The sparse-fur (spf) mutant mouse has an X-linked deficiency of hepatic ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), and devetops hyperftmmonemia immediately after weaning and maintains it throughout its life span. We haye studied the effects of acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR) on the hepatic mitochondrial proteins of the chronicaJly hyperammonemic spf mice. Two different age groups of mice were studied, the we...

background: skin lesions and blistering in the overdose patient, most notably associated with barbiturate overdoses, are commonly referred to as coma blisters, 'barb blisters', or 'barb burns'. we present a patient who was noted to have skin lesions including bullae and blistering following a prolonged coma after quetiapine overdose. case report: a 27 year old male presented to our institution ...

We compared the effect of hyperammonemia on NADH levels in brain slices and on the rate of oxygen consumption from isolated nonsynaptic brain mitochondria in ammonia-sensitive Wistar rats with that in ammonia-tolerant gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta). The NADH content was significantly decreased (12% less than control after 45 min with 1 mM NH(4)Cl) in rat brain slices, but it was not affected in b...

Patients with liver cirrhosis show sleep disturbances. Insight into their relationship with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) can be obtained using animal models of HE. The aims of this work were to assess (1) whether rats with portacaval shunts (PCS), a model of HE, show alterations in sleep and if they are similar to those in patients with HE; (2) Whether hyperammonemia plays a role in these sleep ...

Background: Skin lesions and blistering in the overdose patient, most notably associated with barbiturate overdoses, are commonly referred to as coma blisters, ‘barb blisters’, or ‘barb burns’. We present a patient who was noted to have skin lesions including bullae and blistering following a prolonged coma after quetiapine overdose. Case report: A 27 year old male presented to our institution ...