Imbalance of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in audiogenic seizure-susceptible L ()-mutant rats.

() was identified as a causative gene of autosomal dominant lateral temporal lobe epilepsy. We previously reported that -mutant rats carrying a missense mutation (L385R) showed audiogenic seizure-susceptibility. To explore the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying Lgi1-related epilepsy, we evaluated changes in glutamate and GABA release in -mutant rats.

[A case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease presenting with nonconvulsive status epilepticus in the early stages].

A 64-year-old Japanese woman presented with 1 week of recurrent convulsive seizures. At the time of admission, she was in a coma and did not present with convulsions. Intravenous diazepam administration improved her consciousness, although severe psychomotor excitement developed.

Role of Astrocytic Inwardly Rectifying Potassium (Kir) 4.1 Channels in Epileptogenesis.

Astrocytes regulate potassium and glutamate homeostasis via inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) 4.1 channels in synapses, maintaining normal neural excitability. Numerous studies have shown that dysfunction of astrocytic Kir4.

Predictors of Stroke Outcome Extracted from Multivariate Linear Discriminant Analysis or Neural Network Analysis.

Aim: The prediction of functional outcome is essential in the management of acute ischemic stroke patients. We aimed to explore the various prognostic factors with multivariate linear discriminant analysis or neural network analysis and evaluate the associations between candidate factors, baseline characteristics, and outcome.

Methods: Acute ischemic stroke patients (n=1,916) with premorbid modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 0-2 were analyzed.

Effects of vascular compression on the rostral ventrolateral medulla for blood pressure variability in stroke patients.

Backgrounds: Vascular compression of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) has been associated with hypertension or blood pressure (BP) variability. For acute ischemic stroke patients, increased BP variability may cause poor functional outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that RVLM compression was associated with increased BP variability or stroke outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Increased blood pressure variability during the subacute phase in patients with ischemic stroke presenting with a low ankle-brachial index.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the associations of blood pressure (BP) variability in patients with ischemic stroke during the subacute phase using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and the ankle-brachial index (ABI).

Methods: We retrospectively examined 831 consecutive patients (women 44.8%, mean age 76 ± 12 years) with acute ischemic stroke who underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring during the subacute phase of stroke (median 9 days from onset) and an ABI examination.

Increased blood pressure variability during the subacute phase of ischemic stroke is associated with poor functional outcomes at 3 months.

Thus far, it is well known that increased blood pressure variability may exacerbate stroke outcomes. Blood pressure in the acute phase would be influenced by both reactive hypertension to stroke and intrinsic blood pressure reactivity. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the association between blood pressure variability and outcomes at 3 months using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in ischemic stroke patients in the subacute phase after reactive hypertension subsided.

[An elderly case of Guillain-Barré syndrome with anti-GT1b antibodies].

An 85-year-old Japanese female was admitted with sudden onset of quadriparesis with areflexia. Preceding infection was not present. IgG anti-GT1b antibodies were prominently positive in serum.

[Association between aseptic meningitis and jolt accentuation of headache in adults].

Background And Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the association between aseptic meningitis and jolt accentuation of headache (JAH) in adults.

Subjects And Method: 87 patients with meningeal irritation (age; 35.6 ± 13.

[A rare case of Streptococcus agalactiae meningitis in previously healthy adult].

A 39-year-old previously healthy man was referred to our hospital because of acute onset of fever and consciousness disturbance. Neurological examinations revealed deteriorated consciousness, nuchal rigidity and Kernig's sign. A lumbar puncture yielded clouded fluid with a WBC 1,012/μl (polynuclear cell 96%), 147.

[A rare case of Streptococcus salivarius meningitis in elderly].

An 80-year-old man who had chronic heart failure and atrial fibrillation was refered to our hospital because of acute onset of fever and consciousness disturbance. Neurological examinations revealed deteriorated consciousness, nuchal rigidity and Kernig's sign. A lumber puncture yielded clouded fluid with a WBC 11,200/μl (polynuclear cell 94%), 758 mg/dl of protein, 1 mg/dl of glucose, 0.

Increased seizure sensitivity, emotional defects and cognitive impairment in PHD finger protein 24 (Phf24)-null rats.

Phf24 is known as Gαi-interacting protein (GINIP) and is associated with the GABA receptor. To study the function of Phf24 protein in the central nervous system (CNS), we have newly developed Phf24-null rats and investigated their behavioral phenotypes, especially changes in seizure sensitivity, emotional responses and cognitive functions. Phf24-null rats did not exhibit any spontaneous seizures.

Down-Regulation of Astrocytic Kir4.1 Channels during the Audiogenic Epileptogenesis in () Mutant Rats.

The dysfunction of astrocytic inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) 4.1 channels, which mediate the spatial potassium-buffering function of astrocytes, is known to be involved in the development of epilepsy. Here, we analyzed the Kir4.

Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channel Kir4.1 as a Novel Modulator of BDNF Expression in Astrocytes.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key molecule essential for neural plasticity and development, and is implicated in the pathophysiology of various central nervous system (CNS) disorders. It is now documented that BDNF is synthesized not only in neurons, but also in astrocytes which actively regulate neuronal activities by forming tripartite synapses. Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channel subunit Kir4.

Inhibition of Inwardly Rectifying Potassium (Kir) 4.1 Channels Facilitates Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Expression in Astrocytes.

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) 4.1 channels in astrocytes regulate neuronal excitability by mediating spatial potassium buffering. Although dysfunction of astrocytic Kir4.

Nicotine Elicits Convulsive Seizures by Activating Amygdalar Neurons.

Nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors are implicated in the pathogenesis of epileptic disorders; however, the mechanisms of nACh receptors in seizure generation remain unknown. Here, we performed behavioral and immunohistochemical studies in mice and rats to clarify the mechanisms underlying nicotine-induced seizures. Treatment of animals with nicotine (1-4 mg/kg, i.

Nicotine evokes kinetic tremor by activating the inferior olive via α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors are implicated in the pathogenesis of movement disorders (e.g., tremor) and epilepsy.

[A case of myasthenia gravis presenting solely with bulbar palsy unassociated with easy fatigability].

A 69-year-old Japanese female was admitted because of progressive nasal voice and dysphagia. Neurological examination revealed paresis of the soft palate with marked dysphagia and rhinolalia. Otherwise there was no weakness or easy fatigability in extraocular muscles and extremities.

[Case of post-anoxic reticular reflex myoclonus].

Background: Reticular reflex myoclonus is a rare condition with only a few cases clearly documented on video. The purpose of this paper is to report a patient manifesting typical clinical picture documented on video and characteristic electrophysiological features of reticular reflex myoclonus.

Case: A 60-year-old woman presented with spontaneous and stimulus-sensitive myoclonic jerks involving the face, neck and upper extremities following anoxic episode.

Pathophysiology of unilateral asterixis due to thalamic lesion.

Objective: Unilateral asterixis has been reported in patients with thalamic lesion. This study aims at elucidating the pathophysiology of the thalamic asterixis.

Methods: Two cases with unilateral asterixis caused by an infarction in the lateral thalamus were studied by analysing the asterixis-related cortical activities, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for motor cortex excitability and probabilistic diffusion tractography for the thalamo-cortical connectivity.

[Elderly case of moyamoya disease presenting with hemichorea].

A 61-year-old Japanese female was admitted with sudden onset of choreic movements of the right extremities. MRI demonstrated no abnormality suggestive of acute infarcts. Cerebral angiography revealed high-grade stenosis of bilateral middle cerebral arteries at the origin and abnormal vascular network compatible with moyamoya disease.

Mechanism of skull suture maintenance and interdigitation.

Skull sutures serve as growth centers whose function involves multiple molecular pathways. During periods of brain growth the sutures remain thin and straight, later developing complex fractal interdigitations that provide interlocking strength. The nature of the relationship between the molecular interactions and suture pattern formation is not understood.

The cyst-branch difference in developing chick lung results from a different morphogen diffusion coefficient.

The developing avian lung is formed mainly by branching morphogenesis, but there is also a unique cystic structure, the air sac, in the ventral region. It has been shown that mesenchymal tissue is responsible for the differential development of a cystic or branched structure, and that the transcription factor Hoxb may be involved in determining this regional difference. We have previously developed two scenarios for branch-cyst transition, both experimentally and theoretically: increased production or increased diffusion of FGF.