Impact of Energy Malnutrition on Exacerbation Hospitalization in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Retrospective Observational Study.

Nutritional disorders in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with cachexia, sarcopenia, and weight loss. In particular, weight loss is a prognostic factor in COPD independent of pulmonary function, and energy malnutrition is a contributing factor. Frequent exacerbation hospitalization is also a prognostic factor for COPD patients.

CHARACTERISATION OF RADIOACTIVE CAESIUM IN SEDIMENTS AT THE NOGAWA RIVER, JAPAN.

The TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident that occurred in March 2011 resulted in the release of radioactive caesium into the environment. The radioactive caesium has been detected in the Tama River watershed. Previous investigations have shown that the concentration of radioactive caesium in sediment was relatively high in the Nogawa River.

Synergistic effect of hypertension and smoking on the total small vessel disease score in healthy individuals: the Kashima scan study.

The total cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) score is a proposed comprehensive index of SVD severity in the brain. However, data on lifestyle-related risk factors affecting SVD scores are limited. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 858 neurologically healthy adults who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Total Small Vessel Disease Score in Neurologically Healthy Japanese Adults in the Kashima Scan Study.

Objective We explored the association between the total small vessel disease (SVD) score obtained with magnetic resonance imaging and risk factors and outcomes in the Japanese population. Methods The presence of SVD features, including lacunes, cerebral microbleeds, white matter changes, and basal ganglia perivascular spaces on MRI, was summed to obtain a "total SVD score" (range 0-4). Ordinal and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association of higher total SVD scores with vascular risk factors, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, and cerebral atrophy.

Basal ganglia cerebral microbleeds and global cognitive function: the Kashima Scan Study.

Background: We previously showed that global cognitive function was associated with deep or infratentorial (D/I) cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in a Japanese healthy cohort. We continually recruited participates and performed further investigation to focus on the impact of different distributions of D/I CMBs on gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging on global cognitive function.

Methods: A total of 1392 subjects including subjects without CMBs (n = 1335), with D/I CMBs limited to the basal ganglia (BG; BG group, n = 33), thalamus (thalamus group, n = 14), and infratentorial area (infratentorial group, n = 10) were included in analyses.

Norms of the Mini-Mental state Examination for Japanese subjects that underwent comprehensive brain examinations: the Kashima Scan Study.

Objective: The distribution of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores by age and educational level was investigated in subjects that underwent comprehensive brain examinations.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1,414 adults without neurological disorders who underwent health-screening tests of the brain, referred to as the "Brain Dock," in our center. The MMSE scores were compared between age groups (40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, or ≥70 years) and educational levels [the low education level group (6-12 years) and the high education level group (≥13 years)].

Topography and associations of perivascular spaces in healthy adults: the Kashima scan study.

Objective: We investigated whether the topography of MRI-visible perivascular spaces (PVS) is associated with markers of specific underlying small vessel disease, including cerebral microbleed (CMB) distribution, in neurologically healthy adults.

Methods: We analyzed baseline data of an ongoing Japanese population-based cohort study. PVS were rated in the basal ganglia (BG-PVS) and centrum semiovale (CSO-PVS) on axial T2-weighted MRI using a validated rating scale (score 0-4).

Microvascular decompression surgery for vertebral artery compression of the medulla oblongata: 3 cases with respiratory failure and/or dysphagia.

Background: It is well known that brainstem dysfunction may be caused by vascular compression of the medulla oblongata (MO). However, only a limited number of reports have found microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery to be an effective treatment for symptomatic patients with MO dysfunction, such as essential hypertension, pyramidal tract signs, dysphagia, and respiratory failure.

Case Description: This report describes 3 patients with vertebral artery compression of MO who presented with respiratory failure and/or dysphagia.

[A case of migraine with aura attenuated by transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect].

A 38-year old man with an 8-year history of migraine with subclinical abnormal brain lesions on MRI was admitted to our hospital. His migraine attacks followed visual disturbance or dysarthria. Brain MRI revealed old infarctions restricted to the posterior circular region.

[A case of superficial siderosis treated with intravenous and oral hemostatic drugs].

A 39-year-old man suffering from progressive dysarthria, gait disturbance, and sensorineural deafness for 2 years was admitted to our hospital. He scored 28 points on the mini-mental state examination. He had previously undergone surgery at 24 years and 39 years of age for a cerebellar tumor (pilocytic astrocytoma).

[Case of cheiro-oral syndrome with a bilateral perioral sensory disturbance caused by unilateral pontine tegmental hemorrhage].

A case of a small left pontine tegmental hemorrhage that presented as cheiro-oral syndrome with a bilateral perioral sensory disturbance is described. An 83-year-old man suddenly developed numbness in his bilateral perioral area and right hand. Head CT and MRI (T(2)*-weighted image) revealed a small left pontine tegmental hemorrhage.

Stroke scale items associated with neurologic deterioration within 24 hours after recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy.

It is unclear when and which neurologic deficits should be examined within 24 hours after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) therapy for acute ischemic stroke. Relationships between serial changes in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) subscores and neurologic deterioration (ND) within the first 24 hours after therapy were investigated in 43 consecutive patients. The NIHSS score was measured by neurologists 28 times within 24 hours after therapy.

Distributional impact of brain microbleeds on global cognitive function in adults without neurological disorder.

Background And Purpose: Brain microbleeds (MBs) are considered to be associated with cognitive decline and can be pathologically and topographically classified as cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related (located in lobar regions) and hypertensive microangiopathy-related (located in deep regions). We examined whether different effects on global cognitive function might be seen with different distributions of MBs.

Methods: A total of 1279 adults without neurological disorders were studied prospectively.

Identification of astrocyte-derived immune suppressor factor that induces apoptosis of autoreactive T cells.

In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis, apoptosis of T cells is mainly seen at inflammation sites of the central nervous system (CNS). Cumulative data suggests that astrocytes might render T cells susceptible to induction of apoptotic cell death. We observed that apoptotic cell death of proteolipid protein (PLP)-reactive T cells was induced by an interferon (IFN)-γ-treated astrocyte cell line.

Marked cerebral atrophy is correlated with kidney dysfunction in nondisabled adults.

The relationship between kidney dysfunction, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), and brain morphology has attracted increasing attention, but the association between kidney dysfunction and cerebral atrophy has yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between kidney function and a substantial degree of cerebral atrophy. A total of 610 consecutive Japanese adults without neurological disorders who had undergone health screening tests of the brain were studied prospectively.

Incidence and clinical significances of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-associated myelopathy with T2 hyperintensity on spinal magnetic resonance images.

Objective: To clarify the incidence and clinical significance of HTLV-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) showing T2 hyperintensity in the spinal cord on magnetic resonance images (MRI).

Patients And Methods: We reviewed the spinal cord MRI of 38 HAM/TSP patients and analyzed them in relation to clinical and laboratory findings. Analyzed data were: age at onset, disease duration, disability status, responsiveness to interferon therapy, brain abnormalities on MRI, serum anti-HTLV-I titers, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings.

Brain microbleeds and global cognitive function in adults without neurological disorder.

Background And Purpose: Increasing attention has been paid to associations between cognitive dysfunction and brain microbleeds (MBs). Because all previous studies have investigated patients with neurological disorders, we examined subjects without neurological disorder in order to clarify pathogenic relationships.

Methods: A total of 518 consecutive adults without neurological disorder who had undergone health-screening tests of the brain were studied prospectively.

Human astrocytes express 14-3-3 sigma in response to oxidative and DNA-damaging stresses.

The 14-3-3 protein family consists of seven isoforms, most of which are expressed abundantly in neurons and glial cells, although the sigma isoform, a p53 target gene originally identified as an epithelium-specific marker, has not been identified in the human central nervous system. Here, we show that human astrocytes in culture expressed 14-3-3sigma under stress conditions. By Western blot, the expression of 14-3-3sigma, p53 and p21 was coordinately upregulated in astrocytes following exposure to hydrogen peroxide, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) or etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor.

Microarray analysis identifies a set of CXCR3 and CCR2 ligand chemokines as early IFNbeta-responsive genes in peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro: an implication for IFNbeta-related adverse effects in multiple sclerosis.

Background: A substantial proportion of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients discontinue interferon-beta (IFNbeta) treatment due to various adverse effects, most of which emerge at the early phase after initiation of the treatment and then diminish with time. At present, the molecular mechanism underlying IFNbeta-related adverse effects remains largely unknown. The aim of this study is to identify a comprehensive list of early IFNbeta-responsive genes (IRGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that may play a key role in induction of adverse effects.

Rapid identification of 14-3-3-binding proteins by protein microarray analysis.

The 14-3-3 protein family consists of acidic 30-kDa proteins composed of seven isoforms in mammalian cells, expressed abundantly in neurons and glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS). The 14-3-3 isoforms form a dimer that acts as a molecular adaptor interacting with key signaling components involved in cell proliferation, transformation, and apoptosis. Until present, more than 300 proteins have been identified as 14-3-3-binding partners, although most of previous studies focused on a limited range of 14-3-3-interacting proteins.