Evidence Suggesting the End of Universal Domestic Asbestos Exposure in Metsovo, NW Greece.

Background: Inhabitants of Metsovo, NW Greece, had been domestically exposed to asbestos from a gradually abandoned whitewash ("luto") that resulted in a declining epidemic of malignant mesothelioma.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate whether other sources of asbestos exposure exist following "luto" abandonment.

Methods: Chest computed tomography (CT) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were used to evaluate residual asbestos exposure in younger Metsovites through the identification of pleural calcifications and asbestos bodies, respectively.

High-resolution heavily T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of the pituitary stalk in children with ectopic neurohypophysis.

Background: In anterior pituitary deficiency, patients with non visible pituitary stalk have more often multiple deficiencies and persistent deficiency than patients with visible pituitary stalk.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic value of a high-resolution heavily T2-weighted sequence to 1.5-mm-thick unenhanced and contrast-enhanced sagittal T1-weighted sequences to assess the presence of the pituitary stalk in children with ectopic posterior pituitary gland.

Abnormalities of brain neural circuits related to obesity: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging study.

Purpose: Increased Body-Mass-Index (BMI) has been associated with brain atrophy in both gray and white matter structures. However, little is known concerning the integrity of white matter tracts in obesity. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the pattern of changes in white matter microstructure in human adiposity.

Diffusion tensor imaging in children with tuberous sclerosis complex: tract-based spatial statistics assessment of brain microstructural changes.

Background: There is evidence of microstructural changes in normal-appearing white matter of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex.

Objective: To evaluate major white matter tracts in children with tuberous sclerosis complex using tract-based spatial statistics diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis.

Materials And Methods: Eight children (mean age ± standard deviation: 8.

Multimodal imaging evaluation of excessive daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease.

Purpose Of The Study: The multimodal imaging investigation of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in Parkinson's disease (PD). The role of dopaminergic treatment and other clinical parameters was also evaluated.

Materials And Methods: Seventeen non-demented PD patients with EDS (PD-EDS) and 17 PD patients without EDS were enrolled.

Brain involvement in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging study.

Objectives: To investigate structural brain changes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on 18 IBD patients (aged 45.16 ± 14.

Body growth and brain development in premature babies: an MRI study.

Background: Prematurity and intrauterine growth restriction are associated with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Objective: To assess the relationship between growth status and regional brain volume (rBV) and white matter microstructure in premature babies at around term-equivalent age.

Materials And Methods: Premature infants (n= 27) of gestational age (GA): 29.

White matter water diffusion changes in primary Sjögren syndrome.

Background And Purpose: Histopathologic studies have demonstrated WM damage in primary Sjögren syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate WM microstructural changes by use of DTI-derived parameters in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome.

Materials And Methods: DTI was performed in 19 patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (age, 64.

Voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging of the optic pathway in primary open-angle glaucoma: a preliminary study.

Background And Purpose: Neuropathologic studies in experimental and human glaucoma have demonstrated degenerative changes in the optic pathway. The purpose of this study was to assess the optic pathway in POAG by using VBM and DTI.

Materials And Methods: Eighteen patients 57.

CNS involvement in primary Sjogren Syndrome: assessment of gray and white matter changes with MRI and voxel-based morphometry.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate with MRI the involvement of gray matter and white matter structures in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome.

Subjects And Methods: Fifty-three patients with primary Sjögren syndrome, 18 age- and disease duration-matched patients with systemic sclerosis, and 35 age-matched control subjects were examined for differences in white matter hyperintensities (WMHIs) detected on FLAIR MR images. Differences in brain volume between patients with primary Sjögren syndrome and controls were studied by application of voxel-based morphometry to a 3D T1-weighted sequence.

Diffuse periventricular leukomalacia in preterm children: assessment of grey matter changes by MRI.

Background: Preterm children may have cognitive deficits and behavioural disorders suggestive of grey matter (GM) injury. The prevalence is higher in preterm children with diffuse periventricular leukomalacia (dPVL).

Objective: Evaluate changes in the volume of 116 GM areas in preterm children with dPVL.

Apparent diffusion coefficient values of the normal uterus: Interindividual variations during menstrual cycle.

Objectives: To assess the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) changes of the normal uterine zones among reproductive women during the menstrual cycle.

Methods: The study included 101 women of reproductive age, each with regular cycle and normal endometrium/myometrium, as proved on histopathology or MR imaging examination. Diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging was performed along the axial plane, using a single shot, multi-slice spin-echo planar diffusion pulse sequence and b-values of 0 and 800s/mm(2).

Voxel-based diffusion tensor imaging detects pyramidal tract degeneration in primary lateral sclerosis.

Objective: Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a progressive degenerative disorder affecting upper motor neurons and requires a clinical diagnosis. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a quantitative method for assessing white matter fibre integrity. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the involvement of upper motor neurons by using DTI in PLS.

Periventricular leukomalacia in preterm children: assessment of grey and white matter and cerebrospinal fluid changes by MRI.

Background: Brain plasticity in patients with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) may suggest grey matter (GM) changes.

Objective: To assess the volume of 116 GM areas and total volume of GM, white matter (WM) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in preterm children with PVL, using the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM5) and the Individual Brain Atlases Statistical Parametric Mapping (IBASPM) toolboxes.

Materials And Methods: Ten preterm children (gestational age 31.

Age-related grey matter changes in preterm infants: an MRI study.

Grey matter (GM) maturation has not been previously studied in healthy preterm children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the age dependency of GM development in 116 GM areas in preterm subjects. Sixty one preterm infants (corrected age: 13.

Voxel-based morphometry and Voxel-based relaxometry in parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy.

Background And Purpose: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder divided into a parkinsonian (MSA-P) and a cerebellar variant. The purpose of this study was to assess regional brain atrophy and iron content using Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and Voxel-based relaxometry (VBR) respectively, in MSA-P.

Methods: Using biological parametric mapping the effect of brain atrophy was evaluated in T2 relaxation time (T2) measurements by applying analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and correlation analysis to the VBM and VBR data.