Fingolimod induces BAFF and expands circulating transitional B cells without activating memory B cells and plasma cells in multiple sclerosis.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who are treated with fingolimod have an increased proportion of transitional B cells in the circulation, but the underlying mechanism is not known. We hypothesized that B cell-activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) is involved in the process. Compared with healthy controls and untreated MS patients, fingolimod-treated MS patients had significantly higher serum concentrations of BAFF, which positively correlated with the proportions and the absolute numbers of transitional B cells in blood. Despite the elevated concentrations of BAFF in fingolimod-treated MS patients, serum levels of soluble transmembrane activator and calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand interactor, and B cell maturation antigen were not elevated. Our results show that fingolimod induces BAFF in the circulation and expands transitional B cells, but does not activate memory B cells or plasma cells in MS, which is favorable for the treatment of this disease.

[A case of primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis, clinically indistinguishable from metastatic meningeal carcinomatosis].

A 65-year-old woman presented with progressive gait disturbance. She complained of appetite loss for 3 months. Her gait gradually became unsteady, and she was admitted to our hospital. On admission, slow mentation, bathyhypesthesia in left upper and both lower extremites, positive Romberg sign and wide-based gait were observed. Gd-enhanced MRI revealed mass lesions in the left temporal fossa and the cervical spinal canal with focal meningeal enhancement. Besides lesions in the central nervous system (CNS), systematic examination detected no additional malignancy. Repeated cytology of the cerebrospinal fluid was negative. After admission, her consciousness became reduced gradually. At 2 months after admission, she died of central respiratory failure. On autopsy, diffuse extension of the tumor cells was observed on the surface of CNS, and the mass lesions observed by MRI were extra-parenchymal On microscopic examination, the mass was consisted of GFAP positive malignant cells, and included perivascular pseudorosette, pseudopalisading necrosis and many mitotic cells. The diagnosis of the case was made as primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis (PDLG). PDLG is a rare disorder that is difficult to diagnose by CSF cytology. The progress of PDLG is rapid, and appropriate treatment is rarely taken. However, the combination of temozolomide and the radiotherapy performed for a glioblastoma has been reported as a possible treatment for PDLG. We emphasize that, in possible cases of PDLG, a biopsy should be performed in the early stages, especially in cases showing features similar to those of metastatic meningeal carcinomatosis and have no malignant tumors by whole body examination.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy during Tocilizumab Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

A 61-year-old woman was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis 12 years ago and received multiple treatment regimens before achieving symptomatic stability with methotrexate plus tocilizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against the IL-6 receptor, about 2 years prior to the current presentation. Sixteen months after tocilizumab initiation, she exhibited dysarthria and disorientation; five months later, she was hospitalized with movement difficulties. Her neurological symptoms deteriorated thereafter, accompanied by enlarged cerebral white matter lesions on magnetic resonance imaging. A biopsy of the right frontal lesion confirmed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). While several therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have been linked to PML, this is the first case associated with tocilizumab.

Transient subacute cerebellar ataxia in a patient with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome after intracranial aneurysm surgery.

Several reports have presented patients with subacute cerebellar ataxia (CA) and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS). Some clinical features of those patients have been described in the previous reports, manifestation of subacute CA prior to LEMS or a co-existence of both diseases, a high incidence of malignancy, and less efficacy of the treatment for subacute CA compared with that for LEMS. Cerebellar ataxia in some patients with LEMS has been suggested to be caused by antibodies to P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). We report herein a patient with subacute CA and LEMS. Cerebellar ataxia appeared 15 months after the occurrence of LEMS, and the onset of CA was thought to be due to serum anti-P/Q-type VGCC antibodies. The clinical course of this patient was atypical, as follows: (1) LEMS preceded subacute CA, which developed after intracranial aneurysm surgery, (2) no malignancy was detected when both diseases co-existed, (3) symptoms of LEMS did not progress with the onset of CA, and (4) there was a definite improvement in symptoms of CA and (123)I-IMP SPECT imaging findings after steroid administration. In addition, it is remarkable that LEMS became aggravated in electrophysiologic examinations, in contrast to subacute CA. We suggest that these atypical features of subacute CA and the changes in LEMS may be associated with a balance between the amount of serum anti-P/Q-type VGCC antibodies and the susceptibility of the cerebellum and presynaptic nerve terminals to the antibodies. More cases are needed to investigate the mechanisms involved. The subacute CA and LEMS in this patient have remained comparatively silent after the withdrawal of steroids, and we are continuing to observe her condition.

Effects of age and glucose levels on lactate levels in cerebrospinal fluid examination of neurodegenerative diseases.

Despite recent studies examining the association between neurodegenerative diseases and mitochondrial dysfunction, there are not sufficient data on factors that influence cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate levels. Thus, we investigated factors that affect CSF lactate levels in neurodegenerative diseases. We extracted laboratory findings, including CSF lactate, glucose, and protein levels, and demographic and background information, including age and gender, from the electronic medical records of patients with neurodegenerative diseases in order to explore factors that have an impact CSF lactate levels. These patients had been admitted to our department and underwent a CSF examination between April 2007 and March 2015. Data from 83 patients (average age 64.5years; 45 males and 38 females) were analyzed. The patients' diagnoses included amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple system atrophy, spinocerebellar degeneration, corticobasal syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. CSF lactate levels were higher in patients with a neurodegenerative disease who were aged 65years and older relative to those who were aged under 65years (p<0.05), and CSF lactate and glucose levels showed a moderate positive correlation (r=0.487). Age and CSF glucose levels influenced CSF lactate levels even after adjusting for gender, age, CSF protein levels, and CSF glucose levels. When investigating CSF lactate levels in neurodegenerative diseases, it is necessary to consider patients' age and CSF glucose levels.

Clinical features of spinal cord sarcoidosis: analysis of 17 neurosarcoidosis patients.

The diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis is often difficult; the imaging signs of spinal cord sarcoidosis sometimes mimic those of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, which is common in elderly persons. We examined the characteristics of spinal cord sarcoidosis in Japanese patients with neurosarcoidosis. This case series identified patients with neurosarcoidosis at four general hospitals and one university hospital from April 1998 to September 2010. All diagnoses were based on the diagnostic criteria proposed by Zajicek et al. Seventeen patients (nine men and eight women) were involved: six patients with spinal cord lesions accompanied by cervical spondylosis, five with cerebral lesions, three with cranial nerve lesions, two with meningitis, and one with nerve root lesions. Patients with spinal cord sarcoidosis had a higher onset age, longer duration from onset to diagnosis, reduced leukocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and lower angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) levels in the CSF. The results of this study indicate that diagnosis of spinal cord sarcoidosis requires careful evaluation.

Genetic analysis of two Japanese families with progressive external ophthalmoplegia and parkinsonism.

Mutations in the progressive external ophthalmoplegia 1 (PEO1), adenine nucleotide translocator 1 (ANT1) and DNA polymerase gamma (POLG) genes were reported in patients with progressive external ophthalmoplegia and parkinsonism. However, the genotype-phenotype correlation and pathophysiology of these syndromes are still unknown. In order to define the molecular basis of progressive external ophthalmoplegia and parkinsonism, we screened for mutations in PEO1, ANT1, POLG genes and the whole mitochondrial genome in two families. In results, we identified a compound heterozygous POLG substitutions, c.830A>T (p.H277L) and c.2827C>T (p.R943C) in one of the families. These two mutations in the coding region of POLG alter conserved amino acids in the exonuclease and polymerase domains, respectively, of the POLG protein. Neither of these substitutions was found in the 100 chromosomes of ethnically matched control subjects. In the other family, no mutations were detected in any of the three genes and the whole mitochondrial genome in the blood sample, although mitochondrial DNA deletions were observed in the muscle biopsy sample. Progressive external ophthalmoplegia and parkinsonism are genetically heterogenous disorders, and part of this syndrome may be caused by mutations in other, unknown genes.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma involving perirenal space accompanied by extramedullary hematopoiesis and amyloid deposition.

A 62-year-old man was referred to us after unsuccessful treatment of bilateral weakness in his upper and lower extremities with paresthesia in both lower extremities. Computed tomography (CT) revealed soft tissue masses in the left kidney along the capsule and paraaortic region that were of relatively low attenuation with accompanying granular calcifications. Pathological diagnosis of the biopsy specimen was extramedullary plasmacytoma accompanied by extramedullary hematopoiesis and amyloid deposition. Although the CT findings correlated well with the pathological results, the case was extremely atypical for extramedullary plasmacytoma in respect to location and the accompaniment with extramedullary hematopoiesis.