Idiopathic basal ganglia calcification (IBGC) is a neuropathological finding known to manifest motor disturbance, cognitive impairment and psychiatric symptoms. Pathophysiology of psychiatric symptoms, however, remains controversial. Previous biochemical study suggests that dopaminergic impairment is involved in IBGC. We therefore performed positron emission tomography (PET) to elucidate the pre- and postsynaptic dopaminergic function and glucose metabolism in two IBGC patients.

Case 1 is a 44 years old woman presented with disorganized thought, echolalia, verbigeration and parkinsonism. She was administered bitemporal electro-convulsive therapy (ECT). Case 2 is a 35 years old woman with persecutory delusion. Computed tomography showed bilateral symmetric calcification of striatum, globus pallidus and dentate nucei. Other causes of intracranial calcification were excluded. PET scans were obtained using [11C]-labeled 2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-flurophenyl)-tropane, [11C]-labeled raclopride and [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose.

The decreased binding potential was severe in bilateral head of caudate nuclei and anterior putamen. In case 1, the decline was also found in posterior putamen. There were widespread decreases of glucose uptake in frontal, temporal and parietal cortices bilaterally in case 1. Significant hypometabolism was observed in the right frontal, temporal and parietal cortices. After the ECT session, the previous areas of significant hypometabolism in the right hemisphere had improved. In case 2, there was no significant change of glucose metabolism in cerebral cortex.

The difference in affected region within basal ganglia might be associated with the diverse clinical pictures in IBGC. Particularly, in the psychiatric manifestation, dopaminergic dysfunction in caudate nucleus and anterior putamen could be participated.

Clozapine-induced electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities are common. It has been reported that clozapine-induced EEG abnormalities occur in a dose-dependent manner and correlate with the serum concentration of clozapine (C-CLZ). However, the oppositional results were also reported.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum level of clozapine and EEG abnormalities.

Twenty-eight patients were recruited in this study, but five patients were excluded because clozapine was discontinued before post-treatment EEG measurement or measurement of C-CLZ. Ultimately, 23 patients (6 males, 17 females) with an average age of 35 years were enrolled. The subjects were divided into EEG normal and abnormal group. C-CLZ and the serum concentration of metabolite of clozapine (N-CLZ) were measured. The correlation between C-CLZ and daily dose of CLZ (D-CLZ), N-CLZ and D-CLZ were evaluated in each group. C-CLZ per D-CLZ (C/D), N-CLZ per D-CLZ (N/D) and the ratio of C-CLZ to N-CLZ (C/N) were compared between the two groups.

74 serum levels were measured. All patients had normal baseline EEGs, and 10 patients later showed EEG abnormalities. There were a significant correlation between C-CLZ and D-CLZ (EEG normal: rs 0.58, p<0.01, EEG abnormal: rs 0.56, p<0.01) and between N-CLZ and D-CLZ (EEG normal: rs 0.53, p<0.01, EEG abnormal: rs 0.57, p<0.01). There were no significant differences between the EEG normal and EEG abnormal groups in C/D, N/D, C/N.

There was no relationship between the serum concentration of clozapine and EEG abnormalities.

Clozapine is one of the most effective drugs for the treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS). It was reported that modified electroconvulsive therapy (mECT) may be an effective clozapine augmentation strategy in TRS.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of clozapine to mECT in the TRS.

Forty-seven patients were recruited in this study, but eight patients were excluded because clozapine was discontinued by reason of side effects. Ultimately, 39 patients were enrolled.

Seventeen patients received mECT before clozapine therapy. Two patients continued mECT after starting clozapine therapy. There was a significant difference between before–after clozapine therapy (χ2 test, P< 0.01). Intermittent mECT was performed for 3 patients before clozapine and for one patient after starting clozapine.

This result suggests that clozapine therapy reduces mECT. In Japan, the first-line treatment for TRS is CLO. mECT is recommended for clozapine resistant schizophrenia patients. Prescription of CLO is limited in the part of medical facility because all physicians who prescribe clozapine must be registered with the clozaril patient monitoring service in Japan. It is considered that mECT is more readily selected than clozapine therapy. Therefore, the number of mECT is not reduced generally.

Clozapine therapy reduces the necessity of mECT.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Dementia with lewy bodies (DLB) is commonly considered the second most common form of dementia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the treatment effects of aripiprazole in patients with DLB.

Eleven patients who had meet the criteria for DLB participated in this study. The presence of psychotic symptoms was confirmed by scores of either the delusions or hallucinations items of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score. Patients who had 25 or more on the Mini-mental State Examination Scale (MMSE) at the entry or having brain damage were excluded. Aripiprazole was initiated at a low dose (3 or 6 mg/day) and titrated to higher doses at 2-weeks intervals or more rapidly based on investigator's judgment. Previous medications prior to aripiprazole administration were not changed through this trial. Patient's clinical status was assessed at baseline, then 2 weeks during the study by using NPI, Clinical Global Impression (CGI) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) to measure psychotic behavioral symptoms, and Simpson-Angus Scale (SAS) to measure parkinsonism symptoms. Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) and MMSE were carried out at screening and end point to evaluate cognitive function.

The mean scores of the SAS and CDR were significantly decreased at the study endpoint compared to baseline. The mean scores of the NPI and BPRS improved up until 4 weeks after having started aripiprazole. After 4 weeks, improvements slowed. The mean score of the CGI-S was decreased up until 8 weeks.

This study shows that aripiprazole may be effective for the treatment of psychotic symptoms in patients with DLB.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

The Fukushima Daiichi and Daini Nuclear Power Plant workers experienced multiple stressors as both victims and onsite workers after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent nuclear accidents. Previous studies found that disaster-related exposures, including discrimination/slurs, were associated with their mental health. Their long-term impact has yet to be investigated.

A total of 968 plant workers (Daiichi, n = 571; Daini, n = 397) completed self-written questionnaires 2–3 months (time 1) and 14–15 months (time 2) after the disaster (response rate 55.0%). Sociodemographics, disaster-related experiences, and peritraumatic distress were assessed at time 1. At time 1 and time 2, general psychological distress (GPD) and post-traumatic stress response (PTSR) were measured, respectively, using the K6 scale and Impact of Event Scale Revised. We examined multivariate covariates of time 2 GPD and PTSR, adjusting for autocorrelations in the hierarchical multiple regression analyses.

Higher GPD at time 2 was predicted by higher GPD at time 1 (β = 0.491, p < 0.001) and discrimination/slurs experiences at time 1 (β = 0.065, p = 0.025, adjusted R 2 = 0.24). Higher PTSR at time 2 was predicted with higher PTSR at time 1 (β = 0.548, p < 0.001), higher age (β = 0.085, p = 0.005), and discrimination/slurs experiences at time 1 (β = 0.079, p = 0.003, adjusted R 2 = 0.36).

Higher GPD at time 2 was predicted by higher GPD and discrimination/slurs experience at time 1. Higher PTSR at time 2 was predicted by higher PTSR, higher age, and discrimination/slurs experience at time 1.

To determine the characteristics of acute phase nystagmus in patients with cerebellar lesions, and to identify a useful indicator for differentiating central lesions from peripheral lesions.

Acute phase nystagmus and the appearance of neurological symptoms were retrospectively investigated in 11 patients with cerebellar stroke.

At the initial visit, there were no patients with vertical nystagmus, direction-changing gaze evoked nystagmus or pure rotatory nystagmus. There were four cases with no nystagmus and seven cases with horizontal nystagmus at the initial visit. There were no neurological symptoms, except for vertigo and hearing loss, in any cases at the initial visit. The direction and type of nystagmus changed with time, and neurological symptoms other than vertigo appeared subsequently to admission.

It is important to observe the changes in nystagmus and other neurological findings for the differential diagnosis of central lesions.

To evaluate the effectiveness of tympanostomy tube placement in controlling symptoms of intractable Ménière's disease.

Fifteen patients with intractable Ménière's disease underwent tympanostomy tube placement in the affected ear. Post-operative changes in vertigo attacks and hearing level were recorded, and were evaluated according to American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery criteria.

At 12 months after treatment, 3 patients (20 per cent) showed complete control of vertigo, 7 (47 per cent) showed substantial control and 2 (13 per cent) showed limited control; 3 patients (20 per cent) required other treatment. At 24 months after treatment, 7 patients (47 per cent) showed complete control of vertigo, 3 (20 per cent) showed substantial control and 1 (7 per cent) showed limited control; 1 patient required other treatment 15 months after tympanostomy tube placement.

There is no definite pathophysiological explanation for the effect of tympanostomy tube placement in reducing vertigo attacks. This treatment is not effective for all patients with intractable Ménière's disease. However, tympanostomy tube placement might be an additional surgical therapeutic option to consider prior to contemplating other, more invasive treatments.

To examine the clinical features, age and gender distribution of patients, treatment methods, and outcomes of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

This paper reports a review of 357 patients treated for this condition at a single institution over a duration of 5 years. Patients with posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo were divided into two groups: one group underwent the Epley manoeuvre and the other received medication. The lateral canal canalolithiasis patients were also divided into two groups: one underwent the Lempert manoeuvre and the other received medication. Lastly, the lateral canal cupulolithiasis patients were treated with medication and non-specific physical techniques.

For patients with posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, resolution time was significantly shorter in the Epley manoeuvre group than in the medication group. For the lateral canal canalolithiasis patients, resolution time was significantly shorter in the Lempert manoeuvre group than in the medication group. Resolution time was significantly longer in the lateral canal cupulolithiasis patients than in the other patients. The average age of patients increased with the number of recurrences, as did predominance in females. Average age and rate of sensorineural hearing loss were significantly higher in patients with intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo compared with those in the curable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo group.

To investigate what kinds of stimuli are effective in detaching otoconia from the cupula in three experimental models of cupulolithiasis.

Three experimental models of cupulolithiasis were prepared using bullfrog labyrinths. Three kinds of stimuli were applied to the experimental models. In experiment one (gravity), the labyrinth preparation was placed so that the cupula-to-crista axis was in the horizontal plane with the canal side in the downward position. In experiment two (sinusoidal oscillation), the labyrinth preparation was placed 3 cm from the rotational centre of a turntable, which was sinusoidally rotated with a rotational cycle of 1 Hz and a rotational angle of 30°. In experiment three (vibration), mechanical vibration was applied to the surface of the bony capsule around the labyrinth using a surgical drill.

In experiments one, two and three, the otoconial mass was respectively detached in 2 out of 10 labyrinth preparations, none of the labyrinth preparations, and all of the labyrinth preparations.

Vibration was the most effective stimulus for detaching the otoconia from the cupula in these experimental models of cupulolithiasis.