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Objective: To determine the optimal montage and vocalization conditions for high-gamma language mapping using stereoelectroencephalography. Methods: We studied 12 epilepsy patients who underwent invasive monitoring with depth electrodes and measurement of auditory-naming related highgamma modulations. We determined the effects of electrode montage and vocalization conditions of the response on the high-gamma (60–140  Hz) amplitudes. Results: Compared to common average reference montage, bipolar and Laplacian montages effectively reduced the degree of auditory naming-related signal deflections in the white matter during the stimulus and response phases (mixed model estimate: −21.2 to −85.4%; p  <  0.001), while maintaining those at the cortical level (−4.4 to +7.8%; p  =  0.614 to 0.085). They also reduced signal deflections outside the brain parenchyma during the response phase (−90.6 to −91.2%; p  <  0.001). Covert responses reduced signal deflections outside the brain parenchyma during the response phase (−17.0%; p  =  0.010). Conclusion: On depth electrode recording, bipolar and Laplacian montages are suitable for measuring auditory naming-related high-gamma modulations in gray matter. The covert response may highlight the gray matter activity. Significance: This study helps establish the practical guidelines for high-gamma language mapping using stereoelectroencephalography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The number of dementia patients is increasing with population aging. Preclinical detection of dementia in patients is essential for access to adequate treatment. In previous studies, dementia patients showed texture recognition difficulties. Onomatopoeia or sound symbolic words (SSW) are intuitively associated with texture impressions and are less likely to be affected by aphasia and description of material perception can be easily obtained. In this study, we aimed to create a test of texture recognition ability expressed by SSW to detect the presence of mild cognitive disorders. Methods: The sound symbolic words texture recognition test (SSWTRT) is constructed from 12 close-up photos of various materials and participants were to choose the best SSW out of 8 choices to describe surface texture in the images in Japanese. All 102 participants seen in Juntendo University Hospital from January to August 2023 had a diagnosis of possible iNPH (age mean 77.9, SD 6.7). The answers were scored on a comprehensive scale of 0 to 1. Neuropsychological assessments included MMSE, FAB, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Pegboard Test, and Stroop Test from the EUiNPH Grading Scale (GS). In study 1 the correlation between SSWTRT and the neuropsychological tests were analyzed. In study 2, participants were divided into two groups: the Normal Cognition group (Group A, n = 37) with MMSE scores of 28 points or above, and the Mild Cognitive Impairment group (Group B, n = 50) with scores ranging from 22 to 27 points, and its predictability were analyzed. Results: In study 1, the total SSWTRT score had a moderate correlation with the neuropsychological test results. In study 2, there were significant differences in the SSWTRT scores between groups A and B. ROC analysis results showed that the SSWTR test was able to predict the difference between the normal and mildly impaired cognition groups. Conclusion: The developed SSWTRT reflects the assessment results of neuropsychological tests in cognitive deterioration and was able to detect early cognitive deficits. This test not only relates to visual perception but is likely to have an association with verbal fluency and memory ability, which are frontal lobe functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. Patients with SIH experience postural headaches, nausea, etc., due to CSF hypovolemia. Imaging studies and clinical examinations, such as radioisotope (RI) scintigraphy, are useful for diagnosing SIH. However, 20-30% of patients do not show typical morphology and clinical test results. We previously reported that CSF contains transferrin (Tf) isoforms: "brain-type" Tf derived from the choroid plexus and "serum-type" Tf derived from blood. We showed that both isoforms increased in the CSF of patients with SIH by Western blotting. In the present study, we demonstrate that conventional ELISA for quantifying total Tf is useful for diagnosing SIH more accurately than Western blotting. In addition, SIH with chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) was also accurately diagnosed.　Total Tf in the CSF can serve as a useful biomarker for diagnosing SIH with or without CSDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are geriatric diseases and common causes of dementia. Recently, many studies on the segmentation, disease detection, or classification of MRI using deep learning have been conducted. The aim of this study was to differentiate iNPH and AD using a residual extraction approach in the deep learning method. Methods: Twenty-three patients with iNPH, 23 patients with AD and 23 healthy controls were included in this study. All patients and volunteers underwent brain MRI with a 3T unit, and we used only whole-brain three-dimensional (3D) T1-weighted images. We designed a fully automated, end-to-end 3D deep learning classifier to differentiate iNPH, AD and control. We evaluated the performance of our model using a leaveone- out cross-validation test. We also evaluated the validity of the result by visualizing important areas in the process of differentiating AD and iNPH on the original input image using the Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) technique. Results: Twenty-one out of 23 iNPH cases, 19 out of 23 AD cases and 22 out of 23 controls were correctly diagnosed. The accuracy was 0.90. In the Grad-CAM heat map, brain parenchyma surrounding the lateral ventricle was highlighted in about half of the iNPH cases that were successfully diagnosed. The medial temporal lobe or inferior horn of the lateral ventricle was highlighted in many successfully diagnosed cases of AD. About half of the successful cases showed nonspecific heat maps. Conclusion: Residual extraction approach in a deep learning method achieved a high accuracy for the differential diagnosis of iNPH, AD, and healthy controls trained with a small number of cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To realize indoor location based services, indoor positioning function is the main function. However, available solutions such as Google Maps are not provided yet. In most cases, it is necessary for the service provider to develop the positioning environment themselves. We consider that this point is one of the reasons why indoor positioning technology has not spread significantly. In this study, we defined "the simplification of developing indoor positioning environment" as "to realize the development of an indoor positioning environment by a user," and proposed a method for process optimization to solve the indoor positioning environment issue using a design structure matrix. Moreover, we verified the effectiveness of the proposed method by applying it to an existing use case of developing an indoor positioning environment and validated that the proposed method can create an optimized process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking action for evacuation immediately is the most important and effective measure when tsunami attacks in the aftermath of a large earthquake. In this paper, a concept of delivering the least amount of emergency warning information and location based information possible is presented with a design of indoor/outdoor seamless positioning and emergency warning system that uses GNSS-based signals. This system includes an indoor positioning system equipped with a positioning method with GNSS-based signals and broadcasts a small volume of data including emergency warning information indoor and outdoor as well as the navigation message. A facility with large indoor space in coastal areas has GNSS antenna, receives and relays the emergency warning message from GNSS to transmitters of indoor positioning system via local area network. The system also has a function to provide indoor evacuation control information from building security room. The data communication speed of indoor signals compatible with GNSS is low as well as GNSS signals. Although the available data volume for emergency warning information is limited, we have confirmed the system is able to provide marginal information on an actual case of indoor positioning system, the indoor messaging system (IMES). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients presenting with the classical idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) triad often show additional parkinsonian spectrum signs. Accurate differential diagnosis strongly influences the long-term outcome of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting.Objective: The aim of this study was to find potential CSF microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers for NPH mimics with parkinsonian syndromes that can reliably distinguish them from iNPH patients.Methods: Two cohorts of 81 patients (cohort 1, n = 55; cohort 2, n = 26) with possible iNPH who were treated in two centers between January 2011 and May 2014 were studied. In both cohorts, CSF samples were obtained from patients clinically diagnosed with iNPH (n = 21 and n = 10, respectively), possible iNPH with parkinsonian spectrum (PS) (n = 18, n = 10, respectively), possible iNPH with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 16), and non-affected elderly individuals (NC) (n = 6). A three-step qRT-PCR analysis of the CSF samples was performed to detect miRNAs that were differentially expressed in the groups.Results: The expression of hsa-miR-4274 in CSF was decreased in both cohorts of PS group patients (cohort 1: p < 0.0001, cohort 2: p < 0.0001), and was able to distinguish PS from iNPH with high accuracy (area under the curve = 0.908). The CSF concentration of hsa-miR-4274 also correlated with the specific binding ratio of ioflupane (123I) dopamine transporter scan (r = -0.494, p = 0.044). By contrast, the level of hsa-miR-4274 was significantly increased in the PS group after CSF diversion.Conclusion: Levels of CSF hsa-miR-4274 can differentiate PS from patients with iNPH, AD, and NC. This may be clinically useful for diagnostic purposes and predicting shunt treatment responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxicogenomics is a rapidly developing discipline focused on the elucidation of the molecular and cellular effects of chemicals on biological systems. As a collaborative study group of Toxicogenomics/JEMS.MMS, we conducted studies on hepatocarcinogens in rodent liver in which 100 candidate marker genes were selected to discriminate genotoxic hepatocarcinogens from non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogens. Differential gene expression induced by 13 chemicals were examined using DNA microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), including eight genotoxic hepatocarcinogens [o-aminoazotoluene, chrysene, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, diethylnitrosamine (DEN), 7,12- dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, dimethylnitrosamine, dipropylnitrosamine and ethylnitrosourea (ENU)], four nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogens [carbon tetrachloride, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), phenobarbital and trichloroethylene] and a non-genotoxic non-hepatocarcinogen [ethanol]. Using qPCR, 30 key genes were extracted from mouse livers at 4 h and 28 days following dose-dependent gene expression alteration induced by DEN and ENU: the most significant changes in gene expression were observed at 4 h. Next, we selected key point times at 4 and 48 h from changes in time-dependent gene expression during the acute phase following administration of chrysene by qPCR. We successfully showed discrimination of eight genotoxic hepatocarcinogens [2-acetylaminofluorene, 2,4-diaminotoluene, diisopropanolnitrosamine, 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene, 4-(methylnitsosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N-nitrosomorpholine, quinoline and urethane] from four non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogens [1,4-dichlorobenzene, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, DEHP and furan] using qPCR and principal component analysis. Additionally, we successfully identified two rat genotoxic hepatocarcinogens [DEN and 2,6- dinitrotoluene] from a nongenotoxic-hepatocarcinogen [DEHP] and a non-genotoxic non-hepatocarcinogen [phenacetin] at 4 and 48 h. The subsequent gene pathway analysis by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis extracted the DNA damage response, resulting from the signal transduction of a p53-class mediator leading to the induction of apoptosis. The present review of these studies suggests that application of principal component analysis on the gene expression profile in rodent liver during the acute phase is useful to predict genotoxic hepatocarcinogens in comparison to non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogens and/or non-carcinogenic hepatotoxins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large and extensive body of data on the use of human liver S9 fractions in the Salmonella mutagenicity test (Ames test) is presented; the data were obtained from a collaborative study by JEMS/BMS (Bacterial Mutagenicity Test Study Group) members and the Human and Animal Bridging Research Organization (HAB). In this study, the mutagenicity of 58 chemicals, many of which were judged to be human carcinogens by the IARC, was determined by the Ames test (the pre-incubation method at 37C for 20 min) in the presence of a selected human liver S9 fraction with a high drug-metabolic activity or a pooled human liver S9 fraction with a moderate drug-metabolic activity. For reference, mutagenicity was also examined in the presence of a phenobarbital/5,6-benzoflavone-pretreated rat liver S9 fraction, which is normally used in mutagenicity testing systems. The bacterial test strains consisted of Salmonella typhimurium TA100, TA98 or YG7108. The data indicated that the mutagenicity of chemicals in the rat and human liver S9 fractions varied considerably, depending on the chemicals in question. In addition, a large inter-individual diversity in the mutagenic response to mutagens, depending on the chemical structures of the mutagens, was also demonstrated using two selected human S9 fractions. Most of the mutagens tested in this study (75%; 36 out of 48 compounds that were judged to be mutagenic in at least one S9 fraction) were less mutagenic in the presence of the two human S9 fractions than in the presence of the rat S9 fraction. On the other hand, the other compounds (25%), including some aromatic amines and nitrosamines, showed a more potent mutagenicity in the presence of either one of the two human S9 fractions than in the presence of the rat S9 fraction. These data strongly suggest that the use of human liver S9 fraction in mutagenicity testing systems may be useful for a better understanding of the mutagenic effects of chemicals on humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Established targets of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson disease (PD) are the subthalamic nucleus (STN) or globus pallidus internus (GPi). An early comparative study revealed the superiority of STN DBS in improvement of motor score in the medication-off period and reduction of dopaminergic medication. Consequently, the STN has been the most common target of DBS for PD for a long time. However, a current randomized comparative study reevaluated the potential of GPi DBS, and revealed that GPi DBS improved motor functions similarly to STN DBS with less psychiatric or cognitive deficit after surgery. Therefore, we selected the target in each patient based on the characteristics of these targets and the number of cases with GPi DBS was increasing. However, we had some patients who suffered from freezing of gait despite improvement of cardinal PD symptoms and dyskinesia/dystonia after GPi DBS. We report cases with freezing of gait after GPi DBS. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 77 patients who underwent bilateral DBS for PD between 2012 and 2015. Among them, twelve patients (16%) underwent GPi DBS. The reason for selecting GPi was severe dyskinesia or dystonia with low dose medications (8 cases) and/or a high risk of neuropsychological or psychiatric complications such as high aged patients or patients with mild cognitive decline (7 cases). Results: GPi DBS significantly improved motor function, fluctuation, and dyskinesia/dystonia as well as STN DBS. On the other hand, 5 patients (42%) showed apparent deterioration of freezing of gait after GPi DBS. We tried increasing of dopaminergic medication or readjustment of stimulation parameters using interleaving mode for these patients. However, sufficient improvement of gait problem was not obtained. Conclusions: GPi DBS is effective in improving cardinal motor symptoms and dyskinesia/dystonia in PD. However, vigilance is needed, because significant incidence of freezing of gait occurs after GPi DBS. We discuss about the mechanism and treatments for this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]