Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Tacrolimus in Myasthenia Gravis.

Purpose: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a lifelong autoimmune disorder that affects neuromuscular transmission. The long-term treatment plan should include immunotherapy. We investigated the long-term safety and efficacy of tacrolimus for the treatment of MG in real-world clinical practice.

Using the Region of Interest from Time-of-Flight Magnetic Resonance Angiography to Differentiate Between Intracranial Arterial Dissection and True Atherosclerotic Stenosis.

Background: Noncontrast three-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF MRA) is commonly used to examine intracranial arterial stenosis, although it can be difficult to identify the etiology of the stenosis. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of 3D TOF MRA in differentiating an intracranial arterial dissection from atherosclerosis.

Methods: During 2015-2017, 356 patients had confirmed intracranial arterial stenosis based on high resolution-magnetic resonance imaging.

Clinical Significance of Repetitive Compound Muscle Action Potentials in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis: A Predictor for Cholinergic Side Effects of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors.

Background And Purpose: Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are widely used to treat myasthenia gravis (MG). Although AChEIs are usually tolerated well, some MG patients suffer from side effects. Furthermore, a small proportion of MG patients show cholinergic hypersensitivity and cannot tolerate AChEIs.

Utility of the Midbrain Tegmentum Diameter in the Differential Diagnosis of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy from Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease.

Background And Purpose: Various magnetic resonance (MR) measurements have been proposed to aid in differentiating between progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD); however, these methods have not been compared directly. The aim of this study was to determine which measurement method exhibits the highest power to differentiate between PSP and IPD.

Methods: Brain MR images from 82 IPD and 29 PSP patients were analyzed retrospectively.

Miller Fisher syndrome related to Orientia tsutsugamushi infection.

Miller Fisher syndrome is typically associated with a preceding infection, especially with Campylobacter jejuni. We describe a patient with Miller Fisher syndrome following Orientia tsutsugamushi infection, which to our knowledge has not been previously reported.

Novel function of C5 protein as a metabolic stabilizer of M1 RNA.

Escherichia coli RNase P is a ribonucleoprotein composed of a large RNA subunit (M1 RNA) and a small protein subunit (C5 protein). We examined if C5 protein plays a role in maintaining metabolic stability of M1 RNA. The sequestration of C5 protein available for M1 RNA binding reduced M1 RNA stability in vivo, and its reduced stability was recovered via overexpression of C5 protein.

Dual function of RNase E for control of M1 RNA biosynthesis in Escherichia coli.

M1 RNA, the gene product of rnpB, is the catalytic subunit of RNase P in Escherichia coli. M1 RNA is transcribed from a proximal promoter as pM1 RNA, a precursor M1 RNA, and then is processed at its 3' end by RNase E. In addition to pM1 RNA, large rnpB-containing transcripts are produced from unknown upstream promoters.