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N-Methyl d-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor hypofunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and d-serine and glycine add-on therapy to antipsychotics has shown beneficial effects in schizophrenic patients. Nevertheless, previous studies have not shown consistently altered d-serine concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of schizophrenic patients. To confirm and extend these r

Amino acids are not only indispensable for protein synthesis but also play important cellular functions. In this chapter, the central nervous system (CNS) functions of serine, glycine, and threonine are discussed. Both the specific functions of the aforementioned amino acids and the functions of their derivatives are reviewed in relation to brain development and neurotransmission. In particular, f

Menkes disease is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by neurological deterioration, failure to thrive, peculiar hair and death in childhood, secondary to mutations in the ATP7A gene. The ATP7A gene encodes for a copper transporting P-type ATPase (ATP7A), which is ubiquitously expressed. A defect of the ATP7A protein leads to both a reduced transport of copper from the intestine into the

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Brain imaging is an integral part of the diagnostic work-up for metabolic disorders, and the bedside availability of cranial ultrasonography (cUS) allows very early brain imaging in symptomatic neonates. Our aim was to investigate the role and range of abnormalities seen on cUS in neonates presenting with metabolic disorders. A secondary aim, when possible, was to address t

Renal Fanconi syndrome developed rapidly in a 3-year-old Moroccan girl with established lysinuric protein intolerance. She was hospitalized because of lowered consciousness, uncoordinated movements and hepatosplenomegaly after a febrile period. Laboratory investigations revealed plasma ammonia 270 micromol/L (normal <70 micromol/L), ferritin 159 micromol/L (normal 2-59 micromol/L), LDH 1180 U/L (n

We review the role of two susceptibility genes; G72 and DAAO in glutamate neurotransmission and the aetiology of schizophrenia. The gene product of G72 is an activator of DAAO (D-amino acid oxidase), which is the only enzyme oxidising D-serine. D-serine is an important co-agonist for the NMDA glutamate receptor and plays a role in neuronal migration and cell death. Studies of D-serine revealed low

Background: The main purpose for measuring urinary free sialic acid (FSA) is to diagnose sialic acid (SA) storage diseases. Elevated amounts of conjugated sialic acid (CSA) are observed in several diseases indicating the need to quantify CSA as well. A LC-MS/MS method for quantification of FSA and total sialic acid (TSA) in urine is developed and validated. Methods: FSA is analyzed directly after

Only for three of the known defects in the metabolism of the amino acidsGABA, glycine, serine, and proline has a more-or-less efficient treatment been reported: the GABA catabolic defect, succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (vigabatrin, causing substrate depletion by inhibition of GABA transaminase); the glycine catabolic defect, nonketotic hyperglycinemia (diet combined with benzoate a

The building industry demands ever more effective structural elements with a multitude of requirements at the same time. There is increasing interest for load-bearing glass elements which can be deployed in timber structures, e.g. in the outer façade or as column or beam elements within the building. In an on-going research project, the materials glass, timber and the adhesive combining the for

The EU lacks competence to regulate research in a comprehensive manner, yet furthering research is one of its aspirations. Data protection, however, is an area within which the EU has legislated extensively. During the development of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), an important issue to tackle was how to balance the EU aspirations, on the one hand, with limited competences in resear