[A case of bilateral medial medullary and left tegmentum of pontine infarction in whom DSA-MR fusion imaging identified infarct-relevant arteries].

We herein reported a patient with acute ischemic stroke in the bilateral medial medullary and the left tegmentum of the pons who presented with various neurological symptoms. Fusing digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and MRI (DSA-MR fusion imaging) could reveal the infarct-relevant arteries. A 41-year-old male presented with headache, bilateral arm's dysesthesia, quadriplegia, left Horner's syndrome, upbeat nystagmus, internuclear ophthalmoplegia and left peripheral facial paralysis.

Clinical applications of digital angiography with the harmonization function in body interventional radiology.

Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is frequently applied in interventional radiology (IR). When DSA is not useful due to misregistration, digital angiography (DA) as an alternative option is used. In DA, the harmonization function (HF) works in real time by harmonizing the distribution of gray steps or reducing the dynamic range; thus, it can compress image gradations, decrease image contrast, and suppress halation artifacts.

[A case of definite diagnosis of branch atheromatous disease confirmed by digital subtraction angiography-3 tesla magnetic resonance fusion imaging].

We herein experienced one patient with typical branch atheromatous disease (BAD) type infarction. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and MRI fusion imaging revealed the relationship between atheromatous plaque and perforating branches. A 66-year-old male presented acute onset of dysarthria, the left side hemiparesis and sensory disturbance.

Calmodulin-like skin protein is downregulated in human cerebrospinal fluids of Alzheimer's disease patients with apolipoprotein E4; a pilot study using postmortem samples.

Objective: Calmodulin-like skin protein (CLSP) is a secreted peptide that inhibits neuronal cell death, linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD), by binding to the heterotrimeric humanin receptor and activating an intracellular survival pathway. CLSP is only expressed in skin keratinocytes and related epithelial cells, circulates in the blood stream, and passes the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier. In the current study, we addressed the issues as to whether CLSP functions in the central nervous system and whether the concentration of CLSP is reduced in the CSFs of AD patients.

Geriatric problems correlated with cognitive decline using a screening test named "Dr. SUPERMAN" for comprehensive geriatric assessment in elderly inpatients.

Aim: We have recently developed and validated a screening test for comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). We investigated the prevalence of geriatric problems in elderly inpatients using CGA, and determined the relationship between geriatric problems and cognitive decline.

Methods: We enrolled consecutive elderly inpatients aged >65 years who were admitted to all of the hospital departments at Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, between July and December 2013.

Differences in peripheral oxidative stress markers in Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and mixed dementia patients.

Aims: We determined whether the possible roles of oxidative stress differ in the pathophysiology and cognitive decline of Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD) and mixed Alzheimer's/vascular dementia (MD).

Methods: We measured the levels of diacron reactive oxygen metabolite (dROM), reflecting the amount of organic hydroperoxides, and biological anti-oxidant potential (BAP), measuring the ferric reducing ability of blood plasma, in 72 patients with AD, 27 with VaD, 24 with MD and 53 non-demented outpatients (control group). In addition, endogenous plasma anti-oxidants, such as albumin, total bilirubin and uric acid, were compared among the groups.

Comprehensive geriatric assessment in elderly patients with dementia.

Aim: We have recently developed and validated a screening test for comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) named "Dr. SUPERMAN". We compared the results obtained by the CGA of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and determined the relationship between functional deficits and clinical characteristics in each type of dementia.

[Age-related changes of sensory system].

Pathological processes usually superimpose on physiological aging even in the sensory system including visual, hearing, olfactory, taste and somatosensory functions. Representative changes of age-related changes are presbyopia, cataracts, and presbyacusis. Reduced sense of smell is seen in normal aging, but the prominent reduction detected by the odor stick identification test is noticed especially in early stage of Alzheimer or Parkinson disease.

[Leg edema detected on comprehensive geriatric assessment for elderly outpatients and its associated risk factors].

Aim: Leg edema, observed on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) of 142 elderly outpatients with a variety of chronic diseases, was studied clinically to clarify its incidence and its associated risk factors.

Methods: The severity of pitting edema was assessed at 3 points, namely, the pretibial edge, medial malleolus, and the dorsum of the foot. On palpation, edema was graded as 0 to 3 for each point on one leg, the sum of which was used as the edema score.

[Screening test for overactive bladder in a newly developed comprehensive geriatric assessment initiative].

Purpose: Lower urinary tract symptoms, particularly in overactive bladder (OAB), are frequently observed among elderly patients. The impact of OAB on their quality of life is so strong that the assessment of OAB is necessary in comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). As CGA takes time to complete, we established a convenient instrument consisting of 2 questions on OAB and assessed its utility.

[Establishment of a short-form screening test for malnutrition in a newly developed comprehensive geriatric assessment initiative named 'Dr. SUPERMAN'].

Aim: Assessment of the nutritional state is important in comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). Several standardized screening tests for malnutrition are available such as the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and MNA-Short Form (MNA-SF). However, it takes more than 10 minutes to perform the MNA-SF alone.

Subgroups of Alzheimer's disease associated with diabetes mellitus based on brain imaging.

Background/aims: We attempted to define possible subgroups of Alzheimer's disease (AD) associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) based on brain imaging.

Methods: We classified 175 patients with clinically diagnosed AD and type 2 DM into 4 subgroups on the basis of the presence or absence of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) on MRI (CVD or no CVD) and posterior cerebral hypoperfusion on SPECT (AD pattern or no AD pattern). Differences in the clinical characteristics among the subgroups were examined.

Longitudinal study of regional cerebral blood flow in elderly patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

Aim: Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies showed that regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) abnormalities in idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) are similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The aim of the present study was to assess the longitudinal rCBF changes in patients with iRBD using repeated SPECT.

Methods: Nine patients with iRBD (7 men and 2 women; mean age 71.

Preoperative prediction of macrophage infiltration by 3-D tomographic ultrasound in endoarterectomized carotid plaques in elderly patients.

Aim: Assessment of plaque characteristics is important for the optimal treatment of carotid stenosis, particularly in elderly patients. Macrophage infiltration is reported to be involved in carotid plaque instability. However, immunohistochemical assessment of the detailed localization of macrophage infiltration in carotid plaques remains limited.

[Establishment of a short-form screening test for cognitive decline as part of a newly developed comprehensive geriatric assessment initiative named 'Dr. Superman'].

Aim: The assessment of cognitive function is important in comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), and several standardized screening tests for dementia such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) are available. However, it takes 5 to 20 minutes to perform the MMSE. We have developed a CGA initiative named 'Dr.

Efficacy of a high dosage of donepezil for Alzheimer's disease as examined by single-photon emission computed tomography imaging.

Background: The efficacy of donepezil 10 mg/day against Alzheimer's disease (AD) was examined, with a primary focus on changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) as determined by single-photon emission computed tomography imaging.

Methods: The subjects were 24 outpatients who had been diagnosed with probable AD, which had progressed to advanced AD. Mini-Mental State Examination and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS) scores were determined before and after the donepezil dosage increase.

Regional differences in cortical benzodiazepine receptors of Alzheimer, vascular, and mixed dementia patients.

Objective: We examined regional benzodiazepine receptors (rBZR) using single photon emission CT (SPECT) in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), vascular dementia (VaD), and mixed AD/VaD dementia (MD) and compared the changes in the availability of rBZR with those of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF).

Methods: A total of 7 patients with AD, 6 with MD, and 9 with VaD underwent SPECT studies with N-isopropyl-p-[(123)I] iodoamphetamine and (123)I-iomazenil to measure rCBF and rBZR. The ratios of rCBF and rBZR uptake in brain subregions to the average global activity were compared among these diseases.

Rate of progression of Alzheimer's disease in younger versus older patients: a longitudinal single photon emission computed tomography study.

Aim: Although several researchers have examined the effect of age on disease progression in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the results are controversial. We investigated the effect of age on the rate of progression of cognitive impairment and on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) deficits using longitudinal single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies.

Methods: We divided 75 patients with AD who were followed up for 24-90 months into the younger AD group (n=32, age at initial examination ≤ 75 years) and the older AD group (n=43, age at initial examination >75 years).