Navigational experience affect cognition: Spatial learning capabilities in captive and wild-born tuco-tucos.

There is a growing recognition of the influence of both genetic and ecological context in shaping different cognitive traits. The hippocampal region is identified as a critical area for memory and learning in mammals, susceptible to modification by environmental influences. Although previous studies have identified the effects of various factors on cognitive parameters during early development, comparatively few research was conducted on wild species to analyze the role of natural environmental stimuli in the formation of spatial learning and memory abilities.

Effects of acute maternal stress induced by predator cues on spatial learning and memory of offspring in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum.

One of the main selection pressures to which animals are exposed in nature is predation, which affects a wide variety of biological traits. When the mother experiences this stressor during pregnancy and/or lactation, behavioral and physiological responses may be triggered in the offspring as well. Thus, in order to broaden and deepen knowledge on the transgenerational effects of predation stress, we evaluated how maternal stress experienced during pregnancy and/or lactation affects the spatial abilities of progeny at the onset of adulthood in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum.

Diagnostic performance of a 3D double-echo steady-state sequence at 3 T using radial reformats for detecting and grading rotator cuff tears: a pilot diagnostic accuracy study with magnetic resonance imaging and arthroscopic correlation.

Background: In diagnosing rotator cuff tears (RCTs), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging modality of choice, and its accuracy is improving constantly.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a high-resolution 3D double-echo steady-state (DESS) sequence with radial and paracoronal 3-T MRI regarding the grading of RCTs in correlation with conventional 2D MRI and arthroscopic findings.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively compared arthroscopic findings of RCTs with preoperative MRI, including conventional 2D sequences and radial and paracoronal DESS images in 20 patients.

The influence of distribution, severity and volume of posttraumatic bone bruise on functional outcome after ACL reconstruction for isolated ACL injuries.

Introduction: Posttraumatic MRI of ACL tears show a high prevalence of bone bruise (BB) without macroscopic proof of chondral damage. Controversial results are described concerning the association between BB and outcome after ACL tear. Aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of distribution, severity and volume of BB in isolated ACL injuries on function, quality of life and muscle strength following ACL reconstruction (ACLR).

Automated measurement of alpha angle on 3D-magnetic resonance imaging in femoroacetabular impingement hips: a pilot study.

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome is an established pre-osteoarthritic condition. Diagnosis is based on both clinical and radiographic parameters. An abnormal manually calculated alpha angle in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is traditionally utilized to diagnose abnormal femoral head-neck offset.

Low-dose radiation treatment for painful plantar enthesophyte: a highly effective therapy with little side effects.

Aim: Plantar enthesophyte is a common degenerative disorder. Surgical and medical treatment options are associated with either poor outcome or high percentage of relapse. Observations have indicated a beneficial effect of radiation therapy.

Imaging of exercise-induced spinal remodeling in elite rowers.

Objectives: As in-vivo knowledge of training-induced remodeling of intervertebral discs (IVD) is scarce, this study assessed how lumbar IVDs change as a function of long-term training in elite athletes and age-matched controls using compositional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Methods: Prospectively, lumbar spines of 17 elite rowers (ERs) of the German national rowing team (mean age: 23.

Evaluating Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration on a Compositional Level Using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer: Preliminary Results in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

Lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is characterized by structural and compositional changes. This study aimed to assess the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of IVDs of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and healthy controls using GAG chemical exchange saturation transfer (gagCEST) imaging. Ten AIS patients (mean age 18.

Non-Specific Low Back Pain and Lumbar Radiculopathy: Comparison of Morphologic and Compositional MRI as Assessed by gagCEST Imaging at 3T.

Using glycosaminoglycan Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (gagCEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), this study comparatively evaluated the GAG contents of lumbar intervertebral disks (IVDs) of patients with non-specific low back pain (nsLBP), radiculopathy, and asymptomatic volunteers to elucidate the association of clinical manifestation and compositional correlate. A total of 18 patients (mean age 57.5 ± 22.

Effective dose of radiation per screw in surgery of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: matched pair analysis of 293 pedicle screws inserted using three different techniques.

Purpose: Reports on heterogenous groups of patients have indicated that pedicle screw insertion guided by navigation (PIN) leads to, for the patient, higher doses of radiation compared with pedicle screw insertion guided by fluoroscopy (PIF). This would be a major concern, especially in paediatric deformity correction.

Methods: After a power analysis (aiming at > 0.

Introduction of a Simplified Psoriatic Arthritis Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (sPsAMRIS): A Potential Tool for Treatment Monitoring in Peripheral Psoriatic Arthritis.

Background: To evaluate whether a simplified (s) version of the psoriatic arthritis magnetic resonance imaging score (PsAMRIS), sPsAMRIS, is a potential tool for therapy monitoring in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods: Seventeen patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 3 T of the clinically dominant hand at baseline and after 6 months. Scoring was performed by two musculoskeletal radiologists in terms of the PsAMRIS and sPsAMRIS, which is a simplified version with reduced item numbers based on prior evaluation of responsiveness to change by standardized response means (SRMs).

Cartilage Degradation in Psoriatic Arthritis Is Associated With Increased Synovial Perfusion as Detected by Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Even though cartilage loss is a known feature of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), research is sparse on its role in the pathogenesis of PsA and its potential use for disease detection and monitoring. Using delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE MRI), research has shown that early cartilage loss is strongly associated with synovial inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to determine if acute inflammation is associated with early cartilage loss in small finger joints of patients with PsA.

Functional MR imaging beyond structure and inflammation-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is associated with proteoglycan depletion of the lumbar spine.

Background: To compare the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of lumbar intervertebral disks (IVDs) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and healthy volunteers and to investigate the association of GAG depletion and disease-related clinical and imaging features.

Methods: Lumbar spines of 50 AS patients (mean age 50 ± 10.5 years) and 30 age-matched volunteers were studied with 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and conventional radiographs (CR).

Differentiating rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis: a systematic analysis of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging features-preliminary findings.

Background: Because of overlapping phenotypical presentations, the diagnostic differentiation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) remains challenging. Thus, this study aimed to examine the diagnostic value of distinct imaging features obtained by high-resolution 3-T MRI for the diagnostic differentiation.

Materials And Methods: Seventeen patients with PsA and 28 patients with RA were imaged at high resolution using 3-T MRI scanners and a dedicated 16-channel hand coil.

Detection of early cartilage degeneration in the tibiotalar joint using 3 T gagCEST imaging: a feasibility study.

Objective: To establish and optimize a stable 3 Tesla (T) glycosaminoglycan chemical exchange saturation transfer (gagCEST) imaging protocol for assessing the articular cartilage of the tibiotalar joint in healthy volunteers and patients after a sustained injury to the ankle.

Methods: Using Bloch-McConnell simulations, we optimized the sequence protocol for a 3 T MRI scanner for maximum gagCEST effect size within a clinically feasible time frame of less than 07:30 min. This protocol was then used to analyze the gagCEST effect of the articular cartilage of the tibiotalar joint of 17 healthy volunteers and five patients with osteochondral lesions of the talus following ankle trauma.

MRI based analysis of grade of spinal canal stenosis and grade of compression of nerve root by lumbar disc herniation as tools to predict probability to need surgical treatment.

Background: Patients with a lumbar disc herniation (LDH) without high-grade neurological deficit (PWN) are usually treated non-operatively. If non-operative treatment is not successful, a postponed surgical treatment is performed. Postponed surgery is reported to show later improvement of pain and health-related quality of life and later return to work than early surgery.

Sodium MRI of human articular cartilage of the wrist: a feasibility study on a clinical 3T MRI scanner.

Objective: To measure sodium relaxation times and concentrations in human wrists on a clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner with a density-adapted radial sequence.

Materials And Methods: Sodium MRI of human wrists was conducted on a 3T MR system using a dual-tuned H/Na surface coil. We performed two studies with 10 volunteers each investigating either sodium T (study 1) or sodium T* (study 2) relaxation times in the radiocarpal joint (RCJ) and midcarpal joint (MCJ).

Proteoglycan loss in the articular cartilage is associated with severity of joint inflammation in psoriatic arthritis-a compositional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Even though cartilage loss is a known feature of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), little is known about its role in the pathogenesis of PsA. Using delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of cartilage (dGEMRIC) as a non-invasive marker of the tissue's proteoglycan content, such early (i.e.

Lumbar lordosis as tool to assess the level of pain in patients with low back pain after lumbar disc herniation.

Background: It is presently unknown if lumbar lordosis (LL) might be applied to monitor low back pain (LBP) in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). There is presently only conflicting data that does not show a correlation of LL with LBP: Previous studies do either include chronic LBP or do not consider that each patient has an individual value of LL that cannot be compared to other patients.

Methods: Power analysis: At least 32 patients had to be enrolled in the study.

Assessment of Articular Cartilage Disorders After Distal Radius Fracture Using Biochemical and Morphological Nonenhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Purpose: To assess radiocarpal articular cartilage after distal radius fracture, with and without intra-articular extension, compared with healthy controls using multiparametric, nonenhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: In this prospective study, multiparametric MRI of the radiocarpal articular cartilage was performed in 26 participants (16 males and 10 females; mean age, 39.5 ± 14.