Effect of zonisamide on sleep and rapid eye movement sleep behavioral disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease: A randomized control trial.

Introduction: Zonisamide is a medication developed in Japan that is effective for motor symptoms and wearing off in Parkinson's disease (PD). Zonisamide has properties that may improve sleep disorders. The aim of this study is to verify the safety and efficacy of zonisamide for sleep disorders and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavioral disorders (RBD) using a mobile two-channel electroencephalography /electrooculography recording system in patients with PD.

Mitral Valve Replacement for Enlarged Libman-Sacks Endocarditis in a Patient with Persistent Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Recurrent Stroke: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with Libman-Sacks endocarditis (LS) are indicative of comorbid antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and can result in cerebral infarctions. We describe a case of LS and primary APS with recurrent cerebral infarctions despite anticoagulation treatment. The patient underwent surgery for enlarged LS vegetation with high titers of antiphospholipid antibodies.

Electroencephalographic findings after convulsive seizures due to cerebral arterial air embolism secondary to lung cancer: a case report.

Background: Cerebral arterial air embolism is often associated with an invasive iatrogenic etiology and a high rate of convulsive seizures. There are only a few descriptions of electroencephalogram findings in convulsive seizures due to cerebral arterial air embolism of noniatrogenic etiology. Herein, we describe the case of a patient with lung cancer and convulsive seizures with abnormalities detected on electroencephalogram caused by cerebral arterial air embolism of noniatrogenic etiology.

Serum Alkaline Phosphatase in Cryptogenic Stroke Cases with Active Cancer.

Objective We assessed the relationship between the levels of serum alkaline phosphatase, which is often increased with biliary obstruction and bone metastasis, and active cancer in patients with cryptogenic stroke. Methods Serum alkaline phosphatase levels in patients with cryptogenic stroke sampled upon admission were measured using the Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry method used in Japan. Active cancer was defined as a new diagnosis, treatment, progression, or recurrence within six months before admission or metastatic cancer.

Intracranial varicella zoster virus infection may elicit an unusual hyperkinetic volitional tremor.

Central nervous system manifestations of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection are uncommon, and associated involuntary movement is rare. Herein, we describe a patient with VZV induced encephalopathy who presented with an unusual hyperkinetic volitional tremor.

Gene Expression Profiles of Human Cerebral Organoids Identify PPAR Pathway and as Key Markers for Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation and Reoxygenation.

Ischemic stroke is one of the most common neurological diseases. However, the impact of ischemic stroke on human cerebral tissue remains largely unknown due to a lack of ischemic human brain samples. In this study, we applied cerebral organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells to evaluate the effect of oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R).

[Elevation of cerebrospinal fluid anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibody index is useful for rheumatoid meningitis preceding neurological symptoms without arthritis: a case report].

We report a 62-year-old female with rheumatoid meningitis. She presented with mental disorder, loss of consciousness, generalized seizures, and cognitive impairment. Brain MRI demonstrated high intensity lesions and abnormal enhancement along the left frontal and parietal sulci.

Low Serum Eicosapentaenoic Acid Levels in Cryptogenic Stroke with Active Cancer.

Background And Purpose: The increased prevalence of cancer has led to it being considered an important factor in the cause of cryptogenic stroke. In recent years, polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, have been shown to prevent cancer development and progression. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of serum polyunsaturated fatty acids in cryptogenic stroke with active cancer.

Increased Signal in the Superior Cerebellar Peduncle of Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Objective: The provisional diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) depends on a combination of typical clinical features and specific MRI findings, such as atrophy of the tegmentum in the midbrain. Atrophy of the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) distinguishes PSP from other types of parkinsonism. Histological factors affect the conventional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) signals, such as the extent of neuronal loss and gliosis.

Rivastigmine Improves Appetite by Increasing the Plasma Acyl/Des-Acyl Ghrelin Ratio and Cortisol in Alzheimer Disease.

Background: Weight loss accelerates cognitive decline and increases mortality in patients with dementia. While acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are known to cause appetite loss, we sometimes encounter patients in whom switching from donepezil (AChE inhibitor) to rivastigmine (AChE and butyrylcholinesterase [BuChE] inhibitor) improves appetite. Since BuChE inactivates ghrelin, a potent orexigenic hormone, we speculated that rivastigmine improves appetite by inhibiting BuChE-mediated ghrelin inactivation.

Step Numbers and Hoehn-Yahr Stage after Six Years.

Background: Freezing of gait (FOG) has been linked to increased numbers of steps taken while walking. We tested the hypothesis that an increased number of steps associated with FOG might predict the exacerbation of the severity of Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: We prospectively studied 26 patients.

Characteristic MRI Findings of upper Limb Muscle Involvement in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1.

The objective of our study was to evaluate the relation between muscle MRI findings and upper limb weakness with grip myotonia in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Seventeen patients with DM1 were evaluated by manual muscle strength testing and muscle MRI of the upper limbs. Many DM1 patients presenting with decreased grasping power frequently showed high intensity signals in the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) muscles on T1-weighted imaging.

Comparison of brain 3.0-T with 1.5-T MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis: a 6-month follow-up study.

Objectives: The 2010 revisions to the McDonald criteria for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) were recently published. One objective of the revision was to simplify the MRI criteria. The MRI criteria do not specify magnetic field strength.

Cerebellar dentate nucleus in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Objectives: Some patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) present with cerebellar dysfunction. Severe degeneration of the cerebellar dentate nucleus (CDN) was evident in these patients. We evaluated signal intensity on MRI in the CDN of PSP patients with or without cerebellar ataxia.

Bihemispheric subcortical infarcts in the middle cerebral artery territory.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies have suggested embolic mechanisms for bihemispheric subcortical infarcts involving the anterior and posterior circulation. However, the mechanism of bihemispheric subcortical infarcts in middle cerebral artery (MCA) territories remains uncertain. We describe a patient with acute bihemispheric subcortical infarcts in restricted MCA territories suggesting an embolic mechanism.

Risk of falling in Parkinson's disease at the Hoehn-Yahr stage III.

Background: It is difficult to predict the risk of falling, especially in patients with good motor ability, and the mechanisms underlying the relation between gait patterns and falling in Parkinson's disease (PD) remain unclear. We investigated factors related to falling, including walking speed and time, in patients with Hoehn-Yahr stage III PD.

Methods: We performed clinical assessments and evaluated balance in 30 patients with PD.

Infarction limited to both middle cerebellar peduncles.

Background: The middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) is supplied mainly by the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and partly by the superior cerebellar artery. The bilateral MCP infarctions in previous patients were attributed to alternations of two vessels, such as the unilateral vertebral artery and basilar artery or both vertebral arteries.

Methods: We describe a case of bilateral acute infarction of the MCP and the stroke was apparently caused by occlusion of only one vertebral artery.