The Significance of Delusions in Dementia Patients of Alzheimer Type from Clinical, Neuropsychological and Neuroimaging View Points

We studied 32 patients with dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) using computed tomography of the brain (CT), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and Hasegawa's dementia scales (HDS). Of these patients, 13 had delusions and 19 showed no psychotic symptoms. CT, SPECT and HDS findings were compared between the patients with delusions and those without delusions to determine whether there are differences in brain morphological, functional or cognitive changes between the two groups. We evaluated the degree of cortical atrophy, the size of the lateral ventricle and periventricular lucency by visual analyses on CT. We also evaluated morphological change of the brain by linear measurements on CT. The regions of interest (ROI) were localized in the left/ right prefrontal, temporoparietal and occipital regions. There were no statistical differences between DAT patients with delusions and those without delusions in age, duration of illness, HDS, and in visual analyses and linear measurements taken by CT scan. 123I iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP) uptake in patients with delusions differed from those without delusions in the right prefrontal region. The result would imply that decreased regional blood flow in the right prefrontal region may be causally related to the development of delusions in DAT patients.departmental bulletin pape

Heterogeneity of Schizophrenia and ICD-10 Subclassification System

MITSUDA demonstrated in 1942 the heterogeneity of schizophrenia and identified a disease entity for which he coined the term "atypical psychosis". He pointed out the importance of genetical factors for differentiating atypical psychosis from schizophrenia. To examine the clinical validity of ICD-10, we studied 60 patients with either schizophrenia or schizotypal and delusional disorders, assuming that F20 corresponds to typical schizophrenia, and that F23 and F25 accord with atypical psychosis. The patients' symptoms, clinical course and intrafamilial psychopathological traits were classified into 28 categories and analyzed with HAYASHI's multivariate analyses. The study showed that the subclassification system of ICD-10 clearly separated a group of 34 patients with atypical psychosis and another group of 26 with typical schizophrenia. The most important differentiating factor was intrafamilial psychopathological traits. These findings conform to MITSUDA's concept. However 4 patients in the atypical psychosis group had a trait of schizophrenia, indicating that F23 and F25 include not only patients with atypical psychosis, but also schizophrenic patients. MITSUDA's differentiating diagnosis was based on a nosological concept with consideration of hereditary aspects, whereas ICD-10 is symptom oriented. As our results indicate, the subclassification system of schizophrenia in ICD-10 needs further modification with particular regard to genetical aspects.departmental bulletin pape

Lack of Association Between Bipolar Affective Disorder and the Serotonin 2A Receptor Gene Polymorphism

Eighty-three patients with bipolar affective disorder and 96 controls were studied for genetic association with Msp I restriction fragment length polymorphism in the serotonin 2A receptor gene. No significant association between bipolar affective disorder and the serotonin 2A receptor gene polymorphism was found. This result contradicts the hypothesis that the serotonin 2A receptor gene plays a role in the genetic predisposition to bipolar affective disorder.departmental bulletin pape

PETREL: Platform for Extra and Terrestrial Remote Examination with LCTF

A small satellite ”PETREL” for UV astronomy and remote sensing with ”tunable” multi-spectral cameras conducted by an academia-industrial collaboration is presented. This project was originally proposed by an astronomer who desired a satellite for exploration of explosive objects in ultraviolet. To avoid the earthshine the astronomical observations are scheduled only in the nighttime. To utilize the daytime more electively we conceived a plan of ”satellite sharing” with the industrial collaborators, that can also reduce the developing cost drastically. The daytime mission is spectroscopy that is one of the potential fields in terms of data business, because that can provide chemical and biological information on the surface of the earth. We employ multi-spectral cameras making use of liquid crystal tunable filters (LCTFs) that enable adaptive observations at the optimized wave-bands for each targets. In 2020, this remote-sensing project and ultraviolet astronomy mission were accepted as a small satellite project of JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration program and as an ISAS/JAXA’s small-scale program, respectively. This satellit

Middle Molecules in Chronic Uremic Patients Treated with Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

Endogenous middle molecules (MM), which accumulate in uremia are more efficiently removed and better controlled by CAPD than by other forms of dialysis treatment. The generation rate of MM's in CAPD patients is closely related to protein intake and/or breakdown. </jats:p

Subclassification of Atypical Psychosis

There are psychoses that cannot be categorized in the traditional trichotomy. MITSUDA( 1942) differentiated “atypical psychosis” in the borderline areas of the three major psychoses. We studied 38 patients with characteristic features of atypical psychosis as described by MITSUDA. The clinical data, e.g., age at onset, course, outcome and genetic background, were assessed by multivariate analysis. Based on this, the patients were grouped into three types. Type Ⅰ: 14 patients (4 males and 10 females) with mean age at onset 34 years. Full remission was usual and the outlook for social adjustment was good. The common genetic background of this type was atypical psychosis, epilepsy and convulsive disorders. Type Ⅱ: 7 patients (6 males and 1 female) with mean age at onset 23 years. After repeated recurrences, affective symptoms became a dominant clinical feature. Early onset and frequent relapses made social adjustment and marriage difficult. Genetically this type was related to manic depressive psychosis. Type Ⅲ: 17 patients (9 males and 8 females) with early onset. Repeated relapses left residual symptoms which interfered with social rehabilitation and marriage. Genetically this type was related to schizophrenia. Thus atypical psychosis is a heterogeneous entity, consisting of three types that differ in genetic background and clinical featuresdepartmental bulletin pape