http://www.nrlc.org/news_and_views/April10/lorenzosoil.jpg
Biography
Full Name: Lorenzo Odone
Born: 29th May 1978
Passed Away: 30th May 2008
Age: 30 years of age
Location: Virginia, Washington
Country: The United States
Father: Augusto
Mother: Michaela
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archi
ve/01159/portal-graphics-20_1159181a.jpg
Lorenzo was an intelligent and happy young boy….until
One day…
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http://boomeryearbook.com
/blog/wpcontent/uploads/2009/06/b
yb-temper-tantrumcartoon.jpg
Lorenzo’s behaviour drastically changed for the worse.
So, his parents took him to the doctor…
They then ran various tests to
find out what was wrong…
http://www.saifeehospital.com/images/Facilities/46_CT_Scan.jpg
They found that…
http://bluefingers.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/ct-scan.jpg
http://www.x-ald.nl/diagnosis.htm
http://www.x-ald.nl/diagnosis.htm
Lorenzo had the neurological disease Adrenoleukodystrophy
(ALD).
ALD
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/enc
y/images/ency/fullsize/17277.jpg
http://www.x-ald.nl/carrier400.jpg
There is no transporter protein
to transport an enzyme to
breakdown long chain
saturated fats therefore:
C24
C26
Certain cells
are made by
the saturated
fats, however
without the
enzyme to
destroy extra
fat, the excess
it builds up
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
Which destroys
http://www.wiredtowinthemovie.com/images/hotspots/level06myelinSheath.jpg
Losing myelin will eventually inhibit the brain's ability to
control the body and the person eventually dies…
Lorenzo was given 2 years to live.
Augusto and Michaela are saddened by the news of
Lorenzo’s condition…
http://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u45/sad_man.jpg
In order to help Lorenzo, both Augusto and Michaela
enroll Lorenzo in a clinical trial dictated by Dr.
Nikolai…
C24
C26
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
Decrease
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
https://wiki.uwc.edu/images/a/ab/Saturated-fats-picture.jpg
In
Michaela finds out Lorenzo had received the disease
from her…
http://www.ntsad.org/images/Transmission_of_X-Linked_Traits.gif
The Clinical trial is initially is not working…
C24
C26
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
Increase of
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
https://wiki.uwc.edu/images/a/ab/Saturated-fats-picture.jpg
In
Lorenzo is also enrolled into another clinical trial
involving Cyclophosphides
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/common
s/thumb/c/cd/Cyclophosphamide_structure.svg
/481px-Cyclophosphamide_structure.svg.png
http://www.picturemosaics.com/tools/crop/display.php?n=4c0c171
089317.jpg&c=your%20custom%20value
Doctors analyze Lorenzo after taking the Cyclophophide
The Desase is still progressing however.
They observed hemianopia, with transient
horizontal nystagmus. The pupillary light
reflexes were still intact, as yet, there was
no optic atrophy.
The Odones were then contacted by Ellard Muscatine
concerning the ALD foundation…
In response, they head to the ALD
Family Conference in July.
http://www.aldfoundation.org/images/index_left.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey9NC18Jz2s&NR=1
At the conference, the topic of the saturated
food clinical trial is brought up by Michaela…
http://thejobsearchguru.com/notesfrom/wpcontent/uploads/2009/02/rejected.jpg
Others were
experiencing the same
results as the Odone’s
were.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey9NC18Jz2s&fe
ature=related
In order to understand Lorenzo’s
condition better…
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/19900/19
900/studying_19900_lg.gif
Through studying, Augusto described
Lorenzo's condition through the use of a
sink:
Tap on the right represents
very long chain saturated
fats. Now, also produced by
the body or manufactured
by the body, are these very
same fats (biosynthesis). It
shouldn't be problem since
an enzyme breaks down the
excess, however in Lorenzo’s
case the enzyme is not
present. In the case of the
sink, the drain is blocked.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_IS2NL6R9E&NR=1
While at the library, Michaela had
stumbled upon an article about fatty acid
manipulation
http://shelfelf.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/trinity-college-librarydub.jpg
In a polish study, when rats were
deprived of a specific fat in their diet,
body cells compensated by
overproducing it.
So they hypothesized that they can stop the body from producing one
kind of fat:
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
By loading it with another:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/f/f3/20051022203016!Question_mark_alternate.png
Reporting to Dr. Nikolai, both Augustus and Michaela
wished to put together a symposium in order to
exchange information.
However, it was difficult to actually try and achieve this
tremendous feat.
http://ase.org/images/lib/tips/nomoney.jpg
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/files/2008/11/timeflies-clock-10-11-2006.gif
At the symposium…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_IS2NL6R9E&
NR=1
They discussed how
the clinical trial was
not working.
The case study was also brought
up which shed a new a light on
the disease.
And with the combined knowledge of researchers from all
over the world…
http://upload.wikimed
ia.org/wikipedia/com
mons/archive/f/f3/20
051022203016!Questi
on_mark_alternate.pn
g
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DvUbyOlnKyQ/S7IytMe8E0I/AAAAAAAAAsM/MelrpumxOTg/s1600/Caprylic+Capric+Oleic+Acids.BMP
If it is in its pure
form, it becomes
hazardous however if
it is in its triglyceride
form then it is edible.
http://www.shingleberrysigns.com/design_icon/warning%2015%20toxic.gif
In order to have oleic acid…
Extraction
Of C24
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
And C26
http://www.x-ald.nl/biochemistry.htm
http://www.liquid-extraction.com/images/typical-extraction.jpg
From olive oil
http://static.open.salon.com/files/ho
w-olive-oil-works-31222748225.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DvUbyOlnKyQ/S7IytMe8E0I/AA
AAAAAAAsM/MelrpumxOTg/s1600/Caprylic+Capric+Oleic+
Acids.BMP
http://weblogs.cltv.com/news
/local/chicago/Money%20sta
cks.jpg
The solution is there but…
Companies were
being stubborn
http://www.google.ca/images?um
=1&hl=en&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q
=Telephone&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&
oq=&gs_rfai=
Also, Lorenzo’s
condition
worsened to a
point were he
needed spit
suctioned out of
his mouth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_3JrjZVak&feature=related
After many attempts…
Protochem
Laboratories
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DvUbyOlnKyQ/S7IytMe8E0I/AAAAAAAAAsM/
MelrpumxOTg/s1600/Caprylic+Capric+Oleic+Acids.BMP
http://www.indiamart.com/proto
chem/pcatgifs/homepage/logo.jpg
And the Odone’s were sent an
extra bottle.
http://www.nahanniriverherbs.com/uploads/food+plants/oil_bottle.jpg
Dr. Nikolai however warned the Odone’s about putting
untested substances into Lorenzo..
http://webpub.allegheny.edu/dept/psych/Pictures/Ethical.jpg
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/GOD2.jpg
Is it really ethical
of the Odones to
put untested
substances into
Lorenzo?
http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff71/death_dea
r_1/Angel_of_Death.jpg
ttp://media.photobucket.com/image/drawing%20blood%20for%20a%
20baseline/mikeyismyfriend/drawing_blood.jpg
And then...
Blood was drawn
for a baseline
Lorenzo was given the
oleic oil through food
http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/files/2009/09/cooked-barracuda.jpg
One month later…
A small percent
drop of C24 and
C26 was found in
Lorenzo’s blood
work.
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/81418
06/2/istockphoto_8141806-bar-graph-decrease.jpg
http://www.google.ca/images?um
=1&hl=en&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q
=Telephone&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&
oq=&gs_rfai=
However…
Not soon after the call
did Lorenzo suffer from
paroxysm (saliva gets
caught in the trachea.)
http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mdconsult.com/das/patient/body/0/0/10041/19076_en.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mdco
nsult.com/das/patient/body/0/0/10041/30160.html&usg=__OdiwFRPM7MpJEjCSWNvHOyU1Sxw=&h=320&w=400&sz=13&hl=en&start=1&sig
2=NAqQDOi2vZNhSKaAqfWT7A&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=6Spb3Kd455PzHM:&tbnh=99&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dseizure%26um%3D1
%26hl%3Den%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=92sMTMaMJ4aKlwexiJyQDg
The next update the Odone’s were given were...
50% drop in both
C24 and C26 fatty
acids.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_3JrjZVak&feature=related
In order to spread the good news about the Oleic acid
the Odone’s had invited the Muscatine to dinner
however…
They were being quite
stubborn about accepting
the Odone’s research.
http://themoderatevoice.com/wordpressengine/files/2009_November/stubborn.jpg
http://static.open.salon.com/files/argument1227837759.jpg
In February…
The decrease in C24 and C26
fatty acids were barely
noticeable..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_3JrjZVak&featur
e=related
And, as time continued,
Lorenzo’s condition continually
becomes worse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU_3JrjZVak&feature=related
Augusto decided that he would not give up and instead,
research why the oil only decreased the amount of fatty acids
by 50%.
http://www.routeoneforlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/studyhard.jpg
In order to explain the build up of very long fatty acid
chains Augusto used a paper clip analogy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLBkzlJrfLA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLBkzlJrfLA&feature=related
Each paper clip equaled 2 carbon atoms. These would connect to other
carbon atoms in chains, such as C2-C4-C6. These chains where trying to
make monosaturated fats. One chain was considered the "good guys"
while the other chain was considered to be the "bad guys". The father
was the "good guy enzyme" and took a carbon and put it on his chain.
Deidra however was the " bad guy enzyme" and put a carbon on her
chain. This was done at the same rate. However, what confused him was
why when the faster the “good guys” went, the slower the “bad guys”
went, if they were both separate enzymes?
However, luckily for Augustus, he fell asleep and had
an epiphany from a dream…
The answer that had come to him was
that they were both the same enzyme.
With this knowledge…
So if they keep the enzyme
busy making monounsaturated
fats, it stops the enzyme from
elongating the chain.
This Process is known as
Competitive Inhibition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Comp_inhib.svg
Erucic Acid
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Erucic_acid.png
It explains why oleic oil
was only partly successful,
since it was too low down
the chain. Therefore, by
adding erucic acid, it
creates a second barrier
and blocks the “bad guys”
further up the chain.
However…
Just like the oleic acid, Dr. Nikolai was
hesitant about using Erucic acid upon
Lorenzo since it causes heart problems
on rats.
http://www.oralchelation.com/heart/images/worried.gif
Erucic acid however has to have its C24
and C26 fats removed and it is difficult
to have synthesized.
http://home.comcast.net/~blake.flynn/paintings/timeconsuming.html
Through some luck however…
A British chemist known as Don
Suddaby working for Croda
International decided to take on
the task that the Odone’s had set.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3f/C
rodalogo.PNG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66OKZGeLncs&feature=related
Michaela however was having continuous problem
with various nurses so she decided to call an old friend
of Lorenzo- Omouri.
Problems
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66OKZGeLncs&feature=related
http://media.photobucket.com/image/sexy%20ca
rtoon%20Nurse/Freefreq/Nurse/images/Nurse4.j
pg
One day…
Mr. Suddaby had managed to synthesize
the erucic acid and had it delivered to
the Odone’s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66OKZGeLncs&feature=related
Deidra was used a test “rat” for the erucic
acid. There were no harmful after effects
which therefore meant it could be given
to Lorenzo.
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/dishing/rat.jpg
In September…
Lorenzo’s blood sample had come back
with C24 and c25 reading normal.
After Lorenzo’s success
Lorenzo continued improving,
even to point where he was
able to swallow his own saliva.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWNvZ4dEjGU&feature=relate
d
A sample was given to Wendy,
and the same results were
received with her child. This
sparked a potential of a trial to be
created.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWNvZ4dEjGU&feature=related
Lorenzo continually improved as time wore on…
With at first being able to
communicate with his eyes…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWNvZ4dEjGU&feature=related
and then even being
able to move a finger.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWNvZ4dEjGU&feature=related
Meanwhile Lorenzo made it past the age of 20.
He was able to move his head from side to side.
He had also recovered his eyesight and had
begun to vocalize simple sounds. He was
learning to communicate by means of a
computer. However, on May 30, 2008
(aged 30), he died from aspiration pneumonia.
http://www.myelin.org/attachments/wysiwyg/1/LO%202002-hi.jpg