Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Is Associated with Progression of Symptomatic Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis.

Background And Purpose: We aimed to determine the relationships of 33 biomarkers of inflammation, oxidation, and adipokines with the risk of progression of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS).

Methods: Fifty-two of 409 patients who participated in the TOSS-2 (Trial of Cilostazol in Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis-2) showed progression of symptomatic ICAS in magnetic resonance angiography at 7 months after an index stroke. We randomly selected 20 patients with progression as well as 40 age- and sex-matched control patients.

Enhancing Bifunctional Electrocatalytic Activities of Oxygen Electrodes via Incorporating Highly Conductive Sm and Nd Double-Doped Ceria for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells.

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) are mutually convertible energy devices capable of generating electricity from chemical fuels including hydrogen in the fuel cell mode and producing green hydrogen using electricity from renewable but intermittent solar and wind resources in the electrolysis cell mode. An effective approach to enhance the performance of SOCs at reduced temperatures is by developing highly active oxygen electrodes for both oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions. Herein, highly conductive Sm and Nd double-doped ceria (SmNdCeO, SNDC) is utilized as an active component for reversible SOC applications.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: a Rare Complication of Ovarian Teratoma.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a potentially life-threatening but reversible autoimmune disorder characterized by psychiatric symptoms, cognitive dysfunction, speech dysfunction, seizures, movement disorder, decreased level of consciousness, and autonomic dysfunction or central hypoventilation. It occurs predominantly in young women and approximately half of them have underlying tumors, mainly ovarian teratoma. A 24-year old woman was admitted because of fever, headache, abnormal movement and decreased mental status.

The Prevalence of Cerebral Microbleeds in Non-Demented Parkinson's Disease Patients.

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are associated with cerebrovascular risk factors and cognitive dysfunction among patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, whether CMBs themselves are associated with PD is to be elucidated.

Methods: We analyzed the presence of CMBs using 3-Tesla brain magnetic resonance imaging in non-demented patients with PD and in age-, sex-, and hypertension-matched control subjects.

123I-FP-CIT SPECT and MRI Findings in a Patient With Parkinsonism After Fenpyroximate Intoxication.

Fenpyroximate is a widely used acaricide. Its main action is to inhibit the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Chronic exposure to fenpyroximate is associated with dopaminergic cell loss and parkinsonism; however, to date, there has not been a reported case of parkinsonism as a result of acute fenpyroximate intoxication.

Neurogenic bladder in progressive supranuclear palsy: A comparison with Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy.

Aims: Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) can present urinary symptoms, similar to other parkinsonian disorders. We investigated the urodynamic parameters of PSP and compared them with those of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the urodynamic data in patients diagnosed with parkinsonian disorders (PSP, IPD, and MSA) presenting urinary symptoms. Clinical data, including onset age, duration, and severity, as well as treatment status of parkinsonian disorders and urinary symptoms were collected.

Loss of Substantia Nigra Hyperintensity at 3.0-T MR Imaging in Idiopathic REM Sleep Behavior Disorder: Comparison with I-FP-CIT SPECT.

Purpose To examine whether the loss of nigral hyperintensity (NH) on 3.0-T susceptibility-weighted (SW) magnetic resonance (MR) images can help identify high synucleinopathy risk in patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD). Materials and Methods Between March 2014 and April 2015, 18 consecutively recruited patients with iRBD were evaluated with 3.

Serum Ceruloplasmin and Striatal Dopamine Transporter Density in Parkinson Disease: Comparison With 123I-FP-CIT SPECT.

Purpose: In patients with Parkinson disease (PD), decreased serum ceruloplasmin levels have been observed. This study investigated a correlation between serum ceruloplasmin-along with its related serum markers- and striatal presynaptic dopaminergic denervation measured with I-FP-CIT SPECT.

Methods: We analyzed a total of 141 de novo patients divided into 2 groups: the PD group (107 patients with PD) and the disease control group (34 patients with vascular pseudoparkinsonism, essential tremor, or drug-induced parkinsonism).

The association between vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia and hemifacial spasm.

Background: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is frequently caused by vascular compression of the facial nerve. Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBDE) may cause vascular crowding in the limited space of the posterior fossa, increasing the chance of vascular compression of the facial nerve. We investigated the prevalence of VBDE in HFS.

Loss of Nigral Hyperintensity on 3 Tesla MRI of Parkinsonism: Comparison With (123) I-FP-CIT SPECT.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether 3 Tesla susceptibility-weighted imaging can detect the alteration of substantia nigra hyperintensity in Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and to assess the concordance between the loss of nigral hyperintensity on 3 Tesla susceptibility-weighted imaging and the nigrostriatal dopaminergic degeneration indicated by (123) I-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-nortropane single photon emission computerized tomography.

Methods: Consecutive subjects with suspected parkinsonism were included, and clinical diagnosis was solidified during clinical follow-up. Two blinded neuroradiologists interpreted the nigral hyperintensity on susceptibility-weighted imaging.

Loss of substantia nigra hyperintensity on 7 Tesla MRI of Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and progressive supranuclear palsy.

Background: Seven Tesla (7T) MRI can visualize anatomical alterations occurring in a hyperintense structure of the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective: We investigated whether 7T MRI can detect the loss of substantia nigra hyperintensity in patients with PD, multiple system atrophy (MSA), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP).

Methods: Using 7T MRI, we evaluated 26 healthy subjects, 30 patients with PD, 7 patients with MSA, and 3 patients with PSP.

Validation of FLAIR hyperintense lesions as imaging biomarkers to predict the outcome of acute stroke after intra-arterial thrombolysis following intravenous tissue plasminogen activator.

Background: Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) given within 4.5 h of symptom onset is accepted as the standard treatment of ischemic stroke. Persistent occlusion of cerebral arteries despite intravenous thrombolysis and unremitting neurologic deficits lead us to consider additional intra-arterial approaches.

Klüver-bucy syndrome with isolated bilateral hippocampal atrophy following status epilepticus.

Klüver-Bucy syndrome may result from affection of various location of brain. We report a case of Klüver-Bucy syndrome associated with isolated bilateral hippocampal atrophy without any abnormal lesion in other areas following status epilepticus. A 31-year-old man who had no significant medical history presented with status epilepticus after encephalitis of unknown etiology.