Feasibility and reproducibility of the PsAMRIS-H score for psoriatic arthritis in low-field-strength dedicated extremity magnetic resonance imaging.

Objectives: The psoriatic arthritis magnetic resonance imaging scoring system (PsAMRIS-H) for the evaluation of inflammatory and destructive changes in PsA hands was validated on 0.6-T scanners. The applicability of the PsAMRIS-H on a low-field MRI system as a well-accepted, low-cost imaging modality was evaluated.

[Vasculitis in the trunk: Imaging patterns of typical organ manifestations due to primary vasculitis of small and medium sized vessels].

Vasculitis of small and medium sized vessels mostly affects several organ systems and causes unspecific symptoms. The trunk, lungs, heart and the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts are most frequently involved. Due to an unclear clinical picture imaging is part and parcel of diagnostics.

Bat-associated histoplasmosis can be transmitted at entrances of bat caves and not only inside the caves.

Our observation of histoplasmosis cases augments the current knowledge on transmission by bats. In the presented cases, the only contact happened in the proximity of a bat cave but not inside the cave. We wish to communicate and stress that even outside of caves, bats may disperse the organism.

Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of spinal inflammation in patients treated for ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To compare different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based algorithms for assessment of spinal inflammation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) being treated with disease modifying drugs.

Methods: Eleven patients (10 men, 1 woman) who fulfilled modified New York diagnostic criteria and had severe disease [Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) > 4] were given intravenous infusion of infliximab (Remicade, 5 mg/kg) for 96 weeks. Whole-spine MRI was done at 0, 24, and 54 weeks.