Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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The use of an ultrasound-based evaluation of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) has previously been demonstrated for detecting raised intracranial pressure. In order to be feasible in clinical workup, the test qualities of transorbital ultrasonography need to be determined. The aim of this study was therefore to establish normal values and to assess the intra- and interobserver reliability of this method. ⋯ Transorbital B-mode sonography is a feasible method to assess the ONSD with a high intra- and interobsever reliability. Normal values on ONSD are presented in this study that will be useful in future studies on pathological conditions.
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological disorder the pathophysiology of which is incompletely understood. Four studies have examined structural differences between the brains of RLS patients and healthy controls, using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). All 4 studies have provided different results. ⋯ The present study did not replicate (confirm) previous findings of structural brain changes in RLS, but instead supported the findings of a recent study showing a lack of gray matter alteration in an elderly RLS population. More specifically, the results do not support neuronal loss as an underlying disease mechanism in RLS. Potential limitations in the application of VBM are also discussed.
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Texture analysis (TA) is a branch of image processing, which attempts to convey "texture" information from digital images, such as magnetic resonance images (MRI). Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) affects mainly cerebellum and brainstem, but recent studies have shown that other cerebral structures may also be affected. ⋯ TA was capable of detecting tissue alterations in MRI of patients with MJD. These alterations were in areas already shown to be affected by histopathological studies. In addition, we confirmed the thalamic involvement in patients with MJD, which had only been demonstrated in volumetric studies.