Subcortical Brain Volume Abnormalities in Individuals With an At-risk Mental State.

Previous structural magnetic resonance imaging studies of psychotic disorders have demonstrated volumetric alterations in subcortical (ie, the basal ganglia, thalamus) and temporolimbic structures, which are involved in high-order cognition and emotional regulation. However, it remains unclear whether individuals at high risk for psychotic disorders with minimal confounding effects of medication exhibit volumetric changes in these regions. This multicenter magnetic resonance imaging study assessed regional volumes of the thalamus, caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, globus pallidus, hippocampus, and amygdala, as well as lateral ventricular volume using FreeSurfer software in 107 individuals with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) (of whom 21 [19.

Selective targeting of mRNA and the following protein synthesis of CaMKIIα at the long-term potentiation-induced site.

Late-phase long-term potentiation (L-LTP) in hippocampus, thought to be the cellular basis of long-term memory, requires new protein synthesis. Neural activity enhances local protein synthesis in dendrites, which in turn mediates long-lasting synaptic plasticity. Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) is a locally synthesized protein crucial for this plasticity, as L-LTP is impaired when its local synthesis is eliminated.

White matter microstructural alterations across four major psychiatric disorders: mega-analysis study in 2937 individuals.

Identifying both the commonalities and differences in brain structures among psychiatric disorders is important for understanding the pathophysiology. Recently, the ENIGMA-Schizophrenia DTI Working Group performed a large-scale meta-analysis and reported widespread white matter microstructural alterations in schizophrenia; however, no similar cross-disorder study has been carried out to date. Here, we conducted mega-analyses comparing white matter microstructural differences between healthy comparison subjects (HCS; N = 1506) and patients with schizophrenia (N = 696), bipolar disorder (N = 211), autism spectrum disorder (N = 126), or major depressive disorder (N = 398; total N = 2937 from 12 sites).

Increased brain gyrification in the schizophrenia spectrum.

Aim: Increased brain gyrification in diverse cortical regions has been reported in patients with schizophrenia, possibly reflecting deviations in early neurodevelopment. However, it remains unknown whether patients with schizotypal disorder exhibit similar changes.

Methods: This magnetic resonance imaging study investigated brain gyrification in 46 patients with schizotypal disorder (29 male, 17 female), 101 patients with schizophrenia (55 male, 46 female), and 77 healthy controls (44 male, 33 female).

Differentiation of schizophrenia using structural MRI with consideration of scanner differences: A real-world multisite study.

Aim: Neuroimaging studies have revealed that patients with schizophrenia exhibit reduced gray matter volume in various regions. With these findings, various studies have indicated that structural MRI can be useful for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. However, multisite studies are limited.

Different Influences of Statin Treatment in Preventing At-Risk Stroke Subtypes: A Post Hoc Analysis of J-STARS.

Aims: To understand the different influences of statins on the incidence rate of each stroke subtype in association with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, we performed a post hoc analysis on the data from the Japan Statin Treatment Against Recurrent Stroke (J-STARS) study.

Methods: Subjects (n=1,578) were divided into three groups according to their mean postrandomized LDL cholesterol level (＜100, 100-120, and ≥ 120 mg/dL) until the last observation before the event or the end of follow-up. A Cox proportional hazard model for time to events was used for calculating adjusted hazard ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and the trend tests.

Efficacy and Safety of Uninterrupted Periprocedural Edoxaban in Patients Undergoing Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation - The Prospective KYU-RABLE Study.

Background: The KYU-RABLE study, a prospective, multicenter, single-arm interventional study, evaluated the efficacy and safety of uninterrupted oral edoxaban in patients undergoing catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods and results: We enrolled patients with AF from 23 centers in Japan. Edoxaban 60 mg (30 mg in patients indicated for dose adjustment) was administered uninterrupted, once daily in the morning for ≥4 weeks before CA and 4 weeks ±7 days after CA with one dose delayed on the procedural day.

Altered neural basis of self-reflective processing in schizophrenia: An fMRI study.

Background: Impaired self-awareness has often been described in schizophrenia. Recent neuroimaging studies examining the self-reflection processes in schizophrenia have produced inconsistent results.

Method: We examined the self-reflective neural network using self- and other-evaluation tasks in schizophrenia.

Olfactory sulcus morphology in teenagers with first-presentation borderline personality disorder.

Gray matter reduction of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) has been reported in borderline personality disorder (BPD), but it remains unknown whether the BPD patients exhibit morphologic changes of the olfactory sulcus, a potential marker of forebrain development located on the OFC. We used magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the length and depth of the olfactory sulcus in 20 teenagers (15 females and 5 males) with first-presentation BPD and 20 healthy controls (15 females and 5 males). While there was no group difference in the length of the sulcus, the BPD patients (especially those with a history of trauma) had a significantly shallower right olfactory sulcus compared with controls.

Improvement of psychiatrists' clinical knowledge of the treatment guidelines for schizophrenia and major depressive disorders using the 'Effectiveness of Guidelines for Dissemination and Education in Psychiatric Treatment (EGUIDE)' project: A nationwide dissemination, education, and evaluation study.

Aim: Although treatment guidelines for pharmacological therapy for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder have been issued by the Japanese Societies of Neuropsychopharmacology and Mood Disorders, these guidelines have not been well applied by psychiatrists throughout the nation. To address this issue, we developed the 'Effectiveness of Guidelines for Dissemination and Education in Psychiatric Treatment (EGUIDE)' integrated education programs for psychiatrists to disseminate the clinical guidelines. Additionally, we conducted a systematic efficacy evaluation of the programs.

Impact of Digitalis Use on Mortality in Japanese Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation - A Subanalysis of the J-RHYTHM Registry.

Background: Because the influence of digitalis use on the death of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) remains controversial, a subanalysis of the J-RHYTHM Registry was performed.

Methods and results: A consecutive series of outpatients with AF from 158 institutions was enrolled and followed for 2 years or until the occurrence of an event. Among 7,406 patients with NVAF, 7,018 (age, 69.

Reduced Cortical Thickness in Schizophrenia and Schizotypal Disorder.

Schizotypal disorder is characterized by odd behavior and attenuated forms of schizophrenic features without the manifestation of overt and sustained psychoses. Past studies suggest that schizotypal disorder shares biological and psychological commonalties with schizophrenia. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have demonstrated both common and distinct regional gray matter changes between schizophrenia and schizotypal disorder.

Potential role of orbitofrontal surface morphology on social and cognitive functions in high-risk subjects for psychosis and schizophrenia patients.

This MRI study examined the surface morphology of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and its relation to social and cognitive functions in 38 individuals with at-risk mental state (ARMS) and 63 schizophrenia patients in comparison with 61 healthy controls. The ARMS and schizophrenia groups had increased right OFC Type III expression and fewer orbital sulci, which were partly associated with social and cognitive impairments. OFC underdevelopment may underlie vulnerability to psychosis, as well as the core clinical features of the illness.

Reduced pineal gland volume across the stages of schizophrenia.

A few magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies reported reduced pineal gland volume in chronic schizophrenia (Sz), implicating the involvement of melatonin in the pathophysiology of the illness. However, it is not known whether this abnormality, if present, exists at the early illness stages and/or develops progressively over the course of the illness. This MRI study examined pineal gland volume in 64 patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FESz), 40 patients with chronic Sz, 22 individuals with at-risk mental state (ARMS), and 84 healthy controls.

Pituitary Volume and Socio-Cognitive Functions in Individuals at Risk of Psychosis and Patients With Schizophrenia.

Increased pituitary volume, which probably reflects hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) hyperactivity, has been reported in patients with schizophrenia and individuals at risk of psychosis. On the basis of potential role of abnormal HPA axis function on cognitive impairments in psychosis, we aimed to examine possible relations between the pituitary volume and socio-cognitive impairments in these subjects. This magnetic resonance imaging study examined the pituitary gland volume in 38 subjects with at-risk mental state (ARMS) [of whom 4 (10.

Prevalence of molar incisor hypomineralization and regional differences throughout Japan.

Background: Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) frequently occurs in children worldwide. However, MIH prevalence throughout Japan has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study was to clarify MIH prevalence rates and to consider potential regional differences throughout Japan.

Comparative Analyses of Copy-Number Variation in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Schizophrenia Reveal Etiological Overlap and Biological Insights.

Compelling evidence in Caucasian populations suggests a role for copy-number variations (CNVs) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). We analyzed 1,108 ASD cases, 2,458 SCZ cases, and 2,095 controls in a Japanese population and confirmed an increased burden of rare exonic CNVs in both disorders. Clinically significant (or pathogenic) CNVs, including those at 29 loci common to both disorders, were found in about 8% of ASD and SCZ cases, which was significantly higher than in controls.

Factor X heterozygous mutation in a patient with potential risk of bleeding: A case report.

Rationale: Factor X (FX) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder. The majority of patients carry a missense mutation in F10, and patients with bleeding disorders are either homozygous or compound heterozygous for F10. Nonsense mutations are exceptionally rare, and a heterozygous nonsense mutation is not considered to cause bleeding disorders.

Altered brain gyrification in deficit and non-deficit schizophrenia.

Background: Patients with the deficit form of schizophrenia (D-SZ) are characterized by severe primary negative symptoms and differ from patients with the non-deficit form of schizophrenia (ND-SZ) in several aspects. No study has measured brain gyrification, which is a potential marker of neurodevelopment, in D-SZ and ND-SZ.

Methods: We obtained magnetic resonance scans from 135 schizophrenia patients and 50 healthy controls.

Brain morphologic changes in early stages of psychosis: Implications for clinical application and early intervention.

To date, a large number of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have been conducted in schizophrenia, which generally demonstrate gray matter reduction, predominantly in the frontal and temporo-limbic regions, as well as gross brain abnormalities (e.g., a deviated sulcogyral pattern).