HLA-DRB1 alleles influence clinical phenotypes in Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region has been implicated in the disease susceptibility of inflammatory bowel disease by several linkage and association studies. In Caucasians, HLA-DRB1 has been reported to determine the clinical phenotypes of ulcerative colitis (UC). Others and we previously reported that HLA-DRB1*1502 was strongly associated with UC in the Japanese population. However, the contribution of HLA-DRB1 to the clinical phenotypes in Japanese UC has not been elucidated yet. The aim of this study was to determine whether HLA-DRB1 alleles were associated with the clinical phenotypes in Japanese patients with UC. A total of 353 patients with UC were recruited. Patients were classified into subgroups by sex, age at diagnosis, disease extent, need for steroid therapy or need for surgical treatment. The allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*08 was significantly higher in patients whose disease extended beyond the rectum (left-sided and extensive UC) than in those with proctitis [odds ratio (OR)=2.20, Pc=0.043). The allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*09 was significantly higher in patients with UC diagnosed at the age of 40 years or older than in those with UC diagnosed before the age of 40 years (OR=2.31, Pc=0.022). Besides these positive associations, no significant differences were found in the allele frequencies between the other subgroups. We conclude that HLA-DRB1*09 is associated with the age at diagnosis and HLA-DRB1*08 is associated with the disease extent of UC in Japanese. These results indicate that HLA-DRB1 is not only associated with the overall UC susceptibility but also associated with the clinical phenotypes in Japanese.

Effect of osmolarity on glycosaminoglycan production and cell metabolism of articular chondrocyte under three-dimensional culture system

OBJECTIVES

This study examined how physiological levels of extracellular osmolarity influence proteoglycan accumulation in articular chondrocytes in a three-dimensional culture system.

METHODS

Cells were obtained from metacarpal phalangeal joints of 18-24 month bovine. They were cultured for 6 days in alginate beads at 4 million cells/ml in DMEM containing 6% FBS under 21% O2. Medium osmolarity was altered by NaCl addition over the range 270-570 mOsm and monitored using a freezing point osmometer. Profiles across intact beads were determined by manual counting using fluorescent probes and transmission electron microscope. Lactate production was measured enzymatically and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) accumulation was measured using a modified dimethylmethylene blue assay. Rate of sulfate GAG synthesis was measured using a standard 35S-sulfate radioactive method.

RESULTS

The cell viability was similar for the high and low osmolarity cultures. However, confocal microscopy showed that the cells were the largest under 270 mOsm and became smaller with increasing osmotic pressure. GAG production was largest in the 370mOsm, and the capacity for GAG production and cell metabolism (lactate production) was low under hypo-osmolarity and hyper-osmolarity, and cell deaths were often observed on electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

In our model the prevailing osmolarity was a powerful regulator of GAG accumulation by cultured chondrocytes. These results thus indicate GAG synthesis rates are regulated by GAG concentration, with implications both for the aetiology of osteoarthritis and for tissue engineering.

Butyrophilin-like 2 gene is associated with ulcerative colitis in the Japanese under strong linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DRB1*1502

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is classified into Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Recently, an association between sarcoidosis and the butyrophilin-like 2 (BTNL2) gene was reported. BTNL2 is located in the HLA region and its messenger RNA is expressed most abundantly in the intestine. In this study, we performed a case-control association study of BTNL2 in the Japanese patients with IBD and performed linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis between BTNL2 and HLA-DRB1. We analyzed eight polymorphisms selected after direct sequencing and found that none of the polymorphisms were associated with the Japanese CD cohort. In contrast, five polymorphisms were significantly associated with UC, especially three single nucleotide polymorphisms (BTNL2_19, BTNL2_22 and BTNL2_23) were associated as a haplotype. The most frequent haplotype (GGC haplotype) was a low-risk haplotype (P= 0.000052), whereas the other TCT haplotype was a high-risk haplotype (P= 0.0000085). Among the eight polymorphisms, the strongest association with UC was found in BTNL2_19 (OR = 1.92, P= 0.0000035). As expected, the BTNL2_19-T allele showed strong LD with DRB1*1502 (D'= 0.92). When BTNL2_19 was tested as conditional on the DRB1*1502 carrier status, the significant association disappeared, suggesting that the association was because of its strong LD with DRB1*1502. We conclude that BTNL2 does not contribute to the susceptibility to Japanese CD but is associated with Japanese UC because of the strong LD with HLA-DRB1*1502. The strong LD between BTNL2 and HLA-DRB1 raises another issue about the potential role of BTNL2 in other diseases associated with HLA-DRB1.

Significance of colonoscopy in patients with intestinal graft-versus-host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Patients with intestinal graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) are generally in poor clinical condition. In this study we aimed to establish the clinical significance of endoscopic diagnosis of this condition, observing only the distal section of the large intestine.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Endoscopic and pathological findings at colonoscopy were evaluated retrospectively in 12 patients who were diagnosed with intestinal GVHD after undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

RESULTS

The main mucosal changes observed at endoscopy were granular change, edema, "spotty redness", and sloughing. These were clearly displayed after enhancement with Indigo carmine staining, and with insertion of the colonoscope only as far as the distal section of the large intestine. A histological diagnosis of intestinal GVHD was made in 50 % of the patients, whose intestinal epithelium specimens showed numerous apoptotic bodies. It was possible to perform total colonoscopy in two patients who were in relatively good condition clinically, but there were no remarkable differences in the endoscopic findings throughout the large intestine, from the terminal ileum to the rectum. In terms of clinical outcomes of the 12 patients, their prognosis was poor in that they all either went on to suffer from chronic GVHD or died.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic and histological findings on distal colonoscopy are clinically significant in the diagnosis of intestinal GVHD, and limiting this examination to the distal section of the large intestine avoids causing further clinical deterioration in patients who are already in very poor general condition and the possibility of causing endoscopy-related complications.

Mapping of a disease susceptibility locus in chromosome 6p in Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a multifactorial disorder with both genetic and environmental factors. HLA-B*52 and DRB1*1502 are reported to be strongly associated with UC in Japan. However, the actual susceptible gene has not been identified yet. In this study, to map precisely the susceptible locus for UC, we performed association mapping in the chromosome 6p using 24 microsatellite markers distributed over 16 Mb. A total of 183 patients with UC and 186 healthy controls (HC) were included in this study. In all, 15 markers around the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region showed statistical significance in the genotypic differentiation test concerned with the allelic distribution between the UC and HC. Especially, the markers between the centromeric region of HLA class I and the telomeric region of class III showed remarkably low P-values and the allele239 of C2-4-4 in class I marker showed the strongest association (Pc=2.9 x 10(-9): OR=3.74, 95% CI=2.50-5.60). Furthermore, we found strong linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the allele239 of C2-4-4 and HLA-B*52 in haplotype analysis. These results provide evidence that, in Japanese, important determinants of disease susceptibility to UC may exist in HLA, especially between the centromeric region of class I and the telomeric region of class III, under the strong LD with HLA-B*52.

Promoter polymorphism of SLC11A1 (formerly NRAMP1) confers susceptibility to autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus in Japanese

Defective function of antigen-presenting cells has been postulated to be one of the non-HLA-linked susceptibility factors for type 1 diabetes mellitus, though the underlying genetic factors remain unclear. SLC11A1 (formerly NRAMP1), a divalent cation transporter, plays a crucial role in macrophage activation. We performed a case-control study in 224 healthy and 95 type 1 diabetic Japanese subjects, examining the length polymorphisms in the promoter region (-377 to -222) of SLC11A1, which may influence transcriptional activity. Alleles designated 2, 3, and 7 have been identified in Japanese subjects. The frequency of allele 7 was significantly higher in subjects with type 1 diabetes (9.47%) than in the healthy controls (4.46%). The difference is more marked in the subpopulation of Japanese subjects with type 1 diabetes; diabetic subjects with at least one protective HLA class II allele and those without any susceptibility HLA class II haplotypes, DR4-DQ4 or DR9-DQ9, had a much higher allele 7 frequency than controls. These findings suggest that the novel promoter polymorphism of SLC11A1 influences the susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Japanese subjects.

Analysis of the IBD5 locus and potential gene-gene interactions in Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Genetic variation in the chromosome 5q31 cytokine cluster (IBD5 risk haplotype) has been associated with Crohn's disease (CD) in a Canadian population. We studied the IBD5 risk haplotype in both British and Japanese cohorts. Disease associations have also been reported for CARD15/NOD2 and TNF variants. Complex interactions between susceptibility loci have been shown in animal models, and we tested for potential gene-gene interactions between the three CD associated loci.

METHODS

Family based association analyses were performed in 457 British families (252 ulcerative colitis, 282 CD trios) genotyped for the IBD5 haplotype, common CARD15, and TNF-857 variants. To test for possible epistatic interactions between variants, transmission disequilibrium test analyses were further stratified by genotype at other loci, and novel log linear analyses were performed using the haplotype relative risk model. Case control association analyses were performed in 178 Japanese CD patients and 156 healthy controls genotyped for the IBD5 haplotype.

RESULTS

The IBD5 haplotype was associated with CD (p=0.007), but not with UC, in the British Caucasian population. The CARD15 variants and IBD5 haplotype showed additive main effects, and in particular no evidence for epistatic interactions was found. Variants from the IBD5 haplotype were extremely rare in the Japanese.

CONCLUSIONS

The IBD5 risk haplotype is associated with British CD. Genetic variants predisposing to CD show heterogeneity and population specific differences.

Ulcerative colitis is associated with a promoter polymorphism of lipopolysaccharide receptor gene, CD14

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a multifactorial disease with a significant genetic background. Evidence is accumulating that molecules such as CD14, which interact with luminal bacterial constituents, are involved in the pathogenesis. It has recently been shown that the T allele of the 5'-flanking region of the CD14 gene at position -159 is related to high expression of CD14. In further exploring the genetic background of IBD, we investigated this novel polymorphism of CD14 gene in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease.

METHODS

DNA was obtained from 101 patients with ulcerative colitis, 82 with Crohn disease and 123 healthy controls. All were typed for the promoter polymorphism of the CD14 gene at position -159 by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Serum samples were obtained from 105 healthy controls and serum sCD14 levels were measured.

RESULTS

T allele frequencies were 57.4%, 48.2% and 44.7% in ulcerative colitis, Crohn disease and healthy controls, respectively. The T allele and T/T genotype frequencies were significantly higher in ulcerative colitis patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.0074, OR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.15-2.42, P = 0.022, OR= 1.96 95% CI: 1.10-3.48, respectively). The sCD14 level was significantly higher in TT genotype populations than CC (P = 0.0205).

CONCLUSIONS

The promoter polymorphism of the CD14 gene at -159T plays a significant role in regulating the CD14 expression and is positively associated with ulcerative colitis, and this polymorphism may confer a genetic predisposition to ulcerative colitis. The results also support the concept that bacterial constituents may be involved in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with a novel promoter polymorphism of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) gene

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) representing both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are characterized by chronic activation of macrophages. Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) gene regulates macrophage activation of antimicrobial activity and has many pleiotropic effects on macrophage functions. To explore the role of the NRAMP1 gene in IBD susceptibility, we examined the promoter sequence of the NRAMP1 gene whose polymorphisms have been reported to influence the transcriptional activity of the NRAMP1 gene. One novel allele (allele 7) and two previously reported alleles (alleles 2 and 3) have been determined in a Japanese population. We investigated the association of IBD with these three alleles. The allele frequency of allele 7 was significantly higher in patients with Crohn's disease (11.1%) and ulcerative colitis (11.2%) than those in the healthy control group (4.5%) (Pc=0.015, Pc=0.018, respectively). Therefore, our findings suggest that the novel promoter polymorphism of the NRAMP1 gene may influence susceptibility to IBD in the Japanese population.

[A case presenting with Raeder's syndrome-like symptoms due to vertebral artery aneurysm]

A 50-year-old man complained of headache around his left orbit, left frontal pain and paresthesia associated with left incomplete Horner syndrome. MRI demonstrated a mass at the level of medulla oblongata. Left vertebral angiogram revealed an aneurysm of left vertebral artery. Following the removal of the aneurysm, these Raeder's syndrome-like symptoms improved. Therefore, they were probably caused by a compression of the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve and the central sympathetic tract by the aneurysm. This is the first report of Reader's syndrome-like symptoms caused by vertebral artery aneurysm, thus indicating that MRI and cerebral angiogram are necessary for differential diagnosis of this syndrome.

Findings in a patient with herpes simplex viral meningitis associated with acute retinal necrosis syndrome

We report the case of a 41-year-old man with clinical findings of viral meningitis associated with acute retinal necrosis syndrome in his right eye. MR images showed right optic nerve enlargement and high-intensity signal abnormalities in the region of the left lateral geniculate body and the left occipital lobe.

Analysis of the PTEN gene mutation in polyposis syndromes and sporadic gastrointestinal tumors in Japanese patients

PURPOSE

PTEN is a candidate tumor suppressor gene for mutations which are responsible for Cowden disease. Recently, it has been shown that PTEN is mutated in several human neoplasms. To investigate the role of PTEN in tumorigenesis, we screened its mutation in Japanese patients with gastrointestinal polyposis and various sporadic tumors.

METHODS

The entire coding region of PTEN was screened by single strand conformational polymorphism or direct sequencing for somatic mutations in 16 gingival papillomas, 4 juvenile polyps, 10 esophageal papillomas, and 20 colorectal cancers and for germline mutations in three patients with Cowden disease (including one with Lhermitte-Duclos disease) and one patient each with juvenile polyposis syndrome, Turcot's syndrome, and Cronkhite-Canada syndrome.

RESULTS

Germline mutations were found in all cases of Cowden disease. One mutation was a nonsense mutation at codon 130 (CGA-->TGA), and the other two were splice site mutations at the 5' site of intron 4 and the 3' site of intron 8. We could not detect germline mutations in other patients with gastrointestinal polyposis or somatic mutations in sporadic tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed previous reports that germline mutations in PTEN are responsible for Cowden disease. However, somatic mutations of PTEN may not play a major role in tumorigenesis, at least in colorectal cancers, esophageal papillomas and gingival papillomas.

Relationship between microsatellite instability and telomere shortening in colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

Two pathways have been proposed for the development of colorectal cancers: loss of heterozygosity and replication error. Colorectal cancers arising through the replication error pathway, like most hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancers, show microsatellite instability. It has been also reported that telomere shortening frequently occurs in colorectal cancers and that telomerase is often activated strongly in them. The aim of this study was to examine whether any relationships can be found among microsatellite instability, telomere length, and telomerase activity in colorectal cancers.

METHODS

Genomic DNA was extracted from 55 invasive cancers and corresponding normal mucosas. Five microsatellite loci were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Telomere length was examined by Southern blot analysis. Telomerase activity was assayed by telomeric repeat amplification protocol with minor modifications.

RESULTS

Microsatellite instability was found in 8 (14.5 percent) of 55 tumors, and all of them showed short telomeres. Furthermore, four high-frequency microsatellite instability tumors that showed microsatellite instability at more than two loci exhibited remarkably short telomeres. The microsatellite instability correlated significantly with frequency of telomere shortening (P = 0.0183; Fisher's exact probability test), but not with strength of telomerase activity.

CONCLUSION

The relationship identified by this study between microsatellite instability and telomere shortening might suggest some association between the DNA mismatch repair system and the telomere maintenance mechanism in colorectal cancers.

Benign hot bath-related headache

We describe three cases of women with hot bath-related headache who reported that their severe paroxysmal headache could be provoked by pouring hot water over themselves or by soaking in a hot bath. In one patient, the headache was also brought on by exposure to cold wind. Another patient had headaches after she dived into a pool and started swimming. Neurological examination, routine laboratory tests, electroencephalography, and brain imaging showed no abnormality in any of the patients. Hot bath-related headache is a benign headache unassociated with a structural lesion.

Telomere shortening and the clinicopathologic characteristics of human colorectal carcinomas

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that shortening of telomeres and strong activation of telomerase occur frequently in colorectal carcinomas. In the current study, the authors examined the correlations between the telomere length of colorectal carcinomas and their clinicopathologic characteristics as well as the activity of telomerase to clarify whether telomere length might represent the biologic behavior of tumors and the mode of tumor development.

METHODS

Telomere length was examined by Southern blot analysis in 61 invasive colorectal carcinomas and corresponding normal mucosas. Telomerase activity was assayed by the telomeric repeat amplification protocol with minor modifications.

RESULTS

Shortening of the telomere was detected in 38 (62.3%) and elongation in 3 (4. 9%) of the 61 carcinomas. The telomere shortening occurred more frequently in nonulcerating polypoid carcinomas than in ulcerating carcinomas (P = 0.0373) and also occurred more frequently in ascending colon carcinomas than in sigmoid colon or rectal carcinomas (P = 0.0259 and P = 0.0407, respectively). However, no significant correlation was found between the activity of telomerase and the length of telomere.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that telomere length may represent the biologic behavior of individual tumors and possibly the mode of development of colorectal carcinomas.

Crohn's disease is associated with novel polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking region of the tumor necrosis factor gene

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). Recently, 3 polymorphisms in the 5'-flanking region of the TNF gene at positions -1031, -863, and -857, which are related to high transcriptional promoter activity, have been identified in the Japanese population. In an effort to understand potential genetic association with CD, we evaluated patients diagnosed with CD and ulcerative colitis (UC) in the presence of other novel polymorphisms.

METHODS

Blood samples were obtained from 103 patients with CD and 76 patients with UC. Polymorphisms in the TNF gene at their respective positions were analyzed by direct sequencing, and the allele frequencies were compared with those determined previously in a healthy Japanese population.

RESULTS

Allele frequencies of -1031C, -863A, and -857T in normal controls were 16.0%, 14.0%, and 17.7%, respectively. Polymorphic allele frequencies at positions -1031, -863, and -857 were 24.3%, 21.8%, and 27.2% in CD and 11.8%, 11.2%, and 11.8% in UC, respectively. The frequencies at all 3 positions were significantly higher in CD patients than in UC patients or healthy controls. Among the subgroups of CD, small bowel disease showed the highest frequencies.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the findings need to be confirmed in other populations with larger numbers of patients, TNF gene polymorphisms -1031C, -863A, and -857T are positively associated with CD; they may influence not only the susceptibility to CD but also the disease location.

High-signal basal ganglia on T1-weighted images in a patient with Sydenham's chorea

We report a 16-year-old girl with Sydenham's chorea. Choreiform movements involved both sides of her body. MRI 2 months after the onset revealed abnormal increased signal on T2-weighted images and enlargement of the caudate and putamen bilaterally. MRI 5 months later showed resolution of the swelling, but with increased signal on T1-weighted images in the putamen, globus pallidus and the head of the caudate nucleus bilaterally, with slightly increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images.

[A case of rapidly progressive T cell type malignant lymphoma which started with multiple cranial neuropathy]

A 35-year-old man had suffered from recurrent right trigeminal nerve palsy and flaccid paraparesis for about five months. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed a marked increase of protein (400 mg/dl) and mononuclear cells (146/mm3), but there were no malignant cells. Antibiotic therapy remitted his inguinal and mediastinal lymph nodes swelling, and trigeminal nerve palsy had recovered spontaneously. Then he developed left trigeminal and facial nerve palsy, mononeuropathy multiplex, and cauda equina syndrome. Nerve conduction studies revealed delayed velocity and reduction of amplitude. Enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed increased signal intensity in bilateral trigeminal nerves, left internal auditory meatus, and meninges of the basal cistern. Also, there were two mass lesions in cauda equina. They were operated by orthopedist, and were not malignant. After that, CSF cells of malignant lymphoma were elevated and revealed T cell type (large cell). Then the patient exacerbated in bulbar palsy and died. When there is lymph node swelling with multiple neurological deficits, despite remission of lesions and signs, biopsies should be positively pursued early in the patient's clinical course.

[A case of psittacosis with psychiatric symptoms, abnormal EEG, and abnormal SPECT]

A 40-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with disorientation, delusional idea, and sensory disturbance of lower face after having a fever and cough for 5 days. A chest X-ray examination revealed an infiltration in the left lower lobe field. Psittacosis was diagnosed because the serum antibody titer against chlamydia psittaci was elevated. Electroencephalogram showed right temporal lobe spikes. SPECT showed decreased accumulation of 99mTc-HMPAO in the right frontal and temporal lobe. Computed tomography scan of the brain was normal. This patient was diagnosed as ornithsis Encephalitis.

[Two siblings with sarcoidosis diagnosed by younger sister's central nervous symptoms]

We report two siblings with sarcoidosis; the younger sister had symptoms of central nervous system, and both sisters had subcutaneous mass lesions in the gluteal region. Case 1. A 30-year-old woman presented with two episodes of right leg paresis. On admission, neurological examination revealed right leg weakness, spasticity of both legs, increased deep tendon reflexes in all extremities, urinary disturbance and hearing loss of the right ear, but she had no meningeal signs. Serological studies were normal including angiotensin converting enzyme. Cerebrospinal fluid revealed elevated protein to 340 mg/dl, mild pleocytosis, decreased glucose. CSF culture was negative, and cytology showed no malignant cells. Enhanced MR imaging showed diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement in both the brain around basal meninges and the whole spinal cord. Case 2. A 34-year-old woman (the elder sister of Case 1) presented with visual disturbance. She had been diagnosed to have bilateral iritis at Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital before visiting our hospital. Neurological examination and serological studies were normal. In both cases, left gluteal subcutaneous mass was detected and its biopsy revealed characteristic sarcoid nodules and confirmed the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. A tendency of familial occurrence and positive associations of the specific HLA antigens in sarcoidosis have been reported. Though the diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis has been difficult without extraneurological signs, sarcoidosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in all the patients with myelopathy, and enhanced MRI and measure of CSF angiotensin converting enzyme seem to be useful for diagnosis and evaluation of drug effect during the course of steroid therapy.

[Polymyositis followed by myasthenia gravis]

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of swelling of both forearms and muscle weakness in the limbs. Laboratory examination revealed abnormally high levels of serum creatine kinase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase. Polymyositis was diagnosed, and prednisolone was administered. Her condition had been well controlled on prednisolone until several months before admission, when bilateral blepharoptosis and diplopia developed. An edrophonium test was positive: muscle weakness was transiently alleviated. High titers of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies were found. A chest CT scan showed a mass in the anterior part of the mediastinum. We diagnosed myasthenia gravis associated with thymoma. After an extended thymectomy, the patient's condition improved. When muscle weakness recurs after remission of polymyositis, myasthenia gravis should be considered.

[Progressive ataxic hemiparesis with asymmetric cortical and cerebral peduncular atrophy--report of two cases]

We report two patients, 73- and 70-year-old men, characterized by progressive hemiparesis and homolateral limb ataxia as the main clinical symptoms; magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the brain revealed asymmetric cerebral cortical and peduncular atrophy; 99mTc-ECD single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of brain showed decreased RI uptake in the cerebral hemisphere correlated with clinical deficits. Brain SPECT of case 1 showed decreased RI uptake in the cortex of the right hemisphere and the left cerebellar hemisphere ("crossed cerebellar diaschisis; CCD"). These findings indicate that ataxia of our patients may depend on the lesions of the corticopontocerebellar tracts, although it is possible that ataxia may be related to lack of spatial orientation associated with parietal lobe lesion. The mechanism of the occurrence of asymmetric cerebral peduncular atrophy would be explained by wallerian degeneration of the pyramidal tract and other cortically originated fibers associated with the cortical degeneration. From these clinical and radiologic features, it seems likely that our two patients are categorized in the "asymmetric cortical degeneration syndromes", and we propose the term "progressive ataxic hemiparesis" for our patients.

[A case of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) with various neurological complications]

A 71-year-old female presented with a 10-year history of slowly progressive gait disturbance and dorsolumbar pain. Motion of he neck and trunk was severely restricted. She showed decreased sensation of vibration and position in the upper and lower limbs and had Romberg's sign. Hyperesthesia of touch sensation was distributed in a stocking pattern. She showed hyporeflexia and pathological reflexes in lower limbs. Her gait was ataxic and spastic. Laboratory examination of blood and urine revealed no remarkable findings. Radiographic examination revealed ligamentous calcification and ossification along the anterolateral aspect of the vertebral column at several levels, and there was ossification of hte ligament and tendon attachment to the bone at extraspinal sites. The radiographic features were characteristic of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). Computed tomography at lower thoracic and lumbar vertebral portions showed compression of the spinal cord by ossification of the flavatum ligament. The conduction velocity of tibial nerves and sural nerves were delayed, and the mechanism of the occurrence of peripheral nerve lesions in this patient could be explained by extrinsic compression by heterotopic calcification or some metabolic factor due to DISH.

[Corticobasal degeneration: symptomatological, brain-imaging and electrophysiological studies]

Eight cases of clinically diagnosed corticobasal degeneration (CBD) were studied with reference to their symptomatology, brain-imagings and electrophysiological findings. The diagnosis was based on the combination of limb-kinetic apraxia (cortical sign), akinetic-rigid sign (extrapyramidal) and their unilateral predominance. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 123I-IMP or 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT findings were used to reinforce the diagnosis. The age at onset of 8 cases (4 males, 4 females) was 61 to 80 years (mean 66). Other common symptoms on admission consisted of dysequilibrium (8 cases), dysarthria (8), grasp reflex (6), supranuclear gaze palsy (6), tremor (6), limb dystonia (6) and alien limbs (5). MRI revealed parietal (3 cases) or frontoparietal (3) atrophy. SPECT showed decrease in cerebral blood flow in frontoparietal (3 cases) or frontoparietotemporal lobes (5). SPECT surpassed MRI to detect unilateral predominance of the lesions. With magnetic stimulation of the head and neck central motor conduction time (CMCT) was normal, while motor inhibitory periods (IPs) were significantly shorter in CBD patients compared with those in normal controls and the patients with Parkinson's disease. In 3 patients with reflex myoclonus, giant SEPs were not evoked, though with positive C-reflex, suggesting an elevated excitability of cerebral cortex unrelated to the production of giant SEPs.

[Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody subsequent to Campylobacter jejuni enteritis]

We report a 15-year-old man with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following Campylobacter jejuni enteritis. Neurologic examination revealed distal muscle weakness and mild disturbance of superficial sense on right plantar area. Serial electrophysiologic studies indicated that the predominant process was axonal degeneration of motor nerves. Thin-layer chromatography with immunostaining revealed that serum IgG strongly reacted with GalNAc-GD1a and weakly with GM2, but did not react with GM1. This is the first report of GBS subsequent to C. jejuni enteritis associated with anti-GalNAc-GD1a antibody.

[A case of myotonic dystrophy with morning headache following sleep apnea syndrome]

We reported a 39-year-old man with myotonic dystrophy. He suffered from morning headache. Respiratory function tests showed restrictive pattern and arterial gas analysis showed hypoxia and hypercapnia with respiratory acidosis (PaCO2 50.8 mmHg, PaO2 63.8mmHg, pH 7.317, SaO2 89.8%). Polysomnograph showed central apneas exclusively in light sleep (stage 1 and 2). O2 saturation fell at most to as low as 50% during the apneas. We conclude that sleep apnea should be consider in patients with myotonic dystrophy associated with morning headache.

[A case of secondary carnitine deficiency due to anorexia nervosa and severe liver damage]

We reported an 18-year-old woman with anorexia nervosa and liver damage who showed carnitine deficiency. Her unbalanced diet had little carnitine, and severely damaged liver could not synthesize carnitine. Since total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and tube-feed formulas contain little or no carnitine, the patient had progressive weakness and muscle atrophy. Muscle biopsy revealed variability of fiber diameter, type 1 fiber atrophy and copious amount of lipid granules. Carnitine deficiency must be diagnosed in the early stage by muscle biopsy or muscle carnitine levels, and treated with oral intake of L-carnitine.

[Clinical analysis of benign transient shuddering-like involuntary movement in elderly people]

We described 9 patients who developed acute onset benign transient shuddering-like involuntary movement in elderly people. There was no consciousness disturbance or sensorimotor dysfunction. There were finger tremor, dysarthria, or gait disturbance in some patients. Asterixis was observed in the upper extremities in 2 patients. Duration of an involuntary movement was less than 1 second, and the series of the involuntary movements continued for several days. This state appeared acutely and disappeared within 0.5 -4 days in the natural course without any sequelae. Oral administration of clonazepam was very effective to suppress this tremulousness. Seven of 9 patients developed recurrence. Although the cause of this syndrome remains unknown, we believe that this condition is clinically important for differential diagnosis of acute onset involuntary movements in elderly people.

[A case of painful involuntary contraction of the left latissimus dorsi muscle, successfully treated with left thoracodorsal nerve resection]

A 66-year-old Japanese man underwent the resection of the upper lobe of the left lung for primary lung cancer. One year later, his back muscles neighboring the operation scar gradually began to twitch upwards intermittently. The involuntary muscle twitch was accompanied with severe local pain, and intensity of the pain and contraction slowly increased. The abnormal muscle contractions were confined to the left latissimus dorsi muscle on needle EMG. The pain and movement ceased by blocking of either thoracodorsal nerve or brachial plexus, and disappeared finally by resection of the nerve. The impulses causing involuntary, painful contractions were thought to originate in the damaged thoracodorsal nerve, transmitted to CNS and re-transmitted to the thoracodorsal nerve.

[Clinical and MRI correlation in multiple system atrophy]

By using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we studied 11 patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA): 5 olivo-pontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA), 2 Shy-Drager syndrome (SDS), and 4 striatonigral degeneration (SND). The diagnoses of OPCA, SDS and SND were clinically made. The MR images were performed on 1.5 tesla MRI unit (Siemens Asahi Medical, Magnetom H15), using a T2-weighted spin echo (SE) sequence (TR: 2000-3000ms, TE: 80-90ms), a T1-weighted SE sequence (TR: 550, TE: 15), and a proton density-weighted (PD) SE sequence (TR: 2000-3000, TE: 12-22). In the patients with OPCA, MRI revealed cerebellar and brainstem atrophy and degeneration of pontine transverse fibers more marked than in the patients with SDS and SND. T2-weighted images showed low intensity in posterolateral putamina in one OPCA patient and all of SDS and SND patients. PD images demonstrated the abnormal slit-like high signals in posterolateral putamina in three SND. The degree of cerebellar ataxia was not well correlated with cerebellar and brainstem atrophy and degeneration of pontine transverse fibers. There was a positive correlation between the atrophy of cerebellum and brainstem and the duration of cerebellar ataxia. In most of the patients with parkinsonism, MRI demonstrated abnormal low signals in putamina on T2-weighted images. There were positive correlations between the abnormal low signals putamina and the duration and severity of parkinsonism. Though abnormal low signals in lateral putamina may be seen in normal aging and other disorders on T2-weighted images, it is useful to evaluate parkinsonism in MSA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[18p-syndrome with bilateral pyramidal tract signs, dystonia of the lower extremities and concentric visual field defect]

A case, diagnosed as 18p-syndrome by typical clinical appearance and by chromosomal analysis, presented with multiple nervous system defects consisting of bilateral pyramidal tract signs, weakness and focal dystonia of the lower extremities, and concentric visual field defect. Chromosomal analysis revealed karyotype 46, X, dic (Y;18) (p11;p11), inv(9) (p11q13), and the points of chromosomal breakages were thought to be in the short arm of chromosome 18 and in the short arm of Y chromosome. 18p-syndrome is caused by a chromosomal deletion, and presents with a wide variety of clinical appearances. Many cases have been reported since the original descriptions by de Grouchy in 1963, though with few mentions of neurological deficits other than mental retardation. Furthermore, there have been no reports of pyramidal tract signs, weakness and focal dystonia of the lower extremities, or visual field defect, without recognizable anatomical abnormalities. Our case of 18p-syndrome is quite rare because of multiple nervous system abnormalities mentioned above, not accompanied by malformations of the central nervous system.

[A case of multiple cerebral infarctions associated with hemichorea induced by amantadine hydrochloride]

We report an 80-year-old woman with hemichorea probably due to amantadine hydrochloride. She visited our hospital because of gait disturbance and decreased mental activity. She was diagnosed as multiple cerebral infarctions and treated with 100 mg/day of amantadine hydrochloride. After two weeks she showed choreic movement of the face and right arm and leg. Haloperidol was administered and her choreic movement disappeared. Brain MRI showed multiple cerebral infarctions in the white matter. There was no lesion in the left basal ganglia. SPECT showed hyperperfusion in the left basal ganglia when choreic movement appeared. After choreic movement disappeared, SPECT showed no asymmetrical blood flow. These findings suggest hemichorea was related to hyperfunction of dopaminergic neurons in the left basal ganglia.

[MRI and SPECT of adrenoleukodystrophy (cerebello-brainstem dominant form)--a case report]

We reported a 28-year-old man with adrenoleukodystrophy showing neurological features of olivopontocerebellar atrophy. He had a 11-year history of Addison's disease. ACTH stimulation produced no rise in the plasma cortisol level. The ratios of C24:0/C22:0, C25:0/C22:0, and C26:0/C22:0 in fatty acids of sphingomyelin from plasma were all increased. MRI showed the atrophy of brainstem and cerebellum and the abnormal hyperintense lesions of the bilateral pyramidal tracts in the brainstem and internal capsule. 99mTc-HM PAO SPECT showed hypoperfusion of the deep white matter, frontal lobes, temporal lobes, and cerebellum. We suggest that SPECT may be useful for detection of subclinical lesions in ALD.

[A case of isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency with adrenocorticosteroid-responsive brain edema and repeated confusions]

A 60-year-old man developed confusional state with severely abnormal electroencephalogram and brain edema on computed tomography (CT) of brain. Adrenocorticosteroid therapy was dramatically effective for the confusional state and brain edema. The reduction of adrenocorticosteroid induced confusional states, and they disappeared with the increase of adrenocorticosteroid. When brain edema on CT disappeared, T 2-weighted magnetic resonance imagings revealed diffuse high signal in the white matter. A diagnosis of isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency was made by endocrinological examinations and clinical features. We suggest that brain edema in this patient is due to deficiency of glucocorticoid. High intensity area in the white matter may show the degeneration of the white matter following brain edema.

[Isolated inferior rectus muscle paresis from midbrain infarction]

A 74-year-old woman, with hypertension and dilated cardiomyopathy, presented with sudden onset of diplopia without vertigo and other neurological symptom. Examination revealed left inferior rectus muscle paresis. Other neurological findings were normal. She had no cerebellar ataxia and sensori-motor dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging showed increased signal intensity on T2-weighted and proton density-weighted images in the right ventral midbrain, compatible with infarction involving the fascicular oculomotor fibers. Complete resolution of the diplopia and normal ocular motility were noted 3 months after the onset of the diplopia. Focal ischemic midbrain lesions should be considered in cases of isolated partial oculomotor nerve paresis.

[A case of cough headache with Chiari malformation (type I)]

A 38-year-old woman complained for about 5 years of attacks of headache elicited by coughing, sneezing, and laughing. These attacks became more frequent and more severe. Physical examination showed a short and broad neck. Neurological examination revealed no abnormality. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated the Chiari malformation (type I) and the cerebral venous angioma in left frontal white matter. A posterior decompression by suboccipital craniectomy with C1 laminectomy was performed. The headache completely disappeared. Before and after the operation, we measured the intracranial subdural pressure by a small pressure transducer. The raised cranial pressure by the Valsalva's maneuver prolonged for more than one minute. Postoperatively, the raised cranial pressure by the Valsalva's maneuver decreased rapidly. We consider that the cough headache of this patient was associated with a valve-like blockage by the Chiari malformation (type I) at the foramen magunum, resulting in cranio-spinal pressure dissociation by interference with downward pulsation. We believe that there was no correlation between the cough headache and the cerebral venous angioma.

[Clinical analysis of paralytic shellfish poisoning following ingestion of oysters]

We describe five patients of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) following ingestion of oysters in January 1991, in Nagato, Yamaguchi. The five patients (four men and one woman, age range:37-80 years) developed symptoms three-nine hours after consuming oysters. Symptoms included paresthesia of the mouth and tongue (three), paresthesia of the extremities (five), and quadriparesis (five). The median duration of neurological symptoms was 16 hours. All five patients completely recovered. Although PSP is rare as compared with globe fish poisoning in Japan, the fatality rate of PSP is 8%-9%, with deaths occurring in one-12 hours secondary to respiratory failure. PSP is an important disorder for differential diagnosis of acute paralytic illnesses, such as globe fish poisoning, botulism, acute polyradiculoneuropathy, fisher syndrome, myasthenia gravis, and periodic paralysis.