Gut and oral microbiome modulate molecular and clinical markers of schizophrenia-related symptoms: A transdiagnostic, multilevel pilot study.

Although increasing evidence links microbial dysbiosis with the risk for psychiatric symptoms through the microbiome-gut-brain axis (MGBA), the specific mechanisms remain poorly characterized. In a diagnostically heterogeneous group of treated psychiatric cases and nonpsychiatric controls, we characterized the gut and oral microbiome, plasma cytokines, and hippocampal inflammatory processes via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (H-MRSI). Using a transdiagnostic approach, these data were examined in association with schizophrenia-related symptoms measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

Baroreflex sensitivity is associated with markers of hippocampal gliosis and dysmyelination in patients with psychosis.

Purpose: Hippocampal dysfunction plays a key role in the pathology of psychosis. Given hippocampal sensitivity to changes in cerebral perfusion, decreased baroreflex function could contribute to psychosis pathogenesis. This study had two aims: (1) To compare baroreflex sensitivity in participants with psychosis to two control groups: participants with a nonpsychotic affective disorder and participants with no history of psychiatric disease; (2) to examine the relationship between hippocampal neurometabolites and baroreflex sensitivities in these three groups.

MP-RAVE: IR-Prepared T -Weighted Radial Stack-of-Stars 3D GRE imaging with retrospective motion correction.

Purpose: To describe an inversion-recovery T -weighted radial stack-of-stars 3D gradient echo (GRE) sequence with comparable image quality to conventional MP-RAGE and to demonstrate how the radial acquisition scheme can be utilized for additional retrospective motion correction to improve robustness to head motion.

Methods: The proposed sequence, named MP-RAVE, has been derived from a previously described radial stack-of-stars 3D GRE sequence (RAVE) and includes a 180° inversion recovery pulse that is generated once for every stack of radial views. The sequence is combined with retrospective 3D motion correction to improve robustness.

Distinguishing Brain Metastasis Progression From Radiation Effects After Stereotactic Radiosurgery Using Longitudinal GRASP Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI.

Background: Differentiating brain metastasis progression from radiation effects or radiation necrosis (RN) remains challenging. Golden-angle radial sparse parallel (GRASP) dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI provides high spatial and temporal resolution to analyze tissue enhancement, which may differ between tumor progression (TP) and RN.

Objective: To investigate the utility of longitudinal GRASP MRI in distinguishing TP from RN after gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

Volumetric brain changes in MOGAD: A cross-sectional and longitudinal comparative analysis.

Background: Relatively little is known about how global and regional brain volumes changes in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) compare with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and healthy controls (HC).

Objective: To compare global and regional brain volumes in MOGAD, MS, NMOSD, and HC cross-sectionally as well as longitudinally in a subset of patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all adult MOGAD and NMOSD patients with brain MRI performed in stable remission and compared them with MS patients and HC.

Quantitative imaging features predict spinal tap response in normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Purpose: Gait improvement following high-volume lumbar puncture (HVLP) and continuous lumbar drain (cLD) is widely used to predict shunt response in patients with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). Here, we investigate differences in MRI volumetric and traditional measures between HVLP/cLD responders and non-responders to identify imaging features that may help predict HVLP/cLD response.

Methods: Eighty-two patients with suspected NPH were studied retrospectively.

18F-FDG PET-CT postoperative changes after maxillectomy: Findings and pitfalls in interpretation.

Objective: We investigated the findings and pitfalls of FDG-PET/CT scanning after maxillectomy with reconstruction/rehabilitation procedures, in patients with head and neck malignancies treated during nine years at one tertiary medical centre.

Methods: Fourteen patients (10 males), aged 22-84 years, underwent 17 reconstruction/rehabilitation maxillectomy surgeries and 35 PET/CT scans. Postoperative PET/CT findings were correlated with clinical and imaging follow-up.

Widespread cortical dyslamination in epilepsy patients with malformations of cortical development.

Purpose: Recent research in epilepsy patients confirms our understanding of epilepsy as a network disorder with widespread cortical compromise. Here, we aimed to investigate the neocortical laminar architecture in patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) and periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH) using clinically feasible 3 T MRI.

Methods: Eighteen epilepsy patients (FCD and PNH groups; n = 9 each) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 9) underwent T1 relaxation 3 T MRI, from which component probability T1 maps were utilized to extract sub-voxel composition of 6 T1 cortical layers.

Brain 18F-FDG-PET: Utility in the Diagnosis of Dementia and Epilepsy.

The authors reviewed the two most common current uses of brain 18F-labeled fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) at a large academic medical center. For epilepsy patients considering surgical management, FDG-PET can help localize epileptogenic lesions, discriminate between multiple or discordant EEG or MRI findings, and predict prognosis for post-surgical seizure control. In elderly patients with cognitive impairment, FDG-PET often demonstrates lobar-specific patterns of hypometabolism that suggest particular underlying neurodegenerative pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Selective atrophy of the connected deepest cortical layers following small subcortical infarct.

Objective: To explore whether in patients with chronic small subcortical infarct the cortical layers of the connected cortex are differentially affected and whether these differences correlate with clinical symptomatology.

Methods: Twenty patients with a history of chronic small subcortical infarct affecting the corticospinal tracts and 15 healthy controls were included. Connected primary motor cortex was identified with tractography starting from infarct.

State of the Art: Machine Learning Applications in Glioma Imaging.

Objective: Machine learning has recently gained considerable attention because of promising results for a wide range of radiology applications. Here we review recent work using machine learning in brain tumor imaging, specifically segmentation and MRI radiomics of gliomas.

Conclusion: We discuss available resources, state-of-the-art segmentation methods, and machine learning radiomics for glioma.

Fat necrosis after abdominal surgery: A pitfall in interpretation of FDG-PET/CT.

Objective: We describe FDG-PET/CT findings of postoperative fat necrosis in patients following abdominal surgery, and evaluate their changes in size and FDG uptake over time.

Methods: FDG-PET/CT scans from January 2007-January 2016 containing the term 'fat necrosis' were reviewed. Lesions meeting radiological criteria of fat necrosis in patients with prior abdominal surgery were included.

Incorporation of relative cerebral blood flow into CT perfusion maps reduces false 'at risk' penumbra.

Purpose: The region defined as 'at risk' penumbra by current CT perfusion (CTP) maps is largely overestimated. We aimed to quantitate the portion of true 'at risk' tissue within CTP penumbra and to determine the parameter and threshold that would optimally distinguish it from false 'at risk' tissue, that is, benign oligaemia.

Methods: Among acute stroke patients evaluated by multimodal CT (NCCT/CTA/CTP) we identified those that had not undergone endovascular/thrombolytic treatment and had follow-up NCCT.

The Role of Liver Segment-to-Spleen Volume Ratio in the Staging of Hepatic Fibrosis in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Background: Accurate assessment of liver fibrosis is crucial for the management of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of liver segment-to-spleen volume ratio in predicting the severity of liver fibrosis.

Methods: Sixty-four consecutive HCV patients were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Can Unenhanced CT Findings Predict Interventional Versus Conservative Treatment in Acute Renal Colic?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the value of clinical parameters and radiologic findings on unenhanced CT to the choice between interventional and conservative management for patients with acute renal colic.

Materials And Methods: Unenhanced CT records of 183 consecutive patients with acute renal colic were retrospectively reviewed. Urolithiasis was confirmed at both unenhanced CT and clinical follow-up findings of 80 patients (study group).

Postoperative versus Spontaneous Intracranial Abscess: Diagnostic Value of the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient for Accurate Assessment.

Purpose To assess the diagnostic value of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) in spontaneous intracranial abscesses compared with those occurring after primary neurosurgery. Materials and Methods This retrospective comparative study was approved by the local institutional review board. The requirement to obtain written informed consent was waived.

The role of early postmortem CT in the evaluation of support-line misplacement in patients with severe trauma.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the role of early postmortem CT in evaluating support-line misplacement to improve future treatment in the trauma setting.

Materials And Methods: We included all postmortem CT examinations that were performed for trauma patients within the 1st hour after declaration of death in our tertiary medical center between August 1, 2008, and August 31, 2013. Correct placement of the following support lines was evaluated: endotracheal tubes (ETTs), chest drains, central venous catheters (CVCs), and nasogastric tubes (NGTs).

A volcanic explosion of autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: a diversity of 180 different antibodies found in SLE patients.

Recent research in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) yielded new antigens and antibodies in SLE patients. We describe the various autoantibodies that can be detected in patients with SLE. A literature review, using the terms “autoantibody” and “systemic lupus erythematosus”, was conducted to search for articles on autoantibodies in SLE, their target antigens, association with disease activity and other clinical manifestations.

Percutaneous embolization of an incidentally diagnosed pulmonary aneurysm in a scleroderma patient.

A 59-year-old female with history of progressive scleroderma and pulmonary fibrosis was referred for biopsy of a pulmonary nodule that was discovered on computed-tomography (CT) chest surveillance, not present on prior CT- scan. Imaging was suspicious for granuloma, malignancy or aneurysm. CT- Angiography (CTA), performed immediately before the procedure, did not show enhancement of the mass, followed by placement of coaxial-needle into the mass.

Unrecognized renal insufficiency and chemotherapy-associated adverse effects among breast cancer patients.

Several studies have shown that more than half of cancer patients have unrecognized renal insufficiency (RI), which is a reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with normal serum creatinine. The aim of this study was to determine whether unrecognized RI is associated with an increased risk for chemotherapy-associated adverse effects in breast cancer patients treated with combined doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide treatment. GFR was estimated for 95 breast cancer patients from January 2005 to August 2009 using the Cockcroft-Gault formula.

[Does the transition to clinical training change students' perception of career choice, physician's character and preclinical studies?].

Background: In Israel, the transition to clinical training in hospitals is the first direct encounter of the medical student with the reality of the profession. This is a significant socialization step for his upcoming professional decisions.

Aims: This study aimed to identify how this encounter influences students' perceptions of career choice, physician's character and preclinical studies.