The right amygdala and migraine: Analyzing volume reduction and its relationship with symptom severity.

This study aimed to explore the relationship between gray matter volume changes and various clinical parameters in patients with migraine, focusing on symptom severity, quality of life, and states of depression and anxiety. Using a case-control design, we examined 33 patients with migraine, with or without aura, and 27 age-matched healthy subjects. We used magnetic resonance imaging to assess the volumes of 140 bilateral brain regions. Clinical evaluations included the Migraine Disability Assessment, the Migraine Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, Spielberger's State and Trait Anxiety scales, and the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. We compared the scores of these measures between migraine patients and healthy controls to examine the interplay between brain structure and clinical symptoms. Significant volumetric differences were observed in the pallidum and amygdala between migraine patients and healthy individuals. The reduction in the right amygdala volume correlated significantly with migraine severity as measured by the Migraine Disability Assessment. Path analysis revealed a model where Migraine Disability Assessment scores were influenced by Migraine Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire outcomes, which were further affected by depression, anxiety, and a low right pallidum volume. Our findings suggest that the chronicity and severity of migraine headaches specifically affect the right amygdala. Our path model suggests a complex relationship whereby migraine disability is strongly influenced by quality of life, which is, in turn, affected by psychological states, such as anxiety and depression.

Peripheral immune profile in drug-naïve dementia with Lewy bodies.

BACKGROUND: Accumulating evidence suggests that peripheral inflammation is associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). We examined peripheral immune profiles and their association with clinical characteristics in patients with DLB and compared these with values in patients with PD. METHODS: We analyzed peripheral blood from 93 participants (drug-naïve DLB, 31; drug-naïve PD, 31; controls, 31). Absolute leukocyte counts, absolute counts of leukocyte subpopulations, and peripheral blood inflammatory indices such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were examined. Associations with clinical characteristics, cardiac sympathetic denervation, and striatal 123I-2-carbomethoxy-3-(4-iodophenyl)-N-(3-fluoropropyl) nortropane (123I-FP-CIT) binding were also examined. RESULTS: Patients with DLB had lower absolute lymphocyte and basophil counts than did age-matched controls (both; p < 0.005). Higher basophil counts were marginally associated with higher global cognition (p = 0.054) and were significantly associated with milder motor severity (p = 0.020) and higher striatal 123I-FP-CIT binding (p = 0.038). By contrast, higher basophil counts were associated with more advanced PD characterized by decreased global cognition and severe cardiac sympathetic denervation. Although lower lymphocyte counts had relevance to more advanced PD, they had little relevance to clinical characteristics in patients with DLB. Higher peripheral blood inflammatory indices were associated with lower body mass index in both DLB and PD. CONCLUSIONS: As in patients with PD, the peripheral immune profile is altered in patients with DLB. Some peripheral immune cell counts and inflammatory indices reflect the degree of disease progression. These findings may deepen our knowledge on the role of peripheral inflammation in the pathogenesis of DLB.

[A Case of Bacterial Meningitis in Which Occurrence of Ataxie Optique Led to Detection of a Small Subdural Abscess and Pialitis].

We report the case of a 69-year-old man with bacterial meningitis who presented with ataxie optique in the peripheral part of the left visual field in both hands. A detailed neurological examination with contrast-enhanced brain MRI in the early stage of the clinical course identified a small subdural abscess and pialitis in the right parietal area. A favorable outcome was obtained with antibiotic therapy alone. In a case with higher brain dysfunction of unknown cause in the clinical course of bacterial meningitis, a detailed neurological examination may be helpful to identify the causative site. (Received September 25, 2023; Accepted October 31, 2023; Published March 1, 2024).

Impact of Istradefylline on Levodopa Dose Escalation in Parkinson's Disease: ISTRA ADJUST PD Study, a Multicenter, Open-Label, Randomized, Parallel-Group Controlled Study.

INTRODUCTION: A higher levodopa dose is a risk factor for motor complications in Parkinson's disease (PD). Istradefylline (IST) is used as adjunctive treatment to levodopa in PD patients with off episodes, but its impact on levodopa dose titration remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of IST on levodopa dose escalation in PD patients with wearing-off. METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, randomized, parallel-group controlled study (ISTRA ADJUST PD) in which PD patients experiencing wearing-off (n = 114) who were receiving levodopa 300-400 mg/day were randomized to receive IST or no IST (control). Levodopa dose was escalated according to clinical severity. The primary endpoint was cumulative additional levodopa dose, and secondary endpoints were changes in symptom rating scales, motor activity determined by a wearable device, and safety outcomes. RESULTS: The cumulative additional levodopa dose throughout 37 weeks and dose increase over 36 weeks were significantly lower in the IST group than in the control group (both p < 0.0001). The Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part I and device-evaluated motor activities improved significantly from baseline to 36 weeks in the IST group only (all p < 0.05). Other secondary endpoints were comparable between the groups. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurred in 28.8% and 13.2% of patients in the IST and control groups, respectively, with no serious ADRs in either group. CONCLUSION: IST treatment reduced levodopa dose escalation in PD patients, resulting in less cumulative levodopa use. Adjunctive IST may improve motor function more objectively than increased levodopa dose in patients with PD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Japan Registry of Clinical Trials: jRCTs031180248.

Urinary Immunoglobulin G Is a Novel Biomarker for Atherosclerotic Burden in Mild Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

AIMS: Urinary immunoglobulin G (IgG) may be a stronger marker of atherosclerosis than microalbuminuria are because urinary IgG reflects proteinuria level and size-selectivity loss. Microalbuminuria-not urinary IgG-is associated with mild acute ischemic stroke (MAIS). METHODS: Using the Jikei University School of Medicine Stroke Registry, we selected and screened patients with symptomatic acute ischemic stroke (onset-to-door time ≤ 24 h). The exclusion criteria were (1) on-admission NIHSS scores ＞10, (2) a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≥ 2 prior to stroke onset, (3) incomplete data (no urinalysis ≤ 3 days after admission or no mRS score at 90 days from stroke onset), and (4) an active malignancy. Patients at 90 days post-discharge were divided into those with favorable mRS scores of 0-1 and those with unfavorable mRS scores of 2-6. Clinical backgrounds were compared for (1) patients with positive and negative urinary IgG results, and (2) patients with favorable and unfavorable outcomes. RESULTS: Of our study's 210 patients (164=male, median age=68, median eGFR=53.2 ml/min/1.73 m2), 30 (14%) presented with positive urinary IgG, which was associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Higher BNP, higher D-dimer, lower eGFR, and higher CAVI were associated with higher positive urinary IgG. The favorable group, comprising 155 (74%) patients, had higher negative urinary IgG than the unfavorable group (89% vs 76%, P=0.026). No statistical difference emerged regarding microalbuminuria (29% vs 29%, P=1.000). CONCLUSION: In MAIS, urinary IgG was associated with both the presence of atherosclerosis and an unfavorable outcome at 90 days after stroke onset.

Interactive effect of orthostatic hypotension on gray matter atrophy associated with hyposmia and RBD in de novo Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a potential modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Although other risk factors for dementia, hyposmia and REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), are closely associated with autonomic dysfunction in PD, little is known about how these risk factors influence cognitive function and cerebral pathology. OBJECTIVE: We investigated how these three factors contribute to gray matter atrophy by considering the interaction of OH with hyposmia and RBD. METHODS: We analyzed cortical thickness, subcortical gray matter volume, and cognitive measures from 78 patients with de novo PD who underwent the head-up tilt test for the diagnosis of OH. RESULTS: Whole-brain analyses with Monte Carlo corrections revealed that hyposmia was associated with decreased cortical thickness in a marginal branch of the cingulate sulcus among patients with OH, and cortical thickness in this area correlated with cognitive functioning only in patients with OH. Subcortical gray matter volume analysis indicated that severe RBD was associated with decreased volume in the left hippocampus and bilateral amygdala among patients with OH. CONCLUSION: Even in early PD, OH exerts effects on gray matter atrophy and cognitive dysfunction by interacting with RBD and hyposmia. OH might exacerbate cerebral pathology induced by hyposmia or RBD.

Neuroprotective Potential of Raloxifene via G-Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptors in Aß-Oligomer-Induced Neuronal Injury.

Amyloid-ß (Aß) is one of the causes of Alzheimer's disease (AD), damaging nerve membranes and inducing neurotoxicity. AD is more prevalent in female patients than in male patients, and women are more susceptible to developing AD due to the decline in estrogen levels around menopause. Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, exhibits protective effects by activating the transmembrane G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). Additionally, raloxifene prevents mild cognitive impairment and restores cognition. However, the influence of raloxifene via GPER on highly toxic Aß-oligomers (Aßo)-induced neurotoxicity remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated the GPER-mediated neuroprotective effects of raloxifene against the neurotoxicity caused by Aßo-induced cytotoxicity. The impact of raloxifene on Aßo-induced cell damage was evaluated using measures such as cell viability, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial ROS, peroxidation of cell-membrane phospholipids, and changes in intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) levels. Raloxifene hindered Aßo-induced oxidative stress and reduced excessive [Ca2+]i, resulting in improved cell viability. Furthermore, these effects of raloxifene were inhibited with pretreatment with a GPER antagonist. Our findings suggest that raloxifene safeguards against Aßo-induced neurotoxicity by modifying oxidative parameters and maintaining [Ca2+]i homeostasis. Raloxifene may prove effective in preventing and inhibiting the progression of AD.

IgG index of cerebrospinal fluid can reflect pathophysiology associated with Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation is one of the pathophysiologies of Parkinson's disease (PD). Lewy bodies, the pathological hallmark of PD, emerge as a consequence of α-synuclein aggregation, and neuroinflammation is induced concurrently with this aggregation. Imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers that reflect PD pathophysiology have been developed or are under investigation. The IgG index of CSF is a marker of inflammation, and may also reflect the pathophysiology of PD. AIM: We examined if the IgG index reflects the pathophysiology of PD in drug-naïve PD patients. METHOD: The subjects were 20 consecutive PD patients who underwent 123I-MIBG scintigraphy for assessment of the heart to mediastinum (H/M) ratio and wash out rate, 123I-Ioflupane SPECT for examination of the specific binding ratio in the striatum, and lumbar puncture before treatment. The CSF IgG index and levels of pathogenic proteins (total α-synuclein, oligomeric α-synuclein, total tau, phosphorylated tau and amyloid Aß1-42) were determined. The IgG index was compared with the other parameters using Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS: The IgG index showed a significant correlation with the H/M ratio in early (r = -0.563, p = 0.010) and delayed (r = -0.466, p = 0.038) images in 123I-MIBG scintigraphy and with the CSF total tau level (r = -0.513, p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Neuroinflammation is involved in PD pathophysiology in some patients, and a higher IgG index indicates the presence of neuroinflammation accompanied by emergence of Lewy bodies.

Plasma amyloid-ß biomarkers are associated with Alzheimer's disease comorbidity in Lewy body disease.

No blood biomarkers which can identify Alzheimer's disease pathology in Lewy body disease (LBD) have ever been established. We showed that the plasma amyloid-ß (Aß) 1-42/Aß1-40 ratio was significantly decreased in patients with Aß+ LBD compared with those with Aß- LBD and it might be a useful biomarker.

Diagnostic Yield of Bone Window Computed Tomography and Cerebral Angiography Testing Congenital Bilateral Hypoplasia of the Internal Carotid Artery.

We herein report a case of congenital bilateral hypoplasia of the internal carotid artery (ICA) that was diagnosed by bone window computed tomography (CT) and cerebral angiography. A 23-year-old woman presented with left dominant quadriplegia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed not only massive infarcts in the anterior circulation but also poor depiction of the bilateral ICAs. Bilateral carotid canals on bone window CT suggested hypoplasia. Cerebral angiography revealed narrowing of each ICA above its bifurcation, and the blood supply to the intercranial carotid systems developed from the vertebrobasilar system through the posterior communicating arteries and posterior cerebral arteries. We diagnosed the patient with congenital bilateral hypoplasia of the ICA based on bone CT and cerebral angiography findings. Performing both bone window CT and cerebral angiography can facilitate the diagnosis of congenital hypoplasia of the ICA.

Cerebral white matter lesions and regional blood flow are associated with reduced cognitive function in early-stage cognitive impairment.

Background: Differences in the extent of cerebral white matter lesions (WML) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in early-stage cognitive impairment (ESCI) contribute to the prognosis of cognitive decline; however, it is unclear precisely how WML and rCBF affect cognitive decline in ESCI. Objective: We examined the association between WML, rCBF, and cognitive impairment in the ESCI, using path analysis to clarify how these variables affect each other. Methods: Eighty-three patients who consulted our memory clinic regarding memory loss were included in this study based on the Clinical Dementia Rating. Participants underwent the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for voxel-based morphometry analysis, and brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for rCBF evaluation in cortical regions, using 3D stereotactic surface projection (3D-SSP) analysis. Results: Path analysis was performed on the MRI voxel-based morphometry and SPECT 3D-SSP data, showing a significant correlation between both and MMSE scores. In the most suitable model (GFI = 0.957), correlations were observed between lateral ventricular (LV-V) and periventricular WML (PvWML-V) volumes [standardized coefficient (SC) = 0.326, p = 0.005], LV-V and rCBF of the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG-rCBF; SC = 0.395, p < 0.0001), and ACG-rCBF and PvWML-V (SC = 0.231, p = 0.041). Furthermore, a direct relationship between PvWML-V and MMSE scores was identified (SC = -0.238, p = 0.026). Conclusion: Significant interrelationships were observed among the LV-V, PvWML-V, and ACG-rCBF that directly affected the MMSE score in the ESCI. The mechanisms behind these interactions and the impact of PvWML-V on cognitive function require further investigation.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder is associated with decreased quality of life and stigma in people with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) may present with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). We therefore investigated the association between RBD and quality of life (QOL) in people with PD. METHODS: Individuals with PD and a Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥ 24 were divided into two groups using the RBD screening questionnaire (RBDSQ): those with an RBDSQ score ≥ 5 were assigned to the "probable RBD" (pRBD) group, and those with a score < 5 to the "non-pRBD" group. Participants were then evaluated for motor symptoms (Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III and modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale), cognitive functions (Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Frontal Assessment Battery [FAB]), anhedonia (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale), and QOL (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire [PDQ]-39 total and subscores for mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, stigma, social support, cognition, communication, and bodily discomfort). Each measure was compared between the two groups (Mann-Whitney U test/χ2 test). Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors contributing to the total score and the subscore of the stigma domain of the PDQ-39. RESULTS: Ninety-three individuals with PD were recruited (mean ± standard deviation age, 67.0 ± 10.6 years). The pRBD group exhibited a longer disease duration (P = 0.006), worse FAB (P = 0.015) and PDQ-39 total (P = 0.032) scores. RBDSQ scores correlated with higher scores in the PDQ-39 stigma domain (B = 2.44, P = 0.033). CONCLUSION: RBD is associated with worse QOL and stigma in people with PD. The RBDSQ is a useful tool for the prediction of such disturbances in QOL.

Old thalamic lacunes contralateral to a supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage are associated with an unfavorable outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of old lacunes and their sites on the prognosis of one-sided supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) by classifying lacunes sites in relation to anatomical structures using MRI. METHODS: Consecutive patients with one-sided supratentorial ICH ≤72 h from onset to door who underwent MRI were retrospectively included. The sites of old lacunes were categorized as follows: deep subcortical white matter, caudate head, lentiform, posterior limb and genu of the internal capsule, thalamus, and brainstem. We also evaluated all other cerebral small vessel disease markers. An unfavorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 3 to 6 at 3 months after onset. We investigated whether old lacunes in particular locations were related to unfavorable outcomes. RESULTS: We included 186 patients with one-sided supratentorial ICH (126 [68%] males, median age 62 years). Of 186 patients, 65 (35%) patients had unfavorable outcomes. Factors associated with unfavorable outcomes were age (OR 2.261, 95% CI 1.332-3.839, p = 0.003), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score at admission (OR 1.175, 95% CI 1.090-1.267, p < 0.001), and old thalamic lacunes contralateral to the hematoma (OR 3.805, 95% CI 1.009-14.340, p = 0.048). Patients with old thalamic lacunes contralateral to the hematoma tended to have arm (p = 0.006) and leg (p = 0.011) motor impairment on the paralyzed side at discharge as estimated by the NIHSS score. CONCLUSIONS: Old thalamic lacunes contralateral to the hematoma may be related to unfavorable outcomes in ICH.

Urinary Immunoglobulin G Is Associated with Deep and Infratentorial Cerebral Microbleeds in Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) detected on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) are associated with cerebral small vessel disease. Chronic kidney disease and microalbuminuria have been associated with the presence of CMBs in stroke patients. Urinary immunoglobulin G (IgG) is measured to document glomerular injury; however, the relationship between urinary IgG and CMBs is unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients who had been admitted with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke and identified those who had undergone SWI and a spot urine test. The location of CMBs was classified on magnetic resonance imaging as strictly lobar, deep/infratentorial (D/I), or mixed areas. We analyzed the association between urinary IgG and the presence and location of CMBs. RESULTS: We included 298 patients (86 female, median age 70 years, median eGFR 65.8 mL/min/1.73 m2). Positive urinary IgG and CMB results were found in 58 (19%) and 160 patients (54%), respectively. Urinary IgG positivity was significantly associated with CMBs compared with non-CMBs (28% vs. 9%, p < 0.001), and with D/I or mixed CMBs compared with non-D/I or mixed CMBs (34% vs. 10%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that urinary IgG and hypertension positivity were strongly associated with D/I or mixed CMBs (OR 3.479, 95% CI: 1.776-6.818, p < 0.001; OR 3.415, 95% CI: 1.863-6.258, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Urinary IgG was associated with the prevalence of D/I or mixed location CMBs in TIA or ischemic stroke patients. Our findings provide new insights into the association between urinary IgG and the distribution of CMBs.

Effects of monotherapy with a monoamine oxidase B inhibitor on motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease are dependent on frontal function.

BACKGROUND: Monotherapy with monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitors enhances the level of endogenous dopamine in treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD) and provides some benefits. Certain neuropsychiatric functions are also regulated by central dopaminergic activity. AIM: To investigate the relationship of the efficacy of monotherapy with MAO-B inhibitors on motor symptoms in PD with baseline cognitive function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Outcomes were examined for 27 consecutive drug-naïve PD patients who received initial treatment with a MAO-B inhibitor (selegiline: 11, rasagiline: 16). Selegiline was titrated to an optimal dose. The dose of rasagiline was fixed at 1 mg/day. Motor symptoms were assessed using the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III before treatment and after the efficacy reached a plateau within 19 weeks after drug initiation, and the % improvement in motor symptoms was calculated. Pre-treatment cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB). Correlations of % improvement in motor symptoms and baseline cognitive assessments were examined using Spearman correlation coefficients and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: In all patients, the mean % improvement in motor symptoms was 46.5% (range 0-83.3%). Spearman correlation coefficients showed the % improvement in motor symptoms was correlated with FAB (r = 0.631, p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis with patient background factors as independent variables, only FAB was associated with improvement in motor symptoms in the MAO-B group. CONCLUSION: Better FAB scores predict a significant improvement in motor symptoms with treatment with MAO-B inhibitors, suggesting high activity of endogenous dopamine.

Recent Advances in Drug Therapy for Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease manifesting with motor and non-motor symptoms. Current treatment mainly relies on medication as a symptomatic therapy modulating neurotransmitters. Dopamine replacement therapy has been established, and levodopa is the gold standard for treatment of PD. However, the emergence of motor complications, such as a wearing-off phenomenon, is a clinical problem. Both primary symptoms and motor complications have been targets for the development of treatments for PD. Recent progression in the management of motor complications is supported by newly developed agents and advances in device and formulation technology to deliver drugs continuously. Elucidation of the pathophysiology of PD and the development of disease-modifying therapy that affects the underlying fundamental pathophysiology of the disease are also progressing. In this review, we introduce current knowledge on developments concerning medications for patients with PD.

Effects and safety of high-frequency rTMS in acute intracerebral hemorrhage patients: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Although high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) in chronic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is beneficial, it has been poorly investigated in rTMS for acute ICH. Our aim is to investigate the effects and safety of rTMS in acute spontaneous ICH. METHODS: We prospectively performed HF-rTMS on consecutive patients with ICH within 24 h from onset between April 2019 and August 2021. The inclusion criterion was (1) persistent paralysis, with an NIHSS scale of 1 or higher for at least 3 days after onset. The exclusion criteria were (1) cortical, subcortical, and cerebellar ICH, (2) disturbance of consciousness, and (3) over 80 years of age. For the purpose of comparison, we used a conventional rehabilitation group whose patients met the same criteria between April 2016 and March 2019. We evaluated incidence of epilepsy and exacerbation of the NIHSS score in the rTMS group. We also compared the two groups regarding clinical background and outcome. RESULTS: Enrolled in the study were a total of 44 patients. Of the patients, 22 (50%) were in the rTMS group. The median (IQR) time from onset to the start of rTMS was 9 (6-12) days. There were no cases of epilepsy or exacerbation of NIHSS after the start of rTMS. Favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of between 0 and 2) at 3 months was frequently observed in the rTMS group (73% vs 27%, p = 0.006). HF-rTMS was independently associated with favorable outcome at 3 months (OR = 11.5, 95% CI = 2.194-60.447, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: HF-rTMS may be safe and effective in acute ICH patients.

The association between urinary pentosidine levels and cognition in drug-naïve patients with Parkinson's disease.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are suggested to play a potential role in the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). The association between urinary levels of pentosidine, one of the best-characterized AGEs, and clinical conditions such as motor severity and cognition were investigated in patients with PD. Data on the clinical characteristics and urinary levels of pentosidine for 44 drug-naïve patients aged 60 years or older with PD were collected. The association between urinary pentosidine levels and severity of motor symptoms and cognition was analyzed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA). Urinary pentosidine values increased with age (R2 = 0.286, p < 0.001) and were negatively correlated with the MoCA score (R2 = 0.255, p = 0.001). Urinary pentosidine levels were significantly correlated with age (r = 0.535, p < 0.001), Hoehn-Yahr stage (r = 0.340, p < 0.05), and total MoCA score (r = - 0.505, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that older age (ß = 0.543; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.300, 1.307; p = 0.003) was significantly associated with severity of motor symptoms, and that older age (ß = - 0.456; 95% CI - 0.287, - 0.054; p = 0.005) and urinary pentosidine levels (ß = - 0.311; 95% CI - 0.428, - 0.004; p = 0.046) were significantly associated with a lower MoCA score. Urinary pentosidine levels were significantly associated with lower cognition in drug-naïve PD patients. These findings have important clinical implications and suggest that pentosidine may be a potential marker for cognitive impairment in early PD.

[A 73-year-old man with polyradiculopathy and multiple cranial neuropathies emerging separate from the originating dermatome of a varicella zoster skin lesion].

A 73-year-old man developed delayed-onset multiple cranial neuropathies of cranial nerves V, VII and VIII, and segmental paresis in the ipsilateral upper extremity related to the C4 to Th1 segment, after all skin lesions with varicella zoster (VZV) on the left neck of the C3-4 dermatome had dried and crusted over. On admission, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed pleocytosis (all mononuclear cells, 12/µl). Treatment was started with intravenous acyclovir (10 mg/kg, every 8 h for 14 days) and methylprednisolone (1,000 mg/day for 3 days). Four days after starting treatment, left segmental paresis was improved, but the multiple cranial neuropathies persisted. Oral prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day) was administered for 5 days, then tapered off. All neurological symptoms had disappeared by hospital day 23. Of particular interest was the discrepancy between skin regions affected by VZV (C3-4) and the regions of cranial neuropathy (cranial nerves V, VII, and VIII) and muscle weakness innervated by C4-Th1. Although CSF was negative for VZV DNA according to PCR testing, the antibody index for VZV was elevated. This suggests intrathecal synthesis of VZV antibodies and supports the diagnosis of VZV meningitis. Also, all cranial nerves involved in this case were reported to have the cranial nerve ganglia where VZV could have established latency and been reactivated. This suggests concurrent reactivation on each cranial nerve ganglia without cutaneous lesions, as zoster sine herpete. In addition, anastomoses among the upper cervical nerves, which are found in some patients, may have contributed to this condition. These mechanisms underlie various neurological symptoms associated with VZV infection.