Journal of neuroimaging : official journal of the American Society of Neuroimaging
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To determine if patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) have a reduced brain stem cross-sectional area (CSA) compared to age- and sex-matched controls. The brain stem is a common site of involvement in MS. However, relatively few imaging studies have investigated brain stem atrophy. ⋯ A significantly reduced, normalized brain stem CSA was detected in all areas of the brain stem of the RRMS patients, when compared to age- and gender-matched controls. Lack of detectable upper cervical cord atrophy in the same patients suggests some independence of the MS pathology in these regions.
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To compare corpus callosum area (CCA) and corpus callosum index (CCI) in terms of feasibility and their performance as biomarkers for cognitive and physical disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). A secondary aim was to compare these two methods with volumetric measurements. ⋯ CCA is a time-effective and robust biomarker that has stronger correlations with both EDSS and information processing speed than CCI and volumetric measurements that are commonly used as outcome measures in MS research and clinical trials.
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Susceptibility weighted imaging and assessment of intratumoral susceptibility signal (ITSS) morphology is used to identify high-grade glioma (HGG) in patients with suspected brain neoplasm. ⋯ Our findings indicate that ITSS-morphology is not a random phenomenon. Location of GB, as well as tumor volume, appear to be factors contributing to ITSS morphology.
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Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects show brain injury in sites that control autonomic, cognitive, and mood functions that are deficient in the condition. The processes contributing to injury may include altered blood-brain barrier (BBB) actions. Our aim was to examine BBB function, based on diffusion-weighted pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (DW-pCASL) procedures, in OSA compared to controls. ⋯ OSA subjects show compromised BBB function, but intact large artery integrity. The BBB alterations may introduce neural damage contributing to abnormal functions in OSA, and suggest a need to repair BBB function with strategies commonly used in other fields.
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Brainstem intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas are extremely rare and can mimic a glioma at the time of presentation. ⋯ A careful radiological study looking for dilated vessels around the brainstem is necessary in the workup of an infiltrating brainstem lesion, in order to rule out intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula.