MR Imaging for Intracranial Vessel Wall Imaging: Pearls and Pitfalls.

Conventional vascular imaging methods have primarily focused on evaluating the vascular lumen. However, these techniques are not intended to evaluate vessel wall abnormalities where many cerebrovascular pathologies reside. With increased interest for the visualization and study of the vessel wall, high-resolution vessel wall imaging (VWI) has gained traction.

MR Angiography of Extracranial Carotid Disease.

Magnetic resonance angiography sequences, such as time-of-flight and contrast-enhanced angiography, provide clear depiction of vessel lumen, traditionally used to evaluate carotid pathologic conditions such as stenosis, dissection, and occlusion; however, atherosclerotic plaques with a similar degree of stenosis may vary tremendously from a histopathological standpoint. MR vessel wall imaging is a promising noninvasive method to evaluate the content of the vessel wall at high spatial resolution. This is particularly interesting in the case of atherosclerosis as vessel wall imaging can identify higher risk, vulnerable plaques as well as has potential applications in the evaluation of other carotid pathologic conditions.

GABA-A Receptor Encephalitis After Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant forMultiple Myeloma: Three Cases and Literature Review.

Background And Objectives: The relationship between autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) for multiple myeloma (MM) and anti-GABA receptor (GABAR) encephalitis is unknown. We aimed to describe the clinical features, diagnostic process, and outcome of 3 cases of anti-GABAR encephalitis in patients with a history of prior aHSCT for MM.

Methods: A case series of 3 patients.

Direct cost analysis of rapid MRI in the emergency department evaluation of patients suspected of having acute ischemic stroke*.

Background: Abbreviated "rapid MRI" protocols have become more common for the evaluation of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Prior research has not evaluated the effect of rapid MRIs on cost or hospital length of stay in AIS patients.

Methods: We retrospectively identified AIS patients who presented within 6 h of acute neurologic symptom onset to an emergency department (ED) and activated a "brain attack" code.

Emerging Utility of Applied Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a widespread and expensive problem globally. The standard diagnostic workup for new TBI includes obtaining a noncontrast computed tomography image of the head, which provides quick information on operative pathologies. However, given the limited sensitivity of computed tomography for identifying subtle but meaningful changes in the brain, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown better utility for ongoing management and prognostication after TBI.

Assessment of quantitative methods for enhancement measurement on vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of intracranial atherosclerosis.

Purpose: Quantitative measures of vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (vwMRI) for the evaluation of intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) offers standardization not available with previously used qualitative approaches that may be difficult to replicate.

Methods: vwMRI studies performed to evaluate ICAD that had caused a stroke were analyzed. Two blinded reviewers qualitatively rated culprit lesions for the presence of enhancement on T1 delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation (DANTE) SPACE images.

The role of the multidrug resistance protein-1 in modulation of endothelial cell oxidative stress.

Glutathione (GSH) is the major source of intracellular sulfhydryl groups. Oxidized GSH (GSSG) can be recycled to GSH by the GSH reductase or exported from the cell. The mechanism by which GSSG is exported and the consequence of its export from endothelial cells has not been defined previously.

Oscillatory shear stress upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase requires intracellular hydrogen peroxide and CaMKII.

We have previously shown that hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) upregulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression via a calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII)-mediated mechanism whereas it also acutely activates eNOS enzyme. We hypothesized that oscillatory shear stress (OSS), which stimulates endogenous H(2)O(2), would have effects on eNOS expression and function similar to that of exogenous H(2)O(2). Exposure of bovine aortic endothelial cells to OSS (+/-15 dynes/cm(2)) increased eNOS mRNA expression by 3-fold.