Orotic aciduria (AKA hereditary orotic aciduria) is a disease caused by an enzyme deficiency resulting in a decreased ability to synthesize pyrimidines. It was the first described enzyme deficiency of the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway.Orotic aciduria is characterized by excessive excretion of orotic acid in urine because of the inability to convert orotic acid to UMP. It causes megaloblastic anemia and may be associated with mental and physical developmental delays. Signs and symptoms
Patients typically present with excessive orotic acid in the urine, failure to thrive, developmental delay, and megaloblastic anemia which cannot be cured by administration of vitamin B12 or folic acid. Cause and genetics
This autosomal recessive disorder is caused by a deficiency in the enzyme UMPS, a bifunctional protein that includes the enzyme activities of OPRT and ODC. In one study of three patients, UMPS activity ranged from 2-7% of normal levels.Two types of orotic aciduria have been reported. Type I has a severe deficiency of both activities of UMP synthase. In Type II orotic aciduria, the ODC activity is deficient while OPRT activity is elevated. As of 1988, only one case of type II orotic aciduria had ever been reported.Orotic aciduria is associated with megaloblastic anemia due to decreased pyrimidine synthesis, which leads to decreased nucleotide-lipid cofactors needed for erythrocyte membrane synthesis in the bone marrow. Diagnosis
Elevated urinary orotic acid levels can also arise secondary to blockage of the urea cycle, particularly in ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTC deficiency).
Chronic periodontitis is one of the seven categories of periodontitis as defined by the American Academy of Periodontology 1999 classification system. Chronic periodontitis is a common disease of the oral cavity consisting of chronic inflammation of the periodontal tissues that is caused by the accumulation of profuse amounts of dental plaque. Periodontitis initially begins as gingivitis and can progress onto chronic and subsequent aggressive periodontitis according to the 1999 classification. Diagnosing chronic periodontitis is important in its early stages to prevent severe and irreversible damage to the protective and supportive structures of the tooth. However, due to chronic periodontitis being a painless progressing disease, few patients will seek dental care in the early stages. Mild to moderate chronic periodontitis can be managed by proper mechanical removal of the biofilm and calculus subgingivally. Full and effective oral hygiene and regular 3 monthly periodontal checkups are important for maintaining the stability of the disease. Chronic periodontitis is prevalent in adults and seniors worldwide. In the US around 35% of adults (30–90 years) are affected. The cumulative effects of alveolar bone loss, attachment loss and pocket formation is more apparent with an increase in age.