Toshiyuki Takahashi

..Central scotoma is recognized as a characteristic visual field defect pattern of optic neuritis (ON), however, the differing pathogenic mechanisms of NMO and MS may result in different patterns of visual field defects for ON...

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..Recent studies have strongly suggested that the pathogenesis of NMO is closely associated with anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody. However, clinical implications of IHN and the relationship with anti-AQP4 antibody remain unknown...

..Thus, the newly developed anti-AQP4 antibody assay appears to have a higher sensitivity for NMO than the original NMO-IgG assay and is expected to be useful for the diagnosis of NMO...

..The CSF-C5a levels correlated with the severity of exacerbation. Our results may provide a rationale for anti-complement therapies of NMO...

..Therefore, AQP4 antibody is indispensable in the diagnosis and treatment of NMO...

..These evidences suggested the pathogenic role of AQP4 antibody with astrocytopathy in NMO. Now it is indispensable to check the AQP4 antibody,and is important to reconsider the role of astrocyte in demyelinating disorders...

..Therefore, the assessment of such useful biomarkers may become a supportive criterion for diagnosing NMO and NMO spectrum disorders...

..59 ± 0.34 → 0.13 ± 0.15) (P = 0.027) after IFNβ-1b therapy. These results suggest that IFNβ is therapeutically effective in inhibiting functional worsening and reducing relapse rate in "genuine" OSMS...

..Moreover, loss of AQP4 was observed in the gray matter. The presence of anti-AQP4 antibodies, and the pathology, led to the diagnosis of anti-AQP4 antibodies-related encephalopathy...

..CSF-GFAP may be useful as a biomarker of NMO...

..There have been no previous reports of NMO or NMOSD associated with neuropathy. The HCV infection or undetermined humoral factors other than the anti-AQP4 antibodies may have caused her peripheral neuropathy...

..Recurrence within the same spinal cord area might be a characteristic clinical finding in NMO spectrum disorders. For such patients, examination for anti-AQP4 antibody might be necessary for the diagnosis and therapy of this disorder...

..Although anti-AQP4 antibodies appear to decrease overall following rituximab treatment, our findings raise concern over the potential for an early BAFF-mediated worsening of patients with NMO receiving rituximab...

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..They evaluated the usefulness and reliability of endoscopic treatment for this clinical entity based on long-term follow-up results...

..We measured cerebrospinal fluid flow velocity by use of cine phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging to quantitate the effectiveness of surgical decompression in patients with cervical myelopathy...

..An occipital bone anomaly can cause rotational VA occlusion at the craniovertebral junction in patients who present with repeated embolic strokes resulting from injury to the arterial wall...

..In this case, intraoperative angiography was particularly useful for preventing brain-related ischemic complications during reduction...

..We report a case caused by bilateral persistence of the first intersegmental arteries (a vertebral artery anomaly). Myelopathy was successfully treated with vascular decompression...

..The importance of immunohistochemical staining in the differential diagnosis from other types of spinal tumor, and the efficacy of FDG-PET for evaluation of the treatment are also emphasized...

..This case suggests that hyperCKemia is partly involved in the pathogenesis of NMO in both the central nervous system and myofiber surface, which is usually difficult to detect by clinical imaging modalities alone...

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..Additionally, this study provided evidence that for NMOSD patients with severe disabilities, IVCY added to IVMP and PP may be a useful therapeutic modality...

..Recently, a rare coexistence of NMO and myasthenia gravis (MG) has been documented. Here, we provide further evidence of the association of these 2 immunologic disorders and review the literature...

..The high preoperative ADC value probably indicated reversible vasogenic edema and immediate normalization of the ADC value suggests a good clinical outcome...

..This case of intradural arachnoid cyst of the thoracic spine which appeared after surgical removal of an epidural hematoma at the same spinal level indicates some association between the epidural hematoma and the arachnoid cyst...

..A case of intercostal AVF associated with NF-1 and manifesting as congestive myelopathy is described...

..CONCLUSION: A complaint of back pain after a convulsive seizure should prompt radiologic investigation for vertebral fracture, even in the absence of external trauma...

..The patient's condition improved sufficiently to return to daily life. In our search only four reported cases involved the SCA. Clinical manifestation and treatment for patients with cerebellar arterial dissections are discussed...

..Intramedullary spinal tuberculoma is rare, but must be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord compression...

..However, the relationship between antinuclear antibody (ANA) and microalbuminuria in the general population is unknown. Thus, we conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the relationship between ANA and microalbuminuria...

..Although their pathology resembles malignant lymphoma, the clinical course is completely benign. The authors propose that RLH of the liver can be discriminated from HCC by its clinical features...

..Here, we developed a rat granuloma model and examined FDG uptake in the granuloma. The effects of corticosteroid on FDG uptake in the granuloma were compared with those in a malignant tumor...

..Therefore, we undertook a population-based study to examine the association between microalbuminuria and the metabolic syndrome in Takahata, Japan...

..Extensive hemorrhage was present, as was necrosis. Thickening and hyalinization of arterial walls, a common occurrence in neurinomas, may have contributed to symptomatic intratumoral hemorrhage...

..In this study, the potentials of (18)F-FLT and (11)C-methionine in differentiating malignant tumors from granulomas were compared with (18)F-FDG using experimental rat models...

..The objective of this study is to examine Tn glycan antigen function in colorectal cancer and to determine its relationship to CD8+ T cells and prognosis...

..To obtain good prognosis for patients with SSEH, early diagnosis and immediate treatment are important...