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Deficiency of propionyl CoA carboxylase (PCC), a dodecamer of alpha and beta subunits, causes inherited propionic acidemia. We have studied, at the molecular level, PCC in 54 patients from 48 families comprised of 96 independent alleles. These patients of various ethnic backgrounds came from research centers and hospitals in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The thorough clinical characterization of these patients was described in the accompanying paper (Grünert et al. 2012). In all 54 patients, many of whom originated from consanguineous families, the entire PCCB gene was examined by genomic DNA sequencing and in 39 individuals the PCCA gene was also studied. In three patients we found mutations in both PCC genes. In addition, in many patients RT-PCR analysis of lymphoblast RNA, lymphoblast enzyme assays, and expression of new mutations in E.coli were carried out. Eight new and eight previously detected mutations were identified in the PCCA gene while 15 new and 13 previously detected mutations were found in the PCCB gene. One missense mutation, p.V288I in the PCCB gene, when expressed in E.coli, yielded 134% of control activity and was consequently classified as a polymorphism in the coding region. Numerous new intronic polymorphisms in both PCC genes were identified. This study adds a considerable amount of new molecular data to the studies of this disease.

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BACKGROUND: Whereas propionic acidemia (PA) is a target disease of newborn screening (NBS) in many countries, it is not in others. Data on the benefit of NBS for PA are sparse. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty PA patients diagnosed through NBS were compared to 35 patients diagnosed by selective metabolic screening (SMS) prompted by clinical findings, family history, or routine laboratory test results. Clinical and biochemical data of patients from 16 metabolic centers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were evaluated retrospectively. Additionally, assessment of the intelligent quotient (IQ) was performed. In a second step, the number of PA patients who have died within the past 20 years was estimated based on information provided by the participating metabolic centers. RESULTS: Patients diagnosed through NBS had neither a milder clinical course regarding the number of metabolic crises nor a better neurological outcome. Among NBS patients, 63% were already symptomatic at the time of diagnosis, and <10% of all patients remained asymptomatic. Among all PA patients, 76% were found to be at least mildly mentally retarded, with an IQ <69. IQ was negatively correlated with the number of metabolic decompensations, but not simply with the patients' age. Physical development was also impaired in the majority of patients. Mortality rates tended to be lower in NBS patients compared with patients diagnosed by SMS. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis of PA through NBS seems to be associated with a lower mortality rate. However, no significant benefit could be shown for surviving patients with regard to their clinical course, including the number of metabolic crises, physical and neurocognitive development, and long-term complications.

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The goal of the present article is to examine the unexpected association between cosmetic breast augmentation and suicide found in recent epidemiological investigations. During the last decade, seven epidemiological studies coincide in the high risk of suicidality among women with breast implants. More specifically, the rate of suicide among these patients appears doubled or tripled than expected in the general population. The absence of etiological answers that could interpret this association remains a serious limitation in this field of research. However, the preoperative psychopathology among women with breast implants, their motives and expectations, and their psychosocial characteristics are important factors that may contribute in the relationship between cosmetic breast augmentation and risk of suicide. Body image disorders, most common of which is the body dysmorphic disorder, along with high rates of depression and anxiety disorders are psychopathologic features found in a substantial number of cosmetic breast implant patients. Possible future research directions are proposed, in order to better understand the relationship between breast augmentation and suicide. In the meantime, the consistency of epidemiologic results on the high risk of suicide among breast implant patients suggests the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between plastic surgeons and mental health professionals, at least for those breast implant patients who present with preoperative psychopathology.

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BACKGROUND: In the rare autosomal recessive disorder maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) the accumulation of the branched-chain amino acids and their metabolic products results in acute and chronic brain dysfunction. Since 2002, MSUD has been part of the extended newborn screening programme in Germany and Austria. Early diagnosis and intervention during the presymptomatic or early symptomatic period should improve the outcome of the patients, which would make the case for screening for MSUD. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical course and alterations of marker metabolites during the first weeks of life in 10 patients with classical MSUD detected by newborn screening (NBS) in comparison with the 10 youngest German patients diagnosed clinically. METHOD: Laboratory data as well as information on clinical course and management during the neonatal period were obtained retrospectively. RESULTS: Patients detected in NBS presented with lower plasma leucine concentrations at confirmation of diagnosis and less severe clinical symptoms. Lowering of leucine to below a critical threshold of 1000 micromol/L was achieved earlier than in patients diagnosed on clinical grounds. CONCLUSION: After diagnosis in screening, treatment can be initiated before the occurrence of severe metabolic decompensation. However, a favourable effect can only be achieved with immediate transfer of the neonate to a metabolic centre for adequate treatment in case of a positive screening result.

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The clinical presentation of mitochondrial disorders in childhood is highly variable causing difficulties in diagnosis and management. We assessed records of 75 children (48 male, 27 female) with a biochemically and/or molecularly established mitochondrial disorder in a retrospective, multicentric study. The predominant biochemical defect was an isolated respiratory chain complex IV, followed by respiratory chain complex I, combined respiratory chain, and isolated pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) deficiencies. For the 75 patients, the predominant clinical presentations were a nonspecific encephalomyopathy (n = 34) and Leigh syndrome (n = 17). Classical mitochondrial syndromes with associated mutations of the mitochondrial DNA were rare (n = 12). Eleven children had a lethal infantile mitochondrial disease (LIMD). This group comprised a considerable variety of clinical pictures, and the cohort was big enough to show the high frequency and wide spectrum of nonneuromuscular symptoms in mitochondrial disorders in childhood.

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