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Patterns of cerebral glucose metabolism detected with positron emission tomography differ in multiple system atrophy and olivopontocerebellar atrophy.

We used positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose to study local cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (ICMRglc) in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA), sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy (sOPCA), and dominantly inherited olivopontocerebellar atrophy (dOPCA) in comparison with normal control subjects. IN MSA, absolute lCMRglc was significantly decreased in the brainstem, cerebellum, putamen, thalamus, and cerebral cortex. In sOPCA, absolute lCMRglc was significantly decreased in the brainstem, cerebellum, putamen, thalamus, and cerebral cortex. In dOPCA, absolute lCMRglc was significantly decreased in the brainstem and cerebellum but not in the other structures. Examination of lCMRglc normalized to the cerebral cortex in comparison with normal controls revealed in MSA significant decreases in the brainstem, cerebellum, and putamen but, in both sOPCA and dOPCA, significant decreases only in the brainstem and cerebellum. The findings indicate that these three disorders all show a marked decrease of lCMRglc in the brainstem and cerebellum but differ in the degree of hypometabolism in forebrain and cerebral cortical structures. The results are consistent with the possibility that, in many cases, sOPCA will evolve into MSA. Moreover, positron emission tomography may provide helpful diagnostic information in these neurodegenerative diseases.

Adult↗

Infantile cerebello-optic atrophy. Neuropathology of the progressive encephalopathy syndrome with edema, hypsarrhythmia and optic atrophy (the PEHO syndrome).

Uniform neuropathological changes are described in eight cases of the progressive encephalopathy syndrome with edema, hypsarrhythmia and optic atrophy (PEHO syndrome). Two of the autopsied patients were sisters and two other cases were familial. Macroscopically, cerebral and pronounced cerebellar atrophy was seen, the essential histopathological lesions being confined to the cerebellar cortex and the optic nerve. There was a severe neuronal loss in the inner granular layer of the cerebellum. The Purkinje cells were relatively preserved in number although reduced in size, deformed and slightly disaligned. Their dendrites were horizontally oriented and the proximal axons contained abundant torpedoes. The molecular layer was narrow. The optic nerves were atrophic. Serial neuroimaging studies showed that the disease process is operative during the postnatal period, although a prenatal onset cannot be excluded. An aberrant expression of immunoreactivity against the 200-kDa neurofilament polypeptide in Purkinje cell perikarya indicated disorganization of the cytoskeleton of these cells. The combination of clinical and pathological features of our patients differs from that observed in the few published cases of so-called primary degeneration of the granular layer. Infantile cerebello-optic atrophy, clinically characterized by seizures, blindness and early arrest in psychomotor development, thus seems to constitute a new autosomal recessive disorder.

Atrophy↗

Patterns of neuropsychological performance in multiple system atrophy compared to sporadic and hereditary olivopontocerebellar atrophy.

Although neuropsychological symptoms are associated with multiple system atrophy (MSA), sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy (sOPCA), and dominantly inherited olivopontocerebellar atrophy (dOPCA), the differences between these groups have not been explored. We compared 28 MSA patients on psychiatric rating scales and neuropsychological measures to 67 sOPCA patients, 42 dOPCA patients, and 30 normal controls. Patients with dOPCA, sOPCA, and MSA all exhibited significant deficits on motor-related tasks, as well as relatively mild deficits in cognitive functioning. Patients with MSA had greater neuropsychological dysfunction, particularly in memory and other "higher order" cognitive processes, than patients with either sOPCA or dOPCA.

Cognition Disorders↗

[Genetically confirmed spinal muscular atrophy type III with epilepsy, cerebral hypoperfusion, and parahippocampal gyrus atrophy].

We report a 37-year-old female with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type III and central nervous system (CNS) involvement. She showed gait disturbance at the age of 12 years, and difficulty of squatting at the age of 19. On examination at the age of 22, she had proximal muscle weakness and atrophy, fasciculation, normal sensory system and elevated creatine kinase in the serum. She was diagnosed as having SMA type III based on clinical, electrophysiological, and muscle biopsy findings. She suffered from subacute necrotizing lymphadenitis at the age of 23 and from epilepsy at the age of 33. Magnetic resonance imaging showed atrophy of parahippocampal gyrus with right side predominance. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using I123-IMP showed decreased accumulations of I123-IMP in the temporal lobes with left side predominance. Electroencephalogram showed theta wave without epileptic burst. SMA gene analysis revealed deletion of exon 7 and 8 in survival motor neuron (SMN) gene. A few patients with SMA and CNS involvement have been reported without genetic diagnosis. This is the first report of genetically confirmed SMA patient with CNS involvement. SMN gene is distributed not only in spinal cord but also in brain. The CNS involvement detected in this patient may be related to the loss of SMN gene function, although coincidental association of SMA and the CNS abnormalities is still considered in this atypical case.

Adult↗

[A case of unilateral lingual atrophy and ipsilateral muscular atrophy supplied by trigeminal nerve--in relation to progressive facial hemiatrophy].

A 39-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of atrophy of the right side of the tongue of 6 years' duration. Neurological examination showed atrophy and fasciculations in the right side of the tongue. Magnetic resonance imaging showed atrophy and high signal intensity areas on T1 and T2 weighted images in the right masseter, temporal, lateral and medial pterygoid muscles. Electromyography showed fibrillations and positive sharp waves at rest, high amplitude polyphasic motor unit potentials with weak contraction in the right tongue and masseter muscles. Examination of autonomic functions suggested postganglionic lesion of right facial sympathetic nerves. We believe that this case may be related to progressive facial hemiatrophy.

Adult↗

Positron emission tomography studies on the dopaminergic system and striatal opioid binding in the olivopontocerebellar atrophy variant of multiple system atrophy.

Ten patients with sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy and autonomic failure were studied with positron emission tomography. Subjects underwent both an [11C]diprenorphine and an [18F]fluorodopa scan. The mean caudate-occipital uptake ratio for [11C]diprenorphine was significantly reduced to 88% and the putamen-occipital uptake ratio to 85% of the control values. Individually, 4 of the 10 patients had significantly reduced opioid binding in the putamen. Mean putamen [18F]fluorodopa uptake was significantly diminished (to 71% of the control mean); individually 7 patients had significantly reduced uptake. There was a significant positive correlation between putamen-occipital uptake ratios for [11C]diprenorphine and putamen uptake of [18F]fluorodopa. Our results suggest that subclinical nigrostriatal dysfunction is present in the majority of patients with sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy, in accordance with it being part of the spectrum of multiple system atrophy.

Autonomic Nervous System Diseases↗

Hippocampal atrophy in temporal lobe epilepsy is correlated with limbic systems atrophy.

Hippocampal sclerosis in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is often associated with hippocampal atrophy. This study assessed whether such atrophy is correlated with loss of gray matter volume in other brain regions. In 16 patients with TLE and clear magnetic resonance imaging-based evidence of hippocampal sclerosis, hippocampal volumes were determined manually and the local gray matter (LGM) amount was estimated throughout the entire brain using voxel-based morphometry. Voxelwise correlations between the volume of the sclerotic hippocampus and LGM were computed. The pattern of voxels whose LGM correlated with hippocampal volume outlined remarkably well the anatomy of the extended limbic system and included the parahippocampal region, cingulate gyrus throughout its extent, basal forebrain, thalamic nuclei, medial orbitofrontal areas and the insula. These correlations emerged mainly on the side ipsilateral to the affected hippocampus but were also found contralaterally. No such correlations were found in a group of 16 healthy controls. The present data show that hippocampal volume loss in TLE is associated with a widespread limbic systems atrophy. These findings are helpful to better understand the functional deficit and reorganization often found in temporal lobe epilepsy and will also provide a basis to assess neural plasticity in the limbic system for those patients who will undergo curative temporal lobe surgery.

Adult↗

Inhibition of arginine-glycine amidinotransferase by ornithine. A possible mechanism for the muscular and chorioretinal atrophies in gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina with hyperornithinemia.

The inhibitory effect of ornithine on L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (EC 2.1.4.1) was studied in crude rat kidney homogenates. The enzyme activity was linear with time up to 45 min and with protein up to 200 microgram. The apparent Km and V of amidinotransferase were 9.21 mM and 1.53 mu mol/g protein per min, respectively. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by ornithine, with a Ki of 0.253 mM. Kidney arginase was inhibited only slightly and non-competitively. The inhibition of amidinotransferase by ornithine may thus be important in creatine biosynthesis. In gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina with hyperornithinemia, a human autosomal recessive disease caused by decreased ornithine aminotransferase activity, plasma ornithine concentrations are elevated 10-20-fold (0.65-1.35 mM during fasting). In consequence endogenous creatine production probably is severely decreased because of inhibition of the rate-limiting transamidination step by ornithine. The deficiency of creatine and further of readily available energy in the form of phosphocreatine is suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of the choroidal, retinal and type II muscle fiver atrophies in gyrate atrophy.

Amidinotransferases↗

Dexamethasone-induced adrenal cortex atrophy and recovery of the gland from partial, steroid-induced atrophy.

This study aims to examine the effects of low dexamethasone (DX) doses on cellular and functional changes in the rat adrenal cortex and to observe the recovery of the gland from DX-induced partial atrophy. Within seven days doses of 15, 30 and 60 micrograms DX/100 g/day resulted in a dose dependent decrease in body and adrenal gland weight. Within two weeks the lowest DX dose tested caused further decrease in adrenal weight. DX markedly lowered plasma ACTH and corticosterone (B) level, B content in the gland and B output by adrenal slices. Adrenocortical atrophy induced by 15 micrograms DX was dependent upon the linear decrease in the volume of fasciculata and reticularis zones, in the average volume of the fasciculata cell and in the number of adrenocortical cells in the entire cortex. This dose of DX resulted in a prompt and potent inhibition of proliferative activity of adrenocortical cells as assessed by the counting of metaphases per adrenal section. Partial adrenal atrophy evoked by 7 day DX-treatment was reversible within seven days of the discontinuation of the steroid treatment. Recovery of the gland depended mainly on the increases in the volume of all adrenocortical zones, in the average volume of fasciculata cell and in the number of parenchymal cells in the gland. Seven days after discontinuation of DX administration plasma ACTH was significantly higher than in controls. Plasma B and B secretion by adrenal slices were similar to the control group while B content in the gland was still depressed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Cortex↗

[30 years multiple system atrophy concept: retrospect and overview of multiple system atrophy].

Multiple system atrophy represents an enigmatic, clinico-pathologically defined neurodegenerative disease. According to findings of the last three decades, the historically derived, previously used terms olivopontocerebellar atrophy, striatonigral degeneration, and Shy-Drager-syndrome should be avoided in clinical use because of both the clinical and morphological overlap between these syndromes. Complex neurodegenerative syndromes other than multiple system atrophy according to recently developed criteria, should rather be referred to as multiple system degenerations.

Adult↗

Familial olivopontocerebellar atrophy with macular degeneration: a separate entity among the olivopontocerebellar atrophies.

A family with hereditary, neuropathologically confirmed olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) associated with macular degeneration is described. The mode of inheritance was autosomal dominant. The first symptom was insidious, progressive visual loss caused by macular degeneration. Another early sign was slow saccades. Some years after the visual symptoms, gradually progressing cerebellar dysfunction and pyramidal signs developed. Computed tomography of the brain indicated cerebellar and pontine atrophy. Finally the patients were blind, due to a severe chorioretinal atrophy, and disabled because af motor dysfunction. The present study, together with a review of other reported families with OPCA associated with macular degeneration, suggests that this disorder is a specific and clinically recognizable subtype of OPCA.

Adult↗

Atrophy of optic nerve fibres in compression of the chiasm. Observer variation in assessment of atrophy.

Different observers' assessment of atrophy according to a semi-quantitative method was analysed. Five observers scored the degree of atrophy on magnified black-and-white fundus photographs from normal controls and from patients with chiasmal lesions of different severity. Four of the five examiners achieved a reasonably uniform assessment of atrophy. The results of the test prompted some modification in the grading system.

Adenoma, Chromophobe↗

Bilateral anterior cortical atrophy and subcortical atrophy in reduplicative paramnesia: a case-control study of computed tomography in 10 patients.

OBJECTIVE: Reduplicative paramnesia (RP) is thought to be related to other delusional misidentification syndromes (DMS) such as Capgras syndrome. DMS are thought to occur when brain lesions disrupt cortical functioning. This study tests this hypothesis and tries to understand whether focal lesions are as important in the etiology of RP as they are in other types of DMS. METHOD: The computed tomography (CT) scans of 10 consecutive psychiatric inpatients with RP and another principal psychiatric diagnosis were compared with those of control patients without RP matched for age, sex, and principal psychiatric diagnosis. The scans were assessed blindly by a neuroradiologist using a previously published rating scale for the presence of lesions in 11 discrete anatomic areas. The differences between the 2 groups were examined statistically using log-linear analysis. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that index patient cortical atrophy, cortical fissure enlargement, and deep brain atrophy distinguished the 2 groups significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral anterior cortical, brain stem, and cerebellar vermis atrophy and dysfunction may be important in the pathogenesis of RP in particular and of DMS in general.

Adult↗

Atrophy of the cerebellum and brainstem in dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy. Influence of CAG repeat size on MRI findings.

To elucidate how the size of the expanded CAG repeat of the gene for dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) and other factors affect the atrophy of the brainstem and cerebellum, and the appearance of high-intensity signals on T2-weighted MRI of the cerebral white matter of patients with DRPLA, we quantitatively analyzed the MRI findings of 26 patients with DRPLA, the diagnosis of which was confirmed by molecular analysis of the DRPLA gene. When we classified the patients into two groups based on the size of the expanded CAG repeat of the DRPLA gene (group 1, number of CAG repeat units > or = 66; group 2, number of CAG repeat units < or = 65), we found strong inverse correlations between the age at MRI and the areas of midsagittal structures of the cerebellum and brainstem in group 1 but not in group 2. Multiple regression analysis, however, revealed that both the patient's age at MRI and the size of the expanded CAG repeat correlated with the areas of midsagittal structures. Involvement of the cerebral white matter as detected on T2-weighted images was observed more frequently in patients belonging to group 2 than in group 1 patients. Furthermore it was demonstrated that high-intensity signals can be detected on T2-weighted images of the cerebral white matter of patients with a largely expanded CAG repeat (group 1) in their thirties. These results suggest that patient age as well as the size of the expanded CAG repeat are related to the degree of atrophy of the brainstem and cerebellum, and the white matter changes in patients with DRPLA.

Adolescent↗

Studies on neurotransmitter markers and neuronal cell density in the cerebellar system in olivopontocerebellar atrophy and cortical cerebellar atrophy.

Glutamate, aspartate and gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) concentrations and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity were measured in postmortem cerebellar cortical areas and brainstem nuclei of 10 normal controls, 5 patients of olivopontocerebellar atrophy (OPCA) with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and 2 patients of cortical cerebellar atrophy (CCA). In addition, the neuronal cell density in the cerebellar cortex and the brainstem nuclei was determined, and the correlation between neurotransmitter markers and the neuronal cell densities were investigated. Glutamate and aspartate concentrations in the cerebellar cortical tissues were markedly varied from case to case of MSA (OPCA) and CCA patients. However, glutamate concentration in the anterior vermis showed a positive correlation coefficient with the density of granule cells (r = 0.554, 0.05 less than P less than 0.10) and, those in the posterior vermis and in the cerebellar hemisphere were positively correlated with cells in the inferior olive (r = 0.707 and 0.607, P less than 0.05, respectively). Aspartate concentration in the anterior vermis also has a positive correlation coefficient (r = 0.571, 0.05 less than P less than 0.10) with the density of cells in the inferior olive. GABA concentrations in the dentate nucleus were decreased in all cases of MSA (OPCA) and CCA, and were positively correlated with the degree of loss of Purkinje cells (r = 0.765, P less than 0.01). ChAT activities were decreased in certain cases of MSA (OPCA), but conversely, increased in CCA patients. ChAT activity in the posterior vermis has a positive correlation coefficient (r = 0.613, 0.05 less than P0.10) with the cell density in the pontine nucleus. A possibility of a compensatory increase of ChAT activity in CCA patients was discussed.

Adult↗

Differential pattern in tissue-specific somatic mosaicism of expanded CAG trinucleotide repeats in dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, Machado-Joseph disease, and X-linked recessive spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy.

We investigated the somatic mosaicism of trinucleotide repeat expansion in the neural and nonneural tissues of a dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) patient and their correlation to the topographical distribution of the pathological involvement. The spatial pattern of tissue-specific somatic mosaicism in the CAG repeat size was significantly different among the DRPLA, MJD and SBMA patients. The size of the major bands of the mutant CAG repeat allele was significantly smaller in the cerebellar cortex in both DRPLA and MJD patients by 6 and 2 repeat units respectively and larger in the colon and liver of DRPLA by 5 repeats or more. There were also 1-2 repeat-sized small variations of major band size among the neural tissues in DRPLA. In contrast, there was no tissue-specific variation of major bands of CAG repeats and diversity of extra bands among the examined tissues including the cerebellum in the SBMA patient. There was no parallel occurrence of tissue-specific CAG instability and severity of neuropathological involvement in the neural and nonneural tissues of DRPLA, MJD and SBMA patients. Lack of significant tissue-specific somatic mosaicism in SBMA including the cerebellar cortex may suggest that CAG repeat expansion in the mutant androgen receptor gene is far more stable compared with that in DRPLA and MJD as well as those reported in Huntington's disease.

Adult↗