Daytime sleepiness in Japanese patients with multiple system atrophy: prevalence and determinants

BACKGROUND: The recent SLEEMSA study that evaluated excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in Caucasian patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) demonstrated that EDS was more frequent in patients (28%) than in healthy subjects (2%). However, the prevalence and determinants of EDS in other ethnic populations have not been reported to date. METHODS: We performed a single-hospital prospective study on patients with probable MSA. To ascertain the prevalence and determinants of EDS in Japanese MSA patients, we assessed the patients’ degree of daytime sleepiness by using the Japanese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). In addition, we investigated the effects of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and abnormal periodic leg movements in sleep (PLMS), which were measured by polysomnography, on the patients’ ESS scores. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients with probable MSA (21 patients with cerebellar MSA and 4 patients with parkinsonian MSA) were included in this study. All patients underwent standard polysomnography. The mean ESS score was 6.2 ± 0.9, and EDS was identified in 24% of the patients. SDB and abnormal PLMS were identified in 24 (96%) and 11 (44%) patients, respectively. The prevalences of EDS in patients with SDB and abnormal PLMS were 25% and 18%, respectively. No correlations were observed between ESS scores and the parameters of SDB or abnormal PLMS. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of EDS in Japanese patients with MSA was similar to that in Caucasian MSA patients. SDB and abnormal PLMS were frequently observed in MSA patients, although the severities of these factors were not correlated with EDS. Further investigations using objective sleep tests need to be performed

A single-chip NMOS analog front-end LSI for modems

金沢大学理工研究域　電子情報学系This paper presents a fully integrated analog front-end LSI chip which is an interface system between digital signal processors and existing analog telecommunication networks. The developed analog LSI chip includes many high level function blocks such as A/D and D/A converters with 11 bit resolution, various kinds of SCF\u27s, an agc circuit, an external control level adjuster, a carrier detector, and a zero crossing detector. Design techniques employed are mainly directed toward circuit size reductions. The LSI chip is fabricated in a 5 mu m line double polysilicon gate NMOS process. Chip size is 7. 14 multiplied by 6. 51 mm. The circuit operates on plus or minus 5 v power supplies. Typical power consumption is 270 mw. By using this analog front-end LSI chip and a digital signal processor, modern systems can be successfully constructed in a compact size

A single-chip NMOS analog front-end LSI for modems

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科情報システム金沢大学工学部This paper presents a fully integrated analog front-end LSI chip which is an interface system between digital signal processors and existing analog telecommunication networks. The developed analog LSI chip includes many high level function blocks such as A/D and D/A converters with 11 bit resolution, various kinds of SCF\u27s, an agc circuit, an external control level adjuster, a carrier detector, and a zero crossing detector. Design techniques employed are mainly directed toward circuit size reductions. The LSI chip is fabricated in a 5 mu m line double polysilicon gate NMOS process. Chip size is 7. 14 multiplied by 6. 51 mm. The circuit operates on plus or minus 5 v power supplies. Typical power consumption is 270 mw. By using this analog front-end LSI chip and a digital signal processor, modern systems can be successfully constructed in a compact size

The Influence of D-penicillamine on Granuloma Formation in Implanted Collagen Sponges in Ferritin-sensitized and Non-sensitized Guinea Pigs

In ferritin-sensitized and non-sensitized guinea pigs, using the method of granuloma formation within peritoneally implanted collagen sponges that were either impregnated or not impregnated with ferritin, the effects of D-penicillamine on the cellular aspects of thus created granulomas were quantitatively evaluated by scheduled administration. Daily administration of D-penicillamine (200 mg/kg) for 14 days before and 10, 14 or 18 days after the sponge implantation decreased small mononuclear cell population (SMN) which consisted of lymphocytes, small monocytes and plasma cells, on the 10th-18th days in sponge granulomas in both sensitized and non-sensitized groups, but the administration for 14 days before the sponge implantation higher increased SMN infil- tration on the 14th day in sensitized group. This phenomenon disclosed a close association with a marked infiltration of perivascular lymphocytes and plasma cells in the presence of granulomatous inflammation with the involvement of the delayed hypersensitivity reaction. The enhancement of the dominant lymphocytes infiltrating perivascularly by D-penicillamine may be mediated by chemotactic factors such as lymphokines inducing the delayed hypersensitivity reaction. On the other hand, the frequency of foreign body multinucleated giant cells was decreased by daily administration of D-penicillamine before and after implantation in both groups. This decrease in the number of the giant cells is considered to be due to inhibition of accumulation in the sponges of macrophages and/or monocytes to be fused

Activities of Tissue Registry and Tumor Registry in NAGASAKI Area

In Nagasaki area, registry of malignant tumor patients found in hospitals and clinics in the city has been conducted by the Nagasaki City Medical Association with the cooperation of Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) since 1957. The method of diagnosis is various such as 1) autopsy, 2) microscopy, 3) cytologic diagnosis, 4) endoscopic examination findings, 5) operation, 6) radiography, 7) clinical findings, 8) death certificate and 9) others. The number of cases collected during the period of 19 years up to 1975 amounts to 41,780. On the other hand, tissue registry was started in September 1975. In this Registry, all hospitals in Nagasaki Prefecture and RERF where specimens and tissues are obtained and examined for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes are invited to participate. The purpose of the Tissue Registry is to register as many cases as possible occurring in the residents of Nagasaki prefecture and to promote diagnosis, treatment, early detection, and prevention of tumors by analyzing the collected data. Prior to the establishment of the Tumor Registry, it was agreed to provide the best possible tissue diagnosis, clarify incidence and site of tumors, and to provide a central depository where useful and confirmed diagnosis are available as a source of data for medical studies related to tumors. Fortunately, financial assistance was given to the establishment the Tissue Registry through RERF in accordance with a provision of the contract between the National Cancer Institute and the National Academy of Sciences, USA and thus the operation of the Tissue Registry has become available. At commencement of this project, we established two sub-committees ; Pathology Committee and Statistics Committee

Current status of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and umbilical cord blood bank in Chugoku-Shikoku area

The hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is rapidly and widely spreading in the treatment strategy of various types of cancers, since peripheral and umbilical cord blood (CB) have been introduced as new sources of transplantable cells in addition to ordinary bone marrow cells. In this report, the current status of HSCT was reviewed. CB is rich in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, which have high proliferative potential. T cells in CB are speculated to be immature and immune-tolerable cells with less potential to cause acute or chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD), which are directly related with transplant-related morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, transplants with CB are not strictly restricted by a HLA-disparity. On the other hand, the less number of collected cells from CB is a major problem when the cells are applied for clinical transplantation, because the lower number of infused cells often result in engraftment failure. Further, we have no data of the viability after long term cryopreservation. We must carefully judge the usefulness of CB as a cell source for transplantation, but the benefits of CB may have a possibility to overcome these disadvantage in the near future. Finally, the activity of cord blood bank in Chugoku-Shikoku area, which was started from August 1998, was also introduced

High variability of expression profiles of homeologous genes for Wnt, Hh, Notch, and Hippo signaling pathways in Xenopus laevis

Cell signaling pathways, such as Wnt, Hedgehog (Hh), Notch, and Hippo, are essential for embryogenesis, organogenesis, and tissue homeostasis. In this study, we analyzed 415 genes involved in these pathways in the allotetraploid frog, Xenopus laevis. Most genes are retained in two subgenomes called L and S (193 homeologous gene pairs and 29 singletons). This conservation rate of homeologs is much higher than that of all genes in the X. laevis genome (86.9% vs 60.2%). Among singletons, 24 genes are retained in the L subgenome, a rate similar to the average for all genes (82.8% vs 74.6%). In addition, as general components of signal transduction, we also analyzed 32 heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG)-related genes and eight TLE/Groucho transcriptional corepressors-related genes. In these gene sets, all homeologous pairs have been retained. Transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq data from developmental stages and adult tissues demonstrated that most homeologous pairs of signaling components have variable expression patterns, in contrast to the conservative expression profiles of homeologs for transcription factors. Our results indicate that homeologous gene pairs for cell signaling regulation have tended to become subfunctionalized after allotetraploidization. Diversification of signaling pathways by subfunctionalization of homeologs may enhance environmental adaptability. These results provide insights into the evolution of signaling pathways after polyploidization