Faster Region-Based Convolutional Neural Network in the Classification of Different Parkinsonism Patterns of the Striatum on Maximum Intensity Projection Images of [F]FP-CIT Positron Emission Tomography.

The aim of this study was to compare the performance of a deep-learning convolutional neural network (Faster R-CNN) model to detect imaging findings suggestive of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) based on [F]FP-CIT PET maximum intensity projection (MIP) images versus that of nuclear medicine (NM) physicians. The anteroposterior MIP images of the [F]FP-CIT PET scan of 527 patients were classified as having PD (139 images) or non-PD (388 images) patterns according to the final diagnosis. Non-PD patterns were classified as overall-normal (ONL, 365 images) and vascular parkinsonism with definite defects or prominently decreased dopamine transporter binding (dVP, 23 images) patterns.

Neuropsychiatric Traits Associated with Refractory Impulse Control Disorder in Parkinson's Disease.

Introduction: Impulse control disorder (ICD) in Parkinson's disease (PD) is a critical nonmotor symptom with personality or neuropsychiatric traits contributing to ICD.

Objective: This study aimed to identify predictive traits for persistent or paradoxical aggravation of ICD after dopamine agonist substitution therapy for ICD in PD.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study using a database of a multicenter intervention trial for ICD in PD.

Association of head circumference with cognitive decline and symptoms of depression in elderly: a 3-year prospective study.

Background: Brain volume is associated with dementia and depression in the elderly. An easy way to predict relative brain volume is to measure head circumference. In this study, we investigated the relationship between head circumference and cognition as well as depression in a non-demented elderly community.

Observational Study of Clinical and Functional Progression Based on Initial Brain MRI Characteristics in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a useful tool to predict the diagnosis and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD), especially for primary physicians. However, the correlation between baseline MRI findings and AD progression has not been fully established.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between hippocampal atrophy (HA) and white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on initial brain MRI images and the degree of cognitive decline and functional changes over 1 year.

Behavioural and trait changes in parkinsonian patients with impulse control disorder after switching from dopamine agonist to levodopa therapy: results of REIN-PD trial.

Objective: In this multicentre open-label trial, we compared behavioural and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with impulse control disorders (ICD) treated with dopamine agonists before and 12 weeks after substituting dopamine agonists with an equivalent dose of levodopa/carbidopa slow-release formulation.

Methods: Baseline characteristics of 50 PD patients with ICD were compared with those of 60 medicated and 40 drug-naive PD control groups. Neuropsychiatric trait changes in the PD-ICD group were investigated 12 weeks after the intervention.

Efficacy and tolerability of rivastigmine patch therapy in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's dementia associated with minimal and moderate ischemic white matter hyperintensities: A multicenter prospective open-label clinical trial.

Background And Objective: Studies investigating the impact of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on the response of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have presented inconsistent results. We aimed to compare the effects of the rivastigmine patch between patients with AD with minimal WMHs and those with moderate WMHs.

Methods: Three hundred patients with mild to moderate AD were enrolled in this multicenter prospective open-label study and divided into two groups.

Effect of chongmyungtang, a traditional Korean polyherbal formula, on the Pharmacokinetic profiles of donepezil in rats.

Chongmyungtang (CMT) is a famous Korean herbal medicine for improving learning and memory, which has been reported to have anti-cholinergic and neuroprotective effects. Therefore, drug-drug interactions were examined between CMT and donepezil as a first screening of combination therapy for cognitive deficits. Rats received oral co-administration of donepezil with distilled water as a control or donepezil with CMT as a combination.

Apolipoprotein E4: A Risk Factor for Successful Cognitive Aging.

Apolipoprotein E is a plasma protein that has an important role in transport and metabolism of lipids in serum as well as central nervous system. Among the 3 common alleles, the ε2 allele has the most stable structure followed by ε3 and ε4 in order. There is evidence for a deleterious role of ε4 allele by atherosclerosis and amyloid beta accumulation in brain and body.

Clinical correlates of Hachinski ischemic score and vascular factors in cognitive function of elderly.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between Hachinski ischemic score (HIS) and vascular factors as well as between HIS and the cognitive function in elderly community. Demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, education, history of drinking and smoking, family history of dementia and stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and dementia, were surveyed. Neurological examination was administered to every subject and HIS was checked by a neurologist.

Parkinsonism as late sequela of organophosphate intoxication.

Delayed morphologic and metabolic change of organophosphate intoxication is rarely reported than those of acute episode. The patient was a 52-year-old woman who had a history of acute organophosphate intoxication, which paralyzed her for one week when she was 25 years old. She recovered slowly to near normal after one year.

Lack of Association between Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism with Age at Onset of Subcortical Vascular Dementia.

Background And Purpose: The relationship between apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and onset of vascular dementia remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ApoE polymorphism and the onset of subcortical vascular dementia (SVaD) compared to Alzheimer's disease (AD) and normal controls.

Methods: The study was comprised of 61 patients with SVaD (42 Binswanger type, 19 lacunar type) and 112 patients with AD (16 early-onset AD, 96 late-onset AD) as well as 284 age-, gender- and education-matched normal controls.

Effect of illiteracy on neuropsychological tests and glucose metabolism of brain in later life.

Background And Purpose: The acquisition of literacy during childhood may affect the functional organization of the brain. We studied the effects of illiteracy on neuropsychological tests and brain glucose metabolism in later life.

Methods: We recruited 12 illiterate elderly farmers who never attended school and acquired no knowledge of reading or writing.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism and age at onset of Alzheimer's disease in a quadriethnic sample.

Background: The relationship between the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype and the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) or age at onset of AD is relatively well established in Caucasians, but less established in other ethnicities. We examined the association between the ApoE genotype and age at onset of AD in a quadriethnic group of community-dwelling AD patients.

Methods: AD patients were evaluated at 2 university-based outpatient memory disorder clinics.

Preserved glucose metabolism of deep cerebellar nuclei in a case of multiple system atrophy with predominant cerebellar ataxia: f-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography study.

The cerebellar glucose metabolism of multiple system atrophy with predominant cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C) is known to be decreased but is not defined among areas of cerebellum. We encountered a 54-year-old man who developed dizziness and progressive ataxia followed by urinary incontinence and orthostatic hypotension, all of those symptoms progressed relentlessly and the symptoms responded poorly to levodopa therapy. Visual analysis and statistical parametric mapping analysis of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography showed hypometabolism of both cerebellar hemisphere, severe at cortical area, and pons.

A multicenter, open-label, 24-week follow-up study for efficacy on cognitive function of donepezil in Binswanger-type subcortical vascular dementia.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of donepezil in patients with Binswanger type subcortical vascular dementia.

Methods: Patients (n = 34, mean age = 71.8 + 7.