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Publications (5)32.35 Total impact

  • Article: Screening of male patients with autism spectrum disorder for creatine transporter deficiency.
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    ABSTRACT: Creatine deficiency syndromes (CDS) are newly identified genetic disorders that result in neurological impairment of cognition and communication. The purpose of our study was to screen 100 male subjects with autism spectrum disorder for mutations in the SLC6A8 gene in order to determine the frequency of this genetic disorder in this population. One hundred males ages 3-18 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder based on DSM-IV criteria were recruited. DNA sequence analysis was performed on all subjects for creatine transporter gene (SLC6A8) defects. One subject had a novel unclassified variant in the SLC6A8 gene exon 13: c.1890G>C. Given that autistic features are found in a number of patients with CDS, SLC6A8 deficiency as well as the treatable forms of CDS should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with autism spectrum disorder.
    Neuropediatrics 12/2007; 38(6):310-2. · 0.94 Impact Factor
  • Article: Glycine decarboxylase mutations: a distinctive phenotype of nonketotic hyperglycinemia in adults.
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    ABSTRACT: Three unrelated adult patients with mild hyperglycinemia, infantile hypotonia, mental retardation, behavioral hyperirritability, and aggressive outbursts were screened for glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) mutations; two novel missense mutations (A389V and R739H) were found. Both mutations had a 6 to 8% of normal GLDC activities when expressed in COS7 cells.
    Neurology 05/2005; 64(7):1255-7. · 8.31 Impact Factor
  • Article: Congenital creatine transporter deficiency.
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    ABSTRACT: Two inborn errors of metabolism of creatine synthesis as well as the X-linked creatine transporter (SLC6A8) deficiency have been recognized. This report describes the features of five identified male patients and their female relatives who are carriers of the X-linked creatine transporter deficiency syndrome. Proton MR spectroscopy was used to recognize creatine deficiency in the patients. Molecular analysis of the SLC6A8 gene was performed, confirming the diagnosis of homozygous males and heterozygous females. We describe four families from a metropolitan area in the U. S. with X-linked creatine transporter deficiency. All affected males present with developmental delay and severe developmental language impairment. Proton MR spectroscopy shows significantly depressed to essentially absent creatine and phosphocreatine in the male patients. Nonsense mutations and amino acid deletions were found in the SLC6A8 gene in the affected families. Creatine transporter deficiency may be a more common X-linked genetic disorder than originally presumed. The affected males exhibit mental retardation with severe expressive language impairment.
    Neuropediatrics 11/2002; 33(5):232-8. · 0.94 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mutational and radiographic analysis of pulmonary disease consistent with lymphangioleiomyomatosis and micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia in women with tuberous sclerosis.
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    ABSTRACT: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia (MMPH) produce cystic and nodular disease, respectively, in the lungs of patients with tuberous sclerosis. The objective of this study was to prospectively characterize the prevalence, clinical presentation, and genetic basis of lung disease in TSC. We performed genotyping and computerized tomographic (CT) scanning of the chest on 23 asymptomatic women with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Cystic pulmonary parenchymal changes consistent with LAM were found in nine patients (39%). These patients tended to be older than cyst-negative patients (31.9 +/- 7.6 yr versus 24.8 +/- 11.6 yr, p = 0.09). There was no correlation between presence of cysts and tobacco use, age at menarche, history of pregnancy, or estrogen-containing medications. Three of the cyst-positive patients had a prior history of pneumothorax. Pulmonary function studies revealed evidence of gas trapping but normal spirometric indices in the cyst-positive group. All nine cyst-positive patients had angiomyolipomas (AML), which were larger (p < 0.05) and more frequently required intervention (p = 0.08) than cyst-negative patients (8 of 14 with AMLs, p < 0.05). Ten patients (43%) had pulmonary parenchymal nodules. Pulmonary nodules were more common in women with cysts (78% versus 21%, p < 0.05), and 52% of all patients had either cystic or nodular changes. TSC2 mutations were identified in all cyst-positive patients who were tested (n = 8), whereas both TSC1 and TSC2 mutations were found in patients with nodular disease. Correlation of the mutational and radiographic data revealed one pair of sisters who were discordant for cystic disease, two mother- daughter pairs who were discordant for nodular disease, and no clear association between cyst development and a specific mutational type. This prospective analysis demonstrates that cystic and nodular pulmonary changes consistent with LAM and MMPH are common in women with TSC.
    American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 09/2001; 164(4):661-8. · 11.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Irreversible brain creatine deficiency with elevated serum and urine creatine: a creatine transporter defect?
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    ABSTRACT: Recent reports highlight the utility of in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) techniques to recognize creatine deficiency syndromes affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Reported cases demonstrate partial reversibility of neurologic symptoms upon restoration of CNS creatine levels with the administration of oral creatine. We describe a patient with a brain creatine deficiency syndrome detected by proton MRS that differs from published reports. Metabolic screening revealed elevated creatine in the serum and urine, with normal levels of guanidino acetic acid. Unlike the case with other reported creatine deficiency syndromes, treatment with oral creatine monohydrate demonstrated no observable increase in brain creatine with proton MRS and no improvement in clinical symptoms. In this study, we report a novel brain creatine deficiency syndrome most likely representing a creatine transporter defect.
    Annals of Neurology 04/2001; 49(3):401-4. · 11.09 Impact Factor