Exploring vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (ENIGMA): protocol for a prospective observational study.

Background: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is common. However, the underlying pathophysiology remains largely unknown. Understanding the role of microvascular changes and finding markers that can predict PSCI, could be a first step towards better screening and management of PSCI.

Circulating DNA and frequency of colorectal cancer brain metastases in a presumed high-risk group.

This explorative prospective observational pilot study investigated if suggested risk factors, rectal cancer and lung metastases, could add to a relevant detection rate of asymptomatic brain metastases (BM) from colorectal cancer (CRC). Secondary, prognostic biological aspects were investigated by translational analysis of plasma samples. The study enrolled patients with rectal cancer and lung metastases.

Asymmetric amyloid deposition in preclinical Alzheimer's disease: A PET study.

Introduction: The typical spatial pattern of amyloid-β (Aβ) in diagnosed Alzheimer's disease (AD) is that of a symmetrical hemispheric distribution. However, Aβ may be asymmetrically distributed in early stages of AD. Aβ distribution on PET has previously been explored in MCI and AD, but it has yet to be directly investigated in preclinical AD (pAD).

Cortical Atrophy, White Matter Lesions, and Bulb Configuration in Patients with Idiopathic Olfactory Loss and Other Causes of Olfactory Loss.

Introduction: While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not included in the current guidelines for diagnosing olfactory disorders in the most recent position paper on olfactory dysfunction, both 1.5T and 3T MRI are commonly used in the diagnostic workup of many patients with olfactory loss. Often, MRI is used to rule out intracranial tumours, but other useful information may be obtained from MRI scans in these patients.

Diffusional kurtosis imaging as a possible prognostic marker of cervical incomplete spinal cord injury outcome: a prospective pilot study.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is associated with substantial chronic morbidity and mortality. Routine imaging techniques such as T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are not effective in predicting neurological deficiency grade or outcome. Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) is an MR imaging technique that provides microstructural information about biological tissue.

Cerebral hemodynamics and capillary dysfunction in late-onset major depressive disorder.

In major depressive disorder (MDD), perfusion changes in cortico-limbic pathways are interpreted as altered neuronal activity, but they could also signify changes in neurovascular coupling due to altered capillary function. To examine capillary function in late-onset MDD, 22 patients and 22 age- and gender-matched controls underwent perfusion MRI. We measured normalized cerebral blood flow (nCBF), cerebral blood volume (nCBV), and relative transit-time heterogeneity (RTH).

Telehealth in Multidisciplinary Target Delineation for Radiotherapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Review and a Case.

Like all other medical specialties, radiotherapy has been deeply influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has had severe influence on the entire patient trajectory in oncology, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up. Many examples of how to deal with patient and staff safety, shortness of staff and other resources and the quest to continue high-quality, evidence-based treatment have been presented.

Help-seeking behaviour and subsequent patient and system delays in stroke.

Objectives: Prehospital delay is the main reason why only a limited number of stroke patients receive reperfusion therapy. We aimed to investigate help-seeking behaviour in patients and bystanders after onset of stroke and subsequent patient and system delay.

Materials & Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 332 patients with stroke.

[Screening for cerebral arteriovenous malformations in patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia].

Patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) are known to suffer from cerebral arteriovenous malformations (CAVMs). In this review, we explore existing literature for bleeding risk, interventional therapy and neuroradiological features in HHT-related CAVMs. Studies estimate the annual intracerebral haemorrhage rate of CAVMs in HHT patients to be 0.

Long-term outcomes of endovascular simple coiling versus neurosurgical clipping of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Previous studies on ruptured intracranial aneurysms have shown favourable long-term outcomes of patients undergoing endovascular coiling compared to neurosurgical clipping. We aimed to evaluate if these results also apply to patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs).

Methods: Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for all studies reporting long-term (≥3 years) follow-up after coiling or clipping of UIAs.

Oxygenation differs among white matter hyperintensities, intersected fiber tracts and unaffected white matter.

White matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin are frequently observed on magnetic resonance imaging in normal aging. They are typically found in cerebral small vessel disease and suspected culprits in the etiology of complex age- and small vessel disease-related conditions, such as late-onset depression. White matter hyperintensities may interfere with surrounding white matter metabolic demands by disrupting fiber tract integrity.

Impaired perfusion and capillary dysfunction in prodromal Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), and growing evidence suggests an involvement of cerebrovascular pathology in AD. Capillary dysfunction, a condition in which capillary flow disturbances rather than arterial blood supply limit brain oxygen extraction, could represent an overlooked vascular contributor to neurodegeneration. We examined whether cortical capillary transit-time heterogeneity (CTH), an index of capillary dysfunction, is elevated in amyloid-positive patients with mild cognitive impairment (prodromal AD [pAD]).

Neuropsychological Status and Structural Brain Imaging in Adults With Simple Congenital Heart Defects Closed in Childhood.

Background Neurodevelopmental impairments are common in survivors of complex congenital heart defects (CHD). We report neuropsychological and brain imaging assessments in adults operated for isolated septal defects. Methods and Results Patients (mean age 25.

Abnormal Amyloid Load in Mild Cognitive Impairment: The Effect of Reducing the PiB-PET Threshold.

Background And Purpose: In vivo detection of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is now possible with C-PiB positron emission tomography (PET). Conventionally, a cortical:cerebellar PiB uptake ratio threshold of 1.4-1.

Increased cortical capillary transit time heterogeneity in Alzheimer's disease: a DSC-MRI perfusion study.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau and neurotoxic Aβ in the brain parenchyma. Hypoxia caused by microvascular changes and disturbed capillary flows could stimulate this build-up of AD-specific proteins in the brain. In this study, we compared cerebral microcirculation in a cohort of AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients with that of age-matched controls, all without a history of diabetes or of hypertension for more than 2 years, using dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI).

Endovascular Treatment of Basilar Artery Thrombosis Secondary to Bilateral Vertebral Artery Dissection with Symptom Onset Following Cervical Spine Manipulation Therapy.

Background: Vertebral artery (VA) dissection (VAD) has been described following neck injury and can be associated with stroke, but the causal association with cervical spine manipulation therapy (cSMT) is controversial. The standard treatment for VAD is antithrombotic medical therapy. To highlight the considerations of an endovascular approach to VAD, we present a critical case of bilateral VAD causing embolic occlusion of the basilar artery (BA) in a patient with symptom debut following cSMT.

The capillary dysfunction hypothesis of Alzheimer's disease.

It is widely accepted that hypoperfusion and changes in capillary morphology are involved in the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This is difficult to reconcile with the hyperperfusion observed in young high-risk subjects. Differences in the way cerebral blood flow (CBF) is coupled with the local metabolic needs during different phases of the disease can explain this apparent paradox.

Correlations between Stroop task performance and white matter lesion measures in late-onset major depression.

Cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) are believed to play an important role in a subset of patients with late-onset depression by affecting the white matter connectivity in circuitries essential for mood and cognition. In this study we used diffusion tensor imaging-based (DTI-based) tractography to assess white matter fiber tracts affected by deep WMLs (DWMLs) in patients with late-onset major depression and age- and gender-matched controls. Tractography outcome, illustrated as pathways affected by DWMLs, was analyzed for associations with cognitive performance on the Stroop Test (ST).

Depression severity is correlated to the integrity of white matter fiber tracts in late-onset major depression.

Cerebral white matter lesions (WMLs) are believed to play an important role in a subset of major depression (MD). We aimed to describe the impact of WMLs on white matter pathways in MD using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetization transfer imaging. As a novel approach, we used DTI tractography to assess pathways intersected by WMLs.