Close cooperation among experts from different fields of medicine is needed to solve a mysterious acute brain disease affecting people who ate sugihiratake mushrooms. Some people suffered from kidney disease.

The Japanese Society of Nephrology recently held a meeting in Tokyo to discuss the mysterious disease. A report presented by Prof. Fumitake Gejo of Niigata University's Faculty of Medicine, who is also president of the academic society, caused surprise among attendees.

Gejo reported on two patients who developed the disease last year and seven years ago. Both were women in their 60s who also suffered from kidney disease.

One of them developed the disease last year after eating the sugihiratake mushrooms, known as angel's wings in English.

Last year, the woman's symptoms, including palsy in her limbs and disturbed consciousness, were light. But after eating the same mushrooms again this year, she suffered serious symptoms and was hospitalized.

The other patient died seven years ago seven days after hospitalization. Doctors were informed by the woman's husband that she had eaten the mushrooms………….. CONTINUES………….www.yomiuri.jp