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In 2016, a countermeasure was announced against the Nankai Trough long‐period and long‐duration ground motions (LPGMs) in Japan. However, the response spectrum method (RSM), indicated by the Ministry of Construction notification Vol. 2009 (MCN), was out of the countermeasure. An RSM considering characteristic changes due to repeated deformations has also been proposed. However, since the damping correction formula of MCN was used, its applicability to LPMGs has not been sufficiently investigated. In this paper, a method is proposed to evaluate the influence of characteristic changes due to repeated deformations using RSM for LPGMs and seismically isolated buildings using the lead plug‐inserted laminated rubber (LRB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction and discontinuance processes of factories are complicated problems in sociology. We focus on the spatial and temporal changes of factories at Hamamatsu city in Japan. Real data indicate that the clumping degree of factories decreases as the density of factory increases. To represent the spatial and temporal changes of factories, we apply “contact process” which is one of cellular automata. This model roughly explains the dynamics of factory distribution. We also find “historical effect” in spatial distribution. Namely, the recent factories have been dispersed due to the past distribution during the period of economic bubble. This effect may be related to heavy shock in Japanese stock market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cigarette smoking decreases brain regional gray matter volume and is related to chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). COPD leads to decreased pulmonary function, which is represented by forced expiratory volume in one second percentage (FEV1.0 %); however, it is unclear if decreased pulmonary function is directly related to brain gray matter volume decline. Because there is a link between COPD and cognitive decline, revealing a direct relationship between pulmonary function and brain structure is important to better understand how pulmonary function affects brain structure and cognitive function. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze whether there were significant correlations between FEV1.0 % and brain regional gray and white matter volumes using brain magnetic resonance (MR) image data from 109 community-dwelling healthy elderly individuals. Methods: Brain MR images were processed with voxel-based morphometry using a custom template by applying diffeomorphic anatomical registration using the exponentiated lie algebra procedure. Results: We found a significant positive correlation between the regional white matter volume of the cerebellum and FEV1.0 % after adjusting for age, sex, and intracranial volume. Conclusion: Our results suggest that elderly individuals who have a lower FEV1.0 % have decreased regional white matter volume in the cerebellum. Therefore, preventing decreased pulmonary function is important for cerebellar white matter volume in the healthy elderly population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Whether the degree of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) shows a significant correlation with the rate of global gray matter volume decline over a period following initial baseline measurement remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to reveal the relationship between the degree of WMHs at baseline and the rate of global gray matter volume decline by applying a longitudinal design. Methods: Using a 6-year longitudinal design and magnetic resonance images of the brains of 160 healthy individuals aged over 50 years and living in the community, we analyzed the correlation between degree of WMHs using Fazekas scaling at baseline and rate of global gray matter volume decline 6 years later. To obtain the rate of global gray matter volume decline, we calculated global gray matter volume and intracranial volume at baseline and at follow-up using a fully automated method. Results: The annual percentage change in the gray matter ratio (GMR, APC), in which GMR represents the percentage of gray matter volume in the intracranial volume, showed a significant positive correlation with the degree of deep WMHs and periventricular WMHs at baseline, after adjusting for age, gender, present history of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: Our results suggest that degree of WMHs at baseline predicts the rate of gray matter volume decline 6 years later and that simple visual scaling of WMHs could contribute to predicting the rate of global gray matter volume decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a high-resolution in vivo human neuroanatomy database for Japanese brains, a data set on 1547 normal subjects between the ages of 16 and 79 years has been collected. First, we determined individual reference brains of normal Japanese for each age and gender group. We found there exists cross-generational changes in brain shape, that is, the young generation has a shorter and wider brain than the older generation. Second, we determined the effect of aging on the volume of gray matter and white matter by voxel based morphometry. A significant negative correlation between the gray matter volume and age was observed. We assume that this kind of database is quite useful to investigators who are engaged in basic neuroscience, clinical diagnostics and evaluation of neuropsychiatric disorders in patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Perry disease (Perry syndrome), a hereditary TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathy, is caused by dynactin subunit 1 (DCNT1) mutations and is characterized by rapidly progressive parkinsonism accompanied by depression, apathy, unexpected weight loss, and respiratory symptoms including central hypoventilation and central sleep apnea. Meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy is considered a diagnostic biomarker for Lewy body disease (LBD), as denervation of cardiac sympathetic nerves is a pathological feature in LBD. However, our previous studies have reported a decreased cardiac uptake of MIBG in patients with Perry disease. In this study, we aimed to correlate the MIBG myocardial scintigraphy findings with clinical features in Perry disease.Methods: We evaluated data obtained from a multicenter survey of patients of Japanese origin with suspected Perry disease, who visited neurology departments in Japan from January 2010 to December 2018. We screened each patient's DNA for the DCTN1 mutation using Sanger sequencing and obtained the clinical details of all patients including findings from their MIBG myocardial scintigraphy.Results: We identified two novel mutations, p.G71V and p.K68E, in DCTN1 in patients from two different families. The majority of patients (7/8, 87.5%) showed a decrease in cardiac uptake (heart to mediastinum ratio) in MIBG myocardial scintigraphy. These patients commonly presented with symptoms related to autonomic dysfunction: constipation, fecal incontinence, urinary disturbance, and orthostatic hypotension.Conclusions: MIBG myocardial scintigraphy may be a useful biomarker of autonomic dysfunction in Perry disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although elevated serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is related to atherosclerosis, brain infarction, and cognitive decline, it has not been clarified whether increased hsCRP is associated with the decline in brain gray matter volume. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between hsCRP levels and brain regional gray matter volume using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 109 community-dwelling healthy elderly subjects. Brain MRIs were processed with voxel-based morphometry using a custom template by applying diffeomorphic anatomical registration using the exponentiated lie algebra (DARTEL) procedure. We found a significant negative correlation between regional gray matter volume of the posterior and lateral aspects of the left temporal cortex and hsCRP level after adjusting for age, gender, and intracranial volume. Our results suggest that subjects who have mild inflammation related to arteriosclerosis have decreased regional gray matter volume in the posterior and lateral aspects of the left temporal cortex. Thus, preventing the progression of arteriosclerosis may be important for preventing a decrease in gray matter volume in healthy elderly subjects., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aim: In Japan, it is rare for patients to confirm their intentions regarding terminal care treatment in hospital by signature. To maintain respect for the autonomy of elderly patients, we encouraged confirmation by signature regarding terminal care treatment in elderly patients, after repeated discussions. The purpose of this study was to clarify the status of confirmation of intention by signature., Method: The subjects were 98 patients who signed documents signaling their intention regarding terminal care (signature group), and 165 patients who did not sign such documents (non-signature group), all of whom died in our hospital between April 2009 and March 2010. We surveyed and examined their backgrounds and treatment experiences based on the clinical records. Furthermore, we gave a questionnaire survey to these patients. A total of 31 (35.2%) patients from the signature group and 58 (35.2%) patients from the non-signature group responded., Results: In the signature group 32 (32.7%) patients judged to be in a terminal state were discharged alive. Those in the signature group had a significantly higher age, higher ratio of dementia, lower activity level in their daily life and were hospitalized with respiratory illnesses. In addition, the frequency of the informed consent discussions was greater than that of the non-signature group. A total of 90% of the signature group was able to accept the confirmation of their intention regarding terminal care by signature. In both groups, the doctors' explanations were understood, and the patients' wishes were successfully conveyed., Conclusion: In Japan, confirmation of intention regarding terminal care by signature can be effective and useful as one of the methods to determine intention regarding terminal care treatment in elderly patients.

Objectives: To map the disease locus and to identify a gene mutation in a Japanese family with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia., Design: A genome-wide linkage analysis was performed using the Affymetrix genome-wide human single-nucleotide polymorphism array containing 909 622 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Direct nucleotide sequencing of a candidate gene was performed., Setting: Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine and Tokyo University Graduate School of Medicine. Patients  Four affected and 6 healthy individuals in a family with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia., Results: One locus on chromosome 5q had a multipoint logarithm of odds score of 2.408, the theoretical maximum. This locus was flanked by markers rs681591 and rs32582 and includes PPP2R2B (protein phosphatase 2, regulatory subunit B, beta isoform), the causative gene of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia 12 (SCA12). However, unlike SCA12, no CAG repeat expansions in the promoter region and no nucleotide substitution or insertion-deletion mutations in the exons of the PPP2R2B gene were found., Conclusion: Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia mapping to 5q31-q33.1 has no CAG repeat expansion or other mutations of the PPP2R2B gene.

Background: The International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) is widely used as a scale for the assessment of the severity of cerebellar ataxia. However, this scale comprises several items; thus, making the application of this scale is not sufficiently practical to perform daily assessment of ataxic patients. A new rating scale--Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA)--was shown to provide highly reliable assessments; further, the scores on SARA correlated with the ICARS score and the Barthel index. After obtaining the permission, original SARA was translated into Japanese., Objective and Methods: To examine the reliability and internal consistency of the Japanese version of the SARA for the assessment of cerebellar ataxia in 66 patients with spinocerebellar degeneration., Results: Intraclass coefficients (ICC) were observed to be greater than 0.8 except in the case of the inter-rater "finger chase" and "fast alternating hand movement" tests., Conclusions: The Japanese version of SARA is highly reliable and very useful for the assessment of cerebellar ataxia on a daily basis.

Background: Non-alcohol-dependent heavy drinkers, as well as alcohol-dependent individuals, show brain atrophy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there are correlations between global and regional gray matter volumes and the lifetime alcohol intake using volumetric analysis and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) among Japanese non-alcohol-dependent male individuals., Methods: High-resolution three-dimensional magnetic resonance images were acquired from 405 Japanese non-alcohol-dependent male individuals. The collected images were normalized, segmented for volumetric analysis, and additionally smoothed for VBM. For volumetric analysis, the partial correlation coefficient was estimated between the gray matter ratio, which represents the percentage of gray matter volume in the intracranial volume, and the lifetime alcohol intake adjusted for the age of each subject. Multiple regression analysis was performed among regional gray matter volume, lifetime alcohol intake, and age using VBM., Results: Volumetric analysis revealed that gray matter ratio showed a negative correlation with the lifetime alcohol intake adjusted for age (p=0.059, partial correlation coefficient=-0.091). The VBM revealed that the gray matter volumes of the bilateral middle frontal gyri showed a significant negative correlation with the lifetime alcohol intake adjusted for age and systolic blood pressure (left side, p=0.006, Z=4.77; right side, p=0.023, Z=4.45, and p=0.046, Z=4.27)., Conclusions: Our study suggests that non-alcohol-dependent Japanese male individuals show that both global gray matter volume and regional gray matter volume have negative correlations with the lifetime alcohol intake. Our study may contribute to clarifying the mechanism underlying the brain structural changes because of alcohol influence in healthy non-alcohol-dependent individuals.