Abstract Thiamine is an essential vitamin needed by all cells in the body. When the body lacks thiamine for an extended period of time, many problems arise, mainly in the brain and heart. Alcoholism and malnourishment are two of the leading causes of thiamine deficiency. Although fairly rare, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) can be a severe consequence of thiamine shortage. WKS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the brain and disrupts the neuronal signaling. Not only does it make daily life very difficult, it can become life-threatening and cause permanent damage. The lack of thiamine interrupts many biochemical pathways in the body, including the pentose phosphate pathway, glycolysis, and the Citric Acid cycle. Disrupting these pathways causes WKS to present along with multiple other complications.
Introduction
WKS is actually a combination of two different diseases. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy is the first to appear. It is a short-lived, but life-threatening mental condition. It causes ocular disturbances, mental state variation, and unsteady movements and stance (Thomson, 2009). Wernicke’s Encephalopathy is mainly seen in alcoholics, but has been observed in non-alcoholics as well. Korsakoff’s syndrome is the second illness to present.
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Also, if caught early enough, the less likely there will be residual brain damage and memory impairment. Treatment for WKS is immediate administration of thiamine. Thiamine doses differ from patient to patient depending on severity of the WKS. Oral thiamine supplements are not effective in severe cases because of the liver damage and disrupted thiamine metabolism. It usually is administered intramuscularly. Taking the thiamine may not completely reverse all damage, but can prevent the progression of the disease. Also, a few lifestyle changes should be made, including a complete diet and refraining from heavy
“Korsakoff syndrome is a preventable memory disorder that usually emerges (although not always) in the outcome of an episode of Wernicke 's encephalopathy, therefore the chronic disorder is sometimes known as Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome.” Wernicke encephalopathy is an acute brain reaction to severe lack of thiamine. Wernicke encephalopathy is a medical emergency that causes life-threatening brain disruption, confusion, staggering and stumbling, lack of coordination, and abnormal involuntary eye movements.”
When the Europeans arrived in the Americas they were looking for riches, spices, and new trade routes to India. When they found this new world and the Native Americans that lived there, they deliberately mistreated them. Looked at as obstructions, the Natives were driven from their land and homes and pushed west. Europeans that encountered the Native Americans had different ideas about them depending on their political and religious beliefs but none were positive. Those ideas ranged from pity for them as non-Christians to be converted (Doc. A2) and treated as children to a lower status of human to be taken advantage of for profits. The Natives were forced to mine precious metals, and farm sugar cane and tobacco. They were not viewed or treated as equal persons. They were considered part of the wild land to be conquered, enslaved, killed, and beaten into cooperation.
Waardenburg Syndrome is a group of genetic conditions that can lead to hearing loss and changes in the color of hair, skin, and eyes (Genetics 2013). Cases of Waardenburg Syndrome are not very common. There are different types of symptoms of the syndrome. Waardenburg Syndrome can be inherited either on an autosomal dominant pattern or autosomal recessive pattern (Calendar 2013). The ways of diagnosing Waardenburg Syndrome include certain tests to detect the disorder. While Waardenburg Syndrome cannot be cured, treatments can be given to lessen the effects. Like other diseases, Waardenburg Syndrome has certain symptoms, inheritance patterns, diagnosis and treatments.
The treatment involves a protein free diet. Fluids, sugars, and sometimes fats are given through an IV. Long term treatment requires a special diet that they need to follow. Also for infants their diet includes a formula with low levels of amino acids leucine, and valine. Must contain a low diet in these amino acids for life. It is very important to follow this diet to prevent nervous system damage. It also requires frequent blood test
A dysfunction of an enzyme in the peroxisome leads to the accumulation of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) in several areas (several areas of what?) including the central nervous tissue(CNS). The accumulation of VLCFA is toxic leading to the death of neuroglial cells like the oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Astrocytes in normal conditions regulate the composition of the blood-barrier in the central nervous system; The olygodendorocytes form the myelin sheath that covers the axons and facilitate the effective propagation of action terminals from the neuron to the target cells (Amerman 390). This disorder (what disorder) is caused by a mutation in the ABCD1 gene of the X-chromosome, it causes the demyelination of the neurons in the CNS inhibiting the integration of the information from sensory stimuli and the proper response to them, causing eventually death. X-linked disorders are present are a wide variety of phenotypes, CCALD is the most common and presents only on boys between the age of 4 and 12. CCALD is a rapidly progressive disease, its deteriorates the patient health in a matter of years, and due to its complexity, its commonly misdiagnosed (Engelen).
The show got multiple aspects of Korsakoff syndrome correctly. The woman confessed to the murder of her husband in spite of her inability to remember the act or why she did it. When confronted with questions about her murder by investigators she quickly confessed to the murder and signed confession papers. The doctor came in asked if she had picked up a cat on the side of the road named Millie. She agreed that the event happened and asked how he knew about it. The doctor says she has symptoms of Korsakoff syndrome and that she is extremely suggestible to altered memories and has anterograde amnesia. Anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new memories which seems to be the symptoms she is experiencing. The investigator that works with
For example, Wiskott-Aldrich and Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome are known to alter the immune system. The immune system is a complex system that functions to protect our bodies from infection and disease. The bone marrow produces cells that later mature and function as part of the immune system. One theory suggests that the cells in the bone marrow, the stem cells, become damaged or defective, so when they reproduce to make more cells, they make abnormal cells or cancer cells. The cause of the defect in the stem cells could be related to an inherited genetic defect or exposure to a virus or toxin. Exposures to certain viruses Epstein-Barr virus and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have been linked to an increased risk of developing certain childhood
KD is a very rare disorder, the prevalence thought to be 2 per 100,000 people according to the Cell and Tissue Research article. It is thought that KD is often misdiagnosis as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The first case ever recorded of KD came from a patient who was previously diagnosis with ALS and wanted a seconded opinion. The onset for KD is usually midlife, the range being from 30-60 years of age. The onset is often preceded by non-specific
Korsakov's syndrome is a devastating impairment of recent memory that is caused by a thiamine deficiency which can result from alcohol abuse, mal-absorption, hyperemesis or starvation. Furthermore, other causes of Korsakov's syndrome also include heavy metal poisoning, head injury and tumors. A patient suffering from Korsakov's syndrome will most likely have an extensive pathology in the bilateral hippocampus and will actively exhibit confabulation. Confabulation occurs when a patient creates pseudo-memories about what happened during a forgotten episode. Also, during confabulation the patient's recall of the events of the past seem more imaginative than logical. Fortunately, although the patient may exemplify confabulation there
Wernicke encephalopathy, a disease that alters brain structure, and Korsakoff syndrome, a memory loss disease, are two conditions that frequently afflict victims together. The sickness occurs in individual who lack vitamin B1 most often due to alcoholism but also because of malnourishment. The condition can also occur in individuals with illnesses or after weight reduction surgery.
If a person is not absorbing nutrients adequately, a blood test will detect this lack of nutrient absorption resulting in the decreased of iron absorption. Also, this inability to absorb certain nutrients may cause vitamin deficiencies. These deficiencies deprive the brain, peripheral nervous system, bones, liver and other organs of vital nourishment (Dugdale III, Longstreth, & Zieve, 2010).
The XXY syndrome, most commonly known as Klinefelter syndrome (KS), only affects males of all ages. This syndrome occurs when there is a random genetic error after conception and is not curable, however treatment can help.All females have XX chromosome and all males have XY chromosomes. Unlike the normal XY type that all males have, males affected have an additional X chromosome which results into many symptoms such as impaired spermatogenesis, low testosterone, and male hypogonadism. Since Klinefelter syndrome is related to the sex chromosomes of males, it is a sex link trait.
Unexplained fatigue, brittle, dry hair, ridged or spoon shaped nails, mouth problems, diarrhea, irritability or lack or appetite can all indicate nutrient deficiencies
When walking into Mrs. Fatones’ second-grade classroom one can almost feel the positive atmosphere from the smiling faces of the students. The classroom had a very traditional look to it. The rows were set up in aisles but each child had a partner except for one child who was considered the “trouble maker”. Mrs. Fatone preferred to use the chalkboard rather than the smartboard and her desk was directly in the front right corner overlooking the whole classroom. There were not many posters or work on display but on the right side of the wall was the “100 Board”. Every student that receives a 100 on a quiz or test, their work will be put up on the board. Mrs. Fatone stated “the students love this feature to the classroom because it gives them an opportunity to shine. I also see that it pushes students to try to do well on quizzes or test.” The 100 board enhances the physical environment because it gives students a sense of belonging and achievement.