Perivasculitic panencephalitis with relapsing polychondritis: an autopsy case report and review of previous cases.

We herein report an autopsy case of relapsing polychondritis encephalitis coexisting with a Lewy body pathology and also review previous autopsy cases. A 59-year-old man exhibited a tremor of the right hand, small-steppage gait and bradykinesia. Five years later, he presented with relapsing auricular chondritis and scleritis and subsequently showed exacerbation of extrapyramidal symptoms.

Neural correlates of impaired performance on the clock drawing test in Alzheimer's disease.

To identify the neural correlates for impaired performance on the clock drawing test (CDT) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), we examined the relationship between the CDT performances and the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in 100 AD patients. The patients were equally divided into a mildly impaired CDT group, a severely impaired CDT group, and two normal CDT groups, with age and dementia severity matched. Between-group comparisons revealed that rCBF reduction in the posterolateral region of the left temporal lobe was consistently associated with mild to severe impairment of the CDT in AD.

Cerebral correlates of the progression rate of the cognitive decline in probable Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: To evaluate the possible relation between the rate of cognitive deterioration in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the distribution pattern of neural dysfunction.

Methods: The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured in rapidly and slowly progressing groups of AD patients using single-photon emission computed tomography and was compared between the groups. While controlling for demographic and clinical factors that could be associated with the stage and prognosis of the illness, the deterioration rate of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was significantly greater in the rapidly progressing group than that in the slowly progressing group.

Factor structure of a modified version of the wisconsin card sorting test: an analysis of executive deficit in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment.

In order to explore the factor structure of a modified version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (mWCST) and to identify the dimensions of deficit in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), conventional mWCST scores in 55 AD patients, 17 MCI patients, and 22 controls were subjected to factor analysis. Three factors, perseveration, inefficient sorting, and nonperseverative error, were obtained. Perseveration score was significantly poorer in both AD and MCI than in controls.

Regional cerebral blood flow abnormalities in nondemented patients with memory impairment.

Background: Patients with objective evidence of memory impairment have been considered to be at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, little is known about patterns of regional cerebral blood flow abnormalities and their prognostic significance in these patients.

Methods: The authors retrospectively studied 28 nondemented subjects with memory loss and investigated patterns of blood flow abnormalities on single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).