Increased Intracranial Arterial Pulsatility and Microvascular Brain Damage in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum.

Background And Purpose: Carotid siphon calcification might contribute to the high prevalence of cerebrovascular disease in pseudoxanthoma elasticum through increased arterial flow pulsatility. This study aimed to compare intracranial artery flow pulsatility, brain volumes, and small-vessel disease markers between patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum and controls and the association between arterial calcification and pulsatility in pseudoxanthoma elasticum.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum and 40 age- and sex-matched controls underwent 3T MR imaging, including 2D phase-contrast acquisitions for flow pulsatility in the assessment of ICA and MCA and FLAIR acquisitions for brain volumes, white matter lesions, and infarctions.

Cortical cerebral microinfarcts on 7T MRI: Risk factors, neuroimaging correlates and cognitive functioning - The Medea-7T study.

We determined the occurrence and association of cortical cerebral microinfarcts (CMIs) at 7 T MRI with risk factors, neuroimaging markers of small and large vessel disease, and cognitive functioning. Within the Medea-7T study, a diverse cohort of older persons with normal cognition, patients with vascular disease, and memory clinic patients, we included 386 participants (68 ± 9 years) with available 7 T and 1.5 T/3T brain MRI, and risk factor and neuropsychological data.

Intracranial Atherosclerotic Burden and Cerebral Parenchymal Changes at 7T MRI in Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack or Ischemic Stroke.

The relevance of intracranial vessel wall lesions detected with MRI is not fully established. In this study (trial identification number: NTR2119; www.trialregister.

Preoperative MRI brain phenotypes are related to postoperative delirium in older individuals.

The underlying structural correlates of predisposition to postoperative delirium remain largely unknown. A combined analysis of preoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers could improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of delirium. Therefore, we aimed to identify different MRI brain phenotypes in older patients scheduled for major elective surgery, and to assess the relation between these phenotypes and postoperative delirium.

The association between intraoperative hyperglycemia and cerebrovascular markers.

Hyperglycemia can lead to an increased rate of apoptosis of microglial cells and to damaged neurons. The relation between hyperglycemia and cerebrovascular markers on MRI is unknown. Our aim was to study the association between intraoperative hyperglycemia and cerebrovascular markers.

Preoperative brain MRI features and occurrence of postoperative delirium.

Objective: Delirium is a frequent complication after surgery with important negative outcomes for affected patients and society. However, it is still largely unknown why some patients have a predisposition for delirium and others not. To increase our understanding of the neural substrate of postoperative delirium, we studied the association between preoperative brain MRI features and the occurrence of delirium after major surgery.

Intracranial vessel wall lesions on 7T MRI and MRI features of cerebral small vessel disease: The SMART-MR study.

The etiology of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is the subject of ongoing research. Although intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) has been proposed as a possible cause, studies on their relationship remain sparse. We used 7 T vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study the association between intracranial vessel wall lesions-a neuroimaging marker of ICAS-and MRI features of CSVD.

Quantitative assessment of brachial plexus MRI for the diagnosis of chronic inflammatory neuropathies.

Objective: This study aimed at developing a quantitative approach to assess abnormalities on MRI of the brachial plexus and the cervical roots in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) and to evaluate interrater reliability and its diagnostic value.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study in 50 patients with CIDP, 31 with MMN and 42 disease controls. We systematically measured cervical nerve root sizes on MRI bilaterally (C5, C6, C7) in the coronal [diameter (mm)] and sagittal planes [area (mm)], next to the ganglion (G) and 1 cm distal from the ganglion (G).

Vascular Risk Factors of Hippocampal Subfield Volumes in Persons without Dementia: The Medea 7T Study.

Background: Vascular risk factors have been associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and volume loss of the hippocampus, but the associations with subfields of the hippocampus are understudied. Knowing if vascular risk factors contribute to hippocampal subfield atrophy may improve our understanding of vascular contributions to neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective: To investigate the associations between age, sex, and vascular risk factors with hippocampal subfields volumes on 7T MRI in older persons without dementia.

fMRI network correlates of predisposing risk factors for delirium: A cross-sectional study.

Delirium, the clinical expression of acute encephalopathy, is a common neuropsychiatric syndrome that is related to poor outcomes, such as long-term cognitive impairment. Disturbances of functional brain networks are hypothesized to predispose for delirium. The aim of this study in non-delirious elderly individuals was to investigate whether predisposing risk factors for delirium are associated with fMRI network characteristics that have been observed during delirium.

Low interrater reliability of brachial plexus MRI in chronic inflammatory neuropathies.

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging of the brachial plexus shows nerve thickening in approximately half of the patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN). The reliability of qualitative evaluation of brachial plexus MRI has not been studied previously.

Methods: We performed an interrater study in a retrospective cohort of 19 patients with CIDP, 17 patients with MMN, and 14 controls.

The association between frailty and MRI features of cerebral small vessel disease.

Frailty is a common syndrome in older individuals that is associated with poor cognitive outcome. The underlying brain correlates of frailty are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between frailty and MRI features of cerebral small vessel disease in a group of non-demented older individuals.

The relationship between ischaemic brain lesions and cognitive outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Background: Cerebral ischaemia is thought to be an important determinant of cognitive outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH), but the exact relationship is unclear. We studied the effect of ischaemic brain lesions during clinical course on cognitive outcome 2 months after aSAH.

Methods: We studied 74 consecutive patients admitted to the University Medical Center Utrecht who had MRI post-coiling (3-21 days post-aSAH) and neuropsychological examination at 2 months.

MRI phenotypes of the brain are related to future stroke and mortality in patients with manifest arterial disease: The SMART-MR study.

Neurodegenerative and neurovascular diseases lead to heterogeneous brain abnormalities. A combined analysis of these abnormalities by phenotypes of the brain might give a more accurate representation of the underlying aetiology. We aimed to identify different MRI phenotypes of the brain and assessed the risk of future stroke and mortality within these subgroups.

The association between lacunes and white matter hyperintensity features on MRI: The SMART-MR study.

Lacunes and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are features of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) that are associated with poor functional outcomes. However, how the two are related remains unclear. In this study, we examined the association between lacunes and several WMH features in patients with a history of vascular disease.

Predicting the presence of macrovascular causes in non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage: the DIAGRAM prediction score.

Objective: A substantial part of non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhages (ICH) arises from a macrovascular cause, but there is little guidance on selection of patients for additional diagnostic work-up. We aimed to develop and externally validate a model for predicting the probability of a macrovascular cause in patients with non-traumatic ICH.

Methods: The DIagnostic AngioGRAphy to find vascular Malformations (DIAGRAM) study (n=298; 69 macrovascular cause; 23%) is a prospective, multicentre study assessing yield and accuracy of CT angiography (CTA), MRI/ magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) and intra-arterial catheter angiography in diagnosing macrovascular causes in patients with non-traumatic ICH.

Osteochondral lesion depth on MRI can help predict the need for a sandwich procedure.

Purpose: Autologous subchondral bone grafting in combination with autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) (sandwich procedure) is a well-accepted procedure for the treatment of osteochondral lesions of the knee. This requires a different surgical technique and preoperative planning compared to ACI alone. In addition, pain from bone marrow donor site locations can be expected and should be part of patient consent and expectations.

Detection and characterization of small infarcts in the caudate nucleus on 7 Tesla MRI: The SMART-MR study.

Small infarcts are among the key imaging features of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), but remain largely undetected on conventional MRI. We aimed to evaluate (1) imaging criteria for the detection of small infarcts in the caudate nucleus on 7T MRI, (2) intra- and inter-rater agreement, (3) frequency and (4) detection rate on 7T versus 1.5T MRI.

Cardiorespiratory fitness, cognition and brain structure after TIA or minor ischemic stroke.

Background It is not known whether cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better cognitive performance and brain structure in patients with a TIA or minor ischemic stroke. Aims To examine the association between cardiorespiratory fitness, cognition and brain structure in patients with a TIA and minor stroke. Methods The study population consisted of patients with a TIA or minor stroke with a baseline measurement of the peak oxygen consumption, a MRI scan of brain and neuropsychological assessment.

Diagnostic yield and accuracy of CT angiography, MR angiography, and digital subtraction angiography for detection of macrovascular causes of intracerebral haemorrhage: prospective, multicentre cohort study.

Study Question: What are the diagnostic yield and accuracy of early computed tomography (CT) angiography followed by magnetic resonance imaging/angiography (MRI/MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in patients with non-traumatic intracerebral haemorrhage?

Methods: This prospective diagnostic study enrolled 298 adults (18-70 years) treated in 22 hospitals in the Netherlands over six years. CT angiography was performed within seven days of haemorrhage. If the result was negative, MRI/MRA was performed four to eight weeks later.

High resolution pituitary gland MRI at 7.0 tesla: a clinical evaluation in Cushing's disease.

Objective: To evaluate the detection of pituitary lesions at 7.0 T compared to 1.5 T MRI in 16 patients with clinically and biochemically proven Cushing's disease.

Long-term risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage after a negative aneurysm screen.

Objective: The objective was to assess the risk of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) in the initial 15 years after negative aneurysm screening in persons with one first-degree relative with aSAH.

Methods: From a cohort of first-degree relatives of patients with aSAH who underwent screening between 1995 and 1997 (n = 626), we included those with a negative screening (n = 601). We retrieved all causes of death and sent a questionnaire to screenees who were still alive.

Bulbar muscle MRI changes in patients with SMA with reduced mouth opening and dysphagia.

Objective: We performed a study in patients with proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to determine the prevalence of reduced maximal mouth opening (MMO) and its association with dysphagia as a reflection of bulbar dysfunction and visualized the underlying mechanisms using MRI.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of MMO in 145 patients with SMA types 1-4 and 119 healthy controls and used MRI in 12 patients to visualize mandibular condylar shape and sliding and the anatomy of muscle groups relevant for mouth opening and closing. We analyzed associations of reduced MMO with SMA severity and complaints of dysphagia.