Predictive Value of Clinical, CSF and Vessel Wall MRI Variables in Diagnosing Primary Angiitis of the CNS.

Background And Objectives: Without brain biopsy, there are limited diagnostic predictors to differentiate primary angiitis of the CNS (PACNS) from intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD). We examined the utility of clinical, CSF, and quantitative vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VWMRI) variables in predicting PACNS from ICAD.

Methods: In this cross-sectional design, observational study, we reviewed electronic medical records to identify patients (18 years and older) who presented to our medical center between January 2015 and December 2021 for ischemic stroke due to intracranial vasculopathy.

Current and future advances in practice: a practical approach to the diagnosis and management of primary central nervous system vasculitis.

Primary CNS vasculitis (CNSV) is a rare, idiopathic autoimmune disease that, if untreated, can cause significant morbidity and mortality. It is a challenging diagnosis due to multiple mimics that can be difficult to differentiate, given that the CNS is an immunologically privileged and structurally isolated space. As such, diagnosis requires comprehensive multimodal investigations.

The prevalence of radiological cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

Objectives: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) related inflammation (CAA-RI) is an autoimmune inflammatory condition occurring in patients with CAA. We aimed to determine the prevalence of radiological CAA-RI amongst patients with CAA and to describe their presenting clinical features.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of electronic medical records across multiple centers within a single healthcare network.

Spine Anatomy Imaging: An Update.

Spinal MR imaging is excellent for identifying details of spinal anatomy, including intraspinal contents, neural foramina, joints, ligaments, intervertebral discs, and bone marrow. Cortical bony structures of the spine are better imaged using CT. Conventional and CT myelography is an alternative to MR imaging in those with contraindications to MR imaging or in evaluation of spinal cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

7T MR of intracranial pathology: Preliminary observations and comparisons to 3T and 1.5T.

Purpose: There have been an increasing number of studies involving ultra-high-field 7T of intracranial pathology, however, comprehensive clinical studies of neuropathology at 7T still remain limited. 7T has the advantage of a higher signal-to-noise ratio and a higher contrast-to-noise ratio, compared to current low field clinical MR scanners. We hypothesized 7T applied clinically, may improve detection and characterization of intracranial pathology.

Intimate associations between the endogenous opiate systems and the growth hormone-releasing hormone system in the human hypothalamus.

Although it is a general consensus that opioids modulate growth, the mechanism of this phenomenon is largely unknown. Since endogenous opiates use the same receptor family as morphine, these peptides may be one of the key regulators of growth in humans by impacting growth hormone (GH) secretion, either directly, or indirectly, via growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) release. However, the exact mechanism of this regulation has not been elucidated yet.