Amino acids as biomarkers in the SOD1(G93A) mouse model of ALS.

The development of therapies for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) has been hindered by the lack of biomarkers for both identifying early disease and for monitoring the effectiveness of drugs. The identification of ALS biomarkers in presymptomatic individuals might also provide clues to the earliest biochemical correlates of the disease. Previous attempts to use plasma metabolites as biomarkers have led to contradictory results, presumably because of heterogeneity in both the underlying genetics and the disease stage in the clinical population.

Case Report of Argininemia: The Utility of the Arginine/Ornithine Ratio for Newborn Screening (NBS).

We describe a case of Argininemia detected by Michigan Newborn Screening (NBS). The Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children recommends that every MS/MS newborn screening program include Argininemia as part of their uniform screening panel. While affected infants will be detected by this testing, Arginine levels may take time to accumulate.

Revised sections F7.5 (quantitative amino acid analysis) and F7.6 (qualitative amino acid analysis): American College of Medical Genetics Standards and Guidelines for Clinical Genetics Laboratories, 2003.

Determination of plasma amino acid levels has become a key piece of information in the diagnosis and clinical management of a group of metabolic genetic disorders. Appropriate laboratory methodologies have been published for amino acid analysis, yet there is a need for direction for the laboratory in performing this testing. The following guidelines were generated by a working group of the American College of Medical Genetics Laboratory Quality Assurance Committee.