[A case of numb chin syndrome caused by postcentral gyrus infarction].

We report a case of numb chin syndrome caused by a small cortical infarction in the postcentral gyrus. A 67-year-old man suddenly developed numbness in his right lower lip and the chin. There were no apparent abnormal neurological symptoms other than numbness.

Unexpected postmortem diagnoses in cases of clinically diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease that is clinically and pathologically characterized by impairment of the upper and lower motor neurons. The clinical diagnosis of ALS is not always straightforward because of the lack of specific biomarkers and clinical heterogeneity. This review presents the clinical and pathological findings of four autopsied cases that had been diagnosed with ALS before death.

[Epiconus Syndrome and Conus Syndrome].

The most caudal part of the spinal cord shows special anatomical characteristics and it contains epiconus (L4-S2 segments), the conus medullaris (S3-S5 segments), and surrounding nerve roots. Lesions of the thoracolumbar junction cause epiconus or conus syndrome. Epiconus syndrome is characterized by segmental muscular weakness and atrophy of one or both lower extremities, often accompanied by foot drop.

[A case of Fisher syndrome presented by rapidly progressing bilateral palatoplegia after cytomegalovirus infection].

A 35-year-old male developed sensory abnormality of peripheral limbs and oral cavity after prior infection with diarrhea and cold symptoms. Hyperrhinolalia, nasopharyngeal reflux, double vision, and wobbling in walking rapidly progressed. Neurological examination revealed palatoplegia, omnidirectional ophthalmoplegia, hyperreflexia, sensory disturbance of extremities, and truncal and limb ataxia due to decreased deep sensation.

[Spinal Disorders in the Oldest-Old].

Adult spinal deformity causing thoracolumbar hyperkyphosis is prevalent among the aging population, and is associated with impaired ADL and QOL. Corrective spine surgery is now developing for this common condition. Old patients with Parkinson's disease frequently have osteoporosis and vertebral compression fractures, which affect spinal deformity and postural abnormality.

Higher Levels of Cystatin C Are Associated with Extracranial Carotid Artery Steno-Occlusive Disease in Patients with Noncardioembolic Ischemic Stroke.

Background: Large artery atherosclerosis is a major cause of ischemic stroke worldwide. Differential biomarker profiles associated with extra- and intracranial atherosclerosis are a topic of considerable interest. Cystatin C (CysC), a marker of renal function, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Genetic risk for atherothrombotic cerebral infarction in individuals stratified by sex or conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis.

The aim of the present study was to assess the genetic risk for atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (ACI) in men and women separately as well as in individuals with or without conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis and thereby to contribute to the personalized prevention of ACI. The study population comprised 2705 unrelated Japanese individuals (1244 men, 1461 women), including 636 subjects (372 men, 264 women) with ACI. Subjects with ACI and controls either had or did not have conventional risk factors for atherosclerosis, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus.

Genetic factors for obesity.

The purpose of the present study was to identify gene polymorphisms for the reliable assessment of genetic factors for obesity. The study population comprised 3906 unrelated Japanese individuals (2286 men, 1620 women), including 1196 subjects (677 men, 519 women) with obesity (body mass index of > or = 25 kg/m2) and 2710 controls (1609 men, 1101 women). The genotypes for 147 polymorphisms of 124 candidate genes were determined with a method that combines the polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes with suspension array technology.

Genetic risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.

Objective: We performed an association study to identify gene polymorphisms for assessing the genetic risk of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

Methods And Results: The study population comprised 3151 unrelated Japanese individuals: 1141 stroke patients (636 with atherothrombotic cerebral infarction, 282 with intracerebral hemorrhage, and 223 with subarachnoid hemorrhage) and 2010 controls. The genotypes for 202 polymorphisms of 152 genes were determined by suspension array technology.

Charles Bonnet syndrome associated with a first attack of multiple sclerosis.

Background: We treated a rare case of Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) manifested during temporary blindness in both eyes caused by optic neuritis associated with a first attack of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Case: A 66-year-old Japanese woman became completely blind for 3 months due to optic neuritis after a first attack of MS. During the blind period, she experienced vivid visual hallucinations for about 2 weeks.

Cervical myelopathy due to OPLL: clinical evaluation by MRI and intraoperative spinal sonography.

Background: Concerning the relationship between morphology and clinical outcome, there have been many reports using computed tomography/myelography but not so many using axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spinal cord. This is the first report to correlate axial cord image, intensity changes in MRI, and cord expansion pattern using intraoperative ultrasonography.

Objective: The objectives were to correlate MRI studies, axial cord images/expansion, and changes in MRI intensity to see if there is a direct prognostic significance to these changes and to determine whether preoperative axial MRI images of the spinal cord predict recovery from compressive myelopathy.