MRI detection of brain gadolinium retention in multiple sclerosis: Magnetization transfer vs. T1-weighted imaging.

Background And Purpose: Evidence of brain gadolinium retention has affected gadolinium-based contrast agent usage. It is, however, unclear to what extent macrocyclic agents are retained and whether their in vivo detection may necessitate nonconventional MRI. Magnetization transfer (MT) could prove suitable to detect gadolinium-related signal changes since dechelated gadolinium ions bind to macromolecules.

On Spinocerebellar Ataxia 21 as a Mimicker of Cerebral Palsy.

Objectives: Sporadic variants in ataxia genes may mimic cerebral palsy (CP). Spinocerebellar ataxia 21 (SCA21), a very rare autosomal dominant disease, was discovered to be associated with variants in the transmembrane protein 240 () gene in 2014. In this report, we present 2 patients with sporadic SCA21, one of them diagnosed with ataxic CP.

V374A KCND3 Pathogenic Variant Associated With Paroxysmal Ataxia Exacerbations.

Objective: Ataxia channelopathies share common features such as slow motor progression and variable degrees of cognitive dysfunction. Mutations in potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily D member 3 (), encoding the K+ channel, Kv4.3, are associated with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) 19, allelic with SCA22.

Drug use and torsades de pointes cardiac arrhythmias in Sweden: a nationwide register-based cohort study.

Objective: To study the occurrence of torsades de pointes (TdP) ventricular tachycardia in relation to use of drugs labelled with TdP risk, using two nationwide Swedish registers.

Design: Prospective register-based cohort study.

Setting: Entire Sweden.

Broader phenotypic traits and widespread brain hypometabolism in spinocerebellar ataxia 27.

Objective: The goal of this study was to characterize a Swedish family with members affected by spinocerebellar ataxia 27 (SCA27), a rare autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations in fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14). Despite normal structural neuroimaging, psychiatric manifestations and intellectual disability are part of the SCA27 phenotype raising the need for functional neuroimaging. Here, we used clinical assessments, structural and functional neuroimaging to characterize these new SCA27 patients.

Validation of Rapid Magnetic Resonance Myelin Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for multiple sclerosis diagnostics but is conventionally not specific to demyelination. Myelin imaging is often hampered by long scanning times, complex postprocessing, or lack of clinical approval. This study aimed to assess the specificity, robustness, and clinical value of Rapid Estimation of Myelin for Diagnostic Imaging, a new myelin imaging technique based on time-efficient simultaneous T /T relaxometry and proton density mapping in multiple sclerosis.

Correction to: Cognitive dysfunction and subjective symptoms in patients with arachnoid cyst before and after surgery.

Incorrect family name of Åsa Bergendal.

Cognitive dysfunction and subjective symptoms in patients with arachnoid cyst before and after surgery.

Introduction: Arachnoid cysts are congenital, benign lesions in the brain and are often incidental radiological findings. Frequently, the arachnoid cysts are left untreated; however, recent studies have shown that arachnoid cysts can cause cognitive dysfunction that affect quality of life. Moreover, the function can improve after surgical decompression.

Gadolinium Retention in the Brain: An MRI Relaxometry Study of Linear and Macrocyclic Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents in Multiple Sclerosis.

Background And Purpose: Brain gadolinium retention is consistently reported for linear gadolinium-based contrast agents, while the results for macrocyclics are contradictory and potential clinical manifestations remain controversial. Furthermore, most previous studies are based on conventional T1-weighted MR imaging. We therefore aimed to quantitatively investigate longitudinal and transversal relaxation in the brain in relation to previous gadolinium-based contrast agent administration and explore associations with disability in multiple sclerosis.

Detection of Leukocortical Lesions in Multiple Sclerosis and Their Association with Physical and Cognitive Impairment: A Comparison of Conventional and Synthetic Phase-Sensitive Inversion Recovery MRI.

Background And Purpose: Cortical lesions are common in multiple sclerosis and are included in the latest diagnostic criteria. The limited sensitivity of cortical MS lesions on conventional MR imaging can be improved by phase-sensitive inversion recovery. Synthetic MR imaging could provide phase-sensitive inversion recovery without additional scanning, but the use of synthetic phase-sensitive inversion recovery remains to be validated.

Lesion accumulation is predictive of long-term cognitive decline in multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To investigate the long-term progression of cognitive dysfunction and its neuroanatomical correlates and predictors in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: A cohort of 37 MS patients reflecting five decades of disease duration and all subtypes was followed over 17.5 years.

Novel Features and Abnormal Pattern of Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Spinocerebellar Ataxia 19.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 19 (SCA19), allelic with spinocerebellar ataxia type 22 (SCA22), is a rare syndrome caused by mutations in the KCND3 gene which encodes the potassium channel Kv4.3. Only 18 SCA19/22 families and sporadic cases of different ethnic backgrounds have been previously reported.

Risk of venous thromboembolism associated with local and systemic use of hormone therapy in peri- and postmenopausal women and in relation to type and route of administration.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) associated with systemic hormone therapy according to type and to route of administration and the risk of VTE associated with locally administered estrogen.

Methods: In this case-control study, conducted in Sweden between 2003 and 2009, we included 838 cases of VTE and 891 controls with a mean age of 55 years. Controls were matched by age to the cases and randomly selected from the population.

F11 is associated with recurrent VTE in women. A prospective cohort study.

Genetic associations for the reoccurrence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) are not well described. Our aim was to investigate if common genetic variants, previously found to contribute to the prediction of first time thrombosis in women, were associated with risk of recurrence. The Thromboembolism Hormone Study (TEHS) is a Swedish nationwide case-control study (2002-2009).

Concomitant use of two or more antipsychotic drugs is common in Sweden.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of concomitant use of two or more antipsychotic drugs and other psychotropic drugs in the Swedish population.

Methods: Data for this observational cohort study were collected from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register including all dispensed drugs to the entire Swedish population (9.4 million inhabitants).

Predicting venous thrombosis in women using a combination of genetic markers and clinical risk factors.

Background: Family history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been suggested to be more useful in risk assessment than thrombophilia testing.

Objectives: We investigated established genetic susceptibility variants for association with VTE and evaluated a genetic risk score in isolation and combined with known trigger factors, including family history of VTE.

Patients/method: A total of 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) selected from the literature were genotyped in 2835 women participating in a Swedish nationwide case-control study (the ThromboEmbolism Hormone Study [TEHS]).

Association of venous thromboembolism with hormonal contraception and thrombophilic genotypes.

Objective: To investigate associations between combined hormonal contraception and progestogen-only contraception and risks of venous thromboembolism by progestogen and carriership of genetic hemostatic variations.

Methods: This was a case-control study in Sweden carried out between 2003 and 2009, which included 948 patients with venous thromboembolism and 902 individuals in a control group, all aged 18-54 years. Information was obtained by telephone interviews and DNA analyses of blood samples.

Influence of coronary artery disease-associated genetic variants on risk of venous thromboembolism.

Introduction: We investigated whether genetic variations robustly associated with coronary artery disease are also associated with risk of venous thromboembolism in a well-defined, female case-control study (n=2753) from Sweden.

Materials And Methods: 39 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 32 loci associated with coronary artery disease in genome-wide association studies were identified in a literature search and genotyped in the ThromboEmbolism Hormone Study (TEHS). Association with venous thromboembolism was assessed by logistic regression.

Risk factors for recurrent venous thromboembolism in young and middle-aged women.

Background: It is a matter of debate whether women with an episode of VTE associated with estrogen have a lower risk of recurrence than women with an unprovoked VTE.

Objectives: To identify risk factors for recurrent VTE in women and to assess the risk of recurrent VTE associated with combined oral contraceptives (CHC) or menopausal hormone treatment (HT), compared to surgery-related and unprovoked VTE.

Patients/methods: A cohort of 974 women aged 18-64 years with a first episode of VTE were followed-up for a median time of 5.

Self-reported family history in estimating the risk of hormone, surgery and cast related VTE in women.

Background: Combined hormonal contraceptives, menopause hormone treatment and surgery/cast in orthopedic patients are important risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women.

Objectives: To evaluate whether self-reported family history can be used for risk assessment concerning hormone and surgery /cast related VTE in women.

Patients/methods: 1288 women 18-64 years with a first event of VTE and 1327 age-matched controls were included in a nation-wide population-based case-control study in Sweden.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and venous thromboembolism in women.

Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might increase the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), and risks might differ by type of NSAID. Compared with men, women have a higher incidence of VTE at younger age, and they more often use NSAIDs.

Objectives: To assess risks of VTE in young and middle-aged women in association with use of NSAIDs.

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism in pre-and postmenopausal women.

Introduction: Hemostasis in women is affected by changes of estrogen levels. The role of endogenous estrogens on risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of acquired and genetic risk factors for VTE in pre-and postmenopausal women.