X-linked adreno leukodistrophy: Profiles of very long chain fatty acids in plasma and fibroblasts in eigth Serbian patients

X-linked adrenoleukodistrophy is a severe neurodegenerative disorder with impaired very long chain fatty acid metabolism. The disease associated ABCD1 gene encodes a peroxisomal membrane protein which belongs to the superfamily of ATP-binding cassette transporters. We investigated eight male X-ALD patients diagnosed among 142 suspected patients referred for investigation. Plasma levels of very long chain fatty acids were measured at our laboratory using capillary gas chromatography. Eight cases of childhood X-ALD were diagnosed. This is the first published series of Serbian patients with X-ALD. In addition, diagnosis identifies carriers, which could be benefit for genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis.     

A universal unit for the electrical differential analyzer

This article describes an electromechanical unit which performs various mathematical operations occurring in the solution of differential equations by analog methods.     

Urinary catecholamine metabolites: Capillary gas chromatography method and experience with 12 cases of neuroblastoma

We propose a rapid, simple metodology for routine analysis of human urine to detect vanillylmandelic and homovanillic acid related to neuroblastoma. The assay were specific capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. In this methodology an internal standard is used and the procedure involves ethyl ester formation without isolation of the compounds of interest. The run time is 36 minutes. We also report quantitative results for urinary vanillylmandelic and homovanillic acid in neuroblastoma patients, demonstrating the diagnostic value of this method.