Magnetic resonance neurography in the diagnosis of neuropathies of the lumbosacral plexus: a pictorial review.

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is an important tool to detect abnormalities of peripheral nerves. This pictorial review demonstrates the MRN features of a variety of neuropathies affecting the lumbosacral plexus (LSP) and lower extremity nerves, drawn from over 1200 MRNs from our institution and supplemented by the literature. Abnormalities can be due to spinal compression, extraspinal compression, malignancy, musculoskeletal disease, iatrogenesis, inflammation, infection, and idiopathic disorders.

Prevalence and significance of incidentally noted dilation of the ascending aorta on routine chest computed tomography in older patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of incidental ascending aortic dilation and its significance over time in 55- to 80-year-olds undergoing routine computed tomographic scans.

Methods: Chest computed tomography reports for 64,092 patients who met the inclusion criteria were used to determine the prevalence of incidental ascending aortic dilation (4-5 cm) and, when possible, aortic growth rates. A chart review was performed to identify any aortic complication or intervention.

Perspectives from deductible plan enrollees: plan knowledge and anticipated care-seeking changes.

Background: Consumer directed health care proposes that patients will engage as informed consumers of health care services by sharing in more of their medical costs, often through deductibles. We examined knowledge of deductible plan details among new enrollees, as well as anticipated care-seeking changes in response to the deductible.

Methods: In a large integrated delivery system with a range of deductible-based health plans which varied in services included or exempted from deductible, we conducted a mixed-method, cross-sectional telephone interview study.

Imaging and diagnosis of postpartum complications: sonography and other imaging modalities.

Postpartum complications can be broadly divided into 4 categories: postpartum hemorrhage, obstetrical trauma, thromboembolic complications, and puerperal infections. Postpartum hemorrhage is most commonly caused by uterine atony, abnormal placentation, or genital tract trauma. Secondary causes of hemorrhage include retained products of conception and, rarely, subinvolution of the placental implantation site.

Delayed enhancement of ascites after i.v. contrast material administration at CT: time course and clinical correlation.

Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence and clinical predictors of delayed contrast enhancement of ascites.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, 132 consecutive patients with ascites who underwent repeated abdominopelvic CT examinations performed within 7 days of each other were identified. These patients included 112 patients who received and 20 who did not receive i.

High-deductible health insurance plans: efforts to sharpen a blunt instrument.

High deductible-based health insurance plans require consumers to pay for care until reaching the deductible amount. However, information is limited on how well consumers understand their benefits and how they respond to these costs. In telephone interviews, we found that consumers had limited knowledge about their deductibles yet frequently reported changing their care-seeking behavior because of the cost.

Imaging of hepatic infections.

Hepatic infections include pyogenic and amebic abscesses and fungal and parasitic diseases. Entry of the infectious organisms into the liver can occur by hematogenous spread via the portal vein or hepatic artery, ascension of the infection from the biliary tract, or from trauma. Worldwide, liver abscess is most often caused by Entamoeba histolytica, but in the developed world, pyogenic liver abscess is more common.

Influence of patient costs and requests on emergency physician decisionmaking.

Study Objectives: We examine emergency physician knowledge of, attitudes about, and responses to patient cost-sharing in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: A convenience sample of emergency physicians from an integrated delivery system completed a questionnaire including self-report questions about knowledge of and attitudes about cost-sharing and an experimental vignette. The vignette describes a patient with an uncomplicated asthma exacerbation, with a version in which she has a $100 ED visit copayment and a version in which she does not.

Office visit copayments: patient knowledge, response, and communication with providers.

Background: There is limited information on patients' knowledge about their cost-sharing requirements and how that influenced their care-seeking behavior.

Objective: To examine patients' knowledge of their office visit copayments, their self-reported responses to perceived and actual copayments, and discussions with physicians about costs.

Research Design: Cross-sectional telephone interview study with a 71% response rate.

A neutralizing anti-Nogo66 receptor monoclonal antibody reverses inhibition of neurite outgrowth by central nervous system myelin.

The Nogo66 receptor (NgR1) is a neuronal, leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein that binds three central nervous system (CNS) myelin proteins, Nogo, myelin-associated glycoprotein, and oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, and mediates their inhibitory effects on neurite growth. Although the LRR domains on NgR1 are necessary for binding to the myelin proteins, the exact epitope(s) involved in ligand binding is unclear. Here we report the generation and detailed characterization of an anti-NgR1 monoclonal antibody, 7E11.

Alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors mediate beta-amyloid peptide-induced tau protein phosphorylation.

The Alzheimer's disease pathogenic peptide, beta-amyloid42 (A beta 42), induces tau protein phosphorylation. Because hyperphosphorylated tau is a consistent component of neurofibrillary tangles, a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, we investigated the signaling molecules involved in A beta 42-induced tau phosphorylation. We show that A beta 42 elicited rapid and reversible tau protein phosphorylation on three proline-directed sites (Ser-202, Thr-181, and Thr-231) in systems enriched in alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (alpha 7nAChR) including serum-deprived human SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells and hippocampal synaptosomes.