The relationship between atherosclerosis and dementia.

Objective: The main objective is to confirm a hypothesis that atherosclerosis, through various mechanisms, considerably influences cognitive impairment and significantly increases the risk for developing dementia. Complete sample should be 920 individuals. The present study aimed to analyse epidemiological data from a questionnaire survey.

Serum neurofilament light chain levels in patients with cognitive deficits and movement disorders: comparison of cerebrospinal and serum neurofilament light chain levels with other biomarkers.

Background: Serum neurofilament light chain (S NfL) is a non-specific marker of neuronal damage, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). We aimed to verify the reference interval (RI) of serum NfL using a highly sensitive ELISA, and to estimate the optimal cut-off value for neuronal damage. Our second objective was to compare NfL in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum (S) with the routine neurodegeneration biomarkers used in AD, and to assess their concentrations relative to the degree of cognitive deficit.

Intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring determines the final electrode position for pallidal stimulation in dystonia patients.

Background: Bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) is an effective treatment for refractory dystonia. Neuroradiological target and stimulation electrode trajectory planning with intraoperative microelectrode recordings (MER) and stimulation are used. With improving neuroradiological techniques, the need for MER is in dispute mainly because of the suspected risk of hemorrhage and the impact on clinical post DBS outcome.

Echogenicity of Brain Structures in Huntington's Disease Patients Evaluated by Transcranial Sonography - Magnetic Resonance Fusion Imaging using Virtual Navigator and Digital Image Analysis.

Purpose: Transcranial sonography (TCS) magnetic resonance (MR) fusion imaging and digital image analysis are useful tools for the evaluation of various brain pathologies. This study aimed to compare the echogenicity of predefined brain structures in Huntington's disease (HD) patients and healthy controls by TCS-MR fusion imaging using Virtual Navigator and digitized image analysis.

Materials And Methods: The echogenicity of the caudate nucleus (CN), substantia nigra (SN), lentiform nucleus (LN), insula, and brainstem raphe (BR) evaluated by TCS-MR fusion imaging using digitized image analysis was compared between 21 HD patients and 23 healthy controls.

Histiocytic Sarcoma with an Unusual Clinical Manifestation Imitating Malignant Vascular Tumor: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Histiocytic sarcoma is a rare malignant hematopoietic neoplasm with morphologic and immunohistochemical features of histiocytic differentiation, usually with unfavorable prognosis. Despite aggressive biological behavior, in subgroup of patients with localized disease, the prognosis can be very good. Few publications are available on localized cases of histiocytic sarcoma.

Digitized Image Analysis of Insula Echogenicity Detected by TCS-MR Fusion Imaging in Wilson's and Early-Onset Parkinson's Diseases.

Transcranial sonography (TCS) can reveal pathology in brain structures including insula. This study compared insula echogenicity among 22 patients with Wilson's disease (WD), 21 patients with early-onset Parkinson's disease (EO-PD) and 24 healthy patients. Echogenicity of predefined brain structures (insula, lentiform nucleus, caudate nucleus, substantia nigra and raphe nuclei) was evaluated using digitized analysis of TCS fusion imaging with magnetic resonance.

Transcranial Sonography of the Insula: Digitized Image Analysis of Fusion Images with Magnetic Resonance.

Transcranial B-mode sonography (TCS) of brain parenchyma is increasingly used as a diagnostic tool for movement disorders. Accordingly, experimental B-Mode Assist software was developed to enable digitized analysis of the echogenicity of predefined brain regions. The aim of the study was to assess the reproducibility of digitized TCS image analysis of the insula.

Transcranial sonography and (123)I-FP-CIT single photon emission computed tomography in movement disorders.

Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) can be difficult in the early stages of the disease. The aim of the study described here was to assess the correlation between transcranial sonography (TCS) and (123)I-FP-CIT ([(123)I]ioflupane, N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-[(123)I]iodophenyl)nortropane) SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) findings and the diagnosis of PD. A total of 49 patients were enrolled in the study: 29 patients with PD, 7 patients with other parkinsonian syndromes, 11 patients with essential tremor and 2 with psychogenic movement disorder.

Transcranial sonography of the substantia nigra: digital image analysis.

Background And Purpose: Increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra is a typical transcranial sonography finding in Parkinson disease. Experimental software for digital analysis of the echogenic substantia nigra area has been developed. The aim of this study was to compare the evaluation of substantia nigra echogenicity by using digital analysis with a manual measurement in patients with Parkinson disease and healthy volunteers.

A new program for highly reproducible automatic evaluation of the substantia nigra from transcranial sonographic images.

Aims: Recent studies report increased echogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) using transcranial sonography (TCS). However, the main limitation to TCS is its dependence on the sonographer's experience. Experimental software for quantitative evaluation of the echogenic SN area was thus developed by us.

Correlation between substantia nigra features detected by sonography and Parkinson disease symptoms.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between substantia nigra (SN) echogenic features and area and the clinical symptoms in patients with Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: Clinical examinations and transcranial sonographic evaluations of the SN were performed in 115 consecutive patients with PD. The presence of tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia, gait disorders, speech disorders, and hypomimia was evaluated according to the motor portion of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale.

Transcranial sonography in movement disorders.

Background: Transcranial sonography (TCS) in the B-mode has the ability to image, infratentorial and supratentorial brain structures. For this reason, it has potential use in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of various intracranial pathologies.

Methods And Results: The authors reviewed the contribution of TCS to the differentiation of a number of neurodegenerative diseases: in parkinsonian syndromes, TCS can evaluate echogenicity changes in specific structures such as the hyperechogenic area of the substantia nigra (SN) in Parkinson's disease and the hyperechogenic caudate nucleus in Huntington's disease as well as the hyperechogenic lentiform nucleus (LN) in dystonia and Wilson's disease.

Reproducibility of sonographic measurement of the substantia nigra.

The aim of this study was to evaluate inter-reader, intra-investigator and inter-investigator reproducibility and correlations in the assessment of substantia nigra (SN) echogenicity and area measurement by a physician-sonographer (PS), a sonographic laboratory assistant (SLA) and a physician without sonographic experience (PN). A total of 22 patients with extrapyramidal symptoms were examined using transcranial sonography (TCS). SN images were encoded and evaluated by the three readers.