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Objective To examine whether cognitive impairment, deep white matter hyperintensity (DWMH) on brain MRI, and shorter telomere length would be predictors of mortality in community-dwelling Japanese elderly. Methods We followed 259 individuals (74% of all the residents at age 70) from age 70 to 83 years. The mean observation period was 133 ± 34 months. The key clinical characteristics examined included DWMH on brain MRI and cognitive function. Telomere length was also measured in 81 subjects. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results Of the 259 subjects, 69 subjects (30 men, 39 women; 26.6%) died during the follow-up period. Cognitive impairment, smoking habits, diabetes mellitus, and moderate to severe DWMH were significant predictors of total mortality in univariate analysis. However, only cognitive impairment and moderate to severe DWMH remained as significant independent predictors of death in multivariate analysis. The rate of mortality increased with additional number of risk factors (cognitive impairment and DWMH). The total mortality of subjects with both cognitive impairment and DWMH was 71.4%. The median telomere length was 7.8 kb in the deceased and 8.2 kb in the living subjects. The deceased subjects had significantly shorter telomere length (P = .0025) than the living subjects. Telomere length with moderate to severe DWMH was higher than without moderate to severe DWMH on brain MRI (P = .017). Conclusions The present study revealed that cognitive impairment, DWMH, and shorter telomere length were significant predictors of total mortality in the community-dwelling Japanese elderly. Furthermore, the combination of cognitive impairment and DWMH increased the mortality rate, as compared with a single risk factor. It is also clarified that a significant difference was present in telomere length by severity of DWMH.

Background The epidemiology and pathophysiology of iNPH remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the incidence of iNPH in elderly inhabitants of the community, and to identify how ventriculomegaly develops on brain MRIs and how symptoms develop in iNPH patients. Methods In 2000, 350 inhabitants, all 70-year-olds living in the community of Takahata in Japan, were asked to participate in a survey that included a questionnaire, physical examinations, cognitive screenings, and brain MRI studies. Using brain MRI as a screening, we defined having both Evans index of > 0.3 and a narrow subarachnoid space and cortical sulci at high convexity (tight high convexity, THC) as suspicious findings for iNPH. Among the subjects who showed the iNPH feature on brain MRI, those who had gait disturbance and/or dementia were defined as possible iNPH. Twice during the 10 years, we administered the same check-up. Results In the first survey, 271 inhabitants participated. During the 10 years, three new possible iNPH patients were found. The incidence of iNPH above 70 years old was estimated at 1.2/1000 persons per year. The iNPH patients developed their symptoms and brain MRI findings as follows; first, only THC without ventriculomegaly was observed on their brain MRIs, next, asymptomatic ventriculomegaly with features of iNPH on brain MRIs (AVIM) was seen, and then a final expression of symptoms of iNPH was shown. Conclusions The estimated incidence of iNPH in a community was higher than those estimated by previous studies where they collected patients at hospitals. There were subclinical or preclinical states before the development of iNPH.

Chemical oxidative polymerization of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid o-anisidine salt (DBSAns) with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) as an electron acceptor in tetrahydrofuran (THF) was studied as a function of polymer yield, conductivity and molecular weight distribution. Polymerization was proceeded to yield a homogeneous transparent and green black solution containing poly(o-anisidine) (PAns) which is soluble in various organic solvents. Molecular weight distribution of PAns was found to be changed from bimodal to unimodal with increasing electron acceptor/monomer (DDQ/DBSAns) molar ratio.

Poly(o-anisidine) (PANs) and PANs-coated silica particles were prepared by oxidative polymerization of o-anisidine using ammonium persulphate in the absence and presence of silica particles, respectively. The entire surface of the silica particles was completely covered with PANs polymerized using low concentration of o-anisidine. The effects on the electrorheological behavior of surface modification of the silica particles coated with PANs were studied under oscillatory shear. Electrorheological properties of PANs and PANs-coated silica particle suspensions were found to exhibit higher performance in nonaqueous solutions than those of silica particle suspensions even at high temperatures.

Some patients with acquired long QT syndrome (LQTS) represent an incomplete form of congenital LQTS in which a mutation or polymorphism in one of the LQTS genes is clinically inapparent until the patient is exposed to a particular drug or other predisposing factor. A 15-year-old man in the