[[(123)I]-Ioflupane SPECT in combination with MIBG myocardial scintigraphy in Parkinson's disease: a case series study].

Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy is widely accepted as a beneficial tool for differentiating Parkinson's disease (PD) from other Parkinson-related disorders (PRD). In Japan, dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging, which can evaluate presynaptic degeneration of dopamine neurons, has been applied in clinics since 2014. The present study investigated the utility of [(123)I]-Ioflupane single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) combined with MIBG myocardial scintigraphy for the diagnosis of PD.

[A case of orbital apex syndrome due to aspergillus infection that avoided loss of visual acuity by optic canal decompression].

A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of left orbital pain, headache, diplopia and left-sided ptosis, which she had suffered for two months. On examination, the patient had loss of visual acuity, left-sided ptosis, lateral gaze disturbance, and was diagnosed as having left orbital apex syndrome. An abnormal signal to the left orbital cone was detected on MRI.

Characteristic features and progression of abnormalities on MRI for CARASIL.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to clarify the characteristic brain MRI findings for genetically diagnosed CARASIL (cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy).

Methods: Seven patients with CARASIL carrying HTRA1 mutations (representing 6 Japanese families) were included in this study. Eighteen brain MRIs were reviewed and evaluated with a new rating scale based on scoring for abnormal hyperintense lesions and atrophy.

[Effects of ramelteon on a patient with circadian rhythm sleep disorder and mood disorder].

Ramelteon is a novel hypnotic characterized by its action as a melatonin receptor (MT1/MT2) agonist. It has been reported that ramelteon can alter the phase of the sleep period. We report a patient with circadian rhythm sleep disorder and mood disorder who improved with ramelteon.

Colletotrichum dematium Produces Phytotoxins in Anthracnose Lesions of Mulberry Leaves.

ABSTRACT Colletotrichum dematium, the causal agent of mulberry anthracnose, was examined to produce phytotoxins in vitro and in planta. Raw and autoclaved mulberry leaves infected with the fungus, as well as the fungus incubated with several solid or liquid media, were extracted with acetone. Extracts obtained from the fungus grown on raw and autoclaved mulberry leaves caused brown necrotic lesions on susceptible mulberry leaves when they were placed (10 mul) on the wounded adaxial surface.

Antimicrobial Activity of Culture Filtrate of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RC-2 Isolated from Mulberry Leaves.

ABSTRACT A potential antagonist, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain RC-2, against Colletotrichum dematium, mulberry anthracnose fungus, was obtained from healthy mulberry leaves by in vitro and in vivo screening techniques. Application of culture filtrate of RC-2 inhibited disease on mulberry leaves, indicating that suppression was due to antifungal compounds in the filtrate. Development of mulberry anthracnose on mulberry leaves was inhibited only when the culture filtrate was applied before fungal inoculation, and it was not inhibited by application after inoculation.

[Case of Isaacs' syndrome associated with Hashimoto disease].

We report a case of Isaacs' syndrome associated with Hashimoto disease. A 26-year-old woman, who had a past history of Hashimoto disease, complained of involuntary movements and muscle cramp in lower extremities. On examination, myokymia was seen in lower extremities.

Involvement of spinal motor neurons in parkin-positive autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism.

We intensively examined the spinal cord of an autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism (ARJP) female patient with a homozygous exon 3 deletion in the parkin gene, anticipating a possible involvement of anterior horn neurons. Although the clinical features of the patient were consistent with parkinsonism as a result of parkin mutation, her tendon reflex was abolished in the lower limbs. This feature was in contrast with hyperreflexia, usually found in previous reports of ARJP.

Parkin-positive autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism with alpha-synuclein-positive inclusions.

Objective: To report an autopsy case of an autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism patient with a homozygous exon 3 deletion in the parkin gene and alpha-synuclein-positive inclusions.

Methods: The representative areas of the brain were embedded in paraffin, stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Klüver-Barrera, and Gallyas-Braak stainings. Immunohistochemically, some of the specimens were used for immunostaining with the antibodies to alpha-synuclein, ubiquitin, and phosphorylated tau (AT8).

Identification of non-pseudomonad bacteria from fruit bodies of wild agaricales fungi that detoxify tolaasin produced by Pseudomonas tolaasii.

Bacterial isolates from wild Agaricales fungi detoxified tolaasin, the inducer of brown blotch disease of cultivated mushrooms produced by Pseudomonas tolaasii. Mycetocola tolaasinivorans and Mycetocola lacteus were associated with fruit bodies of wild Pleurotus ostreatus and wild Lepista nuda, respectively. Tolaasin-detoxifying bacteria belonging to other genera were found in various wild mushrooms.

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of basophilic inclusions in adult-onset motor neuron disease.

We immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally studied basophilic inclusions (BI) in a patient with adult-onset sporadic motor neuron disease (MND). BI were frequently observed not only in degenerated anterior horn cells, such as central chromatolytic neurons, but also in normal-appearing large anterior horn neurons. They had various shapes, round, elliptical or irregular, and occasionally they had distinct basophilic rims.

Mulberry moracins: scavengers of UV stress-generated free radicals.

Mulberry leaves treated with UV-C were found to accumulate three different phytoalexins, moracin C, moracin N, and chalcomoracin. The increased level of malondialdehyde in UV-treated leaves along with moracins suggested their role as a free-radical scavenger in stressed plants. All the three moracins induced under UV stress were capable of scavenging the superoxide anion generated by the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system.

Proposal of Mycetocola gen. nov. in the family Microbacteriaceae and three new species, Mycetocola saprophilus sp. nov., Mycetocola tolaasinivorans sp. nov. and Mycetocola lacteus sp. nov., isolated from cultivated mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus.

The taxonomic positions of 10 tolaasin-detoxifying bacteria, which were isolated from the cultivated mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, were investigated. These strains are Gram-positive, obligately aerobic, non-sporulating and irregular rod-shaped bacteria. They have the following characteristics: the major menaquinone is MK-10, the DNA G+C content ranges from 64 to 65 mol%, the diamino acid in the cell wall is lysine and the muramic acid in the peptidoglycan is an acetyl type.

Survival of Colletotrichum dematium in Soil and Infected Mulberry Leaves.

Overwinter survival of Colletotrichum dematium, the causal agent of mulberry anthracnose, was examined in Japan. Conidia and infected mulberry leaves were mixed with soil and placed on the ground in early December. Viability of conidia declined rapidly under field conditions-they could not be recovered within 30 days-whereas conidia placed indoors or outdoors under a roof protected from rain and snow survived longer.