Evaluation of the usefulness of a simple touch-panel method for the screening of dementia.

In clinical settings, Hasegawa's dementia scale, revised (HDS-R), and the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) are widely employed as simple mental function tests useful for the diagnosis of dementia. In recent years, for the early diagnosis of dementia, a simple computerized touch panel-type screening test (touch panel-type screening test), called the "forgetfulness consultation program" (Nihon Kohden Corp.), has been developed. We performed dementia screening using this touch panel-type screening test in 95 elderly subjects, and evaluated its usefulness in comparison with HDS-R or MMSE. The results of evaluation using the touch panel-type screening test were significantly correlated with those using HDS-R and MMSE in the elderly subjects. This touch panel-type screening test was not time-consuming (about 3 min) since it includes only a small number of test items. It could also be performed solely by the examinee, and so was free from examiner-related bias. Therefore, this method may be very useful for the diagnosis of dementia and evaluation of its severity.

Different role of macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic lesions of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbit between aorta and coronary artery.

The WHHL rabbit is often used to investigate the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Here we elucidate differences in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries (CA) and aorta (AO) by comparing dynamic changes in the distribution of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), macrophages, collagen and extracellular deposit during atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits. Sections of CA and AO were obtained at the early, transitional and advanced stages of atherosclerosis and stained with hematoxilin-eosin, elastica van Gieson, antibodies specific to the above components, antibody against proliferated cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and TUNEL. The relative areas of VSMCs, macrophages, collagen fibers and lipid deposits were calculated. In the early-stage atherosclerosis, VSMCs were predominant in CA lesions, while macrophages were predominant in AO lesions. PCNA-positive VSMCs and macrophages were noted in early-stage atherosclerosis in CA and AO. Collagen type I, III-V fibers were present in early-stage lesions of the AO, while type VI increased in the deep layer during the progression of atherosclerosis. The proportion of apoptotic cells increased in CA and AO lesions with the progression in atherosclerosis. Our results showed differences in the distribution patterns of VSMCs and macrophages at various stages of atherosclerosis in CA and AO of WHHL rabbits.