Volumes of brain, grey and white matter and cerebrospinal fluid in schizophrenia in the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort: an epidemiological approach to analysis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in schizophrenia have seldom involved a general population birth cohort or other epidemiological samples. We studied the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort and identified all people with psychotic disorders. Along with an unaffected age-matched control sample (n = 100) from the cohort, 54 subjects with schizophrenia underwent MRI brain scan at age 33-35 years from which we defined volumes of whole brain, grey and white matter and intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Hypertension and diabetes as predictors of early death after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Object: Previous investigators have suggested that a high mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and an elevated plasma glucose level at admission are associated with a poor outcome after hemorrhagic stroke. It remains unclear, however, whether hypertension and diabetes are responsible for this effect. High admission MABP and plasma glucose levels may also be markers of other factors such as stroke severity.

Impact of ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation on survival after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Object: The well-known predictors for increased early deaths after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) include the clinical and radiological severity of bleeding as well as being on a warfarin regimen at the onset of stroke. Ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation may also increase early deaths. In the present study the authors aimed to elucidate the role of the last 2 factors.

Safety of low-dose subcutaneous enoxaparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after primary intracerebral haemorrhage.

Background: The risks and benefits of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) for the prevention of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) have not been assessed. The few studies on this subject have revealed conflicting results.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated whether subcutaneous enoxaparin (20 mg daily) reduced symptomatic venous complications or caused increased 3-month death rate.

Regular aspirin-use preceding the onset of primary intracerebral hemorrhage is an independent predictor for death.

Background And Purpose: Hematoma volume and impaired level of consciousness are the most potent predictors of outcome after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The effect of preceding aspirin-use on outcome after ICH is poorly investigated. We investigated short-term mortality and hematoma enlargement in subjects with ICH to find the predictors for these outcomes.

Hippocampus and amygdala volumes in schizophrenia and other psychoses in the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort.

Structural brain differences have been reported in many studies with schizophrenia, but few have involved a general population birth cohort. We investigated differences in volume, shape and laterality of hippocampus and amygdala in patients with schizophrenia, all psychoses and comparison subjects within a large general birth cohort sample, and explored effects of family history of psychosis, perinatal risk and age-at-onset of illness. All subjects with psychosis from the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort were invited to a survey including MRI scan of the brain, conducted in 1999-2001.

Thromboxane and prostacyclin biosynthesis in patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: Elevated levels of 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (11-dehydro-TXB2) excreted in urine have been observed in acute ischemic stroke. This marker of platelet activation has not been investigated in patients with acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: We examined 43 patients with spontaneous ICH and 23 controls.

Cardiovascular regulation and hippocampal sclerosis.

Purpose: Cardiovascular dysregulation has been detected in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) by using cardiovascular reflex tests and analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). The two methods have not previously been used in the same study to compare them in the assessment of cardioregulatory function. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the best method to reveal structural changes such as hippocampal sclerosis associated with TLE.

Effects of head and extracranial injuries on serum protein S100B levels in trauma patients.

Background: Serum protein S100B determinations have been recently suggested as markers of traumatic brain injury. However, little is known about the effects of extracranial injuries on S100B levels in trauma patients.

Methods: We studied 224 patients with head trauma (54 of whom also had extracranial injuries), 155 patients with various types of extracranial injuries, and 8 healthy pilots exposed to high Gz forces.

Neurological diseases and accidental falls of the aged.

Objective: To assess the influence of central and peripheral neurological diseases on the incidence of accidental falls of the aged.

Design: 1. Case-control study with cross-section at two years and 2.

Perfusion MRI and SPECT of brain after treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Treatment of childhood leukemia may cause perfusion defects in the brain observed by SPECT. Perfusion MRI is a novel method to study brain perfusion which has not been used previously in this setting. This study was performed to compare SPECT with perfusion MRI in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) after treatment.

MR abnormalities of the lateral pterygoid muscle in patients with nonreducing disk displacement of the TMJ.

The aim of this study was to investigate the pathological changes of the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with anterior disk displacement with nonreduction (ADDnr) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and to compare the abnormal findings of the LPM with the clinical symptoms and other pathological MRI alterations of the TMJ. Bilateral or unilateral ADDnr was demonstrated in 142 patents by MRI (176 TMJs; 106 females; 36 males; range 19 to 72 years; mean 43.9 years).

MR perfusion, diffusion and BOLD imaging of methotrexate-exposed swine brain.

Purpose: To evaluate the methotrexate (MTX)-exposed swine brain, functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including perfusion, diffusion, and blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) contrast imaging, was used.

Material And Methods: Juvenile pigs received either 2 x 5 g/m(2), or 5 x 2 g/m(2) MTX intravenously within one month. MRI was performed (sedative: propofol) before (14-17 kg, N = 6) and after (21-27 kg, N = 4) the MTX exposure.