Zinc(2+)

Chronic exposure to zinc causes anemia, atazia, lethargy, and decreases the level of HDL (good) cholesterol in the body. It is also believed to cause pancreatic and reproductive damages. Unbalanced levels of copper and zinc binding to Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). (L49)

Excessive zinc intake alters copper and iron absorption, most likely through competitive binding in intestinal mucosal cells. Stomach acid dissolves metallic zinc, producing zinc chloride, which is a corrosive product damaging the stomach lining. Metal fume fever is thought to be an immune response to inhaled zinc. (L48, L49, A49)

Ingestion of large doses of zinc causes stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Acute inhalation of large amounts of zinc causes metal fume fever, which is characterized by chills, fever, headache, weakness, dryness of the nose and throat, chest pain, and coughing. Dermal contact with zinc results in skin irritation. (L49)

A - Alimentary tract and metabolism

QA - Alimentary tract and metabolism

Velmanase alfa is an enzyme replacement therapy that aims to reduce oligosaccharide levels in patients with alpha-mannosidosis. In clinical trials, reduced serum oligosaccharide levels and improvements in biochemical and functional measures were seen at 18 months and for up to four years of treatment. Reversing the organ damage or showing improvements in alpha-mannosidosis becomes increasingly difficult as the accumulation of end-organ damage progresses over time. Velmanase alfa has no effects on irreversible complications of the disorder, such as skeletal deformities, dysostosis multiplex, neurological manifestations, and impaired cognitive function.

Alpha-mannosidosis is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder: it is a multi-systemic disease, characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations including skeletal abnormalities, motor function impairment, intellectual disability, hearing loss, respiratory dysfunction, recurrent infections, and immunodeficiency usually presenting in early childhood. Alpha-mannosidosis is caused by pathogenic sequence variants in the MAN2B1 gene, leading to the deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme, alpha-mannosidase. Alpha-mannosidase is a lysosomal enzyme involved in glycoprotein catabolism. Deficient alpha-mannosidase results in the accumulation of mannose-rich oligosaccharides, causing impaired cellular function and apoptosis in all tissues. Velmanase alfa is a recombinant form of human alpha-mannosidase. Upon administration, velmanase alfa supplements or replaces natural alpha-mannosidase to properly break down hybrid and complex high-mannose oligosaccharides in the lysosome, reducing the amount of accumulated mannose-rich oligosaccharides.