Presence of exacerbating factors of persistent perceptual-postural dizziness in patients with vestibular symptoms at initial presentation.

Objective: To investigate the presence of exacerbating factors of persistent perceptual-postural dizziness (PPPD) in patients with vestibular symptoms during the early period after vestibular symptoms onset, and to examine possible predictive factors for developing PPPD later.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-five consecutive patients with vestibular symptoms who presented less than 90 days from the onset were included in this study. They filled out the Niigata PPPD Questionnaire (NPQ) that consists of 12 questions on the exacerbating factors of PPPD.

Cloning and biochemical characterization of astacin-like squid metalloprotease.

We have cloned four cDNAs encoding astacin-like squid metalloproteases (ALSMs)-I and -II from the Japanese common squid and ALSMs-I and -III from the spear squid. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences revealed that ALSMs possess a signal peptide and a pro-sequence followed by an astacin-like catalytic domain and an MAM (meprin, A5 protein, receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase mu) domain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that ALSM corresponds to a new cluster of astacins.