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Published on: June 15, 2018
Copper deficiency myelopathy
Neeraj Kumar1, Brian Crum, Ronald C Petersen
1Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn, USA. kumar.neeraj@mayo.edu
Background:
In humans, Menkes disease is the well-recognized neurological disorder due to inherited copper deficiency. Myelopathy due to acquired copper deficiency is not a well-recognized entity in humans, although myelopathy due to copper deficiency is well documented in some animal species.
Patients:
We describe 3 patients who developed a progressive spastic-ataxic gait with proprioceptive deficits. All patients had a severe reduction in serum ceruloplasmin and copper levels.
Results:
All patients had evidence of posterior column dysfunction clinically and on somatosensory evoked potential studies. Two had a signal change in the posterior column on magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord.
Conclusion:
Patients presenting with otherwise unexplained myelopathies should have their serum ceruloplasmin level measured.
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Translation
Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from the genetic information carried by messenger RNA (mRNA). Following transcription, it constitutes the final step in the expression of genes. This process is carried out by ribosomes, complexes of protein and specialized RNA molecules. Ribosomes, transfer RNA (tRNA), and other proteins produce a chain of amino acids—the polypeptide—as the end product of translation.
Translation Produces the Building Blocks of Life