The Role of Imaging in Clinical Stroke Scales That Predict Functional Outcome: A Systematic Review.

Background And Purpose: Numerous stroke scales have been developed to predict functional outcomes following acute ischemic stroke. The goal of this study was to summarize functional outcome scores in stroke that incorporate neuroimaging with those that don't incorporate neuroimaging.

Methods: Searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and the Cochrane Library Database from inception to January 23, 2015.

Infiltrative pattern of carcinomatosis in extremity muscles on MRI.

Carcinomas can cause an unusual, infiltrative pattern of metastatic carcinoma in extremity muscles on MRI. To assess this pattern, reports of MRI exams of 907 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of carcinoma were reviewed retrospectively to identify those that mentioned muscle metastasis or myositis in an extremity. Thirty-six (4%) of those reports described muscle metastasis (n=18) or myositis (n=18); based on medical record review and imaging follow-up, 17 cases represented metastases.

The use of 18F-FDG PET ratios in the differential diagnosis of common malignant brain tumors.

Objective: This study examined the use of positron emission tomography (PET) ratios to improve the diagnostic ability of 18F-FDG PET/computed tomography (CT) in the differentiation of enhancing brain metastases, central nervous system lymphomas, and gliomas.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-six patients with malignant brain tumors and available magnetic resonance imaging and PET/CT examinations were included.

Results: Among standardized uptake value (SUV)-related parameters tested, tumor maximum SUV to ipsilateral cortex maximum SUV ratio (Tmax:WMimax) and maximum SUV (SUVmax) proved to be the two most valuable parameters for differential diagnosis.

Altered fear learning across development in both mouse and human.

The only evidence-based behavioral treatment for anxiety and stress-related disorders involves desensitization techniques that rely on principles of extinction learning. However, 40% of patients do not respond to this treatment. Efforts have focused on individual differences in treatment response, but have not examined when, during development, such treatments may be most effective.

Structure of Escherichia coli aspartate α-decarboxylase Asn72Ala: probing the role of Asn72 in pyruvoyl cofactor formation.

The crystal structure of the Asn72Ala site-directed mutant of Escherichia coli aspartate α-decarboxylase (ADC) has been determined at 1.7 Å resolution. The refined structure is consistent with the presence of a hydrolysis product serine in the active site in place of the pyruvoyl group required for catalysis, which suggests that the role of Asn72 is to protect the ester formed during ADC activation from hydrolysis.

Variant brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met endophenotypes: implications for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Recently, a common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been identified in the gene encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The variant BDNF(Met) has been shown to have decreased activity-dependent BDNF secretion from neurons and to lead to impairments in specific forms of learning and altered susceptibility to stress. A mouse model containing BDNF(Met) has also been linked to increased anxiety-like behavior.

Imaging genetics and development: challenges and promises.

Excitement with the publication of the human genome has served as catalyst for scientists to uncover the functions of specific genes. The main avenues for understanding gene function have been in behavioral genetics on one end and on the other end, molecular mouse models. Attempts to bridge these approaches have used brain imaging to conveniently link anatomical abnormalities seen in knockout/transgenic mouse models and abnormal patterns of brain activity seen in humans.

A genetic variant BDNF polymorphism alters extinction learning in both mouse and human.

Mouse models are useful for studying genes involved in behavior, but whether they are relevant to human behavior is unclear. Here, we identified parallel phenotypes in mice and humans resulting from a common single-nucleotide polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, which is involved in anxiety-related behavior. An inbred genetic knock-in mouse strain expressing the variant BDNF recapitulated the phenotypic effects of the human polymorphism.

Ecological nuances in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): psychological stressors, posture, and hydrostatics.

Brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have forged an impressive link between psychology and neuroscience. Whereas most experiments in cognitive psychology require participants to perform while sitting upright in front of display devices, fMRI obliges participants to perform cognitive tasks while lying supine and motionless inside a narrow bore. In addition to introducing psychological and physical stressors, such as loud thumps and head restraints, fMRI procedures also alter brain hydrostatics.