It has been shown previously that kynurenine hydrolase (L-kynurenine hydrolase, EC 3.7.1.3) is inhibited by the hydrazide Benserazide {R,, 4-4602, DL-serine 2-[(2,3,4trihydroxyphenyl)methyl] hydrazide), a compound that is used clinically in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (Bender et al., 1977). Benserazide is a potent inhibitor of aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (L-aromatic amino acid ca...

A gene encoding a putative pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1) was isolated from a genomic library of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus parasiticus strain SU-1. The deduced amino acid sequence showed 37% homology to PDC1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although A. parasiticus has an obligate growth requirement for oxygen, it produced ethanol in shake flask cultures indicating a response to anox...

A new assay is described for lysine decarboxylase. It is rapid and reproducible in assaying large numbers of samples, a situation in which earlier methods were less convenient. The new method is valuable in the study of peptide fractions and amino acid mixtures which stimulate induction of lysine decarboxylase. It may be useful for work on enzyme structure and modification, genetics, and kinetics.

Target antigens defined by autoantibodies in IDDM include insulin, a putative glycolipid that reacts with islet cell antibodies, and a 64,000-M(r) protein recently identified as glutamic acid decarboxylase. In addition, some IDDM sera that contain antibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase also coprecipitate a 38,000-M(r) protein from islets. This study used a high titer anti-38,000-M(r) serum t...

BACKGROUND Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS) is a relatively rare but often overlooked autoimmune neurological disorder that targets antigens within the brain's inhibitory pathways resulting in incapacitating stiffness and spasms that impact on the patients' quality of life. Although a number of immunomodulating therapies significantly improve the patients' symptoms, the exact pathogenic mechanisms r...

INTRODUCTION Stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is manifested by fluctuating rigidity of axial musculature with painful episodic spasms due to simultaneous co-contraction of agonist and antagonist muscles. We present a case report and video illustrating response to treatment with rituximab. MATERIALS AND METHODS Case description and video are provided. A literature search for other reports of treatm...

Abbreviations: T1DM: Type 1 Diabetes; T2DM: Type 2 Diabetes; LADY: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Youth; LADA: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults; CS: Caesarean Section; SVD: Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery; HT: Hypertension; BMI: Body Mass index; A1c: Glycated Hemoglobin; HDL: High-Density Lipoprotein; LDL: Low-Density Lipoprotein; IAA: Anti-Insulin Antibodies; GAD: Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase A...

OBJECTIVE We report a rare case of 49,XXXXY syndrome with autoimmune diabetes (requiring insulin therapy), bilateral cataracts and unilateral glaucoma. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION A 25-year-old man with mental retardation presented with multiple skeletal abnormalities, polyuria and polydipsia. He had high glucose concentrations, without ketonuria, and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism...