A Switchable Near-Infrared-Absorbing Dye Based on Redox-Bistable Benzitetraazaporphyrin.

Activatable near-infrared (NIR) dyes responsive to external stimuli are used in medical and other applications. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of bench-stable 18π- and 20π-electron benzitetraazaporphyrins (BzTAPs) possessing redox-switchable NIR properties. X-Ray, NMR, and UV/Visible-NIR analyses revealed that 20π-electron BzTAP 1 exhibits NIR absorption and antiaromaticity with a paratropic ring-current, while 18π-electron BzTAP 2 shows weakly aromatic character with NIR inertness.

Analysis of resources assisting in coping with swallowing difficulties for patients with Parkinson's disease: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Malnutrition induced by swallowing difficulties (SD) impairs the quality of life and gives rise to SD-related costs in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. With results of a swallowing difficulty questionnaire and data of resources specifically obtained such as SD-related costs, caregivers, and dietary therapies, this study is to suggest statistically supported ideas for improvements in arrangements for how participants cope with SD and maintain general well-being.

Methods: We interviewed 237 PD patients.

A Cross-Sectional Study on Socioeconomic Systems Supporting Outpatients With Parkinson's Disease in Japan.

Objectives: We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the socioeconomic systems supporting outpatients with Parkinson's disease (PD) in Japan.

Methods: The study was performed in 2013 at two private hospitals and one clinic in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan. A survey was conducted with 248 consecutive PD patients, and the data from 237 PD outpatients were analyzed after excluding 11 patients who did not meet inclusion criteria.

Neck rigidity as a physical manifestation of higher brain hypo-function/dysfunction.

A total of 308 patients, who received inpatient rehabilitation in department of Neurology in Sapporo City General Hospital, were studied. The patients were divided into four subgroups according to the presence or absence of Parkinsonism and the location of organic neurological lesions: group A consisted of 47 patients with brain lesions who presented with Parkinsonism; group B consisted of 135 patients with manifestations deriving from brain disorders other than Parkinsonism; group C consisted of 68 patients with manifestations deriving from spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle disorders; and group D consisted of 58 patients with non-organic functional disorders and patients with organic lesions not responsible for clinical manifestations. The patients were administered a battery of 5 tests for evaluating frontal lobe and/or higher brain function.

Smooth-pursuit eye movement--a convenient bedside indicator for evaluating frontal lobe and intellectual function.

We hypothesized that smooth-pursuit eye movement is related to higher brain functions and that its impairment (iSPEM) could be useful in diagnosing neurological dysfunctions. We prospectively examined 305 patients and studied the relations between iSPEM and five items that reflect intellectual and/or frontal lobe function (dementia, sucking, snouting, hand grasping, elbow flexion response). We divided these patients into four subgroups: group A, patients with cerebellar ataxia as the presenting manifestation and with main lesions in the cerebellum; group B, patients with main lesions in brain regions other than the cerebellum; group C, patients with main lesions in the spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles; and group D, patients with non-organic functional disorders, such as paroxysmal attacks and physical pain.

Absence seizures with myoclonic seizures as an early manifestation of dentato-rubro-pallido-luysian atrophy (DRPLA): a follow-up clinical course of twelve years.

Typical absence seizures and isolated myoclonic seizures are both classified as age-related generalized seizures and are considered to be benign neurological manifestations. Concomitance of the two types of seizure is considered benign if it does not accompany other types of seizures or other neurological problems. We followed up a ten-year-old girl with isolated absence and myoclonic seizures whose family history of mental and neurological signs was initially not disclosed.

Characterization and antitumor effect of a novel polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa.

A novel polysaccharide, MZF, with a molecular mass of 23 kDa was isolated from Grifola frondosa . Results from methylation and (1)H NMR led to the conclusion that MZF is a heteropolysaccharide consisting of -->6)-alpha-D-Galp-(1--> (36.2%), -->3)-alpha-L-Fucp-(1--> (14.

[Postgraduate training program in neurology at the regional hospitals in Hokkaido area].

In the new post graduate training system, the 55% of interns in the Hokkaido area choosed the post graduate training at the general hospitals and 45% of them choosed the medical universities (Hokkaido university, Asahikawa medical university, Sapporo medical university). Furthermore, 23% of interns in Hokkaido area choosed the general hospitals and medical universities in Sapporo city. As to the post graduate training system in neurology, 5 hospitals included the neurology for at least 1 month to 3 months.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome in p-ANCA-associated vasculitis.

The perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) is closely associated with rapidly progressing glomerulonephritis, microscopic polyangiitis, and allergic granulomatous angiitis. While mononeuropathy due to vasculitis is a well-known neurological manifestation of these conditions, manifestations involving the central nervous system (CNS) have rarely been reported. Our patient presented the very characteristic CNS lesion of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) which has often been associated with hypertension, eclampsia, cyclosporine neurotoxicity, and other diseases.

[A case of adult onset subacute sclerosing panencephalitis; sequential clinico-radiological findings over two years].

We present a very rare case of adult onset subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), and explain the characteristic sequential clinico-radiological findings. The patient, a twenty three-year-old man, had noticed unsteadiness in walking about two months previously. Although inosine pranobex and intrathecal interferon were administered, symptoms worsened insidiously and he became bedridden after four months.

Hodgkin's disease-related central nervous system angiopathy presenting as reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by headache, conscious disturbance, seizure, and cortical visual loss with neuroimaging finding of edema in the posterior regions of the brain, with a reversible course (1). The precise pathomechanism of RPLS is not understood. However, association with uncontrolled hypertension, renal failure, eclampsia, or immunosuppressive agents has been implicated (1).

Clinical analysis of longstanding subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy: sequelae of clioquinol at 32 years after its ban.

One thousand and thirty-one longstanding patients with subacute myelo-optico-neuropathy (SMON; 275 males, 756 females; mean age +/- S.D., 72.

[Two cases of hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis associated with infection in the external auditory canal and paranasal sinus].

We here present two cases of hypertrophic cranial pachymeningitis exhibiting unique multiple cranial neuropathies, both of which were associated with otic and paranasal infections. Case 1: A 76-year-old woman developed headache after undergoing surgical dilatation of the external auditory canal, with subsequent development of a bacterial infection. Neurological examination reveled only bilateral hearing disturbance.

Primary CD30/Ki-1 positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the central nervous system occurring in a patient with a seventeen-year history of essential thrombocythemia.

We present a rare case of central nervous system lymphoma that occurred in a patient who had essential thrombocythemia for 17 years. MRI examinations disclosed multiple ring-enhanced lesions that had shown bilateral spreading in the different period. Pathological examinations confirmed CD30/Ki-1-positive ALK negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

[A case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome initiated with hoarseness and dysphagia: consideration on spreading mechanisms of cranial neuropathy].

A 85-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of progressive hoarseness and dysphagia of two days' duration. Neurological examination on admission revealed right pharyngeal and vocal cord palsies. After admission, gradual swelling of her right ear was noted, and on day 6, vesicular eruptions in her right geniculate zone, the right VII and the VIIIth cranial nerve palsies were added.

Elbow flexion response as another primitive reflex.

In daily clinical practice we noticed that patients with intellectual impairment spontaneously flex the elbow within a few seconds of the forearm being manipulated during routine examination of spasticity of the muscles in the upper extremities. We termed this phenomenon elbow flexion response (EFR), and prospectively studied it in 229 patients who underwent in-hospital rehabilitation following brain damage. Evaluation of each patient included EFR, patient profile, ability to communicate, scores on three parameters from various intelligence tests, scores on seven parameters testing primitive reflexes, and scores on three parameters describing personality.