Weekend and off-hour effects on the incidence of cerebral palsy: contribution of consolidated perinatal care.

OBJECTIVE: This study estimated the effects of weekend and off-hour childbirth and the size of perinatal medical care center on the incidence of cerebral palsy. METHODS: The cases were all children with severe cerebral palsy born in Japan from 2009 to 2012 whose data were stored at the Japan Obstetric Compensation System for Cerebral Palsy database, a nationally representative database. The inclusion criteria were the following: neonates born between January 2009 and December 2012 who had a birth weight of at least 2000 g and gestational age of at least 33 weeks and who had severe disability resulting from cerebral palsy independent of congenital causes or factors during the neonatal period or thereafter. Study participants were restricted to singletons and controls without report of death, scheduled cesarean section, or ambulance transportation. The controls were newborns, randomly selected by year and type of delivery (normal spontaneous delivery without cesarean section and emergency cesarean section) using a 1:10 case to control ratio sampled from the nationwide Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology database. RESULTS: A total of 90 cerebral palsy cases and 900 controls having normal spontaneous delivery without cesarean section were selected, as were 92 cerebral palsy cases and 920 controls with emergent cesarean section. A significantly higher risk for cerebral palsy was found among cases that underwent emergent cesarean section on weekends (odds ratio [OR] 1.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-2.81) and during the night shift (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.30-4.02). No significant risk was found among normal spontaneous deliveries on weekends (OR 1.63, 95% CI 0.97-2.73) or during the quasi-night shift (OR 1.26, 95% CI 0.70-2.27). Regional perinatal care centers showed significantly higher risk for cerebral palsy in both emergent cesarean section (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.47-3.77) and normal spontaneous delivery (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.76-4.84). CONCLUSION: Labor on weekends, during the night shift, and at regional perinatal medical care centers was associated with significantly elevated risk for cerebral palsy in emergency cesarean section.

Clinical and genetic features of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2F and hereditary motor neuropathy 2B in Japan.

Mutations in small heat shock protein beta-1 (HspB1) have been linked to Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease type 2F and distal hereditary motor neuropathy type 2B. Only four cases with HSPB1 mutations have been reported to date in Japan. In this study between April 2007 and October 2014, we conducted gene panel sequencing in a case series of 1,030 patients with inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPNs) using DNA microarray, targeted resequencing, and whole-exome sequencing. We identified HSPB1 variants in 1.3% (13 of 1,030) of the patients with IPNs, who exhibited a male predominance. Based on neurological and electrophysiological findings, seven patients were diagnosed with CMT disease type 2F, whereas the remaining six patients were diagnosed with distal hereditary motor neuropathy type 2B. P39L, R127W, S135C, R140G, K141Q, T151I, and P182A mutations identified in 12 patients were described previously, whereas a novel K123* variant with unknown significance was found in 1 patient. Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance were detected in 6 of the 13 patients. Our findings suggest that HSPB1 mutations result in two phenotypes of inherited neuropathies and extend the phenotypic spectrum of HSPB1-related disorders.

The Balance Between Intensive and Palliative Care in an Anti-melanoma Differentiation-Associated Gene 5 (MDA5) Antibody-Positive Acute Interstitial Pneumonia in a Nonagenarian: A Case Report.

This case report details the management of anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) antibody-positive acute interstitial pneumonia in a 93-year-old man, a condition characterized by rapid progression and high mortality. Despite the grim prognosis typically associated with this disease, especially in elderly patients, the subject of this report survived beyond the expected timeframe, illustrating the effectiveness of prompt and aggressive treatment strategies. Initially presenting with dyspnea, the patient's diagnostic process was challenging due to the absence of dermatomyositis (DM)-specific skin manifestations. However, early suspicion led to the identification of anti-MDA5 antibodies, confirming the diagnosis. The treatment regimen initiated with corticosteroid pulses, cyclophosphamide, tacrolimus, and high-dose gamma globulin therapy significantly improved the patient's respiratory conditions, giving the patient and his family time to decide on their palliative care. This approach underlines the importance of early diagnosis and the implementation of comprehensive treatment strategies in managing anti-MDA5 antibody-positive interstitial pneumonia. In this case, the successful outcome adds valuable insights into the potential for extending survival and enhancing the quality of life in elderly patients with this severe autoimmune condition, emphasizing the need for a proactive and aggressive approach to treatment.

Activation of Secondary Metabolism and Protease Activity Mechanisms in the Black Koji Mold Aspergillus luchuensis through Coculture with Animal Cells.

The activation of secondary metabolism plays a pivotal role in the discovery of novel natural products. We recently developed a coculture method involving actinomycetes and mouse macrophage-like cells to stimulate the production of bioactive compounds. A black koji mold, Aspergillus luchuensis IFM 61405, markedly enhanced the production of (3S,8R)-8-hydroxy-3-carboxy-2-methylenenonanoic acid (1a), (3S,8S)-8-hydroxy-3-carboxy-2-methylenenonanoic acid (1b), and (3S)-9-hydroxy-3-carboxy-2-methylenenonanoic acid (2) when coincubated with J774.1 mouse macrophage cells. The production of 1 and 2 increased by at least 3.5-fold and 2.7-fold, respectively, compared to monoculture after 7 days. A mechanistic investigation revealed that a protease from strain IFM 61405 plays a key role in enhancing the production of 1 and 2. This enhancement was not replicated in A. niger IFM 59706, a nonkoji mold, despite the presence of biosynthetic genes for 1 and 2 in A. niger IFM 59706. Furthermore, the addition of protease inhibitors suppressed the production of 1 and 2, suggesting that proteins secreted from animal cells, likely degraded by proteases secreted by strain IFM 61405, serve as precursors for 1 and 2. The results show that the strategy of coculturing koji mold with animal cells has the potential to enhance the production of natural products.

Early-onset dysphagia predicts short survival in multiple system atrophy.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic impact of dysphagia in multiple system atrophy (MSA) remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between dysphagia severity and survival in MSA and to elucidate whether this impact differs between MSA-cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C) and MSA-parkinsonism (MSA-P). METHODS: This retrospective study included 297 patients with MSA: 251 met criteria for clinically established MSA and 46 for clinically probable MSA. Among them, 171 had MSA-C and 126 had MSA-P. We evaluated symptomatic dysphagia within 3 years of onset and quantified dysphagia severity using the Hyodo score (0 to 12) through fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and clinical features, including autonomic dysfunction and vocal cord paralysis. Patients were followed up until death or tracheostomy, and survival factors were analysed using the log-rank test and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Ninety patients developed symptomatic dysphagia within 3 years of onset, and 75 were evaluated for dysphagia severity using FEES. Survival from onset was shorter in patients with dysphagia within 3 years compared to those without (median: 4.2 years vs. 7.3 years; p < 0.001). Symptomatic dysphagia within 3 years of onset was an independent predictor of shorter survival in the multivariate Cox analysis. While the Hyodo score was higher in MSA-P than in MSA-C patients (p = 0.048), the Hyodo score was associated with survival in both MSA-C and MSA-P patients (log-rank p < 0.001 and p = 0.046, respectively). CONCLUSION: Symptomatic dysphagia within 3 years of onset predicts shorter survival in MSA-C and MSA-P patients.

Association of dysphagia severity in multiple system atrophy with the specific binding ratio on dopamine transporter SPECT.

OBJECTIVE: Dysphagia in multiple system atrophy (MSA) is life-threatening and is caused by parkinsonism with cerebellar ataxia as a contributing factor. The present study investigated the relationship between dysphagia severity in MSA and the specific binding ratio (SBR) on dopamine transporter (DaT) SPECT using the Hyodo score, a qualitative scale for use with fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). METHODS: Hyodo score's ability to predict aspiration during a FEES examination of 88 patients with MSA was first tested. Then the clinical characteristics, Hyodo score, and SBR of patients with either predominant parkinsonism (MSA-P; n = 11) or cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C; n = 25) who underwent FEES and DaT SPECT simultaneously were compared. RESULTS: Logistic regression demonstrated that the Hyodo score was a significant predictive factor of aspiration (p = 0.003). The MSA-P group had a significantly higher Hyodo score (p = 0.026) and lower SBR (p = 0.011) than the MSA-C group while neither group demonstrated any significant difference in disease duration at the FEES examination. Linear regression demonstrated a significant, inverse correlation between the Hyodo score and SBR in the MSA-P (p = 0.044; r = -0.616) and MSA-C (p = 0.044; r = -0.406) groups. When the effect of SBR was removed by analysis of covariance, no significant difference in the Hyodo score remained between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested an association between presynaptic changes in nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and dysphagia severity in MSA which largely contributes to the difference in dysphagia severity between MSA-P and MSA-C.

Validation study of the Japanese version of the King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale and the King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: The King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Scale (KPPS)/King's Parkinson's Disease Pain Questionnaire (KPPQ) was developed as a tool to quantitatively assess pain in patients with Parkinson's disease (PwPD). Here, we conducted a Japanese multicenter validation study to verify the reliability of KPPS/KPPQ in Japanese PwPD. METHODS: PwPD, ≥20 years, with unexplained pain were included; those with a definitive primary cause of pain other than PD were excluded. A total of 151 patients who fulfilled the criteria were analyzed, and test-retest reliability was investigated in 25 individuals. RESULTS: The 151 patients included 101 women (66.9 %); mean age 68.3 ± 9.9 years, mean disease duration 9.2 ± 5.2 years. The most frequent pain type in the KPPS classification was musculoskeletal pain (82.8 %). There was a positive correlation between KPPS total score and the Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) total score, NMSS item 27, the Parkinson's disease sleep scale-version 2 (PDSS-2) total score, PDSS-2 item 10, the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-8 (PDQ-8) summary index and PDQ-8 item 7. Cronbach's alpha of KPPS was 0.626 (0.562-0.658) and the intraclass correlation coefficient of test-retest reliability was 0.740. Cronbach's alpha of KPPQ was 0.660 (0.617-0.705) and a test-retest reliability of kappa coefficient was 0.593 (0.0-1.0). CONCLUSIONS: KPPS correlated well with other scales for assessing pain. KPPS correlated well with patients' quality of life, non-motor symptoms, and sleep disturbances. The reproducibility of KPPS/KPPQ makes it suitable for continuous evaluation of the same patient. On the other hand, the internal consistency of KPPS/KPPQ is rather low.

Enlarged high frequency oscillations of the median nerve somatosensory evoked potential and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: A large N20 and P25 of the median nerve somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) predicts short survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We investigated whether high frequency oscillations (HFOs) over N20 are enlarged and associated with survival in ALS. METHODS: A total of 145 patients with ALS and 57 healthy subjects were studied. We recorded the median nerve SEP and measured the onset-to-peak amplitude of N20 (N20o-p), and peak-to-peak amplitude between N20 and P25 (N20p-P25p). We obtained early and late HFO potentials by filtering SEP between 500 and 1 kHz, and measured the peak-to-peak amplitude. We followed up patients until endpoints (death or tracheostomy) and analyzed the relationship between SEP or HFO amplitudes and survival using a Cox analysis. RESULTS: Patients showed larger N20o-p, N20p-P25p, and early and late HFO amplitudes than the control values. N20p-P25p was associated with survival periods (p = 0.0004), while early and late HFO amplitudes showed no significant association with survival (p = 0.4307, and p = 0.6858, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The HFO amplitude in ALS is increased, but does not predict survival. SIGNIFICANCE: The enlarged HFOs in ALS might be a compensatory phenomenon to the hyperexcitability of the sensory cortex pyramidal neurons.

Multiple Sclerosis Exacerbation Associated With High-Altitude Climbing Exposure.

The spectrum of the neurological effects of high-altitude exposure can range from high-altitude headache and acute mountain sickness, to the more severe end of the spectrum with high-altitude cerebral edema. In general, patients with known unstable preexisting neurological conditions and those patients with residual neurological deficits from a preexisting neurological condition are discouraged from climbing to high altitudes because of the risk of exacerbation or worsening of symptoms. Although multiple sclerosis exacerbations can be triggered by environmental factors, high-altitude exposure has not been reported as a potential trigger. We are reporting the case of a multiple sclerosis exacerbation presenting in an active duty U.S. Air Force serviceman upon ascending and descending Mt. Fuji within the same day.

Mitophagy in three cases of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy associated with anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase autoantibodies: ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies.

Immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) associated with anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) autoantibodies occurs in patients both with and without history of statin-intake. The mechanisms of muscle fiber degeneration in this condition remain unknown. We studied pathological changes in muscle biopsies from three patients lacking history of statin-intake. Ultrastructural observations showed accumulation of degenerating mitochondria, glycogen granules and autophagic vacuoles, forming large composites in three cases, along with various nonspecific changes. The autophagic vacuoles often contained remnants of mitochondria, indicating mitophagy. Furthermore, upregulation of B-cell lymphoma 2/adenovirus E1B 19 kD-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3), a protein involved in mitophagy, was observed in two cases examined. In three cases of sporadic inclusion body myositis, two polymyositis, and three IMNM with anti-signal recognition particle antibody, BNIP3 was upregulated less frequently, and ultrastructural change of mitophagy was rarely seen. These findings suggested that mitophagy plays an important role in muscle fiber degeneration in IMNM with anti-HMGCR autoantibodies.

Relevant Obstetric Factors for Cerebral Palsy: From the Nationwide Obstetric Compensation System in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the relevant obstetric factors for cerebral palsy (CP) after 33 weeks' gestation in Japan. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective case cohort study (1:100 cases and controls) used a Japanese national CP registry. Obstetric characteristics and clinical course were compared between CP cases in the Japan Obstetric Compensation System for Cerebral Palsy database and controls in the perinatal database of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology born as live singleton infants between 2009 and 2011 with a birth weight ≥ 2,000 g and gestation ≥ 33 weeks. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-five CP cases and 17,475 controls were assessed. Major relevant single factors for CP were placental abnormalities (31%), umbilical cord abnormalities (15%), maternal complications (10%), and neonatal complications (1%). A multivariate regression model demonstrated that obstetric variables associated with CP were acute delivery due to non-reassuring fetal status (relative risk [RR]: 37.182, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.028-69.032), uterine rupture (RR: 24.770, 95% CI: 6.006-102.160), placental abruption (RR: 20.891, 95% CI: 11.817-36.934), and preterm labor (RR: 3.153, 95% CI: 2.024-4.911), whereas protective factors were head presentation (RR: 0.199, 95% CI: 0.088-0.450) and elective cesarean section (RR: 0.236, 95% CI: 0.067-0.828). CONCLUSION: CP after 33 weeks' gestation in the recently reported cases in Japan was strongly associated with acute delivery due to non-reassuring fetal status, uterine rupture, and placental abruption.