Vagus Nerve Ultrasonography Helps Distinguish Multiple System Atrophy from Other Parkinsonian Syndromes.

Background: Distinguishing multiple system atrophy from other parkinsonian syndromes is challenging.

Objectives: To evaluate vagus nerve ultrasonography for differentiating parkinsonian syndromes.

Methods: A single-center, cross-sectional, observational study assessed 85 consecutive adult patients with de novo parkinsonism between June 2020 and December 2022, using 12 MHz ultrasonography of the vagus nerve cross-sectional area.

Optimal timing for measuring cerebral blood flow after acetazolamide administration to detect preexisting cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism in patients with bilateral major cerebral artery steno-occlusive diseases: O positron emission tomography studies.

The present study determined the optimal timing of scanning for measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) after acetazolamide (ACZ) administration for detection of preexisting cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism in bilateral major cerebral artery steno-occlusive diseases. Thirty three patients underwent O gas positron emission tomography (PET) and each parameter was obtained in the bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) territories. CBF was also obtained using H O PET scanning performed at baseline and at 5, 15, and 30 min after ACZ administration.

A case report of interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma originating from the oropharynx.

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma is an extremely rare tumor and typically originates from lymph nodes. Here, we report a patient with tumor originated from the oropharynx who received successful surgical treatment.

Auto-brewery syndrome caused by oral fungi and periodontal disease bacteria.

Background: Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS) is often caused by fungi in the intestinal tract. We describe a rare case of alcohol production by and periodontal disease bacteria in the oral cavity.

Case Presentation: A man aged in his 60s had a car accident, and alcohol was detected on his breath.

Analysis of the safety of pretransplant corticosteroid therapy in patients with acute liver failure and late-onset hepatic failure in Japan.

Background And Aim: In Japan, corticosteroids have been commonly used as a part of multidisciplinary therapy for patients with acute liver failure and late-onset hepatic failure. However, there is controversy regarding the development of infections and other complications. In this study, the influence of corticosteroids on patient outcomes after liver transplantation was investigated.

Detection of microstructural white matter alterations in functional gastrointestinal disorders assessed by diffusion kurtosis imaging.

Background And Aim: We evaluated whether diffusion kurtosis and tensor imaging (DKI/DTI) could reveal microstructural alterations in the brains of patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), and whether imaging findings were correlated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: Twelve patients with FGIDs fulfilling the Rome IV criteria, and seven healthy controls were examined using a 3 T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. Tract-based spatial statistics and regions of interest analyses were performed to compare the mean kurtosis (MK), fractional anisotropy (FA), and mean diffusivity (MD) between patients with FGIDs versus controls.

Regulatory T cells in Crohn's disease following anti-TNF-α therapy.

Background And Aim: Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) therapy is an effective therapy for Crohn's disease (CD). We investigated FoxP3 and CD127 regulatory T cells (Tregs) before and after administration of anti-TNF-α therapy in CD.

Methods: Eight patients with active CD who had received anti-TNF-α antibodies were enrolled.

Reduction in amyloid β deposition on F-florbetapir positron emission tomography with correction of cerebral hypoperfusion after endarterectomy for carotid stenosis.

The process of amyloid β (Aβ) deposition in sporadic Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. However, hypoperfusion due to vascular pathology may precede Aβ deposition, as suggested by data from animal models and autopsy tissue from Alzheimer's disease patients. In this exploratory study, we examined the hypotheses that chronic cerebral hypoperfusion due to severe atherosclerotic stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) increases Aβ deposition in the affected cerebral hemisphere and that correction of cerebral hypoperfusion after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in such patients reduces Aβ deposition.

Clinical Characteristics and In-Hospital Mortality According to Left Main and Non-Left Main Culprit Lesions - Report From the Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (JAMIR).

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) due to an unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) lesion is a critical condition, but there are limited data available on in-hospital outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry is a nationwide, real-world database. The clinical data on 13,548 ACS patients hospitalized between January 2011 and December 2013 were retrospectively collected from 10 representative regional ACS registry groups.

Quantification of metal-induced susceptibility artifacts associated with ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging of spinal implants.

Reports on spinal-implant metallic artifacts in 7-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are lacking. Thus, we investigated the magnitude of metal artifacts derived from spinal implants in 7-T MRI and analyzed the differences obtained with spinal rods manufactured from pure titanium, titanium alloy, and cobalt-chrome (5.5-mm and 6.

Amplification and attenuation of lung metastases depending on glucocorticoid dosage implicating long-acting activated memory cells induced by nivolumab against malignant melanoma.

Firstly, glucocorticoids such as prednisolone can attenuate the effect of anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab. Secondly, malignant melanoma cells survived latently and unnoticeably in places other than those of previous metastatic lesions. Thirdly, effector T cells activated by nivolumab sustained their memory to attack malignant melanoma cells for several months.

New-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with acute coronary syndrome may be associated with worse prognosis and future heart failure.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: A total 648 of consecutive ACS patients were divided into non-AF and all-AF groups. The all-AF group was further subdivided into new-onset AF and pre-existing AF groups.

Prolonged sinus arrest on electrocardiogram recording during apheresis donation in young female donor with convulsive syncope.

An 18-year-old young female with a convulsive syncope during apheresis donation demonstrated a prolonged sudden sinus arrest continued for approximately 30-second on monitor ECG. This prolonged sinus arrest may relate accidental serious complications in ordinal apheresis donation. Continuous electrocardiogram monitor and correspondence are indispensable.

Response to the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes might be associated with a diplotype of two single nucleotide polymorphisms on the interleukin-6 promoter region under a certain level of physical activity.

Aims/introduction: Muscle-derived interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been reported to promote glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion, and we explored the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human IL-6 promoter region with the responsiveness to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4Is), drugs that increase circulating GLP-1.

Materials And Methods: The present observational study enrolled Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes who took a DPP-4I over 3 months, and most of the clinical information was collected retrospectively. We defined non-responders as those having less than a 0.

Abnormal pupillary light reflex with chromatic pupillometry in Gaucher disease.

The hallmark of neuronopathic Gaucher disease (GD) is oculomotor abnormalities, but ophthalmological assessment is difficult in uncooperative patients. Chromatic pupillometry is a quantitative method to assess the pupillary light reflex (PLR) with minimal patient cooperation. Thus, we investigated whether chromatic pupillometry could be useful for neurological evaluations in GD.

Determination of β-d-glucan and endotoxin levels in Kampo extracts.

Aims: Kampo medicine is based on the use of established formulations combining natural extracts with no "brand-name" products or corresponding "generic" formulation. Due to differences in manufacturing practices, products of different pharmaceutical companies may contain different concentrations of β-d-glucan and endotoxins. The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of β-d-glucan and endotoxins in five Kampo extracts from four pharmaceutical companies.

Impact of serum glucose levels on disease severity and outcome in patients with severe sepsis: an analysis from a multicenter, prospective survey of severe sepsis.

Aim: To determine whether glycemic abnormality and pre-existing diabetes are associated with disease severity and mortality in patients with severe sepsis.

Methods: Six hundred and nineteen patients with severe sepsis were grouped into four categories according to their blood glucose levels (<100, 100-199, 200-299, and ≥300 mg/dL). We compared disease severity and mortality between glycemic categories.

Stem cell sources for tooth regeneration: current status and future prospects.

Stem cells are capable of renewing themselves through cell division and have the remarkable ability to differentiate into many different types of cells. They therefore have the potential to become a central tool in regenerative medicine. During the last decade, advances in tissue engineering and stem cell-based tooth regeneration have provided realistic and attractive means of replacing lost or damaged teeth.

Report of the Committee of the Japan Diabetes Society on the Research of Fulminant and Acute-onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: New diagnostic criteria of fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (2012).

We have revised a part of the diagnostic criteria for fulminant type 1 diabetes. The new criteria were set both to express the essence of this disease of rapid increase of patients' blood glucose and to be highly sensitive to reduce the misdiagnosis. After analyzing the data of 382 patients with newly-diagnosed fulminant type 1 diabetes, we adopted the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of 8.

Preoperative 123I-iomazenil SPECT imaging predicts cerebral hyperperfusion following endarterectomy for unilateral cervical internal carotid artery stenosis.

Purpose: Cerebral hyperperfusion following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) occurs in patients with preoperative impairments in cerebral hemodynamics. The aim of the present study was to determine whether late images/early images on preoperative brain (123)I-iomazenil (IMZ) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), which correlate with oxygen extraction fraction images on positron emission tomography, could identify patients at risk for cerebral hyperperfusion following endarterectomy for unilateral cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis.

Methods: In 80 patients, preoperative brain SPECT scans were initiated immediately after (early images) and 180 min after (late images) administration of (123)I-IMZ.

Guidelines on nutritional management in Japanese patients with liver cirrhosis from the perspective of preventing hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim:   The Japanese Nutritional Study Group for Liver Cirrhosis (JNUS) was assembled in 2008 with the support of a Health Labor Sciences Research Grant from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan. The goal of the study group was to propose new nutritional guidelines for Japanese patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), with the aim of preventing hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods:   Between 2008 and 2010, the member investigators of JNUS conducted various clinical and experimental studies on nutrition on LC.