Articles: brain.
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Multicenter Study
Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency and iron deposition on susceptibility-weighted imaging in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot case-control study.
Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is a vascular phenomenon recently described in multiple sclerosis (MS) that is characterized by stenoses affecting the main extracranial venous outflow pathways and by a high rate of cerebral venous reflux that may lead to increased iron deposition in the brain. Aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CCSVI and iron deposition in the brain of MS patients by correlating venous hemodynamic (VH) parameters and iron concentration in deep-gray matter structures and lesions, as measured by susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), and to preliminarily define the relationship between iron measures and clinical and other magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes. ⋯ The findings from this pilot study suggest that CCSVI may be an important mechanism related to iron deposition in the brain parenchyma of MS patients. In turn, iron deposition, as measured by SWI, is a modest-to-strong predictor of disability progression, lesion volume accumulation and atrophy development in patients with MS.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Ibudilast in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a neuroprotectant?
Ibudilast is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor influencing inflammation and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and effects on MRI parameters of 2 different doses of ibudilast in relapsing forms of MS. ⋯ This interventional study provides Class III evidence on the effect of ibudilast on disease activity.
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Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. · Mar 2010
Multicenter StudyToward discovery science of human brain function.
Although it is being successfully implemented for exploration of the genome, discovery science has eluded the functional neuroimaging community. The core challenge remains the development of common paradigms for interrogating the myriad functional systems in the brain without the constraints of a priori hypotheses. Resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI) constitutes a candidate approach capable of addressing this challenge. ⋯ These results demonstrate that independent R-fMRI datasets can be aggregated and shared. High-throughput R-fMRI can provide quantitative phenotypes for molecular genetic studies and biomarkers of developmental and pathological processes in the brain. To initiate discovery science of brain function, the 1000 Functional Connectomes Project dataset is freely accessible at www.nitrc.org/projects/fcon_1000/.
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Brain injury : [BI] · Jan 2010
Multicenter StudyUse of brain electrical activity to quantify traumatic brain injury in the emergency department.
To validate a QEEG algorithm on traumatic brain injury in an Emergency Department (ED) setting. ⋯ The TBI discriminant index appears to be a sensitive index of brain function. It may be used to suggest whether or not a patient presenting with altered mental status requires a CT scan. This index may aid in the triage of such patients in the ED. Such an easy to use, automated system may greatly enhance the clinical utility of EEG in the ED.
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Journal of neurotrauma · Dec 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyThe citicoline brain injury treatment (COBRIT) trial: design and methods.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability. In the United States alone approximately 1.4 million sustain a TBI each year, of which 50,000 people die, and over 200,000 are hospitalized. Despite numerous prior clinical trials no standard pharmacotherapy for the treatment of TBI has been established. ⋯ The primary outcome consists of a set of measures that will be analyzed as a composite measure using a global test procedure at 90 days. The measures comprise the following core battery: the California Verbal Learning Test II; the Controlled Oral Word Association Test; Digit Span; Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale; the Processing Speed Index; Stroop Test part 1 and Stroop Test part 2; and Trail Making Test parts A and B. Secondary outcomes include survival, toxicity, and rate of recovery.