Publications by authors named "M Higashihara"
ER stress is a crucial factor in the progression of vascular cell diseases. Notably, octanoic acid (OA; C8:0) and decanoic acid (DA; C10:0), prominent components of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), may provide potential health benefits. However, their effects on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) remain unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough α-synuclein seed amplification assays (α-syn SAA) are promising, its sensitivity may be affected by heterogeneity among patients with Lewy body disease (LBD). We evaluated whether α-syn SAA sensitivity is affected by patient heterogeneity, using I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) cardiac scintigraphy in early drug-naïve patients. Thirty-four patients with clinically established or probable Parkinson's disease (PD) and seven with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or prodromal DLB were included.
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- Cortical hyperexcitability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is linked to complex interactions between cortical interneurons, with this study examining GABA-ergic dysfunction via a combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and EEG.
- In 21 ALS patients, TMS-EEG results showed significant differences in the transcranial evoked potential (TEP) components compared to healthy controls, indicating impaired cortical inhibitory function.
- Notably, changes in TEP components correlated with muscle weakness and longer disease duration, highlighting the role of disrupted GABA-ergic circuits in the progression of ALS.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a disease in which the abdominal aorta expands irreversibly and ruptures. At present, no preventive methods are available for this disease. Among potential risk factors, certain foods are considered to play important roles in the development of AAA.
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- In Parkinson's disease patients, levels of cerebrospinal fluid metabolites homovanillic acid (HVA) and 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), which are linked to dopamine and serotonin, are found to be decreased.
- A study involving 57 drug-naïve PD patients indicated significant differences in 5-HIAA levels between those with positive vs negative cardiac MIBG imaging, suggesting a direct association.
- Additionally, a correlation was found between HVA levels and striatal dopamine transporter binding, confirming that both HVA and 5-HIAA have important roles in PD pathology and imaging outcomes.