The role of demographic characteristics and comorbidities in hemodialysis patients' health-related quality of life.

Background: The assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQL) is a valid tool, which can measure the degree that a chronic condition and its treatment, can affect patients' quality of life (QOL).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was implemented at three hemodialysis units. One hundred fifteen patients were included in the study and 107 participated (response rate 93 %).

Cerebral magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7 Tesla: standard values and regional differences.

Rationale And Objectives: At lower magnetic field strengths, regional differences of cerebral metabolite distributions have been described, but these data are controversial. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7 T is expected to deliver high spectral resolution and good differentiation, but there are problems arising at high magnetic field strengths that may diminish spectral quality. Because there have been only a few studies in humans so far, there are no standard values for 7 T concerning regional metabolite distributions and concentrations.

Natalizumab is effective as second line therapy in the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Natalizumab has been recommended for the treatment of patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis with insufficient response to interferon-beta (IFN-beta) or glatiramer acetate (GA).

Method: Prospective, observational study.

Results: We found a reduction of the annualized relapse rate from 2.

First clinical study on ultra-high-field MR imaging in patients with multiple sclerosis: comparison of 1.5T and 7T.

Background And Purpose: Higher magnetic field strengths and continuous improvement of high-resolution imaging in multiple sclerosis (MS) are expected to provide unique in-vivo and non-invasive insights in pathogenesis and clinical monitoring. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of high-resolution imaging of MS lesions in vivo comparing 7T with conventional 1.5T.

Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine using the NeuroSwing System.

Objective: Routine MR examinations of the cervical spine might be insufficient in the diagnosis of a stenotic problem of the spinal canal, especially when symptoms only occur in a specific position. Latest developments enable real-time dynamic MR examinations in the neutral position as well as anteflexion and retroflexion using a dynamic instrumentation system designed for the cervical spine. We report our experience using the dynamic NeuroSwing System.

Hypercalcemia due to resistant hyperparathyroidism in renal transplant patients treated with the calcimimetic agent cinacalcet.

Introduction And Aims: Calcimimetic agents increase the sensitivity of calcium-sensing receptors of parathyroid glands and suppress both serum calcium levels and parathyroid hormone (PTH). The use of these drugs in patients with a functioning graft suffering from resistant hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia is still under investigation. We report seven patients who were treated with the calcimimetic agent cinacalcet.

Delineation of Clavispora lusitaniae clinical isolates by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the ITSI region: a retrospective study comparing five typing methods.

Strain delineation of the emerging opportunistic pathogen Clavispora lusitaniae was studied using 12 strains, including two strains of known opposite mating type, CBS 6936 (h+) and CBS 5094 (h-), and 10 strains isolated between 1998 and 2001 from immunocompromized patients. This retrospective study assessed the occurrence of C. lusitaniae subtypes within and among hospitals, and in outpatients who were regularly screened for fungal infections in the course of radio-chemotherapy.