Effects of a physical activity intervention on brain atrophy in older adults at risk of dementia: a randomized controlled trial.

Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for dementia, however, the utility of interventional physical activity programs as a protective measure against brain atrophy and cognitive decline is uncertain. Here we present the effect of a randomized controlled trial of a 24-month physical activity intervention on global and regional brain atrophy as characterized by longitudinal voxel-based morphometry with T1-weighted MRI images. The study sample consisted of 98 participants at risk of dementia, with mild cognitive impairment or subjective memory complaints, and having at least one vascular risk factor for dementia, randomized into an exercise group and a control group.

Baseline White Matter Is Associated With Physical Fitness Change in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease.

White matter (WM) microstructure is a sensitive marker to distinguish individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease. The association of objective physical fitness (PF) measures and WM microstructure has not been explored and mixed results reported with physical activity (PA). Longitudinal studies of WM with PA and PF measures have had limited investigation.

Effect of a 24-month physical activity program on brain changes in older adults at risk of Alzheimer's disease: the AIBL active trial.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are a risk factor for cognitive decline. Physical activity (PA) is associated with lower WMH. Whether long-term exposure to PA programs has beneficial effects on WMH progression in older adults with memory complaints and comorbid conditions has had limited exploration.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Adherence to a 24-Month Home-Based Physical Activity Program and the Health Benefits for Older Adults at Risk of Alzheimer's Disease: The AIBL Active-Study.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that physical activity (PA) interventions can improve physical and cognitive outcomes in older adults, but most have been relatively short in duration (<1 year) with a few having specifically targeting individuals at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Objective: To examine adherence and physical health outcomes in a 24-month home-based PA intervention in older adults at risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: Participants 60 years and older with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or subjective memory complaints (SMC) with at least 1 cerebrovascular risk factor recruited from The Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Aging (AIBL) were randomized to a PA or control group (n = 106).

Dynamic CT for Parathyroid Adenoma Detection: How Does Radiation Dose Compare With Nuclear Medicine?

Objective: Dynamic CT is increasingly used for preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas, but concerns remain about the radiation effective dose of CT compared with that of Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiation dose delivered by three-phase dynamic CT with that delivered by Tc-sestamibi SPECT/CT performed in accordance with our current protocols and to assess the possible reduction in effective dose achieved by decreasing the scan length (i.e.

Comparison between site and central radiological assessments for patients with recurrent glioblastoma on a clinical trial.

Aim: Assessment of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in glioblastoma can be challenging. For patients with recurrent glioblastoma managed on the CABARET trial, we compared disease status assessed at hospitals and subsequent blinded central expert radiological review.

Methods: MRI results and clinical status at specified time points were used for site and central assessment of disease status.

Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography: Clinical Impact for Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism.

Background: In recent years, four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) has emerged as a new localization study for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT).

Objective: We aimed to assess the added value of 4DCT in our institution in the first 4 years of use.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from February 2004 to June 2015.

Continuing or ceasing bevacizumab beyond progression in recurrent glioblastoma: an exploratory randomized phase II trial.

Background: In patients with recurrent glioblastoma, the benefit of bevacizumab beyond progression remains uncertain. We prospectively evaluated continuing or ceasing bevacizumab in patients who progressed while on bevacizumab.

Methods: CABARET, a phase II study, initially randomized patients to bevacizumab with or without carboplatin (Part 1).

The role of early magnetic resonance imaging in predicting survival on bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma: Results from a prospective clinical trial (CABARET).

Background: Bevacizumab has been associated with prolonged progression-free survival for patients with recurrent glioblastoma; however, not all derive a benefit. An early indicator of efficacy or futility may allow early discontinuation for nonresponders. This study prospectively assessed the role of early magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI) and its correlation with subsequent routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results and survival.

Concomitant extraspinal hyperostosis and osteoporosis in a patient with congenital ichthyosis.

Ichthyosiform dermatosis is a term referred to a group of disorders that have as their basis a disorder of keratinization (1). These conditions which are present at birth result in a generalized dry, scaly skin without any inflammation. There are several types of ichthyosis based on their clinical presentation and mode of inheritance.

Angiocentric glioma transformed into anaplastic ependymoma: Review of the evidence for malignant potential.

Angiocentric glioma (AG) is a low grade glioma, that was first described in 2002. Since this description, 83 patients with AG have been described, including ours. AG typically presents in childhood with medically refractory seizures that are cured with gross surgical resection.

Alterations in dorsal and ventral posterior cingulate connectivity in APOE 4 carriers at risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that exercise plays a role in cognition and that the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) can be divided into dorsal and ventral subregions based on distinct connectivity patterns.

Aims: To examine the effect of physical activity and division of the PCC on brain functional connectivity measures in subjective memory complainers (SMC) carrying the epsilon 4 allele of apolipoprotein E (APOE 4) allele.

Method: Participants were 22 SMC carrying the APOE 4 allele (4+; mean age 72.

Emotional reactivity following surgery to the prefrontal cortex.

We aimed to elicit emotion in patients with surgically circumscribed lesions of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in order to elucidate the precise functional roles in emotion processing of the discrete subregions comprising the ventromedial PFC, including the medial PFC and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). Three components of emotional reactivity were measured: subjective experience, behaviour, and physiological response. These included measures of self-reported emotion, observer-rated facial expression of emotion and measurements of heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) during film viewing, and a measure of subjective emotional change since surgery.

Imaging characteristics of nodal metastases in paraganglioma, ameloblastoma and olfactory neuroblastoma: case reports and literature review.

Paraganglioma, ameloblastoma and olfactory neuroblastoma are uncommon primary head and neck tumours. When nodal metastases from these tumours occur, they may present later than and with different imaging characteristics compared with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), demonstrating appearances similar to the primary tumour type rather than features typical of metastatic nodal SCC. We present three cases in which imaging characteristics of nodal metastases in paraganglioma, ameloblastoma and olfactory neuroblastoma mimicked the primary tumour and discuss their implications for clinicoradiological follow-up.

Assessment of Optic Pathway Structure and Function in Patients With Compression of the Optic Chiasm: A Correlation With Optical Coherence Tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate correlations between retinal fiber thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and anterograde functional and structural differences in the optic pathway of patients with compression of the optic chiasm. Our hypothesis was that loss of visual acuity caused by chronic compressive pathologies may lead to an irreversible decline in vision because of permanent neurodegeneration of the optic radiations and visual cortex.

Methods: Quantitative OCT, functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor MRI measurements were made in 17 patients being surgically treated for chiasmal compression.

Audit of CT reporting standards in cases of intracerebral haemorrhage at a comprehensive stroke centre in Australia.

Introduction: Multiple CT-derived biomarkers that are predictive of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) growth and outcome have been described in the literature, but the extent to which these appear in imaging reports of ICH is unknown. The aim of this retrospective process audit was to determine which of the known predictors of ICH outcome was recorded in reports of the disease, with a view to providing reporting recommendations, as appropriate.

Method: We examined the initial CT report of patients diagnosed with ICH presenting to a metropolitan comprehensive stroke centre and meeting inclusion criteria during the audit period between 1 March 2013 and 28 February 2014.

Cervical CT scan-guided epidural blood patches for spontaneous intracranial hypotension.

We describe two patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH), presenting with postural headache due to C1-C2 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Both patients were refractory to lumbar epidural blood patching (EBP), and subsequently underwent successful CT scan-guided cervical EBP. SIH affects approximately 1 in 50,000 patients, with females more frequently affected.

Semi-automated hippocampal segmentation in people with cognitive impairment using an age appropriate template for registration.

Background: To evaluate a new semi-automated segmentation method for calculating hippocampal volumes and to compare results with standard software tools in a cohort of people with subjective memory complaints (SMC) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Data from 58 participants, 39 with SMC (17 male, 22 female, mean age 72.6) and 19 with MCI (6 male, 13 female, mean age 74.

Randomized phase 2 study of carboplatin and bevacizumab in recurrent glioblastoma.

Background: The optimal use of bevacizumab in recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), including the choice of monotherapy or combination therapy, remains uncertain. The purpose of this study was to compare combination therapy with bevacizumab monotherapy.

Methods: This was a 2-part randomized phase 2 study.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system presenting as a mass lesion.

We report a 51-year-old Asian man with primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) with atypical presentation as a mass lesion. PACNS is an uncommon condition causing inflammation and destruction of the blood vessels of the central nervous system. The aetiology is unclear and multiple mechanisms have been proposed.

Progressive post traumatic tearing of an arachnoid cyst membrane resulting in intracystic and subdural haemorrhage.

We report the case of a 43-year-old man with a middle cranial fossa arachnoid cyst who presented post trauma with neurological symptoms. The initial CT scan of the brain did not detect acute changes in the arachnoid cyst but subsequent imaging revealed abnormalities which progressed over time. Arachnoid cysts are usually a benign and incidental finding.

Probabilistic MRI tractography of the optic radiation using constrained spherical deconvolution: a feasibility study.

Background And Purpose: Imaging the optic radiation (OR) is of considerable interest in studying diseases affecting the visual pathway and for pre-surgical planning of temporal lobe resections. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical feasibility of using probabilistic diffusion tractography based on constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD) to image the optic radiation. It was hypothesized that CSD would provide improved tracking of the OR compared with the widely used ball-and-stick model.