eurons and astrocytes the ependyma and choroid plexus oligodendrocytes and central nervous system myelin microglia the meninges and their reaction of injury choroid plexus, cerebrospinal fluid, hydrocephalus and cerebral oedema central nervous system herniation phenomenon congenital malformations of the nervous system perinatal neuropathology pathology of epilepsy metabolic disease exogenous toxic-metabolic diseases including vitamin deficiency nervous system manifestations of systemic disease demyelinating diseases circulatory disorders and their effects on the brain neurologic infections due to bacteria, fungi and parasites viral infections of the nervous system degenerative diseases of the nervous system cerebrospinal trauma peripheral nerve pathology.

Textbook of neuropathology

The spondyloarthritides (SpA) are a group of idiopathic inflammatory diseases affecting the axial and/or peripheral skeleton. Recent evidence points towards an increased mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular disease, especially within the two major forms of SpA, ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Several studies have identified alterations of the lipid profile, insulin sensitivity and other metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in SpA patients. An array of vascular morphologic and functional abnormalities has also been reported in these diseases, supporting the hypothesis of accelerated atherosclerosis in SpA. Inflammation appears to be a major player, involved both in the impairment of the classic cardiovascular risk factors, as well as directly in the process of endothelial injury, dysfunction and ultimately atherosclerosis. Multiple studies in rheumatoid arthritis have suggested that effective suppression of inflammation with synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or with biologics may also exert favourable effects in the cardiovascular risk. Although such evidence is currently lacking for SpA, there is little doubt that physicians caring for patients with SpA should aim at controlling both inflammation and traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Such an integrated approach is expected to benefit patients in multiple levels.

Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in the spondyloarthritides, particularly ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.

Magnetic resonance imaging of bilirubin encephalopathy: current limitations and future promise.

The Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (SPI-WG) appointed by the board of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) has produced recommendations for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the scrotum. The SPI-WG searched for original and review articles published before September 2016 using the Pubmed and Medline databases. Keywords used were ‘magnetic resonance imaging’, 'testis or testicle or testicular', 'scrotum', 'intratesticular', 'paratesticular', 'extratesticular' 'diffusion-weighted', 'dynamic MRI'. Consensus was obtained among the members of the subcommittee. The expert panel proposed recommendations using Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine 2011 Levels of Evidence. The recommended MRI protocol should include T1-, T2-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. Scrotal MRI can be clinically applied for lesion characterisation (primary), including both intratesticular and paratesticular masses, differentiation between germ-cell and non-germ-cell neoplasms (evolving), characterisation of the histological type of testicular germ cell neoplasms (TGCNs, in selected cases), local staging of TGCNs (primary), acute scrotum (in selected cases), trauma (in selected cases) and undescended testes (primary). The ESUR SPI-WG produced this consensus paper in which the existing literature on MRI of the scrotum is reviewed. The recommendations for the optimal imaging technique and clinical indications are presented. • This report presents recommendations for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the scrotum. • Imaging acquisition protocols and clinical indications are provided. • MRI is becoming established as a worthwhile second-line diagnostic tool for scrotal pathology.

MRI of the scrotum: Recommendations of the ESUR Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group.

Background Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk that might be due to the chronic underlying inflammatory process. We investigated whether subclinical atherosclerosis of the carotid artery in patients with AS was reduced after anti-inflammatory treatment with tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in a prospective observational cohort study. Methods 67 out of 81 AS patients who used TNF inhibitors and underwent ultrasonography at baseline returned for follow-up after 4.9 years. Of all patients, 12 (15%) discontinued the use of TNF inhibitors. Assessments of medication use, AS-related factors and cardiovascular risk factors were measured at baseline and repeated at follow-up. B-mode carotid ultrasonography was used to investigate arterial wall parameters, including carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and Young9s elastic modulus (YEM). Results After a median 4.9 years of follow-up, cIMT did not change significantly (paired t test +0.011 mm, p=0.561) in those who continued the use of TNF inhibitors, while cIMT increased substantially (+0.057 mm, p=0.069) in those who did not continue their use of TNF inhibitors. The effect of TNF inhibitors was mainly mediated by a subsequent decrease in AS disease activity. Vascular elasticity (as measured with YEM) did not change significantly in patients who discontinued TNF inhibitors or those who continued TNF inhibitors. Conclusions The use of TNF inhibitors might stabilise or slow down the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in AS patients, reflecting a decreased cardiovascular risk in these patients.

https://ard.bmj.com/content/annrheumdis/74/1/119.full.pdf

Tumour necrosis factor blocking agents and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Purpose We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of multidetector computed tomography (CT) imaging in diagnosis of pleural exudates and transudates using attenuation values. Materials and methods This retrospective study included 106 patients who were diagnosed with pleural effusion between January 2010 and June 2012. After the patients underwent chest CT, thoracentesis was performed in the first week. The attenuation values of the pleural effusions were measured in all patients. Results According to Light's criteria, 30 of 106 patients with pleural effusions had transudates, and the remaining patients had exudates. The Hounsfield unit (HU) value of the exudates (median, 12.5; range, 4-33) was significantly higher than that of the transudates (median, 5; range, 2-15) (P = 0.001). Additionally, when evaluated by disease subgroups, congestive heart failure and empyema were predictable in terms of median HU values of the pleural effusions with high and moderate sensitivity and specificity values (84.6% and 81.2%, respectively; 76.9% and 66.7%, respectively). Compared with other patients, the empyema patients had significantly more loculation and pleural thickening. Conclusion CT attenuation values may be useful in differentiating exudates from transudates. Although there is an overlap in most effusions, exudate can be considered when the CT attenuation values are >15 HU. Because of overlapping HU values, close correlation with clinical findings is essential. Additional signs, such as fluid loculation and pleural thickness, should be considered and may provide further information for the differentiation.

/pdf/efficacy-of-ct-in-diagnosis-of-transudates-and-exudates-in-3wvylzvatb.pdf

Efficacy of CT in diagnosis of transudates and exudates in patients with pleural effusion.

Purpose: The risk of atherosclerosis is increased in several rheumatological disorders, but any such risk remains unproven for ankylosing spondylitis. Since carotid intima-media thickness is an indicator of early atherosclerosis, and the paraoxonase (PON1) enzyme has antioxidant activity to prevent LDL oxidation, we aimed to identify: 1) the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum paraoxonase (PON1) activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients; and 2) the possible differences in CIMT in AS patients versus age-matched, healthy controls. 

Methods: Forty-five AS patients (36.8±9.8 years, 36 males, 9 females) and 30 controls (35.9±10.2 years, 23 males, 7 females) were recruited consecutively. Serum PON1 activity and CIMT were measured. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiologic Index (BASRI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were used to identify relationships between these clinical indices and levels of CIMT and PON1. 

Results: Mean CIMT was significantly increased in AS patients relative to controls (0.49±0.06 mm vs. 0.59±0.07 mm; p < 0.0001). Conversely, serum PON1 activity was decreased (199.1±60.3 U/L vs. 96.7±29 U/L; p < 0.0001). PON1 activity was negatively correlated with CIMT (r = -0.557, p = 0.0001). Disease duration was positively correlated with CIMT (r = 0.542, p = 0.0001) and negatively correlated with PON1 (r = -0.649, p = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, disease duration and serum PON1 activity were found to be independent predictors of CIMT (R2 = 0.687, p = 0.0001). 

Conclusions: In conclusion, significantly increased CIMT and decreased PON1 activity suggest a relationship between atherosclerosis and AS: a relationship that is strongly correlated with disease duration.

/pdf/carotid-intima-media-thickness-and-paraoxonase-activity-in-mm1awvhvb0.pdf

Carotid intima-media thickness and paraoxonase activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE. This preliminary study aimed to evaluate changes in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the testes in patients presenting with varicocele. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. This cross-sectional study included 25 consecutively recruited patients with varicocele and 25 healthy control volunteers. The ADC values were measured in all participants. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used to test the normality of the data distributions, and the data were expressed as arithmetic means and SDs. A one-way analysis of variance with a post hoc Bonferroni test was used to analyze normally distributed continuous data. Independent sample Student t tests were used to compare continuous variables between two groups. Furthermore, a Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was used to examine the association of venous diameters with mean ADC values in patients with varicocele. A two-sided p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Sensitivities, specificities, and areas under the curve were calculated fo...

https://www.ajronline.org/doi/pdf/10.2214/AJR.13.10594

Diffusion-weighted MRI of the testes in patients with varicocele: a preliminary study.

The use of DWI to assess spleen and liver quantitative ADC changes in the detection of liver fibrosis stages in chronic viral hepatitis.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a rare, progressive, inflammatory neurodegenerative disease. This study investigated the relationships of clinical stage with epidemiological and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in SSPE by retrospective review of 76 cases (57 male) diagnosed by typical periodic electroencephalographic features, clinical symptoms and elevated measles antibody titre in cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical stage at diagnosis was I or II in 48 patients, III in 25 and IV in three. Prominent findings at presentation were atonic/myoclonic seizures (57.9%) and mental deterioration with behaviour alteration (30.3%). Frequent MRI findings (13 – 32 patients) were subcortical, periventricular and cortical involvement and brain atrophy; the corpus callosum, basal ganglia, cerebellum and brainstem were less frequently involved. Five patients had pseudotumour cerebri. Cranial MRI at initial diagnosis was normal in 21 patients (19 stage I/II, two stage III/IV). Abnormal MRI findings were s...

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/147323001103900228

Omer Karakas

Papers

Efficacy of CT in diagnosis of transudates and exudates in patients with pleural effusion.

Carotid intima-media thickness and paraoxonase activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Diffusion-weighted MRI of the testes in patients with varicocele: a preliminary study.

The use of DWI to assess spleen and liver quantitative ADC changes in the detection of liver fibrosis stages in chronic viral hepatitis.

Epidemiological findings and clinical and magnetic resonance presentations in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.