Long-term Effect of Regular Physical Activity and Exercise Habits in Patients With Early Parkinson Disease

パーキンソン病における運動習慣の長期効果を確認 --進行抑制に光明、活動の種類により異なる効果--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-01-13.[Objective:] Owing to the lack of long-term observations and/or comprehensive adjustment for confounding factors, reliable conclusions regarding long-term effects of exercise and regular physical activity in Parkinson’s disease (PD) have yet to be drawn. Here, using data from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative study that includes longitudinal and comprehensive evaluations of many clinical parameters, we examined the long-term effects of regular physical activity and exercise habits on the course of PD. [Methods:] In this observational cohort study, we primarily used the multivariate linear mixed-effects models to analyze the interaction effects of their regular physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous exercise levels, measured through the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly questionnaire, on the progression of clinical parameters, after adjusting for age, sex, levodopa-equivalent dose, and disease duration. We also calculated bootstrapping 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and conducted sensitivity analyses using the multiple imputation method and subgroup analyses using the propensity score matching to match for all baseline background factors. [Results:] 237 early PD patients [median (interquartile range); age, 63.0 (56.0–70.0) years; Male, 69.2%; follow-up duration, 5.0 (4.0–6.0) years] were included. Regular physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous exercise levels at the baseline did not significantly affect the subsequent clinical progression of PD. However, average regular overall physical activity levels over time were significantly associated with slower deterioration of postural and gait stability [standardized fixed-effects coefficients of the interaction term (β[interaction]) = -0.10 (95% CI, -0.14 to -0.06)], activities of daily living [βinteraction = 0.08 (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.12)], and processing speed [β[interaction] = 0.05 (95% CI, 0.03 to 0.08)] in PD patients. Moderate-to-vigorous exercise levels were preferentially associated with slower decline of postural and gait stability [β[interaction] = -0.09 (95% CI, -0.13 to -0.05)] and work-related activity levels were primarily associated with slower deterioration of processing speed [βinteraction = 0.07 (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.09)]. Multiple imputation and propensity score matching confirmed the robustness of our results. [Conclusions:] In the long-term, the maintenance of high regular physical activity levels and exercise habits was robustly associated with better clinical course of PD, with each type of physical activity having different effects

Lower Circulating Lymphocyte Count Predicts ApoE ε4-Related Cognitive Decline in Parkinson's Disease

パーキンソン病では前認知症段階で血中リンパ球が低下 --先制治療・病態解明の鍵--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-10-14

Deficits in spatial learning and motor coordination in ADAM11-deficient mice

BACKGROUND: ADAM11 is a member of the ADAM gene family and is mainly expressed in the nervous system. It is thought to be an adhesion molecule, since it has a disintegrin-like domain related to cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions. To elucidate the physiological functions of ADAM11, we generated ADAM11-deficient mice by means of gene targeting. RESULTS: ADAM11-deficient mice were apparently normal, and survived more than one year with no major histological abnormalities in the brain or spinal cord. Because ADAM11 is highly expressed in the hippocampus and cerebellum, we have examined ADAM11 mutant mice for learning using visual and hidden water maze tasks, and their motor coordination using a rotating rod task. Our results showed that their visual water maze task results are normal, but the hidden water maze and rotating rod task skills are impaired in ADAM11-deficient mice. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that ADAM11 mutation does not affect cell migration and differentiation during development, but affects learning and motor coordination. Thus, ADAM11 might play an important signalling or structural role as a cell adhesion molecule at the synapse, and may thus participate in synaptic regulation underlying behavioural changes

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using mobile computed tomography: New method for locating of small lung nodules

BACKGROUND: The O-arm is an intraoperative imaging device that can provide computed tomography images. Surgery for small lung tumors was performed based on intraoperative computed tomography images obtained using the O-arm. This study evaluated the usefulness of the O-arm in thoracic surgery. METHODS: From July 2013 to November 2013, 10 patients with small lung nodules or ground glass nodules underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery using the O-arm. A needle was placed on the visceral pleura near the nodules. After the lung was re-expanded, intraoperative computed tomography was performed using the O-arm. Then, the positional relationship between the needle marking and the tumor was recognized based on the intraoperative computed tomography images, and lung resection was performed. RESULTS: In 9 patients, the tumor could be seen on intraoperative computed tomography images using the O-arm. In 1 patient with a ground glass nodule, the lesion could not be seen, but its location could be inferred by comparison between preoperative and intraoperative computed tomography images. In only 1 patient with a ground glass nodule, a pathological complete resection was not performed. There were no complications related to the use of the O-arm. CONCLUSIONS: The O-arm may be an additional tool to facilitate intraoperative localization and surgical resection of non-palpable lung lesions

Multiscale element mapping of buried structures by ptychographic x-ray diffraction microscopy using anomalous scattering

We propose an element mapping technique of nano-meso-microscale structures buried within large and/or thick objects by ptychographic x-ray diffraction microscopy using anomalous scattering. We performed quantitative imagings of both the electron density and Au element of Au/Ag nanoparticles at the pixel resolution of better than 10 nm in a field of view larger than 5 × 5 μm2 by directly phasing ptychographic coherent diffraction patterns acquired at two x-ray energies below the Au L3 edge. This method provides us with multiscale structural and elemental information for understanding the element/property relationship linking nanoscale structures to macroscopic functional properties in material and biological systems. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.Yukio Takahashi, Akihiro Suzuki, Nobuyuki Zettsu, Yoshiki Kohmura, Kazuto Yamauchi, and Tetsuya Ishikawa, "Multiscale element mapping of buried structures by ptychographic x-ray diffraction microscopy using anomalous scattering", Appl. Phys. Lett. 99(13), 131905 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3644396

High-resolution and high-sensitivity phase-contrast imaging by focused hard x-ray ptychography with a spatial filter

We demonstrate high-resolution and high-sensitivity x-ray phase-contrast imaging of a weakly scattering extended object by scanning coherent diffractive imaging, i.e., ptychography, using a focused x-ray beam with a spatial filter. We develop the x-ray illumination optics installed with the spatial filter to collect coherent diffraction patterns with a high signal-to-noise ratio. We quantitatively visualize the object with a slight phase shift ([formula omitted]) at spatial resolution better than 17 nm in a field of view larger than [formula omitted]. The present coherent method has a marked potential for high-resolution and wide-field-of-view observation of weakly scattering objects such as biological soft tissues.Yukio Takahashi, Akihiro Suzuki, Shin Furutaku, Kazuto Yamauchi, Yoshiki Kohmura, and Tetsuya Ishikawa, "High-resolution and high-sensitivity phase-contrast imaging by focused hard x-ray ptychography with a spatial filter", Appl. Phys. Lett. 102, 094102 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4794063

Bragg x-ray ptychography of a silicon crystal: Visualization of the dislocation strain field and the production of a vortex beam

We experimentally demonstrate the visualization of nanoscale dislocation strain fields in a thick silicon single crystal by a coherent diffraction imaging technique called Bragg x-ray ptychography. We also propose that the x-ray microbeam carrying orbital angular momentum is selectively produced by coherent Bragg diffraction from dislocation singularities in crystals. This work not only provides us with a tool for characterizing dislocation strain fields buried within extended crystals but also opens up new scientific opportunities in femtosecond spectroscopy using x-ray free-electron lasers.Yukio Takahashi, Akihiro Suzuki, Shin Furutaku, Kazuto Yamauchi, Yoshiki Kohmura, and Tetsuya Ishikawa, Phys. Rev. B 87, 121201, 2013

High-resolution projection image reconstruction of thick objects by hard x-ray diffraction microscopy

Hard x-ray diffraction microscopy enables us to observe thick objects at high spatial resolution. The resolution of this method is limited, in principle, by only the x-ray wavelength and the largest scattering angle recorded. As the resolution approaches the wavelength, the thickness effect of objects plays a significant role in x-ray diffraction microscopy. In this paper, we report high-resolution hard x-ray diffraction microscopy for thick objects. We used highly focused coherent x rays with a wavelength of ∼0.1 nm as an incident beam and measured the diffraction patterns of a ∼150-nm -thick silver nanocube at the scattering angle of ∼3°. We observed a characteristic contrast of the coherent diffraction pattern due to only the thickness effect and collected the diffraction patterns at nine incident angles so as to obtain information on a cross section of Fourier space. We reconstructed a pure projection image by the iterative phasing method from the patched diffraction pattern. The edge resolution of the reconstructed image was ∼2 nm, which was the highest resolution so far achieved by x-ray microscopy. The present study provides us with a method for quantitatively observing thick samples at high resolution by hard x-ray diffraction microscopy. © 2010 The American Physical Society.Yukio Takahashi, Yoshinori Nishino, Ryosuke Tsutsumi, Nobuyuki Zettsu, Eiichiro Matsubara, Kazuto Yamauchi, and Tetsuya Ishikawa. Phys. Rev. B 82(21), 214102 (2010)

Feasibility study of high-resolution coherent diffraction microscopy using synchrotron x rays focused by Kirkpatrick-Baez mirrors

High-flux coherent x rays are necessary for the improvement of the spatial resolution in coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy (CXDM). In this study, high-resolution CXDM using Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirrors is proposed, and the mirrors are designed for experiments of the transmission scheme at SPring-8. Both the photon density and spatial coherence of synchrotron x rays focused by the KB mirrors are investigated by wave optical simulation. The KB mirrors can produce nearly diffraction-limited two-dimensional focusing x rays of ∼1 μm in size at 8 keV. When the sample size is less than ∼1 μm, the sample can be illuminated with full coherent x rays by adjusting the cross-slit size set between the source and the mirrors. From the estimated photon density at the sample position, the feasibility of CXDM with a sub- 1-nm spatial resolution is suggested. The present ultraprecise figuring process enables us to fabricate mirrors for carrying out high-resolution CXDM experiments.Yukio Takahashi, Yoshinori Nishino, Hidekazu Mimura, Ryosuke Tsutsumi, Hideto Kubo, Tetsuya Ishikawa, and Kazuto Yamauchi, "Feasibility study of high-resolution coherent diffraction microscopy using synchrotron x rays focused by Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors", Journal of Applied Physics 105, 083106 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3108997