Cryptogenic NORSE: Its distinctive clinical features and response to immunotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To report the distinctive clinical features of cryptogenic new-onset refractory status epilepticus (C-NORSE) and the C-NORSE score based on initial clinical assessments. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted for 136 patients with clinically suspected autoimmune encephalitis who underwent testing for autoantibodies to neuronal surface antigens between January 1, 2007, and August 31, 2016. Eleven patients with C-NORSE were identified. Their clinical features were compared with those of 32 patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDARE). RESULTS: The clinical outcome of 11 patients (median age, 27 years; 7 [64%] women) with C-NORSE was evaluated after a median follow-up of 11 months (range, 6-111 months). Status epilepticus was frequently preceded by fever (10/11 [91%]). Brain MRIs showed symmetric T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensities (8/11 [73%]) and brain atrophy (9/11 [82%]). Only 2 of the 10 treated patients responded to the first-line immunotherapy, and 4 of the 5 patients treated with IV cyclophosphamide responded to the therapy. The long-term outcome was poor in 8 patients (73%). Compared with 32 patients with NMDARE (median age, 27 years; 24 [75%] women), those with C-NORSE had more frequent prodromal fever, status epilepticus, ventilatory support, and symmetric brain MRI abnormalities, had less frequent involuntary movements, absent psychobehavioral symptoms, CSF oligoclonal bands, or tumor association, and had a worse outcome. The C-NORSE score was higher in patients with C-NORSE than those with NMDARE. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with C-NORSE have a spectrum of clinical-immunological features different from those with NMDARE. The C-NORSE score may be useful for discrimination between them. Some patients could respond to immunotherapy.

Usefulness of cervical computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for rapid diagnosis of crowned dens syndrome: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Crowned dens syndrome is a rare disease entity which radiologically shows calcification of the cruciform ligament around the odontoid process. We report a patient with crowned dens syndrome who improved dramatically in 5days following treatment with oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 61-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a severe occipital headache and sudden onset of neck stiffness. Neurological examination on admission revealed a high fever and cervical rigidity. Laboratory examination revealed a markedly elevated white blood cell count and C-reactive protein level, but cerebrospinal fluid studies revealed only a slight abnormality. A cervical computed tomography scan and its three-dimensional reconstruction detected a remarkable crown-like calcification surrounding the odontoid process. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging did not demonstrate strong direct compression of the cervical cord; however, the soft tissue surrounding the odontoid process was hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging with fat suppression. Based on the radiological findings, the patient was diagnosed with crowned dens syndrome and was immediately treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The patient's condition drastically improved within 5days. DISCUSSION: It was very interesting that the soft tissue surrounding the odontoid process was hyperintense on magnetic resonance T2-weighted imaging with fat suppression, and the signal change disappeared 2 weeks after the administration of oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We think that magnetic resonance imaging is useful for proving inflammation in patients with crowned dens syndrome. CONCLUSION: This is the first report making reference to the magnetic resonance imaging findings of crowned dens syndrome.

Efficacy of Early Superficial Temporal Artery-Middle Cerebral Artery Double Anastomoses for Atherosclerotic Occlusion in Patients with Progressing Stroke.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the efficacy of early superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) double anastomoses for patients with progressing stroke due to atherosclerotic occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine consecutive patients who underwent early STA-MCA double anastomoses were enrolled. All patients presented with progressing stroke despite maximal medical treatment. Cerebral blood flow in 7 patients was analyzed by single-photon emission tomography. Clinical outcomes were investigated postoperatively, and we evaluated the utility of early STA-MCA double anastomoses. RESULTS: Nine patients in the present study included those with middle cerebral artery occlusion (n = 6) and internal carotid artery occlusion (n = 3). The mean age was 58.4 years. Subjects comprised 1 female (11.1%) and 8 males (88.9%). The cause was low perfusion ischemia due to atherosclerotic occlusion with a small infarct. The mean regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) ratio in the middle cerebral artery territory compared to the normal side was 69.6 ± 5.3%. The duration from onset to surgery was 1-8 days (median, 3.11 days). All patients underwent early STA-MCA double anastomoses, and no reperfusion-induced hemorrhage occurred. All of them slowly achieved obvious remission compared to symptoms on admission and achieved a good functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Early STA-MCA double anastomoses were safe and effective, and early revascularization resulted in rapid neurological improvement. We recommend this procedure for patients with progressive ischemia due to main trunk artery occlusion, when the rCBF flow ratio with the normal side was 70 ± 10%, even at the subacute stage.

Importance of perioperative management for emergency carotid artery stenting within 24h after intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: We report a patient treated successfully via endovascular surgery within 24h after intravenous thrombolysis using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for acute cervical internal carotid artery occlusion. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital. Neurological examination revealed severe left-sided motor weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging showed no cerebral infarction, but magnetic resonance angiography revealed complete occlusion of the right internal carotid artery. Systemic intravenous injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator was performed within 4h after the onset. But, magnetic resonance angiography still revealed complete occlusion. Revascularization of the right cervical internal carotid artery was performed via endovascular surgery. The occluded artery was successfully recanalized using the Penumbra System(®) and stent placement at the origin of the internal carotid artery. Immediately after surgery, dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) was initiated, and then cilostazol was added on the following day. Carotid ultrasonography and three-dimensional computed tomographic angiography at 14days revealed no further obstruction to flow. DISCUSSION: When trying to perform emergency carotid artery stenting within 24h after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator administration, several issues require attention, such as the decisions regarding the type of stent and embolic protection device, the selection of antiplatelet therapy and the methods of preventing hyperperfusion syndrome. CONCLUSION: Emergency carotid artery stenting for the acute internal carotid artery occlusion may be considered a safe procedure in preventing early stroke recurrence in selected patients.

[A case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease presenting with arm levitation as an initial symptom].

A 74-year-old, right handed man, developed insidiously with levitation and clumsiness of the right upper limb. His right arm tended to levitate spontaneously, when he was examined. He could put the elevated arm down on command, while the arm resumed to antigravity posture when his attention was diverted. His right arm also exhibited unwilled elevation when performing complex finger movements on the right side. He had a feeling of strangeness of the elevated limb, especially with the eyes closed. In addition to asymmetric limb-kinetic apraxia, combined sensations such as stereognosis were disturbed on the right side. Brain MRI showed high signal lesions predominantly in the left cerebral cortices and basal ganglia. SPECT with (123)I-IMP revealed asymmetric hypoperfusion, predominantly in the left medial frontal and parietal regions. Two months after the onset, levitation of the arm gradually disappeared, with the development of rapidly progressive dementia, frontal signs, dystonia and generalized myoclonus. The diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) was made based on the clinical features and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. The early manifestation of the patient mimicked corticobasal degeneration which presents with arm levitation or alien hand syndrome. It is suggested that CJD can represent involuntary movements with higher brain dysfunction resembling corticobasal degeneration at the early stage of the illness. Although the underlying mechanism of arm levitation is still unknown, frontal disinhibition and parietal cortical sensory disturbance may contribute to the development of involuntary arm levitation in our patient.

[A case of progressive supranuclear palsy with late-onset supplementary motor area seizure].

We report a 75-year-old, right-handed man, presenting with supplementary motor area (SMA) seizure. The patient had suffered from frequent attacks of transient inability to speak and move without loss of awareness. On admission, he presented with vertical gaze paresis, axial rigidity, paratonia of extremities and gait disturbance. The attacks were preceded by discomfort on the head, followed by inability to move the whole body and arrest of vocalization with tonic posture and exaggerated breathing. Consciousness and cognitive function were preserved throughout the attacks. Electroencephalography recorded intermittently slow theta waves in the bifrontal regions. Brain MRI showed atrophy of the midbrain tegmentum with lacunar state suggesting progressive supranuclear palsy. SPECT with 123I-iomazenil revealed decreased uptake in the medial frontal areas including SMA, bilaterally. The seizures resolved completely following treatment with carbamazepine. Based on clinical features and neuroimagings, we speculated that the negative motor area within SMA was responsible for his seizure. Physicians should keep in mind that SMA seizure comprising negative motor phenomenon can occur in the elderly.

[Clinical pathway for management of patients with acute asthma attack].

BACKGROUND: There have been few reports of clinical pathway (CP) for treatment of asthma attack, because patients with asthma always admit emergently and the severity varies. We introduced CP so that standard asthma treatment can be widely used, and investigated its clinical usefulness. METHODS: We designed a new CP for treating asthma attack according to the guideline (Japanese guideline (JGL) and Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)). 136 patients who admitted to our hospital due to asthma attack from January 1999 to November 2006, were enrolled our study. Excluding cases complicated with pneumonia, COPD or cardiac failure, we evaluated 46 cases treated with the CP comparing with 19 cases treated without the CP. The clinical evaluations include systemic and inhaled steroid use, FEV1.0%, history of asthma, and the duration of asthma attack. Furthermore, we investigated difference between cases with and without prolonged admission. RESULTS: While the rates of systemic and inhaled steroid use in cases without the CP were 57.9% and 52.6% respectively, those in cases with the CP were approximately 100%. Employing the CP, FEV 1.0% at discharge time was elevated from 71.7% to 76.3% and the duration of hospitalization was shortened from 14.2 days to 11.5 days. Mean age of the cases with prolonged admission was higher than the rest. CONCLUSION: The asthma CP is an effective way for the standard treatment according to the guideline to be used widely even by doctors who are not familiar with asthma treatment. It improves the efficacy of in-hospital treatment.

Blood pressure is the main determinant of the reflection wave in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Augmentation index (AI), the ratio of augmented pressure by the reflection pressure wave to the pulse pressure (PP), is an index of arterial stiffness and central blood pressure (BP). Although type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis, there is controversy with respect to how DM affects AI. In the present study, we investigated possible determinants of AI in 194 type 2 DM patients (mean age 67+/-9 years). AI was measured in the left radial artery using an automated tonometric method. In a simple correlation analysis, AI showed a positive association with age, and a negative association with body height, body weight, waist circumference, heart rate (HR), plasma glucose, and HbA1c. Women had significantly higher AI than men. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that mean BP (MBP) (beta=0.260, p<0.001), HR (beta=-0.550, p<0.001) and body height (beta=-0.217, p<0.001) were independent determinants of radial AI. Similarly, the second peak of systolic BP (SBP2), an index of central aortic systolic BP (SBP), showed a positive association with age, BMI, waist circumference, MBP and AI, and a negative association with body height. In a separate analysis performed in diabetic patients with treated hypertension (n=123), again, only MBP, HR and body height were significant determinants of radial AI. There was no difference in radial AI and SBP2 among the classes of antihypertensive drugs used. These findings indicate that tight BP control would be effective in reducing the reflection wave and aortic BP, which could independently relate to cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients.

Metabolic syndrome, diabetes and subclinical atherosclerosis as assessed by carotid intima-media thickness.

AIM: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a useful surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease and is associated with cardiac events. We investigated cross-sectionally the association between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), confounding risk factors, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) using the modified Japanese criteria. METHODS: Carotid IMT was evaluated on B-mode ultrasonography in 918 patients (394 men aged 66 +/- 15 years and 524 women aged 72 +/- 13 years). RESULTS: Among our 918 patients, 74 (8.1%) had no metabolic abnormalities, 478 (52.1%) had a metabolic abnormality with neither type 2 diabetes or MetS, and 127 had MetS without diabetes. Of the patients with type 2 diabetes, 132 (14.4%) did not have MetS and 107 (11.7%) had both type 2 diabetes and MetS. The carotid IMT values in the four groups with any metabolic abnormalities were significantly greater than the IMT of the group with neither condition (p=0.001), respectively. In syndrome model, type 2 diabetes was significantly associated with carotid atherosclerosis (p= 0.006), but MetS was borderline significant. In the component model of MetS, there was a significant association with hypertension (p<0.001) and dyslipidemia (p=0.006). Multiple logistic regression analysis for carotid atherosclerosis compared to neither condition demonstrated that subjects with both MetS and diabetes (OR, 5.58; 95% CI, 2.64-11.8), those with type 2 diabetes without MetS (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.45-6.22), and those with MetS without type 2 diabetes (OR, 2.58; 75% CI, 1.24-5.39) showed a higher odds ratio after adjustment for covariates. CONCLUSION: Even after taking into account each individual component of MetS, the clustering of visceral obesity with at least 2 of the 3 components, and diabetes are independently associated with increased carotid IMT. This suggests that the components of MetS and type 2 diabetes interact to affect vascular thickness synergistically.

Metabolic syndrome may be a risk factor for early carotid atherosclerosis in women but not in men.

AIM: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities and a predictor of both type 2 diabetes mellitus and adverse cardiovascular events. Whether there are gender differences in the association between early atherosclerosis and MetS has not yet been thoroughly elucidated. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 388 men aged 64+/-16 years and 480 women aged 70+/-13 years. Early atherosclerosis was assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) on B-mode ultrasonography. RESULTS: Carotid IMT values were significantly greater in both male (p=0.007) and female (p=0.002) subjects with MetS. After adjusting for established risk factors, the difference persisted on a significant level in women (p=0.003), but was weak in men (p=0.013). Multiple regression analysis using IMT as an objective variable, with adjustment for various risk factors as explanatory variables, showed that MetS (p=0.016) was a significant independent contributing factor along with known risk factors only in women. Among the components of MetS, hypertension (p=0.036) and dyslipidemia (p=0.008) had a strong impact on carotid IMT in men, whereas hypertension (p=0.003) ranked first in women. CONCLUSION: The effect of MetS in early carotid atherosclerosis is more pronounced in women than in men, and the impact of MetS components on carotid IMT differs between men and women.

[Case of rectal carcinoma discovered after extracting a single brain metastasis].

A 79-year-old woman had shown a decline of volition nine months before admission. Because she demonstrated a depressive state, she had been treated with an antidepressant for one month before admission. Thereafter, she became incontinent and showed a poor appetite since two days before admission. Plain computed tomography scan showed an extensive low density area in the right frontal lobe. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor with edema (3 cm in diameter), which showed heterogeneous enhancement. The solitary tumor was removed by craniotomy. Metastatic carcinoma was suspected on histological examination, but the primary cancer was not able to be detected by a whole body examination, except for colonoscopy, which was refused by her family. She demonstrated intestinal bleeding about five months after the craniotomy. Rectal cancer was discovered by colonoscopy and she underwent Hartman's procedure. Histological examination revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma similar to resected brain tumor. The final solitary diagnosis was metastatic carcinoma from primary rectal cancer. Solitary brain metastasis from colon cancer is extremely rare, however, we should consider the possibility in cancers of the digestive tract.

Impact of C-reactive protein on the likelihood of carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese adults.

OBJECTIVE: Several cohort studies have shown a link between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and subsequent cardiovascular disease; however, the role of CRP as an independent risk factor remains controversial. We therefore investigated the association between CRP and sclerotic lesions of common carotid atherosclerosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated sclerotic lesions of common carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) by ultrasonography in 139 men aged 67 +/- 15 years and 201 women aged 75 +/- 10 years. To investigate the relation between CRP and various confounding factors, subjects were divided into four groups based on the quartile of CPR. RESULTS: Carotid IMT values were significantly higher in groups with higher CRP (p = 0.022). To identify the possible CRP level and risk factor interactions for IMT, multiple regression analysis for IMT was performed based on risk factors in subjects with a specific CRP level. It was shown that age, smoking status, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and LDL cholesterol were significantly associated with IMT in subjects in the lower CRP groups (CRP-1 approximately CRP-3), and age, SBP and presence of diabetes mellitus in the highest CRP group (CRP-4). To further investigate whether the interaction between CRP and conventional risk factors could influence IMT, a general linear model demonstrated that interaction between CRP and the presence of diabetes mellitus (F = 4.754 p = 0.030) was significantly associated with IMT, in addition to sex, age, SBP, antihypertensive drug use, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: This finding indicates that the association between CRP and IMT significantly differed between subjects with and without diabetes mellitus.

Relationship between serum uric acid concentration, metabolic syndrome and carotid atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is a useful surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease. Associations between hyperuricemia, metabolic syndrome and carotid IMT have been reported, but few of the studies have been conducted in a Japanese population. METHODS: A total of 1,128 subjects (498 men aged, 68+/-14 years and 630 women aged 72+/-12 years) were divided into 4 groups according to serum uric acid (SUA) quartiles. We first investigated the association between SUA concentrations and metabolic syndrome; then, we assessed whether there is an independent association of SUA with carotid IMT in a population subdivided according to gender and metabolic syndrome status. RESULTS: In women, the prevalence of visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome were significantly increased with increased SUA quartiles, but not in men. After adjusting for age, smoking status, LDL-cholesterol, creatinine and history of diabetes mellitus, the odds ratios (95% CI) of sex-specific quartiles of SUA for metabolic syndrome were 1.0, 1.37 (0.79-2.37), 1.37 (0.79-2.38), and 1.80 (1.03-3.15) in men, and 1.0, 1.04 (0.56-1.94), 2.35 (1.30-4.22), and 2.20 (1.16-4.20) in women. After adjusting for various known risk factors, the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis (IMT> or =1.0 mm) was higher in subjects in the second, third and fourth quartiles of SUA concentration with odds ratios (95% CI) of 2.41 (1.08-5.37), 3.33 (1.49-7.42), and 2.73 (1.17-6.35), respectively in men without metabolic syndrome but not in men with metabolic syndrome or in women with or without metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly increased according to SUA values only in women. In men without metabolic syndrome, SUA was found to be an independent risk factor for incidence of carotid atherosclerosis.

Association between risk factors and carotid enlargement.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of conventional cardiovascular risk factors on the degree of adaptive response of the carotid arterial wall to atherosclerotic disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the diameter and intima-media thickness (IMT) of common carotid artery (CCA) by ultrasonography in 351 men aged 70.3 (range, 14-97) years and 474 women aged 75.6 (range, 19-103) years in the medical department of Seiyo Municipal Nomura Hospital. We assessed cross-sectionally the relationships between CCA diameter and IMT and cardiovascular risk factors by gender. RESULTS: In multiple linear regression analyses, after controlling for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, a significant correlation was found between CCA diameters and age (p=0.034), body mass index (BMI) (p<0.001), smoking status (p=0.039), alcohol consumption (<0.001) and uric acid (UA) (p=0.021) in men, and between CCA diameters and age (<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.013) and antihypertensive drug use (p=0.005) in women. Analysis of covariance showed that the two regression lines between carotid IMT and diameter in those with or without plaque were significantly different in both men (F=16.4; p<0.001) and women (F=15.0; p<0.001). After adjustment for carotid IMT and plaque, associations with carotid diameters still persisted for age (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), smoking status (p=0.006), alcohol consumption (p<0.001) and SBP (p=0.001) in men, and age (p=0.005), BMI (p<0.001), SBP (p=0.047) and UA (p=0.001) in women. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the CCA diameters correlated with conventional cardiovascular risk factors including alcohol consumption. These findings suggest that the CCA diameters may reflect the ability of adaptive remodeling to the atherosclerosis before plaque formation and can be an important factor during the development of atherosclerosis.

Metabolic syndrome as a predictor of ischemic stroke in elderly persons.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and risk of ischemic stroke associated with metabolic syndrome. METHODS AND PATIENTS: In 197 stroke patients (80 cases of atherothrombotic infarction, 97 lacunar infarction, 16 cardioembolic infarction, 4 others) and 356 age- and sex-matched control subjects aged 65 years and older in Seiyo Municipal Nomura Hospital, we investigated the association between metabolic syndrome and risk factor-dependent augmentation of ischemic stroke in subjects with several risk factors for atherosclerosis. The diagnosis of cerebral infarction in each patient was confirmed by CT findings of the brain and metabolic syndrome was defined as at least 3 of the 5 following conditions: visceral obesity, hypertension (HT), hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol and diabetes mellitus (DM). RESULTS: After adjustment for sex, age, and smoking, metabolic syndrome was significantly related to atherothrombotic infarction (odds ratio, 3.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.69-5.61). Of the individual components, visceral obesity, HT and DM were independent risk factors for atherothrombotic infarction. Increased risk for atherothrombotic infarction was also associated with increases in the 5 component conditions of the metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: The clustering of cardiovascular risk factors called metabolic syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity, and its identification may thus be important in risk assessment and treatment of patients.

Metabolic syndrome and carotid atherosclerosis: role of elevated blood pressure.

It is not known whether subjects with metabolic syndrome and elevated blood pressure are at the same cardiovascular risk as subjects with metabolic syndrome but without elevated blood pressure. Using B-mode ultrasonography, carotid IMT was measured in 1,297 patients (593 men and 704 women) in the medical department of Seiyo Municipal Nomura Hospital between August 1996 and April 2005. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 32.5% among men and 35.9% among women. On comparing subjects with an equal number of components of metabolic syndrome, it was found that the prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was significantly higher in subjects with elevated blood pressure than in those without, and increased with the number of components in the former group (p for trend = 0.0277), but not in the latter (p for trend = 0.5159). In a stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for confounding factors, elevated blood pressure (OR, 1.771; 95% CI, 1.246-2.519), low HDL-C (OR, 1.391; 95% CI, 1.053-1.836) and number of components of metabolic syndrome (OR, 1.561; 95% CI, 1.103-2.209) were significantly associated with carotid atherosclerosis. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome per se might not adequately identify subjects at increased cardiovascular risk.

Association between uric acid and carotid atherosclerosis in elderly persons.

OBJECTIVE: Several cohort studies have shown a link between serum uric acid (SUA) and subsequent cardiovascular disease. However, such an association did not remain significant after adjusting for concomitant risk factors for atherosclerosis in some studies. Thus, the role of SUA as an independent risk factor remains controversial. We therefore investigated the association between SUA and sclerotic lesions of common carotid atherosclerosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated sclerotic lesions of the common carotid arterial intima-media thickness (IMT) by ultrasonography in 398 men aged 74+/-8 (range, 60-97) years and 521 women aged 75+/-8 (range, 60-104) years. To investigate the relation between SUA and various factors, all subjects were divided into three groups based on the tertile of SUA. RESULTS: Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis using IMT as an objective variable, adjusted by various risk factors as explanatory variables showed that SUA [B, 0.0099; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.0022-0.0175] was a significant independent contributing factor along with known risk factors such as age, sex, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, antihypertensive drug use, HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol. Multiple logistic regression analysis for carotid IMT as a tertile of SUA and dependent variables showed that the adjusted odds ratio was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.87-1.78) for those in the middle tertile (4.2-5.5 mg/dl), and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.16-2.39) for those in the highest tertile (5.6-14.1 mg/dl) compared to that for subjects in the lowest tertile of SUA levels (0.51-4.1 mg/dl). CONCLUSION: We suggest that SUA is a risk factor or marker for ultrasonographically determined IMT.

Non-HDL cholesterol as a predictor of carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate sclerotic lesions of the common carotid artery by ultrasonography in 921 in-patients aged 65 years and older (77 +/- 7 years) and investigate whether lipid levels were associated with carotid atherosclerosis. In men, an increased risk for carotid atherosclerosis was associated with increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C). Compared to men with the lowest tertile of LDL-C levels (< 83.4 mg/dl), the adjusted odds ratio was 2.502 (95% confidence interval: 1.426-4.390) in those with the middle tertile (83.4-115.2 mg/dl), and 2.688 (1.509-4.790) in those with the highest tertile ( > 115.2 mg/dl). Like the LDL-C level, the non-HDL-C level showed a positive and linear relationship with carotid atherosclerosis. Compared to men with the lowest tertile of non-HDL-C levels ( < 101 mg/dl), the adjusted odds ratio was 2.881 (1.633-5.081) for those with the middle tertile (101-135 mg/dl), and 2.990 (1.651-5.415) for those with the highest tertile ( > 135 mg/dl). Similarly, in women, an increased risk for carotid atherosclerosis was also positively and linearly associated with LDL-C and non-HDL-C. The Non-HDL-C level is a potential predictor of risk for carotid atherosclerosis in the elderly.

Association between abdominal wall fat index on ultrasonography and carotid atherosclerosis in non-obese men.

We tried to investigate whether accumulation of visceral fat, assessed by a simple but widely used ultrasonographic method, was associated with common carotid atherosclerosis in non-obese men ranging from 16 to 79 years old. The subjects were consecutive 297 male in-patients whose body mass index ranged from 18.5 kg/m(2) to 25 kg/m(2). An ultrasonographic evaluation using a 7.5 MHz linear type B-mode probe was performed by a specialist to determine the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery and the maximal thickness of peritoneal fat (Pmax) at the anterior surface of the liver and the minimal thickness of subcutaneous fat (Smin) of the abdomen. The Pmax/Smin ratio, which was termed the abdominal wall fat index (AFI), was then calculated. The mean age +/- standard deviation in this series was 65 +/- 13 (range, 15-79) years. Multiple regression analysis using IMT as an objective variable, adjusted by various risk factors as explanatory variables, showed that AFI [beta, 0.0538; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.0116-0.0960] was a significant independent contributing factor along with known risk factors such as age, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. We found that AFI was useful in evaluating disorders of metabolism and atherosclerosis in non-obese men.

An association of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke.

Plasma homocysteine (Hcy) concentration has been shown to be influenced by a mutation in the gene coding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). Although plasma Hcy has been shown to be related to atherosclerotic disorders, the association between MTHFR gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke remains controversial. In the present study we investigated the association between MTHFR gene polymorphism and risk factor-dependent augmentation for ischemic stroke in subjects with several risk factors for atherosclerosis, with special emphasis on the risk factor-gene interaction. The diagnosis of cerebral infarction in each patient was confirmed by computed tomography (CT) findings of the brain. MTHFR C677T polymorphism was genotyped with a conventional method. In 97 stroke patients (48 cases of atherothrombotic infarction, 38 cases of lacunar infarction, 9 cases of cardiac embolism, 2 others) and 241 age-and sex-matched healthy control subjects, the frequencies of the T allele were 0.44 and 0.39, respectively. In patients with CT-proven atherothrombotic infarction, the T allele frequency was 0.54 (P = .033 vs controls). The adjusted odds ratio in subjects with TT genotype for atherothrombotic infarction was 3.87 (95% confidence interval = 1.27-11.8). A general linear model analysis showed that an interaction between the HDL-C and MTHFR genotype was significantly associated with atherothrombotic infarction (F = 5.695; P = .018). These findings indicate that the T allele of the MTHFR gene is significantly associated with atherothrombotic infarction. Furthermore, the analysis of risk factor-gene interaction could be a useful tool for deriving specific predictive information about ischemic stroke in an elderly Japanese population.