Tetsuhito Kiyozuka

Cardiovascular Risk and Neuroradiological Profiles in Asymptomatic Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia

Background: Clinicoradiological variability of vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is known. Little is known about cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and neuroradiological profiles of asymptomatic VBD. Methods: A total of 7,345 adults (5,534 men and 1,811 women) underwent physical checkup (PC) and brain magnetic resonance (MR) studies between 2004 and 2007. Asymptomatic VBD was diagnosed by neurological examination and MR angiography. Neuroradiological features were analyzed in VBD subjects. CVD risk factors were compared between VBD subjects and 5,000 controls matched by sex and age. Results: Ninety-six subjects (85 men and 11 women) had asymptomatic VBD. The detection rate was 1.3% and the male/female ratio 2.5. The mean age ± SD was 60.4 ± 10.6 years (60.0 ± 10.2 in men and 64.0 ± 13.1 in women). As compared to controls, the frequency of hypertension, obesity, smoking, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus and a family history of stroke or CVD was increased significantly in VBD subjects. The mean diameter ± SD of the basilar artery (BA) was 4.7 ± 0.2 mm. Only 4 subjects (4%) had a severe degree of elongation and lateral displacement of the BA. Contact of the vertebral artery with the rostral ventrolateral medulla (AMC) was found in 81 subjects: right AMC in 22 subjects and left AMC in 59 subjects. Frequency of hypertension was significantly higher in the left-AMC subjects (57%) than in subjects with right AMC (9%) and no AMC (5%). Other neuroradiological findings revealed small infarcts in 42 subjects, brainstem compression in 4, hydrocephalus in 4 and brain saccular aneurysm in 3. Conclusions: Asymptomatic VBD was detected in 1.3% of the Japanese PC group. Our data indicated male predominance, multiple CVD risk factors, neurovascular hypertension and small infarcts in asymptomatic VBD.

Serological Profiles of Urate, Paraoxonase-1, Ferritin and Lipid in Parkinson’s Disease: Changes Linked to Disease Progression

Background: Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of neuronal death. Serum levels of urate or lipid were associated with the incidence of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective: We compared urate, paraoxonase-1 (PON1), iron, ferritin and lipid in sera of 119 PD patients and 120 healthy controls matched by age, sex and body mass index. We aimed to elucidate whether those serological data are correlated with disease progression. Results: Mean age (SD) of PD patients was 73.4 (8.7) years. Mean Yahr stage (SD) was 3.2 (0.9). Mean disease duration (SD) was 6.9 (5.1) years. Mean dose of L-DOPA (SD) was 355 (157) mg/day. As compared to controls, serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), urate and PON1 activity were significantly reduced, and serum ferritin levels were significantly increased in male and female PD patients. Serum urate levels and PON1 activities were inversely related, and serum ferritin levels were correlated with Yahr stage and PD duration in men and women. Serum levels of TC and LDL-C were inversely related to Yahr stage or PD duration in female patients. Conclusions: Our studies indicated serological profiles of urate, PON1, ferritin, TC and LDL-C in PD patients. These serological changes were linked to PD progression. Metabolism of lipid, oxidant- and antioxidant-related substances may contribute to the pathogenesis and the progression of PD.

Beneficial effect of pramipexole for motor function and depression in Parkinson's disease.

We examined whether pramipexole (PPX) can influence depressive scale in normal and mild depressive parkinsonian patients. In an open study of PPX as an add-on to L-dopa therapy or single administration, 36 nondemented outpatients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) were entered first. All were in the stage II or III of Hoehn and Yahr scale (H&Y). PPX were started at 0.125 mg/day and daily doses were increased to 1.5 mg/day. At 3 months after PPX treatment, patients were re-evaluated. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale III, H&Y stage, and freezing of gait questionnaire were compared in patients before and after PPX treatment. These scores were significantly improved after PPX administration. There were no correlations between HAM-D and those motor functions. We suggest that PPX treatment has antidepressant effects in depressive PD patients and also ameliorates HAM-D score in nondepressive PD patients in addition to motor function.

Clinically meaningful treatment responses after switching to galantamine and with addition of memantine in patients with Alzheimer’s disease receiving donepezil

Clinical trials have shown the benefits of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as donepezil and galantamine, and an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, memantine, in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, little is known regarding the effects of switching from donepezil 5 mg/day to galantamine 16 or 24 mg/day, or regarding the effects of adding memantine to established therapy compared with increasing the dose of donepezil. This report discusses two studies conducted to evaluate treatment with galantamine and memantine with respect to cognitive benefits and caregiver evaluations in patients with AD receiving donepezil 5 mg/day for more than 6 months. Patients with mild or moderate AD (scores 10–22 on the Mini-Mental State Examination) were enrolled in the Galantamine Switch study and switched to galantamine (maximum doses 16 mg versus 24 mg). Patients with moderate to severe AD (Mini-Mental State Examination scores 3–14) were enrolled in the Donepezil Increase versus Additional Memantine study and either had their donepezil dose increased to 10 mg/day or memantine 20 mg/day added to their existing donepezil dose. Patients received the study treatment for 28 weeks and their Disability Assessment for Dementia, Mental Function Impairment Scale, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores were assessed with assistance from their caregivers. For the Galantamine Switch study after 8 weeks, agitation evaluated by the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory improved in both the 16 mg and 24 mg groups compared with baseline. However, there were no significant differences between the two galantamine groups. Agitation was also less in patients in the additional memantine group than in the donepezil increase group. In summary, switching to galantamine from donepezil and addition of memantine in patients with AD receiving donepezil were both safe and meaningful treatment options, and particularly efficacious for suppression of agitation.

Cheiro-oral-pedal syndrome due to brainstem hemorrhage

Cheiro-oral-pedal syndrome is characterized by specific sensory disturbance around the corner of the mouth, in the hand and in the foot on the same side. Lesions responsible for causing this syndrome vary. We report two cases of cheiro-oral-pedal syndrome due to midbrain and pontine hemorrhage, respectively. Pontine hemorrhage producing cheiro-oral-pedal syndrome has been reported in three cases, but this is the first case that midbrain hematoma exhibits this syndrome. Damage in the sensory pathway can cause cheiro-oral-pedal syndrome. Difference in the threshold may explain the specific sensory pattern in this syndrome. Cheiro-oral-pedal syndrome is caused by lacunar infarction in majority of the cases. However, it should be kept in mind that hematomas can cause cheiro-oral-pedal syndrome.

Cheiro-pedal syndrome following pontine infarction

Abstract We report the case of a 64-year-old man with sudden onset of numbness in the right hand and foot. Neurological examinations were normal except for hypersthesia, and hyperalgesia of the right hand and foot. Brain MRI demonstrated a high signal intensity on T2-weighted image and a low signal intensity on T1-weighted image in the left tegmetum of the pons. He was diagnosed with pontine infarction presenting with cheiro-pedal syndrome (CPS). Damage in the sensory pathways can cause CPS. Difference in the threshold may explain the specific sensory pattern in this syndrome. Further examination of the relationship between sensory symptoms and localization on MRI is needed to clarify this syndrome.

Alleviation of Brain Hypoperfusion after Preventative Treatment with Lomerizine in an Elderly Migraineur with Aura

Previous studies of brain single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) showed changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in migraineurs during prodromes or headache attacks. Little is known about how successful medication of migraine prevention can reflect rCBF in migraineurs. We highlighted alternation of brain SPECT findings in a migraineur with aura before and after prophylactic treatment with lomerizine, a calcium channel blocker. A 70-year-old man with migraine developed visual disturbance frequently at walking exercise for the recent 3 months. After this visual attack, a mild-degree of throbbing headache occured occasionally. Brain SPECT using 99mTc-ethyl cysteinate dimer was performed at interictal time of migraine. Brain SPECT before lomerizine treatment revealed hypoperfusion in the frontal, parietal, and occipital regions. He was diagnosed with recurrence of migraine with aura (MA). Lomerizine (10 mg/day, po) was administered for 3 months. MA and visual aura without headache were dramatically improved. Migraine attacks and visual disturbance were not induced at exercise. At 3 months after lomerizine medication, brain SPECT showed remarkable increase of rCBF. These SPECT changes of our patient indicated that antimigraine mechanism of lomerizine could contribute to restoration of cerebral hypoperfusion.

Neurosyphilis with unilateral optic tract lesion causing homonymous hemianopia.

Introduction:Homonymous hemianopia is not a rare symptom. Many causative lesions and pathologies are known, although a unilateral optic tract lesion caused by syphilis is rare. Case Report:A 56-year-old woman developed a congruous right homonymous hemianopia and bilateral tonic pupils with irregular shape. Brain T2-weighted and fluid attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a spindle-like high-intensity lesion in her left postchiasmal optic tract. The rim of this lesion enhanced with gadolinium without meningeal enhancement. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid venereal disease research laboratory tests were positive. Cerebrospinal fluid contained 71 white blood cells/&mgr;L (mononuclear cells = 97%) and 48 mg/dL of protein. The hemianopia disappeared after administration of benzylpenicillin. Conclusions:Neurosyphilis should be added to the list of differential diagnoses for an isolated optic tract lesion.

Intervention by Speech Therapists to Promote Oral Intake of Patients with Acute Stroke: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE Early rehabilitation for acute stroke patients is widely recommended. We tested the hypothesis that daily intervention by speech therapists promotes safe oral intake of patients with acute stroke. METHODS We analyzed hospitalized patients who experienced cerebral infarction and cerebral hemorrhage and who underwent rehabilitation between October 2010 and September 2014 at our hospital. In total, 936 patients were analyzed, and 452 patients underwent daily speech therapy. We examined the association of training frequency and eating status. RESULTS Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that daily speech therapy was correlated significantly and positively with a reduction in the number of days of hospitalization until oral intake commenced (coefficient, -.998; 95% confidence interval, -1.793 to -.202; P < .05), and was not correlated with the cessation of oral intake due to aspiration pneumonia after resuming oral intake. CONCLUSION Our retrospective cohort study demonstrated that daily intervention by speech therapists in patients with acute stroke shortens the number of days until oral intake without increasing the incidence of aspiration pneumonia.

Effectiveness of 7-day versus weekday-only rehabilitation for stroke patients in an acute-care hospital: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Purpose: Early rehabilitation is widely recommended for acute-stroke patients. We tested the hypothesis that the functional prognosis of stroke patients receiving daily early rehabilitation in a clinical practice setting is generally better than that of patients receiving rehabilitation only on weekdays. Materials and methods: We analyzed hospitalized patients who experienced either cerebral infarctions or cerebral hemorrhages and subsequently underwent rehabilitation at our hospital between October 2010 and September 2014. We examined the association between training frequency and activities of daily living improvements, as indicated by the Barthel Index (BI) effectiveness. Results: In total, 661 patients with cerebral infarctions and 245 with intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) were analyzed. The BI effectiveness was highest for patients receiving high-frequency therapy following cerebral infarction. In addition, multiple linear regression analysis indicated that BI effectiveness was significantly and positively correlated with high-frequency therapy (coefficient, 0.072; 95% confidence interval, 0.019–0.126; p < 0.01) in patients with cerebral infarctions. There was no significant difference in BI effectiveness between therapeutic protocols for patients with ICHs. Conclusion: This retrospective cohort study demonstrated that extensive therapy can result in functional recovery in patients with cerebral infarctions. Implications for Rehabilitation Early intervention with intensive rehabilitation therapy is important for improving the functional recovery of patients during acute-care hospitalization. Few acute hospitals provide more than 2 h of daily rehabilitation for patients with acute stroke. In a daily clinical practice setting, this clinical study demonstrates a direct relationship between early intervention with intensive rehabilitation therapy and good functional recovery of stroke patients in an acute ward.