Radiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Multiple sclerosis: changes in microarchitecture of white matter tracts after training with a video game balance board.
To determine if high-intensity, task-oriented, visual feedback training with a video game balance board (Nintendo Wii) induces significant changes in diffusion-tensor imaging ( DTI diffusion-tensor imaging ) parameters of cerebellar connections and other supratentorial associative bundles and if these changes are related to clinical improvement in patients with multiple sclerosis. ⋯ Despite the low statistical power (35%) due to the small sample size, the results showed that training with the balance board system modified the microstructure of superior cerebellar peduncles. The clinical improvement observed after training might be mediated by enhanced myelination-related processes, suggesting that high-intensity, task-oriented exercises could induce favorable microstructural changes in the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis.
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ( HCM hypertrophic cardiomyopathy ), the most common genetically transmitted cardiac disorder, has been the focus of extensive research over the past 50 years. HCM hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a multifaceted disease with highly heterogeneous genetic background, phenotypic expression, clinical presentation, and long-term outcome. Though most patients have an indolent course with a life expectancy comparable to that of the general population, early diagnosis and accurate risk profiling are essential to identify the sizeable subset at increased risk of sudden cardiac death or disease progression and heart failure-related complications, requiring aggressive management options. ⋯ Moreover, MR is key in differentiating HCM hypertrophic cardiomyopathy from "phenocopies"-that is, hearts with similar morphology but profoundly different etiology, such as amyloid or Anderson-Fabry disease. Long term, the incremental information provided by MR is relevant to planning of septal reduction therapies, identification of the early stages of end-stage progression, and stratification of arrhythmic risk. The aim of this review is to depict the increasingly important role of MR imaging in relation to the complexity of HCM hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , highlighting its role in clinical decision making.
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Comparative Study
Black-blood multicontrast imaging of carotid arteries with DANTE-prepared 2D and 3D MR imaging.
To prospectively compare the black-blood ( BB black blood ) imaging efficiency of a delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation ( DANTE delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation ) preparation module with conventional double inversion-recovery ( DIR double inversion recovery ) and motion-sensitive driven equilibrium ( MSDE motion-sensitive driven equilibrium ) preparation modules and to introduce a new three-dimensional ( 3D three-dimensional ) T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence. ⋯ The DANTE delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation -prepared multicontrast 2D two-dimensional BB black blood technique is a promising new tool for MR imaging of carotid artery walls. Additionally, the 3D three-dimensional DASH DANTE-prepared FLASH sequence enables 3D three-dimensional high-spatial-resolution fast T1-weighted imaging of carotid artery walls. ©RSNA, 2014 Online supplemental material is available for this article .
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To investigate a computed tomographic (CT) protocol with iterative reconstruction at conventional radiography dose levels for the assessment of structural lung abnormalities in patients with cystic fibrosis ( CF cystic fibrosis ). ⋯ For patients with CF cystic fibrosis , a dedicated chest CT protocol can replace the two yearly follow-up chest radiographic examinations without major dose penalty and with similar diagnostic quality compared with conventional CT.