Effect of zonisamide on sleep and rapid eye movement sleep behavioral disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease: A randomized control trial.

Introduction: Zonisamide is a medication developed in Japan that is effective for motor symptoms and wearing off in Parkinson's disease (PD). Zonisamide has properties that may improve sleep disorders. The aim of this study is to verify the safety and efficacy of zonisamide for sleep disorders and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavioral disorders (RBD) using a mobile two-channel electroencephalography /electrooculography recording system in patients with PD.

High-dose steroid-responsive COVID-19-related encephalopathy with a sudden onset of dysarthria mimicking stroke: a case report.

There has been limited research on encephalitis/encephalopathy, which is a less common coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) neurological complication. The differentiation between stroke and encephalopathy with stroke mimickers is challenging in patients with COVID-19. Here, we describe a case of COVID-19-related encephalopathy mimicking stroke that was successfully treated with high-dose steroid pulse therapy.

[A case of Guillain-Barré syndrome with unilateral diaphragmatic nerve palsy that was longitudinally evaluated using multiple examinations].

The patient, a 50-year-old woman, presented with fever and diarrhea in early July, X. One week later, she noticed muscle weakness in both lower extremities, which upon examination was found to be dominant in the distal muscles, with associated loss of tendon reflexes. We diagnosed the case as Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Effects of a False Window on the Change of Cognitive Function in Patients Admitted to a Neurological Ward.

False windows can display a variety of outdoor scenery in rooms without real windows. We aimed to assess the effects of three different hospital beds on the change in the frontal assessment battery scores in patients aged ≥ 20-year-old admitted in our neurological ward. We included 24 patients on the window side, 12 patients on the aisle side with a false window, and 12 patients on the aisle side without a false window.

Prognostic Factor for Subacute Encephalitis with First-Episode Psychosis.

Introduction: Although symptomatic manifestations in encephalitis vary, they typically include seizures, memory deficit(s), and altered consciousness. Psychosis also occurs as an initial manifestation. In clinical practice, clinicians often encounter the question of whether first-episode psychosis (FEP) originates from encephalitis itself or if encephalitis presenting with FEP develops concurrently.

Pathological features of inflammatory myopathy as a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is the most important complication resulting in the death of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) survivors. It is also a relatively rare cause of inflammatory myopathy (IM). We report the case of a 46-year-old woman who developed severe cGVHD-related IM after BMT for myelodysplastic syndrome.

-Derived Proline:Arginine Poly-Dipeptides Modulate Cytoskeleton and Mechanical Stress Response.

Proline:arginine (PR) poly-dipeptides from the GGGGCC repeat expansion in have cytotoxicity and bind intermediate filaments (IFs). However, it remains unknown how PR poly-dipeptides affect cytoskeletal organization and focal adhesion (FA) formation. Here, we show that changes to the cytoskeleton and FA by PR poly-dipeptides result in the alteration of cell stiffness and mechanical stress response.

Effect of galvanic vestibular stimulation on axial symptoms in Parkinson's disease.

Postural imbalance, abnormal axial posture, and axial rigidity are the characteristic features of Parkinson's disease (PD), and they are referred to as axial symptoms. The symptoms are difficult to manage since they are often resistant to both L-DOPA and deep brain stimulation. Hence, other treatments that can improve Parkinsonian axial symptoms without adverse effects are required.

C9orf72-derived arginine-rich poly-dipeptides impede phase modifiers.

Nuclear import receptors (NIRs) not only transport RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) but also modify phase transitions of RBPs by recognizing nuclear localization signals (NLSs). Toxic arginine-rich poly-dipeptides from C9orf72 interact with NIRs and cause nucleocytoplasmic transport deficit. However, the molecular basis for the toxicity of arginine-rich poly-dipeptides toward NIRs function as phase modifiers of RBPs remains unidentified.

Gene Expression Profiles of Human Cerebral Organoids Identify PPAR Pathway and as Key Markers for Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation and Reoxygenation.

Ischemic stroke is one of the most common neurological diseases. However, the impact of ischemic stroke on human cerebral tissue remains largely unknown due to a lack of ischemic human brain samples. In this study, we applied cerebral organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells to evaluate the effect of oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R).

[Elevation of cerebrospinal fluid anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibody index is useful for rheumatoid meningitis preceding neurological symptoms without arthritis: a case report].

We report a 62-year-old female with rheumatoid meningitis. She presented with mental disorder, loss of consciousness, generalized seizures, and cognitive impairment. Brain MRI demonstrated high intensity lesions and abnormal enhancement along the left frontal and parietal sulci.

Brainstem Organoids From Human Pluripotent Stem Cells.

The brainstem is a posterior region of the brain, composed of three parts, midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. It is critical in controlling heartbeat, blood pressure, and respiration, all of which are life-sustaining functions, and therefore, damages to or disorders of the brainstem can be lethal. Brain organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) recapitulate the course of human brain development and are expected to be useful for medical research on central nervous system disorders.

Safety and efficacy of rituximab in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (RIN-1 study): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Pharmacological prevention against relapses in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is developing rapidly. We aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, against relapses in patients with NMOSD.

Methods: We did a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial at eight hospitals in Japan.

Increased Signal in the Superior Cerebellar Peduncle of Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Objective: The provisional diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) depends on a combination of typical clinical features and specific MRI findings, such as atrophy of the tegmentum in the midbrain. Atrophy of the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) distinguishes PSP from other types of parkinsonism. Histological factors affect the conventional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) signals, such as the extent of neuronal loss and gliosis.

Accidental hypothermia in Parkinson's disease.

We describe two patients with Parkinson's disease who presented with accidental hypothermia and review seven patients to delineate the characteristics of hypothermia. All cases of hypothermia occurred in the winter. As clinical symptoms preceding the onset of hypothermia, deterioration of bradykinesia or limb coldness was evident.

Step Numbers and Hoehn-Yahr Stage after Six Years.

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) has been linked to increased numbers of steps taken while walking. We tested the hypothesis that an increased number of steps associated with FOG might predict the exacerbation of the severity of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: We prospectively studied 26 patients.

Risk of Unsuccessful Noninvasive Ventilation for Acute Respiratory Failure in Heterogeneous Neuromuscular Diseases: A Retrospective Study.

If invasive ventilation can be avoided by performing noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF), the disease can be effectively managed. It is important to clarify the characteristics of patients with neuromuscular diseases in whom initial NIV is likely to be unsuccessful. We studied 27 patients in stable neuromuscular condition who initially received NIV to manage fatal ARF to identify differences in factors immediately before the onset of ARF among patients who receive continuous NIV support, patients who are switched from NIV to invasive ventilation, and patients in whom NIV is discontinued.

Can Postural Instability Respond to Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation in Patients with Parkinson's Disease?

Objective: Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) activates the vestibular afferents, and these changes in vestibular input exert a strong influence on the subject's posture or standing balance. In patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), vestibular dysfunction might contribute to postural instability and gait disorders.

Methods: Current intensity was increased to 0.

Galvanic vestibular stimulation may improve anterior bending posture in Parkinson's disease.

This study investigated the effects of binaural monopolar galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS), which likely stimulates the bilateral vestibular system, on the anterior bending angle in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) with anterior bending posture in a single-blind, randomized sham-controlled crossover trial. The seven PD patients completed two types of stimulation (binaural monopolar GVS and sham stimulation) applied in a random order 1 week apart. We measured each patient's anterior bending angles while he or she stood with eyes open and eyes closed before/after the stimulations.