Kumiko Ishizaki

Population-based door-to-door survey of migraine in Japan: The Daisen Study

Objectives.—To determine prevalence and characteristics of migraine in Japan, and to investigate use of medical care and whether food preference is associated with risk of migraine.

Association of the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene in patients of migraine with aura

Recently, several angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and an angiotensin II receptor blocker were demonstrated to have a clinically important prophylactic effect in migraine. ACE is one of the key enzymes in the rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which modulates vascular tension and blood pressure. In humans, serum ACE levels are strongly genetically determined. Individuals who were homozygous for the deletion (D) allele showed increased ACE activity levels. To investigate the role of ACE polymorphism in headache, we analyzed the ACE insertion (I)/deletion (D) genotypes of 54 patients suffering from migraine with aura (MwA), 122 from migraine without aura, 78 from tension-type headache (TH), and 248 non-headache healthy controls. The ACE D allele were significantly more frequent in the MwA than controls (p<0.01). The incidence of the D/D genotype in MwA (25.9%) was significantly higher than that in controls (12.5%; p<0.01; odds ratio=5.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.69-16.34, adjusted for age and gender). No differences in the remaining groups were found. Our results support the conclusion that the D allele and the D/D genotype in the ACE gene is a genetic risk factor for Japanese MwA. There seems to be a possible relationship between ACE activity and the pathogenesis of migraine.

Static stabilometry in patients with migraine and tension-type headache during a headache-free period

Abstract The vestibulospinal system was evaluated using a stabilometric method in patients with migraine and episodic tension‐type headache during headache‐free periods. Migraine patients often complain of dizziness or vertigo during headache attacks and some exhibit these symptoms between attacks. Computerized static stabilometry is a reliable and non‐invasive technique to evaluate the equilibrium function in various diseases. The subjects consisted of 21 patients with migraine, 12 patients with episodic tension‐type headache and, age‐ and sex‐matched controls. We performed two sets of static stabilometric measurements with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) for 30 s. The averages of two sessions of the following six stabilometric parameters were used for the analysis: locus length (LNG), environmental area (ENV‐AREA), rectangle area (REC‐AREA), locus length per second, locus length per environ area (L/E), and root mean square area. Romberg quotients (EC/EO) of these six parameters were also analyzed. The mean values of LNG, ENV‐AREA and REC‐AREA in the EC session in the migraine group were significantly greater than those in the controls (P < 0.05, Mann–Whitney rank sum test). Romberg quotients of all stabilometric parameters except the L/E in the migraine group were significantly greater than in the controls. Patients with episodic tension‐type headache did not show any differences in the stabilometric study from the controls. The present findings suggest that patients with migraine show a significant increase of the body sway during the EC session, which indicates an underlying dysfunction in the vestibulospinal system.

Cosinor Analysis of Heart Rate Variability in Ambulatory Migraineurs

Objective.—To clarify whether the circadian rhythm of heart rate variability parameters can be identified in patients with migraine during a headache‐free period and to identify any specific pattern of the circadian rhythm of heart rate variability, using time‐domain and spectral analysis and cosinor rhythm analysis of heart rate variability during normal daily activity.

Increased plasma transforming growth factor-β1 in migraine

Background and Objectives.—Migraine is characterized by the peripheral and central sensitization of pain perceptive neural systems, and neurogenic inflammation is a key step in the development of migraine headache. We focused on transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), which is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine. To address the possibility of TGF‐β1 involvement in migraine, we investigated the plasma level of TGF‐β1 in patients with migraine headache during headache‐free periods.

Longitudinal changes in the prevalence of dementia in a Japanese rural area

Background:  The increasing number of patients with dementia in Japan, together with the rapid aging of society, is currently considered to have a substantial impact on Japans medical, economic and sociological systems. Therefore, the longitudinal estimation of changes in the prevalence of dementia based on accurate diagnostic evaluation has important implications.

Glutathione S-Transferase Polymorphisms: Susceptibility to Migraine without Aura

Migraine is considered to be a polygenic multifactorial disease with various environmental and genetic etiologies. We investigated glutathione S-transferase (GST) P1 Ile105Val, T1 and M1 polymorphisms in 174 Japanese headache sufferers and 372 Japanese controls. The headache group consisted of 38 cases of migraine with aura, 95 migraine without aura (MWOA) and 41 tension-type headache sufferers. The M1 homozygous deletion genotype was significantly higher in MWOA (64%) compared with controls (46%; p < 0.01; odds ratio = 2.18, 95% confidence interval: 1.32–3.61, adjusted for age and gender). In a comparison of the current smokers, the M1 null frequencies in MWOA were further increased. GSTM1 may be one of the genetic risk factors for MWOA in the Japanese population.