Kiyoshi Takamiya

Trophic effect of various neuropeptides on the cultured ventral spinal cord of rat embryo

We studied the trophic effects of various neuropeptides, including substance P (SP), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), neurotensin (NT) and bombesin (BN) on explanted cultures of ventral spinal cord from 13- to 14-day-old rat embryos. In groups, receiving one type of drug only, there was a significant neurite-promoting effect (NPE) in SP, TRH and BN-treated cultures. At a concentration of 10(-12) M the most potent effect was shown by SP. However, BN had the most potent action at concentrations greater than 10(-10) M. It also became clear that there were maximum and minimum effective concentrations for these 3 neuropeptides. NT had no NPE at any concentration. There was no additional NPE when any two or all four of these neuropeptides were given simultaneously. Our results demonstrate that BN, SP, and TRH have a trophic effect on ventral spinal cord in cultures, and may contribute to a therapeutic strategy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Neuropsychological Dysfunctions in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Relation to Motor Disabilities

A study was undertaken to elucidate the existence of cognitive and memory impairments in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by comparing a group of ALS patients with both nonneurological medical controls (MC) and healthy controls (HC) on neuropsychological tests. We also examined the relationship between the severity of motor disabilities and intellectual impairment. Twenty-two ALS patients, 18 MCs and 17 HCs participated. The tests used were the Mini-mental state examination (MMS) and the immediate and delayed memory tests. The mean MMS score of the ALS patients was lower than the mean scores of both control groups. In the memory tests, there were significant differences between the ALS group and the two control groups. Correlation analyses of several motor symptoms and neuropsychological results revealed that there was a significant negative correlation between upper motor neuron symptoms and MMS, as well as memory tests. The evidence for multisystem degeneration in ALS has prompted speculation that more sensitive neuropsychological measurements might reveal cerebral dysfunction in ALS patients who are not presenting evident dementia.

Thyroid function in patients with chronic headache.

Headache is one of the neurological manifestations of hypothyroidism but it is unknown whether there is a relationship between hyperthyroidism and chronic headache. Thyroid function tests were performed in 30 patients with chronic headache. Six were found to have hyperthyroidism and none had hypothyroidism. Thyroid testing may be useful for differential diagnosis of chronic headache, and indicates that headache could be caused by hyperthyroidism.

Muscle morphometry in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Quadriceps muscle biopsies from 24 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 15 age-matched controls were prepared for histochemistry and analyzed morphometrically. Pathological features for denervation and reinnervation were observed in most ALS patients, although considerable variation between patients was noted. Myopathic changes were also seen in one-third of the cases. The morphometric data were not only related to the duration and mean diameter of type I fiber, but also to the duration and hypertrophy factor of type II fiber, suggesting that the progression and severity of ALS depends on the preservation of both fibers.

Cognitive Dysfunction in Myasthenia Gravis

The performance of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) on selective neuropsychological tests was examined to assess the diagnostic applicability of such examinations. Twenty-seven patients with MG and twenty-seven age, sex, and education-matched controls were given a battery of tests designed to assess cognitive functions. The MG group displayed significantly lower scores on Mini-mental state test and memory tests. The results indicated that MG patients had cognitive impairment. Results are also discussed with respect to the involvement of cholinergic pathways in the central nervous system.

MRI in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis : correlation with clinical features

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was performed in 10 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the findings were evaluated. Four patients had asymmetrical areas of increased signal intensity in the white matter. All patients showing abnormal MRI were young, had a longer clinical course, and clinically were more disabled. These MRI abnormalities were related to the pathological changes in the central white matter of patients with ALS and possible explanations for these findings in ALS are discussed.

Neurotrophic Effect of Angiotensin II, Vasopressin and Oxytocin on the Ventral Spinal Cord of Rat Embryo

We studied trophic effects of angiotensin II, vasopressin and oxytocin on explanted ventral spinal cord cultures from 13-14-old day rat embryos. There was a significant neurite promoting effect in angiotensin II and vasopressin-treated cultures. Angiotensin II had the most potent effect at any concentrations. It became clear that minimum effective concentration was 10(-8) M in angiotensin II and vasopressin respectively. Effect of these two neuropeptides was concentration-dependent. However, oxytocin had no neurotrophic effect at any concentrations. Our results demonstrated that angiotensin II and vasopressin have a neurotrophic effect on ventral spinal cord in cultures, and may contribute to therapeutic strategy of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease: In Relation to Motor Symptoms

The performance of patients with Parkinsons disease (PD) on selective neuropsychological tests was examined in regard to the applicability of such examinations to diagnosis. Thirty-six patients with PD, and twenty age- and education-matched controls were given a battery of tests designed to assess motor and intellectual functions. The PD group displayed significantly lower scores on all tests than those in the control group. Correlation analyses on the several motor and neuropsychological results in PD group revealed that there was a significant negative correlation between bradykinesia and visuospatial tests, and rigidity and memory tests. Results are discussed with respect to the involvement of dopaminergic pathways in the central nervous system.

Concurrence of myasthenia gravis and chorée fibrillaire de morvan

SummaryA case of myasthenia gravis associated with a syndrome resembling “chorée fibrillaire de Morvan” is described. This association has not been previously noted in the literature. It is postulated that this syndrome, when associated with myasthenia gravis, suggests an autoimmune pathogenesis, but prednisolone and plasmapheresis did not alter the symptoms. This case illustrates the fact that a separate entity should be considered when the clinical picture is not compatible with the underlying diagnosis.

Pure sensory stroke and cheiro-oral syndrome

1 Department of Internal Medicine, Asahi General Hospital, 1-1326, Asahi City, Chiba 289-25, Japan 2Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-4-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan In comparison with peripheral neuropathy, cranial nerve involvement is not so common in SjOgrens syndrome [4]. The trigeminal nerve is the most commonly affected [2]. We found only six cases [1, 3, 5-7] of facial nerve involvement associated with sicca syndrome or Sj6grens syndrome in the literature. Four of them had other cranial nerve involvement. According to Attwood and Poser [1], Sj6gren [6] himself mentioned a case of bilateral facial paresis with the syndrome. We found no other description of bilateral facial paresis associated with Sj0grens syndrome in the literature.