A Multidisciplinary Consensus for Clinical Care and Research Needs for Sturge-Weber Syndrome.

Background: Sturge-Weber syndrome is a neurocutaneous disorder associated with port-wine birthmark, leptomeningeal capillary malformations, and glaucoma. It is associated with an unpredictable clinical course. Because of its rarity and complexity, many physicians are unaware of the disease and its complications.

P53 and cellular glucose uptake.

Objectives: Tumor protein p53 is a transcription factor involved with cellular responses to stressors including limited glucose availability. We hypothesized that modulating p53 levels would affect cellular glucose uptake.

Methods And Results: Transfecting cultured primary mouse hepatocytes with p53 siRNA suppressed p53 mRNA expression >90%.

Dose-dependent effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on synaptic plasticity and learning in mature offspring.

Background: We have observed profound deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and one-trial learning in offspring whose mothers drank moderate quantities of ethanol during pregnancy. In the present study, we examined the question of whether lower maternal blood ethanol concentrations (BECs) could produce functional deficits in offspring.

Methods: Rat dams consumed either a 2%, 3%, or 5% ethanol liquid diet throughout gestation.