Isao Nagamine

Gender differences in association of plasma adiponectin with obesity reflect resultant insulin resistance in non‐diabetic Japanese patients with schizophrenia

Abstract  Adipose tissues poorly produce adiponectin in the population with increased body fat mass and diabetes mellitus. It was investigated whether hypoadiponectinemia is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in patients with chronically medicated schizophrenia. A cross‐sectional study was designed for 73 non‐diabetic Japanese patients with schizophrenia. The patients aged <70 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥18.5 were selected. Anthropometrics and blood parameters including fat‐derived cytokines were measured, and then the BMI and homeostasis model assessment – insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) was calculated. The variables were compared between the non‐obesity (BMI, 18.5–24.9) and obesity (≥25.0) groups, and between genders. Plasma adiponectin negatively correlated with BMI (r = −0.554, P < 0.0003) and HOMA‐IR (r = −0.380, P = 0.007) in men, but not in women. The obesity group in men, as compared with the non‐obesity group, showed significantly lower plasma adiponectin (P = 0.008) and higher HOMA‐IR (P < 0.05), but not in women. Plasma leptin showed a significant positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.604, P < 0.0001 in men; r = 0.763, P < 0.0001 in women) and HOMA‐IR (r = 0.618, P < 0.0001 in men; r = 0.679, P < 0.0001 in women). The mean plasma leptin in the obesity group was significantly higher than that in the non‐obesity group (P < 0.01 in men; P < 0.01 in women). In contrast to plasma leptin, plasma adiponectin showed gender difference in relation to BMI and HOMA‐IR.

Platelet serotonin concentrations in medicated schizophrenic patients

1. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of neuroleptic administration on platelet serotonin (5-HT) levels, and the relationships between platelet 5-HT levels, extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and psychopathology in schizophrenia. 2. The subjects were 49 regularly medicated inpatients who were diagnosed according to the DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia. Each patient gave informed consent for the research involved in this study. All patients were first considered as one group and then divided into two groups: those with lower levels (LL) and those with higher levels (HL), according to their platelet 5-HT levels. Psychotic symptoms and EPS were assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Drug Induced Extra-Pyramidal Symptoms Scale, respectively. 3. (1) The mean level of the platelet 5-HT in the schizophrenics with neuroleptic-treatment was significantly lower than that in the normal subjects. (2) The mean level of the blood monoamine oxidase (MAO) in the schizophrenics tended to be lower than that in the normal subjects. (3) There was no significant difference in the mean scores of the positive symptoms, negative symptoms, or EPS between the LL and HL groups. (4) Platelet 5-HT levels were not correlated with blood MAO concentrations. 4. Overall, these results seem to indicate that (i) administration of neuroleptics lowers platelet 5-HT levels, and (ii) platelet 5-HT levels in the schizophrenics with neuroleptic-treatment do not reflect psychopathology of schizophrenia or severity of neuroleptic-induced EPS.

Sexual intercourse as a precipitating factor of transient global amnesia.

Abstract: A Japanese female case of transient global amnesia (TGA), who developed an amnesic episode after sexual intercourse, is reported. The mechanism of how TGA in the present case is precipitated by sexual intercourse could be explained by the elevated blood pressure during sexual intercourse that drops rapidly, causing a temporal ischemia in the distribution of the basilar artery. Furthermore, the importance of sexual intercourse as a precipitating factor of TGA is stressed.

Estimating emotion changes using electroencephalographic activities and its clinical application

In the care, the communication based empathetic understanding is important. We have examined how to grasp empathetic understanding. We presume that the measurement of electroencephalographic (EEG) changes, those activities that are considered physiological indicators, enables an objective understanding of changes in emotions of those who have difficulty in expressing these through facial expression or physical action. Generally, EEG is used in the hospital to examine encephalopathy and brain disorder. Using an electroencephalograph device to acquire digital data we propose a method to objectively capture changes in the recognition state of people from changes in EEG activities (action potential), and a way to apply it into a clinical situation.

Electroencephalographic changes during and after water intoxication.

Abstract: A case of water intoxication with remarkable hyponatremia was investigated with a special reference to EEG changes during and after the episode. The patient recovered his EEG as his consciousness disturbance had improved through an intravenous infusion of high osmolality saline, correlating with the serum sodium level. Further, the clinical importance of recording EEG for water intoxication was stressed.

The Complex Episode of Transient Global Amnesia

Abstract: In most reports, Transient Global Amnesia (TGA) consisted of a single episode of total amnesia. The detailed investigation on the process of recovery from amnesia in the present two cases of TGA indicated the existence of a complex episode of TGA which consisted of a sequence of episodes of total amnesia.