Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: A Focus on the Anoperineal Location

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease involving apocrine-bearing sites. It is characterized by recurrent painful nodules and abscesses that potentially rupture, resulting in sinus tract formation, fistulas, and scarring. HS tends to be found in the intertriginous areas (i.e., the axillary, inguinal, and perianal areas of the body). HS may be uncommon for radiologists because its diagnosis is usually based on clinical assessment. However, diagnosis based solely on clinical manifestations can underestimate the severity of HS. Ultrasonography and MRI play a critical adjunct role in determining the severity and extent of the disease and greatly aid its management. Given that MRI is an effective imaging tool, its role in the analysis of severe and anogenital HS lesions merits considerable attention. Unfortunately, anoperineal HS imposes diagnostic dilemmas. It has multiple symptoms and presentations and often mimics other diseases in the intertriginous areas. Therefore, a thorough understanding of HS is essential to avoid delayed diagnoses. This review highlights the typical MRI imaging features and staging of HS, emphasizing on the anoperineal location. The review also differentiates the disease from mimics to facilitate the prompt delivery of appropriate treatment and improve patients’ quality of life.     

Gastrointestinal‐specific anxiety: an important factor for severity of GI symptoms and quality of life in IBS

Background Gastrointestinal (GI)‐specific anxiety (GSA) has been proposed to influence symptom severity and quality of life (QOL) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI) is a recently developed, reliable and valid measure of GSA. Our aim was to evaluate the association between GSA, GI symptom severity, and QOL in IBS patients. Methods Sixty healthy subjects and 306 patients fulfilling the Rome II criteria for IBS were studied. Demographic and disease‐related factors were assessed. Patients completed VSI and GI Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and questionnaires to determine psychological symptom severity (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), QOL (Short form 36), and presence of functional GI disorders (Rome II Modular Questionnaire). Key Results Compared with healthy subjects, patients with IBS had more severe GSA (34.7 ± 16.9 vs. 2.2 ± 4.4 [mean ± standard deviation]; P < 0.0001). In the IBS group, more severe GSA was seen in patients with more severe GI symptoms (P < 0.0001), general anxiety (P < 0.0001) and depression (P < 0.0001), and with lower socioeconomic status (P < 0.05). In a regression analysis, GSA was the strongest predictor for GI symptom severity (GSRS total score), followed by number of Rome II diagnoses, presence of meal‐related IBS symptoms, and gender (R² = 0.34). Gastrointestinal‐specific anxiety was also, together with general anxiety, depression, socioeconomic status, and gender, found to be independently associated with mental QOL (R² = 0.62). Conclusions & Inferences Gastrointestinal‐specific anxiety seems to be an important factor for GI symptom severity and QOL in patients with IBS.     

血管源性痴呆的事件相关电位P300研究

目的 评价事件相关电位P300在血管源性痴呆（Vascular dementia,VD)认知功能障碍诊断中的价值。方法 对30例VD和30例正常人,利用磁共振成像（MRI）技术测定额叶,颞叶,顶叶,枕叶和海马结构的体积,采用简明精神状态量表（MMSE）,简易痴呆筛查量表（BSSD）和瑞文标准智力测验量表（RSPM）评定认知功能,记录分析听觉刺激诱发的事件相关电位P300。结果 （1）与正常对照比较,VD患者额叶和颞叶体积显著缩小,而顶叶,枕叶和海马结构的体积无显著差异。（2）VD患者MMSE,BSSD和RSPM3种量表的评分均显著低于正常对照。（3）VD患者MMSE、BSSD评分的降低与额叶,颞叶萎缩程度和局限病灶位于额叶,颞叶相关,（4）VD患者P300峰潜伏时（peak latency,PL)较正常对照明显延长,（5）VD患者P300PL的延长与额叶,颞叶的萎缩程度和局限病灶位于额叶,颞叶相关。（6）VD患者P300PL的延长与认知功能损害的严重程度相关,结论 （1）P300可以作为认知功能评价的额观指标。（2）VD患者额叶和颞叶的萎缩与其认知功能障碍有关。（3）P300PL的延长可反映VD患者脑局部病理改变。（4）P300PL的延长可客观反映VD患者认知功能损害的严重程度。（5）P300在临床上可以作为诊断VD的重要客观指标。     

磁共振静脉血管成像在脑静脉窦血栓形成诊断中的应用

目的 评价2D-TOF法磁共振静脉血管成像(MRV)在脑静脉窦血栓形成(CVST)诊断中的价值。方法 对10例CVST患者进行2D-TOP法MRV检查，并与MRI和数字减影血管造影(DSA)结果进行对照研究。结果 10例患者均为多发性CVST，最常累及上矢状窦和横窦。在MRV上CVST的直接征像为发育正常的静脉窦不显影、狭窄或再通后的模糊影，间接征像为病变以远侧枝血管形成、深部静脉明显扩张或其他引流静脉显现。本组MRV结果与DSA比较具有较高的一致性，且在血管变异的鉴别及对血栓的动态观察上要优于DSA。结论 MRV可替代DSA作为CVST诊断和随访的首选检查方法。     

脊髓动静脉瘘一例

1临床资料患者男,60岁。因双下肢无力50 d,渐加重伴小便潴留20 d于2004-06-23入作者医院。入院前50 d无明显原因出现双下肢麻木、无力且逐渐加重,20 d前出现小便潴留、大便秘结。外院行脑脊液检查结果示压力正常,压颈实验通畅,蛋白轻度升高(0·768 g/L),细胞数正常。胸椎MRI平扫检查示,T2~T12水平脊髓腔内呈多个条状长T2信号(图1)。肌肉注射弥可保500μg治疗,1次/d,共20 d,下肢无力无明显好转,遂转入作者医院。入院查体:双下肢肌力Ⅲ级,肌张力低,膝腱反射及跟腱反射未引出,腹壁反射、提睾反射及肛门反射消失;双侧Babinski征可疑阳性;L3~…     

BrainAGE and regional volumetric analysis of a Buddhist monk: a longitudinal MRI case study

ABSTRACT

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (YMR) is a Tibetan Buddhist monk, and renowned meditation practitioner and teacher who has spent an extraordinary number of hours of his life meditating. The brain-aging profile of this expert meditator in comparison to a control population was examined using a machine learning framework, which estimates “brain-age” from brain imaging. YMR’s brain-aging rate appeared slower than that of controls suggesting early maturation and delayed aging. At 41 years, his brain resembled that of a 33-year-old. Specific regional changes did not differentiate YMR from controls, suggesting that the brain-aging differences may arise from coordinated changes spread throughout the gray matter.