersonal relationships, as well as teaching and learning. Language is also important because it allows people to create new words for a changing society, like â€Å"Internet,† according to Palomar College. About Language 1. Languages are, essentially, systems of symbols that have meaning. Language is a means of human communication, whether it be expressed verbally, it writing or through sign language. All languages have a system of rules and meanings and can express an infinite number of ideas or meanings within that system. Human Language Development 2. Language is a part of human development, beginning its development in early childhood. Human language begins with what is called â€Å"babbling,† when infants make repetitive sounds like â€Å"mah mah† and â€Å"dah dah† that mark the beginning of speech development. Language is an important part of intellectual development and the development of communication skills. Communication, in turn, is vital to human language development. According to Palomar College, studies show that parents can help infants develop language skills by communicating with them often using and encouraging appropriate language rules. As the child's language skills continue to develop, he may begin to use language, albeit incorrectly. Gently correcting the child's speech can help her improve. If a child says, â€Å"I seen it,† for instance, correct by saying something like, â€Å"Yes, that's good, you saw it. I saw it, too,† thus illustrating the appropriate form of the verb â€Å"to see. † Communication and Language 3. Even though language is standardized, the interpreted meaning of the words that being communicated is influenced by a variety of factors about the situation. The way something is phrased, the tone in which it is said and the volume all matter. These â€Å"hidden† parts of communication affect way the listener interprets the speaker, according to Palomar College. Other Parts of Language 4. The message delivered through language may also be mediated by nonverbal or non-linguistic factors like body language and gestures. According to Palomar College, linguists and other language experts refer to nonverbal elements of language like tone of voice, smiling, frowning, use of personal space and other unspoken means of communication as â€Å"paralanguage† elements. Paralanguage can be just as important to human communication as language itself. In-Person Communication 5. While words are powerful, the power of in-person communication cannot be overlooked. According to Palomar College, it is estimated by researchers that up to 70 percent of the meaning derived from in-person communication comes from paralinguistic expressions. This is because paralanguage communicates the emotional and personal aspects of human communication that can be unseen in written and impersonal forms of language use.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

Essay about Allegory and Satire in The Lottery, by Shirley...

Originally printed in the June 26, 1948 issue of The New Yorker, Shirley Jackson’s â€Å"The Lottery† brought about controversy from the beginning. Magazine subscriptions were immediately canceled due to the outrage at the brutal underlying message. Mrs. Jackson tore down virtually every institution that American Citizens hold dear to their hearts. Jackson believes we should not just blindly follow authority or blindly partake in any traditions that we may not understand to the full extent. â€Å"Any human institution which is allowed to continue unchallenged and unconsidered until it becomes a destructive, rather than a constructive, force in mens lives†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"The Lottery† explicates this in a manner in which you must know the underlying message to†¦show more content†¦This all symbolizes Christianity upholding the traditions that we blindly follow unquestioningly. In â€Å"The Lottery† the tradition that the citizens blindly follow is one of collective violence, therefore Jackson, in a roundabout manner, ties Christianity not only to the blindly held traditions, she also hints that The Christian Faith has led people to do cruel violent things, aligning Christianity with evil. Jackson attempts to show that no matter what you claim to be if your acts are contrary to the beliefs you claim to up hold, your innermost goals will be seen. Nazi Germany claimed to be Christian, yet they committed terrible crimes and horrific acts of murder. Some critics believe that Jackson wrote to allegorize this; she alluded to it yes, as an example but not as a main subject. Jackson further ties her story to Christianity through the use of stones as the murder weapons. Stoning first appeared in Biblical Days. Christians are not the only culprits that used this method of execution though, â€Å"stoning comes up specifically in the religious texts of all three of the Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.†(Shm oop Editorial Team) This method of execution is one of collective violence it is not limited to one or two executioners, in â€Å"The Lottery† the entire town joins in on the violence, even the children participate. This inclusion of every person teaches the children asShow MoreRelatedEssay about The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson2214 Words   |  9 PagesWorld War, Shirley Jackson’s life was filled with graphic imagery of the violence existing throughout her world. Jackson’s husband Stanley Edgar Hyman wrote, â€Å"[Shirley’s] fierce visions of dissociations and madness, of alienation and withdrawal, of cruelty and terror, have been taken to be personal, even neurotic fantasies. Quite the reverse: They are a sensitive and faithful anatomy of our times, fitting symbols for our distressing world of the concentration camp and the bomb† (â€Å"‘The Lottery’† 144)Read MoreThe Lottery, by Shirley Jackson Essay example2088 Words   |   9 Pagesimagery of the violence existing throughout her world filled the life of Shirley Jackson. Jackson’s husband Stanley Edgar Hyman wrote, â€Å"[Shirley’s] fierce visions of dissociations and madness, of alienation and withdrawal, of cruelty and terror, have been taken to be personal, even neurotic fantasies. After two rounds of drawing, one to choose the family, and one to choose the member of that family, Tessie Hutchinson â€Å"wins† the lottery. She is then stoned to death by the rest of the people of the townRead MoreEssay about The Life and Literary Works of Shirley Jackson4264 Words   |  18 PagesShirley Jackson was born on December 14, 1919 to Leslie and Geraldine Jackson. Her surroundings were comfortable and friendly. Two years after Shirley was born, her family with her newborn brother moved from San Francisco to Burlingame, California, about thirty miles away. According to her mother, Shirley began to compose verse almost as soon as s he could write it (Friedman, 18). As a child, Shirley was interested in sports and literature. In 1930, a year before she attended Burlingame High SchoolRead MoreUtopia and Dystopia in Harrison Bergeron and The Lottery Essay examples1345 Words   |  6 Pagesexploits into an exaggerated worst-case scenario. The short stories, Harrison Bergeron, and The Lottery, are both literary examples imparted around a utopian society. Harrison Bergeron, was written by Kurt Vonnegut in 1961. This story elucidates a dystopian society that is derived of its individuality and is expected to conform to authorities. The Lottery, is a short story written by Shirley Jackson that was published in June, 1948 and exerts a story that an impelling outlook on a seamlessly

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Sample of a Formal Business Report

Sample of a Formal Business Report Sample Formal Business Report Purpose: The purpose of this document is to present a 5-year operational plan for the container leasing of company ABC. The document is aimed at highlighting the main objectives and the vision of the company. Another aim is to develop a thorough action plan for operational aspects of the business. The target of this business plan is to align the company’s growth ambitions with the operational and financial limitations it faces. In order to achieve growth and to make sure that commercial objectives are backed up from the operational perspective, scenario analysis of the estimated container availability was undertaken. Our findings: The company’s annual growth is estimated at 10.1% which would mean an increase of 1.3 million units by the end of 2015 in TEU terms. Major growth is expected to come from trading with China. Significant drop in the availability of refrigerated equipment is a major challenge. With the estimated drop of 12%, this issue should be addressed immediately. Recommendations: We recommend the following action plan based on the major points outlined. To increase the investment rate to 2.3 million dollars. To diversify the risks.