Detection and differentiation of inflammatory versus fibromatous Crohn's disease strictures: prospective comparison of 18F-FDG-PET/CT, MR-enteroclysis, and transabdominal ultrasound versus endoscopic/histologic evaluation.

Background: Differentiation between inflammatory and fibromatous strictures in Crohn's disease (CD) is difficult but crucial for therapeutic decisions. The aim of this study was to assess the best noninvasive imaging method for the detection and differentiation of inflammatory and fibromatous stenoses in CD in comparison to endoscopic and histologic evaluation.

Methods: Patients with suspected CD strictures were included.

Spontaneous central melatonin secretion and resorption kinetics of exogenous melatonin: a ventricular CSF study.

Pineal secretion of melatonin, a potential sleep-inducing agent, is stimulated by nighttime darkness. To gain better insight into the control of melatonin physiology in man, we studied melatonin concentrations in ventricular cerebrospinal fluid (v-CSF). In four patients aged 1-4 yr with therapeutic v-CSF drainage, including one with lumbar CSF (l-CSF) drainage, CSF samples were collected sequentially over 24-hr periods.

Pattern of cortical reorganization in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Depending on individual lesion location and extent, reorganization of the human motor system has been observed with a high interindividual variability. In addition, variability of forces exerted, of motor effort, and of movement strategies complicates the interpretation of functional imaging studies. We hypothesize that a general pattern of reorganization can be identified if a homogeneous patient population is chosen and experimental conditions are controlled.