Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a key feature of various brain disorders. To assess its integrity a parametrization of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (DCE MRI) with a contrast agent (CA) is broadly used. Parametrization can be done quantitatively or semi-quantitatively. Quantitative methods directly describe BBB permeability but exhibit several drawbacks such as high computation demands, reproducibility issues, or low robustness. Semi-quantitative methods are fast to compute, simply mathematically described, and robust, however, they do not describe the status of BBB directly but only as a variation of CA concentration in measured tissue. Our goal was to elucidate differences between five semi-quantitative parameters: maximal intensity (Imax), normalized permeability index (NPI), and difference in DCE values between three timepoints: baseline, 5 min, and 15 min (Δ5-0, Δ15-0, Δ15-5) and two quantitative parameters: transfer constant (Ktrans ) and an extravascular fraction (Ve). For the purpose of comparison, we analyzed DCE data of four patients 12-15 days after the stroke with visible CA enhancement. Calculated parameters showed abnormalities spatially corresponding with the ischemic lesion, however, findings in individual parameters morphometrically differed. Ktrans and Ve were highly correlated. Δ5-0 and Δ15-0 were prominent in regions with rapid CA enhancement and highly correlated with Ktrans . Abnormalities in Δ15-5 and NPI were more homogenous with less variable values, smoother borders, and less detail than Ktrans . Moreover, only Δ15-5 and NPI were able to distinguish vessels from extravascular space. Our comparison provides important knowledge for understanding and interpreting parameters derived from DCE MRI by both quantitative and semi-quantitative methods.
Balance control is a critical task of daily life, the ability to maintain upright posture becomes of particular concern during aging when the sensory and motor system becomes deteriorated. Falls contribute to the most deaths caused by injury within the aged population, and the mortality rate following a fall is drastically elevated. Longitudinal and reliable assessment of balance control abilities is a critical point in the prediction of increased risk of falling in an elderly population. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of the Homebalance test in the identification of persons being at higher risk of falling. 135 subjects (82 women and 53 men) with geriatric syndrome have been recruited and the Homebalance and the Tinetti Balance test were performed. Results of both tests strongly correlated proving the good performance of the Homebalance test. Standing balance declines with increasing body mass index in both genders. Analysis of fluctuations of the center of pressure (COP) revealed higher frequency and magnitude in mediolateral direction COP movements when compared women to men. A strong negative correlation has been found between Tinetti static balance score and the total length of the COP trajectory during the examination on Homebalance (r = -0.6, p<0.001). Although both methods revealed good performance in detecting balance impairment, Homebalance test possesses higher precision due to the continuous nature of COP-derived parameters. In conclusion, our data proved that the Homebalance test is capable to identify persons with impaired balance control and thus are at higher risk of falling.
Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult (HII) is one of the main devastating causes of morbidity and mortality in newborns. HII induces brain injury which evolves to neurological sequelae later in life. Hypothermia is the only therapeutic approach available capable of diminishing brain impairment after HII. Finding a novel therapeutic method to reduce the severity of brain injury and its consequences is critical in neonatology. The present paper aimed to evaluate the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) pre-treatment on glucose metabolism, neurodegeneration, and functional outcome at the acute, sub-acute, and sub-chronic time intervals in the experimental model of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic insult in rats. To estimate the effect of SFN on brain glucose uptake we have performed 18F-deoxyglucose (FDG) μCT/PET. The activity of FDG was determined in the hippocampus and sensorimotor cortex. Neurodegeneration was assessed by histological analysis of Nissl-stained brain sections. To investigate functional outcomes a battery of behavioral tests was employed. We have shown that although SFN possesses a protective effect on glucose uptake in the ischemic hippocampus 24 h and 1 week after HII, no effect has been observed in the motor cortex. We have further shown that the ischemic hippocampal formation tends to be thinner in HIE and SFN treatment tends to reverse this pattern. We have observed subtle chronic movement deficit after HII detected by ladder rung walking test with no protective effect of SFN. SFN should be thus considered as a potent neuroprotective drug with the capability to interfere with pathophysiological processes triggered by perinatal hypoxicischemic insult.